"Zaire!" Vasili hollered at his brother before mouthing an apology to
his mother for his rudeness. Zaire turned hesitantly toward his brother.
"What is wrong with you this morning?" he inquired of his twin.
"Haven't you heard?" Vasili looked imploringly at his brother. "The
hawklets are back from their outing."
Zaire had forgotten that the young avian girls had been sent to the synkal for dance lessons. The Namir-da was fast approaching. Although he was sure the young Ladies looked ravishing with the bright sun causing their flushed skin to glow, her was utterly surprised that Vasili had noticed.
"Come on Zaire let's go watch as they make their way across the courtyard!"
"I'm already late for my lessons with Erica" Zaire answered. Erica Silvermeade had become head of the avian army when Andreios resigned his post to marry.
"Come on Zaire!" Vasili protested. "There hasn't been a battle since long before we were born. Why continue with this nonsense?" "You can't be to careful Vasili!" Zaire answered sighing heavily. "Maybe tomorrow." He fixed his eyes steadily onto his plate, not wanting to meet the hurt in his brother's gaze. "Well all right, I'll tell you about it later then." "You know" Danica began, placing her hand warmly on her sons. "Erica would understand if you missed just this once. There really is no need to continue these visits anyway." She shook her head sternly eyeing the bruises on his forearm. "If something does happen I don't want to sit and watch people die. I don't want to have to run away. I don't want to depend on the Royal Flight." His voice echoed through the hall. He stepped back, surprised at his anger, which was usually so well hidden. "Zaire...." Danica's voice tight with anger at her son's sudden outburst. Zaire was out the door by the time she was finished the statement.
"All right Zaire, let's see what you got." The sparrow ordered holding tightly to her knife. Zaire didn't need a second order. He flicked out his dagger (which was tied to his left wrist at all times) Blocking Erica's attack with surprising skill he delivered a deadly blow towards her stomach. Blocking as well as she could Erica managed to get by with a small wound to his side. She recovered quickly sending a sharp hit to his shoulder. Biting back the pain Zaire returned the "favor" only pure anger driving him on. "Good, very good." Erica narrowly escaped yet another love tap.
Zaire winced in pain the usually dull knife cutting into his arm. Shocked as the blood ran down his arm he pushed Erica against the near by wall pinning her there, his dagger at her throat. Erica looked up into surprises to meet Zaire's fiery eyes blazing like fresh cut rubies. "That's enough for now" she whispered voice soft for Erica knew what might come from an angry cobra.
Zaire was disappointed in himself. He had no right to take his anger out on her. "Erica, I'm sorry!" he whispered as he released his hold. "I'd be disappointed if you couldn't out best me now and then." Erica replied, visibly shaken.
Zaire had forgotten that the young avian girls had been sent to the synkal for dance lessons. The Namir-da was fast approaching. Although he was sure the young Ladies looked ravishing with the bright sun causing their flushed skin to glow, her was utterly surprised that Vasili had noticed.
"Come on Zaire let's go watch as they make their way across the courtyard!"
"I'm already late for my lessons with Erica" Zaire answered. Erica Silvermeade had become head of the avian army when Andreios resigned his post to marry.
"Come on Zaire!" Vasili protested. "There hasn't been a battle since long before we were born. Why continue with this nonsense?" "You can't be to careful Vasili!" Zaire answered sighing heavily. "Maybe tomorrow." He fixed his eyes steadily onto his plate, not wanting to meet the hurt in his brother's gaze. "Well all right, I'll tell you about it later then." "You know" Danica began, placing her hand warmly on her sons. "Erica would understand if you missed just this once. There really is no need to continue these visits anyway." She shook her head sternly eyeing the bruises on his forearm. "If something does happen I don't want to sit and watch people die. I don't want to have to run away. I don't want to depend on the Royal Flight." His voice echoed through the hall. He stepped back, surprised at his anger, which was usually so well hidden. "Zaire...." Danica's voice tight with anger at her son's sudden outburst. Zaire was out the door by the time she was finished the statement.
"All right Zaire, let's see what you got." The sparrow ordered holding tightly to her knife. Zaire didn't need a second order. He flicked out his dagger (which was tied to his left wrist at all times) Blocking Erica's attack with surprising skill he delivered a deadly blow towards her stomach. Blocking as well as she could Erica managed to get by with a small wound to his side. She recovered quickly sending a sharp hit to his shoulder. Biting back the pain Zaire returned the "favor" only pure anger driving him on. "Good, very good." Erica narrowly escaped yet another love tap.
Zaire winced in pain the usually dull knife cutting into his arm. Shocked as the blood ran down his arm he pushed Erica against the near by wall pinning her there, his dagger at her throat. Erica looked up into surprises to meet Zaire's fiery eyes blazing like fresh cut rubies. "That's enough for now" she whispered voice soft for Erica knew what might come from an angry cobra.
Zaire was disappointed in himself. He had no right to take his anger out on her. "Erica, I'm sorry!" he whispered as he released his hold. "I'd be disappointed if you couldn't out best me now and then." Erica replied, visibly shaken.