Brotherly Love (Vanator)

[Bolden Denusk]

Timestamp: 31st of Summer, 511 AV
Location: Bolden's tent
Purpose: brotherly love *snort*

The anxious young man paced in his tent. It was sunrise, the day after Khiara's coy games and Vanator due any chime to come accusing--errr visiting. He ran a hand through his sleep tossed dark curls and muttered to himself.

Bolden began to angrily voice his thoughts, oblivious that the noise carried strongly in the still quiet dawn.

"She tells me she kissed some other guy. Says her ankle's hurt, so of course she can't ride solo. What am I supposed to do right? Like it's my fault she squirms like a glassbeak on a sword when she's on my Strider! All I did was get off the horse, throw her on some pillows and tell her it's not right to be in the tent alone with her. Then she petching slaps me?? slaps me!! Like I did anything wrong! She goes around kissing someone that my brother totally knows about and when I refuse to stay in the tent alone with her, she throws a tantrum and Van wants my arse in a sling? What about putting that woman on a leash?"

He paused for a moment to breathe and shook his head at his harsh words. One of these days he'd learn to think before he spoke.

"I was rude and it was uncalled for. I really need to apologize to her without setting off Vanator's for the billionth time.

The young Denusk stopped pacing a moment to scratch at his itchy morning stubble.

"Why the petching hells did I come back?! I've lost any place I had here--even with blood relatives. I wish Palomino was here. She'd make me laugh and forget how mad I am..."

[Vanator]

The short night of sleep did little to assuage Vanator's angst from the past evening. Bolden was as hotheaded as ever...still carrying that huge chip on his shoulder. He was sure something had occurred between the younger Denusk and Khiara, though his vanthan wife would say little about what transpired between She and Bolden. Khi did not have to, her distressed tone and the gold swirl in her eyes spoke of her discomfort. There, too, was the snippet of conversation Van had heard before Bold left their tent. Words were not discernible, but the tone of the discussion between Bold and Khiara was heated, and what Vanator had first thought was the unrelated sound of a crack, may well have been made by a hand slapping a face. He did not know for sure what had transpired, but the older Denusk was sure it would displease him. Bold's last words from the night before were enough to stir the man's ire. Van had not even eaten his morning meal, he just dressed, ran his fingers through his tangled hair and kissed Kash, Khi and the baby before heading to Bolden's tent. There were duties to assign, morning checks of the pavilion's small zibri herd and the horses, and a myriad of other tasks to perform, but this one thing needed addressed before he could go on with his day with peace. As he approached Bolden's camp, Van heard his brother's voice. Now deep, it was just changing when the teenager had left them. The older brother was about to tug on the tent flap (the equivalent of knocking on a door), but paused when he caught some of the words Bold spoke. So...Khiara did slap him. His wife would never do that without good reason. And...Bolden knew about Ronan and the kiss. It seemed like his wife and brother had discussed many things last night. Vanator's anger spiked, and he had to steel himself to resist the urge to barge into the tent. Instead, the drykas took a deep breath, and tugged on Bolden's tent flap.

[Bolden Denusk]

Bold stopped just short of groaning at the sound of Vanator outside.
'Great. I -know- he heard me yapping. He must be used to it though; he's got two wives.'

"Come in."

He wasn't looking forward to an all too familiar scolding, but like medicine, he knew it was best to just get it over with. The young Denusk moved to start some strong tea on the small cooking fire.

'Why did Kav have to teach me manners? I should be throwing it in his face, not making it for him to drink.' Bold thought darkly.

He nodded briefly to his brother. After all, he was the high and mighty Heir. Bold sat wearily on a cushion near the fire and took out the tea mugs. After what seemed an eternity the water boiled and the tea steeped. Bolden set out the cups, remembering to push Van's sapphire blue glazed cup forward as the 'honored guest' and grabbed a plain, undecorated one for himself.

'In any other clan, I'd have plenty of status, but not with Mister Heir almighty within a click's distance of me.' he thought resentfully.

The young man's body slumped and he looked like someone let all the air out of his tires. His neck and shoulders tensed, as if bracing for the brunt of a storm. Bolden really was bracing for a tempest--Vanator's temper.

From across the tent, he heard Van's stomach growl.
'Oh shyke. He didn't even eat yet--I'm gonna be the petching main course.'

