Lin

Chapter 1

Come back Lin! We just want to talk to you! shouted the boys as they once again chased him through the small village.

Yeah right, Lin thought, I am not falling for that again. It was a good thing that Lin was fast, but still he hated his daily sprint from the lesson house. Really, what lesson is worth risking a beating on a daily basis? He could not think of anything that important.

As he ran, Lin made a slight miscalculation while rounding his usual corner at the square. A pig wagon was stopped in the middle of his usual escape route. He narrowly missed a collision with Mr. Wald, who was there to barter for grain and other goods from the storehouses. Correcting his path and failing to notice the peg holding the gate shut, he slammed with full force into it with his chest. It knocked him to the ground, and he lay winded until he heard the sounds of his tormentors. They sounded close, and he knew they would round the corner any second. It would hurt worse if they caught up to him, so he jumped up, holding his battered chest, and ran as fast as his shaking legs would allow.

Three boys came flying around the corner, still in hot pursuit, but were stopped short as Mr. Wald’s big sow nearly ran them over. Lin had accidentally knocked the peg loose, and the old farmer’s piglets were running loose everywhere. He turned to take a quick look to see how big of a lead he has on the boys when he noticed what a problem he had caused. He also noticed that the boys were running the other way from what seemed to be a very angry sow. Mr. Wald was chasing a piglet and shaking his fist toward Lin, and suddenly he felt horrible for the trouble he had caused--even if it was for a good reason. What better reason than running for your life? Admittedly he was a bit too old to be running from bullies, but Lin had never been able to stand up for himself. It wasn’t that he lacked the physical strength, but he never could find the courage to stand up for himself. Plus, the thought of hurting another person was worse than the reality of getting beaten up.

It was hard enough to feed a family in these tough times, Lin knew. Having your only means to do so turned out of the pen to run away was nearly a death sentence. Mr. Wald was just about to finally catch one of the little black ones when Lin ran over and snatched it up for him.

Please forgive me sir. It was not my intention to turn all of your pigs out, Lin apologized.

Well boy, what was your intention?

It is the same as nearly every other day sir.

You mean, you run away from those boys every day?

Nearly sir, and I do not mean to cause trouble. My friend Lun used to take lessons with me, but he aged out at fifteen. Nobody ever chased me when he was around. This is my last year, Lin said with his head down.

Cowards! the man shouted.

Yes sir, I apologize, Lin stammered and jumped at the old man’s tone.

What? No, not you young man. I was speaking of the boys who pick on someone that is outnumbered.

I am use to it by now I suppose. It seems every time I am alone, I end up running for my life. It has always been that way for me. I do not know why, but I cannot make myself fight back or make them leave me alone. It is just not in me I guess, Lin explained shamefacedly as he followed the man to help with the other piglets huddled up by another wagon being loaded with portions of grain.

Finally having caught and loaded all the piglets back into the wagon, Mr. Wald gave Lin a pat on the shoulder.

Lin, you come from good stock. Your father is one of the best men I know. He always does me fair here at the market. Even when supplies are short and others may take advantage of a man’s desperation, he does his best by everyone. I think he is raising up another good man. The fact that you stopped and owned up to your mistake--that says something about you. Yes, I would say you are gonna do alright. Well, young man, I thank you for your help, but I think I will go catch my sow by myself. You do not need to go that way. Those cowardly boys might be around. One day Lin, no one will be able to chase you away again. You have a big future. I do not really know how I know, but a man of my years can just tell. Just try not to cause any more chaos, brave one the man said as he smiled and walked away.

Lin leaned against the wagon and reached in to pet the little piglets and thought about what the man said. Brave? Not me, he must have me confused with someone else.

He is right, you know, Laek said as he tossed a sack of grain onto Mr. Wald’s wagon.

Right about what, Father?

One day no one will chase you. Men will respect you.

Then I am ready for that day to come, Lin responded.

You can start by building up those muscles. Here, help me load these sacks. His father grinned as he dropped the heavy grain sack onto Lin’s shoulder and laughed.

Oh, Mr. Wald, I loaded you an extra sack for the trouble my son caused you, Laek said as the man came walking back to the wagon.

Nonsense, I will not take portions that I did not rightly earn. Someone might need that sack, he said as he pulled the sack from his wagon and tossed it to Lin. "Besides, he helped me catch the piglets, and these boys brought my sow back.

