Frozen: The Start of a Blizzard

CHAPTER 4: A BRIGHT FUTURE

The barracks were the first things they passed to get to the training grounds. They were well made wooden structures; wood panel doors guarded the entrance to every one of the six barrack buildings. With only a couple of windows in each structure, Vinder could just barely see that each one housed around twenty people. When they reached the courtyard sized training grounds, Clara led Vinder to a wooden bench.

"Can you stay right here for a moment? I'll be right back, ok?" Vinder's nanny asked him, as he hopped up onto the bench.

"Ok Clara," the young Prince nodded, already engrossed in his new surroundings. Clara then wandered off to talk to one of the trainers standing around, and that's when something caught Vinder's eye. He got off the bench and headed for the weapon rack. Vinder was admiring all the different kinds of weapons. There were single-handed as well as two-handed swords, broadswords, hook-pikes, spears, lances, maces, etc. Of course, the was the three main types of shields: the kite-shield, the round-shield, and the full-shield. However, at the bottom of the rack, there was one pair of weapons that Vinder had never seen before. They were like miniature versions of single-handed swords, but they were really rusty as though they haven't been used in a long time. Just as Vinder was reaching out to touch them, he heard an unfamiliar voice behind him.

"Ah, I see that you have found a pair of daggers, young Prince," said the voice. Vinder turned to see Clara standing next to the man she had gone to talk to.

"Daggers? What are daggers?" Inquired Vinder.

"Those two knives that you were looking at," the man told Vinder, pointing to the rusty weapons. "Daggers are a very special type of blade, used by a near-extinct form of fighter known as 'Rogues'." He continued.

"What does extinct mean?" Vinder asked the man, tilting his head slightly.

"Extinct means that something or someone is no longer around,"

"Oh, that's very sad,"

"Sometimes it can be, you're right. However, not all Rogues died, some of them only renounced their ways to live a better life. Like me,"

"You were a Rogue?" Vinder asked the man, wide eyed.

"Yes I was, before I came to this beautiful kingdom. In fact, those were my first pair of daggers. I keep them around to remind myself of the life I left behind, and why I changed. My name is Captain James Aeon, but you may call me Aeon." He informed Vinder, who was now trying to hold back a giggle. "What is so funny?"

"Your name, sir: James. I've never heard one like it." Vinder laughed but got a scowl from Clara.

"Vinder! How dare you?! That was very rude, apologize to Mr. Aeon right now!" Clara scolded the young Prince.

"No, no. It is quite alright, Miss Verge." Aeon told Clara, "I must agree with Prince Vinder here, you see in this land my name is quite funny, even to me," He said, smiling and ruffling Vinder's hair. "Now, enough small talk. Your nanny here, tells me that you are interested in watching some training. Is that true?" Aeon asked Vinder, changing the subject.

"Yes sir, I would love to, very much," confirmed Vinder.

"Alright then, glad to hear it," said Aeon, standing up and putting his fingers into his mouth. He then blew into his fingers, making a loud high-pitched sound, that Vinder had never heard before. Vinder noticed that the sound Aeon just made, had gotten the attention of all of the men there. "Alright! Listen up! We have a very special guest here today who has come to watch some training: Prince Vinder of Arendelle. Let's give him a show, men!" Aeon addressed them.

"Sir! Yes, Sir!" The men responded all at once. Aeon led Vinder and Clara to one of the benches, and then went to help organize the men. Vinder, who was sitting on Clara's knee, looked at his nanny and smiled, clearly excited. Clara smiled back at him, and quickly made him turn his attention back to the courtyard, when she realized that the show was starting.