He had only wanted to prove himself, Chun-Jin thought.  He had just wanted people to believe that he was a man, Knei-Gong especially.  When he thought of his brother's words, his ears still stung with them.

"You, little worm?  You will never be a man.  You are worse than a girl, just as pretty and twice as useless.  You had better run for cover if the barbarians do attack.  They will probably take you as a concubine for the khan.  Or perhaps that is what you are hoping?"

"Whatever you say, eldest brother," Chun-Jin had replied.  He wished he had had the book then.  He would have drawn a tiger and willed it to maul Knei-Gong until he begged for mercy.  Only he couldn't draw tigers.  That was part of the problem.  He could only draw horses.