A Brother’s Promise

The air in Brighthollow was thick with unease. The early morning fog lingered as if it, too, was unsure of what was lurking beyond the village walls. The news of orc spies spotted to the west had spread fast. Lord Aric's scouts had confirmed it—the orcs of Cindor were moving, and worse, they had declared open war on the dwarves in the south. The discovery of rich new mines had sparked the conflict, and it was only a matter of time before the flames of war spread north.

Thomas stood at the edge of the market square, his eyes scanning the sparse crowd. Most of the villagers had retreated to their homes, preferring the safety of their hearths to the looming threat outside. He had been up most of the night, helping the militia shore up defenses, but his mind was on something else entirely.

His brother, Jack.

The sound of footsteps pulled Thomas from his thoughts, and he turned to see Jack approaching, his face set with determination. It was the same expression he had seen on Jack the day before, when they stood by the training grounds, and Jack had asked to learn how to fight.

"Thomas," Jack called as he reached him.

"Jack," Thomas replied, his tone softer than usual. He knew what his brother was going to say before the words even left his mouth.

"I still want to learn," Jack said firmly, his eyes locking with Thomas's. "You promised you'd help me."

Thomas sighed, glancing around the market. Things were getting worse outside, and the militia had more than enough to deal with. Orc spies, monsters in the forest, and now the rumors of war spreading between the orcs and dwarves in the south—it was hard enough to keep the village safe. He didn't want to admit it, but Jack was right. They needed every able hand they could get. And Jack wasn't a child anymore.

"I know what I said," Thomas replied, rubbing his forehead. "But things are different now. There's a lot happening outside the village. We're dealing with more than just a few monsters. The orcs from Cindor… they've declared war on the dwarves because of those new mines. If they push north, we could be next."

Jack clenched his fists, his face hardening with determination. "That's why I need to learn. I can't just sit around waiting for something to happen. I need to be able to fight. To protect Lila, Milo, Finn, and Emory. To protect you."

Thomas met his brother's gaze and saw the fire in his eyes—the same fire he himself had felt when he first joined the militia. Jack was serious, and Thomas couldn't deny that he had a point. The situation was dire, and waiting for help wasn't going to be enough.

"I can't train you properly right now," Thomas said finally. "There's too much going on with the militia, and we need every man on the wall. But…"

"But what?" Jack asked, his voice filled with hope.

"But I can at least get you started," Thomas said, his tone firm. "We'll start with the basics. And when things calm down, I'll teach you more. Deal?"

Jack's face broke into a small smile, a flicker of relief passing through his features. "Deal."