All the same stuff applies. I don't own anything.

Abiathar flew through the brackets. Within two days he was in the semifinals and climbing. Samuel said it would help tremendously in graduating to a level 3. Within the next day, he was fighting for first place. Zadok was blown away by his brother's progress, and was at every match. On the day of the championship match, Aries took the seat next to the Elder to see which one he would be sparring that afternoon. Abiathar and his opponent Ziba, who was a good friend of Zadok's, fought for the upwards of fifteen minutes.

Both teetered dangerously on the edge of losing at numerous parts of the battle, but Abiathar's endurance held out, and he beat Ziba for the championship. Zadok was on his feet waving his claymore even with his left leg splinted. Abiathar called him into the ring and let him take the prize of 500 dollars. He himself had the pleasure of removing Ziba's double daggers from there sheathes and admiring them.

A few hours later, Zadok was in Aries' seat beside the Elder watching two figures stretch on the sparring field. Abiathar he recognized, but he had only seen Aries occasionally. The man had jet-black hair, a striking face that attracted flocks of girls, and a muscular build. Zadok's fingers danced across his claymore's hilt wildly with anticipation. Abiathar and Aries locked into battle and there was sweat flinging within five minutes. No one had ever seen such a fierce fight. The once brilliant saber Abiathar held had and uncountable amount of dings, scratches, and dents in it from the ferocious battle. Abiathar was getting tired, and, much to Zadok's annoyance, Aries was taking advantage of that. His rapier flew, scoring repetitive blows on Abiathar's blade. Abiathar collapsed and sat waiting for the judge to ring the bell to end the match. But to Zadok's amazement and horror, Aries waved him off. He then proceeded to raise his rapier high above his head. Zadok knew what he was doing, and looked to the Elder. The sight made him sick. The Elder was leaning eagerly forward in his chair, waiting for the slaughter. The metal whistled through the air, a sound of his brother's doom. Wide-eyed, Abiathar rolled to the right and the blade thudded into the dirt. Aries glared at him with a savage stare. "No one fights me and wins. He loses… everything…even his life."

All was quiet. Zadok was petrified. Samuel wasn't there, and the Elder was not about to stop the transaction. Abiathar was exhausted and couldn't last much longer. Zadok couldn't take it. He jumped up and leaped over the barrier that divided the field from the stands. Everyone stared at him, amazed. The claymore was in his hands in a second. Aries straitened and glared at him sideways. Abiathar silently scurried away from the two. After a time span that seemed to last an eternity, Aries spoke.

"Don't play hero." His voice was smooth yet… cold. "If your brother can't take care of himself, he is a burden. He needs to die. You don't stand a chance, especially with your leg like that. Give it up, and I'll make it painless for him."

Zadok glared with hatred at him.

"You know," Zadok said after another long pause, "I've heard that uncontrolled rage can blind a warrior. However, I have found that reigned rage is a most formal adversary. With that, he jumped forward with his right leg lashing out. His sword spun, blurred by the speed with which he swung it. He beat relentlessly on the blade held by Aries. Even for the best fighter in Sword, and on top of that Zadok's damaged leg, Aries had a hard time. After almost half an hour of combat, Zadok had had enough. His focusing anger and hatred was distracted for a moment. In the risers was an anxious face that he recognized well.

It was Tamar. The attractive girl had assigned herself the role of a kind of servant to him. Aries had despised Zadok for it. But Zadok never accepted the idea. Oh, how well he could remember it. They were both little older than eleven at the time. She and her friend Ahinoam were walking home from the market to her house. Her family lived almost a day's walk from town. Zadok and Abiathar had only just joined Sword at the time. A group of about five boys were making rude comments about her and her friend. They tried to ignore them, but Zadok and Abiathar, who were secretly following them, (a "test mission" they had put upon themselves) could see that they were near tears. So Zadok rushed to their rescue. Drawing the double daggers he always, even to his day, kept in his sleeves, he slid between the two figures and the bullies. Abiathar rushed to the girls and stood in front of them, holding a single dagger he happened upon. Laughing, the larger boys stepped up to apprehend him. But to their surprise, Zadok struck. He dove between one's legs with the daggers spread out. The boy toppled to the dirt, calves bleeding profusely. Zadok turned to the one beside him. Cracking him on the head with the pommel of his left-handed dagger, Zadok then spun and had slapped another in the face with the flat of his blade. After recovering, the slapped one snarled and grabbed Zadok's wrist. Abiathar jumped forward and slashed at the boy's forearm until he let go, then kicked him in the face. The remaining group members fled, screaming. Ever since then, Tamar never left Zadok's side.

Renewed from the recalled memory, he unleashed a devastating swing. Aries' rapier was broken from his grasp and flipped through the air. It embedded itself in the wall 50 feet from the combat area. The claymore was at his throat. Eyes that held such rage that they seemed red stared unwavering down the shining steel. Zadok's voice faltered with rage.

