The Bond of Brothers

Gone. How could I expect anything less? I swallowed hard, trying to calm the terror inside me as I searched around in his room anyway. His bow and arrow lay untouched against the wall. Alright. He’s weaponless. I strode over to the baloney and glanced down. It was high, but not too terribly high that you couldn’t just- Oh great. He’s brainless as well. I turned and reentered the silent room, desperately trying to think of where he could have gone in such a hurry that he forgot to arm himself. Suddenly, I felt a gentle tug. Of course.The Bond. A slight relief filled me as a faint smile slowly inched it’s way onto my face. I didn’t have to know, I could track him. It led me out of the empty bedroom and down the candle lit halls. I flipped the hood of my cloak on as I dashed down the grand steps and into the main hall. Just as I was about to speed out of the door, I was stopped.

“Hold on a minute sir. You’re not allowed outside.”

Idiots. I have to get out of here. I huffed and shoved the guard aside, still aiming for the door. He and his partner exchanged looks. The guard then reached out and took hold of my arm, stopping me once more.

“I am under orders to prevent you from leaving,” he repeated with a hint of annoyance in voice. I relaxed and feigned surrender, before I ripped my arm free and burst through the doors. I had to. I had to continue to track him while it was still fresh. My shoes dug into the soft ground as I sprinted out of the castle walls. As I distanced myself with the castle, I began to doubt myself. Maybe he was perfectly fine. Perhaps he had just gone for a late night walk… by escaping through his balony. I frowned, pushing myself even harder.

It was strange to rely on the Bond. I never actually used it before, but it had grown strong in the months after it was formed. No. After he formed it to save me. It guided me through the chilling forests of my homeland, urging me to run faster still. My hood flew off and my ember hair glowed in the moonlight. I yanked my hood back on just before I stood breathless in the middle of town square. Lights adorned every house. Decorations clung to doorways, walls, and trees of my homeland. So he decided to attend the festival. I slowly strode through the streets as my breath returned to me. I flinched every time a person brushed against my shoulder. Habit. I could still feel the Bond pulling me, but it lead me away from the people. Away from the guards. Away from safety. I soon found myself engulfed in woods once more. I pushed on, my boots crunching against the dry leaves. After a moment I noticed I was in a clearing. I examined the ground. Struggle. The Bond seemed to hover in this area before it jerked me again. I looked in the direction it was pulling me in. North. That’s where he was taken.

“That’s where we have to go.”

Satisfied, I stood up and noticed a piece of parchment nailed to a tree. I cautiously walked over and wrapped my fingers around the end of it. In one swift tug, I ripped it free from the stubborn nail that held it. The note itself didn’t surprise me. They always left a note. We’ve collected over a hundred of them. But this was different. This wasn’t a note they left after they kidnapped a commoner or a lord. No. They left this one they left after they took the prince of Latania. I carefully broke the seal and scanned the contents. I folded the parchment and tucked away before turning back towards the castle. I wove my way back through the crowd at the festival, doing my best to remain calm. A gentle hand on my shoulder jolted me out of my thoughts.

“Ethel?”

I whirled around to face soft amber eyes.

“Arelia… I didn’t know you were here.”

“I could say the same to you,” she replied, smiling. She stared at me for a moment, her cheerful attitude fading. “What’s wrong?”

Of course she would notice.

I heaved a great sigh and glanced at the celebrating people around me.

“Elliot… he was taken.” Her eyes widened in shock.

“When?”

“Maybe a few hours ago, I tracked him this far with the Bond…”

“You’re... going after him.” She stated more than asked.

I nodded. She smiled sadly.

“Well, I suppose you need to return and inform Lyle,” she continued, looking away. Somehow, almost against my will, I pulled her into a gentle hug.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” I whispered.

“Yeah right…” she scoffed, returning the hug. We pulled apart at last and I turned to go, waving as I continue back. I glimpsed raising her hand in a solemn farewell before she was lost in the bustling crowd.

oOo

“Ethel, when you're under surveillance, it means stay put.” He stood in the doorway of my room, expecting an explanation for last night’s escapade. I finished pulling on my boots and stood up.

“I know what it means, but it was an emergency.” I told him before reaching for my cloak. He raised an eyebrow.

“What are you doing?”

“You know perfectly well what I’m doing,” I retorted, fastening my cloak. “The real question is, why aren’t you doing the same?” I challenged, turning to face my older brother again.

“No. I’m not going. There’s no way.” He walked over and grabbed my shoulder, gently but firmly turning me to face him. I looked into his stern golden eyes before he said,

“And you’re not going either.” I jerked my shoulder away and resumed my packing. He sighed and tried again.

“We’ll find Elliot. Search parties are the most effective way. I can send them-”

“Send them where?” I interrupted. “ You don’t know which direction they took him.”

“We can find out.” This time I sighed.

Do I really have to explain it all to him?

“Alright Lyle picture this," I placed down the bag I had been packing on my bed.

"We sit here and send out search party. They find out which direction Elliot was taken and start on the trail. Over ten people stomp through the woods, stopping at each town to refuel and ask questions.”

“So?” Lyle replied calmly. 

“So word gets out that the prince of Latania is missing. Not just to the people, who will panic anyway, but to his captors as well. They already warned us not to come after him.”

I handed him the slip of parchment I found that night. “You know what they’ll do if they hear about a search party.”

“He dies.” Lyle mumbled after reading the writing scrawled on the parchment. I nodded, glad that he was starting to see my approach. I moved to grab my pack again.

“So what good does it do if you go?” Lyle asked, snatching up my bag before I reached it.

“I have the Bond,” I reminded him. Lyle rubbed the back of his neck.

“You can track him?” He asked slowly, warily.

“I already have.They took him North.”

“It might be a trap.”

“It probably is. But what else can we do? You know very well he’s not the only one captured.”

“Of course I know. We’ve been trying to stop the kidnappings for months. Which is why I put you both under surveillance.” He snapped.

“We could finally locate the source...and free everybody held within.” I continued, ignoring his last statement. I fingered the edge of my cape, waiting for another rebuttal. When I received none, I finally asked him.

“Are you going to help me save our brother?”

He froze. Clearly, my last words hit him.

"Just.. this is all going too fast. I need time to make the right decision."

"The right deci- This isn't some diplomatic meeting. This is about our brother." I nearly snarled.

"Exactly. They want us to react irrationally on our feelings. They want us to go after him. And if you rush into this, all three of us will be killed."

I looked away.

He had a point. Ha. He had more than a point he was right. What was I thinking? I just want to help him. I wanted to save him before...before something terrible happened. Lyle is right. I can't rush into this. 

"Here." Lyle said, placing the pack in my hands. "Just wait...Okay?"

I nodded, my face displaying none of the emotions fighting inside. After he left the room I sank back onto my bed. 

oOo