Chapter 32
A Brother’s Decision
The following morning, Brian woke first and headed to the stream for a swim, trying to clear his mind. He shivered as Andraste’s unnerving warning replayed in his mind. How could he explain everything to the group and make them understand?
Brian, always a calculated individual, absentmindedly walked to the stream with a thousand thoughts and questions swarming through his mind. “I am too emotionally involved. I cannot get rid of the brothers, my best friend’s sons. How would I even be able to do it? They are immortal. I could not kill them, there has to be another way. How do I save them, but remove them?”
Brian dove into the cool water. The crisp stream refreshed his senses. Further upstream, a mother bear taught her cubs how to fish. She drove her head into the water and reemerged with a fish flopping in her muzzle. As her cubs tried to imitate her, they tumbled over and completely submerged themselves into the stream.
Brian laughed as the innocent cubs frolicked with each other, learning from the other’s mistakes of how to swim and where to jump. One cub jumped too far and struggled to get back to his family, when suddenly another cub bit, clawed, and nudged its sibling back to safety. Mama bear finally herded them back to shore where they promptly ate their breakfast. She stood watch as her babies tore into their fish.
As Brian watched the mother bear shield her cubs from harm, a revelation broke through his dulled senses. “That’s it!” he yelled to himself. Mama-bear grunted at his startling outburst. “I am the oldest. It’s my job; they’re my cubs. They will all survive the pending battle and the brothers will be a part of it.” Brian commanded as if addressing Mother Nature.
Brian waded back to shore, threw his clothes on, and ran back to camp to wake everyone. His decision was final and he would fight anyone who told him otherwise, even the gods.
When Brian arrived back at camp, Cailean had rekindled the fire with a fresh kill of rabbits roasting over the flames.
“Cail!” Brian walked over to him with a big smile. “Nice choice in breakfast, little brother.”
“Good morning, Bri. I wondered where you went off. I was up early. I couldn’t sleep,” Cailean rubbed the back of his neck and averted eye contact.
Brian honed in on Cailean and stared him down. “What’s wrong, Cail?”
“Nothing. Just tired,” Cailean forced a small smile, but Brian’s face remained concerned.
“You’re lying. Why are you rubbing your neck? What’s happened?” Brian persisted.
Before Brian pushed the conversation further, Bre and Eoghan emerged from Bre’s tent. Cailean and Brian looked stunned seeing them both come out of the same tent.
“Isn’t that a surprise?” Cailean called out, raising his eyebrows to Eoghan.
“I’d say indeed,” said Brian, smirking at Breanna who blushed when she sat next to him.
“Nothing happened you two,” Eoghan added quickly as he sat next to her. “Only tried to keep her warm, that is all.”
Bre cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Where are my brothers? I miss hearing Leo’s complaining when I first wake up.” Bre tossed a few berries in her mouth.
Cailean stood up, rubbing the back of his neck again and grabbed the rabbits over the fire. “Not sure. Must have gone for a walk, or maybe they’re training over the hill. Rabbit anyone?” Cailean kept his eyes on the ground, fear creeping into his gut.
“Ooo, yes please!” Breanna said, holding out her hands impatiently. Cailean gave her the skewer of rabbit. “They are quiet. Maybe they finally found a way to block our thoughts from each other,” Breanna said with a hopeful smile.
Eoghan and Bre made small talk over their breakfast while Brian closely watched Cailean. The animals woke up from the smell of cooked meat and gathered around the fire. However, Cailean threw them raw meat he saved specifically for them, and the horses had fresh grass and oats. Cailean had prepared everyone’s breakfast.
Brian cleared his throat hoping to gain Cailean’s attention, but Cailean ignored his attempt and stared into the flames as he nibbled on fruit. Brian knew his brother all too well. Brian jumped up, gripped the back of Cailean’s arm, and dragged him down the hill where the group usually practiced.
Looking around the field, Brian prayed to find the brothers training as Cailean suggested.
“What have you done, Cailean?” Brian demanded.
Cailean ripped his arm out of Brian’s grasp.
“I haven’t done anything,” Cailean said, his voice wavering as he massaged the back of his neck once more.
“You are lying to me! Look at you!” Brian yelled and yanked Cailean’s arm from his neck, “You are ashamed of something! Now I am going to ask you once more before I read your mind. What. Have. You. Done?” Brian emphasized slowly.
Cailean backed away from his brother before he read his mind. Even though Brian had promised years ago that he would never do it unless it was dire, he seemed determined to find out what Cailean was hiding. Despite the threat and fear of his brother, Cailean remained fruitlessly silent.
Brian quickly grabbed Cailean around the back of his neck with both hands and stared directly into his eyes, freezing him where he stood. Cailean tried with all his might to hide the memory that would incriminate him, but Brian was a master at dredging up old memories. A fresh memory would put up little resistance.
What Brian uncovered astonished him. He never thought his brother capable of such cruelty.