“I’d like to see you try…” Kaz’s eyes narrowed. 

Alleendelle backed away slowly. “You can’t win this fight, Kaz. I’m going to take us to the temple!”

“No! I’m going to stand my ground. If he wants a fight, I’ll give him one!” Kaz growled. 

“Father!” A man running up behind Shiske said. “I’m here to help!”

Shiske turned and his eyes widened. “I told you not to come!”

Kaz observed, and smirked. He has a weakness, and his weakness is his son! I'll keep that in mind.

“I brought the Little God!” Andreimela called, retrieving Jan from his bag and holding him in his palms. Kaz’s eyes widened. A second chance! This is it!

Jan called out with his squeaky, tiny voice, “Kaz! Let’s talk for a moment!”

Kaz, whose mind was working on a way to come out of the situation as the winner, thought it would be a good idea to buy time by talking. Not only that but dad said my twin is quite naive. I may not have to lift a finger. 

“Very well, let’s talk.” Kaz agreed. 

Andreimela brought Jan closer to Kaz so they were only a few feet apart. Kaz could see his twin’s features more clearly. When they had first fought in the paludarium, Kaz had been so excited that he didn’t pay any attention to his brother’s behaviors or what he looked like. Now, Kaz saw just how spoiled his twin was. 

He didn’t have the hardened face of a warrior like Kaz did, nor did he have the hardened muscles. He was, by all appearances, quite squishy and pillowy, and Kaz had no idea how he lasted in his paludarium, no matter how peaceful it was. 

“Kaz, where is my mom? How is she doing?” Jan asked, eyes full of tears. 

“If you let me become a whole god, she will be freed. But you have to come back to Paradise with me.” Kaz said honestly. His father told him that if he brought Jan back, they would free the Goddess of Love. 

“Freed? She is imprisoned somewhere?” Jan asked. "Please, tell me where she is so I can rescue her!" 

"She is imprisoned in the underworld, suspended in a cage above lava, enduring deathly temperatures as lava laps at her feet." Kaz said. "You can save her if you become one with me."

Jan went deathly silent. "I suppose… I could…"

"Little God." Shiske interrupted. "You will become the god of war if you merge with him. Your mother sent you down here for a reason. I think you should stay until you figure out what that reason is." 

Kaz grimaced and glared at Shiske. "Your mother was a fool. She can't see you for the truly splendid god you could become, and keeps you as you are out of some foolish sense of love. She is sentimental. You can do more for this world as the god of war. Maybe you can even end the war between humans and elves."

Jan's brows furrowed. "My ma is not a fool! Shiske is right. She sent me down here for a reason, and I don't think it was to become one with a little beast like you!'

There was a pause as Kaz rolled his eyes and drummed his fingerd on Alleendelle's hand. He sighed and said, "Well, I guess we'll just have to duel again, then. If I win, we become Kazajan. If you win, I'll tell you how to find your mother. One on one duel, no interference from your human friends."

Jan bit his lips. He shook his head. "No. I wouldn't be able to win. I refuse." 

Kaz racked his mind for a way to bait him. If Shiske aided Jan, he knew there would be no way to win the battle. 

He grinned. "Very well, I will handicap myself and give you a fair chance. My father let me know how you were raised: as a spoiled brat. Therefore, I will fight you with my mouth gagged. You may have full use of your own powers."

His powers, while somewhat useful, can be easily evaded. Especially if I strip down… although doing so in front of a lady isn't ideal. He glanced at Alleendelle.

"Don't do it, Jan! He's trying to bait you! He's got a plan!" Andreimela cut in. 

Shiske held up a hand. "Let me handle this, Little God. You will die in an instant."

"No-no. I can do this. He's handicapping himself. I want to see my ma, no matter what!" Jan exclaimed. 

Alleendelle groaned. "Fighting is all boys ever want to do! Kaz, I think you should come to the temple with me. You'll be safe there. You won't be a full god, but you can help your people, up close and personal.'

"Hush girl. I can handle myself." He answered, waving away her concerns. 

Kaz looked on confidently. If I can kill rhinos twice my size, I can definitely defeat my twin.

