Chapter Four. *

The training area Alexander took us, was little more than a field somewhat behind his own house. He shared with his young wife and their son.

Took time to catch up with them.

"..ch year we battle the monster and try to take some sort of keepsake like this right here."

He showed Zephyr the purple lock of fur around his neck tied to a leather string. People show off those things like it means something.

Granny once told me, each year Emet sheds enough of its fur to make ten of those spoils of war they seemed so proud of.

" ..I'm sorry. I must've misunderstand something here. " - he stopped him after examining his pride of a necklace. " You told that, if theres a healthy amount of livestock than Emet, the name sake of your village will leave you alone. So why challenge him unnecessarily.?"

Huh? He was against the idea?

I suppose someone can be good at fighting and, still can see the pointless nature of this. Alexander seemed somewhat unsure. His question were valid.

" Well.. it used to mean something. My grandfather time, man challenged it to show the feudal lord their fighting skills and bravery. " - he had a fanatical light in his eyes. " Back then it was easier to become a soldier, to fight invaders and be a hero of your village."

He seemed genuinely depressed about the good old days.

" I do my best to keep that tradition alive, even though the feudal lord only use this place to collect our annual tribute. Who knows?- he started to walk slowly behind his eyes. " He might recognize someone's skill and offer them a better life...it probably sound idiotic huh?"

I never heard his reasoning for this obsession. I still felt it's useless.. the feudal lord never leaves their own city or some even their castle anymore.

Theres enough man from his own regions to fill his army and then some.

Only his representative each year will appear with a bunch of man who takes their cursed tribute right before winter most of the wheat from summer goes to him and his army.

We call it tribute but, it's really just our way to keep the people safe. If we have a bad season or maybe if the representative feels it's not enough what was offered. He could then take some people as slaves, those taken, we never see again.

They usually children. Our village population suffers both those willing to die by Emet and, those stolen each year. The day of the tribute out mother used to hide us in the forest when, I was younger.

Zephyr seemed to think hard about his answer. Then his eyes were drawn to the forest edge in the distance.

I followed his eyesight and saw a little girl with similar hair to mine. She noticed our stares and run into the forest.

Zephyr stepped forward and asked Alexander.

" Shouldn't we stop her? She seemed like a little girl.."

" She's Ilianna.. she an orphan we take care of sometimes.. don't worry about her. - he pointed towards the tree line. " Ilianna practically lives in there, since the heat came. Not matter what we tried, she won't warm up to us..."

I remembered her now. I didn't know her last name but granny told her story. Her father died on a hunt gone bad when she was too young to remembered him.

Her mother caught some illness from a different village even granny's remedies couldn't heal. She died four month ago. I been told the little girl was taken in by someone, I just didn't know it was Alexander and his family.

Zephyr looked to me for a second. Did he expect me to catch her or something?

Alexander put his large hand on his blue head and patted a few times. He is not a little kid you brute!!

Why does it even bother me?

" She comes back soon to watch the training don't worry. Come and see this years candidates."

He took him by his arms and practically carried Zephyr away.

This is ridiculous Alexander hijacked my ..his entire day!

In his backyard there was four boys among them Lucian. A gentle looking brown haired lady with her son watching their practice swings. She must be his wife.

" Zephyr meet my wife, Demelza Jartok and my son Arnold. " - he went and picked up his son with similar black locks like his father and embraced his wife. " Come my love meet this guy. He is quite skilled in combat."

Demelza Jartok was a tall wome with heart shaped face, and warm brown eyes. She extended her hand and introduced herself.

" It's lovely to meet you. I hope my Alex haven't caused to much trouble young Zephyr. " - she stopped and looked at me and back at him. "..Umm that was Seline late husband name, if I remember..."

She looked at my direction again and, waited until I confirmed it with a nod.

" Yes it was given to me in place of my own, which I do not remember. - he accepted her hand and gave her a friendly smile. " It's my pleasure to meet you. Your husband is..quite a character. I enjoy his company."

She looked pleased.

Looking at Alexander, keep slapping his new friends back laughing. Zephyr looked happy to. Maybe it would ruin the mood telling her Alexander wanted to chop him in half, just few minutes ago.

" Zephyr come meet the lads and let the ladies chat how manly we look."

