The silver sword

The start

"Grandpa? Can you please tell us a story?"

"Please?"

"Hm, let's see...ah yes! This is a story about a boy who wandered the streets of a little town in Remise, called Limstone. In the loud hectic bustle of the morning market was a boy, wearing a dark black cape, the hood covering his face. His name was Johnathen."

With the angry bellows of the marketer behind him, Johnathen darted through the crowd like a frightened cat. In his clutched hands was his prize, an Obligote. The cheapest fruit in the market, surely not to be missed, because it grows like weeds in Remise.

The bellows faded, lost them, slowing down he found a doorstep to sit on. He bit into the bland fruit, it was an oval shaped, blue in appearance and soft. He watched the streets for the marketer, though his caution quickly faded as he found himself relaxing and enjoying the usual noise of the markets.

"5 Doms a bread!"

"Only 12 Doms! Cheapest you'll find!"

"Jars! Jars!"

"Fresh fish! Fresh fish!"

Johnathen finished the Obligote and wiped his hands on his muddy worn pants, frowning at a rip that had formed.

"Boy!"

They were at it again. Johnathen leapt to his feet, giving himself only a few seconds to scope out where the fruit marketer (and his now rather frightening growing gang) were, which was quite easy by the disturbance they made, before nimbly running away into the maze of side streets.

He knew he'd lose them, he knew the streets well, you could say like the back of his hand, however it was losing them was the problem. The marketer, as later found was called Boris, and his gang were fast. Too fast.

Johnathen raced through the streets twisting and turning, not caring where he was going by now. He turned a corner and skidded to a stop, a man blacked his way. They had split up. He tore off down another street. Again, forced to skid to a stop by another 2 men.

"By the King!" He cursed under his breath, they had cornered him and way too easily.

Boris and his group of strong dangerous looking men closed in, winning grins on their faces.

"You owe me 10 Doms and a half," said Boris holding out his hand.

"10 Doms!", squeaked Johnathen, surprised, "Rip off!"

"Should'a thought before you stole ay! It's usually 3 at most but your troubles are more the cost,"

Now was not the time to lose his head to fear. They might have tricked him now, but there is always a way out, well that's what his Pupa said anyway. Glancing around he found nothing, well nothing that he could use against the men.

"People rarely ever look up,"

Johnathen looked up, that was his brother's voice, was. His eyes caught on a way of escape. But for once, his brother's voice in his mind helped.

Johnathen straightened his shoulders and looked the man in the eye, a smile starting to curve at the edges of his mouth, "You sure have tricked me."

The man grinned, "So pay up"

Johnathen shuffled his feet, looking down to hide the grin that was forming, "Sadly, I don't have any money. "

The man stepped forward, "Thought so. Street boys like you deserve to be treated a lesson"

Johnathen looked up, grinning, "Well, I'd love to stay but I gotta go!"

He then dashed to the side of the group and speedily scaled the drain pipe on the side of the wall. He felt a firm grip snatch the back of his shirt and felt it tugging him back down. Johnathen reached for the roof his fingers curling over the rusted metal, twisting he unleashed a flurry of well-aimed kicks at the gruff man's face who was holding him. The grip loosened on his shirt, with a few more kicks Johnathen pried off the grip with his left hand. He planted his feet on the man and launched himself over onto the roof, just in time to because the other men had gathered round trying to get at him. He felt a hand brush his foot as Johnathen got to his feet and dash off to another roof. He risked a glance behind him and saw the men heaving themselves onto the roof. There was a loud crash and many shouts as the roof gave in from the men's weight.

Johnathen took off and disappeared way before the men knew what direction he went.