Daymin had him this time. Baz had mis stepped ever so slightly giving Day just enough of an opening to jab the quarterstaff in between his friend’s shoulder blades sending him to the dirt.

“You’re on latrine duty tonight.” Daymin smirked pressing his foot into the centre of Baz’s back. “I get the dishes.”

“You don’t have to be such a brute about it you know.” Baz moaned.

“You can get me back tomorrow during stealth training I’m sure.” Daymin released his friend from under his boot and helped him to his feet. Shaking the dust out of Baz’s dark hair.

“Would have had to you know, stupid quarter staff…” Baz kicked the dirt.

“It’s the bad craftsmen that blames his tools Baz.” He shook his head. “By the goddess you know that.”

“Well by the goddess it doesn’t feel natural, it’s too long.” He picked up his staff. “It’s got reach but sucks if your trying to get up close.”

“Give it here.” Daymin extended his hand. “I’m tired of you complaining about it every day for the last 10 years. It was funnier when we were six.”

“Well you’re the only one I have to complain to.” Baz passed the quarterstaff over.

Daymin took it and broke it across his knee and handed the two broken pieces back to Baz. “Try that.”

“You didn’t have to get violent about it.” Baz spun the two pieces around in his hands.

“I’m good at violent what can I say.” Daymin raised his own staff back up on guard. “Spar for chores?”

“Ummm no.” Baz laughed. “I’ll spar you for the bed.”

“It’s my turn to sleep there.”

“Don’t worry I’ll let to share.” Baz winked

“By the goddess watch your words.” Daymin took his swing. Baz’s double sticks moved to block it.

“What we have one bed,”Baz parried his attack. “If we weren’t supposed to share give us two.”

His moves were graceful. The two weapons in close his body as he went low and jabbed upward into Daymin’s stomach. Daymin gasped and stumbled back. He was faster this way.

“Come on now.” Baz closed the space.

Daymin struck out trying to hit him in the chest. The short sticks coming up and redirecting the blow away from Baz.

Again they were locked in this dance. Trading blows and giving the other new bruises. But this time felt new and exciting. The predicability of his opponent in questions Daymin was spending more time than he likens on the defensive.

“I’m regretting breaking that for you.” He said pushing Baz off him.

“What. Mad I’m finally better at you at sparring.” Baz laughed.

“Oh you’re not even close.” Daymin knock one of the sticks from Baz hands. “What are you gonna do now stab me with that short stick.”

“Don’t tempt me.” Baz went low and kicked out Daymin’s legs from under him. He crumpled and Daymin went down hard on his back.

Baz’s leaned pressed his knees into his chest, the broken side of the quarterstaff pressing into Daymin’s throat.

“Beds mine.” Baz smirked stabbing the stick into the ground beside Daymin’s head.

“You’re still have to clean out the latrine though.” Daymin smirked rolling his friend off him.

“Worth it.” Baz sat up laughing.

Daymin got back to his feet and dusted himself off. He’d be ready next time.

“We’ll be late for prayers.” Daymin grabbed his shirt. “Get moving.”

“Won’t even let me savour victory will you.” Baz rose.

“Prayers Baz.”

“We are the Goddess’s chosen.” He threw his shirt on. “She loves us.”

“By her grace Bezaiel.” Daymin shoved him.

“Just saying when you’re the only two people at prayers, they can start whenever.”

Like always his tone settled the moment they entered Galliadia’s temple. Baz head bowed low as the two of them set to lighting the candles. The two of the falling into prayer. Repeating the hymns that they built their lives around.

For she is Grace and she is Vengeance.

Galliadia the mighty, from her we draw our strength.

So that we may be her hands in this world.

Blessed be the Vengeful Maiden.

The two of them praying, repeating those lines until the candles burned down to nothing. Until In the darkness of the temple they found themselves once more.

Daymin’s stomach growled as he rose to his feet. Shaking off the fatigue of payer he watched and Baz remained prostrated before the alter. He always bowed that little bit longer didn’t he? Daymin could never match that devotion.

Daymin’s mind always wandered when it shouldn’t. The slightest sound or breeze pulled him out of quiet reflection. He spent more time refocusing than actually praying like he should be. But Baz slipped into that devote headspace with so little effort, Daymin envied that.

Baz head finally lifted and he rubbed the fatigue from his eyes.

“Supper?” Baz stretched getting to his feet. “Maybe we got something sweet tonight.”

“Our birthday is not until the summer so doubtful.”

“Probably potatoes then.” He laughed.

