| Fantasy Fiction posted March 28, 2018 | Chapters: |
...7 8 -9- 10... 
|
  |
Joshua meets the man who will teach him all he should know
A chapter in the book GULBRANDR- God's Sword
The Meeting
by Roxanna Andrews
Joshua looked up at the man who towered over him. He had so many questions swirling in his head but, "How do you know my name?" was all he asked.
The mountain answered, "I know you have many questions and this is a strange thing to happen. I will answer them all, but some things you must take on faith for a time."
Faith? What was 'faith'? Joshua had never heard the word before.
"My name is Augdon. I am a Guardian and the captain of a vast army that lives among the northern mountains." He pointed north to the great, purple mountain range. "We have been there many years.There is an evil coming Joshua, the like of which the world has never seen. Even now it sweeps down from the south, devouring everything in its path. Nothing can stand against it, nothing but you." Augdon paused a moment and Joshua took the opportunity to speak.
"I do not understand anything you are saying. I am no one, just a youth. I am a good warrior for my people, but I cannot lead a vast army. You must seek another Joshua."
Augdon shook his head at the humility of the young man standing before him. He put on no false airs and that was a good thing. He saw in his eyes an intelligence, and even an eagerness to learn. A desire to be this man he spoke of.
"You will learn, for we will teach you all you need to know. You will be ready when the time comes, but we must start now for time is short."
Joshua shook his head, it was too much to take in.
Augdon smiled his brilliant smile and guided Joshua towards the dragon. "You will know all in due time, but now, we fly." He raised his hand towards the dragon and he came to him and bowed low. "Climb up," he said as he pushed Joshua onto the huge beast's broad back. He handed him two soft leather straps. "Hang on to these and do not let go."
"Up," Augdon commanded and the beast rose to it's feet and began to run. Joshua's heart drummed in his chest. He could not believe he was going with this stranger, he knew nothing of him or his people. Perhaps he was being kidnapped to be held for a ransom. It had happened to others. This all seemed a dream to him. But he knew this was not so. He knew the giant's story was true and he must go with him. Why he felt such trust, he could not explain. He just knew his heart beat loudly, not with fear, but with excitement. Hadn't he always felt he had a calling? He never spoke of it for fear others would ridicule him or think him proud. But he knew somewhere deep inside that he was meant for a noble purpose.
The beast spread his huge wings and they were airborne. Augdon need not have told Joshua to hold on to the leather straps for he did so now for dear life. He looked down at the valley below and saw his horse standing in the trees. Fader! He had forgotten about his beloved horse. He hoped he would find his way back to the Clan. They may think him dead and he had a moment of regret for the pain it would cause, but he push it behind him and sat his mind on things ahead.
As the great, green dragon banked to make a landing on the mountain top, Joshua felt his stomach lurch. He felt not at all well and his head spun. The dragon landed and Joshua slid from his back and retched.
Augdon smiled, "We all did that the first time, you will get used to it."
Dak, Nyla's nephew, met his father and uncle at the clearing as arranged. His father's news was not good. "We found only marks and tracks on the path. It seems as if a great beast snatched him away. The tracks of it vanish, so where it could have gone, we cannot say. The tracks are very much the same as I found near his father's body. It does not bode well and I am loathed to tell his mother this news. We will accompany you back to the cottage."
They rode to the cottage in silence, hearts heavy. Dak wiped tears from his eyes. He thought of Joshua as his brother and best friend, that he might not see him again was a huge weight on his chest.
Nyla paced the grounds in front of her cottage, impatient for news from Dak. She had insisted on accompanying him, but he was firm in his reply that she must stay and wait for him to return.
When she saw the men still a ways off she ran to hear the news. Dak pulled her up on his horse and put his arms firmly around her.
"What news?" she asked, but she knew from the tears in Dak's eyes and the look of her brother that it was not good.
They told her what they had found and she listened, stoic. "I feel he is still alive. I would know if he were dead. He is alive somewhere and we must keep searching."
