“What do you mean?” Aden asked.
“I still don’t think I could choose to leave the one I loved on the eve of battle.”
“Hopefully you never have to make that decision.”
Isa nodded, hoping he was right but fairly sure he would be wrong.
Chapter 24
“Mum is going to murder you!”
Aden squinted across the canyon in surprise. A tall figure dressed in a loud mix of bright blue and orange was on the opposite cliff. The more moderately dressed villagers around him nearly blended in with the surrounding landscape. A reliable group of workers had been at the edge of the canyon each day, constructing the foundation for their side of the bridge. This new figure, with the familiar voice and flamboyant clothing, could only belong to one person: his brother Erich.
Squinting across the canyon at his younger brother, Aden felt a warm glow in his chest. “You’re alive?” he called back. He had not expected to see any member of his family again, much less his supposedly dead younger brother.
“Of course I am,” Erich yelled. “Did you expect a measly rainstorm to do me in? I’m not as weak as you are, you ridiculous oaf! Do you have any idea how big of a fool you are?” He waved his arms wildly as he moved back and forth along the edge of the canyon.
The warm glow in Aden’s chest started to disappear. It was typical of Erich to insult him as loudly as possible in front of multiple people.
It had been seven days since construction had begun. Aden, along with Isa, Luca, and Blanca, had frequently walked down the hill to check on the progress. Today, however, it was only Isa at his side.
“Who is that new person?” Isa asked him. “What’s he saying?”
“My brother,” Aden responded. “I’ll fill you in soon, he’s still talking.”
“What were you even thinking?” Erich continued, his dramatic voice easily carrying over the wide expanse between them.
Aden noticed a tall appendage sticking out of his brother’s head. It swayed in the breeze, responding to Erich’s movements. He couldn’t quite make it out, but it appeared to be a long feather affixed to a wide-brimmed hat. Aden had never seen a feather that large before and had no idea how his brother had managed to source it. If they were going to talk about which one was the more ridiculous oaf, Erich should take a look in the mirror.
“Do you have any idea how devastated Mum was to find out you’d left?” He clearly did not expect an answer to his question as he carried on. “Not to mention the rest of us. I didn’t sleep for nights, tossing and turning and worrying about you roughing it out in the woods. I, of course, would have been fine. I’ve recently had to endure far worse than a few nights out of doors and look at me now! But I could only imagine how wretched you felt, all alone... theagony!”
Aden glanced down at Isa, hoping she still could not hear any of this. Her face was turned toward his. She was probably burning with questions, but she remained quiet. Aden realized that she would enjoy hearing about Erich, and he found himself looking forward to discussing his younger brother with her.
But first, he had to get that brother to stop yelling embarrassing insults. “How did you find me?” Aden yelled.
“What was that?” Erich replied. “You’ll have to speak up.”
“How did you find me?”
“Oh, right. Rumors started spreading a few days ago about a ferocious talking monster in the mountains east of Iseldis. We could only assume they referred to you, so I changed course on my way to Chendas to give you a proper chewing out. I’m impressed that you managed to lie low for so long; we’ve had every web of people on the lookout in all five kingdoms. Dead silence for days. Although this bridge situation explains that.” Erich stopped speaking. He stopped pacing as well. He appeared to be staring across the canyon. “Is that someone over there with you?”
“Yes!” Aden rubbed his throat. Yelling a handful of words across the river was already making his throat feel sore. He had no idea how Erich could continually monologue at such a volume.
“A woman? And you haven’t scared her away with those vicious fangs? Hah. Impressive. You’ll have to tell me your ways.”
Aden squeezed his lungs, a low growl hovering in his throat. His brother was lucky they were separated by a wide chasm. “Shut your lip if you know what’s good for you,” Aden yelled, allowing some of the growl in his throat to accompany the words.
Isa placed a calming hand on his arm. He patted it comfortingly. He was not truly angry, just annoyed.
Erich stopped moving again, likely drawing out his face in mock hurt. “Hold your anger, dear brother. It looks as though this pulley system will be able to ferry men across in a day or two. I’ll find some suitable lodging on this side and come over as soon as I can. I have news. And it’s not great. I wouldn’t want to shout it across here for all the village to hear.”
Aden raised a hand above his head in acknowledgment. It was not as though his brother had been shouting his personal business for the past ten minutes for the entire village to hear.
“Your brother?” Isa asked. “He seems like quite the interesting fellow. What did he say?”
“Do you have any siblings, Isabel?” Aden had taken up the habit of saying her full name whenever he had the chance. He loved the way it danced across his tongue, and she had not asked him to stop.
“I do, a younger sister.”
