by Thomas Adams
Titan appeared stunned but he managed, “You have got to be jesting? They don’t even know who he is? The Druids did not tell anyone?”
“Apparently not your eminence, we caught a break finally. The Druids miscalculated. The boy is disturbed, memory problems. And, more of our men are converging on the castle. But, it is a very difficult fortress to sneak into. It is perched two hundred feet up on a mountain with only one road in. Heavily fortified and heavily garrisoned. Our men can’t just walk in the main gate or scale the walls. It takes a major effort to get inside.”
Titan snapped his fingers and Primus Legatus Kho whispered to an aide. The aide searched a cabinet filled with military plans, schematics and maps and returned with one. He rolled it out onto the table in front of the emperor and weighed down each corner with large emeralds the size of pigeon eggs set in carved silver bases.
The emperor gazed at the schematic of the fortress and said, “Impressive. How did those damnable mountain barbarians ever build such a thing? It is almost as bad as Cinder! We will have hell to pay taking this! Kho, have you looked at this yet? Do your numbers take it into account?”
Primus Legatus Kho replied evenly, “My emperor, I have seen it and my plan is to bypass it with the main force and leave a token siege force to bottle it up until we either starve them out or can storm it.”
Titan railed, “Damnation, I have heard of that same approach used ere and it didn’t work then! Tana’s tits man, why would we try the same failed strategy again! We need to discuss this more, later. Must I do your job as well as run the empire? This vexes me greatly Kho! Proceed Lutvar.”
Lutvar ignored the emperor’s tirade and went on, “There are complications my lord. Some are good for us and some bad. The Guild Master and a warden there have taken an interest in the boy and it will not be long until they begin to suspect something.
“We have learned that he suffered from some type of calamity crossing over from the Druids shadow refuge and can’t recall his name or anything of his past. This is surely a sign. We should capitalize on it.
“But, the boy’s powers and ancestry will present even in this curious state of mind. He will be extremely gifted in the martial arts. He is likely also gifted in powers of archania. Someone may notice and begin to ask questions. There must be a reason the Druids sent him to Reave Hall but we are unsure what their strategy is.”
Titan chortled with disbelief and pessimistic delight, “That serves those scheming Druids right. They have had him, supposedly, for over two hundred Ellorhim years to train and prepare him. Now, he doesn’t even know who he is! You can’t make this stuff up Lutvar! What a tremendous boon to our cause.”
“Aye my emperor. It is good news but, I caution, we should not rely on this state to continue. Aravin will likely learn of it and take action to correct it.”
Titan thought it over for a moment. “Good, let him try. That means he will have to come over here as well. Lutvar, send more Narasists. Give them another target as well, Aravin. And Lutvar, I mean to succeed in this, send them all if you have too. Send, every last stinking one of those slinking devils! It is time they earned all that coin they cost me. I want this finished once and for all!”
Chapter 11
A Collaboration
War is naught but a tale of death and misery.
Ortus, First General of Vesfalruk during the Troll Wars
***
After breakfast Erika walked out into the practice yard. She decided she would first look in on her charge, tour the fortress to get a better understanding of what she needed to plan for and then find someone to spar with. The boy had been released by the healers and sent back to his band the night before. As she entered the main yard she surveyed the groups of students spread out in seemingly disorganized chaos. The sounds of hundreds of youth training and their Masters shouting instruction and oaths filled the air. Their combined breaths plumed in the cold brisk mountain air and left the yard almost foggy. She grinned at the sight and sounds. It brought back so many memories of her days as a student at Toreu Hall.
She was not having much luck trying to spot Brandt in the chaos of Reave Hall’s student body though. But something caught her eye. It was his friend Fridya, the Chancellor’s daughter. The tall blonde girl’s hair flashed in the sunlight. And, there was Brandt next to her. They were furiously sparring. The intensity of their contest, even from a distance was ferocious. She walked closer.
She watched them spar for a few minutes. It was remarkable to watch the two of them go at it. Both were very good and yet so young. But, Brandt, she saw was really coming into his own as a swordsman. Ivar had told her of her charge’s recent convalescence and the time spent in the archives during his recovery. That time was paying off. His skill, the breadth of the forms and methodologies he employed and his style was so diverse compared to the other students’. He switched effortlessly between styles, forms and techniques and the girl, while very good, just could not keep up. She oft cursed the boy and his book learning. She even threatened to break something so she could sit in the archives as well and study up for a few moons.
Master Grovan called a halt and switched up the sparring partners. Brandt was pitted against two twins, a boy and a girl. Grovan shouted for the action to resume and they went at it some more. Brandt seemed to use an entirely different set of forms and techniques now. Some she’d never seen before. Erika wondered how he retained all of that knowledge and then translated it into actual physical moves with little or no practice.
She could usually retain one hundred or so forms and techniques at a time and sometimes discarded and replaced old ones with new ones as her training time permitted. It seemed this boy was using at least two hundred different forms spread across thirty or forty different styles that she could tell. And, she was guessing because many, she was not familiar with.
“Pretty amazing isn’t it?” a voice said from behind her.
