Aidan, my work horse, was restless this morning. Something in the wind is changing. I can feel it too in my bones. My eyes kept falling on my fathers sword during breakfast. My hands were itching to wield it once more. Father had trained me well. "The Grandfather" is my heritage. It will soon see battle once more. Once more it will drink blood in fury. The day is coming. It is in the wind.
I'm still in the field when Burg comes strolling down the path from the village. Years ago I broke his nose and left arm in a brawl. We were kids. Four of them taunted me and harassed me. When push came to shove I shoved. I shoved hard. I was twelve at the time and my rage is still the talk of the village in some circles. They think I don't know. They keep their distance, but it suits me just fine. When you are the "giant" at the village you are always shunned.
- Morning Krull. The scar on his face is still visible. Years have passed and respect has settled in to replace youthful hate. I nod a good morning and await for the news. The village elder has called for you in the town hall.
- I'll stable Aidan and be right over. There is some water by the gate to freshen up if you want. Yes. Respect. And fear. I can smell it. I'm still the outcast. Some things never change I guess.
- Thanks. I'll see you later in the village then. I nod. A small pause. He wanted to say something, but decides otherwise and leaves. There is nothing to be said. The past is past. We have both grown since then.
Having secured Aidan and preparing a small snack for the 15-minute trip to the village I set of. There have been some strange talk from wanderers for some time now. Something is moving in the forests in the south-east. Something sinister. Yes. "The Grandfather" will be brandished once more. And the beast within will be unleashed into the world. I fear and hope for that day.
The old town hall stands taller than all buildings in the village. A symbol of power some say. Vanity more likely. Vanity of men. Even the village temple does not stand so high. Yet this has always the way of things. People want to compensate for what they don't have and try to instill fear to the simple folk.
I'm ushered quickly up to the upper floor, straight into the elder's office. Vadania, our local ranger, is already here, sitting in all her beauty on one of the chairs. She is probably one of the few people that can understand me being an elf and all. She has known fear in other peoples' eyes for more time than I have been alive. And we do share another common link. She too lost her parents early on in her life.
Sonia, the small halfling came in late. Well, she could have been here a while, but she has a knack for disappearing out of thin air.
- Now that you are all here let me tell you that whatever you hear is for your ears only. The elder had never been so serious before. Grave serious one might say. We have a problem. Goblins have been sited a week away to the south, south-east of the village. I need you three to find out what is going on. Haste is of the essence. The premonition was right then. You can gather some basic equipment from here. I don't want to alarm the whole village. You must leave quietly, when our compatriots are fast asleep.
The order/request was given. The difficult part was finding a suitable suit of armor. Finally a nice, worn leather suit was just my size. The day was uneventful. I spend it gathering a week's rations and cleaning the old greatsword. I practiced swinging it at dusk. The memories of long training started coming back. Muscles stretching, pulling, feeling the balance of things. The riddle of steel, as once was passed on to me:
"Krull, the strength of steel is nothing compared to the hand that yields it. You must learn to harness your power. Drive it to the killing blow."My father's words still echo in my head. They start ringing more true than ever before.
At the dead of night Vadania and Sonia were at my doorstep. We moved quickly. There was some talk about Gods and powers of the land between the elf and the halfling, but I didn't pay much attention. My mind was in the freedom I felt in the forest. A freedom I hadn't felt in a long time, not since the days I run free in the forest chasing my next meal, a few weeks after my mother's passing four years ago.
We have been trying to find tracks for nearly a week now. Vadania was purplexed. I spent my time hunting in order to replenish our supplies. The local wildlife was plentyful and with all the small streams we had no problem filling our bellies.
Finally, at the seventh day a track! Goblins it seems. The ranger was certain. Not half a day ahead of us. We made haste. In the early morning we found the left overs of their fire. They were really close. Maybe an hour or two. A scouting party of sorts. We kept our vigil and the answer came within the hour. We spotted two goblins hiding in the trees. An ambush! They attacked swiftly, covered by arrows of another two, but they were not expecting a resistance.
This WAS a scouting party. And they were heading towards the river. Something foul was readying itself in the woods and beyond the stream. Something bad for the village. We had to push on and find out what.
No comments:
Post a Comment