“He broke one of the only rules we cherish more than our own vanity,” Onel said. He deftly raised his hand and slicked back his short black hair.
“Your own vanity,” Twinel corrected him. Onel shot her a stare that she scoffed at, but it only made him grin wider.
“He has to be punished,” Onel said. “That is not up for debate.”
“According to the rules, that is so,” Throvian said. “But perhaps the rules are what is broken.”
Onel scoffed. “The rules are what have protected us and our ancestors for millennia. You dare question them?”
“Those rules are as archaic as they are unfair,” Throvian said.
“Throvian, let’s be level-headed,” Twinel said. “The age of the rules does not decry their validity or authority. Perhaps in this case, though, an exception should be made.”
Onel glared fire at Twinel and Throvian. “A singular exception to a perfectly good rule will lead to further exceptions being made, thus causing the rule to become multilaterally worthless.”
Throvian rose to his feet. “There is simply no arguing with you, Onel. This is why the elders do not respect you. This is why I do not respect you.” He snatched a manilla folder from the table and stormed out of the room.
“You will not defeat me in such a way,” Twinel said, seemingly disappointed in her cohort’s exit.
“Are you aware of the exact wording of the rule of which I speak?” Onel asked.
“Of course. ‘Let not your heart be captured by one of lesser descent. To fraternize with the lessers shall mark the beginning, to become intimate with them shall mark the end.'”
Onel frowned. “Then why do you still argue?”
“Setestrian has brought no harm to us. He has only brought great heartache to himself for having fallen in love with a lesser.”
Onel groaned and angrily swiped the air in front of him. “Nonsense! You speak foolishness, my dear sister.”
“Onel, you lack compassion. If you yourself had fallen for a lesser, you would understand Setestrian’s plight. The problem is not my words, but your lack of empathy.”
Onel slammed his fist down into the table, but Twinel didn’t as much as flinch.
“Control your anger, brother.”
“You are only siding with Throvian on this issue because you’ve loved him since we were children!”
“While the latter part of that statement is true, I simply am following what I think is right in this situation.”
“I’ve had enough of this drivel,” Onel said. “Where are Fovea and Fivoria?”
“Who can be sure?” Twinel said. “But certainly, those two would side with Throvian and myself.”
“Then Sikal?” Onel hissed.
“Though I’m sure Sikal does not have more important things to do, he is not here,” Twinel said, leveling her gaze at Onel. “You are defeated, brother. We are the only ones here, and you know that if it comes to blows, I will be victorious.”
Fire raged in Onel’s eyes, both out of anger for being defeated and frustration in knowing that she was right.
“You win this round, dearest sister, but beware any future discussions we may have on issues on which I require your… allegiance.”
Onel’s words would’ve made any lesser shudder, but Twinel laughed at his pissant attempts to stir fear in her.
“Of course, dear brother. As it always is.”