The next day, those who remained in Es’pör gathered the courage to investigate the spot where Uncle Edward’s house once sat. They found no sign of Solomon, Silas, or Johnathan. The house had been completely blown away, and only rubble was left. They only found a sizable crater, where, unknown to them, Solomon once knelt. Everyone there had an ominous feeling about the crater, and after much debate, one of the townsmen was selected to investigate the site.

The townsman found it odd that he heard what sounded like cooing as he approached the crater. Then, upon further inspection, he saw what appeared to be a healthy infant baby laying at the bottom of the crater. The townsman climbed down and retrieved the baby, who, to his surprise, was not fussing and did not seem to be upset in the least. The child was moving its arms and legs and the townsman swore it grinned at him. When the townsman reappeared from the crater carrying this child everyone gasped in amazement. They took turns inspecting the child who had olive skin, vibrant deep violet eyes, and what appeared to be the makings of dark black hair. After deciding that the child appeared to be human and was harmless, the townsfolk decided to take him in.

***

Almost six years later, a young elf with platinum blonde hair and green eyes rode into the town of Es’pör. Though he looked like a skilled fighter, some of the people of the town felt an aura of safety emitting from him, though since he was an elf most of the humans did not trust him. He wore leather armor and an impressive sword hung at his side. He rode his pitch-black stallion up to the entrance of the town’s tavern and hitched him there. The owner of the tavern came out to greet the elf.

“What brings you to Es’pör, friend?” The tavern owner asked.

“I’m looking for someone,” the elf replied.

The tavern owner looked the elf up and down curiously. “The last time we had a stranger come to town looking for someone, that stranger nearly destroyed everything here.” He said suspiciously. “And who might you be after?”

The elf looked around and saw a boy, about six, with dark black hair, practicing at being a knight, by fighting a tree, with a stick. The boy was quite talented for someone his age and for someone who assumingly had no formal training. Dín Zalä saw something of himself in the boy. The elf smiled, and then looked back at the tavern owner with a more serious face. “You see this emblem?” The elf said pointing to his chest at a nightshade flower with six strange runes written across its center and petals. “Do you know what this means?”

The tavern owner took a long look at the emblem and then nodded. “Aye, I know what it means. But it does not answer my question.”

“My name is Dín Zalä,” the elf said. “I am a knight of the Order of the Shades. I have ridden a long way in search of this town because I am here to find an apprentice.”

The tavern owner snorted. “An apprentice, here? Don’t jest!”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Dín Zalä remained calm. “Trust me, good sir, I am not in the mood for jests. And yes, I believe that the person I seek lives in this town.”

“Hmm,” the tavern owner thought for a moment, scratching his beard. “And do you know who that person might be?”

“Yes, him.” Dín Zalä said, pointing towards the boy with dark black hair.

“Him!” The tavern owner said surprised. He then let out a laugh. “You mustn’t be serious! He’s just a local orphan he is, does nothing but get into trouble. I mean, just last week I caught him going through my rubbish. I asked him, ‘what’s you doing?’ And he tried to tell me some nonsense about wanting to find something to feed the local stray dogs. Nonsense, I say!”

Though Dín Zalä was getting annoyed, he did not let it show. “Regardless, I would like to meet him.”

“Have it your way. If you end up taking him off our hands, then good riddance I say.” The tavern owner whistled to get the boy’s attention and then waved him over. “Hey, boy! Come here!”

The boy turned around, dropped his stick, and ran over to the tavern owner. Dín Zalä was impressed with the boy’s nimbleness, and also with his dark violet eyes, which were unknown to occur in humans.

“Yes, Mister Wan?” The boy said politely.

“This elf here, uh....” The tavern owner looked over at Dín Zalä with a lost expression on his face.

“Dín Zalä.”

“Yeah, that’s it. This elf here would like a word.”

“Oh, okay!” The boy said happily. He then bowed before the elf. “Hello, my name is E...”

“Elijah Khan, yes I know. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Dín Zalä said cutting the boy off and also bowing.

Elijah stood amazed. “How did you know?”

Dín Zalä stood straight up as well. “I know a great deal about you Elijah.” The elf then got down on one knee so he could look the boy in the eye. He rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder and smiled. “I saw you practicing on that tree earlier. You’re very skilled.”

“Thank you!”

“I take it you want to become a knight one day?”

“Oh, yes.” Elijah gave the elf a big smile.

“Well, Elijah, it just so happens that I’m a knight.”

“You are?” Elijah asked in awe.

“I am. I’m a knight of the Order of the Shades. Do you know what that is?”

Elijah shook his head, no, but Dín Zalä continued to smile at him.

“We are a group of knights in charge of protecting this world from all sorts of evil people and monsters. I was sent here by the Grand Master of our Order to find you.”

“Me?” Elijah asked surprised.

“Yes, you. Our Grand Master, Duncan Caine, has heard about you and thinks that you would make an excellent member of our Order. What do you say? Do you want to come with me and become a knight?”

“How did he hear about me?”

“Master Caine has his ways. Perhaps he will tell you one day. So, what do you say to my offer?”

Elijah visibly shook with excitement and then looked over to the tavern owner. “Can I go! Can I? Please!” Elijah tried his best to look persuasively adorable.

Dín Zalä stood up and smiled, knowing what the tavern owner’s response would be. The tavern owner gave Elijah an affirmative nod and the boy jumped up and down.

“Yay! Yay!” Elijah shouted.

“Well, go get your things and we will be off. It’s a long ride to the Drendal Tundra.”

Elijah looked up at Dín Zalä confused. “Where’s that?”

“It’s where the Shades live and train. We have a castle there called Night Hold. Come on, I will tell you about the rest on the way.”

After Elijah gathered what little he owned, Dín Zalä placed him on the back of his horse. The elf then climbed up and they set off.