Lorkhart Chapter 1 BETA

In the distance a young boy saw the dog that had attempted to attack his home. He lifted the wooden sword his dad created and pointed it at the dog.

"Oi, get outta here you Demon!" the young boy shouted. The dog angled its hear and beared its teeth and began to run towards the boy. The young boy shook his head and ran towards the dog, the dog stopped and growled at the boy.

"I'm not scared of you!" the young boy bellowed as he got closer, and once he was within range he hit the dog on the head with the wooden sword. The dogs tail instantly went between its legs and it sprinted off whimpering. The boy slung the weapon on his shoulder and puffed his chest out.

"You better not come back Demon, for I'm the champion of Ra!" the boy called out. He smiled at the thought and scanned his yard looking for any other Demons attempting to attack his home.

"Travis?" a woman asked as she approached the yard. The young boy looked over at her, and dropped the wooden sword. He saw that she was carrying the dog he had just whacked upon the head.

"It wasn't me!" Travis lied.

"You're the only child in the village with a wooden sword, why do you attack my dog on a regular basis?" the woman asked.

"You see Yeteff... The dog tried to attack me first!" Travis answered.

"My little boy, Josef, attempted to attack you?" Yeteff asked. Travis nodded.

"I was standing in the yard like my dad told me too, he said protect our house from any Demons, and your dog come running after me!" Travis replied.

"I'm not saying you're lying, but I don't believe you. I'm going to tell your dad about this during supper." Yeteff said and walked away. Travis sat down and buried his head into his hands, the hot tears struck his hands.

"If dad hears about this he'll take away Ra's gift..." Travis mumbled to himself. Suddenly the bell in the village went off and Travis looked up instantly, that was the warning bell.

"Travis get back into the house!" his mother called from inside the house. Travis stood up and started to run but he came to a halt, his wooden sword was still lying on the ground. He turned around, and ran back for it but something stopped him. Travis looked up and fell down, and started to crawl backwards. The thing standing before him was a real Demon, it had its fangs beared, the red eyes were glaring, and it lunged towards Travis.

"No!" a voice shouted and the Demon was hit with a weapon. Travis eyes watered as he watched the Demon be attacked by one of the warriors of the village. The Demon was stabbed in the heart and it oozed into a liquid on the ground. The dirt started to boil before the ooze was gone. Travis rubbed his eyes trying to fight back crying but it was to no avail.

"I thought I was a goner..." Travis blubbered as he stood up. His mother walked outside and towards the warrior that saved Travis's life.

"Thank you, Loki." his mother said and handed out a loaf of bread as a sign of graditude.

"No thanks needed here, Freya, I was just doing my job." Loki said, and gave the bread back to her.

"At least take the bread, you saved my only son." Freya said, and kept the bread out.

"I said I was doing my job, your son probably just wanted to protect the house, is that right boy?" Loki asked. Travis looked up and nodded.

"Thank you, Loki." Freya said again, and grabbed Travis by the arm.

"Mom wait! I can't leave Ra's gift outside like this!" Travis complained.

"You can get it tomorrow morning." Freya growled.

"Yes mother..." Travis whined. The two walked into the house and Freya locked the front door. Travis sat down at the table and waited for her to chew him out.

"What were you thinking?!" Freya shouted at Travis.

"I didn't want Dad's gift to get destroyed..." Travis answered.

"You know your father can make you another one, right?" Freya asked and folded her arms.

"It wouldn't be the same mom." Travis mumbled.

"What was that? Are you kidding me you could have died!" She continued to shout, and turned her back on Travis.

"I'm sorry..." Travis apologized.

"Now you're sorry? Just wait until your dad here's about this, that sword will be fire wood. And you're grounded to your room for the next two weeks." Freya hissed.

"Two weeks!" Travis exclaimed.

"Oh? Make it three." Freya stated. Travis got off his chair and ran to his room. He slammed the door, and sat in the corner and buried his face into his legs. He could hear his mom thanking the Lord of Life Ra for keeping him alive. He stood up and opened up his dresser door and dug through his clothes until he found the book his father used to read to him. He opened the book up and began reading it again.

