“Sometimes I wish my life was simple,” said Falcon.
“You’re welcome to come visit if you like simple,” said Gyda.
“I’m not sure King Dominick would like that, he warned me to stay away from the members of his court or I would be sucked into politics,” said Falcon.
“Nothing to worry about; I’ll have no politicking in my home. Well, let me get you gentlemen something to eat while you chat,” said Gyda excusing herself.
“What she said is true, I know how it can be in the castle,” said Werval.
Falcon was dreading returning to the castle so Werval’s offer was a tempting one, but he did not really know if it would be any better here. In an attempt to be polite, Falcon stayed quiet and nodded to Werval. Once Gyda returned with a tray of food they ate and talked about Falcon’s winter at Spring Forge and some of his studies. Falcon started to feel that he could stay there all day and they would happily accept him, but he had somewhere else he wanted to go before he was expected back at the castle.
“Thank you for your hospitality but I really should be going,” said Falcon.
“You’re welcome. Let me walk you out,” said Werval.
After leaving Werval, Falcon went to see his friend Mary in the outer ring. As he walked the streets he noted they were almost completely empty. Everyone was so scared of the cold they stayed inside but Falcon knew the cold was no threat. In Reed, you learned to embrace the cold. Here the city was a greater danger than the weather.
The people from Reed were poor and nearly homeless with no friends. In Dominion that could be a death sentence, even for the people who lived here their whole lives. Life in Reed had not prepared them for the dangers of the natural world, not the harness of other people. In Reed everyone banded together to help each other during hard times. Whether it was opening their door for a stranger during a harsh blizzard or looking after each other’s children and homes. In Dominion, everyone was a stranger and their children were just as likely to steal your home as they were.
As Falcon reached the neighborhood housing his people, it was like entering a different world. Half the buildings were torn down to rebuild others. It looked like it was recently abandoned instead of being recently occupied. When Falcon saw how hard his people worked hard to make it their home and here he was complaining about living in grandest place in the city. Falcon shook off the thought and he went straight to where his friend Mary lived. She was wrapped in a blanket with a worn book on her lap.
“Hey Mary,” said Falcon from behind.
“Oh! Falcon! I’m glad you’re alright,” said Mary jumping up to give Falcon a hug.
“Why would I not be alright?” asked Falcon.
“No reason, but I haven’t seen you all winter,” said Mary.
“I was not in the city. But I’m back now. How are you?” asked Falcon, noticing she’d become both taller and leaner over the winter.
“I’m alright. Life here is… different. Most are making it feel more like home but there’s been a lot of arguing that we should go back to Fort Reed,” answered Mary.
“How can I help?” asked Falcon.
“Don’t worry about us. We have each other here. You’re the one who’s all alone,” said Mary as she flicked her long braids over her shoulder.
“I’ll be okay. I’ll try to come back soon,” said Falcon.
“I’d like that, I’m sure everyone would be happy to see you,” said Mary.
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing about the differences between Dominion and Reed. It was so easy to talk to her that the time went by in a flash. As the sun started to set he realized he had to leave for dinner. So he bid his farewell and left for the castle. On his walk Falcon thought about how his people were working so hard to make Dominion their home. Yet there were some who would rather work toward getting their old home back.
He lost his train of thought when someone called out to him from farther down the street. “Hey, Fen. Looks like we found another one!”
“Your dad was right. The Reed disease is spreading. What do you think, Ruark?” said Fenir from Falcon’s right.
“Looks lost and scared,” said Ruark from Falcon’s left.
They had him surrounded. Fear struck him and he almost did not realize they were talking about him. He took a few steps back trying to keep the three boys in front of him.
“Whoa, where are you headed?” asked Fenir, hopping next to Falcon and using his arm to block the way. Stupid, he just told Mary how dangerous this city could be.
“Don’t you want to learn about your new home?” said Ruark grabbing Falcon’s arm.
As the two boys dragged him into a narrow side street, he tried to kick free but the they grabbed his legs.
“So feisty,” said the boy holding his legs.
