Ancient Times Book 1

Chapter One

Drew Dalton laid on a tall tree in the quiet forest of riccon, the first city of deverous. The coldest kingdom of all eight. Riccon however wasn't that cold but only a fool would wear naked clothes out here and won't freeze to death. His horse was a white stallion tied to the stem of the tree he was on.

He had made sure of it to feed the creature very well before riding it out here because the gods help them if they came across any wolves, he will need the horse's strength and speed to outrun them.

He was only here because his uncle had sent him to capture a rabbit for dinner, he said the riccon rabbits were one of a kind and their roasted meat will drive you crazy. But what he fail to mention was, you can only find them in the quiet forest of riccon. It was so quiet out here you could barely here the sound of a chipping bird. The wind was now getting heavy which only meant docs was closing in.

He's been here all day but not a single rabbit came by, his uncle told him to kill a riccon rabbit one must reach for a tall tree any sign of you around it will escape and you might hardly get a chance at another one. Yet Drew has prowled up here for hours with a bow and arrows and not even a rat came by. He grew tired of waiting and just when he was about to jump down, a grey color riccon rabbit hopped out of a hole he didn't notice was even there. He smiled within his mind mouth before drawing out an arrow from his quiver, knocking it on his bow and aimed at the rabbit's skull.

It pieced the back of the rabbit's head and it dropped to the floor dead immediately. He was lucky the wind didn't redirected his aim or he would have to wait longer than expected or go home empty handed. He jumped down from the tree and walked up to the rabbit, picked it up and pulled out the arrow from it head which was covered in blood before throwing the arrow away. He dumped the body of the rabbit inside the small bag he came with. His uncle was right, tall tree does get you a riccon rabbit.

He heard the whinnying of his horse, a quiet stallion it was but not at this moment. He hurried to it side stroking it hairs trying to calm it down.

"What's the problem boy" he looked at it eyes but they were darting here and there trying to get loose off it hold.

Only one thing hit Drew Dalton as he came to realisation of what the horse's problem is?

The wolves are here.

Immediately he drew out a dagger from the back his tunic clad and cut the ropes holding the horse to the tree and mounted at the same time kicking the horse at the side to run, it obeyed his command and began moving sprinting the direction his rider pushed it too.

Drew could here the footsteps and growling of the wolves as they charge at him, he didn't try to look back as it would only loose his concentration on the road.

The charging footsteps he was hearing were more than three, it could be a whole pack but he didn't care right now, it was two mile back to riccon city away from the forest. People don't usually come to riccon forest and stay this long but he knew the risks and it was also a test to him by his uncle he could feel it.

Since age twelve, his uncle has been training him as hard as he could but anything he ask for a chance to join the warriors clan of Vos. The capital of Deverous, his uncle would refuse saying he wasn't ready. Today he was going to change his mind by outrunning these beasts of the forest.

"Come on boy!" Drew urged the horse to go faster changing another direction again trying to cut them off. But to his surprise, he couldn't hear the wolves noises and footsteps anymore and decided to slow down the white stallion to a stop glancing both direction and found nothing.

He sighs out in relief.

Suddenly. A wolf from out of nowhere grabbed him with both claws threwing him off balance from the horse to the ground grunting in pain as his back hits the floor, he pushed the wolf off of him rolling to the other side. He looked at his right arm, there was three cuts into his flesh and it was bleeding but he didn't care right now, he was more focused on the five wolves that has surrounded both him and his horse which was moving around in fear. We were only half a mile to riccon city in the middle of nowhere.

If he was going to die here today he might as well make it an honourable one by sluterring these beasts. He threw away the bag containg the rabbit to one side and drew out his sword with a black head from it hilt.

"Come at me you bastards!!" He yelled at them tilting his head from side to side to see who would attack first.

To his surprise, they all turned their backs and left making strange sounds he could not understand but it sounded like a good time to make mockery.

"Yeah you better run! cowards!!" He yelled again at them laughing until he heard a voice behind him.

" They are not cowards. They would have devoured you alive if I hadn't come to your aid"

He turned immediately with his sword pointed at the direction of the voice. It was a woman with white curled hair wearing a all white gown you could hardly know if she had a leg, her face was pale and looked a bit young.

"Who are you" he questioned.

