Son of Soron (3 page)

Nathan nodded his head and smiled.

“A very tricky design. What are you planning on doing with it? Giving one of the village girls a present?”  Soron teased.

Nathan blushed and looked sheepishly down at the bracelet. “I didn’t know if it would work or not, I just wanted to try, and no it’s not for some girl. It is for Mother, tomorrow is her birthday,” Nathan said.

Soron grabbed the boy by the shoulder and pulled him in for a hug while messing the boy’s dark and shaggy hair with his free hand. “It is a wonderful job and a present worthy of a queen. Your mother will be proud to wear it.”

After Nathan finished at the blacksmith shop with his father, he spotted Ava coming out of her family’s house. He walked over to her. “Hey Ava.”

She smiled. “Hey wolf boy, let’s go for a walk.”

Nathan did not mind her teasing; she was his best friend and despite her sharp tongue was always there for him. They walked through the village, stopped and chatted with the widow Noggin.

She was on her front steps sweeping up dirt a patron had dragged all over her plank floors. “Hello Nathan, Ava. What are you two up to?”

“Oh nothing much, just going for a walk, maybe head towards the creek,” Ava replied.

“I am going to make some pies tonight. If you bring me back some apples I will pay you in pie.”

Nathan and Ava jumped at this deal. Widow Noggin was an excellent cook and made the best pies in the village. “You got yourself a deal” Ava piped up for the both of them. Nathan grabbed the large empty basket from Miss Noggin and ran to catch Ava, who was already running towards the orchard.

As they picked fruit, Ava climbed up one of the biggest trees. She liked to climb to the middle and top branches where, she insisted, the best fruit came from. Nathan knew it was just an excuse to climb, but there was no point arguing about it as long she picked apples while playing on the high-up branches. While working they discussed the previous day’s adventure.

“I thought that wolf would eat you, and then I would have to drag your half-eaten carcass back to the village to show your dad that a wolf killed you and not me.”

Nathan laughed. “Mom is the one you would have had to worry about. She knows all about poisons, she would make you a tasty pie and poof your belly explodes and you are dead.”

Ava scrunched her face up. “That’s gross Nathan.”

“Hey, you were the one who was carrying my half-eaten carcass into town.”

Ava laughed. “Yes but you getting eaten by a wolf is possible. Your mom poisoning me is ridiculous, she likes me.” As she explained the flaw in Nathan’s logic, she picked a worm-eaten apple and threw it at Nathan.

Nathan dodged the projectile, taking a seat, refusing to get into an apple tossing fight with his friend. He had lost way too many already. Besides her quick wit, one of her best qualities was that she threw with more accuracy than any boy in the village did. Any contest involving throwing was a losing proposition. “Well, I really don’t think I was in any danger. It seemed like the wolf knew me.” Nathan knew it sounded strange but he really had sensed that the wolf posed no threat.

“I don’t care, it is just really weird. Have you told your parents about it yet?”

Nathan was not sure he wanted to try explaining to an adult how a wolf walked right up to him, looked him over and then walked away. It sounded a little unbelievable. “No, but I suppose you are right for once. I will tell mom about it.”

Another apple whipped by Nathan’s head. He barely ducked in time. “What do you mean ‘for once’?”

Chapter three

VELAINA LOVED THE days she got to spend with Nathan. She and Soron shared the responsibility of training their son. On Soron’s days, they worked in the blacksmith shop, on hers she took her son out into the forests and swamps to learn about the different plants and wildlife. Velaina came from a family of healers and herbalists. Her potions and salves sold to healers all over the continent. Her herbal skills were as much in demand and as valuable as her husband’s metal works.

Today they were on the edges of the Great Northern swamp. A vast isolated murky and vile land thought by most people to be cursed. She knew this swamp released a large amount of methane. If you weren’t careful it would cause you to pass out, usually into shallow water were drowning often followed.  A few foolish travelers and injured animals had died this way and the bones left future travelers to wonder at the deadly swamplands. These bones were at the heart of the curse stories but Velaina discarded the stories for the misinformed gossip they were.