Her brothers nodded, but they had no doubt they would not see Joshua again. They left Dak to stay with Nyla through the night. They didn't want her left alone. Their hearts heavy, they returned to the search.
Hamish brooded that the boy had gone missing. "If you had left him in my care, this would not have happened." He told the council. "He should not have gone on the quest at this age. You could have at least sent a man to shadow him as I had asked. You fools! Now he is lost. I could have molded him into a great man, now all that I planned for him will come to naught!" He stormed from the council chamber.
The council kept their eyes downcast while Hamish ranted and they didn't look up when he left.
"He is right, we should not have allowed the quest," the council head spoke with regret.
"He was more than ready!" Joshua's grandfather spoke. "This has nothing to do with his age, something strange has happened. It is the curse." He referred to Joshua's mother being a Dark One. He placed his face in his hands. He was very fond of his grandson and took great pride in his being one of their best warriors. His sons had done well in raising him. He shuddered to think what Hamish may have turned him into. He saw the man for what he was. Puffed up and vain with only selfish intention. He would not let him with in ten stones of Joshua.
Hamish had his servants pack provisions. Some years ago he had convinced a trader and his wife to work for him. He did so with promises of an easy life and riches. Neither promise was fulfilled. They lived in a small dwelling beside his and cared for his needs. Their son had since grown enough to join his parent in serving him.
Hamish had the men pack bedding and provisions to last some weeks. They would go in search of Joshua. Like Nyla, Hamish still felt the boy was alive. He too felt he was destined for greatness and he wanted to be a part of it. He had no doubt Joshua would become the council head, but he felt he would be more than that. Maybe a king. He might become an adviser to the boy. Joshua would come to rely on him and look to him for council. He smiled at the image. He would find him and the boy would be in his debt.
Hamish mounted his great white horse and his servents their smaller, dust streaked ponies weighted down with the many supplies Hamish required to make him comfortable. They left before day break, the youth still tired, slumped on his pony's back.
The clansmen spoke of Hamish's departure for some days. He had great influence over the people and council and they wondered at his leaving. They feared him more than cared for the man and many were glad to see him gone. A few of the women had hoped he would cast his eye toward them and lamented his absence. But all believed he would return again one day. He had left too many of his precious things behind.
Joshua looked up at the man who towered over him. He had so many questions swirling in his head but, "How do you know my name?" was all he asked.
The mountain answered, "I know you have many questions and this is a strange thing to happen. I will answer them all, but some things you must take on faith for a time."
Faith? What was 'faith'? Joshua had never heard the word before.
"My name is Augdon. I am a Guardian and the captain of a vast army that lives among the northern mountains." He pointed north to the great, purple mountain range. "We have been there many years.There is an evil coming Joshua, the like of which the world has never seen. Even now it sweeps down from the south, devouring everything in its path. Nothing can stand against it, nothing but you." Augdon paused a moment and Joshua took the opportunity to speak.
"I do not understand anything you are saying. I am no one, just a youth. I am a good warrior for my people, but I cannot lead a vast army. You must seek another Joshua."
Augdon shook his head at the humility of the young man standing before him. He put on no false airs and that was a good thing. He saw in his eyes an intelligence, and even an eagerness to learn. A desire to be this man he spoke of.
"You will learn, for we will teach you all you need to know. You will be ready when the time comes, but we must start now for time is short."
Joshua shook his head, it was too much to take in.
Augdon smiled his brilliant smile and guided Joshua towards the dragon. "You will know all in due time, but now, we fly." He raised his hand towards the dragon and he came to him and bowed low. "Climb up," he said as he pushed Joshua onto the huge beast's broad back. He handed him two soft leather straps. "Hang on to these and do not let go."
