Drumwe Isles

chapter thirteen

"Wait, how was that any trouble of yours?"

"Damn it, Kieran. I said I'd only tell the story once."

The trio was setting up camp on the edge of Taudor territory now, about to head into the heart of its city and find Niall Silverpelt. Enid was immersed in setting up the cots and had little interest in the tale being spun by Cael. Kieran, however, had been listening very closely the whole time without the slightest interruption up until this point.

"Right, I just don't see how that spoiled you and your brother's relationship."

"Of course not, you oaf, because you haven't let me finish."

Kieran chuckled lightly as he began building a fire for them to gather around.

"Anyone ever tell you what an excellent storyteller you are?"

Cael scowled and chucked a tiny rock in his friend's direction. It hit Kieran's silver chestplate and plinked off pitifully. Kieran couldn't help but smile. Enid even looked entertained for a moment.

"Continue, friend, I'm only teasing."

Cael begrudgingly sat across from Kieran and carried on.

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 Bronwen left the orphanage in a bit of a tumultuous state, to say the least. She was a woman of great heart who had lost a very big treasure and was still going to suffer other consequences related to this loss. She felt scorned. As though the world had damned her and for what?

Still, she began to move towards her family's home. The Dragonfury estate was deep amidst the city, almost directly at its centre. The closer she got, the more distressed she felt. Why did it matter how the child came to be anyhow? She began to realise she'd never lose the image of him which was so very etched in her mind. Quinn, her dear boy, what would she do without him? Somewhere in her soft sobbing and wandering, she bumped into a solid figure and tumbled back a little.

When her eyes rose to meet with Cael's she instantly hurled a barrage of insults at the boy. He hardly had the life experience to know how to handle such a distressed woman, being only sixteen at the time. She had begun striking his chest with her small arms. Soon enough, Cael took note of her bruised and battered disposition and he caught her slim wrists in his hand. Bronwen had then broken down entirely. Cael held her gently and patted her tangled hair as she cried.

When she'd calmed herself a little, he offered his water pouch and led her to a hidden rooftop where they could have a seat. Being a noble, he knew it best if nobody saw her in such a state. Bronwen accepted the pouch and drank from the pouch quietly. When she had her fill, she handed it back over.

"Sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Cael shook his head.

"It's alright madam. Though, you look quite tossed up. What happened?"

Bronwen's face grew sour.

"I've given my boy away."

Cael's eyes saddened. He'd never met the young boy but he'd seen Bronwen during her pregnancy. Heard rumours of the scandal of it all. He'd never been a fan of gossip and he shuddered to imagine how Alexus Dragonfury had handled it all.

"I'm sorry madam. That's unfortunate."

She sighed.

"Still, I shouldn't have struck you, I'm sorry Cael."

The boy waved it off.

"To have you touch me at all is a treasure, of course."

Bronwen rolled her eyes, though she found herself feeling slightly better.

Cael shifted a bit uncomfortably.

"Though ma'am, I assume it wasn't the little one who gave you those bruises."

Bronwen's face shifted to one of shock.

"Oh. Yeah. I suppose I'd forgotten that mess in the midst of everything else."

"What happened?"

Bronwen tilted her head down, suddenly feeling a little strange about having to admit it aloud.

"Well I was robbed on the way to the orphanage."

"Gods- that's horrible madam.

Bronwen chuckled.

"You and your brother couldn't be more different."

Cael's stomach twisted.

"What do you mean by that madam?"

Bronwen feared she'd struck a nerve and tried to back off the subject.

"Oh, nothing. Hardly something a boy should worry about."

Cael crossed his arms.

"Niall robbed you."

Bronwen winced at the words.

"He did, didn't he?'

Bronwen couldn't look at him.

"Madam, I'll need you to say it for me."

Bronwen finally looked at him, brows furrowed nervously.

"What would you do about it anyhow? He's your brother, not to mention all his minions."

"Nevermind that, milady. Did my brother do this to you?"

Bronwen nodded, surrendering finally.

Cael nodded, thinking to himself for a moment.

"Did he hurt the boy at all?"

Bronwen tensed.

"No, hardly. I'd never let him hurt my boy."

"Did he try?"

Bronwen sighed deeply.

"Cael-"

"Did he try to harm your boy?"

"No. I put the boy behind me, I'm sure he didn't even see a thing."

"He beat you in front of your son?"

The darkness in Cael's tone wasn't lost on Bronwen. As she gazed at the young man she could see his well-cloaked fury boiling under the surface.

"Cael-"

"Are you feeling any better now madam?"

She blinked at him.

"Well, yes. But Cael-"

"Alright then, madam Bronwen. I bid you a good day. As for my brother, I'll handle it."

Bronwen was in a bit of a shock as the boy stood up and kissed her hand. She went to protest but he'd already sprinted off down the side of the roof and off to an unknown location. 

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Comment question: Are you and your siblings kind of similar, super different, or in between?