"But Da told me not to..." The girl protested.

"Oh come on Beth please? You know he hardly ever shows me magic. I just want to see some more." Issac pleaded with his younger sister to follow him. He had always been fascinated by the magical abilities of his father and sister. His father was too cautious to indulge Issac's curiosity, but on a few occasions his sister had been willing.

"But what if I hurt you again?" She had thrown him into a side of a barn by accident before.

"I told you you didn't hurt me! Nothing hurts me!" The boy thumped his bare chest with false bravado. Sure it had hurt, but not enough to warrant abandoning his plans. "Besides you've had a lot more practice!" He beamed at her. "I bet you could set someone on fire, then freeze them solid." She blushed at his flattery.

"Oh brother that's not true." She turned suddenly. "Oh hi Carver." She said nervously to the sullen boy approaching them.

"What are you guys doing?" Carver asked, his tone bordering a demand.

"None of your business, now run along and play with some sticks or something." Issac spat at his younger brother.

"You know you look stupid in that Issac." Carver retorted, pointing to the over large trousers around Issac's waist. The bottom of the pant legs had been sheared off so they wouldn't drag the ground, and they were tied in the middle with a length of rope.

"You're just jealous Da let me have his old trousers and not you. He let me have them because I'm a grown up and you're still a baby!" Issac responded in the sing-song voice he knew grated his brothers nerves.

"I'm telling mother that you're up to something!" Carver whined turning back toward the cottage.

"Well I guess I'll have to tell Da who broke his favorite staff then." A smug look crossed Issac's face when he saw his brother's panicked reaction.

"You...you wouldn't?"

"I will if you don't leave us alone!" To this Carver grumbled off, complaining under his breath about how he really didn't care what stupid things they were up too.

"Maybe we should let him come." Bethany softly spoke up.

"No way! You know he'd tattle!" But that wasn't the only reason...he was being selfish, this display of magic was for him alone.

…..

They were far enough away he was sure of it. The field was open, perhaps he was being reckless...on second inspection Issac reckoned it was fine, he didn't see anyone.

"Ok so what has Da been teaching you?" He sat down in the grass expectantly eyes glued to his sister as she conjured a small flame in the palm of her hand. "Oh wow Beth!" Issac grinned so very amused at the small bit of magic.

"You should see when Da does it. He can make fire rain from the sky!" Bethany threw the small flame into the air, and it dispelled in a small plume of white smoke.

"I guess you're not there yet sis, but you will be I just know it!" She returned his encouragement with a smile.

"You really think so?"

"Of course! Can you freeze anything yet?"

"A little, I don't know if its any good..."

"Oh come on show me, show me." Issac leaned up on his knees as his sister picked an orange and yellow striped flower from the grass. Bethany closed her eyes and her face tensed in concentration. Issac's eyes grew wide as frost slowly encased the stem working its way up to each petal. The result was the flower encased, shimmering, glass-like, one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

"A WITCH...APOSTATE!" A boy behind them screamed. Bethany jerked sharply, the flower shattered on the ground between them. Issac felt a rush of guilt as the boy took flight yelling for Templars. He pushed Bethany aside, clear in what he had to do. He had to protect her, it was his fault, all his fault...he didn't want them to take her away...he had to stop the boy. Issac tackled the boy shoving his face into the dirt below. The boy rolled over beneath him, trying to push Issac off. He was not any younger than Issac, maybe even older, it would make it easier...he had to...he had to... The boy's screams echoed in his ears as his fists connected over and over again.

"You will never have her! You can't take her away!" He growled bashing the boy's head into the ground. "Do you hear me! You won't take my sister!" Each word punctuated with a blow. The boy made the most horrible noises, it sickened him to realize that it sounded like an animal being slaughtered. He had to...he was a threat, it was his fault...he had to protect his family...it was his fault. The cries became weaker...his fault...his hands were around the boy's throat...he had to...

"ISSAC!" The deep voice of his father boomed at him. "STOP!" Issac loosened his grip, turning to see the intimidating frame of Malcolm Hawke. Bethany must have run and got him...

"I had to...I...he..." Words couldn't escape his lips, and he did the only thing he could when he saw the blood staining his hands...he wept. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The apology hardly sounded like words choked by his heavy sobs. His father placed a stern hand on his shoulder.

"Go home Issac. Go home and tell your mother to pack up what she can. I have to heal him. I will be back as soon as I can, now hurry boy!" His fingers gripped hard into Issac's shoulder as he pushed him in the direction towards the cottage. Issac hesitated for a second watching his father cast a blue light over the unmoving boy, and then ran as fast as he could being blinded with tears.

…..

Bethany and Carver were curled up next to his mother. All sleeping soundly on an over-large blanket several feet away from the crackling fire. Issac could not sleep. Shame welled up in his gut. His father had said nothing to him since the incident, and now they were alone by the fire. He had avoided even making eye-contact with his father out of guilt and fear. He had let him down.

"I set the rules for a reason Issac. What happened...it should have never happened. You should have known better." His father held him in a severe gaze. "You are the eldest, I expected better from you. I'm disappointed." He never had felt so small. "Your response was inappropriate. That boy, you meant to kill him?"

"I didn't want to." Was all he could muster to say.

"You should have gotten me immediately. I know I told you to protect the family, but not like that son. That display was unnecessary and...troubling." His father sighed. "Let this be a lesson, you will never put Bethany in that kind of danger again. If something happens to me, you have to protect this family. I need to be able to know you will do it the right way."

"I will. I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I'll never do it again." And he meant it, Issac knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself if they took her, if it was his fault...

"I will hold you to your word son." They sat in silence for several minutes until his father spoke again. "You should get some sleep. I will take watch. We have a long way to travel tomorrow." Issac moved to recline, but he didn't close his eyes, regret kept him restless.