Tested (The Life of Uktesh Book 1)

by Aaron Hicks

  “Laurilli, behave or I’ll spank your body.”

  “I’m fifteen now! I’m way too old for spankings!”

  “What? You were fourteen last time we talked, before the saber rabbit.” said Uktesh.

  “Yeah, you missed my birthday, so you owe me a present.” she said happily.

  “Saving your life doesn’t count?”

  “I guess that’s a good present, but you owe me!”

  “With that speech, if you don’t want spankings, then get changed and do whatever Uktesh says.” She must’ve seen Uktesh’s brief grin because she added, “Unless it has to do with you and your body.”

  Uktesh groaned and threw his hands up in the air, “I’m leaving. Come get me when you’re ready.” As the back door closed, he heard the two women, two girls really, burst into laughter.

  They trained for most of the day every day, and, as the days passed, soon Uktesh was able to join in the practices. After three weeks, Uktesh decided that she was ready to help out the people of Manori.

  The Pursuit of Money

  “You’ve got to help me! My poor baby’s stuck in the tree!” Kylli said and pointed into the tree.

  Uktesh and Laurilli turned away from the old woman and looked into the tree that she continued to point at, and they saw that her “baby” was a three feet long boacat. Its bright red eyes gleamed from the lowest branch, its forked tongue licked the air in front of it, and it had wrapped its equally three feet long tail around the tree. It was clear to the two would-be-heroes that the boacat was more than comfortable where it was, and that to attempt to move it would be hazardous to one’s health.

  Laurilli moved next to him, and muttered under her breath, “Uktesh the reward for this is only two silver pieces. We could just walk away. It’ll get down when it gets cold or hungry, and the way it’s looking at me I don’t think hunger is going to be a long wait.” She was dressed in one of her training outfits which consisted of black pants, this pair was not as tight as most that she owned as she “hadn’t worn pants since she was a child.” Which in her opinion was thirteen which was only two years ago for her. But she had grown a lot in that time. She also wore a black shirt loose enough to allow movement, but hugged her body enough to not get easily caught on anything, and her golden hair was tied in a tight braid.

  Uktesh was inclined to agree, but this was their first bounty that paid anything. It paid two silvers, and while not a lot, was the promise of a start to their career as “heroes for hire.” “No, we can use one of the silvers to get Heathyr something nice, like maybe a new dress.” They had decided early on that half of what they earned, they would give to Heathyr, who let them play at being heroes, and they would split the rest. “I have a plan that should work, do you trust me?”

  Uktesh and Laurilli had grown closer in the weeks he’d trained her. During practice, they’d talk for hours about everything and nothing. There had been some anger early on about how much Uktesh made her do, but once he was healthy enough to join in, he did all the exercises that he’d made her do, plus more. If this task however, was an actual risk to her life, that was another thing. This should be a simple plan. Once begun, the boacat should just want to run home.

  “Of course I do.” She smiled at him, and the sun that rose behind her made her golden hair shine like a golden fire. He couldn’t help how his jaw went slack, before he grinned back at her like an idiot.

  “Great! Here’s my plan.” As he laid out his plan, Laurilli’s face became more and more pale.

  “Have you ever done this before?”

  “I’ve never had the need or the want to get a fully grown boacat out of a tree, but it should work.”

  Ordinarily boacats were just as docile as regular cats. But just as all cat owners know to forcefully move a normal cat out of where it wants to be could end with some painful scratches. Then add about ninety pounds, and the ability to crush a human, and the risks go up. Laurilli started the plan when she started to talk to the boacat, as if it could understand her. But she was the distraction. Uktesh started to slowly climb up the tree that was next to the one the boacat was occupying. He made sure to climb with as much stealth as possible. Once in the tree, he crept along a branch towards the boacat’s tree. He was able to silently move from a branch on the opposite tree to one on the boacat’s tree without much noise or vibration in the trunk of the tree. He snuck up until he was right behind it, and surprisingly it did not notice his approach. He nodded at Laurilli, who stopped talking, walked to Kylli’s door, and opened it, and gestured for Kylli to join her. When the two ladies were inside, with the door still open, Uktesh barked like a wild dog at the top of his lungs. He startled the boacat out of the tree and into the house where Laurilli was to make sure it didn’t kill Kylli in its fear.

