“I'll go with the creature, Master," he said. “Are you sure? Do you even know what you’ll be fighting?” Bernar asked. “Well, I've studied the bestiary a lot, and I don’t think the Master would send me on a mission he didn’t think I could accomplish,” Thoma replied. The Master looked at the younger brother, then glanced over to Bernar to whom he nodded.
“Very well, then. Study up on what you have to take with you, be it knowledge, spells, or otherwise. You'll need your sword well sharpened, mind well rested, and don't forget to be mindful of your surroundings,” the Master said. “I will, Master,” Thoma replied. “Good,” the Master said, nodding briefly. “Once we've returned from Coltend, Bernar will aid you with preparation for your first solo hunt.”
Thoma gulped another dry spit ball that lumped in his throat. “That is all for this evening, young Thoma,” said the Master dismissively. Thoma rose from his seat. “Very well, Master. With your permission, I shall take my leave,” Thoma bowed. He turned on the ball of his foot and was proceeding towards the doorway when the Master called out. “Oh! Thoma,” he began.
I was wondering when the air was going to sour, Thoma thought.
The color fled from his face as he turned back around to face the Master slowly as he could. “Find yourself another blanket, and do try not to set this one alight,” the Master said. “I'll do my best to keep it from happening again, Master,” Thoma replied nervously. He walked out of the chamber and proceeded down the steps with his older brother just behind him.
I almost died, he thought.
“You got lucky, you lanky little bastard,” Bernar said, nudging him with his elbow. “Don't think I've ever seen anyone actually given a choice of punishment before tonight,” he said pensively. Thoma shrugged in response. "Now, don't get me wrong, I know just how frightening it is to go on your first hunt, especially if your first time is going in alone,” Bernar said. “Most junior synners don't get to go on their first hunt alone. That's only allowed for senior years,” he continued.
Thoma shrugged again “I just don't understand why he'd even give me the option between solitary and a solo hunt. It simply doesn't add up,” Thoma said, shaking his head.
“Ah, don't go getting your hose in a knot over it,” Bernar replied. “I've been to solitary before, and believe me, that was anything but a pleasant experience,” he continued. “Worms and maggots are everywhere, there's naught but a pile of earth that serves as a bed. The walls are covered in scratchings of past ‘visitors’ and the small confinement smells of years of accumulated piss and shit,” he said. Thoma felt a wave of relief knowing he wouldn't be going there.
“Well, at least now I know what I should expect to happen the next time I fuck up,” Thoma said. Bernar laughed. “Well, should that ever happen, I'll be sure to leave you a nice, runny present,” he said with a wicked smile. “Besides, it's been awhile since anyone's been sent to solitary, and by that I mean a few days,” he said.
“That still doesn’t answer my question, though. Why would he bother giving me a choice?” Thoma asked. His brother shrugged. "Beats the hell out of me," Bernar replied. They walked down the corridor towards the dormitory once more, seeing the destruction caused by the fire and the blast from the spell.
“Seeing as how things currently stand, or don't for that matter, I suppose you could sleep in my room for the night,” Bernar suggested. “Guess I'll have to,” Thoma replied. “What of Irun, Batch, and Edryd?” he asked, noticing they were nowhere to be found. He was concerned about his roommates whom he'd almost just killed in an accident of his doing.
“I’m sure they're alright. Tough little bastards, and quite possibly tougher than you,” Bernar replied with a grin. Thoma looked up at his brother and tilted his head. “Is that so, big brother? Do you remember that time when I pinned you to the ground for five seconds?" Thoma asked, prodding his brother.
“I had passed the fuck out because I tripped on that stupid ‘meditation stool’ of yours and hit my head on the floor,” Bernar shot back with a laugh. Thoma scoffed. “My ‘stupid meditation stool’ is what got me recognition for my casting abilities,” he returned mockingly. “It helps me to think and focus better than ever,” he explained. Bernar squinted his eyes and pursed his lips. “Uh-huh,” he replied sarcastically. “Whatever, let's get some sleep. It's already the second hour of the morn and we're to be up and out the gate at first light,” Bernar suggested.
They walked soft and quickly, as though they were the shadows they were leaving behind them in the torch-lit hallway. They soon arrived at Bernar's dorm room which wasn’t unlike Thoma’s own, though perhaps with less charring and fewer bits of the door laying about. Thoma fashioned himself a bed of fallen straw from his brother's bed and an old potato sack for a pillow.
They bid each other good-night, and Bernar stretched out his hand to put out the bedside candle by absorbing the small flame into his hand. Thoma saw it happen, and was anxious to try it. I think I've had more than my fair share of fire for one night, he thought. He rolled over on his back, into the same position he was in when all of this began, and closed his eyes, returning to the grassy field in his dreamscape once more.
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