007 - The Last Departure
Uriel drew the sword from the secret storage in the fireplace, it was the only possession he owned, the only thing left to him by his parents before they abandoned him.
A fine black leather was wrapped around the body of the scabbard, giving it an exquisite and polished look.
A short cross guard of silver separated the blade and the pommel, which was meant for a single hand, but it was large enough that a second hand could be added if the need arose, and like the scabbard a polished black leather was wrapped around the pommel.
The hilt was like the cross guard a polished silver with little ornamentation and etched designs, it was a simple but sleek sword, only there was one slight problem with it.
Uriel slid the blade from the sheath it had a perfect shining finish that reflected light better than any mirror, but the edge of the blade was dull.
Uriel had taken it to Jack Perry, the blacksmith but after spending an entire week trying to grind down the edge he gave up, saying that there was something wrong with the blade, he even said that it was cursed.
It might have been blunt, but it was still dangerous.
Uriel had a nagging suspicion about tonight, especially after what he had seen on the wagon, and decided that it would be best if he brought it along.
He hid it behind his back and walked back to the wagon.
"Well lad, what's the hold-up?" Zek asked when he saw Uriel returning.
Uriel held the sword behind his back and gave a light shrug, "Uh… some girl thing," he answered with an air of defeat as he managed to reach the wagon.
He lifted one of the sacks and started to slide the sword beneath it, but just as he did he felt a large and powerful hand catch him, Uriel looked up and saw his dad glowering over him.
"Now what do ya think ya' doing with that thing lad?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
"It might be dangerous who knows if the soldiers might show up to cause trouble with us," he replied.
"Put that thing away lad nothing is going to happen tonight," said Zek with a sigh.
"Is that why your hatchet is under the sacks?" Uriel questioned in turn; he had seen it when he was going through them.
Zek paused seemingly thinking of what to do, sometimes he grew frustrated with how sharp the lad's eyes were, it was too good for his good.
It seemed that the lad was also much more informed on the matter, he could only assume that Uriel had used his little secret entrance in the barn to spy on them when they were speaking.
"Son if they come around and see me with a hatchet I can always excuse it as being meant for chopping wood, but what other use does a sword have except to fight," he said giving Uriel a deep look.
"If they see ya with that they may just kill ya for harboring thoughts of fighting them, and who knows who else they might harm, think about ye' mother and ye' future wife lad,"
"Besides that, thing isn't even sharp, now go put it away," he gave Uriel a light thwack on the head before giving him a shove in the direction of the house.
Uriel stumbled as he looked down at his feet and walked back in disappointment, he put the sword back in its place when he saw his mother come out of Cass's room.
His mother walked up to him with a piece of fabric in her hand, "Cass said that you would wear the blindfold," she said holding it out for him.
Uriel glanced at the door and saw Cass peeking at him, he shot her a smile as he took the fabric from his mother and wrapped it around his eyes without hesitation.
His mother took his hand and guided him out of the house and to a wagon, and then Cassandra followed behind them.
Zek had to carry Cass up onto the wagon to keep the dress safe, not that it was a difficult task for him when each of his arms was almost equal in size to his daughter.
As Zek helped the ladies climb on, Uriel moved carefully around the wagon until he found his way to his two-favorite horses.
"You two had a good time?" he asked as he got between them and gave their manes a light comb with his fingers.
"hnghh," he heard the reply of Lopper, as the stallion gave his head a soft bump with its muzzle.
On the other hand, Zeresha pulled her neck back and stomped her hooves against the earth, without giving him any reply.
"Still mad about earlier," Uriel muttered as he patted her head, he could tell the two horses apart with ease, he spent so much time with them that it was almost impossible for him to make a mistake.
"Dear, climb on it's time to leave," his mother suddenly called.
But Uriel didn't make a move, he calmly moved to the side and lightly placed a hand on the horse's reigns.
"I'll walk on the side, they are already dealing with enough weight," he said pointing a finger in what he hoped was the direction of the sacks, each of them was quite heavy and now they had to pull twenty, even for two horse's it was going to be tiresome.
Casey's face morphed into a smile that was a mix of pride and also embarrassment.
This was one of the reasons they took such a liking to Uriel he was always so thoughtful, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel bad at her lack of thought for the horses.
"You're blindfolded dear why don't you come and sit, I'll walk," she said climbing up.
"It's fine mom, I'll be holding Zeresha the entire way," he said as he scratched the neck of the mare, "She'll never lead me astray," he said with certainty as he stroked her neck.
"Nghh," the mare gave a light neigh as she brushed her head against his, seemingly forgiving his past transgression.
"Hnghhh," he heard the grunt of the stallion.
Uriel grinned lightly and stopped stroking the mare, "Relax boy I'm not stealing your mate," he said to Lopper noticing the stallion's agitation.
A moment later he heard a thud as Zek hopped down from the wagon and handed the reigns to his wife.
He didn't say anything as he walked to Lopper's side and started to walk along the road.
It wouldn't take too long to get to the village, their farm wasn't all that far, and it would take between half and 3 quarters of an hour for them to reach.
With the ladies on the wagon, they marched onwards at a relaxed pace, trying not to put too much pressure on the horses as they gradually pulled out of sight of the farm under the lowering sun.
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Perhaps we would have lingered a little longer and looked back upon that little home of ours had we known that it was our last time seeing it as a whole family.
But then if we knew of the future we would have never left, or rather we would have fled in the opposite direction...
I suppose it really is pointless thinking of what if's, all things are as they are meant to be, even if we fled who's to say that our fates would have been any different.
- An Extract from the Journals of Cardinal Uriel Lightblade
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