Asdel I

The book in his hands were ripping apart, soaked from the days of rain whilst travelling. As the final page in his hand ripped into pieces, there were but a few readable words left.

“Gal Ramon killed the mighty Asdel.” And then the final page tore in his hands.

Asdel, I like that.

The rain had finally let up, except the heavy drops of water still crashed down from the tree’s above. His rags were soaked through and heavy to his body, having ditched his noble clothing a few days back.

When he first ran away, he was afraid of a search party tracking him, however he quickly realised that his father had no intention of finding his son.

Without the knowledge of how to build a fire, the boy sat on the wet floor in the cold, he had not eaten for two days, and he could feel himself wasting away as his stomach screamed for food.

What’s the plan Asdel? I cannot wander aimlessly for much longer without starving.

The moon ever so slightly lit up the forest that he sat in and sounds of birds chirping echoed through the air.

Asdel rested his head onto the wet mud and attempted to sleep, once again a foodless night.

As the sun rose above the hill tops, Asdel’s eyes were forced awake. Rubbing them and adjusting to the light, he rose from the ground and looked at the forest around him.

Which way did I come from? He thought.

Picking a direction, Adel started to walk forwards.

It was at least two hours by the time that he found the edge of the forest and open fields were in his sight. Asdel realised that he was on a hill and could see miles in front of him, then he saw what appeared to be a small village. They must have food! He wishfully thought.

Slowly walking down the wet hill, grey clouds filled the sky and Asdel was hopefully that he would reach the village before the rain poured down once more.

Each step was met with the squelch of wet mud and slippery grass, however the village was slowly growing closer.

Finally reaching it, he could see a few farmers walking around the dirty roads, moving bails of hay or carrying chopped wood. One man turned and saw Asdel entering the village.

“What happened to you boy?” the man asked.

“Please help me, I have been travelling for days. I have not eaten and I am in need of dry clothes.” Asdel whispered out, his body shaking.

Dropping the logs in his hand to the ground, the man grabbed onto Asdel and said.

“Come with me boy, I will help you.”

Asdel was grateful for the stranger’s kindness and followed him down the dirt road. Eventually he found himself at an inn. When the wooden door closed behind him, he could see only a handful of people sat inside.

“Take a seat boy.” The man said and walked towards the counter that had a kind looking barmaid behind.

Asdel found his way to a long wooden table and sat on the bench below it. Gripping his hands together in an attempt to warm himself up. Just having the warmth of being inside was a god send to the boy.

“Here, have this.” The man said, placing down a wooden bowl that was filled with some sort of steaming stew.

Not wasting a second, Asdel grabbed onto the wooden spoon and started shovelling the warm meal down his throat.

“Mmmmm.” He moaned, tasting a warm meal and feeling his insides finally heat up.

The man sat besides him and watched as the boy ate the stew.

“So,” He said, “Where are you from?”

Oh no! Asdel thought, not knowing how to reply, not wanting to let anyone know his true identity.

Taking as long as possible to swallow down his mouthful, Asdel looked to the ground and whispered.

“I am from… a farming village, near Segmon.” And the continued to eat the stew.

“Segmon hey, that is way on the west coast. What are you doing here?” The man asked.

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Again, taking his time to eat his meal to think of an answer, Asdel replied.

“Our village was attacked my forest raiders, I had to escape and found myself here.”

The man didn’t reply, instead allowing Asdel the time to finish his bowl of stew. Once done, Asdel returned the spoon to the bowl and pushed it away.

“So what’s your name boy?” The man asked.

Turning to actually look at him, Asdel spotted the large, brown birthmark that covered most of the left of his face.

“Asdel.” He told him.

“Nice to meet you Asdel, I am Kallum.” He said holding out his hand to shake the boys, “How old are you?”

“Fifteen.” He replied.

“Okay, is there anywhere I can help get you to? Do you have any family?” He asked.

Although Asdel knew that the man was trying to help, he was only being successful in scaring him.

“No!” He shouted, then calming his voice down, stuttered out, “Can I not stay here?”

The man’s face turned to a frown as he replied.

“I’m afraid not, winter is nearly upon us and we barely have enough food to last everyone here. We cannot take another mouth to feed.”

Can I not get anything! Asdel screamed in his head.

“But, I can give you a place to sleep tonight, and supplies to last you until the next town. It is only a days travel.” The man told him.

Asdel was grateful for the help, even if it wasn’t exactly what he wanted.

After that, Kallum showed Asdel to his own wooden house, it was only small. It had three rooms. Kallum said that he was going to his own bed and that Asdel would have to sleep on the floor, but piling up bits of hay, it was still comfier than any of his nights sleep prior. Yet, nothing compared to what he is used to, he missed his silk sheets and comfortable bed.

