'Daddy!' A 4 year old boy yelled at his father. His brown eyes stood sad as he looked at his little wooden soldier with his head in one hand and his body in the other. 'It's bwoke!'
'I'll fix it tonight. Ivar..' He kneeled next to the boy and hugged him so that Ivar wouldn't be upset anymore. 'Shall we play with our swords?'
He could see the little twinkling lights in the child's brown eyes. 'You go and get them.. I'll finish this up.' Ivar ran away as fast as his little legs could carry him to their home. His curly blond hair flew after him. He smiled and finished the little bench he was making for some family.
Their money problem was much better at that time. 4 years ago they had lost their home and everything they owned in a fire, on the day Ivar was born.. But slowly they recovered from that fire. Not everything was ok again, but it was better than 4 years ago.. Than the world had seemed a dark place.

Ivar ran into the little house with his dirty boots.
'Ivar!' His mother yelled.
The little boy looked at his mother, as innocent as he could, with an angel-like smile. His brown eyes twinkling with excitement. She couldn't stay mad at him. He had his fathers eyes and her blond hair. She smiled at him. 'Why the rush?'
'Daddy and Ivaw play swords!' Ivar jumped up and down so that more dirt was sprinkled on the floor. His mother sighed.
'You know what.. If you help me with this floor, I'll come and watch.' She knew how he loved her to be their.
Ivar grabbed the first cloth he could get and started cleaning up his mess. It was a funny sight because he cleaned, but also a trail of dirt where he placed his little feet.
'Ivar... Thank you! Now you can go get your swords.' She hugged the wriggling kid and then let him go. He darted away. The mother ducked and swept the dirt from the floor.
She looked around as she waited for Ivar to return. It wasn't as big as their first home, but it was much better than the rented room 4 years ago. Their were more rooms now in this cottage and clean things. She smiled as she pictured her two favourite men together fighting with their swords... Ivar trying really hard, and his father trying not to hit Ivar.
'Mommy! Lets go!' Ivar was jumping up and down on the wooden floor of the kitchen. She sighed, pushed Ivar outside and closed the door and dirty floor behind her.

'Mommy!! Look I won!' Ivar looked so proud. She smiled at him and said 'The winner deserves a kiss!' She kissed him softly on his forehead. Then she turned to his father and said 'And the loser gets a kiss too.' Ivar's father grinned and hugged his wife.
Ivar pulled at the clothing of his father. 'Daddy! I want to fight some mowe!'
'No son... It's getting late.. We need to go home..'
'Yes sweaty.. Lets go home. I can see you're tired.'
'But... But...' Ivar couldn't suppress a yawn. His father picked him up and walked back to their home.
'When I gwow up... I want to be as stwong as the warriors of your stowies mommy.' He whispered before he fell asleep in the arms of his father.

Ivar grew up into a young men of 14 years and the wooden swords turned into metal ones, not sharp, but the weight was the same.
He practiced every day, with his father or with some wooden men his father had made for him. Ivar helped his father if he could, so that he could train his muscles. But when he wasn't training, or helping his father, he was listing to stories that his mother told him. He loved her stories and the way she told them. He would lay on his belly on the floor, or on his back in the tall grass, imagining that he was the warrior fighting his battle.
Now she was telling a story about a young man. His house was burned down by strangers, and he had lost his wife and children in that fire. The man was blinded by his anger and loss. He swore to revenge his family and kill the strange men.
He was driven by his hatred far through the country. Through mountains and plains. Even to the end of the world.. But their e found nothing.. Only a black hole.
'How does it end mom?' Ivar asked.
'Nobody knows… Some say that he just turned back, others say that he was pushed in the black hole and jet another ending is that he saw his family in that black hole and that he jumped in it to be with them forever.' He looked at his mother and she smiled.
'And what do you think mom? How does the story end?'
'Well Ivar… I've always believed that it was the last ending.' She smiled again. 'And do you know why?' 
Ivar shook his head.
'Because that is the happy ending.'
'How come.. He dies…' Ivar said.
'But.. He's with his family for ever.. He isn't alone anymore… He has found his peace.' She smiled again.
'I think I like that ending too. I promise you this mom.. I'll never be ruled by my hate.. I'll never start a family of my own.. So that I can't loose them…'
'Oh honey.. You can't stop falling in love..'
'Yes I can. I'll be a warrior, and learn it. It's just like learning to battle..'
His mother didn't say anything anymore.. She just smiled and looked at the dark clouds.
'Come son.. We need to get inside.. It's going to rain.' 

