Xavier Murdock -- the Back Story

In an ongoing effort to ready my fans for Book Three in The Overlords series, I'll be starting back stories on some of the supporting characters.  Xavier Murdock, known simply as Murdock throughout the saga, is one of my favorite characters.  Cut from the Han Solo mold, Murdock is always there keeping Harrison in check, swigging ale, and ready for a fight!  Keep checking back for more additions to Murdock's storyline.  Here it goes!

“How long are you going to be away?” asked the young boy, sadness in his eyes.

            His brother did not answer right away; instead, he continued to stuff his backpack with clothes and other assorted necessities.  Lifting his eyes, he said, “Seth, for the last time, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

            “But Xavier, what am I going to do while you’re not here?”

            The thin teenager stopped his packing and pointed a finger at his younger sibling.  “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t like being called Xavier?”

            Xavier Murdock, who insisted people call him by his surname, had recently piqued the interest of several elders a few days earlier, his talents with the longbow no longer hidden.

            “I should never have won that contest,” said Murdock, shaking his head.

            Over the past weekend, fourteen year-old Murdock, his parents, and his brother, attended a local fair, partaking in Aegean festivities for a whole day.  While his father drank flagon upon flagon of ale, his two sons meddled about the fair grounds.

            Murdock had always enjoyed watching the jousting contest, in hopes of watching someone get knocked senseless off his horse.  As he and Seth meandered toward the area, a man called out to them ...