by Aaron Thomas
Bowie finally set his mug down in recognition of the three men. “Oh, you have my arrow. Did you come to return it?”
Kilen thought he would interject, as his uniform marking him as at least the same rank as them might calm the situation. “Please sit, gentlemen and we will talk this over a pint.”
“Shut it boy. We know you aren’t a full weapon bearer so don’t try and order us around. You might get the privilege of a full soldier, but I don’t see any officers around to tell us apart. Besides, our business is with the lordling here.”
“Oh I’m no lord, I just have a better sense of fashion then some. You might start taking my advice if you knew how far it would get you with the ladies. What can I do for you, gentlemen?” Bowie took another big drink of his ale.
“My friends here think that the shot you made was aimed at the target. I say that the shot was meant for them. So I want to see you shoot that bow again. I’ll even let you use the same arrow as before.” He took the arrow in his hand near the head and slammed it into the table so that it stood sticking straight up. The noise startled the minstrel and everyone in the room went.
“Sure, no problem. I was going to shoot some tomorrow anyways,” Bowie barely got the words out before the man spoke again.
“I’ve been looking for you since yesterday, you’re going to show us right now. I bet them two silver crowns that you wouldn’t even hit the target at that distance,” he stood up chuckling with his friends with his fists now on his hips.
“Ok, even though it’s a little unfair,” Bowie smiled at Kilen. “If it’s a bet I might be able to fatten the pot if you would let me.”
The man rubbed the scruff on his face before answering, “Go ahead then, what’s your wager?”
“I’ll wager two gold crowns that I can out shoot you and your two friends the best arrow of three shots each.” Bowie took another long drink of his ale while the men thought it over. Leroy had come to stand behind Bowie. Kilen saw him stealthily checking the blades tucked away in his clothes.
“We will each bet a week’s pay, but we can’t match your two gold crowns. As you can see, we’re just soldiers. If you will take the bet, we’ll gladly accept your two gold, but if you’re as good as you think you are it shouldn’t be a bet at all.” The man crossed his arms and smiled behind his furry mask.
Bowie tapped the now empty mug on the tabletop, “You’re right, I should have never asked such poor men to change their fashions. I’ll still bet the two gold, but not against your week’s pay. I want the archery range all to myself, for one hour each day before the regular training starts. Can you arrange that?” The men looked at each other and the big man smiled and placed both hands on the table looming over Bowie.
“Boy, I’m John Curtain and I’m one of the instructors for the range. I’ll give you one range for two hours a day if you can beat all three of us. Let’s just see what you can do, my lord.” The three men turned and walked away. Bowie smiled at Leroy and Kilen, plopped on his fancy hat, and started after them.
On the way back to the training grounds, John’s lackeys talked about how they were going to spend the money that they normally wouldn’t earn in a year. Bowie said nothing but followed confidently behind them, sometimes tripping on the cobblestones as he walked. Leroy and Kilen watched as Bowie fell onto his face.
“BLOODY shadow walkers! My jacket and pants are all covered in muck.” Bowie tried his best to wipe the dirt and manure from his pants as Kilen and Leroy helped him up. Kilen was overcome by a strange feeling as if someone was watching him. He turned around and saw a brown cloak disappear behind the corner of the alleyway. He continued to look at the windows and at doorways lining the streets and found no one. Kilen thought the mention of the shadow walkers might have flared his imagination into feeling something that wasn’t there.
No, I felt it too. Kilen was even more spooked to hear Max actually speak to him directly. If these voices got much worse he would have to seek out help. Use the water magic. He’s still there. Kilen was reluctant, but used the water vision as Bowie and Leroy started to continue on down the street. Kilen had made his first mistake. He had forgotten he didn’t have Brent to help him watch with the water vision. He had let his guard down.
They continued down the street and Kilen took glancing looks back. He didn’t see anyone following him but still felt someone. Maybe it was the voices in his head he had felt. He would not make the mistake of not using the water vision again and now he pushed it to his limits.
