Chapter One

"Boomer. Boomer, wake up."

The phrase was accompanied by a shake to the shoulder and Boomer rolled over, grunting in protest at the intrusion.

"Boomer!" The familiar voice was louder this time, more insistent. Boomer grudgingly opened his eyes and squinted at the clock next to his bed. Two AM. He groaned and glanced to where his brother, Boz, slept in the next bed. Why hadn't he woken up? Boz was a light sleeper and always woke first.

"Boomer, move!"

Boomer flinched at the volume and sat up, heart pounding.

"Finally," the voice said, sounding relieved. "Wake Boz and get out of there."

It took him a minute to recognize the voice. "Brady? When did you get back?" A surge of anger filled his vision. "You disappear with no warning and pop back in two years later to wake me up in the middle of the night? What kind of brother are you?"

"Boomer, get out of bed. Right. Now."

Boomer stood. "Not until you explain why you left without saying goodbye. And don't say you wrote a letter because I deserved more than that!" He looked around. "Where are you?"

"Wake Boz and go through the emergency exit behind the painting."

Boomer looked at the painting in question; a portrait of their parents dressed in their royal garb. Was Brady already in the passageway that sometimes appeared behind the portrait? It sounded like he was closer.

"Boomer?" Boz's sleepy voice came from the other bed in the room. "What's wrong, why are you out of bed?"

Boomer frowned at the red head wondering how he'd missed all the yelling before he realized Boz hadn't ever met their brother and wouldn't recognize his voice. "It's Brady."

Boz sat up, eyes instantly alert. "What about him? Is he in trouble?"

Boomer thought back to all the anguish he'd felt after Brady had left with no warning. "He will be when I get a hold of him."

"He's here?"

"Didn't you hear him?"

Boz shook his head. "No."

"Boomer! Get out of there now!" Brady's voice was tinged with panic.

"That's it!" Boomer grabbed a pair of shoes and opened the portrait. He'd half expected to encounter the stone wall that was normally behind the painting, but the passageway was open. He surged forward, intent on finding his wayward brother.

"Boomer wait!" Boz jumped out of bed, grabbed his king ring, and followed Boomer through the opening. A few seconds later the castle was rocked by an explosion and they were thrown to the floor by its concussive force. Torches hanging on the wall fell and went out, leaving them in darkness.

Boz felt along the ground with his hands looking for one of the fallen torches. He sighed in relief when he finally found one, after that, it only took a second to strike a rock against the wall hard enough to give off a spark. The torch lit, casting their surroundings in an eerie light. Still holding the flickering torch, Boz rushed to where Boomer lay panting at the ceiling.

"Are you all right?

Boomer nodded and allowed Boz to help him up.

"I guess we're not going back that way," Boomer said.

Having assured himself of Boomer's well-being Boz followed his brother's gaze. Giant boulders blocked the way back. Darkness masked the way forward. He hoped the other end of the tunnel hadn't collapsed as well.

Boomer's head turned sharply, like he heard something. A strange look crossed his face and Boz had a second to wonder if it was annoyance or worry before Boomer ran into the darkness. Boz followed, and seconds later, he felt a rumbling under foot and rocks fell from the ceiling. Knowing an unstable stone tunnel was the worst place to be in an earthquake he ran, wondering if he would be able to shield his brother if the place fell in on them.

Why had Boomer chosen tonight, of all nights, to run off?

He had no idea how long they'd been running when Boomer finally stopped. They both bent double, breathing hard.

"Where are you?" Boomer asked, frustration clear in his voice despite the gasping breath.

Boz put a comforting hand on his brother's back. "I'm right here."

Boomer straightened. "Not you. Brady."

Boz frowned glancing behind them where more of the tunnel had collapsed. "Were you meeting him here?"

"No, he was here, calling to me, telling us to run. Didn't you hear him?"

Boz shook his head in answer, looking carefully at his brother's dark complexion. Boz had originally assumed his brother had been woken by a dream, but was beginning to suspect otherwise.

Servants and royal advisers had him told stories about Boomer and Brady. How they shared dreams and could even feel each other's pain. They had a connection that Boz could only wonder at and he felt the stirrings of an ugly emotion in his chest. He tamped it down as best as he could. Jealousy had no place in the present; they were still in danger.

Boomer's head whipped around again. "Brady? Wha – why?"

"What is it?"

"It's a wall," Boomer said, to the wall.

"Boomer?" Boz asked and looked at the wall too.

"Brady said go left."

"There's nothing there, just stone." If Boomer had given the direction he would have already been looking for a secret passageway in the rock, but he didn't have the same kind of faith in the brother he'd never met and wasn't sure was here.

Another rumbling sounded and Boz braced himself, ready to sprint down the tunnel again, but Boomer stayed still, watching the wall. Cracks formed and a few bricks fell. Through the new holes he could smell the refreshing scent of night air. Dropping the torch, Boz gripped the chiseled stone and began pulling it down brick by brick. A few seconds later Boomer joined in. Soon they had an opening big enough and they crawled through, anxious to be outside.

Stars twinkled in the clear sky and the wind brought the faint scent of smoke to his nose. In front of them, however, was a sheer cliff rising miles above. Behind them rock fell and he knew without looking that the tunnel they'd been in had finished collapsing. They couldn't go up, not that far, so they made their way along the riverbed until they found an area that sloped a little more gently and climbed.

It was a relief to finally see the thick vegetation that told him they were at ground level. Now all they had to do was make their way back to the castle and figure out what had happened. Boz turned to tell his brother his plan but Boomer was staring up at something, mouth open, face slack with shock. Following his brother's line of sight, he saw the castle. What was left of the castle. The tower where they'd been sleeping was gone. Smoke and fire engulfed what was left of the wing. They were too far away to hear, but flares of light he'd learned to associate with cannon fire could be seen along the castle wall, and more destruction was evident along the castle gates. He felt like he'd been punched in the stomach when a red and black flag rose from the courtyard, emblazoned with a fiery bird. Their castle had been taken.

Author's Notes: Normally I don't start posting until a story is completed. It is, however, completely outlined, so hopefully I won't leave you hanging for too long. Please review, I need the motivation. :)