paleololigo

T is for Truth – #AtoZChallenge

T is for Truth

“Who are you boy?” demanded the man again.

Kenrick stepped forward. “This is my son by marriage, David.”

“And you trust him?”

“I do,” said Kenrick.

“David, aye? And what can you offer us, David? What good to us are you?”

Godwin shuddered. “I can offer my skills as a swordsman. My life. My blood.”

“Swordsman are you? How long have you studied?”

“I held a sword before I could walk.”

The man laughed. “Oh well then. By all means.” He continued to laugh. Abruptly he stepped forward and pulled Godwin’s head back by the hair. The man scowled down at Godwin, sneering. “And what happened to your face then?”

S is for Secret – #AtoZChallenge

S is for Secret

Godwin tapped his horse’s flank, encouraging the stallion to continue up the steep trail. He had been riding silently behind Kenrick for more than three hours, climbing higher and higher into the hills behind Baronwyth. The sun had dipped behind the peaks more than an hour earlier and twilight was falling.

The trail passed between some large stones and a nearly vertical cliff. The trail grew darker between the rocks. Kenrick slowed.

Godwin heard a noise behind him and looked back. Four men now occupied the trail where they had just been.

Kenrick’s horse snorted, bringing Godwin’s focus forward again. The trail was blocked by an additional group of men. The horses stopped.

R is for Reconciliation – #AtoZChallenge

R is for Reconciliation

Godwin walked home alone, troubled.

He had looked his best friend – the one person he’d known his entire life – and said he did not know him.

Godwin felt sick. This was a disaster.

He’d never considered that people from his past might suddenly reappear.

When he got back to the house, he stoked up the fire and sat, staring into the flames.

“What happened,” Joan said, startling Godwin. “That man said he knew you.”

“He did,” said Godwin. “It was unexpected.”

“But you didn’t know him?” Joan said, sitting on the bench beside him. “He seemed so certain.”

Godwin gazed at her in silence.

Q is for Questions – #AtoZChallenge

Q is for Questions

Godwin laughed. A solid laugh. He felt joy. Across the crowded room, Joan was holding Oriel in her arms and bouncing slightly to the festive music, drawing squeals of joy from the tiny child.

No one celebrated like the people of Baronwyth, the home of Joan and her father Kenrick, and now his own home. These people new the struggle of survival and they relished any opportunity to celebrate.

He was David of Baronwyth, husband to Joan, father to Oriel, and quite possibly the happiest man alive.

P is for Pastoral – #AtoZChallenge

P is for Pastoral

Godwin wiped the sweat from his forehead, glancing toward the sun. He had been chopping wood all day and piling it near the house.

Kenrick had left early that morning and had not yet returned. It was getting late. Though Kenrick could care for himself, Godwin was nevertheless concerned.

Men under the command of Aldred had recently begun to cause problems near the tiny town of Hedengarde, which Godwin now called home. These men had burned a house two nights ago, enraging Kenrick. Joan’s father ranted about it all day yesterday, and left this morning saying he would do something about it.

O is for Oriel – #AtoZChallenge

O is for Oriel

Godwin stared down at the struggling tiny person. “So beautiful,” he whispered.

The baby gazed back at him with dark blue eyes, making tiny sounds as she worked her hands open and closed. Her face scrunched up and she began to cry.

“Oh no-no-no,” whispered Godwin. He started to walk, bouncing the baby gently. “Sleep my little Oriel.”

Joan padded slowly back into the room. “How’s our darling?”

N is for Nuptials – #AtoZChallenge

N is for Nuptials

Godwin smiled at Joan, then buried his face into her neck. She giggled, stroking his sweaty head.

He marveled at how he felt in this moment. He was at peace, comfortable, satisfied.

Definitely not bored.

Oh how court was boring. If only he had realized that being no one of importance was the best thing that could ever have happened to him.

“David,” Joan whispered.

“Aye, my love.”

“I didn’t know I could be so happy.”

He raised his head and propped himself up on an elbow. “I didn’t know such happiness could exist, either.”

M is for Mustering – #AtoZChallenge

M is for Mustering

Godwin grunted as he hefted the log into his arm. He ambled cautiously back into the house and dropped the log into the rack beside the fireplace.

“There you are,” said Joan. “What are you doing up?”

“I’ve got to earn my keep,” said Godwin. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been useful at all.”

Joan hustled toward him, blocking his way back outside to collect more wood. “Father said you should rest.”

K is for Kuk Sool Won – #AtoZChallenge Special Post

K is for Kuk Sool Won

Yesterday, Saturday April 13, 2019, my son and I participated in our first tournament in the traditional Korean martial art called Kuk Sool Won.

The first-ever Fingerlakes Kuk Sool Won tournament, organized by my school, Kuk Sool Won of Greater Rochester, NY.

Ribbons for all the divisions and events.

My son has studied Kuk Sool Won for about 3.5 years, and is very close to starting the two year cycle that leads ultimately to a black belt. I started a little over a year ago and will be promoting to my blue belt in a couple of weeks.

L is for Lift – #AtoZChallenge

L is for Lift

Godwin sat with his legs dangling off the side of the bed.

“Planning to go somewhere?” said Kenrick.

“A journey starts with just one step,” said Godwin. “I need to walk.”

“And then what?” said Kenrick.

“Then I’ll do as I’ve promised. I’ll make myself useful.”

“Boys,” said Joan from across the room.

Kenrick sighed. He slapped his thighs and stood up. “Well, I’m going to wash up.”

“You do that, father,” said Joan. She pointed at Godwin with the knife she was using to cut vegetables. “And you’re going to sit right there, David.”

Godwin smiled. “Well now, how am I supposed to be useful all the way over here?”