Graigus
Stombren
Part III
Life for the Stombren family was not the same after that night, nor would it ever be. Grampa Graigus took to raising the child while Draebek took on more work, not to feed the child, but so he wouldn't be home as much to be around the babe. Every time he looked into the eyes of the baby he saw Kalil's eyes. He didn't know her long, but something about her was so enchanting to him. She was the most beautiful elf that he had ever seen, and probably ever will. Will he ever see her again?
The years passed quickly, and the wizened old man was teaching the child magic. "One day you will be a great Conjurer, Graigus" he would tell the boy. And Graigus was more than eager to learn. He didn't have any friends, because the other children feared the boy that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Or maybe it was their parent's who didn't want their children to play with the motherless child. Not even the wizened old man could figure that one out.
As the years passed, Draebek took
more interest in the child. He even started to teach him how to use a sword when the boy
was 10 winters old. He would try his hardest to learn what his father was teaching him,
and that made a good impression on Draebek, who was training the boy harder than he would
any man twice the boys' age. He would always tell him "If you want to go around
blasting people with spells, ye had better have a good sword arm to back ye up if ever
they fail!" and Graigus would agree, but Draebek wasn't sure if he really knew what
he meant. He just seemed happy to be with his father, even though he hadn't been much of a
father up till now.
"Dad" he said one day after a day of practice, "'I love
you".
Draebek couldn't respond. He finally realized that he loved this
child more than anything. And Graigus turned and walked away, not waiting for a response.
Maybe he already knew how Draebek felt. But he just couldn't find the words.
One day Graigus, at 15 winters old,
was out practicing with a short bow. He just couldn't get it down right. "One more
shot" he thought to himself. And he missed his target.
"Ha ha! So the half-breed can't even hit a broad side of a
barn!"
Graigus turned around and seen two boys, older than he, standing a few
feet behind him, not looking like they were there to make friends. "I bet your mother
left you because you are so stupid" the other boy said.
"Why do you say these things to me? I have done nothing to
you." Graigus replied, preparing the bow for anything that the boys may try.
"What kind of stupid thing is that to say, half-breed? Are you
stupid, huh?" the shorter boy replied as he moved in a little closer towards
Graigus.
"I should kick your butt, half-breed!"
There was that word again. Whatever it meant, he was sure it wasn't
nice. He looked all around, and noticed that some of the other children from the town were
starting to gather around all of the boys. He didn't like this one bit. Even some of the
parents were gathering around, waiting to see the half-breed boy get his. The time to act
was now. And he was getting angry.
Graigus swung the bow around and hit the shorter boy upside his head,
knocking the boy over. The taller boy was shocked! He didn't even have time to react
before he heard the half-breed say some words then felt a pair of hands around is neck,
choking him! But the half-breed was still three feet away, drawing a sword! 'Oh god! I am
going to die' the boy thought as he tried in vain to free the invisible hands from around
his neck. Then everything started to spin, and his world started to go black. He then fell
to the ground.
"Graigus! Sheathe thy sword!" Graigus stopped his advance
towards the fallen boy, preparing to stick the boy after he fell to the ground. Then the
blood in his veins slowed, and he realized what was going on around him. The parents were
screaming for help and the other children were running to hide. And there was
Grampa. He
put his dulled sword back into it's makeshift sheath. Gramps, as he was getting to be known
as around the house to avoid confusing the two Graigus', wasn't happy. He turned to the
parents.
"Take these boys away! They will be fine. You people should be
ashamed of yourselves! Have you no respect for others? Just because their skin is
different than yours, or they look different than you! Then you teach your children your
hate! And they teach theirs! And so on. It stops here! If any of you have a problem with
my grandson, speak to me, but tell no more lies to your children! Put yourself in his
shoes! He has done nothing wrong, nothing to deserve a whooping by these boys. I admit, he
was a little strong in his reaction, but maybe you people needed to see this to wake you
up! Go now! Leave us! And with that the parents lowered their heads and walked away. The
words that were shot at them had hit their mark.
"Graigus! How did you learn that spell? Never mind that, why did
you use any spell against those boys? Are you ok now?" he stopped the questions and
gave the boy a hug. Then the questions resumed, and Graigus explained what had happened
and why he did what he did.
