Everglade: The Underaged

Chapter 12

The four kids followed Ailwin as he led them to his hideout. They learned that he'd been an Underage Partner and had been kidnapped by the Band of the Crows. He'd escaped a few months ago. He'd learned that several years of his life had been wasted killing people. He'd even been forced to kill his own parents. He'd vowed to help any other Underage Partners avoid the same fate. Luke couldn't see himself hurting his new parents. He couldn't see himself making them go mad. He didn't want to do that to them. He was going to stop the Band of the Crows. They arrived at a tree stump. Ailwin tipped it over to reveal a hole. They went down it. They arrived in a cave.

"Did you dig this out yourself?" Korman asked.

"Yeah. Took me a while." Ailwin said. He whistled. There was a splash and a Hippocampus appeared in an underground river.

"This is Zlatru." Zlatru snorted. Ailwin rubbed Zlatru's nose. Eclipse came over to him. She chirped. He snorted. She screeched softly. He neighed.

"Are they carrying out a conversation?" Estrilda asked. Aliwin looked at her.

"Perhaps," he said. "With Powerful Beings, you never know."

"What power did Zlatru give you?" Korman asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Aliwin stroked Zlatru's neck. The Hippocampus nudged him. Luke understood why he didn't want to talk about it. Aliwin had been forced to use his power to kill his parents. A small child came out of a room.

"Aliwin, who are these guys?" the child asked.

"This is Althalos. My little brother. Althalos, this is Luke, Korman, Isabella, and Estrilda."

"Hi." Althalos hid behind his older brother. He was scared.

"Can any of you fight?" Aliwin asked.

"Yes." Estrilda and Isabella said at the same time.

"No." Korman said.

"Only the basics of sword fighting, but I know how to use a bow." Luke said. Aliwin sighed.

"Korman, and Luke, you'll have to learn as we go. Luke, do you own a sword?" He said.

"No, the blacksmith wouldn't make one." Luke thought back to the colorful language the blacksmith had used when he refused. He'd called Luke a name. Luke would have had his backside tanned if he ever used that word.

"That might pose a challenge. Let's go see if we can find a sword for you in the stash of weapons that I stole from The Crows. In fact, let's find you all weapons." They followed Aliwin to a room full of weapons.

"You stole all of this?" Asked Estrilda.

"It was easy if I pretended to still be under mind control." Aliwin replied. Luke wandered over to the swords. He couldn't find one that felt right. He sighed and went over to the bows. He found a recurve that he could draw. He grabbed a quiver full of arrows, plus an extra, and an arrow making kit. These would have to suffice. He went over to Aliwin.

"Do you think you could get us into the manor to get provisions?" he asked him.

"I think so. The Crows would have moved on from the manor to search for you. Were you able to find a sword?"

"No, they all felt wrong."

"Huh." Luke was about to ask what that was for but Korman started to speak first.

"Look at this sword!" Luke and Ailwin looked over at him. He was pointing toward a sword with a jewel encrusted hilt and a ruby on the pommel. It looked about Luke's size so he picked it up. It fit perfectly. It felt balanced. He swung it through the air. The blade whooshed as it sliced through the air. Luke looked around for the scabbard. He found it and slid the sword into it. He looked at Korman.

"Do you want it?" He asked.

"Nah, I'm going to leave owning a sword until I can use one."

"Okay." Luke attached the scabbard to his belt. The weight felt awkward, but not uncomfortable. He looked at Ailwin.

"Let's go." He said.