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—
It does not take long for Archibald to appear. This is not unexpected; these are, after all, his lands. Archibald has been king for as long as Knox can really remember, even if not officially. Archibald was born to rule, to eternally be crushing someone (or thing) beneath his earthen hoof.
Knox never expected that even now, he would be so submissive to the Dauntless. But even with Mandrake long gone Knox's darker plans of revenge never materialized. No, he never had what it took to fight back, and so now he stands, pitiful, before his older brother's strength.
"Archibald," he says, voice inches from quivering. He will not show fear before his younger brother and son. His one good eye steels itself on Loretta, the sibling of his lost love, but the pain there is too much. Quickly, he returns to his brother's reliable lack of feeling.
"Darwin has returned and seeks the company of you and your brother, Knox; but I can see that the sleuth is not with you," Knox lies easily. It is easier, now, than telling the truth. "A shame, for he could tell this boy of how you welcomed him back to Helovia and this herd with forgiveness," he goes on coolly, trying to explain without revealing too much of his own weakness.
He scrapes one hoof along the earth and his tail, beginning to tangle more each day, swipes against his hocks. He does not look at Milo, he does not look at Darwin, he does not look at Loretta. This is between the hunter and his brother, vibrating along the line of their twinned but ever-competing authorities. They will never rule in the same way but they both have their power—their capability to hurt. Pray that Archibald remember.
Right now, all Knox wants is his brother back.
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