Warrior: Coming of Age

By Paul Hayes, Jr

The Warrior Trilogy takes place in a setting known as the Clan Home. It is a civilization similar to first century Rome. The story revolves around a warrior named Axiós. He grew up without his parents as they went missing when he was nine months old. Axiós is a dedicated follower of the Ancient One. He is the Creator God and his people worship him. The enemy is Kakó, a fallen angelic being who has sworn his total, undying hatred of the Ancient One.
This first book, Warrior: Coming of Age is the story of how Axiós, a devoted follower of the Ancient One, discovers that being a man and serving his God is a many-faceted and at times, difficult and confusing process. After successfully training to be a full time warrior, a revelation of his identity and life purpose comes. He is selected for a mission that brings adventures and hard lessons. They show him manhood is far more than being equipped for physical warfare as he learns that becoming a man can be complicated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Hayes, Jr
• Release date: Mar 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9780991379026

Paul Hayes, Jr

After completing twenty two years service in the USAF, Paul Hayes, Jr., became a construction safety management consultant. Having spent much of his time writing technical materials and the text of many rules and regulations he decided to try his hand at fiction writing. His favorite topic is men and the ways in which they grow into mature husbands, fathers and functioning, useful leaders in their communities. Having experienced many years in the military and having seen, and felt, the effects of war and separation on many men and their families, gives Paul a unique perspective on the topic. Paul lives in Sacramento CA with Sylvia, his bride of thirty-nine years. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Book preview

1 - Awakening

Axiós stood with the others in the hot sun. He could feel the vitality of his youth coursing through his veins. He was slender and somewhat less in stature than the other young men, though he was strong and quick. His demeanor was quiet. He was studious and paid close attention to the instruction given him as he enjoyed learning. While growing up, he had been a pleasant child. Apart from the normal growing pains of youth, Axiós had rarely given others any cause to be angry with him. Everyone who knew him thought well of him. Most expected him to do well when he began taking on the responsibilities of an adult in the Clan. He had high respect among his peers for his combat skills, especially the use of weapons.

He wore his armor well and was always prepared to do battle with the enemy. He kept his armor and weapons clean and bright. His breastplate and shield had a lion’s head crest, the crest of his family in previous generations. His sword, inherited from his father, of whom he had only the vaguest memories, was of the finest steel. His greaves, or shin protectors, were always in top condition. His hob-nailed sandals were laced and securely tied. In addition to his sword, Axiós had come to favor wearing two daggers. He wore one on is right side opposite his sword and one in the small of his back for backup. His father had armed himself in the same way and he had adopted it easily. One advantage Axiós had over most other warriors was the fact that he, like his father, was ambidextrous, thus able to use his weapons equally well with either hand.

The summer gathering was a time of worship and celebration for all clan members. It was particularly important to the young people because their assignments for secondary school would be announced on the last day of the festivities. This would determine their life’s path for some years to come. A few had come not knowing what area of endeavor they would pursue. Most had particular choices in mind, as well as a second or third. There were only a certain number of openings in each school, so those coming of age for selection contended for each opening with eagerness. Each had made their various choices known. Now they waited to hear the selections made by the elders.

Axiós and his peers had come to this place of selection with high hopes. His anticipation was great. He wanted desperately to be placed in the warrior school. There he would have the opportunity to advance his combat skills, especially when it gave him the opportunity to become a better warrior. Being a young man, he also liked to show off to some extent. He aspired, as did most of his friends, to become a full time warrior, as his father and mother had been.

All of the rituals of youth were played out during the first days of the gathering, as they had for uncounted generations before. This was a time of young men and women measuring and trying their own and each other’s strengths and weaknesses with games and tests of strength and endurance. In addition, academic tests were administered to test their knowledge of the Holy Text. All of this was a part of the selection process, though only the elders were aware of this.

The young people had been learning and applying their skills for the previous four years. However, this was a different situation because as far as they knew, they were now competing for themselves. There were more than just instructors and other students watching.

The competition at the annual celebration was a tradition wherein the graduates from the secondary school would demonstrate their skills. It was a factor in the choosing of those to be placed in advanced training.

