For a long moment, Matthias considered breaking into Altaizar’s tower.

  It was—as far as he knew—unguarded. Eklund’s efforts to post his own guards at the tower, at one time, had ended with Altaizar chasing the screaming bastards down the mountain. The mage used no guards, instead placing powerful magics designed to do unfathomable things to any intruders to his home.

  Those magics were also set to leave the entire Stonebreaker family unharmed. Matthias had even wandered into the tower as a young boy, playing with Altaizar’s cloaks until the mage had caught him an hour later. Since then, he’d taken to locking his front door.

  …but if Matthias could get in in some other way—

  “Wait, wait! What am I thinking?” He shook himself. “Me sneaking around up there would be madness!”

  “Of course. But we’ll be sneaking around up there.” Dagma patted his arm.

  “If anyone’s going, it’d be only me.” Matthias paused. “And I’m not going. It’s too risky. I’ll find a way to get Altaizar to share his knowledge with me when he gets back. I’ll think of something.”

  “Like what?” Bregindoure challenged.

  “Erm, something.” Matthias folded his arms across his chest. “Anyway, enough of this. It’s getting late, we should get back home.”

  “Think about it, brother.” Bregindoure gripped the bars of his cell. “You have an opportunity to free yourself. Consider that.”

  “Yes, Matthias.” Dagma took her brother’s hand. “Do what you have to do.”

  Matthias fell silent.

  He had a few days to decide.

  Though at that moment, he had no idea just how quickly he would be making his decision.

  “Again!” Sur Friya barked, her arms crossed and voice booming over the clash of steel on steel at the training grounds.

  Matthias Stonebreaker and Agustin Nervander bowed first to the knight, then to each other.

  As one, they lowered their helms’ visors.

  To anyone passing, it might have looked like Matthias would have the advantage. He towered over his opponent—despite being more than four years his junior—and was broader than him, with thicker bones, greater mass and longer reach.

  However, Agustin was well into the second caliber of his Life Enforcement practice.

  Things were grim.

  Agustin nodded—chainmail armour and helmet gleaming in the morning light—then advanced, raising his blunted sword and dagger.

  Matthias glided forward, blade and mace in hand, his chainmail clinking, boots sliding across the stones.

  Agustin struck first.

  The smaller man’s sword whipped out like a snake, blurring right for Matthias’ right armpit.

  Matthias’ blade shot up to parry.

  There was a crash, and the greatfolk was sent reeling: Agustin’s blow had felt like a boulder crashing into him. It numbed his hand, left his arm shaking and sword ringing.

  Agustin stepped in with another thrust, Matthias raised his mace, batting it aside.

  He flourished with the flanged weapon, driving his opponent back, then struck with a quick pair of push cuts with his sword.

  Agustin’s dagger parried the first blow, then he stepped in, twisting the knife around the second and binding the weapon. He tried to close in for a grapple. Cursing low, Matthias let go of the sword—pushing it into Agustin—then raising his mace.

  The smaller man stumbled, tossing away both Matthias’ sword and his own dagger, batting aside two heavy blows, before blurring forward.

  His shoulder slammed into the larger, young man.

  Matthias flew from his feet, landed and rolled, catching his balance.

  Before he could raise his remaining weapon, he found a blade pointed at his visor.

  His stomach sank. “I yield.”

  Agustin bowed, offering Matthias a hand. “You did well.”

  Matthias couldn’t agree, but accepted the hand graciously.

  “That was well done, Agustin.” Sur Friya came up to the two opponents. “Your shoulder check was a good move. Unexpected, and that’s what you want in a fight. By the same token, don’t be so eager to bind: if Matthias had been stronger, he could have turned that against you in a number of ways. It’s becoming a crutch, Agustin. Leave crutches for after you have an injury.”

  “Thank you, Sur Friya.” Agustin bowed.

  She turned next to Matthias. “Your form is improving, and you’re growing more flexible with your tactics: you gave Agustin a bit more trouble this time. Your technique’s improved, but it was always good, so that’s not your problem. You are limited by your strength, speed and reflexes, and you must keep learning to work around that. We all need to adjust to our limits.”

  Matthias nodded glumly. “Thank you, Sur Friya.”

  “Take a brief break, you two,” she instructed. “Then be ready to go again.”

  Marching away, she went to inspect the other sparring matches in the training yard as Agustin patted Matthias on the shoulder and left to get a drink of water. The boy’s gaze drifted over to the other battles; his eyes couldn’t follow them. Some of their movements were mere blurs of motion: had he fought them, he wouldn’t have stood a single chance.

