Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (66 page)

CHAPTER 24

A Father of Seven

LASIDIOUS DECIDED TO VISIT the world of Luvelles. He was chatting with the Source, the most ancient of dragons. The Source was the only one of his kind living on Luvelles, and it was the Ancient One’s job to test all those who sought magic’s greater power to determine if they were prepared to looking into the Eye of Magic. If deemed worthy, the Source granted the seeker access to the Eye’s chamber. If the Eye also deemed the seeker worthy, the seeker’s life was spared. If they were not, the Eye would swallow the seeker’s soul, and their body was lost within the Eye forever.

Since Lasidious did not want to make another appearance before the Collective at the moment, planning the future was in order, and the Source was a good place to start. Who better to speak with than a dragon that had a wing span that stretched more than 600 paces and lived inside a cave?

The City of Haven

Southern Grayham

Brandon Smith, a strong-willed, handsome, family man, came from a long line of farmers, and he made his home near the city of Haven. His family was known throughout the valley for their kindness. They were also known for their ability to make well-crafted iron shoes for the area’s horses.

Brandon was a good father to seven, adoring children, and his wife, Josephine, was an average-looking woman with green eyes and a heart of gold. After bringing six boys into the world, they were blessed with a girl.

Family came first in Brandon’s life, and even though he was busy keeping up with his children, he maintained a strict training schedule that he followed after his wife put their kids to sleep.

Brandon trained in their barn with three of his friends. He then went on to participate in the fights each season when they came to Haven’s arena.

Brandon named his sons: Brandon Jr., Jonathan, Matthew, Jasper, Mark, and Chase. He also had a little girl, Adriana, 3 seasons old and his 6 boys, starting from oldest to youngest, were 12, 10, 9, 8 (twins) and 5 seasons. His oldest, Brandon Jr., was a strong boy who worked with his father in the fields of their farm since turning 11, the same age Brandon’s grandfather and his father before him were when they put their boys to work—a family tradition.

Jonathan was an athletic child and spent countless moments playing with his father’s wooden training staves. He was almost eight before he could carry one properly, but once he could, his mother could not keep it out of his hands.

Matthew was quite the fisherman. If he could not be found, he was on the river going after the big one. On Matthew’s ninth seasonal celebration, he came home carrying enough fish to feed the family. Brandon made sure the boy received the recognition he deserved by helping Josephine prepare the fish for the boy’s seasonal meal.

The twins, Jasper and Mark, were mama’s boys. They were the family scoundrels, but knew when their father spoke, they knew to listen. On the other hand, they ran rough-shod all over their mother. It took a while, but Josephine finally figured out their weakness. When the two boys got out of hand, she sent them outside to pick a sturdy switch off a nearby wishershyle tree. When they returned, she placed the switches on the table and informed the boys that the switches were for their father to beat them with when he came home. The kids knew it would hurt, and it was this style of mental warfare that usually put them back in line. Most often, Josephine found a reason to let them off the hook before Brandon returned. It was rare for her to allow the boys to get the switch applied to their rear ends, but she did do it every now and then to ensure the boys did not forget who was boss.

Chase was the charismatic one of the bunch. He not only had his grandmother and grandfather wrapped around his pinky, but all the neighbors as well. He was the kind of kid who could talk to anyone, despite being only five seasons old. His mother’s friends loved to pinch his chubby cheeks.

Brandon took Chase into the city one spring and stopped at a local place to eat Chase’s favorite food—melted goat cheese on potatoes. On that particular Peak, three beautiful women who were leaving the eatery, stopped, pinched Chase’s cheeks and called him “cutie.”

Chase had turned his head and even at the early age of five seasons, he watched their beautiful backsides all the way out the door before he turned to face Brandon and proclaimed, “Father, every girl in this town loves me.”

Brandon laughed on that Peak and had rubbed his hand through Chase’s hair before they headed home.

Adriana, the baby of the family, had thick, blonde hair and facial features like her father’s. She was spoiled—a real daddy’s girl. She thought her father walked on water and Josephine had taught Adriana how to butter Brandon up when she wanted something. If Brandon had an Achilles’ heel, Adriana was it.

Brandon met his wife when he was a boy in school. They were the same age and now, at 30 seasons, they had been together as a couple since he had asked his wife to be his mate at the early age of 10. When Brandon was 16 and of legal age to leave his father’s estate, he went to his wife’s father and asked for her hand in marriage. Since their fathers were friends, permission was granted and a grand union was celebrated.

Josephine did not waste any of her moments starting their family. She became pregnant on her 17th seasonal celebration. Children had been an experience that forced them to change, but they kept their vows sacred and grew together.

It was on Brandon’s 18th seasonal celebration when he became old enough to fight in the arenas of Southern Grayham, and he fought every summer season after that. It was just before his wife gave birth to their first child when he won his first fight. The money from the victory helped to make payments on a piece of land that he purchased from his father, a man who was loved by most everyone.

On Brandon’s 20th seasonal celebration, after he had struggled to provide for his family for the last four and make payments on his land for two, his father decided Brandon had learned how to be a man and let him have the land without having to pay further. On that Peak, a celebration occurred. The members of the Smith and Rosslyn families attended, numbering over 197 strong.

