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This is a part of the story I’m writing.



Jay strolled into the arena with his thumbs hanging loosely in his pockets, taking his sweet time getting into position. Once he was there he cocked and eyebrow in mock interest as Benji attempted to throw his nerves over the edge by having his battle slaves lace up his armor, shine his boots, etc. Things to make the senior apprentices pee their pants and chicken out so that they wouldn’t progress. Today was the day that all the senior apprentices of the Demonicriss would make the journey from apprentice/slave to a full fledged soldier. It was considered to be a great honor.

Jay sighed. Yea, some great honor. You go from the little boy who brought the crazed murderer his sword to being the crazed murderer. He squared his shoulders as Benji finally finished attempting to scare him. He faked a yawn and saw the anger build in Benji’s eyes. Jay just smiled slightly. Benjis face turned a bright red. He wasn't scared of Benji. Sure he was older, stronger, more experienced and maybe a bit more skilled, but Jay knew he could handle it. But then again most sixteen-year-olds thought like that. Jay unsheathed his two duel swords from their scabbard slung across his back and winked at Benji. Benji charged.

Jay sidestepped Benji as he lunged at him, brandishing his sword. Benji turned but Jay easily parried the blow. Jay shook his head as Benji attempted to run him through again. He stuck his foot out and sent his superior sprawling. He knew that Benji was more skilled than he was acting. Jay had seen this technique before. Allow the empty-headed apprentince get cocky then stab them when they werent looking.

Jay rolled his shoulders and twirled his swords to calm his nerves as he watched Benji slowly stand up. He noticed how benji was repositioning his sword and glanced down to check that the heavy knife all Demonicirss warriors carried. The smiled disappeared from his face. This was it. Go time.

Benji turned slashing at Jay quickly, attemtping to disarm him. Jay spun around knocking Benji to the ground by whacking him in the head with the butt of his right sword. Benji grunted and swung his sword around, aiming for Jay's head. Jay dropped placing both of his hands flat on the ground while spinning his leg around knocking Benji to the ground, again.

"Enough of that boy! Fight like a real man!" Benji roared. Jay just shrugged and braced himself as Benji charged again.

"Whatever you say O wise master." Jay replied grinning. Benji brought his sword down and Jay blocke it with his left arm. He Pressed the flat of his right sword on top of Benjis sword, preventing it from moving. His twisted and dug his hip into Benji's side knocking the air out of him. Benji jumped back removing the blade from his belt. Now he was doubly armed. Jay stepped back and brought his right foot directly behind his left for more leverage. Benji lunged.

Jay crouched 'Wait for it, wait for it...' he thought to himself 'NOW!' Jay spun to his right as the older man stabbed at him from both ways so his wepaons made an X pattern. Jay resheathed his swords, grabbed the collar of Benji's shirt pulling forcing hte man to kneel and bringing his left foot up and over his back and kicking Benji's head in one fluid movement.

Jay didnt even try to hide his smile as 'superior master' fell flat on his face and turned over. Jay lazily unsheathed his swords and crossed them in front of his mentors face.

Jay just said one word "Dead." Benji allowed his head to fall flat on the ground for a moment. Jay resheathed his swords and stood back offering Beji his hand. Benji gruffly took his hand and stood.

"As mush I hate to admit it. And as much as I hate you young man." Benji sighed "I dare say you have proven yourself worthy of being a soldier." He handed Jay the wolf tooth fang earing that all the apprentinces had to acquire the week before.

Jay bowed his head "It has been a pleasure learning from you Master Benji. I am honored to be presented with this token of maturity." He replied. Jay took the earing an inserted into his ear with the other five, one from each year he had been training. He turned to face his comrades waiting in line behind him and bowed. They all cheered and Jay walked away smiling. 'One step closer to finding my family.' he thought cheerfully.

This is a chapter im jst not sure which yet...

Jay hoisted the heavy pack filled with grain over his back and wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve. He held his hand up to his eyes and squinted so he could see his father two miles ahead of him slicing the grain with his scythe so that once Jay got there he could just put it in his basket.

