"Do you know what a warrior fights for?" Martin nodded "Of course, gramma!
Honour!" Windred smiled. It had been a few seasons since Luke had left the tribe's
dwellings after the evil Vilu Daskar. Martin could still make out the face of his father
perfectly. He missed him much. The seasons dragged on and still there was no sign of
Luke or his ship, Sanya.
"Yes dear. I suppose that's what you warrior types fight for. Tell me, what is honour?"
Martin made a face as he tried to think what this 'honour' thing could be. His father had
talked much about it. Honour— the word created images of glory and victory in Martin's
head, but he couldn't quite grasp: What is it?
"I think… maybe it is… earning the respect of others?"
"Then," Windred started "You wouldn't fight if you couldn't earn the respect of others?
If no one was there to think of your brave deeds, you wouldn't fight against evil?"
Martin stuck his bottom lip out, still not getting it.
"But, gramma, what is it?"
Windred nodded, knowing that was what Martin'd ask.
"I've been thinking about it." She said in a slow thoughtful manner. "I think it is—or
should be—honesty, fairness, and stopping what is evil…"
Martin thought about it. That made sense. Yet, that's not what, in his mind, honour
meant.
"Gramma, that doesn't seem right, though."
"Yes, I'm sure you're right. So called warriors seem to have warped the meaning of it."
Windred paused, to cause effect.
"It so seems that now honour means revenge. And, like you said, earning respect from
others."
Martin bit his lip. Again, it made sense.
"Then does that mean father fights for revenge?"
Windred sighed.
"I'm not sure. He went because he loved Sanya and wanted to kill the one who killed
her."
Martin's brow furrowed. He was worried. His father, fighting out of bitterness?
Revenge.
"What do we fight for?"
"I hope that you will fight to rid the land of evil, not just out of anger."
Martin gulped as he asked this question. It startled him that he should ever ask this.
"Does it make father happy that he is going to kill Vilu."
"Never. Your father would never be happy to kill anybeast. He did it so nobeast would
feel the pain he did."
Martin let it all sink in. He was glad that Windred had cleared that up. Without
speaking, Martin left the cave. Windred didn't try to stop Martin. He needed to go out
and play with Timballisto, live his young life just a little longer before having to worry
about.
"I hope…" Windred whispered to herself.
And the waves crashed out on the northern shore, wishing again for the blissfulness of
Sanya, Martin, and, most of all, Luke the Warrior.
Honour!" Windred smiled. It had been a few seasons since Luke had left the tribe's
dwellings after the evil Vilu Daskar. Martin could still make out the face of his father
perfectly. He missed him much. The seasons dragged on and still there was no sign of
Luke or his ship, Sanya.
"Yes dear. I suppose that's what you warrior types fight for. Tell me, what is honour?"
Martin made a face as he tried to think what this 'honour' thing could be. His father had
talked much about it. Honour— the word created images of glory and victory in Martin's
head, but he couldn't quite grasp: What is it?
"I think… maybe it is… earning the respect of others?"
"Then," Windred started "You wouldn't fight if you couldn't earn the respect of others?
If no one was there to think of your brave deeds, you wouldn't fight against evil?"
Martin stuck his bottom lip out, still not getting it.
"But, gramma, what is it?"
Windred nodded, knowing that was what Martin'd ask.
"I've been thinking about it." She said in a slow thoughtful manner. "I think it is—or
should be—honesty, fairness, and stopping what is evil…"
Martin thought about it. That made sense. Yet, that's not what, in his mind, honour
meant.
"Gramma, that doesn't seem right, though."
"Yes, I'm sure you're right. So called warriors seem to have warped the meaning of it."
Windred paused, to cause effect.
"It so seems that now honour means revenge. And, like you said, earning respect from
others."
Martin bit his lip. Again, it made sense.
"Then does that mean father fights for revenge?"
Windred sighed.
"I'm not sure. He went because he loved Sanya and wanted to kill the one who killed
her."
Martin's brow furrowed. He was worried. His father, fighting out of bitterness?
Revenge.
"What do we fight for?"
"I hope that you will fight to rid the land of evil, not just out of anger."
Martin gulped as he asked this question. It startled him that he should ever ask this.
"Does it make father happy that he is going to kill Vilu."
"Never. Your father would never be happy to kill anybeast. He did it so nobeast would
feel the pain he did."
Martin let it all sink in. He was glad that Windred had cleared that up. Without
speaking, Martin left the cave. Windred didn't try to stop Martin. He needed to go out
and play with Timballisto, live his young life just a little longer before having to worry
about.
"I hope…" Windred whispered to herself.
And the waves crashed out on the northern shore, wishing again for the blissfulness of
Sanya, Martin, and, most of all, Luke the Warrior.