The Weapon Bearer (Book 1)

by Aaron Thomas

  Kilen broke in the conversation, “Wait four people?”

  “Yeah, Master Harvel told the King and now I have to start providing him with the meals also. I think that is why the other servants got angry with me.”

  “None of that matters right now. Can you provide the meal for Gortus? The noon meal is only a short time away.” Jace seemed desperate for Kilen to gain Gortus’s service as a trainer. If his dad had trained him then his instruction should be good enough for Kilen.

  “Yeah, I had some in the smoke room all night, There’s plenty for a couple meals each. Just let me know where you’re going to eat it and I’ll have it ready.” Jace smiled and patted Leroy on the back, but he must not have been healed fully because he winced at the pattings.

  “We’ll eat it here in the mess tent. I’ll have Master Harvel have some tables set aside for Gortus. He likes to eat alone,” Jace walked away to find Master Harvel, leaving Kilen and Leroy to talk.

  “Can you keep up with all the orders of food?

  “Yeah, no problem as long as I don’t get beat up anymore.” Kilen reached into the water vision and inspected Leroy’s body, seeing the damage that was left for him to heal himself. He decided that with all the work Leroy would be doing it was all he could do to repay him. He began the healing process and rejuvenated his energy so that Leroy was whole as if he had a day’s rest.

  “Thanks,” he smiled and said. “Oh, you need to go out to the archery range. Bowie impressed some captain and got promoted before training even started. He’s in charge of all the training for archery now, and he’s a sergeant. I guess it’s good to have friends in rank.” He smiled again and started to head toward the kitchen.

  “Thanks, Leroy. I’ll go and see him now. I just wanted to make sure you were well.” Leroy waved him off and Kilen left the tent. After his eyes adjusted to the sun now standing halfway up the sky, he saw a large man leading a horse into the training camp. It was Chit. Kilen was hoping that he would find some large town so that he could disappear and drink away all the money that he had. Chitt recognized Kilen, stood straighter, and smiled his intimidating smile. His eyes spoke that he was exhausted and rode as fast as he could to get there. Kilen remembered what Twilix had said to Chitt when he was leaving Humbridge. “You go straight to your king and report to the captain of the guard for duty. Don’t stop to drink ale. Don’t stop to doddle with a girl. If I catch up to you on my way back to the castle you will report to me every day for hard labor until I’m satisfied you can follow orders better.”

  Chit pointed at Kilen, “You owe me a sword and you’d better have one for me by the end of the day.” The captain of the guard yelled at him to keep moving and keep up with the others that were arriving. Kilen started to make his way to the archery range. He wove in and out of the recruits that were pouring into the training yard. Servants came to fetch horses, packs and other items. Nurses came to see those that were injured from the journey or had come down with dehydration. Kilen stopped to heal a couple of boys that seemed too young to be in the army, to help them have a better chance. They lifted their healed feet or moved unbroken bones and looked around for the reason they had healed so fast. Kilen only smiled and nodded at them, they smiled back in thanks. He was usually the person that helped where he could and avoided trouble as much as he could. He decided that it would probably be best to go ahead and get a sword for Chit so it wouldn’t be a problem later.

  When he finally arrived at the range, Bowie was in full swing and seemed to be enjoying it. He was moving from man to man adjusting arm positions, and giving directions to each. He was lecturing about breathing and how to maximize your stability while aiming. When he saw Kilen watching him, he jogged right over and had men practicing retrieve their arrows for more volleys. “Well what do you think?”

  “I think this is great. You could build a horde of archers like the world has never seen.” Kilen smiled, “Sorry I missed our session this morning.”

  “Don’t worry about it, I heard what you were doing over there with the fire wizard. I bet a gold crown the whole city could hear what you were doing. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere near that, let alone the one fighting her. So I understand you didn’t have a choice, otherwise you would have been here with me.”

  Kilen nodded, “The fire wizard agreed to check up on Kara and oversee her training.”

