Witchling (Curse of Kin) by Ari Harper

would want to learn it. Brie and Sully would love to try too. Would you mind?”
    Bones face blanched when I mentioned Brie’s name. The other day must have scarred him for life. If he had indeed been around me since I was born, he should have had a good insight of what she was like.
    “Sounds wonderful, girl dear.” Jasper laughed at Bones’s reaction. “Toughen up, Bones. She really is harmless.”
    “Like a viper is harmless,” he said, his face grim again.
    “She is not that bad,” I said, protecting Brie. “She is just in love with love. Is that a crime?”
    “No, but it makes me feel uncomfortable,” he replied.
    I glanced over at Jasper who was trying his best not to laugh at his nephew’s discomfort. “Get over it, Bones. I will bring them over next weekend.” I sipped my tea. A small spark of satisfaction took hold in my mind. “The holiday break is coming up soon too. We’ll get plenty of training in then. What do you think, Jasper? Up for it?”
    I laughed at the look on Bones’s face and shared a glance with Jasper.
    ***
    Saturday morning, Dad decided to take Roman fishing at the river so I didn’t have to take him to Jasper’s with us as I had promised. Brie was anxious to see Bones again, but Sully was thinking about weapon training, the same as me. Holding a sword in my hands was like the ultimate rush. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Even though I tried to appear cool with it the day before, my skin was tingling with anticipation. Sully had been beside himself when I called him last night. He loved all the old weapons and suits of armor at Jasper’s and was just a typical boy at heart. As sweet as he was, the macho side of him came out at the mention of swords.
    We walked with Dad and Roman to the river and then went our own way to Jasper’s. It was a nice day, hence the fishing trip, and it didn’t look like rain was forecast either.
    Hugo raced through the gate, quickly followed by Brie, who was keen to see Bones again. Sully and I watched her and shook our heads. Bones didn’t have a chance in hell of evading her. Somehow that thought made me feel a little better.
    Jasper was making tea when Sully and I walked in. Briewas busy following Bones around the kitchen. In the end, he took a seat at the table, and Brie sat beside him, leaning into him and holding onto his arm. Jasper poured our tea and sat down with us.
    “So, is everyone interested in learning the longsword?” he asked, looking around at our excited faces.
    “What do you think, Jasper?” I pointed my chin at Sully. Sully could hardly contain himself.
    “I knew that you were talented when I first saw you, Bones,” Brie gushed. “A soldier. How wonderful and romantic.” She closed her eyes and sighed.
    Jasper coughed to cover his laugh. Sully and I didn’t bother.
    “Perhaps we should let the kids choose a sword, Jasper.” Bones tried vainly to untangle himself from Brie’s clutches.
    “Good idea. We have a few up in the war room, and since they have already been privy to that, why not let them choose.”
    “Was that the room with the painting?” Sully jumped up from his chair, ready to run for his sword.
    “Yes, it is,” Jasper replied. “You probably didn’t notice the swords hanging on the wall. You were all, um, thinking of other things at the time.”
    I looked at him with raised eyebrows. You think ?
    We finished our tea and followed Bones up the stairs, Brie right behind him, his butt at her eye level the whole way up. I watched where he touched the wall to make the panel slide so we could enter the war room. I put that in the appropriate box in my memory for later. The painting of Jasper and his family stared at me as I entered. It still didn’t seem real. Sure enough, on the opposite side of the room, about ten swords were laying horizontal in holders attached to the wall.
    Sully was in front of them in seconds, a big, soft grin on his face as he ran his fingers gently over the forged