“So why do you figure they haven’t worked for you yet?” Spair asked. She skipped down the road, looking for a stick or a rock to play with.
“Don’t know.” Vel responded as he trudged along. He kept his head low, and shoulders slumped, hoping Spair would take the hint.
“Maybe they’re defective. Or maybe you’re defective. Or maybe the mat is defective.” Spair began. Vel attempted to quiet her by glaring, only to see she was too busy looking at the ditch to the side of the road. “Have you tried making your own yet?”
“My own what?”
“Coins, duh.” Spair responded as if it was obvious. “Look,” She continued, sliding down the embankment to grab a circular stone. Vel moved over to watch, waiting for her to realize the obvious. Which happened around the time she attempted to get back onto the road.
“You do this every day.” Vel began.
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“That’s because every day my dumb brother needs something from the ditch.” Spair attempted to dash up the embankment only to slide back down. Vel watched, waiting to see what would happen first.
Pouting Vel thought as Spair looked at him. That means help over more attempts. Just as he predicted, Spair put her arms out as if Vel could simply lift her out.
“You’re too big for me to just pull you out, not without me joining you.”
Spair continued her pout, hands grasping at nothing. Rolling his eyes, Vel squatted as he grabbed her arm. Soon Spair was back to skipping down the road, acting like nothing happened.
“So…” Vel began. Spair didn’t bother picking up the conversation, waiting for her brother to continue. Swearing under his breath, Vel asked “What did you grab?”
“This!” she proudly presented him. A flat, nearly circular rock the size of her palm. “With this you can write what Beast you want and use that to get chosen. Much more effective than those magic coins elder Redel gave you.”
“Wouldn’t carving be better?” Vel asked as he collected the rock, slipping it into his bag.
“No because then you couldn’t change the name if it doesn’t work.” She politely left off the word dummy at the end. Only because it was her brother.
“I see.” Vel responded.
They continued that way into the village, Vel lost in his thoughts while Spair skipped to a song only she heard.