[Vanator]

"Good morning Bolden." Vanator offered rather formally. He remained standing as his brother prepared the customary tea. He surveyed the tent's contents, fairly well appointed and neat. His gaze returned to his brother. Though six years had passed and the boy had become a man, Vanator could still read Bolden's demeanor. He was anxious and irritated at the presence of his older brother. Somethings had not changed. Vanator calmly took a seat near the fire, but at the distance of a guest, not a sibling. The older Denusk took a deep breath and exhaled, controlling his tumultuous feelings. "You have made quite a return little brother." He spoke, deliberately calm. His eyes had set on the fancy tea mug sitting before him, his forefinger tracing its circular rim. "It did not take long for you to fluster my wife, one of the most caring, generous and honorable women I have ever met. When you meet Kashik, I suggest you exercise proper decorum and respect, she is my first wife and the mother of my son. I will not tolerate it, nor will I restrain her from correcting your ill-manners with the butt of her spear." His hand went unconsciously to his side where once an ugly bruised marked the impact of that spear butt. "And I will ask you not to speak ill of Khiara, you do not know her." His eyes lifted to look upon his brother. Many had said there was a striking resemblance between the two men, attributed to the virility of their father's seed. Vanator was not sure he wanted to know the details of the encounter between Bolden and Khiara. He could hazard a guess, and the matter had seemed to cause enough distress in both of them. Further investigation would most likely only anger him more. Vanator paused to sip at the hot tea, offering his brother the opportunity to speak.

[Bolden Denusk]

"Morning." Bold answered tersely. He watched Vanator toy with the cup and knew it was his way of reining his temper.

The astonished young man managed not to snort in utter disbelief at the immense horse shyke about Van's second wife. What Bolden didn't realize was that his expression alone spoke volumes. His eyebrows almost touched his hair line, his amber eyes widened hugely and his mouth open in shock.

"And I will ask you not to speak ill of Khiara, you do not know her." His brother had commanded.

Seriously?

The sentence echoed in his mind at the stalemate. If Van had come here to talk about the problem but said don't talk about the problem, then what in the Gods names did he want to talk about?!

Bolden rose and threw the cup into the fire.

Fury and rage surfaced in the young Denusk's eyes and he could no longer contain it.

"What the petching hells is WRONG with you Van?! You come here to talk about the problem and then tell me not to talk about the problem?! What do we say then? The weather's nice? Breeding season needs to be planned? If you didn't wanna fix the petching issue then why did you enter my tent?"

Bolden couldn't even pace, he was so furious. Van usually had reasons for his actions and as much as the young man resented him, he still respected intelligent decisions. Coming to his tent to say let's not talk about anything made as much sense as a horse with fish gills!

"Make up your mind brother and tell me what the petching hells you want! Speak the truth or not speak at all? Which is it? Do we solve the problem with you acting as a fair impartial adult or do you tell me to shut up, take it up the arse and go away? You're mad that I left, then you're mad that I came back!"

Bolden's face was crimson with rage and he breathed heavily at the shouting. His fists clenched and his body was taut and ready to fight. It was beyond frustrating that Vanator was acting as solid as quicksand. Understanding his brother was like trying to see through a horse--impossible.

"Just man up already and tell me what the hells you want from me. Stop the games and bitching like a woman. Grab the Yvas or step off the Strider."

The young man thought of the six years of no memories, struggling to get back to his family just to be confronted with this kind of stupid posturing horse shyke. Bolden Denusk had had enough. No more. Ride or get the petch outta my way.

"I've had it! You'll either talk to me like a normal Drykas or get the petch outta my life. If you can't talk straight with your own family and choose a wife over your own flesh and blood then so be it. That's your furs to lie in. Just say so and I'm outta your face for good."

Bold hadn't even been home a full moon and Vanator was worse than ever. His whole frame sagged in dejection. He'd missed his brother fiercely; held to his memory that last week in hopes of a reunion at last.

The young man looked at the ground in defeat and sighed tiredly.

'What kind of monster am I that my own brother will never trust me? I really need to apologize to Khiara, but how can I without Vanator killing me? What have I done to make him hate me so much and trust me so little--my mouth, that's what. Why can't I just shut up when I should? I would die for him on the spot and he wouldn't even have to ask.'

All life and color seemed drain from Bolden. He was tired, had to find a way to apologize, find a life amidst strangers and those who hated him. Tired of all of it. Vanator made it clear that there was no place for him here now. In a quiet voice filled with torment that Vanator had never heard from his little brother in his entire life, Bold murmured,

"Never mind. I can pack up in less than a bell and get outta your hair."

