The scorching sun beat sourly on me with no propensity for repentance. Beneath its insane shower, my hand held up swing -- up, down, was the sequence.

With another rigorous swing, the thick wood tore apart in two. I sighed twisting the axe on hand in a show of dexterity. From across the field Roder smiled, plunging back the scythe to its duties, alongside his labourers.

The land was returning to what it ought to be -- green, beautiful, nature filling.

The curse of Dakor on these lands had come to me ears eventually. It went that, upon his arrival the field, he had slay every worker that laboured the lands, so they affirmed his undying authority. In reality, the mad man became Lord over these fields even though it seemed he was hiding. It was his paranoia.

Among the workers whom had survived Dakors plague on the field, two had escaped the lands. They rode far to a settlement, where they gathered fighting men...twelve strong. They journeyed back with a thought for deliverance, but they were shocked with a great amusement. Alas, the veteran slew them all too.

Each testimony from either of my host maintained the man was as a demon with the sword. I could relate to this. Dakor was the most formidable swordsman I had ever contended with. With coordination and a strong will, I knew he could beat me any time in a duel. He had done it before. My eyes on the prize, and rage had only been the fuel that made me appear better.

Dakor was a curse on every land he stepped on. The sight of the field returning to glory soothed. It was even more with the understanding that I stacked mighty hands in this transformation.

Worry was always yet to test this momentarily happiness.

I panted lowly as my eyes danced the green fields and my mind pondered what I was doing on them. This was my life now. It ought not be.

A month had strode past, but where was the will to leave the haven of the farmers cabin. Times without number I tried strong to leave, but the inclination to stay back was harder. I could tell exactly what was hooking me to this life.

Everything! Everything of the life matched my taste -- peace, happiness, quietness, family...mystery -- the lady!
O that strange woman!

She rode with a mystery I couldn't fathom. Hers was twice darker than Keiya's even. And I, the wild man who loved to explore and unveil. Aye, I wanted to know more about this woman.

I once blamed her for losing Dakor. Those moments faded faster than I could imagine. But the rest of her was true. She was defiant, stubborn, daring, and the likes.

We weren't best of friends nor in good talking condition even. But she did intrigue me. I know I did spark as well a fascination in her. But we were prideful beings. Too egocentric to speak to the other.

She would  hold deep gaze on me for moments, sometimes absentmindedly. Somehow I felt she liked me.
But was it not selfishness? Releasing myself to happiness, when the murderer of my beloved still breathed fresh air.

Times came when I fell into pensive moment, and the slamming consciousness that this was no home was bitter.
No matter the comfort I drew from this place, pictures of Keiya's last moment on this earth, kept tormenting me.
  I had an oath to fulfill to a dead love.

   "Stressful, aye." Rodar drew to me with a smile.
   "I wonder if I had all this energy when I was younger." He held up smile.

  "Am sure you were strong. It was strength after all that birthed this wonderful scenery." I told with an open gesture to the vast fields. 

  "It wasn't strength...it was always talk." He breathed, and I did notice his swing of demeanor.
I allowed the man as he braced to elucidate.
 
   "It was always talk -- negotiation and plea...that saved me and did birth this. And even now, I still suffer to keep it." He sighed sourly. His countenance was pale. His eyes weak...almost with sorrow.

"I was never a fighter, son. In fact the tools I knew were ones to this fields. I was always ridden upon and tossed aside like trash," He rubbed his face with a humorless laugh. "My own brothers; elder and younger, considered me nothing. They were fighters, and I couldn't even wield the simplest of weapons. They were strong men. I wasn't." The aged man kept on his grieve.

I rarely knew of this family's past. They hardly talked about their life. But seeing the distress on the man, I knew much indeed had befallen this ones.

  "You don't need to be a fighter to be an achiever. You are a good man. Its an achievement many would never attain in their lifetime." I patted his shoulders in a consoling style.

 "I was nothing then, even now I fear, am still nothing."

