breath.
Rylek continued. “And besides, there aren’t that many days left of us being here at home before it’s time to leave.”
“Come on, we’ve been over this a million times,” Tresten said. “You’re reluctant to leave, and I’m excited to finally see what else is out there. I’m itchy. Everyone tells us about everything in the world, but how do they know for sure when hardly anyone ever goes out into it? It’s just another example of how adults speak down to us about things they don’t even know. So I want to see it for myself.”
“Yes, I know,” Rylek groaned.
It was not long before they found themselves in the empty fields on the north side of Calm. Rylek had started to warm himself up when Tresten smacked him with the side of his sword.
“Hey now!” Rylek said. “Give me a chance to loosen up.”
“Do you really think an enemy would give you that chance?” Tresten asked as he started dancing around Rylek.
Rylek thought he looked ridiculous, and could not decide whether it was intentional or not. He unsuccessfully suppressed laughter.
Tresten was not amused. “So you think everything will be handed to you, Your Royal Highness? Do not dare to think all of us are the same. Some of us need the work!”
With that, they were a blurred frenzy of limbs and swords. They were almost as evenly matched as could possibly be. If Rylek held a slight advantage, it was in his strength. If Tresten held any kind of advantage, it was in his agility. They had been trained by Faltir and Celek, and had progressed so far that, in spite of their age, their skills had surpassed everyone in the village, except for their teachers; and they had each very nearly beaten Celek.
On and on they battled. The shadows grew longer, and lights started coming on in the village. Blow by blow, block by block, step by step they practically mirrored each other. They had been going for nearly a half-hour when Rylek suddenly did a twisting move that resulted in Tresten’s sword flying from his hand. Rylek shoved the end of his sword at Tresten’s chest.
“I win,” he said. “Which means you’re dead. Dead enemies can’t stop me from eating, so I’m out of here. My stomach is killing me.”
Tresten picked up his sword. “Well, you had better hurry before it actually does kill you; otherwise who will eat all of that roasted corn?”
“Give it a rest and let’s go. I am seriously starving.”
“You and your one-track mind,” Tresten said.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I am a guy, Tresten. Every woman in Mira would agree with you,” Rylek joked as they walked off together.
***
Tresten’s house came first on the way back into the village, and Rylek had just left him there and was on his way to his own house when Tresten called out his name. Rylek stopped and turned around.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Tresten caught up to him. “Mother said to go ahead and have supper with you. Your mother’s still busy helping her with whatever it is they’re doing and it looks as though they will be busy for awhile.”
“Lana nearly had supper finished before we began dueling, so it works out well that you should have some cold supper too,” Rylek said, and started walking again. “You reap what you sow.”
Tresten grunted and followed.
They walked in silence until they came to Rylek’s house. Stepping inside, they were greeted by Lana and Selenor, and after washing up they sat down at the table to eat. The girls joined them.
Rylek looked surprised. “Are you eating again?” he asked.
“We decided not to eat until you got back,” Lana said. “It’s more fun for all to eat together; or at least, that’s what Selenor and I think.”
“Indeed. The more the merrier,” Selenor said.
Tresten leered. “Just as long as there’s enough for me,” he said.
Rylek nearly choked on a mouthful of roasted corn. “What are you talking about? It’s your own fault we’re eating so late! If you
Rylek continued. “And besides, there aren’t that many days left of us being here at home before it’s time to leave.”
“Come on, we’ve been over this a million times,” Tresten said. “You’re reluctant to leave, and I’m excited to finally see what else is out there. I’m itchy. Everyone tells us about everything in the world, but how do they know for sure when hardly anyone ever goes out into it? It’s just another example of how adults speak down to us about things they don’t even know. So I want to see it for myself.”
“Yes, I know,” Rylek groaned.
It was not long before they found themselves in the empty fields on the north side of Calm. Rylek had started to warm himself up when Tresten smacked him with the side of his sword.
“Hey now!” Rylek said. “Give me a chance to loosen up.”
“Do you really think an enemy would give you that chance?” Tresten asked as he started dancing around Rylek.
Rylek thought he looked ridiculous, and could not decide whether it was intentional or not. He unsuccessfully suppressed laughter.
Tresten was not amused. “So you think everything will be handed to you, Your Royal Highness? Do not dare to think all of us are the same. Some of us need the work!”
With that, they were a blurred frenzy of limbs and swords. They were almost as evenly matched as could possibly be. If Rylek held a slight advantage, it was in his strength. If Tresten held any kind of advantage, it was in his agility. They had been trained by Faltir and Celek, and had progressed so far that, in spite of their age, their skills had surpassed everyone in the village, except for their teachers; and they had each very nearly beaten Celek.
On and on they battled. The shadows grew longer, and lights started coming on in the village. Blow by blow, block by block, step by step they practically mirrored each other. They had been going for nearly a half-hour when Rylek suddenly did a twisting move that resulted in Tresten’s sword flying from his hand. Rylek shoved the end of his sword at Tresten’s chest.
“I win,” he said. “Which means you’re dead. Dead enemies can’t stop me from eating, so I’m out of here. My stomach is killing me.”
Tresten picked up his sword. “Well, you had better hurry before it actually does kill you; otherwise who will eat all of that roasted corn?”
“Give it a rest and let’s go. I am seriously starving.”
“You and your one-track mind,” Tresten said.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I am a guy, Tresten. Every woman in Mira would agree with you,” Rylek joked as they walked off together.
***
Tresten’s house came first on the way back into the village, and Rylek had just left him there and was on his way to his own house when Tresten called out his name. Rylek stopped and turned around.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Tresten caught up to him. “Mother said to go ahead and have supper with you. Your mother’s still busy helping her with whatever it is they’re doing and it looks as though they will be busy for awhile.”
“Lana nearly had supper finished before we began dueling, so it works out well that you should have some cold supper too,” Rylek said, and started walking again. “You reap what you sow.”
Tresten grunted and followed.
They walked in silence until they came to Rylek’s house. Stepping inside, they were greeted by Lana and Selenor, and after washing up they sat down at the table to eat. The girls joined them.
Rylek looked surprised. “Are you eating again?” he asked.
“We decided not to eat until you got back,” Lana said. “It’s more fun for all to eat together; or at least, that’s what Selenor and I think.”
“Indeed. The more the merrier,” Selenor said.
Tresten leered. “Just as long as there’s enough for me,” he said.
Rylek nearly choked on a mouthful of roasted corn. “What are you talking about? It’s your own fault we’re eating so late! If you
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