FOOLISH BROTHER

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The First Trial

And soon it was Connor’s turn to become a man. In 1020AB in the season of Conner’s birth, the younger brother of Silvanus was preparing to set out on his own. Connor was so self-confident, so loyal, and so foolish — this was how Silvanus felt. He hated that his brother was so blind to benefits of the world. So determined was he to perform the rituals as his father wished; always so eager to please, always so eager to prove that he was better son. But Silvanus wasn’t going to have it. He wasn’t going to allow his feeble little brother to be better than him. No one was better than Silvanus.

The only way to truly ensure his failure was to make sure there was nothing to kill. Already winter’s grasp was firm. Nixia ensured the ground was bathed in pure white and the leaves ripped of their trees. Connor had a true challenge ahead of him — the winter months were always known to be scarce. Several nights before Connor’s ritual, Silvanus once more wandered into the forest and set his traps anew. This time he actively sought his prey. While he did not find anything large, his snares found many a small hare — three in fact. Rabbits were very illusive that time of year.

Silvanus took great pleasure ripping open their hides so that the earth may know the embrace of their hot entrails. He scattered their remains throughout the forest in various locations. The goal was to attract a number of predators to the region and frighten off potential prey with the stench of rotting flesh. Afterward he removed his traps and returned to the encampment to wait for his brother to undergo the rite of passage.

And so the night came and Connor vanished into the wood. Silvanus waited by the fire and patiently counted the strides of the night sky. The sun came up and Connor did not return. The sun rose higher and still Connor did not return. It was only in the evening when his brother returned empty handed; his blade dry and naked. Silvanus swallowed his smirk. He watched as his father looked upon Connor with intense disappointment.

That’ll show Connor that father’s ways were old and dead. Were his brother as smart and as cunning as he, then he would have done exactly he did. But clearly Connor was not in his league. Seeing the anger broil through his father’s face was enough to make Silvanus feel great pleasure. There was no chance that Connor would ever be his better.

He did not give Connor any form of compassion or empathy. He felt he deserved none. For so many years Silvanus had labored under the toils of his father’s demand. Connor never knew that burden until now.

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The Second Trial

Connor was not entirely the fool as Silvanus has thought. It’s true the boy was loyal to his father, but more than once Silvanus underestimated him. Silvanus would soon underestimate him again. He didn’t know that Connor had grown very suspicious of Silvanus. His elder brother always thought himself to be so damn clever, and perhaps he truly was. But that didn’t mean Connor was as worthless as he was perceived to be.

On the next full moon in early 1021AB, Connor was to set out once more to complete to his rite of passage. Once again Silvanus would make his attempt to rid the forest of prey. Like before he set his traps and felled many creatures. By the time Conner was immersed in the wood he was also immersed in the foul stench of death.

Silvanus sat and imagined how his little brother’s night played out. He pictured the boy in a state of panic and confusion as fear overwhelmed him. It was more difficult to keep the smirk down this time. The fire felt so good against his skin. Silvanus relished the heat and savored that his brother did not know the comfort of its burn. The night strode on before the sun emerged once more. Connor had wasted the night and did not return. Silvanus expected the outcome to be the same as before — his brother would return before night fall.

But Connor did not return. The pack was left wanting. An entire day had passed without the spoils of food. Silvanus suddenly felt the tightening of his stomach. It was ritual to wait for the return of the young warrior before one was to consume food again. Last time Connor returned empty handed his family enjoyed the rations of the kill from days before. Silvanus began to wonder if was to suffer hunger due to his brother’s incompetence.

Did the boy get himself killed? Perhaps he ran away — not wishing to return again as a failure. There were a whole host of possibilities, but in the mind Silvanus all of them painted Connor as a weak, unskilled coward. The second night marched onward into the morning. Silvanus had been tasked with gathering wood for the fire. Still not permitted to eat, the young warrior started to grow impatient with his brother. Where had the fool gone? It was not worry that Silvanus felt, but rather hunger as he thought his own belly and how it demanded fine meat to sate it.

When the sun nearly set for the second time: Conner finally returned. The boy bore two large stag’s worth of meat upon his return. Connor’s hunt was a success. And when he returned he gave Silvanus a knowing look. Immediately Silvanus knew that Connor had figured it was he who made the hunt difficult. But Silvanus did not entertain the quiet accusation nor did Connor dare to voice it among the pack. Silvanus knew well that if Connor was to speak in protest of his brother then it was Connor who was to suffer.

Silvanus knew he left no evidence. Were Connor to say anything without the proof — then their father would strike out with greater fury. Their father did not take kindly to those who did accept responsibility for their actions or failures. Connor returned with his blade baptized in the blood of the kill. A successful hunt, no matter how long it took, allowed Connor to become a man in the eyes of the pack. Nevertheless, Silvanus dealt a heavy blow to his brother. Their father saw Connor as weak. So now, no matter how loyal he may be, Connor will never be Al’Mora of the pack.