I was young and did not know, but now I am old and people think me knowledgeable.

Dawnovin was hit hard. It was the first time his father had laid his hand on him. I am sorry father. I did not mean to hit him again. Thoughts like that raced through his mind over and over until the pain hit him and he was on his hands and knees.

The sensation brought him to a halt and his tears stopped and his mind went blank. He could feel a warm liquid running along his face and saw droplets of blood dripping to the earth.

“Dawnovin. Stand up.” His father called to him and he jerked his head to the back that was facing him, waiting for Dawn to stand up. “We go home. I have things to say but they will be spoken in your mother’s presence.” His father voiced in a calm emotionless voice.

The situation felt so alien to him, dejected and upset with himself Dawn answered “Yes father.”

A bizarre sight it was for the town, the Sun-Child and blessing of the little community had his head hung down and followed after his father, the Bloody Hound, with a neutral, almost stern, expression.

Joen came to a halt before passing through the fence gate to their yard, his body stayed straight and he turned his head to the side and spoke fairly quietly and with a monotonous voice “You need not apologize to me for your actions. It was George you hurt, and it was Gulliver’s son that you almost ended. They will hear your apology, after we are done here… Am I understood?”

Dawn gulped, and in a remorseful tone said, “I understand father.”

With a grunt Joen rounded the corner of the house to see his wife, Helinia, stitching up some old linen.

Cheerfully she greeted them “Hello you two, back so early?” it was then she noticed the stern face of Joen and the expression Dawnovin directed to his feet.

Confused she voiced her question “Wha- What happened? Dear, tell me everything is alright.”

Sighing Joen began “Everything turned out alright.” After a short contemplative pause, a frown greased up on Joens face and he continued “Dawnovin almost took George’s life. I managed to stop him before he could finish the deed.” As the words were relayed, tears started flowing once more from Dawns face, from shame and guilt, a tightness in his chest formed as the scene replayed within, as he pulled back the club to go for the final blow. He gritted his teeth.

His mothers face went from an expression of confusion to one of great concern as she also noticed blood on Dawns face. She threw down the linens she had been working on and grabbed a handkerchief, went over to the tub and wet it. She stomped over to Dawnovin, and despite being burdened by her pregnancy knelt down. She lifted his head by the chin so he would face her.

As she cleaned his face of blood and tears, questions bore into him, “Was this George’s doing? Is that why you hit him back? That is no way to sort such things out young man!”

Joen stopped her “There was no fighting of that manner. They played with sticks. The two of them had a spar, and as our son got a good hit in, he continued to beat on him further. They were not angry at each other, he just kept going.”

“Why would he do that?! There must be some reason?”

“Helinia! There is a reason. An explanation to his actions. ‘Blessed by the Gods, they may wield power earned through trial and dedication.’ Robs once told me he had met one blessed by the God of War. The man was of sane mind but could not stop himself from killing any he had gotten into a fight with. Dawnovin was beside himself, I saw it. He needs to master control over this. He either embraces it or grows beyond it, it IS his trial.”

“He is barely four! What would you have him do?! Beat into him until he loses it and restrain him?! Or would you rather he be flogged every time he steps the wrong way or says the wrong thing?!” she shouted with incredulity.

“We will figure it out. I will talk to Robs and Lorilia, maybe they have an idea.”

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Dawnovin made a clearly confused expression, he knew people thought him special, but him being blessed that was news to him.

As the cleaned face of Dawnovin was revealed Joen noted that no bruise could be seen, only a thin white line where Dawn had bled from before. Gods! What other gifts had the boy been bestowed with, what other influences would rob my son of innocence?

“We will go to Gulliver, and he will hear your apology, you hear me?”

Dawnovin vigorously nodded his head determined to right his wrongs the best he could. “Yes father!” It is good to see him recover fast from his downtrodden mood. But I can not show him softness when he has yet to learn discipline. Forgive me son, but I will be hard with you. Suppressing a grin with a grunt and a firm nod, Joen led Dawn to the keep’s gatehouse.

“Hello there Joen, Dawn. What brings you two here?” Kolomor asked the approaching duo.

“We have to talk to Gulliver, you know his whereabouts?” the stern tone and face void of emotions made Kolomor wince inwardly. “He’s in the yard. Talking to the few new guards. Had a promotion that one, he is now the instructor. You can go see him.”

“Thank you. Be seeing you.”

As one the two went through the gate into the yard. The inner yard of the keep was quite large as it was also the training grounds. Some small tourneys among the guardsmen were held here as well. Some hundred odd yards in length and three quarters that in width.

A large building, three stories high was flush with the west wall of the fortifications, the roof extends past the building covering the walkways of the wall and the two corner towers.

The ground floor was for servants, the kitchen and led to the cellar. two sets of wooden stairs led around each side, one side was the quarters and armory, the other plateaued to the dining hall and then led to the top floor where the Lord’s kin lived.

In front of the large, whitewashed building on a small wooden platform stood Gulliver, shouting instructions three files of each five new recruits.

The duo stood off to the side, waiting for Gulliver to finish. With a final “Off you go!” the young men were dismissed and went to the quartermaster to receive training gear.

While everyone scrambled about Joen had a word with Dawn before the instructor came close. “Outside of our home you will now refer to me as Sir. Am I understood?”

A frown greasing up on Dawn’s face he said with a slightly confused tone “Yes… Sir.”

Gulliver approached the pair. “Blessed day to you two! What brings you to the keep? Waiting for me, as it seems?”

“Blessed day to you to, Gulliver. My son has words to speak if you would here them. You tell him what happened.” Joen declared with a pat to urge Dawnovin forward.

Dawn recounted what occurred this noon while looking towards his feet, not wanting to meet the Gulliver’s eyes.

“I apologize for my behavior Sir Gulliver. I hope you may find forgiveness for my carelessness!”

With the last words Dawn found the courage to face the instructor. He found a hard face, a contemplating face, with anger Gulliver grit his teeth and took a deep breath and with the release he also relaxed his expression.

“What the monk say? How is George?”

“He will be alright, nothing that will last, but he will feel unwell, for a day or two.” Joen relayed.

Nodding Gulliver concluded “Good. Dawnovin. As long as you learned from your mistakes, I will forgive you, but I will see for myself whether you have. At least you did not run from your responsibility.”

With a saddened expression Gulliver turned to face the recruits and left.

“Come boy, I have words for Lord Robs to hear, and they will concern you as well.”

With Dawns apology done and Gulliver’s acceptance, he felt some measure of relief.

Lord Robs had been lounging on the plateau railing watching the grounds and after Joens arrival in the yard kept eyeing the ranger and his son.

Ever since the bandit incident in the Year of the Sun, the Bloody Hound was never again escorted to the Lord, he basically came and went as he wanted.

Lord Robs was wearing a simple white linen shirt under an embroidered red vest, sword at his hip. The top of his shirt and vest loosely bound revealed a strong chest.

The two commoners dressed in lousy white linen and a green overshirt each looked downright underdressed. “Blessed day to you Joen and Dawnovin.” He threw at them in a forlorn voice. “What brings you?”

With a slight bow Joen reciprocated the greeting “Blessed day to you Robs. I have come to ask a favor.”

Robs eyes stayed locked to the recruits as he leaned on the railing.

“A favor? From me? State your needs, if I can help, I will.”

The words stuck to his throat not wanting to come out. Joen cleared his throat as he knew that he could in no one confide more in than in Robs “Dawnovin has been showing his ‘Talents’.” Joen sighed and continued ”And what they entrail. Help me train him. Please.”