“Always!”
“Don’t neglect your other children any longer. They need you too.”
“I know honey!” Roric said shaking his head in acknowledgement of his shortcoming.
“Now enough of all the dark thoughts I saw you stewing on when I came in here. Zarsha is waiting for you in the butterfly garden with some very good news and when you get caught up with her you know where you can find me.” She finished with a seductive purr.
Roric reached to grab her, but she danced back out of reach waving a finger no, while an impish grin played across her face.
He smiled and let her go, enjoying the view she gave him on her way out of the room. There was a lot to be grateful in his life, despite his son’s rebellion and it was time that he started living his life again. He left the meeting chamber and headed for the flower garden that was higher up in the castle complex.
Zarsha was waiting on a bench that sat alongside the trail through the flowers. She saw him coming up the path and jumped up with the grace of a wild doe and sprinted the rest of the way to him to envelope him in a bear hug that he laughingly returned in equal measure.
She drew back slightly, laughing herself and met his eyes. She didn’t have to look up either, because she was every bit as tall as him. It was a little comical, when she was beside her husband, Captain Jansa.
He was shorter by several inches and of smaller build than she was, but they loved each other so what did it matter.
The smile on her face went to a frown, “Father?”
She reached out and touched the gray hairs starting to spring out everywhere.
“Never mind them. Tell me what’s the good news?”
The smile returned to her face, “In seven months I’m going to make you a grandfather.”
Roric stared into her eyes entranced by what she had just said.
“Really?”
“Yes really Father!”
“Oh honey you shouldn’t be running around like you just did when you came up to me! You’ve got to take care of yourself!”
“I’m fine Father, but I’ll try to slow down just for you.”
Roric folded his arms around his oldest daughter again, but more gently this time. “I’m so happy for you Zarsha! How’s the Captain feel about this new addition to your family?”
“He’s so excited! He won’t let me do anything for myself though!”
“That’s the way it should be, enjoy it. Now tell me everything.”
Roric feeling like a new man ambled down through the castle grounds towards the blacksmith shop, where he knew he had a good chance of finding either one or both of his twin sons.
It was late afternoon now. He had spent the rest of the morning with Zarsha and then he had ostensibly retired to his chambers for a quiet lunch with his wife. He couldn’t but help grin to himself as the memories of his luncheon date with his wife came back to him.
He wished all lunches with his lovely wife could last for three hours the way this one had. He looked up from the path before him to the blacksmith shop. From the pounding going on inside, at least one of his sons was here. He pushed through the door and saw Gavin putting the finishing touches on a long dagger. Gavin looked up and was obviously surprised to see him here.
Roric stepped up to the work bench and studied the faultless creation of his son’s work, “Your work is of the finest that I’ve ever seen Gavin. You’re truly becoming a master at this.”
Gavin’s face flushed at the praise and he looked everywhere other than his father’s face. “Do you have a moment Gavin? There’s something I need to tell you.”
Gavin set the long dagger he had been working on down and folded a cloth over it and then turned giving his father his full attention. Roric smiled slightly and stepped up to his young giant and placed his hands on his shoulders. At fifteen Gavin was already as tall as him and something told him that he had inches to go yet.
“Son I need to apologize to you about something. I’ve done you and your brother a disservice as a father for quite a while now by not spending the time with you that I should have. I’m sorry. I’ve let other things get in the way of spending time with two fine emerging men who I’m very proud of. I’ll try to do better.”
Gavin wasn’t big on showing emotion, which was why it surprised Roric, when he reached out and enfolded him with his arms in a clenching hug that spoke of a very deep emotional current. He felt his big quiet son’s forgiveness in the intensity of the hug and relished every moment of it. Gavin was a rock that he knew he could always rely on.
Gavin drew back and met his eyes with a directness that told Roric that his son was no longer a boy, but a man at heart, “I’m here for you Father, whenever you need me I’ll be there for you.”
A tear slipped down Roric’s cheek at his son’s words, “I know you will son.”
Roric slapped Gavin on the back and turned to leave. “Father I have a favor to ask of you.”
Now this was a surprise! Gavin hardly ever asked for anything.
“What is it son?”
“I was wondering if I might study your sword some, up close and here in the shop?”
Roric smiled, he had been wondering how long it was going to be before Gavin asked this of him.
“I’ll bring it by in the morning Gavin. And Gavin?”
“Yes Sir?”
“I’ll show you some things about it that I’ve never shown anyone else.”
Gavin’s eyes got big and he said, “Yes Sir!”
“Gavin where can I find your brother?”
“He’s at the practice field with Rolf.”
Roric nodded his head, and turned to leave knowing that he had made his son’s day. The thought of something stopped him though and he turned back to Gavin.
“Gavin?”
“Yes Sir.”
“I would presume that by studying my sword that you one day hope to create such a sword as it?”
Gavin nodded his head.
“Tell me who would you make such a sword for?”
Without hesitation Gavin responded, “Zevin.”
“Why son?”
Gavin hesitated and then said, “I think that one day he will do great things and need such a sword as yours.”