" O-oh..right."

I was left alone once again. This was supposed be an hour tops. Now this..

" How are you Lylly? I bet your family have a hard time with all the attention given by the bored masses."

She patted the space next to her and I sat down.

" It's been..a challenge. I'm ok though, he seems like a decent guy. - I didn't wanna tell her that about twenty minutes ago, I was ready so send him packing. " Wants to help out. For the first time he looks genuinely having fun.."

Zephyr been introduced to everyone, Lucian now twice.

I saw Alexander giving him a sword. He held on to it with a sure hand. Did a few practice swings and his expression was playful. Hmm...

" You look like someone whose having fun now Lylly. "

Demelza, giggled caught me grinning like an idiot.

" It's nothing like that...Eli maybe." - I did my best to distract her. " Even though her efforts for naught. "

" What do you mean? "

I wanted to tell someone anyway.

" Zephyr fully intends to leave once he remembers more of his past..or possibly as soon as he gathers some supplies and a sword...a week maybe two at most."

" If all he needs a sword Alex probably help..."

She pointed out the obvious.

" Hmm..I guess one his problems solved."

Will he leave maybe much sooner than expected? How would my sister feel? How would I?

I noticed movement among the trees about a hundred feet away from the man practicing.

I saw Ilianna from afar, watching Zephyr group behind a large oak tree with like a hundred low hanging branches.

She must've thought she was hidden from their eyes or ours.

" Why she doesn't come out? She seems distrustful of people." - I turned to her foster mother and waited. " Even those opened their home to her."

Demelza looked very sad. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

" We been trying..she seemed, ok inside the house but once the summer heat came... I'll only see her at night or when she is hungry. I tried talk to her... she don't open up easy."

They doing their best.

She just needs more time. Losing her mother at such a young age, with no other family. But why the forest?.. and also..

I didn't notice Zephyr walking towards her until he was half way there. I got up and ready to go after him but Demelza caught me by my wrists.

" Just let him..Let's see what our new Zephyr can do."

Let him what? Scare her? I did stay put, she was technically her daughter.

I watched as he slowly walked to her. To my surprise she didn't ran.

He still carried a sword and kneeling in front her. We were too far to hear a word.

In just a few seconds, I saw that little gloomy one laugh with him. He offered his hand and she took it.

A minute later she dashed back in the woods and Zephyr walked back toward us smiling. I ran up to him but ... Alexander and his group got their first.

" What did you say to her? She was laughing so happily. I never seen her so..child like."

Alexander kept checking behind him but, she was like a ghost.

" It's a secret. I promised her I'll keep it." - he scratched his head and give back the sword. " In exchange she agreed to stop spending so much time away and I'll teach her how to fight. "

Needless to say everyone was stunned.

" How are you supposed to teach her to fight? Master here can probabl.."

" Your master got royally tripped not a few minutes ago Mirine." - Alexander turned to his students and told the absolute truth. " So, maybe we let him do as he like."

Alex was quick to jump ahead of that cliche development and shut the short haired boy down.

" Whatever you did little brother. I thank you. Her absence and sadness weight heavily on our mind. - He looked towards us and searched for his wife gaze. " This was the first time, I've seen her laugh. You mentioned you need of a sword..please choose one and it's yours."

Idiot!..Don't you know he will..We need leave this place!

" Yes yes..but we have to go now..I promised granny to take him around until you kidnapped him. " - I got there in just a few steps and grabbed his arm. " We're leaving. If he wants to he comes back later. Come on..theres still plenty to be seen."

" Don't be like that Lylly.." - Alexander was ready to do more damage.

" Let him go Dear. It's only his first day out the town. " - his wife was quick to step in and even provided some facts. " Theirs plenty of time..besides you heard him. He will teach little Ilianna, so we see him soon. I thank you young Zephyr. "

Demelza luckily held back her husband with logical thinking. She seemed happy to see some change in Ilianna.

" I did promise to help today, I'll give my word to her. I'll be back this afternoon for our first lesson." - he just waived her off.

" Yes he comes back soon..even today, see? Let's go."

" Thank you for your company. I will see you soon. Goodbye."

I went back to lead him away. I need to talk to mother or granny.

I'm just gonna tell them he wants to leave ..and that my attitude might have been a small factor.