The Realms of Animar Read Online Free PDF

a bench in the front. “Go sit by that woman, her name is Enid. She is Urso’s wife and will help fill you in.”
    The woman smiled when Avryn waved to her.
    Thane looked up at his father and nodded as he began walking toward the woman. He stopped and turned back. “Father?”
    “Yes Thane?”
    “Good luck. I’m sorry.”
    “It’s alright. Run along now. Go sit with Enid.”
    Thane ran to the woman and greeted her with one of his best smiles while Avryn and Urso separated and prepared to duel.
    “Good morning,” Thane said when he approached the woman. “I was told to come sit with you.”
    “Absolutely!” she replied. “This is my lucky day.” She motioned to the empty spot on the bench beside her. “Come here, sit down. I won’t bite.”
    Her smile was warm and Thane immediately felt comfortable. He blushed a bit and plopped down next to her with eyes ablaze with excitement.
    “I take it this is your first time visiting the training grounds?” the woman asked.
    “Yes ma’am. It is.”
    “Well then I shall do my best to help get you more familiar with things around here.” She directed the boy to Urso as he walked to a building along the south wall. She squinted and watched him enter then added, “Most likely he is going for his staff. He almost always uses his staff.”
    “I have never seen him fight anyone,” Thane said as he looked out at his father who was stretching his arms above his head.
    “Well then you will most likely remember this day for some time. This is a special treat for all of us. Avryn doesn’t fight very often.”
    Thane watched as Urso emerged from the building wielding a tall, finely carved staff. It appeared very sturdy and almost as tall as the man holding it. He could make out an ornate carving of some kind at one end.
    “Is that your house?” Thane asked. “Do you live here ?”
    Enid laughed. “Oh my goodness no. I get enough of this place as it is! That’s his shop. Urso is a woodsmith.” She pointed to an assortment of bows and spears that lined the outside wall of the shop. “The little building next to his shop belongs to Epo. He is the fletcher.”
    Enid noticed the confused look on Thane’s face and added, “He makes arrows.”
    “Oh.”
    Enid then pointed to two larger shops at the north end of the arena. “Those buildings belong to Guderian and Joli, they are the blacksmiths. Well, Guderian is anyway. Joli dabbles in everything she can get her hands on actually.”
    The crowd grew quiet when Urso raised his staff above his head, capturing their attention. He motioned to a small, heavy-set man standing to Thane’s left who was holding a pair of large and clearly patched-together padded coats. The man ran out to the center of the arena and handed the makeshift armor to Urso and Avryn.
    Enid leaned over to Thane. “There is Epo now. He helps prepare for the fights. The coats provide a bit of protection, but not much.”
    Thane watched as Epo helped the men into the thin armor. They were bulky and neither man looked particularly comfortable wearing them. Epo then helped Avryn tie the hilt of his sword to its sheath.
    “Why is he doing that?” Thane asked.
    “Oh yes! That’s for protection. We don’t want Avryn slicing up my husband now do we?” She shook her head and looked in the direction of a man who was wearing a splint on one leg. “Sometimes they get a bit carried away.”
    “Is your husband good?” Thane asked bluntly.
    “Well, he has never lost.”
    Thane tossed a blank stare back at Enid and then glanced out at his father who suddenly seemed mortal. “Oh.”
    Enid noted the worried look and then said, “Neither has your father.”
    Thane smiled.
    In the middle of the arena the men finished their preparations and then Urso bowed towards Avryn who returned the gesture.
    “To three Avryn?” Urso asked loudly for all to hear.
    “To three it is,” Avryn replied.
    The men then slowly backed up from one another to a distance of about