“I think your right Gavin. He couldn’t ask for a better brother than you or I a better son. See you at the banquet tonight Gavin.”
Roric closed the door and headed towards the practice fields reflecting on his son’s words as he went. Reaching the practice fields he saw Rolf leaning up against a column.
Rolf sensed him and turned slightly to view him approach. Rolf always seemed to have eyes in the back of his head it seemed. As Roric drew close to Rolf he could see Zevin practicing one of the sword rhythm dances.
A rhythm dance could be performed with a variety of weapons and consisted of the expected movements of a body and weapon in the synchronized motion of a battle. Roric noticed, as he watched his son’s moves that Rolf had interjected quite a few arena styled moves into the Valley Lander choreographed dance of war.
Roric stopped beside Rolf and wasn’t surprised by the abruptness of his friend’s words to him, “About time you where here!”
Roric nodded excepting the censure from his oldest friend, “How’s he doing?”
Rolf looked over at Zevin and then back at Roric. He flipped the practice sword he had been holding at his side over in midair and caught it by the dulled blade.
He extended the handle to Roric, “How about you find out for yourself!”
I was glad it was starting to cool off as I went through the moves of the sword dance. Dances of war where practiced in order to sharpen the warrior’s skill in both proficiency and conditioning. This was like the fourth time through this particular exercise and my endurance was being put to the test, but I had asked for it.
I swung around on the ball of one foot to sweep my blade into another death dealing arc that is, if there had been an enemy before me.
Clan
g!
My hand stung from the unexpected force of the collision of blades, but I held onto the sword. My eyes traced down the opposing blade to meet my father’s eyes. He inclined his head in a slight nod indicating his challenge.
This was for real. He wanted me to bring it. The heady thrill of the challenge overwhelmed me and what good sense I had left vanished from me, as I moved to the attack.
This wasn’t a choreographed war dance, but in a way it became one. Sword found sword in an endless heated exchange of spinning movement and clamor of noise. Attacks were met and defended and played back again.
The tempo only increased and time was lost. Sweat rolled off of me in rivulets, as the clash of wills continued marked by the hot sparks sheeting off the swords that had begun to glow.
It suddenly occurred to me that this was fun and I felt myself laughing with the joy of war, even as my enjoyment of the clash spurred me on to greater endeavor. Father was teaching me something in this clash of free swings and individual moves.
Despite the freedom of our fight there was still an expected order to it. A way of sensing what came next. I was tired, but this was too rare an event to dare stop and besides I wanted to win. So I continued to soak up the attention and the experience and give out my best in return.
Krista stopped beside Rolf and watched the two fighters that appeared to be deep in mortal combat with each other.
“Oh my Rolf!” said Krista lifting a hand to her mouth.
She couldn’t help but feel concerned for the viciousness of the fighting before her, but she was proud too and it showed.
The two combatants waged a war across the practice field before them. Lunging, parrying, sliding, jumping, ducking, sidestepping, and so on. The clanging of the swords was a constant hum of vibrating noise.
“He is good is he not?” Rolf asked smiling smugly.
“You’re amazing Rolf!” Responded Krista, as she watched the fight go on breathlessly.
“I only trained and disciplined the mind, the rest is all him. He has reflexes as quick as any cat, and an insatiable need for challenge. A little more experience and he’ll be one of the best.”
Krista had enough. It was clear to her that neither of them had any quit in them. She strode purposefully onto the practice field that had become the scene of an epic battle, hoping that the two zoned in opponents would notice her before whacking her in two.
They drew briefly apart and she quickly stepped in between them holding up her hands. The two opponents still deep in the fog of their battle halted and it was almost comical to see them come to a sense of the outside world again. They stood there panting like dogs on a hot summer day.
“Gentlemen I declare a tie and as a reward you may kiss the mistress of ceremonies.”
She heard Zevin chuckle and he half stumbled forward to smack a sweaty kiss on the cheek she offered, drenching her in the process.
“Oh yuck! You’re positively dripping wet!” She laughed as she wiped the sweat and grime off of her cheek.
Zevin looked over at Roric and they shared a look that spoke volumes.
Man talk, mused Krista, as she regarded the masculine communication of two powerful males.
Zevin stumbled off towards Rolf, who tossed him a towel and slapped him hard on the back, as they made their way off the practice field. As they disappeared from view Krista walked over to Roric, who was standing with his hands on his hips still panting.
“Well old man are you going to live?” She asked half laughing.
Roric looked down at her and shook his head dazedly, “When did this happen?” He said gesturing after Zevin.
Krista drew close to her husband and slung his arm over the back of her shoulders and started leading him to their tower.
“Overnight honey, at least that’s how it seems. We have to get you to a bath you scroungy beast!”
“A bath sounds like fun.” Roric said as he kissed the top of his wife’s head and slipped his hand down to possessively squeeze her rear.
“Stop it Roric Ta’lont! We don’t have time for such things right now! We have to get you ready for the banquet tonight and besides wasn’t your lunch satisfactory enough for you today?”
