"A Basket of Fruit" | Guiscard, Baldwin

Written by Yankee Samarai

"I HATE THEM!"
A fist strikes a vase.
Baldwin remains leaning on the counter, his smile disappearing. As he listens to the angry words of his accomplice, his gaze goes to the floor and draws his dagger and let's it float around in his hand.
"Elyon empower me, and I'd send those briggands straight to damnation, where a thousand spears could endlessly rip at their souls!"
The dagger floats. "They're elves, Guiscard. Driven by hate, what did you expect?"
And the dagger ends up in killing position.
"I'd expect that after the first hundred years the Kronks in Tir Cendel would have a solution. And not let those Sons of Pale to murder our kind."
"Do you mean that Good King Edward allowed travesty in order to stir up Le Viex Grande Conflit between our kingdoms? Is your bank broken Guiscard for all the cents seems scattered around?" Baldwin gets off the counter, and walks to a fruit basket at the center of the table. "Bleue Manteau's hide when an army approaches, they would find another refuge. They are small, but very resourceful."
He begins arranging the fruit by type on the table. Guiscard, in his anger, is rather oblivious.
"All I would need is spies to find their keep, and the power to destroy a mountain."
"A mountain? A high standard." He separates the figs from the half colored apples, the kiwis from the grapes
"But of course Elyon keeps such means from me..."
"And for good reason."
"Why do you disagree brother? I know you hate them just the same."
"I don't disagree, Elves can be horrible. I just observe that being third youngest at your rank has caused your polarity to shift, and many things repelling from you."
"I would never leave you, Baldwin. That is why I carry father's dagger, for family always finds its way to remain." "How sentimental."
"Respect father, Baldwin! But especially respect mother!" "You are not our parents. You are my brother. And I am concerned about how my brother grows darker in his thoughts each day. It is I who await to receive my mantle as Knight, you have everything, and still you seem to lack purpose. Where once you dreamed of valor, now you ask Elyon to commit destruction."
Guiscard pauses...his brothers words are true. "My tunic is only half of our promise made complete."
"How sentimental. Stop worrying about me Guiscard, so long as you succeed, we will succeed, and Ashnuw will benefit from our service."
"That it will." Guiscard takes a satisfying breath. A horn and drum breaks the brotherly air, and Guiscard assumes his soldiers personna again, marching out to tend to his duties.
Baldwin turns back to the assorted fruit. Beneath his breath he utters...
"Elves." The dagger chops the grapes.
"Animal kind." Kiwi.
"Mixed." Half colored apple.
He pokes the fig and raises it, admiring it. "Man..."