"Up," Augdon commanded and the beast rose to it's feet and began to run. Joshua's heart drummed in his chest. He could not believe he was going with this stranger, he knew nothing of him or his people. Perhaps he was being kidnapped to be held for a ransom. It had happened to others. This all seemed a dream to him. But he knew this was not so. He knew the giant's story was true and he must go with him. Why he felt such trust, he could not explain. He just knew his heart beat loudly, not with fear, but with excitement. Hadn't he always felt he had a calling? He never spoke of it for fear others would ridicule him or think him proud. But he knew somewhere deep inside that he was meant for a noble purpose.
The beast spread his huge wings and they were airborne. Augdon need not have told Joshua to hold on to the leather straps for he did so now for dear life. He looked down at the valley below and saw his horse standing in the trees. Fader! He had forgotten about his beloved horse. He hoped he would find his way back to the Clan. They may think him dead and he had a moment of regret for the pain it would cause, but he push it behind him and sat his mind on things ahead.
As the great, green dragon banked to make a landing on the mountain top, Joshua felt his stomach lurch. He felt not at all well and his head spun. The dragon landed and Joshua slid from his back and retched.
Augdon smiled, "We all did that the first time, you will get used to it."
Dak, Nyla's nephew, met his father and uncle at the clearing as arranged. His father's news was not good. "We found only marks and tracks on the path. It seems as if a great beast snatched him away. The tracks of it vanish, so where it could have gone, we cannot say. The tracks are very much the same as I found near his father's body. It does not bode well and I am loathed to tell his mother this news. We will accompany you back to the cottage."
They rode to the cottage in silence, hearts heavy. Dak wiped tears from his eyes. He thought of Joshua as his brother and best friend, that he might not see him again was a huge weight on his chest.
Nyla paced the grounds in front of her cottage, impatient for news from Dak. She had insisted on accompanying him, but he was firm in his reply that she must stay and wait for him to return.
When she saw the men still a ways off she ran to hear the news. Dak pulled her up on his horse and put his arms firmly around her.
"What news?" she asked, but she knew from the tears in Dak's eyes and the look of her brother that it was not good.
They told her what they had found and she listened, stoic. "I feel he is still alive. I would know if he were dead. He is alive somewhere and we must keep searching."
Her brothers nodded, but they had no doubt they would not see Joshua again. They left Dak to stay with Nyla through the night. They didn't want her left alone. Their hearts heavy, they returned to the search.
Hamish brooded that the boy had gone missing. "If you had left him in my care, this would not have happened." He told the council. "He should not have gone on the quest at this age. You could have at least sent a man to shadow him as I had asked. You fools! Now he is lost. I could have molded him into a great man, now all that I planned for him will come to naught!" He stormed from the council chamber.
The council kept their eyes downcast while Hamish ranted and they didn't look up when he left.
"He is right, we should not have allowed the quest," the council head spoke with regret.
"He was more than ready!" Joshua's grandfather spoke. "This has nothing to do with his age, something strange has happened. It is the curse." He referred to Joshua's mother being a Dark One. He placed his face in his hands. He was very fond of his grandson and took great pride in his being one of their best warriors. His sons had done well in raising him. He shuddered to think what Hamish may have turned him into. He saw the man for what he was. Puffed up and vain with only selfish intention. He would not let him with in ten stones of Joshua.
Hamish had his servants pack provisions. Some years ago he had convinced a trader and his wife to work for him. He did so with promises of an easy life and riches. Neither promise was fulfilled. They lived in a small dwelling beside his and cared for his needs. Their son had since grown enough to join his parent in serving him.
Hamish had the men pack bedding and provisions to last some weeks. They would go in search of Joshua. Like Nyla, Hamish still felt the boy was alive. He too felt he was destined for greatness and he wanted to be a part of it. He had no doubt Joshua would become the council head, but he felt he would be more than that. Maybe a king. He might become an adviser to the boy. Joshua would come to rely on him and look to him for council. He smiled at the image. He would find him and the boy would be in his debt.