“How you like them, Hal,” said Fenir.
“Heee— ” Falcon’s scream was cut off by Fenir shoving a piece of moldy trash in his mouth.
Hal flicked Falcon’s nose, drawing even more fear, “If you want to live in our city you’re going to need to learn the rules.”
Ruark punched him in the stomach, “These are our shops and our streets. If you want to use them, you have to pay,” said Ruark.
Fenir took a small wooden club from his robe and cracked Falcon in the chest, “If you and the rest of your flea-ridden people want to live in our houses and work our jobs, you have to pay.”
Fenir tapped Falcon on the forehead with his club and sat on his thighs. Ruark and Hal held him down. Fenir beat him with his club. Falcon tried to scream and choked on the garbage, his eyes filled with tears.
“Last lesson, next time I see you talking to Rika back at the shop, your face is going to pay the price. I’ll let my friend here peel the skin off your face and make you eat it,” said Fenir.
Falcon kicked and tried to break free, but they were just too strong. After Fenir finished speaking, they stopped holding him so Ruark could use the club. Falcon tried to run, but they shoved him to the ground and continued the beating. Hal took the club for his turn and again Falcon tried to run.
“Guess he’s a slow learner,” said Fenir, tripping him again. Falcon landed on his stomach and Hal stepped on his back.
“Don’t worry, I’m a good teacher. Hold him,” said Hal.
Fenir and Ruark held him down. Hal took off his belt, and looped it around Falcon’s neck.
“Stop squirm’n, we ain’t gonna kill ya!” said Fenir.
Overcome by fear, Falcon struggled one of his arms free. Fenir grabbed his arm and twisted, breaking Falcon’s arm and keeping him down. Falcon’s vision went black from pain. Hal tightened the belt, causing him to twist trying to get away.
“Keep him still,” said Hal.
Hal leaned his weight on Falcon’s back to keep him down.
“Pay attention, next time it’ll be worse,” said Hal.
Again Falcon struggled. Hal cracked his head. Falcon went limp and passed out.
Chapter 11
Wise and Stupid
When Falcon woke up, he was cold and alone. His whole body hurt, and he smelled like shit, piss, and garbage. When he tried to stand, his broken arm sent a jolt of pain. He collapsed and curled into a ball, shaking. What reason was there to get up and keep trying? The wind blew making him shiver. Using his good hand, he crawled closer to one of the buildings. The wind made him shiver again.
If only to get away from the cold wind, he looked around for anything to cover himself. He spotted the black cloak Rocious gave him bundled up next to the building. It must have come loose at some point. Falcon rolled over to his cloak and used the building to get to his feet. He wrapped himself in his cloak, but it was wet and he still felt cold. He looked around again for some place to keep warm. There was nobody on the street, but he saw a few shadowy faces in the surrounding windows. In Reed, he could have gone to any of them but here they had probably locked their door the moment they noticed him. Falcon tightened his cloak and starte
d walking back to the castle.
When he got back to the main street he realized the sun was still up, he must not have been passed out very long. Maybe he could clean himself up, and still make dinner. Falcon held his broken arm close and tried to ignore the pain as he walked. When he got to the castle’s courtyard, the guards stopped him. But they let him through quickly when he said he was cold. As he reached the door to the castle, it opened from the inside causing him to stumble.
“Whoa there,” said Decimus as he caught Falcon by the arm.
“Bahh!” said Falcon through clenched teeth as Decimus grabbed his broken arm.
“What the hell happened to you?” asked Decimus concerned.
Falcon pushed the pain away and slipped past Decimus, “Nothing.”
Decimus let him by and walked down the hall next to him, “That don’t look or smell like nothing,” said Decimus.
A couple servants walked toward them down the hallway. Decimus pushed Falcon, forcing him to turn down a side hallway.
“Hey!” said Falcon.
Decimus pushed Falcon’s head to the side and forced him farther down the hall, “Oh shut it. I don’t know what happened, but you best get cleaned up before someone else sees… or smells you.”
