This experience almost put me off my dinner. Almost. A day of labor in the field gives you a powerful hunger, which will quickly overcome any squeamishness you are experiencing as a result of watching a deer get skinned.
The evening’s archery lesson went a little better. The basics of shooting an arrow are pretty straightforward, and we were standing barely 25 yards from the target. Moira showed me how to stand, how to pull the string to be near, but not touching my cheek and how to properly sight down an arrow. I even managed to hit the target a few times before the light gave out. Moira, on the other hand, rarely missed the bullseye, and when she did, it was because she was telling me what to do and not concentrating as hard on her shots. It also taught me why I was farming and not with the others waiting to waylay rich travelers. If I could barely hit a stationary target at 25 yards, I would be worthless hitting a moving target at further distance.
Over the course of the next week, my days followed much this same pattern. I would grab a quick breakfast, spend the morning and afternoon minding the farm work, and then in the evenings get lessons on properly butchering a kill and meat preservation techniques. If there was still time after that, we would spend it shooting targets with the practice bow and arrows until the sun gave out.
It was these late evenings that I enjoyed the most. Then most people gathered around the hearth, drank a few mugs of the beer Ross and Sapphire brewed, and shared stories. I heard tales about robberies that went wrong, robberies that went right, stories from myth and legend. Ross was an especially good storyteller. I guess that as a former chaplain of the church, he had learned how to tell a good story. I was also surprised to learn that he knew how to brew beer. It didn’t seem like the kind of behavior priests usually engaged in.
“Kid, I could tell you all sorts of stories that would surprise you about the behaviors of priests, but that’s not really proper after dinner conversation. However, I will tell you this, there are whole monasteries that exist that support themselves by brewing beer. They brew beers at these monasteries that put our brew here to shame. Just think, tasting a beer that is the product of hundreds of years of refinement, brewed by monks whose faith in beer is only exceeded by their faith in God and the Holy Empire. The kind of beer that gives a man faith in the divine…”
It was quite a story, and I could see by his wistful expression that he had had the good fortune of tasting one or two of these fabled brews before.
At the end of the week, I was called away from just such a story by the Boss, or Devlin, as that was his real name. I had not seen him or heard from him since he was dragged back to the base from rescuing me. Apparently his convalescence was going well and he was now healthy enough to speak to me and decide my fate. I immediately found myself very nervous. While I was sure I had proven my value by freeing Moira up from farming to spend more time hunting in the forest, I was not sure if this was enough to prove my value to “The Boss”.
Chapter 7.
“Tyr, is it?” Asked Devlin.
“Uh… yes sir.” I responded.
Devlin was sitting up in bed. He was wearing a light shirt and breaches covering his bandages. He seemed to be coming along fairly well. After all, it had only been a week since he had been wounded. Still, the whole situation had me very nervous. As far as I knew, my future hung in the balance of this little interview.
“Moira tells me you’ve been a real help on the farm which has allowed her to do more hunting. This is a good, as I have a real weakness for cured meats. Bacon for preference, but there are fewer wild pigs in the woods than deer.”
“Uh… yes sir.” What is it about authority figures that turns kids into gibbering idiots?
“OK, I can see you’re nervous. Let’s put things to rest first, I am not going to throw you out into the cold. What kind of host or leader would I be if I did that?”
“Oh thank god!” I stammered. I almost lost my feet with relief and had to pause to take a few deep breaths just to pull myself back together again.
“Ross tells me you’ve had quite an interesting past couple of months.” He said. “Something about you getting chased by inquisitors, losing your family and the like?”
“Uh… yes sir. It’s all been a bit of a blur honestly.”
“He also says you have quite the interesting blade.”
“Yes sir, it was found with me after my family farm was destroyed.”
“Can I see the sword?”
“Yes sir, I will have to go get it though.”
“I can wait, while I’m convalescing I’m not going very far anyway.”
“OK, I’ll be right back.” I said as I ran to my room to pick up my sword.
Oh, now you remember me.
Really? You want to do this now?
Oh, you mean the first time in a week that you have paid any attention to me? Yes, why would I choose to talk to YOU now? Maybe it’s because you are the only person I can talk to and you have been ignoring me all week?
I’m sorry we have not talked much recently, but I have had a lot of chores to do around here. I only just found out they aren’t going to throw me out of here.
Yes, I’m aware. Still, you could have made some time to spend with me. Here I am, sitting in the corner of your room, collecting dust while you go gallivanting about playing outlaw.
