old for the wave of support following him,” he replied with a hint of resignation in his voice.
“We… You were part of the Gallant; one of the original knights?” Josh asked in surprise.
Jemar released a deep sigh and nodded. “Yes, until the death of my wife,” he murmured. “I returned to the valley and the vineyards that belonged to my family. I am too old and the Gallant needs younger men to fight against the Legion’s forces.”
*.*.*
Later that evening, Josh stood outside of the house in a small garden. He stared up at the moons. It felt strange, yet natural to see three of them. One was nearly full, while the other two were in different stages based on their distance from the planet. In the back of his mind, he was curious about the geological makeup of Tesla Terra. Something told him it was larger than the Earth.
He turned when he heard soft footsteps behind him. His eyes widened when he saw not only Jemar, but Cassa and Jesup walking toward him. Jemar carried a long box in his left hand.
“If you are going to be in our world, Joshua Manson, then it is important that you know how to defend yourself,” Jemar stated, placing the long box on the stone planter and opening it. “I have trained all of my children. Now, I will train you.”
Josh frowned when he saw four long staffs in the box. Each had an intricate design etched into it. His hand automatically reached out when Jemar held one out to him. He was surprised by how light the staff was considering it looked like it was solid metal.
“The staffs have been in our family for centuries. They were carried by the Knights of the Gallant Order. Each staff was made for a specific family and entrusted to them to be used to serve and protect those less fortunate. There were originally five brothers in the de Rola family that carried them. I have kept the others safe, teaching my own children how to use them,” Jemar explained, gently lifting one of the staffs up out of the case and turning toward him.
Josh took a step back when the staff in Jemar’s hand suddenly expanded. On each end were two bright, round red orbs that looked as if they contained a fire storm of electricity inside them. He watched intently as Jemar moved with a grace that belied his advanced years. The old man reminded him of the Masters in the old Chinese films he used to watch as a kid.
He didn’t take his eyes off of Jemar as he swung the staff. Instead of expressing a loud shout like they did in the movies, Jemar breathed out in long breaths as he thrust. Josh had watched so many martial arts movies as a kid that his father had actually enrolled him in a class down at the local youth center. He had managed to make it to a first degree black belt before girls and cars replaced his interest. He had continued to practice, more out of the enjoyment of the movements than for any other reason. Still, it was years since he had been in any of the competitions and none of them had ever held the moves that Jemar was doing.
A few minutes later, Jemar turned to Josh and retracted the staff. Josh stared into the old man’s eyes, seeing a quiet question in them, as if he was asking Josh if he would accept not only the staff, but the responsibility that came with it. Josh glanced down at the beautifully crafted weapon in his hand.
He carefully ran his fingers over the staff, memorizing the feel of it. He felt the small indention where the release was and pressed it. Each end of the staff slid out. He began to slowly twirl the staff, relying on instinct and years of practice to guide him. Instead of mimicking Jemar, Josh moved in graceful sync with the katas from his youth. He discovered as he moved that the position of his hand on the staff controlled the orbs at the ends of it.
After several minutes, he straightened and bowed to Jemar, holding out the now retracted staff. His gaze remained locked with Jemar’s inquisitive one. He was surprised when instead of taking the weapon
“We… You were part of the Gallant; one of the original knights?” Josh asked in surprise.
Jemar released a deep sigh and nodded. “Yes, until the death of my wife,” he murmured. “I returned to the valley and the vineyards that belonged to my family. I am too old and the Gallant needs younger men to fight against the Legion’s forces.”
*.*.*
Later that evening, Josh stood outside of the house in a small garden. He stared up at the moons. It felt strange, yet natural to see three of them. One was nearly full, while the other two were in different stages based on their distance from the planet. In the back of his mind, he was curious about the geological makeup of Tesla Terra. Something told him it was larger than the Earth.
He turned when he heard soft footsteps behind him. His eyes widened when he saw not only Jemar, but Cassa and Jesup walking toward him. Jemar carried a long box in his left hand.
“If you are going to be in our world, Joshua Manson, then it is important that you know how to defend yourself,” Jemar stated, placing the long box on the stone planter and opening it. “I have trained all of my children. Now, I will train you.”
Josh frowned when he saw four long staffs in the box. Each had an intricate design etched into it. His hand automatically reached out when Jemar held one out to him. He was surprised by how light the staff was considering it looked like it was solid metal.
“The staffs have been in our family for centuries. They were carried by the Knights of the Gallant Order. Each staff was made for a specific family and entrusted to them to be used to serve and protect those less fortunate. There were originally five brothers in the de Rola family that carried them. I have kept the others safe, teaching my own children how to use them,” Jemar explained, gently lifting one of the staffs up out of the case and turning toward him.
Josh took a step back when the staff in Jemar’s hand suddenly expanded. On each end were two bright, round red orbs that looked as if they contained a fire storm of electricity inside them. He watched intently as Jemar moved with a grace that belied his advanced years. The old man reminded him of the Masters in the old Chinese films he used to watch as a kid.
He didn’t take his eyes off of Jemar as he swung the staff. Instead of expressing a loud shout like they did in the movies, Jemar breathed out in long breaths as he thrust. Josh had watched so many martial arts movies as a kid that his father had actually enrolled him in a class down at the local youth center. He had managed to make it to a first degree black belt before girls and cars replaced his interest. He had continued to practice, more out of the enjoyment of the movements than for any other reason. Still, it was years since he had been in any of the competitions and none of them had ever held the moves that Jemar was doing.
A few minutes later, Jemar turned to Josh and retracted the staff. Josh stared into the old man’s eyes, seeing a quiet question in them, as if he was asking Josh if he would accept not only the staff, but the responsibility that came with it. Josh glanced down at the beautifully crafted weapon in his hand.
He carefully ran his fingers over the staff, memorizing the feel of it. He felt the small indention where the release was and pressed it. Each end of the staff slid out. He began to slowly twirl the staff, relying on instinct and years of practice to guide him. Instead of mimicking Jemar, Josh moved in graceful sync with the katas from his youth. He discovered as he moved that the position of his hand on the staff controlled the orbs at the ends of it.
After several minutes, he straightened and bowed to Jemar, holding out the now retracted staff. His gaze remained locked with Jemar’s inquisitive one. He was surprised when instead of taking the weapon
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