The Anvil (2 page)
Authors: I Heaton
All
the
Guardian
said
was
“
Lead
on
then
.”
and
they
ran
to
Tom
'
s
house
.
When
they
got
to
the
house
the
thief
was
awake
and
struggling
to
get
free
.
The
Guardian
looked
at
the
man
then
put
some
chains
with
leather
padding
on
his
wrists
and
asked
Tom
“
Who
was
the
one
who
knocked
out
this
man
?”
Tom
simply
told
him
“
Well
,
it
was
me
.”
As
the
Dragon
Guardian
studied
him
Tom
'
s
father
came
down
.
The
Guardian
looked
over
Tom
'
s
father
,
he
saw
a
man
that
had
become
well
muscled
from
working
metal
his
whole
life
.
He
then
looked
at
Tom
and
asked
“
How
old
are
you
,
boy
?”
Tom
replied
, “
I
am
thirteen
,
sir
.”
Tom
'
s
father
looked
at
the
Guardian
and
asked
“
Who
are
you
?
I
haven
'
t
seen
you
around
this
town
before
.”
The
Guardian
chuckled
and
said
“
I
am
Dragon
Guardian
Alex
.”
Tom
'
s
father
looked
astonished
.
Alex
looked
at
Tom
and
said
“
You
'
re
thirteen
and
you
took
down
this
thief
by
yourself
?”
Tom
shrugged
and
said
“
Yes
,
sir
.”
The
Guardian
then
asked
Tom
'
s
father
“
May
I
stay
the
night
here
?
I
have
been
traveling
all
day
.
If
you
’
d
rather
I
not
I
can
go
to
the
inn
.”
Tom
'
s
father
said
“
Of
course
you
can
stay
!
Follow
me
and
I
will
show
you
to
a
room
,
sir
.”
Alex
replied
“
Okay
,
then
I
will
take
this
thief
to
jail
.”
Tom
'
s
father
led
Alex
upstairs
and
Tom
went
to
help
Caleb
in
the
workshop
.
Later
,
as
Tom
went
to
his
room
he
heard
voices
in
the
kitchen
.
Always
curious
,
he
went
downstairs
to
see
what
was
happening
.
His
father
and
The
Guardian
talking
.
“
You
want
him
as
an
apprentice
?”
Tom
heard
his
dad
ask
.
The
Guardian
said
“
He
clearly
has
talent
in
combat
;
that
thief
is
known
for
leaving
anyone
he
fought
unconscious
and
with
broken
bones
,
you
got
lucky
.”
His
father
replied
in
a
shocked
tone
“
OK
,
we
will
talk
it
over
and
see
what
Tom
wants
in
the
morning
.”
Chapter
2
Tom
quietly
crept
back
to
his
room
and
tried
to
sleep
,
but
his
mind
was
racing
.
Alex
wanted
him
as
an
apprentice
!
It
was
thrilling
but
,
he
had
so
many
questions
!
Would
he
be
able
to
visit
his
family
and
friends
while
he
was
an
apprentice
?
How
long
would
the
training
take
?
Most
important
,
did
he
want
really
want
to
be
an
apprentice
?
Then
he
put
those
thoughts
aside
and
tried
to
sleep
,
eventually
he
succeeded
.
In
the
morning
Tom
came
downstairs
for
breakfast
and
saw
his
dad
and
Alex
talking
quietly
.
When
they
saw
Tom
his
father
greeted
him
with
the
normal
“
Good
morning
,
Tom
.”
Tom
started
to
eat
breakfast
trying
to
suppress
his
curiosity
.
After
they
had
all
eaten
Alex
leaned
back
in
his
chair
and
began
; “
Tom
,
your
father
and
I
talked
last
night
and
I
know
you
overheard
us
.”
Tom
was
amazed
and
asked
“
How
did
you
know
?
I
thought
I
was
really
quiet
.”
The
Guardian
laughed
and
simply
said
“
Magic
.
What
do
you
think
of
my
offer
?”
Tom
rushed
to
cover
his
embarrassment
at
being
caught
eavesdropping
, “
I
didn
'
t
hear
a
lot
,
only
that
you
wanted
me
as
an
apprentice
.
But
I
have
some
questions
”.
Alex
said
“
Ask
away
then
.”
Tom
took
a
deep
breath
, “
How
long
will
the
training
last
?
And
will
I
be
able
to
visit
my
family
and
friends
?”
The
Guardian
answered
“
The
training
to
become
a
Dragon
Guardian
will
take
about
seven
years
and
yes
,
you
will
be
able
to
visit
your
family
and
friends
many
times
a
year
.
However
,
you
will
have
to
train
while
visiting
.”
Alex
paused
. “
So
what
do
you
say
?
Do
you
want
to
become
a
Dragon
Guardian
?”