Hamish mounted his great white horse and his servents their smaller, dust streaked ponies weighted down with the many supplies Hamish required to make him comfortable. They left before day break, the youth still tired, slumped on his pony's back.
The clansmen spoke of Hamish's departure for some days. He had great influence over the people and council and they wondered at his leaving. They feared him more than cared for the man and many were glad to see him gone. A few of the women had hoped he would cast his eye toward them and lamented his absence. But all believed he would return again one day. He had left too many of his precious things behind.
The mountain answered, "I know you have many questions and this is a strange thing to happen. I will answer them all, but some things you must take on faith for a time."
Faith? What was 'faith'? Joshua had never heard the word before.
"My name is Augdon. I am a Guardian and the captain of a vast army that lives among the northern mountains." He pointed north to the great, purple mountain range. "We have been there many years.There is an evil coming Joshua, the like of which the world has never seen. Even now it sweeps down from the south, devouring everything in its path. Nothing can stand against it, nothing but you." Augdon paused a moment and Joshua took the opportunity to speak.
"I do not understand anything you are saying. I am no one, just a youth. I am a good warrior for my people, but I cannot lead a vast army. You must seek another Joshua."
Augdon shook his head at the humility of the young man standing before him. He put on no false airs and that was a good thing. He saw in his eyes an intelligence, and even an eagerness to learn. A desire to be this man he spoke of.
"You will learn, for we will teach you all you need to know. You will be ready when the time comes, but we must start now for time is short."
Joshua shook his head, it was too much to take in.
Augdon smiled his brilliant smile and guided Joshua towards the dragon. "You will know all in due time, but now, we fly." He raised his hand towards the dragon and he came to him and bowed low. "Climb up," he said as he pushed Joshua onto the huge beast's broad back. He handed him two soft leather straps. "Hang on to these and do not let go."
"Up," Augdon commanded and the beast rose to it's feet and began to run. Joshua's heart drummed in his chest. He could not believe he was going with this stranger, he knew nothing of him or his people. Perhaps he was being kidnapped to be held for a ransom. It had happened to others. This all seemed a dream to him. But he knew this was not so. He knew the giant's story was true and he must go with him. Why he felt such trust, he could not explain. He just knew his heart beat loudly, not with fear, but with excitement. Hadn't he always felt he had a calling? He never spoke of it for fear others would ridicule him or think him proud. But he knew somewhere deep inside that he was meant for a noble purpose.
The beast spread his huge wings and they were airborne. Augdon need not have told Joshua to hold on to the leather straps for he did so now for dear life. He looked down at the valley below and saw his horse standing in the trees. Fader! He had forgotten about his beloved horse. He hoped he would find his way back to the Clan. They may think him dead and he had a moment of regret for the pain it would cause, but he push it behind him and sat his mind on things ahead.
As the great, green dragon banked to make a landing on the mountain top, Joshua felt his stomach lurch. He felt not at all well and his head spun. The dragon landed and Joshua slid from his back and retched.
Augdon smiled, "We all did that the first time, you will get used to it."
Dak, Nyla's nephew, met his father and uncle at the clearing as arranged. His father's news was not good. "We found only marks and tracks on the path. It seems as if a great beast snatched him away. The tracks of it vanish, so where it could have gone, we cannot say. The tracks are very much the same as I found near his father's body. It does not bode well and I am loathed to tell his mother this news. We will accompany you back to the cottage."
They rode to the cottage in silence, hearts heavy. Dak wiped tears from his eyes. He thought of Joshua as his brother and best friend, that he might not see him again was a huge weight on his chest.
Nyla paced the grounds in front of her cottage, impatient for news from Dak. She had insisted on accompanying him, but he was firm in his reply that she must stay and wait for him to return.
When she saw the men still a ways off she ran to hear the news. Dak pulled her up on his horse and put his arms firmly around her.
"What news?" she asked, but she knew from the tears in Dak's eyes and the look of her brother that it was not good.
