When War Calls(6)

‘No!’ Bo was running forward. ‘That’s what he wants you to do. Get off him!’

As if Bo was an elder himself, Jaden heeded the order and jumped away from Ardim immediately.

‘The game’s in a few days,’ said Bo. ‘Don’t get us disqualified, it’s what he wants.’

Ardim’s smile was wide, revealing some missing teeth from his previous brawls. ‘Couldn’t do it, could you, runt?’

Bo shook his head. ‘Let’s go,’ he said to Jaden, and grabbed his arm to lead him away. ‘Don’t give him the satisfaction.’

Jaden nodded, dusting himself off as best he could as Bo dragged him away.

‘Watch your back, kid, I’ll be around,’ shouted Ardim after them.

Neither turned. Ardim would not pursue them for fear of being disqualified himself. He had credibility when confronting Jaden, but not a group of five.

‘That guy weighs a tonne,’ Jaden said to Bo, doing his best not to shout anything over his shoulder.

‘No doubt,’ said Bo, and resumed his seat back at the stones, allowing Jaden to continue dusting himself off unhindered.

‘Not a bad move. Your grandfather teach you that one?’ asked Konnor.

Jaden nodded, breathing deeply to relax.

‘He’s almost twice your size, how’d you do it?’ Konnor sounded amazed.

‘He doesn’t think,’ said Jaden. ‘He charges in blindly and hopes for the best. Bo is right, though. He wanted to see if I would throw the game.’

‘Not so stupid after all,’ said Konnor.

‘Maybe not,’ agreed Jaden.

‘He has cunning,’ said Corey, his gaze still set on the bandage on his hand as if to admire his masterful work. ‘He likes to play with all of you without you realising it. The more you think he has no intelligence, the more fun he has. He is smarter than many would believe, but he also enjoys acting the fool far too much. Jaden, you know of what I speak.’

Jaden nodded and there was silence again. As much as they didn’t like to hear it, they knew Corey was right, as always. If they became too lazy around Ardim, the price paid could be more than simply pride as it had been in the past.

As they all agreed half-heartedly, Jaden’s eyes became fixed on something far beyond the stones.

‘I have to go,’ he said.

Bo looked around. ‘Where?’

‘I’ll meet you later for tactics,’ said Jaden, and without another word, he sprinted away.

‘Where’s he going?’ asked Konnor.

‘Probably to Alyssa,’ said Dion.

‘Like there aren’t enough girls in love with him already,’ said Bo. ‘Cheeky boy.’

‘He’s not going after Alyssa,’ said Corey.

‘So where is he going?’ asked Konnor. ‘She’s about the only reason he ever races off like that.’

Corey seemed slightly confused. ‘I don’t know.’

‘There’s a first for everything, huh, wise one?’ Bo laughed

Corey sternly glanced up at Bo with an eyebrow raised, shook his head as if it wasn’t worth the effort, and returned to his bandage, amazed that the others could laugh so much at so little.

Jaden stopped running when his friends were almost out of sight. He had seen something outside of his home. Someone had opened and closed the mesh door and was now leaving. Jaden had been waiting for this all day, another reason why he had stayed at the stones with his friends and was not too concerned that he had missed Alyssa anymore. For now, this was far more important.

Jogging the last few steps, he reached a man wearing a full-length maroon coat, who limped slightly as he walked and held a staff in one hand. Jaden quieted a moment before addressing him. He wanted this to go as planned. They had become distant over the past months.

‘Tyral,’ he said.

The man turned, showing pale features under messy locks of blonde hair. Under his eyes were black bulges as if he had not slept in weeks, giving the appearance of an old and ravaged wanderer. He did his best to smile when he recognised who had called his name.

‘Jaden,’ said the man warmly. ‘You’re not yet old enough to call me by my name. Please, call me father.’

Jaden bowed slightly. ‘I’m sorry, Father.’

‘No, it is good to see my son is becoming a man. How are you?’

Jaden looked uncertain. He would have answered that he was well, but he was not so sure his father could do the same. Tyral had spent the past months on the road, travelling far and wide, taking away from any time they could have spent together. This had made the gradual change in Tyral more than visible to Jaden. It wasn’t just his poor appearance that bothered him though. There was also an uncharacteristic rasp to his voice, as if he found it hard to speak. It made Jaden sad to admit that for the first time in his life he was feeling uncomfortable speaking to his father.