Warwielder - Book 1 of The Evernoth Odyssey

Chapter 21 - Moving Forward

Caelius answered his older brother only for his words to be muffled by the pillow in his face. He could feel Camren's weight sinking into the bed beside Caelius' lying body.

"You know," said the older brother, "you're never going to improve if you keep giving up."

The little brother answered him again with more pillow-muffled words.

"Hm. That's interesting," Camren replied.

The little brother spoke into his pillow once more.

"I completely agree." Camren nodded.

Caelius tilted his head away from the pillow to gaze up at his brother. "You have no idea what I'm saying."

Camren smiled. "My muffle-tongue is impeccable. Do not disparage my years of education."

Caelius stared up at his brother with hard eyes.

The younger brother felt small in a world too large for him. His bed was a field of soft blankets decorated with elegant floral patterns. Four wooden pillars rose up from the bed corners to hold up a canopy that might as well have been the sky as far Caelius was concerned. And the room itself seemed a world of its own.

His older brother also made him feel small with the way he towered over him. A fact that made Caelius avert his eyes from his brother's knowing gaze.

"I'll never improve," said Caelius. "My instructor said so."

"Did he now?"

The younger brother hung his head. "No......But I knew that was what he was thinking."

"You know that, do you?"

"Yes. I could see it in his eyes."

"You could see it in his eyes?"

"Yes. And don't give me that look. I know I'm right."

Camren shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not."

"Definitely."

The elder brother chuckled. "You know I could give you some lessons if you want."

"Father said not to."

Camren responded with another shrug. "Do you want me to, anyway?"

Caelius looked up and met his older brother's eyes.

The little boy propped himself upright on his bed and contemplated Camren's offer. Did he want lessons from his brother?

He didn't have to think on it for too long before he averted his gaze and hung his head. "No," Caelius mumbled under his breath. "It's fine."

Camren peered into his little brother's eyes. "Are you sure?"

The young boy wanted to reaffirm his refusal only to taste the lie in his mouth.

"Because I've seen your technique," his older brother continued. "You handle a sword like a log. With the grace of a one-legged mule."

Caelius' head drooped lower at the insult.

Camren kept on speaking. "I could give you a few tips. I could even-"

"I said no!"

To his surprise, Camren had fallen silent. The stunted expression was so unfamiliar to Caelius that he suddenly felt the need to take advantage of that moment. "I just...I just want to...I don't want to..."