Monsters lurked the woods no more, yet that day I became firmer than I ever expected to be.
Waking early with the rise of the sun, a stifled yawn escaping my mouth. Having my loot packed I strung my bow and began the track back to the stream and was on the look out for some game to hunt.
Lady luck was on my heels as I spotted a healthy-looking boar. I drew and knocked an arrow and as soon the animal lowered its snot to eat, I began the draw. I raised the bow high and leaned forward to engage my back for the draw, I let the motion lowering my arms help draw the heavy bow, and as soon as my I reached full draw, I loosed the arrow. The heavy arrow penetrated the hog’s skull through its ear and falls to the ground, no squeal escaped its mouth.
I was born with the Talent Strong, though like my Night Vision and Chameleon Talents I never had the chance to find out how much the Talent influences my ability, well anyhow, the Strong Talent naturally increases my strength and muscle mass. The more I increase my strength through training the more pronounced the Talents effect becomes. The Talent was quite common, but from
Robs once told me if one gives strength a value, an average man had a 10 and if one trained oneself to a 14 that be twice, and a 17 would be thrice as strong as an average man. Each point harder to achieve than the last. The Strong Talent increases that by at least one point.
I roped the hog by its rear legs over a low hanging branch and made a cut along its neck to drain it of blood, I did like black pudding but one can’t let game leave full of blood other wise it will have an unsavory taste, barely edible. Its blood would also ruin my cloak. After that was done, I shouldered the yet to be butchered feast and made my way back to town.
Following the stream directly leads to the lords keep. About two hundred yards between the treeline and the keep, stretches a barren field, just far enough so no archer could hide in the tree line. Circling the tall stonewall to the small town. Closer to the keep is pretty house beneath a beautifully large old willow, further down the road closer to the common-house is the butcher.
Entering the whitewashed building with the sign of the butcher, I am greeted by the butchers wife Liala “Blessed day to you Joen, quite the catch you got there, through you go to the back” she opened the door to the to workshop.
“Blessed day to you too Liala. I was out the night found this one close to the stream, clean shot through the ear. Is Greg in today?”
“He is, and he will be happy to have some work we already feel the heat affecting the cattle, not much can be slaughtered.”
I gave my nods and grunt in agreement to the dire situation the Year of the Sun brings with it.
From the back the voice of the old man called “Joen? Is that you? Finally got some work for me, do you?” An audible “HA” escaped his mouth as I dropped the animal on the block. I felt out my stiff neck from carrying the heavy animal for two hours straight, though it did not tire me out it was uncomfortable. Greg rounds the corner with a beaming smile. The man and wife are quite old with closing in on the forties, their eldest is probably out and about running some errands.
“Hello Greg, this ones for your capable hands. Shot it just a few hours ago, and as always, the butchering of my hunt is paid for by the lord, and half of the meat goes to him. How long will it take you?”
“Yes, yes. Take not long at all, barely any work as is. I'll have it done this very day and one leg i will take as payment. You want some sausages made? They’ll last you longer with the heat and all.”, he offers me.
“That would be great! Thank you. I won’t keep you any longer, I do have to check on Helinia and report on a Nekker-Burrow.”
“Nekker-Burrow!?” both exclaimed and Greg continued “Close by? Good you found them, the Lord will make quick work of them, I tell you!”
Greg does have a large body and, if I would guess he also had a Talent to increase his strength, tough as it seems mine does more. I found it interesting as it seemed he would fear the little guys, or maybe he is just concerned for his kin.
“Already took care of them. Will bother no one any longer, just have to report it, is all.” I said with a cheeky smile.
Both visibly relaxed and Laila beamed at my words “Thank the gods, they truly have blessed us with a capable soul such as you. Thank you for your hard work, dear Joen. Also, relay my well wishes to Helinia. May she have a swift recovery.” “Mine as well!” Greg added.
“Thank you for the kind words, and I will.”
Off I went to the pretty house under the willow close the keep. Our house, mine and Helinia’s.
As I open the door, I was just about to shout “Helinia? I am ho- “as I was assaulted by my wife into a passionate hug and kiss. I returned the gesture, with some pinching and grabbing.
As she released me from the kisses, she spoke loudly full of glee “You are home Joen! I have wonderful news, dear!”
“Well out with it. Are you fine?”
She withdrew her face into a sheepish expression, her sky-blue eyes revealing their excitement, then hugged me tighter again to whisper in my ear “I am with child.”
I was stunned, she was not sick, in fact she was pregnant!
“Joen? Don’t just stare like that, what say you? Are you happy?” that disappointed sounding question brought me back from my stupor and a wide smile bloomed on my face.
“Do you know what that means?” I asked.
With a mocking expression she half asked, “That we are to be father and mother?”.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
“Yes of course we will. But more importantly, we will be parents to a sun-child.”
Her eyes went wide at my proclamation and tears started to flow down hear checks and from the happy face an ugly expression formed as she tried to hold back more tears from forming, with a shaky voice she said “A sun-child. The gods have blessed us with a sun-child. This life is a wonderful one, Joen. Tank you.” Her last words barely a whisper.
Embraced in each other’s arms we stood and relished in the blessing we have received.
I broke the silence “I have to report to Lord Robs. Do you want to come and share the news with him and Lorilia? I brought some game from the trip, if he hears this news as well, he’ll have us stay for dinner to celebrate. What do you say?”
“That sounds wonderful. But how about you go to the bathhouse and clean yourself up first.” She sniffed at me and wrinkled her nose to lament her point. “You handsomely tall oaf stink to all flies delight,” she chuckled at me as I started laughing.
I took some sols and left for the bathhouse. They had some lavender scented soap that Helinia enjoyed a bit. I kicked back and started processing all that happened for me have such a wonderful wife and such a great friend in Lord Robs. Despite the draught and heat this is a wonderful year.
