THE LEGACY OF THE SWORD MASTER

Chapter three

Kael’s muscles screamed in protest as he pushed through another swing, sweat dripping down his brow, soaking his tattered tunic. The memory of man's cold stare gnawed at him.

Why did he walk away?

Was he testing him? Or did he truly see nothing worth training?

Kael didn’t have the answers—but he had rage. And it fueled him.

The sword clanged against a rock, sparks flying as Kael stumbled. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily, knuckles scraped raw.

“A warrior doesn’t feed like a man. He eats just to keep himself going…”

His father’s words echoed again, but they no longer comforted him—they taunted him.

“Am I even a warrior anymore?” Kael muttered.

A rustle behind him.

He whirled around, sword raised.

A girl stood at the edge of the clearing, no older than him, with sharp green eyes and a cloak that shimmered like moonlight.

Kael narrowed his eyes. “Who are you?”

She didn’t answer. She stepped forward slowly, cautious but unafraid.

Kael looked at her body features. She was beautiful and was dressed in a royal attire.

She walked past Kael and took his sword that was lying on the ground. " Do you even know how to train?" She asked staring at him.

" Give me that!" Kael snapped grabbing his father's sword from her. " That is not a toy."

"Well, I thought we were going to have this the way way but it seems I was wrong."

The strange girl dropped off her robe on the mountain and immediately ran towards Kael. She jumped high enough to stun Kael and grabbed the sword from him.

" I am going to acknowledge you as a sword man of you can get this from me." She said beaming with smile.

" Who are you?" Kael said with anger.

He has no time for games and he needed to be back in the house before Dareth suspect that he as gone. " I don't have time for silly games, girl. Give it back!" He said charging forward but the girl was swift on her feet.

She knacked Kael at the back of the head sending him to the ground. Kael rolled endless as he hit his head against a rock.

" Ouch!" He yelled in pain.

" So much for a man who had been on the rock training all night. If you can get the sword from me then it is yours." She said again.

Fueling with rage, Kael charged again but this time, she moved more faster and swift that she hit him on the buttocks they Kael yelled.

" That is it!" He said getting frustrated but as he was about to charge at her, some men in iron suit walked out of the forest. " There you are." One of them said.

Feeling scared Kael took to his heels without looking back. He knew what would happen if he was caught by Dareth. It won't be just his flesh that was going to suffer but his head will be on a spike!

The kitchen was in disarray that no one saw Kael got out through the hole he had dug into one of the cabinet. He was about to walk into his room when he felt a hand tapped him on the back.

Kael froze.

His face paled and his heart beating heavily that it looks like he was going to pass out anymore minutes. " You need to be careful or he is going to find out and when he does, your head won't father to him anymore because your father's doesn't. Be smart." the voice said and disappeared.

Kael looked back and he was gone.

He knew someone was watching, knew where he disappeared too each night but he was keeping his secret.

He walked into his room to lie down but the harsh knock on his door made him stand up.

The door flunged open with Rand standing right outside. " Where have you been al day? Father has been looking for you." Rand said staring at him. His gaze landed on his rough hands. " Have you been training again?" Rand asked.

" Of course not. I have been helping out in the kitchen." Kael lied, hiding his hands at the back.

Kael knew Rand was just like his father. When they saw something strange they never let go.

He walked into the room turning all of Kael's belonging upside down. When he was satisfied, he looked at Kael and spat on him. " You reek. Get a warm bath."

Kael said nothing but simply grithed his teeth in anger. He was going to claim his Hakana one day and when he does, he was going to make every living things in Dareth's home pay the price for what was done to his family.

Kael quickly hard a cold bath and dressed up. He find a piece of white clothes to bandage his knuckles. He knew Dareth would suspect once he sees his hands.

A warriors hands was never clean but rough. Funnily, my father's was not only clean but looks like the hand of a man who had never touched blade.

He put on his tattered clothes and walked out of his room. The smell of a goat being brunt and stewed caught his nostril that Kael began to salivate.

" I wonder who is coming over." He said outloud. " The king is paying Master Dareth a visit. You better dress and clean up nicely. You don't want to disgrace yourself." One of the servant said looking at Kael

Her name was Fiona. She was exceptional nice to Kael ever since he got into Dareth's home.

" Nice." Kael said to himself. He was about entering his room to have a change of clothes when he heard the trumpets.

Kael knew it was too late.

He immediately find his way to the main hall where the king was going to have a look at all of the slaves.

He never stayed with Dareth and his son, Rand. To them,he was nothing but a slave.

With his head bowed in anticipation to the kings visit, Kael wished and opportunity would present itself.

But as the king entred the compound, Kael peeped through the tiny hole but what he saw sent his heart beating like crazy.