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Kierenar felt a flush of anger when Grendal accused him of hero-worshiping his father but surpressed it as he had learnt so well to do over the past week. He knew that Grendal wouldn't hurt him if he got angry, but it had become habit now.

"It's not like that," he snapped. Ok, so maybe he hadn't managed to completely surpress it. In a calmer voice he said, "I still hate him for beating you when you haven't done anything. And I swear I will figure out a way to stop that. I just think..." he trailed off, feeling barriers go up once more. But that had made Grendal upset earlier.

Taking a shuddering breath, his gaze fixed on his horse's neck, face close to the mane, hidden, he was fiddling with, making little messy braids in an attempt distracting himself, he spoke, his voice quiet and hesitant. "It's just... he figured out what happened without me saying anything and... he worked out that I had done everything to stop it happeneing to you and... and he bowed to me and thanked me." There was a hint of wonder in his voice as Kierenar still couldn't quite believe that he not only had done that but that he didn't despise him for what had happened and how weak he had been.

Suddenly uncomfortable with what he had said when he didn't mean to say any of that, Kierenar was relieved when Remnar arrived, hoping that meant Grendal wouldn't pressure him into saying more.

Remnar could tell he was interupting something the moment he walked into the stables and he hesitated a little uncerainly at the entrance, unsure whether he should go in or out.

Grendal spoke to him though which made him believe that he must be welcome.

"Just because you can get this ridiculous time doesn't mean the rest of us decent people have to find it easy," Remnar said scowling comically, before grinning and leading his own horse out. He had in fact ferreted a book away in his pack but it was well hidden. He didn't expect to have the chance to read but figured that if Grendal and his brother wanted to go off to talk alone or whatever, then he would have something to do.

"Sure," he said to Grendal's question. "If you'll still have me that is." Mounting up he tried to hide his unease over the whole situation. He reminded himself that he was doing this for Kierenar and Grendal, so they could forget whatever they had gone through.

He gave a nod to Grendal's warning about both his parents being around, greatful for the heads up. Grendal's parents were like the complete opposite of the twins family; while there was no mother in their life and their father was often too busy to spend quality time with his sons leaving them to be raised by nursemaids, teachers and trainers, Grendal's family could be, in a word, overbearing. Sometimes Remnar liked to visit his mother, pretend she was his own but since it want a love marriage the husband and wife didn't seem to mesh that well.

Mounting up, a spear held awkwedly in one hand with his sword at his hip, he said, "Should we head out?"

*

Kierenar had to admit he was surprised Remnar didn't take the opportunity and bow out. He was in two minds about him coming along; at the same time as he wanted him around to fend off probing questions Grendal may have, his brother was hopeless at hunting and would likely scare anything away before they had a chance to strike it.

He mounted his own horse and followed him out.

Kierenar thought about it, glad to be able to focus his mind on something practical. Riding for any period of time still hurt him but Grendal could do with the extra height to give him the strength he lacked from his broken arm.

"Horseback," he eventually decided. "You won't be in too much danger then if it charges you since your arm is still broken." True it wouldn't be good if it went badly and the horses got mauled but, honestly, better a horse than his brother or Grendal. But either way that wouldn't happen if they did everything right.

"Let's go," he said directing horse towards the forest they hunted in.

((Lol nayban? I thought it was supposed to be Sneyes?))

Kierenar closed his eyes slightly and tilted his head back as they rode. The speckled sun shone down on his face and let it wash over him. He felt just that little bit more free the further they went from the grounds of the palace. It still hurt a little and the memories were still fresh, especially when he saw Grendal's broken body, knowing he caused it, and contrated to Perfect Remnar.

"You know," he said. "I don't really care if we don't flush out a boar today or not. It will be worth it to just get away from everyone, always watching and judging."

*

Sneyes watched from the shadows as the trio passed. He had been looking for a good new host after his last one had been killed. Turns out he had pushed the body too hard till it gave out, forgetting it needed food and sleep. They may be demons but they weren't god, they couldn't reanimate the dead. He didn't care anyway it was time to move on.

He watched the trio with interest, more interested in their aura's than who they actually were, though he knew two were princes and the third the general's son; very powerful people. But it wasn't their position he was interested in.

"The broken one's mine. He's sure to be fun to toy with," he declared.

((I didn't see u had posted so I edited my last post))

Sneyes merely smirked at the reminder of their wager. He didn't believe she would be able to do it, to corrupt and possess the king. Of course, Sneyes also knew he wouldn't be able to, he wasn't as adept at pulling out the inner most fears as Lilith, but then he enjoyed working with the already damaged ones and this boy seemed like the perfect next target. So full of doubt and fear and passion.

He caught her hand lightly when it stroked his chin and seductively sucked on her finger. "Just a taste?" he pleaded, wanting to see what kind of flavour the young princeling had.

*~*

The corner of Kierenar's mouth twitched in a smile even as Remnar grimaced in distaste. In truth he had hoped they wouldn't find anything but seeing even that small reaction out of his brother made him put his own misgivings away.

Kierenar, meanwhile, focused on the chase itself, kicking his horse into a gallop after Grendal, only slightly behind him as the dogs circled around to flush out the boar. The three youths broke through into a clearing just as the yapping dogs chased a rather large black, hairy boar out. Kierenar felt a moment of nervousness seeing the size and the large tusks that only narrowly avoided gutting one of the dogs as it tossed its head this way and that. Those very tusks could easily gut their horses or themselves, or both for that matter. But then he was swept up in the familiar adrenalin and with a shout he charged at it, spear leveled at its side. It was a reckless charge but he was past the point where he really cared about that kind of thing.

Sneyes pouted when Lilith didn't let him have a taste of the princeling, but smirked when she correctly guessed he wouldn't be satisfied with just a taste; she was right, he would want another taste, and then another, until he had to possess him completely. Still. That didn't mean he didn't want to. Instead he settled for watching Lilith walk away before turning his attention to the little hunting party. Just because he couldn't have a taste that didn't mean he couldn't watch them.

~*~

Remnar kicked his horse after the two, a couple of seconds later. He really had no interest in harming the boar and carried the spear only to protect himself should it charge at him. He had little taste for bloodshed and, though he would never admit it, the whole thing made him more than a little queasy.

Kierenar paid no attention to his brother's lack of interest even if he were aware of it. Grendal's thrust had the boar squealing but it also made it angrier. Kierenar pulled his horse to the side just in time to avoid it being hamstrung then thrust his own spear forcefully into its side. It seemed that for all his troubles and time in captivity, he still had a knack for hunting; the spear went straight through into the beast's heart.

Kierenar allowed himself a small satisfied smile when, after squealing some more, the beast fell dead. He ignored Remnar, who remained in the saddle pale-faced and stoic, and dismounted, moving over to retrieve his spear.

"I believe first dibs are mine," he said emotionlessly.