Draconis' Bane by David Temrick Read Free Book Online Page A

sounds.
    “Would you keep it
down!? I can’t hear the news!” His father screamed.
    He was quiet for what
felt like forever, but once again after some time had passed he
began making the engine sounds again as he raced his little toy
cars around the carpet. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his
father get out of his chair, stomp over to him, grab him by both
biceps and lift him up so they were face to face.
    “SHUT UP!!!!” He
bellowed and then dropped him unceremoniously back down onto the
carpet.
    He slowly got up and
limped upstairs to his room where he cried himself to sleep.
    Tristan’ eyes filled
with tears as he regarded the man who looked like Father Downing.
The woman in front of him was shaking and her tears were now
flowing from her eyes, dropping onto her beautiful maroon silk
gown. Apparently she could read his mind…and from the looks on
everyone else’s faces so could everyone else. A sense of privacy
rose up inside Tristan and he erected his mental defenses,
ironically, as Father Downing had taught him.
    The little girl, her
green eyes much like his mothers had tears gathering in them as she
struggled to run over and presumably knock the wind out of him with
another hug. The towering man looked helplessly at his immense
hands as they opened and closed, powerless to help. His fathers’
knuckles were white as he regarded his son. Tristan wished they
would stop looking at him, he felt ashamed of how weak he was being
again.
    In his mind, despite
his pitiful defenses, he could hear his mother’s voice again;
    Don’t be ashamed
Mykl. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’re all very proud of
you.
    “What the hell could
you possibly be proud about!?” He shouted. “I’m sitting here crying
like a little baby and I don’t understand what’s going on!” He
jumped off his bed, adrenaline flowing through his system as he
stormed around the room.
    “Son please, calm
down, we’ll explain everything.” His father said.
    “Sit down little
brother.” Boomed the large man.
    Without thinking
about it Tristan sat back down on the bed and stared defiantly back
at the large man.
    “Well one thing
hasn’t changed. He still acts like he’s three times his size.” The
big man joked.
    The stress in the
room lifted as everyone chuckled at his observation. Tristan felt
very foolish, everyone was being very kind and he was acting out
because of his confusion.
    “It’s only natural
son.” His father said. “After what you’ve been through, we can only
imagine what it must be like.”
    “Yes, please Mykl.
We’ll explain everything to you, but you need to keep calm, we’re
not sure how hurt you are yet.” Continued the woman.
    “Fine. Why do you
keep calling me that?”
    “It’s Mom, that’s
just what she does Tristan.” Replied the large man
sarcastically.
    “I remember you.”
Tristan commented.
    “Oh really? What do
you remember exactly little brother?”
    “You were Joy’s best
friend.”
    “Well I don’t know
about best friend, but son might be a better word.”
    “I don’t understand.”
Tristan mumbled.
    “Let me explain.
You’re all too serious anyway.” The little girl announced.
     
    Tristan liked her
very much. He couldn’t quite explain why, but she just infected him
with love and trust. It didn’t feel normal at all, though not in an
alarming way. Her presence was infectiously and inexplicably
joyous. For years he’d been abused and neglected and all it took
this little wisp of a girl moments and his defenses were down. She
happily leapt off her mother’s lap, ran over and jumped up onto the
bed with him again. She sat cross legged staring at him as he
turned and leaned back against the pillows, wincing in pain as he
waited.
    “Ok. You were in the
training area; Mom won’t let me go you know, she doesn’t think
swordplay is very lady like and….”
    “Ahem.” Their father
cleared his throat and Eurydice blushed.
    “…right. So you were
at lessons, learning how