8 Family (1/2)

Enri had always been a confident girl. Whenever someone would ask anything of her, she would up her nose and answer without a hiccup. However, all that changed when the person in front of her, asked a question.

”Um, Miss Enri, where do I sit.” Asked Koren of the red-faced Enri.

Kaph, Enri's big brother, was seated in the corner, laughing his ass off. He noticed the little boss turn red every time she saw Koren, and made sure to tell Koren that she was in charge of the seating arrangement during dinner.

”Um, y..you can sit with my stupid Adda (Brother).” said Enri, almost blowing steam from her ears.

Koren, who was a little thick headed, simply thanked Enri and walked toward Kaph who was cackling like a bird, and sat next to him.

After a few minutes the little boss came and sat down opposite to them, she kept looking over at Koren from time to time. Koren, who had already noticed the odd glare, wondered if he had any enmity with her.

In the desert, the whole family usually eats together, on a jute rug. As the three were seated, a sound came from the door as a young man walked in. This young man looked almost completely similar to Kaph. The same desert tan, the same height, and the same brownish hair. However, there was one difference. This young man was wider and looked to be stronger than Kaph.

”Torp, this is Koren, he will be staying with us.” Said Kaph as his twin brother walked in.

Torp looked towards Koren, smiled and nodded. ”Nice to meet you Koren, I'm Torp, the responsible one.” said Torp as he sat down on Kaph's right.

”pufff, just because you are inheriting fathers blacksmithing, doesn't make you the responsible one.” said Kaph who was seated on Koren's right.

”Oh really, then what about you, you chose to become a potter just to get close to the girls, what's your next profession, knitting.” Rebuffed Torp as he looked at Kaph with a sly gaze.

Just as Kaph was about to snub Torp, Enri coughed. The earth under the two brothers moved just a tiny bit, enough to awaken a painful memory. They both straightened like well-trained warriors, and screamed from the top of their lungs ”Yes Boss!!”.

”Stop arguing adda, I don't like it, hmn” said Enri in her Pixie voice, but she was trying to sound less bossy.

Koren, who was looking at the sibling's chemistry, felt a nudge from his right, and heard a whisper in his ear.

Koren looked towards Enri. ”Um, Miss Enri, should I call you boss as well?” asked Koren as told by Kaph.

Enri, who had almost reached the boiling point due to her stupid adda's bickering, blushed when Koren asked her that question. For some reason, every time Koren called her name, she felt happy.

”n..o..NO, just call me Enri. My name means brave, my Abba (Father) gave it to me.” Said Enri looking rather proud.

”OK, Enri.” Said Koren with a light smile. The brothers, Kaph and Torp, were both left slack jawed from the casual exchange between Koren and Enri.

”The beast seems so tame” whispered Kaph to his brother Torp.

”I know, it seems we have discovered her weakness” whispered Torp to his brother Kaph.

”Her fate is in our hands now. This boy will become our ultimate weapon against the Evil Pipsqueak, hehe haha” whispered Torp in unison with his brother Kaph, followed by an evil laugh.

”What are you boys planning now” said Lady Zena as she walked in with the food.

”Nothing, nothing, we were just wondering when father would be home.” Said Kaph quickly.

”Oh, here he comes now, dear, this is Koren, I'm sure you heard about him from Sappa” said Zena as she looked towards the man who had just walked in.

Tanru was Zena's husband, as well as the village's most skilled blacksmith, hence he was told the truth about the move to the border, as well as Koren's tragic story. He was almost as huge as Sappa, but his arms muscles even put Sappa to shame. Blacksmithing requires tremendous strength and endurance, something Tanru had in abundance.

Tanru looked at his wife and nodded, before walking over and sitting next to her. ”Koren, its an honour to meet you, my name is Tanru, I'm the village blacksmith.” said Tanru as he gave Koren a smile.