He led the way to a smaller closet near the kitchens and shoved Falcon inside, “Use the dish water to clean up, I’ll grab you some cleaner clothes.”
Decimus shut the door so Falcon took off his cloak and clothes carefully, then washed himself in the tub of cold water. He even tried to wash the taste of garbage out of his mouth. As he was drying off Decimus opened the door with some servant’s clothes in his hand.
“Fuck, who did that?!” asked Decimus.
“Nobody, forget about it,” said Falcon.
“Looks like you got trampled by a horse,” said Decimus.
Falcon got dressed, favoring his broken arm. Decimus tried to help but Falcon shoved him off.
“Look, I ain’t gonna ask anymore but, you’ve gotta do something about that arm. Come back to the barracks and I’ll set it,” offered Decimus.
“I can’t, I’ll be late for dinner,” said Falcon.
“Then find me after or it’ll stay fucked up,” said Decimus.
“I have to go,” said Falcon shoving his way past Decimus.
Falcon quickly changed his clothes to something more formal. He was luckily able to make it through dinner without setting off any major alarm or at least none that were voiced. Normally he would have history lessons, but they let him go to bed early after being on the road. Instead of going back to his room, he searched for Decimus.
He found Decimus in the barracks with the old dagger Rocious used to demonstrate the use of runes. He was trying to activate the runes, but had not made much progress.
“Hey, I forgot to thank you earlier,” said Falcon.
Decimus did not look up, he just sat focusing on the dagger. Falcon sat next to him and waited…
“Fuck it. That’s a lot harder than Rocious made it seem,” said Decimus finally.
“That’s because you can’t sense the flow of magic. I can make you one that’s easier to practice with,” said Falcon.
“I’m not scared of a challenge. Let me see the arm,” said Decimus.
Falcon offered his arm for Decimus to set and splint, “It will still be difficult to do, but easier to notice when it’s working,” said Falcon.
Aside from the setting part, Decimus had a surprisingly gentle hand for such a big guy. “Believe it or not, I’ve been there. I grew up in Dominion, tough city.”
“Yeah,” said Falcon tersely.
Falcon wanted to go to bed, and forget about it. But Decimus clearly wanted to talk and Falcon did not want to be rude after Decimus had helped him.
“You know why I’m ranked number one in the ninth legion?” asked Decimus.
“You’re bigger and better than everyone else. Well, except Colville,” answered Falcon with a sly smirk.
“Bigger helps, but why do you think I’m better?” asked Decimus.
“I never really thought about it,” said Falcon.
“Everyone make excuses, like I have talent or I am naturally strong. But the truth is, I’m better because I work harder,” said Decimus.
“Except Colville,” said Falcon.
“He’s spent his whole life fighting, that’s a big head start. And not to make excuses, but it’s in his blood,” said Decimus.
“What happened to him? Master Lockland said, he gave up the sword,” asked Falcon.
Decimus was caught off guard by the question. It took him a little while before he answered.
“Colville’s son, Arthur, was killed four years ago. Colville hasn’t picked up a sword since,” said Decimus.
“Arthur? The name carved into the ninth’s challenge boards?” asked Falcon.
“Yeah, Arthur was number one. I was second,” answered Decimus.
“It’s tough to believe,” said Falcon.
“He wasn’t the best just because he was a better swordsman. Don’t get me wrong, he was, had more talent. He was even better than his dad. But what made him truly special was how he pushed everyone strive to be better,” said Decimus.
“That why you work so hard, to push everyone?” said Falcon.
“I’m just too stupid to do anything else. With Arthur it wasn’t hard work. It was fun. Everyone worked harder, but it felt like a game,” said Decimus.
“My dad told me ‘you can be stupid and wise at the same time’,” said Falcon.
Decimus turned away for a second then looked down at his hands, “Sounds smart. Too smart for me,” said Decimus.
“He was confusing,” agreed Falcon looking down at his own hands.