Jay sighed. He would rather it jsut be himself doing all the work. It wasnt that he didnt know how to cut the grain and basket it at the same time, he had spent the last two years doing that. His father was just back from the fighting in the war and he had sustained an injury to his leg and he had trouble walking.

Jay had told his father all this but he didn't believe it was fair for Jay to have to do it all alone now that he was back. It had been bad enough that his son had been doing since he was eight years old.

Jay was bending to pick up more grain when he saw the men. There were six of them. All huge and obviously well muscled. Their clothing was made of deep black animal hide and each of them had at least one sword as well as a bow and a quiver full of arrows slung over their back. Jay gasped as he saw the tattoo all of them had burned into their right forearm. Aspiraling flame with a deep black rose vine entwined with it. The sign of the Demonicriss. The terror of the kingdom. The ruthless cold-blooded murderers who were feared all over the land. They roamed the land plundering wherever they pleased.

Jay analyzed the situation. They didnt appear to have noticed him, they were still heading for his father. Jay knew his father wouldnt be able to defend himself. Jay considered fighting them. His two years spent doing all the hard labor around the house had bulked him up quite a bit for his age. He took a deep breath and picked up a fairly good sized stone. He knew he had perfect aim. But he only had one chance. He raised his arm behind his head judging the distance. He let his breath out and brought his arm forward with all his strength relasing the stone with a satisfying 'whoosh'.

Jay watched in horror as the stone struck the lead man's head, and he turned to face Jay. Jay stepped back, his eyes wide. That shot would have normally knocked a man unconcious. The men began advancing towards him. Jay picked up another stone and threw it. This time the man caught it right before it struck him.

Jay tried to move, to throw another stone, to scream, but he was paralyzed with fear. The men walked up to him. The leader stood directly in fron of him while the others formed a circle around him. He was surrounded. Jay thrust his chest and jutted his chin. Trying to look fierce nad brave like his father did the day he left for his training camp.

"What do you want? Why are you here?!" He demanded crossing his arms.

The men laughed.The leader shook his head and spoke "Well arent you a fisty one! Tell me lad were you planning on taking us all down before we got your old man? His mocking grin was getting on Jay's nerves.

Jay let his arms fall to his sides and clenched his fists. "I could take you anywhere any time! Your not getting anywhere near my father or my mother or my sister or my house! Ill kill you all before I let that happen."

They laughed again. The leader spoke "How old are you boy?"

"Im ten." Jay replied angrily.

They laughed again and Jay felt his face flush "If all your going to do is just sit there and laugh then go away!"

The men stopped laughing immedietly and glared at him. The leader dropped down on one knee so he was eye level with Jay.

"You know what kid? You got spunk. Youve impressed me very much. Most little brats your age would have run away crying to their mommy by now. Because of that Ill make you a deal. You come with us, and we'll leave not only your family alone, but your entire village."

Jay felt his shoulders sag. He didnt want to go with these cruel evil men, but he knew it was the best way to keep everyone alive and safe. He nodded sadly.

The men chuckled their approval. The leader cleared his throat "Now theres one last thing you gotta do before this deal is sealed. I want you to take these two sacks," he removed two sacks from the pack on his back, "and fill one with food and the other with all the money you can find and any jewelry."

Jay's mouth opened in shock but before he could protest the leader held up his hand "I dont want to hear it. Get it done. And if you try and sneak away or alert the villagers were here we'll kill you all."

Jay grabbed the two sacks and stalked back to his house hot tears rolling down his face. The tears kept faling as he stuffed one of the sacks fool of food from the kitchen and the other with his mothers jewelry. As he walked back to where the men were standing he gritted his teeth and wiped away the tears. he wasnt going to let them see him cry.

One of the other men tied Jay to his pack so he couldnt get away. They started the journey away from Jay's home. After they had walked about a kilometer Jay turned back for one last final look at his home. One last look at all he had ever known. The man he was tied tugged at the rope and Jay turned, his jaw set in a determined line. It didnt matter how long it took, or how much pain it cost him, he would get back to his family one day. Even if it ment he had to become a cold-blooded murder.

Lookin good girl!

mrgreen