The Book of Inatat was a history of the ancient Kingdom of Vaskan in what was present day Coravia. The scribes of that time detailed the happenings during the reign of Inatat, son of Cortat, Sixteenth King of Vaskan. It had started out gruesomely enough, with twenty servants being cremated alive inside King Cortat's pyre. Vaskan was not a kind kingdom. Inatat had ruled for a long time, and they had barely covered the first ten years as the winter passed. Even so, they had copied nearly a hundred pages of the book already and translated it into the common script.
The Council of Elders kept the training grounds open through the winter and all of the young men were required to spend every third day at practice, apprentice scribe or not. Stavin traded his training day with another warrior so he could watch Harner and the rest as they "practiced" four-on-one combat against the fourth and fifth-year warriors on practice days.
Against all custom and expectation, Stavin refused, very respectfully of course, when Warmaster Kel'Horval tried to finally start him on sword instruction. As a substitute, he asked for advanced knife-fighting instructions and found himself facing Elder Mikal Kel'Kaffrey.
"Charvil tells me that you want to learn knife-fighting instead of the sword, Stavin. Why is that?" Mikal asked when they began their first lesson.
"I'm finally facing the truth, Sir: I can't handle a full-size sword. No matter how hard I've tried, I just don't have the upper body strength. I've learned to accept that. However, I also learned the hard way that knife-fighting isn't as easy as it looks. Kahn taught me enough to keep me from getting stabbed with my own knife again like I did last year, but I need a backup for my Tongue, Sir," Stavin answered.
Elder Kel'Kaffrey nodded slowly. "Very well. First, take off your plate armor. Your mail will protect you, but I want you to know you can still be hurt if you let me get through. It'll help keep your mind on what you're doing." Mikal started slow, using sticks in place of knives. Stavin started bringing home bruises because Mikal was every bit as skilled a master with knives as Charvil was with a sword.
It took most of the winter for Stavin to master the knife, but Mikal wasn't through with him. "Now two knives," was all he said when Stavin had managed to land his tenth blow against Mikal's armored torso. Stavin's light build and lightning-quick reflexes gave him an advantage with knives, and it only took him another moon to become as proficient with two knives as he was with one.
As Warmaster, it was still Charvil's duty to test Stavin's skill before allowing him out into the world. Stavin reported to the circle in the training ground in full armor as instructed. The Warmaster walked out in his full armor with a Dragon's Tongue in his hand and joined Stavin in the circle.
"Varik, come take Stavin's Dragon's Tongue," he commanded and smiled as his youngest child ran forward to do his bidding.
"Sir?" Stavin asked, tilting his head to the side.
"You'll use this one, Stavin. I don't want to face those blades. This is a real test, not practice. You'll face me with Dragon's Tongue and knife against my sword and knife. The blades of this 'Tongue are dull, as is my sword, but they are otherwise unchanged. We fight till one of us lands three blows. Mikal, call the count."
Stavin hefted the practice Dragon's Tongue and grimaced. The haft was longer than his personal weapon, being based on an oak quarterstaff that was matched to a normal-sized man. It was heavier as well. The spear-points that tipped each end were soft iron, not even steel, and dragged at his hands. Still, he'd learned to fight with one of these Dragon's Tongues long before the dragon on the mountain had granted him his armor and weapon made from its own scales.
Elder Kel'Kaffrey began counting loudly backwards. "Three, two, one, begin!" Then he stepped back and smiled in anticipation of his student proving that he'd learned his lessons well.
Stavin attacked, but Charvil was ready for him and blocked the blow, then caught the return strike from Stavin's top blade. Stavin didn't stop moving and his next strike rang off Charvil's back plate just as Charvil's sword skimmed a hair's-breadth away from Stavin's arm. Stavin took advantage of the opening and struck Charvil a hard blow in the chest. If the Dragon's Tongue hadn't been dull, it would have been a killing blow.
Charvil roared and attacked, but Stavin was still moving and ducked in close to strike Charvil on the back of the knee, and used the rebound from that blow to strike his shoulder.
