Dunes and Woods

Chapter 1:

The Twin of Adolf

Our story began in a kingdom of kingdoms. Seven kingdoms came from one, called Stadouris. 

And now, one kingdom had lost its king.

We witnessed the king dead in his bed, with his Sage, his twins, and his queen, now a widow.

"My condolences, my lady," the Sage said.

"You may leave now," Queen Jarva said with sadness.

"We should order the burial," one of the twins, Welly, said.

"No. We need a coronation," his twin Bardem replied eagerly. "We have a war with the Mazdians."

"I am sorry, Bardem, but our father needs a proper funeral. Not a word of this, do you hear me?" Welly said, and upset Bardem enough to make him leave the room.

At this time, whispers spread. The Adolfians, in this critical time, had lost the king who had defended the kingdom since the Schism forty years ago. And they hoped the Mazdians would not exploit the situation.

Now, Queen Jarva was with Lord Varyn, known as the King's Counselor.

"Both of the twins must rule the kingdom, my lady. That is our oath," he said.

"Yes, but I know my sons. They look the same outwardly. But we will see, after the burials," Jarva replied.

Suddenly, Welly entered and asked, "I hope you were talking about what I said earlier, were you?"

"Of course, sweetheart," Jarva replied. "And where is your brother?"

"I do not know. But I think he went to his usual place. The Ramparts. He likes clearing his mind there."

As the Queen said, both of the twins seemed different to us. Welly had a passion for swords and blades. He was always trying to know everything about swords, especially the legendary ones. He was reading about swords made of obsidian and special materials.

But everyone knew all legend stories came from one place. A kingdom behind the Dark Woods. The Adolfians and the other kingdoms believed in that.

---

As Lord Varyn walked to Bardem’s training yard, he said, 

"My Lord, you know we’re in a hard situation."

"And?" Bardem said, and he didn’t stop training with his master, swords clashing.

"Can we speak privately, my Lord?" Varyn asked. 

Bardem stopped the fight. His master, without a word, left the yard.

"Now you know your father was the only son and ruled the kingdom alone. But the situation is different, my Lord," Varyn said.

"I know that, Varyn," Bardem replied.

"I’m suggesting we keep it the same and not let our enemies see an advantage between two brothers," Varyn said.

Suddenly, Bardem swept his sword and stopped it close to Varyn’s neck. 

"Are you realizing what you’re saying, Lord Varyn!?"

Let’s step back and know why we’re in this scene. 

After his conversation with the Queen, Lord Varyn started imagining ways to feed his ambition. He had spent his whole life serving the king. He was a smart man, and that had carved his character. But he knew that controlling one reckless young man was easier than two. And he saw his brother, Welly, as a threat to him. 

Let’s go back to them and see what happens.

"My Lord, don’t misunderstand. From my experience in this palace, I see you as the leader. And I don’t want too many opinions leading to the collapse of the kingdom," Varyn said.

Bardem slowly lowered his sword. "You’ve got my attention, Varyn. Continue."

"I’m not telling you to kill your own brother. That would move the crown to the Queen directly for five years, by our laws, even if it were from natural causes," Varyn said after swallowing.

"I didn’t even know you were supposed to have a plan," Bardem said.

"Actually, I do. But let me do a few things and I will come back to you soon," Varyn said.

"You have two days before the coronation ceremony," Bardem said.

"My Lord," Varyn said, and left.

In the meantime, Jarva, the Queen, sat with her husband for the last time, looking at him. Morticians were cutting the hair from the king’s head, as was the tradition of the Adolfians, and placing it in a golden box that would be given to her.

"Are you sure about this perfume?" the Queen asked.

"Yes, my lady. It’s the royal one," one of the morticians said as he swept it across the king’s chest.

After that, the burial was held in the palace garden, exclusively for lords and the kingdom’s allies.

---

Now we see Lord Varyn knocking on the door of Bardem’s Clarence Room.

"Enter," Lord Bardem said.

"My Lord, one of the guards said you wanted me," Varyn said.

"Yes. We’re running out of time, Varyn," Bardem said.

"Yes, my Lord. About the plan... you have to take a small trip with me," Varyn said.

