been raised as brothers for almost their entire lives and, like brothers everywhere, were prone to conflict in an instant. Both were handsome after a rough fashion: sunburned and possessing the lean strength gained from long hours of hard work and barely adequate food. Neither boy was stupid, but at this moment they were not behaving particularly brightly.
The cause of their current conflict hurried out of the door after them, shouting angrily. ‘Tad! Zane! Stop this right now or I won’t go to the festival with either of you.’
The struggling combatants appeared oblivious to her warning as they rolled in the dust. ‘He started it!’ shouted the dark-haired boy.
‘No I didn’t!’ countered the other.
The girl was the same age as the rivals. She had brown hair like Zane, and green eyes like Tad, was smarter than both of them put together, and was arguably the prettiest girl in Stardock Town.
An older woman followed Ellie from the house carrying a bucket of well water and she unceremoniously tipped it over the boys.
Shouting at their sudden drenching, the lads released each other and sat up. ‘Ma!’ shouted the blond boy. ‘What’d you do that for? I’ve got mud all over me now.’
‘Then go clean yourself up, Tad.’ The woman was tall and regal looking, despite her plain homespun dress. Her light brown hair had some grey, and her face was sunburned and creased, but her expression was youthful. Looking at the darker lad, she added, ‘You too, Zane.’ Her brown eyes were merry though her expression was stern. ‘Caleb will be here soon and then we’re leaving with or without you two hooligans.’
The two boys stood up, dusting themselves off as best they could, as the woman threw a large cloth at them. ‘Get the mud off with this, and then go to the well and rinse it out!’ she admonished the two boys. ‘It’s one of my good kitchen rags.’
Ellie stood looking at the hesitant brawlers. ‘You idiots. I said I’d go with both of you.’
‘But you said it to me, first,’ said Tad. ‘That means you’ll dance with me first.’
‘No it doesn’t,’ said Zane, ready to resume the fisticuffs.
‘Stop this before it starts again!’ shouted the older woman. ‘Now get out and clean yourselves up!’ Grumbling, the two boys complied.
‘Marie, why are they always fighting?’ asked Ellie.
‘They’re just bored.’ Then she looked at the younger girl. ‘When are you going to tell them?’
‘Tell them?’ said Ellie, feigning ignorance.
Marie laughed. ‘You’d better tell them soon, girl. It’s a poorly kept secret and they might hear about it at the festival.’
The girl’s brow creased and her eyebrows raised as she made an expression of exasperation. ‘We used to be like family, you know?’
‘All things change.’ The older woman looked around the town. ‘When my family first came here, Stardock Town was still a small place. Now it’s twice the size. The Academy was only half finished, now look at it.’
Ellie nodded as they both stared at the distant island across the lake. ‘I see it every day, Marie. Just like you do.’
The massive building dominated the island in the middle of the Great Star Lake, rising like a dark mountain. The village that rested at the academy’s edge now engulfed the entire northeastern end of the island. Only those who served in the Academy of Magicians lived there. Stardock Town had grown around the ferry station to the island – at first just a simple trading stop, but now a bustling centre for commerce in the region.
‘Well, if Grame Hodover’s anything like his pa, he’ll start yakkin’ as soon as he has some ale in him.’
‘And Tad and Zane will be throwing punches before anyone can talk sense into them,’ finished Ellie.
‘So, best sooner than later,’ said Marie as she motioned for Ellie to follow her back into the house. They entered a large, single-roomed building, with just enough room for a hearth, a table, and bedding for three. Once inside she said, ‘The boys are your best friends, though they don’t realize it right now. Each thinks himself in love with you, but that’s born from competition rather than for any serious reason I can see.’
Ellie nodded. ‘I do love them, but like brothers. Besides, even if I wished to marry one of them, father –’
‘I know. Your father is the wealthiest shipper in Stardock Town and Grame’s pa is the only miller, so it’s a natural match.’
‘I do love Grame,’ said Ellie. ‘At least enough to live with him.’
‘Love is not the simple romance that the tales make it out to be,’ cautioned Marie. ‘Tad’s father was a good enough man, but we had our moments. Zane’s pa treated his mother well enough, though he had a sore temper when he drank. Marriage is mostly about taking the good and the bad together, Ellie. Zane’s ma loved her family no matter what trouble they brought and, as she was my best friend, it was natural to take Zane in when they died.’ She put out her hand and gently gripped Ellie’s arm. ‘As I would have taken you in, had your pa not survived.’
Zane’s parents and Ellie’s mother had died during the last troll raid in the region. The bloody attack had cost the lives of dozens of townspeople before the magicians across the water had reacted and driven the monsters away.
‘I know, Marie,’ said the girl. ‘You’ve been like a ma to me for most of my life. I mean, I do remember my ma, at least bits about her, like her voice and the way she’d hum melodies while she cooked and I played on the floor. I remember her holding me.’ Ellie’s eyes became distant for a moment, then she looked back at Marie. ‘But in truth, you’re the only ma I’ve really had.’ She laughed. ‘My pa has certainly never said anything about how to deal with boys, ’cept to stay away from them!’
Marie smiled and hugged the girl. ‘And you’ve been the daughter I didn’t have.’
The two boys returned and Tad’s mother inspected them. ‘You’ll dry out before the fun starts,’ she said. ‘Now, I want you to promise there’ll be no more fighting today.’
‘All right, Ma,’ said Tad.
‘Yes’um,’ added Zane.
‘Why don’t the three of you make your way to the square now. I’m sure all the other boys and girls are doing the same.’
‘What about you, Ma?’ asked Zane, his face betraying his eagerness to be off.
‘I’m waiting for Caleb. He should be here soon.’
Zane and Ellie said they’d see Marie later and left, but Tad lingered. He seemed to choke on his words, but finally said, ‘Ma, are you going to wed Caleb?’
Marie laughed. ‘What brought that up?’
‘Well, he’s been here three times in the last two months, is all, and you see him a lot.’
‘His father built Stardock, if you remember what I told you.’ She shook her head. ‘Are you worried I might or that I won’t?’
The boy shrugged, his lanky frame suddenly appearing more man-like to his mother. He said, ‘I don’t know. Caleb’s a good man, I suppose. But it’s just—’
‘He’s not your pa,’ she finished.
‘That’s not what I meant,’ said Tad. ‘It’s just … well, he’s gone so much.’
With a wry smile, Marie said, ‘There’s more than one woman who’d count her husband being away a blessing, boy.’ She put her hands on his shoulders and turned him around. ‘Now, catch up with the others. I’ll be along soon.’
Tad ran off after the others, and Marie turned her attention to her small home. Everything was neat and dusted;