This was the moment that would decide the future. Would they do all that they had vowed to do? Or would they fail before they even tried? The fact that the man that would make that decision was smoking a pipe and winking at passing young girls didn't help their stress levels.
Earlier in the day, when the trio was getting dressed for another day of work, Mr. Sills had informed them that an old friend of his was coming back from his travels across the continent, and it just so happened that this friend was a weapons master.
That was why they were standing on the porch of the old man that was smoking a pipe and winking at young ladies. Cory snapped his fingers in front of the man's face. "Sir? Remember us? We asked if you'd train us. Said we'd do anything, ring any bells?"
The man stood from his old rocking chair and put out the flame in his pipe. "I'm old not deaf, now come inside!" The old man, with a swish of his torn, brown cloak led them into the small cottage.
The cottage was plain. A stone furnace, a round table with a few worn chairs around it. A shelf with a book or two. And a couch that sat in front of a fireplace. There was a door that led into what must have been the bedroom and another, much smaller door with what must have been 10 locks on it. What was behind that door Cory would never have guessed.
The old man sat down in one of the old, worn chairs and beckoned for the boys to join him. Once they were all settled around the table he spoke. "What are your names?" he asked them. They each responded with hopeful smiles. "I see...where did you say you were from?" he asked. "The Sills household, sir" Jaime said. The old man shook his head. "No boy, you are no Sill, where did you come from?" he asked once more. "Ostmount" Cory replied. The old man rose from his seat, and paced around the room, rubbing the tiny grey hairs on his chin.
"Do you know Samuel then?" he asked. The boys all raised their eyebrows, they had known everyone from Ostmount, but they had never heard this name before. The old man sighed and snatched a staff that leaned against the wall. "He's my age, has a sword that bears this crest" The old man showed them the top of the staff where a Black Griffin sat, its claws outstretched. Cory's eyes widened, it was the same symbol on Grandfather's sword. Parker and Jaime peeked over at the symbol as well. "Wow...so Samuel is Grandfather's name?" Jaime asked.
The old man whipped around. "You're that idiot's grandchildren!? That guy actually got himself a woman? Damn, now I feel lonely" he said. "Well we're not his grandchildren; he's called Grandfather by every kid in Ostmount" Parker explained. The old man snickered, "So we're still even, ha ha! Even after all these years you can't best me Samuel!" he cheered, hopping around.
The man turned back to the boys. "If you have Samuel around then why do you need me?" he asked. Their smiles faded and they looked down to the floor. "Ostmount was burned to the ground, we don't know if anyone else made it out" Cory said. The old man looked grief stricken for a second but quickly regained his demeanor.
"I assume the reason you came to me then is because you want revenge?" he said. The 3 of them nodded. "The group of people that burned Ostmount is set to conquer all of Kora, then the rest of the world. They're coming here next I can feel it." Cory explained.
The old man sat in his chair. "We'll need to get an army if we're going to defeat them" he said. "But it'll take a great deal to convince the King, not to mention the 12 branches of his private army." Cory raised an eyebrow, "If the branches are the King's private army than why wouldn't they agree if he does?" The old man stroked his short grey beard. "The King no longer needs his army for military reasons in these peaceful times, so they've become more like political competitors rather than noble clans...quite sad, shame to see my brethren the way they are now..." He explained.
Cory leaned back in his chair, "This just keeps getting more complicated" he sighed. The old man grinned and rose from his chair. "That's exactly what makes it a challenge, we have our goal set, and we have our priorities straight. Now boys, are you ready to begin training!?" he said.
The 3 looked at each other and rose from their chairs. "We're ready." Cory replied. And thus, the training that would make them legends began.
YOU ARE READING
Song of Freedom
FantasyCory. Parker. And Jaime. That was it. 3. It couldn't be 3. But it is. 3...3 people survived. They had come in the night while the people were sleeping. And burned it all to ashes. People had run. But then there had been the soldiers waiting in the...
