The Brothers Tuerl & The Staffs of Zeus
Page 28
Chapter 28-Gregory’s Lackluster Return
The next morning, the brothers awoke again to see Gregory’s smiling face. They both groaned at the thought of what awaited them outside.
“Buenos Dias, you two. Harold has just returned, and has found that we are on the northern coast of Spain. Very near France actually.” He paused and scratched his chin as he looked at the ground. “But dear me, I can’t remember what the French greeting for good morning is…” He thought for a moment, during which time Irgen managed to drift back into sleep. “Oh well let’s be off shall we.” He strode forward until he was in between the two brothers’ beds. Idus watched stupidly as both of his arms descended, firmly gripping their covers. Then suddenly he yanked, Irgen gave a yelp as he was jolted out of sleep, and Idus almost was flung flat out on his face before he finally relinquished control of his covers.
Both of them glared angrily at Gregory, but he did not heed their fiery stare. “Time to get ready for day two my sleepy friends.” Idus glowered furiously at him and muttered quietly under his breath:
“Why don’t you just jump out a window?”
“What was that master Idus. I almost thought I heard some malcontent coming from you. Of course I know you’re better than that right?” He flashed his disarming smile at Idus, a smile which Idus did not return, although in his mind, he felt a little more at ease.
He shook his head, like a dog shaking water off himself, got up, and glanced at Irgen. Irgen was sitting up with his legs stretched out in front of him and his arms lying on his thighs. He was gazing in front of him dumbly. Idus’ gaze brought him back to life. His hands flew up to his eyes and with a big yawn he began rubbing them, the yawn transferred to Idus and finally to Gregory until all three of them were absorbed into one loud “Ahhhhhhh.”
A merry laugh ensued from the stairway as Helen leaped onto their floor. She was followed by Jennifer whom Idus had not seen since their incident the day before. They smiled at each other before Helen said in a soft voice, “Having a good morning boys.” Gregory turned in mid yawn, giving him a very stunned comical expression. But with his usual characteristic flair, he recovered quickly.
“Bonjour, Mon Chères.” He took a bow, and as he rose, he smiled happily at his own wit, and at having finally remembered a greeting in French. Jennifer smiled back at him, while Helen let out a high pitched giggle. He paused before adding, “What are you two doing up so early?”
“We didn’t get the chance to train the boys yesterday, and we feel that it is rightfully our turn.” Jennifer folded her arms adamantly.
“Rightfully your turn, eh? And What… exactly do you plan to teach them?” Now it was Gregory’s turn to fold his arms, making him into a very formidable figure. His smile had disappeared and it was replaced by a stony, stoic face. The brothers saw now why Alex and Reggie had tried to come in earlier the day before. It seemed that Gregory was not a very agreeable person when it came to giving permission to other trainers to train the twins.
“I plan to teach them an art which you have never been able to comprehend.” Her scornful reply unnerved Gregory. His face softened a little, but he still looked as though more persuasion was needed.
“I never found myself in need of your-coveted-art. It seems to me, to be a waste of time and energy.”
“It is only a waste, to those who have never truly understood its divine principles. I never would have thought someone with your abilities would feel they needed it, but I believe that such a person would be mistaken, as I feel you are now!” She added the last word with a tinge of sternness. The brothers exchanged exasperated glances. They did not like the way the conversation was progressing. To them it seemed that no one else’s training could be as brutal as Gregory’s, therefore they felt it was their mother’s solemn duty to get them away from that training, and so far to them, their mother did not seem to be using a very good technique of persuasion, and they felt like they were being doomed to another day of servitude to Gregory.
“I am wrong, am I? Well, I know one thing that I am right on, and that is that these boys are to be trained to defend themselves. I, am not, and you should not be willing, to have their unpreparedness on your hands. It is our solemn duty to prepare them for what they will--”
“—What they will, what Gregory!” She shouted hysterically, “Have you forgotten that the two of them share a link in their minds. Do you not remember that this is the one thing which will make them more powerful than any others? My art will only strengthen this link.” Her voice died down to a whisper as she calmed down, “I only ask that you allow us to accompany you this morning. Our being there will only add a slight modification to your training.” She stopped, and a strained look appeared on her face. Her sons knew that her skin got that tight only under extreme moments of stress.
Gregory stood silent for a moment, staring into the defiant green eyes before him. Finally he shrugged his shoulders and sighed. Alright, I shall allow you to come along and add your “modifications”, but you will not question my techniques!” His last sentence had a firmness that the brothers had never heard. It struck them with a fear which they had not before known nor felt. Jennifer nodded appreciatively at having reached her objective.
Gregory turned around and spoke to the twins again, “Well are you ready yet?” The rapidity in the change from the unnervingly challenging tone to his usual good-natured tone caught the twins off guard. Both of them stood up and felt energy surge through their bodies. They gave another yawn as they lifted their arms and hands upward, stretching their stiffened bodies. Idus turned and grinned at Irgen, for the first time in what seemed like weeks, his body did not ache unrestrainedly. No longer did pain envelope his soul.
