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"Alright boys up and at' em!" Rodri's bellow broke the silence of his thoughts and Vallendel practically jumped out of his skin. His heart pounding he looked around, expecting to see his father's red face and brawny arms. " It's alright Val, don't be so jumpy." Rodri said, noticing the his face. The other two got up slowly, yawning hugely. They were only three days on the road and Vallendel still didn't feel safe enough away. "Anyway, food is getting low, so you all will have to gather and maybe hunt a little if you can." Rodri said looking over them appraisingly. "Any of you know how to hunt?" Val sighed, another skill he had picked up, finding his own food. " I can shoot pretty well with a bow sir. Noticed you had one hung up behind the casks." Rodri looked surprised but nodded. "Go get it, the quiver and arrows are right under it. Carse, you and Martic will gather whatever you find that is edible got it? Get enough for everyone." The boys nodded and picked up their shoes and the bags that Rodri handed them. As they ran off Val appeared with the long bow and the quiver slung over his shoulder. His face impassive he jumped down and jogged of into the woods surrounding the road.
Rodri watched him go, that wasn't the first time he had scared the wits out of the kid, and the merchant would give over a cask of his finest Benden white to find out why. Shrugging he went back to Slim and helped to feed and water the team.
I'm miles away and still afraid. Are my shields failing? Why can he torment me even here? The woods were peaceful, but still he could Feel the presence of the other two boys. They were laughing and making a game out of who could find the most withies, their bubbly outlook on life at this moment made Vallendel sick to his stomach. Cold, I am numb, they are nothing to me, let them do what they want. Something rustled the underbrush a few feet from him. He nocked and arrow and crouched down low. A big wherry came out, looking around it with beady, hunger filled, eyes. Vallendel rose a little and fired, drawing another arrow and firing again. His aim was true. The bird was down in two shots, though wherry meat was secondary to herdbeast and ham, it would do for a bunch of hungry travelers. He walked over and stood next to the dead bird, it's eyes were still open, it's beady eyes. So like his fathers.
The former mercenary's eyes bore into his silver ones. Those beady, hating eyes. Vallendel closed his own and closed his mind against the pain of his father's anger. " You lying son of a, now you listen to me! You're my son, and if I want you to be a smith then you'll be a smith, if I want you to be a merc then you'll be a damned merc! I gave you life and I can take it away! Look at me you whelp!" At that point Vallendel had turned away, the anger was so strong it was choking him. He had to run, had to leave, the pain was too great.
Vallendel shook his head and regarded the dead beast in front of him, and for a moment he saw his father, sprawled in his own blood. I should have, it would have been more then that pig deserved. He bent down and hefted the bird onto his shoulders. It was very heavy and he was thankful the wagon wasn't too far.
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