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[Thrax]

---

Thrax paced in his study. He was in a pensive mood. Initial correspondence with the King had gone well overall, but a major obstacle remained, one brought up by the King in their latest talks. His thoughts were interrupted by the unannounced appearance of Anthraxas. Thrax glared at him. "Don't you knock?!" he blurted, shrilly.

"Did I disturb you unduly?"

Thrax snorted derisively. "Oh no. Sudden daemonic presences have no effect on me whatsoever," came the sarcastic reply.

Anthraxas scowled. "Maybe I should return later," he said, backing out. "When you're in a better frame of mind."

Thrax calmed. "No, no. You're here. What do you want?"

Anthraxas entered and sat down.

"Have a seat," his counterpart offered, extending his hand to the chair the man had just seated himself in. He sat down also, locking eyes with him from across a broad stone desk.

"I perceive you are troubled over these talks with the King."

Thrax withheld the next sacrcastic remark that came to mind. "In fact, I am. The King has refused categorically to accept the designation, "Commonwealth" to describe our venture. Apparently it gives the impression that we are a kingdom within a kingdom."

"It does."

Thrax scowled. "That is *not* our intention! There will be no nobility class in Yew! Hence there can be no new kingship."

"Intentions do not matter; perceptions matter. It is not what the truth is, but what is perceived to be the truth, by the majority."

"You lecture *me* on truth?"

Anthraxas smiled. "Think of it as you lecturing yourself. Our minds are not so different. It is the way it was, and always shall be."

"Please!"

Anthraxas ignored the protest, continuing. "Just call the Commonwealth something else. You would not allow a simple word like that to hold up unification, would you?"

"He would."

His twin shrugged. "He has more at risk. He has offered to bargain and that is something. He cannot lose face. You know, he could declare you all rebels and ignore you, or worse. I think you should bend a little, brother. I mean, your plans for the Academy and all; you would sacrifice that for pride? For a simple word?"

As much as having someone he detested lecturing him on politics and morality, he had to grudgingly admit that his brother had a point.

But what does he care anyway?

"What you say may be good, but what is *your* game? What do you hope to gain? Has he promised you something if you will sway my mind?"

"Now you are being paranoid. I have never met the man, nor communicated with him in any way. My livelihood is at stake here too. This is my home and I do not want to see everything turned into a stinking dunghill because of your insipid pride." His voice was tense; his anger was rising. He got up and leaned across the desk, his face moving close to his brother's as he propped himself up with his arms. "Listen to me! You are on the threshhold of attaining what I... we... have always wanted! If you let it slip through your fingers, you will have much more to deal with than the ire of a King!"

Thrax shot back. "You threaten me?!"

"No, I promise you! Surrender your pride and take what you can while you can." He stood up straight. "Besides," he added, turning to leave. "There is also that which I came to tell you."

"What might that be?"

Anthraxas was halfway through the door and did not look back as he replied, "Lady Tempt can tell you more, but, orcs are on the move."

[Thrax]

---

Finding that Lady Temptation was resting at the temple in Alderglen, Thrax decided to talk to her later, and instead paid a visit to Yew to investigate things for himself. Anthraxas, scouting as usual, offered to go with him, but he refused.

In town he overheard talk of orcs but he took it as nothing more than rumors, until he stopped to talk to the healer guildmaster.

His movements were noted by four men, all peasants down on their luck. "There the lame dog is," one said, pointing Thrax out to the others as he entered the healer's house.

"He's worth a hefty half million gold I hear. Sure could use that! Cursed orcs been stealing my crops and little left for food for the baby," another chimed in.

"Aye, same here. This 'Commonwealth' has been nothing but talk; hasn't done a thing for me."

"Yeah, but half a million gold would!"

The four briefly collaborated on a plan.

Thrax exited the building, his fear mounting. Orc bands *had* been sighted close to Yew: livestock had been reaved and crops had been stolen. So far, though, there had been no known attacks on citizens or their dwellings.

"Good sir," the shabbily dressed man saluted Thrax. "Could you help me? I have a little problem."

"What is it, friend?"

The man pointed to a section of wooded area not far from the healer's house. "It's my wife. She's expecting. On our way into town she tripped and fell and broke her ankle. She's a bit heavy-set and I need some help getting her to the healers place here."

Thrax glanced to where the man pointed. He felt unsure, and a bit wary, but the man's tone seemed genuine. Besides, he thought, he was wearing his plate armor and had his weapons with him. He smiled. "Surely friend. We'll get her here."

"Most kind of you sir," replied the man, leading the way, jabbering a little too much to Thrax's liking. He led him to a Yew tree where clothes lay piled on the ground. "Oh gods!" he cried. "She's gone!!!"

The prearranged signal words sounded, several crude vine ropes looped suddenly around Thrax's upper torso, pinning his arms to his sides. Two men dropped out of low boughs of the tree and pulled on the ropes they held hard enough to topple him backwards.

"Curs!!! Stop!!! G..." Thrax cried, but his call for guards was stopped by the man who led him there as he slammed a club against his unprotected head, knocking him senseless and speechless.

The man laughed. "Guards will be here in short order, "friend" but it won't be the one's you'd prefer! It'll be the King's guards coming for you. You're worth quite a lot."

As they bound and gagged him, Thrax noticed a small crowd gathering to watch. One man dared to say, "Let him go!" but his feeble protest was drowned by an assailant's threat, "Shut your face, Jacobs! Or you'll get the same!"

Thrax looked on, his eyes wide with pleas for help, but nobody moved. Women grabbed their children close, men stood by passively.

No one is lifting a finger to help me! Thrax noted. The greatest pain came from seeing a man for whom he had paid a sizeable debt, and who had cheered him during his speeches, look briefly at him and turn away to walk away.

Hoofbeats resounded and the voice of a madman was heard: "Corp Por!! Corp Por!!! Corp Por!!!" Thrax watched as bolts of pure energy slam into the men, one after the other. Three quickly slumped to the ground and the leader ran off into the woods, followed by Anthraxas on his fallen charger mount. A shriek pierced the air as Thrax witnessed his brother driving his kryss into the back of the man's neck, dropping him like a sack of meat. Anthraxas wheeled about and hurried back to where his brother lay, trying uselessly to remove his bonds.

"Good thing I didn't take your snub as an insult, brother," he teased as he cut through the ropes and helped Thrax to stand.

The crowd had grown, but only to observe the carnage of the bleeding, smouldering, bodies.

Thrax brushed the remnants of the ropes off and wiped blood from his face. His lower lip quivered in rage and as he spoke to the bystanders, his face was livid. "You just stood there!! Why didn't you help me... friends?!!!" he shouted at them.

One man spoke up, one Thrax recognized as someone he thought was loyal to him. "We're not warriors. W...we can't fight. We're just farmers." And then seeking to justify himself, he added, "You're supposed to be the ones to protect us, not the other way around."

Thrax's only response was a sneer and to spit blood on the ground at his feet.

Anthraxas cast a gate travel spell. "Come, let's go home. That wound needs treatment."

The crowd whispered among themselves, noting the exact similarities in the faces of the two men.

Stunned, hurt and disillusioned, Thrax wordlessly followed his brother through the gate.