Hey guys. This is my first story. Hope you guys enjoy the many more chapter that are to come. Leave a comment for any mistakes, I would appreciate that.

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Loganth scurried on the floor. Scratching and crawling for help. Dirt and mud rubbed against his face as he dragged himself on the ground. Struggling with any strength left, he pushed himself with his legs out of the tent.

"Where are you going Loganth? Have you not learnt anything I've taught you?" Garbed in bear's fur around his top with wolf's fur draped around his neck. The King pushed the flaps of the tent to draw closer to Loganth. "I took you in when you were twelve years of age. It's been six years, but you've never killed for me."

Circling Loganth, he said, "I am King! Everyone listens to me. You better do well to listen to me next time." With hell-fire spurting through his ears and nose, impatience is not one of the King of Mountain's greatest virtue. "Stop crawling Loganth!" He shouted.

The fear instilled into Loganth's heart and soul is one of eternity. Gripped by instinct, Loganth continued digging his fingers into the soil, pulling himself away. A hand grabbed him by his shirt from behind. The king smacked his face with the back of his massive hands.

"Ahhh.." His face swollen and numbed, ears ringing and heart throbbing in his temple. He stopped and gripped at his face. Adrenaline pumping through his veins. He felt anger, but his fear was bigger.

Everyone was standing around. thousands of people looked at them and shouted praises to the one true king of the mountains. None of them wanted to be in Loganth's state. Especially being hit by the King of the Mountains. But seeing blood, their own blood starts to boil.

"You can't even do a simple task I asked of you." Not waiting for a reply, he walked back into the tent. "Take him away, wash him, he's going down the mountain." The King said without a turn. "Prepare all that he needs. He'll leave in three days." Not waiting another second, two named men of the mountain dragged him to a tent not too far away.

"Loganth." Slapping his face lightly to snap him out of his daze. "Loganth." This time louder and harder.

"Mmmm." Loganth murmured. His eyelid opened but revealed the white of his eye. He must have fainted, they thought. Loganth was usually smart and good-looking. But when he doesn't obey the King, this would happen.

Everyone liked Loganth. Smart and courageous, quick and agile, strong and big, disciplined and inspiring. Only thing he didn't have, or rather have, and what his father hated most was his sparing and forgiving attitude.

It was this quality that made him get beaten by his father all the time, today included.

"Queth, get him on the trunk. We've got to clean him." Spar said without looking at him. Queth, before being named was known as 'The Silent' just nodded without speaking a word.

Loganth turned in his sleep to get a better position. Forgetting that he was just beaten, he winced at the pain. "Argh! Fuck!" Face crumpled in pain and anger, he shouted under his breath. Feeling the pain, he wondered how being hit in the face always brought pain throughout his body.

Pushing himself out of bed he went to quench his thirst with some water prepared beforehand. Probably by Queth he thought. Queth and Spar were his men. They took care of him since he turned twelve, six years ago. They were good men, but they still took orders from his father, the King.

Stepping out of the tent, the drowning Sun showered his face warmly. It was evening and dinner was probably just finished. Loganth walked up to a person, it was Spar. "Any food? probably something soft." Pointing to his swollen face with his eyes.

"Can't say I'm sorry Log. I've told you before. Even if you let them live, Berth would still have them killed one way or another. He doesn't like loose ends. He's king for a reason." Bringing a pot of soup out. It usually isn't like this. But they were on a campaign, moving about all the time. Thus the camp and primitive lifestyle.

Waving his hands down towards Spar, signalling him that he doesn't want to talk about it. Spar scooped the soup into a bowl and Loganth drank.

"Kid, remember that there's is much to learn. Do not be arrogant, we are better than no one." Spar suddenly said.

Loganth ignored spar. Spar has always been smart, he has his own family and he cared about Loganth like a son. The only reason Spar knelt under the reign of Berth, the King of the Mountains was to safeguard his family from the terror of Berth. Berth took control of the Mountain, all clans either submit or die under his blade.

"Just be careful. I know you've never killed. Berth took you in from a family of a nearby clan at twelve. You learned the art of killing but never killed. That tells a lot." Pausing for a sip of water. "But one day, you'll understand. Especially when you're older. You'll find yourself doing things unthinkable." Breathing a deep sigh.

Loganth never caught on. Until that sigh. It told many pain thoughts and feelings. "What's happening. Why are you telling me all of these?"

"Berth wants you down the mountain." Not waiting a moment, Spar said.

"No" He answered quickly.

"Right, down the mountain." Emphasizing with his fingers.

"No. He can't do this." Hands now touching his face. Remembering that slap. "Why?"

Spar just gave a shrug. Hands shivering in the cold breeze.

Not waiting a moment later, Loganth got up from his sit. He feared his father. Mentally preparing himself. He strode his way towards the largest tent.

Feeling a hand grabbing his, he stopped and turned. "Don't" Spar said. Offering a 'no' with his head. "He's in a bad mood."

"Don't worry. I'll only ask the reason."

Hesitantly he released his hand. Letting Loganth go.

As if waiting for Loganth the whole time. The King sat on his 'throne'. Swirling his wine, he waited for Loganth to speak up.

"What for?" Loganth started.

Waiting a while longer. He had no reply.

"Why do I have to head down the Mountain?" Loganth continued respectfully. "I may have let you down with my inability to kill. But I've served you as a general in leading your men, named and unnamed." He felt the throbbing of his face with the blood rushing wildly.

"You'll go and learn." Deeply Berth said. "See the world. If you can't kill on the Mountain, maybe the other side will let you see." Berth did not believed what he said to be true. The Mountain was a cruel place. Killing and plundering is seen everyday. The other side are filled with cowardly people. But what they had were scheming, lying and cunning men. Berth did not want to see Loganth anymore for the time being.

"Father." He said his goodbye. Not satisfied with the answer, he just got off his knees and left. He knew that was the best his father would answer. Anymore and he would be slapped again. But he wondered how was he going to get pass the walls.

Spar sat outside. Listening to everything. He shouldn't have, but he did anyways. He knew what was Loganth thinking. Reading his mind from experience. "Don't worry. you'll figure it out, you always do." "You'll learn from them. Their arts, their people and their culture." Loganth mentally thanked Spar for his vote of confidence.

Further from the tent, Spar smacked Loganth in the head, he screamed, "Ow.." Loganth knew that Spar love him. The closest he had to his previous family. He just didn't show it. Like all men of the Mountain they had scars and wounds, but they always fought through it.

Spar forced out a smile. Loganth knew it.