Read Firebrand for Free Online

page and set the book on the floor beside his bed. He stared at the wooden rafters above, letting his mind retrace the day’s events.
    I can’t believe I’m here, he mused. I’m finally learning magic!
    Kaijin rolled over and stared at the burning candle atop the windowsill. His eyes remained fixated on the flame until he felt himself enter a trancelike state. The phenomenon was short-lived. He heard Rorick roll over in bed and mutter in his sleep.
    “Mmm ... I told you ... it was a monster ...”
    Kaijin broke his concentration and observed his brother.
    “Let’s ... feed it some badgers, big brother ... then it’ll be too stuffed and full to eat us.”
    Kaijin stifled a laugh. He was amazed at Rorick’s wild imagination. His eyes returned to the burning candle, and his own mind wandered again. The peaceful sensation lulled Kaijin, and he reached for the small flame. The tips of his fingers scorched. Kaijin withdrew his hand and nursed the wound, his eyes burning from holding back his tears. Somehow, despite the throbbing pain in his hand, Kaijin was once more inclined to reach for the flame. Passionate temptation eclipsed his willpower, and he inched his seared fingers toward the fire again, producing the same painful results. He smiled, the increased pain in his hand filling his body with a newfound pleasure. As the night drew on, Kaijin continued playing with the candle until his seared hands became numb.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Upon completion of their chores, the boys’ first lessons began before sunrise. After serving a hearty breakfast, Jarial led them to the study. In the small room was a wooden table and chairs. Two, overstuffed bookshelves lined the back wall with a storage chest between them. The room lacked windows, so the only source of light came from a clay pot in a corner. The magical, blue flame inside was miniscule, but somehow burned brightly enough for reading and writing.
    “This is where you will do much of your work, lads.” Jarial ushered them to the table. “Now, have a seat, both of you.”
    Rorick slid into a chair and fidgeted with his hands in his lap. His nervous eyes followed Jarial, who approached one of the bookshelves and retrieved two tomes.
    Kaijin sat across from his brother and observed the various baubles and miniature statues that lined the topmost shelf. The burning pot enthralled Kaijin. He absently rubbed the singed wounds on his hands—a reminder of last night’s incredible experience. Kaijin’s attraction to fire had damaged the nerves in his fingertips, hampering his sense of touch. But pain was no stranger to him. This small setback had only heightened his other senses. Kaijin felt painful repercussions from injuries others might consider minor.
    Jarial placed a book in front of Rorick. “You are going to begin with the basics. You must learn to comprehend what you have read before you can progress to more advanced lessons. This book contains five hundred terms and definitions pertaining to the arcane arts. I expect you to learn each one.”
    Rorick gulped. “F–five hundred? I can’t do that, Master! It’s too many!”
    Jarial chuckled. “You can, and you will. I don’t care how long it takes, so long as you learn them. You are almost six years old. Being that you are Kaijin’s brother, I have very high expectations of you.”
    Rorick slouched and sighed. He opened the weathered book to the first yellowed page and began skimming over the jumble of complex words.
    Kaijin watched his brother. He spied the first word on the page. Rorick seemed to be struggling with it.
    Kaijin’s eye twitched. How can you not know that simple word, Rorick? After watching his brother struggle a little while longer, Kaijin could no longer remain silent.
    “Abjuration, Rorick,” Kaijin blurted. “The word is abjuration.”
    Rorick beamed at him. “Oh! Thank you, big brother!”
    Kaijin smiled and nodded. The smile faded, however, as Jarial slapped him on the back of the head,