Warrior

CHAPTER 1: OWEN I

Owen Clearwater did not like being disturbed. He had never been a fan of human interaction. Everyone knew to stay completely out of the way of Owen Clearwater. They did not like his company and he did not like theres. He was quite the misanthropist. That's why it is perculiar that on the day of his 22nd birthday he would speak to more people voluntarily in that single day then he ever had in his entire quiet life.

Owen lived in a small wood house right on the edge of Vox by himself. The only interaction with anyone else would be a nod to the tax man when he came knocking or to a relative who would come to visit. His relatives were about the only people he cared for although not even many of them liked him. It was unknown as to how he he earnt any money to pay the tax man since he never seemed to leave the house, most people simply presumed his relatives would pay for him. There seemed to be no logical explanation.

The night before his 22nd birthday Owen was getting ready to sit down and eat his dinner which was always a bowl of gruel with a thin slice of bread on a separate plate to the right of the gruel. He picked up his spoon and began to have the gruel but there was a sudden knock at the door causing Owen to spill some onto himself.

After wiping the gruel off of his arm he decided to ignore the knock on the door and sit back down claiming it to be in his own imagination since nobody ever came to visit him.

A few moments later just as Owen had again picked up the spoon the same knock was heard on the door. A strong gust of wind was heard blowing his front door open. Owen stood up approaching the door slowly. He peaked his head out onto the front porch looking left and right. No one was there.

"If this is some sort of a prank it was very funny but if you don't mind, this weather is truly an atrocity and I cannot bare to be out here one more second as my nice new robes are getting wet, goodnight sir," said Owen huffing and walking back into his house closing the door behind him.

Once again Owen sat back down in his chair and picked up his spoon moving it towards his now half empty bowl of gruel. Just before he could put it into his mouth his door got kicked down and a young woman holding a revolver walked in.

"Goodnight sir? Goodnight sir! I assure you Owen Clearwater I am no man nor do I have any desire to be one," said the woman walking over towards Owen.

Owen was panicking due to the fact she was holding a gun in her hand. "I meant no offence, none whatsoever, if you are a member of the law I assure you that I pay my taxes every month, ask... Umm... Ask the taxman!" Replied Owen now smiling.

"Oh shut up, the names Leia Dunstorm and I've been sent by your mother, she's requested that you meet her immediately," stated Leia.

"You didn't have to break down my door though," growled Owen waddling over picking up his door, "and what's the whole waving the gun about business about?"

"None of your business that's what," answered Leia, "look your mother needs to speak with you urgently."

"How do I know you're telling the truth," cried Owen, "how do I know you're not a robber come to take my precious belongings after you kick me out my own house, or a rapist! Yes! What if you're a rapist what then. There's no way of me escaping. I could not possibly hit a girl!"

"Oh for fucks sake I ain't gonna rape you," shouted Leia, "your mother asked meet to get you urgently, you want proof Owen Clearwater, meet just outside the blacksmiths down the road Fiery Blades in thirty minutes, pack whatever you need for a five day trip."

Leia smiled walking out of the house. Owen began to panic. He had no idea what he was going to. The thought of being raped kept going through his mind which made him further and further then allowing his curious side to go and meet there. Then the thought that curiosity never did anyone ever good and that it constantly kills cats. He kept pacing up and down his room until he decided that to go.

Owen ran into his room quickly packing up a bag of what he deemed to be credentials for a journey for five days although to many it would have looked like he had packed for an expedition across all of Fardawn, the largest of the two continents.

He ran out of his house slamming the door behind him, running as fast as he could down the road to catch up with Leia. Owen saw Leia walking away into the distance.
"Wait!" Shouted Owen panting out of breath but catching up to Leia, "Look, if my mother needs me I'll be there, what exactly did she want to speak to me about and where?"

"Your mother is in Penton, she's been living there for the last few years, she's dying Owen," said Leia bluntly.

Those words hit like a knife. Although he hadn't been that close to his mother over the last few years the thought of her no longer existing broke his heart into a thousand pieces. "Dying?" Asked Owen, "well are you sure you're not exaggerating, she can't be dying? She's my mum, last time I saw her she was well?"

"We have to leave now, it's your only chance to hear what she wanted to tell you and say your goodbyes," replied Leia.

She walked around the corner pulling out two horses. She climbed onto the front horse and Owen stood paralysed on the stop staring into space.

"You coming then?" Asked Leia.

Owen realised he hadn't responded so did an awkward nod. He was still in shock about the apparent news of his mother dying. He itched his nose, took a deep breath and climbed up onto the other horse.

"I've never done this before." Said Owen

"Done what," asked Leia.

"Ridden a horse," replied Owen.