A Tale of Magic... by Brandon Dorman Read Free Book Online

Barrie in the dining room. He was tall, muscular, had perfectly straight hair, and always looked like he had somewhere better to be—especially when he was with his family. Brooks had graduated from the university and gone into the Deputy Justice program two years earlier, and like all the other Deputies, he wore a gray-and-black-checkered robe and a slightly taller black hat than Barrie’s.
    Instead of greeting his siblings, Brooks grunted and rolled his eyes when he saw Barrie flipping through his notecards.
    “Are you still studying?” he sneered.
    “Is there something wrong with studying?” Barrie shot back.
    “Only the way you do it,” Brooks ridiculed him. “Really, brother, if it takes this long for information to sink in, perhaps you should pursue another profession? I hear the Fortworths are in the market for a new stable boy.”
    Brooks took a seat across from his brother and put his feet on the table, inches away from Barrie’s notecards.
    “How interesting. I heard the Fortworths are also in the market for a new son-in-law since their daughter declined your proposal,” Barrie replied. “ Twice , the rumor goes.”
    Brystal couldn’t stop a laugh from surfacing. Brooks mocked his sister’s laughter with a crude imitation and then squinted at Barrie while he plotted his next insult.
    “In all honesty, I hope you pass your examination today,” he said.
    “You do?” Brystal asked with suspicious eyes. “Well, that’s out of character.”
    “Yes, I do,” Brooks snapped. “I look forward to going head-to-head with Barrie in a courtroom—I’m bored with humiliating him at home.”
    Brooks and Barrie glared at each other with the complicated hatred only brothers could have. Fortunately, their exchange was interrupted before it became more heated.
    Justice Evergreen entered the dining room with a stack of parchment under his arm and a quill between his fingers. He was an imposing man with a thick white beard. After a long career of judging others, several deep lines had formed across his forehead. Like all the Justices in the Southern Kingdom, Justice Evergreen wore a black robe that flowed from his shoulders to his toes and a tall black hat that forced him to duck through doorways. His eyes were the exact shade of blue as his daughter’s, and they even shared the same astigmatism—which was greatly beneficial to Brystal. Unbeknownst to her father, whenever the Justice discarded an old pair of reading glasses, his daughter got a new pair.
    Upon his arrival, the Evergreen children rose and respectfully stood by their chairs. It was custom to rise for a Justice while attending the courthouse, but Justice Evergreen expected it from his family at all times.
    “Good morning, Father,” the Evergreens said together.
    “You may be seated,” Justice Evergreen permitted, without looking any of his children in the eye. He took his seat at the head of the table and immediately buried his nose in his paperwork, as if nothing else in the world existed.
    Mrs. Evergreen appeared with a pot of porridge, a large bowl of scrambled eggs, and a hot tray of rolls. Brystal helped her mother serve breakfast, and once the men’s plates were full, the women filled their own and sat down.
    “What’s this rubbish?” Brooks asked, and poked the food with a fork.
    “Eggs and oats,” Mrs. Evergreen said. “It’s Barrie’s favorite.”
    Brooks moaned as if he found the meal offensive. “I should have known,” he scoffed. “Barrie has the same taste as a sow.”
    “Sorry it isn’t your favorite, Brooks,” Barrie said. “Perhaps Mother can make cream of kitten and infant tears for you tomorrow.”
    “Dear Lord, these boys will be the death of me!” Mrs. Evergreen said, and looked to the ceiling in distress. “Would it kill either of you to take a day off from this nonsense? Especially on a morning as important as this? Once Barrie passes his examination, the two of you are going to be working together for a