85th of Summer
Late Morning
493 AV
Late Morning
493 AV
"Do we have to do this?" it was at least the third time a whine issued from Brody Skellig's mouth, his feet dragging dirt and debris as he trailed behind his siblings. "C'mon Liam! I won't make the parade at this rate!"
"You're just goin' for the free food."
"Shut up, Ioan. At least I'm liked enough to get free food!"
The middle brother merely ignored the younger's attempt at baiting him into a fight, instead turning his blue eyes to the figure of Liam leading the pony some paces ahead. It was late morning and the Skellig siblings led by fourteen year old Liam were trekking into the Bronze Woods at the insistence of their father to train in riding. Unfortunately neither parent was available to chaperon, leaving the responsibility to Liam to both teach and mind the younger ones. Casting his brother a glance the nine year old Brody's dark eyes gleamed with mischief.
"I've brought wooden swords," he murmured proudly to his sibling, raising the oddly shaped bag with some difficulty with a smirk. Ioan threw his brother a scowl.
"You weren't supposed to bring weapons! Father said today was for riding..."
"We can't all ride at the same time. 'Sides, Liam and I are far better at horsemanship than you. You'll be at it all afternoon. What're we to do while you take an age to learn how to canter?"
"I know how to canter!"
"Boys!"
Despite only a few years their senior Liam Skellig's voice rang out with authority, barely glancing over his shoulder at other children, one hand guiding the stout pony along the path. They'd been out to the Woods many times that summer training and practicing. Considering none of the boys had been picked for Knighthood they had only themselves to train with, putting each other through their paces if only to use up the excess of energy so common among boys their age.
"You both have things to work on," came the great moderator's voice as he paused to look at them over his shoulder. Pointing the lunging whip in Brody's direction Liam frowned. "Y'weren't supposed to bring the swords. But since you did, I expect you to actually train, not dick around. And where by Syna's breath is our sister?"
A quick glance about the small company would find them lacking one small member. The youngest Skellig child was no where to be found. Ioan rolled his eyes with a frustrated groan, which was swiftly swallowed when Liam's sharp gaze caught him. Brody shrugged in response to the question, unperturbed that they'd lost their seven year old sister in the forest. Suddenly he smiled, all thought of the parade he was missing gone from his mind.
"Bet I find her before you do!" he tossed the Ioan a wink before turning on his heel. "Haddie!"
"We'll meet you at the Springs. And Brody," the eldest boy caught his brother with another stern glare. "Collect her and come back quickly, won't you?"
"Course I will!" Brody replied before slapping an annoyed Ioan a little to forcefully on the back and heading in the opposite direction. "She's just a girl. How far off could she've wandered, eh?"
"You're just goin' for the free food."
"Shut up, Ioan. At least I'm liked enough to get free food!"
The middle brother merely ignored the younger's attempt at baiting him into a fight, instead turning his blue eyes to the figure of Liam leading the pony some paces ahead. It was late morning and the Skellig siblings led by fourteen year old Liam were trekking into the Bronze Woods at the insistence of their father to train in riding. Unfortunately neither parent was available to chaperon, leaving the responsibility to Liam to both teach and mind the younger ones. Casting his brother a glance the nine year old Brody's dark eyes gleamed with mischief.
"I've brought wooden swords," he murmured proudly to his sibling, raising the oddly shaped bag with some difficulty with a smirk. Ioan threw his brother a scowl.
"You weren't supposed to bring weapons! Father said today was for riding..."
"We can't all ride at the same time. 'Sides, Liam and I are far better at horsemanship than you. You'll be at it all afternoon. What're we to do while you take an age to learn how to canter?"
"I know how to canter!"
"Boys!"
Despite only a few years their senior Liam Skellig's voice rang out with authority, barely glancing over his shoulder at other children, one hand guiding the stout pony along the path. They'd been out to the Woods many times that summer training and practicing. Considering none of the boys had been picked for Knighthood they had only themselves to train with, putting each other through their paces if only to use up the excess of energy so common among boys their age.
"You both have things to work on," came the great moderator's voice as he paused to look at them over his shoulder. Pointing the lunging whip in Brody's direction Liam frowned. "Y'weren't supposed to bring the swords. But since you did, I expect you to actually train, not dick around. And where by Syna's breath is our sister?"
A quick glance about the small company would find them lacking one small member. The youngest Skellig child was no where to be found. Ioan rolled his eyes with a frustrated groan, which was swiftly swallowed when Liam's sharp gaze caught him. Brody shrugged in response to the question, unperturbed that they'd lost their seven year old sister in the forest. Suddenly he smiled, all thought of the parade he was missing gone from his mind.
"Bet I find her before you do!" he tossed the Ioan a wink before turning on his heel. "Haddie!"
"We'll meet you at the Springs. And Brody," the eldest boy caught his brother with another stern glare. "Collect her and come back quickly, won't you?"
"Course I will!" Brody replied before slapping an annoyed Ioan a little to forcefully on the back and heading in the opposite direction. "She's just a girl. How far off could she've wandered, eh?"