She turned and saw Master Grovan and replied, “This canna be real. I understand from Master Ivar some of this was only recently self-taught?”
“Not all of course, we do the Runa of Syndros in it’s entirely by the end of year two. But, that is less than half of what he is doing today. I bet some of it is totally new or entirely made up. He is the most natural and skilled fighter I have ever seen. He soaks up those dusty scrolls in the archives from what I hear. He spends a lot of time with the other Masters too. I think he is creating his own Runa.”
“Well, if I was an unbeliever afore I am not one now. I bet he could beat me in a straight up sword fight, today”
“Yeah, I would bet on him, sorry, but his speed is almost unmatched. Tomorrow will be fun. I am going to teach him to use a skeggaxe instead of a dagger or shield. Like his father. Once he masters that he will be almost unbeatable. He can use that axe to disarm an opponent or lock up their blade or shield and then use his sword to finish it off.”
She shook her head in wonder, “Gods, he will be downright scary in battle.”
Grovan agreed, “Aye he will and he will be sorely needed soon. The Imperium is mustering a huge army Ivar says.”
She turned and looked at him, “They are, near Kitar.”
“Keep him safe Erika. We need that boy. Oh, and call him Kyrr. That is the name he goes by here. He does not go by Brandt now.”
“I will do what I can. It is a waste of my skills though but time will tell if Ivar is right.”
Grovan looked at her and frowned then turned and stalked off hollering at a pair of students nearby to correct their sloppy technique.
***
Late one night, Fridya, Rojr and a few others from Red Band surprised Kyrr with a celebration. They called it a feod day, or born day celebration. They had snuck into one of the kitchens and ‘borrowed’ a large corn pie. They brought it back and woke Kyrr up. Kyrr was surprised and delighted. He’d never had such a party since no one knew when his feod day was.
They all sat huddled on the floor between Kyrr’s and
Rojr’s cots and pulled a blanket over their heads. Fridya lit a lamp and they attacked the pie. It was a messy affair and there were lots of giggling and finger licking and lip smacking. The gift committee forgot to ‘borrow’ some forks for the pie. Corn pie was Kyrr’s favorite.
The next day Master Ivar’s commencement speech kicked of the new year’s session. He started the speech with, “I promise a very rigorous schedule to come. There will be more advanced sword and axe work, the usual physical conditioning, additional competitions between all the bands, more instruction and practice in tactics and fighting in battlefield formations.
“The highlight this year will be instruction in mountaineering, skiing, rappelling, climbing and woodcraft. I hope none of you are afraid of heights. You will spend more time away from Reave Hall, learning these new skills in the surrounding country and mountains. It will be a strenuous busy year!”
The second day of the new session Master Torvald took Red Group to the Low Fort. There he taught them various knots used for climbing techniques. They went over ropes and how to determine their suitability for climbing and pioneering. He showed them how to use spanners and a device called a beaner to climb and rappel.
They watched climbing and rappelling demonstrations on a twenty five foot interior wall of the Low Fort. Torvald also discussed how to climb sheer cliffs and mountains and how to move gear up and over such obstacles. Then the students practiced on the walls themselves. When Master Torvald was satisfied they moved over to a tower that was fifty feet tall. It was a little scary at first but they eventually mastered it and soon felt at ease with the height and their equipment.
As they finished for the day Master Torvald said, “I am glad everyone is comfortable. Tomorrow we go over the cliff by the main battery tower in Low Fort. The cliff there is one hundred and ninety feet tall. It will be fun. You will see!”
The students just groaned but Torvald added by the end of the year they would scale peaks thousands of feet tall and rappel down five hundred foot cliffs. And, they would do all this in the dead of winter.
As the year progressed they also learned how to cross rivers, gorges and streams with just ropes. Master Torvald took them on three multi-day treks up into the mountains around the valley to practice climbing.
One morning Torvald had the band pack up for a five day trek. It was the middle of winter. There was a foot of snow on the ground and it looked like more was coming any moment. Bera said, “I am not sure Torvald is sane. He surely is not dragging us into the mountains now, in this weather.”
Many other students were complaining as well but Brandt made sure he had the warmest clothes he could find or scrounge. As Torvald led them into the hills outside Tanic he said, “We spent a week discussing and learning about how to survive in the field in the winter. That is the purpose of this exercise, to work in snow and ice and put the theory to the test. I hope everyone paid attention.”
He led them up into the mountains and they had to use their snow shoes to reach the upper slopes of the mountain. Once they reached the upper slopes they tied spiked iron rings to their boots and used ice axes to traverse a wide ice field and climb an icy cliff to the campsite, which was a large cave high on an exposed ridge. Over the next few days they learned how to look for slopes that could become avalanches and how to survive one if they were caught up in it. They moved camp once and everyone built warm individual winter shelters and spent two days living in them.
On another winter exercise they were issued snow skis and poles and learned how to ski and navigate in the mountains. They had several days of training in how to deploy and fight in the snow. They also practiced regular and forced marches through the ice and snow in the surrounding mountains. Then, near the end of the winter season, they participated in a sennight long winter exercise with several other bands that culminated in a large mock battle on an ice field in the middle of a fierce snow storm.
