I REWROTE the last chapter and added a bunch of information so you will want to reread that one.

Probably shouldn't have posted it when I did but I wanted to get it out and I had hit a stopping point (just apparently not a finishing point). Now I figure that I'd rather post one to two chapters a month and have them good than one a week that's half-hearted and weak. So I wont give myself a deadline for now. The updates should still be pretty regular but don't hate me if it takes a few weeks to get out a chapter or two!

SO yeah. REREAD THE LAST CHAPTER FOR NEW UPDATES and then come back and enjoy this one. Its almost like getting two chapters at once. But not haha. Whoops...

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RHYS

Rage colors my vision as I pass the outskirts of Ardenelle. I cannot be here right now. I cannot deal with what is behind me.

I know now what Mina was hiding.

She knew.

She knew!

The betrayal hurts, but not as much as seeing my brother's face.

Every time I have seen Tevlin, I am reminded of what I am, what I was, and of what I am not. What I have failed to become.

It still cuts me to the core after all these years. And here I had thought I had grown a thick skin about the whole issue.

Damn it!

I punch a tree as I pass, not caring about the pain in my knuckles and the streaks of blood now starting to form on my cracked skin. I just clench and then unclench the fist, walking forward with no real focus.

When I come to a patch of boulders, I sit and bury my head in my hands.

Slowly, I let myself dissect the situation at hand. So what if Tevlin is here? That won't change our mission. But he's here and now I must face the facts.

I sure as hell do not want to.

I focus on clearing my mind of everything but the sound of my exhaling breath. I just need to breathe.

It helps. My mind clears and I feel my muscles relax.
It is only minutes later when my meditation is destroyed.

"Rhys." Tevlin says calmly. I look up into brown eyes much like my own. Our mother's eyes. "Its good to see you brother."

He acts as if I have not just shown up out of the blue and then run off. He acts as if I have simply made a social visit. Very typical of him, taking the high road.

I say nothing.

I only take in his form as he leans against an aging pine, arms crossed almost defensively. My eyes catch sight of pinker flesh near the edge of his collar and I shudder.

I did that.

"Tevlin" I say with a nod. I want to tell him to sod off but I can't take my eyes off of that scar. Instead, I decide to be as diplomatic as is possible for me. There is room enough on the high road for two. "You've done well for yourself, brother. A lead-mage at just twenty-two."

"You as well. I've heard you made it to second-in-command in the King's Guard a few months back. Most in that position are in their late thirties if not much older."

I narrow my brow. How would he know?

"Tasha used to keep me updated on your accomplishments." He answers the unasked question. It figures. She had always been trying to get me to go back to the guild and talk to him while he was still apprenticing.

"Though how did you get the permission to come all the way down here? Is there a legion nearby?"

"I actually left the King's Guard to accompany Mina. We are headed to Zartha."

He nods, almost condescendingly but more kind. "I see. And what are you hoping to find in Zartha?"

"Answers." The vague word does nothing to shake my brother. At one point, Tevlin would have fought with me tooth and nail to try to know what I meant. Now he just stands there patiently, taking in what he can. What he is given.

He has become the likeness of Anders.

"Well I hope you find them. You and Princess Namina."

So he knows who she is. "Thank you."

Not one of us has smiled yet. We simply look upon one another with cool indifference. It is as if we are new acquaintances still trying to gauge how trustworthy the other might me.

This goes on for some time until Tevlin exhales a deep sigh and strolls over to perch on a nearby rock.

I raise one eyebrow.

"We need to talk." His eyes pierce me deeper and his tone is serious.

"About what?" I flat-line. My stomach knots tighter.

"Everything."

Everything.

In that one word there are so many emotions.

In that one word there is nearly a decade of events.

I narrow my eyes in a challenge. "Fine. Where do you want to start?"

"How about with why you've avoided me for eight years."

My eyes shift to his neck.

"You know why." The scar. The fight. The danger I put him in. My own stupidity at being caught up in something I never should have.

"Do I?"

My voice rises. "What is this, Tevlin? Is this your way of getting us to reconcile? I thought we did that the day I graduated. I thought that my keeping apart was atoning for what I did!"

His is unnervingly calm. Almost too calm. "Did you really think that's what I wanted?"

"You told me to stay away!"

The composed air finally breaks. The angry words start flowing slow at first, before rushing out of Tevlin all at once like a summer storm.