They continued on past the main castle gates and around to the side gate to the training grounds. John’s two buddies made sure to mention the contest as they passed by. Men went scurrying to the guard house. A commotion was started and several men from the guard house went to other guard houses. Coins were exchanged and Kilen knew that side bets were being made. Men ran from barracks to barracks and soldiers came out, putting on jackets and getting coins. Apparently, this was not the first time that John had been challenged. The feeling of being watched followed even as they arrived deep into the grounds at the archery range. Kilen looked around as Leroy steadied Bowie for the contest. Bowie took an extra long time stringing his bow,. He flexed it and checked the tension on the string. The three other men did the same as Bowie approached the farthest shooting line from the target.
“Who would you like to shoot first Master Curtain?” Bowie was sure to be respectful now that he knew this man was a superior officer.
John laughed, “Well since this is my range and I shouldn’t have to prove myself. You shoot first then I’ll let these two out shoot you. If you’re arrow remains closer after them, I’ll have my chance. If they fire closer to the center then you get another try, until your three shots run out.”
Bowie thought it over and knew that if he fired first it gave him no room to play around. He would have to make his best shot in the beginning. He nodded to John and gave him a curt, “Yes sir.”
“At least he knows his place now.” The crowd started to laugh and that just encouraged Bowie to beat them that much faster. Ten arrows was all that needed to be loosed for him to win. Bowie very carefully on unsteady legs walked out farther from the target to where he was standing with Captain Lorusk the day before.
“You said you didn’t believe I made the shot, so I’ll start here if you don’t mind, Master Curtain?” Bowie stood awaiting the instructor’s orders. Finally he nodded and Bowie knocked an arrow. It took him three tries pulling the weight of the string before he was able to stable himself for the shot. When the arrow loosed there was the distinctive thwack of the string, and the arrow landed in the center circle close to the center. The crowd that had gathered became particularly quiet, Bowie said nothing but stood leaning on his bow to steady himself.
“Well, you louts get over there and take your shots,” Curtain ordered his two lackeys. The first shot taken from them grazed the edge of the target but failed to stay in. The others managed to hit the outside ring, and one lucky shot hit the ring next to the center circle. With each shot tension grew in the crowd that had assembled to bet and watch. Kilen had begun to scan the crowd for the source of the funny feeling that had followed him. He found several men wearing brown cloaks and all had their hoods up.
Max practically shouted inside Kilen’s head. There, that’s the one that’s following us, he said as Kilen’s eyes ran over a man near the back with his face hidden by the cloak’s hood. Kilen wondered how Max could be so confident in which man it was. As soon as the thought crossed his mind Max provided the answer. A picture, no a memory flashed into Kilen’s mind. A small tear in the corner of the cloak was identical to the one the man in the alleyway was wearing. Max had noticed the tear even though Kilen did not. He wondered how his mind could play such a trick on him, to provide false memories. He was growing scared at the voice’s ability to draw his attention. Kilen knew that he would have to ask Brent if any other magic users ever heard voices, but he would have to be subtle just in case. He needed to be th
ere to support his sister. He didn’t want to sound like a lunatic. It was his responsibility, as her family.
John had taken two shots, landing both on the target but neither close to the center. Bowie still had two shots left. The crowd now was getting anxious, waiting for John to hit center, thinking that he was just playing with everyone’s emotions. John’s brow was now starting to sweat and his face was starting to turn red in frustration. The instructor pulled the string, taking careful aim and loosing his third and final arrow. The arrow struck the center ring inches closer to the target’s middle. The crowd cheered feeling now their money was safe taking a bet on the kingdom’s archery instructor. Bowie nodded and took careful aim of his second shot and landed it between his first arrow and John’s. The crowd cheered even more with Bowie only having one shot left. Bowie knocked the arrow for his final shot and let it loose with not so much as a pause. The arrow landed on the opposite side of Johns closer to the center. The crowd went into a frenzy of shouts as John tried to calm them. Bowie ignored them, leaning on his bow, smiling at the target. He turned to Kilen and said, “Looks like I’ve landed us a practice range for you.”
