Rising Valor

      The early morning sun leaked through the tree branches, like the softest stream finding its way through every crack. The slowly seeping warmth and light in his eyes woke Cas from his dreams. He groggily looked around himself and sighed. He had fallen asleep in the woods again. Cas stood and stretched, the dirt he used as a bed doing his back no favors. Grabbing his bow and quiver he began his walk home. The time went by as he focused on the woods and the sounds of birds beginning to chirp and the rustle of small critters run into bushes as he passed.

      Paying attention to everything other than his steps, he almost tripped slightly on the rubbled remains of the stone wall that had once surrounded his home.

      His home was small, only having one room and a living area, made of a mix of wood and stone with a thatch roof and surrounded by herb gardens his mother had planted. A single horse was housed in a ramshackle barn with a lopsided cart, and with his mother being a midwife, she tried to make tinctures to sell in the neighboring village for extra money. The windows were holes in the wall with curtains in front of them. The front door was a misshapen piece of wood that just happened to fit nicely enough. Cas didn’t mind the haphazard look of the home; it is where he grew up. Straightening himself, he stepped over the stone rubble and up the few feet to his home where a slight sweetness caressed his nose. Opening the door and peaking in Cas saw his mother pulling something out of there small clay oven.

      His mother turned with a paddle in hand, carrying a freshly baked sweet bun. Her eyes met Cas’s and she smiled and rushed to put the paddle on the table and run to her son, arms wide.

     “Happy Birthday Cassian! It’s not every day you turn fifteen, so I baked you your favorite treat.” His mother squeezed Cas and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She was a small woman, so she had to get on her tiptoes.

     “Fiora, is that who I think it is, home at last?” His father chuckled as he came in from the other room. He was a large, well-built man. Most would be scared at first sight but that always went away as soon as they saw his constant smile. He was the local blacksmith in Trendel, a small village a mile to the east of them.

      Cas, still held by his mother waited as his father moved closer and joined the embrace, wrapping his massive arms around both he and his mother. Cas gave them both one tight squeeze and then wormed his way out of the group hug.

      “Sorry for not coming home last night, time always gets away from me.” He said sheepishly.

      “As long as you keep coming home safe its fine, just make sure to bring me home a rabbit every now and again, I’m tired of your mothers cabbage stew.” His father said smiling and laughing.

     “Elric! You’re supposed to tell him not to do that anymore.” His mother interjected, glaring at her husband.

      “He is going to keep doing it anyways, at least this way I get something out of it.” He looked at Cas and winked, grabbing his wife with one arm, pulling her in for a kiss. “Now are you going to eat this sweet bun or not?!” His mother growled but smiled and they all moved to the table. Cas’s parents tried to let him eat all the sweet bun himself but he insisted they share it and so he passed around a fork so they can take turns.

      After their shared treat and some chatting, Cas went outside to the well to wash up. The well stood near a window and as he finished washing and putting his shirt back on, he heard his parents talking.

      “When are you going to tell him your shop burned down? You can’t work until its rebuilt.” His mother’s voice sounded worried.

      “I will tell him sometime soon, but not today, let the boy enjoy his birthday.” His father sounded serious, and he could sense the stress. Cas couldn’t believe what he heard. He knew they were always just scraping by, but this wasn’t good. Cas walked back inside and gathered his bow and quiver and a walking staff. He wanted to go hunting to find food for his family and maybe down something big enough to sell for leather. His parents continued their hushed conversation but stopped when they saw him with all his gear.

      “Where are you off to?” Asked his mother.

      “Just back out to the woods to see what I find, I promise to be back before nightfall!” Cas practically shouted as he rushed out the door and ran before they could try and stop him. Cas ran until he entered the woods and then began his hunt. It was only just turning to midday, so he had plenty of time. He nocked an arrow on his bow to be ready for anything and placed his walking staff in the quivers back strap. Cas walked slow, listening for ay sounds of animals scurrying by. He heard nothing but the wind.

      Yet some sound did carry from the wind to his east. A scream. Too far to decipher words but he ran towards the sound at a jog. The yelling drew closer.

      “Get off of me! Help!” yelled a female voice.

      “No one can hear you out hear lovely.” Chuckled a male voice sinisterly. Cas drew closer, his vision blocked by bushes. He continued to hear the man chuckling but the other voice seemed to be muffled. As Cas came upon the bush, he heard the sound of cloth ripping. Peeking through the bush the sight shocked him. A man was kneeling over a girl with his hand over her mouth. Her dress had torn from her trying to get away but the man’s knee holding it in place.