Ivar was 17 years, the day before he turned 18. His mother and father had saved some money to buy the excellent gift for Ivar. An axe that was made with 4 openings in the blades. The maker had said that those holes were tricky to make and so not often used. The little blades at the bottom were also a trademark of good craftwork. They had another surprise for him. And soon they could tell them what it was.
'Ivar my boy.. You'll soon be a man.. And that needs to be celebrated!' His dad woke him up early in the morning. The sun was nearly up. And Ivar had to be guided to his big surprise.
'What? Oh dad... It's too early... The sun isn't even up..'
His dad didn't take no for an answer. He walked quickly the the bed and pulled the cheats so that he fell out of the bed. Ivar fell with a soft bump on the ground.
'What the ....'
'Just follow me Ivar.. I have an ice cold bucket with your name on it if you won't follow me this instant!' His father turned on his heels and walked out of the room. His son quickly behind him. He knew his father meant what he said.
'Good you're up!' His mother exclaimed when she saw her two boys coming down the stairs.
Ivar muttered something under his breath as he ate his breakfast.
'You'll have to eat faster if you want our surprise...' His mother whispered in his ear as she passed him.
'Present?' Ivar asked. 'Why are we waiting?'
'You have to eat your breakfast first.'
'Hade enough! Can't overeat myself now can I?' He jumped up from his seat and sprint to the door. Then he cleared his trout and smiled innocent.
His parents followed him through the door. Ivar was now taller than his father. His skin was brown gold because of the long training in the sun. All the girls of the town fell before him, but he didn't even make a move. His golden hair curled around his head like a light that followed him everywhere and his brown eyes were always looking serious, only sometime his mother saw the little boy in those eyes. But most of the time he controlled himself very well. 
'Now son... You have to close your eyes...' His father said to him. Ivar didn't like that much. But his father stood still and wouldn't move until Ivar had closed his eyes.
'And no peeking!' His mother added.

It took a while before they got to the present, but eventually they got their in one piece.
'Can I look now?'
'Yes you can!' His mother said. 'You're present is in their..' She pointed to the camp of the famous Rhanquil warriors. Ivar's mouth fell open.
'Come son.. You will have to prove yourself for them. This whole day is a test.' His father smiled fatherly.
'See that glittering thing up their, on the tower?' His mother asked as she looked at the top of the tower. It was the highest of the whole camp. The sun shone on it perfectly. The blade glittered of sharpness. She looked at her son and their she saw the same glitter.
'Now your test will begin..' A low voice said from the wall of the camp. Ivar couldn't see him because of the sun. But his shape was mighty. He knew he was the leader of these men.
Ivar grinned and his adventure of a day started.

His parents cleared the way and he started off in the forest around the camp. First he needed to have a sword or something to help him. At least he thought he would need a sword, being in a camp full of trained men.. 
He wasn't looking at the path he was taking, he was too exited. But his mind came back when he fell on the hard ground of leafs. 
'Great' He whispered. But as he looked back, he saw something shining in the early light of the sun. He crawled to it, making a lot of noise. He uncovered the most extraordinary sword he had ever seen. Now he needed to be more careful, make less noise and most of all enjoy this day of battle!
He got up, lifted the sword and as it sparkled in the early light, he saw somebody sneaking up behind him. He didn't let the man notice that he had seen the roach breathing, not bathed for months, man. Even a blind man could smell him a mile away..
As the man got closer, Ivar prepared himself for a real battle. He grinned as he turned quickly and swung his sword. Well... the air wasn't happy to be sliced like that. Ivar's mouth fell open. How could that be? 
Ivar didn't let it make him distracted though. He sneaked to the stone wall of the camp and their stepped with his back against the wall, searching for a little hole. He looked in every direction. 
He saw 3 men coming towards him. He prepared himself again for battle, but now as he heard a clicking noise, he fell through the wall and into a small hallway.
He had his sword in the ready, because his eyes weren't adjusted to the darkness of the hallway. He heard something dripping in the distance and thought that it was water.
When he could see a little better, he started down the hallway. It was a very dark passage, but you could see enough to know that this way went straight towards its goal, whatever that was. 

He passed rooms full of chains and dummies too capture and train on. Ivar wondered what his father had meant with: this is a test.. And who was that man? Was he too battle with him? With the leader?
Ivar grinned at the thought of fighting with the leader. And that axe up on the tower.. That was his price. And he was going to get it. But first he needed to get out of this blasted tunnel.

He walked further and further into the tunnel. Was that a footstep. Ivar stopped and looked around. He didn't see anything though. He knew he couldn't escape this battle (not that he wanted), so he stepped towards the sound and lifted his sword.
He heard a hissing sound as he stepped closer to his enemy. He was scared, but he wasn't going to run. He was going to fight and if he was hurt in battle, he would have the scare of a great memory.
'Stop hissing and fight like a man!' Ivar said.
'I won't fight you... You're a little boy. Not worthy... Sssssss'
'I'm not scared of you. Do you really think I'm scared of somebody with a breathing problem?'
'Maybe the boyssss wanting to be a man... Maybe we ssshould fight him after all...'
'Yes maybe we should.' Ivar said back. He wasn't really impressed by the man, but the word 'we' made him think. Was their a whole army? Probably not.. That hissing man was probably crazy...
'Well? What are you waiting for?' But as Ivar said it, the man charged. His sword clashed against the ceiling. He hadn't noticed how low the ceiling was. Bt Ivar was creative. He ducked and so his sword would still hit the man. But he turned it to the palm of the sword, so that he wouldn't hurt the man too much. He hurt a soft bang and then somebody falling on the floor.
Now what was he to do with that man?
He couldn't let him lie their on the floor. He searched for his belt and looked if he would have some light with him. He had nothing with him, except for his sword, and that was lying on the floor.
He grabbed the man under his arms and pulled him through the tunnel. Ivar hoped that the end of the passage wouldn't be that far anymore. His sword bungled against his leg as he pulled the man further and further. He took the man with him because he didn't want to leave him in such a dark place alone. He also didn't know if he needed medical attention.
He was doubting that this tunnel would never end when a little light in the distance showed him the way out. He wanted to breath some fresh air again.. The tunnel was daft and a thick air filled the passages. 

