– The Wolf

ked, shields rang hollow, and the laughter of soldiers mingled with the sharp bark of commands. For the men of

orning was

his wolf-fur cloak hanging from his shoulders, eyes fixed upo

wings, his frame lean but already marked with the promise of strength. Yet what struck all who looked upon him were his eyes - one molten-gold, burni

bled, tossing a woo

ds, surprising in their preci

im uncle, but the name had stuck from the time Aric had

how me what y

hands, and advanced. Darian raised his practice shield lazily,

st blow mad

ac

ce. The boy had no business swinging that hard, not a

ing was uneven, his angles too wide - but behind every swing was raw strength that no eight-year-old

pped Aric firmly in the chest with his sword edge. The boy stumbled bac

weapons slowly, s

h something between awe and un

from his tunic. He grinned through

there, and his heart twisted. For all the prophecy, for all the whispers of shadow, this was just

You made me proud, little wo

ms folded, watching. The Ironblade's face was unreadable,

ft - but it is also a weight. One day, you'll carry more than this blade, more than even your father's name. And when that d

dened. "Strong

g the boy's hair. "Perhaps. Bu

sound that rang across the yard like

For if the boy was already this strong... what wo

nhold rang again with the sound of practic

ade in hand. His frame was massive, shoulders broad as a fortress wall, every movement honed with the economy o

actice sword, sweat alr

, voice like stone g

parried with a flick of his wrist, the boy'

y will gut you befor

s, then lunged. Kaelor sidestepped, tapped the flat of h

low. A

ched, but he nodded.

n his face, but each time he fell, he rose again. The guards who watched muttered among themselves - some in p

ide and brought his own crashing down,

e growled

t lower his weapon. He raised it o

somethin

's knee. The move was clumsy, but it was unexpected, and fo

led through t

s rose slight

back a step, sand spraying beneath his boots. Still the boy held his ground, eyes blazing - the steel-grey eye h

h that knocked the boy flat onto his back. Aric l

ng moment. Then, to the astonishment of

and Kaelor hauled

ast, voice low, almost grudging. "And my steel.

was the closest thing to praise h

ay is far off. And it will only come if you suffer, bleed, and break

breathless. "

der. "Good. Because you will not be giv

the boy's birth, but now her gaze lingered on him with something like sorrow. When Aric

w and ruin. May the gods

g his wooden sword again as if ready

eart, allowed the faintest gho