forums.rs

Forums

The Guardian

Quick find code: 49-50-371-62222788

of 22
Caydock

Caydock

Posts: 6,279 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Chapter One Cont.

Ducking under the small curtain that served as a door, Rowan was greeted by the sight of his two parents, Nicodemus and Robin, sitting at the crude table that inhabited most of the room. Next to the table was a trio of uncomfortable looking cots, one of which had belonged to Rowan for the past fifteen years. He assumed that he must have shared a bed with his mother for the first two years of his life.

Asides from the table, chairs, and cots, there was little else in the room, excluding a stove that doubled as a fireplace in the winter and Nicodemus’s crossbow which hung over the curtain on a wooden peg. The quiver of bolts rested on its own peg next to the bow. Rowan still remembered the first time his father had allowed him to shoot the weapon, when he was twelve. Rowan, who had watched Nicodemus shoot hundreds of times, was insistent that he needed no help. Nicodemus eventually conceded and Rowan, full of excitement and triumph, pulled the string into place, loaded the bolt and fired without pressing the stock against his chest. The bow was a powerful weapon and the recoil was a force to be reckoned with. The wooden stock flew backward as it spat out the bolt and slammed Rowan** chest with a meaty thud, knocking the air out of his lungs and leaving a bruise he would carry for weeks.

“You see, Rowan,” his father had said a bit after the incident, once his son had recovered from the shock and pain. “There are times in life when you have to swallow your pride and accept help from others. No one can do it all on his own; I hope you’ve learned a valuable lesson today.”

And Rowan had. He still remembered his father’s words now, five years later and always resolved to keep them in his mind.

But now Nicodemus was greeting him. “Hello, son,” he said. “Did you ride to the castle again?”

Rowan nodded, “It was just a short ride there and back. Victory seemed restless this morning so I decided we could both do with the exercise.*

25-Jan-2011 22:41:01 - Last edited on 29-Jan-2011 19:17:05 by Caydock

Caydock

Caydock

Posts: 6,279 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“A short ride?” his mother was speaking now, *Rowan, you’ve been gone for over two hours.”

“A two hour ride seems very short to me, mother.”

All three were silent for a few moments, the quiet seemingly designed to make the awkwardness obvious. Rowan was saddened by that awkwardness; these uncomfortable silences never used to pop up when he was younger.

“Sit down, Rowan,” said his father, gesturing at the only empty chair at the table. Rowan complied and waited for his father to continue.

After another moment of silence, the question came. “Who was that man outside?”

“A forester named Orothian,” Rowan said, digging in his pocket for the proclamation. “He wanted to show me this.”

Setting the paper down on the table, Rowan turned it so both his father and mother could read it at the same time. Nicodemus skimmed the paper quickly and looked up, his brow lowered in confusion, “Does this interest you?”

Rowan nodded vehemently, his hair flopping over his forehead with the motion. “It does. Quite a lot, actually. You’ve seen how often I practice outside with my sword. I—”

“Too much, actually,” interrupted Robin.

Rowan paused, “Too much what?”

Too much practice. It seems all you want to do is ride away for hours—”

“Only two.”

“—or practice swinging that nasty tool around in circles.”

“Mom!” Rowan said, “I’m not swinging it in circles! I practice precise patterns, designed to teach self-defense and agility.”

“I don’t see a difference,” Robin replied stiffly.

That disconcerting silence rose again and Rowan busied himself staring at his hands. He rubbed at a raw callous, the fruit of sword practice, and hissed softly as he applied too much pressure to the wound.

“Are you unhappy here, Rowan?” his father asked eventually.

“No,* Rowan said, frowning at the unexpected question. “Well, maybe a little. There’s not much to do here and I feel…trapped some of the time…most of the time…”

25-Jan-2011 22:41:52 - Last edited on 29-Jan-2011 19:18:39 by Caydock

Caydock

Caydock

Posts: 6,279 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“I was the same as you when I was a boy,” Nicodemus murmured. “So convinced that adventure was waiting for me and that I had to get out there and make my mark on the world.” He sighed. “Maybe we should let him do it.”

Rowan was shocked and a grin spread across his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Robin beat him to it.

“Nicodemus!” she said, the shock evident in her voice. “He’s just a boy!”

“Mom, I’m seventeen! I can—”

She held up a hand, forestalling argument. “We need to talk,” she said, pointing at Nicodemus, then at the door.

Nicodemus slid his chair back and stood, following his wife outside. Rowan was left alone with his thoughts, which were mostly ecstatic, to wait for their return. He was almost certain that his father would win this debate and he would be allowed to compete. It was rare that Nicodemus had an opinion that differed from Robin’s, and Rowan was secure in that knowledge. Still, a weasel of doubt wormed into his mind. If he was allowed to participate and he won the tournament, by a fluke or his own skill, his life would change forever. The Royal Guard? That would most certainly play a factor in his parent’s decision. Plus, it seemed that whenever his parents made any sort of decision, there was always a condition involved, a trap hidden in their words. Rowan prayed that this would not be one of those times.

Sooner than Rowan would have thought possible—his parents were notorious stallers—Nicodemus and Robin returned, their faces impassive. They both resumed their chairs and faced Rowan silently.

Rowan allowed the stillness to remain for about thirty seconds before his patience boiled over. “Well?”

Robin spoke, “Rowan, you brought up a valid point when you said that you were seventeen years old now. I can hardly believe it’s already been that long. It seems like just yesterday you were a tiny babe in my arms, needing help for every little task.

25-Jan-2011 22:43:18 - Last edited on 29-Jan-2011 23:57:04 by Caydock

Caydock

Caydock

Posts: 6,279 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
And now here you are practicing with weapons and riding your monster of a horse everywhere, not thinking about—”

Nicodemus placed a hand on her arm, stilling her rambling. “Oh, yes. Sorry. Getting back to the point, I have…we have decided that you are allowed to participate in this tournament, providing that it isn’t too dangerous. If the day arrives and we find that it’s a fight to the death or something equally idiotic you will resign at once.”

But Rowan had heard nothing besides the word ‘allowed.’ He practically flew across the room in his haste to hug his mother, babbling his thanks and promising a multitude of things he would probably never keep.

She allowed this to go on for a few moments before continuing, “However…” Rowan froze where he was as he heard the dreaded word, “however, there is one condition. You must pay your own way in.”

And there was the trap.

25-Jan-2011 22:45:17 - Last edited on 29-Jan-2011 19:20:22 by Caydock

Englishkid62

Englishkid62

Posts: 9,782 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Alright, if you can, do come in game and discuss about the future plans for the guild. I'll still be online unless this message is edited to state otherwise.

Edit: I'm not in game anymore, but I'll still be reading the forums for a little while.

Edit: I'm off to bed now :P

25-Jan-2011 22:47:49 - Last edited on 26-Jan-2011 02:08:06 by Englishkid62

Quick find code: 49-50-371-62222788 Back to Top