As I said, I’m sorry, but I really haven’t had much time. Even now I’m here because the Boss wants to see you.
Oh, I see, not interested in seeing me yourself, you’re only here because THE BOSS wants to see me.
Why is this such a big deal for you?
He asks with archery callouses on his hands. You have time enough to learn how to finger other weapons but not time enough to spend with your sword. I see how it is.
REALLY?! You’re jealous of my learning how to shoot?
I’m your weapon Tyr. ME. I play second fiddle to no one. You’re out shooting bull’s eyes and you still barely even know how to use a steak knife let alone proper swordsmanship.
No one has offered to teach me that yet. Moira was good enough to teach me to shoot because that is what she uses to go hunting and that is what they use when they rob tax collectors and the like.
Oh, of course! Why would a bandit need to know swordsmanship?
Something tells me that if things came to sword fighting the robbery has gone horribly wrong.
“Hey, Tyr, you get lost out there?” The Boss yelled down the hall from his room.
“Sorry, on my way,” I replied.
See, I have been gone too long. Are you going to cooperate?
Fine, but you owe me. First chance you get to learn proper swordsmanship, you jump on it.
And with that I grabbed the sword by the scabbard and ran back to the Boss’s study.
“That took longer than I was anticipating,” said the Boss.
“Uh, yes sir. Sorry, it took longer to… uh… find it than I thought it would.”
“Would you mind letting me hold it for a bit?”
“Um… Nope.” I said, handing it to him.
The Boss held the blade lightly by the handle and pulled it free from its sheath. He looked it over critically, eyeing the blade and point.
“This is an interesting blade son. Where did you say you found it?” He asked?
“It was found with me in the wreckage of my family’s farm.” I replied.
“What do you know about it?”
“Not much honestly. It’s longer and thinner than the swords I see you all were carrying with you when you rescued me.”
“I see… Well, that’s because we tend to use broadswords, and this is something else entirely. You see, a broad sword, or arming sword, is designed for cut and thrust close quarters combat. It is equally good at stabbing or hacking through armor. Hence the thicker blade. They are fairly common in this area of the world, so we have managed to pick up a few in our various enterprises. This, however, is a Spada or Espada, depending on where in the world you ask. It is thinner and lon
ger for better reach and thrusts. It still has a useful blade though, so not totally useless for slashing. It is more of a dueling sword than one designed for military use,” he explained.
Not totally useless for slashing? I’ll show him, that bastard. I’m a better slasher than that slab sided, unwieldy, fat ass short sword he has in the corner there.
Really, now you’re bitching? I thought you wanted some attention? Now you’re getting it.
I’ll show him. I’ll cut that crappy pig iron poker in half.
“It’s a nice blade, if not generally used in these parts. Civilians are not typically allowed swords in the Empire, so dueling is out of the question. Guards tend to be ex-military and stick with the weapons they were trained with. I’m a little surprised at seeing one like this. I haven’t seen one since my military days…”
Oh yes, listen to the great general of the forest! I bet he has led many a deer into battle. Successful too no doubt. I’m sure he’s just living in the forest right now as a clever ruse to evade his many enemies carrying a grudge.
“Wait, you were in the military? Then how did you end up… Uh, here?” I asked. After all, while sarcastic, the sword did have a point. Maybe I should try and learn more of my saviors.
“Son, you will find that everyone here has a story. No one starts off as an outlaw. We all have stories similar to yours, where we end up on the wrong side of the Empire, usually through no fault of our own. Well, mostly through no fault of our own.”
“So, then, how did you end up here?”
“My story is long and tedious. Suffice it to say that, I was once a guard captain in a major city, but I fell for the wrong woman. When it was discovered I was stripped of my rank and exiled. Turning bandit was really the only option left to me. It was either that or die in the forest. And I’m not one for dying.”
Oh what a load of horse shit. This pantywaist was some great guard captain? Loved the wrong woman? Let’s hire a bard to write a play so that generations can enjoy the tale of the star crossed lover who turned to a life of crime!
“So, everyone has a story like yours?” I asked.
“Well, they all have their own stories of how they came here. No less dramatic than yours. I have been taking in these strays for years and we have been making a living off the land; and yes, merchants and tax collectors too. But this is the only life that is left to us. We are all wanted by the Empire, and are in danger from church authorities when we venture into cities or towns.”
“So, then, it is not so uncommon for you to take in refugees like me.”
