Book 4. Chapter 23
Cid stood staring at him, arms crossed, tapping his fingers against his bicep. Brin waited for him to start.
When the silence started to get awkward, Brin said, “Lay it on me, I’m a big boy.”
“You have no idea how to be a second,” said Cid.
Brin shrugged. “True.”
So far, Cid had mostly maintained a bit of aloofness, a cautious calm as he watched everyone and thought things through, but Brin succeeded in actually getting Cid to open his mouth in shock. He quickly closed it again, then said, “Well, don’t look so proud about it!”
“I’m not proud! I got thrust into this with no preparation. I’ve never even seen a Second before. How am I supposed to act like one?”
Cid shook his head. “Now you’re just making excuses.”
“I’m not making excuses. I’m asking for help. Can you tell me what I’m doing wrong?” Brin asked.
To his credit, Cid actually stopped and considered the question for a minute before shaking his head again, though a bit of the hostility was draining from his features. “It’s not about any one thing you did. It’s you. You’re a crafter or a magic user or both, doesn’t matter. Point is, you’re an intellectual. A thinker. I don’t need a thinker, I need a… a shouty-type guy. I’m supposed to be the one who sits back and thinks about the big picture.”