The training area Alexander took us was little more than a field somewhat behind his own house. He shared with his young wife and their son.
Took time to catch up with them.
"..ch year we battle the monster and try to take some sort of keepsake like this right here."
He showed Zephyr the purple lock of fur around his neck tied to a leather string. People show off those things like it means something.
Granny once told me that each year, Emet shed enough of its fur to make ten of those spoils of war they seemed so proud of.
" ..I'm sorry. I must've misunderstood something here. " - he stopped him after examining his pride of a necklace.
" You told me that if there's a healthy amount of livestock than Emet, the name sake of your village will leave you alone. So why challenge him unnecessarily.?"
Huh? Was he against the idea?
I suppose someone can be good at fighting and, still, can see the pointless nature of this. Alexander seemed somewhat unsure. His questions were valid.
" Well.. it used to mean something. My grandfather time, man, challenged it to show the feudal lord their fighting skills and bravery. " - he had a fanatical light in his eyes.
" Back then, it was easier to become a soldier, to fight invaders and be a hero of your village."
He seemed genuinely depressed about the good old days.
" I do my best to keep that tradition alive, even though the feudal lord only uses this place to collect our annual tribute. Who knows?- he started to walk slowly behind his eyes.
" He might recognize someone's skill and offer them a better life...it probably sound idiotic, huh?"
I never heard his reasoning for this obsession. I still felt it's useless.. the feudal lord never leaves their own city or some even their castle anymore.
There's enough man from his own regions to fill his army and then some.
Only his representative each year will appear with a bunch of men who take their cursed tribute right before winter. Most of the wheat from summer goes to him and his army.
We call it tribute, but it's really just our way to keep the people safe. If we have a bad season or maybe if the representative feels it's not enough, what was offered.
He could then take some people as slaves, those taken, we never see again.
They usually children. Our village population suffers both those willing to die by Emet and those stolen each year. The day of the tribute out mother used to hide us in the forest when I was younger.
Zephyr seemed to think hard about his answer. Then, his eyes were drawn to the forest edge in the distance.
I followed his eyesight and saw a little girl with similar hair to mine. She noticed our stares and ran into the forest.
Zephyr stepped forward and asked Alexander.
" Shouldn't we stop her? She seemed like a little girl.."
" She's Ilianna.. she an orphan we take care of sometimes.. don't worry about her. - he pointed towards the tree line. " Ilianna practically lives in there since the heat came. Not matter what we tried, she won't warm up to us..."
I remembered her now. I didn't know her last name, but Granny told her story. Her father died on a hunt gone bad when she was too young to remember him.
Her mother caught some illness from a different village, and even granny's remedies couldn't heal.
She died four months ago. I been told the little girl was taken in by someone, I just didn't know it was Alexander and his family.
Zephyr looked to me for a second. Did he expect me to catch her or something?
Alexander put his large hand on his blue head and patted a few times. He is not a little kid, you brute!!
Why does it even bother me?
" She comes back soon to watch the training, don't worry. Come and see this years candidates."
He took him by his arms and practically carried Zephyr away.
This is ridiculous. Alexander hijacked my ..his entire day!
In his backyard, there were four boys among them Lucian. A gentle looking brown haired lady with her son watched their practice swings. She must be his wife.
" Zephyr, meet my wife, Demelza Jartok, and my son Arnold. " - he went and picked up his son with similar black locks like his father and embraced his wife. " Come my love, meet this guy. He is quite skilled in combat."
Demelza Jartok was a tall woman with a heart-shaped face and warm brown eyes. She extended her hand and introduced herself.
" It's lovely to meet you. I hope my Alex hasn't caused too much trouble, young Zephyr. " - she stopped and looked at me and back at him. "..Umm, that was Seline late husband name, if I remember..."
She looked in my direction again and waited until I confirmed it with a nod.
" Yes, it was given to me in place of my own, which I do not remember. - he accepted her hand and gave her a friendly smile. " It's my pleasure to meet you. Your husband is..quite a character. I enjoy his company."
She looked pleased.
Looking at Alexander, he keeps slapping his new friends back, laughing. Zephyr looked happy to. Maybe it would ruin the mood telling her Alexander wanted to chop him in half, just a few minutes ago.
" Zephyr, come meet the lads and let the ladies chat how manly we look."
" O-oh.. right."
