2 Two

As my mother is busy pulling me on my ear into the house I know I am in big trouble. I know that I should not bet my coins but sometimes I just can not help myself. I just have this thing inside of me that tells me I will be a great swordsman.

One day I am going to be a knight and I will show the world what I am capable of. But for now, my mother has the power over me and I realize I have a lot of explaining to do. As we get into the house I see my sister Clara making dinner.

She turns around to look who is coming into the house and then she starts to laugh.

"What did you do this time, brother?"

She thinks the world revolves around her and she's so innocent but I know what she does when our mother is not looking. I smile at her sarcastically and then my smile disappears. My mother then says as she releases me to sit at the table.

"He has been betting his coins again"

Clara laughs again and then she says.

"What was it this time? Sword fighting or trying to get the metal for that ridiculous sword he is making?"

I quickly defend myself against her and say.

"There is nothing ridiculous about my sword. One day you are going swallow your words. Why don't you tell mother about your extracurricular activities?"

Suddenly her face turns into someone that is guilty and I can see that she hate that I said anything. But I'm not going to let her get away with downplaying my sword. My mother quickly looks at her and says.

"What is he talking about, Clara?"

She quickly looks at the pot that she is stirring and then she said.

"He is just babbling, mother. He doesn't know what he's talking about"

Then when my mother looks away, Clara looks at me and whispers.

"I will get you for that"

I can but only smile because she knows that I have something over her head. She better step lightly or I will tell mother everything. We have never really been close ever since I can remember. She would always tell on me and I would make sure to boycott every suitor that came knocking.

She's only a year younger than me but we could never see eye-to-eye. We have a love-hate relationship and I do not see how this will change anytime soon. As long as she stays out of my business I will stay out of hers. Then we start to eat dinner and soon I make my way back to my room.

As I plunge down on my bed and look at the ceiling, I realized that my mother was right. I should not use the coins to bet but I'm definitely going to use it for my sword. It is almost my eighteen birthday and then I will make more money.

Then I hear the wailing of the dragon. I remember as a little boy how scared I was of that sound but now it has become second nature. I have come to accept it because we do not have much of a choice. The dragon king has not been kind to this kingdom and we are suffering.

We have too many poor people now and I have heard that this kingdom once was the place everyone wanted to come to. Now the people want to leave the kingdom but the dragon king does not allow us. I remember how I used to act as if I was a dragon slayer but that soon became a secret society.

No one will acknowledge that they are dragon slayers because then the dragon king will kill them. If you want to become a dragon slayer now you have to go through all kinds of pledges to swear your allegiance to the leader of the slayers.

No one knows who this leader is or who the slayers are. That is my ultimate goal. I will never let my mother know that it's what I want to be because she will never accept it. She doesn't want me to come close to the dragon king or that I could go out at night.

I know that if I want to become a dragon slayer I must be able to practice at night and right now my mother is not going to let me do this. When I have finished my sword I will make a plan to become one. Then I close my eyes and fall asleep.

It feels as if I've only been asleep for five minutes but soon I am woken up by my mother.

"Time does not stand still for anyone, William. You going to be late!"

I look at the sun and I realize she's right. I quickly jump out of bed and as I make my way through the house, I almost bump into Clara. Then she says.

"Ugh! Can't you bathe?"

I push myself into her and give her a tight hug. She tries to fight me off but she can't.

"Mother!!"

So, she screams for help from our mother but then I release her and say.

"There! Now you can enjoy my scent all day long!"

I grab a piece of bread and then I run out of the house. I know that Clara is training to be a lady and that she will have to go and bathe again. I can not help but smile as I run to the village.

As I get to the blacksmith, Garth is already on my case. He employed me when I was only nine and he taught me everything that I know today.

"If you weren't the finest blacksmith that I got, I would have fired your ass already a long time ago!"

I quickly put on my apron and I lift my hands in surrender.

"I know, I know! I am so sorry, I must have overslept"

He shakes his head as he walks away and then he says.

"...and what would be your excuse tomorrow?"

I laugh as I start to work on finishing a sword for a rich man. But my mind is not on my work as I really want to start working on my sword again. I have been working on it for almost six months now and everyone thinks that I am wasting my time.

I do not know what it is but it is as if I am creating something spectacular. It is almost as if this is going to do something great and then I am going to be the best dragon slayer there is. I will be a knight at day end a dragon slayer at night. This sword will help me accomplish my dream.

The day goes by slowly and I wish for my time to be over. I haven't had so much time to work on my sword as I wanted to but soon it is time for me to leave. I take off my apron and I run out of the shop.

"Goodbye Garth! See you tomorrow!"

I do not give him chance to say goodbye as I have to meet Oliver at the edge of the village. We meet every day there and he is fortunate enough to be one of the people whose parents did not suffer under the dragon king. They still have gold.

As I run through the village I am stopped in my tracks as I see her. Isabelle. She is the one that I desire. I have never had the guts to walk up to her as I am not allowed to address a lady of her stature. I just stand there like a fool and stare.

I keep on thinking once I am a knight, I will take her as my wife. But for now, all I can do is stare. I do not know exactly what it is that attracts me so but I guess it has to do with the way she carries herself. Her dress is made of the finest materials and she never laughs louder than a feather dropping to the floor.

But my attention is soon distracted for Oliver that is calling me.

"William! Over here!"

Then Isabelle looks in my direction and I stumble as I run back to Oliver. I have this way of making a fool of myself in front of the girl I like. Oliver laughs as I approach him and then I say to him.

"This is not funny"

"I beg to differ, it's very funny but we do not have time for funny"

"Why? What is going on?"

"Haven't you heard?"

"No. Out with it!"

He looks around as if he does not want anyone to hear him and then he says.

"The dragon king is going to host winter games on the grounds castle and he will pick the top ten knights to be in his royal guard"