"I was fourteen, Rhys. I was mad. And I didn't think you'd actually shun me from your life! You were my only family and you simply abandoned me! The worst part was knowing how close you were all that time! We lived in the same damn city! You could have at least tried to mend this, but you never did. I convinced myself you didn't care about me for a long long time!"

His words take me aback.

My eyebrows rise. It is my turn for calm words.

"I never stopped caring."

We are silent for a long moment; the rustling of the leaves and chirping of birds barely masking Tevlin's hard breathing. It all becomes a deafening symphony of sound to fill in the place our words have left empty.

When Tevlin speaks again, the control is back mixed in with a sadness that pierces my soul.

"Then why did you not come back?"

"I didn't feel like I could. When I…when I hurt you, I felt like something had broken between us. And you were so angry, Tev. I felt damn awful and that feeling never truly went away. By the time everything had settled down I felt it was too late to make any amends. It was best to keep my distance and pain to myself."

"Is that why you indulged?"

I scoff a laugh "You mean the women and drinking? Yes I suppose its part of it. A man must take up other pleasures when his life offers him none."

"It cut me to the core to hear about it. After hearing you speak so much about mother and seeing you become fiercely protective over the girls at the guild, to hear you had started bedding whores and gambling just shocked me solid."

"Well, it was never something I planned on doing, it just happened. It has stopped though. All of it. In the last year I've drunk maybe to the point of inebriation one time instead of every other week."

"I'm glad to hear of it." He cracks a weak smile. I realize that our conversation is growing softer and warmer. Part of me is glad of it. Another part screams to keep my distance so I cannot hurt him further.

I stuff that second part far down inside me where I can no longer hear it.

"I am sorry, brother. My distance was never meant to hurt you further. Just to protect you. I did not want to face you after what I did."

Tevlin's smile grows more genuine and he pats my shoulder. Even though he was always the youngest, he was the gentler one of us two.

It was probably because I was the troublemaker.

It seems, after all, that much has not changed between us.

.

We talk some more as brothers, sitting there getting reacquainted under the shade of the forest canopy. I learn of his time under Anders's tutelage and the responsibilities and great honors he has received since graduating from the guild. I tell him of my Kings Guard days and of Ren, the good times when I was actually doing something with my life. I even fill him in a little on Mina. The blank parts are areas where he will have to ask her for the answers. They are not my parts to tell.

Slowly, like molasses at first, we thaw the ice between us. We talk of past trials and offer condolences when needed.

A small part of my heart I had not realized was so damaged begins to mend itself. Slowly.

We will need more time to fully reunite, but this has turned out to be a great start, despite it not being on either of our terms.

.

After a time, the forest around us begins to suggests we head back.
When we get to the common room, they still sit at the table but this time there are bowls set and bread out. No one else is in the room.

Mina looks up, worry and guilt etched across her face.

"Well, we've returned." Tevlin says with a small smile. I meet Mina's eyes and nod, letting her know that everything is fine. She mouths the word 'sorry.'

"Well about time. If you had not come before the next hour was up we were going to just leave you the scraps. Come sit boys. Supper is ready." Mina's friend Mara chirps happily.

My heart swells at the idea of a warm meal.

The perfect finish to such a taxing day as this.

After a quick supper we sit around and tell our story to Mara and Tevlin with Mina filling them both in on her own struggles. They listen with open ears and minds, only adding quips or comments here and there. I am filled in on the Mage's Rebellion and am surprised to find out the truth on the matter. So they are the rebellion at hand. I cannot help but to think that while this may be a good cause, Tevlin may be getting himself in too deep too fast. I had once joined a group I thought was for the better: a group of vigilantes who turned out to be nothing but trouble.

It was what had started the rift that was between us.

"We've thought of telling Anders the truth, but with so much at stake now, it seems risky you know?" Tevlin says as he finishes explaining about Ardenelle's true purpose.

"It may be risky, but you know as well as I do that he may have some insight you need. He's seen a lot in his years. And besides, he's trusting of Mina. I'm sure he'd just as soon run to aid you. Write to him." I advise.

For all the hate I once held in my heart for Anders I understand him now.

While I still don't love the man, the fire against him in my soul has quieted to embers. I'll never fully trust him, but I value his opinion.

.