In the spring, once the snow was mostly melted, they moved into the hills and forests around Tanic. They learned how to track animals and men. They also learned how to use dogs to track their quarry. Everyone loved being assigned the role of the quarry and they would spend hours trying to lose their pursuers.
They continued working with horses and were taught how to move and fight as a unit on foot and on horseback. They were led through many mounted practice runs charging dozens of man-sized straw dummies with spear and sword.
In addition to all the new material and subjects they still were expected to progress with the Runa and become even better fighters with sword, dagger, axe, spear and bow. The year went by quickly. Everyone was caught up in it and it was challenging from an entirely different perspective. But, everyone in the band agreed it was good to get outside the fortress and spend time in the surrounding country. All of the field trips and exercises in the mountains and hills broke up monotony of being stuck in Reave Hall for fortnights on end.
***
Yfiria was back in Radnja, her homeland. She was staying for the summer. Aravin had accompanied her and was there to discuss some important matters with her mother and father. He refused to tell her what they were talking about. The day after she’d arrived, as she was eating first meal, her mother came into their small private parlor. Her mother always looked so radiant and elegant. Yfiria did not know how her mother so effortlessly filled the role of Reigning Princess of Radnja.
Her mother said good morning and then, with a big smile, told Yfiria that her father, Prince Rudolph was departing in a few days to meet with the Chancellor of Vesfalruk. This piqued Yfiria’s interest. Travelling to Vesfalruk, how exciting, she’d never been to Vesfalruk and would love see the country and Kimera. She’d heard so much about Kimera. She looked at her mother and her mother was staring expectantly at her.
As soon as she had Yfiria’s undivided attention she said with a no certain subtlety, “He will stop at Kimera for a few days and then travel onwards with the chancellor to Fortress Reave and Fortress Cinder, to tour the defenses and talk about the coming war with Imperia. He has wanted to visit the two fortresses for years and years and finally the chance has come.”
It took a moment but eventually registered with Yfiria, “Truly? They go to Fortress Reave? Reave Hall? Do you think he could be persuaded to allow me to accompany the embassy?” Yfiria said with mounting excitement. She tried to remain outwardly calm and poised but the enthusiasm of potentially going to Reave Hall and seeing Brandt was hard to hide.
Her mother, feigning complete naivety asked, “Yfiria, why ever would you need to go on a routine boring diplomatic visit? Why would the Princess of Radnja need to tour a couple dirty old castles?”
“Mother!” Yfiria exclaimed with sudden agitation. What if her mother would not allow her to go on this trip? Why had she even brought it up? She would never be able to convince her father and Aravin without her mother’s help.
“Daughter? Is there is a young man at Reave Hall you would really like to reacquaint yourself with? I suspect you would like to visit him? See how he is doing? But, understand, that is only a small part of this trip. It will be a long hard dreary journey for the most part. Countless days spent in the saddle and traipsing through castles and forts. There will be lots of soldiers about too and many days traveling through the rough mountains, almost the full length and breadth of Vesfalruk. It is a harsh rugged country. It will not be a social visit with feather beds every night, fancy diners and balls, you realize this?”
“I know that mother. But, it will be a chance to spend time with father and get to know the chancellor. I will rule Radnja someday. That could be an important learning experience for me. And, you know, if things eventually work out as I would wish them to, close ties to Vesfal will help.”
“That is the direction you truly wish your future to go? You are certain?”
“I am certain. The last year has firmed my intention more than ever. I have realized he is the right man for me. I know I love him. I know what you are thinking, we have b
een apart for years now but I am certain he still wants this also.”
Her mother replied, “Daughter, I will not try and dissuade you from this path. Your father may try once he discovers your intentions. And, I guess your reasons are sound but you know your father and how protective he is of his womenfolk. It will be difficult to convince him but maybe, with the right amount of arm twisting, a little sugar and Aravin’s help we can make it happen.”
“Oh mother, that would be so wonderful!” Yfiria exclaimed and leapt from the table and ran around to the other side and gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug. “What do I need to do?”
“Leave it to me for now daughter, I will discuss this with your father and Aravin. It will take some doing.”
“But, shouldn’t I help somehow?”
“There is much for you to do. But, let me handle the menfolk. You have other tasks you need to focus on. Let’s see, you will need several travelling dresses and gowns and riding habits and some ladies to travel with you and attend you. Also, we will have to arrange this with very little time. Send a servant for your cousin Yfellia at once. She is a very good rider and may be able to help. There are also the logistics that need to be addressed, horses and saddles, men-at-arms, pack horses and so on. So, there is much for you to do.”
For the next two days Yfiria scrambled to get everything ready while her mother worked on her father and Aravin. Both were very resistant to the idea but eventually Aravin was convinced and shortly thereafter her father too. She wondered why her father changed his mind. Her mother did not confide in her though. But, she did mention that it had only happened with Aravin’s help. Yfiria was very frustrated that everyone kept her in the dark. They treated her like she was still a child!