        Fury filled Cas’s chest as he watched the scene and hearing the mans chuckle. Placing his bow and already nocked arrow in front of him, he pulled the drawstring and fired not even aiming properly. The man looked up as the bowstring snapped forward, the arrow slicing passed his cheek making him flinch. The man got up and Cas exploded from the bush with his walking staff in hand and swung at the man. He blocked the swing and kicked out Cas’s legs, making him hit the ground.

        Then the man was on top of him now, hands around his throat. Cas couldn’t breathe. As the world started to dim, it came flooding back in as the hands were released. Cas saw the girl with a rock in her hand and the man slouching over, cursing. Cas got to his feet, grabbing his staff, and swinging at the man’s head. It connected and the man spun and hit the ground, face first. Cas saw the man’s back rise and fall but he didn’t get up, he was unconscious. The girl had wild eyes and stared at the man, only when Cas stepped forward did she look away.

       “My name is Cassian, I would like to take you to my parents for help is that okay?” He spoke softly, putting his hands up. She looked back at the man and dropped the rock.

       “Elaine.” Was all she said before she began to fall, the adrenaline wearing off. Cas caught her and carried her. Running all the way home, happy he hadn’t gone too far. After his short jog, he burst into his house, making his parents jump.

       “You weren’t gone long.” Started his father, but then he stopped as he saw the girl. Cas placed her on his cot in the main room and explained what happened. As he told his tale his mother grabbed a large coat and covered Elain. When he finished his story, his father got up and went to his room for a few minutes and came back fully dressed in his riding gear.

       “I will be back; Cassian stay with your mother and Elain.” He left the house in a rush and Cas could hear the horse racing off into the distance. Cas sat with his mother next to Elain’s cot for an hour when he heard multiple horses coming towards the house, his father and a man walked in. The man, who was about just as large as his father, and a noble by the look of his embroidered clothing, walked straight to Elain. He knelt next to her, tears welled in his eyes.

       “I am sir Kenrick, a knight recently stationed at Trendel. This is my daughter who you saved today.” His eyes never left his daughter’s unconscious body. “She was taken by that man this morning and I was sick with worry when I could not find her.” Kenrick stood and removed his eyes from his daughter, looking into Cas’s own and placing a hand on his shoulder. “That was a no small amount of bravery on your part, especially for one so young.” Sir Kenrick looked to Cas’s father and then to his mother. “It is not everyday someone shows you their heart is as true as your sons, and I believe I owe all of you a debt.” Kenrick paused and turned back to Cas. “I would like to make you my personal squire, I can offer you six gold monthly and one day, when you have proven yourself further, you too will become a knight of the realm.”

       Cas stood there in stunned silence. Both of his parents stood with mouths agape. Cas looked at them and his heart swelled with joy as his wish had been answered. He could now provide for his family. Six gold was more than they saw in a year. He looked at Sir Kenrick and words failed him, so he only nodded vigorously. Kenrick laughed and placed a hand on Cas’s shoulder.

      “If it is alright, I would like to bring you back with me to Trendel. You can stay in my guest quarters, so you are close enough for daily training.”  He turned his head facing the front door. “But first I would like you to take me to the man that did this to my daughter.” Cas happily led the Knight and his father to the man in the woods, easily retracing his steps.

      By the time they got to him the man was still lying on the ground. It had been hours so at first they all thought he was dead, but when they got close enough the man let out a slight snore, signifying life. When the man snored Cas lightly chuckled but when he turned, he saw pure malice on Kendricks face. Kenrick turned towards Cas and the emotion turned to calm, as if it had never been there.

     “Please, lay him flat while I grab rope from my saddle.” Kenrick requested. Cas and his father moved towards the unconscious man and laid him flat on his stomach and placed his hands on his back. It didn’t take long and by the time they finished Kenrick walked over with two strands of rope and began binding the man’s hands and feet. He checked his handy work and grabbing the man’s collar and pant leg, he lifted the man up like he weighed nothing and walked over and placed him on his horse’s haunches.

     “I will take him back to the village from here and process him and send for you and my daughter in the morning, if that is alright.” Kenrick said, looking to Elric, who agreed. Kenrick smiled as he shook both Cassian and his father’s hands, thanking them each in turn. He then effortlessly leapt onto his horse and waved as he began to trot away. Cassian’s father put his arm around his son’s shoulders, and they began their walk home in stunned silence from the day. Yet Cassian’s mind excitedly wandered as they walked, ready for his new adventure.