Nazriel and I grew up in a small mining town called Seka.

The town was not much, a few stores and some governing buildings. Everyone knew everyone else. Nothing went on without someone knowing about it.

My father left my mother and me when I was born. My mother quickly remarried, needing the support of another to provide for us. But the man she married was an evil man. He would work in the mine and come home to a bottle of cheap whiskey. He would beat my mother and me, sometimes to the point of blacking out.

Then mother became pregnant with Nazriel. Her joy was short lived when my step father learned of the pregnancy. He went on a rampage, insisting he was not the father and beating her bloody for her alleged affair. Our mother mustarded up the strength to grab a nearby fireplace poker and struck him across the face. She continued to strike the poker across his head, until he stopped breathing.

I helped my mother bury his body in the woods outside of town. She made me promise never to speak of this and told me when asked about my step dad, to tell them he left us. I promised and never told a soul, even Nazriel. After then she turned to doing brothel work.

Years after Nazriel was born, we were down an alleyway between two shops playing. I was playing as a highway man and Nazriel was the noble knight protecting the treasure of the queen. We had fashioned swords from sticks and were going back and forth in our battle for the treasure, when Thomas Cathory shouted down the alley at us.

“If it isn’t the bastard twins, where’s that mother of yours? I found some coin on the street, figured that would be enough for a go at her.” shouted Thomas down the alley. Thomas always teased us just as the rest of the children of the town did. It hurt us both, but I was always able to shake it off. Nazriel on the other hand always took it badly.

Thomas began walking towards us. Nazriel kneeled down, gripping tightly onto a metal shard. I then realized what Nazriel had planned to do. As I went to stop him, Nazriel pulled away lunging at Thomas. The shard pierced his abdomen. He then pulled it out and continuously thrusting the shard into Thomas’s stomach. I was in shock. It wasn’t the first murder I had seen, but my little brother committing such a crime was alarming to me.

I grabbed Nazriel’s hand pulling it away from Thomas. He spun around giving me a blood thirsty look. It chilled me to the core as he stared into me, trying to decide what to do. Luckily and damning at the same time a patrol man walked by the alleyway. He could see Thomas’s lifeless body just lying at our feet.

The guard shouted for back up. We darted at the guard, just dodging his grasp. We ran into the market square. Guards began swarming toward us. Our small legs began to pump harder, giving the rest of our bodies a hard time keeping up.

We dashed into the nearby woods and continued sprinting. I looked back from time to time, to see if anyone was still chasing us.

I saw no one, but I didn’t want to take the chance of being wrong.

We ran for what seemed like forever, before falling to the ground.

Our legs ached, we could not go on.

“Do you think they are still following us?” Nazriel asked.

“I don’t know…I kept looking back seeing nothing. I don’t think they would give up the chase to easily.” I replied as I glanced in the surrounding directions. “We have to go back. We can’t leave mother.”

“They will see us hang, if we go back there. Mother will understand.” he replied. I thought back to the night we buried my step-father, thinking perhaps she would. At the time, the concept of murder to me wasn’t what it is today. Then murder was murder no matter the reason.

We began to hear branches snap and leaves rustle. Out of the brush stumbled a guard. Surprised to see us, he hastily drew his blade. Nazriel and I pushed ourselves from the ground, gritting our teeth as our muscles ached.

“Stay right there! Over here I found them!” shouted the man.

Nazriel grabbed a handful of dirt, throwing it into the man’s face and quickly began running again. I took after my brother, but was stopped by the guard snatching the back of my collar.

“Nazriel, help!” I shouted out. The guard pulled me back, wrapping his arm around me. I struggled to get free, but he was to strong. I squirmed and fought all in vain.

Then the man let out a deep humph. His clutch loosened. I freed myself and whipped back to see what had happen. There Nazriel was with a large piece of wood.

“What would you do without me?” he said, with a content expression.

“I wouldn’t be here…” I replied. Nazriel’s expression quickly changed.

Several more guards came from the surrounding brush, swords drawn. Nazriel jumped for the fallen guard’s sword, but was stopped by one of the men. They grabbed onto our wrists, slapping iron cuffs around each, and began dragging us back to town. We kicked and fought all the way, to no avail.

