Waylin

  Waylin sat back in his chair, sipping his mug of spiced tea as he stared off his porch and admired the mountain next to him. It was peaceful. He should be relaxed. But he wasn’t, instead his ease had quickly turned to a rising panic as he watched the single soldier run up the long trail towards his cabin.

  Cesar would be off to the festival by now, with Anya. He couldn’t help but let a small smile cross his face as he thought of the pair. He would definitely tease his nephew when he returned. He sighed, looking up at the clouds above.

  “I wish you could see him growing up,” Waylin said, a melancholia threatening to overtake his previous panic, “I am trying to let him live a normal life.”

  He squashed the thoughts down and stood as the now very winded soldier arrived at his front step.

  Waylin tried to get a measure of the man. He was skinny with olive skin and unkempt hair. The armor was of Halrith design, a scout of some kind if he were to guess. Perhaps a paladin’s squire?

  “I,” the poor man gasped, leaning down and gripping his knees, “message. From Fort Jocass.”

  “Why aren’t you on horseback?” Waylin asked, his eyes beginning to scan the area behind the man.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  “Died. Two miles from town.” The man said, his gasps turning to normal ragged breaths as he straightened himself. “No time to get another.”

  “What's the message?” Waylin asked, already feeling himself begin to edge towards where he kept his weapons.

  The scout presented him with a small folded letter, a Halrith seal on top. Waylin opened the letter and read the short message as he felt himself go pale.

  Dominion ships inbound. They seek the Emperor’s hand. Waylin.

  Waylin stared at the message, blinking before looking up to the soldier. “You should leave now.”

  The soldier nodded before moving to head down the mountain, his pace greatly reduced.

  Waylin looked down at the note before moving into the house. He quickly retrieved a candle and burned the note before turning to look around the room.

  His eyes went to a cabinet against the wall and went over to it. He threw the utensils and bowls off from its shelves. They clattered to the floor as he finally spotted what he was looking for, a faint glowing rune stone embedded in the wall.

  He paused, taking a breath before pushing his hand against it. The rune glowed red for a moment before suddenly a small ping sounded and his hand passed through the wall. His fingers brushed the items beyond and he pulled them out, one after another and set it on the ground.

  His mind was a storm, guilt, panic and fear all clashed at once as he worked to look over the items.

  Had he failed? He thought this town would be a place for Cesar to grow up in peace.

  Cesar hadn’t shown any power. But now he might be discovered not because of himself but because of Waylin.

  With a deep sigh Waylin reached down and picked up the sword lying there, three runes glowed in the hilt, the blue light shone brighter as his fingers brushed it.

  Both it and its master still had a fight in them.