Brothers
“At least I didn’t set Mom on fire.”
Dylan threw up his hands. “I was two years old! Nobody brings up the fact that you pooped on Mom when you were two.”
“Did not. And you were three when you set her on fire.”
“Two, three, whatever. It’s not like I had control of the magic. Not like I meant to do it.”
Lucas inspected the joints on his armor. “Doesn’t matter. You still set her on fire.”
“And I’ve tried to make-up for it every mother’s day since. But no matter what I do, Dad still gives me this look like, ‘That’s it? That’s all you could get your mother after setting her on fire?’ I could magic her up a solid diamond horse and carriage, a fleet of solid diamond horse and carriages, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”
“A diamond horse and carriage wouldn’t move very fast.”
Dylan glared at his brother. “What about the time I tracked down three golden unicorns, captured them, brought them back here and taught them to dance for Mom. Dad still gave me the look because it wasn’t all five. But the other two were so freaking fast.”
“Should move faster.”
“You fast enough to outrun a fireball?” A glowing sphere of flame appeared in Dylan’s hand.
Lucas grinned. “What are you going to get me for my birthday if you set me on fire? The last two golden unicorns?”
“Go to the seventh hell.”
“Speaking of the hells, Dad must like you at least a little. He allowed an Oskelesian mage into Tamryn just to teach you to control your magic.”
“An Oskelesian mage that Sir Marcus, slayer of liches and all around hero, married. You may be a prince, but Sir Marcus would still kick your ass if he heard you say anything bad about her.”
Lucas crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow.
“By Dracor’s left fang, you were engaged to their daughter. How bad can her mother be, Oskelesian or not?”
“You had to bring that up.”
“You were engaged last month. On purpose. I accidentally burned Mom over twenty years ago.”
Lucas strapped on his sword. “But Mom didn’t bargain her life to save Tamryn.”
“Not that we know of, anyway.” Dylan snorted. “Shouldn’t you go slay the dragon or something and bring your betrothed back?”
Lucas’s jaw twitched. “She made the bargain voluntarily, and he lived up to his half.”
“Hasn’t stopped other men.”
“I’m bound by the code of Dracor and the Dragon Church.”
“Sounds like an excuse to me.” Dylan leaned against the door frame.
“Then why don’t you go slay the dragon? Oh wait, if you’re not fast enough to catch the last two golden unicorns, you wouldn’t stand a chance against a dragon.”
“Who says I’d want to? Though better a dragon than Mom and Dad marrying me off. At least that’s a fast death.”
“If you want a fast death, piss Dad off again.” Lucas hefted his shield engraved with the twin dragon crest of the royal family. “Speaking of Dad, we have three minutes until we’re late.”
Both princes bolted down the hall toward the throne room.