Song of Wind

Chapter 6

      Sun filtered through his room, waking him from his sleep. Outside birds chirped merrily and the sound of clashing steel had him bolting out of bed in a rush. His late night trip to the library had made him forget about his sword practice with Sloan. Dressing out of his night robes and into a deep violet tunic he raced out of his room and into the courtyard below.

     Outside the air was unusually warm for the morning, sparkling dew clung to the blades of grass, the sky turned pink from the rising sun. Horses snorted and whinnied from within the stables beyond as they were fed their morning feed.

     Sloan was in the center of the courtyard on the stoned sparring ring. Small crowds of men and women stood around the stone center shouting out bets. They waved clenched fists in the air, swearing and bellowed curses. The screeching of steel rang out as swords clashed together in a fury. Ashton shouldered his way through the crowd, earning a few curses his way until they realized who he was and began to profusely apologize. He ignored them, as he finally shoved his way to the front of the crowd.

    He saw the glint of sun on the steel as they twirled and danced in the arms of Sloan and his opponent. They both dripped sweat, perspiration gathered on their foreheads as they circled each other ready to strike. Sloans opponent was the stable boy, a sturdy boy of barely fourteen, a lock of golden hair that was popular with the ladies. Most of the yelling came from young maidens who swooned after him in the stables. Sloan watched the young lad like a wolf stalked its prey. Ashton saw the wicked glint of Sloan's eyes, as he lunged at the poor boy, too fast for him to react. Sloan had knocked the sword right from his hand with his own sword, weaponless the boy could only back up eyes wide. He clutched his bleeding hand to his chest as Sloan kicked him off his feet and held a sword to his throat.

"I submit!" he screamed, his face chalky white. The crowd began to hiss insults at both Sloan and the boy. The noise grew into a crescendo that left Ashton near deaf. Sloan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, before curling his lip at the boy.

"Get out of here, go on boy!" Sloan said grasping him by the front of his shirt and hauling him up to his feet. Shoving him away, the boy stumbled his golden hair plastered to his face from sweat. He ran off white as a ghost to the stables, Ashton watched the boy go an invisible tail between his legs.

"You're next prince" Sloan said giving him a wide grin. Ashton could feel the crowds shift in moods, from high intensity to a quietness that was palpable. People stared between him and Sloan as Ashton slipped into the middle of the ring facing sloan. Unfastening a scabbard at his side a sword's hilt poking thru the top. Sloan threw it at Ashton who caught it easily.

"There is your new sword, what better way to get acquainted with it than a duel?" Sloan said loud enough for everyone around them to hear. Feeling a surge of Bravado he drew the sword out with a steady hand. The familiar scrap of steel on leather pleased his ears. The crowds audible gasp did nothing to what he felt inside as he beheld his sword. It was perfectly balanced in his hand, the morning sun glinted off its silver edge. The hilt was of a fine wood from a polished red wood tree. Smooth as the make of the fine craftsman who made it.

     Shaped like a mighty hawk the sigil of his thornleaf family name. A dark ruby was set into the hilt to replace an eye of the hawks. Ashton immediately felt an attachment to the sword made perfectly for him. Sloan gave him a knowing smile before lifting his own sword in challenge to Ashton, Sloans sword was plain compared to Ashton's newly forged sword. He lifted his sword in an answer to Sloans; in the corner of his eye he glimpsed a wheelchair. He didn't have time to dwell on it as Sloan charged him with a mighty yell.

    Ashton blocked the first blow to his head, and parried the faint stab to his side. Fighting again sent a blood pumping thrill through him that Ashton hadn't realized he'd been missing. Doing this again was just as easy as walking for him. He fell right back into the fighting like he had never missed those whole seasons when he had not been doing it.