Snippet #1754231

The story cut through Alexander's heart like a knife. Many knives, actually. One for every turning point in the story. What sent the deepest cut, however, was Markus describing how he could hear Tommy's last screams before he fell. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real life. It had to be a dream. A terrible, terrible dream. He brought his hands up to run his fingers through his hair, pulling slightly hard on his dark locks just to reassure himself that he could feel any sensation besides disbelief.

When his gaze lifted from the floor of their cabin house, his eyes fell onto his mother. Her face had changed colors as though she were holding her breath. Alexander immediately stood from the bench and walked over to her, wrapping her in his arms. The color in her face returned to normal as she exhaled and tears came flowing out. The cabin was silent except for their mother's cries. Alexander had never been in a place where the air felt this heavy.

"Mark, gather all of the coin you can manage." His voice was deathly quiet. He knew he would be heard. "I'll do the same. We're going to need to invest in two horses from Phillip's stable in town." Alexander hugged his mother closer to his chest before releasing her, his hands resting on her upper arms. "Tommy was killed for an impecible gift he was given at birth," tears now flowed down Alexander's face. Though his heart was filled to the brim with pain, a new emotion began to churn inside of him. It started out as a small flickering flame of anger until it began to strengthen. For the first time in his life, he felt as though he knew what it felt to burn from the inside out. His skin felt as though it would be hot to the touch. The pain in his heart moved aside for the thirst for revenge.

Alexander's eyes returned to his remaining brother. "I believe that you did all that you could. Tommy's last effort was to save you, and you fulfilled his last wish. I'm... proud," he wasn't sure if that was the right word. If he had stayed, could Markus have saved them both? "Of you. Today, we prepare. We'll need to pack all of our hunting and survival gear and anything we'll need to take care of the horses we'll buy today." Alexander left the living room to his room, of which he shared with his brothers, to begin gathering his things. He continued voicing his plan outloud from there. "Tomorrow... We set out to show the king and all of his pathetic soldiers just how mighty our detested gifts are. Then Thomas will look down at us from the heavens and be proud of us for making him a powerful name."