Charvil's free hand clamped down on Stavin's shoulder, but a sudden sharp blow to his underarm made him let go and jump back. Stavin had a knife in his left hand and the Dragon's Tongue in his right.
Stavin feinted high with his Dragon's Tongue but attacked low with his knife. Charvil met the attack easily and moved to overpower Stavin, only to trip on the haft of the Dragon's Tongue that Stavin had jammed between his legs. As Charvil started to fall the knife in Stavin's hand struck his throat, sliding lightly across his mail.
Charvil hit the ground on his back and stayed where he was, staring up at Stavin in shock. "Barvil wasn't exaggerating, was he?" he asked as he caught his breath.
"Sir?" Stavin asked as he leaned on his Dragon's Tongue, wondering what Barvil had been saying about him.
"Never mind, Stavin. That was three killing blows for you, two with your knife. I don't think I've been this badly overmatched in all my years as Warmaster. I didn't even land one blow."
Stavin panted as he leaned on his Dragon's Tongue and grinned. "Blame Kahn. Or thank him. Last year I learned that even with my armor on I can get hurt if I get hit, so I concentrate a lot of effort on not getting hit," Stavin said as he offered his father-in-law a hand up. "Elder Kel'Kaffrey reinforced those lessons through the winter."
"I should have believed Kahn when he said you're as fast as a rattlesnake. Varik!" he suddenly snapped and Stavin looked over to see his little brother-in-law in a fighting pose with the golden Dragon's Tongue in his hands. "Return Stavin's weapon," Charvil commanded and Varik quickly did as he was told.
"It isn't a toy, Varik," Stavin said as he put his weapon at rest. "Even light, accidental contact with these blades can take off someone's hand." The fact that he had to look slightly up at the twelve-year-old didn't matter in the least to either of them.
"Yes, Stavin," Varik answered, then he blushed because his voice chose that moment to slip back into a soprano.
Stavin smiled as he fought not to laugh. "My fifth season and your first season will coincide. If we are sent out together, I may let you try using it for real."
"Really!?"
"If we are together," Stavin answered, confident that he had just arranged to pay back Kahndar for all the help he'd given him. Though no member of the veteran's contingent would ever admit it, everyone knew that such arrangements were always made.
Charvil patted Stavin's shoulder. "On your way now, Stavin. Varik and his class have some practicing to do if any of them want to match you with a Dragon's Tongue."
Stavin snapped to attention and bowed deeply to the Warmaster before heading home. He waited until he was out of the fortress before he let his smile show. He let his limp show as well. Though he would never admit it to the Warmaster, he'd twisted his back getting away from Charvil's attack and wanted nothing more than to stretch out and get Shari to rub some heating salve on his strained muscles.
Stavin was still smiling when he got home and went to find his wife. She was sitting at the small table near the window, reading one of the books that he'd brought home last summer. "Shari, my back is killing me. Would you rub some of that heating salve on it?
"Of course," she answered. "How did you get hurt?"
"Fighting with your dad," Stavin explained. "He was testing me to see if I'm up to speed to go out this year."
"You didn't let him hit you, did you?"
"No," Stavin laughed, "but he came really close. I hurt myself getting out of the way."
Shari shook her head, but she was smiling. "And did you hit him?"
"Yes," Stavin admitted. "Three times."
"Oh, Gods Above and Below!�
� Shari exclaimed and then laughed. “That must have come as a shock to him. How did he take it?"
Stavin shook his head. "Pretty well, as far as I could tell. He said something about Barvil talking about me, telling stories about last year."
"Well, let's get you upstairs and out of your armor, and I'll rub some salve on your back. Did you hurt anything else?" Shari was moving toward the stairs confidently with her staff just a finger's-breadth from the floor. When it hit the bottom stair she climbed quickly, counting as she went. Her staff never touched anything else all the way into their room.
Three days later, Stavin received orders to report to the training grounds in full armor again. When he arrived, he received a surprise. Warmaster Kel'Horval waved him over to where a year-group of students stood at attention.
