@Spectre @Michelle the Editor @Beowulf @100 % Snek @SweetPrince @ChaosMage
As the masses loudly hailed the seven, Jericho looks on to his newfound siblings, his insides ache as he sees nothing but anguish wash over them like a flood. What shocked him most was Buras' reaction...the Wrath were even more stoic than his own tribe. The Wrath and The Blight considered each other blood brother tribes and he knew the Wrathian well. The two men had competed side by side during the Trials Of Xzaster and Jericho remembered the barbarian warrior fought gallantly in the race. Although he didn't make it to the end, he survived...which was more than almost any of the others who competed, save for Jericho himself. He remembered that the two were almost neck and neck as they raced through a mine field of deadly booby traps to reach the temple of the Celestials, were the final prize lay. Although Buras outmatched him in brute strength, Jericho's speed won the day...and he was able to claim the sword ahead of his Wrathian opponent. That very blade now swung at his side and the Blightsman once again unsheathes it, pangs of anger and shame hitting him in equal waves.
"Is there any more that we should know?" Vannara asked the Oracle.
Jericho's rage seethes over "What more is there to know...and stow your cries of liberation!" he shouts back at the crowd. He turns back to face his father "All I want now...is vengeance!" he mutters in a low and sinister tone. He storms off in the direction of his mounted horse beyond the crowds.
"Where are you going?" yells Herron.
"To Argos, I swear I will rip Tragedis' beating heart from his chest, if it's the last thing I do!"
"Wait, you musn't go alone, the prophecy calls for all seven of you to confront the emperor. You need supplies, you need an army to storm Argos!" yells Herron.
"Stuff your prophecy, I need no one...I end this myself!" says Jericho.
"You'll be killed before you can even cross the gate boy!"
"You should know I'm more than capable of taking care of myself father!"
"You always were as hot headed as a desert cobra, you know that! For once think responsibly, Jeri!" says Herron.
At this Jericho stops and marches back in the opposite direction,where he gets right up in Herron's face "You dare speak to me about responsibility when you've lied to me my entire life!"
"What are you babbling about?" sneers Herron.
"You never told me the truth about my parentage!"
"You knew you were adopted almost from the very moment you entered my tents." says Herron.
"Yes but you never told me that my father was the slain King Darris or that I was a prince of Argos!"
Herron grins "Well that's simple...you never asked."
Jericho intakes a sharp breath as his eyes flash rage "You know exactly what I mean..." he says as he turns once again to his mounted horse.
"Blightsman, your chieftian speaks to you! Hold your ground!" yells Herron as he walks in front of his adoptive son with authority "I will not allow you to ride alone on this quest."
Jericho clenches his fist "I give you one warning old man, get out of my way."
Herron draws his large broad sword "You know the way of The Blight. You can only dis obey your cheiftian, if you can best him in battle...now draw your weapon."
"I don't have time for this father, now get out of my..."
Herron abruptly cuts him off "I said draw!!!" he says as he swings his blade towards his son.
Jericho gracefully bends his body back to avoid the blow and with lightning fast reflexes parries a second strike from his father with his own sword.
As the fight intensifies the crowd watches on in stunned silence. One of the Korinth tribesman whispers to Kadeese "Is Herron mad? Jericho is likely to kill him...what is he doing?"
"As a father myself, I know exactly what he's doing." says Kadeese as he continues to watch the battle.
With each passing minute, Jericho grows more enraged...causing him to become more cumbersome and sloppy in his fighting style. All the while Herron remains calm and seems to best his son with every blow traded between the two. Finally the older man manages to disarm Jericho and takes him down with an uppercut to the jaw and a knee to the stomach. Jericho topples over and Herron grabs him from behind in a choke hold.
As Jericho continues to struggle, Herron whispers into his ear "It's ok to be angry my son. The memory of that horrific night has festered inside you, buried for over twenty years...you need not fight it anymore!"
Tears begin to pour down Jericho's face as he continues to struggle against his father's hold "I was weak! I couldn't protect them!"
"You were only a child..." says Herron solemnly.
"I was a coward! A quivering, frightened coward...no warrior am I!" Jericho shouts as his tears continue to flow.
"Listen to me, there's nothing you could have done to save Darris, nothing! It's not your fault my boy..." he says as he breaks his grip on Jericho and the young warrior gasps and falls to the ground.
"Your wrong, it is my fault! If I hadn't been so small and helpless...I could have saved my family!" Jericho yells as he hangs his head in shame.
Herron kneels beside his son, and lifts his chin so that their eyes lock "Look at me Jericho...you must let it go." he says as his own voice begins to crack as he himself is overcome with emotion.
Lavinia walks over and also kneels beside Jericho "When I was leading you away from the palace, you broke from my grasp and began to run back to the throne room screaming that you had to help your father. I snatched you back up and carried you out of the city. So you see, even back than...you had a warrior's spirit."
"I promise you...you will get your chance at vengeance. All of you will." booms Dendehra from her place in the sky.
Jericho gets up and dusts himself off, his resolve and composure restored. He walks over to his other siblings, his anger replaced with raw determination. He than looks back towards the floating Oracle "What's the plan...what must we do to avenge our father?"