--

A man stood before a Demon with his blade slightly above the ground.

"Begone Demon before I slay you." The man said towards the Demon. The Demon screeched and lunged towards the man. He swung the weapon and lopped off one of its harms, and then he jumped back. The Demon squeeled in pain as blood spurted out of its arm, but it looked back at the man. It lunged at him again, and the man lopped off the other arm with the same result.

"Curses! This thing won't back off." The man whispered under his breath. He shook his head and swungh is weapon towards the Demon but his weapon bounced off steel.

"Whoa, easy there Odin, I know you have a boy and all, but that doesn't mean you can kill anything you want." Loki laughed as the Demon faded into nothingness.

"I had everything under control Loki." Odin growled.

"Looked like it, you were panting and this Demon wanted blood." Loki giggled as he paced back and forth. He spun the daggers he was carrying on his hands. He stopped and looked back at Odin.

"I said everything was under control." Odin hissed, and thrust his sword into the ground.

"Odin, I have serious topic to talk to you about." Loki stated, his voice becoming stone cold.

"When do you have anything serious to talk about." Odin spat.

"Earlier today the village alarm went off because a Demon had gotten into the town; you know what the alarm means, yes?" Loki asked.

"It means that those whom aren't warriors must find shelter." Odin answered.

"Good, and did you pass this information onto your son, Travis?" Loki questioned.

"Of course!" Odin barked.

"Then," Loki continued and began to pace back and forth, "Explain to me why when the alarm went off that he decided to grab his wooden sword and disobey protocol?"

"Lies!" Odin shouted and removed his sword from the ground.

"Ha, you can ask Freya later. Odin, you need to stop telling your boy about this Hero of Ra." Loki demanded.

"You can't tell me how to raise my boy." Odin stated.

"I know, but those ancient lies are making him think he's something he's not. I can't promise I'll be there to save him next time." Loki giggled. He stopped pacing and put his daggers into their sheathes on his hips. The gentle wind blew the blond hair out of Loki's eyes, revealing his green eyes.

"I'll be there to protect my own son, you don't need to worry." Odin promised.

"Oh I don't question that, and I'm not worried. I'm just telling you I can't make any promises if your boy thinks he's some kind of hero, and he gets torn apart by a demon, it's not my fault."  Loki said, his voice turning cold again.

"I wouldn't blame you." Odin hissed.

"You say that now." Loki laughed and walked away. Odin looked towards the forest and watched the mist begin to form. There seemed to have an influx of Demons lately. Odin looked back towards the village and saw the guards start lighting the lamps for the night.

"Night is usually when the more agressive Demons show up." Odin whispered as he brushed his black hair back.

"Odin, Sir!" someone called from Odin's left. Odin turned, and saw it was a village guard.

"Sobek, nice to see you." Odin laughed and walked over to him. The two shook their hands and looked back towards the forest.

"The night mist sure set in quickly tonight." Sobek mentioned.

"I saw that, I wonder what it means." Odin uttered.

"Sir, you have a family, why don't you go see them. I've got this side for the night." Sobek suggested. Odin nodded.

"Thanks SObek." Odin said, and walked towards the village.

--

Travis sat by the door as he heard his mother and father talk about his actions.

"Look, he can't be going outside when that warning bell is sounded." Freya stated.

"He was already outside." Odin countered.

"Whatever, he went further outside just for that stupid toy." she hissed.

"Put it in perspective, what if you were his age." Odin said.

"If I were his age, I would have ran inside like I'm supposed." Freya answered.

"Okay, now what if one of your favorite toys were outside, a few feet away from you?" he asked. Freya paused. Travis chuckled a little as he heard her stutter to find a reply but couldn't.

"It's not an excuse." Freya said.

"But do  you understand better?" Odin asked. Freya sighed and nodded. Travis heard footsteps coming over to his door and he jumped into bed. The door open and the light from the fireplace filled the room.