All mental, social and physical skills had been thoroughly evaluated during their school days. This was the time when the elders and leaders made final observations regarding the selectee’s maturity and character. Everything they said and did was observed and evaluated. How did they interact with one another? Did the strong help the weak? Were they there to serve the Ancient One? Alternatively, were they endeavoring to bring glory on themselves in the eyes of their peers? The activities of the gathering were designed to provide the answers to these important questions.

The annual gathering gave Axiós a chance to see friends and neighbors he had not seen since the last gathering. Now that he was no longer a child, he found that he was especially interested in seeing his female friends as well. Some of the females had grown quite a bit since the previous year. One in particular, Kalós, caught his eye. She was a young woman he knew from school who seemed shy and aloof but she smiled at him whenever their eyes met. He found this to be a curious mixture of pleasure and confusion. He felt an excitement when she was near but his mind would become slow and he would often forget what he was doing or saying. This became a source of embarrassment on several occasions. When he and a friend were practicing with the staff, he saw her walk by and was distracted such that his opponent struck him soundly and knocked him to the ground. Kalós saw this and laughed delightedly as she walked away. He then determined to set these disturbing emotional distractions aside. Being a warrior like his father was paramount and his training required all of his attention and energy. Nevertheless, he thought of her often.

Candidates for the warrior’s school were not the only ones chosen during this time. Everyone in the Clan was considered a warrior in the general sense, only those with the right aptitudes and attitudes were chosen to pursue it full time. There were other full time positions. Others who had attained the age of selection were chosen to train for these positions of service within the Clan. Some came to the warrior position later in life. Some started out as warriors and then later moved into other positions. Most filled the positions for which they were initially selected without ever changing though a significant number did change fields during their lifetime. There were numerous positions necessary to the survival of the Clan as a whole. Many of them carried great honor and prestige, such as teachers, doctors, leaders, etc. Nevertheless, the calling as a full time warrior was what most young male and some female clan members aspired to. Fighting the battles of the Clan was something expected of every member of the Clan. Teachers often had been warriors first.

The Clan was continually in conflict with fierce enemies. It was the duty of every member to be able to defend themselves when confronted by an enemy. This was something that happened often, especially to the least skilled in doing battle. From the time they were able to walk, the children of the Clan were taught skills to protect themselves from traps the enemy laid. In times past, these skills were a part of their regular schooling. Then it was decided the life protocol classes most of them attended on a weekly basis would be a more appropriate time for such training. While the regular school remained a requirement, the training in life and warrior protocols did not. As a result, growing numbers of tribal children were growing up without those skills. Some elders of the Clan expressed concern for this lapse in skills and it had become a deeply contentious issue.

Many of the converts who came from the wilderness to live as clan members had brought ideas and attitudes contrary to the traditions of the Clan, seemingly without problem. However, it became evident that it was indeed a problem as the Clan, as a whole began to drift in directions that were careless about those traditions. The greatest impact of these circumstances was seen when confronting the enemy. Increasing numbers of clan members were lost due to a lack of combat skills.

Kakò, the leader of the enemy, had sworn his undying hatred for the Ancient One and his people. Often the enemy would try to attack clansmen individually, when they were alone. As a result, all members of the Clan were to be ready for battle at any time. The Ancient One had proclaimed that in regards to clan members’ relationship with him and the battles they fought against the enemy, all were equal with no difference in the training of male and female warriors. Everyone must be prepared at all times to defend themselves and the Clan against the attacks of the enemy.

For some of the young adult clan members, the annual season of training and selection would be a time of awakened inner desires, thoughts, and visions of the future. Such a vision and desire would come to Axiós. As he stood surveying his surroundings, the hot wind blew and the sun beat down upon him. Not in a cruel way, for he was used to the aridness of his land, but in a way that made him think of the Place of Honor. He turned to gaze at the place where the elders stood or sat. There was cool shade there. Cool drinks and food were brought to the elders. They were able to relax and discuss the business of elders without minor distractions. No one really knew why this particular spot was so special; there were other places of shade. It was simply one of those unquestioned facts of life. Actually, anyone could stand or sit there. It was not unusual for little ones to venture there out of curiosity. They were always welcomed and treated with great love and care by the elders. Those who served the elders would bring the children back to their families after they had received due attention. Children were of great significance to the Clan and regarded as especially precious. The Ancient One taught that little children were to be treasured and protected at all costs. Apart from these excursions by children, Clan members did not enter the Place of Honor unless they had specific business with the elders. Those who occupied this place were seen as set apart for the work of guiding the Clan in doing the work the Ancient One had set for them to do.

