The Anvil (75 page)

Chapter
23

             
Tom
woke
with
his
leg
wrapped
in
bandages
. “
I
have
got
to
stop
waking
up
in
bandages
.
It
’
s
turning
into
a
habit
.”
he
said
to
whoever
was
sitting
next
to
him
.
He
turned
and
saw
Zack
laughing
“
Ya
,
first
from
fighting
some
bandits
,
then
a
Supreme
General
and
now
this
.
You
seem
to
have
some
thrill
issues
.
Try
learning
how
to
play
a
board
game
.
Those
are
much
safer
.”
Zack
replied
sarcastically
. “
Well
,
I
guess
I
should
pass
on
the
message
from
Alex
and
John
.”
he
continued
“
Basically
we
both
are
getting
a
break
for
a
week
and
a
half
.
Alex
and
John
are
on
some
missions
.”
Tom
sat
up
and
swung
his
legs
over
the
side
of
the
bed
and
looked
around
.

He
was
back
in
the
cabin
,
he
slightly
remembered
waking
for
short
periods
of
time
.
Zack
handed
him
some
crutches
and
Tom
started
packing
.
Zack
left
to
talk
to
Dejoni
.
After
packing
Tom
ate
a
quick
meal
and
walked
outside
,
Zack
and
Dejoni
lay
a
few
yards
away
. “
I
am
going
to
town
for
a
second
,
I
want
to
see
Tyler
.”
Tom
told
them
and
put
his
crutches
on
the
ground
,
spread
his
wings
and
took
off
.
He
landed
at
the
training
ground
and
saw
Tyler
,
who
had
a
bandage
on
his
forearm
,
training
with
a
new
recruit
.

After
they
finished
Tom
,
using
his
axe
for
support
went
over
to
him
. “
I
just
wanted
to
make
sure
you
didn
’
t
die
while
I
was
asleep
.”
Tom
told
him
“
No
I
didn
’
t
,
but
I
was
wondering
if
you
were
dead
.”
Tyler
replied
,
and
Tom
shook
his
head
. “
Sorry
to
disappoint
you
.
Now
I
want
to
sit
down
.
My
leg
is
hurting
since
I
got
a
little
splinter
.”
Tom
said
sarcastically
.
After
talking
and
joking
Tom
flew
back
to
the
cabin
where
he
grabbed
his
pack
and
along
with
Zack
and
Dejoni
flew
north
towards
Pine
Grove
.

As
they
flew
they
talked
and
Tom
found
out
Zack
and
Dejoni
were
still
at
Hilltop
Lake
,
but
hadn
’
t
had
much
time
to
visit
Zack
’
s
family
because
John
was
training
them
away
from
the
cabin
most
the
time
,
so
Zack
and
Dejoni
were
going
to
Hilltop
Lake
.
Tom
would
be
going
back
to
Pine
Grove
to
visit
his
family
.
Before
they
parted
Zack
handed
Tom
his
crutches
as
Dejoni
had
been
carrying
them
for
Tom
.

Tom
held
the
crutches
under
his
arm
for
the
rest
of
the
way
home
.
He
landed
just
outside
the
town
and
started
making
his
way
towards
his
home
.
Many
people
called
greetings
to
him
,
mostly
people
he
didn
’
t
know
.
Funny
how
people
who
have
ignored
you
,
and
in
some
cases
hated
you
,
can
turn
around
and
say
they
have
always
liked
you
or
something
like
that
when
you
are
famous
.

One
boy
his
age
came
out
from
his
house
and
acted
like
they
had
been
friends
for
ages
,
although
the
boy
used
to
go
out
of
his
way
to
ignore
or
irritate
Tom
. “
Why
do
you
suddenly
want
to
be
my
friend
,
Kyle
?”
Tom
asked
him
simply
,
and
after
a
moment
Tom
pushed
passed
him
.
Kyle
almost
turned
to
follow
him
,
until
he
saw
the
axe
,
spear
,
throwing
axes
,
crossbow
and
dagger
and
he
stopped
.
Tom
went
straight
to
his
house
,
opened
the
door
and
walked
in
.

He
walked
to
the
kitchen
and
saw
his
dad
sitting
at
the
table
talking
to
Tom
’
s
mom
and
Caleb
. “
Hello
everyone
.
Your
favorite
famous
person
is
here
.”
Tom
said
,
and
everyone
looked
at
him
.
His
mom
was
the
first
to
get
to
him
and
she
almost
choked
him
when
she
hugged
him
.
After
Tom
had
greeted
his
dad
and
brother
his
dad
said
“
Tom
,
I
think
Caleb
wants
to
tell
you
something
,
something
you
might
have
something
to
do
with
.”
Tom
looked
at
Caleb
who
smiled
“
Well
,
since
my
famous
brother
is
a
Dragon
Guardian
Apprentice
I
thought
I
would
try
to
go
as
far
in
life
as
I
can
.
So
that
suggestion
Alex
gave
me
to
join
the
Master
Smiths
,
well
I
acted
on
it
.
One
of
the
Masters
are
coming
in
two
days
to
see
some
of
my
work
,
if
they
like
it
I
will
begin
the
training
.
I
think
I
will
show
them
your
shield
,
if
you
don
’
t
mind
,
and
some
of
my
other
stuff
.”
Caleb
explained
,
and
Tom
was
silent
for
a
moment
“
That
’
s
awesome
Caleb
!
Of
course
you
can
show
them
my
shield
.
I
hope
you
pass
.”
Tom
exclaimed
,
and
Caleb
’
s
smile
widened
.