Kelton moved toward his father with a casual air. He forced himself not to look at the Unseen, who lingered behind the waiting group of makeshift undertakers. The Brother shifted at the edge of Kelton's vision as he approached, attempting to keep as many Seen between them. The man who helped the Brother carry the body became confused, causing a few words of annoyance that Kelton ignored.
"We are near the end," Kelton called to his father. "Would it not be best to begin a gathering? We owe so much to so many."
"Aye," the King replied, looking away from his task. "Lord Brandish could arrange such a thing." Concern warped his face. "Did he survive? I have been so busy. I have not..."
"Aye," Kelton interrupted. "I saw him organizing the care of the wounded." He pointed into the trees, away from the hiding brother, another sign of attention being elsewhere. "A good man for such a task - always concerned with the numbers."
"I should be more aware," Gregory said.
"It is this duty - a gruesome thing," Kelton said, shaking his head. He looked at the others briefly. "Rest a moment," he said, signaling for them to lower their burdens before shifting his attention back to his father.
The hiding Brother dropped the body and mixed into a group of three, keeping them between him and Kelton. They all sat, welcoming the reprieve, the brother farthest away. The confrontation was not going to be without risk, and it was not going to get less so.
"We have been asked to do too much," Kelton said to his father, then turned to the others. "All of us have."
There were agreements, both verbal and nodding. The Brother's response was delayed, a silent acknowledgment meant to mirror the others. Kelton stepped forward and shifted so there was nothing between his eyes and the Brother.
"Do you not agree, Brother?" Kelton asked.
The Brother jumped to his feet as if he had been ready for a battle. Swords appeared from beneath his cloak, held in the style of the Nagada. Then he did something Kelton did not expect; the Brother backed away from the others. Kelton had expected an attempt at hostages, or perhaps an attempt to take as many with him. Maybe the man had become addled or suddenly decided to value others' lives.
"The two of us then," Kelton said, nodding with respect as he put himself between the unarmed and the Brother. Spider's-bite found air.
"It is a waste to end one such as me," the Brother said. "You will need me when they come to claim the Promise. There will be many." He was still backing away. Perhaps he was preparing to run.
"Let them come," Kelton said. The Brother's eyes followed Spider's-bite as it spun through the air. It was as if the movements of the blades held him in a trance - or perhaps he recognized them.
"You must relish war, for you have destroyed the peace," The Brother said, still stepping backward. "The worlds of men will come for this land. Without me, you will face one army after another." There was unhidden fear in his words, his eyes still entirely upon Spider's-bite.
"We need you not, Dar'quid," Kelton said. The use of the Brother's Nagada name forced his eyes to meet Kelton's, verifying what Kelton had surmised. "You will not leave this field. By my hand or a hundred arrows, your days end now."
"There is wealth," Magna'est said. "Kingdoms need coin, and the Brethren have gathered much. My end will only weaken your purse."
"You misjudge me; I have no greed for coin or kingdoms," Kelton said. They would find whatever coin existed soon enough anyway. "I came back to this land to seek my love and nothing else." He stepped closer to Magna'est. "You and your kind forced me into this hellish war. Now I shall end it."
