Shadows - S Robinson (classic reads TXT) 📗

began in the room.
“why can't we just kick him out and let him fend for himself, Jangaar does not want us he wants HIM” he wouldn't take his eyes off Anan and Anan could almost see the cogs turning in some of the villagers heads and a couple began to sit back down “we have all had to give something up to accommodate him and what have we got in return. Nothing. He cant fight and he has no courage” he sneered at Anan almost looking pleased with himself “why should we fight for a coward who may not even have it in him to do what is needed” now over half of the room were seated and sat waiting for a counter argument. “Why are you so bitter Hann, this boy has not harmed you in anyway why do you resent him”
“it's okay Ericou” and Anan stood holding Mags hand and addressed the room “I only found out about my heritage a few days ago and I still have lots to learn about myself. If I must leave then I will. You are the only family I have ever known and to know that you would risk yourselves for me is the most unselfish and brave gift you could ever give me. However I would not want anyone to spill or shed a drop of blood on my count so I will leave” tears fell from his cheeks as in his mind he was saying goodbye to his entire family “please give me until tomorrow so I can prepare for my journey and then I will leave, I will enter the forest and face whatever demons are waiting with no regrets” Mags pulled him into a huge embrace and they quietly cried into each others arms. The room was silent and Mags kissed his forehead; he looked up into her eyes but she wasn't looking at him and he turned to face the room to see the whole village stood. Vandai took a hobbled step forward and clasped Anan on the shoulder
“we will fight to protect you Anan not because our oath binds us because you have showed a courage we did not know you possessed and that alone is worth dying for” and with that the room all raised a glass and toasted a successful journey and Anan's heart filled with excitement not dread as he started to except that he was about to enter the next chapter of his life. He was starting to understand that he was made for more than a farmers life and that his future lay beyond the boundaries which had kept him hidden from the rest of the world for so long and he was going to leave and live as much of that life as he could.
The tavern started to filter out and Ericou had pulled Hann and his cronies into a corner of the room and seemed to be giving them a stern once over. Mags looked very distressed so Anan sat her down and poured her a glass of water from the jug on the bar. She took the glass from Anan and beamed at him “I am so very proud of you Anan for taking this on” she sipped her water
“but I have to be honest, how are you going to cope in the wild on your own” Anan felt deflated, he hadn't really thought about it yet. How was he going to cope on his own. Yes he could fight and hunt but he had no idea where he was heading for and how to traverse the land quickly and effectively.
“you need a companion.......someone to aid you.......someone like him” she pointed right at Hann just as he turned around
“you have got to be joking Mags, Hann would try and slit my throat on the first night” and Anan watched Hann spit on the tavern floor and leave, Mags touched his arm “let me talk with him” Anan was not convinced by this at all.
“if my estimations are correct you need to leave in the next five days. Which means I have got four days to turn you into a fighting machine. That way you should get to Vangoor relatively unscathed” the old battle master stood there laughing leaning on the handle of his mighty hammer.
“training field...........now” the look on Anan's face must have said it all, as Mags gave him a gentle push out of the door. Anan followed Ericou silently down to the training field, to Anan's horror Hann, Broc and Fran were there as well and all three were sparring each other. Hann caught sight of Ericou and Anan and gestured to the other boys, they all stopped and lowered there swords.
