The Obelisk Tavern

Richard had already spent his whole afternoon at the Obelisk, drinking and having a good time, chucking back Mugs of beer like a river pouring down his mouth. Richard was a big man at the age of forty, he could take his drinks and at this night especially he didn't want to hold back. "To our great king Herald III, All drinks are on me!" He yelled as he held his mug in the air, followed by the thunderous cheering of the many people there.

And so he partied on until the night came, and as it went on he started to cool of. Tomorrow was another day for him to work, he couldn't find a couldn't find a excuse for him not to, as he was responsible for the people. He stood up from his seat at the bar in order to leave but when he stood up it felt like his feet were in water. He sat back down. "Seems like even you can get drunk chief." Said Seth smiling, he was the bartender, but if the opportunity arose for him to talk with Richard he took it. Richard wove his hand dismissively, "Not drunk, dizzy." "Dizzy because your drunk." "Dizzy because. Just give me a minute I'll shake it off."

Seth smiled, "If you say so old man," then his eyes shifted to the entrance of the tavern, "Oh look who we have there." In a bit of a harsh tone, "I thought Tupelo never kept you up this late." Richard heard a familiar name, turning his head to see who came in and recognised him immediately.

It was Gullit, a young scrawny boy at the age of thirteen. His hair that came up to his shoulders, was messy and unkempt and his whole body was covered in dirt.

Gullit his eyes had a somber look about them, but Richard saw a fiery determation somewhere in them also. So after staring Gullit down, he signalled to him and padded on the chair next to him.

When Gullit sat down Richard looked at him, his thick beard and bushy eyebrows darkening his face, "What are you doing in the bar and also so late son?"

Gullit had a frown on his face, "Uncle Tupelo kicked me out of the house for stealing." Richard looked at Seth, the bartender had a unsuprised look on his face, "Always stealing this one."

"We'll what am I supposed to do!" It was a sudden burst of emotion from Gullit as he slammed his fist on the table.

The dull sound was easily drowned down by the other people in the tavern; Gullit wasn't strong and Richard was pretty sure the kid hurt himself doing that, as he he saw Gullit clenching his bonny jaw.

"My uncle barely feeds me. I'm hungry and if I left my fate up to him I would've been dead a long time ago." Gullit said, he was shaking a little.

"That still doesn't mean you get to steal from others kid, it isn't right. You just need to learn some manners." Seth responded. Richard looked at Seth and the bartender immediately locked his lips.

"Pfft, doesn't matter, you won't be seeing me anymore anyways." Gullit said almost whispering, he had a satisfactionall grin on his face. "Really now," Richard inquired, "how so?" "I'm joining the army!"

Seth stared at Gullit with his eyes wide open, then he threw his head back and laughed loudly. "You," he pointed his finger at the boy "you are going to join the army."

He reached over the bar and tapped the kid on his shoulder multiple times. Gullit got shaken like a tree at every tap, but his expression was stiff and firm. "Yes I'm going to do it, like my father and chief Richard."

Gullit turned to Richard, his face as firm as before but he was surprised with the look he was met with. Richard's eyes were dark, "Really now, why do you say that?"

Gullit felt a rock in his throat as he tried to push out some words, but he couldn't when met with Richard eyes. He looked down instead,

"In the army, I will get paid, I will have a place to sleep, it is better than living with my uncle." "I see..." Richard said softly, like only a sad wind passed his lips. Richard couldn't help but think to his greatest friend, Imogit, the father of Gullit.

Before he lost his friend a decade ago he had promised him he would take care of his family incase of tragedy. Richard knew within himself that he failed that task horrendously.

"Kid don't be stupid, a boy as slender as you will get killed the second he sets foot on a battlefield. Can you even swing a sword!" Seth said, he laughed harder.

Gullit's heart beat faster and his breathing became tight.

With doubt racing through his mind he could only say one thing, "If my father could do it, so can I!" Seth became quit, then looked at the boy for a few good minutes. He looked at his bony face, messy hair and that skeleton body, "Yeah actually you do have his characteristics and share those orange eyes, toned skin and dark hair.

But don't forget, Imogit was man's man: tall, muscled, confident but most importantly clever. With those attributes he faced thousands of odds and beat them.

Making him the man you remember. You might be his son, but you're going to have to wait a few years for his genes and experience to kick in, that's if you inherent them."

"Seth please give the boy a drink." Richard jumped in, Seth turned to the man and gave a, "You sure?" Look to which Richard nodded.

Seth filled up a glass and slid it over the bar to the boy, "Drink up I guess." Gullit looked at Richard and Richard nodded. He lifted up his mug and drank half of it in one swoop.

He started coughing, hitting himself in the chest to breath. "So when are you leaving?" Richard asked, "It's too dark to leave tonight, so I will sleep in the stables and leave in the morning."

Gullit responded, he felt guilty as Richard was always a guiding light for him when his uncle was being a pain. So when he heard the disappointed voice of the man it made him feel like he betrayed the chief.

