Amaro could not remember the last time he had felt so sick. Not with any particular illness, but with the unbearable disease of boredom and loneliness. Sure, he kept himself preoccupied by dealing with any of the names on Deka’s list. Sometimes he would do two or three in a day to make up for the others who were too busy. Amaro did not have much else to dedicate his time to, after all. However bad Sancta was at cooking, Amaro knew he would be worse. He had never been one to tend to animals either, so working the stables was not an option. Forging was Tulos’s forte. Sancta was avoiding him to practice dancing in secret as if he had not seen her practicing in her tent before. Amaro was neither a dancer nor a healer, so he decided to give her space.

Horn hunting was about the only activity he had to keep him busy. Lately, however, it was a tedious task. The Tibur seemed to have gotten wind of their activities lately. Instead of standing their ground and fighting back, they ran like cowards. Amaro would be proud to strike fear in his adversaries were it not for the frustration of pursuing them. Some would even ambush or pelt him while they ran.

They all inevitably found their way to Tadios or a couple other strong members of their team. It was strategic to run from an unfair fight, so Amaro had no reservations about evading them when they grouped up.

Getting his blood drawn and a hair plucked from his head to create a creepy doll was only the latest activity to break the monotony of his week thus far. At the time he had wished Kaara had been the one to do his doll. He had kept glancing over at her. She had such beautifully serious eyes, but there was a sadness to them that he couldn’t quite place.

According to Arik, they did not choose who they made the doll for, they simply had a pile to deal with. Perhaps Kaara had been sad she could not talk with him or link his soul to her own? He could only hope.

Perhaps he should get to know Arik better? It was always good to be in good standing with the friends of someone he intended to court some day. Not to mention, the more Amaro saw her as a xia the more he could understand Raktus’s infatuation. She was strong willed, quick witted, and a hell of a fighter.

Her beauty was not like Kaara’s. Where Kaara’s beauty hit him immediately like a starry night sky, Arik’s was hidden. When he imagined what she might look like with less scrapes and bruises, longer hair, or a different outfit, she was quite attractive.

The very same free spirit Amaro had become enamored with in Kaara also existed in Arik. It was wholly unlike the reserved formalities of a noble girl. The likes of which often approached him with kind greetings and a hint of infatuation in their eye.

Amaro knew what they were after. They only sought him out just as they did with the rest of his brothers. They were in love with his last name, and what it meant. The attention was not unwarranted, however. It allowed Amaro to reassure himself that he was desirable.

Besides, noble girls always carried some sort of baggage with them. Be it another noble heir vying for their attention, a family using them like pieces on a game board, or a severe lack of self awareness. Amaro could hardly find anything he had in common with them either.

He thought about the other boys in the Tibur. Hardly any of them possessed something he was interested in, himself. According to Tulos, they were hard to get.

Just like a devil, the moment Amaro thought of his younger brother, he stepped out of the tent in front of him. He had an armful of polished blades and baubles which clattered and clanked with every step he took. “Ah, Tulos! Just the xio I was looking for.” Amaro chimed.

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Tulos smirked back at him, “Oh? Have you finally come to mark my name off of your list?”

“You already know your name is not on that list.”

“As far as my enemy as told me, yes.” he snickered.

“What brings you out of the smithy’s tent?”

“I’ve made some items worthy of trade these past few months. I’m thinking it would be good to purchase a gift for those I admire.”

“So in other words, something to profess your undying love with?”

“Oh you could certainly say that. Beaten, but not dead, that's what I say!”

“So why are you carrying them?”

“Are you daft I just told you.”

“Are you? They’re made of metal, right?”

“Oh, good point.” Tulos dropped his arms as all of the items floated around him. He yawned, stretching.

“Still not sleeping?”

“I did promise to get more sleep, but oddly enough I’ve been more tired with more sleep than less. I never have been one to rest for long periods anyway. I get far more hours in the day if I simply take a nap every now and then. Only trouble is that it becomes difficult to remember how many days have passed.”

“Well, we’ve about ten until the dreaded ceremony.”

“Ah yes, you lot have gotten your puppets made, correct?”

“They’re more dolls than anything, but yes.”

Tulos batted his hand, “Puppets, dolls, both are creepy imitations in my eyes. I’m just glad Sancta dropped her hobby of making them.”

Amaro looked at the floating items around him. There was a gleaming sword, golden jewelry, and various decorative brooches and emblems.

“Have you enchanted any of these?”

“Of course not, I’m not that good yet. The best I can do is treating the metal to make it easier to channel magic through. I’ve accomplished long term enchantments only a handful of times.”

“Do you think you could upgrade my Katana at some point?”

Tulos raised an eyebrow, “I likely could, but seeing as you have Quinrai I don’t know why you want me to.”

“I think a weapon that grows with me is far more fitting than a silly blade father bought with his money.”

“Well, father clearly loves you and Anitus more because all I got as a birthday gift was some land in the middle of nowhere that I don’t own until I’m an adult.”

“Well, you did dismantle the weapons he’s given you.”

“Only to learn how they work!”

“And yet you hardly learned enough to put them back together.”

“How was I supposed to know the enchantments would break when I took them apart? If anything, father should have warned me!”

“I have a feeling even if he did, you still would have done it.”

Tulos paused, cocking his head to the side, “You’re not wrong.”

“Speaking of gifts-”

“Coming to ask me what Kaara would like?”

“You’re sharper than the swords you make.”

“I don’t know if you’re complimenting my shrewdness or insulting my craftsmanship, brother. Either way, I think I could give you a good idea.”

“But for a price, no?”

“Ah, well since you’ve brought it up I think it would be good of you to owe me a favor.”

“And what might that be?”

“I help you with your endeavors, you help me, it’s that simple. Let’s head for the merchant’s caravan shall we?”