The Family Lokison (Part 4)

New Friends (VALI)

The training field was always busy, filled with people riding and fighting and yelling. Most of them were much older than me, taller than me, and completely ignored how I went from one section to the next. I ogled at the soldiers who lifted large boulders or logs as they grunted. Picked apart all the people on horses who could've been straighter in their seats. Every arrow that flew to the long row of targets couldn't compete with the imaginary ones I shot myself. Knives, axes, swords...they all called to me. Once I was allowed to join them, I'd surely be the best.

I headed for the final gate, which opened to a smaller field where Modi had his lessons normally, but an imposing guard in golden armor stopped me. The old woman who normally met us here was nowhere to be seen.

He barked, "State your name."

I gulped, craning my neck up to see all of him. He wasn't as tall or frightening as Thor, but I felt he could squash me easily. "V-Vali Lokison."

"This is a dangerous place for a young boy, you know. You sure you're supposed to be down here?" the man said, folding his arms as he glared at me.

"Aye. My mum wrote this note. She said if there was any problem, my father could answer for me." I handed him the scrap of parchment given to me as I left the chamber upstairs; fortunately, despite my protesting, she predicted how I'd need it.

Watching him read the note was torture, because I wasn't sure what it said. I wished he would trust me like the people at home did. Wished there weren't so many stupid rules. My palms went sweaty and I wiped them on my tunic over and over again. This was my chance to prove myself to more than just my family...prove that even if Narvi was smarter than me, I was tougher. I was special, too. Nothing was impossible as long as I could try.

When the man finished Mum's note, he looked at me with the same face everyone gave Modi—wide-eyed and suddenly more reverent than before. "You're part of this house?"

I shrugged. His question made no sense. "I...suppose so?"

"Who are you, again?"

"I already told you, Vali Lokison. My father won't let me practice things on my own, so I must join a class. Modi meets with someone here, so Mum wanted me to ask if I could, too."

The guard looked around as if to ask someone else, but we were ignored. "Um...Prince Modi's lesson was cancelled today, I believe."

"Oh." My heart dropped. Nothing to do, then?

"Tell you what." He looked over Mum's note again and sighed. "You're well-vouched for. I don't know if you'll like it much, but there is a small group starting soon with a few other pupils. How old are you?"

"Eight. Nearly nine, though."

"Hmm." He nodded to no one. "Most in this class are a tad younger. Six or seven. But I'd be impressed if you can keep up."

I shouted, "Oh, yes! I can keep up, I promise." My smile made my face twitch, like I hadn't really been excited about anything in weeks.

"You're certainly spirited, aren't you?" He opened the gate behind him, revealing the private field. "There's a squire at the back; ask him for help to get you started."

"Thank you, sir." I bowed my head and bolted past him, stretching my legs and sucking in the scent of fresh Asgardian grass. It was sweeter than what we had at home, and wetter, too. I worried if I stopped too fast, I might slide across the top—but once the thought crossed my mind, I tried it anyway. Instead of sliding, I tumbled onto the ground and rolled a few feet, dousing myself in thick dew.

"You alright?" the guard from the gate yelled.

I laughed instead of answering, stretching my arms and legs as far as they could reach. The sky above was a shocking blue—darker than usual, or was that my imagination? Either way, there were no clouds between me and the rest of the universe. I took a few fistfuls of grass and rubbed them into my hair, soaking it so I could slick it off my forehead and away from my face. When I stood, I swept the dirt off my black tunic, which hid any particularly wet spots. It was an appropriate warm-up, I thought, considering it was the most I'd exercised since running through the palace halls with Modi.