It must have been one of the last warm days of summer. I was sitting in the last inches of shade with my best friend, Fox, quibbling over who was the better marble shooter. Fox's long red bangs hung sloppily over his eyes, as always. The marbles we were playing with still smelled strongly of fresh clay. There was a small breeze, shifting the heat, but I could feel sweat dripping down my back nonetheless.

"You know that I won't be playing with you anymore as soon as I turn eleven," I said and smirked, feeling both proud and relieved that my birthday was finally coming up in a couple of days.

Fox's already pale face turned a shade paler. "No, Seb, you can't abandon me. First, it was Alex, then Nick, and now you. It's not fair. I want to join the men too."

"You can't. You have to wait nine moons and then you'll be eleven too. It's the law," I said, crossing my arms in front of me. "Besides, why do you want to join the warriors? You are not a good horseman, you drop every sword you get your hands on, and don't even get me started on your archery skills, Fox. I think you'd first shoot out your own eyes before hitting any target."

I sniggered, laughing louder at my joke than I wanted to. It wasn't that funny, but it was just so easy to tease Fox with his clumsiness. He had other talents, but sword fighting was not one of them. Ask him to build a fire to roast a duck on, and in no time the flames would be dancing in front of your eyes.

Rumour had it, he could control the flames with his fiery red hair. It was nonsense, of course, because that would mean that he was a magician. As if I could ever be friends with somebody like that.

Fox stuck out his tongue, then grabbed me with all his strength as he tried to push me into the drying mud from yesterday's thunderstorm. He was an easy match, and it didn't take more than a couple of seconds before he was the one laying on his back, spitting out pieces of dried-up mud.

"Enjoy the taste of defeat?" I helped him back up, unable to hide the victorious grin filling my face.

"This always happens," he mumbled with a deep sigh. "Why can't I be as strong as you are? I am the blacksmith's son. I should be strong."

I tried to come up with a witty comeback, but before I could tell him that he was probably switched at birth, our friends Alex and Nick came running out of the forest, both still carrying their weapons. Nick looked like he couldn't wait to get rid of the short training sword, whereas Alex carried her bow like it was a natural part of her body. I could see both of them were sweating like pigs and Nick even smelled a bit like one.

I stared at them in awe, hardly able to contain my excitement that in less than a week I would be able to hunt with them too. Nick had been training with the men for about three moons, and Alex for over a year. As a girl, Alex was an exception, but her talents with a bow were like no one had ever seen and she had been able to ride horseback without her hands since the age of five. Since she was easily the best warrior of all the children in Laneby, Father had allowed her to join the warriors when her eleventh birthday came last year.

"Boys, we're going to the river for a swim," Alex said, her long legs marching faster than Nick could ever follow.

Through her tattered shirt, I could see a nasty cut bleeding, but she didn't seem to be bothered by it. Her eyes were fixated on the river, and if Alex wanted something, then the rest had no other option but to follow her lead.

Nick was limping slightly and groaned. "It's so incredibly warm, and we have been riding since dawn. On days like this, I wish I was a child again so I could play with marbles or read books all day."

"It's not fair," Fox mumbled again. "Oh, only nine more moon cycles and I'll be a man too and -"

"- and then you'll kill us all with your clumsiness," Alex yelled from a distance, her long brown curls dancing along with the wind as she turned around, smiling a mischievous grin.

Fox picked up a dirty stick that lay on the ground and ran towards her. "Oh, My Fair Lady, when I grow up I'll protect you from all evil villains crossing our path."

I buried my laughter in my hand as I saw him swinging the stick around, pretending he was the noble warrior he always wanted to be. Then suddenly, he jumped a couple of feet into the air when the piercing sound of a clanging sword brought him back to reality. His wooden stick was cut into two pieces and a six-foot man with an iron blade towered before him like a giant. It was my father and Lord of our town.

"Lord Brandon?" Fox said with a trembling voice and dropped the remainder of the stick on the ground.

