Free The Jake Thomas Trilogy: Book 02 - Sword of Light by Steven A. Tolle

Marcus?”  Daen asked.  “I figured you would be happy to be back in the city.”
    “Rolas.”  Marcus stated shortly.
    “Ahh.”  Daen said sympathetically, sharing a look with Nathen.
    They knew of Marcus’ estrangement from his brother.  Marcus had told them much of what happened, but not all.  They knew that the two have never been close.  Marcus had told them of Rolas’ jealousy of his relationship with their father, whom Rolas said favored the younger son over the older.  Rolas had always been outspoken in his claim as the rightful heir to their family’s holdings and saw Marcus as a threat to that.
    What Marcus kept to himself was the real reason he had been sent to the capital.  Growing up, with his father often busy or away on business, his mother distant and Rolas as a tormentor, Marcus found solace with his nanny and her husband.  Even after he had grown old enough to no longer need a nanny, Selace and Tenan had always welcomed Marcus into their home.  Tenan was one of his father’s huntsmen and taught Marcus tracking and hunting.  Selace was there to encourage and console Marcus as a child, giving him the affection that his mother did not show.  With no children of their own, they were surrogate parents to Marcus and he felt closer to them than his own family.
    When Marcus had just turned sixteen, Tenan was killed while out hunting in the forest.  It appeared that, while cleaning the deer he had killed, he was attacked by a bear.  They found Tenan’s mangled body near the deer carcass.  Tracks led off into the undergrowth, where they found the bear, dead, with Tenan’s knife still in it.  When this news reached Marcus, he was devastated and went immediately to see Selace.  Though Marcus attempted to comfort her, she was inconsolable.
    The next day brought another hammerblow to Marcus’ heart.  In the night, Selace had gone to the falls that fed the river near the holding and, in her despair, had thrown herself off.  Some of the housemaids had found her body in the rocks that morning.  Shattered by the news, Marcus had gone to one of the outbuildings and broke down, weeping.  Rolas found him there and began to mock him, calling him a baby and hurling other insults.  Marcus was used to his brother’s taunting, usually containing his anger and walking away, but when Rolas said that Tenan and Selace were only servants and not worthy of a nobleman’s tears, something inside Marcus snapped.
    He charged Rolas, catching him off guard and drove him out into the courtyard.  They fell to the ground, punching and kicking each other.  They regained their feet, still swinging.  Neither was holding back, with Marcus consumed by rage and Rolas by hate.  The servants and craftsmen scattered as the two fought and rolled around the courtyard, attempting to kill each other with their bare hands.
    When they battled close to the blacksmith, things took a deadlier turn.  Rolas grabbed a nearby sword and Marcus followed suit.  The two closed with each other, swords moving.  They had only begun when several of the men-at-arms barreled in and wrestled them both to the ground, stripping them of their weapons.  They were both dragged unceremoniously to the cells set aside for prisoners waiting for their father’s judgment.
    Their father was the angriest Marcus had ever seen him when he came to the cells in the early evening.  He was so mad that he almost could not speak.  After blistering their ears about breaking the peace and how disappointed and ashamed he was to be their father at that moment, he left them both locked up for the night, barring any food or water.
    The next day they were released, with a man-at-arms assigned to each of them to prevent a repeat of the day before.  Their father had made them apologize and shake hands, promising to behave like brothers should.  Marcus could tell he was troubled, knowing that it was only words, and, shortly after the funeral for Selace and Tenan,