DAWN

Dad stared at Gia’s rock. “I promise I won’t hurt Cedrick. I’ll do anything to protect your son and Trandoz.”

Dad whispered before totally turning away from the grave. Dad wasn’t just a father for our family but a great friend and hero to Trandoz. It was miserable that I had to witness the things that were about to happen. Dad….

The village was peaceful when we got back. The only sounds that I could hear were footsteps of Gyards and the sounds of singing crickets and toads and mellow whoosh of the wind that brushes the trees in the nearby woods.

“Vargas is fast,” Gilderoy broke the silence. His deep eyes locked into the direction of a huge hut not far from the pathway into Fuego. A glimmer of an oil lamp lit up the small shop of the giant blacksmith.

Dad turned to see Vargas’ hut. “That’s what we need now. Speed.”

Gilderoy turned to look at him. “You’re scaring me with the way you are talking Farrell.”

Dad just gave Gilderoy a smile. A tedious smile and I knew that Gilderoy saw and knew what that smile meant. Dad was seriously nervous about everything. The thought of what Dad was thinking that time lingered in my mind. What did it felt like if I was in his shoes that time?

“The sun is about to rise Gilderoy, did the Gyards in Fuego spotted any actions from the elves?” Dad changed the topic. Even in the midst of tension, there he was, forcing himself to stay calm.

Gilderoy looked up. It was then that I realized that it was already dawn and dark orange light was already conquering the eastern sky. It’s almost morning and there I was thinking if only I could stop the time and save my father’s life.

Gilderoy broke my flying thoughts when he whistled hard. It was the kind of whistle that sounded like it would wake anyone from sleep. He then turned to the direction of Fuego, the watch hill and so was Dad. It was as if they were waiting for someone to come down from the hill and I was right. I could see flicker of a torch running down the hill.