I will upload each chapter in two parts. To get feedback.
For Kattster
It was your typical Friday, I was on my way home from Narta, the nearest city to my tiny village: Corna. I was half a leauge out of Narta when I heard something emanating from the sky. I craned my neck to see where it was coming from, but couldn't see anything. My horse, Vice, whinnied and threw me from him. I cursed at the horse and gazed at the sky, still nothing. I climbed Vice and continued on my way home, dismissing the noise. When I got to Corna my friend Ten ran up to me: panting, sweat beading off his face."Alatar! Did you see the the meteor?"
I looked at him dumbfounded. "Meteor? What are you talking about?"
"You're kidding? It hit just outside Narta less then an hour ago; you must have heard it overhead?"
I thought back to the sound, "Yes, I remember a sound, but I saw no meteor."
Ten looked at me dismayed. "Alatar, you miss everything." He stopped. "I have to go, father is calling."
I dismounted Vice and tethered him to his post and went home.
When I got there my father was in the kitchen finishing his dinner.
"You're late Alatar." He said after a minute.
"Yes, I am sorry. there was a big commotion at the entry gates when I got here."
"I heard about that. A meteor right?"
"Yes."
"Well, wash the dishes and go to bed. I have a lot of work for you tomorrow." He got up and left to the barn like every night.
How come I have to do the dishes? I thought. This is ridiculous.
The next morning I woke to the sound of my father in the next room, packing. I rushed out of my room putting my tunic on.
"Father, what is going on? Why are you packing?" I asked.
"I am leaving Corna today. The Imperial army has contacted me, the messenger is still in the sitting room."
I looked, a tall darked haired man of tall hight was sitting in my fathers' chair. He looked at me and smiled menacingly. I backed into my fathers' room.
"Father, you, you can't leave! What about the farm?"
"Alatar, it's okay, my brother Nathan is coming to live here while I am away."
I reeled back, Nathan, my grandfather's bastard child never liked me for the fact that I got inheritance from his father, my grandfather, and he didn't.
"No, I won't let him in this house." I said defiantly.
He straightened up and walked toward me glaring. "This is still my house Alatar! You are only sixteen, not yet a man. Untill such time, Nathan will be here to watch over you."
"But I turn seventeen in three months!"
"And untill such time, Nathan will be here. Now feed the horses." He turned and went back to packing.
I left his room and sulked to the barn, having to pass through the sitting room. The messenger was at the door, waiting for me.
"Are you Alatar, Norman's son?" He asked in a rough voice.
"Yes sir." I said as politely as possible, anger still in my voice.
"You look just like him, strong, tall and even his dark brown hair. You are like his double."
I stared at him confusion plainly on my face. I don't look anything like my father. I thought.
"I should let you get to your duties, I am sorry for stalling you son." The man moved away from the door and sat back in the chair.
I left the main house and went to the barn, pitch fork in hand. It was an hour before I finished feeding the horses and my father and the man came out of the house. They came over to the barn and I led Starfire, my father's horse, to them. My father looked at me and smiled. He walked toward me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Nathan will be along any time now. Good luck. I hope to be home again soon." Then he did something he hadn't done in over ten years, he hugged me.
I clutched his body, starting to tear. It was a short embrace though, and when he mounted Starfire, a single tear rolled down his cheek.