  He looked at his shadow.

  Even if he could have used the tendril in the open, it wouldn’t have helped him. He grimaced. The world was full of monsters and powerful foes that could take his life without effort.

  To face them, he needed something more.

  He needed—

  “Matthias! Sur Friya!” a voice called.

  He turned: his mother and sister were standing at the entrance to the training grounds.

  “What is it?” he called.

  “It’s time.” Beggahasta’s jaw tensed. “We’ve been called to Eklund’s castle. It’s time to face those three little weasels.”

  “Stop running, you little weasels!” Haakon’s roar echoed into the sky. “You can’t get away when the strongest is coming for you!”

  Haakon—father of Kari—was a bear of a man, towering above the twin warriors unfortunate enough to be trapped in the fighting pit with him. His armour was thick, polished to mirror-finish, and he wore Eklund’s colours on his tabard as he stalked after his prey, his mouth twisted into something that was half-snarl and half-grin.

  In the stands above the fighting pit, Earl Eklund and his warriors cheered, tossing coins as Haakon chased the two smaller fighters. Matthias had heard that the twins were travelling from the Republic of Ostari in the midlands, and had met and angered the larger man in some way.

  He’d challenged them, and the earl’s men had pushed for a fight.

  Now, they faced off, fighting in their gambesons, rapiers in hand, darting at Haakon like a pair of wolves trying to harass a bear. Unfortunately, the bear had practised Life Enforcement for decades.

  And he was quicker than he looked.

  As one of the twins slipped into Haakon’s blind spot, the gigantic warrior spun on his heel, grabbing the smaller man by the wrist. His grin widened as his gauntlet coiled around flesh; that gauntlet was thick and dull, a darker grey than the rest of his armour. Yet it radiated inner power.

  There came a crunch.

  The smaller man screamed, falling to one knee.

  “Leave him be!” the other twin cried, leaping at Haakon.

  Without turning, the large man backhanded him across the face; the sound cracked through the air, blood spraying and teeth flying across the pit as the twin dropped in a twitching heap.

  A roar exploded from the stands, and the loudest to cheer was Kari, flanked on either side by his filthy friends.

  “Disgusting,” Beggahasta growled beneath her breath.

  “Not even the pretense of a fair contest.” Sur Friya hissed.

  “He’s just a big bully,” Dagma added.

  “Like father, like son,” Matthias whispered, glancing at Kari’s grinning face.

  The two boys locked eyes for a moment. Kari’s grin widened.

  Another crack drew Matthias’ attention back to the ‘fight’, and he saw Haakon pound the other twin into a spasming, bloody mess.

  “Hah! The strongest!” Haakon bellowed, raising both arms, celebrating his victory.

  Above him, the crowd cheered.

  “Well done!” Earl Eklund raised a goblet of wine. The black-haired man wore all white, he was so thin he resembled a skeleton tightly wrapped in skin. Drops of red stained his clothing, sprayed from the arena below.

  It suited him well.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “A round of applause for my undefeated arena champion, Haakon!” Eklund rose from his seat, the closest to the arena. “To the man who has brought countless hours of entertainment to these grim mountains! Here! Here!”

  His court applauded.

  “Blood and honour, father!” Kari clapped. “Blood and honour!”

  “Blood and honour, Kari!” Haakon removed his helmet, running his hand through the towering crest of hair rising from his partially shaved head. He grinned through his beard, winked at his son, then turned to Earl Eklund. His armour clinked as he fell to one knee. “I am your servant, my lord, and hope that my service puts you in fine humour for your difficult work.”

  “Ah yes, of course.” Eklund cleared his throat.

  “Snake!” Beggahasta snarled under her breath. “Don’t worry, Matt. They’ve gone too far; if Eklund does not punish them, we have grounds to escalate…or to call for satisfaction in a duel. I’ll tear that boy in half.”

  The image brought Matthias a mix of satisfaction and irritation.

  As much as he’d love to see such a match, he wanted to fight his own battles.

  He looked at his shadow; he’d love to extract a blood-price on his own.

  “Now that our afternoon festivities are over, we must proceed with something significantly less pleasant.” Eklund addressed his court. “Matthias and Beggahasta Stonebreaker have accused Petric and Siegfried Copperhill, and Kari—son of Haakon—of the crime of attempted murder. Please—” He gestured to the accusers and the three tormentors. “—step forward.”

