The Heartland
It was warm that day, most unseasonably so. The sun beat down hard and fast making the very air shimmer around the two men. Both peered across at each other in that heat. Green eyes stared into brown, each watching, and gauging the other. These men had faced each other many times before, each leading his troops forward into the fray. The battles were often long and grueling, sometimes lasting well into the night only to be rejoined again in the morning. The losses had been great over time but it was a battle that continued with an almost unyielding intensity.
It was time for someone to fall, wrong decisions had been made and flanks had been exposed. The losses had been slow at first. Then the defenses had fallen apart. He had tried to recover, redirect his attack elsewhere and find a weak point. But everywhere he went it seemed his opponent was always a step ahead and the losses continued to mount.
"For god sakes Robert will you MOVE already!"
Robert Braxxx shook his head clearing his wandering thoughts and looked across at the sitting form of his half brother. "I'll move when I am ready! Don't rush me!" Ignoring his half brothers grunt of frustration, Robert continued to stroke the ivory chess piece in front of him. He was in trouble and he knew it. Victory would not be his this day. "Lord I hate losing " he muttered under his breath eyes sweeping the board.
"What was that Robert? Are you willing to surrender?" The smiling form of Nathaniel only increased Robert's already rising level of irritation. It was hard enough losing to his whelp of a brother, but to be taunted was quite another situation. Peering over the evil smile that had been the last sight for so many men Robert hissed, "No...not at all if I can't win this I will damn well make you sit here until you get heat stroke." Robert's head lowered again considering the board.
Several hours later both men rose from the board. Each man stretching, Nate spun Robert's King in his hand. "You know, we could play a lot more if you would simply admit when you're beaten." Robert walked over to the edge of the porch of Nate's Wispy Willow home. "And you would do to remember I am your older brother and you should respect me better." Robert added over his shoulder pausing to stretch his stiff muscles. Hearing the thump of Nate's boots behind him Robert turned his head slightly to see his brother stand behind him patting his back. The green eyes full of mischief Nate simply smiled and continued to pat his back. "Yes oh ancient one, thank you for the honor of making me the victor." Nate turned a bit and headed into the house for something. Before the porch door slammed though Nate added over his shoulder in a loud enough voice to be heard clearly, "Again...that is."
Robert shook his head and was going to yell something about respect but it was lost as Nate made his way into the house. Instead, he peered out into the distance of Nate's land. Beautiful country it was, with rolling hills that stretched forever into the distance. One could stand on top of one of those little hills and see for miles around; Robert swore he could see the other end of RhyDin standing atop one of those hills. The sweet smelling air was a far cry from the smoky Inns and the smell of old ale that always clung to those places. Robert often thought of this as the heartland of RhyDin--Where people still worked the land and continued to live a simple life, free of the comfort of magic and technology. Where a day of sweat still meant something and people were not so guarded.
"You brooding again Robert? Lord you get so introspective when you lose."
Handing his brother a glass and returning to his porch rocker Nate smiled at his brother. "So, can we talk now? Your vow of silence while we play is most irritating."
Annoyance in his voice Robert considered his brother, "Then why do you have me over to play?"
The cup almost to his lips, drowning out the response, Nate grinned, "Easy...you're the only person I can beat
"Grunting and finding a seat for himself Robert deposited his large frame into it and leaned back still looking into the distance.
"How you been Bobby? I hear you been having some problems." Robert reached into his pocket and withdrew a stump of a cigar striking a match quickly over his face. It was a military trick that he just never had forgotten. "I'm okay, getting by..." Long puffs of smoke began to fill the clear air. Watching his brother and toying with the rim of his glass, Nate continued to probe. "Tisha come home yet?"
Robert didn't answer right away. Instead he peered at his cigar then over at his brother. "No, and I am not at all sure she will. Says she is confused...says she needs time to think it all over." Nate nodded. "I'm sorry about your boy." Robert's face contorted a moment but quickly eased back into an emotionless mask. "Well, these things happen Nate. It wasn't meant for me I suppose." Another long exhale of smoke hid the face of Robert for a moment. Used to his brother's manner of dealing with these situations, Nate let it go.
The two didn't say much for a long time. There was much to discuss as the two men's lives seemed to be in a constant state of drama but neither felt like broaching the subjects much. Wispy Willow was still one of the few sanctuaries against the outside world. Not many people had ever been there and the few that had, knew it was a place to forget the outside world, a place of cleansing. As stupid as it was to think in such terms, both men knew it was true. So they let the smell of the trees cleanse their minds and the descending sun wash away their pain.
It was dark before either man moved or spoke again. This time it was Robert who spoke up, "I hear you have been having a visitor here." Shifting slightly in his seat Robert peered at his brother.
Nate didn't speak right away. He had known this would come sooner or later. Suddenly, he longed for the peace that had rested in the air just a few moments ago. "Yes Robert, someone has been coming by from time to time."
Robert nodded and stared hard at his brother, his gaze cutting through the darkness of night, "Grieved kinda quick didn't ya?"
Nate had to keep himself from rising and clubbing his brother one. Instead, in a tight voice he simply responded, "She's gone Robert. Dead and buried, I can't bring her back and say the things I should have said."
Robert looked across, his voice even. "I ain't one to talk Nate.I just wanted to know if you missed her at all."
Nate didn't answer he just touched the bare point on his chest with an absent hand. A place where a small pendant had hung, up until the time he had returned it. At last, he said, "Yeah Bobby I do...I just can't go back. I just can't be at that point anymore. Do you understand?"
Robert said nothing. His answer had been to rise to his feet. "It's getting late Nate. I should be heading back home. I get the feeling I will understand soon enough." Nate rose to his feet offering his hand to his brother. "You know Bobby you can always come back, this is your home too." Robert took the hand of a man he had tried to kill just a few years ago. "Not as long as there is hope for me elsewhere, Nate. I don't want to leave until I am asked to. I care for her, very much." Letting the hand of his brother go, Robert stepped off the porch and down the trail. He didn't look back.
Important: If you've enjoyed this, please read this--Copyright: 1997