ONE
BROTHERS

The boys burst through the door.

Chickens scattered; one moment they had been peacefully pecking the ground, seeking spilled grain and the occasional insect, the next they were squawking in protest and scurrying in all directions as the two boys landed in the village street with loud grunts.

To passersby the boys appeared as a flurry of fists, elbows, and knees rolling on the ground pecked clean by the chickens. As they thrashed about, their blows were ineffective but heartfelt as each boy sought enough leverage to land a winning strike, while at the same time prevent his opponent from punching back effectively. The result appeared to be more of a pointless wrestling match than a serious fight.

The boys appeared to be roughly the same size and age—about sixteen summers old. The dark-haired youth wore a maroon-colored tunic and leather trousers. He was slightly shorter, but possessed broader shoulders and was arguably the stronger of the two. The boy with dark blond hair was dressed in a blue tunic and leather trousers. He possessed a longer reach, and was arguably faster.

They had been raised as brothers for almost their entire lives and, like brothers everywhere, were prone to conflict in an instant. Both were handsome after a rough fashion: sunburned and possessing the lean strength gained from long hours of hard work and barely adequate food. Neither boy was stupid, but at this moment they were not behaving as if they were particularly bright.

The cause of their current conflict hurried out of the door after them, shouting angrily. "Tad! Zane! Stop this right now or I won't go to the festival with either of you."

The struggling combatants appeared oblivious to her warning as they rolled in the dust. "He started it!" shouted the dark-haired boy.

"No I didn't!" countered the other.

The girl was the same age as the erstwhile rivals. She had brown hair like Zane, and green eyes like Tad, was smarter than both of them put together, and was arguably the prettiest girl in Stardock Town.

An older woman followed Ellie from the house carrying a bucket of well water and she unceremoniously tipped it over the boys.

Shouting at their sudden drenching, the lads released each other and sat up. "Ma!" shouted the blond boy. "What'd you do that for? I've got mud all over me now."

"Then go clean yourself up, Tad." The woman was tall and regal looking, despite her plain homespun dress. Her light brown hair had some gray, and her face was sunburned and creased, but her expression was youthful. Looking at the darker lad, she added, "You, too, Zane." Her brown eyes were merry though her expression was stern. "Caleb will be here soon and then we're leaving with or without you two hooligans."

The two boys stood up, dusting themselves off as best they could, as the woman threw a large cloth at them. "Get the mud off with this, and then go to the well and rinse it out!" she admonished the two boys. "It's one of my good kitchen rags."

Ellie stood looking at the hesitant brawlers. "You idiots. I said I'd go with both of you."

"But you said it to me, first," said Tad. "That means you'll dance with me first."

"No it doesn't," said Zane, ready to resume the fisticuffs.

"Stop this before it starts again!" shouted the older woman. "Now get out and clean yourselves up!" Grumbling, the two boys complied.

"Marie, why are they always fighting?" asked Ellie.

"They're just bored." Then she looked at the younger girl. "When are you going to tell them?"

Copyright © 2006 by Raymond E. Feist.