*Flashback(after this first paragraph)*
"Do excuse me for a moment, I will return shortly," With that Wren stood up and walked outside, preparing herself to delve into Horacio's mind. Wren took a deep breath and stabilized her body against a nearby wall. "Madame Priestess, what are you-" Wren opened her eyes and quickly put her hand up to stop Thaddeus from talking, then motioned for him to be quiet and come over; he was the only Guard on watch since Michael was not back. "Thaddeus, I am so glad you are here. I need to reach out for a moment. Would you please take care to guard me while I am reaching out and also inform Michael of what I'm doing when he gets here?" Thaddeus nodded, "Why of course Madame. Anything for you," Thaddeus said with a smile and Wren smiled back as well. "Thank you." Wren began to focus once more.
*15 years earlier. CRASH! "Why are you always so emotionally involved with everything Horacio?" CRASH! BANG! There were different wooden and metal items flying across the room. The images were finally becoming clear to Wren and she could see a younger Horacio pacing and throwing things around a room with a man who looked just slightly older than him. "And why are you so emotionally ABSENT with everything Emilio?! This is about Ayl-" The man, Emilio, who was at least a head taller than Horacio strode over to him and slapped him hard on his cheek, causing the stunned Horacio to freeze in his place. "Brother please, this behavior will only prevent us from actually helping her. I know you are under the impression that if we act now and attack, that we will be able to get her back, but I'm telling you that's not-" THUD! Horacio grabbed a small statue that was near him and swung hard, hitting his brother, Emilio in the head.
"DO YOU EVEN CARE FOR HER?!" Horacio yelled to Emilio as he ran for the door; not even waiting for Emilio to answer. Instead Emilio fell to his knees and cradled the side of his held, that was now bleeding. Outside the room someone was listening and watching their whole interaction and shortly after the incident, disappeared into the shadows. Horacio was running towards his favorite garden with tears in his eyes. 'What an ignorant brother!' He thought to himself as he finally began to see the tops of the trees, signaling that he was almost to the garden. Once he walked into the garden and sat at the small bench, he looked up to the sky then closed his eyes. "Ayla, I know you were promised to him...*sniff* Did you never love ME?" A tear made it's way down his cheek. There was a slight breeze that rustled his clothes and long hair. As he sat in the garden, listening to the soft sounds of birds and the rustle of the leaves, he thought about Ayla.
Horacio was 16 years old during this memory, the war had been going on for nearly 6 years during the time when Ayla was taken. The main fighting between territories and the Tradelands had mostly ceased and now they were working to develop a treaty. Emilio was 20 at the time and Ayla was 17. She was a local girl that grew up in a neighboring territory and her parents arranged for her to marry Emilio. Ayla was closer to Horacio and they spent many hours together during and after their lessons. Both Horacio and Ayla were Water Unit trainees, whereas Emilio was a Fire Unit member. Emilio was busy helping his father with matters of the clan and didn't spend much time with Ayla or Horacio. Emilio and Horacio's father, was in the current position Horacio held; making him also very busy training his eldest son, to take over his position after he marries. "I will find you Ayla. I will find you and we will be happy once again and finally wed as we once so foolishly discussed," Horacio said to himself in a whisper. He opened his eyes and had decided what he would do in order to get her back. 'Father won't like this,' he thought to himself apprehensively, then he brushed the idea off and clenched his fists; determined to get her back.
-Elsewhere in the temple- Emilio made his way into Sir Shoyo's office still holding his head. He lightly knocked on the door, "Please come in," Sir Shoyo said and Emilio made his way inside. "My my Sir Emilio, what happened to you?" He said, concerned as Emilio made his way to the small chair and slumped down in the seat. "It was my brother. He is rather upset about Ayla's disappearance." He groaned and took his hand off of the side of his head to let Sir Shoyo look at his wound. Sir Shoyo gathered some disinfectant supplies and made his way over, shaking his head when he saw the medium sized, bloody wound. "What did he hit you with?" Emilio sighed, "A statue father kept in his study. He broke many number of things and when I tried to calm him, he hit me. Granted, that was partially my fault due to my actions but, it is excessive either way."
Emilio stayed still as Sir Shoyo cleaned his wound, once finished he stood up to clean his hands and his equipment. "Do pardon my forwardness, but aren't you the one Miss Ayla is set to marry? Why would your brother have such an interest-" "He loves her and of course blames everything that goes bad on me. He has such a temper, I am worried he will act out irrationally. I want to tell father but..." Emilio trailed off, 'Father will probably banish him if something were to happen,' He thought to himself. "You need not fret Sir Emilio, I will not utter this to anyone. If Horacio will listen to anyone, I know it is you." Emilio smiled sadly, "I wish that were true Sir Shoyo. I wish I had the power to stop my brother, but I fear for his life this time. We are still at the final stages of war, he has been too...He is not well versed in the ways of the world. He is reckless and an emotional person." Emilio leaned back in the chair and rubbed his face with his hands.
"It is not like I do not care about Ayla, because I really do enjoy her company. What Horacio fails to realize is that our marriage was not up to us, but our parents. I was even trying to persuade Father and Mother to allow Horacio to marry her." Emilio groaned, "But now, I wonder if she is even alive after all these weeks. As much as I hate to admit, she was not very strong physically or emotionally, and I am worried. Worried if Horacio decides to try and track them down, or to find her, that he or both of them will die." Emilio picked his head up and looked at Sir Shoyo, "It seems as if you are in quite the dilemma Sir Emilio. I can understand a brothers worry, but Horacio is notorious for being a wild card. Go back to him, talk things over, have some dinner, then rest. Both of you have seemed rather sleep deprived lately, getting some sleep will surely help the both of you be level headed."
Emilio nodded and slowly stood up from the chair. "I think you are right Sir Shoyo. Thank you for this, you always make my mind feel at ease." Sir Shoyo stood and walked Emilio over to the door. "Another stop would be the new Lord. He is rather difficult to reach due to him fighting throughout the war, but around this hour, he is normally meeting with your Father and the other Elder." Emilio nodded, waved, and walked out the room, down the hall to find his Father. "Sir, I am sorry to inform you-" "Stop apologizing and get results! I am not spending this much to end up without answers! Get the information we need from her and that damn whore mother of hers and dispose of the evidence! That is an ORDER!" Emilio froze when he heard his father yelling at someone and he hid off to the side behind a large pillar. Shortly after yelling out his order, a trembling young man, about Emilio's age, stumbled out of the study and ran off into the distance. Emilio couldn't believe what he heard, and he slowly stepped forward intending to speak with his father.