Decimus nudged Falcon’s shoulder, “Anyway, I grew up in Dominion. It’s a tough place, gotta fight if you want to survive. If you want I can teach you. I wake before sunrise and train in the main courtyard until the rest of the barracks wakes up. You’re welcome to join.”
“My dad forbid me from learning swordsmanship and Master Lockland said it was a waste of time,” said Falcon.
“What do you say?” asked Decimus.
“I want to learn but Master Lockland said ‘Weapons just get in the way’,” said Falcon in a grumbly voice.
Decimus rumbled out a laugh at Falcon’s impression, “That’s a pretty good. I can teach you to spar but it’s still gonna be tough fighting without a weapon,” said Decimus.
“Okay. I hope Master Lockland doesn’t get mad,” said Falcon.
“He’s always mad. Speaking of that old grump, shouldn’t he be back by now?” asked Decimus.
Rocious hated the cold, but he learned there were things he hated far more. Trapped in an endless blizzard and the cold was the only part that he could fend off. As a master of fire he could walk through a frozen wasteland naked and come up unharmed. But he was powerless against the constant wind. It was so strong he had to lean into it simply to keep from falling over. But not too much or when it shifted he would fall flat on his face. Rocious had fallen hundreds of times before he learned to read the shifts in the wind and keep his balance.
Keeping his balance did nothing to stop the sound of the endless wailing. That was what must have caused men to lose their minds in the midst of the storm. Sometimes it sounded so lovely, as if from a beautiful maiden singing just for him. And then it would shift as if that beautiful maiden transformed into a grotesque beast coming to tear his heart out. Those sounds instilled such a fear in him it was incomparable. The night of the dragon attack he tasted the fears of everyone in Dominion and controlled them. The fear induced by that sound had him shivering and crying so bad he wanted to lie down and die.
Then it got worse – the darkness of night set in. Even during the day visibility was minimal, but when the darkness came his fear became a primal force even he could not control. It took hold of him so strongly he attracted magic for miles. Like a grand joke, he was surrounded by an endless supply of magic but
fear rendered him powerless to control it. For the first time in almost fifty years he was unable to master himself. The first night he survived on sheer stubbornness. The next two his body failed him. There was nothing to do except let the wind knock him around. The fourth night he wondered how many nights it would take to kill him. As that thought hit him, a flicker of hope appeared.
A flicker of hope in the form of a woman’s voice. That voice that brought tears to his eyes and warmed his heart. Whether it was his mind playing tricks or not, he followed that voice through the cold dark night. Each time he stumbled that voice picked him up, but the whole time he wondered if he was dreaming or dead. Suddenly the voice stopped, shaking him from his morbid thoughts. The voice stopped but he did not need it anymore. It had led him to the last place he expected. Fort Reed.
He stumbled down the mountains to the same place he had spent the night before going to Keld. He found his pack and gorged on the little food and water left. He went to take another look at the city, his salvation. Before he knew it, he was sobbing like a child.
He hung his head and wiped his tears, “Thank you,” he whispered.
Rocious put together a quick fire and lay down to sleep. He still had a long journey to Dominion. Tomorrow he had to make it back there and let Dominick know what had happened. Word that Eikard was declaring war had probably already reached Dominion, but he would need to tell Dominick the details before Eikard mobilized his troops. At least he now had plenty of magic to get there quickly.
He closed his eyes to sleep, muttering to himself, “If that is you Reed, what are you doing? Your kid needs you. Fuck, I’m talking to myself. I’ve been alone too long.”
Rocious paused and looked around then turned back to Fort Reed, “Whatever, if I’m crazy, I’m crazy. I’ll look after Falcon. Shit, I’ll try to be nice to him. No promises but I’ll try. Unless he tells me I shit too fast,” said Rocious to himself.
On his high-speed trip back to Dominion he was in an uncharacteristically good mood. Especially considering Eikard beat the living hell out of him, he had been lost in a frozen wasteland of insanity and had probably started a war that would kill thousands of people. But if you had lived as long as him, you knew some days you stepped in shit and other days you laughed because it was someone else who stepped in it.
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