"Fine. But if all of this is worthless, the price will be your head. Now make everything ready," Bardem said.

Lord Varyn left the palace. 

After that, Lord Bardem and Varyn arrived at a massive tree in the middle of the nearby woods. The tree had a door built into its trunk.

"Let’s go inside, my Lord," Varyn said.

"What is this place, Varyn?" Bardem asked.

"Trust me. And leave the guards here," Varyn said.

After one knock, the door opened. They went inside. 

Lord Bardem saw the strangest thing he’d ever seen. An old woman sat inside, surrounded by weird things: vials of liquid, a cage full of frogs, and piles of bones. He was even more confused when he saw her reading from a book with blank pages.

"Who are you? What is this place, Varyn!?" Bardem said.

"She’s the person who will help us, my Lord," Varyn said.

"It’s the first time I’ve met a king. You’re welcome, my Lord. And I already know what you want," the old woman said after closing the book with both hands.

"If you fulfill my request, I will pay you whatever you want. I want to be the only blood," Bardem said.

"I understand. Now you may leave. By morning, everything will be done," the old woman said.

"It must be," Bardem said.

They went back to the palace. At the gate, Lord Varyn saw the twins waiting for him.

"Where have you been, Bardem?" Welly asked.

"Not far. We just went to see the front lines and check if our men need anything," Bardem said.

"Mother wants both of us. Let’s go," Welly said.

They went to the throne room and began talking with the Queen.

"I loved your father very much. And he was always afraid of what would happen if I let you grow to hate each other," the Queen said.

"Mother, this isn’t important to me anyway," Welly said.

The Queen’s face twisted with anger. She looked directly at him. 

"LOOK AT ME. IT IS IMPORTANT. AND YOU WILL DO IT. YOU ARE NOT A CHILD ANYMORE."

"Of course, Mother," Welly said, and he shook.

"And you will both set aside And you have to forget about these swords and these legendary, childish stories," the Queen said.

"We will do everything you want, Mother," Bardem said.

"Now leave me alone. You’ve made me lose my temper."

---

A sharp knock echoed on Bardem’s chamber door in the early hours of dawn.

“My lord, it is time,” Varyn said from outside.

“Time for what? Did the woman tell you anything?” Bardem asked, fastening his cloak.

“Yes, my lord. We are to go on the hunt, and Lord Welly must come with us. I will explain everything on the road. It must remain secret, my lord,” Varyn replied in a low voice.

“Very well. Let us go.”

Bardem crossed the corridor and knocked on his brother’s door.

“What is it, Bardem?” Welly asked, opening the door, his hair still tousled from sleep.

“Good morning, brother. We ride for the hunt.”

“It is too early for that, brother.”

“It is the perfect hour. We have many matters to attend to later.”

Welly sighed. “Fine. Give me a moment and I will join you.”

---

Soon, the hunting party moved into the deep woods. Mist clung to the trees and the air smelled of pine and damp earth.

“My lord,” Varyn said, drawing his horse beside Bardem’s. “Might I speak with you in private?”

Bardem nodded and slowed his mount, falling to the rear of the procession. 

Welly noticed the two whispering. His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing and continued stringing his bow.

When they reached the clearing, Bardem pointed ahead. 

“Look, Welly! That stag — an easy mark!”

Welly raised his bow and frowned. “I see it. But why does the stag keep striking its head against the tree?”

“A challenge for you, then,” Bardem said with a forced smile. “Can you fell a moving target?”

Welly scoffed. “Truly, brother? You know my aim.”

He drew, loosed, and the arrow flew true, piercing the stag’s heart. The beast collapsed instantly.

“A fine shot, brother,” Bardem said. “Now you remember our rite. You struck the heart. You must taste it.”

“I know the rite, Bardem.” Welly knelt, drew his hunting knife, and cut open the stag’s chest. 

He paused. The animal’s eyes were glassy and empty.

“This stag must be diseased,” Welly murmured.

“Nonsense. Perhaps it was blind. Finish the rite,” Bardem urged, his voice tight.

Welly hesitated, then tore a piece of the heart and swallowed it.

He choked once. 

His eyes rolled back. 

And he crumpled to the forest floor, unconscious.

---