The Anvil (45 page)

Tom
was
sick
of
listening
to
the
bickering
and
felt
uncomfortable
with
such
high
born
people
,
although
the
baron
was
a
very
kind
man
and
tried
to
make
Tom
feel
comfortable
Tom
still
felt
very
small
and
unimportant
.

He
looked
up
and
saw
a
horseman
riding
up
to
the
castle
.
He
stood
,
brushed
the
snow
off
his
pants
and
walked
over
to
the
gate
.
Tom
got
to
the
gate
just
after
the
horseman
did
and
looked
at
him
.
The
man
was
very
lanky
with
light
brown
hair
and
green
eyes
.

He
was
panting
as
the
guards
questioned
him
.
The
tall
man
looked
at
him
and
started
to
reach
into
his
pocket
,
the
guards
lowered
their
spears
but
Tom
motioned
for
them
to
stop
.

Tom
reached
out
as
the
man
handed
him
a
piece
of
paper
.
Tom
unfolded
it
and
read
it

“
The
Ilemart
have
already
taken
four
cities
and
many
towns
and
villages
.
The
king
requests
that
you
send
troops
and
supplies
to
the
south
as
soon
as
possible
we
fear
that
the
army
there
can
'
t
hold
them
back
for
much
longer
.”

Tom
looked
up
from
the
letter
and
turned
to
the
guards
. “
Let
him
in
.”
he
said
and
the
guards
moved
aside
and
muttered
“
Yes
,
sir
.”
the
tall
man
tapped
Tom
on
the
shoulder
and
said
“
I
went
through
your
old
town
Pine
Grove
.
I
have
this
note
from
your
mother
.”
and
he
pulled
out
a
smaller
paper
.

“
Tom
,
Caleb
is
gone
.
We
don
'
t
know
if
he
has
run
away
or
has
been
kidnapped
.
If
you
could
help
find
him
please
do
.”
it
said
,
Tom
read
it
and
led
the
tall
man
into
the
castle
and
handed
him
back
the
first
note
.

Tom
reread
the
second
note
as
they
walked
towards
the
council
chamber
.
The
two
waited
as
a
guard
announced
them
then
walked
in
.
The
messenger
bowed
and
handed
the
baron
the
letter
.

The
baron
took
the
letter
and
said
“
Thank
you
,
is
there
anything
you
would
like
to
say
?
If
not
I
will
have
a
guard
escort
you
to
a
room
where
you
may
rest
from
your
travels
.”
the
man
shook
his
head
and
a
guard
led
him
out
.

The
baron
read
the
letter
and
the
rest
watched
as
his
face
turned
white
.
Tom
walked
over
to
Alex
and
tapped
his
shoulder
then
motioned
for
him
to
follow
.
They
went
to
the
hall
“
My
brother
is
missing
I
have
to
help
find
him
.
I
would
like
to
leave
as
soon
as
possible
with
your
permission
,
even
if
I
don
'
t
have
your
permission
I
will
go
.”
Tom
said
and
he
handed
Alex
the
note
.

Alex
read
it
“
You
may
go
but
try
to
send
notifications
of
where
you
are
.
Leave
now
and
be
back
as
soon
as
possible
,
if
I
need
to
I
will
come
find
you
in
about
six
weeks
.”
he
told
him
after
a
moment
of
thought
.
Tom
ran
to
his
room
and
Alex
returned
as
the
baron
explained
what
was
happening
.

Tom
entered
his
room
and
grabbed
the
needed
items
,
food
,
his
shield
,
axe
,
canteen
,
and
other
small
items
.
He
ran
out
of
the
castle
with
his
pack
and
flew
south
.

It
took
him
two
days
to
reach
Pine
Grove
,
he
had
rested
briefly
a
few
times
to
eat
and
rest
for
half
an
hour
on
the
way
.
He
landed
in
the
back
yard
and
went
into
the
house
.
His
mother
sat
at
the
table
worried
.
Tom
quickly
put
his
stuff
in
his
room
then
flew
out
to
the
surrounding
forest
to
search
.
When
the
sun
began
to
set
he
flew
back
to
the
house
.

As
Tom
lay
awake
that
night
he
had
two
thoughts
.
Maybe
Caleb
wanted
to
see
him
and
went
to
Blangto
or
he
might
have
gone
even
farther
south
to
join
the
army
and
defend
the
country
.