"Is there a way to convince you to not do this." Richard asked. Gullit shook his head, "I don't want to stay with my uncle anymore, I'm leaving no matter what!... I'm sorry."

It was quiet between them for another few moments, and the sounds from the other people in the tavern ruled the air. Drunk people where swinging their bodies left to right, a band was playing a joyous tune with a guitar and drums.

Gullit kept sipping on his drink while waiting for a answer from Richard. The longer he had to wait the more anxious he became. He thought he would enjoy his first beer more than he was doing now, but he didn't. It was a bitter beer, black of color and heavy on the stomach. His throat was burning.

"The decision your making is a big one, I guess it's to late to stop you now." Richard said, "But you won't be sleeping in the stables though, your coming with me tonight." Gullit eyes glowed for a moment, "Yes sir," he said, "thank you." He wispered.

Later that night they arrived at Richard's home. It was in the center of the village: A big house compared to the others with enough space to hold at least five people comfortably. Richard brought the boy to his bedroom, it only had a blanket, and a woolen bed.

Soon after laying down Gullit fell asleep.

He woke up the next day to the sounds of red doves chirping outside. When Gullit looked outside of his window the moon could still be seen on the edge of the mountains further ahead.

When he looked to the up the air was split between dark blue and orange colours. It was morning.

Gullit had decided that it was time for him to go, he didn't want to burden chief Richard any longer. He brushed the sand of of the bed and walked out of the room.

On his way to the exit he saw Richard sitting on a wooden chair in the living room in the middle of the doorframe. Gullit sprung against the wall upon seeing him, "Chief, I didn't know you where awake yet." He said panicky, "I was planning to leave without disturbing you."

Richard chuckled, "I'm the leader of this village, it's my job to be awake before everyone else is. Also to take their burdens." Gullit laughed nervously, "Makes sense." Then there was a awkward silence between the two.

"Before your father died I had promised him I would take care of you and your mother." Richard started, "But then she caught that sickness, passing away too soon and I let your uncle let take custody of you. I didn't fight it, he was your real blood and I had no right to take you for my own.

Even when you complained about him to me, I hoped you would roll with the punches until you where a man... And now your leaving, to a battlefield off all places."

"I already made up my mind." Gullit interjected, "I don't want to be a slave to my uncle anymore, if I'm going to suffer I might as well do that on a path I chose myself."

Richard sighed, "I know son." He stood and walked out the sight of the doorframe coming back two seconds later with a sword in his hand of of it dangled a pouch. Richard took gullit's hand and put the sword in it gently, the weight instantly fell to the boys muscles.

Gullit looked at the sword from top to bottom then he met eyes with Richard. "I sent a bird, to a friend of ours yesterday. If I'm right he should be expecting you within a couple of weeks. First travel by foot to Interia, from there take a carriage to castle Black. His name is sir Folian. Go to him, he will train you, then you'll be ready for any war."

"But why?" Gullit asked, he knitted his eyebrows,

"I've been failing Imogit for eight years now, how can i face him in the afterlife if I let his boy go to war unprepared. Now go."

Gullit put the sword on his back and left the house.

Walking through the small town of Blue woods nostalgia weezed through his mind. The town wasn't awake yet as it was early in the morning but he could see phantoms of the people he was so familiar with.

He could see himself running through the streets when he was still a kid. He chuckled, "I'll become just like you dad." he thought.

"There you are ya lil shithead, why didn't you come home last night huh!?" It was the sound of a man coming from the left.

Gullit knew who it was and he turned to see his uncle who was staring at him through the window.

Tulepo his face was red and steam was blowing out of his nose and ears. "Don't you move a milimeter from there ya heard." Tulepos head disappeared from the window and came out of the door.

Gullit stared at his uncle as the man came stepping to him. They were now standing face to face. Then Gullit got struck across his face by his uncle.

"Are ya a idiot disappearing yesterday. When I told yo ass to sleep outside I meant on the front door mat not go away." Tulepo grabbed at Gullit's ear and pulled it. This happened all the while Gullit was standing with his arms crossed and staring at his uncle stoically.

He and his uncle where the same height even though they had a thirty year age difference. When Tupelo realised that Gullit was staring him dead in the eye he stepped back a little and struck the boy a second time. Gullit's head shook a little but he slowly turned his face back.

"I will no longer live with you, I'm joining the army." Gullit said calmly. When he looked at his uncle he could only feel rage and not a single ounce of respect.

So when his uncle struck him a third time he did not feel bad when he reached back and pulled his new sword out of the sheath. He put the sword at his uncle's neck. The sword shone a fiery orange, like it just was made by a swordsmith.

Tulepo gulped, "yo-your father's sword where did..." The man stepped aside, and Gullit walked away.

Before he knew the town he grew up in faded as he walked further away he disappeared deeper into the forest.

That's when he saw Seth leaning againt a cart that was tied to a horse.