Kilen had other matters to attend to. The man who had followed him was now walking away at a steady pace. Kilen didn’t want to give the man another chance to catch him off guard. He pulled out his earth rings and placed the chain around his neck, tucking them into his shirt. Then he ran off in the direction that the man had gone. He found the man rounding the corner to a barracks. When he caught up to him in the back near the large wall to the grounds the man leaped up and over the wall. Kilen followed, but landed on the top. The man in the cloak now stood on a back road to the town with no one else in sight. The man had a short sword pulled free of its sheath. Kilen also pulled his blade free, as he landed on the street a little farther down.
“You’ve passed some tests, and others you have failed horribly.” The man pulled his hood back with his free hand. It was Jace.
Jace sheathed his sword and stood waiting for Kilen do the same, Max relaxed in the back of his mind. When he did, Jace approached, “I have been following you all day, just like your father did to me when he first trained me.” Kilen was now struck with shock. Jace was his father’s student and now was going to pass on that training to him. It was as close as Kilen would get to being trained by his own father. “I was testing your abilities, self awareness, bravery, subtlety, and a few others.” Jace turned and walked away, waving a hand for Kilen to join him. “It’s not your fault really, your sword gave you away. I only had to ask a few people where the weapon bearer with no rank had gone. Everyone sees the sword and wonders why you don’t have a sword and shield pinned to your shoulders. Once I did that I could have walked the same footsteps you did. You did upset Master Horval a lot though,” Jace laughed as though he had told a joke.
“So what do I do to change that? I was told to never take off the sword or leave my rings unguarded,” Kilen said in rebuttal.
“Like I said, it’s not entirely your fault. Although I would have thought you would have come to the conclusion yourself. We need to get you a new sheath and cloak so that you don’t stand out so much. How was it you recognized me, anyway?” They winded the streets in Deuterium, Jace leading the way and Kilen blindly following.
“I saw the tear in your cloak just as you rounded the corner in that alley. Again at the range I was able to pick out the small tear as you left the crowd.” Kilen felt a bit of remorse for taking credit for Max’s look on that detail. He justified it to himself that it was his head so it had to be his thought, and then wondered if it really was his own.
“You have quick eyes then, and I’ll have to work on my stalking technique. It will have to wait for another day before I teach you those tricks. Each scout develops his own ability to stalk. The good ones will never let you know they existed until you have a knife in your throat. I was close enough to you three times today. Once outside the herbalist’s shop, once inside the Inn, and I’ll let you figure out the third. By the way, the herbalist was casting lots at everyone that walked by her shop after you left. I’ve never seen her do that before.” Jace shook his head as if he was having a conversation with himself. “In here.”
Jace turned into a rickety old shop near the outskirts of the city. The sign on the door was a animal hide and needle, a leather workers shop. The place was covered in dust and the floor hadn’t been swept in some time. A frail old man sat behind the counter trying to push a needle through a water skin he was making. “Oy Mr. Carvin, are you in need of water skin these days or just back to have another piece of leather fixed up?”
“Actually Andrew, I need a sword sheath for my friend here, something plain and a bit beat up if you have anything.”
The frail old man looked Kilen up and down, “Well let me see the sword then. Ah yes a standard weapon bearer’s blade. Probably thirty-two inches I bet. I think I have one in the crate over there.” The old man went and picked out a few and Jace pulled one out that had scuffs and nicks in it but was whole and sturdy. “That will hold up good for you, cost ya eight coppers.” Kilen threw him a silver piece and replaced the sheath he had. The new one was broken in and comfortable. He wondered if his father had actually ever worn the silver worked sheath he had replaced. They bid good tidings to the old man and continued on through the town. Jace talked as they walked.
