Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, bloggers, and readers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!). Check out all the other awesome snippets by clicking on the picture above.
If you’ve been following this you’ve met the timid, very unsure of himself young Brythel from the Academy of the Accord series, so now it’s time to show you how he grows up.
For those joining late:
Yhonshel is a Tuanae, both wizard and warder. He is a captain, one of the three seconds in command at the garrison of the academy, and he is also a Master wizard and one of the three deputy headmasters at the academy. He’s quiet and gentle and soft-spoken but I don’t recommend ever making him truly angry.
(Brythel is also a Tuanae.)
This snippet comes from the book where Brythel is introduced, and is one of the first instances of him standing up to the people who have been bullying him, especially Andrek.
The cadets are at sparring practice and Draethlen is helping the captains (Kordelm and Wellhym) teach the first forms. (Drae is also a first year cadet but has been there all summer so has had a head start.)
As Draethlen passed Andrek and his partner, Andrek swung his stick at him. Draethlen blocked it easily and dropped into a defensive stance as his training kicked in, his stance balanced and poised, waiting.
“Stand down.”
Draethlen straightened at the words, standing at attention as the captains approached.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Draethlen said, his voice tight with disappointment in himself. “It won’t happen again.”
“Please, sirs.” Brythel stepped toward them. He was shaking slightly as Wellhym and Kordelm turned to face him, but he stood his ground. “I – I saw what happened, sirs. And it wasn’t Draethlen’s fault. He was walking past them and Andrek swung on him and all he did was block it.”
Wellhym smiled. “Thank you, Brythel,” he said, putting a gentle hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We did see what happened, but it took a great deal of courage for you to come forward.”
Brythel may be shy, but he’s not without courage.
No, Brythel is most definitely not without courage. It just takes him a while to find it.
I like that Brythel does the right thing even when he’s scared! ❤️
Love that Brythel stands up for his fellow cadet.
Go Brythel, he’s quiet but brave!
Brythel, lad. Glad you find the strength in yourself. I’m still intrigued by this tale you’re weaving, Paula.