Raezyr and Trychon watched as Mannix spun around and lunged at Baldemar, his face contorted into a mask of rage. Mannix' shoulder struck his older brother in the midsection and drove him to the ground.
Baldemar tossed Mannix aside, and they both scrambled to their knees. Mannix tried another lunge, but Baldemar was ready for it this time and caught the younger monk on the side of the head with a closed fist. It might have done some real damage if the hay-maker had been thrown by someone with more fighting experience, but as it was, the awkward punch did little more than throw Mannix' lunge off.
The two grappled, and the older monk twisted his little brother to the ground, got astride and began raining blows down on top of Mannix.
Shocked into inactivity, the crowd stood, just watching the spectacle before them. It was clear that no one had any idea what to do about it. Raezyr suspected it had been a long time since any of them had seen a real fight.
Seeing as the fight was already won, Raezyr and Trychon jogged over and, grabbing Baldemar by his arms, pulled him off his younger brother.
"Alright, that's enough. I don't think your parents would appreciate this, to say nothing of Father Monahan or the Council," Trychon admonished. He helped Mannix up off the ground and, taking him by the arm, started trying to pull him away from the crowd.
Mannix jerked his arm out of Trychon's grasp and spun around, his face still masked in anger. "I hate you, Baldemar!" he snarled, tears streaming down his bloody face. "I wish it was you who was missing!!"
The crowed inhaled collectively at Mannix statement, shocked at the vileness with which it had been uttered. Trychon grabbed his arm again and pulled him away more forcefully this time and Mannix let himself be lead away.
Raezyr put his hand on Baldemar's shoulder and looked him in the face. "Don't worry about this. You did what you had to do," he whispered before turning and hurrying to catch up with Trychon and Mannix.
Baldemar stormed off, followed by his friend, Gall and the rest of the crowd hurriedly dissipated.
Raezyr caught up to the other two in time to hear Trychon console Mannix, "No, you absolutely did the right thing. It was time your brother learned not to mess with you. He may have gotten the upper hand this time, but he'll be leery of provoking you next time."
"But you need to learn how to control your anger, make it work for you," Raezyr added. "You let it blind you and take control, and that's how he beat you. If you want, Trych and I can show you sometime."
Mannix looked at the two Sith apprentices with awe and thankfulness. "More than anything else, I want to learn everything you can teach me."
"Excellent," Trychon said, smiling at the youth and clapping him on the shoulder. "We can teach you how to defend yourself, as well."
"You know, this incident has gotten me thinking... " Raezyr said, changing the subject. "If Baldemar and his cohorts are brave enough to start something this violent with witnesses around, what would happen if they came across someone as devoted to their beliefs as you are, alone out in the woods?"
Mannix didn't respond, but his face soured, and Trychon and Raezyr knew the young monk's thoughts had instantly turned to Saffron and her disappearance.
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