As the sky began turning amber, Crepus and Desider made their way past the town’s walls. Passing by the shore and walking along the cobblestone path, the cousin halted near his abode, smirking. “Makest sure thou give uncle my regards, and not to stay outside all night.”

  Desider threw him a glance, unamused, before gazing back at his house, on top of the hill. He sheathed his sword and walked slowly, uncertainty clouding his thoughts and hesitancy carved into his expression.

  His parents, sitting by the dinner table beside the window, saw him approach. “There he is!” the mother exclaimed. “I tell thee by the saints that be how he is every day! Shall thee not reprimand him to set him straight?!”

  The Captain looked over to her, composed. “Nay, ‘tis best to understand his reasons and see what his ends are.”

  “And if he were to rebel?” She asked sharply.

  “We raised not but an amiable young man...” He muttered back.

  Silence passed before Desider stepped through the door. His eyes met his father’s, masking their thoughts behind steady looks. Her eyes darted between both in anticipation before the youngest spoke evenly. “Greetings, father. Thou hast returned earlier than I anticipated.”

  The mother gasped in awe at this display of inconsideration. Before she could rebuke, the father responded. “Is that of inconvenience to thee?” He asked with a low tone, rising from his seat to meet his son’s now equal height.

  He began scrutinizing Desider’s appearance. His previously well-groomed flaxen hair now turned dishevelled. His cheekbones grew sharper, his limbs and chest no longer as thin, though his arm and reddened, tired cheeks had scratches over them. Yet his instincts reckoned that this young man was still his well-meaning, reserved son. Those blue eyes were not the eyes of a warmonger. No sword or leather armor will change that.

  Desider, uneased at his father’s sudden closeness, spoke firmly. “Wilt thou let me rest? ‘Twas a long day,” he asked, hiding behind a fa?ade.

  “For the both of us.” The Captain retorted, raising his brow slightly. “Though I cannot say I was getting beat for Lord knows why.”

  Desider scowled, sharply turning his face to his mother’s. “I told thee already, it is not beating!” His tone now lost its previous composure. “I already care for the barn and water the crops so quit interfering in my affairs!”

  “Errant child!” his mother scowled back, speaking with gritted teeth. “Thou wilt cease this delinquency at once or else!”

  “Or what, eh?!”

  His father grasped his chin, turning it to face him back. “Do not go too far now, boy.” He spoke lowly with a firm, furrowed glance.

  Desider shoved his hand away and took a step back. He kept a disgruntled gaze on his father whilst breathing unevenly.

  The father scoffed and squinted his eyes on his son. “And what keepest thee persistent on seeking Crepus, I wonder?” He questioned, seeming less amused by the second. “Didst thou not loathe him before?”

  Desider swallowed, straightening his posture to collect himself. “Yet I admire his father,” he said, his lips curved into a half-grin. “He is an honoured warrior who goes out of his way to seek a challenge... with power beyond an idle merchant’s.”

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  His parents glared at him for a moment before the father scoffed a second time. “And thou thinkest to accomplish his feats? By becoming his son’s lapdog?”

  Desider’s face flushed with irritation. “I am not a lapdog!” He retorted. “’Tis training! I have gotten much stronger and faster than ever before! If thou doubtest me, thou can see for thyself!”

  His father gave him a half-lidded glance. “I have no desire for a fight, not with one looking so exhausted,” he dismissed, betraying his concern.

  Desider scoffed, giving his own father a competitive grin. “Dost thou not desire it or art thou afraid I speak truth?”

  The Captain sighed. “Fine then, I shall humour thee.” He leaned his head to his son and challenged under his breath, “But let us see if thy sword is as sharp as thy tongue.”

  Desider squinted his eyes, his grin unfaltering. “Then I shall meet thee outside.” He grabbed the handle of his sword and strode out.

  The Captain’s wife stepped to him with confusion and doubt. “What art thou doing? Wilt thou truly entertain this folly?”

  He responded with a gentle pat to her shoulder. “Dear, not all is resolved with speech. Mayhap this way we may persuade him to calm himself.” He nodded to her and winked. “I shall not bruise him, I promise thee.”

  “...alas,” she shook her head and sighed. “I shall accompany thee.”

  Chirps echoed around town as the sun began to set. The mother leaned her back to a trunk, watching the scene with a frown. Desider took his stance and unsheathed his sword, pointing it at the Captain. He clenched its handle as his eyes fixated piercingly on his opponent.

  The Captain took an opposite side and made distance between them. He unsheathed his cutlass, pointing it back at Desider’s longsword. “Come now... makest thy move,” he said.

  With no hesitation and a grin of challenge, Desider swiftly stepped forward and swung his sword in a downward arc, causing a ripple in the air.

  The clash of metal echoed. The Captain’s eyes widened as he struggled to push back against his opponent’s weight. A smirk crossed his lips. “Colour me surprised... this may require more effort than anticipated.”

  “Thou hast tasted but a morsel...” Desider retorted back, pressuring his opponent with deliberate strikes, to the shoulder once, then to the leg, then to the side.

  Clash after clash, The Captain began to backstep. His expression betrayed neither pride nor strain. He began to shift his stance, dodging at the right moment to take steps down the hill their abode resided on.

  Desider scoffed with heavy breath before charging forward and clashing his blade once more with his opponent’s. “Come now, tax me a bit here!” He taunted, pressuring with more strikes.

  The Captain did not respond but kept a sly smirk. He continued to backstep down the hill, letting his opponent gain momentum. Just as he found it difficult to keep up, he swiftly shifted to the side and pressed his foot over his opponent’s lower shin, causing him to stumble.

  Off-gaurd by his own momentum, Desider lost his balance. Just as he was falling, he swung the air near his opponent’s nose sharply, almost cleaving it off.

  The Captain barely dodged and stumbled. “Hold, thou mad whelp! Hast thou sworn my undoing?!” He questioned with momentary panic before frowning.

  Desider rose from the ground, breathing quite heavily while pointing his blade back at his opponent. “... I shan’t rest till thou correctest thy judgement...!” He stepped forward, then suddenly, his ear was yanked.

  “No more of this, boy! Thou wilt eat, thou wilt bathe, and thou wilt cease this foolish strife!” The mother scolded.

  Desider scowled as his ear was dragged back uphill. “Must thou be so chiding?! Let me be!”

  The Captain sighed in relief and followed. Upon entering his abode, he saw his son exhausted and displeased. His lips curled with amusement and walked over to pat his shoulder. “A grand display. But thou didst kiss the earth.”

  Desider pursed his lips and looked to the side, muttering. “I had thee sure, were I not wearied.”

  His father nudged him. “So I stand correct after all?”

  Desider pouted and furrowed his brows before shrugging his father’s hand off his shoulder and heading to bathe.

  “A company most hard to please...” His father sighed.