Chapter 5: An Awkward Family Reunion

  “I am sorry, sir. I do not know how such a thing could occur.”

  Avner cocked his head slightly. “You are the chief steward. You figure out all of the scheduling. Give me your best guess. When is the best time to steal livestock from the pens?”

  The steward stuttered, a bead of sweat on his forehead. “I can assure you…I wouldn’t know.”

  Avner waved his hand. “I’m not accusing you! Stay calm! I am merely asking when there is a point that the sheep and goats are out of sight of any guards or herdsmen.”

  The man nodded slowly. “Of course. I…there are only two moments where the livestock are out of sight. At night when they are kept in the pens and in the morning when they are herded through a small tunnel built in the wall. There are men herding them through but no one in the tunnel until you reach the herdsmen on the outside of the wall.”

  “Fascinating. And have you been inside the tunnel?”

  The man appeared flustered. “There is…I mean…I wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t-”

  “Yes, you are right. Going into a tunnel is below your status isn’t it? Very well.”

  Avner turned to Haran. “What do you think? Should we keep watch tonight to see if anyone comes out or do we just crawl in the tunnel right now?”

  Haran gave him a look askance. “I’m not crawling in there.”

  “Come now! Afraid of dirt on your hands?”

  “It’s not the dirt I’m thinking of.”

  “That hardly seems like a fair excuse.” Avner took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Fine, I’ll look in the tunnel but I think we should wait till after we meet with my sister.” He turned to the nervous Chief Steward. “We will be back by nightfall. Don’t lock up the stables before we arrive.”

  “Understood.”

  Avner began to walk from the room and Haran was close on his heels. “Avner, are you sure this is a good idea to surprise your sister like this? She was not pleased to see you last time.”

  “I have to know if the rest of my family is there. Besides, she often needed a nudge to get her thinking properly. Let’s find Suti and see where my sister lives.”

  Haran shook his head. “This is going to go so well. I can already tell.”

  *

  Amos and E’Tar were walking down the street in jovial conversation as they approached their house. E’Tar gestured to the thin blanket Amos held. “Will you share that? I spent some of my money on it too.”

  “You already have a blanket! Consider it repayment for stealing the one that originally belonged to me. I’m keeping this one beside the bed for when you inevitably take the one we share for yourself.”

  They entered the house to find Ari’El working over the fireplace. Amos stopped in surprise and E’Tar ran into him from behind. “Oof! You are home! It's earlier than usual.”

  “Yes…well, I have been assigned evening shifts for the next three nights so I was given the rest of today off.”

  “Oh? What caused this change of schedule? This hasn’t happened before.”

  “I get paid more for the evening…so I don’t mind. We could use the money.” She took a hot pot from the fire and placed it on the table. “Speaking of money, what did E’Tar make today?”

  Amos sat down at the table and brandished the blanket with triumph. “Oh, we spent most of what he made on this new blanket! I finally stopped complaining about E’Tar’s thieving and took action to remedy it…” he faded out when he saw his sister’s face grow red. “I…we were talking about it…remember?”

  She stood over the blanket and looked down at it, playing with its texture between her fingers. “Very nice. Very nice for you.”

  She stalked away and Amos glanced with worry at E’Tar who looked determined to keep his gaze fixed firmly on his plate of gruel. Amos rose and approached Ari’El by the fire. “What is wrong Ari’El?”

  “Nothing.”

  “We both know that isn’t true. Just tell me! Did I do something wrong?”

  Ari’El whirled on him. “You are so stupid! Don’t you see?! We needed that money for food, repairs and taxes, not blankets that we don’t need…that benefits only one of us! I didn’t get paid today for leaving early and we have little enough as it is! How are we supposed to keep surviving all together if only a few of us actually do work while you spend the money that you don’t even make!”

  Amos pulled back, stung. “I didn’t…I mean…I…just…” He faltered, unable to speak as his gaze shifted, slowly falling to the floor.

  Ari’El shuddered slightly at her outburst and moved to the doorway. “I need some fresh air.”

  She was out the door before Amos could look up. “No…Ari’El…wait,” he said, moving to follow her.

  E’Tar rose to his feet and put an arm around his chest. “No. Let her be. I think she wants to be alone.”

  “But…I’m sorry…”

  “She knows.”

  “No, she doesn’t…I’m so stupid.” Amos dropped his head and gazed through tears at the blanket in his hand. He scowled fiercely at it and suddenly saw smoke rise from it as his power activated without his realization. He gasped and dropped it, gazing at the burned section he touched, a hole in their new blanket. An awkward silence hung in the air and E’Tar stood beside him with a hand on his shoulder, saying nothing, gazing at the blanket.

