Two weeks passed by in a flurry of activity. By now, the Faelish incursion had been beaten back. For how long, nobody could be certain. Kael was certain it was only a momentary lapse. He returned to his studies in preparation for the trials, learning the craft of hand-to-hand combat in several forms, how to track various species of animals using sophisticated techniques, how to blend with his surroundings, whether in the dark, twilight or in broad daylight. He was an able student. Mroi was an able teacher, though enigmatic about his own background. Kael hoped to become as capable as Mroi someday soon. He hoped to make his father, Moncae, proud. And Calia. Especially Calia.

After a long hard day of training. Kael retired to his hut to rest for the night. sometime just pass three in the morning . Kael woke up. He heard noises outside. He quickly got dressed and went outside. Standing in the middle of the village square was Rhen,Dahel,Stiath, Calia,and Kiessi Rhen's sister. Kael walked over to them and asked "What's going on?" Rhen turned to him and replied" A couple of Faelish warriors tried to kidnap Calia and Kiessi.
Me and Daehl spotted them and went after them. They saw us and let the girls go and ran off into the woods."Kael shouted "let's go and teach them a lesson!!" Rhen grabbed his arm and said "Kael clam down there might be more then two of them out there. Let's just go back to bed
We can worry about this in the morning." Kael nodded his head in agreement and said "yeah you're right" Rhen looked over at Calia and smiled and winked He wasn't going to tell Kael that the reason the Faelish had runned away was because Calia had started to fight them and they were surprised that a girl could fight like a warrior.Two Faelish
warriors entered the secret alcove hidden in the trees just putside the willage perimeter. They walked over to Gandian
and bowed to him and said" Master we have failed in our mission." Gandian looked at them and said "what happened? Buthor who was standing on the right replied" We got the girls like you told us and were getting ready to return here, when one of them managed to cry out and the
warriors of the village came after us. We didn't want to get captured so we ran." Mroi stepped from his hiding place in the shadows and looked at Gandian and asked " Why don't my plans work? What am I doing wrong?" Gandian replied "I don't think I'm the one to answer that question." He then went over and sat down at the table. Gandian thought "hmmm. I don't know much about this God of the Homdall, but I've read some of their scared writtings the Tokra and what their God has done. I wonder if He might have a hand in this. Well I'm tired, I'll worry about that some other time.

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****** Aspros Tigris ******
The one and only white tiger

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and see what really creative folks have been coming up with in this fantasy novel. Cool, y'all, cool!! My greatest fantasy is having some help with caregiving so I'm not doing it 24/7--forgive the intrusion of my (rather harsh) reality. By the way, how old are the "girls" in this novel? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, read it & C!! Good luck, Authors!

A pall had been cast over the encampment. The bravado of the young ladies notwithstanding, more battle-seasoned members of the Woodland protectorate were left with many questions about the attempt to abduct them. The Heincae Faelish were savage in their quest for territorial expansion, even bloodthirsty at times, but they had not broken the warrior accords for two centuries. The older warriors now recognized that they were either dealing with a shift in leadership within the Heincae, or they were dealing with an isolated group of warriors, with and agenda known only to them. Which was it? How would they prepare for such an attempt again without causing undue angst throughout the hamlets within the Woodland Realm?

A fire had been built in the daylight hours, taking care to produce as little smoke as possible, and now the embers smoldered beneath carefully chosen stones, selected to retain their heat. Daehl stood close to the calid rocks, absorbing their warmth, but alert to what others about him were doing. He had begun scouting strategic locations for encampments in the woods around the village the moment Kar Sal's emissaries had called for an assembly of the Convened Chiefs. The Assembly included Moncae, a respected tribal leader, and a warrior of courage and great skill. Daehl cast a stealthy glance at his young friend Kael, wondering what kind of restraint must have been necessary for him to hear Moncae tell his son that he must stay behind. Something like a smile played at the corner of Daehl's lips, and he thanked the One above for Kael's mother, Seshtali. She had, more than once, proven to be a buffer between her son and his own rash intentions.

Out in the woods, and hoping to be a different kind of buffer between the village and any further attacks, Daehl knew he must depend on Rehn to become a "mothering" influence on Kael. Perhaps he had made a mistake in siphoning all of the younger and mostly untried warriors to himself and the encampment he had placed himself in, but only time would tell. He had seen battle, and he knew well the affect that months of starvation and physical hardship could have on a person's heart, to say nothing of what it meant to take a stand in a desperate struggle to survive when others would crush the life out of you. He hoped that none of the younger eyes that looked to him for guidance would ever have bloodshed on their hands, and engraved upon their souls.

Rehn walked to Daehl and held out a skewer of meat and kneeled to set a flask of water at his feet. He rose to leave the warrior to his thoughts, but Daehl spoke a word quietly to him, "Remain." Rehn waited while his senior tasted the meat and nodded his approval and a brief thanks. "How is your training coming along, Rehn?"

Rehn considered his words a moment and answered, "I have tried many things, and I have mastered nothing, but I am staying with it."

Seeming neither pleased or displeased with the assessment, he made one of his own and offered, "I have seen you and your friend Kael sparring with both the long blade and the staff. You both seem....confident."

"You will forgive me sir," Rehn said respectfully, "but you would know more about that than I do."

This last remark actually produced a smile from the veteran warrior. "I might at that." he replied, and stooped to pick up the flask and take a long drink. When he had set the flask down once more he said, "Let me say it in a different way. You seem closely matched."

"Again, your forgiveness is begged sir, but Kael is far better in the disciplines than I so far." Rehn said, "Sparring is only play. Is it not?"

Daehl looked at Rehn with renewed respect. "That is an honest appraisal, but I believe you underestimate your talent."

"Sir?" Rehn seemed genuinely puzzled.

"You are not so far behind your friend," Daehl said, "that ardent training will not help you meet his ability."

"I agree with you sir," Rehn said, "but while I will train diligently, ardor is not something I have acquired within my efforts. My heart is not with the training."

Daehl raised an eyebrow, "Why are you here then?"

"I love my people, sir," Rehn said, "and my heart is with my friend." The young man bowed, and walked away.

Daehl looked after the young man as he left his side and then dropped the empty skewer to the ground, wiping his hands on his thighs. He squatted down to drink the last of the water, and turned the flask upside down to see the final drops disappear into the forest floor. "Yes, you are closely matched." he thought to himself, "Closely matched in skill, and in the trust that cements a group like this. Kael, you are fortunate to have such friend. Fortunate indeed."

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seekHm1st
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His Word is... sharper than any two-edged sword.