"I should strike you down now and feed you to the birds," he said quietly. "But Christians don't do that, and apparently we need you. So I'll leave you be. But if you so much as look sideways again at me, my brother, or anyone else, I'll let you come face to face with God."

Slowly the claymore lowered.

Silence.

Everyone was shocked. The sound of unconscious bodies thudding to the wood was heard as those who were older and younger fainted from anticipation. Aries nodded solemnly. In a barley audible voice, Aries said firmly,

"Is this a blood feud then?"

Zadok considered his words for a moment then replied,

"Only if we make it one. I am commanded to love you from a power higher than anyone in the world is or ever was, so I am not calling sides. But I will accept if you pursue."

Aries' eyes snapped up. He smiled, but this time it was intended to be kind.

"Good. I had hoped not to become mortal enemies with one who can strike down the Elder with a single dagger." He offered his hand. Slowly but surely, Zadok grasped it. They shook once, and the entire crowd went wild. Abiathar staggered over, and the noise stopped abruptly. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife as Abiathar glared at Aries.

A long, long silence ensued.

Abiathar coughed weakly and stumbled forward. Aries caught him and gently set him down.

"I-I… apologize. That beating your brother gave me allowed me to clear my head. I don't know why, but this amity was created as soon as I saw you. All I could think about was

how much I wanted to kill you, but I-I don't know why." His voice expressed true sorrow and confusion. "When I saw your brother leap over the wall, I panicked. With you, I felt I could win, but the same power that made me hate you made me fear your brother. Please, accept my deepest sorrow." He bowed his head.

A tear fell to the dirt.

"I… accept." Abiathar said finally. Aries looked relived. Supporting the two brothers, he took them over to the high seats, where the Elder sat, terrified. He cowered against the back of his tall leather chair. Just then Samuel arrived. He ran up to meet Zadok and Abiathar. Aries set them down gently and slowly stalked toward the Elder's chair. Samuel stiffened. Silently, Aries grasped the right armrest of the high-backed leather chair. He tore the chair out of its rivets in the floor and flipped it over. The Elder flew out and crashed into the wall of the viewing booth. He slid down the smooth cedar and slumped to the floor. Aries strode over to his quivering body and grabbed him by the collar. Lifting him clear off the floor, he looked him strait in the eye. The Elder whimpered as he waited for Aries to speak. He did.

"How could you let me do that?"

"We agreed that-"

"I don't care what we agreed on! What kind of leader are you, to even think of permitting me to carry the plan out?" snapped Aries.

The Elder's eyes darkened over. Brookfield tensed even more. Aries held his firm grasp on the collar of the Elder's shirt. Suddenly, a dark bolt of electricity shot from the Elder and pinned Aries up against the opposite wall. Convulsing from the shock, Aries threw himself to the floor. Brookfield stepped between the two and bowed his head, eyes closed.

"Xatame," he said after a long pause. "You still refuse to quit hounding me."

"So true," said a voice, much, much deeper than the Elder's, though it came from his mouth. "I can never seem to learn," it said sarcastically.

With a scream, a translucent beast emerged from the Elder's body. It looked much like a centaur, but still different in many ways. As it solidified, its features became evident. The horse's body and legs were so black, you immediately thought something incredibly evil was using them. The man's torso was rippling with muscle, and a torn tunic hung loosely over it. His head had a sharp, almost triangular chin, clean shaven and sunken cheeks. His eyes were set back and they were black as night. On his baldhead were two short, sharp horns. Samuel spoke.

"You know I can beat you as easily as I can smash a fly," he said.

"Yes, I know. So I will see you in the near future. I depart from your… most gracious booth. Until we meet again, warrior," he stated. Oddly enough, he directed this comment at Zadok. The centaur laughed as he dissipated. Zadok's strength failed him as the creature faded. Tamar cried out hoarsely and ran up to the booth as he fell. Abiathar bolted over to Aries to examine him. Samuel followed closely behind, mumbling something to him self. Abiathar propped Aries up and put his ear close to his mouth.

"Alive," he said after a moment.

"Hmm," said Samuel. "I thought you didn't like him."

"Well, I didn't…" Abiathar said slowly, "but he had a change of heart. He almost killed me, but then he apologized. He seemed truly sorry. That's why he stood up to the Elder like he did."

Samuel shook. "What?" he cried. Then he rocked back and considered what Abiathar said. "Now it makes sense…" he trailed off. Aries attended to, Abiathar turned back to Zadok. Tamar had removed his cloak and rolled it into a pillow for him. She gently looked him over to see if he had any injuries. His left leg had swelled again, but that was the extent of it. Abiathar motioned her away then lifted Zadok onto his shoulder. His legs strained under the wait, but he pressed on down the stairs. Gathering up his cloak and sword, Tamar followed silently. Abiathar strapped Zadok into his horse Solomon' saddle. Tamar sat in front of Zadok and guided the horse in a slow trot. Then vaulting up onto his

own mount, Samson, Abiathar rode beside them.