  *

  Ari’El marched angrily down the street, tears in her eyes. She shook her head, sobbing and growling in anger. She finally turned down an alley at the end of the street and sank to the ground, hunching over as she pressed her head into her hands. She finally let a sob out.

  “Creator…I hate my life. I hate being poor…I hate…feeling angry all the time.”

  *

  Amos was sitting in a chair with his head in his hands. “She’s right…I’m so stupid and selfish. All I care about is having fun or developing my Athelward powers when we have more important things to worry about.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  E’Tar looked over from his bowl where he was eating. “That isn’t true.” Amos glanced over at him with a glare and he looked down at his food. “Well…maybe a little true.”

  Amos dropped his head to the table and moaned loudly. E’Tar proffered his bowl toward him. “Food?”

  “I don’t deserve this food. If I don’t support the family I shouldn’t eat.”

  “You helped me today…”

  Amos sighed and didn’t respond to that comment, his head still on the wooden table. E’Tar finished his bowl and put a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. “How can I help?”

  Amos opened his eyes and glanced at him skeptically. “Help how?”

  E’Tar took on a blank expression. “I don’t know. You are smart though, tell me what to do.”

  The barest chuckle escaped Amos’ throat. “Just let me feel this guilt…I think I deserve it.”

  A knock interrupted their conversation and both their heads snapped up to gaze at the door with suspicion. Amos shifted out of his seat at the same time E’Tar did. “Are we expecting anyone?”

  “No.”

  “Who is it?” Amos called.

  A jovial voice from the other side responded. “Well, that is a complicated question as it depends on who is asking. But I suspect a good response here is family.”

  Amos’s breath caught and he whispered, “I know that voice…”

  He moved to the door and opened it. He squinted in the bright evening sunlight that met his eyes but the figure in the doorway was still clear to him.

  Avner smiled wide then faltered as he peered at the man in front of him. “Amos? It can’t be!”

  Amos backed up like he had been struck in the chest. “Avner…how…we thought you died in the war!”

  “I thought the same of you! My sweet little brother!” Avner charged into the house and pulled Amos into a massive hug while lifting him from the floor. E’Tar moved in to grab at Avner’s wrist. Almost on Avner’s heels, Haran was behind him, putting an arm out to stop E’Tar. The two men faced off, Haran with his hand on his axe and stern while E’Tar looked startled and his hands balled into fists. Avner released Amos and put up his hands, “Whoa now! Easy Haran! No need to act like a startled cat!”

  He held Amos at arm’s length and looked him over. “Who would have thought…my little brother Amos is all grown up now. I really don’t have the words.”

  “That isn’t like you,” said Amos, “You were never one to be at a loss for words.”

  Avner smiled at his joke and Amos smiled as well. Avner pulled him back in and squeezed him tight, sighing. “I count myself truly lucky! I never knew you were alive!”

  “It was a near thing,” said Amos, pulling free to look him in the face. “You…heard about father…and El’Azar?”

  “I did…I am sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when the house fell. I was…indisposed.”

  “What happened to you? The last night I saw you, you told me you were going to join the war against the United Houses. Then, when we heard that the Independent Houses had been defeated in battle, we feared the worst. Please, sit down!”

  Haran remained standing, his gaze on E'Tar who also remained standing as Avner and Amos sat down. Avner gestured to Haran. “Oh! Of course…you remember Haran, don’t you? He was the son of the Lord Emelik Cloudruler, on the estate across the river..”

  Amos nodded to Haran. “Very vaguely. I am pleased you survived the war with my brother, Haran.”

  Haran nodded in return. “In truth, I would be dead from that war were it not for your brother.”

  “Really?!” Amos turned to Avner. “Please, tell me what has happened since you left.”

  Avner looked about. “I don’t suppose you have anything to drink? I’m parched…”

  Amos shrugged. “Just water…which I would have to fetch from the well down the street.”

  Avner shook his head. “Never mind. I’ll get something later. Now…when Haran and I left to fight in the war…we joined with the main military force…after obtaining some equipment and going on a few adventures, of course. It was the first time we had tasted freedom from our houses so, could you blame us? When we finally joined the army, our reputation preceded us.”

  “You mean you were made captains?”

  Haran snorted. “No. We were demoted.”

