Interlude: The Brother
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“I have two brothers.”
The Duke’s eyebrow twitches. The wistful voice is a reminder of his broken solitude. Under other circumstances, the Duke would be glad to have company. Staring at the rust-colored earth grows incredibly tedious after the first decade. Any break in the monotony is a welcome one.
However, this annoyance has come in search of guidance. That is something the Duke refuses to give. It has been several weeks since he first denied him, and he’d hoped the boy would have given him up by now.
He should have known better. Meek acceptance of futility is not a quality possessed by anyone in the Renegade Realm.
“Must you keep doing this?” the Duke asks before the boy can continue. “This Duke has already told you he has no desire to teach you.”
“Senior,” the boy called Xiao Nan says, “this junior in the ways of being a Renegade hears and understands your words,”
“You say those words. This Duke is not convinced you know what they mean, boy.”
Rather than looking offended, the boy smiles with confidence that does not suit his situation. Such enthusiasm and cheer are utterly out of place in the Dead Plains. However, the boy would have never made it this far if he wasn’t at least this confident.