It was obvious to Lin that the boys did not bring the sow back of their own accord. Judging by the sour looks and the snarls toward an already intimidated Lin, the man made them bring it back, he assumed, to teach them a lesson. Also to teach me that they are just boys and there is no need to fear them, Lin reasoned inwardly, but still, he nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw them walking up. Moments ago they were after him, and now they were loading a sow into the market pens. Mr. Wald took the piglets from the wagon and put them in the pens, also. After the trade was complete, the old pig farmer bid them good day. Laek saw his son’s uneasiness with the bullies close by.

Come help me close down the market, so we can go home, his father told him. You know they are just boys, right? They can only scare you if you let them. Those are the Hagas Brothers, right?

Yes, Father, and the meanest guys around in my book.

I knew their father. He was a rough character growing up but grew into a great man and a good friend of mine. He was killed several years back, as was his wife. Those boys have been on their own ever since. It seems to me that they are just afraid, and they miss their parents. Maybe the meanness is just to cover their own fear.

Lin thought about his father’s words as he watched the boys walking away back toward the home they lived in alone. He saw them very differently now. Suddenly he felt sorry for them. He even felt compelled to tell them so. Maybe not today though, he thought.

Turning back to help close the gates to the market, he looked around. In his lessons he had learned that his home village, Seldom Rest, was once very large and full of life. At one time in the not so distant past, the market had stretched far into the surrounding streets. They in turn were surrounded by homes and fields, and farm houses surrounded those. His father still lived in one of the outer farm houses while Anya, his grandmother, lived just between the market and his favorite spot--a grove of trees that stretched out long and wide. It was the best spot to be alone and think or to just relax. The only remaining barter shop in town was run by his father, Laek, who was also a member of the village council, along with Lun’s father, Brun. These days, due to the evil blight, everyone just did their best to get by. A shop, some houses, and many empty fields were all that remained aside from a shack that the men called the council building. It looked as if it would come down on them at any time.

One day Lin, you will find the courage to stand up to those boys, Laek said, patting him on the shoulder.

They got after him again? A good pop in the kisser would put an end to that, you know, his friend told him matter-of-factly.

That is easy for you to say. They are already afraid of you, Lin responded.

There is a reason for that. It is because I do not run away. I assure you that the first time they get after you and you turn to them instead of running, they will think very differently about their decision. Especially if you pop one or two of them! Lin just nodded his head and tried to think of a way to change the subject.

Alright son, I am heading to the council meeting. The others are already there. Stay out of trouble and check in with Anya soon. Next time someone tries to chase you, just stop and think. Try not to run away.

When his father was gone, he wondered aloud, Why is it so easy for you? What makes it so hard for me?

I just react. Maybe you just overthink things.

When I think of hitting someone, it makes me feel horrible, and that is just thinking about it. I do not even want to imagine what I would feel like if I actually did hit someone. Do you remember when I accidentally ran over the cat on Father’s wagon? Lin asked.

Boy, do I! After that happened, if you even saw a cat you would nearly cry, Lun said with a slight smile. He wanted to laugh, but he knew Lin was sensitive when it came to the care of animals.

What makes you think I cry? I just care for the creatures. Speaking of creatures, it is time to tend to Father’s horses. This time Lin was determined to actually change the subject since he’d failed so horribly before.

I never said it was easy Lin. It is just necessary.

I suppose, Lin conceded.

Do you remember when we use to go out into the woods pretending to be explorers? The last time we did, I stepped over an old rotten log and right next to a big mean wood rattler. I was so afraid that I froze. Right when I thought I was as good as dead, you jumped over the log and stomped on the rattlers head. He was all pulled back and ready to strike, but you were not afraid. You killed it without any concern for yourself. We were a lot younger then, maybe ten years old and you saved me from a creature that could have killed us both. When I looked at your face I saw pure courage, and determination to help someone. Ever since then I knew if I could help it those boys would never hurt you.

I hardly even remember that day. I reacted when I saw you in danger, Lin responded surprised that Lun remembered that day so well.

Pressing on in the face of danger, doing what you have to do even when you are afraid is exactly what courage is. One day Lin, when you need it most, I have a feeling that you will find your courage return, and bless those who are in the way when you do, Lun put his arm around his lifelong friend as he said it, and they both just nodded their heads and laughed. There was no response needed. Lin had only one thought at the moment and that was "why does everyone keep on saying ‘one day Lin’? What do they know that I do not?

Chapter 2

No! Where are you taking them?

Ahhh! Someone help us!

Take the women. Leave the old ones, came craggy, hoarse voices from the old inn.

Look! There are soldiers from Dagus’s army! exclaimed Lin.

Where? asked Lun.

On the hillside, by the old inn, Lin responded. "Didn’t you hear