Brother of the Dark
Chapter One
The forest was calm, peaceful, in the afternoon light until it was shattered by the gleeful shouts of the two brother kings of Narnia.
"Come on, Ed! Give your best; it will help to console you when you lose." Peter shouted over the pounding of the Horses hooves, his smile brightening even further. His brother merely grinned at him and raised his eyebrow in the exasperated fondness that one has for an overexcited puppy or small child.
"Of course, Peter." Then he leaned closer to Philip's neck and whispered in his ear, "Come on Philip, let's give him a chance to find consolation of his own. He did try his hardest after all." The Horse and his rider snickered and their pace picked up even further, eventually rounding bends in the road far before Peter.
So caught up in their victory were they, that neither of the two noticed the sudden quiet of the forest or the rod that swung across the road until it was too late. Edmund's lower chest hit the pole causing him to let out a breathy cry, in a mix of his breath being knocked from him and an exclamation of pain, as he flew off of Philip and crashed into the leaf strewn ground. Philip automatically wheeled around, alarm causing the whites of his eyes to show.
"Edmund! Are you alright?" Edmund nodded and struggled to sit up, clutching his chest to try to relieve the pain.
"Ye- yes, I'm fine. Just," he broke off again, his breath still light and wheezing. "Just had the wind knocked out of me. I'll be fine." He finally reached his feet, still leaning on Philip for support. "Where do you think it came from? It can't have been a mistake." A smooth drawling voice broke in then, deep and filled with menace.
"That is correct."