Page 9 of A Shifter Disaster Thanksgiving

“Bah!” Sylvester said forcefully.

“We’ve been forging weapons for months. If we strike now, we might succeed.”

Sylvester shook his head. “Might,”he said, stressing the word.

Jon countered.“Need I remind you that Glenstra lies higher up on the mountain than Pine Gap?” He set down his hammer and sat back, facing Sylvester. “They already have territorial advantage. An attack on them could very well be our last. Whatever strength this village has lies in its defense.”

Sylvester sneered. “You sound just like my brother.”

“He’s a warrior, Sylvester. And you… you are a blacksmith.”

A moment of awkward silence passed between them. Sylvester realized his jaw was clenched. He relaxed it.

“I’m sorry,” Jon said, looking rather apologetic. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay.” Sylvester held up a hand. “I’m not envious of Gregory. I have no interest in becoming a warrior.”

“You’re more like Malcolm.”

At the mention of his father’s name, Sylvester felt a twinge of sadness. Jon was right. The Stormbringer clan had always been known for its power, but Malcolm had always been a peaceful man. He had never advocated for war and would always seek amicable methods of preventing armed conflict both within and around Pine Gap. Sylvester’s attitude about war was the main reason he and Gregory had their differences; differences that had resulted in Malcolm’s demise.

“Yes,” he replied, “except that my father is dead. And the man responsible for it has taken his place. Why doesn’t anyone else see that?”

Jon looked at him with pity. Sylvester didn’t need that, but he had to admit that his friend had a point. The situation between the villages was very real, and with Malcolm gone, war was more likely than ever. But why was Gregory acting like hewantedawar to happen? Did he have their father killed so he could carry out his plans? Butwhy?

The more he thought about it, the more it tormented him.

Jon returning to working on his longsword. He was quite skilled for someone who had just started blacksmithing. He’d picked up the trade quickly, which is one of the things Sylvester liked about him. Though Jon was a few years older than him, he always addressed him as an equal. They were blacksmiths. They were friends.

“Speaking of yesterday,” Jon said suddenly, glancing up at him, “You didn’t come back here after your meeting with your brother.”

“I decided to fly for a bit instead,” Sylvester replied with a shrug.

Jon gave an understanding nod. “How did it go?”

Sylvester hesitated for a second. “It was the usual. I flew across the side of the mountain.” Then he added, “I also brought home a wife.”

“Youwhat?” his friend exclaimed. Then he seemed to catch himself. “Did you say a wife? I don’t understand. How—?”

“There was a breach yesterday. A plane crashed on Frost Mountain.”

Sylvester explained how he’d spotted the plane materializing as he flew over the mountain, how it had exploded, how he had managed to rescue two passengers before they hit the ground, and how one of them was currently in his cabin and was going to be his wife.

Jon’s mouth dropped open wider and wider with each new detail.

“I left her in the cabin,” he concluded. “If she’s got a good head on her shoulders, she’ll stay put until I get home.”

“Awife?” Jon looked like he was still struggling to make sense of what his friend had just told him. “Why would you even do that? Does your brother know about it yet?”

Sylvester shook his head.

“The timing is just… wrong. I don’t think he’ll like that.”

Sylvester smirked and said, “I am counting on it.” He could just picture the look on his brother’s face when he introduced Diane to him. Gregory wanted him to stay in the forge, producing weapons for Pine Gap. He didn’t want it known that there were serious problems in the village and disagreements within the Stormbringer clan. How he would react to him taking a wife instead of taking the war seriously he did not know. But war made no sense to Sylvester despite what Jon had said:Your brother is focusing on what he considers most important right now.

“Well, so am I,” he said under his breath.

The whole concept of war between the villages was insane. The rivalry had begun decades ago over a territorial dispute that had resulted in a few deaths. Why the villages hadn’t resolved the problem by now was beyond him. It was what Malcolm had been hoping to do before his demise. And now war was on its way again or so it seemed.

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