The next day at dawn, Rakmir saw through the window as his father walked to their smithy which was located at the back of the house. Without waiting he dressed his tattered clothe and looked at his sister Kira, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead he left the room. In the kitchen, he looked at his mother, her red eyes and hunched posture spoke of a heavy, sleepless night.

Sarah: "Rakmir your father and I want to give you something, go to the forge."

Said his mother with a calm voice. Noding Rakmir with a slow pace walked toward where his father went.

It was a large building, but it was obvious that it was old. the equipment that his father used his parents purchased for nearly all their remaining assets, not because it was wort it, but because people selling it to them wanted to exploit them. Even knowing this the didn't have a choice.

However they did not have a lot of customers, no one wanted to buy from "traitors", so their main income was from trade with merchants from outside the principality as well as odd jobs his mother did.

All the neighbors treated them like cattle, with contempt doing everything they can to make The life of Wargs as difficult as possible. Entering the forge Rakmir felt so familiar blow of hot air, he looked at his father's old scarred body, but still a warrior posture which he practiced for so many years could be seen. His eyes despite the wrinkles still showed a sharp look. Seeing this Rakmir feel proud to know that his clan had to be powerful if one of his sons, despite many obstacles still evokes respect in the eyes of the young man.

Wolf turned his head in the door seeing Rakmir he said,

Wolf: "Rakmir, son with your mother, we would like to give you something. You have yet to begin your to practice but in accordance with the tradition of our family on eight birthday every fighter from our clan is given the opportunity to choose their first weapons."

Seeing his son exited face he continued.

Wolf: "From today every morning before dawn you practice your body and techniques of our clan, which once where thought to me by my father like to him by his father, and what I hope will be thought by you to your children. However, if you do not want to say so now, because there will be no turning back. If you do not want to you don't have to and nor me, nor your mother will think less of you. The most important for us is your happiness, your and Kira, we do not want you to be tethered by our faults."

Rakmir hearing it without hesitation said,

Rakmir: " Dad, I will make you both proud!"

Looking at weapons that where produced by his father Rakmir did not know what to choose. Seeing his hesitation his father took out two swords from the box.

Wolf: "Rakmir these two swords belonged to your brother Slava when he was starting his training like you do now, with his skills he saved my life and only gods how many lives of my soldiers during our battles. It would be an honor for me as your father if you would chose the sword of your brother as your first weapons. Both were presented to him by me and your mother."

Hearing this he could not control his excitement. Grasping the sword he felt proud of his brother.

Rakmir: "Father What was my brother like?"

Wolf: "Slav? Well ... Just like you. From an early age we knew that his life will be full of opportunities, combat techniques he could learn faster than anyone else in our lineage, and you must know that you we are the caste of warriors in who wear at the top in the whole continent. Although not so numerous with every generation we produced geniuses that later on lead the army. At the age of nine he mastered the two swords style and archery. As soon as he learned the skill to perfect ride a horse I took him with me to our cavalry. These were turbulent times like now, but I never once saw fear in his eyes, my hope is that it will be so for you as well."

Seeing at the same time proud and painful expression of his father Rakmir did not continued to ask questions about his brother.

Rakmir: "Father, what is engraved on the sword?"

Wolf: "The first is our motto, the motto of our family"

Rakmir: "What does it mean?"

Wolf: "Amor patriae Nostra lex its in old language, in our it means “Love of the Fatherland is our law.” It's suppose to remind us and our warriors that the good of the homeland is above everything."".

Said Wolf looking in the direction of their yard.

Wolf: "On the other, well I let your mother tell you."

Saying that the door to forge opened, Sarah confidently stepped inside.

Sarah: "On the second sword are the words that i have always kept saying to your brother, it means “Luck favors Brave”. We wanted to make these two swords guard the life of your brother ... But by despicable betrayal and deception... "

Saying the last sentence her hands began to tremble.

Sarah: "I know that it was our fault, your brother was not guilty of anything and we were to blind to see the danger, he always faithfully follow the orders he lived in accordance with our clans motto that guided him in his life."

Sarah with obvious effort had tried to master the tears while mention that tragic day.

"These words your mother used to your brother before all of our expeditions... Luck favors Brave" - ended the Wolf.