  “Well, worthy cause then. Did you come by to get in a bit of training? I have the range to myself as long as I want, so we can work on your skills whenever you need to.” Bowie waved his arm around in a grand gesture that it was all his.

  “No, I just heard the latest news about you getting promoted. I’m very proud.” Captain Lorusk came walking up to Bowie.

  “The training goes well then, Sergeant?” Bowie saluted the captain and then began to report on all the men.

  “I see improvement in all the ranks. I’ll let you know who I think is the best for your recruit’s training by the end of the day, sir.”

  “Very well. Is this the friend of yours that you were going to train?” Bowie nodded. The captain said, “Well, it’s a pleasure to finally met you, Weapon Bearer. I’ve already heard about you taking on Councilwoman Krape on the training fields. Very impressive. Is there any way I can help you out here?”

  “Actually, I don’t know the town very well. Can you suggest somewhere I can buy a good sword. There’s another recruit from our hometown and I thought I would pick one up for him.”

  “Sure,” the captain pointed at the roofs of the buildings on the far side of the training ground walls. “Those two buildings there are on opposite sides of Reed Street. Two streets down on that road there is an excellent bladesmith who will probably have what you are looking for.”

  Bowie spoke when the captain had finished, “Kilen, I don’t need a sword. I have my knives if someone gets too close to me, and I don’t intend to let them, with the new bow I have.”

  Kilen looked at Bowie, “It’s not for you. It’s for Chit. I owe him a sword since he thought he was going to get mine. I thought I would end any conflicts and get him his own.”

  “Chit is here? When did he arrive?”

  “He arrived only moments ago, and he was pretty sure that I owed him a sword. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a bladesmith to meet.” Captain Lorusk nodded his head and Bowie returned to his training group who was already letting loose volleys of arrows. Kilen took two steps away and then leaped to the top of the nearest barracks, ran to its peak and leapt to the top of the wall. He stood atop the wall a moment, looking around at the town then dropped to the city below. No one seemed to notice him as he wove his way in and out of the people visiting shops. He was beginning to look the part of a weapon bearer and felt more comfortable in his armor. He found the smith’s building, which was more like a roof with two walls open for letting heat out at either end. The man was stoking the fire and watching several lengths of metal glow brightly in the red-hot coals. Kilen walked in and started to look over the blades. He picked up a large sword and found its blade to be very dull.

  “Hey! You don’t walk into a smith’s shop and start picking up his things. You need to ask, boy.” Kilen turned to see the short, wide, bearded man working the fan to heat the coals. He looked a bit confused when Kilen turned around. “Weapon bearer?” Kilen shook his head yes and the man went back to heating the coals. “If you want a sword, I suppose that one will do, but I think it’s a bit large for your arm. You had better go with one the length of your other sword there,” he said pointing at Kilen’s sword.

  “The blade I need is for another man. He is much stronger than me.”

  “Well it has more to do than with a person’s strength to choose the right blade. Tell me how tall he is, how wide, and just how he fights.” Kilen tried to think of the times he had seen Chit fight people in the tavern back at Humbridge.

  Max chimed in after seeing Kilen’s memories, Tell him Chit’s size, and tell him he fights recklessly without regard t
o his own defense. Kilen repeated what Max said to the smith and added his size.

  “Well, you’d be about right then. I would recommend the blade you chose. Maybe a bit wider blade, and if he’s that tall I’d add a couple inches. If you’re interested it would be fifteen silver crowns but I’ll have it done before evening meal time if I start right now.”

  “That sounds great. Kilen passed him two gold crowns and two silver crowns. I request that you work some silver into the hilt and maybe the letter C for me. I think he would like that.”

  The smith looked at the money in his palm and was astounded by the amount he had received. It was more than double what he had asked for. “Any more special requests for the blade my lord?”

  “Well, I wanted the sword to speak to others to tell them just who the man is, so that when they saw his sword they would know everything about him.”

  “Ok, I can do that. Tell me about him so I can make the proper adjustments,” the smith smiled when he said that.