The Clan served the Ancient One by going into the wilderness to do battle for those who were captive to Kakó’s chains. These captives, once freed, would then have the opportunity to become members of the Clan and have a far better life. Those who lived apart from the Clan as non-believers were known as the lost ones. There were two categories of lost ones: those who freely chose to serve Kakó and those who wanted freedom but were held as captives by their own ignorance and fear. Both were held in rigid captivity and suffered numerous wounds, heartaches, and sorrows with no help or relief.

The Clan members did not attempt to force a lost one to become a member of the Clan. Typically they didn’t have to. While ready to do battle to defend themselves or others, they simply went out among the lost ones and told them of the benefits of serving the Ancient One and becoming a member of the Clan. They also brought medicines and other important items that they gave freely to lost ones in need. Once a lost one heard the true message of freedom, they would often gratefully and voluntarily leave their bondage and come into the Clan.

The problem was that some lost ones violently opposed efforts to bring them the message. When this occurred, the lost ones, either through ignorance or from willfully following Kakó, would fight fiercely against the Clan. If the battle were just a skirmish, the Clansmen would fight until the enemy was defeated or grew weary and retreated. If the battle were a major attack by the servants of Kakò, they would pursue them until they died or surrendered. No quarter was given unless the enemy relented and surrendered. Some warriors, after becoming battle hardened and experienced in dealing with enemy forces, became leaders within the Clan and led many on great raids into the enemy’s territory to free lost ones who wanted freedom from bondage.

It was common to see a leader or an elder sitting in a quiet place, in silent meditation over some matter of importance. It was often about a particular mission of service for the Clan. Equally as common was the sight of an elder or a leader returning from the wilderness with lost ones who had been freed from Kakò’s chains and become followers of the Ancient One. They were not the only ones who actively sought to recruit lost ones to serve the Ancient One and become a part of the Clan. Every Clan member was to take part in showing lost ones the way to becoming a servant of the Ancient One. The position one held in the Clan had little to do with this obligation. Primarily, the members of the Clan served the Ancient One. Bringing honor and glory to him was the first consideration. Recruiting lost ones to serve the Ancient One was considered the highest level of service.

In the past, most lost ones had simply gone about their daily lives, paying little or no attention to the message the Clan brought to them. On occasion, one or more lost ones would hear the message and respond by turning their lives over to serving the Ancient One. At other times, whole groups of families would be won this way. There had been periods of time when great numbers of lost ones were won to the Ancient One. In the near past, lost ones had apparently become indifferent to these efforts. In more recent times hostility on the part of lost ones was becoming the rule rather than the exception.

Now at the urging of Kakó the Evil One, many more of them actively sought to attack and destroy the Clan. Under his influence, attacks against Clan members were on the rise. This evil leader was so full of hatred for the Ancient One that he would stop at nothing to destroy them. His vile animosity was so strong that he had no regard even for his own followers. He would easily sacrifice them in any way that suited his purpose. However, such were his powers of persuasion that he had convinced many that he was not evil, that his ideas and activities were simply different and should be allowed without question. After all, he told his followers, There really is no such thing as evil. Many believed him without question. This was because they did not want to give up the temporary pleasures that Kakó provided them. Such pleasures left no satisfaction in their wake, yet many lost ones clung to them.

The second greatest lie he perpetrated was that he himself was not real. Enemy agents increasingly promoted the idea that there really was no such thing as evil, let alone Kakó, the living embodiment of evil.

Then he told the greatest, most destructive lie of all – that the Ancient One was not real, but only the figment of man’s imagination and his need to believe in something bigger than himself. The sheer audacity of the lie was such that many lost ones believed it, thinking, It must be true, because we are able to do such great things on our own. We must be the ultimate beings in existence. Many thoughts and philosophies grew up around this idea. Kakó took great delight that once the seed was planted in the minds of a few, it ultimately gave rise to many different schools of deceptive thought, each one more twisted than the next.