 ***

Jan's mind was spinning. It went in all sorts of directions, like a maze. Even with a handicap, he knew his twin would be difficult to defeat. My brother seems quite brazen. He will probably disrobe the moment we enter battle. But, I can still use the clothes even when they are discarded… he probably has another plan, as well as disrobing. 

Before agreeing, Jan thought of what his twin's plan could possibly be. Does he have another power I don't know of…? 

Jan suspected that had to be it. How else could his brother be so confident? But, he had no idea what that power could possibly be. He knew his brother was raised in a harsher environment than his own. Perhaps he is simply incredibly strong? If that's the case, then I just have to prevent him from ever getting close to me. Regardless, I have to accept the duel to find ma. But... maybe I do want him to get close to me... 

Jan nodded slowly. "I accept."

The young woman who was with Kaz made a face. "Such pointless conflict, but if you insist, where are you going to have this silly battle?"

"How about by the sea?" Kaz suggested. "it looked fairly empty."

"True, but I have a feeling you two are going to make a lot of noise and attract a lot of attention." James chimed in. 

"Well… we are demigods, after all." Jan said. "But, if we are observed, whoever wins may also win the people's love as well." 

Andreimela rose his hands and looked Jan on the eyes. "You're sure this is what you want, Jan? I'm not sure--"

"Silence, mortal! I have made up my mind. Take us to the beach." Jan interrupted. 

"Yes, majesty." Andreimela complied, pursing his lips. 

As the humans carried he and his twin to the beach, he looked over at Kaz occasionally, trying to probe any visible weaknesses. By all accounts, his twin was more fit than him, and his eyes were razor sharp and focused on his goals. 

Jan recalled a story he had read in his paludarium. It was all about a young man who supposedly had no weaknesses. He was always razor-focused on one goal, and that proved to be his down fall. 

How can I use his need to be a god against him? Jan wondered. It occurred to him how to do it, and even though he was shaking with terror, his confidence was somewhat bolstered. 

Andreimela and the rest of the humans made their way down cobblestone stairs leading to the beach, where the wind whistled by them. Jan’s ears turned red from the frigid cold biting at them, and wondered if fighting on the beach was a good idea, after all. Andreimela asked one last time, “Are you really sure?”

“Yes! Put me down this instant!” Jan knew if he was continuously asked, he would probably give in. And to see his mother, there could be no cowering in the corner. 

Both he and his twin were set on the sandy shore. They stared each other down as the sea gently lapped at the shore and then retreated away from each other many paces. 

“How about I count to three, and then you begin?” Alleendelle suggested. She shoved a tiny piece of fabric in Kaz's mouth to keep him from sneezing.

Kaz and Jan nodded in unison. Jan’s fingers tensed as Alleendelle began her count.

“One…” 

Kaz cracked his neck.

“Two…” 

Jan stretched his fingers.

“Three!”

Kaz immediately removed all his clothes and sprinted toward Jan at a breakneck pace. Jan stood his ground. He knew he could never outrun his twin, nor could he outdo him physically. His only hope was to defeat him before he got close. 

Jan listened to the wind–felt the direction it was flowing in, and waited to see if it would change. 

The wind howled as it blew in the same direction his twin was running in. Jan clenched his fingers, lifted his twin’s cast off clothes off the sandy shore, and drew them toward him–carried quickly on the wind.

The clothes wrapped around Kaz’s ankles, causing him to trip. Jan smiled, his heart had been hammering violently, but now it slowed. He used the clothes to tie his brother’s ankles together.

Now what? He still might be able to escape. Jan thought to himself.

Kaz’s eyes looked rabid and wild with anger as he attempted to struggle free. 

Suddenly, the girl, Alleendelle burst out, “You can do it, Kaz! Break free!”

As if responding to her, Kaz jutted his knee forward, ripping the fabric. 

Jan swallowed. It seems he is pretty strong. 

Jan stood his ground as Kaz continued his mad dash toward him, leaving a spray of sand behind him as he went. 

Jan braced himself and allowed is twin to tackle him to the sandy shore with a thud. Kaz lifted a hand, and Jan caught him by the wrist. He swallowed, calmed his overactive mind, tensed his muscles, and looked into Kaz’s eyes. His eyes were like a beast seeking its prey. Kaz attempted to punch him with his free hand, but Jan caught it and held it still. And then, before he knew it, he had disappeared.