It was a hot and humid summer day in the fields of Skree. A farmer worked hard in his fields. He was a strong man; in heart and stature. He had jet black hair and deep, dark eyes. He was not a very good farmer, but he worked hard nonetheless.
A man with the same stature, but older in age, drove up in an old wagon.
“Gammon!” He called out in a strong but weathered voice.
Gammon looked up from his work.
“Rillton! My good friend! How are you?”
The two embraced with hard pats on each others backs.
“I’m fair. How are you? And how is Yona and Saphira?”
“They’re just fine! Come to the house to see them!”
The two friends walked to the nearest house.
It was a quaint dwelling. It was about 12 feet wide and about 16 feet deep, with two windows on the front underneath an wooden awning, with a window on each side of the house. The inside was small but cozy. It was lit with a small wood fire in the corner and the house smelled of warm spices.
A woman was standing at the stove.
“Yona! Look who’s here!” Gammon called to his wife.
The woman turned and her face lit up. “Rillton! Oh! How so wonderful to see you!”
“Yona my dear!” Rillton exclaimed as he hugged her. “You look well!”
“Thank you! So do you!”
“Yona, where is Saphira?” Gammon asked looking around.
“She went to the market. She insisted on running my errands by herself.”
“Ah! Ever since she turned thirteen she has been determined to be responsible for herself, but when it comes to actually doing the chores, it seems she cannot get herself out of bed!”
Rillton laughed “Ah, youth!”
Before dinner was ready, Saphira came back from town and was happily received by the old family friend.
“Saphira!”
She squealed with delight. “RILLTON!”
There was much laughter and hugs.
They invited Rillton to stay for dinner, and he readily accepted.
After dinner, Gammon and Rillton went to sit by the fire and Saphira was sent to bed, but not before giving her father and Rillton a kiss goodnight.
“Goodnight Daddy!”
“Goodnight Princess. I love you.”
Rillton waited until Saphira was out of the room. His face became grave. Yona came and stood by her husband; her hand on his shoulder.
“Gammon, I think it’s time.”
“Time?”
“It’s time for you to become who I’ve trained you to be.”
Gammon shook his head laughing.
Rillton was not amused.
“This isn’t a laughing matter Gammon. You know as well as I do the time has come. The fangs are moving. They are now taking women and children, Gammon
“Oh Gammon!” Yona stifled a cry.
Rillton continued.
“They are taking them to who knows where! To Gnag perhaps! I have trained you for this.”
Gammon remembered all the times Rillton had woken him up at dawn to train. He remembered all the wounds he had gotten. Some inflicted by Rillton teaching him a certain fighting technique. But if he got injured, Rillton always took care of Gammon as if he was his own son. In fact, Gammon was like his own son. Rillton had raised Gammon on his own. He taught him how to read, and write. He taught him how to fight. He even introduced Gammon to Yona.
“Why can’t you, the Flying Sword, do it? You are more skilled than I!”
“My time is done. I can’t fight anymore. I’m too old. It’s time for someone new.”
Rillton now pulled a cape out of his satchel. It was black with red letters. The letters were “F.S.” He gave it to Gammon.
Gammon tried to shove it back. “This is your cape! I can’t take this!”
“You must. It’s time, Florid Sword.”
When will the Part 3 come out??