Ronodin's Backstory

Part 2

"Where have you been?" Ronodin's sister demanded as he walked into his room.

"Why are you in my room?" He countered.

She sighed. "Because I need to make sure you're not making our lives worse by running

off with some red haired lowlife."

"Rika, come on! It's not like we actually have any status anymore. And there's nothing wrong with Cairnon."

"So you were with him."

Ronodin rolled his eyes. "Yes, I was with Cairnon. He asked for my help, okay? I wasn't

going to say no."

"You seem to have no trouble saying no until Cairnon's the one asking," Rika grumbled.

"I'm helping him with his training. If he gets good enough to be on the Royal Guard, then I'll be 'allowed' to be with him."

"Be with him?" Rika questioned.

Ronodin cursed himself for the slip. "I meant be around him. You know I don't- it would never be allowed, even if he did make it on the Royal Guard. Not that I even want to- you know- be with him, I really just meant-"

"I get it I get it. At least you know one thing. You would never be allowed to be with Cairnon, not with how poorly he's been performing in training. And you have to stop helping him on the side. If anyone found out, it would ruin your reputation and make his even worse than it already is."
"What? That's stupid!" Ronodin exclaimed. "If I can help him, and I can- the only reason he's not doing well is because his trainer doesn't understand him and isn't good! I can help him get on the Royal Guard, and everyone would forget about... well, you know."

Rika scowled. "No one is going to forget his family's shame."

"It happened before Cairnon was even born! You can't blame him-"

"You know these aren't my rules, right? These are the Queen's orders- that there be classes of unicorns, classes of schooling, classes in society. I'm trying to make sure you don't make a fool of yourself; it's not my business what Cairnon does as long as it doesn't involve you."

"I'm being careful," Ronodin said. "I can take care of myself, you know? I've been doing it for years because you've been too busy to care and the Queen-" he stopped himself.

Rika glared at him. "You know I've tried my best. And you would do well to remember that the Queen adopted you as her son, and left me to be an orphan."

"You were almost living on your own when Mom and Dad died!"

"That doesn't mean it didn't hurt!" Rika yelled, wiping away a tear furiously.

"Rika-"

"That's enough. Get your act together, Ronodin, or you'll bring me down with you. And I've worked far too hard for you to ruin it all for some silly boy you can't say no to!" She ran from the room before Ronodin could reply.

Bracken entered the room right after Rika had stormed out.

"What was that all about?" he asked.

Ronodin sighed. "It's nothing. She's just being Rika, as usual."

Bracken laughed. "You should've come with us today! I mean I know you never do, even though I always ask, but it was so much fun."

"They're not really my crowd," Ronodin said. "Being around so many people at once makes my head hurt."

"That's silly. Everyone likes being around people."

"You say that because everyone likes being around you," Ronodin laughed.

Bracken frowned. "They should like being around you too. Just because-" he stopped himself. "You're technically the Queen's son too."

Ronodin smiled sadly at his cousin's attempt to cheer him up. "No one sees me that way." He saw Bracken's expression. "Hey, it's fine. I've got you around to remind me how great I am."

Bracken grinned.

"Don't worry about me, okay? You've got a lot of other things to focus on. Your studies-"

Bracken grimaced. "I know I know, I have a lot to work on. My mother only reminds me a thousand times a day."

"No, I didn't mean it like that. You're doing just fine, little bro," Ronodin smiled. "No one expects you to become as good as I am overnight."

Bracken shoved him playfully. "I'm not that far behind you!"

"Keep dreaming."

"Oh, hush! Come on, let's go."

Ronodin laughed. "What?"

"You and me. Right now," Bracken pulled out his horn, and willed it into its sword form.

Ronodin pushed his cousin's hand down. "I'm not going to fight you."

"Scared?" Bracken asked teasingly.

Ronodin glared at him, then pulled out his own sword quick as a flash. He hit Bracken's sword with so much power that Bracken stumbled backward.

"I'm not a coward," Ronodin said.

"Prove it," Bracken replied, knowing it would provoke his cousin to attack.

"You're lucky I like you, because if I didn't, I wouldn't hold back."

"I don't want you to hold back! You're the best swordsman I know, and I need to get better."

Ronodin cringed at how similar Bracken sounded to Cairnon. "I don't want to hurt you."

"I trust you," Bracken said. "I know you won't hurt me."

Ronodin took a deep breath. "Okay." He raised his sword.

Bracken grinned and met Ronodin's blade with his own.