Having given his last warning to his brother, Zager leapt forward toward his brother and brought down his mighty broadsword in a crushing blow. Giehl, already devoid of his heavy royal armour and dressed in his most comfortable clothes, dove to his right away from the heavy blade. Zager�s sword crashed into one of the large plush chairs that dotted the room. The chair splintered into a thousand pieces and was scattered across the giant chamber.

�My chair!� Bellowed Giehl. �You�ll have to buy me a new one brother.�

Giehl sprung up from the floor and darted away from Zager across the bedchamber to grab Kubata.

Still kneeling with his sword buried in Giehl�s chair, Zager sneered at his brother, �You�re only supposed to use that with court consent, brother. You aren�t breaking the rules are you?�

�I don�t think tradition would mind if I used it to protect myself from a treacherous brother.�

�Whatever you say, king. En Garde.�

�Thanks for the warning.�

Zager twisted his blade sending more splinters into the air. He swung his sword around to his left, pushing off with his trailing foot, giving him extra power and distance. His sword cut through the air toward Giehl. Giehl had Kubata in his hands and was waiting for Zager�s next attack.

Kubata was a smaller sword than was Zager�s. But it had been forged by the finest smiths in the lands. It had withstood untold years and battles as it was passed down from generation to generation. It had never been broken nor had it ever been defeated.

Giehl deftly parried Zager�s attack sending the larger sword off to his right. Zager, now furious, swung his sword again at his brothers midsection. But once again, Giehl parried his brother�s attack, this time sending Zager�s sword to his right. Zager, now expecting this used the momentum of his own attack and his brother�s parry to bring his sword around, up, and then down at his opponent. Giehl seeing his attacker�s plan of action brought Kubata above his head with two hands and deflected Zager�s attack sending his sword crashing into yet another chair.

Before Zager could recover, Giehl stepped behind his brother and brought down, with full force, the flat of Kubata�s blade upon Zager�s back. Zager fell to the ground as Giehl yet again brought his sword down on his brother, this time hitting Zager in the back of the head knocking him unconscious. Giehl took Zager�s sword from his grasp and hurled it at the door. There, it buried its broad point into the oak with a resounding thud.

�You fought well brother,� Giehl praised the unconscious Zager, �But you must learn more if you plan to defeat me.�

Giehl dropped onto the bed to await the awakening of his brother. Zager stirred after only a few minutes.

�What happened?� Zager groaned.

�You were defeated by your haughty ambition and impetuous impatience.� Explained Giehl.

�How?�

�You came here unaware of how I�ve spent these last ten years. Did you not think that father would have trained me how to be a king? He taught me the art of war as well as battle. He hoped that I would never need these skills as he had, but he knew I must have them just in case. You thought I would still be the meek, kind, and gentle boy you knew. Well know this brother, I am still kind and gentle, but no longer meek. A king who rules over his people cannot be meek, he must be strong willed in action and in thought. He also told me of your banishing and its conditions. How our mother pleaded for you. She was always so loving even though you never deserved her love. You never showed any love to anyone but yourself. It is not because I was prepared for you that you lost. That you were not prepared for me is why you now lie defeated.�

�If I am defeated then kill me and be done with it.�

�No. You are my brother and I will not kill you now or ever. Remember that and remember this.�

�What?�

With the speed and quickness of a cat, Giehl threw Kubata like spear toward his brother�s face. Zager tried to dodge the flying blade but was hit in the cheek as Kubata screamed by.

�AAHH!!� Roared Zager. �You have scarred me!�

�Yes. You must live your life with that scar as a reminder of your evil heart and your loss here today. Now take your sword and leave.�

Zager, knowing that he could do no harm now, grabbed his helm off a chair, strode to the door, and pulled his sword out of the heavy oak.

�One day Zubieta will run you through.� Spat Zager.

�Until that day stay out of my kingdom.�

�NO! I will begin my attacks a soon as I get back to my people. Prepare yourself for my return brother. It will be soon.�

His promise given, Zager threw open the door and left Giehl to ponder his thoughts.

Zager was true to his word. He attacked soon after he left, but Giehl was ready. For 20 years the brothers fought each other�s armies neither one of them were able to defeat their brother.