When he finally got at the ending, 4 men were waiting their, ready to fight. He dropped the man in his arms and grabbed his sword. It was an unfair fight, and he might not succeed, but he would go down with a fight!
He fought and fought and eventually only one man remained. Ivar was breathing heavily, but he straightened his back. The man grinned at Ivar. 
'You're tired... I'll beat you!'
'We'll see..' Ivar pressed the words out together with his breath. He saw the man raging up toward him. Ivar twirled on his toes and the man banged against the rock wall with his head.
Ivar looked at the man. Now their were 5 men.. He couldn't get them to the medical bay all by himself.. Some lucky finder would have to help them now... 

Ivar looked at the sky. The sun was now on his highest point. He was hungry, but ignored the feeling.
He looked up and searched for the tower. He wanted that axe.. He was going to get that axe.
He grinned when he found it. High up the tower. Now how was he going to get their? 
He looked around and followed the stairs that went from the tower to a door. He orientated himself and went in a door. He hoped he would be in the right place. But as he stormed through the door, 2 men jumped up, ready to fight.
Ivar ducked so that he would miss the first sword beating. He heard the sharp blade passing through air. At the same time Ivar swept his leg over the ground and let the swordsman fall on the ground. Now the other had waited patiently. He didn't have a sword.. He had two wooden stocks, held together with a metal chain. Ivar found that weapon intriguing.. He had never seen such a weapon.
Still he would beet him into little peaces.. With or without an interesting weapon.. The man was making a lot of movements with his sticks. But every 5 seconds their was a little opening. In that opening Ivar had to hit him correctly.. And so he did, and the man fell on the other, making a big pile of men.

The night had fallen when he finally reached the tower. He had finally did it after a lot of battles and always going the wrong way. The full moon gave just enough light too see where Ivar stepped. It was a tricky path up the tower. He had made sure his sword was hanging next to his body and that it couldn't fall off. He swung up the roof and felt it with his tow. It seemed that the roof would hold him, but he was still careful. 
He could nearly reach the axe. He took one step closer, but as soon as he did that, something started too fall apart and that was the roof. He pulled the axe from the top and hugged it. He made his body into a ball and fell together with the roof.
He fell down with a bang and lots of pain in his behind.
'So you made it this far?' It was the same man as the one on the wall that looked at him. Now Ivar saw him. He had red short hair and was well build. He had some scars on his arms, which made him even more dangerous. He was old, although his spirit wasn't, and his length was as high as Ivar. His green eyes scanned the whole place where he had fallen.
'Yes I did. Did you think otherwise?'
'Never.' He seemed to tell the truth... But you never know whit these men. They are trained to cheat. 'I see you found you're axe.' The man looked at the axe Ivar was holding close to his chest. 'Want to try it?' He asked.
'How?'
'Fight with me.'
Ivar didn't need anymore to begin the fight. It seemed that Ivar had found his equal. They fought for hours.
Ivar was getting tired, but so was he. Ivar couldn't seem to hit him.. But this leader couldn't touch Ivar neither.
But finally, the leader was stronger and wan the fight.
'You were good. I watched you all day and I want to train you..' It seemed that the man wasn't going to take no for an answer. Not that Ivar was going to say no.
'Do you?' Ivar was breathing heavily on the dusty ground. His sweat made it turn into mud. The leader held his hand out so that Ivar could reach it and helped Ivar to his feet.
'Sleep at home tonight. Tomorrow begins your training.' He turned on his heels and was gone. Ivar didn't know how he did it. He had been so careful the hole day. And he had heard nobody.
'Come son..' His father lay his hand around him and guided him home. 'You can fight very good with that axe..' He said
'That's because it came from you two.' Ivar said smiling tiredly. 'I'll never forget this day...' When they got home, Ivar fell on his bed and slept with his sword next to him and his Axe in his arms.

