the market as usual, then she had to go to the captain's house. She promised to bring him some food as long as he couldn't move his leg. But it was not the reason why she felt like swinging

en able to defeat him no matter how hard I try." They began to circle each other, eyes alarmed. "And who is this mighty enemy of yours? Magnus smirked. "Actually, he is not really an enemy..." He stepped to the side just in the right time when the captain advanced with a sudden thrust. "A brother?" "Kind of..." "Ah! Sibling rivalry I see. An all time classic life story. Brothers are the greatest rivals. What's he like?" "Exceedingly fast and merciless. And extremely confident." Magnus slid forward to seize an opening but the captain was fast despite his age, he pushed Magnus' weapon off. "What's his weakness?" "I don't know. If I do I had already defeated him long ago." "Is he as tall as you? As big as you?" "He is about my height, but not as big as I am." Another clashes and clangs as both danced in thrusting and parrying. "So I suppose you're stronger than him?" "Maybe, but he's so damn fast, like the wind. And he bends and moves with a killing ease, like a panther. In a blink, his sword already caught me in the eyes." "Have you ever killed somebody?" "God, no! My conscience would not be able to tolerate it." "Has he?" For a moment, Magnus was silent. But finally he made reply. "Necessarily." " A ruthless warrior he is, isn't he? While you are a merciful one. That's why he is unbeatable for you. He has the guts." "If I have to kill somebody to defeat him, I'd better never be able to defeat him forever." "I won't suggest it either. I've seen too many massacres in my younger days and there was nothing glorious about it." Magnus charged with a forceful thrust but the captain blocked his sword and disarmed him, made the weapon flung away. "Damn, captain! You're hell of a warrior!" Magnus stared at him in astonishment when the captain said "Listen, we'll turn his strength to be his weakness. You said he's extremely confident? And you have never been able to defeat him? Good. He will underestimate you, and you can take it for your advantage. Watch until the moment is right... and make your move at the time he least expect it..." *** "You never told me you have a brother." Ava tried to sound idle as she started a conversation. She was walking home with him. "Yeah" he replied after a short while, sounded reluctant. Seemed like it was an unpleasant topic for him, but she didn't care. She needed to know more about him. "What does he look like? He must look a great deal like you." "Even better." He grinned, staring at a distance. Ava doubted it. Nobody could look better than him. "He's better than me in anything. Absolutely anything. It was always like that since we were kids. He's the pride of the family." He said it in a nonchalant way but Ava could sense a tinge of jealousy and bitterness in his words. Although she had been raised with a bold, fiery sister, she was glad she had never experienced something like siblings rivalry. On the other hand, from his talk with the captain before, she guessed his family was not a common farmer. He was a good swordsman and he had just mentioned something like "pride" and she assumed that he and his brother were raised and educated well. Probably his family was a prosperous farmer or a middle rank military. A sudden thought occurred in her mind. Maybe he was a soldier on leave. "How about your parents?" Ava changed subject to shake him off from the thought of his brother, but he still couldn't get rid of it. "They adore him, they praise him, they speak highly of him all the time." "I mean ... are you close to them? Your father or your mother?" "Not at all" he chuckled as if her question was amusing. "My father despises me, I was never good enough for him. He always regrets the fact that I am his son instead of ..." He halted at once. "That can't be true." Ava protested. "You're such a fine, intelligent man. Your parents should be proud of you. I've never met a man with many excellent qualities as you are." "Really?" Her heart skipped a beat as he smiled at her, looking right into her eyes. At the moment, they reached a small wooden bridge over a trench. She had passed the bridge many times before, but this time she stepped on a broken path and almost slipped away. He grasped her arm swiftly, saved her from falling, then he held her hand, guided her safely along the way. He held her still when they walked out of the dangerous track, and didn't release her hand afterward. It was the first time she had ever walked hand in hand with a man. She ceased to talk, suddenly forgot about digging up details. His hand was rough and calloused against her dainty hand. She loved the feeling of his hand carrying hers, firm and assuring, as if he would lead her through any long, winding road. As if he would keep her safe and never let her go. They walked in silence, yet she felt like they had shared an unspeakable something worth more than a thousand words. Again, the way home was far too short. He didn't release his hold on her until she was rig