Ordinary
1879 Words
Examining five ornamental stones, Blaze approvingly nodded. “Good job guys.”
“Take them and leave now. We did everything. Now you should also do something for us. I mean the secret,” Draken nervously said.
Finally leaving behind the Burnt forest, they were at the foot of the mountain.
Throwing a surprised look at Draken’s torn pants and the lack of one sleeve on Leiandros’ shirt, Blaze couldn’t remain silent. “And I see that you haven’t wasted your time.”
“Blaze, it is time for us to go. Keep your word. We don’t owe you anything and you too.” Leiandros said holding his backpack.
Blaze reluctantly looked around and then turned his gaze back to the stones that already melted the snow underneath.
“Well, it was nice to meet you Draken,” Blaze said stretching out his hand. Draken ignored this gesture and just walked away.
Leiandros once again looked at him, but this time his gaze was full of menacing danger.
“Good luck!” Blaze shouted but they were already far away.
After the incident in the world of dragons, none of them dared to speak to each other. A strange silence hung over them, preventing them from thinking properly.
Pretending that there weren’t these three words that Draken have said, pretending that there was nothing, they filled their memories with the ordinary day which already passed.
But they both kept that night deep in their hearts as if they were afraid to spoil it with any words. One word and everything that was between their souls could turn into something that would make them nothing else but only a strangers who felt love for only a fraction of a second.
After the Burnt forest, here, on top of the mountain, everything seemed like it was new. Even the snow seemed new and beautiful.
Tree by tree, stones by stones, the road that led straight up seemed not so hard and long.
Only sometimes, Draken could feel a weak pain in his leg. And when they could see the houses of their clan, he thought about what he would say to everyone. How would he explain his look? Tired, incomprehensible, in torn clothes and with a wound.
And when they reached the gate, Draken noticed Storm, who noticed them too and that is why almost fell of the narrow board on which he was training his balance.
“Draken!” Quickly running towards the gate, he grabbed his hand and shouted, “What happened? Teacher, where have you been all these days?”
“We…” Draken, stammering, did not know what to say.
“Raghnall should have told you I needed some help from Draken,” Leiandros answered coldly. And on that word, he just walked away from them.
Following him with his gaze Draken suddenly felt a strong pain in his leg and he fell to the ground.
“Draken!” Storm shouted and a few soldiers ran out of the houses and rushed in their direction.
Noticing familiar faces among them, Draken smiled and said through the pain, “I am fine.”
Den, lifting his up said something in an orderly tone, but Draken didn’t hear him. Plunging into the maelstrom of unconsciousness he mentally whispered, “Leiandros.”
Having lost a track of time, not knowing what day it was, images which were difficult to put together flashed through Draken’s head.
Silver, wooden sculptures, books, dragons, Leiandros, warmth, all this created the vortex of memories, a vortex that carried him away from here.
A soft pillow soaked with winter freshness and the aroma of freshly baked buns hit Draken’s senses. He slowly opened his eyes and immediately saw Storm who was peacefully sleeping on the chair.
There was no one else in the room. A single candle was burning right in the corner. The wooden ceiling, sometimes, creaked from the weight of snow that was on the roof. Steam was coming from the small cup at the head of the bed.
Draken threw off the blanket and noticed that his leg was well bandaged. Feeling thirsty, he wanted to reach out his hand to the cup, but he accidentally dropped the spoon that was lying next to it. The iron spoon, noisily fell to the wooden floor.
Storm immediately woke up and said, “Don’t move. Your wound may bleed.”
“How long have I slept?”
“For a day. You came early in the morning, so yes, all day long. It is night now.”
“Where is everyone?”
“On the training field. Everyone missed Leiandros so much that they decided to spend the whole night there.”
“Why are you here?”
“Teacher Leiandros allowed me to sit next to you.”
Draken couldn’t hide his happy smile. But then he forced himself to become serious. “I am fine now. You can go. Thank you, brother.”
Storm went up to the small table and lit one more candle. Looking at Draken he moved his chair closer to his bed. His surprised eyes rested on Draken.
“Now, tell me what’s going on.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I can see that something is bothering you,” Storm took his hand and tenderly said, “You can tell me everything. I am your brother and I will listen to you.”
“I have nothing to tell you.”