The next day Ivar was up early, still high on all the fighting. He had buckled up his axe and went outside. He started the day with running. He had too much energy and needed to get rid of it. 
Without noticing, he ran towards the camp. 
'Back so sssoon Boy?' It was the same man he had hit yesterday in the tunnel.
'What is it to you?' 
'Nothing. Come in. You're 18 right?'
Ivar just nodded. The gate opened and Ivar entered. He looked around. It was somehow different from yesterday night. He had turned 18 just when he fell trough the roof, and therefore old enough to fight and challenge the leader. There was an open space in the middle of the camp where Ivar stood. Around was the wall of the camp and in the wall the rooms of all the members. Ivar saw some banners on the tops of the towers and he saw the tower that had fallen under his weight. He grinned at the sight. A shadow fell over him and he turned around.
'Welcome back Ivar.' It was the leader. 
'It's only proper to know your name if you know mine.'
'My name? Just call me Nyel. Everybody calls me that way. Shall I show you around?'
'Yes Nyel.' Ivar followed Nyel into the walls of the camp.
Ivar followed him though the whole camp and when he finally reached the guarding posts, the sun was high in the sky. 
'Sssso we meet again.' Ivar started to get annoyed by that man.
'Yes it seems that way.'
'Radl here has fought many battles. You'll learn a lot from him.'
'But I've beaten him yesterday.'
'I only let you win.. You ssssee we were told to do ssso.'
Ivar just looked at Radl. How could that be.. He had fought so good. And only won because they were told to let him.
'You were a good match though.' Radl said as he saw the look in Ivar's eyes. Ivar looked at Radl and grinned.
In the afternoon, he was sent back home to pack his belongings.
He entered the house he grew up in and thought that he would miss this place. 
He went up the stairs and into his room. He looked at it. A single bed, his sword, a little closet with everything in it. A candle on a little table next to his bed gave him the light he needed in the night. He sat on his bed and looked out the window. From that point he could see far. The woods were on the other side of the house. What he saw were meadows and some sheep on them. A little river, and some trees standing alone.
'Can I come in?' It was his mother. She stood in the doorway and had something in her hands.
'Of course mother.' He smiled at her. He would miss her stories maybe the most of all..
'I was thinking of helping you.. If you aren't too old for that..'
'Oh mother.. I'll never be too old for that.'
She smiled grateful. She went to the closet and opened it. 
'Mom? Could you tell me one last story?'
'Of course sweety.' Mother started telling about a boy that had to leave home to follow his dream. And even if it was hard, he did it and became a successful warrior. 
'Mom? How does my story end?'
Mother turned towards him and he saw she had been crying. 'You will have to write your story yourself. I can't help you with that sweetheart. But we'll always follow you.'
Ivar stood up from his bed and hugged his mother. 'I'm going to miss you, and father.'
She looked up to him, still holding him. 'I want you to have this..' She let him go and took the necklace from her neck. He couldn't remember her without it.
'But mom... You've always worn that..'
'Still.. I want you to have this. It was given to me by my mother. And I had to give it to my daughter... But I don't have one. Only a strong boy who I love so much.'
He let her put it around his neck. He touched it softly. It was a simple pendant with something written in it.
'It is a protection spell. I hope it will bring you luck.' 
'thanks mom.' 
'lets get packing.' She sighed and finished up. 
Ivar helped his mother with cleaning the house. Nyel had said he could take as much time as needed. 
'Your father wanted to see you too. He's at his workshop.' 
'I'll go to him in a minute. I want you to have this..' He searched in his pockets and found a dried little purple flower. His mothers eyes filled with tears.
'Don't cry mommy.. I'll end my story right.' She smiled as a tear rolled over her cheek. He touched her cheek and whipped the tear away. He kissed her cheek and went outside. 'I'm going to dad now.' he didn't want her to see that he was crying too.

When he got to his father's workshop, he had stopped crying. 
'Father?' He asked. The shop was dark. 
'In the back!' His father yelled.
Ivar walked through the shop, passing sculptures and furniture. He opened the door and saw his father. He was bending over some new project.
'ah Ivar! Their you are.' His father stretched his back and stepped towards Ivar.
'I have something for you. Remember this?' He looked at his son. It was the wooden soldier that he had broken when he was 4 years.
'Of course I remember that!'
'Sorry for the delay..' 
'That's ok. I have it now..' He smiled when he saw it. He would keep this. You would never know.
'Now son.. It's getting late. Maybe you have time to eat with us?'
'Of course.' Ivar wanted to eat this last meal with them. He would have lot's of meals with the men of Rhanquil. 

Late that night Ivar and his parents walked to the camp. He hugged his parents and greeted Redl. He looked back at his parents until the gate closed. The last image was one he would always remember. His parents in the dark, hugging each other for comfort. Both crying at the sight of the wall between them and their son.
He sighed so that he wouldn't cry.
'Welcome in this camp.' Another man said. It was the one with the two sticks.
'Hello.' Ivar said.
'My name is Kroi. I'll guide you to you're sleeping quarter.' Ivar followed Kroi.
When he reached his room, he saw that he shared to room with another young man.
'Hi!' the boy said. 'I'm Vaik.'
'Ivar.' He looked at the bed. 
'I hope you don't mined that I took that one.' Vaik said
'Oh no. I don't mind.' Ivar smiled. He dropped his bag and took his wooden warrior out.
'It's a gift from my father.' Ivar explained when he saw Vaik watching.
'Oh.. My parents left me.. This is my family now. I know I'm too young. But it's only a year.'
'So you're 17?'
'yes.' Vaik said 'So how did you come here?'
'Ah. For my birthday my parents gave me this..' he showed his axe 'and I needed to get it.'
'Wow. A whole adventure.. I would love to have such parents.'
'I'm not giving them away.' Ivar smiled. 
Ivar had installed himself and lay on his bed. 'If you don't mind, I'm going to sleep. I'm really tired!'
'Oh no, I understand.'
He fell asleep that instant. The next day would be the first of many years of training.

