Free The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge) by Justin Sargeant Page B

such a time as this. Often Landon and Mordecai would take breaks from their work to keep themselves hydrated in these kinds of situations. Using the ladle which hung at the side of the barrel, he opened the lid and scooped out a large bowl full of water. The cool water refreshing as it poured down his throat. He took two more long draughts then returned the lid.
    Lingering at the sight of the farm, Landon caught a glimpse of what it could be when it became his. He saw an extra grove of trees extended beyond the property line secluding the farm further. Landon envisioned a brand new stable separate from the barn for just the horses, possibly even an upgrade to the hut. Eventually, Landon would have wanted to clear the land behind the hut to make room for another field. Mordecai had never done so because he did not see the farm’s potential. He was content to work it just as he was given it. He had no plans to expand or put risk into it. Mordecai liked his life to be safe and predictable.
    In four day’s time Landon would be turning twenty. The staggering words from Lord Malchus yesterday resonated in his mind. In fact, the events from the entire day burned in his mind. Not only had he learned more about his father, he received a man’s weapon of status, and would soon be acquiring land. No longer would he be the son of a poor peasant. He would be the first of his family to own land; a true noble. But the tragedy of the day remained in him. He had heard many stories of great deeds and wars, but to experience them was a shock to his system. He had never imagined the feeling would haunt him. He decided at that moment that he would never take another life if it was within his power to do so.
    Feelin g that he had halted too long, Landon returned to the plow and whistled over the two oxen. Sertorius trotted over, but Octavius was missing. Looking towards the pen, Landon could not see the ox. Turning to Sertorius he ordered, “Stay here,” then jogged over to the pen to begin his search. Behind the stables he found the animal staring off into the line of tress encircling the farm. “What is it, boy?” he asked.
    The animal moaned softly but continued to stare at the trees. Landon scanned the horizon to decipher what could possibly have captured the ox’s attention. He slowly looked about and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Suddenly, a great shockwave rumbled from behind the trees pelting Landon in the chest. The force of the tremor was so strong that he reeled backwards many steps and fell to his knees. Nothing like this had ever happened before. Landon wondered if God was trying to tell him something, or if the world was coming to an end. The ground continued to roll, and Landon struggled to gain his footing. With a strong effort he crouched down with his hands and knees on the ground lowering his center of gravity. Over the noise of the earthquake the oxen and the horses could be heard making a horrendous fright. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the movement vanished.
    Landon stood breathless for a moment waiting for another spasm from below. Octavius snorted then walked over to the spot where Sertorius stood. Landon continued to gaze out over the borders of the farm, but nothing else stirred upon the horizon line of the trees. Curious and unsatisfied without an answer, he turned to finish his work on the field. Once again he yoked together the oxen and continued his long toil under the brutal sun.
    Hours passed as Landon made one row, then another, and soon the field was nearly complete. All the while his mind continued to return to the quake he had just experienced. Could it have been just his imagination or was this something felt all over the realm? He refused to stop again fearing for another tremor before he finished. His toil swiftly increased as his muscles ached from the caked dirt of the field and weight of the plow. The sun moved from its perch atop the sky to a more distant bench parallel to the horizon.