1 MONTH LATER
Bjorn-hah...hah...hah...hah...hah*out of breath*
Tove-*handing me back the axe* C'mon lad! You get tired that quick You'll be dead in second's.Get up and Fight.
Even though we were just sparring with wooden axe's.It was still tiring to go for more than a minute.My hands ache,my arms are on fire,my legs feel rooted to the ground,and the cold messing with my breath.
I lunge at him bringing the Axe down over my head.*CLACK* he simply parry's it away skillfully from him.
Tove-Oh!Is that all force you have.*as he pushes me away with his leg*FOCUS! and attack quickly and smoothly.Bring all your power but dont overdo it
I try what he says and I almost hit his helmet.But he just stuck my stomach with the end of his pushing all the air out of my lungs.
Bjorn-!ack!*falling to the ground, clutching my stomach for breath.
Tove-!SOFTIE!HAHAHA!
I manage to get back on my feet.The sweat dripping down my face.A sharp tingle goes down my back,as time seems to stop.And all my senses sharpen.I can hear his breath being pushed out as he breathes out.His eyes focusing on my chest.
What's this I feel as if.As if my body has become water,I feel so l...light.And Explosive like if I could explode at light speed for a split second.
I see him beginning to swing his axe at me.I can see so clearly all his muscles activating, straining towards one goal.A finishing blow.
!WOOOSH!
Ducking under his attack I swing my axe like he said.
Bjorn-Raaaah!
*CRACK*
As my axe hits him on the side.It splinters into dozens of pieces.Leaving my hands shaking from the impact.
A look of confusion on his face for what just happened.As I stand there looking at him.
Tove-*mumbling* what the???
Bjorn-Woah! look at your armor!
He looks to his side.There the wooden head of the axe is stuck into the metal chest plate.Almost going through.
Tove-Ive never seen something like that before.Guess those muscles of your's are not just for show.
Bjorn*flexing* YEAH!!
Tove-Well we continue this tomorrow at sunrise.Be ready I got something special tomorrow.*A big grin in his face*
Woah thats scary.
Bjorn-Ok!
I clean up the training yard,and Head out to the Forest.As im walking there my mind races with constant thoughts.Do kids my age even think like I do?What does a normal kid even do?
I reach the river.Taking off my clothes I plunge in the water.Almost instantly my body feels the sharp stab of the coldness.Chills running down my back, Goosebumps all over my arms.Damm soo cold!
Tove said something about cold water helping the body heal.Something like that.
I see fishes swimming past me.Little blue things shimmering in the setting sun.
*SPLASH*
As i submerge my self under water I catch one with my mouth biting deep into it until The bones stop me.
As it flops in my mouth, it's blood flows down my chin into the water.
I almost feel bad,no matter how hard it trys its still going to die.Even if I let it go now.The wounds are too deep for it to heal.And I have to eat.
As I arrive home,I go to count my coin adding todays earnings in.
10-34-76-89. 89 cretchins.
That should last a month or so.
I go to my room playing with a wooden knife I carved out. Laying down on my bed.
Bjorn-aaaaahhhh*sigh of relaxation*
It feels so good to lay down after a long day.I couldn't imagine not having somewhere to sleep after a long day.
SUNRISE
As i get to the mans house.I see him standing in the middle of the field.Signaling me to follow him.
I set my things down taking a large sip from my water flask.Made of animal hide sown together.
I run to where he is at.But he begins to run away saying.
Tove-Catch me!
For an old man with white hair.He runs like he's young.Guess this training really has begun to bring out the best in both of us.
He runs into the forest.At least 10 steps ahead of me.
What type of challenge it this?
I speed up nearly grabbing onto his shirt until he makes a sharp turn.Making me slam into a tree.
Tove-HA!*he continues running away*
gritting me teeth i get up trying to ignore the growing pain in my chest.I start running after him again.Ive never gone this far into the Forest.
30 MINUTES LATER
Bjorn-hah.hah.hah.hah.hah.hah.hah.hah
Damm where is this old man going.Its starting to get me mad.My legs are shaking with each step and I've had this stich in my ribs for soo long.
All of a sudden he halts his movement.Standing with his hands in his head, trying to catch his breath.
Tove-Wasnt that a run huh!?
Bjorn-what the.Whats this about.Huh!
instead of answering me he points up at the ?! MOUNTAIN!?
When did we get here.I must've lost myself just chasing after the old man.That I forgot where I was running.
Tove-You see that mountain there with the 2 peaks.
Bjorn-uhhh yes?What about them?
Tove-Mount Vosmir.Its called.*He walks over to a large rock sitting on it*Its a clan tradition to scale the mountain and bring back an eagle feather.
Bjorn-What?! I've never heard of it!
Tove-Its an old tradition,The jarl Varkan Storm-Bear he once scaled it.Said he saw a giant eagle the size of a man.Who blessed him then flew away leaving a giant feather the size of a arm at his feet.
Bjorn-WHAT!? That's horse shit!How could an eagle be a big as a man?
Tove -Who knows if that's the truth.Some say he keeps the feather tied on his back at all times.You know... no one has successfully scaled it since then.
Bjorn-Ok?
Tove-When I was younger I once tried to climb it,to test my manhood and strength,but I fell before i could make it 10 feet up.It takes immense strength and stamina to go up.Something about it that just seeps all your strength when you try.
Bjorn-!psssh! 10 feet is sad.
Tove -Oh! Then you try lets see how high you go huh!
Bjorn- surely more than 10 feet!
I walk up to the steep mountain placing my hands onto it.Still feeling normal.I place my feet on some rocks sticking out.
Bjorn-AHHH!
I fall backwards off the side of the mountain into the snow.
Tove-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!Not even 2 feet!*he's on the ground rolling in laughter like a child*
As soon as I got on this mountain it took all my strength.Making my legs like jelly.As if it said you are not worthy to climb me and rejected me.
Bjorn-Whatever!*as I brush the dirt and snow off me*
Tove-*he stops laughing slowly, looking up at the mountain*They say it takes a monster of a man to scale it all the way.Maybe that's why no one but the jarl has done it in recent times.
Bjorn-I guess the jarl is a monster then.
Tove-Yeah.He killed his own father.A duel to take the mantle of Jarl.
Bjorn-Thats gruesome.Why?
Tove-His father the Great Rollo wanted to die in battle.Something no other man was able to give him but his sole son.It was tragic yet heartwarming.A male Storm-Bears death must be in battle.As it has been forever.One day The jarls Son.When he returns from across the sea shall take his fathers life.And become Jarl. I want you to climb this mountain.Do something special for yourself.
Bjorn-But it's impossible!
Tove-AH! why should it be.Was the eagle the size a man impossible?Who knows maybe you'll have to climb this to find out.Maybe you'll find something special up there.
Bjorn-Fine, I'll show you im stronger than everyone else.And the Clan will know my name.
NIGHT TIME
As I arrive home.I go straight to bed my body almost collapsing from exhaustion.
Damm this shit is hard.My body always aches at the end of the day.
Surely one day this will be a walk in the woods.