• “Will stop hiding behind the haystacks, I just made them. Go and do something useful instead of that.”

    “Fine mother, but I have nothing better to do, and those girls are really annoying.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could swallow them back.

    “Well then, why isn’t it time to learn the family business? I suggest you go and help your brother with his metals, don’t you?” she said, sternly giving him an icy stare. Will knew better to argue so he nodded, but it was lost as he was turning away at the same time. He managed to escape the girl hiding behind the door.

    Will peeked through the small door, into a large dark, candle lit room. He saw the anvil, furnace and many other fascinating things. Where’s Arad. I think he might be eating lunch. I will just sit down till he comes. Here’s a nice place. Will chose this nice seat near the furnace to keep him warm. Just as he sat down, he jumped back up again, rubbing his backside. “Oww!” he exclaimed. Stupid seat! He thought. At that moment he heard his brother whistling merrily to himself.

    “Well, well who do we have here? Is it by any chance my younger brother?” Arad said sarcastically, but not meanly. Changing his tone he said, “What brings you here then? Been sent on some useless errand by mother so she can have some spare time?”

    “No. I’m here because I want to learn the family business,” Will said proudly.

    “Really is that true then, or is it mother that sent you to learn the family business?”

    “Mother,” Will muttered under his breath. But Arad’s sharp ears picked up the sound, and he chuckled loudly.

    “Let’s get to work then” Arad said. But he stood there gazing at the ceiling. The head slap which his brother gave snapped him out from his daydream. He loved this place for he had come here every day when he was a kid, when his father was still alive. He knew every nook and cranny in this workshop, and confidently he walked into the small warehouse adjacent to the workshop. When he had to choose which box , he scratched his head in confusion. So he picked up a random box hoping it was a luck shot, it wasn’t. After a few, he decided he should work methodically to get through all the crates. By the tenth one his back was hurting and his limbs were protesting. He couldn’t do any more. But his instincts were telling him to carry on.

    A few hours later he found the right one, and as he dropped it on the floor, he let out a scream. Both boys looked down to the box and saw that it pinned Will’s foot to the ground. Lifting it gently of Will’s foot, Arad set it aside. Immediately Will fell down to his injured foot and nursed it. By that time Arad had found a bandage and wrapped Will’s foot in it.

    “Off you go. I can’t believe you are so weak. I’m going to make you do the housework from now on. You are not good enough to lift those weights. I might need some help on days like this but try not to be a nuisance. Just to warn you; mind your head.....” Too late! Just as the word escaped Arad’s mouth Will bumped his head on the low ceiling. Will cursed the door and Arad laughed till his eyes were wet.

    This routine went on for the next two weeks and Will was getting better at being more patient although sometimes he did have a few tantrums. Every day he never failed to be there on time. Before he used to wake up two hours after the sunrise, but now he wakes up one hour before the sunrise. Will was always good at whatever he tried, and now he was eager to please his brother and Harny, who was very harsh in his judgements. By the end of the day every thing was perfect, well according to Will that was, but if Harny thought something was out of place he would make Will do it again.

    Throughout his day girls used to come with stupid excuses just to come and see Will. His day became more frustrating the more girls used to come. When he got home his mother would tell him a group of girls asked where he was. Every time he groaned. “Alright I won’t tell them where you are.”

    One morning he walked out through the door just to get some fresh air when he saw her. He only saw her through her bedroom window parallel to the workshop. He saw her silently sneak away through the back door leading to the field. She was carrying a heavy bag which she dropped. He raced to her, “Do you need help with that?” he asked.
    She looked up suddenly, “Um no. No I’m fine.” With that she turned away.

    He decided to take the day off to be with his mother, just so that he could get his mind of that mysterious girl. But her face kept appearing and that scene replayed over and over again. It was like a bad dream haunting him.

    “No, you go and do your work then we can spend time together ok?” After much convincing, Will went to do his chores. But he had a bad feeling for leaving his mother alone at home. In the afternoon he came back to see the house empty. He called for his mother many times but she never answered. Suddenly she rushed through the door, “Their back! The Brakens are back!” she kept saying. Before Will had time to arm himself a Braken burst open the door. He grabbed Will’s trembling mother by the hair and put a knife to her throat. “Put it down or she dies!” he snarled, as he picked up an iron rod. Will started hitting the man on the head and shoulders; he even prodded the man’s spine. The man was in agony and with the slip of his hand the knife cut his mother’s throat. In an instance she was dead. Tears sprung to his eyes and he hit more fiercely. The man fell to the floor with a thud. His eyes were hollow, and Will knew he had killed a man, but he had a good reason- to avenge his mother. He ran away from the house to tell his brother, but he saw him lying outside, dead. Before he had anytime to mourn he heard shouting. He looked up to see the girl, standing at the window. Her house was on fire and she was choking. The street was deserted and Will was the only one there. So he knocked down the burning wood and clambered up the stairs. The girl was lying unconscious on the floor. Will picked her up gently and jumped out the window. He landed softly on both feet. As he touched her he felt some connection run through him and her. Little did he know that the connection was an important sign to the Gods. The glass container which contained the prophecy glowed brightly in two different colours green and red.