The Warmaster had a very serious look on his face as he looked down at Stavin. "I have something special for you to do, Stavin, and I've already cleared it with the Council and Arlen. Today, and every day until the expedition leaves, you will be drilling the boys who are going out on their first expedition this year with Dragon's Tongues. You are possibly the best we've ever had with the Tongue, and we want you to pass on as much as you can. Don't worry about style and finesse. Teach them how to stay alive."
"Yes, Sir," Stavin snapped.
"Your students await--Warleader Kel'Aniston."
Stavin walked over to face the group of twenty-one boys who would become men in just eighteen days and bowed his head. He received deep bows of respect from his students in return. These boys had all been present when Stavin had been tested by the Warmaster, and stood in awe of his accomplishment. While each of them had managed to score a blow against the Warmaster in order to be passed, none of them had done so without being scored upon.
"Good morning. These lessons are not meant to teach you how to use a Dragon's Tongue. You already know that. What I am going to try and teach you is how to avoid your opponent long enough to put that knowledge to use."
Almost as one the boys shouted, "Yes, Warleader Kel'Aniston!"
Stavin began with his specialty of strike and evade. It was a technique that emphasized speed over power. Misdirection and cunning took the place of face-to-face fighting, and Stavin learned that teaching isn't as easy as it looks either.
As the end of the winter drew near, Stavin's students were joined by several young men who had already made their first trip to the low lands--and two other young men as well. Harner, Jallav, Lanik, and Heral appeared one morning, standing at the front of the year group.
Stavin felt his stomach muscles tighten as the old fear reasserted itself. "What do you want, Harner?" he asked in a low, intense voice.
"We were ordered to report," Harner snarled.
"And?"
"And we're here," Jallav said in a tight tone.
Stavin looked over and saw his father-in-law watching him. Turning back to his students, he bowed his head slightly. "Very well. Harner, you're first," Stavin said, picking up a practice Dragon's Tongue that had been modified to his size and entering a practice circle.
Harner joined him a moment later. "Strike and evade, Harner. The idea is to not let me hit you as much as it is for you to hit me. Call it, Lanik," Stavin snapped.
Lanik counted down from three, and Harner attacked. He'd learned a lot in the moons of four-on-one combat instruction he'd received, and he was going to show Stavin the Runt exactly what it felt like to--
Stavin's Dragon's Tongue rang off the side of Harner's helmet. "Wake up! Don't just wade in swinging! You'll die in a hurry that way. Avoid me. Don't let me kill you on the first exchange. Again!" Stavin attacked, and this time Harner lasted through three exchanges before Stavin's weapon stabbed into his breast plate.
Stavin all but shouted, "Gods Below, Harner! Move! Don't stand there like a tree. Move like a willow in the wind. Again!"
Harner attacked, all sense of finesse lost in his rage against the runt. He drove straight at Stavin and suddenly found himself looking up at the sky, wondering how he'd gotten to the ground.
"You won't last past your first fight if you keep acting like it's just practice, Harner," Stavin said from where he was standing, leaning on his Dragon's Tongue. "Unless you get it in your mind that a single blow can kill you, you'll be left in a low land grave."
"I'm gonna kill you, Runt!" Harner snarled as he climbed to his feet.
Stavin let him recover, then took a ready stance. "Try," was all he said.
Harner bellowed like a ruptured bull and came at Stavin with his Dragon's Tongue held low to stab him in the gut. Stavin swept Harner's weapon aside as he dodged, and brought his lower blade over the top to crash down on the joint between Harner's helmet and the shoulder of his breast plate, sending the big youth face-first into the dirt.
Stavin put the point of his Dragon's Tongue against the back of Harner's neck and held him down. "I can't believe the Warmaster passed you. Don't get married before we leave, Harner. You won't be back, and there are enough widows every year without adding yours."
Stavin left Harner spitting dirt and walked to the next circle. "Jallav, you're next."
Chapter 4
WINTER SLOWLY RELEASED ITS HOLD ON the mountains and the gap was cleared to let the inhabitants of Kavinston out into the rest of Farindia. The first to go out were hunters searching for deer, elk, or mountain bison to bring some much-needed fresh meat into the valley. The winter had been as bad as any in living memory, and many houses had been emptied as families moved in together to conserve fuel.
