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“Denzi?” Josten murmured. She composed herself with one great sob and dried her eyes. She turned to face Josten’s worried expression. “Are you...”
“I’m fine now,” she opened her arms and he came running into them. “How’s your head?” He rubbed it and winced as he ran over the bump.
“Better,” he smiled. Over in the shadow Terrance stood looking at nothing particular. Garn stood and walked over to him as Denzin and Josten talked.
“What is it? What do you see?”
“Nothing, it’s what I heard,” he looked over his shoulder to Denzin, “she spoke to Kysh, I could sense it. He had a message that was very important but something interrupted him, something Denzin couldn’t feel. There was a feeling of little time in him, a restlessness. I don’t know.” he hook his head in worrisome contemplation. “It’s nearly dawn, lets stay to one more day of rest even though it is needed to be on the move.” Denzin stood and walked over to the others but did not stop she passed them and nodded. She went to her bed roll to retrieve her water skin. She took a hefty sip and sat it down.
The sun rose into the sky lighting the forest. Denzin sat at the fire biting her lip. She suddenly raised up her hand to catch something that was being thrown at her. She lowered her hand slowly to see it was an apple. Instead of biting into it she handed it to Josten. It was the only apple Denzin had packed. A heel of bread was then tossed at her. She stared at it then took a bite. Josten’s mouth was full when he asked,
“Cahn ouu-“ he swallowed and wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve. “Can you teach me how to fight?” Denzin raised a slender eyebrow at Josten then looked to Terrance who stood up and winked. Josten jumped up and ran to Terrance,
“Josten,” Denzin called like a mother, he froze instantly. “How are you going to fight without a weapon? Hmm,” she tossed him her staff that she formed to fit him comfortably. “Always have a weapon at hand when you go to fight.” she called trying to hide her laughter as he caught in and dropped it. He flushed and went up to Terrance.
“Ready ” Josten claimed.
“Are you? We first need a fighting stance. Good, is that comfortable? Now we’ll try,” before he could say go Josten was at him swinging the staff like a mad man. Garn coughed to hide his burst of laughter and Denzin slapped a and over her mouth. Terrance dodge once more then put a finger tip out on the edge of the staff stopping Josten in mid-swing which caught him off balance and caused him to fall on his butt. He got up and rubbed it.
“Hey no fair You wouldn’t be doing it if it was a sword ”
“And you would be living for long if you fought like that.” In turn her received a venomous look from Denzin for that comment. “Here let me show you,” they began again. This time it was stunningly better and got more and more fluent. After an hour of sparing Josten slumped down onto the ground for a break “Remember in a battle there are not breaks unless the battle is one or...” he paused at the look on Denzin’s face again, “unless there is called for terms.” Her face relaxed.
“Oh.” Josten took a large gulp on his water skin and choked. Garn thumped him on the back.
“Slow down lad, there’s enough water there to quench your thirst,” he laughed.
“Denzin,” Terrance called. She got up from her bed roll and walked over to Terrance who stood a little away from Josten and Garn. She looked at him strangely as if just seeing him for the first time. “I want to try out a weapon I think he’ll be better for. He seems to lack a certain response for sword fighting. I thought...”
“No.” she said firmly in his mid-sentence. “Whether he’s meant for it or not I’m not going to have you or him risk any injury. Let alone it doesn’t belong in this time.”
“I can dodge easy, and besides it’s ‘Valcoes’ he’s never let me down yet in back firing.”
“Fine, but if you get shot, your taking out your own bullet’s.” she turned and her many buckles jingled.
“Josten I have a new weapon for you to try.” he pulled out and oddly shaped gun that had an emblem that was on the edge of it; you’d usually find one on the ends of a car in front of the hoods. It was long and had a lesser shape of gun but more like a double barrel sword. Josten gasped excitedly,
“What’s that ?” he went to touch it but instead Terrance handed it to him. It was light weight for it’s size and the color and design was beautiful of colors of dark and lite silver. Josten stared at if for a second then asked, “What does it do?”
“Well it’s called a gun and it shoots out little iron bullets like these,” he took the gun and unloaded it showing the bullets, then reloaded it. “I want you to try and shoot at me when I say the word ‘Go ” Terrance handed Josten the gun and positioned his hands and told him how to use it. Over on the spectators sie garn whispered,
“You let him?” Denzin sighed and nodded. She then leaned in and whispered something into his ear, “Aye, I can do that.”
“Are you ready?”
“Ummm, do I have to hold it with two hands?”
“Not if it’s not comfortable, okay ready,” Terrance jumped into the air, “shoot ” Surprisingly instead of dodging Terrance had to block each shot. Josten had a natural knack for a gun. Terrance landed on a tree and yelled stop. The last shot echoed through the forest.
“How’d I do?” asked Josten. Denzin came running up.
“You did excellent ” she told Josten and then looked up at Terrance with a certain look they only understood.
“You’re a regular sharp-shooter ”
“Sharp-shooter? I like the sound of that,” Josten said with enthusiasm. “Ummm, what were those little lights coming out of it, they looked like fireflies,” he looked down the barrel end. The all screamed in alarm and Terrance snatched it away.
“Never look at the end when it’s loaded Those little fireflies as you call them were the bullets I showed you earlier.”
“Can I hunt with it?” Josten implored. Terrance patted Josten’s sweaty head.
“It’s about noon lets pack up.” Denzin announced.
“What about my things?” Josten questioned.
“No time sharp-shooter. We’ll buy you knew things at our next destination...” began Garn.
“Which is?” asked Josten now a little annoyed. Denzin mouthed ‘Thank you,’ to Garn. He gave a gesture very much like tipping a hat. “Okay So where are we going?” He was so anxious he was almost bouncing.
“It was your idea to leave Terrance, so where are we to go.” Denzin said smugly to hide the fact that there was no more home for any of them to go to. Terrance didn’t even get a chance to give a suggestion.
“To Bast. It’s closest,” Garn interrupted. “My brother Var live’s there. He own’s Pelicvin’s Inn. It’s long walk. It’ll take us a while, I can’t say exactly how long though,” Garn cleared his throat. Garn saw a silent agreement between Terrance and Denzin. He felt a sudden tug on his pants.
“What are you guys staring at? Come on let’s go ” Josten urged. Garn gave a chuckle and swooped him up onto his broad shoulders.
“Oi I made you something,” Garn said happily. Denzin tossed him something. It was a black leather belt with and odd sheath and a pouch. Garn handed it up to Josten. He understood what it was for when it was handed up to him.
“It’s for the gun...” still a little puzzled why he was give the belt it all became clear when the gun and two small rectangular black boxes were handed to him. “Thank you ” he squeaked. He balanced on Garn’s shoulders and buckled the belt on, slipping the gun in the sheath and placing the cartridges in the small pouch. With Garn’s help Josten stood on his shoulder to give an overview of his new weapon. It was very big on him yet strangely fitting.
“You’ll grow into it,” chuckled Garn who sat Josten back down on his shoulders. They packed and set off on a dear road south.
“So it begins,” Denzin said silently. They walked for the rest of the day. They ate as they walked, drank as they walked, they did not stop until the sun had set and even then they pressed on. Josten began to doze a little and stumble every so often that Garn again swept him up on his shoulders. They stopped when he announced Josten had fallen asleep. Garn handed Josten over to Denzin who set up a bed roll and laid him down. Denzin headed over to the make shift fire being-built. About midnight if not later Denzin laid down next to Josten.
“Denzi?”