  “Here we go,” Beggahasta whispered. “We have this.”

  Matthias wished he could be so sure.

  As the trio approached from the other side of the fighting pit, they smirked, their gazes meeting his. Beggahasta glowered down at them. They quickly averted their eyes.

  Accusers and accused stood before Eklund.

  All bowed.

  Leaning back in his chair, the earl’s dark eyes fell on Matthias. “Name your grievance.”

  Matthias stepped forward. ‘There are years of torment you could talk about, but keep it focused.’

  He looked at Eklund. “I greet you, Honoured Lord. Kari, Siegfried and Petric attacked me twice in a day. They chased me through the woods, struck me, tried to burn me alive and drove me off the top of a cliff. I fell and nearly died. Under our laws, this is an attempt of murder. I seek justice, as does my family.”

  “I see,” Eklund said, looking toward the three aggressors. “And your defense?”

  “Honoured Lord.” Kari stepped forward. “I have known Matthias Stonebreaker for years, and would like to think that we’re friends. We play rough now and then, and while chasing each other through the woods, we lost track of him. When we were looking for him, a gamrung attacked us and Petric used The Gift to frighten it away with flame. But the fire spread…”

  He looked at Siegfried's cousin.

  “…er, I was too exhausted to put it out. So we went for help,” Petric added quickly.

  “I see.” Eklund nodded, looking at Matthias. “And what do you say to this?”

  “It’s a lie. They chased me. My sister and brother—as well as father’s guards at the tower—can confirm that. They destroyed my brother’s birthday gift, Sur Friya can confirm that,” Matthias stated.

  “I see,” Eklund looked at the other boys. “You destroyed an item belonging to Matthias?”

  “Um, we played a game that went too far,” Petric said.

  “There was no game,” Matthias cut in, teeth grinding. “You destroyed it on purpose.”

  “The game went too far,” Kari insisted. “Just like when you threw that piece of metal at Petric.”

  Matthias bristled. “After you—”

  Eklund raised his hand. “Enough. I’ll not have you arguing endlessly. If you have any witnesses in your favour, please call them.”

  The earl sat back as Sur Friya and Dagma spoke to him about what they’d seen that day. Next, Beggahasta handed him a letter from Altaizar, detailing the fire he’d found in the woods and how he’d discovered Matthias unconscious at the bottom of the cliff.

  Kari, Petric and Siegfried had no witnesses; their story relied on the fact that no one else had been present to see what had actually happened.

  When Eklund finished reading Altaizar’s letter, he sighed.

  “You know, when I was young, my friends and I got into a fair bit of trouble.” He gestured for a servant to pour him more wine. “Sometimes we would play. Sometimes we would fight. Sometimes things would get out of hand.”

  Matthias stiffened.

  Was he going to brush this off?

  “However…” Eklund looked at the three tormenters. “At times, clean fun goes too far. Boys will be boys, but we cannot have warriors being killed in play before they grow up to serve. Even without The Gift or Life Enforcement, Matthias Stonebreaker’s body and sword will be useful to any Gift Wielder or Ranger-Captain who leads him in patrolling and safeguarding the forests beyond the Gods’ Shield. By being negligent, you three have nearly robbed that leader of a body. This cannot be overlooked. While I do not see this transgression as attempted murder, at sixteen years old, you should know better than to engage in activities so dangerous that someone could have been killed.”

  The three bullies stiffened.

  Matthias’ jaw fell open.

  Years.

  Years of his pleas being ignored.

  Years of these filthy bastards making his life hell, and they were finally going to be punished?

  He allowed himself to hope.

  Beggahasta looked at him, smiling. She’d said that Eklund couldn’t let things go this time. She’d said things would change.

  Perhaps, she was right.

  “I must add, however…” Eklund continued. “That the punishment for such a crime is—often maiming, or two years at hard labour, or imprisonment based on the severity of the damage caused by the offense—all too severe in this case. Had young Matthias died, it would be different. But here he is, alive and healthy.”

  Matthias’ heart dropped and he bit his tongue, not trusting himself to say anything.

  Beggahasta bristled.

  “Petric, Siegfried and Kari have great value. Siegfried and Kari have both advanced well into the Second Caliber of Life Enforcement, while Petric is a Gift Wielder. As such, Siegfried and Kari could at some point in the future, be Ranger-Captains of a Wolfwood patrol, fine knights in service to a powerful lord or lady, or Raider-Captains in our vanguard, aiding our elven allies in the south. Petric could lead a Wolfwood patrol, train to be a mage in any court in the High Kingdom, or even become a Mage Knight if he is also gifted in arms.”

