The Relgarian Rebellion
The Rebellion had been crushed, and Minos Relgarian was the undisputed master of the not-so-free Territories. The battle had been long and brutal, and it had taken a forced march, overnight attack and female assassin to finally end the leadership of the Rebellion's commander. Minos did feel a twinge of guilt that the commander had been his brother, but the younger Relgarian had gone against his nature, and deserved the death he received. Their father had taught them both that in the absence of a strong, those of the lower classes would rebel and make life unlivable both for themselves and those of higher standing.
Trellvan Relgarian, the Lord of a small series of villages in the Northern Territories, had been quietly expanding his grip in the area when his two sons were born. Minos immediately took to his father's teaching, but Renald always had a soft spot for those that were closer to the ground than they. Even at a young age, Renald had been known for making friends among those far below his station, and Minos was sure that his brother had dallied with at least one of the local girls. Truth be told, the relationship had almost certainly passed over into unrequited love when Trellvan decided that Renald needed an object lesson.
It was one of the few things that Minos had disagreed with his father about. Trellvan had been sure that Renald was simply wetting his pen, but Minos knew better. Naela's death at the hands of Relgarian guards had signaled the end of the relationship between father and son, and soon Renald had disappeared into the Wilds. No one gave him a second thought until Minos began making inroads where his father left off, and the Rebellion began.
His brother had been smart enough not to announce himself as the leader from the very beginning, since Renald knew full well that there was no lost love among brothers. Instead, the younger Relgarian had gathered his forces and sent spies to speak with the soldiers of Minos's army, hoping to draw them away from conquest to liberation. Renald had little success there, since Minos promised gold, women and more gold, and his brother could offer only the hope of a brighter future. Such futures dimmed when compared the to the shine of gold piled high, and did not seem so sweet when seen next to the woman on your bed.
Renald had been persistent, however, and displayed a flair for tactics that Minos had to admit rivaled his own. He had always assumed Renald had not been listening during their father's speeches about strategy and war, but it seemed his brother had not only been storing the information away, but meant it for a greater purpose.
Even that knowledge couldn’t save Renald, however, against the brutal attack he had staged and the almost-perfect replica of Naela he had found in the city below. For good coin, she had been willing to impersonate his brother's lost love, and had done her job well. A spike with his brother's head now sat outside the new royal palace, and Minos would be king within the week.
Victory was his - if only he weren't so bored.
***
Renald Relgarian smiled grimly as he passed by the guards at the city gates. Both he and Ophie were unrecognizable to them, and even had his face been more familiar, the armored men wouldn't have been looking for it. He was supposed to be dead.
It was his brother that had given him the idea for his deception, and it so far it was working just as planned. Sending a woman that looked as Naela did all those years ago had tugged at his heart strings, but he was not stupid; she was clearly an assassin. Fortunately, she was also willing to listen to reason, combined with the promise of good coin and a better life if she were to help the cause of the rebellion. Once she had been brought on, it was simply a matter of attacking hard and fast at his brother's forces in an effort to find the item he was looking for. It took a dozen battles, nine of them losses, before he came across a dying soldier who bore his countenance. He had not seen it in years – the face of a hopeful, earnest young man and the one that his brother would surely recognize. His own grizzled visage showed only a passing resemblance to his younger self.
Renald had eased the young man's passing as best he could, then taken his head and waited for the attack that was surely coming. His three victories had come in a row and the battles had been getting easier, which meant Minos was up to something, and just before dawn broke two days later, he saw what it was. Much of the army was able to escape, but he was sure leave Ophie and her “prize” behind. Minos now believed he was the ruler of the Territories, alone and undisputed, and in his glee had let Ophie go, though his brother had paid her none of the gold promised.
With Minos confident the Rebellion had been crushed and secure in his power, real work could begin. Renald had tried his best to meet his brother on even ground, but the last two years of war had taught him otherwise. Only his skill in the art of battle had saved the rebel army, time and again, but they were making no headway. Meeting his brother head-on in engagement after engagement meant losses on both sides, and little chance for the victory of his people.
“Over here,” Ophie said softly, and he followed the tall, dark-haired woman into an alleyway. Friends of hers had agreed to house them until their business in the capital was done, and Renald hoped not to overstay his welcome, or put those who harbored them in danger.. His task was simple; he would not kill by proxy, but bring the battle to Minos instead. His brother would die by his own hand.
- D
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