Read The Grim Wanderer for Free Online Page B

to say. ‘Oh well… you know… it’s just… I’m tired this evening, Taem. It’s been a long day for me, you should get off to sleep as well,’ Hirandar ushered Taem out of the library. ‘Good night, my boy,’ Hirandar said as she closed the library door.
    ‘Good…’ Taem began as the door shut in his face, ‘…night?’ He ended up saying to the oak door.

Chapter 3 – The Sword in the Flame
     
     
    The next morning, Taem pulled tight the straps of his backpack, as he waited by the stables for the rest of his family to ready themselves. Elena secured the horses to the cart, whilst the others loaded up the possessions and clothes, including the farmhouse cats, whining from inside a large wicker basket. Piper the sheepdog scampered all over the yard, barking in excitement, sensing something important was happening. The Wizard had on her usual red travelling dress, and the wide brim of her straw hat faded her face from the warm sun.
    Macen and Edar heaved a heavy wooden trunk onto the cart, the last of the luggage. A careless observer would never suspect that these countrymen could ever be warriors. Logan wore plain brown trousers and a faded blue shirt, simple clothes similar to any other farmer in the district. On closer inspection, however, anyone could have seen that Logan was no normal farmer. He wore his sword by his side as if it were a part of him, and there was a hardness to Logan’s face and a keenness in his eyes.
    ‘Now make sure you feed yourself properly and wash your clothes,’ Aunt Sera said to Taem.
    Macen hid his amusement well, but Edar sniggered.
    ‘I will, Aunt Sera,’ Taem hugged the old lady, and kissed her on the cheek.
    Sera was wearing a flowery shawl over one of her finest yellow dresses, trimmed in red. Needless to say, Elena was dressed not in a skirt, but in shirt and trousers like her brothers.
    ‘You also make sure you look after yourself, Lady Hirandar,’ Sera curtsied to the Wizard.
    ‘I will Sera,’ Hirandar hugged the old woman.
    ‘The Hytons are coming to take my chickens and the cows?’ Sera said to Hirandar.
    ‘It is all arranged,’ Hirandar smiled.
    Sera nodded, as Macen and Edar helped her up onto the cart, so she could sit down beside Logan.
    ‘Farewell, boys,’ Hirandar said to Macen and Edar. ‘Keep out of trouble, keep safe and work hard.’ The Wizard cast a cautionary eye at Edar.
    ‘I will, teacher,’ Edar tried to say earnestly, but ended up sounding cheeky.
    Hirandar raised an eyebrow, as Edar’s face went wide with surprise, a picture of innocence.
    ‘Watch your brother stays out of mischief,’ Hirandar said to Macen.
    ‘I will,’ Macen said. ‘Take care of yourself, teacher.’
    ‘The Light protect you,’ Hirandar hugged each of them.
    ‘And you, my dear,’ Hirandar touched Elena on the arm, ‘you would look even lovelier in a dress, you know.’
    Elena scoffed, ‘And how am I supposed to fight in a dress?’
    ‘My dear Elena,’ Hirandar smiled, ‘you have more fire in you than any young woman I have ever known.’ Hirandar ruefully shook her head. ‘I will miss you terribly.’
    ‘And I you, teacher,’ Elena hugged the old woman.
    ‘Farewell,’ Taem said to his brothers, and kissed his sister on the cheek. ‘Keep up the training, and be good guests and students to Fedral Sodan – and don’t forget to enjoy yourselves!’ Taem smiled as he embraced them all.
    ‘See you soon, brother,’ Macen smiled.
    ‘Be careful out there, big brother,’ Elena rubbed Taem’s shoulder, and gave him one last hug.
    ‘Bye,’ Edar grinned, as he and Macen climbed up onto the cart. ‘Here Piper!’ Edar called to the dog. She scurried up onto the back of the cart.
    ‘Taem,’ Logan said, ‘remember The Code, and the Light will shine on your blade.’
    ‘Yes, Master,’ Taem bowed his head. ‘But I have no blade of my own?’
    ‘You will, my apprentice,’ Logan nodded to Taem, as he stirred the horses into motion and the cart