The fight didn't last as long as either one of them hoped, for Lucareus entered just when Zax readied himself for a powerful swing at his former master's side. He managed to still his blade, inches from his attended target.

His master did the same, pausing in his parry to look at Zax's older brother, his former student.

" Lucareus…what a pleasant surprise, me boy. "

Lucareus, who had been snarling at his younger brother, turned his glare on the weapons master.

" I am not a boy any longer, old man. "

The weapons master didn't look surprised at Lucareus' attitude and nearly shrugged it off, his smile never vanishing.

But he did turn to look at Zax slightly, though. And Zax could see the message his master had intended to send to him, clearly in his wizened eyes.

' Have I ever told you that you were my favorite? '

Zax stifled a laugh and fought hard to keep the smirk off his face. He sheathed his swords turning away from his brother slightly to grin wolfishly.

Lucareus noticed the humorous light in his brother's eyes when his brother turned around again and his scowl deepened.

The smirk disappeared from Zax's face when he saw his brother's scowl and starred back, challenging his brother to do anything about it.

The weapons master realized what was going on and saw the challenging light in Zax's eyes. He quickly intervened before things got out of hand.

" What did you need here Lucareus? " He asked swiftly, sensing his most recent apprentice's anxiety. He knew how Zax felt towards his older brother, he wanted the Elderboy dead.

Thankfully, Lucareus turned his uncomfortable glare on him again.

" Brother, your presence is required in the throne room. Matron Mother is waiting for you. I'd make it quick, she wasn't in a good mood. "

Zax sighed, of course his mother wasn't in a good mood. She never was unless she wanted something.

Zax, with a quick look towards his former master, turned and walked swiftly through the door, slipping past Lucareus and out into the damp hallways beyond.

Around one corner he nearly ran into Dinin and would have if it weren't for his sharp reflexes.

" Uncle! " Zax cried, steadying Dinin, who had nearly toppled over in surprise.

Dinin looked bad, his eyes had lost their usual humor he had reserved only for Zax and the confident stride in his footsteps, his shoulders were also slightly hunched over, whether in pain or exhaustion, Zax didn't know.

His eyes wide with fear of what he might find, he gently turned Dinin around, surprised that there was no resistance from the older drow.

He gasped, there was hardly any more flesh left on his uncle's back. It had all been stripped off by Briza's cruel whip.

" I'm fine, Zax…" Dinin mumbled.

" No, you aren't! We need to get you to the – "

Dinin roughly pushed him away, a snarl on his face.

" I said I'm fine! I don't need your petty concerns! I am fine on my own!" He yelled.

Zax shrank back, not used to having Dinin yell at him. Dinin was the only one in the family who didn't scream at him only for the sake of hearing their own voice. Sometimes Zax thought that he and Dinin were not nephew and uncle at all, but more of a father and son. Hearing Dinin snap at him was like a physical blow to the heart, Zax felt as if a dagger had been run through his chest millions of times. He knew it wouldn't have hurt so much if it weren't his uncle who had struck out at him.

Dinin saw the hurt in the young drow's eyes. On the inside it pained him, he had hurt his best friend, the only person who truly understood him and was always there for him, with his foul words.

But the other half of him, the cruel drow, didn't care. He wanted to be left alone, not fussed over like some helpless child by a mere boy who had just graduated from Melee Magthere a few weeks prior and barely had the strength to look out for himself.

" I can take care of myself – " He started to snarl when a cold voice cut him short.

" Uncle, I'm sorry to interrupt this, no doubt to be interesting, conversation. But my …brother's assistance is required in the main hall. " Lucareus scoffed, coming up behind Zax.

Slightly startled that his brother had managed to come up from behind both him and Dinin without either one of them noticing, Zax turned around to face the icy, red, eyes boring into him.

He fought the urge to sigh in annoyance, his brother always had it out for him.

Zax glanced at Dinin out of the corner of his eye and noticed the snarl on his uncle's face.

" Get lost, Lucareus…" Dinin growled, his voice dripping with poisonous venom.

They couldn't help it, both Zax and Lucareus raised their eyebrows in surprise and took a step back from the older drow warrior.

Zax and Lucareus shared startled looks., then, noticing that they had caught the other's gaze, looked sharply away with a snarl.

Lucareus turned to Dinin.

" You may be older than me Uncle, but the Matron Mother knows you've over extended your welcome here – "

The rest of what Lucareus was going to say was lost to the young drow as Dinin made his move. Before either one of them could react, Dinin had drawn his sword and pushed it through Lucareus' chest.

The two young Do'Urden brother's eyes widened in shock, Zax at Dinin's actions and Lucareus' seeing Dinin's sword through his chest.

Lucareus looked from the blade in his chest to Dinin, then back. He tried to speak but all that came from his open mouth was blood.

" Dinin! What are you – are you crazy? What – " Zax cried, the truth of the moment finally sinking in.

Dinin's response was a glare cruel enough to drain the blood from Zax's face.

Seeing the sword through his brother's chest and not wishing the same fate, Zax wisely shut his mouth. He couldn't hide his shock at Dinin's actions though.

Lucareus glanced towards Zax, obviously wanting his younger brother to help him out or do something. He seemed shocked to see that his brother was just standing there watching with wide eyes as Dinin shoved the sword further through the Elderboy's chest.

" B-Brother…." Lucareus managed to splutter, seeking assistance, before he went limp and his eyes glazed over.

Zax merely smirked at his brother's corpse.

" It seems I'm Elderboy now. " He grinned.

Lucareus, the Elderboy of House Do'Urden, was dead and he, Zaxar Do'Urden had taken his place.