“You did well in some areas today. You were very brave to chase me down. You told me that you didn’t have any sword experience and yet you challenge a stalker in a back street by yourself. Bold, brave, and stupid, if you ask me. But you do have your father’s sense of flare. If in the same situation in the future, be sure to move down the wall before jumping over. If you jump over at the same spot I did, I could have been waiting for you to reach the top of the wall. Kilen opened his mouth to defend himself in some of the areas Jace had mentioned, but Jace cut him off. “Listen, I don’t mean to be so hard. I wanted to see who you were, who you associate with, and how you conduct yourself. I think training you will be less difficult now that I know a bit more about you without you knowing I was there. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to notice me until days from now.” Jace smiled at Kilen, he knew that he had done well chasing after his stalker even though it was dangerous. “Here is a tailor I often go to. Get a plain colored cloak, not too nice, and head back to the barracks to drop off your old sheath. Then do what you need to finish for the day. Water Wizard Twilix has asked me to have you come to the king’s gardens for training after dinner. The castle guards should be able to help you find it if you need the help. Do not be late for that or she will make her training worse. Remember to be polite and learn everything you can.” Kilen noticed that Jace emphasized the word ‘everything’ before he pulled his hood up and walked out away into the city.
Kilen did as he said and bought a plain green cloak that was a bit tattered at the edge from being cut wrong. He had owned a few like this when he was growing up. He put the cloak on and made his way back to the castle’s main gate. The guards stopped him there. He told them who he was and showed the elemental marks on the first few inches of the blade. They admitted him without any other argument. Kilen found himself walking towards the archery range, hoping to salvage a little time with Bowie and Leroy.
When he arrived, he found Bowie alone sleeping next to the stairs at his barracks. Kilen tapped Bowie’s foot with his boot and Bowie shaded his eyes to look up. “Oh, good. Hey I’ve got the range for two hours every morning until our real training starts. If you come out there I’ll help you get better at shooting a bow.”
“That sounds great, Bowie. I appreciate that a lot. That shot you made there at the end was pretty sloppy, though. I don’t know if I want a teacher that makes a shot like that. Will you be sober in the morning to help me?” Kilen smiled. Even with Bowie drunk he was sure his friend would be a better instructor than any he could find here. Bowie would put a lot of care into his instruction and it would be instruction Kilen could tru
st not to be sabotaged.
“What do you think I was trying to do before you woke me up? Now help me back to my room so I can get some more sleep. Apparently you won’t be the only one showing up for some training. After you left some of the soldiers asked me to help them. They said they would pay me.”
“I won’t mind being the only one. I’m sure you will do a great job.” Kilen helped Bowie get to his feet and took his arm around his neck to help take the weight as they shuffled into the barracks. Kilen laid Bowie down and turned to leave.
“That bow there in the corner, I bought for you. Take it with you. I don’t have very much room in this stall to store things.” Bowie was right. His stall was packed already with clothes, saddle bags, fletching supplies, and a peg made just for his hat and feather. Bowie had been busy it seemed. Kilen picked up his new bow, a set of strings, and quiver with a dozen of Bowie’s arrows inside. He turned to leave and already heard Bowie snoring.
He walked across the training field. With his hood up he was ignored, unlike days past. The talk around the grounds was how an archery instructor had gotten bested by a recruit. Kilen looked at his new bow and was amazed at its excellent quality. He never imagined that he would own so much in his life. He had amassed such things that no man in Humbridge would have ever needed to plow the land, such as a set of armor, sword, magic rings, and a coin sack full of gold. Suddenly he felt very humbled. He arrived at the barracks and passed Ted as he entered.
“Hey, you just can’t come in here. This is the weapon bearers quarters!” Ted had already pulled his long knife. Kilen slowly pulled back his hood and revealed his face slyly smiling at Ted. “Oh sorry, Kilen,” he clumsily re-sheathed his blade. “Leroy is in your room and your three horses have been fed and brushed down.”