“you gonna teach him how to die bravely Ericou” Fran spat
“if you are we would love to watch”
Hann seemed to have lost interest by this point and had starting practising some manoeuvres on his own whilst Broc and Fran sat up against the nearest fence to watch and mock. Ericou didn't reply to the boys and threw Anan one of the practice swords
“look sharp” Ericou lunged in with an attack, Anan dodged out of the way but looked clumsy on his feet and he couldn't hold the weight of the sword with one hand
“chop his head off Ericou” the bullies began to taunt him
“your not going to last a day Anan” Anan was not sure what to do he knew he could handle the sword better than but nobody else did and he was not sure this was the right moment to show them. Ericou began to taunt him as well “fight back Anan, try and cut me” but Anan just continued to out manoeuvre the larger man. This had gotten the interest of a few more settlers now as they sparred together, Ericou swinging and slicing through the air and Anan dancing around the blade but not offering any sort of retaliation. “Anan you need to strike back”
“I told you before I wont fight on your say so” this seemed to anger Ericou and he yelled “then you will die” he lunged forward and Anan was left with no choice and using all his strength he struck the blow away to his right which forced Ericou to lose his balance who then fell face down in the dirt “why must I fight” he shouted and Anan threw the blade to the ground and ran
“run home to your mummy Anan” Fran and Broc just stood there laughing. Ericou had gotten to his feet and picked up Anan's discarded sword. He looked up and was face to face with Hann “how can you ask me to help protect someone who isn't willing to protect himself Ericou, he is not what you hoped he was and he will die a painful death when the shadows catch him” shaking his head and calling to the other boys Hann walked off and Ericou examined Anan's sword there was a hair line crack running straight across the base of the blade and with very little effort Ericou snapped it in two. Shocked he searched for the sword he used and there is was in the grass and dirt already in two pieces, he picked it up and smiled to himself “I knew it” he waited for the other boys to leave the field and muttered to himself “he is exactly what I had hoped for and he wont be dying any-time soon”


. Anan was just finishing up for the night and he felt exhausted. It had been an extremely long, hot day, so much so the sun had burnt itself out. As the evening began to draw in his skin felt clammy and dirty and what he needed more than anything else was a bath. Unfortunately that had to wait because he had to tidy the little forge room. Mags had always told him “dirty tools, dirty work” and this was something he had always adhered to. After his last training session with Ericou, Anan had been frustrated with himself for not fighting back and had promised himself next time he would show them all what he was capable of. No one needed any farming tools or anything at the minute as everyone was too busy deciding on the best form of defence for the settlement., so he had the time to work on a little project of his own. If he was going to be thrown to the wolves he was not going to enter the fray lightly or risk his life by using old and disused weapons. So he had started to make himself a short sword, something easy enough to conceal and manoeuvre at pace but also light and comfortable. Then he had an epiphany and decided that actually if he was only using a short one handed weapon he should make two. So he decided he would make a tomahawk, like Ericou's. The old battle master had only ever shown his skills with his large hammer or the more conventional two handed broad swords, but Anan knew Ericou had two tomahawks strapped to his back at all times, ideal for throwing or if feeling weary from battle they were easier and lighter to wield but just as deadly. Apparently these were the weapons of choice for the hunters because of these reasons. It had taken him most of the day to decide on the ideal weight and what type of grip he would be personally more comfortable with. He got so caught up in the design of his new axe he hadn’t eaten and was starving. He also had not finished his original short sword but felt he could rectify this the following day. He was sweeping the last of the debris when Dago got up ears pricked and started to sniff the air. “what is it Dago” Anan asked puzzled, Dago started forward slowly, teeth on show and his lips drawn back in a snarl. Dago had never reacted like this before, not even when Hann was around so it started to make Anan feel extremely nervous. They left the little forge to investigate with Dago out in front his nose their guide. The sun had started to set and the light was dimming, but Anan continued to blindly follow Dago not knowing where they were going or what it was they were looking for. Unfortunately Anan hadn't realised how close they were to Ms Anna's home. This meant they were almost at the Folip pens and Anan did not like this part of Bockley anymore. After the run in with the shadow hound Anan had stuck to working in his little forge and didn’t offer at the pens anymore. Those red eyes had burned themselves on to the inside of his eyes and were the last thing he saw before he went to sleep, he didn’t want to relive that moment again any time soon. He lost Dago round a corner and hurried to catch up. As Anan rounded the corner he nearly fell over as Dago had come to a complete standstill. Dago had stopped growling and was now just stood there staring his jowls drooling all over the floor in front of him and was not taking his eyes off the pens. Something was out there and it was scaring his friend. Anan began to feel nervous and his stomach began to twist. Reaching to his belt Anan groped for his dagger to find an empty sheath, he remembered taking the blade out earlier to run over the whetstone, he cursed under his breath, he had left it on his workbench. He couldn’t go back for it, whatever was in the pens was probably stalking the cattle and needed to be stopped however he was not