[Vanator]

The younger Denusk finally broke, his hereditary fury rising to the surface as Van watched him fling the mug into the fire. Bolden's tirade flowed unbridled and point blank at Vanator. The older brother's own brewing anger now began to stir anew. Indignation, frustration and disappointment welled up hot and seething. The sad part was Bolden's explosion pivoted on a misinterpretation of Van's comment. Even as his younger brother's fire seemed to die out, Vanator's had boiled over. No longer interested in decorum or diplomacy or status, Vantor's jumped to his feet, all but flinging himself at Bolden. His hand grabbing a fistful of tunic, pushing him forcefully up against the center pole. "You selfish bastard! I meant not to disrespect my wife in public! Not to avoid talking to me about it. Petch! I am no fool Bolden, nor an idiot to contradict myself and talk out both holes at once. Gods you haven't changed!" His voice was loud and edgy. Pulling Bold back a bit, he pushed him against the pole again. "You want me to speak to you like a drykas? You want me to stop bitching like a woman! You arrogant son of a ..." Van paused, unwilling to dishonor his mother by completing the slur. "Alright, I will! Are you tired of my orders? Fine, I won't tell you not to talk disrespectfully of my wife to others, but I will promise I will beat the shyke out of you for it everytime. Khiara is my wife, she is part of this family, she bears a windmark and its not a matter of picking her over blood...she is much a part of us as you, who abandoned us, presumed dead for six years and left your family to deal with heartache and pain. Yes, I hold that against you. You broke Kavala's heart, you broke father's heart, you broke my heart and you broke the drykas way, you left your pavilion. Where were you when my wife died and my heart was ripped out Bolden, where were you when our sisters were practically run out of Endrykas by our clansmen? Father searched the Web tirelessly looking for you. So don't lecture me about being drykas, brother. Don't come back here with an attitude, like we owe you the petching Sea." Van let loose of Boldne's tunic, stepping back and leveling an accusing finger at him. "I am not mad that you came back Bolden. Petching arsehole I have missed for you for six years. You are my brother! And you better not run off again. If you are a man now, prove it. Face your family, face father and explain yourself to him. Send a note to Kavala and Akela so they know to no longer mourn their missing brother." He took a step towards the younger Denusk. "If you want me to stop giving you orders, stop acting like a child and man up. There are things you don't know, don't understand, even about this family." Van paused, then leaned in towards his brother's face, the gold flecks dancing in his livid gaze. "And I may be old by the grass standards, but don't underestimate me brother."

[Bolden Denusk]

There seemed an endless well of untapped rage that once again crested and surged through Bolden the moment Van put his hands on him. His mind saw only a blood red haze of fury and shoved off his brother's hands. The angry young Denusk used both of his fists, wanting nothing more than to just beat on Van till there was nothing left of either of them. Never had he been so mad in his entire life.

Bold punched the solid wooden beam holding up the center of his tent. It cracked loudly and helped vent his energy. A little.

"You wanna know about your wife Van? She played coy and sexy until I physically moved myself away, reminded her of her lover Ronan, and scolded her not to mar your honor!! Then she petching slaps me so in the end, I didn't stay alone with your wife in your tent even when she tried to persuade me to! So yea I'm the shyke pile that defends you after a six year absence."

The young Denusk gestured furiously, knowing his words to Khiara were rude but his mouth had started before his brain caught up again--as usual. He just got mad around Vanator, a lot. Bold was just fed up with always being in the wrong.

When his brother attacked his absence, his eyes nearly bulged from the sockets as he bellowed like an animal. Bolden didn't know what to do with all the rage except yell, so yell he did. Although if you asked him ten minutes from now what he said, he wouldn't quite be sure.

"I didn't abandon anyone! I was gone coz I didn't know my own petching family anymore! A stallion stomped my head like a ripe melon and I lost all memory for six years solid!! I didn't even know you existed until 10 days ago! I never would've run out on you forever. NEVER! I would die for you, Kav, the family and the pavilion, before willingly leaving you. There's nothing I can do to bring back those six years. Nothing anyone can do to turn back the clock. I did NOT run out on you. I swear on father's name, I didn't purposely desert my family of my own free will. May the Goddess strike me dead if I'm lying to you brother."

