The Four Swords

Chapter 124: Brother

I was stunned when Carrion's sword hung above his head as if he were trying to decide if he should take the next swing. Something was not right. No one should attack an unarmed person.

"Are you not a man of honor?!" I bellowed, stepping forward ready to block an attack with my own sword. "Your father has yielded. You have won."

Carrion looked shocked. It was almost as if he had not heard the words his father spoke, but mine finally reached him. Carrion lowered his weapon and his eyes flitted nervously between his father, his sister and my own gaze. His breath was uneven and crazed.

"Of course I am a man of honor, Brother!" Carrion offered lightly as a tense smile ran across his face.

Brother was a term that I occasionally heard the older Swordsman call each other. I had heard the endearment numerous times while my father was alive. As for myself, I did not care for it one bit. Before this moment, I thought it was because my counterparts were closer to my father than to me. I did not want them to forget their fallen.

Now the distaste for the term was sparked in a new light. No brother of mine would attack someone in such a manor.

"It's Lord Holden, if you don't mind." I offered back. I generally hated my title, but I wanted as much distance between myself and this man child as possible. Formality would have to do at present.

Carrion shot me a sideways look of confusion before offering his hand to his father. Lord Bleddyn was still on the ground. His back was to me so I could not see his expression. I could, however, see the pool of blood left behind once he took his son's hand to stand.

"Lord Bleddyn, you need a doctor!" I offered, rushing to catch his free arm around my shoulder. His leg was in pretty bad shape. Weaponry that had been misplaced by Carrion left lacerations across his person.

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I looked toward Sir Carrion. He helped his father up with his gloveless hand. Left behind on his pale palm was a streak of crimson. He stared at it for a second with his expression unreadable.

"Cali, go get some bandages from the barn." Carrion directed unnecessarily. Cali had already gotten the bandages and was tying off the most bloodied cut. "Lord Holden, if you will take my father back toward the castle, I will join you shortly."

Carrion emphasized my title in response to my earlier request. This child was insane. What would keep him from helping his own father?

"I would do almost anything for this honorable man!" I said trying to make Carrion feel the shame at delegating the task of his father's care to someone else.

I missed my mark. Sir Carrion must have thought I was trying to compliment his own character. "Perfect!" He replied with a smile.

Cali had made quick work of her job. Lord Bleddyn stared toward his son with a pained expression but said nothing. The tense silence grew as Cali went to get a horse

"I would have thought you would like to congratulate me, Father," Carrion said coolly.

Lord Bleddyn said nothing until Cali and I helped him up onto his steed. "Thank you both." He nodded toward Cali and myself.

He moved his horse into a walk and Cali and I fell in behind him, making sure he made it to the castle. A momentary glance back toward Carrion revealed him holding up the sword that so faithfully hung at his father's hip for years. He looked at it with an expression of awe.

I only stopped myself from spitting the bad taste of the interaction from my mouth for Cali's sake. She looked distressed enough already.

Cali and I both helped Lord Bleddyn into the castle's infirmary. The doctor looked alarmed, considering a normal day at court did not include so much blood loss.

"What happened?!" The doctor questioned.

"I...I fell." Lord Bleddyn cut in before Cali or myself could speak for him. "All the blades were freshly sharpened, cleaned, and polished. So at least the cuts shouldn't be jagged"

"Lord Bleddyn, please do not try to carry all of your weapons at once. It's not a good practice," the doctor scolded.

The doctor watched Cali and myself hovering closely. Neither of us knew quite what to do. I did not want to leave Lord Bleddyn to be shamed when his son showed up brandishing the Sword of the Clan of Wolves.

I also did not feel completely comfortable watching the man get stitched up. It felt like an invasion of privacy. The doctor made the choice for us.

"You've delivered my patient. Please continue about your day so that I may do the same." The blunt man dismissed us.

Outside the infirmary, I pulled Cali into an empty sitting room of the palace. I looked down the hall in both directions before shutting the door behind us.

"What is the meaning of this?" Cali looked completely confused.

"We need to talk about the prophecy!" I said forcefully. Now that matters of life and death were well in hand, we needed to discuss what we know we both saw.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cali said a bit too shortly. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. A ring on her right hand caught my attention. It looked familiar.

"You know exactly what I am talking about, Lady Calista!" I found my temper flaring. I took a deep breath before continuing in a calmer tone. "Is the entire Clan of Wolves to be trusted?"

Cali looked taken aback. I could see her own temper rage behind her eyes for a moment before she settled herself. "I would give my life for Alina. For Ensis." Her sincerity rang true.

"I believe you," I responded. "Now let's talk about what we saw."