"What did he do now?" Shayla asked as Daeghun strode into the room with his younger brother grasped firmly by the collar of his tunic.

"I caught him fighting with Gregor Redfell," Daeghun sighed as he let go of his brother's collar. "Go to your room and stay there, Duncan," he admonished.

"Wait a moment," Shayla stopped her teenaged brother-in-law as he turned to go. "You're going to need that split lip taken care of."

"Leave it be," Duncan growled, shrugging off her concern in that typically exaggerated teenaged manner.

"Have it your way." Shayla shook her head. "Can you at least tell me why it was you were fighting this time?"

"Gregor called me a 'big girl's blouse'", Duncan spat, wincing as the stinging pain from his split and bloodied lip lanced through him. "Then he told me I should watch out for the Mossfield brothers in case they mistook me for a pretty girl when they're in their cups."

"He's just jealous because he's got the face of a troll," Shayla placated, trying not to laugh at the indignant look on Duncan's face. She settled for holding out a square of linen towards him. "If you're not going to let me fix that," she gestured towards his face, "at least clean it up so I don't have to look at the blood." Duncan took the proffered kerchief and pressed it to his mouth with a muttered thank you before turning and stomping off in the direction of his room.

Daeghun sank into a chair once Duncan had left. He dropped his head into his hands and exhaled in a forceful expression of frustration. "I don't know what to do with him, Shayla."

"He needs time, Daeghun. His mother just died and your father went and set sail for Evermeet without even a thought towards him. He's grieving, not to mention how let down and abandoned he feels. He's the only half-elven boy in the village, it's only natural the other children pick on him because he's different. They don't know any better and it's up to us to show them the error of their ways."

"Ah, Shayla, you're ever the optimist," Daeghun chuckled as he shook his head. "He needs discipline…"

"He needs love and acceptance…"

"He needs a good, swift kick up the arse, is what he needs."

"Give him some room, Daeghun. Being here with us is as new for him as it is for you."

"You don't sound too traumatised."

"I accept him for what he is."

"Hmmph…"

"You know I'm right. Your father lived in such a remote place, even once he married Selena. Duncan has probably never had to deal with such teasing before."

"Then we should take him out with us next time we go on the road. Esmerelle promised to drop in next time she's in this neck of the woods. He doesn't even know how to hold a sword, yet I'll admit he's good with a bow."

"Your father was a master of the bow. It would be stupid if Duncan wasn't at least minimally proficient with the bloody thing."
"Yet there are so many gaps in his education."

"So! Fix it, then."

"I will… Duncan!"

Shayla wondered for a moment if her brother-in-law would answer the summons. He did and she was truly grateful for it.

"So, Duncan, ever thought about a life in the army?"