That's when Rakmir began his training under the watchful eye of his father. Because of him helping in the forge his body was strong enough to train the technique. Training like crazy in every free moment of his time he could feel joy in fighting, especially while sparring with his father.

The years passed. Years of pain and suffering. Sometimes it was so they did not have enough to eat, but father and mother, despite hunger saw to it that their children have not experienced the unpleasantness.

Now the 15-year-old Rakmir already mastered most of the knowledge shared to him by his father. The above average intelligence and talent for learning martial arts, helped to improve his skills at astounding pace.

To help his parents, just as soon as he was sure of success Rakmir enlisted as a guard despite the opposition of Sarah the young man could not be drive from its decision. Although money where not very big and even though he had to give 60% of what he earn to his captain, still without any complain day in day he perform his duties.

Suddenly a blow in his face woke him from his reverie

Brum: "Rakmir bastard why a little shit like you cant carry out orders!?"

Screamed Brum, who now was massaging the fat around your belly.

However, Rakmir knew that all captains orders were done correctly, and he, as usual, had not overlooked nothing. He knew that Brum will not let go of even one situation to show to the boy who is the boss, and how much Rakmir is worth to him.

Brum: "For today its over, here is this months wage"

Giving him small sack of money said the captain showing his pig fat smile on and licking his lips said.

Brum: "Of course, my portion was received and now fuck off outta here, unless you want to earn more, but then invite your whore of a mother! With pleasure I would stick my dick in her, in the last resort it can be your sister! Ahh that little body of hers! "

Said Brum licking his lips and massaging his crotch.

Rakmir with a calm expression on his face saluted and passing few guards went down from the wall. Walking home he could see the dirty streets and smell the stench, the part of the Sil they where living in without a second thought could be called the worst part of town. Whorehouses, bars where the paradise for thieves and murderers but he did not mind, in the end he lived here all his life.

Walking inside his house he saw his mother, Sarah although opposed to his service knew her son was doing it for them, every time he came home tired she felt pain.

Sarah: "Rakmir breakfast will be soon after night watch you're probably tired" said his mother with eyes full of sorrow and love.

Rakmir: "I'm not tired mom. Do you need help?"

Sarah: "For now go lie down, I'll wake you up when the breakfast is ready”

Rakmir stepped quietly into the room, and saw sleeping Kira. Kira now 7-year-old girl was a beauty like her mother. Not wanting to wake her up he quietly lay on his bed. Turning a blind eye sleep came quickly.

Rakmir suddenly felt someone shaking him, opening his eyes he saw his sister Kira standing next to the bed.

Kira: "Sorry brother for waking you up but mom told me to get you, breakfast is almost ready."

Rakmir: "Thanks Kira"

Getting up he saw his sister still looking at him.

Rakmir: “Everything's alright?”

Kira: “Yes but you're never home and you're always beat up and tired, I don't want you to go there anymore”

Kira said, sitting down beside him on the bed

Rakmir: "I'm sorry little sister, I promise I will take better care of myself, if you want I stay whoooole day today with you"

Stroking her head with a smile replied Rakmir. Seeing her face brightening up he felt all his tiredness going away. At the same time from the second room they heard voice

Sarah: "Children breakfast!"

Rakmir and Kira went into the kitchen to look at modestly laid table. Although they did not have much, their mother always thanks to her talent in cooking made something delicious. Being with his family, one could not see all the negative feelings directed to others. To his sister and mother he was always showing a beautiful smile. After breakfast Rakmir spend time with his sister talking to her about everything and answering all her questions. Kira was not aloud to go outside alone that's why most of her time she was home reading books provided to her by her brother or parents. When she went to take a nap Rakmir kissed his sister and mother, and walked toward the smithy.

Rakmir: "Father, I came to help you."

Rakmir showed talent in all activities connected with the military, be it a tactic of war or martial arts, even in the forge where he helped his father and cared about equipment.

Wolf: "Rakmir there is not much to do today, how was yours watch?"

Rakmir: "Relax dad nothing really happened, as usual, merchants, and several brawls"

Wolf: "Son, do not let your guard dawn, the danger does not always come from the outside, we of all should always remember that. The nobles know that we are alive. Although they may not take any action now, the day they do will come.”

