Chapter 1
Sunlight dances among the branches of the giant fern trees reflecting of the haze gently gliding among the forest floor. The gentle trickle of water can be heard as stream flows among the soft ferns and fallen leaves carpeting the forest floor. The gentle stream flows into a cool pond. Sunlight sparkles of the surface as shock waves run along the surface. The culprit, a beautiful stag taking a break from running with the herd which runs through the Dalgami Forrest. The majestic stag laps up the refreshing cool pond water. A foot covered in soft leather is placed between a fallen branch and twig. Slow and silently I rise onto one knee in which to comfortably draw the graceful yew bow. My right-hand fingers clutch the arrow and string expertly as my wingspan is stretched. My left arm is steady as a rock as my sights are set upon the stag. Releasing a calm breath, I let go of the arrow. The goose feathers flutter in the air. which I had fletched this morning. At that moment the stag resaid its great antler heavy head as predator and prey looked into each other's eyes. The moment was taken when the arrow pierced into the stag's eye to lodge into the brain. I gracefully and silently raced towards the stag about 70 yards away. Not bad I thought to myself. As with practiced ease I drew my hunting knife from its sheaf on my waist and sliced the stag's neck, with a quick mumbled prayer to the gods of the forest, I drained the stag. Securing the stag with rope I began to gather and pack my things for the trip back to the forest city of Dalgami. Carefully I unstring my bow and placing the stag upon my shoulders I started running towards the city whilst navigating the great forest. Running through the great forest I had a sense of what it must be like not have the heavy burdens of being an illegitimate child of the nobility. My Father, which I say loosely, is the great warden of the east, Lord Declan of Eastwood and my mother a lowly barmaid in which Lord Declan found in military campaign. Anyway, thoughts such as that are free from my mind as I run towards the home of my loving father. I smirk as I remind myself of stern military man. Right back on topic. Racing silently across the forest floor I stop on a ridge to look down into the clearing in the forest. There she was, the forest city of Dalgami. Surrounded by mixture of moss covered stone and wooden fortifications the city was alive with the sounds of city mixing in with the quiet peace of the forest. Tops of building rose above afternoon haze in the dancing sunlight. In the centre stood the ugly seat of the Eastwood family power. To some it's simply a castle to me it's a prison of unrivalled disdain. Walking through the main gate I gave the guards on duty a nod in greeting in which they returned. Rushing along the darkening roads and alleys I made my way towards the butchers off main street. After my business with Stanley the butcher my purse was slightly heavier with silvers and coopers gained. I made my way through the city folk to the Wooden Sword tavern in search of my good friend Wilma Hardin and the delicious light ale served by the lovely barmaid. Walking into the smoggy heaving tavern full of drunken patrons enjoy the afternoon after the graft of the day. My eyes searched the crowd four tousled brown hair or the piercing green eyes of the one and only Wilma Hardin. Disappointed I made my way to the booth in dark corner left to me as, I have been coming here since I was youngster to run away from the torment of my family. Slipping into the booth I relaxed. I like it here as looked around at the other patrons. There was no judgment hear in their eyes. That brought a faint smile of content to my lips, which grew as in noticed the very womanly figure of one Wilda Harding make her way towards my booth.
"Miss Harding" I greeted her accompanied with my most charming smile.
"look who it is the infamous James East" She replied in a mocking tone.
"you wound me with your words miss" I replied holding my left breast. She gently laughed at my antics. I ordered my light ale watching her swaying hips leave. When she returned and I had a 'reasonable small sip' of my ale she informed me of her activity of the day and the gossip go around the place. Personally, not to bothered but Wilda likes to be in the know so I remain interested. Thankfully the topic moves on to what I'm going to do tomorrow as I turn 16 and can join the military academies of Eflington kingdom. Ever since I could swing a sword my heats been set on joining the army of the north 'The White Wardens' in the Kinihurst mountains. To do this my plan was to enrol into the Kehbury Officer Academy in the northern province. But I will fill u in later on the military academies of the Eflington kingdom because my best friend Archie Smith arrived. Archie had a bulky build with large arms due to spending his days in his father's forge. He had brown hair cut short to his head with a hard a chin, we were similar in height in which we were slightly taller than the other boys in the city. He had that macho tough guy handsome thing going on which made him look older than his 16 years. So, in celebration of the good and bad times and are prospective futures we decided to get drunk. Well me and Archie, Wilma left we got a bit loud. But that was problem because ever since we met, that fateful day when we both sent to headmaster's office of in junior school, when Wilma wasn't around me and Archie just happen to get into trouble. So, with Wilma gone we found our self's urinating in Lady Alice of Eastwood's rose garden chuckling to our self's and singing rowdy songs about a particular kind of barmaid. Getting to particular good part of song we were rudely interrupted by the city guard.
"Oi, you there!"
"Who?" I slurred as I tried to be helpful to the guards.
"You" they replied unhelpfully.
"Me or him" my friend relied trying to be helpful.
"Both"
Well then, with that reply and a quick glance to Archie we both bolted for hedge. Running in the dark when you drunk is not a good idea as I found out tripping over my feet and slamming into the ground with a thud. Raising my head, I watched Archie with a backwards grin flop over the hedge and away into the safety of dark alleyways of the city. Hearing pounding of feat. I try get my body to stand. Just about got on to my knees. Intime to watch the guard's approach in the light of the torch I could see their smug grins.
"look who it is Lord East himself"
"evening gentlemen" I replied with my most dashing smile.
The other guard sneered at me. Raising his spear, he swung the butt into my head. Crumpling to the floor like a sack of potatoes a slipped into world of the unconscious.