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Meadows stretch far to the south and beyond the mountains. For ten years, Windblade
and Hawk grew up side by side as warrior and squire. Now Windblade is leaving. A
tear trickles down his freckled cheek. Windblade was reunited with his father four
years ago and Hue wanted him to come rule in Blackmon Keep far away. To improve ElfñSidhe
relations, Windblade is going to his father and whatever strange adventures lay ahead.
Boy Sparrow tells Hawk that General Springstorm is here to see Hawk, who has been
watching Windblade leave. Springstorm tells Hawk it is harder and harder to get to
see him these days, he is either locked up in his chambers with guards at the doors
or up in the towers surrounded by blasted pages. One is holding onto Springstorm's
arm and Springstorm tells him to push off. Hawk sneers at this in silent laughter.
Hawk tells Sparrow to leave them and to take the twin pages Tim and Tam (an obvious
LOST IN SPACE ON SPACE STATION ONE reference) with him. Sparrow is Hawk's squire
now. Hawk knew Windblade before anyone else and he can't get used to it without Windblade.
Hawk tells Springstorm sometimes he wishes he never took over the kingdom. Springstorm
says, "Balls." He will take Hawk to a tavern tonight. Miles away, Windblade
plays his guitar under a tree with Purebreeze. They talk about how Windblade is a
part of Hawk and Hawk a part of Windblade. Purebreeze recognizes they are like one
being, taking power from each other and returning love. Windblade feels like he will
never see Hawk again. Hawk tells Springstorm that this tavern reminds him of the
tavern outside the dwarf kingdom and will tell Springstorm later as Sparrow is listening
(although Hawk doesn't tell Springstorm that Sparrow is the reason he will tell him
later). The owner of the tavern and his daughter watch Springstorm enter and the
owner is not amused: Springstorm always gets in a brawl and wrecks everything. The
tavern keeper is about to tell Springstorm off but then he recognizes the friend
of Springstorm as the king and goes down to the cellar for some wine. There, he finds
three masked Ninja types with pointed ears. the daughter who went down to get the
wine is tied up. Shurikens fly at Springstorm and deflects them with his iron hand.
The Ninja assassins tells ErickñSan that they are of the same blood that slew his
father: the feud shall not end until he dies. The tavern keeper says, "Oh horrible
day," always saying things like "Oh, glorious day," when he saw the
king or something or other following by "day." Hawk punches and kicks two
Ninja while Springstorm punches one's face and his iron hand goes through it and
out the back of the wall! Hawk never really knew when his father died...only that
he never returned from one of his journeys. |