Birthright: Lord of Arda Read Free

arms around the two of them.
    “Come out! show yourself!”
    “Why should we show ourselves to a massive oaf like you, those massive ears might blow us away.”
    “Braden!” Alex screamed.
    He couldn’t keep himself from laughing as his friend's scream echoed out over the hill, he stood up showing himself to the three of them. He was still laughing to himself, but was met with a venomous look from all three, though the girl to the right’s softened quickly when she realised it was him.
    “I should kill you Braden. I was about to…”
    “About to what Alex? You should have seen the look on your face.” He laughed.
    Braden pushed his legs through the light bushes which lined the side of the pool, he smiled at all three, but only got one in return. He pulled off his shirt and kicked off his boots before he waded out into the pool towards them.
    “You’re not welcome Braden.”
    “Come on Alex it was only a joke.”
    “He is welcome Alex, don’t be jealous.” One of the girls replied.
    The girl who had been smiling since she spotted Braden began to swim across to him leaving Alex and the other girl in the middle of the pool with Alexander. He caught a glimpse of the other girl’s arm move under the water which made his friend squirm slightly before turning away and pushing her into the far corner of the pool. Braden watched as the other women moved slowly closer to him. The water was getting shallower and in the crystal clear waters he could make out her full figure. He smiled and dived forward grabbing her around the waist pulling her back into the deeper water.
     

Chapter III
    Braden.
     
    Braden rested his back against the cold stone plinth which sat three quarters submerged in the water, the girl was resting her head on his chest her head only just above the water. The pool had once been a temple to a long lost deity, marble stones and columns littered the area. He could hear the whispers of Alex and the other girl off behind him, the stone hiding one friend from the other. They were close friends but Braden really didn’t want to see what is friend was up to. At first he was excited by the naked women next to him, but as soon as things began to get serious he had stopped pulling back at first the women had been upset but she had settled quickly understanding his circumstances. Braden looked up at the sky watching the few small clouds drift past. His thoughts drifted to his mother she was probably sitting on the porch of their little one-room house, watching the young ones for the other adults in the village. She had been crippled long ago, she had almost no use in her legs only enough to use them as a pivot point to fall into bed at the end of the day. Braden spent most mornings taking care of her before heading to the butchers to work. Alex, the great friend he was had built his mother a wooden wheelchair so that she could move about with ease. He had been indebted to his friend for giving his mother back some freedom. She was a bright women and had slowly turned into the village teacher over the past ten years.
    “Braden. What time is it?”
    He looked up at the position of the sun, he raised his hand to cover the blinding light dripping water onto the girl’s head waking her from her doze. She mumbled something but Braden wasn’t paying any real attention.
    “Looks about four o’clock.”
    “I know, are you not supposed to be somewhere?”
    It clicked, he was and he was late. He jumped up throwing the young girl off-balance and flipping her into the water. She thrashed around splashing water everywhere, Braden grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her up out of the water. The look she gave him was no longer cute or seductive it was more of shock and anger.
    “What did you do that for?”
    “Sorry I’ve got to go.”
    He smiled and lent down kissing her on the cheek, she stopped dead and watched him as he waded towards the edge grabbing his shirt and boots from the bank as he started to run down