An Aimless War - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

"They're Teltish!"
"They're half Crelan, mate. Don't try to ignore that."
The twins hated it when their father and uncle argued. It was always about the same thing. Their father insisted that the boys were Teltish, but no one could deny that they had taken after their mother's side of the family. They had dark Crelan hair, they spoke like their uncle, and even their names sounded more Crelan than Teltish.
Their father, Kander, wasn't around often. The boys didn't dislike their father, they had simply spent more time with their mother and uncle.
Uncle Roland was the epitome of a Crelan sailor. He had dark hair and a beard, and tanned skin with tattoos running down both arms. He always arrived at their house dressed in black, always with a sword, and often wearing his large hat with the blue and green feather. The twins spent every moment they could with him, practicing knots and learning everything their uncle knew about sailing. They had listened with rapt attention at the stories he told them about the Old God of the Sea and the Sailor King. They had memorized the words of all the old Crelan shanties.
The boys thought of themselves as Crelan, a fact that constantly upset their father. It was why he had insisted on them picking up a skill that wasn't associated with most Crelans-archery. To his delight, the boys were naturals. Kandar had high hopes for them joining the army, a respectable Teltish occupation, as opposed to joining their uncle's crew.
Kor and Ender were hiding in the hallway when their father and uncle started the all too familiar argument. The men never argued around the boys' mother, but she had just gone out to the market to buy a few more things for dinner. Kor and Ender weren't sure what to do. They didn't want to pick sides or upset either of the men.
"My boys are going to get high paying jobs," their father insisted. "You've seen them shoot. They'll do well. They'll get better salaries in the army than I get as a sailor."
"Aye, they're good shots," Roland agreed. "But they're my nephews, mate. We're not talking about a low paying job on a privately owned merchant ship. We're talking about navy positions. Maybe even captains, when they're older. Very likely they'll end up owning navy ships like I do."
In the hallway, Ender nudged his brother. "We should say something."
Kor rubbed his neck, feeling the thin scar there. It had been almost a year since the boys had tried to shoot each other's arrows out of the air. They've improved since then, but never again made the mistake of aiming at each other. "Say what?"
"That we're not one or the other. Teltans or-"
"We're Crelans."
"Well... aye," Ender agreed after a brief pause. "But they're never going to stop arguing about us. So, we should say we'll join the army. That's what father wants. And we really are good at it."
Kor sighed. He knew his brother was right, but despite how much they enjoyed archery, neither of them wanted to join the army. They wanted to be out on the water with their uncle. Kor nodded and pushed open the door.
The twins walked into the room and stood side by side. Their father and uncle fell silent. Kor and Ender exchanged a look, and then Kor took a deep breath.
"Ender'n I were thinking. We're old enough to be squires, ay-yes? So, we want to enlist."
"We thought Uncle Roland might put in a good word for us," Ender added, trying to appease them both.
Kander smiled. "I'm glad to hear it, boys. We'll go up to the castle tomorrow, and-"
"Wait," Kor interrupted. "There's one more thing. We want to keep sailing when we're given free time."
"Ander." Their father crossed his arms. "You won't have free time for sailing in the army."
Kor narrowed his eyes, but it was Ender who stepped forward. "Father, you know he wants to be called Kor now, aye?"
"And you'll have to drop that ridiculous habit," their father said dismissively. "The men won't take you seriously if you stick 'aye' at the end of every second sentence."
"My name's Kor," Kor said as firmly as he could. Roland and their mother had gotten used to the change easily enough, so could their father. If he bothered to try.
Kander looked at him. "Of course. You decided to drop the only part of my name either of you had," he said. "Kor. Could a name sound any more Crelan?"
Roland spoke up, his tone calm. He was used to derogatory comments and knew how to brush them off with ease. The twins admired that about him. "Mate, don't take the lad's choice so personally. It was confusing called them Ender and Ander. The choice is a practical one. Lads, if this is what you want, I'll talk to Lord West Draulin." He smiled kindly at his nephews. "I'll try to gain you some favour, but you've got to earn it, aye?"
The twins nodded.
Kander still looked annoyed. "Very well, then. Tomorrow, I'll take you two to enlist. You should be ready to do some shooting, to show the men what you can do."
They all heard the latch on the front door open, which could only mean that their mother was home. Kor and Ender shot each other relieved glances. Although Kander and Roland didn't get along, they both loved Ronila enough that they wouldn't argue when she was around. She walked into the room a moment later, carrying a loaf of bread and a bag of potatoes.
Kander moved to take the bag from her. "The boys want to enlist."
Ronila blinked and looked at her sons. "Enlist? They're only ten."
"They're the perfect age," Kander insisted.
Ronila's gaze shifted to land on her older brother. "And what do you think, then?"
He shrugged. The only person who could ever make Roland seem uncertain was his sister. "Reckon I was working at their age. I'll talk to Rael. Ah, Lord West Draulin, I mean. The lads'll be fine, Roni."
Ronila passed the bread to Kander and crossed her arms. "Lord West Draulin isn't going to have time to look after two little Crelan boys."
"Aye. But for me, he'll make sure they're in a good unit where they can get the best training."
"Well..."
"Come, Ronila. Let me help you with dinner." Kander put his free arm around her waist and guided her through the doorway to the kitchen. The door swung shut behind them, but the twins and Roland could still faintly hear their muffled voices.
They listened for a moment, until Ender said, "Uncle, we don't want to join the army."
Roland put his hands on the boys' shoulders, turning them both so they faced him. He crouched to look at his nephews eye to eye. "I know. I know it's a hard decision and you made it to please your father, but I believe you'll do well. You're very talented, both of you. Your parents and I are very impressed."
"Father never seemed impressed," Kor said.
"Aye," Roland agreed with a slight smile. "He's upset quite often, but he's upset because of how much he cares for you both. He doesn't feel like he has much in common with you." He paused and glanced over his shoulder at the kitchen door. "Listen, lads. You're young. If you decide you don't enjoy being squires, we'll work something out, aye? I'll help you."
The twins smiled, grateful for their uncle's support.
Ender nodded. "Reckon we should give it a chance. Maybe it won't be so bad."
"Maybe." Kor shrugged. "But maybe next year, we can join your crew, uncle?"
Roland chuckled. "Maybe. But Ender's right, give the army a chance. The pay is excellent, and I know you two are talented enough archers to go far. Promise me you'll try it for two years. Then, if you're still unhappy, I'll help."
"Aye, we promise," Ender said.
"Aye," Kor agreed, a little more reluctantly. "We promise."
"Good lads. Roe and the Goddess will look out for you."
"But won't Roe we angry that we're not sailors?" Kor asked.
"Of course not, lad. You're Crelan. We've got the blood of the Sailor King. Roe always watches over us." Roland squeezed the boys' shoulders and stood up. "It'll be some time before dinner, why don't you two go outside and play?"
The boys gladly went outside to get away from the adults and sat on the porch. Their house was at the end of a street, close to the cliff's edge. It had a beautiful, clear view of the port and ocean below. As they had countless times, the twins sat silent, watching the tiny people move around the port like ants. On the water, fishing boats wove around bigger ships as they made their way to the docks for the night.
Ender looked up, across the bay, to the huge fortress of West Draulin. Once they were within those walls, there would be no calming views of the ocean. No nights spend staring out their window at the lights flickering below. But one thing was certain, and he turned to Kor.
"As long as we stay together, I'll be happy."
Kor smiled and nudged him. "Aye. Soldiers or sailors, we'll stay together. I swear it on Roe and the Goddess."
Ender nodded solemnly and repeated, "I swear it on Roe and the Goddess."