5 years later, when Ivar was 23 years old and Vaik 22, the training was halfway through. 
The first thing that Ivar had to do was rebuild the tower he had smashed. Between the rebuilding and sleeping he trained with his axe and sword. He got to keep the sword that he had found in the forest.
Vaik wasn't very good with training, but he was good in strategy and counselling. Vaik and Ivar became good friends. Ivar trained late at nights and woke up early in the morning.
He became stronger than ever. 
Redl was also a good friend of Ivar. It was true what Nyel had said about Redl. He was a great master in swords. Nyel was a master in working with an axe. The first day he had looked at the axe and said that it was good workmanship. His parents had made the right choice by going to him. 
The loss of his family was hard on Ivar, but he got a new family.. But that still didn't fill the emptiness that he felt all day round. In his bed late at night he missed them the most. He would hold his wooden soldier in his arms and hold his amulet in his hand. But only at night, when nobody saw it. Not even Vaik.

It was Redl's and Vaik's time to stand guard. A mysterious woman appeared besides the wall and asked for Ivar.

Vaik came running into the room where Ivar was training. 
'Ivar.. I have terrible news.. You have to come with me.' Vaik's eyes were serious and that was what scared him. They both ran through the now well known hallways into the open yard. There he saw the strange woman. She was dressed in black, with white hair coming with little hairs out of her scarf. Ivar's little hairs in the back of his neck got up when he shivered. He tried to see the eyes beneath the scarf.
'I've come for you.' The voice of the woman was even cold. She pointed with her bony finger too Ivar. The finger floated 2 fingers from his nose.
'What do you want from me woman?' Ivar asked. His voice was steady, although his hart was making overtime.
'Your parents...' She said 'are very ill and they've asked for you.'
Ivar's mouth fell open. 'He can go if he wants too.' A voice from behind Ivar said. It was Nyel, talking from the shadows.
'I.. I can't go. It isn't allowed.' Ivar could say it with a nearly stable voice.
'Well you make the choice Ivar.' He said with a soft voice.
'Think quick boy. It may only be a few seconds...' she added. Ivar's mind was racing like a madman, he wanted to go, more than anything, but he had his obligations too.
'Come back in 3 days Ivar.' Nyel said. Ivar nodded. 
Ivar didn't pack, he wanted to get to his parents as fast as he could. He took one lantern, he knew his way well enough even after 5 years. He didn't see the woman anymore. He was glad she was gone. She had something cold over her..
The road was bumpy, so he went slower than he would like too. He didn't look at the nightly sky, nor the dark forest around him. He didn't listen to the soft voices of the forest, the wind in them or the sounds animals made. He just went on and on as fast as he could in this darkness.
His body was tired, he had been awake from dawn and had trained a lot on a new move. But one of the things he had learned from his training, was that he could ignore the tiredness and go on.

When he finally came to the old house he grew up in, he saw a little light in the bedroom of his parents. 
The old woman was waiting at the door. She couldn't have travelled faster than he had done. He looked suspicious at her.
'You have until dawn before I take your parents with me.' Her voice had no emotion.
'Who are you?' He asked. He wanted to know, he needed to know. 'What are you?'
The woman threw her scarf from her head and Ivar saw a face that wasn't wrinkled although the age of the woman. The lips were red as blood. Ivar took a step backwards when he saw her eyes. Where the eyes should have been were holes, black and white, open and closed flesh at the same time.
'Don't fear me boy! I am the Lady of Death and I have come for your parents. I've shown mercy for them and called you. Don't lose my time unnecessary!' She pointed with the same bony finger towards the door and upstairs. 
He ran up the stairs, glad that he didn't have to see in those eyes anymore. But as he reached the top of the stairs, he ran slower and eventually walked. It had been 5 years.. How would he find them? She had said that they were very ill... He shouldn't be such a coward. He breathed in and opened the door. He breathed out as he stepped towards the bed. The smell of sickness and death hung in the air as a shadow that waited, and waited until it could attack. He couldn't help it. He turned towards the window and threw it open. A soft voice spoke to him.
'Ivar? Sweety... are you here?' It was his mother. He saw her pale skin. She was so fragile. Her eyes had sunken into her face and dark lines were drawn on her skin. He kneeled beside her and took her hands in his hands. 
'Mommy. Don't worry. I'm here now.' Her hands were so cold..
She smiled and looked in his eyes. 'You have grown so much. And you look so strong!' Even now she could giggle a little. But it ended in coughing. 
He petted the hand of his mother. 'Sht mommy..'
'No son... I know it is my last day and that of your father.. I won't be still now.' She smiled again. He found her so strong, even now she was brave enough to look death in the eye. He had too, but not as brave as his mother... 
'How is father?'
'He's sleeping now. He'll wake up soon enough.'
'Ivar?' 
'Yes mother?' 
'Would you do something for me?' She asked with a whisper. He needed to put his ear next to her mouth to understand her.
'Of course mom.' He said.
'Promise me that you won't forget us.'
'I'll never forget you two. Never.' He pinched her hand to put some power in his line. 'I've not forgotten you now, and I'll never do that.'
She smiled. 'I know sweetheart. I know..' She closed her eyes for a moment and Ivar just sat there. He wasn't going to wake her. He knew when they would be taken by the Lady of Death and it was horrible to know. But still he didn't wake her. Instead he was singing an old song for his parents that his mother had learned him when he was a little child.

