Biblen arrived back in Orn late the next day with a cart full of different supplies: spices and herbs, bandages and ingredients of all kinds that he used to make his medicines and concoctions.
“How’s the patient?” he asked Vaylen, referring to Noble.
“Not so ‘patient’. He’s been a grouch lately but he’s doing well.”
“Where are the other two?” he asked, looking around.
“I would imagine in the battle yards.”
Biblen nodded and set a crate down.
“I’m going to go check on him,” he told her.
He went up the stairs and opened the door to find Kai sitting on the bed talking to Noble.
“Father, you’re back!” she said, jumping up and giving him a hug.
“What are you two doing?” he asked them.
“We were just talking…”
“Ah I see, becoming better friends right? Well I need to talk to Noble and your mother might need some help putting supplies away.”
After Kai left, Biblen approached Noble.
“How’s the foot?” he asked, unwrapping the bandage.
“It feels better than ever,”
The wound was closed and the teeth marks were barely visible, leaving just a faint scar.
“It’s looking good! You can try walking on it now if you want to,”
It was the best news he had ever heard. No more lying in that dumb bed for hours with nothing to do. Except talk to Kai; he liked talking to her. He slowly began applying pressure to it, walking around the room using Biblen as a support until he could walk on his own.
“So when can I learn to fight?” Noble questioned when he was satisfied with himself.
“Whoa just hold on there. Noble, you just started walking on it not even five minutes ago. Be patient.”
Noble rolled his eyes and exhaled a long, hard breath.
“How long do you all expect me to wait? It’s been days since I got hurt, Biblen. For all we know the falfreys are entering Dule as we speak!”
“Noble, listen to me. Like everything, you have to take it slow at first; be patient with it! The slower you take it right now the less chance you will hurt yourself down the road. If you do as I say today I will let you start training with your bow or sword or whatever weapon Belbriv has in mind for you before the end of the week. Deal?”
Noble still couldn’t find it in him to be patient, but he nodded and the old giant smiled.
“Good. Now if you want I will let you go to the battle yards and watch the training; Caro and Jon are there now,”
Noble accepted and just wanted to get out of that bedroom. He was excited to see the town of Orn.
***
Two-story buildings lined across both sides of the dirt road that went on for miles straight through the town, winding around and then disappearing in the horizon. Noble had never seen such tall buildings or such a clean-looking town. Back in Bef, most of the homes only contained two rooms with very little space, and each house sat practically on top of one another.
Here in Orn, Noble could actually breathe clean air and not choke on smoke or putrid smells. He wished Beg and every other town in the four countries could be like Orn and the country of Dule. He knew, though, that if they didn’t stop Akaidish soon that the darkness would take over every other country.
He imagined that at one time Bef was as beautiful as Orn. It would be once again, he hoped. The two got to the battle yards and watched both Caro and Jon.
“They look good,” Noble stated as they watched the training.
“You’ll be out there doing the same in a few days.” Biblen encouraged. “You will train with Bregbon and Jon with the swords for a while then I believe Belbriv has something special in mind for you,”
Noble knew Belbriv could have anything planned, which scared him a little.
“Ah, there’s Belbriv, over there. He’ll take over now; I have patients to get back to,” And the giant left.
“So what is it Biblen says you have planned for me?” Noble asked as he reached Belbriv.
The giant smiled.
“Oh, I hate it when you do that,” Noble told him and the giant laughed.
“Stay right here,”
Five minutes or so went by before Belbriv returned with a boy around Noble’s age, but of course he was much taller.
“Noble, this is my son, Caliper.”
“Everyone just calls me Cal.” The boy-giant smiled and extended his large hand.
Noble had no idea Belbriv had a son!
“Cal is going to teach you his ‘trade’ and skill of fighting. You two should get along well.” Belbriv told him.
Cal looked ready to get started on whatever it was he was going to show him, but Noble wasn’t so sure yet.
“So we can start tomorrow? That way we can talk and everything tonight,” Cal asked.
Noble hesitated because of his deal with Biblen but he nodded his head.
“Sounds good to me,” he told him.
And so the training would begin…