Supper was potatoes, with a few slices of ham, hard cheese and bread. The two of them ate ravenously, their last meal before dawn that morning. Making quick work of the food they have been left before settling on the steps of the lodgings they shared. Looking out at sky one of them sitting on either side of the door way.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“How much longer you think we’ll be here?” Baz asked playing with his knife from supper.

“She said we’d know when we were ready.” Daymin said kicking his boots off.

“Sixteen years Day.” Baz sighed. “Sixteen year of staring at your handsome face, I know there’s other people. There were others here when we were younger, they had to go somewhere.”

“We’ll be ready soon.” He looked over at Baz. “You’ve had the dreams. Our wings. It’s so close Baz. Then she’ll send on missions, we’ll see the world beyond this place.”

“I’m ready to fly Day, I know I am,” Baz flipped the knife through his fingers losing himself once more to thought.

“And I’m ready for a new opponent, fighting with you is starting to get old.”

“Excuse me if there’s only so many ways to make blocking the same four moves you have interesting.” He stabbed the knife into the wooden step.

“I have more that four moves thank you.” Daymin kicked him.

“Maybe six if I’m generous.”

“Baz.”

“Daymin.”

“We have five minutes until it’s lights out are you really going to complain the whole time.”

“Fine forget it.” He huffed. “Guess I’ll deal with it.”

“Hey,” Daymin moved to Baz’s side of the step. “It’s not so bad here. It’s quiet, and we are well provided for. Besides your said you get to look at my handsome face every day.”

“Oh shut up. You’re not helping.” Baz shoved him through a laugh.

“You’re smiling so I think it worked.” Daymin yawn, laying back stretching out on the wooden deck. “I might sleep here tonight. Considering you have the bed. The cool breeze is nice.”

“Get up you idiot. I don’t get why we don’t bother to share at this point.”

“Mainly because when we were 8 you kicked me out for snoring and threaten to smother me with a pillow.”

“Well I won’t kill you now.” Baz extended his hand and Daymin took it and hopped up.

“You say this but…”

“At worst you’ll end up back on the floor.”

“Fine.” Daymin headed inside. “Just don’t hog the blankets.”

“No promises.”

The two of them headed inside their one room dwelling and undressed for bed. Daymins eyes fell on the welts forming down Baz’s back and thighs as he removed his garments. Marks that would like always be gone by morning.

“I got you good,” he poked at the welts on his friends back.

“Excuse me but those legs of yours don’t look much better.” He laughed “I’m breaking those staffs from now.”

“You mean I’m breaking them for you.” Daymin shoved past him and hopped on the bed. “Probably break your kneecap if you tried that.”

“Do you want to sleep on the floor?” Baz frowned.

“To late I’m comfortable.” Daymin stretched like a cat and Baz crawled into the other side of the bed. There was barely enough room for the two of them but it was better that the floor.

“Just stay on your side. No reason you have to be right on top of me.”

“No reason to be.”

The two of them nodded off, the clock work of their lives come to the days end. Sleep took both young men and brought them swiftly to dreams of flying on beautiful white wings. They were almost ready.

Morning came as it always did, their eyes blinking open at the same time. Though this morning Daymin’s bright blue eyes looks back and Bazs deep purple ones. Their hands linked across the expanse of the bed. A tangled mess from sleep.

“Hey, you didn’t smother me in my sleep.” Daymin drew his hand back.

“You didn’t snore.” Baz latched onto his fingers for a moment as Daymin drew back.

“Good we can share again. Sleeping on the floor is stupid.” Daymin sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. “5 miles before breakfast we should get going.”

“Or you know we could skip the run all together…” that fox like smirk played on Baz’s face.

“You do what you want. I’m going.”Daymin rose and began to dress.

“Well if you do it and I don’t then I just end up looking bad.” He hopped up. “Come on. Let’s explore a bit, it’s spring so the there’s gonna be fish spawning in the river. Think of the meal we could have. One day off in 16 years I think we deserve that.”

“Just the run. We still have stealth training, numeracy and prayers.” Daymin folded his arms.

“Fine, like I was going to let us miss prayers.” Baz started dressing.

The two of them hurried from their dwelling fishing gear in hand and headed towards the stream that cut through their little bit of paradise. Walking along the riverbank a few miles up stream to where the fish were spawning. No words passing between them, so few were ever needed sharing, especially in these quiet moments.

