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"Kaelen, slow down, boy. We're not in any hurry," Jael, Kaelen's father, said as he adjusted the bow sling across his broad, hairy chest.
"We are, Dad. I'm starving," the boy replied, shifting the weight of the two brown rabbits they had just caught.
At nine years old, Kaelen was already faster than all the boys in their town—and he loved to run everywhere.
He finally stopped, his long black hair swaying softly with the breeze. From the hilltop, he looked down at their town below.
A small settlement, nestled deep in a quiet valley. Tall mountains towered around it, with silver streams cutting through the land. The vegetation was lush and green—perfect for farming. And yes, there were farmers.
"C'mon, boy," Jael called again. "We haven't got all day. I still have a meal to prepare."
Jael had lost his wife, Sabrina, during childbirth. He'd raised Kaelen alone ever since. When the boy was three, they moved to this town, and no one here really knew where they came from.
Tonight, he was going to make rabbit stew—Kaelen's favorite. His mother's recipe.
He missed her so much.
"Dad, what's on your mind?" Kaelen asked, glancing up at him.
"Oh, nothing, boy," Jael replied, brushing the thought away.
"Well, hurry up then. We haven't got all day, remember?" Kaelen grinned, his green-blue eyes gleaming.
Impatient. Just like his mum, Jael thought, smiling softly.
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The town was livelier than usual that evening. It buzzed with that warm evening rhythm—busy but not crowded. Mothers bartered in the makeshift market, children raced through narrow paths, laughter echoing as they passed. The men, old and young, returned from their farms with baskets and sacks. It was harvest season.
"Jael!" a voice called from behind.
He turned to see the village head approaching.
"Village Head," Jael greeted, recognizing him instantly. "What can I do for you?"
"Jael, meet my younger sister, Lyra. She just arrived from Tori'Valen," the chief said, gesturing to the woman beside him. She wore a green dress with yellow flowers woven around the collar.
Lyra was young, in her late twenties. And beautiful.
"The capital," Jael replied. "That's a long ride—at least a week. How was your journey?"
"Eventful. And scary," Lyra said. "The bandits have gotten worse. We passed several plundered towns on the way here."
"That's why I called out to you," the chief, Obiero, added. "There will be a meeting tomorrow. I need you to attend."
"Me?" Jael asked, surprised.
"Yes. You have wisdom and insight, son. We need it."
"Dad, what's the—" Kaelen began, stepping outside, but stopped mid-sentence when he saw them. "Greetings, Village Head."
"Kaelen! You seem to grow taller each day. How are you?"
"I am well," Kaelen replied politely. Then, turning to his father, "Dad?"
"Go inside, boy. I'll be there shortly," Jael said. To the chief, he added, "I'll be there."
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The night was quiet. The wind whispered gently through the valley—chill and refreshing. Only the crickets chirped, breaking the silence of the dead of night.
Jael sat alone by the fireplace. There was no fire; the nights weren't cold yet. The only light came from a single candle on the table in the center of the room.
It was a simple room—a square hut near the edge of town, close to the forked mountain pass where the watchtower was located. The stone walls were faded, pale like a weathered tunic.
A table and three wooden chairs sat in the middle. One more chair was by the window, and the one by the fireplace where Jael was sitting.
The room had a distinct scent of wood,mixed with herbs and that smell of dried meat hanging from the wooden roof above the fireplace. The stone walls were pale like that of an overused dress ,no visible color,just the remnants reminding you that it was once coated in paint.
Jael sat quietly deeply lost in thought.
"Kaelen" Jael called his son while slightly tapping him on the cheeks. He has moved to the bed where Kaelen was sleeping.
"Huhh" The boy replied, slowly waking up and rubbing his eyes. "Dad,are you okay,does your back hurt again"
"No boy" The father replied. "Sit up, I need to talk to you".
Kaelen sat up his back now resting on the stone walls.
"Is everything okay,Dad?". Kaelen asked worry in his eyes. "You seem very disturbed".
"Yes". Jael replied looking that at the boy who had a soft gleam in his eyes yes maybe due to the candle light
"Do you know where we come from?" Jael asked a faraway look in his own eyes like he was dreaming.
"Umm...the town where my mother had me" Kaelen replied obviously still sleepy.
"No, where our lineage originated from? " Jael asked again this time looking at the boy.
Kaelen just stared back at him,his dad has caught his attention.
"We are from a long line of warriors,trained in the art of....."
"They are here" Jael was interrupted by a scream from one of the guards at the watchtower. "The bandits are here"
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"The bandits are..." Silence.
Jael stood up to look out the window,suddenly flaming arrows came pouring down lightning up the night sky as if the sun rose too early, too angry
"Get up" Jael told Kaelen, a firmness in his voice
The boy jumped out the bed quickly as his father immediately pushed aside the bed in one swift motion.
A sword . Kaelen stood frozen, eyes wide. His father was reaching under the bed — that secret place he never let Kaelen go near.
The cloth came out first, and then… steel — So that's what he kept there. All this time. A sword
Jael had sworn he would never have to pick up this sword again,not after Sabrina told him to protect Kaelen.
"Protect him Jael,away from violence". That was her dying wish
An aura emanated from the sword, Kaelen felt it,it was like a siren song — sweet but strong and magnetic —calling out to him. He knew it would be just right to hold the sword
"Let's go. Now" Jael said urgency in voice, jolting him back from his thoughts
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The fire rose — balls of angry flame — echoing the wailing of the women now widowed. Corpses lay scattered on the ground,once people they knew, men stabbed, body parts unrecognizable scattered around like
discarded meat at a butcher's block, only colder… human.
The were cries everywhere, people running about like sheep that got abandoned by their shepherd.
"Jael" a familiar voice cried filled with anguish. Jael turned right to see Lyra holding on to Obiero. "Help" She said her voice losing hope, sounding like a candle slowly flickering out in the wind.
Jael held Kaelen in one hand his sword in the other as he ran to Lyra. One look at Obiero and he knew the village head was on his way to cross the great river.
"You have to go" Jael said to Lyra. "Now" He said with a firm voice this time.
"But,but —my brother—he's" The words stung her as tried to say it
"Dead" Jael said. "we have to..."
Swish
A blur of motion -- Jael had cut down a bandit who had attacked them from behind. Kaelen froze. Blood spilled at his feet, and the man who moments ago was breathing — was still. His stomach turned. That was the first time he saw someone die,but for a brief moment he was sure he saw his father eyes flicker... blue.
"We have to go now" Jael said while simultaneously grabbing his son.
And they ran .Jael , Kaelen and Lyra
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