The sheriff of Huntsville was an ugly man who with an ugly tunic and rode on top of an ugly gray horse. Actually the horse was actually slightly prettier and better smelling. Of course no one who ever say that to his face. He was a expert with a sword and some say that the Sheriff was a former knight.

"What wrong?" The sheriff said.

"Thomas killed a cat." Ace said.

"You didn't call me all the way out here for a drowned feline did you?" The sherriff smiled. "You're a little too young to be crying over wet pussy, aren't ya' Boy?

Barbara--ignoring the vulgar joke-- grabbed Zyrell's hand and showed it to the sheriff. She nearly yanked his arm free of the socket--in fact she probably would have if she could have. By now the burning pain had faded and the only discomfort he felt was from Barbara's heavy handedness.

"The boy has the Azure Mark,"

The Sheriff's eyes widened. He dropped down off his horse and approached the boy. He examined the hand thoughtfully. Finally after a long wile he looked up at Zyrell and smiled.

"What is that thing?" Ace, Zyrell's little cousin, asked.

"It means your cousin here is next in line to inherit the Azure Sword and become a protector of the realm."The Sheriff put a hand on his chin. "That means the other Four Swords must have awoke as well."

Every child had heard of the Four Swords. fours sword that were given to four boys that were chosen by four marks. They were given strength, speed, and magic far beyond anything else. They were the subjects of myths and legends.

"Zyrell's gonna be a knight?" Ace asked.

"Zyrell can't even fight!" another cousin chimed in.

"Shut up boy," Barbara said.

"No he's right." Zyrell said. "How am I going to be a knight? Why was I chosen?"

The sheriff was pensive for a moment. "Its said the the other 3 blades are born to noble houses but the Azure Mark always chooses someone who is lowborn or no noble blood at all."

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"Why?"

"The hell is I know boy." The Sheriff growled. "Ask Trevor, the Vermilion Blade, when you see him. He's going to be the one to come down and pick you up and train you. I'll send a messenger bird immediately. Till he arrives you coming with me."

"Wait, I want to stay with my uncle." Zyrell puled away from the sheriff.

"The Four Swords have enemies. The best time to kill one of you is right now while you're weak and untrained. If you go home you'll be putting your family in danger."

"I don't care." Zyrell said. "I don't want danger! I don't want some sword. I don't want some mark. I want to go home."

"Zyrell," Uncle Logi finally spoke again. He moved to comfort his nephew.

"NO! Don't touch me."

Zy felt something hard slam against the back of his head. And then Darkness.

***

It took minuets for Zy to finally regain consciousness and when he finally did someone poured hot water down his mouth and he instantly passed out again.

In his dreams he dreamed of his mother. He always dreamed of his mother. She had been large like her brother Logi, but without the meanness and harsh edges that Barbara had developed. Zy had been young when she died of sickness.

"I don't know, this boy seems kind of... sensitive." A voice cut through his dream. Zyrell slowly brought himself slowly out of his dream state and back into the real world.

"Ha!" another voice laughed. "They're all like that. The inheritors of the Azure Sword. Big cry babies. Every last one."

Zyrell forced himself to sit up. his head was pounding. He didn't know if it was from the knock on the head or the drugs they gave him. Most likely the knock on the head.

"What kind of asshole hits a child?" Zyrell stared at the Sheriff.

He shouldn't have said that. But the Sheriff had called him sensitive. being called "sensitive" or "weak" was a death sentence in Huntsville. If someone thought you were weak you became a target until you proved you weren't.

In truth Zyrell knew he was a little more emotional than the others. That's why he had to be twice the asshole. He'd actually let his guard down against Thomas and that lead him to getting stomped out and the kitten dying--not to mention having a weird mark placed on his hand.

"What was that you little shit?" The Sheriff said eyes wide.

"You heard me, you old shit!" Zyrell said, doubling down on his bravado.

The Sheriff moved to draw his sword the other man stopped him. Zyrell had a hard time seeing the man's face. He was on the other side of the room far from the light of the lantern. A small light blazed into existence and settled on the man's fingertips. The light illuminated his face. He was handsome and slender with two brilliant blue eyes. The man took the small fire and lit a cigarette. He inhaled and then blew a puff of smoke into the darkness.

"You're not a child. Not anymore Zyrell of Huntsville. You're the inheritor of the Azure Blade. That comes with the responsibility."

"I don't want the responsibility."

"Well that's TOO DAMN BAD!"