Brandon’s next fight was expected to be another great Peak. Brandon’s family would get ready to head into the city to watch him fight. They would drop Chase and Adriana off at their grandparents’ farm before heading to their favorite inn. The only thing that had changed throughout the seasons was how many kids accompanied Brandon and Josephine to the fights.

After checking into the inn, Brandon went down to the arena at dusk. As he always did, he read the fight schedule for the next Peak’s events. Just like every season, he knew nothing about whom he would be facing. He noticed his opponent was approximately his height, but weighed 30 measures heavier.

Brandon was the only fighter who never entered the lottery because of his connections. He was also the only fighter who did not travel from city to city. His uncle was the arena headmaster and as he had done every season, he saved the one fight without weapons for Brandon.

Josephine had been firm on this. She would not let Brandon fight unless weapons were not involved, so his only option had been to fight in hand to hand combat.

When the next morning arrived, Josephine woke the kids. As per tradition, the family made their way to the dining area of the inn. This was the one series of moments when the kids could order whatever they wanted. They laughed and told stories over a diverse selection of food.

After breakfast, Brandon prepared to leave for the arena. “I love you all,” he said, smiling as he reached down to rub the top of each boy’s head. “Perhaps after the fight, we can go to Pana and Mana’s house and swim in the pond. Would you like that?”

The children’s response was everything he wanted to hear. He loved throwing them into the air and watching them land with an awkward splash. After a few more moments of playful chiding, Brandon embraced each boy and turned to face his loving wife.

He caressed Josephine’s face as he looked into her eyes. “I consider myself a blessed man.” He reached down and touched her belly, covered by a yellow sundress. His seventh son was growing inside. “Did you know that each Peak I have you as my wife, I have a new reason to rejoice? You are the backbone of this family. I love you dearly.”

Josephine’s smile widened. She reached up and rubbed her hand across the stubble on Brandon’s cheek. Her green eyes found the soft blue of his. “Be safe, my love. Find the honor you seek in battle. Make our children proud.”

No further words were exchanged. The look on his wife’s face said it all. They embraced, and after another quick kiss, he was off.

The bell sounded. The moment had come for Brandon to take his place on the sand of the arena floor. As he entered, the locals knew who he was and cheered. He looked toward the seats where his family sat and waved at his kids before he blew his wife a kiss. He crossed his arms over his chest to express his love. Once this had been done, he turned to prepare his mind for the fight.

The crowd quieted as his opponent entered. Their reaction was far from normal. Their moans seemed to express concern, but Brandon did not know why. He had never seen this man. This was nothing new since most fighters’ careers lasted less than a season. They were usually dead or stopped participating due to the wounds they suffered.

Despite the crowd’s reaction, Brandon readied himself, and the signal for the fight to start was given. He moved toward his foe and after they touched fists at the center of the arena, Brandon threw himself into a roll, grabbed a handful of sand and then tossed it into the man’s eyes. He followed with a continuous assault, striking at his foe’s face, ribs and kidneys.

As Brandon circled, he dodged a blind strike while he delivered a powerful knee to his opponent’s stomach. Brandon moved around and around, pummeling every opening he could find. Seizing an opportunity, he jumped onto his opponent’s back and sunk in a choke.

Brandon was surprised by the man’s strength. His arms were peeled away as if he had no strength of his own, and he was thrown to the ground.

Picking himself up off the sand, Brandon watched as the man wiped at his eyes. He had to hurry. The sand would not give him an advantage for much longer, and this man was far too powerful to let him regain his bearings.

Again, Brandon darted in. He planted a crushing fist to the side of the man’s face and then moved back. To his bewilderment, his opponent was still standing. He needed to try something stronger. Landing a crushing kick to his foe’s chest, Brandon sent him rolling backward—a roll that did not stop his opponent as he returned to his feet.

Brandon’s bewilderment turned to shock. He had never seen anyone take this much punishment and still be standing. His strikes had been solid. Any other man would have fallen unconscious.

He jumped high into the air, intending to come down across the blind side of the man’s face with his elbow, but instead of making contact, his opponent twisted and sent a wild punch in his direction. The man’s aim was true even though he still could not see. His knuckles pulverized Brandon’s throat.

The crushing shot sent Brandon stumbling to the ground. But like a true warrior, he pushed himself to his feet. He would have rushed back in to deliver another blow, but Brandon was hesitant to move—not because his opponent was a threat, in fact, his foe was still struggling to clear the sand from his eyes. This was different. Brandon could not breathe. Any movement he made would only deplete what oxygen he had left.

The strike to Brandon’s throat had crushed his windpipe. This would be the last series of moments in which he could look upon his family and say goodbye.

The lack of air was already having an effect. He stumbled over to where his family sat and gave his wife a look of farewell. He saw the pain on her face, and he longed to take it from her.

He watched as Josephine pulled the twins close to bury their faces in her dress to keep them from watching. Brandon Jr., Jonathan, and Matthew stared at their father with horror-filled eyes. There was nothing they could do, and they knew it. Their little hands grasped the wall of the arena in front of them with enough force that their knuckles turned white.