  Uktesh grabbed the lowest branch, swung down, and dangled for a moment before he dropped to the ground. He walked towards the house, when the front door opened and Laurilli walked out of it. She wore a smile of triumph. She paused, held a pose, and showed that they’d been paid four silver coins!

  “Uktesh she was so happy that we were quick and didn’t hurt Mr. Mittens!” Uktesh raised his right eyebrow at her, so she explained, “The boacat must’ve had white fur on its paws as a kitten. Anyway, what should we do now that we have some money?”

  Uktesh didn’t know. But in his mind all the things he suddenly thought of doing with her were free, his grin must’ve given something away, because Laurilli said, “What should we buy,” she emphasized the word, “now that we have money.”

  “We could buy you some pants that are not too tight, so that you can wear them in public.” She pulled the hem of her shirt down, suddenly self-conscious, “Not that I mind a great deal,” Uktesh continued as if he hadn’t noticed, “I think you look amazing. I just don’t want anyone else to realize this and try to steal you away from me.”

  She smiled her smile that seemed to be brighter than the sun at him and interlaced her fingers in his as they walked to the tailor shop. “You know I never thought I’d be this happy, or comfortable in this town, because normally, with dad gone, it’s like no one cares about us.”

  “I feel the same, I’ve never felt this happy, even in my home town.”

  They walked in silence for a while and Uktesh just enjoyed the feel of her hand in his. They turned around the corner towards the tailors and saw it in the distance, “Do you think I could get something other than black? Maybe dark green or dark blue?” She looked up at him with her sapphire eyes and he felt himself nod, with the realization that anything this angelic creature wanted, he would give, “As long as you keep it dark so that it can blend in with shadows if needed.”

  “Well, don’t you two make a lovely couple.” The mocking words came from the shadows under a tree, where Uktesh could see Dekan as he leaned against the tree.

  “Where’s Baloce, Dekan?” asked Uktesh. Laurilli released his hand and took a step behind him, “He’s the one that has any wits about him. I took you out easily enough the first time we met. Since then, I’ve traded up to fighting saber rabbits and winning.”

  “We heard about that, also heard that you wuz an Afflicted witch too!”

  “See this is exactly why you shouldn’t speak without Baloce.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “He would be able to tell you that there’s no way I’m a witch.”

  “He would, would he? The way I hear it you sold your soul to kill it, and that’s why you wouldn’t wake up.”

  “Really? Sold my soul, and how would one go about doing that? And who would buy it? And how would I have done that in the middle of a fight?

  “Don’t think that you’ll be able to trick me!”

  “Logic always seems like trickery to the slow of mind.” Uktesh made sure that his face had a look that was sure to antagonize him, because he knew that Dekan would just bull rush at him, one of the easiest attacks to beat.

  “Dekan, calm down,” Baloce’s voice called out from higher
in the tree.

  “But he just-” Dekan started but was interrupted.

  “He just picked a fight with you in the middle of the street. What would people say, that you attacked him and he beat the hell out of you defending himself?” Baloce lightly jumped down out of the tree from the lowest branch, and Uktesh realized that in a fight, Baloce would be much more difficult than Dekan.

  “Point to you sir,” he tipped an imaginary hat at Uktesh. “Come on Dekan lets leave these two young lovers to their shopping.” They started to walk away and Dekan said, “I heard about the saber rabbit, I’ve killed one myself, maybe next time I’ll try it with just a sword too.”

  Uktesh shook his head at their stupidity, “Why were you trying to pick a fight with Dekan?”

  “Pretty much for the reasons Baloce mentioned. I feared those two will cause trouble for us, so I planned on beating him enough that he would think twice about trying anything again.”

