Chapter Thirteen: Brothers
Hugo leaps onto the middle of the wildflower field with his sword raised. Aaron in urgency holds Iolene tightly and rolls himself and the empress out of the way. Hugo's sword slams onto the ground creating a large slice in the earth. Cutting many wildflowers as petals and leaves fly everywhere.
Lei unsheathes his spear as he races toward the stranger. Hugo using his shield blocks the spear. Lei uses light feet quickly as he tries to trip the man over.
"I do not care!" Lei says with no waver. Standing between Aaron, Iolene and the brown-haired man.
"HUGO!" Aaron yells furiously. As he lets Iolene go, the Empress lying underneath him frozen as Aaron prepares to use his body as a shield.
"BASTARD!" Hugo shouts in reply.
"No Hugo!" Iolene pleads. Shuffling from Aaron and stands up as Aaron follows. Stretching her right arm out to try and shield Aaron from Hugo,
"Hugo?" Lei connects the dots in his mind. He has heard that Hugo is the younger brother of Alphonse. Being still and calm Lei decides to listen to Hugo.
"Yes, I am Hugo... Your Highness." He mockingly bows to Lei.
Lei shrugs off the bow as Hugo stretches his arms out as he bent to the waist. Breaking royal protocol form is rather rude if done in his country. He could not tell if it was mocking or just ignorant.
Lei steps forward with his spear pointing to Hugo. "Leave!" Lei demands.
"I repeat! I am not here for you foreigner prince. I am here for the bastard and Iolene. Miss me lovely?" As Hugo blows Iolene a kiss.
Iolene shudders as it felt the air kiss touched her. Her remembering her days with Hugo. King Marlowe encouraged with earnest for her to become friends. Hugo showed much interest in her but not in what she hoped. He loved to brag and never asked what she was interested in. Hugo shrugged off her interests, even when she tried to share. He was a boy then... Now he is a man grown, prepared to fight the person he despises so much.
"If you do not move out of the way! I will attack you!" Hugo shouts.
"You must loath Aaron if you desire to create a war between our countries." As Lei couldn't believe it. A conflict immediately arises in his mind. He is the third prince of a repairing nation. He is of great importance as he very well knew it. But Aaron is his friend. A real friend... He knew without a doubt Aaron will protect him. He would never forgive himself if he lost Aaron to this idiot.
"Fine then!" Hugo says as he lunges forward at Lei. The clanking of the shield and spear can be heard as Lei and Hugo fight.
"LEI!" Aaron shouts. The two stop fighting and face Aaron.
"This is between me and Hugo," Aaron admits. He does not want Lei a prince of the Blue Empire to get hurt. Especially in defending Aaron. Hugo wants to kill him... He will let him try, Aaron has had enough. Wanting to live his life in peace. He will never have peace if Hugo never learns his lesson.
"Aaron..." Lei and Iolene say at the same time.
"Good!" Hugo says clanking his sword and shield. "
Aaron is defenceless with no weapons as Hugo leaps with his sword and shield. Aaron with much restraint of his strength pushes Iolene away, causing her to fall onto the ground. Aaron then jumps backwards as Hugo waves his sword trying to hit Aaron.
"Iolene are you alright?" Aaron yells as he dodges Hugo's sword.
"Yes." She says flustered as Lei rushes to her aid. Lei helps her stand as he picks out flower petals from her hair.
"How DARE YOU! Could have at least given me time to get away from her." Aaron shouts with such venom he sends shivers down Hugo's spine.
Aaron dodges left and right as it is all Aaron can do. Thinking of a way to disarm Hugo. He could have asked Lei to borrow his spear. But Aaron hated using spears and would not know how to disarm Hugo. Not mentioning he does not want to take Hugo's life as tempting his death seems to be.
Aaron chose instead to use agility instead. Hoping to make Hugo exhausted. Hugo laughs with his advantage. A traditional warrior trained with a sword and shield. Strong but slow... Mainly trained to be defence. Aaron even admits Hugo does have good form and stance. Circling around Hugo it becomes a dance.
Iolene squeezes Lei's hand and holds her breath every time Aaron took a step.
Aaron in a successful turn manages to kick Hugo on the back. Hugo stumbles as Aaron punches him squarely on the nose. Lei and Iolene cringe as a crack can be heard. Hugo tries his hardest to ignore the blood coming from his nose. He swings his sword at Aaron repeatedly. Missing all times as Hugo begins to slow down. Aaron then manages to grab Hugo's arm and flips him around. Aaron kicks Hugo's shield into the forest.
Only with a sword in hand, Hugo waves it at Aaron again.
"Aaron isn't even phased..." Lei points out.
"He has been through worse," Iolene says as she watched on.
Hugo's exhaustion overtakes him as Aaron notices his loosening grip. It was only a matter of time until Aaron overpowered him again. Tripping Hugo over, Aaron's inner anger flared. Sitting on Hugo's chest, punching his face again and again.
This is what it feels like! He thought at every punch.
"Aaron!" Iolene shouts and he stops. Looking at his knuckles covered with abrasions and blood.
"YIELD!" Aaron demands as he picks up the sword and points it to Hugo's face.
"Yield..." Hugo whispers as he can feel the blood from his nose trickling down his lips and chin. His brown hair clumped from sweat and dirt as his face ached.
The duel is over as Hugo raises his hands in surrender. His nose is broken and his face swelled bright red with pain. Aaron steps away breathing heavily as his body trembles. Iolene runs to Aaron.
"Are you okay?" Iolene asks urgently to assess Aaron for any injuries.
"I'm fine," Aaron says gently as he gives her an embracing hug, kissing her softly on the forehead. Iolene closes her eyes and smiles. As she felt giddy with happiness. But quickly gets to work with healing Hugo.
Aaron turns around to face Lei and the two sigh with relief. "Impressive," Lei says. "You had no weapon to claim Hugo's sword."
"Don't annoy an Iqosha soldier." Aaron jests. "I'll carry Hugo back to the castle. They are probably going to sentence me to death for this..."
"Not on my watch friend. I will use my prince's word to defend your actions. Hugo attacked us and attacked a prince. Not very smart..." Lei says with a cheeky grin.
The quietness is over as Iolene shrieks out a name. Aaron turns around as he sees gleaming steel reaching to his face. Aaron in a split moment jumps back, but it was not fast enough. His vision turns black as he collapses onto the ground. His last conscious memory of the event was in immense pain with his mouth being filled with the metallic taste of blood.