Many people, including my friends, were a little scared of Father, and I must admit that there were times that I was no exception. With his deep, calm voice he demanded immediate silence and respect, and whenever he spoke, everyone knew they had to listen.

"Daydreaming again, boy?" Father said neither rude nor friendly.

Fox picked up the marbles that had fallen out of his pocket, his eyes focused on the sandy ground beneath his feet. "I know... I'm too young and too clumsy, My Lord."

He held Fox's chin up so he could look him straight in the eyes. "What's that pout, lad? Only the Gods know what the future will bring. And who knows, maybe one day you'll beat all the men in this town. Perhaps even Alex."

He winked and immediately a broad smile appeared on Fox's face, his bright red hairs bouncing up and down as he made a little dance. "I won't disappoint you, My Lord. I will try my hardest to become the best warrior ever. I promise."

Father grinned and gave him a soft pat on the back. "Come on lads, summer may end soon. Run to the river and play like there is no tomorrow. Autumn will be here before you know it and we might not get another day this warm until next summer."

Alex, Nick, and Fox started sprinting like a pack of mad wolves, causing a temporary cloud of dust to appear on the small path that led to the bay where we always bathed. Not to my surprise, Alex was in the lead, whereas Nick's short legs were fighting to keep up with the other two. And, of course, Fox nearly tumbled over as he tried to unbutton his shirt and shake off his shoes at the same time.

I grinned, shaking my head, then walked up to Father, who grabbed me into a playful stranglehold as soon as he could.

"No Seb." He chuckled before I could say anything. "For the hundredth time, I'm not going to tell you what your birthday present will be."

I pressed my head against his chest and looked up at him. "But I want to know. I don't want to wait anymore."

His tight grip turned into a hug while a deep frown replaced his smile. "I know you have been looking forward to this since the day you could hold a sword, my boy, but do your old man a favour and be a child, now that you still can."

"But Father, I want to be a man like you."

"You'll be ten times the man I am, Sebastian." He let go of me and sighed, his gaze set on the evening sun. "Come on, go play with your friends."

The sudden sadness in his eyes pounded me in the belly like a punch. I hesitated, trying to figure out what my father could have meant with those words, but I got distracted by Fox's shrieking as I heard Nick splashing some water into his face.

"Seb, help me, Nick and Alex are trying to drown me!"

I ran as fast as I could, undressing along the way, and jumped into the refreshing water like a cannonball, taking both Nick and Alex down with me.

For a while, I wished I could live in this moment forever. There was something entrancing about just playing and screaming our lungs out, with accidentally inhaling a sip of water as the only thing to worry about. But in fact, it didn't take too long before we got bored of pushing each other underwater all the time.

Luckily, Alex came up with a very bright idea. She pressed her finger against her lips, ordering us to be quiet and pointed at a little hare hiding under one of the elderberry bushes. Without making too much noise, she sneaked back ashore to take her bow and a single arrow. She stretched her bow and a few seconds later the arrow landed straight in the animal's heart.

She bowed upon hearing my father's clapping hands.

"Well done, Alex," he shouted as he grabbed the hare by its ears, recovering her arrow. "Get this to your mother. She'll cook an excellent supper for you and your brothers."

"Thank you, Lord Brandon." She smiled, still gleaming with pride as she put her clothes back on, temporarily putting her bow back on the rock.

Father picked it up and with a short but effective pull, he tightened the string. "You're an example for us all, Alex. Your father would have been very proud of you."

I kicked my hands in the water. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous that Father gave her so much attention. I shouldn't be, though, Alex's father had died years ago during a winter hunt when the men were ambushed by a ferocious bear. My father had blamed himself for Vanya's death. I didn't know why, but ever since he did his best to support the family in every way he could.

Fox tapped on my shoulder. "Seb, come on, we're going to try to catch a hare as well. Show everyone that we are just as skilled as Alex."

I followed him but turned my head to watch Father walking next to Alex as she headed home. I sighed. My father wasn't allowed to die. I wouldn't know what to do if he did.