  Eklund smiled as though about to grant the greatest of mercies. “These boys have bright futures, as long as they continue their training and maintain their bodies intact. It would be a crime in and of itself to rob them of their great futures for a youthful indiscretion. And so, here is my punishment: you three will leave this place and travel north to the Temple of Jormgund at Mount Silence. There, you will engage in one month of contemplation and labour befitting your station, while serving the monks. Once your penance is complete, you will return to us with wisdom worthy of young men. Go, depart today!”

  Kari smiled broadly, bowing. “Thank you for your mercy!”

  “Earl Eklund—” Beggahasta started.

  “Lady Stonebreaker.” Eklund cut her off, smiling. “My sister wishes to thank you for your continued care of young Lady Dagma on behalf of her husband, Archlord Eaderic. You know how stubborn your former husband can be, but she sees how much of a burden you take on and how much you care for your other children, despite their limited prospects. She admires your kindness. So, I thought I would be kind as well.”

  He smiled down at Matthias. “Learn well, child. Forgiveness would benefit you; do not allow bitterness to consume you. You will lose allies that way.” His smile widened. “And you will need them.”

  Lastly, he spoke to Dagma. “Your father says hello, young Lady Dagma. You look very much like him. Though he was not declared your father on paper—due to unfortunate timing—he knows and still hopes that you will visit his castle one day. You might enjoy it there. But, let us be done with this grim business and move on!”

  Before the Stonebreaker family could utter a word, he gestured for them to leave.

  Haakon leapt out of the pit and hugged his son.

  “Thank you, father! I’ll be back soon!” Kari wrapped his arms around the much larger man.

  Petric and Siegfried clapped each other’s shoulders, laughing.

  Matthias’ blood boiled.

  Here he was, the one wronged.

  Yet, his tormentors were the ones celebrating.

  “We should go.” His hands shook.

  “I’m…I’m sorry son.” Beggahasta’s shoulders drooped. “I failed you. I’ll try to escalate this but, since he gave them a punishment…”

  She let the words hang, but Matthias already knew.

  There would be no hope.

  Dagma’s head hung low.

  The Stonebreakers began marching away from the fighting pit and Eklund’s court.

  “Hey! Matthias!” Kari called.

  Matthias didn’t turn.

  Kari continued anyway. “We’ll see you when we get back! Two weeks to get to the temple, a month there, and two weeks to get back! We’ll see you soon, Matthias! We’ll see you soon!”

  Kari had nearly killed him and he was already planning more torment for him when he returned.

  Matthias’ stomach lurched as a thought struck him.

  His mother had been wrong.

  Nothing would ever change. Every day he dealt with torment. Everyday his family dealt with shame. Every day he would wake up, train, and be the subject of Kari and his two cronies’ amusement until the time came for him to be sent to the Wolfwood to patrol, and likely die.

  What would happen if he was made to join a patrol that one of those three bastards were leading? How could he expect to survive? Would he even live that long? Their prank had nearly killed him, and they’d gotten away with nearly no consequences. What reason would they have to stop? Ever?

  This would be his life until they killed him.

  As the Stonebreakers emerged from Eklund’s gate, he looked over the mountains, past the village of Barrowgate and up to Altaizar’s tower. The mage would not be back for another couple of days, and all his knowledge was waiting there.

  Matthias’ hands balled into fists.

  He could no longer deal with Altaizar’s reluctance or his mother’s wish to protect him. Looking at her face now as she walked beside him, he could see the tears she was fighting back. Dagma sobbed quietly.

  Nothing would change…unless he changed it.

  And change it he would.

  Tonight, he would break into Altaizar’s tower.

  Life had taken much from him.

  Now, he would take from it.

  When Matthias snuck out that night, he left no note.

  The white moon was high, the black moon distant, and the stars bright as he made his way to Altaizar’s tower, weaving through the trees past Barrowgate. He climbed the mountain toward the bluff, his body covered by a dark cloak with its hood pulled low.

  His shadow tendril, shedding a black smoky-substance, was trailing behind him.

  The trees gave way to broken rock as he closed in on the tower, reminding him of the dark keeps in horror stories his mother used to tell, where evil wizards shed blood and conjured old magic.