  Laurilli grabbed his hand and forcefully marched him towards the tailors with only a scoff of, “Men!” Uktesh smiled, glad to be able to hold her hand again. Outside of the shop, the sign read Triple T’s Tailoring. They entered the shop and were greeted by the six feet two inches tall Tylor Taylor, who happened to be a tailor, “Welcome to Tylor Taylor’s Terribly Terrific Tailoring! The only thing better than my tailoring is the price! What can I get for such a lovely couple?” He was tall and thin, but Uktesh could tell he had strong muscles hidden by his long pants and long sleeved shirt. His red hair was about two inches long, his smile was genuine and Uktesh felt it safe to leave it up to Laurilli to barter and discuss what she wanted. He walked around the store and looked at the rows of fabric that covered every inch of the walls, and most of the space in between.

  Uktesh found a ream of black silk and thought about how comfortable it would be to wear, but it reflected light to well. While he continued to wander around the store, two men came in who were not happy. Tylor excused himself from Laurilli and went to speak with them, without the regular Triple T greeting, Uktesh noted. Laurilli came over to him and with a frown said, “It’ll cost three silvers for dark green pants in my size, and two silvers for a nice dress for mom.”

  “That seems high to me, does it to you?”

  “Yes, but he said that it was because of my fabric. Apparently, the dark green or blue are more expensive than black.”

  Uktesh was very careful not to ask her to buy the black, or to show what he thought about her options, “We’ll work something out.”

  She smiled at him and hugged him. While she still held onto him one of the two customers swore and yelled, “You said that you would have the clothes ready two weeks ago!”

  Laurilli let go of Uktesh and switched her position into a defensive unarmed stance.

  “What can I do? The cloth was held up in Granger, then the cart broke an axle, and now there’s been yet a third curse, the wheel broke off the cart! It is still in White Bridge, but no one wants to make the journey towards Beletarian lands. I would take off one fourth the price for you to go, and retrieve the cloth.”

  “Become a simple merchant? You insult me!” The man reached out and grabbed Tylor, but before he could do anything further, Uktesh placed his hand on the man’s forearm and squeezed a pressure point. With a yelp he dropped Tylor, “Boy, you dare to attack me!”

  “No attack was made. I was simply going to ask how much money one fourth of your price would be?”

  “None of your business, boy.”

  “It may become by business so, please illuminate me as to how much money it would be?”

  “Nearly five gold pieces, not that it matters, I’m not foolish enough to go to White Bridge. I heard it gets daily raids from Beletarians!”

  I doubt that. If it did, it wouldn’t be a place to live after the first raid. “Tylor, if Laurilli and I get your shipment of clothe could we get the five gold coins you would’ve paid him?”

  “Uktesh,” Laurilli said, “that’s a full day’s walk towards Beletaria!”

  Uktesh nodded to her and looked back again to Tylor, “I don’t know,” he said and switched into a more businesslike pattern of speech and posture, “I would’ve paid him that much because I value him and his business, but you have never been in this shop before. Laurilli your father’s a soldier, there’s money in that these days, but only if one survives to bring it home. I’ll give you a single gold.”

  Uktesh laughed and turned to Laurilli, “Let’s go. He clearly doesn’t value this gentleman enough to make us a decent offer.” Tylor looked and the two men who suddenly scowled at him and said hastily, “I could be persuaded to part with half the price I would’ve paid him.”

  Uktesh had been hoping for that, but with it already on the table he knew he could barter a better price. “You will take the food from our mouths, and the shirts off our backs for such a price.” His flamboyant words had their desired effect. Both of the other men for the first time since they entered the shop, began to smile and even Tylor had a gleam in his eye, “I wouldn’t do it for less than four golds.”

  “For three gold pieces your family would eat like kings for months and your lady dress like a queen for longer!”

  “For three gold pieces, seven silver, and five copper, it is true. We would not starve with winter so close.”

  “Winter is months away! For three gold pieces, two silver, five copper, you would last till then, through the winter, and into the next summer!”

  Uktesh changed his voice for his final offer, “Three golds, two silvers, and five coppers, and throw in the pants and dress Laurilli wants too.”

  “Young man you have a deal.” They shook hands and Tylor said, “Well boy the day’s just started. If you hurry you can be back by midday tomorrow.”

  “There’s a rush fee of one gold if we get back before sunset tonight.”

  Tylor smiled, “Sure kid, if you make it back here with that ream of cloth by sunset, you can have an extra gold.”