They told her what they had found and she listened, stoic. "I feel he is still alive. I would know if he were dead. He is alive somewhere and we must keep searching."
Her brothers nodded, but they had no doubt they would not see Joshua again. They left Dak to stay with Nyla through the night. They didn't want her left alone. Their hearts heavy, they returned to the search.
Hamish brooded that the boy had gone missing. "If you had left him in my care, this would not have happened." He told the council. "He should not have gone on the quest at this age. You could have at least sent a man to shadow him as I had asked. You fools! Now he is lost. I could have molded him into a great man, now all that I planned for him will come to naught!" He stormed from the council chamber.
The council kept their eyes downcast while Hamish ranted and they didn't look up when he left.
"He is right, we should not have allowed the quest," the council head spoke with regret.
"He was more than ready!" Joshua's grandfather spoke. "This has nothing to do with his age, something strange has happened. It is the curse." He referred to Joshua's mother being a Dark One. He placed his face in his hands. He was very fond of his grandson and took great pride in his being one of their best warriors. His sons had done well in raising him. He shuddered to think what Hamish may have turned him into. He saw the man for what he was. Puffed up and vain with only selfish intention. He would not let him with in ten stones of Joshua.
Hamish had his servants pack provisions. Some years ago he had convinced a trader and his wife to work for him. He did so with promises of an easy life and riches. Neither promise was fulfilled. They lived in a small dwelling beside his and cared for his needs. Their son had since grown enough to join his parent in serving him.
Hamish had the men pack bedding and provisions to last some weeks. They would go in search of Joshua. Like Nyla, Hamish still felt the boy was alive. He too felt he was destined for greatness and he wanted to be a part of it. He had no doubt Joshua would become the council head, but he felt he would be more than that. Maybe a king. He might become an adviser to the boy. Joshua would come to rely on him and look to him for council. He smiled at the image. He would find him and the boy would be in his debt.
Hamish mounted his great white horse and his servents their smaller, dust streaked ponies weighted down with the many supplies Hamish required to make him comfortable. They left before day break, the youth still tired, slumped on his pony's back.
The clansmen spoke of Hamish's departure for some days. He had great influence over the people and council and they wondered at his leaving. They feared him more than cared for the man and many were glad to see him gone. A few of the women had hoped he would cast his eye toward them and lamented his absence. But all believed he would return again one day. He had left too many of his precious things behind.
Nyla-The Dark One, cast out of her village and Joshua's mother
Joshua- The child born to Nyla and his Father Dak who would be the "Chosen One"
Dak- Joshua's father in the first 3 chapters
Dak-Joshua's cousin named for his father, Drake's son.
Drake-Nyla's brother
Erik-Nyla's brother
Hamish-Creepy spiritual leader of the Clan
Augdon-Guardian and captain of a vast army
Many of the names I will use are either Swedish, Norwegian, or Dutch. It is very complicated getting these names and I don't recommend it to amateurs. It requires using your computer to put in the a word you wish to use as a name and asking for the translation it different languages. You than pick the one you can pronounce and sounds the most like an actual name. Super sophisticated stuff here and almost requires a first grade education. Do not try this alone, without a first grader there to help you.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Joshua- The child born to Nyla and his Father Dak who would be the "Chosen One"
Dak- Joshua's father in the first 3 chapters
Dak-Joshua's cousin named for his father, Drake's son.
Drake-Nyla's brother
Erik-Nyla's brother
Hamish-Creepy spiritual leader of the Clan
Augdon-Guardian and captain of a vast army
Many of the names I will use are either Swedish, Norwegian, or Dutch. It is very complicated getting these names and I don't recommend it to amateurs. It requires using your computer to put in the a word you wish to use as a name and asking for the translation it different languages. You than pick the one you can pronounce and sounds the most like an actual name. Super sophisticated stuff here and almost requires a first grade education. Do not try this alone, without a first grader there to help you.
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