Chapter 4:
Birthday
Three years later on Marcus' thirteenth birthday the two boys were talking. "My mom made me a cake; you can have some if you want." "Thanks oh and I have one thing for you follow me." Alexander said. They were walking off behind Alexander's house. "Come on what is it; my mom's expecting me to be back soon." "It's worth the wait Marcus, trust me." Alexander turned around and looked at Marcus; he was holding a long, three inch high, wooden box. "Open it Marcus, look inside."
Marcus opened up the box and pulled out two axes much like his old one yet this one had metal blades and a much smoother handle. The axes was beautifully crafted it looked as though a professional made it. The handles were smooth and were made out of the most beautiful wood in the forest. The handles were wrapped in very expensive leather so he wouldn't get splinters like with his old axe. This one also had a sharp point on the opposite side of the blade and a short blade at the end of the handle.
"It's… it's… it's beautiful. How did you… It's exactly like I wanted it? How could you have afforded this?" Marcus said. "I made it myself. I had to save up for a while to bye the materials and then I put it together. Your dad helped me with the handle and my dad helped me with the metal work. Well, go ahead pick it up." Alexander said with a hint of eagerness in his voice. Marcus did as he said and picked up both axes and swung them around.
"Whoa! Their perfectly balanced and so light weight their perfect. Wait how will we spar now I can take a few bruises but not getting my arm cut off?" "I've got that under control." Alexander said while pulling out a few pieces of thick tanned leather. "See these, you slip them over the blade and that way they won't hurt us." "But wait Alexander what about you what will you fight with." "Way ahead of you." Alexander said as he pulled out two elegantly crafted, four foot, metal swords. The blades were curved and were very light weight. The handle guards went straight out one inch and came to a point. His swords too hade a short blade at the bottom of the handle.
Just then Marcus heard a whistle. "Come on lets go Alex." "Wait Marcus there's more." He turned around and grabbed a holster and threw it to Marcus and he to put one on. "You can adjust it to have both holsters around your waist, back, or one on both." Alexander explained. Marcus put both of them around his back and Alexander put one around his waist and one around his back. "Well come on. Also Alex thanks a bunch you're the best." Marcus yelled as they ran to Marcus' house.
Once they got to his house all of the kids from the village their age were sitting around a table with a cake in the middle. Marcus immediately went to sit down by Sandra. Alexander searched all over but couldn't find Laurel. He sat down anyways and searched through the kids for her but he had no luck. They began singing happy birthday to Marcus and lighting the candles on his cake. Alexander's head began to ring and the singing got quieter. For some reason he got out of his seat and began walking towards the forest.
He walked for a few more feet and got to a road which had a single wagon on the road. Alexander walked up to the wagon and looked inside. Inside the wagon he saw Laurel tied up and gagged.