  “Despite our noble station,” added Avner, “Disrespectful bastards. But I soon proved…um, excuse me, we soon proved our capable natures and we rose in the ranks just in time for the battle of Green Vale.”

  “And what happened there?”

  Haran coughed loudly and Avner ignored his clear mark of disapproval as he continued. “Nothing that will ever be told to anyone else. Suffice to say, we barely escaped with our lives. Haran was grievously wounded and I was suffering from several nasty wounds myself. I dragged him off the battlefield and we made our way to the nearest village…mostly a set of hovels that had been abandoned as the fight was so near. By the time either one of us was well enough to move, both our homes had already been destroyed.”

  “But…you did search, didn’t you?”

  Avner looked pained. “Well…we had thought to…but we encountered a problem…”

  The door flew open with a crack and Ari’El stood in the doorway, her face livid. “But he didn’t come to find us. What are you doing here, Avner? Did you spy on me to find our home?”

  “I didn’t spy on you! Not directly at any rate. I had Suti follow you. She was supposed to be keeping watch outside.”

  Suti appeared in the doorway behind Ari’El. “What is the point of having me be secretive if you tell everyone where I am?”

  Ari’El jumped in surprise. Clearly, she hadn’t seen Suti outside before. “Where did you…never mind! I can’t believe you had one of your hirelings spy on me to find our house.”

  “Spying? Really,” was Avner’s response.

  “I’m not his hireling!” was Suti’s cold contribution. “If anything, he works for me.”

  “Ari’El, why are you mad that he’s here?” asked Amos in confusion.

  “Hang on, Suti. That isn’t what we agreed upon! We were partners!”

  “You’ll understand later, Amos.”

  The noise increased as Amos confronted his sister and Avner his “partner” as they argued over motives or finer detailed points.

  “We are partners, Avner. But you must admit, I do command you around a lot.”

  “That is just because you are bossy. We all know I am the one who is leading.”

  “Hang on,” said Haran, pulled into the conversation, “You are the leader? I thought this was a partnership between us three.”

  “Please Amos,” said Ari’El, “I’ll explain later.”

  “You should explain now. Why wouldn’t you want me to see our brother? I am sure he would have helped us if he could but it was impossible for him.”

  “He watched our house get destroyed! They attacked us because of him! Besides…”

  “He couldn’t have stopped it, it happened so fast after the battle of Green Vale. And we both knew Father was involved in some way we didn’t know about.”

  “He abandoned our family long before the war to go on adventures. He didn’t care for us or our family.”

  “That isn’t true. He liked me. You just didn’t get along with him because you were bossy.”

  “I…I was not! I was trying to learn to be a noble woman!”

  Avner butted in, “By commanding your older brother and superior around?”

  Haran scowled and tried to interject but was cut off by Avner. “Hold fast, Haran. I didn’t say I was going to command you around. It's just…well this venture was my idea.”

  “You know full well it wasn’t your idea but Lord Nabrit…”

  “Shut up!” hissed Suti. “Never mention a client’s name, you idiot!”

  “I’m sorry, who?” said Ari’El. “Are you in trouble with locals yet again, brother?”

  “Stop it Ari’El,” said Amos, “Stop accusing him of things”

  A loud banging came from the table as E’Tar beat it with his fist. “Enough!” One last slam of his fist saw the table crack as a leg fell off and it fell sideways. They all stared at a very red faced E’Tar who looked forlornly down at his handiwork. Ari’El nodded. “You should leave Avner. You aren’t welcome here.”

  “Funny…you know I’ve heard that line before…who said it…oh that’s right, father did.”

  “I know.”

  Avner and Ari’El stared at one another and their intense looks caused the rest of the party to freeze in silence. Their gazes flicked back and forth between the pair. Only Suti seemed uninterested in the whole affair as she stepped in to break the impasse. “Well, we saw your family. It was so nice to meet you all. Let’s get back to our business.”

  She opened the door and stepped out into the street. Avner, who had arisen and knocked over his chair at Ari’El’s entrance, righted it. “True…we will be off.”

  Amos shook his head and muttered, “Wait…”

  “Amos!” Ari’El snapped at him and he fell silent, his eyes dropping.

  Avner moved to the door with Haran before turning back to his sister. “You know…you could have said hello to Haran as well. You remember he was smitten with you when we were younger? No…I suppose you wouldn’t notice, would you.”

  Haran rolled his eyes as he shoved Avner out of the door, nodded to Ari’El. He slammed the door behind him, leaving behind a deafening silence.