when he answered.
‘Where are you living?’
‘I’ve taken a small apartment in Bankers. It’s close to the salon I’m training in. Closer to here also, so I’ll be able to call home more often.’
Gilia snorted in disbelief. Despite being younger than him, both she and his older sister had mothered him up until the point he had left for the Academy. She sat down at the table. ‘You’ve settled on the arena then.’
‘Yes, it seemed like a better option than the army. I’ll give it a year or two and if it doesn’t work out I shouldn’t have any difficulty in securing a commission. Bannerets of the Blue are always in demand.’
‘And when will we see you fight your first duel?’ his mother said.
Bryn grimaced. There was no delicate way of putting it.
‘I’ve fought it already,’ he said. He could see his mother’s face drop. ‘It was in an awful little arena. I just wanted to get my first one out of the way before I told anyone about it. I’ll be sure to let you know when my next one is coming up.’
Gilia scowled. ‘Be sure you do. I’m just sorry Father didn’t live to see it. He dreamed of watching you in the arena.’
Bryn felt his spirits drop, but still thought his decision was for the best. He had seen the pressure that Amero had been under for his first duel and he was glad that he hadn’t been subjected to anything similar. It had never been his intention to hurt or offend his family. He wondered if he would have been better off lying about the duel.
‘It really was just a case of getting it out of the way. It was a long way removed from the Amphitheatre, or even the arena on Carinale Street.’
He was trying to downplay the importance, but you only ever had one first duel. He was all too well aware of the sacrifices his family had made to provide him with the training and education needed to get into the Academy, and Gilia mentioning his father tugged at his heartstrings. He’d wanted his father to see him duel just as much.
They had never been wealthy; his father had been a clerk at Austorgas’ Banking House, a respectable middle class profession, but one which would struggle to pay for someone to get to and through the Academy. By rights Bryn should have left as soon as he had earned his banner to start contributing financially, but when he was able to get a scholarship to remain on for the two years required to achieve colours at the Collegium—the right to be called Banneret of the Blue—he had jumped at the chance. The long-term payback would be greater but income would be a longer time coming. He suddenly felt very guilty, and determined to change the subject.
‘How’s Lena?’ he asked.
‘She’s well,’ his mother said. ‘I had a letter from her only a week ago. She enjoys life in Tanosa. She’s settled in well there. I don’t think that we’ll see her back in the city though. Business seems to be going well for Nicolano so I expect he’ll wish to remain there.’
‘I’m glad,’ Bryn said. Lena’s husband hadn’t had much luck in business in Ostenheim, so he was glad to hear that their move to the regional city had proved to be a wise one.
It was only now that he noticed something different about the house, or rather an absence. There had always been the ticking sound of a clock in the apartment, a family heirloom that hung on the wall beside the door to the kitchen. It was gone.
‘Where’s the clock?’ he said.
His mother looked away as she answered. ‘It’s being repaired.’
She was lying. Bryn looked at his sister, who also avoided his gaze. He said nothing, hoping that an awkward silence would elicit more information, but he already knew what was going on. He needed to get money to them soon. His mother disappeared into the kitchen and Gilia fidgeted with a saltcellar that was sitting on the table.
‘I’ve written down my address,’ he said, finally breaking the silence. ‘I’m out most of the day, but I wanted you to have it so you
‘Where are you living?’
‘I’ve taken a small apartment in Bankers. It’s close to the salon I’m training in. Closer to here also, so I’ll be able to call home more often.’
Gilia snorted in disbelief. Despite being younger than him, both she and his older sister had mothered him up until the point he had left for the Academy. She sat down at the table. ‘You’ve settled on the arena then.’
‘Yes, it seemed like a better option than the army. I’ll give it a year or two and if it doesn’t work out I shouldn’t have any difficulty in securing a commission. Bannerets of the Blue are always in demand.’
‘And when will we see you fight your first duel?’ his mother said.
Bryn grimaced. There was no delicate way of putting it.
‘I’ve fought it already,’ he said. He could see his mother’s face drop. ‘It was in an awful little arena. I just wanted to get my first one out of the way before I told anyone about it. I’ll be sure to let you know when my next one is coming up.’
Gilia scowled. ‘Be sure you do. I’m just sorry Father didn’t live to see it. He dreamed of watching you in the arena.’
Bryn felt his spirits drop, but still thought his decision was for the best. He had seen the pressure that Amero had been under for his first duel and he was glad that he hadn’t been subjected to anything similar. It had never been his intention to hurt or offend his family. He wondered if he would have been better off lying about the duel.
‘It really was just a case of getting it out of the way. It was a long way removed from the Amphitheatre, or even the arena on Carinale Street.’
He was trying to downplay the importance, but you only ever had one first duel. He was all too well aware of the sacrifices his family had made to provide him with the training and education needed to get into the Academy, and Gilia mentioning his father tugged at his heartstrings. He’d wanted his father to see him duel just as much.
They had never been wealthy; his father had been a clerk at Austorgas’ Banking House, a respectable middle class profession, but one which would struggle to pay for someone to get to and through the Academy. By rights Bryn should have left as soon as he had earned his banner to start contributing financially, but when he was able to get a scholarship to remain on for the two years required to achieve colours at the Collegium—the right to be called Banneret of the Blue—he had jumped at the chance. The long-term payback would be greater but income would be a longer time coming. He suddenly felt very guilty, and determined to change the subject.
‘How’s Lena?’ he asked.
‘She’s well,’ his mother said. ‘I had a letter from her only a week ago. She enjoys life in Tanosa. She’s settled in well there. I don’t think that we’ll see her back in the city though. Business seems to be going well for Nicolano so I expect he’ll wish to remain there.’
‘I’m glad,’ Bryn said. Lena’s husband hadn’t had much luck in business in Ostenheim, so he was glad to hear that their move to the regional city had proved to be a wise one.
It was only now that he noticed something different about the house, or rather an absence. There had always been the ticking sound of a clock in the apartment, a family heirloom that hung on the wall beside the door to the kitchen. It was gone.
‘Where’s the clock?’ he said.
His mother looked away as she answered. ‘It’s being repaired.’
She was lying. Bryn looked at his sister, who also avoided his gaze. He said nothing, hoping that an awkward silence would elicit more information, but he already knew what was going on. He needed to get money to them soon. His mother disappeared into the kitchen and Gilia fidgeted with a saltcellar that was sitting on the table.
‘I’ve written down my address,’ he said, finally breaking the silence. ‘I’m out most of the day, but I wanted you to have it so you