They woke from time to time, and Ivar provided everything they needed. He kept awake. Afraid that the Lady wouldn't keep her word. His father asked him how the training was and what he had learned. He told him everything. Even when he fell asleep, Ivar talked.
He told about his training, how he had to rebuild the tower he had crashed when he got his axe.
His mother smiled in her sleep, and his father nodded. He knew they heard him, even if they were asleep. 
He had told everything he could think of from his training. It was still for a moment. But then he started to tell his story. As his mother had told him once. But he went on.
He told how he would miss his parents, but that he would do what he promised and that he would fight for them. That he would grow old happily. And that he would never be alone because he had his parents as guardian angels watching over him.
When he finished his story, the first light of the early sun fell in the room. Ivar looked at it and his tears that he had controlled until now started to run over his face.
'You know it too?' His mother asked behind him. He had turned away so that she wouldn't see it.
'Yes.. She came to get me..' He looked at her and saw that she was smiling.
'Don't cry for us sweety.. We will be alright together. And we will never leave your sight.'
'No son.. Never.' Even he was smiling happily. They were holding each others hand. Ivar hugged his mother and gave her a kiss on her forehead. 'Be safe up their..' He whispered. He couldn't speak any louder than that. He walked around the bed and hugged his father and gave him a kiss as well. 'Keep mother safe..' 
'I'll never lose her out of my sight.' He winked. Ivar smiled at his father. Although he didn't feel like smiling. His father always had something to say. He waited patiently as his parents drifted deeper and deeper into a sleep that they would never wake from.
He turned towards the door and there she was. 
'Thank you for this night..' He whispered to the Lady.
'You owe me something now.' She said in her cold voice. 
'What do you mean?' 
'You will know... I'll show you, when the time is right. Now I must go.' She faded away and he saw two white light bundles with her. 'Protect them...' He whispered. He looked at the remains of his parents and saw how happy they were.
He turned around and ran down the stairs out the house. He screamed when he was outside. The pain was too much. He screamed and screamed. Until his legs beneath him were so weak that they couldn't carry him anymore. He didn't know how long he lay there. Crying whispering that it wasn't fair. He knew his parents were happy when they went, he should have been lucky that they hadn't had much pain, that he had seen them one last time.. But that didn't take the hurt away.
A soft hand touched his shoulder and said softly 'Come Ivar.. You must sleep now..' It was Nyel. Ivar looked at him. He just looked at him. He was too weak to get up and walk towards the house again. He didn't want to enter the house.. Nyel bent down and grabbed his arm and pulled him up. Nyel was old, but still strong enough to carry him. He walked up the stairs and lay him carefully down in his old bed. Ivar let the tears run freely. He didn't cry as before, he felt too empty for that.

How he did it, Ivar didn't remember. But he woke up in his bed. He had slept a whole day. He sat up in his bed and held his head in his hands. His head banged hard. He looked at the door what opened carefully.
Nyel's head popped in the room and smiled 'You're up.' He said. 'I made some breakfast.'
'I don't think I can eat anything..' But as he smelled the diner, his stomach rumbled. 
'A good warrior should know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, even if it is midday..' Nyel smiled. He walked in the room and opened a window, then went to sit on the bed. 
'I'm sorry you saw me that way..' Ivar began.
'Don't mention it.. I was the same way when my parents died. I know what you're going through. That was why I let you go even if it was against the rules..' Nyel smiled again.
'Thanks.. I didn't think I would be able to talk about it.' Ivar whispered. Nyel didn't say anything. He waited..
'Ivar.. I need to ask you something.' 
Ivar looked up from his breakfast. 'What do you mean?'
'I'm not getting any younger..' Nyel began. 'And I don't have an heir. Ivar, you are the best of the trainees. I would want you to become my heir..' He looked straight in Ivar's eyes. Ivar smiled. It would be a great honour. But I'm not ready yet.. I need to train more for that.' Ivar smiled for the first time. Not so much a real smile, but still..
Then he remembered. 'My parents..'
'Don't worry. Our men took care of that. They were properly buried. I'll take you to them when you're stronger.'
'I'd prefer to go now..' Ivar said.
'Ok.. But first you need to wash yourself.' Nyel grinned at the young man and pushed him out of bed. An image flashed through his mind. 5 years ago, the day before his birthday, his father had done the same. He smiled at the thought of the day. And of the two people in the dark together, when he walked into the camp.