"They were going to hurt me, so I hurt them first, just like
father said." replied the young boy.
"But they weren't going to kill you, where they?" the old man
replied.
"I do not know" was all the boy could say before braking out
in tears, and rushing into his grandfathers arms, where many a time when he was scared he
went to find security.
"Remember this boy. Only use that spell if you intend to kill, and
make sure you need to kill."
"Hello - Are you ok?"
asked a young, sweet sounding voice.
Graigus quickly pulled himself away from his grandpa, wiping the tears
from his eyes. "Warriors never cry" his father would tell him. He looked to
where the voice came from. It was a beautiful girl, perhaps two winters older than he.
"I....I am fine...." He was confused. What was that feeling
inside of him?
"That is the little one who alerted me to what was happening,
thank the gods!" Grampa Graigus said to the young Graigus, as he smiled to the
reaction he seen from the young boy at his side. "Thank you very much little
girl!"
"I'm not little! I am a woman" replied the mature girl, not
even looking at the old mage as she spoke. Instead she was intent on the younger Graigus.
Did she feel that same feeling that he felt he wondered.
"Well, my work is done here" the old mage replied. "I
will see you at dinner then, Graigus?"
"Uh...yeah,...sure." was all Graigus could say.
The old mage just smiled, turned, and walked home.
"I didn't want to see you get
hurt, so I fetched your grandpa for help. I'm Ariel. I already know your name,
Graigus.
I've watched you and your father practicing up on the hill, and my grandparents are
friends of your grandfather. Are you ok?"
Graigus just stared. Those eyes! How beautiful they are! The darkest,
most lovely eyes he'd ever seen. He'd never noticed any girl like this before! And what
was this aching in his chest?
"You must be hungry! Come with me" the girl replied after
waiting for an answer and receiving none. "You can eat dinner at my house!" she
said as she gently took his hand and started to walk to her home. Her touch sent a shiver
through his body. Her long, shiny, dark brown hair flowing around her shoulders. Her hands
were so soft! Her breasts were so....
"Um.. I'm Graigus, son of Draebek" was all he could say at
the moment.
She laughed. "You are so silly! Come, meet my family and then we
will eat. I am sure your grandpa would understand." All that he could do was follow.
"Where is that boy?" the
over worried father asked to no-one in particular.
"I told you, he's eating dinner over at the girl's house."
replied Gramps. "He should be back at any time. I told you, he's in love! Isn't that
exciting?!!"
Draebek just looked off into his half empty glass of Gramps' homemade
wine, reflecting on the love he once knew. "Yeah, I s'pose that it is."
"That was a very good meal, you
will have to thank your grandmother for me Ariel." replied Graigus, once again
regaining the power of speech.
"I'm just used to the food that Gramps prepares, and he isn't one
for variety!" The two were walking outdoors on a very beautiful night. He was slowly
heading home, but he didn't want the night to end. That feeling in his chest was still
strong. Would it ever go away?
"I'm sure g'mother knows that you liked the meal. You told her
four times!" Ariel said with a chuckle. "Well, here's your house. I'll see you
tomorrow then?"
Oh no! She was leaving! The pain in his chest suddenly grew stronger.
He made some conversation to keep her from leaving, but she eventually said her
goodbye............Then she kissed him.
His head was spinning, his palms were sweating, and the world even stood still for a few seconds. She broke off the kiss, smiled her beautiful smile, and left him standing by the steps up to his house. This was true love.
He ran up the stairs and burst into
the house, his father and Gramps playing card games like they do every night. Gramps just
smiled as they young lad walked right past them like they weren't even there. He undressed
for bed, and turned to his father, his smile disappeared from his face.
"Father, what is a 'half-breed', and what happened to my
mother?" he suddenly blurted out.
Draebek knew this day would come, but he still wasn't sure on what he was going to say. He looked across the table at Gramps, who looked at him, pushed himself away from the table, grabbed up his smoking pipe, and walked out of the little cottage. Draebek turned to Graigus. Then told him the whole story. Once again, his pain returned.