Cash67

Fredrick walked through the doorway, his eyes adjusting to the dimness of the room. Today was not one of her good days. 

Elaine lay in a bed across from the only window in the room. Most days, his sister would listen to the birds, draw the day’s sunrise or sunset, and revel in every shade, color, and pattern that passed in front of her only view of the outside world. Today, she lay in the dark with her eyes shut, pencils scattered across the bed haphazardly, her sketchbook opened to a page with a half-finished sketch of a bird. 

Fredrick knocked on the door before he spoke. “Guess who is back,” he said softly. 

Elaine struggled to sit up at the sound of Fredrick’s voice. Her auburn hair was a mess as her eyes focused on her brother. 

“You are back already?” Elaine asked, a smile forming on her face. “I thought you would be back tomorrow,”

“The other guy didn’t put up too much of a fight,” Fredrick responded. “I’ll have to spend a day or two in your shoes to recover what I lost.” He chuckled. “I wish you could have come with us again. I have been missing my wonderful historian, detailing all of my adventures in stunning charcoal.”

“Me too,” Elaine said. “But you can still tell me what happened, right?”

“Well of course, always!” Fredrick said, his smile growing larger as he stood up to light the lanterns around the room.

He told Elaine of his travels to a neighboring barony, where he made a display of strength by besting their lieutenants in a friendly spar. He told her how on their way back, people heard that the Perrington family was coming through town and asked for a show. He recounted the many faces he had seen, the view from the mountains, putting in as many details as he remembered. All the while, Elaine listened with rapt attention. 

“I do wish you had come with us,” Fredrick said, concluding his tale. “Those mountain sunsets would have made wonderful additions to your journal.”

Elaine’s smile faltered for a moment. “We know what happened last time I dared to go,” she muttered. She took a deep breath, and her expression held longing and sadness. “It would have been too difficult to take me this time anyways,” she said, waving her hand. 

Fredrick began to pace. “No it wouldn’t be,” he retorted. “We’d just need a shielded and cushioned carriage and another carriage for the medicine and for Mrs. Ableton. You could have your care on the road, and -”

“It would have been too difficult to take me,” Elaine interrupted, bitterness giving her voice an edge. “We don’t want father to be mad again,” she said quietly, sinking back into her bedding. 

An oppressive silence filled the room. Fredrick’s fists clenched and unclenched, and Elaine closed her eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she took slow breaths to compose herself. 

After another moment, Fredrick’s head snaps up, an idea forming in his mind. “Hey Elaine,” he said. Elaine looks at Fredrick. “When was that meteor shower dad’s astronomer was talking about?”

“In two months,” Elaine responded. “What are you planning this time?”

“You want to get out of this room? I am sure I could find a good spot and take you to the meteor shower!” Fredrick began talking faster and faster. “I’m strong enough, you’re small enough, and Dad is too busy to notice if we are gone for the night. You’d have a new sight to draw instead of the same window every day. It would be wonderful!”

“I don’t know…” Elaine said, “What would Father do if he catches us?”

“It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t catch us!” Fredrick responded. “I’m going to find the spot right now,” he said, walking out the door. “Two months. Be prepared!”

Two Months later, a few hours after the meteor shower

“Stand up, boy.” Those words had started to sound like a hammer, striking in time with the throbbing of Fredrick’s temple. Fredrick pushed himself to his knees, then forced himself onto his feet with shaking legs and a clenched jaw. Red stained the floor where his face had been, and blood dried on his face as his wounds healed. 

“Again,” Lord Perrington commanded. A dense cane swung out of the darkness and hit Fredrick in the stomach. He keeled forward, finding a second cane headed directly for his face. Stars swam in his vision, then disappeared as quickly as Fredrick drew upon his stores. Two weeks of work were nearly drained. 

“You must stand up, child,” his father repeated. “A Perrington never, never shows weakness,” he barked, walking up to Fredrick. “When we show weakness, we will fall. Our house will crumble. So when we are struck, we stand.” Lord Perrington took a few steps back. “Up. Again.”

Fredrick had barely gotten to his feet before he saw the cane move again. He tensed before the impact this time, but he still staggered at the blow. His reserves dipped ever lower as bruises faded and broken bones reset. 

“Better,” his father said, nodding curtly. “But not good enough.” He walked close enough to Fredrick to enter the light. Lord Perrington was a shorter man. His head only came up to Fredrick’s chin, and his figure had rounded in recent years. His arms had lost some of their muscle, and his skin had begun to wrinkle and sag. However, his presence exuded strength. His posture and stance let everyone around him know that he was in charge, wherever he went. Fredrick could only stare straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with his father. 

“Today was also not your best, Fredrick,” Lord Perrington said. “Your care for your sister is good, but to the world, she is a weakness to be exploited. She is a target on our backs and the perfect place to strike. We cannot let everyone know that we have these things! We do not show weakness, and we do not give our rivals targets! We keep all weaknesses, all pain, and all targets out of sight.”

Another strike rushed at Fredrick without warning. His kneecaps were shattered, and he dropped to the floor once again as almost all of his reserves went straight to fixing his knee. His father crouched down, forcing eye contact from mere inches away.

“Stand up, boy!” His father yelled at him. “You. Do. Not. Show. Weakness! Do you want to be attacked? Do you want your sister to be targeted? Do you want our enemies to decimate our house? You might have led them to an opportunity by taking her outside!” he roared. “Stand. UP!”

The moment Fredrick was back on his feet, another swing came out of the darkness. Fredrick threw up a forearm to block, and the bone shattered. Fredrick clenched his jaw to stifle a scream, held his stance, and stared back at his father with all the defiance he could muster.

His father listened to the bone snap back into place. His expression softened into one of stoic approval. “Good. You are learning now,” he said, voice gruff. He backed away. “Everything I do now is for the future of this house,” he said. “This is one of many lessons you must learn before you take over as heir. Today, you have learned one of them.” He looked to the people who had been swinging the canes from the shadows. “Go for a few more minutes. He still has reserves left to practice with.” He turned around and walked to the door. After he opened it to leave, he paused. “Show no weakness,” he said firmly, closing the door on his way out.

As the canes descended once more. Fredrick’s state of mind had turned from fear and pain to hardened resolve and questioning. He had learned a lesson today, but he was not sure if it was the one his father had in mind.

Translation: I have acquired a genuine crush on someone else for the first time in two years. Can’t say that I missed it but it is a very welcome feeling.