Two
lads are stretching in the grass, enjoying the sunshine of spring. Soft breeze is
whiffling in the pleasant warmth. All around everything is green, red, white,
pink, blooming and smells so nice. The whole world seems to be awakening from
its long winter sleep.
- How strange – says one daydreaming.
- How do you mean?
- That we are so young, but full-fledged
warriors.
- And why is it so strange? All the members of
our clan are warriors.What else were you expecting?
- I may not know. But from us, we hadn’t need
to join both, only one would made it.
- You know that we belong together – smiles
the other.
- We shall go now. They must await us at home.
- Just a little bit more! It feels so good
stretching here. I am not in the mood for fighting. It’s too pretty for that.
- So who is so very lazy? – laughs the
standing one.
- I am not at least lazy! – opposes the lying,
lifting one hand in front of the face to see the boy standing in front of them.
- Yes, you are. Now come on. You see, Dancer
and Beast are impatient, too – points at the horses.
- I will go only if you unsay I am lazy.
- No, I won’t.
- Then it’s you wanted – jumps up the one who
was still laying and withdrawing a sword attacks the other.
The two lads instantly start a passionate
battle. Their duel seem like if they were only dancing: soft, refined moves,
every movement is perfect. Two swords crash together with a loud clang again
and again, the silver blades are just scattering everywhere the sunrays felling
on them.
An outsider, who hadn’t seen them yet, could
think easily it’s all witchcraft. The lads seem to be exact replicas of each
other. Both have long, straight, black hair: the one which wanted to leave has
it tied back, the lazier, who didn’t want to fight, still provoked it, has the
hair softly crumbling freely on the shoulder. Their faces blush in the elan of
the duel, laughing cheerfully, turning around the other, as their blades clash
again and again. Even their clothes are the same. Hunter boots, pants, white shirts and black waistcoats. Their
capes which they have put on for horse riding are now lying in the grass
unfolded, where they were enjoying the sunrays not so long ago.
Their duel is almost dizzying, not only
because the speed, but also because of their skills. They clash relentlessy
afresh and come back with a laugh after each attack or defense.
- Defend yourself, Lucas! Watch out more for
your left shoulder! – warns their partner the lad with untied hair.
- Just do not worry because of me! – hits he
back.
Lucas inculpates his mate and as he sees him
trying to ease the fall, hits out the losely holded sword from the other’s hand
with only a straight cut.
- See, you shall watch out for yourself, not
for me – points his blade to the lying’s chest.
- You know what? I would rather stay here and
relax a bit more.
- And so shall I unsay how lazy you are – he
pretends to be outraged, raising his hands to the sky.
The other youngster takes advantage of this,
rolls away to take the fallen sword again and jumps up, and attacks swishing
away the blade from the hands of the opponent. It is not enough, with fast
movements he turns up behind the boy. With his empty hand he seizes Lucas,
while fitting the blade right to his neck.
- Continue with bare hands? – whispers sassily
into his ear.
- Drop your swords! – warns Lucas and turns
with an instant to catch and bring to ground his fellow.
They wrestle for quite some time, but Lucas
loses again. Finally, they dust their clothes, collect the swords then sit back
on the two black horses and ride back to the castle, where they had been
expected.
-
Finally you are home, my children! I thought You were not coming back.
Come, lunch is almost cold – welcomes them a bearded, blond man in his middle
ages.
- Do not worry, Uncle Richard! Bad money is
not lost money – giggles Lucas to the other youngster.
- You did fight again on the field, huh?
- You know us way too much – answers now the
other.
- Why, you did beat your brother again so that
your smile ends at your ears?
- Beat me? Not at all! – protests the elder.
- Uncle Richard, what do we know about
Morpheus?
- You had just arrived, but want to battle
again? - he falls suddenly into a dark mood.
- You know how important this is to this lad.
- I know son, I know. Way too similar to your
father. Come now, go and have something to eat.
They three go to the dining hall, take their
seats and with a light, delightful chat they eat the most delicious
dishes. But suddenly an envoy, exhausted
and dirty, runs into the room and collapses in the middle of the place.
- Bertram, Bertram, is this you? – jumps up
the old man from the table.
- Sir, horribly things have happened!
- Say! Say what happened!
- Men of Morpheus discovered us…Thomas…Thomas
and Frederick…died – murmurs.
- Died? But what happened? Why? And how?
- We were simply talking about going closer to
the castle to ensure it was really Morpheus, who arrived there the day before,
when out of nowhere a hord of beasts appeared and attacked us from behind.
There are not too many, but they really are strong. Three of them died, also.
- We are going tomorrow – says coldheartedly
one youngster.
- No. You stay here, and that’s it. No
remonstrance. You two stay here at least until your men arrive. And they will
come tomorrow or the day after, the earliest.
- But the horseriders will arrive sooner.
Tomorrow. We do not need that much foot soldiers. They are weaker.
- But please try to understand, even, if they
cannot do else, they could impete the beasts.
- And so what? Shall we simply just toss away
so many human lives? I will not let it happen. I would rather go by myself
today – represents in a strong and stubborn way.
- So I will lock you up in your very own room
if you ever try to do anything similar to this.
- Please, let’s just rest a day more – asks
even her brother.
- Well, then alright. Let it be.
- Take charge of Bertram and everybody else
who returned – waves Richard to the maids with a sigh.
The two lads stand up to practice more.
Finally the time has come which they have been waiting for so long. For years.
- Brother – says the younger silently.
- Yes?
- Tell me, do you really want it? Surely are
not you coming only because of me?
After a significant break he starts to speak
calmly and quietly, starting with a short sigh.
- No. This is important for me, too. We just
cannot let our very own mother and father rest in peace until we had taken a
revenge on their killers. We just cant let their death be forgotten, because we
are Van Helsings. One who crosses their way with a Van Helsing, they may cross
their way with all the Helsings.
- Well that was all I wanted to ask and know.
Later, we will see each other at the dinner.
- Where are you going?
- To practice. Are you not coming?
- I think I shall rest for a short while. I
wouldn’t like to fight exhausted. You should better go and rest, too.
- You may be right. But you know how stubborn
I am – laughs quietly.
- Yes, I know it. Well, see you later – says
Lucas, and as the passage branches, they also part company, everyone to their
room. One of them seizes pen and paper, the other grabs their sword and bow.
|