“Ever since you came here, everything has become different. Even teacher Leiandros has become different. And Raghnall too. I don’t know why but I think that Raghnall is planning something. That is why he made you stay here.” Storm looked towards the door and then whispered, “I think he is up to something.”
“Who? Raghnall? Why do you think so?”
Moving even closer he whispered, “Recently, when I was passing by his house, I accidentally heard a conversation between Raghnall and someone else, his voice was unfamiliar, but very unpleasant. And I heard your name in their conversation. They were talking about you Draken.”
“Why would the head of the clan talk about a simple soldier?”
“Brother, for some reason I think that…” Storm wanted to say but stopped because of the Den’s loud voice.
Everyone entered the house with loud noises.
“Draken! You know how to get into all sorts of adventures! Tell me what happened this time. Where did you get such a deep wound? Or what, did you fight with the dragon?”
Shielding Draken from everyone, Storm angrily said, “Don’t bother him. He needs some rest.”
“You are so lucky Draken. When we get injuries, no one cares about us that much. And you know, even Raghnall himself asked Leiandros about you.” Elijah added, rubbing his cold palms together.
“Raghnall asked about me?” Draken asked.
Jumping onto his bed, Den playing with an apple said, “Yes. When we were training, he came to Leiandros and asked about you.”
“Get off his bed. You have a dirt on your boots!” Galen said and slightly kicked him.
Snatching an apple from Den’s hand, Eagle asked, “Tell me where were you? I know that Silver invited you to his clan and then what? Why did Leiandros suddenly leave?”
Draken, not knowing what to say, turned to the window. Looking at Leiandros’ house he said, “Teacher just asked me for some help.”
“Why you? And what kind of help?”
Interrupting him, Galen exclaimed, “That’s enough!”
Surprising everyone by this, Galen, the most handsome man of the clan, who was always calm and graceful, suddenly became like everyone else. He became a little rougher, a little rude and more courageous.
Without uttering a word, everyone was staring at him.
“What is wrong with you Galen? Is it really you?”
Galen looked at Draken, his eyes were showing some anger which wasn’t in him before. Noticing this, Draken felt like Galen knew something. About him and Leiandros.
“What right do you have to break into someone else’s life like this? Draken is not obliged to report to you. The head of the clan said that Master Leiandros needed Draken’s skills on the Battlefield. So what else do you want to know?” Saying this, Galen quickly went out of the house, slamming the door loudly.
“What is the matter with him?” Den anxiously asked.
Grabbing the fur mantle, Draken followed Galen, thus making everyone more surprised.
Outside, it was calm. Soft light was coming from the small windows. The fire was burning in the middle of the courtyard.
Seeing Galen sitting by the fire, Draken approached him.
Sitting next to him, Draken said, “How rare it is when we have such a good weather.”
“I know what’s going on between you and Leiandros,” Galen suddenly said.
Feeling his heart stop, Draken whispered, “You know?” His injured leg began to hurt again.
Galen, staring at him, slightly smiled and said, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.” And then, with a great sadness and pain in his voice he added, “Once, I also experienced this feeling.”
Draken silently waited for the continuation. His heart was beating like mad.
Galen staring at the flames of fire sighed, his delicate face took on a sad shade, and it was clear that in his soul, he was keeping some tragedy.
“Once, I was in love. In love with one person. Our love adorned our lives. It warmed us, it made us to dream about impossible. And I thought that it would always be like that. I did not know that here, the attitude to this kind of things is not kind. I still don’t know why. What is wrong with love? Love makes us weaker, yes. But at the same time it gives us a lot of strength. And with this strength, a person can move the mountains.” After a moment of silence, he stretched out his hands towards the fire. “Our love was destined to stop. In order to keep it safe, to hide it, the person whom I loved sacrificed himself. He died at the hands of these beasts. He became a decoy in exchange for my safety.”
Noticing that Galen was trembling, Draken took off his mantle and covered him with it. His right hand stopped on his shoulder, slightly embracing him he said, “In one book, I read that love is a mystery. And the one who unravels this mystery will understand everything or will be sad for forever.”
“Well it is true.” Galen touched his hand and whispered, “I hope that you and Leiandros will learn something better than sadness.”
After absorbing these words into his heart, Draken felt warmth in his soul.
Frowning, he looked at Galen and asked, “But how did you know about us?”
“It is obvious. Love is an ordinary thing. And it is not difficult to understand and to notice it.”
- Writer
