Eight

At first, I run to my work trying to get away from the house. But now I find myself walking and for some reason, I am walking very slow. I guess I have a lot of things on my mind and I did not really deal with it. What am I going to do when I go back to work today? What is it that I want to achieve by working?

Of course, the obvious answer would be to get my coins but there is a bag of money in my room that is burning a hole on the floor. How am I going to use that money to get me to the dragon king? How am I going to revenge my mother and father's lives by using that money?

I know that I can not be foolish and I need to think about what I am going to do. I wish I can just walk up to him and kill him with one strike of my sword but he will kill me before I even get close to him. I think back about how big and great he was when he flew over me in the woods last night.

There is no way that I can get close to him to take revenge and take back my kingdom. I need to have patience and I can not make any irrational decisions. As I walk along the road and kicking the rocks as I think, it suddenly dawned on me. I am going to pay someone to train me to be a knight and I am going to get the skills to become what I need to be.

Suddenly I get a new found energy inside myself. I need to go and get someone to train me and I need to finish my sword. I walk through the door and barely greet Garth. I walk straight to my sword and start to work on it. I spend almost all day just working on this sword and I see that Garth realizes that he can not bother me today.

There aren't many days that he leaves me alone but he knows by now when I need some space. The day is finished and my sword is almost finished too. I need to find Oliver and ask where I can get someone to train me. I am just leaving the blacksmith when Oliver meets me at the door.

"So, are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"The training? For the winter games? With your new armor?"

I have completely forgotten about the great birthday present that Oliver gave me. I was so occupied by the fact that I am not who I used to be that Oliver was not even on my mind and for that matter, his present.

"Oh yes, yes, of course. But first I need your help"

I take him to a place where we can speak more privately and that place is the place where we usually train.

"I have to tell you something but I need you not to tell anyone?"

I can see that he is curious and concerned as he says.

"What is going on?"

"First, you have to promise me that you will not tell a soul"

"I promise..."

I start to tell him all about the letter and how I am the King of this kingdom. I can see him going through all the emotions that I went through when I read the letter. I also see concern in his eyes because he is a good friend and cares for me.

"So, you see, I need someone to train me. Where can I find someone like that?"

"I know the perfect man. Meet me here tomorrow and I will bring him to help you train"

"Really?"

"Really. I mean how many people can say that I am a friend of the King"

"Shhh...you can not tell anyone!"

"My lips are sealed"

As he turns around and walks away I wonder if I should have told him. He has this way of letting things slip but I hope that he knows how important this is to me. It is almost nightfall and I make my way back to my home. I do not run as I usually do because I am not afraid of the dragon king.

I expect my mother to wait outside the house calling my name but when I arrive, everything is quiet. I guess she knows that I need some time to think about things and maybe she can feel the distance between us too.

I open the door and none of them is in the kitchen as usual. I walk through the house and then I get to Clara's room. I knock on the door and then open it. I never thought I will see the picture that I see before my eyes now.

My mother and Clara are busy packing clothes into a suitcase.

"What is going on?"

My mother turns around as if she's only noticing me now. I can see that she has been crying. Without thinking I walk straight up to her putting my hand on her shoulder to somehow comfort her. But then I look at my sister and she is smiling.

"Your sister...I mean Clara has received an offer to train to become a lady in England and she will leave first thing tomorrow morning"

I knew that Clara wanted to become a lady and that it was her biggest dream but now? Now that I am in the middle of what seems like an identity crisis, she's leaving? I never thought that this will bother me so much. She is going away. Suddenly and emptiness fills my heart and I do not understand why.

"For how long are you going away?"

Suddenly the smile on her face is not there anymore as she looks at me.

"A few months....maybe a year"

I swallow deeply without realizing how bad this news is for me. I did not know that it will affect me so much. But then I see her staring at me as if she's waiting for me to approve of what she is doing. I want to give her encouraging words but all I can say is.

"Oh..."

I turn around and walk out of the room. I know that I am acting foolish. I do not know why I am so angry. I wish I can just control all my emotions and go on with my life. I do not know why she has such an effect on me. Who cares if she goes away?

I quickly make my way to my bedroom and make sure I closed the door. I want to forget about this day. I want it to be tomorrow. I want to train to be and knight, to be able to defeat the dragon king. I fell on my bed and sleep right away.

The next morning I wake up with an ache in my heart. I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling. I thought I would be upset about finding out that my mother is not really my mother but for some reason, the thought of Clara going away has my stomach in knots.