The Game Of Mages (Wattys2016)

Chapter 2: Jacob

"Jacob! Where are you?"

A voice rang in the distance, far out of Jacob's ear shot. It was his mother.

Unfortunately for Jacob, he was too busy at the time tumbling down a long and steep cliff that lead into a small dark clearing. His shaggy black hair was filled with twigs and pebbles. Scratches and scrapes teased the surface of his pale skin and thumped against his armor. Snow fell onto his clothing, soaking him to the bone.

He yelped in pain as he squinted his olive green eyes shut.

As he came to a sudden stop, his back slammed into a tree trunk, rattling his breastplate. He rubbed the back of his head as he looked at his surroundings.

Towering above him was the cliff he fell down. It was too steep and icy slick to climb back up from. He could hear his horse nyeh in outburst of his master's disappearance. A ring of trees surrounded him, blocking him from leaving anytime soon.

Slowly he stood and brushed himself off. He readjusted his armor and turned to the clearing. A faint yellow glow emerged from within the confines of his armor. Jacob looked down and dug in his armor to pull out a necklace with a pendant in a shape of a dragon. It hummed rapidly when Jacob pointed it toward the middle of the clearing. He began shuffling toward the center, looking down at the pendant as he did.

Slowly the humming sped up faster and faster and faster until it suddenly stopped when Jacob arrived in the center of the clearing.

He looked at the ground below him and at his feet was a large oval orb. About the size of his head. It had a unearthly and sickly blue glow to it. Jacob knelt down, examining the orb. It had traces of black and dark blue swimming inside of it.

Reluctantly he reached out and grazed the top of the surface with the palm of his hand. It was burning hot and steam arose from Jacob's snow coated hand. But what was strange is that his hand was unharmed. No burns were to be found. Slowly he moved his hand away and opened his pack.

After slipping the orb into his pack, he stood up and walked back to the base of the cliff.

"Archer!" He yelled to the horse. His white horse, Archer, soon arrived at the top of the cliff. "Alert father for me!" He ordered. Archer seemed to nod as he turned around and sprinted away.

Jacob sat down on the cool, wet ground and pulled out the orb once again. It was strange, he felt a strong connection with the object in his hand. It's energy warmed him to the bone.

"What is this?" He thought turning it over in his hands. He tapped it and there was no ringing noise. Something is in it. But what?

There was a sudden cry in the distance. "JACOB!" It was his father. Quickly, Jacob tucked the orb away and stood up. His father soon arrived at the top of the cliff with rope, mounted on his great brown horse. His black hair and stubble had grass and twig stuck in it but he didn't seem to mind. His silver armor glittered in the cloudy light.

"Wow Jacob! If it wasn't for Archer, you would be there for days." His father joked throwing down the rope. "Grab onto that. I'll have the horses pull you up." Jacob nodded, grabbing the rope and wrapping it around his waist and grabbing hold tightly.

Jacob's father tied the rope to both horses and looked to see if Jacob was ready. "Ready boy?"

"Ready!" He yelled back.

Jacob's father had the horses walk backwards, lifting Jacob up. Jacob plant his feet to the cliff and began climbing as he was slowly hauled up.

When he made it to the top, his father held out his hand for him and Jacob grabbed it, pulling himself up.  "Come on. You almost missed your training." Jacob climbed on his horse and rode back to town with his father and the orb in his pack.

When they arrived at home, two men had just left the house in full knight gear. Jacob saluted them and they both chuckled. Jacob put Archer in the stable and tied him up.

"Great day today." His father said

"Yeah. One day I will be a great knight. Just like those two men." He said turning to him. His dad rubbed Jacob's head lovingly.

"You will be better than them. You will be fighting under the king one day with me."

Suddenly a messenger came for Jacob's dad. Out of breath and sweating the messenger handed him a letter. "For Charles Fireheart." Charles nodded and watched the messenger leave. When he saw the DragonReach symbol on the back, he frowned.

"What is it dad?" Jacob asked looking over his shoulder.

Charles sighed, shoving the letter in his pocket. "Whatever it is, it isn't good. When the royal family sends letters so far, it's never good." He turned to Jacob. "Go greet your mother. I will see you a little bit."

With that, Jacob began walking inside. His mother, Silica, was in the kitchen with his sister, Helena.

"Hi mom." Jacob said. Silica turned and smirked.

"Morning Jacob. I heard that you got stuck in the forest. Is that true?" Jacob laughed nervously.

"Yeah well..." His eyes turned to his younger sister. "Hey!" He knelt down to her. "How's it going? Any words today?"

Helena lowered her head and shook it sadly, saying no with her body. Jacob sighed and hugged her.

"It's okay. You'll get it. " He said with a smile. Often, he is reminded that his sister is a mute.

"Go put your stuff away Jacob." Silica ordered, not looking at the two. Jacob headed upstairs.

He always wondered how can his sister came to be mute. Is the stories all lies? Or truth?