  "You are a great husband." I smiled.

  "Do you as a person honestly believe, violence isn't always the way to justice." He looked in my eyes. What was this man doing now?
  I merely smiled, but gave no actual response.

  "I used to think it wasn't. At least it was a way to consoling my weakly," he looked at me with another piercing glance. "Things changed that believe..."

   "Rodar..." I tried to wane him from stirring more hurtful memories. Alas, my attempt was feeble. He broke out...
 
   "Out to town for work, Darah was home with our boy. She sent him off  sometime at midday to get few things..."

"You had a son?" I interrupted. His nod told me all I needed to know.
He pressed on...

  "Our enthusiastic boy ran off for the market. He came back home hours later to face his wildest shock. On the floor and nigh fainting, Darah- his mother laid. Bruised and bleeding -- she had been beaten severely." My eyes widened. A surge of anger hit my belly.

  "My boy was infuriated when he had learnt it was the neighbours sons who had come again. Enrage by it all, he stormed out of the house. Darah could barely stop the angered boy. I returned home hours later to find the absurd state of my home. She explained everything to me. I dashed off without a second thought to find Pean. I couldn't find him. I returned home frustrated and confused...Darah's state only the more fanning the negativity. I was running insane." He rubbed his temples with a grimace.

  "The absurd feeling ended when suddenly Pean broke into the house. For a moment my heart felt peace. But the odd feelings returned even stronger this time at what I beheld. Pean was covered in blood from head to toe. His eyes were filled with fear. His hands were trembling. 'I killed them father.' He breathed, and my world almost collapsed. He had slain the neighbours two sons." A lone tear dripped down his cheek. My heart was racing.

   "We had to save the boy. He had to flee. Something had to be done. We were contemplating our chances, when the mob came up in front of our home. They were darkened with malicious intent. Their eyes were red as the flames in their hands. Leading the crowd, Fralous, my neigbour." Rodar palmed his face with both hands, as he breathed deeply, bracing to advance.

  "They took Pean. 'An eye for an eye.' Fralous growled. I pleaded. Darah wailed and begged. They tossed her aside. They held my boy, outstretched him. Spat on him, hit him, then rest his neck on the stand in a butchers style."
Agitation was whelming me. My knuckles were reddened from the tight clench of the axe...as I waited for the last installment. 

   "They slaughtered my son before my own eyes, and I couldn't lift a hand to shift his fate. He was butchered because he sought justice. Perhaps he went too far. That's the thing about revenge and brutal justice...we always go too far." With the back of his hand, he whipped his eyes.

  "So what can you say of my tale, son?  Am I any good to Darah? All I have caused her is pain. Its why we shifted to this part of the earth and began a simple family here. Our daughters are married now - three of them by good fortune. Alas, we never had a son again." he sighed.
 
   "Pean's death taught me that revenge doesn't answer it all. It doesn't undo the past, nor sooth your heart. It only keeps the vengeance string going."
I felt sour.

  "How do you bear it? How are you still strong?"

  "Strong!" He laughed, whipping his eyes. "I guess I am only really strong in heart."
 
"Then you are the strongest class of men after all," I held his shoulders with a soothing smile. "The sun will always shine. Aye, it has shone on your home again." My smile widened. Without hesitant, he wrapped me to himself, in the warm embrace.

I understood the sour stab of the events he just shared, and the comfort he was sipping now.

He took a deep sigh, while the bellow of a cloaked man help break the embrace. It was one of his men. 

He approached us with large strides. His countenance was pale. More so, he was encompassed by an expression I hadn't seen in a while. Fear.

  "What is it?" Rodar asked with a worried look.

  "Its from someone reliable in Amlyxone. A troop of calvary set pace this morning for Kedrone." The man told.

   "A troop?" I seized wiping my face with the kerchief.

  "Its not from Karmadin. About four strong houses raised this troop. They are sending aid to the man Dakor," he explained. "Seven hundred strong."