Rakmir: "I know Father"

The weeks passed. Considering that the Principality of Eri was not the greatest and most powerful but with the cavalry and the old fame it maintained its borders. That day Rakmir as usual, was keeping watch on the walls, the capital of the Eri was located in the central-eastern part of the Principality and was surrounded on the south, east and west by other principalities, from the north by sea. However, it did not have a big navy. Rakmir knew that Eri mainly focused on ground forces, under an incompetent king and advisers it power mostly deteriorated. For them more important were the status and their dark interests than the country.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

That night before dawn Rakmir heard something below his position on the wall. As soon as he poked his head out he saw several postures climbing the ropes.

Rakmir: "Alarm! Alarm!"

Shouted Rakmir. Thick captain ran to the young man. When Brum was a meter away, Rakmir saw a dagger halfway toward his heart. Briskly jumping to the right he felt he blade on his body. He felt a deep wound on his left shoulder.

Rakmir: "What are you doing!"

Brum: "What do you mean what? I'm killing the traitor that opened the gated for the enemies! "- He

Rakmir guessed what the captain did, because even after his cries he did not see any sign of the other guards.

Rakmir started laughing what surprised Brum. In all the time he bulled this youngster he never saw any emotion on the boys face.

Rakmir: “You don't even know how happy I am that you said that!”

Saying this he took a fighting position. His blood boiled finally he could let out his anger and killing intent directed at the fat captain. Analyzing the situation he slowly stepped toward Brum.

Being close to him with a shield on his left hand he attacked and struck in the chest of the man who shocked because of the youngster speed lost his balance, at the same time Rakmir attacked with a spear directed at the chest of the captain. However, despite his weight Brum had not received this position without a reason, regaining balance he kicked the shield sending boy flying two meters away.

Rakmir quickly recovered from the exchange, he knew now that if he lose here he will be finished. Life or death, as was taught by his father. Seeing the attackers figure almost on a wall, he change the grip on his spear and threw it in the direction of the first person who just climbed upstairs. Hearing a groan from the pain of the first attacker Rakmir pulled the sword from his left side.

"Fortune favors brave” thought Rakmir. This is the first time he killed but thanks to his training he had remained calm and again taken position to fight with his former commander.

Brum seeing it with eyes full of hatred directed toward Rakmir.

Brum: "You little shit, you die here as befits a traitor! No one would have suspected me! I will kill you and then your father, and finally have some fun with your mother and sister! As the time we will be finished with them they will be begging us to kill them! Your mother as a whore will be given to rape by soldiers in the barracks and your sister after we will finish with her we will give to dogs and beggars to play with!"

Rakmir: “ HA HA HA that's good, very good. But please tell me... How will you do it when you're dead?”

After saying this Rakmir just watched with a calm gaze. Listening to captain insults was for him nothing more than a fig screaming before its death. He had realized that it was not more than taunts which aim was to make him angry, for the shocked Brum he was only trash that could not fight, but he didn't know that for 7 years, every day Rakmir was training with a former general of the elite unit. His father.

Now, with his long sword Brum attacked Rakmir, despite him being just 15 years old boy his body was train from the beginning. Working in smithy with his father, training every day an experienced warrior could see the hard work and sweat in training. Brum just didn't pay attention and Rakmir being malnourished didn't give the vibe of a warrior. Rakmir quickly parried the sword and stab his sword toward the attacker throat. He felt a slight resistance. That's when he knew that with his speed he was able to survive his first fight to the death. The last look in Brum eyes was full of disbelief. He never expected that this trash that he bullied and exploited was so strong.

Holding his throat Brum still wanted to protest but instead of spitting out words only dark blood came out.

Rakmir: "What now? I told you it all ends when you're dead" whispered Rakmir.

"Not the time for that," he thought. Checking his surroundings, not seeing any other guard in the area he thought correctly that Brum killed them. Suddenly he had an idea. For each of the walls the are placed small towers with alarm bells announcing danger. Rakmir decided to head for the nearest one. With a shield and a sword in his hand he saw a person had just climbed the wall, he decided to attack first.

To the persons misfortune he did not yet managed to catch the balance upon climbed over the wall, when Rakmir's shield hit him in the chest. With the power of youth to get rid of the first one did not pose much of a problem, and moments after the incident there was only the screams of the falling man.

At the same time 3 consecutive attackers already ran toward Rakmir. Remembering the lessons of his father and attacked the nearest pinning him to the wall. Hearing the sound of breaking ribs with a smooth motion he threw the sword into the next nearest target.

