Uh, yes this is my new FF now. I know I have two others, but this just had to be. I've had the idea for a couple of days and until then I just couldn't get another clever chapter from the other FFs. (you can also see ...) Like this, but I talk too much again. * grin * Well, I would be happy if anyone liked it. * hope *
It rained. Again. If the weather kept going as crazy as it is now, it would take him twice as long to get home. Not exactly a great idea.
"Uh ... Mr. Hock, sir. The food is ready," announced a soft girl's voice from behind him.
Hock hadn't even noticed how the maid had come in. What for? She was just an insignificant girl who was probably stupid in the head. He didn't even bother to turn to her.
"I'm coming."
He heard the door close again. Quiet. Just the sound of the rain pounding against the window.Then Hock left too. His master wanted to have dinner with him, it didn't happen too often. Actually he only saw his master when he gave him an assignment, which this time was obviously the case again.
The dining room smelled seductively of all kinds of delicacies, much of which was unknown to Hock, but he wasn't interested either. What interested him was the person standing across from him at the end of the table. His master! He was one of those people who, like it or not, got all the attention in the room. You just couldn't resist the sharp gaze from his cold eyes.
Hock made a bow, then waited for his Master to tell him to sit down. But first Hock felt the master looking at him. Starting with his black hair, the narrow face with the dark blue eyes, over the well-trained stature (clothing: red T-shirt + black pants) to his feet, which were stuck in brown boots.Finally his master said the redeeming words: "Sit down."
They started to eat and there was silence for a long time because Hock was not allowed to speak to his Master without being asked. During the meal, Hock reflected on his past. His years in the village until the master took him in at the age of 4 to train him to be a fighter. His education was almost over now that he was 14 years old. He had learned to fight with the sword, to ride and to hide. For a few months now, his master had been letting him do smaller jobs that Hock managed without difficulty. Mostly it was about some bandit that Hock was supposed to get rid of. The country was full of such wrongdoers. And no one would escape him.
Suddenly the master broke the silence: "I have an assignment for you, Hock."
As if Hock didn't already know.
His master continued: "This time it is not a small order to kill a gang of thieves, it is more important."Now Hock was pricked up. The master's voice sounded very serious. It really had to be something very important. But what could it be? Hock racked his brain but found nothing.
"Does" the stone of Jazil "mean something to you?" Asked his master seriously.
He couldn't be serious! It was just a legend. Hock just couldn't believe that his Master believed in this bedtime story. "The Stone of Jazil" was said to be a precious stone that supposedly gave eternal life to its wearer. Unfortunately, a few hundred years ago, some owner of the stone had smashed it while intoxicated (he and his friends wanted to know what would happen if it broke). Thereupon the stone was broken down into its individual parts and divided among the friends of the owner (the owner fell to dust because he was over 120 years old). They gave away many splinters and at some point they were spread all over the country. Many had tried to put the stone back together, but none had succeeded.Hock's mother had told him this story once, but he had never really thought about whether it could be or not. But that was just absurd! A stone that gave everlasting life! That could not be true!
"But it is true.", Obviously his master had guessed his thoughts.
He pulled a small velvet red pouch from his large cloak and tossed it to a crouch. He caught the bag with a lightning-fast movement of his hand. He opened it and a small piece of glass fell into his hand. It was no more than 3 cm long and shimmered in all colors of the rainbow.
Hock was shocked and asked: "Master, is that ...?"
The master nodded calmly and explained: "I want you to set out on your way tonight and bring me the stone. Your path will lead you through the whole country and many dangers await you, but I am sure you will Take the splinter with you. It lights up when someone else is nearby. ""Yes Master"
Hock was still looking at the splinter, fascinated. Just striving again, he put the splinter back in the bag.
"You can leave."
Hock got up and bowed, then made his way to his room. There he packed his things that he would need on the trip. He still couldn't believe the legend should really be true. But if his master gave him a splinter it had to be right.
When he was on the way out with his backpack, he almost collided with the maid, who apologized three times until Hock finally pushed her out of the way and kept walking. He saddled his horse and rode south in the pouring rain. He didn't know where to go, maybe it was raining less in the south.