1 Aiden Harris

The hammers were pounding in the courtyard of the Blacksmith's guild as they always do, but it was as if Aiden had heard it in a different way this time. Aiden was the son of the Lord of Hartsend, the Great Lord Cormag Harris.

Lord Cormag was the man who had built the Blacksmith's guild to bring wealth to the Southland. A plan that had worked quite well in his favour. Hartsend had an incredible wealth because of the guild, a wealth that men could only dream of achieving in their lifetime. The guild constructed and produced weapons which they then sold to all three sides of the war. An action that hasn't gained him much favour but he never cared of how people saw him. He wanted to be rich, nothing more and nothing less. And rich he would be.

Aiden swung his hammer as it struck the glowing red iron with a pang and sparks flew into the air. "This sword will be the sword that takes the throne," Aiden thought to himself. He had always wanted to be the King but his father was not a man for war. "This sword will bring the fire back into my father's heart," he had a faint smile on his face as he thought of how happy his father used to be.

"You've been working on that blade for 3 years now aiden," Reeves Wright said.

Reeves had been sent to the guild five years ago, only recently completing his apprenticeship. "For who is if I may ask?" he pried at Aiden, hoping to know the truth of that incredible sword. Aiden looked up at him and said: "It is for my father. A present thanking him for sending me here," Aiden said with a glow in his eyes.

"Is it true that you will ride in the morrow, Aiden?" Reeves asked, seeming sad by the idea of Aiden's presence no longer being there after so many years.

"I do Reeves," Aiden nodded. "It is time I go back. Back to my home." Aiden said, hammering away.

It was the first ray of sun that had shone into Aiden's eyes that woke him up. He saddled his prize white stallion that he had gotten just six years prior, for his sixteenth birthday. He had finally finished his sword the night before, a feeling of relief spreading across his body. Aiden placed the sword on a special-made scabbard for the horse. "My finest work, would you not agree, Master Bleiz?"

Master Bleiz Burton was the finest blacksmith that the world has ever known. It had been said that he has crafted one thousand swords."I agree, I have taught you well. For five years you have worked very hard and it shows. Well done boy, I am proud of you." Bleiz was a six-foot tall man with long black hair that was always tied up in a long ponytail. He had a long black beard to match with one knot in the middle and even more beard beneath the knot. He wore a blackend breast plate with a golden hammer sigil that was big and bold on the right piece of the chest plate.

Master Bleiz looked at Aiden the same way a father would look at a son. He was fifty-three, was never married and never fathered any children. His life was spent arming the world for their wars and quarrels.

"Perhaps now we could have that duel you always speak of Aiden," he said with small hint of a smile.

"Are you that eager to lose master?" Aiden asked, a smirk prying on his face.

"I have never lost a duel boy and I plan to keep it that way," Bleiz said with a big smile.

"Seems you have learned everything but the art of caution boy. And that will be your downfall". He walked over to Aiden, putting his large hand on his shoulder.

"You cannot win every battle," he said to the smaller boy.

"You have," Aiden replied with a devilish grin.

Aiden had short, shaggy blond hair with bright blue eyes and a complexion so fair and smooth that the girls in Hartsend grew jealous of him.

He had a smile that could melt heart of every woman. All dressed in a dark silver chest plate bearing no sigil over his white shirt and trousers.

"You have won twenty-four duels, Maste That is more than most men," aiden said with a hint of wonder in his eyes.

"I am not most men," he said looking slightly annoyed.

"I have lived by the sword my entire life. If you wish to make the best blades then you must learn every aspect of swords, even the way that they kill," he said looking Aiden in his eyes, not once losing eye contact.

"Now mount, boy."

It was a long journey back to Hartsend and Aiden knew it well. Aiden knew he had at least a week to travel, having only Cregor Green for companionship.

Cregor was appointed as Aiden's personal guard four years ago. They were not too fond of each other. Cregor was a man of twenty-eight years old, already a knight raised and made. He thought very little of his role as babysitter.

"Are we ready, my young Lord?" Cregor asked Aiden, looking upset.

"Oh, cheer up, Ser Cregor! We ride for our home today." It had been a year since Aiden had been home at Hartsend. Aiden first needed to finish his apprenticeship, and Cregor had to look after him as he always did.

"I look forward to seeing mother and father," Aiden said aloud. "And I am quite sure that Father will love his new sword that I crafted. Do you like it, Cregor?" h

He took the sword and laid it over both of his hands, displaying it.

A beautiful sword. A bright shining silver shimmering like diamond in the sun. A handle made from fine mammoth ebony. Carved in the handle was the sigil of clan Harris. A double rose with a stem curling around a dagger.

"It is ravishing, young Lord. What would such a piece cost?" he asked with wonder in his eyes.

Aiden began to smile wide, "Well, my dear ser Cregor, a sum you would never achieve."

He came closer to whisper in his ear.

"250 000 gold pieces," he said in hush tone.

Cregor's eyes grew wide. He could not believe that a sword could cost that much.

They mounted and set out for their long journey.

"We start on the Great Road, my young Lord," Cregor said to Aiden.

"Yes, agreed Cregor. From there we shall travel on the broken path as always," Aiden said in response.

"The broken path always bares terror," Cregor said sounding ever so wary.

"It is best that we travel on the road to the pass and cut off through silent way,"

Cregor suggested.

Aiden stayed quiet for a moment, looking off in the distance.

"Well, you travel the road more often than I, so... agreed. We will take your route, Cregor," Aiden said to him seeming a tad bothered.

"We will gain three days this way," Cregor said as he started plotting the route out on a piece of paper.

"Come, young Lord. We ride for the South Kingdom," Cregor said while forcing his horse forward at great speed.

"Back to our home, I can hardly wait!"

Aiden shouted outloud.