I was left alone once again. This was supposed to be an hour top. Now this..
" How are you, Lylly? I bet your family has a hard time with all the attention given by the bored masses."
She patted the space next to her, and I sat down.
" It's been..a challenge. I'm ok, though. He seems like a decent guy. I didn't wanna tell her that about twenty minutes ago, I was ready, so I sent him packing. " Wants to help out. For the first time, he looks genuinely having fun.."
Zephyr has been introduced to everyone, Lucian, now twice.
I saw Alexander giving him a sword. He held on to it with a sure hand. Did a few practice swings, and his expression was playful. Hmm...
" You look like someone who's having fun now, Lylly. "
Demelza, giggled, caught me grinning like an idiot.
" It's nothing like that... Eli maybe." - I did my best to distract her. " Even though her efforts for nought. "
" What do you mean? "
I wanted to tell someone anyway.
" Zephyr fully intends to leave once he remembers more of his past..or possibly as soon as he gathers some supplies and a sword...a week maybe two at most."
" If all he needs a sword, Alex probably helps..."
She pointed out the obvious.
" Hmm.. I guess one of his problems solved."
Will he leave maybe much sooner than expected? How would my sister feel? How would I?
I noticed movement among the trees about a hundred feet away from the man practising.
I saw Ilianna from afar, watching the Zephyr group behind a large oak tree with like a hundred low hanging branches.
She must've thought she was hidden from their eyes or ours.
" Why she doesn't she come out? She seems distrustful of people." - I turned to her foster mother and waited. " Even those opened their home to her."
Demelza looked very sad. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.
" We been trying..she seemed, ok inside the house but once the summer heat came... I'll only see her at night or when she is hungry. I tried to talk to her... she doesn't open up easy."
They are doing their best.
She just needs more time. Losing her mother at such a young age, with no other family. But why the forest?.. and also..
I didn't notice Zephyr walking towards her until he was halfway there. I got up and ready to go after him, but Demelza caught me by my wrists.
" Just let him.. Let's see what our new Zephyr can do."
Let him know what? Scare her? I did stay put. She was technically her daughter.
I watched as he slowly walked to her. To my surprise she didn't run.
He still carried a sword and kneeling in front of her. We were too far to hear a word.
In just a few seconds, I saw that little gloomy one laugh with him. He offered his hand, and she took it.
A minute later, she dashed back in the woods, and Zephyr walked back toward us, smiling. I ran up to him but ... Alexander and his group got their first.
" What did you say to her? She was laughing so happily. I had never seen her so..child like."
Alexander kept checking behind him, but she was like a ghost.
" It's a secret. I promised her I'll keep it." - he scratched his head and gave back the sword. " In exchange, she agreed to stop spending so much time away, and I'll teach her how to fight. "
Needless to say, everyone was stunned.
" How are you supposed to teach her to fight? Master here can probabl.."
" Your master got royally tripped not a few minutes ago, Mirine." - Alexander turned to his students and told the absolute truth. " So, maybe we let him do as he likes."
Alex was quick to jump ahead of that cliche development and shut the short haired boy down.
" Whatever you did, little brother. I thank you. Her absence and sadness weigh heavily on our mind. He looked towards us and searched for his wife gaze. " This was the first time I've seen her laugh. You mentioned you need a sword..please choose one and it's yours."
Idiot! Don't you know he will.. We need to leave this place!
" Yes yes..but we have to go now.. I promised Granny to take him around until you kidnapped him. " - I got there in just a few steps and grabbed his arm. " We're leaving. If he wants to, he comes back later. Come on.. there's still plenty to be seen."
" Don't be like that, Lylly.." - Alexander was ready to do more damage.
" Let him go, dear. It's only his first day out of town. " - his wife was quick to step in and even provided some facts. " Theirs plenty of time..besides you heard him. He will teach little Ilianna, so we see him soon. I thank you, young Zephyr. "
Demelza luckily held back her husband with logical thinking. She seemed happy to see some change in Ilianna.
" I did promise to help today, I'll give my word to her. I'll be back this afternoon for our first lesson." - he just waived her off.
" Yes, he comes back soon..even today, see? Let's go."
" Thank you for your company. I will see you soon. Goodbye."
I went back to lead him away. I need to talk to Mother or Granny.
I'm just gonna tell them he wants to leave .. and that my attitude might have been a small factor.