I pull my shirt off and toss it to the side before grabbing the homemade soap and wet cloth. After dinner we arranged to have the two women sleep together in one room and us two brothers in the other. Mina and I hadnt minded but a strange look had passed from Tevlin to Mara. They must be more serious than I had thought before.

"By the Gods you smell." Tevlin quips as he changes.

"It's kind of hard to remember bathe when you're running away from an evil monarch." I say as I wash up.

"I still can't believe you'd risk everything for such a girl."

"I'd do anything for Mina."

"Courting the princess now are you?" he asks with a lopsided smile. I bark a laugh.

"Hardly, but from what I hear, however, you are deeply involved with her old lady-in-waiting." I change the direction of conversation.

"Ah, yes. Mara is quite the catch. She actually attacked me the first time we met. I've been in love ever since."

I smile and chuckle but turn away. I am almost jealous of my little brother's life. He has now found someone he deeply cares about while I have spent way too much time bedding tavern wenches to sate whatever feelings I have at the time. That has changed though.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

You are not the same man you were before.

"Mina seems a charming young lady though. Gave me quite the look when I read her."

That's my girl.

"Yes. She hates that. You should have seen her reaction with Anders. Read anything good on her?"

"Nothing I'm sure you don't already know. But I did detect a bond on her that I feel with you. I'm curious to hear what that is. And then there was something else. Something very strange. Almost…dark. I feel some of it on you."

"Yes. We've taken a Mages Vow." I drop the cloth back in the water basin and slip on some clean clothes. It was the one part we did not share at the dinner table. Mina never brought it up and I did not feel it my place to tell.

"And you say you aren't courting her!"

I roll my eyes, pulling the tunic over my head

"It's not like that. It was accidental. Shes…" I try to think of a way to put this. "She's magically unstable at the moment. That is most likely why you read darkness in her too. It's not something I should be telling you, though. Talk to her if you want the details."

"I will. I just wonder why I feel the strange power within you. That's abnormal for a Mage's Vow."

"Yes, well as you may have heard nothing is normal when it comes to dealing with this situation. We don't even know what this all might mean." I gesture around wildly as if I can see all our problems floating about in front of me. The shadows of my hands in the candlelight create dark movements on the wall.

"Yes it is a dangerous time. Tomorrow we can talk about my aid in your journey and maybe you could help us in deciding a few things for our revolt?" Tevlin now sits on the bed and studies me. I move towards the window, enjoying the cool air that slips in from the cracks. Early spring is chilly, even this far south.

"I suppose sounds like a plan. Though I have wondered something since arriving here, Tev. When we arrived this afternoon, the citizens were weary of us. That I can understand now. But you talked as if this building was your town hall and yet only you, the women, and I were present today. Why is that? Is it us?"

"This building is our council house, yes, but it also doubles as living headquarters and offices for me, Mara, and a few others who like to stick to themselves. You wont see too many people come in, not that they aren't allowed; just that most of the villagers would rather spend time with their own families or in some of the other establishments around here. Now if you go down the street to the local pub, that is a meeting place."

"Ah." I say, unable to think of a better response.

I glance out the window, taking in the darkness of the overcast night sky and the yellow burn of torchlight among a few of the buildings. Something below moves, catching my attention, and I watch for a moment.

A familiar figure slinks around the shadows before turning a corner. I catch a glimpse of feathers.

It seems someone else is restless this evening.

Without much thought, I push my self from the window and grab my jerkin from the chair it has been slung over, slipping it over the tunic." I think I'm going to go get some fresh air. Don't wait up for me." My fingers deftly tie the laces on the jerkin before I reach for my boots and slip them on as well.

Tevlin sinks into his thin mattress and sighs, putting his hands behind his head. "As you wish, Rhys. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight"

I slip from the door and go in search of Mina.

Things should start picking up from here! Also Namina might have to start dealing with some Daroth-made issues soon. He's not gone for good. Not by a long shot. (though he wont physically be back in the story for some time.) And next chapter more will be explained about the Forest of Night and Teeth and why they need Tevlin's help.

TekSonay: Hopefully a few of your questions were answered!

sildarmillion: So a lot of those questions were answered in the revamping of the last chapter, like the answers for the reason of rebellion (it hadn't really been stated yet, just that some mages were causing trouble in the south) Mara's involvement in the rebellion and with Tevlin will be answered in time :D I've thought of even doing a short story based on her adventures. She's a fun character.

savethemadscientist: Thank you! I hope you enjoy it as we get further along in the story!