As the sun came up, its rays reached the top window of the large stables. The boy, Max, stirred in his bed as he felt the sun’s warmth. Groaning, he wished he could pull his cover over his head and return to sleep. He knew that would be foolish. There was work to do, and he needed to do it. It did not matter that he was up well past high evening helping to foal a mare. The new day did not wait for him to catch up on his rest. Danin, his guardian, had taught him that well.

Max sat up in bed and tried to blink away his weariness. He looked around his small room and noticed someone had put water in his wash basin. The room was slightly cool as it was late in the year, almost harvest time, and he was not able to have a fire in the stables. Soon it would be unbearably cold, and he would need to spend some nights in Danin and Nora’s cottage. Although his life wasn’t easy, he knew he had it rather good for a foundling. He had heard tales of those who were born with no real parents being taken to the other side of the Kingdom of Regventus to serve those who didn’t find the value in human life that the folk in The Great Surrounding did. They may not have the same conveniences of those who lived in the great city of Aurumist, but in the village of Clarton, people’s lives meant something.

Max stood and readied himself for the day by pulling on a tunic, cleaning his teeth, washing his face, and running his fingers through his hair. He quickly descended the stairs to see his guardian, Danin standing with a cup of hot tea and a biscuit.

“Thought you might be a little later coming down, but here you are. Didn’t you want to rest a bit more?”

“Work doesn’t wait for what we want.”

Danin smiled, “True my boy, but it doesn’t mean that you are not tired. The missus left some tea and biscuits on the table. Work can wait a moment for that.”

Max nodded and made his way to the table, pouring a cup of tea and shoving a biscuit into his mouth. “How is the mare and her foal?” he asked with a mouthful of food.

“Seems to be well. You can see for yourself in a moment. I imagine the straw will need changing this morning.”

Thus, began another normal morning for Max, cleaning out stalls, feeding horse after horse, brushing manes, polishing saddles, and exercising horses that would not get any work for a while. Their stable was large, and it served the principal village in The Great Surrounding. Many of the townsfolk kept horses there. By mid-day, Max was dirty and tired. He sat down at the small table in the corner of the stable to see a few sandwiches had been put out by Danin’s wife, Nora. Nora came in carrying a fresh jug of water and put it down on the table.

“Max, you better eat quick and wash up a bit before lessons. You’re a mess.”

“Nora, no one cares what I look like at lessons. Most don’t even notice that I’m there,” said Max with a full mouth of food.

“I doubt that, and no matter what, they’ll notice what you smell like. I’m sure Issa notices you wherever you are,” replied Nora with a small smile.

Max felt his face grow a little warm, and he tried to suppress a smile.

“Fine,” said Max as he stood up. “I suppose a quick change of clothes wouldn’t hurt.”

“There’s a good boy. I put a fresh tunic out and some warm water in your wash basin.”

Max hurried up the stairs. At sixteen, he was in his last year of required lessons. Lessons were required to be taught to all from ages five to sixteen. After that you were free to quit lessons or if you qualified, you could go on to advanced lessons. Max supposed an education was a good thing. He liked being able to read books, do simple figures, and understand maps, but mostly their lessons just seem to revolve around the Ancients and kingdom leaders. They had heard countless lectures on how to best serve the kingdom and its leaders.

All the Ancient ways seemed pointless to those living in The Great Surrounding. Max doubted any of those on the Ancient Council except the Viceroy of The Great Surrounding had ever stepped foot in this part of Regventus. Folk in The Great Surrounding just lived their lives and got on with their business. There was an Ancient temple in the second ring of the village, but Max had only been there on special occasions or holidays. No one Max knew was very devout.

Whatever happened in Aurumist or around it was really none of their concern. He knew a few of the local merchants went to the great city or one of the smaller towns around it sometimes to get new wares to sell, but no one talked about it much to him.

Max quickly dressed and cleaned himself. His tunic was a little big for his lean form as he knew it was one of Danin’s old ones. Fortunately, both he and Danin were tall so length wasn’t an issue. He looked at himself in his small mirror. His dark hair was a shaggy mess over his pale face, and he used his fingers and water to tame it a bit. His dark brown eyes investigated his reflection. He spotted a small smudge on his nose. Using a damp rag, he scrubbed his face causing a little redness to mix in with his pale skin.

Oh well, he thought, about as good as it gets.

Max hurried down the stairs and out the door. He walked quickly towards a modest community building that served the third ring of the village. Even though Clarton was the largest village in The Great Surrounding, it still was modest in size, made up of the usual rings like other villages and cities in the kingdom.

Most villages and cities in the kingdom of Regventus were made up of rings. The number of rings depended on the size of the town. The rings usually varied by class and use. There were three rings in Max’s home village of Clarton. The inner ring was the home to the Viceroy and other very rich families. The middle ring was made up of shops, workhouses, and some poor folk living spaces. The outer ring, where the main stables resided and thus where Max lived, was mostly those who worked at the edge of the forest. These people were farmers, apothecaries, and those who preferred to live outside the main hub of the town. While decent housing and ample space was available in the third ring, most would not live there because of fear of the open forest at night.

Max wasn’t sure why people in Clarton feared the forest. He had spent many days happily exercising horses in the trees and many summer nights at the edge of the forest. He liked to listen to its sounds and watch the fireflies blink as the sun set. Magic folk were rumored to live in the forest, but Max didn’t believe it. If magic once existed, it was long gone by now. He had never seen magic. Witches, warlocks, and all sorts of magical beings were rumored to haunt the forest, bewitching, robbing, and even murdering those who happened to come across them. Max didn’t believe any of it. Danin always said it was stupid superstition and tradition that kept most folk away from a life in the third ring.

