Chapter 1

Mist clouded around the village of Wisteria as Salem's father strode silently to the stable with his spear. Hearing a crashing noise as the stable door opened Salem awoke. He got up and crept to the window. Seeing his father with a white horse, he tiptoed down the stairs and walked outside, up to his dad.

"Where are you going?" Salem whispered tugging on his sleeve.

"There's no easy way to say this, son…" His dad sighed. "I'm going off to war, I don't know when I'll be back, but take this to remember me by." He handed Salem a sword, sharpened to look brand new with a red and black hilt and cushion grip with his dad's name, Octavius engraved on it. "Use this if you get into trouble, while I'm gone, stay with your friends, they know what's happening and their parents agreed to take care of you."

"But… but daddy-"

"I'm sorry Salem," His father said solemnly. "but I must do this, he hopped on the horse and strode off into the sunrise. "Be strong my son, be strong…" the fog swallowed him in seconds.

"Salem… SALEM, breakfast!" Searen shouted.

"Ugh… no thanks." He complained. So, it was all just a dream. Will I ever see my father again? Tears began to well up in his green eyes. No! I must be strong, father would want me to be. Slowly, Salem got out of bed.

"Ugh, my stomach hurts… I hope I'm not sick, I have a feeling something's going to happen today… Something... bad." he whispered to himself. Changed into his blue tunic, tan pants and high black boots. As he continued down the hall, he tripped on the rug and fell head over heels down the stairs. Faceplanting, he looked up at his friends and forced a smile.

"Are you okay?" Searen grabbed his hand and helped Salem up.

"I think so, but now my hair's a mess! Hey, your wearing your new full-body armor I see, it looks very sharp over your tan tunic and low brown boots." he replied.

"Very funny Salem, now could you get us some well water? And thanks." Searen asked.

"I guess so, I've got nothing better to do, hey, where's your sister?" Salem scanned the room and peered out the window.

"Oh, Rouse? She went to get some herbs from the field for lunch today."

"Alone? But she could get killed!" Salem stuttered.

"Don't worry buddy, She has her crossbows, she can take care of herself. Now stop worrying about your girlfriend and get that water, and while you're at it, can you go to the market and get us some lunch?" Searen teased.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Salem reddened. "I-I'm going to get the stuff now." he avoided Searen and walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, where are you going?" Rowan, one of his friends from childhood growled at him, her black ponytails whipped the back of her head as she turned.

"Outside to get some well water, we're out right?" he retorted.

"Oh, yeah…" She glared at him with cold ice blue eyes. Rowan got up to go change into her brown shirt with a green jacket and matching brown pants.

Salem walked calmly over to the bucket. Geez, what's her deal? I realize her parents are in the war too, but so is everyone else's' that lives in this house! Except for my mom, she died while I was born, It's all my fault. Salem almost tripped over Rowan's black hunting shoes as he went over to the bucket.

He snatched up the bucket walked out the door and started towards the fountain. Hmm, If I can bucket some water from here, I might get some pocket money as well… He stared at the shiny coins and fished some out. Eight gold for me, plus the ten I already have. that should be enough for lunch at least. He emptied the bucket of old water and took it to the well.

He approached the well at looked at his reflection. Ugh, my hair is amok this morning. he fixed the part in his hair and made sure each delicate orange hair was pointing to the left. At least I have some money today, I hate stealing from the market, but sometimes you just have to to make a living. Oh no, it's that man, the man who looks just like my father did with the brownish red hair and grey eyes, even his horse looks like father's. Just stay calm you see him everyday. He chided to himself. Salem crept off to the market and entered.

"Hey Salem, are you actually going to buy something instead of stealing it?" The clerk sneered.

"Of course, just some bread and maybe a few apples." he laid his gold on the desk and let the clerk count it.

"Hmm, you have enough for two loaves of bread and three apples." he remarked. "With four gold left over." He grabbed the bread and apples and gave them to Salem taking the gold.

"Thank you, sir." Salem picked up the stuff and started walking toward his house. trying to pick up the bucket, he slipped in a puddle that was under him. "Ouch…" he complained, trying to get up. "Great, now my butt's all wet." he whispered while trying to pull his tunic over the wet spot. A little later, he gathered the bucket and filled it with water. Entering the house, Rouse ran up to him and took the bags, her chestnut-colored hair waved like the wind. She was wearing her pink shirt and black unbuttoned coat and matching black boots with tan pants.

"Wonderful." she beamed her green eyes were sparkling like crystals. "This is enough for us to have lunch and dinner!"

"Oh, h-hey Rouse, it was nothing…" Salem turned as red as a beet.

"Do you have any gold left over?" asked Searen, His very dark brown hair spiked out in all directions. As Salem looked into Searen's grey eyes he could see that he knew about his crush.

"Yeah, actually I do, I bought that stuff with gold I stole from the fountain." He tossed one glittering coin to each of his friends. Man, Searen needs a haircut, I guess he's going for the edgy tough guy look, but I'm not going to judge my best friend. Why is he butting into my business? This is my personal life! I mean I know he's my best friend, but still, he needs to lay off so I don't get caught.

"Dude, why's your butt wet?" Rowan chuckled while pointing at Salem.

"I sort of slipped and fell in a puddle." Salem said in a roundabout way.

"Why don't you change your pants?' Rouse suggested.

"Yeah I'll go do that." he replied while running upstairs. After changing his pants, Salem walked back downstairs. He observed his friends, who were having lunch.

"Hey Salem, grab a chair." Searen pulled a seat out from under the table.

"Thanks." He sat down in the chair and enjoyed his lunch.

The group was relaxing as Salem heard an alarming noise. Oh no, I thought something bad was going to happen. my instincts were right. He clenched his stomach.

"What's wrong? you got ants in your pants?" Searen asked sarcastically.

"No, listen." The friends fell silent.

War horns began to sound. Salem froze dead silent as cavalry and mercenaries began to storm Wisteria. "Everyone, grab your weapons, even if they're our allies, we need to be ready just in case."

The group nodded to Salem in unison. Searen snatched up his lance, Rouse picked up her dual crossbows and bolts, Rowan got her war axe, and Salem grabbed his sword. This sword binds my father and I together, I will make him proud. The group migrated to the door like caribou. The fog danced on the ground as the group ran past the ominous clouds. A strange figure clad in a black cloak that covered his face rode past Salem on a white horse of which looked extremely familiar.

"Father?"