  “Laurilli let’s go home and tell your mom the plan. Tylor how long will it take to make the dress and pants?”

  “Three days after I get the measurements.” he said.

  “Laurilli, change of plans. I’ll tell Heathyr, and you get measured. I’ll hurry back.” He left the store at a dead sprint and didn’t stop until he’d run all the way home. As he opened the door without a knock, he realized that he felt like this was his home. Heathyr was in her room and came out when she heard him enter. She looked at him, then looked towards the door and paled. Uktesh realized that, out of breath as he was, she must’ve thought something had happened to Laurilli, so he quickly said, “Laurilli’s fine. I just ran back here to let you know that the first quest performed by Uktesh and Laurilli’s ‘Heroes for Hire’ was a resounding success. We made four silvers and are buying you a dress with part of it! Laurilli’s getting measured for pants that fit.” He said as he climbed up the ladder to his room. He shouted down, “I know you’ll be happy about that!” He came down the ladder with his bow, unstrung, and his arrows, “And you’re next to be measured,” he continued, “but you’ll have to go without me, because we’ve already got our second job! It pays three golds, two silvers, and five copper coins, but I must hurry. If we finish by sundown we’ll get an extra gold. Don’t worry, I’ll keep Laurilli safe.” He strapped his sword across his back and was out the door before Heathyr said anything. He grabbed the axe from the wood pile before he headed back to the town.

  It was times like these that Uktesh wished they lived closer to the town, so that they could go back and forth easier. Uktesh took a deep breath and began to sprint again towards the town. Laurilli was waiting for him in front of Triple T’s Tailoring. He tossed her the axe, nodded his head towards the north end of town, and slowed to a pace that Laurilli could keep up with.

  Together they crossed the north bridge and headed towards White Bridge. With the sprint to and from home, Uktesh was still able to easily out run Laurilli. Soon she began to lag behind, so he
took her axe and ran on with the extra weight. Soon she began to falter again. He stopped by a tree with a nice shade and together they caught their breaths. “I think if we’re going to get the extra gold we’ll need to be smart about this. We’ve been running for almost an hour, great job by the way! But I judge that we are still four hours at this pace to White Bridge. So I think you should rest here, while I run as fast as I can there and back. Once I get back, you’ll be rested and you’ll run the rest of the way back while I walk. Plus, this way you’re not in danger by going nearer to Beletaria. Sound good?”

  “I don’t like that you’ll have to do the most work, and I feel safer with you, but you’re right. If we are to have any chance of getting the extra gold, it’ll be because we’re smart about it. Help me up into the tree and I’ll be fine. The lowest branch is higher than any one person could get to, and if they do, I’ll have my axe.”

  “Or we could go together and forget the extra gold.”

  “I’ll be fine by myself,” she said.

  “What would be the best attack from that position?”

  “I wouldn’t be able to set my feet, or really lunge, but I think a simple-” she stopped midsentence, “wait, the best wouldn’t be to attack with my axe. If I tried the unarmed Leaf on the Wind that would be the best.”

  “Well done! That’s what I think too, but if you don’t feel like you’re ready for Leaf on the Wind, just wave your axe at them, and they’ll back off. Plus, you shouldn’t have any problems.”

  He locked his fingers together to form a step and Laurilli hugged him fiercely, but quickly stepped into his hand. Once she was situated in the tree, she said, “Stay safe!”

  Uktesh handed her the axe and said, “Don’t worry about me. You have enough food and water, it’s enough for two days. But if I’m not back by sunset, run home and I’ll meet you at home in the morning.” He looked into her fearful eyes and said, “You’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. And tomorrow, or maybe later today, we’ll have golds to spend!”

  He nodded to her and ran at a fast jog north. He used the Beletarian quick step to keep his momentum always forward. The trick, to the quick step was to step when his foot had not yet past his body. A man or woman who ran this way could run for hours and only be slightly winded. He had taught the skill to Laurilli, but they hadn’t had enough time for a longer run. She had never trained before, so her muscles and heart couldn’t take the strain of a regular run for too long. With this technique, she was already able to run further. After only a few weeks, she had just run for an hour at a hard pace.