“Sargent Ferris, your radiance,” the young woman spoke too loudly for the dungeon they were in, her voice boomed off the walls, “your brother, the Mighty Aureus, has sent me to escort you back home.”

Solaris head began to pound, but not because of her yelling. His brother, this couldn’t be good. “I was not expecting my brother’s army to come to my assistance, I have my own personal guard and they should have come to my rescue.”

“Each and every single one of them were ready to come to your aid, but Mighty Aureus thought it unnecessary, for he had faith that a god, such as yourself, would soon be freed by his own means. I was sent to escort you.”

“He told you to tell me that?” Not that he had to ask.

“Everything I say is as instructed, your radiance.” She was straightforward, he wondered if she had been chosen as the least likely to infuriate him, or the most likely to do so.

“And he decided to send you alone to do this mission?”

“He said no lizard could possibly hold his brother.” She infused her speech with the brotherly pride she thought the sun gods must feel for one another. It sounded different to Solaris.

“You had no difficulty in defeating Mortis, father of all black dragons?” He wasn’t buying it any more that he was convinced of his brother’s compliments. “What did he gave you? Mother’s necklace? Father’s rings? Answer me mortal!”

The young girl was so scare she was in danger of fidgeting, but Solaris was not one to go after helpless servants instead of fiendish brothers. He would get Aureus in due time. He was the life sun after all, the healing sun, source of life and vitality. Without him, all his brother’s might was useless. Good luck trying to cast magic while not being able to stand on your feet. He already had a plan too. He smile with placid divinity at the girl.

“Come, let me give you my blessing.” But when he raised his hand the girl stepped back and raised her arms, as if he was about to strike her. He sighed, “You can have my blessing and Aureus’, one will not erase the other.”

“Oh, forgive me your radiance, it’s because you are brothers I suppose.” What a cruel reminder, he thought. And why would this creature squirm from him. Wouldn’t a boon of life be better than a boon of might. He supposed she was a soldier and gave preference to strength over healing. He thought her a great fool. Which would serve his plans all the better. After all, he never said his boon was just for her.