Note: It is VERY hard to write an enemy to bestie without writing a novel. For me anyway. But I tried. No one can say I didn't try.
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The young buck bit back a snarl. He was Tirowen Elwood, son of the mighty War Leader Sir Adriel and astute Lady Tamara Elwood. His sister Lady Madelaine was said to be the beauty of the kingdom. Tirowen would not, could not be beaten by a country boy.
“What is the matter?” said country boy smiled, watching him with those dark, cunning eyes. “I saw a slip in that cocksure attitude.”
“That would be the dream, wouldn’t it?” Ti growled, turning his sword thrust into a parry. Killian MacBranain smirked, meeting him steel against steel.
“You always had a temper.”
Ti pulled back, reining himself in. Only Killian could seem to get under his skin. Knew where to gently tug so his concentration unraveled. It was infuriating.
“You’re yet to win a bout against me Killian.” Ti remarked, “we are to be knighted in two days and I shall win the right to lead my own knight Faction. Where will you go?”
“Where I am needed.” Killian said softly, raising an eyebrow. “To serve my kingdom.”
They looked at each other, their rivalry forgotten for a moment.
“Still at it then?” Head knight Sir Kain remarked, picking his teeth from a late supper. Power hungry, and unnecessarily cruel, Sir Kain found joy and profit in the pain of others. He walked the way roosters did, as though he had spikes at the end of his boots. Always ready to strike down anyone he didn’t like.
“Killian, I have need of you after supper. Be ready.”
Killian nodded, “as you wish.” But Ti looked into the eyes of the seventeen-year-old and only saw misgivings.
Together the boys watched the knight stride past, leaving the training hall to bully the closest squire.
“Killian…”
“What?” he snapped back, “it doesn’t concern you. He is just… training me a bit more. S-so I can finally beat you.”
“Sir Kain is bad news.”
“What would you know?” Killian sighed, “you are my rival. I will finally beat you and finally be freed from this nightmare. Join a knight faction and leave the capital.”
Ti frowned, watching Killian’s mood darken further. “Whatever he promised you –”
“Elwood!” Killian snarled, “mind you don’t cross me further. Your advice is neither wanted nor needed.”
He went to leave, shoving Tirowen out of his way. Ti gripped his forearm, meeting his eyes. “Don’t become one of them.” He said softly, “you are my rival because you are worthy of it. We are not enemies. Our goals are the same.”
“Only the winner says garbage such as that.” Killian replied bitterly. “When his honor is never mocked. When his heritage is respected. When you finally come down from your high horse Elwood, be sure to remember me when you’re lying in the dust.”
It was true. Killian came from a disgraced line, choosing to rebel against the king when he was a babe. He was saved by the mercy of Lord Elwood, Tirowen’s father. The rumors said it had caused the battle master’s early retirement. Forever a blight in the kingdom, forever losing to the heir of the Elwood house. Killian MacBranain’s honor was tied to a sinking ship.
Killian snatched his arm out of Tirowen’s grip and stalked away, leaving Ti watching his back. The boy’s shoulders were slumped, his clothes disheveled as though he had slept in them. Tirowen knew his rival’s every step, every word of his body language. Apart from himself, Killian was the best up and coming knight since King Deo’s reign began.
And he was worried his quick-witted adversary wouldn’t last the night.
O.o.O
He couldn’t do it. Killian knew it from the moment he stepped into the barn outside the castle walls. When he had seen the thin bodies, the wild, terrified eyes. They were like horses, dirty and starving standing in stalls.
“Think of them as animals,” Sir Kain had shrugged, smiling up at the young man. His gold tooth had peeked out of his mouth like a coin in a muddy river. “Meet the slaver, give him the tour. He and I already have a price for the urchins. Consider it a city clean up! You’re doing the city a favor getting rid of the vermin!”
“What do I get out of it?” Killian had asked, stone faced.
“I’ll teach you a technique the Elwood won’t see coming! And maybe a few coins for your help. You wanna beat that Elwood upstart, yes? Well, I know how.”
“Mamma?” a child asked when he stepped into the barn, the children crowding around the gates of their stalls.
“N-no,” Killian said, “you don’t have one of those.”
A kick sounded from another stall, forcing Killian to turn around. “Your brain full of sawdust?” A boy’s voice demanded, “of course she does! We all do! A knight told us he had a job for us – one that could help feed our families.”
“Muck out that there stable’ he told us,” a girl sobbed, “but there was no horses. O-only other kids.”
“Mister,” a small girl called, peering at him in the gloom, “you here to help?”
“If not,” the boy’s voice snarled, “I hope our faces and voices haunt you every night!”
Killian sunk into the hay; his body unable to move. The slaver was on his way. The children were to be sold. What was he to do? His breathing hitched higher and higher, his eyes watered and his sight spun like he was twirling in a circle. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think over the pounding of his heart.
“Now, now there Kili,” a voice sighed, “I knew Kain was a right bastard… but this…”
Killian sunk further into the hay, head in his hands. He knew that voice, but he didn’t want to face it just yet.
“A’right kids,” Elwood’s voice smiled, his boots kicking through the hay and muck, “you know who I am?”
“Tirowen!” a couple kids crowed, “we knew someone would save us!”
“This is a right mess,” Elwood sighed, turning to gently kick Kili’s bowed body. “Wakey, wakey – gonna need that big brain of yours.”
“Elwood, just leave me to face the music.” Killian said into the floorboards, “I didn’t –”
“Know?” Elwood asked, “sure you did. Or you wouldn’t have felt your conscious crush you like this. If I hadn’t followed you, I wouldn’t have known about this barn. It’s pretty concealed. Makes me nervous really, knowing there could be more of these.”
Elwood crouched beside Killian, shoving gloved hands into Killian’s side. “I know Kain has been involving you in some messy business – stealing and the like. He wants a clever lacky.”
Grabbing Killian by the scruff of his neck, Elwood pulled him up by the back of his jacket. It shocked Killian into action, twisting to get out of the grip. Elwood threw him at one of the cages, forcing Killian to see the children hungry and ragged inside.
“We’re gonna fix this mess.” Elwood said matter of factly. “And you’re gonna show us how.”
“Elwood I-”
“No.” Elwood cut him off, stepping to him, “If we’re going to survive crossing Kain we have to be closer then rivals or friends. Kain has half the city cowering under him.” Elwood stood chest to chest, looking him deep in the eyes. Elwood’s silver hair was plaited in a warrior wolf-tail braid, his green eyes steady and direct. “No more running Killian. Where you walk, I walk. Where you weep, I will weep. Where you fight, I shall be at your back. Brothers.”
He stepped back, holding out his hand. His cocksure attitude was replaced with a steady look like the sound of a war drum. “My family calls me Ti.”
“I don’t have any family,” Killian replied bitterly, “I will just betray you.”
“No,” Elwood said softly, “I am your family. We are war brothers. Let’s show Kain that this city isn’t his to plunder. First with these children, then the rest. We will sweep him out like a spring clean – but I can only win with you.”
Killian watched him a moment longer, at the olive branch held his way. Kili was in a mess, and Elwood was willing to tie his fate with his. Leap. A voice whispered. Follow this fate.
“Kili,” Killian said, locking his hand to Ti’s wrist. “My… family… calls me Kili.”
“And mine calls me Trevor… if I ever see them again.” The boy shouted, “can you kiss and make-up on your own time?”
Kili and Ti turned in unison to look at the children, both wearing grim smiles.
“As you wish.” Ti smirked.
“I have a plan,” Kili added, his dark eyes alive with mischief, “and you’re all going to help me.”
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