Daymin recalled days where no words passed between them. They were seldom but not unwelcome. The two of them didn’t need to talk to understand the other. Baz was content in his wanderings right now. Daymin sense his ease as the walked. While Baz splashed him every so often flicking the tip of his spear across the water, picking up on Daymin’s unease about deviating from schedule.

The soon came to a spot the seemed to team with fish. Baz tossed his boots aside and waded into the water.

“What do you say whichever one of us catches the biggest fish doesn’t have to scale as gut them.”

“Sure,” Daymin joined him in the water. “Though I’m going to win so it doesn’t much matter.”

“Excuse you?”

“Shut up and fish. I’m hungry.”

This was far from a challenge for either of them. But it was relaxing Daymin had to admit. Maybe taking a break was the right thing. All Baz’s frustrations from yesterday seemed as though them had never been spoken of. That look of peace on his face as he speared one fish after another. This was all the change he needed.

“Day…” Baz froze suddenly. His eyes scanning the tree line. “Something is here…”

“Baz we’re the only…”

“Shhh…” he left the stream and slowly walked to shore.

Daymin followed close behind. As his friend looked about.

“Show yourself.” Baz called.

“Jehebrjf asf kes obol adef merf.” A voice croaks through the trees.

“What’s that?” Day asked fixing his spear to where the sound came from.

“Goblin… I think.” Baz’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure, but I can’t speak it.”

“Try common maybe?”

“Yeah,” Baz cleared his throat. “umm…he..hello, please show you self to us. We will mean no harm if you no harm.”

They waited, Baz’s common was clanky and unpracticed. But they had never have cause to speak it outside of lessons. Celestial was natural, beautiful to them. Hearing Baz fumbling with his words just sounded strange.

The trees moved and seven small green figures creeped out of a the bushes. Brandishing all manner of weaponry. Daymin stepped instinctively between them and Baz, walling him off from danger.

“Angel blood, Angel blood we wants the angel bloods.” They cackled back in the common tongue.

“Baz go.” Daymin moved forward. “I got this.”

“By her Grace I’m not leaving you to this.” Baz pushed his way beside him.

“Angel blood, Angel blood.” They chanted one of them loosing an arrow which his Baz in the shoulder.

Daymin’s eyes flashed with light as the arrow hit his comrade. Hand gripping his spear tight as he rushed forward. He struck the one that had fired the shot and ran him through, lifting him up by the tip of a spear, the greenish goblin blood running down onto his hands. He tossed it off and turned to back to the look at Baz.

“Daymin I’m fine!” Baz yelled. Rushing forward with his own weapon. “Focus!”

The goblins descended on them, blades a hacking into thief flesh. Daymins had never knew such pain but his body, he wanted to cry but, he couldn’t. They had to fight. His flesh grew hot from blood, as he and Baz fought of the green hours around him.

He blinked and the light again. From the corner of his eye a bright light coming of of Baz, his whole body glowing and he fought back. It was amazing…

A knife dug into his shoulder blade and Daymin was sunk to he knees as the goblins began to swarm him. He could hear Baz shouting his name calling for help…

The light over took his vision, the whole world washed out by it. He felt the goblins fall from him and Daymin got to his feet, his skin glowing with radiant fire. Eyes drawn quickly back to Baz who was locked in battle, such a light coming off his as well. Daymin spear stabbed through another goblin as he closed the space between him and his friend needing to get there.

Baz brought his spear down through the last goblins head and their battle was done. Their eyes locked as they took in the others new light. In awe of the sight of the other.

“We… did… it.” Baz panted as the light began to fade. “We won…”

“How’d they get here in the first place?” Daymin threw down his spear and looked down at his glowing hands.

“Don’t you see Day… this was a…test..she thinks… we’re ready.” Baz breathing labor, his light gone now the deep cut to his gut evident.

“Baz!” Daymin rushed and caught his fried as he fell.

“Day… we got our light.”

“Yeah so please don’t leave me.” Daymin’s hand moved to cover the wound.

“Why… would I do…that.” His head slumped to the side.

“No! No Baz! No.” Daymin began to shake as Baz fell under. “You can’t die!”

Only you can save him my Brightstar. The voice of the Goddess came to him, and Daymin began to cry. Touch him with your light and heal him.

Daymin shook as he placed both hands over the bleeding wound. Where was the light that has just burned so brightly?

“Come back,” Daymin pressed his forehead the Baz’s. “I can’t loose you, over something as stupid as wanting to go fishing.”

There was nothing but the sound of the river running past him. Daymin held his breath, praying that the light would come to him again. Tears running down his face. He couldn’t be alone