Sulphur & Lightning Chapter 24: 023 - Puppets

Read chapter 24 of Sulphur & Lightning by anaugustauthor on NovelPedia.

“Welcome, brother,” Busa said early in the morning, unbothered by his brother’s unannounced and unscheduled entry but instead calling for his servants to bring in tea. “I hear you’ve replaced Yachit as the head of your core servants,” he said shortly after the customary pleasantries. “Why?” “I was not aware that I had to report the composition of my teams to you, second brother,” was the reply, his voice strained, though he tried to put on a smile. “Don’t be silly, Busa,” he said, dismissing his brother’s displeasure before taking a sip of the tea that had been placed before them. “If we are to resist Garo, we’ll need to be at our best. We can’t do that with that greenhorn child at the helm. I’ve also been instructing her in the sword—she's a natural talent.” The chastised brother took the rebuke philosophically and merely sipped his tea, taking a long while to produce an answer. “If we are to resist him, brother?” The question was met with a sudden, deadly silence. Elder and younger brothers glared at each other, though the latter tried to hide his agitation behind calm sips of the warm leaf juice. “Do you understand what’s going on?” he asked him severely. “Don’t tell me you’re throwing another tantrum." The words made the third young master scowl, and he suggested that his brother should leave. With a wave of his palm, Busa was lifted off the ground and stuck high against a wall. “I’ve been more than patient enough with you, but it seems that your only interest is to test that patience.” “Resorting to force after not getting your way," Busa said with a triumphant smile, seemingly unaware that he was almost literally in the palm of his brother’s hand. “Colour me surprised, Danjuma.” “One doesn’t reason with a child as they do with an adult,” he said simply. “I’m not going to go round in circles just to satisfy your juvenile wants. You’ll listen to me, and you’ll do it before I really lose my temper and change it for you.” “That’s your problem; you think I’m afraid of you.” “That’s your problem; you think you aren’t. Look at you shake like a leaf.” Busa couldn’t deny the truth of his words – who wouldn’t fear this power? “Fair enough.” It only took a thought to replace the overpowered young scion in his seat. Someone just arriving would have no idea of the intensity of the disagreement here. “I’m sorry I had to use such methods,” he apologised, running his hand across his brow. “I just wanted you to see reason.” Busa smiled and threw a parchment across the table to his brother. “I can see just fine.” Danjuma read the document he had been handed quickly and then looked at his brother like he had grown three extra heads in the time it took him to finish. “You’re mad!” "Very." The second son meant to strike out again but thought better of it – every forceful action of his so far had been met with more resistance rather than less. “Do you hate me this much?” He asked finally, a sad smile blooming on his face, such that even his younger brother’s steely resolve softened. It was hard to truly hate one’s flesh and blood. Even in times of legitimate feuds. How much harder when they had grown close to one another and never had an altercation that could not be construed as regular sibling rivalry? Do you hate me this much? The question was disarming. Still, there was ice in the eyes of the third young master, and it quenched the fire of familiarity with extreme prejudice. “Yes!” He had spoken the word taxingly, as though it hurt him as much to say it as for the object to hear it—and it did hurt to hear it. “Why?” “I grow stifled beneath your shadow.” “So you want to turn yourself into a slave?! Will that make you happy? Do you even understand what it is you’re doing—what you’re giving up? Think for once in your life!” “I have thought!” was the reply. He was on his feet now, half leaning over the desk that separated them. He turned away and looked at the map behind him. “ All I’ve done is think… for years.” He struggled to get all his w