“Hah, no, but it has been quite some time since we have. And rarely do we take in one quite so young. But then, it is rare for someone your age to get into quite as much trouble as you have.”
“Uh, speaking of, do you know why the Inquisitors were after me? Or is that a dumb question? Uh… Sorry if it’s a dumb question…”
“It’s not a dumb question. I think it’s a very important question, but it’s one I don’t have the answer to. The inquisitors were not very talkative after we shot them full of arrows.”
“Oh… Yeah… I suppose not.”
“But talk to Ross if you want to know more. He was a Chaplain before he found himself here, he may know more about the inner working of the Inquisitors.”
“Yeah… ok.”
“So, this sword was found with you at your parents’ farm?”
“Yeah.”
“The wreckage of your family farm.”
“Uh… Yeah.”
“And this is when you lost your family.”
“… Yeah…”
“So then, this was when you started being chased by the Inquisitors.”
“Uh… Sort of…”
“Sort of?”
“Well, they just sort of showed up out of nowhere, attacked us at the farm and then BOOM! I woke up in the Hospital. The sword was apparently found with me,” I said.
Oh good move moron, just tell him everything. You just got him to agree to keep you and now you go and remind of a very good reason NOT to let you live here. Namely that you were tracked down by the Inquisition, that the authorities have a very real interest in finding you. I hope you enjoy life as a hermit after he boots you out the door.
“Huh, so maybe the sword belonged to one of the Inquisitors who went to your farm. They do come from all over… Anyway, it’s not a sword from around here.”
“But, uh, do you know how to use that kind of sword?” I asked hoping to move the subject past my personal tragedy.
“Well, it has been many years, but yeah, I know how to use that type of sword.”
Now’s your chance moron! Ask him to train you how to use me. All is forgiven if you get him to teach you how to actually use me! You have no idea how boring it is sitting in a corner for a week. MAKE HIM TEACH YOU!
“So… Would you be able to teach me how to use it?” I asked.
“Well, you are already training on the bow and doing most of the farming, but when there is time, yeah I will teach you.”
“THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” I said practically dancing.
“Hey, kid, calm down. I’m not going to be able to do anything until I am done healing. And that’s going to take some time. In the meantime, I will ask Moira to instruct you on the basics. She’s much better with a bow mind you. Actually, she’s probably the best with a bow out of all of us. But she can teach you the basics of how to use a sword in addition to learning how to shoot a bow. By the time you know what you are doing I should be well enough to teach you the finer points of how to use your Espada.”
“Oh wow, thanks!”
“Well, wait to thank me till after Moira is done with you…”
Chapter 8.
“Wake up kid, it’s time for sword lessons… Apparently.”
“Huh? What?”
“Look, do you want to learn how to swing a pig sticker or not?”
“What? Moira?”
And that’s when things came into focus. Or more specifically, when I pulled my head out from under the covers. After meeting with the Boss yesterday, I spent the rest of the day taking care of my chores as normal. Then food and bed. I almost had forgotten about learning how to use a sword. But, apparently, Moira had not.
“Is… Is the sun even up?” I asked.
“Yes, just. Which means we are running late,” Moira said tersely. “Now are you going to get out of bed or not? We need to take care of the sword training before breakfast. Then it’s to the farm as usual.”
“Oh… I see.”
Get the hell up you lazy bastard or I will turn in your hand and let Moira thwack you one where it counts.
You too?
Yeah, me too. Now get up moron.
And with that I got up, cleaned up, grabbed my sword, and headed out to the field. It was surprisingly cold out there, and the leaves were turning in the trees. Given the sun had only just come up, it back lit the orange and yellow in the leaves. It would have been beautiful if I was in any condition to enjoy it. Unfortunately, waking up early left me in no mood to enjoy the scenery.
“Wow, it’s cold out.” I said.
“Yeah kid, fall hits here pretty hard. This close to the mountains we get it earlier than most. This means that once we get done with this foolishness involving swords, we can get on to what will really keep us alive all winter, namely laying in a proper harvest and seeds for next spring. Now head over to the shed and grab a couple of the wooden practice swords.”
I had been in the shed many times in the last week, it’s where we keep all the farm implements needed to tend the crops. But I had never seen any swords in there.
“Uh, where in the shed are they?”
“In the back kid, they’re just wooden staves with cross pieces.”
“Oh, those. I thought those were fence posts.”
“Fence posts don’t have leather grips kid.”
“Huh, I guess I never looked closely at them.”
01 - The Price of Talent Page 7