He breathed heavily and was sweating profusely as he looked at his brother.

'So tired of the anger and fighting and hate.' He thought with what little energy he had left.

[Vanator]

There would not have been a drykas in the Denusk encampment that did not hear the feuding brothers rage. The physical confrontation escalated, Bolden breaking Van's hold and directing his anger, for now, at the tent post. But the words that the young Denusk spewed out was like oil on a fire, and Vanator's temper went from hot to beyond control. How could he say such things, they could not be true. That was not Khiara, could not be. She had made a mistake once, so had he. But she was faithful and chaste and honorable. Vanator lost it. "LIES!" he yelled in a roar, lunging forward, his fist cocked back to strike at his brother. He wanted to silence Bolden's lying mouth, if it meant breaking loose his yammering jaw or bludgeoning him unconscious. But his brother was not finished, and as Van began to swing his shoulder and bring his fist around, the words Bold was yelling penetrated his madness. The revelation was a shock, and Van's righteous anger deflated. The punch balked, and with a deeply furrowed brow, Vanator lowered his fist, searching his brother's eyes for truth. "You...didn't know who you were, for six years?" Van inquired. He had sworn on father's name it was the truth. Vanator was at a loss for the moment, reconciling Bolden's hateful words and this sudden revelation. Van's words were quieter, but no less sharp. "I do not believe what you are saying about Khiara, I never will. You speak like that to me because you resent me, don't you? Looking at the two of you, I find it hard to believe she was the one who instigated the trouble. It will come to blows, Bolden, if you continue to insist she is the things you say. But, If what you say about your memory is true, than I apologize for what I have said."

[Bolden Denusk]

Bolden Denusk blinked. And blinked again. He watched his brother in stunned silence. Never in his life had Vanator ever apologized to Bold. He opened his mouth and closed it again like a fish out of water.

He collected himself and looked the golden haired man directly in the eyes. With complete respect.

"I understand why you defend your second wife. But know this: I knew you first, and I will know you last. According to the ever present family duty and honor, blood comes first, as does your word, Vanator. If you told me the sun won't rise tomorrow and give me your word of honor on it, then I trust it as truth."

The young Denusk stepped closer to Van, catching his arm in mutual respect. There were no words for the deep admiration he held for Vanator. But he tried in the best way he could think of. To not refuse his original offer. He knew he missed his brother, and thought that Van might miss his company too. A guy needed his brother's company. Women are fine diversions, but family should be with family. He didn't know it, but Bolden took his first step toward making a mature decision.

"Thank you for your apology. I will sleep in the family pavilion under the trust you've offered me, to show my respect. I will apologize to your wife. Your respect is the only thing I want. I won't let you down brother."

[Vanator]

As rain washes the dirt from the back of a horse, the tension between the brothers seemed to dissipate. Vanator was confused at first as Bolden simply stared at him, as if he heard something difficult to believe. Finally, Bold spoke up, his tone no longer edged with anger or sarcasm, and the older Denusk heard the sincerity in his brother's voice. As Bolden grasped his brother's arm, Vanator's other hand clapped the younger man on the shoulder. "You are Denusk, when the right woman gets her hooks into you, we will see who you believe." His grin broadened. But Bold was not finished speaking. "Our pavilion is large, though it may not look as large as when you left. It is your pavilion, Bolden. You have as much right to it as anyone, including my wife. I will have a partition put up for you. You know, you will have to go find father today." Van released Bolden's arm and stepped back, looking the young man over. He looked at him eye to eye, and truth be told, Bolden was a hair taller. Not as broad shouldered as Vanator, Bold was lean and well-muscled. Van paused a breath to look at him, a sense of pride stirring in his heart. He had grown into a fine man. Having Bolden back changed things. Thinking Bolden was dead, or never to return, there were things that could remain untold. But Bolden was back, and a man now. Van had always wondered about the truth, would it be better to keep it, to allow the well-meaning deception to continue, saving the family from another upheaval, or let the truth be known, as difficult as it would be to endure. Now, that question rose foremost in Vanator's mind as he looked at the man in front of him. A small ache began in Van's heart. Bold needed to know the truth, it was only right. And Vanator should be the one to tell him. But, it was immensely difficult, the memories bringing heartache and shame to the older Denusk. Bolden had only had his memory back for ten days, would this be too much? "Brother....tell me. What happened to you."