When Ivar was freshly washed, they went to the graveyard at the other end of the village. Ivar was glad that he could say goodbye to them now, not when everybody was there.. Now he was alone with Nyel. Nyel waited a bit further, when he said goodbye. Ivar left a purple flower on their grave, and turned away. He knew that were just the remains, their spirits went with the Lady.
At a cross point Nyel waited. 'Now where are we going?' He asked Ivar.
The one road was to his home, the other to the camp. It was getting dark. 
'Nyel, I'm going home..' Ivar smiled at Nyel. He was looking sad. He probably thought that going home was too his parents house. But it wasn't. Ivar had spend 5 years at the camp, living there day after day. They had become his family. And at his parents house was nobody waiting, at the camp their was.
'Come Nyel. Let's go home.' He turned towards the camp. Nyel grinned and walked next to him towards his new home.

Although Ivar missed his parents, his other family comforted him well. At the beginning, Ivar trained to forget the memory of his parents and the Lady of Death, but later, when he was standing guard, Redl talked to him.
'Ivar.. I've seen how you have been training.. It isn't good for your body not to relax at all..' He looked worried.
'Redl please. I don't want to talk about it.'
'But you have to, as your friend.'
'Redl...'
'Ok then, listen to this story.. I know I can't tell stories that well. But You need to know.' Redl cleared his throat and started to talk. He told about a family. A man with his wife and daughter. But at some time, the daughter became ill. Her pretty freckled face was white and her light blue eyes were full of pain and tears. The father and mother did everything they could, but it wasn't enough. The little girl died at the age of 6 years. The mother was devastated and died some time later of a broken heart. Ivar saw that tears were rolling over Redl's face. So a year later, the man had lost his two greatest treasures. He walked around the earth with a broken heart. 
At one point he crossed the path of a group. They nearly killed him. Tortured him, cut his tong like that of a snake. The man didn't scream, he didn't do anything to protect himself. 
When he was nearly death they left him. A young strong man found him and took care of him. He didn't want to live anymore, His tong grew back, but it would never be the same. Somehow he got through it, and his life became more interesting. At the beginning, he fought and fought. He would revenge his family. But after a time he knew, he felt that he had to change his way of living. He had trained the whole day and night. Leaving him exhausted and he fell apart. He started crying and almost never stopped. But the young man that had saved him one time, would save him another time. At first he sat there waiting. Later on the tortured man began to talk. And that was when he saw that he needed to change. Find another purpose in life. And that is how he and the young man formed a good friendship and started a new life. Helping other men who had lost their life.
It left Ivar silent and in deep thoughts. Redl had gone to bed. Ivar didn't mind to be alone. Now he could think about Redl's story. He hadn't known.. And he felt sorry for him. Hadn't Nyel said that he gone though the same? Had every man a story of his own before they came here? Ivar knew that he had a lucky life and he too would change his life. He would become a leader, as Nyel had asked him, but first he would have to find a good timing.

Yet another 5 years passed and Ivar and Vaik were fully trained. Soon they would end their training and become warriors of their own. Or at least Ivar. Vaik was going to be a council. Helping the new leader with strategy. Vaik thought he knew who would be the following leader. He had seen how Nyel had looked at Ivar. He knew that he would be a good leader. And Nyel would still be there for help. Ivar would softly take over from the old man.
Ivar and Redl became better friends because of the story. Ivar told about his parents and Redl about his daughter and wife. 

On the night of the last day of Vaik and Ivar's training, the Lady of Death came back to him.
'Ivar. I hope you haven't forgotten about me?' Her cold voice made Ivar chill to his bones. He turned around and saw the old woman in her dark robe. Her white hair hung motionless over her shoulders. Her scarf was thrown back from her head so that Ivar saw her eyes. 
'What do I need to do?' Ivar asked. Not completely at ease.
'I want you.. to get a dragon.'
'That will be hard. Dragons only exist in stories.'
'Do you really believe that? After you saw me?'
Ivar didn't say anything. It was true. He had thought that she didn't exist either. 
'Now Ivar. You will go where I tell you to go' 
'And that is?'
'Lantessama Isle. You and your dearest friends will go.'
'When?' Ivar wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. The next day would be a day of celebrating. Not freaky things.
'Tonight. And don't worry. You'll be back before tomorrow. You don't need to know anything anymore. Go get your friends.'
'But.. Why?'
'That is my business. Not yours. Get your friends NOW.' She didn't raise her voice, but it seemed that the wind grew for a second and that her hair lifted in that wind. Ivar turned around and looked for his friends. He would take Vaik, Nyel and Redl with him. He would have to explain. He just hoped that they would believe him.