  “Chit is the mayor’s spoiled son, but he doesn’t rely on that to get what he wants. He’s larger and meaner than anyone else in the village. He drinks all night, sleeps all day, and tries to claim every woman for himself. He’s thoughtless and greedy, not to mention he can’t add, read a map, and his only true skill is intimidating his fellow townsmen.”

  “I think I have enough to work with, lad,” He smiled a big smile. “I’ll have it done before dinner. It will be worth the price that you paid for it.” Kilen shook the man’s hand and left to make his way back towards the castle. Then he remembered that Leroy would need more herbs if he was to keep making so much food. He did need to see Izabel again, anyway. He turned and made his way through the streets until he came to the herbalist’s shop which was still full of green herbs. There was a line of people standing outside the shop and as Kilen watched some would exit with baskets filled with herbs, and smiles on their faces. Izabel stepped out to wave the next customer inside and saw Kilen standing across the street watching. She waved him over.

  “Come inside. There’s an extra stool behind the counter. Sit there and I will be with you shortly.” She motioned the next customers, inside the shop and locked the door behind them. “Sorry about all the precautions. I just have so much I cannot keep track of all the people that come in and out. I saw a young boy running off with some dangerous leaves and thought it was wise to slow the amount of people coming and going.” Her voice was light. She still floated around the shop in her slippers and wore a similarly cut dress that exposed too much bosom for Kilen’s liking. She didn’t ask the couple that came in what they needed. She just moved from plant to plant, collecting leaves here and seed’s there, roots from some and flowers from others. She didn’t remove the cloth from her scale or even weigh the amount she placed in their basket. “The usual amount should be enough. I seem to have an abundance as of late and it will only go bad if keep it. So take this and use it well.” The elderly couple thanked her profusely and left, holding the basket as if there was a child inside. She shut the door behind them and locked it after she told the other customers to come back after lunch.

  “Thank you for waiting. I’m glad you kept your word but I still have to much here to sell before the plants go bad. Can I get you to come back later in the week or perhaps next week?”

  “That’s fine. Actually, I need more of the herbs that my friend came for last time. I cannot remember what we bought from you.”

  “I will give you want you need. After all, I have an abundance here. I did not catch your name the last time you were here.” She moved around the shelves and picked a larger amount than they had bought previously.

  Her exposed cleavage made Kilen nervous. He felt that he was going to get slapped at any moment for glancing at her chest. He did his best to meet her eyes every time she was facing his direction. Concentrating on not looking made it hard to talk with any intelligence, “Uhm my name is Kilen. My friend’s name is Leroy and he’s from Keepers.”

  “I know where Keepers is, although I have never been there myself. I heard that most of that city remains underwater. Where are you from Kilen?”

  “I’m from Humbridge in the Water Realm. It’s just south of the northern forest. How much will I owe you for the herbs?”

  “You made them grow, so I won’t charge you anything. Just remember to come back and visit every once and awhile. I have a lot of customers that could use the cheap herbs.”

  “I will. Can I ask you a few things before I go?” Izabel tapped a dirty fingernail against her chin and straightened her hair while she spoke.

  “Go ahead and ask but don’t expect an answer. I will only answer questions I feel comfortable with.” Kilen nodded and made sure to keep his questions to any topic that didn’t directly involve her.

  “When we were here last time, you cast lots for us and you seemed a little disturbed by my casting. What did you see?” Izabel reached under her counter and poured a bag of small bones out into her hand. She examined the bones in an open palm then began the casting ritual with her face towards the sky and then she tossed them onto the countertop.

  “This is the fourth time I have cast this pattern with you. In my past I have always cast the bones and never gotten the same results more than twice. I found it very strange, so I did some research on what laid on the counter after you left.” She pulled a purple book from underneath the countertop and began flipping through the pages. “Each interpretation I can find about your casting says that you’re important, but not to whom or why. It also says that you are very dangerous if crossed. That is why I gave you the herbs you wanted. Although the fear has left me now, I think that you may be important to me in some way.”