  The tower was a lonely place, perched on the edge of the cliff.

  It rose above the surrounding rock and trees, its many windows utterly dark and shuttered tight. Its highest level was capped by a peaked roof, it was also open on all sides like a lighthouse, though no beacon-fire had burned there in centuries. Surrounding the tower were walls three times the height of an average man, and beyond them was a courtyard and small stable.

  “Okay,” Matthias whispered. “Altaizar said: ‘my tower’s defenses are keyed to not target your family—I'm not in the habit of having my employers butchered—so just come knock on the door anytime you want’. Time to find out if that was still true.”

  Matthias quickly moved to the bottom of the wall, looking for handholds to scale it, but the stones were even; there was nowhere for his fingers to grip.

  Swearing, he looked around, noticing a small boulder nearby—a little under two feet at its longest point. He moved to it, wedging his fingers under it. Clenching his teeth and straining, his giant-blooded body shook as he tried rolling it.

  “Just a little more,” he hissed. “Just….”

  He shoved the tip of the shadow-tendril beneath the rock, using it and his body’s strength as one. With a grinding noise, the stone began moving as he rolled it to the wall, propping it against the vertical surface.

  “Thank you shadow tendril,” he panted.

  His gaze drifted down to his body.

  He felt much too good, considering his injuries. Even with Altaizar’s poultices—enhanced with The Gift—the pains had faded far too quickly. Not that he was complaining—it was a lot better than being dead—but it was another change he’d need to check in Altaizar’s books about.

  Stepping onto the small boulder, he rose to his full height, stretching out fingers and jumping as high as he could. He lashed out with the shadow tendril—stretching it to its limit—catching the top of the wall. The tendril trembled from strain, but the boy braced his feet against the stone, scrambling up until he finally reached the top of the wall.

  Matthias stayed in place for a moment, catching his breath before jumping down and taking the nearby stairway down to the courtyard. There was no sign of anything threatening as he made for the door.

  A quick pull of the brass handle.

  The door didn’t budge.

  “Should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy.” Matthias craned his neck, scanning the tower. The stones were as evenly set as those on the outer wall. However, below its shuttered windows were stone sills that were perfect for gripping; the only issue was that they were at too far a distance from each other to reach…

  …if he didn’t have a misty tendril emerging from his shadow.

  Taking a deep breath, he jumped, catching the lowest window ledge with the tendril—and bracing himself with his boots and hands again—and climbing to the first sill. Reaching with the tentacle, he grabbed the next one, climbing from window to window until he reached the top…

  …his hand touched something cold and wet.

  “Agh!” he recoiled, nearly slipping from the top of the tower.

  Gritting his teeth—and kicking his legs in the air—he grabbed at the stone and hoisted himself up.

  “What in all the hells was that-Ugh!” He scowled, wiping his hand on the floor.

  Part of the parapet was caked in what looked and smelled like bird and other animal droppings. “I’m not having much luck with birds lately.”

  Grumbling, he slipped past a stone table and a set of chairs—likely where the mage took his meals while appreciating the mountainview—and stepped down to a staircase.

  Moonlight faded as he quickly went down the stairs, reaching a door.

  An open door.

  “Oh, thank the Ascended,” he whispered with relief. “Glad Altaizar doesn’t lock up the entrance to his roof.”

  He peered into the gloom through the doorway, his eyes fighting to adjust to the lack of light. Beyond the doorway, he could make out the dim outlines of furniture. Maybe a bedroom.

  Matthias took a deep breath.

  This was his last chance to turn back.

  To step forward would mean risking a mage’s wrath.

  But if he didn’t…

  “Nothing will ever change,” he whispered.

  With those words, Matthias Stonebreaker stepped forward, breaching the mage’s tower.

  I have a friend who-a long time ago-worked for McDonald's and this friend had a problem: he did not like working for McDonald's (especially that location).

  The shifts were punishing, they were understaffed and things were just getting harder and harder. After one particularly punishing night shift, he paused and had a single thought:

  "This will never change."

  To expand on that, he basically realised that they were never going to hire more staff, they were never going to support their workers and it was just going keep going like this forever.

  ...unless he quit. So he did, right after he finished that shift.

  He now has a job that he's much happier with. :) Anyway, I asked for permission to use his story because I was so inspired and he gave it.

  So glad he did! Alright, cya in chapter 7!

  Patreon. There's up to 24 advanced chapters ahead on patreon as thanks for support!

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