When he had found the 3 other men, he explained what was about to happen. Nyel looked puzzled and wanted to know if he missed his parents too much. Vaik wanted to know what had happened to him. Maybe he had fallen from the wall on his head. But Redl didn't say anything. Did he believe him? Or was he just so shocked that he couldn't speak?
But even if they didn't believe him, they followed him back into the training room. He had been training there when the lady had interrupted him.
She was waiting for them and had covered her eyes again. Vaik asked who she was, but she ignored him. Nyel and Redl said nothing.
She opened a black hole against one of the walls. She pointed to it and waited. Nobody wanted to go. Ivar gathered his courage and took a step. 'Remember that the time there will go slower than it goes here.' She said with her cold voice. 'Years will pass when it will only be a day here.'
He looked back and saw his friends. Nyel had his arm crossed over his chest, looking suspicious. Redl looked at him with his blue eyes and Vaik looked at the woman. His look changed when he saw a glimpse of her eyes. Vaik walked slowly to the hole, thanks to the training he could handle his fear. But Ivar saw it in his eyes. After Vaik came Nyel and last Redl. 

They walked out of the hole. It was a sunny day and it seemed that it had just rained. The sun shined on the wet tall grass. Ivar looked at the forest on the left. 
'Where shall we go?' Vaik asked.
But as the words touched his lips, a dark shadow covered them. Ivar looked up at the shadow and he couldn't help it. His mouth fell open. There it was. A dragon. It was a brown one and it had a rider on his back. The rider slid down from the creatures back and loosened her hair. Her golden hair fell like rain over her shoulders. Ivar's mouth fell even farther open. He saw her well-formed body and dark skin of the long journeys she made. 
Vaik gave Ivar a push that made him almost fall. He looked at Vaik and grinned.
Nyel and Redl had also seen how he looked at her. It had been the first time he had looked at a girl that way. Vaik leaned to his ear and whispered: 'Soon there will be babies.' And he grinned and ducked away for the swinging arm of Ivar. The girl walked slowly towards the man with a grace that made all man look.
'Hello. I should say welcome. But I'm not into those things..' She held her head a little bit to one side. 'And I need to tell you that I won't kill you.' Her dark eyes looked darker now. Vaik grinned. 'You can't beat us. We are fully trained men from Rhanquill.'
The girl looked at him and in a flash he was on the ground struggling to get from beneath the girl. The others laughed loudly and Vaik blushed as he brushed the dirt off.
'Welcome.' She grinned and looked at Ivar. She waited just a second, just enough to recover from the sight of this young man. 
'I'll take you too Lantessama. Quail here wants you all to see his eggs.' She lifted her eyes to the sky and told them to walk towards the sun. She got up her dragon and left. Leaving the men to find their way all by themselves.
'Great Vaik.. Beaten by a girl?' Nyel said laughing.
'Why all on me?' Vaik asked. 'Look at Ivar. He's with his head in the clouds!' All the men looked at him and kept looking until he noticed it. 
'What?' Ivar asked annoyed.
'Nothing..' they all said.
When Ivar looked back at the road, the 3 other men looked at each other and winked. They all agreed to help the two.
'Don't go in there!' Another girl screamed. Vaik grabbed Ivar by the arm and stopped him.
'Hmmm.. Who are you?'
'We are from Ranquill.' Nyel said.
'And that is? It doesn't really matter I guess. I'm Cyan.' She waved her hand. In the room behind her was a loud crack. 'Damn!' She turned round and ran into the greenhouse.
'Evilness ! Damn you ! I'll kill you!'
'Why? I was just looking.'
'Well go look at your eggs!' Some hissing and then something green slithered from the greenhouse and out into the grass. The 4 men looked at it and saw a glimpse of it. Again all their mouths fell open.
'That was Evilness.. One of my creations gone wrong..' Cyan said, blushing a bit. 'Come in!' She stood in the doorway and walked inside. The men followed her. 
Vaik touched a plant in it. It purred a bit and Vaik pulled his hand back.
'It likes you.' Cyan smiled motherly at it. Vaik stroked the little head and picked it up. 
Nyel and Redl did the same. They found some plant that purred at their touch.
Ivar didn't, he was just thinking of that girl he had seen. She was so beautiful..
'My dragon tells me that you won't find your dragon here. She told me that you will impress somewhere else. I'll take you there.' Cyan grabbed his arm and guided him towards a cave.
There she was again. He smiled at her and she smiled back. He forgot everything he had learned about girls and how to act around them.
'This is Chimera. Her dragon is the father of the eggs. You'll probably impress one of the eggs.' Ivar nodded. His mind was full of Chimera. 
'Come.. I'll get you back to your friends.' Cyan took Ivar back to the greenhouse and then picked them up and guided them to their room. They shared it between the 4 of them.
Everybody slept as soon as their heads touched the pillow.

Follow each of the characters as they impress:
Ivar  -  Vaik  -  Nyel  -  Redl