" You don't know me but I know you Drew Dalton and we will cross path again I promise you" she answered and walked past him to where his horse was standing and kissed it forehead.

" Beautiful creature don't you think. Ride safe the pathways are dangerous this days". She looked at him and smiled, before his very eyes the wind blew her away without a single trace of her standing there.

He was now more confused than ever. Now he understood why no army have ever invaded the north, there are things in this part of the kingdom that no one understood clearly. He grabbed his horse by it reins and continued his journey back to riccon city with the bag containg the rabbit tied on the horse's saddle, they both walked through the white sand of riccon road with the night sky quickly approaching.

*************

It was night fall when Drew entered through the gates of riccon city. He wasn't surprised to see people still walking around, working and trading at this time of the day. His house was not too far from the meeting center since that was what this part of the town was called.

Riccon wasn't the most crowded of all cities and wasn't guarded as well.

Deverous was not a kingdom with much armies but after reading it's history book, it was one of the most powerful kingdom and rulled by a queen which he has never meet before but his uncle has and he said she was a kind woman. The history book also stated that Deverous have an alliance with Freydell, another kingdom in the north west rulled by a priestess. It also says the people there practice sorcery including their offsprings. Like he said no army plays god with this part of the kingdom.

He was very tasty at this point in time and decided to stop at a nearby inn to order for a cup to quench his tasty. He approached the counter after tiring his horse to a poll, he called the innkeeper's attention who was a bit old with grey mustache.

" Hello there what should I get you; red wine, lemon juice or ale" the old man mentioned.

There were others around who were sitted at various chairs drinking as well.

" I am in a hurry so a lemon juice will do just fine" Drew said.

"You are not a man who loves alcohol I see" the man pointed out.

" Why would you say that" Drew ask.

" Most men who come here orders only for alcohol, some times I wonder why I make those lemon juice" he answered. " But since you are my first customer I'll will get you two cups for only five gold coins"

" Thank you" Drew brought out five gold coins from his pouch and gave it to the man who nods and left to get it. He was never fond of alcohol maybe it was because of the smell and the way it turns noble men into drunkards but his uncle loved it, he says it keeps your head sharp for a battle. The old man returned with two cups of lemon juice which he drank quickly without wasting time.

" Tasty huh" the man noticed, he nods before leaving.

He arrived home safely and home to say his house was a large compound and not only his uncle, his wife and son who is his best friend lives here. Other families as well about six of them. His uncle was outside breaking firewood and he walked up to him with his horse and tapped his shoulder.

" Ah! You made it I was getting a bit worried. Did you succeed?" His uncle who was a bit huge with muscles that would scare a man asked.

" Yes" Drew answered and untie the bag from the saddle giving him it to him, he looked into the bag.

" Wonderful" he commented.

" Does that mean I am ready to join the warriors clan" Drew questioned immediately. His uncle ignored his question as always.

" Why don't you go put that horse in the stable, bath, eat, and then we can talk about it" his uncle suggested.

" Why can't we talk about it now after all you are going to end up telling me am not ready" Drew countered.

" You can't understand not yet" his uncle said.

" Bloody hell! Make me understand! You know I went on this quest with courage, had to outrun a pack of wolves thanks to a white lady. I risk my life for this thinking this was a test to see if I am ready and this is what I get" Drew barked not caring if any one heard. " What is the point of training me so hard if am not going to be a better fighter uncle" he added. His uncle was silent. His wife was already outside.

" Drew you need to calm, you just got back and it is late go and rest and we can discuss this tomorrow" she cooed putting both hands on his shoulder. His uncle's wife has a way for saying words that would calm you down but Drew Dalton was tired of being calm, somehow he was prepared for this. He doesn't just understand why his uncle wouldn't want him to do this.

He left their presence without saying anything anymore.

" You have to tell him the truth now he deserves it Cyrus" his wife, Lora insisted.

" He is not ready not yet. I promise his father I will protect him till the end and I have to keep that promise" Cyrus implied.

" You have kept the promise, you've protected him from his childhood but now he is grown and ready. He needs to know who he is, he needs to know he is only but a stranger here" Lora said and left as well leaving only Cyrus standing in the cold night holding his axe in thought........

A/N: This is the first chapter of the ancient times. Let me know what you think by voting and commenting. Share your thoughts on this story and chapter I will appreciate it.

Thanks for reading..

***Deal4n****