two months have passed since my tutor came to live with us, I haven’t been taught spells as of yet but I made a great leap in my Mana control … or so my teacher says, on the other hand my daily training with dad has progressed smoother and he has been making me duel him sometimes, I learned a great deal about foot work and the techniques of martial combat, my father follows the Roanan school which focuses on attack …. It’s not a mere hack and slash style where you stab at the enemy until he dies, you must see the fight unfolds before it begins see a move before it comes, my father has been surprised when I anticipated his moves …. Sadly he was too fast for it to mean anything, but I found it simple I saw dad move his right foot forward and knew it’s a Feint and he will attack to the left, I guess I was a natural at this.

Today my dad agreed to take me in his daily patrol of the village, dad was the local magistrate and was in charge of defending this place from dangers, the village as it turns out was made out of homes that were spaced out from one another, to put things in perspective the closest neighbor we had lived half a kilometer down the road, we made our way south where the homes seemed to be clustered closer to one another.

Many of the villagers came and greeted dad, some of them had complaints, about neighbors the animals in the Forrest strangers passing by the village.

Many had a thing or two to say about me

“So this is your boy”

“Bring him to the spring dance my lord”

“Oh what a handsome child”

“He has his father’s looks”

If I was a normal child I would’ve been embarrassed a bit… especially when the women talked to me, I saw few children in my age …. My physical age at least, I lived thirty years more than them; on that regard I am older than my parents.

After a while we reached an area with several houses clustered together, I heard the ringing of a hammer, my dad stopped before one building and we both stepped down from the horse.

“Don’t tell your mom I brought you here”

I looked at the building and noticed the sign above the door; it depicted a man with a bug mug in his hand.

 This is a bar I thought to myself, I looked at my father and gave him the biggest grin I could make “no one will knew about this I promise”

“Good” my dad said as he opened the door

“Oh its Rand, did you finish your daily patrol”

I large man with big mustaches greeted us, he had a jolly face and had the look of a fun uncle type

“I did, it seems that boar has been seen near the Bramston farm I am thinking of hunting it down soon”

“I’ll talk to the lads see if I can get a few volunteers, so the usual”

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“Yes and some silverberry juice for this one”

“And who is this”

“I am Caladin”

 “Of course you are, last time I saw you …. Well you were asleep”

 There was a tasty aroma in the air that got the three of us drooling

“I see Mrs. Gunter is cooking her famous muffins”

“Oh, yes I am sure little Caladin will want some of that, Jane dear send us some of that muffin of yours Rand is here with his boy”

I heard ruckuses inside and then a big woman came carrying a tray that spread a tasty aroma in the air

“Your Caladin eh, let me have a look at you” the big lady came near me and held my gaze for a moment

“He looks like a cuter version of his old man”

Both men choked on that, and had an odd look at their faces

“Oh ignore them dear, this is my daughter Mara she’s your age so maybe you can be friends”

I looked where she pointed and noticed the girl clinging to her mom’s apron, how didn’t I see her before?

“hi I am Caladin” I said coming closer and offering her a hand shake, she just clung to her mom even more, not good children shouldn’t be shielded too much or they will definitely develop problems in the future

“It’s alright honey Cal here is a friend”, the girl clearly wasn’t comfortable around strangers so I backed off and sat back on my chair, I was soon presented with the delicious treat that I been waiting for, but I couldn’t help but keep thinking about that girl, someone should get her out of her shell or she might suffer.

We left soon and dad spoke with few men about the hunt for the boar before we headed home, Hera was preparing lunch and Dibila was meditating in the garden, mom was probably in her study like she usually did this time during the day.

“Cal dear could you come here for a moment” I heard mom call for me

“Remember your promise” my dad whispered to me and I gave him a mischievous smile

“You wouldn’t dare”

“Wouldn’t dare do what” I kept a straight face towards dad

“If you tell her I will never take you there again” I paused for a moment, there was some merit to what he says

“Ah, but the same could be said for you, does mom knows you drink during the day”

“your blackmailing your old man, I knew I should’ve kept you at home what do you want say it quickly”

“Next time I want a real drink”

“what absolutely not …. You’re too young”

“Mom dad to…”

My dad placed his hand over my mouth “alright you win next time you get a real drink”

I nodded my head before walking triumphantly to my mom’s study

“I created a monster” I heard a voice say behind