Kakó’s wrath against the Clan was becoming bolder and more vicious. The Ancient One had taught his people that this would eventually happen. He made it known that Kakó was a thief and a killer whose only purpose was to kill, steal, and destroy the people who worshipped him. That went for the lost ones as well, although Kakó expertly hid that fact from them.

Despite the threat from the evil one, many of the Ancient One’s followers understood the threat and went out boldly anyway. They engaged the enemy at every opportunity, sometimes to the point of losing their lives in this cause. While it was not desirable to lose one’s life apart from old age, it was considered a great privilege if it happened in service to the Ancient One. In recent days, more of the warriors of the Clan were encountering increased attacks by the enemy than in seasons past.

A growing number of Clan members who truly wanted a relationship with the Ancient One and to dwell with the Clan, mistakenly considered it the responsibility of those called to be full time warriors, teachers and elders, to win converts and fight against the enemy. They sought the benefits of the Clan without the responsibility. Contrary to this misguided belief, the Ancient One had clearly taught one of the duties of the elders and the full time warriors was to train all Clan members to work to free the lost from bondage to Kakó. This was to be done by bringing them the message of the Ancient One: That they will have joy and liberty in life devoted to the Ancient One, and his desire for the rescue of prisoners of Kakó to become followers of the Ancient One. To do battle with those who actively opposed this effort was the responsibility of each of his followers. Regardless of this clear teaching, many Clan members felt this responsibility did not rest on their shoulders.

Further, the job of freeing the slaves of Kakó was made even more difficult because more Clan members were deciding that they could live as a believer in the Ancient One, but still partake in the pagan rituals of the lost ones with impunity. They felt that to participate in such rites was harmless as long as they did not surrender themselves as slaves of Kakó. Little did they realize that by participating, they were not only serving Kakò, they were discouraging lost ones from being freed from his evil grip. They considered themselves able to join in the pagan activities of Kakó’s followers without being adversely affected. Nevertheless, the Ancient One had declared that such practices and doctrines were like the wind and would blow those who listened in every direction except the correct one.

In addition, many of them felt that if they did something wrong, all they had to do was seek forgiveness and all would be forgiven. They ignored or conveniently forgot this was presumption and not an acceptable way of thinking. Using such rationale for bad behavior was equally wrong. There could only be one path - to follow the Ancient One, wholly and completely. He was the one who provided peace and protection to the Clan.

Many of these things passed through Axiós’ mind as he stood there and gazed at the Place of Honor. Suddenly, he felt a desire birthed within his innermost being. He now knew, as surely as he knew the ground was beneath his feet, that one day he would sit with the elders in the Place of Honor. As he thought of this, a smile crossed his face and the warmth he now felt came from within rather than without. The warrior’s spirit within him had awakened. He would never be the same again. Unknown to Axiós the time to count the cost of that calling had just begun.

§

2 - Growing

Time passed and life moved on. As expected, Axiós received an appointment to the warrior school and he soon began his full time warrior training. He excelled, to no one’s surprise. As his combat skills matured, he began to grow in ability beyond most of his peers. He was often called upon to tutor other trainees. He delighted in these assignments and found that he very much enjoyed helping other young men and women become more proficient. He reveled in his abilities, as a young man will. He felt good about his achievements and his ability to best his fellow trainees.

Gradually he began to think of his abilities as being beyond those of his fellow trainees. When he would think about this, his first reaction was to tell himself that such an attitude was not right and that he should not think too highly of himself. However, that message became harder to hear as his skills increased. In addition, of course, there were the females. They knew who the strongest males were and which ones had the best combat skills. By his final year, the attention this brought caused him to begin to believe he truly was special. So much so, he had begun to expect others to see him that way also. However, while many of the young women in the school were openly attracted to him, the one female that he had hoped to impress the most was, curiously, just the opposite. Where previously Kalós had shown a shy but definite interest, her attitude had cooled significantly. She no longer even said hello to him when she passed by the practice field.