"Travis, honey?" Freya asked, her sweet voice filling the room. Travis rolled over and opened his eyes in a sleepy manner.

"Yes mother?"  Travis asked.

"You must be hungry, let's go eat supper." Freya answered. Travis pulled himself out of the sheets and put on his wool slippers. He reached for Freya's hand and the two walked over to the table. There were two candles lit on the table; their light showed the table and the food on it. The small flame danced around the wick; causing the shadows in the house to dance around as well.

"Travis!" Odin laughed and stood up. He walked over to his son and hugged him.

"How was your day father?" Travis asked.

"It was action packed, I had to guard the forest enterance today." Odin answered.

"Did you witness the night mist again?" Travis inquired.

"You are an observant indivdual, just like your mother." Odin laughed. He looked over to Freya, and watched her brush her blond hair behind her ear.

"We can talk over supper, okay?" Freya asked. Odin nodded and pulled out a seat for Freya. She took her seat, followed by Odin, followed by Travis. Odin poured a bowl of stew for Freya, and then Travis before he poured on for himself.

"So how was your day, Travis?" Odin asked.

"I defended our house from a Demon." Travis replied.

"Oh?" Odin asked and took a sip of stew from his spoon.

"Actually it was Yeteff's dog." Freya corrected. Odin dropped his spoon and the house was filled with his deep laughter. He took a breath, and then took a drink from his cup.

"You attacked Yeteff's mutt?" Odin asked.

"It rushed into the yard, so I defended our house." Travis answered. Odin roared with laughter again. He wipped the tears that didn't get caught by his beard.

"Yeteff wasn't very happy about it." Freya pointed out.

"Tell her to control her mutt." Odin replied. He picked up his spoon and took another sip of the stew.

"Mother, can we have the bread?" Travis asked. Freya looked over at the oven, the aromua of the bread had finally filled the house.

"In a few minutes honey, it's not done cooking." Freya answered.

"So the farmers had a good harvest this year?" Odin inquired as he set the bowl of stew down.

"I wish, a traveling merchant came through town today, I bought the yeast and flour off of him." Freya answered. Odin nodded and rubbed his beard. A few seconds of silence passed by as the family continued to eat their supper when somebody knocked on their door.

"Travis, would you get that please." Odin said. Travis looked to his mother.

"May I be excused?" he asked and Freya nodded. Travis got off the chair and over to the door.

"Hello?" the person on the other side asked.

"Welcome to the Lorkhart Household, may I help you?" Travis asked.

"Is that the little Travvie?" Loki's voice chuckled through the door.

"It's Loki." Travis told Odin.

"Go ahead, let him in." Odin ordered. Travis nodded and opened the door. Loki walked into the household and took a seat across from Odin.

"Now, now, Freya, didn't I tell you that I didn't any gifts." Loki growled.

"I gave it to your wife, not you." Freya spat.

"Same thing, I don't want a poor man's bread." Loki hissed and then stopped.

"What was that Loki?" Odin asked.

"It was nothing." Loki lied.

"I'm sure you just insulted my family, and by the protocol of the viillage, I have a right to slay you right here, right now." Odin growled.

"And I'm on my way out." Loki chuckled and walked towards the door.

"I won't forget that Loki, I won't forget this!" Odin barked as the door was shut. Freya looked over at the furnace, she stood up and walked over to it and pulled the bread out. Using the knife on top of the furnace she cut the bread into three pieces and handed them out. Both Travis and Odin devoured the bread, not leaving a crumb behind. Freya however took time to actually savoring the sweet honey taste.

"Son, it's late you should head off to bed." Odin said towards Travis.

"Yes father." Travis replied, and looked towards Freya.

"You are excused from the table." Freya said gently. Travis nodded and walked towards his room. He heard a small conversation between his parents about Loki's action that night and what must be done. Travis didn't hear everything; because, his eyes had gotten heavy and the moment he got into bed he fell asleep.