The sword stuck in the next closest attacker chest giving Rakmir time to finish of pinned enemy and to prepare for the last obstacle between him and alarm bell. On the so far silent wall one could heard moaning in pain, the sound was coming from behind Rakmir's shield. Seeing that his attack has reached the desired effect Rakmir pulled out a sword and a with a swift movement cut throat of the crushed to the a wall enemy. During this action his eyes did not wonder, all this time he was concentrated on the third man.

All this ended in 3 seconds. Rakmir now took a defensive position with knees bent and his sword above the shield leveled while hiding behind his shield. However, the attacker was not an amateur.

Pulling out his sword and dagger he calmly walked toward the boy. Being half meter away from his destination he quickly jumped to Rakmir hitting young guard shield with his sword and with the dagger targeting Rakmir's legs. The boy felt a pain in his left thigh, as he jumped away, but when he transferred his body weight on his injured leg he lost his balance and felt. Without losing the opportunity striker jumped on his hand with the shield. A second later the young man heard a cracking noise of broken bones accompanied by terrible pain. Getting rid of the shield Rakmir kicked toward the legs of the attacker.

Now, with a broken arm, deep wound in the left thigh and left shoulder and blood seeping through his clothing his situation looked grim. But even this did not perturb the concentration of youth! Well aware that because of the blood loss he can no longer drag the fight he attacked. With quick blows, cut and thrusts he took the initiative, despite the clumsy footwork he was moving steadily forward towards the bell, thereby making his hunter become the hunted.

Seeing a gap in the enemy defense young guard attacked with full force. Starting to spin left he wanted to cut open enemy's stomach, but it was a trap prepared by more experienced enemy. Seeing boy movement black clothed person with the end of the foot hit the boy's wrist with full force. Rakmir sword felt to the ground from his numb hand. Thinking that it was the end but at the moment he noticed the second sword sticking from the chest of one of the victims, the same sword he received from his mother, “my last chance” he thought and with a big step forward immediately after the end of his spinning move he began his last desperate attack.

With his action he managed to surprised the enemy soldier who had to either jumped away be knocked to the ground with this attack. Seeing that his target decided to jump, Rakmir face had a small smile on it. Before the enemy touched the ground Rakmir's right hand grabbed the sword stuck in the body on his left side. Despite the terrible pain with the help of adrenaline in his body he managed to mobilize all arm muscles and snatch it out of the dead soldier's body while continuing rotation.

Stunned by this unexpected action, the enemy couldn't do anything about it, while still in the air he started to getting ready to launch an attack just after touching the ground. However, the attack did not came.

Rakmir with fluid motion bounced off the ground, and all his weight plunged his sword into left side of black clothed man just below the ribs and pierce the enemy through the chest. Looking closer he could see his sword tip sticking out from the right shoulder. Striker died on the spot.

Rakmir: “You forgot to watch your environment”

Said the boy with a bitter smile remembering all the times his father told him the same while sparring.

Rakmir continued in the direction of the small tower. While climbing the stairs, because of blood loss he felt faint, he knew of the imminent loss of consciousness but did not give up grabbing the rope connected to alarm bell. He pulled strongly. Influenced by the sound of a bell the city began to wake up. He could hear the second bell tower nearby, then a third soon all the east bells rang. Rakmir looking from the windows of the building was pleased with himself. Seeing the guard troops heading for the wall he went down the stairs.

In the faint feeling made him stumbled few times, and finally failing to regain balance he tumbled down the last few steps. Getting up from the ground he slowly went to the soldier with whom he fought the toughest battle in his fifteen years old life.

After a brief search of corpses he found two purses and a few letters.

"It must have been the commander of this group," - he thought.

Pulling out his bloody sword from the group leader corpses, and picking up his second sword he wiped both of them on the clothes of the deceased and sheathed them.

"Mom, dad, you see your swords saved my life." - He said gently smiling.

After searching all attackers and Brum, Rakmir got seven pouches filled with money, but no additional letters. Hiding his spoils he counted: two purses from the commander of the group, one from the corpse of each killed soldier, and two from Brum's body.

Returning the tower entrance he sat on the ground leaning against the side of the building. Before him there were countless torches, he heard the shouts and sounds of fighting. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was an officer in Eri uniform with a group of soldiers coming in his direction.