“Get up boy.”

Asdel’s eyes were shocked awake by Kallum pushing onto his shoulders.

“What?” Asdel coughed out, still waking up.

“There are a few Empire soldiers at the inn, we are going to ask them to escort you to the next town.” Kallum said.

Asdel quickly woke up now. Empire soldiers? What if some of them know my father and recognise me? He thought.

But there was nothing that Asdel could do, he could not say no as that would raise more suspicion. So, he simply nodded at Kallum and prayed to every god that no one would recognise him.

Once awake, he redressed in the clothes he left hanging around the house, finally dry. Then he was walking down the dirt street towards the inn.

Stepping inside, his heart was beating a mile a minute as he looked at the three soldiers sat having a meal.

“Excuse me.” Kallum said, getting the soldiers attention.

“What do you want?” One of the soldiers said.

Their armour was made from thick iron and grey in colour.

“This boy’s family were killed in a raid, could you assist him to the next town over so he can find somewhere to stay?” Kallum asked, whilst Asdel remained silent, keeping his head down.

After a moments pause, the same soldier said “We can’t be wasting time with a kid.”

“Please sir, he won’t last in the wild by himself. I am sure he can do some work for you or carry your items to be of assistance.” Kallum said pleading Asdel’s case.

The soldier hummed as he thought, looking back at the other soldiers they whispered amongst themselves, to quiet for Asdel to hear what they were saying. Turning back, the soldier said.

“Okay, he can come. But you have to carry our weapons boy.”

Asdel nodded his head, so far they had not recognised him and if this meant they could help him find somewhere to stay then maybe it was a good thing.

Asdel and Kallum remained in the inn for the next two hours while the soldiers ate and had an ale each. Eventually they were ready to leave.

“Come on then boy, it’s time to get going.” One of them said.

As they were getting ready, Asdel could not help but admire these soldiers. He has spent many nights of his childhood reading books about soldiers who became hero’s, fighting noble battles and having songs written about them.

Asdel was forced to carry two swords and had a heavy back pack on that held food and supplies.

“Right then, what’s your name?” One of the soldiers asked.

“Asdel.” He weakly replied.

“Okay, Asdel. Try to keep up.” He replied and then they were off.

Kallum waved goodbye as Asdel followed behind the three soldiers. His arms weak from the lack of food, but doing his best to keep up whilst carrying the heavy gear.

Walking through a field, one of the soldiers asked.

“So Asdel, where are you from?”

“A village near Segmon, we were attacked by raiders and my family were killed.” Asdel replied bluntly.

“You don’t seem too upset about your family being killed?” One soldier asked.

This panicked Asdel, worried that they would not believe him. Before he had a chance to reply, another soldier shouted.

“Leave the kid alone, he is probably in shock from losing his family.”

After that they walked in silence, Asdel trapsing through the wet mud, trying to remember back to a time that he would have his noble steed, Jeffrey, and would never have to walk through this sort of mud.

When the sun set and the moon rose, the soldiers built a fire and Asdel was grateful for the warmth. Hoping his days of sleeping in the freezing cold were over.

“Here you go kid.” One soldier said handing him a stick that pierced through a piece of overcook deer that the soldiers had killed.

“Thank you.” Asdel whispered taking a bit out of the meat, tasting only charcoal.

“What’s your age kid?” He asked.

“Fifteen.” Asdel replied back after swallowing his mouthful.

“Fifteen,” He repeated back, “You ever thought of joining the army? If you have no family, it’s a living and you won’t have to sleep out in the cold.”

Joining the army? I never thought of this before.

Asdel looked at the soldier, wondering if that could be a good idea. He could be like a knight in the books he has read, although he has never swung a sword before in his life.

“Maybe.” Asdel replied and carried on eating in silence.

The soldiers spoke and laughed amongst themselves before they fell to sleep. Asdel was sleeping on a pile of hay when thoughts started to run around his head.

Could I join the army? If they find out what I am then I could be killed?

Asdel thought back to when he ran away from home.

I wonder what happened to Thomas? Would my father have had him killed? He thought.

Guilt was burning into his soul at the thought, that it could be his fault that Thomas could be dead right now.

Why was I not more careful? Asdel thought, I was stupid, to be with Thomas in the barn just feet away from the homestead! Of course my father would catch us, it is as though I wanted him to see me and Thomas together. The look on his face when he saw us, the disgust and the disappointment.

A single tear ran down Asdel’s face and landing onto the hay below him. Pushing the memory out of his head, he did his best to drift off to sleep.