Avris let this duel go longer than usual just to give here sister time to make the boy sweat. He would be so much easier to handle if he was almost over the edge when they finally bedded him. This also helped get the rest of the crowd to buy more drinks.

Tychus would never forget that night. It was the closest he ever felt he could ever be to his father. Now he was gone. The story he heard today could not be true. In his heart he knew that Anash had something to do with the death of Berliquwin.

He finally tired of standing there. He needed to get out of here. He wanted to hurt someone. But he could not do that here and now. He quickly walked out and when he was halfway down the stairs, he began to run.

Tears were coming down his eyes. There was only one person he could hurt and get away with. He ran straight home. The quickest way was through the market, but he didn’t want to be seen. He ran the other way to the gardens and then turned toward home. He stopped running once he was passed where anyone would see him. He walked through the woods. His father had picked a place to build their home out where they would not be near other homes. There was a reason for this. It was so visitors could come and go without being seen.

He walked right in with all his terrible feelings showing on his face. He looked at his mother. She was serving something hot to his brother. As usual his twin brother was all wrapped up from head to toe as if it was in the middle of winter.

Rage rose in him. He hated that his brother was such a weakling. He looked just like him, but barely could walk and only mother could understand anything he said.

Tychus went over to strike at his brother.

“Tychus!”

He stopped and turned to his father’s favorite chair. A black hair buxom dryad woman was sitting there. He had seen her before. She was the one that had told his father that Tychus would one day be a ruler. She was Marja.

More of Dancer:

*  Dancer Series
*  chpt 12:  Laced
*  chpt 13:  Dragon Flight