Max liked living in the third ring. The people found there were easy going, friendly, and hard workers. As Max walked towards the community building, he saw Jeremia and Luci working in their garden. He saw Mick outside his small store smoking his pipe. He walked by others he knew doing ordinary things. Life in the third ring was simple, but Max liked it well enough.

Max was passing by the big tree, close to the community building when someone he didn't know caught his eye. A tall man with shoulder length dark hair and a wide brimmed hat was leaning against a small tree a few yards away. His head was cocked to one side, and he seemed to be studying Max. It wasn’t exactly unusual for strangers to be seen in the third ring. Max didn’t know many folk from the other rings in town, and strangers coming through town to rest were common, but something about this man just felt different.

Max felt the hairs on his arm rise as he stopped walking and looked at the man. The man raised his head and Max could see his dark brown eyes. The stranger gave a crooked smile and Max could swear the air around him had changed. A second later, there was a loud noise behind Max. He turned to look and a flock of birds that were feeding on the ground took off. Max quickly looked back to the small tree, but the man was gone. Had Max just imagined the man?

Max thought about walking towards the small tree to see where the man had gone, but realized he had no reason to further investigate. Why did it matter if someone he didn’t know was stopping in town? Why did Max feel so unsettled? Max brushed it off. Lessons were starting soon, and he didn’t want to be too late. He wanted to get a seat by Issa, and maybe have a few moments to talk to her before lessons started.

Max walked into the community building to look around the one large room it held. This building was used for many things. Once a month a large table was put at one end where a council of townsfolk from the third ring would gather to go over the third ring’s business, hear complaints, and judge those who were accused of breaking laws. A few times a year the building would be filled with tables, food, and dancing for a holiday or festival. Harvestide was a few weeks away, and soon the building would be full of pumpkins, wheat, mead, and merriment. Today, like most days, it was set up for lessons for the third ring’s young. There were four areas that had tables set up, each for different age groups. Max went to the right-hand corner and saw Issa sitting in a chair at a table by herself.

Max smiled, nervously ruffled his hair, and walked towards her. He had known Isolde Finn forever. As long as he had known her, she had been called Issa. They had met even before they were old enough to take lessons. Issa’s father was the blacksmith, and he was constantly at the stables. Issa was her father’s joy as her mother died in childbirth and it was just the two of them. He took Issa to see the horses many times and, being around the same age, Max had formed a fast friendship with her. Lately the friendship had changed. Max found sometimes he was even nervous around Issa, which was stupid. They were both the same as always, weren’t they?

Issa had her blonde hair tied up with a ribbon. Her light blue eyes were looking down at a book on the table. Issa loved to read, and she usually spent any free time she had devouring books. She wasn’t too engrossed in her book to notice Max come and sit down next to her.

“Well, hello. Look who is actually on time today,” Issa said putting a small bookmark in her book and closing it.

“I’m not late that much. What are you reading?”

“A new book father picked up for me at the market the other day. I really don’t want to argue, but in the past month I think this is the first time you have actually not had to sneak in quietly due to lessons already starting.”

“Well, it is a busy time of year, and I’m almost done with lessons as it is.”

“You don’t plan to go past required lessons?” asked Issa sharply. “You aren’t going to study advanced? I thought Danin said you should. The ring’s council is sure to recommend you for advanced lessons. You have some of, if not the highest marks in the class.”

“I don’t really see a point to it. I know what my lot in life is. I can probably spend my time better learning more about running the stables.”

“But Danin isn’t an old man. He could be running the stables for many years to come. Will you be a stable boy your whole life?” asked Issa as she lightly touched her hair.

“Danin’s aren’t the only stables in the kingdom. I’m sure with Danin’s recommendation, I could find something at a small stable in the second ring or at a great house in the inner rings or even in the next town over.”

“You’re thinking of leaving Clarton soon?” asked Issa with a frown. “You hadn’t mentioned it before.”

“Just trying to keep my options open.”

“Exactly, so why not stay where you are and take advanced lessons? Who knows, you might find something else you want to do. You could be an apothecary, or even a healer. You’re pretty smart, Max. It seems a pity to waste it at the stables.”

Max opened his mouth to argue.

“Don't get me wrong,” said Issa, raising her hands in a placating way. “There is nothing unworthy of running the stables. My father is a blacksmith and I can think of no better man on earth. Danin and Nora are good and worthy folk, but Max you are so clever and so young. Why are you in such a rush to decide your future? Why not see what else you might do? Those in advance lessons can eventually get apprentices in the second and even first ring. Some say a few even get to go study in Aurumist.”

Max gave a little snort. “I have no desire to ever step foot in Aurumist. Sounds like nothing but trouble and a bunch of folk who think too much of themselves. Come on, Issa you can’t want to go there.”

“Well, maybe not Aurumist, but there are other places to go and other things to do besides the stables and being a blacksmith.”

“I doubt anyone thinks you will be a blacksmith, Issa,” said Max with a laugh. “I don’t know. I like working in the stables. It makes sense, and Danin has been so good to me. Picking something else would seem like an insult.”

“But he wants you to do the advanced lessons,” said Issa preparing her quill and paper for lessons.

“That’s probably Nora’s doing.”

“Maybe, but, Max, promise me you will think about it. Even if you just try it after midwinter. You could just see if you like it until seedtime this spring.”

Max sighed. He didn’t want to disappoint Issa. Especially not when she had that pretty, little pout on her face. “Alright, I’ll think about it.”

Issa smiled and gave a little smug movement with her shoulders like she had won a small battle.

“Walk home with me?” Max asked as today’s lecturers and teachers walked in the room.

Issa winked and replied, “Of course.”

Max smiled in return. Any uneasiness he felt earlier had completely slipped his mind. He settled in for an afternoon of lessons.