“My lunch was very satisfactory, but I’m hungry again.” Roric said as he leaned down and kissed her passionately.
As the kiss faded Krista breathed out, “I suppose we could make a little time, if you want, after all you are the master of the castle.”
Roric had steadily been pushing Krista backward during the kiss into the concealment of a grape arbor off to the side of the practice field.
“Roric what do you think you’re doing?”
“Why I’m about to enjoy the beautiful woman that the Creator gave me. Do you have a problem with that my love?”
Krista’s back pressed up against the back of the grape arbor wall and she smiled, as she stood up on her toes to kiss her sweaty husband, “No master, none at all.”
The banquet was loud and stacked to overflowing with people. I wasn’t particularly fond of being anywhere where the two were combined. I stayed only long enough to feed my ravaging appetite and then I slipped out. Once out in the night air I drank in the evening’s coolness like it was a nourishing tonic.
The sounds of the party drifted out to me and only served to secure my place in the world as a loner. An outsider from the glitzy world of the party that so many seemed free to partake in, but that I was locked away from by choice of will and the character that I had been born as.
I felt moody as I headed toward the western tower that I called home. When we had reached twelve years of age we had been given permission to live within reason, where we had wanted to in the castle. I had chosen the western tower loft.
It was rivaled only in height by the eastern tower, where my parents lived close by, in their cliffside quarters. I liked the privacy of it and as long as I kept my loft room in good shape for my mother’s sporadic inspections I was allowed to stay there. I could already feel the stiffness of the sparring match with father beginning to set into my tired muscles.
All evening long I had replayed every blessed moment of our match together in my head over and over. I had held my own against the greatest warrior of our people, which I had the honor of calling father. I made my way into the tower and started trudging upward wearily.
This was the not so good side of living in a tower, so many stairs. When I reached the loft of the tower I didn’t even bother to undress before I collapsed onto my bed. The physical rigors of the day had me asleep within moments.
Chapter Two
Awakened
The hours of the night progressed, until the early morning light grew gray with light, before the sun had yet risen.
“Zevin!”…….“Zevin!”
Dimly it registered to me that someone was calling my name. I raised my head off the pillows slightly alarmed by that, even in my delirium of restful fatigue. No one ever entered my tower loft during the night and yet the voice sounded as if it was close by.
“Zevin!”
The voice came to me much louder or did it just seem louder. I bolted upright in the bed and peered around into the morning gloom of the room in search of the voice’s owner.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as it registered to me that there was nobody in the room except for me.
“Stand up Zevin!”
The voice didn’t have to tell me twice, as I had jumped out of my bed at the first sound of it. In my hand I brandished the small knife I kept on my belt, as I stared deeply into the corners of the room wide eyed in search of the voice that felt like it was all around me in the room.
“Zevin are you listening?”
I was breathing heavy, as I responded in a voice that was full of fear, “Yes, who wants to know?”
“I Am that I Am speaks to you.”
The knife dropped from my hand to the floor, as did I, in a quivering mass of nervous anticipation.
My breathing had
seized up within me, even as the voice spoke again into my very being, “Fear not Zevin for I Am is with you. Rise quickly, as your father has need of you!”
I felt propelled up to my feet, but I couldn’t stop the shaking. My father needed me? I saw one of the shelves in my room light up from some unseen light source upon it.
I went toward the shelf, unsure of what I would find there, but somehow driven to find out. There on the shelf lay my bow that was highlighted by an ambient glow, as were my arrows beside it. I picked up both the bow and my quiver of arrows.
The light fell to the floor from off the bow and its arrows to trace across the floor. It was headed for the balcony outside the tower. I followed the light, as if driven to follow it by some inexplicable urge from within. The light traveled up the doors to the balcony to the lock, where there was a sudden audible click, as the formerly locked doors separated apart and opened before me.
I swallowed hard and stepped through the open doors onto the balcony beyond, the morning air chilled against my face. I shivered from a mixture of fear and the icy wind that seemed to go straight through my clothing to chill my bones.
What was happening? Was I dreaming or was this all real. It certainly felt real, but what was I suppose to do out here? What should I be looking for?
Was I being tricked and led around for the amusement of some demon or had I gone mad in the night?
“Nonsense!” I said to myself in a harsh whisper.
There was only one great I Am. The voice had said that my father had need of me. I looked out across the castle, as the gray of the morning sky got brighter toward the eastern tower and my parents cliffside dwelling.
There were no lights on in their room and I could see no movement. I was about to look away, when my eye caught sight of something. It had been a flash of shiny metal in the morning gloom farther down the side of the cliff. I saw more movement then and within moments I picked out the bodies of men making their way surprisingly fast up the side of the cliff, without even so much as the aid of a rope. They were headed straight for my parent’s living chambers!
Roric lay awake and pondered upon the new day that hadn’t yet really begun outside yet. He couldn’t sleep, as something about the new day was already bothering him to the point of restlessness. He couldn’t take just lying there anymore.
A Warrior's Journey Page 2