  Joahna spoke up, She’s wrong. It says you’re a savior. But she’s right stating that it does not say for who or where. This casting is very hard to interpret. Each manual like the one she has can have different meanings for the castings.

  Kilen spoke out loud to Joahna before he could stop himself. “What if you are wrong?”

  She smiled and put the bones back inside her sack and placed the book and bones under the counter.

  “I could definitely be wrong. I’ve only dabbled in it to help find honest people in my dealings. I have never seen the same casting four times in a row on the same person though, so I don’t think I’m wrong. Do you have any more questions?”

  I could also be wrong, but I can only speak of what I was taught. That casting has a different meaning for me. We will discuss it later.

  Kilen stood still, confused about the two different versions of the castings. “I think that is all for now. I will try and come back before you run yourself out of supplies.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. They cannot afford much. The herbs I sell them keep my store running. I make no profit unless I sell to someone outside my normal customers like you, for example. My customers usually don’t make much and depend on the herbs to keep going from day to day. They use it to stop pain or aches, or allow them to keep their food down. Some have wives or loved ones that cannot eat normal food so they give them nutritious broth made from my herbs. I help the elderly or the lame of this city to live as much life as they can.” Izabel put the herbs in a small canvas sack and handed it to Kilen. “Remember to come back later this week and bring your friend with you. He might want to adjust the order. Besides, when he stares at me at least he lets me know he likes what he sees. Kilen’s face felt hot from embarrassment and he knew that he was turning red. He turned and left the store without saying another word.

  In the street Kilen noticed that a line had formed again outside the storefront and old Tom from the castle was at the front of the line. The elderly man looked up and caught Kilen’s eye. They nodded to each other and Kilen turned to make his way back to the castle. He walked along the street and jumped over the wall again to avoid the guards at the front gate. He moved to the meal tents near the kitchen. When he entered the tent for weapon bearers, Jace saw him and waved him over. G
ortus, Jace, and Leroy all sat at a table together. Gortus was smiling and digging into a second plate of thin meat slices covered in brown gravy. Leroy got up and moved towards him as he neared. “That was meant for you but he couldn’t resist eating yours also. I will fetch some chicken I had made just in case.” Kilen nodded then handed the bag of herbs to Leroy. “Great! If he continues to eat like this I’ll need every spice left in the city to feed him for the rest of your training. Sit down. I’ll bring out your meal in a moment.” Leroy hurried through the tables and disappeared outside the tent. Kilen did just as Leroy had said and pulled out his book to read as he waited for Gortus to finish eating.

  Finally Jace spoke over Gortus’ open-mouth chewing and ripping of cooked flesh from his fingertips. “I do think that by the lack of your words, Gortus. Leroy has come through with his apart of the bargain. If that is true then you will provide training for the boy, am I correct?” Gortus stopped eating for only long enough to grunt an agreement to the terms, then kept chewing his food. Jace, satisfied, leaned back in his chair and began telling Gortus about Kilen’s lack of skill. He pointed out every flaw in the way Kilen fought, “He is ungraceful, has lead weight for feet. His arm lacks the skill for a proper swing and is too weak to pick up a decent sword without magic. He doesn’t bend his knees and he is too impulsive, not knowing the proper counter attack or attack to provide the most damage.” Max was laughing and agreeing with everything Jace had mentioned and added a couple of flaws of his own.

  He thinks too slow and is afraid to take risks, Max shouted as if the others could hear him.

  “I think too slow and I take little risk,” he spoke for Max, because the others couldn’t hear him. Jace looked over the table and Gortus stopped chewing to look at Kilen in confusion. “So I’ve heard,” he added just to keep anyone from questioning him about the source.

  Gortus spoke through his last few bites of meat with small pieces of food and spittle coming out with the words. “You will meet me at the sword arena every moment of your day that you don’t have other lessons, from sunrise to sunset. You will devote yourself wholly to the lessons. You will not stop until I tell you. You will not rest until I tell you. You will not quit once we have begun or I will kill you.” Kilen looked between the two warriors on the other side of the table. Jace gave no hint of what he was supposed to do.