Stavin's brothers had brought their fledgling families back to their father's house and took over the large rooms that the boys and girls had used when they were younger. They brought the extra supplies that Stavin had given them as well, so there was no hunger in their house. Other houses were not so lucky, and Marinis stopped drawing on the community store to leave more for the households who hadn't been fortunate enough to have had a son with Barvil's group during the summer.
The days passed quickly, and all too soon the Elders Council's messenger was knocking at the door. "Good evening, Karlit," Kahndar Kel'Horval said as he bowed. "I got drafted to deliver the list this year. Bahrandik is called for his fifth expedition and Stavin is called for his second expedition."
"I will inform them, Kahndar. Thank you," Karlit said and closed the door. He turned to find everyone watching him. "You all heard that."
"It was to be expected," Marinis said.
As always, the three days between the announcement and assembly were a study in confusion, but the day finally dawned and the expedition was assembled. This year, however, the expedition was larger than ever before. When Chief Elder Kel'Davin addressed them, he explained the change.
"Good morning men, and you are all men this day. Many of you have noticed that there are a lot more of you than usual. There are two reasons for this. First, there was this winter. It was much harder than normal and we had to use the grain reserve for the first time in sixty years. Replenishing that reserve will require extra gold and the extra groups must provide that gold.
"Second is a request from the Kavadian Trading House of Zel'Vandar for six groups to escort their caravans. While such a request is not unheard of, it is unusual and we are going to take full advantage of it. Warmaster Kel'Carin will be leading sixty-six of you to Kavadia. The other hundred and ten will go to Trade Town as usual. Because of the need for extra men, we called extra veterans for duty. We know this came as a shock for some of you, but you men know why we need you. Sort yourselves out when you divide into teams in Trade Town. Due to the nature of the Zel'Vandar contract and our desire to continue it in the future, the Council has allowed Warmaster Kel'Carin his choice of fourth- and fifth-year men. Stavin and Karvik will be going with him, of course. Stavin's status in Evandia brought us an extra twenty gold crowns last season, and Zel'Vandar has offered us the same terms this year for a group that includes him."
The Chief Elder allowed his people to react to his announc
ement for a moment before saying, "Barvil Kel'Carin, I charge you to take them out and bring them home again."
Barvil shouted, "Yes, Sir!" and turned his horse toward the gap and their destinations. The expedition traveled together for two days before reaching the road that led to Kavadia. Barvil clasped forearms with Nahval Kel'Kaffrey and then led his portion of the expedition east.
The trip that had taken eleven days with the wagon only took seven on horseback and Barvil led his men into Markavia Cross late the seventh day. An old man came out to meet the warriors as they dismounted. "You've missed Sahren and the others by two days, warrior," he said. "They've gone ahead to Aravad to load up. You've brought the full sixty and six?"
"I have," Barvil answered.
The old man nodded and turned away. "Let's get you some food. You'll have to sleep rough. We can put you in the wagon barns with your mounts, but we don't have beds enough."
"That will be fine," Barvil replied, leading his horse as he followed the old man. The food turned out to be stew that had been simmering for three days waiting for them. It had probably started with distinct meat, roots, and tubers in it, but by the time the warriors filled their bowls it was an almost homogenous mash. Still, after ten days of boiled beans and journey bread, the men of the expedition weren't going to turn it down.
Barvil led them out the next morning and spent two days chasing the wagons. They caught up to Sahren in Aravad as the wagons were being loaded. Master Trader Sahren saw them and brought Davan Zel'Vandar out to meet them as they dismounted.
"I see that your council agreed to my proposal, and I see young Friend Stavin is with you as well. Excellent. We are sending Sahren into Evandia again and we'd like young Stavin with her." Lord Zel'Vandar leaned forward as if Sahren wasn't right next to him and said, "I think she's taken a liking to the boy. Motherly, you know."
Traders and Traitors (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 2) Page 2
