Brothers.

15

"Here," Josh's eyes focused on Margeau in front of him. She held a white cloth out to him and a bucket of water in the other hand.
"Clean yourself with this, Josh. You look terrifying with all of that blood on you..."
"And you reek of death," Vlad ended Margeau's sentence for her. She gasped and glared down at him on the chair next to Josh,
"Vladimir! You dare speak to Josh in that way! He just saved your life and your whole village."

It was comical to see Margeau openly reprimanding Vlad as if he was a naughty, small child, but Josh was too distracted to notice it. His mind was in a jumble over the small girl he had seen for the second time and the thrill of fighting was still present. Josh didn't know what to make of the girl. What she was doing here and what she wanted from him, Josh did not know, but he did know that she could speak the language of the angels. He hoped that she meant no ill will towards Josh and if she did, that she would not take it out on Rusk.

"Did you hear what I said? Please take these from me, my arms are growing weak." Margeau said in a strained voice. Josh snapped out of his thoughts for the second time in less than five minutes. He jumped out of his chair and took the bucket and cloth from the lady's hands. He nodded his thanks and sat back down again.

Josh dipped the cloth in the lukewarm water and dragged it over his arm. It made a small white line in the field of red. He rubbed on and his strokes turned harsher as Josh progressed. It instantly became a top priority to wash of the blood. The blood made him feel like a slaughterer.

"Forgive me if I sound rude, but how did you do it? How did you kill all of those men and survive an axe to your chest?" Vlad asked , wonder clear on his face.

Josh started cleaning his stomach and chest. He looked at the red water in the bucket and then replied without lifting his eyes.
"I have my ways, Vlad. You see, I'm not human nor am I a monster. I'm just something else from another place. But I promise you that I mean you no harm!"

"What are you if you are not human? You certainly look like one, Josh," Margeau replied with a curious tone.

"I'd rather not say, my dear, because I, excuse me if this may sound rude, don't have to tell you anything really. There are somethings that are best kept secret."

Margeau crouched next to Josh, who had his hands in the bucket at the moment. She placed her hand on his left forearm. Her touch was delicate and uncertain. Josh looked up at her and into her glimmering eyes. Margeau smiled at him and said in an encouraging voice, "I'm sure it cannot be that bad. You can tell us, really. Vlad and I would never reveal your identity, would we, Vlad?"

"Never, my dear, but maybe it is better if we are kept oblivious of his true identity."

Margeau crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Vlad with flaming eyes. Josh smiled as he wiped the blood from his face. He could remember that his mother had given Micheal her death-stare numerous times. She had been the only one who could bring the mighty king to his knees, well, she and the person who killed him.

"Margeau, as much as I trust you and Vlad, which is rather much, I won't tell you no matter what you do or threaten. This is my decision and I will stand by it," Josh said with finality. He placed the now-red cloth in the bucket and looked at Margeau. His eyes dared her to oppose him. She almost fought back, but realised that there would be no use in such follies.

Margeau sighed in defeat.
"Fine, but it won't curb my curiosity believe me."

Josh laughed and left for his room. He rubbed his chest where the axe had impaled him and his hand swooped swiftly over his skin. Swiftly?! Josh looked down at his chest and saw only his bare chest.

His medallion!

Josh ran out of the room and hut into the cold air. He sprinted to the place where he had fought. There was nothing on the white snow. Josh fell on his knees and started digging around him frantically. His fingers burned from the cold, but he could not find his last piece of his brother anywhere. Josh scurrled around on his knees in the bloody snow. Above him Margeau was talking to him, but Josh paid her no heed. He had to find it. And then when Josh feared that his hands might fall off from cold and tears rolled down his cheeks his eyes caught sight of a flash of gold a few feet away from him. Josh jumped to his feet and fell down next to it.

The medallion was still on the leather necklace, now broken. Josh picked it up and held it against his chest.

"Thank goodness!" He whispered under his breath and smiled in relief.

Josh placed the broken necklace around his neck and it magically bound itself again.

"Josh, what are you doing?"
Margeau struggled to keep pace with him on their way back to the hut. He walked into the hut and into his room, ignoring Margeau and Vlad. Josh needed to get out of here.

He dressed quickly and returned to the two persons waiting on him. Margeau was not happy. She jumped to her feet when he showed his face again.
"Joshua! Tell me now what you are doing!"

"Vlad, when it the people who were killed by Nikita's goons going to be burned?"

Margeau blew out her breath loudly. She was fuming by now. Vlad swallowed and replied, "Tonight at dusk. Why? Are you going somewhere?" His eyes darted to Margeau, "It's not safe to be alone right now and uhm, everyone wants to talk with you now."

"And you are delibrately ignoring me! I will not be handled in such manner, young man!" Margeau chided Josh.

He turned on her, "My dear Margeau, I'm certainly not a young man to you and yes, I am leaving."

Josh busted out of the hut and for the last time in a few months used magic to turn himself into one of the villagers. He saw Margeau and Vlad exit the hut and yell his name, but to no avail. Josh smiled and walked into the woods.

In a clearing some distance away from Rusk Josh released his wings to be free in the air. He looked at them, at their blackness and sighed. If only he had died all those years ago with his real parents then none of this would have happened. Josh couldn't help it, but he didn't feel responsible for this mess, but he knew Gabe held it against him as well as the rest of In Tutum. A maligan was the easiest thing to blame for such problems and sadly he was that maligan. Also there was the situation where kind of threatened Micheal the day before his death.

Soon his brother would turn up in Rusk and demand his head. Reasoning would not work on him and it frightened Josh to think of his brother's wrath.

He spent the rest of the day in the woods or gliding in the air. Relishing the calmness.

And then he went back to Rusk.

The funeral of the deceased was beautiful and after it everyone retired to their huts. Rusk was silent for the first time since Josh had gotten there, but he didn't mind.
Peace was what he needed now.