After collecting some of the swamp reeds that grew along the banks of the dreaded swamp, Velaina and Nathan retreated to higher ground to have a quick lunch, they sat together under tree watching the birds flying above and diving into the swampy waters, preying on the fish beneath the surface of the murky waters.. Later they would continue further into the swamp in search of other valuable herbs. Many such as bilbub ferns, a dark purple flowered plant with a sweet almost candy-like aroma grew only in the treacherous lands. 

Velaina opened her small basket and brought out their lunch as they sat under a large willow tree, enjoying the shade it provided from the bright sun above. As she handed Nathan his lunch he took the sandwich from her outreached hand and returned a small handsomely wrapped package in its place.

Velaina, surprised at this unexpected offering, looked at the package wrapped in balsam leaf and twine. “What is this?” she asked.

Nathan smiled at his mother. “You didn’t think I would forget your birthday did you mother? It is your gift.”

Velaina was very proud of her thoughtful son. With curiosity, she opened the package; inside she found a beautiful bracelet. In the shade of the tall willow, the dark metal seemed almost black, yet the speckles in it caught the leaf filtered sunlight and sparkled like tiny stars on a dark night. The intricate pattern of woven leaves reminded her of ivy curling around the base of a young cherry tree.

“It’s gorgeous, Nathan, thank you so much. You must have done a lot of bargaining to get your father to make such a bracelet that won’t be sold.” Velaina put the bracelet onto her arm. The dark metal contrasted perfectly with her light golden brown skin.

Nathan smiled with pride. “No mother. I made it for you myself. Father let me forge my own rod yesterday.”

Velaina cast her eyes back and forth from her young son, who was beaming with pride, and the beautiful piece of artwork that now decorated her arm. She knew Nathan was not lying to her but the bracelet was a very intricate and detailed piece of work. She could not help but be impressed that her young son had done this himself. After the initial shock of discovering the depth of his talent, she realized that it shouldn’t have been that big of a surprise. Nathan was a clever and creative child. His northern strength mixed well with the creative mind and dexterity of hand that came from her people.

While watching her son, Velaina thought about the many hours training and education that she and Soron spent on their son. One day he would need all the skills they could pass onto him, but that was a darker thought for another day.  Velaina pushed that thought away.   It was far better to bask in the beauty of the day, be thankful for their quiet life, and enjoy her son’s wonderful gift. Life had not always been so good. Tranquility was to be enjoyed.

“Mom, I need to tell you something.” Nathan gave her a serious look as he spoke. “The weirdest thing happened to me. The other day, Ava and I were sitting in the meadow by the pool…” Nathan paused for a second to gather his thoughts.

“Nathan, Ava is a beautiful girl. It is natural for you to like her, I just hope—.”

Nathan looked at his mother “What? No, mom. That is not what I am talking about. Nothing happened between Ava and me."

Velaina gave a sigh of relief; whatever Nathan was going to tell her now was not nearly as terrifying as where she had thought this conversation was going. “Sorry son, I thought we would be having a birds and bees conversation. I’m glad to hear it is not time for that yet... Now what was so weird?”

Nathan gave her a funny look. The birds and bees? What was she talking about?

She laughed, sensing his discomfort at this idea. “I’m sorry son. Continue your story.”

He cleared his voice before continuing. “We were sitting on opposite sides of the ponds just playing around when Ava tells me there is a wolf behind me. I turn and there is a big grey timber wolf sitting there watching me. I stare back at it just watching. Then it slowly walks right up to me, sits there for a few minutes, sniffs me a couple times then turns around and walks back into the forest. That was the weird part. What do you think it means?”

Velaina’s heart raced, despite her calm exterior. She had expected that one day she would have a conversation like this but still was unprepared now that it was happening. Pretending to be calm and indifferent, she replied.  “Well it means that the wolf did not feel like having you for lunch, and for that I am grateful. If something ate you, who would make me such nice jewelry? Now let us pack up, it’s time to head home,” Velaina replied as she gave her son a big hug. Picking more herbs would have to wait. Velaina needed have to have a discussion with Nathan’s father before she admitted the truth of the wolf to her son.

