Excerpt: Lessons in Falling, Lessons in Flying

From Chapter Nine: Nothing Promised, No Regrets
They landed back at Two Mountains, on the outside path somewhere between Damien’s quarters and Teren’s.
“So this is your girl, huh?” Teren addressed his brother.
Before Damien could respond, Lilia asserted indignantly, “I’m not his anything!”
“Feisty. I think I like her,” Teren commented casually. Then he turned to Lilia. “Pay no heed to that cad. He just wants to get into your pants,” he advised.
Damien experienced a sudden, intense desire to go bang his head against the mountainside. Or possibly to bang Teren’s head against the mountainside; that would be more productive, at least.
“I noticed,” Lilia said coolly.
Damien winced. He really didn’t think he deserved that.
“Go easy on him,” Teren said confidentially. “It really isn’t his fault. See, when he Awakened, something got a little addled in his brain, made him think he was the Spirits’ gift to women.”
“Hey!” Damien protested. Could they stop talking about him like he wasn’t standing right there, already?
Lilia’s lips quirked. “Explains a lot,” she said amusedly. She was almost laughing. What right did Teren have to go and make her laugh already? He hadn’t been able to make her laugh in weeks.
Teren bowed low to her. “Anyways, I have been most remiss; allow me to introduce myself. Teren, Air Mage of Two Mountains. I’m afraid I have the misfortune to be related to that one.” He jabbed a finger in Damien’s direction.
“Kindly remember who knows twice as magic as you do,” the older mage muttered significantly.
His brother blithely ignored what he knew perfectly well was an entirely empty threat. “Whatever you say, oh wise and knowing one.”
That was it. Damien tugged his brother aside, saying to Lilia, “Excuse us, we’ll be right back.”
As soon as the girl was out of earshot, Damien turned to his brother in irritation. “You are not putting the moves on her!”
Teren regarded him sardonically. “I really don’t think that’s yours to decide,” he said coolly, unintimidated. “Especially since she doesn’t seem all too impressed with you.”
“That’s temporary,” Damien growled.
Teren rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, oh high and mighty master.”
“Blast it, Teren, this isn’t a joking matter! Please –” Damien exclaimed in frustration.
Teren raised an eyebrow. “You’re really gone on her, aren’t you?”
Damien glared.
“Oh. You really are,” Teren murmured more softly, sympathetically. Damien had a feeling he had just shifted in his brother’s estimation from an object of fun to an object of pity. He decided he like that even less.
Teren made a placating gesture. “Relax. I was only making nice, anyway.”
“That’s your definition of ‘making nice’?” Damien choked. “Does it really have to involve making so many jokes at my expense?”
Teren shrugged, and smirked slightly. “Hey, it worked, didn’t it?”
Damien glowered. He was making a lot of displeased facial expressions today, wasn’t he?
“Anyway, she really isn’t my type,” Teren assured casually.
Now Damien snorted in disbelief. “Your type? You have a type? And here I thought your type was whoever would have you…”
“Quiet, you!” Teren exclaimed. “Like you’ve really done so much better…”
“Actually…” Damien began significantly.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Teren said dismissively. “Anyway, I won’t come between you and Lilia, if it matters so much to you.” He smiled sharply. “But, protip? Try treating her like a person instead of a possession, it might help.”
“I do not!” Damien protested.
Teren rolled his eyes. “Save it for someone who cares. I think I’d better show Lilia around, however.”
“Why?” Damien asked petulantly.
Teren rolled his eyes. “Let’s see, which one of us isn’t she royally ticked off at?” he insinuated significantly. “Besides, frankly, I’m probably the least offensive of the Air Mages around here.”
Damien grumbled, but he had to admit that his brother had a good point there. “Very well then, if you insist. Be gone with you, then!”