Once back in town we were taken before the magistrate. Our mother was forced to come for our sentencing. During the whole time she cried. Neither one of us had the courage to look her in the face.

The magistrate swiftly sentenced us without hearing our side. His decision was for us to be hung until dead. The sentence was to be carried out immediately.

My brother and I were taken out into the market square and marched up the steps to the gallows. Our mother was standing, staring up at her sons. Her hysterical cries made the experience even more un-nerving, if it were possible.

The local priest came forth and said a prayer for us. It somewhat lightened the mood for me, given we had never been allowed in the church due to my mother’s reputation. He gave us his blessing and walked down from the stage.

Everyone in town was gathered to see us. The looks on their faces were of disgust. They cursed us and our mother. I looked down at my mother. If I was to die, I would die looking at the most noble woman I knew.

“It’s okay, mom. I love you.” I whispered down to her. The executioner smacked me across the face with the back of his hand.

”Shut your mouth, you filthy urchin.” said the man. The crowd cheered him as he back handed me again. My mother ran up the stairs and began beating on the hooded man. He grabbed her by the throat throwing her off the front of the gallows. The crowd cheered louder.

“You bastard! I will rip the heart from your chest!” Nazriel

shouted trying to free his hands from his back. I too pulled with all my might to unchain myself. The cold metal peeled the skin from my wrists, but did not free me.

Screams began coming from a short distance away. Everyone turned their attention to the distress. Nazriel and I continued to try to break free.

Everyone began running frantically out of the square. I then turned my attention to the crowd. I saw a man leading a small army into the town. The army was attacking guards and fighting back who ever tried to resist.

“Nazriel, look!” I shouted to my brother. Nazriel looked out at the approaching army.

We stood there watching the army come closer, destroying the forces before them. I thought at first we would be killed as well.

Even if we were able to get loose, we wouldn’t be able to run from an army so large.

The man leading the assault rode up on his horse, looking at the two of us. Nazriel and I just stared at him. He seemed to be sizing us up. My mother pushed herself up and came running up the stairs.

“I’m guessing these are your boys?” the man said smirking.

“Yes, they are good boys, sir. They just made a mistake.” replied my mother, holding us in her arms.

“Oh? What was the mistake?” the man asked.

“It wasn’t a mistake! He deserved what he got!” shouted Nazriel. My mother quickly covered his mouth with her hand.

“It’s been a trying day for us, sir.” my mother replied.

“Well if he deserved it, then I guess you are free to go, but only under one condition.” Said the man, dismounting his steed,

“They join our forces. I will see to it they are taken care of.” My mother held us tighter. I could see her choice written across her face.

She unscrewed the shackles and cuffs.

“You two will have to go with this man. If you stay here, these people will see you dead at some point. I will see you two again, I promise.” she said, teary eyed.

The army spent a few days in town installing new leadership and guards. This time was spent trying to make sense of the past few days and preparing ourselves for the future. My mother must have expressed her love for us over and over during those few days. I feared what would happen to her once we left and the citizens came for revenge.

The day came for us to leave. We met with the man leading the army at the edge of Seka’s gate.

“I will see to it they are well fed and taken care of.” insured the man.

“I don’t know whether to thank you or hate you. See to it they get back someday in one piece.” replied mother.

“You have my word, though it’s not worth what it used to be.” said the man.

“I must ask, why them? There are other children in town.” she inquired.

“I two have made mistakes. When I was their age, I had somewhat of the same troubles. I remember needing a hand and there was not one to be given. I may be a man of many vices, but I’m also just that, a man.” said the man. My mother seemed to be reinsured after his words.

The man signaled for us to join the army’s formation. We took our place in front of the other men. He then bowed to our mother and mounted his horse. The man then rode over to the front of the soldiers and the two of us.

“The name is General Morrg Mantus, gentlemen. Under my command you will become two of the most well trained forces in Moy’s army, is that understood.” Morrg asked.

“Yes, sir.” we both replied.