The Ranger (Book 1) Read Free Page B

bitterly.
    “Well then let’s practice a bit so that we’re sure to get the good placements,” Vincent said as he drew his sword.
    “Alright,” Thomas said, taking his offensive stance. “Let’s take it from the top.”
    The tournament was different every year. They tested four skills that were learned in the academy. Vincent and Thomas squared off to practice the sword forms. The sword was Vincent’s preferred weapon, while Thomas preferred a broad axe. Thomas charged swinging his sword in the opening move of the form they were practicing. Vincent met the swinging blade with his own, in the mirror image of Thomas’ form. They moved gracefully from motion to motion; their blades dancing with perfect precision. Vincent felt calm, and the forms flowed perfectly. They were quickly lost in the movement of their blades.
    “Help!” The cry from the river froze Vincent’s blood and he dropped his blade as he turned to see what had happened.
    To his horror, little Jace had wandered too far out into the water and had been caught by the current; he was quickly being carried downriver. Jace was flailing frantically and could barely manage to keep his head above the water.
    Vincent ran to the water’s edge, following him downstream, trying to get ahead of him. The current whipped him past the ford. Suddenly Jace dropped from sight, beneath the water.
    Vincent drew a knife from his belt and dove into the fast moving water. It was deathly cold; but he swam on, fighting the strong current. He gasped for air before plunging beneath the surface. There was no sign of the boy. He dove deeper, moving further downstream; still nothing.
    He resurfaced for air before diving again. Deeper still he plunged. The river was starting to get wider and deeper. His time was running out; then he saw him. Jace’s leg was caught in some weeds at the bottom of the far side of the river. His body floated limply as the current continued to tug at him.
    Vincent moved quickly, diving down to where the little body floated. A strange tingling sensation came over Vincent as he approached the boy, but it passed quickly.
    He cut the weeds and grabbed Jace before swimming for the surface. His breath was running out. His lungs burned from the want of air. He couldn’t go any further; he opened his mouth and breathed in, just as he broke the surface. He pulled the limp body back toward the shore on the abbey’s side of the river. The strange tingling sensation came over him again, and it again passed quickly.
    As soon as Vincent reached the shore he laid Jace on the ground. The boy wasn’t breathing. Vincent desperately started pounding on Jace’s chest, trying to force the water from his lungs.  The boy’s face was a deep blue.
    Jace finally coughed, spitting up a lot of water, and breathed in. Vincent sighed with relief. Thomas and the other children were running down the river bank to catch up. Jace slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Vincent.
    “I’m cold,” he whispered.
    Vincent pulled the child close to him, trying to warm him up as he sighed in relief. He looked around, trying to figure out how far down river they had drifted. They weren’t too far from the ford.
    “Is he alright?” Thomas asked as he ran up.
    “Yeah,” Vincent panted, “but we should get him back to the abbey.”
    Thomas handed Vincent his breastplate and sword, which he quickly buckled back on before picking up Jace.
    “That’s it for today,” Thomas announced to the children, “we’re going back to the abbey now.”
    The children didn’t complain as they made their way back to the road; Vincent carried Jace, who was now sleeping soundly, holding tight to Vincent. The sun was starting to drop and the travelers were starting to thin out as the group of children walked in silence back to the abbey.
    Eliza, the priestess responsible for the orphanage, was waiting near the gate when they returned.
    “Did everyone have a good time?” She asked with a smile.