…

Later that night while Nathan slept, Velaina shared with Soron the news of Nathan’s encounter with the wolf. She relayed the event as Nathan had described to her, along with her sense that Nathan had held back explaining the full story. “It is likely that the wolf sensed magic and was attracted to him. It will probably happen again with other animals.”

Soron absorbed this information. They had talked about the possibility that this might happen one day. Velaina was a’kil, an Ingla word for magic blood. She had gifts the villagers knew nothing of, such as the ability to sense people’s emotions. This ability was how she always knew when Nathan was lying. Soron’s family also had a history of having a’kil among them. The chances of their son being born with magic blood had always been a concern. Being a’kil was not bad, most born with the gift were happy to have it. However, it also came with great risk.

The problem was that most Solotinians feared magic and over the years most a’kil were killed or driven off.  Most a’kil hid their talents or moved to safer, more magic-tolerant lands. Velaina and Soron had chosen to live in a small village outside of any of the kingdoms partly for that reason. If Nathan was a’kil, it was better to live in a small village where hopefully no one would fear him if he started to show signs of magic. Even in a small village, there were many who shunned magic as evil. Nathan’s life would be changing drastically soon.

As Soron pondered the repercussions of this information, Velaina continued to think about Nathan’s encounter with the wolf. Animals being attracted to and forming bonds with a’kil did happen, so the wolf was a very good indicator that Nathan was in fact an a’kil. Soron had already known that Nathan might be magic blood, like her and others of his own family. Lately, Soron had been thinking that Nathan’s ability to make black steel and how easily he shaped it were much too good for someone his age and size. Being a’kil would explain this.

“Your bracelet that Nathan made is far better than any fourteen-year-old should be able to make. Truth is, it is better than even I can make. I have suspected for a little while now there was some magic involved. The wolf only confirms it. Nathan is a’kil,” said Soron.

Velaina looked down at her bracelet. It truly was a beautiful piece and magic or not she was proud Nathan could make something so wonderful. But this was still a troubling revelation. Being a’kil in Solotine was dangerous. “Do we raise him here or take him to Mithbea?”

They both pondered this question. They were all happy living in Elderwood and, for now, were safe. A few of its residents, such as the previous blacksmith, resented them. But for the most part, the villagers were their friends now. If Nathan developed other magical powers, or people started noticing the ones he had, they would probably need to go to Mithbea and the kingdom of Balta. Mithbea was a land where magic was more common and better accepted than Solotine.

Finally, her husband answered the question. “For now, we stay. I shall start training the boy in weapons. If his magic continues to grow, then you can start teaching him about it. But for now, we will leave it. If things change, we shall go to Balta.”

Chapter four

“WHEN YOU ARE DONE with your breakfast don’t bother putting your shoes on. We are working inside today,” said Velaina.

Nathan was surprised by this. The weather was nice outside and rarely did they stay in on such a nice day unless she had a particular lesson in mind. More often than not, those lessons would wait for a wet or cold day. Done eating, Nathan joined his mother.

“Yesterday I made up several potions. Today you will identify them,” said Velaina to Nathan as they entered into the small workroom. It looked like a small storage room filled with shelves full of herb, barks, bags of different ground plants ground into powders, bottles of fluids and medicine-filled jars. On the main workbench were four large vials.

Knowing that this was his project for the day, Nathan took his time and examined the vials one at a time.

The first two vials took Nathan very little time to identify. Within minutes he recognized the ingredients. The first two vials were common concoctions that Velaina made to sell.  “Lavender, honey and white birch bark in spring water, used to ail a sore stomach or headache. Used for cleaning wounds, but best to boil it down to a salve for that. The second one is black current, pine needle, and swamp pod mixed in cedar sap.”

Nathan smiled. he knew by his mother’s silence that the next two vials would be much trickier.  With this in mind Nathan took his time with the third vial. Looking closely at the vial he studied the dark red, almost purple, fluid. He gave the vial a small swirl and watched the fluid swish around in the vial.