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[Thrax]

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Ever since their last meeting, Anthraxas had seethed with rage toward his brother, Thraxanduril. Now, knowing that his god was exiled; that the Armunn Empire was no more, and that, as a consequence, he could never rule Yew by force of arms, madness overwhelmed him.

The uneventful, daily, patrols of Umbra did nothing to quell his fury. If anything, riding along with nothing to do except make sure citizens were safe, they only gave him time for his thoughts to fester, increasing his hostility and enhancing his malicious, bitter, frame of mind.

Yew should be mine! My inheritance! And now that human fool has thrown it all away!

He reflected on the rumor that his brother was a wanted man. Who would want *that* sorry sack of slime?

He determined to learn the truthfulness of the story.

Once he's out of the picture, the Commonwealth will collapse like a house of cards!

He could easily envision it---Thrax, dead, jailed, or exiled; him being granted oversight of Yew in the name of the King or the Protectorate, as a Duke perhaps? He smiled to himself.

And thus began his plan to betray and sell out his brother. But first he would talk to the Matriarch, for she was very wise, and he trusted her like no other.

[Thrax]

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Before Anthraxas even met the Matriarch to ask her advice, he had already decided upon a course of action. He may ask her later, but for right now, his mind was set.

The greater part of him was thoroughly repelled at the prospect of humbling himself before anyone less than a god, or a noted mentor like Ceinwyn. And the human potentate to whom he would have addressed himself was neither. Furthermore, should the man spurn his offer, his humiliation would be something he could not live with, and would serve only to incense him further. The more he had ruminated on these prospects, the more he realized he could not bring himself to do it no matter how it might have worked to his advantage.

There must be another way!

He reclined on a throne within the small tower he called home and considered his options. Suddenly the path to power became clear to him. His brother was in the process of becoming a great leader in Yew, despite everything. He was one with the people.

But that man is also me!

He had only to rein in his temper, polish his manners, keep patient and vigilant. He looked exactly like his brother, except that his eyes blazed blood red when angered. All he needed to do was to become him.

This will take some time.

He knew he would have to watch and observe his brother very closely for a good while, to learn any new mannerisms (that now exist that did not when they were one person); his gestures and current favorite phrases. He would have to get to know Lady Ishtar and their children better; discover their history and memorize it.

Then he had to decide if he wanted to kill his brother, or just keep him locked away, hidden, to torment him at his leisure.

That shall depend upon that big mouth of his... and my temper.

The plan was in motion. Nothing would stop him now.