In a time much like our own, there was a small but happy tribe that lived in isolation and in peace. They lived in villages scattered about a valley ringed with tall formidable peaks, and so they were mostly safe and largely secluded.

In one such village were born two babes, boys, within the same day.

The child born during that day was as dark and tawny as a wheat field, so much so that he was called Aurum and he was much loved by all as though made of gold. He watched the world with amber eyes like two drops of honey.

The child born that night was as pale as a snow bank, so much so that he was called Seolfor. He was much loved by all as though formed of purest silver. He watched the world with grey eyes like ice upon the sea.

They grew up together as friends and brothers, learned the ways of their people and rose into strong, sturdy, brave young men.

Their tribe grew with them as well, such that by the time the two were edging into manhood, their little village thrived into a prosperous small town. Trade was good with neighboring folk and the call of war was dim and far away.

War came to their valley in the form of progress. First came explorers, lone able rangers who were sent as scouts to find passage through the mountains. They brought word of the world beyond and warned of the troubles there. The villagers were curious, but unconcerned, as their valley was naturally protected. After the scouts came men with picks and axes, intent on building a pass and securing passage through the valley for troops and merchants. Their tribal land was to become a waystop on the way to battle, and a link in the supply chain.

With the building of the pass, the soldiers came, first in brilliant formation, gleaming and ready to meet their adversary. Then later in return; bedraggled and bloody, gaunt and haunted. It was shocking at first, but the villagers of the valley grew used to these processions. They brought flowers to hang around the necks of the young fresh soldiers on the one day, and flowers for the veterans' shaky hands and their dead on the next.

The word of war was in the air of their valley, but nothing had yet touched the lives of Aurum and Seolfor, these two friends and brothers.

They had been trained. It was considered prudent to do so by the village elders and the soldiers were all too willing to teach their trade. Aurum, the golden child, was the more physically skillful of the two. His knack for wrestling was unmatched and his prowess with the axe and the spear, the sword and the dagger, were the pride of his tribe. When the villages would gather in festival and contest, Aurum soon became the regular champion in the valley, winning his matches soundly.

Seolfor, the silver child, was an able warrior as well. By his keen eyes, he was unmatched with the rifle and the bow. However, it was his strength of courage that most earned him note. He was unafraid of any challenge and would charge into danger where others his better might hesitate, including Aurum. If something needed doing, Seolfor was always first to volunteer. As a result he inspired those around him, burning brightly as a beacon.

It was good that these young men were so able and strong, for the age of leaders and warriors was swiftly upon them. Many expected either Seolfor or Aurum to become the chief of the valley tribes when the time came.

Winter arrived and with it ice storms that raged and howled around the walling mountains, completely isolating them during these worst cold months from the world beyond. The last contingency of soldiers had come and gone and the last caravan of merchants left weeks ago; they expected no more from the outside world until the spring thaw.

And so it was that one grey wintery, leaden day...

What was once just talk and second-hand accounts of skirmishes beyond the peaks of their land suddenly became all too visibly real as smoke upon the horizon. It lay in the direction of the smallest of the villages in their valley and the one closest to what they were told was enemy territory. Had the adversaries forged their own pass into the valley? And now, at the peak of winter, had they chosen to invade?

In concern, the elders sent a band of their own to investigate - Seolfor, of course, and Aurum among them. They hurried upon their mounts as quickly as they could, knowing that it might already be too late to help, but needing to do something, if only to verify what they feared most.

In each town and village they encountered along the way, they were met with similar apprehension and concern. It did not take much talk from Seolfor to convince others to join them, such that by the time they reached their destination, the two friends and brothers had amassed a sizable force and were prepared to do battle.

However, it was not to be. Because the rains had come, sleeting and frozen, they were slowed to a crawl and arrived far too late. Cresting the last hill, before them lay the smouldering ruins of tents and huts; razed fields and slaughtered cattle. Their kinsmen lay dead and scattered in the mud...

While searching through the aftermath and finding only destruction, Aurum begain to sob in despair. The carnage was the most awful thing any of them had ever seen. Though Aurum the gold trembled in sadness, it was Seolfor the silver who instead shook with rage.

He wanted consolation in vengeance and satisfaction by blood. He ground his teeth and his fervor was contagious; most of those that came with them were eager to hunt down the marauders. The raiders had been brazen and their tracks were obvious; it was clear these villains were not concerned with repraisal from the villagers of this sleepy little valley.

Aurum, however, suspected a trap. But more importantly, he felt they should return with what they had learned of this sad fate. He wanted to warn the others and to better prepare a response and defense. Some few agreed with him, and those that did were eager to go home to their families.

"Coward!" boomed Seolfor.

"Fool!" roared Aurum in reply.

And the two men, friends and brothers, fingered their blades and turned their eyes upon each other.

It was then, in that tense moment, amid the charnel ruin and the rain, that a sobbing cry was heard among them.

It was from a nearby well, of all places!

There was a survivor! It was a dark little girl who wailed for rescue. She had hidden there when the raiders came and kept quiet the whole time, hearing her friends and family slaughtered above. She was not certain until she heard Seolfor and Aurum arguing if they were were still the enemy searching for more victims or others here to rescue.

But she was safe now. She said that her name was Wegge and she claimed to have overheard plans to to invade the valley. She said they were searching for something that they did not find.

To Aurum, this was even more reason to return. He felt that Wegge should relate her story to the elders, and that they all should receive guidance and counsel.

But Seolfor placed a dagger in the young girl's hand and told her bluntly, "I do not need counsel to know that the spirit of your family - your mother - cries out for justice. You will come with me and we will end this day red in the blood of our enemy."

Wegge looked upon the dagger and then to the two men, warriors each, and each expecting her to follow. She looked around at the wreckage of her life and her loved ones.

She said to Aurum, "You are right to think of those you love in times of trouble, and to turn home to seek the strength of family united. But this wet cinder is my home. And my family is now gone to where I cannot follow - should I travel at your side or anyone else's. I was afraid, and I hid while they fought and they died. My time to honorably be with my family has passed."

She said to Seolfor, "You are right to want justice and a balance to the scales, to destroy that which causes suffering. But to truly do so would be like passing the wound back and forth - children stabbing each other in a darkened room. It would only bring more death, for there is no end to vengeance."

And so speaking, crying and in tears, she turned the dagger in her palm and suddenly thrust it within herself.

"I go to my mother, and my sister, and my father. And this is the only choice that is clear."

With her death, the remaining hold-outs shed their fears and concerns and joined with Seolfor, seeking retribution.

As they mounted up to leave, Seolfor the silver addressed Aurum the gold, "I would rather have you stay, or flee home, than have a half-hearted blade guarding my side..."

Aurum the gold addressed Seolfor the silver, "I will stay to bury the dead and return home to alert the tribes - your mother and mine - for they need us now more than ever. We each do what we must, brother."

Seolfor replied, "I do what we must." And he spit to the side before charging away.