The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge) by Justin Sargeant

The light was waning and Landon had just a few more rows to finish.
    He looked ahead of him and saw the turn he was about to make. Roughly, he pulled back on the harness and bid the two oxen to a halt. He reached down to lift the plow while the two animals walked slowly to face the next line. When they were in place, Landon sharply dropped the metal tool into the dirt. Instead of a hard thump, he heard a gentle plop. Looking down Landon recognized that the plow had landed in soft dirt.
    This part of the field lay closer to the ring of trees and the short stone wall, and the shade from the evening sun was constantly cast upon this area. Landon looked towards the last section of the field to be plowed and noticed that it too was not as hard as what he had already plowed. He looked up toward the sky and uttered a soft prayer of thanks.
      Readying himself, he whistled for the plow to move forward. This time, instead of fiercely fighting with the dirt, Landon was able to guide it more gently through the field. The row was made in a quarter of the time it had taken him to produce the rest. He continued to plow the rest of the field with the same ease. Hastily, he finished the field and unhooked Octavius and Sertorius from the yoke. The two animals walked over to the pen thankful to be finished with the work and laid themselves down in front of the trough while drinking.
    Landon needed only to replace the plow and did so with little ease. The pain in his arm had greatly increased due to the day’s labor. However, he completed his task and turned to survey the finished field. “Never a more beautiful sight did I see,” he muttered to himself. The field looked as though a fine toothed comb had gently brushed through the dirt to create multiple rows. Looking upon the field no one would be able to tell that the day’s journey to get there was as fierce a battle as any army had undertaken. Feeling exhausted, Landon took one last look at the growing twilight in the sky for any signs of coming rain. There was not a cloud in the sky. Looking over his shoulder he glanced at the ring of trees for any indication of a tempest blowing in from the west. All was quiet there, so he decided his day was finished. He left the field for the comfort of the hut.
    As he entered his home, he noticed the dagger and paper which he had left on the table. Remembering his anger, he walked over to it and read it again. There was nothing else to be gleaned from the note except that Landon must wait for Mordecai to return. He could assume no help tomorrow either for the planting. However, if Mordecai did return tonight, I should be sure to make him do all the planting , he thought angrily.
    Having not eaten anything all day besides the apple for breakfast, Landon’s stomach was aching for food. He set the cauldron upon the hook over the fire and began preparations for dinner. He filled the cauldron with water and lit a fire under it to warm it. Feeling the sweat from the day, he decided to clean himself off. Around the back of the hut Landon found the large tub full of water the two of them used for a bath. Since there were no lakes nearby, they had to make do with what they had. Landon undressed himself and slowly lowered himself into the vat of luke-warm water. Feeling his muscles relax slightly, Landon cupped his hands and poured handfuls of water over his face and shoulders. He spent a half hour in the water, until he decided to return to the potage.
    Once he finished eating his supper, Landon decided to recline by the fireplace and enjoy the blaze upon his skin. Sitting there he glanced over to the doorway and saw his new sword leaning against the frame. He retrieved it. He partly drew it from its sheath. He marveled at the craftsmanship of the weapon. The jewels studded upon the sheath appeared to come from the same stone with which the blade had been fashioned. He held it before the fire as a soft glow permeated through the blade, and Landon realized