Irgen on the other hand, was exhausted. His battle with the sea had drained his body of nearly every ounce strength it had. He did not have any aches or sores, but a strange cloud seemed to hang over him. Every movement he made was like a man who, after being lost in the desert, begins to hallucinate and drinks the sand because he thinks it is water. Irgen felt the same way; it seemed his body was searching for energy in an endless desert bereft of it. The adults turned to go and Irgen felt a pang of anger in his mind. “Why did Helen have to come?” He thought frantically. “There’s no way I’m going to accomplish my task today. I’m not even going to get close.” He looked down at the ground ashamedly as the others got to the stairway, but then he felt someone hit his shoulder.
He looked up and saw Idus standing in front of him. “I know how you feel Irgen. Don’t worry about it. No one expects us to accomplish the task today. Just go give it your all. Alright bro?” He slapped his arm again before leaving him and heading for the stairway. Irgen clenched his teeth with determination and followed the others down the stairs.
When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he found the adults almost to the entrance. Idus was waiting for him at the bottom. He had already changed his clothes. This time he was wearing white sweatpants, and a blue sweater. He had also added leather gloves to protect his hands from the unforgiving calluses which seemed to have sprung up like weeds on his hands after the previous day.
Irgen thought he ought to dress for the occasion as well. He imagined red swim trunks and goggles, and then he imagined a red with white stripes jogging outfit to put on until he got to the beach. He opened his eyes and found everything to be just as he imagined, but then he noticed that he had neglected his shoes and found that not only were they yellow, but they were shaped like bananas as well. He shook his head, but found that there was no time left for him to change his appearance. The adults had left, and Idus was almost out the door. Smiling at what Helen would think, he ran towards the door which was swinging shut in Idus’ wake.
He felt better as he caught up with Idus outside the citadel gates. His blood started pounding in his chest after the short run, and he felt as though he had just found an oasis amidst the expa
nsive desert. Once again the air around them felt like ice, but this time both of them were better dressed, and were therefore better prepared for the cold.
Their three trainers stood ominously waiting at the gate. The two brothers trotted up to them. Helen coughed into her hand to conceal a wide grin upon seeing Irgen’s shoes. The other two did not conceal it so well, indeed neither of them really tried.
Gregory lifted his enormous hand, pointed at the shoes and guffawed loudly, and his mother joined in the good-natured laughter before cupping her mouth with her hand, and gaining control over herself. The laughter gained Idus’ attention, and he too surveyed his brother, only now noticing the bright yellow shoes. Irgen turned to see his brother fall onto his back laughing hysterically.
“Hey! I didn’t make a big deal out of your horrendous clothes yesterday.”
“Haha, no. But if, haha, I, haha, had looked that, haha, stupid, haha, you should, haha, have.” It appeared that he was about to say something else, but he gave up as another burst of laughter launched forth out of his mouth. Irgen turned red as he looked around at those around him, finally anger rose in him and he turned really red.
“Alright that’s enough!!!” His shout brought something that he did not expect. Energy seemed to erupt like a volcano in his body. His exhaustion left so rapidly he hardly remembered it being there. He suddenly turned brilliantly red. Flames erupted all around him. He was on fire. Silence ensued at this display, and after a time, Irgen finally calmed down and his flame flickered and died away. For a time no one spoke, all just stared at Irgen in awe, surprise, or amazement, he couldn’t tell which. Finally Gregory spoke, and he sounded delighted.
“That was wonderful Irgen, there’s a step in the right direction.” He paused and looked at his watch. “Well I think it’s about time we got to work eh?” He turned and the gates swung open before him. He pointed down the pathway, “After you my young gentleman. After all you know the way.” A brilliant smile shone out of his tangled beard, a smile which once again neither of the twins returned. Instead, they cast their eyes on the ground and began their trek out, towards the beach.
Now that Irgen was feeling better, he could finally think about what had transpired earlier in the morning. Curiosity grew in him as he thought of what art his mother had referred to. Wild thoughts arose in his mind as to what the art could be. A vivid picture developed in his mind. He found himself on one knee surrounded by a group of animals. A group made up of only lions and lambs. In this scene, he found himself conversing with each animal in turn, and more than that, but he found each of the animals were conversing intelligently back to him. And then just as suddenly as the vision had become clear it became convoluted in his mind as Helen asked him a question.
“Irgen, is it hot when you’re on fire like that?”
“No, it’s rather cool.” Irgen responded softly, trying to sound nonchalant, even though he was angry at having lost sight of his vision.
“Well, I think it’s hot!” She said while flourishing a wink and then looking away. Irgen grinned at the sudden, disarming compliment. Joy welled up inside of him as he fought off the sudden desire to release a loud whoop of joy. He felt that now he was ready and prepared to meet the challenge of the morning. Truly the sea could not stop his growth any longer. Nothing could stop him or even pretend to hold him back, not with Helen here, not while he still had the strength and the pride to show off, his uncertainty of himself had left him, all in that one comment. He was ready!
Indeed, as they turned down the steady slope to the beach, he felt it no longer held any power of fear or terror over him. Today was only his second day facing the task, but as he looked out into the dimly lit bay before him, a resolve grew in him that today was the day that he would beat it.