A Heart's Journey: A Collection Of Short Tales

Lessons: A Bond Between Brothers

Reginald; Derrick and Corin's father, was widely renowned for his bravery and exceptional fighting skills on the battlefront, and a General in the Royal Army. Derrick had always tried his hardest to be just like him. Sadly, Reginald had lost his life on the battlefield, protecting the King, leaving many behind to grieve for him.

Corin had been too young at the time to really understand what had happened, but he had always watched his older brother, who was eight years older than him, immerse himself in training. He had heard the stories of his father, how strong and courageous he was. He wanted to be worthy of being called an Anthony, just like his father, and brother, Derrick.

One day, he worked up the nerve to ask him, "Derrick, you're so good with a sword, do you think you could teach me how to use one?"

Derrick peered down at his father's old rapier in his hand, then back at Corin, "you're sure you can handle this, Corin? Swords can be very sharp and heavy."

"I can! Please teach me?" Corin pleaded.

Derrick sighed, "alright then, but you can't tell Mother, she'd be furious with me."

"I promise I won't, can we start now?"

"Fine, but before you can hold a real sword, you need to get used to a lighter practice sword first" he walked into their barn and opened up an old wooden chest.

Corin followed him and watched him curiously as he dug through it. He finally pulled out a battered and worn wooden sword.

"Father made this for me when I was younger, when he taught me how to use a sword. It'll be yours now" Derrick handed it to him and showed him how to hold it properly.

After hours of teaching Corin how to take care of a sword, and how to block attacks, their mother's voice was heard, calling them in for supper. Once they reached the house, she eyed them suspiciously.

"What have you boys been up? You are absolutely filthy. Go to the well at the back of the house and wash up there before you come inside" she scolded them.

They lowered their heads, then ran off to do as she said. They soon joined her at the supper table, shoveling food into their mouths like they hadn't eaten in weeks.

"At such a ridiculous pace, how are you able to taste the food?" she laughed. "Perhaps you would care to explain what you did to work up such a large appetite?"

They both froze and exchanged looks, Derrick glared a warning as Corin prepared to answer, "we've just been playing hard Mama, Derrick could tell you."

He lowered his head and continued eating his meal in silence. Mrs. Anthony turned her gaze to Derrick and waited for him to say something, knowing well that he couldn't lie to her.

"Derrick?" she urged him to answer.

He froze again and peered over at her, "I... well, that is to say..." he glanced out the window and saw that it was already dusk, "the time! I have to go to the Whittakers!"

He quickly stood up, leaving his meal unfinished. She chased him to the door, "Derrick Reginald Anthony! Oh, that boy. Corin, what have you two been up to?"

Derrick finished his work on the Whittakers' farm, but was reluctant to return home, assuming his mother had already gotten Corin to tell her everything.

Gwen came to the barn to see what he was up to, "why are you hiding in here?"

He glanced at her briefly over his shoulder, then returned to a harness he was polishing, "what makes you think I'm hiding?"

She smirked and circled around to his face, "well, for one thing, you've already finished polishing that, and you always stall around here when your mother might be mad at you for something."