Barely past noon I trotted to our house to collect Helinia. Instead of the headscarf she was wearing before, her golden hair was now worked in a long thick braid, thrown over her shoulder. One of the guards noticing our content expression asked “Blessed day to you Joen and Helinia. What brings the both of you today to the keep?”
“I have to report on my venture in the forest from the day before, there was a burrow full of Nekkers. They are no more. We also have some other news to share with Lord Robs and Lady Lorilia.”
The Nekker-Burrow was news to Helinia, and she threw me a concerned look.
In an impressed expression the older guard, by the names of Gulliver answered “Nekker-Burrow you say? Well done. Well come on in, I’ll lead you to him.”
“Thanks, Gulliver.” I huffed.
“No need for thanks. I only come along because I am interested in this news you come to share. They are in the dining hall, some messenger just came in, also to share news with them. Might as well catch up on whatever warranted that messenger.”
Gulliver delivered a firm knock to the door, while I admired the whitewashed walls, some flowers were worked in a painting that spanned the corridor.
After a minute of waiting a firm and deep voice could be heard from inside “Enter!”, Robs called.
Gulliver opened the door and announced “Lord Robs and Lady Lorilia! The Ranger Joen has come to deliver the report on his patrol of the forest.”
Entering the hall and still seeing the messenger standing of to the side, Helinia curtsied and I bowed deeply to greet the nobles. “Blessed be this day and the house of Treadol, Lord Robs I have come with important findings.” With an obvious glance towards the messenger and Helinia behind me Robs caught the meaning of my sudden decorum and words.
“Ervin, thank you for delivering the message, my guardsmen Gulliver will help you find accommodations for now and I will formulate my response for you to relay. But for now I must ask you to leave the hall, my Ranger has some private matters to share with me.”
“Of course, Lord Robs. I await your message.” He made a deep bow to excuse himself and nodded to me and I back to him as soft greetings.
As the hall was now clear of others, probably to the dismay of Gulliver as he wanted to be in the know of what I was to report and the news we were to share, but no matter, this was important to me.
Robs and Lorilia both stood to greet us “Hello Joen, you look quite dashing, and you do not for once smell of earth and sweat, I’ll have you to thank for that, Helinia” “Welcome Joen. Welcome Helinia.” Lorilia added.
“It is good to see you both, the heat is dreadful, but it seems this sun year is milder than the last.” I responded.
“Indeed. Have a seat.” Robs sighed.
“What brings you both to our home?” Lorilia questioned us.
“There are some news to share for us and Joen has also something to report on from his last patrol.” Helinia threw in.
“Please, then. don’t keep us in the dark.” Robs eagerly gestured towards us.
Before I voiced my findings, and before I broke the news my curiosity sparked and I suddenly felt the need to know what that messenger had to say “Before I start, what did that messenger have to say, if you don’t mind sharing, that is?”
Robs sighed deeply and began “Both good and bad news. The queen is pregnant. Despite the existence of other heirs this sun-child will now be the crown prince. And yes, they confirmed the child to be a boy.”
That was huge news. Something like that strengthens the standing of the ruling family in the common folks’ eyes. Only… the existing previous crown prince could retaliate against that decision, sparking another war, a civil war. I groaned audibly.
“You understand quickly friend. I am also unhappy about that development, just announcing that the sun-child be the crown prince without knowing what he will be actually capable of. It only stokes unwanted animosity.”
The air quickly grew heavy in the room. Cursing myself for bringing that up instead of just sharing what we had to say, I wanted to start but Lorilia threw the words out.
“Enough of that sulking, we will deal with it as it come. No sense in dwelling over that. You both came here to share something with us. Please bring us some good news.”
“Yes. Please.” Robs affirmed.
It took me second to formulate the start. “Ahem, yes, well. I found a burrow of Nekkers and eliminated them all, all 19 of them. In their lair I also found this.” I stood up and walked over to Robs to show the enchanted sword to him. His eyes start to gleam as I drew the piece from its sheath and presented him the handle.
He gripped the sword and brought it to his eyes. Looking over the runic script. Robs was not a rune smith but he has read books on the script and knew enough to identify the use of the letters.
“What a nice little sword you found. Let me see if I can’t piece together what the runes are meant to do.” He stared tentatively at the letters and moved his lips as he read it over again.
“This combination of letters should make the blade resilient to the elements, it also extends a bit outwards. That’s why it is in pristine condition and so it that sheath. The enchantment should also keep the sword sharp. The other combination should give it the quality to absorb the necessary energy to keep itself fueled. Many swords need someone’s presence to fuel the enchantments but this one does not. Great work killing the rats. I will prepare some extra coin for a task well accomplished. That sword on the other hand, there is no heraldic on it to speak of, so I offer you 500 livres, if you mean to sell it.”
“500 you say?" I exclaimed. "That is no little sum. But no. If I have a dire need for coin, I will ask you again. If the enchantments are as you claim and having seen the sword myself, I will keep it. The runes’ purpose suit my case quite well, being out and about a lot, a blade that keeps itself clean and sharp is a helpful boon.” I retrieved the blade, to sheath it again to loop it through my baldric once more. The sheath had a leave-green staining and the antler for a grip was quite comfortable to my hand.
Helinia gave me a disapproving look for rejecting the generous offer “Men and their swords.” She rolled her eyes to my dismay, only to form a smile and chuckle at her small deception, Lorilia followed her example to and silently laughed my wife's jest.
Helinia started again “But that is not the reason we both came to see you.”
Looking to me to continue I gestured to her and told her “I wish you to say it my love.”
She beamed and proclaimed “I am with child.”