Because of his inflated opinion of himself, the others also began to shy away from combat with him. Not only that but, he began to find himself alone at the end of each day as well. These circumstances only caused him to become more arrogant. He simply told himself that they were jealous of his abilities. Finally, he began to believe he could best even his instructors. During combat drills, he would take greater and greater chances in striking out at the trainers. One day he took advantage of a slip by a trainer named Veterános and he struck him as hard a blow as he could. Veterános was a well-respected warrior among his peers. He, like most warriors, was a man of few words. Instead, he let his actions do most of his talking for him. In addition to his skill in combat, he had won many lost ones to be followers of the Ancient One. As Axiós’ blow struck home, Veterános fell to the ground with several broken ribs. Axiós danced around as if he expected his opponent to rise. He knew however, that he had struck a crippling blow. Then as Axiós came and stood over the older warrior, he smiled before bending to help him. A physician was summoned and Veterános was taken to the infirmary for treatment.

Oddly, no one congratulated Axiós on his victory. In fact, no one said much of anything. He assumed that it was out of respect for the injured trainer. He thought, Tomorrow will bring the accolades from my fellow trainees and I can walk proudly among them. The next day came and to his amazement, no one mentioned the incident from the previous day. There was no congratulations, no slaps on the back. Axiós was confused. What was wrong? He had beaten one of the best instructors. Wasn’t that something of which to be proud? Mostly the others just ignored him.

That day another trainer was assigned to replace Veterános. He was not well known to most of the students. His name was Àgrios. Àgrios was known as a quiet man who spoke little. His outward appearance made him seem to be someone who could be easily bested. He started by taking the trainees through their exercises and warm-ups for combat drills. He was somewhat smaller than Veterános. He seemed to be a bit hesitant in his attitude towards the trainees. In stature, he was about the same size as Axiós and about ten years older. He did not seem to be especially fearsome or dangerous. However, anyone who had seen him in battle regarded him as a man not to be provoked. The trainees of course did not know this.

Once they were warmed up, the trainees lined up to start their session. Àgrios asked who would like to help him with a demonstration of hand-to-hand combat. Axiós, feeling flush from his victory over Veterános the day before and full of the pride and the reckless exuberance of youth, quickly volunteered. Àgrios smiled at him and nodded. As Axiós stepped forward and dropped into a fighting crouch, Àgrios explained this was to be a demonstration of technique. The objective was to show how a capable enemy could counter the techniques they had learned. Each of the moves the trainees had been schooled in would be put into action. Today they would begin to learn some advanced moves.

Axiós was sure he could best the older man. As they circled each other, a still, small voice sounded in the back of the younger man’s mind. It whispered that he was in way over his head here and that he should beware. He ignored it. He was full of himself and feeling very capable. He had already bested a larger man and he felt that this would end with the same result, except he would try hard not to do significant damage to the trainer. He moved in a circular pattern, rolling his shoulders. He flexed his neck and shook out his arms as he moved. As he circled Àgrios, he noticed that the trainer seemed hesitant to engage. Perhaps, thought Axiós, he had heard of the results of my bout with Veterános the day before and doesn’t want to experience the same treatment. At this thought, Axiós felt an increase in his self-confidence and he was sure what the outcome of this bout would be.

As the two men continued to circle each other, they looked for an opening in one another’s stance. Suddenly, without warning Axiós saw a blur of motion and he felt himself flying through the air landing on his back with a thud. He was jarred and his breath came with difficulty. He was just a bit slow to rise from the ground and turn to face his opponent. Àgrios still seemed to have a bit of hesitance in his stance. Once again, the two began to circle each other. Once again, almost before he realized it the youth was flying through the air and landing with a thud on the hardpan.

Now he was angry. His pride stung even more deeply than his body. All of his fellow trainees, who had previously been so intimidated by his ability, were watching. He could not allow himself to be defeated so easily. He was, after all, very good, maybe the best to come along in a long time. To make matters even more difficult, he saw that a number of the women trainees had stopped to watch the match. And wouldn’t you know it, Kalós was with them. Some were giggling and pointing.