VOLKS HARBOR

  TEN YEARS AGO

  The in between of the dark of morning and dawn’s golden light illuminates a pair of footsteps imprinted in the early morning dew. The footprints outlined in the morning damp covering the flat paving stones of the city streets lead to a mismatched couple, one set small, leads a small boy of six years. The other larger set to a kneeling teenage girl just on the cusp of adulthood. The two stand in front of a collapsed two story building on the edge of a decorative wall.

  “Tanner this is the place, I still think you are too young, but if you can climb up here on your own without help you can stay and watch Master Rialto. No one can help you to the top.” Kathleen explains.

  “How old were you when did you do this?”

  “I was eight. Tanner, most of us don’t try this until eight or nine. You’re only six years old, you may not be able make the climb up there.” Five attempts later, the six-year-old boy still has not made it to the top. Kathleen smiles at him for encouragement when he lines up his last attempt to climb.

  A frail old man, his legs weak, stops to scrutinize the boy. “I don’t know what’s so important you need to get up there, but have you looked the whole thing over? There may be a better path than this one.” The elderly man shuffles away, muttering to himself. Tanner searches for an alternate route to the top of the deserted building.

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  “Kathleen, I found my way up.”

  “Okay Tanner this is your last try. If not this time we will wait until you are bigger.”

  Tanner squares his shoulders and takes a few deep breaths. His small legs stride forward to begin his climb. Minutes later, a victorious six-year-old conquers the building. A fresh morning breeze cools the boy's sweat soaked brow.

  Kathleen scrambles to the top and guides him to the other edge overlooking a large estate. “This is Master Rialto’s house and training compound. He has classes at dawn for his personal students. Private lessons in the afternoon for the nobles, and he holds three classes in the evening before sundown.” Kathleen kneels next to the boy, looking Tanner over. “Tanner, why do you want this so bad?”

  The young boy, wearing a solemn expression more suited for an older man, explains. “I don’t have anything that is mine. This is something I can earn on my own, for me. It is something I can carry the rest of my life. It calls to me, I close my eyes and see how you move and fight. I want that.”

  The fifteen-year-old reaches over and hugs the much younger boy. “This is your chance. You have proven you are strong and smart enough to train. You must watch the lessons without interrupting. Others will come here to train, maintain peace always. You can follow the movements in silence. Someone may be up here to help you train.”

  “You heard his answer, Master?” Kathleen looks at the old man from the street.

  “I did. He is determined, monitor him.”