By Arthur Ogilvie
I guess I can start when I can remember since the beginning is too far away for me to recall. When I was 10 I learned to pick up a sword.
My mom would yell at me but my father would say to her:
“I am making him a man. He needs to learn to protect himself and the village. This is where I started. THIS is where he will start.” and continue to help me clasp the hilt. I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t even know what a sword was for that was until that night. The night where my mother and father went missing. Till this day I don’t really know what happened. I ran around the small house and checked the forge and barn around it but they weren’t there. I started to panic and ran to my room and sat scared in the corner thinking of what I would do if they were gone. Then I thought maybe, maybe they just left to get food or supplies. Maybe they left to get clothes…I’m sorry I’m not really good at talking about this not that it really matters anymore.
Anyway, I was on my way to the market when my neighbor stopped me and grabbed my arm I protested as he tried to drag me away but he snapped at me. My body went ridged and the hairs on my neck stood up. I remember this part of my life well as the neighbor dragged me to the outskirts of town where all the other villagers waited and gossiped about what was going on in the village. I couldn’t make out the murmurs and not long after I arrived I didn’t need to. I watched as a large man clad in the fur of a white bear walked purposely toward the villagers. He carried the bodies of two of guardsmen, I had seen my father talk with, over his back. After he reached us he flung the bodies down at our feet and his face was fuming as he did so.
“I was told this village had great fighters…I was told they would stop at NOTHING to protect their village.” his voice was loud and boomed with confidence I can see it now but he wasn’t ready for the root of the rumors. For in every great rumor there lies a grain of truth.
“That’s me I am the one they speak of.” A man stepped from the crowd clad in plate, a large metal shield in one hand and his helmet under his other arm, his blade still sheathed and ready. The armor shinned but even so, looking at him the townsfolk still appeared worried. The man was 5 feet and close to 6, but the giant of a foe still towered over him the giant’s smirk revealed that he noticed the difference as well.
“I have been to the deepest part of the Darkwood forest and back. You DARE mock me with this ‘challenge’?”
The man secured the helm and spoke to the giant before the visor went down. “While I applaud your achievement, as I have heard the Darkwood is a dark and evil place, I do not challenge you…”
The crowd gasped and I briefly felt hope slip away then the man continued and I felt at ease”…I simply cannot move as this is my home and I will continue to make it my home.”
With that the visor went down and the giant readied his large club. I pushed forward to the front of the crowds that were too terrified to cheer the man on. I saw him and pushed forward to greet him…till this day I do not know why. He looked down at me and smiled, “You’re a brave one I hope what you see today shows you how important a home is. Now please stay back *laugh* I think this man is serious.”
I walked slowly backward and took my place at the front of the crowd. The giant swung his massive club and struck the man’s shield a loud sound pulsed through me but the man stood his ground his sword still in his sheath. The crowd pelted him with fighting critiques and scorn. He was focused as the giant wailed on his shield. I couldn’t hear what he was saying but I knew he was asking the giant to stop fighting, then the man’s words ceased.
He was there and then he wasn’t, a blur that appeared to the back of the giant. I traced the battlefield with my eyes trying to make sense of what had happened. Then I saw the man’s sword dripping with blood as the giant fell lifelessly behind him.
Gerald Firesworn was a captain of some army whose name I have forgotten. He was just passing through and it was lucky that he did, for in this man I found my purpose and I found reason. Though I never found my parents and one day I wondered out of town I hung on to Gerald’s words: ” I hope what you see today shows you how important a home is.” .
I found out later that the man didn’t even live in the town but he had stopped by frequently enough to consider it so, or did he call everywhere he went his home, yeah I’d like to think that, as he would believe what I believe now.
before the armor of Glintaxe... there was scalemail
