The WeatherMaker Hearts Desire

ol

nly dead waste. The grass once green and lush now fades away, covered by a blanket of frost. Another year has passed' the king said turning fr

dth time. 'I think it's time to face reality. Come out of you

d. 'I will never stop

suffer because of your unwil

the king said. 'Perhaps

inue to kidnap until you are so ol

er is necessary'

ive you mad' the woman answered

the king answered si

woman stared coolly. 'And I say for th

ling his anger well desp

ve no need

an sitting in the chair, li

ed her head to look behind her, speakin

ce isn't it? I won't

answered, not even trying to hold back his grief, 'then I w

the king again, but continued to

d for me. I've lived my life. Find someone you

ntent. When she opened them again, she stared calmly at th

days

nt on her skin. She had become flushed, exhausted from her trek running up the spiral stairs of the tower

despair. She cou

breathed. 'I wil

lcony. She tilted, just as she did so, a male figure appeared behind her.

nd. The last thing she saw was the wall of

und, and was ki

he leaves had concealed her as the twisting green vin

gh the thick thorns, lifting her lifeless form in hi

carried her said. 'She jumped.

er, seeing above him a row of soldiers standin

had carried the women gas

darkening sky, watching as the thick black clouds rolled above

rt

pte

bi

er, this time a little further away than before. He leant forwards, holding the simple fishing rod with one hand and

ey would not chase the lure. Arlen became ever more frustrated as he watched the small thin fish move in a shoal around the w

ting go of the rope in mid swing and flying through the air. Their hollering was abruptly cut short as the

threw the rod down in

s brothers when they surfaced

the youngest being eleven years old, broke free, swimming as fast as he could towards the

said?' Arlen huffed w

est, Farrell sang happily. 'Why a

' Arlen glower

call me

it a rest?' Brice t

Arlen. He reached down into the water, helping Farrel

' Brice said to Arlen. 'What do

rother to get a better look at Arl

t to say' Ar

' Farrell

ll la

Brice shar

we want to be' Brice told h

swered stubbornly. 'And anyway, everyone wants to be a soldier,

nour' Brice pressed.

bjects' Arlen g

just saying...think of the women.' 'Women love a man who

u know?' A

tect his family. Not many people would mess with a well trained soldier h

tect' Farrell told Arlen. 'An

silent in

nodding to himself. 'I'm going to be a General and have my own army, and fight by day and by

to Arlen again. 'Even shrimpy

alling

is youngest brother's protests. '

ant to be

ser to getting an answer

llen silent, listening again as he wait

ll

on't laugh' Ar

h' Farrell called out, speaking louder than wa

try my best'

deep breath. 'I wan

as he waited nervously fo

e neither of them s

st out in gales of laughte

ed!' Arlen

wiping away tears from h

ff the platform, hitting the water in an undignified manner. Farrell tri

uttering, having swallowed a mouthful of water. He soon recovered, turning on his brothers in the water and going after them, swearing vengeance. The two guilty culprits turned and swam away in a panicked manner, mak

n year

full of energy, full of life. The rider held on tightly, sat u

the ground and the rider kicked the hor

as they travelled at such speeds. They raced across the countryside, moving as one. The stallion obeying every command from his rider, every