by Jason Tesar
“You can sit next to me,” he offered with a smile.
“No thank you,” Kael replied. “He said there were other spots around here; I think I will go look for another one.”
Kael turned around and started walking back to the dining hall when he noticed a narrow path to his right. Part of his free time was gone already, so he decided to tour the place by himself and get a better feel for his surroundings. He took the path and found that it curved around the main building through a thick stand of trees and stopped in the front courtyard. A wider stone path ran from the front of the building through the courtyard and out the front gate. Kael followed it and found himself outside of the stone wall which surrounded all of the buildings.
A dirt path broke off from the main thoroughfare and ran to the south. It wasn’t a constructed path like the others around the monastery; it was simply an area where repeated foot traffic had worn away the ground cover. Kael took the path and followed it as it swung to the east for a while, running parallel to a ridge that obscured his view of the horizon. Eventually, the path turned south again and began to climb the steep ridge. Kael thought that his time was probably getting short, but now he was curious to see what was beyond the ridge. It took him a few minutes to reach the top of the path and he was breathing heavily by the time he made it.
To the south, as far as the eye could see, the ocean glittered in the midday sun. Kael was surprised by the sight, expecting to see only land and perhaps a few mountains. The path descended from the top of the ridge to a rocky area which marked the edge of a cliff. Kael stood on the rocks and looked down at the water, hundreds of feet below. Until this moment, he wasn’t aware of how much he missed the ocean. He would have to come back to this place when he would have more time to enjoy it. Reluctantly, he turned around and followed the path back to the monastery. He tried to walk quickly, even running in places, until he came to the arena. He was almost sure that he had been gone more than an hour, but when he entered the building, there were only a few monks waiting. Within minutes, Ukiru walked into the building, talking with Narian and Rainer. A few minutes later, Coen walked in and came straight over to Kael.
“Did you find your meditation spot?” he asked as soon as he was within earshot.
“Yes,” Kael answered with a smile.
One by one, the others came into the building. When all were present, Ukiru directed the group over to a section of the arena with a polished wooden floor. “Each day after the midday meal and your time of rest, you will all come to this building. Here you will be trained in the practices of war. As priests of the All Powerful, you will be persecuted and attacked for your positions of authority. You must all learn to protect yourselves against those that would wish to harm you and rebel against our god. These practices are an ancient art, recorded thousands of years ago and handed down from generation to generation among his faithful servants. As the classroom learning will shape your mind, these practices will shape your body so that your whole being will be a perfectly tuned instrument for the All Powerful.”
Kael drew in a deep breath and shifted his weight in anticipation. After a morning of sitting in chairs and listening to Ukiru speak, he was ready to stretch his muscles and use his body instead of his mind.
“Everyone gather around me in a circle.”
The boys drew near and Kael could tell by their expressions that they were also excited about the opportunity to train as warriors. When all of the children had gathered around, Ukiru continued speaking.
“All of the stances and positions that you learn during the morning’s meditation will be applied to the afternoon lessons. Each position is either an attack or defense posture that will be the basis of your training as a warrior.”
As the afternoon advanced into evening, Ukiru explained each stance and its use in warfare. All of the positions, whether attack or defense, were modeled after some animal which demonstrated an ability in nature to defend itself against or advance upon an enemy. All of the boys seemed to prefer the afternoon to the morning, except for Berit, who kept quiet the whole day and didn’t show a preference for anything in particular.
When the sun began to slip below the mountains to the west, Ukiru ended their activities and led them back to the dining hall where, once again, the table was set with a meal. The boys ate quickly to replenish the strength expended during the afternoon. Already, some of them were making friends, joking and laughing during the meal. Kael didn’t talk to anyone, but sat back and watched the way people interacted with each other. His thoughts drifted back to Bastul where his mother and Saba lived. He hoped that they were well and worried for their safety, having to live with such an evil man as Lemus. Most of all, he wondered where his father was and if he had returned while Kael was away.
When the evening meal concluded, each one of the boys was escorted to his room for the remainder of the night. When Kael got to his room, he immediately crawled into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin. Voices drifted to him from down the hall and Kael realized that not everybody was exhausted. Oh well. I’ll be well rested in the morning and they won’t be able to keep their eyes open.
Chapter 13
Kael arrived at the arena after Coen and Berit, but only had time to say a quick “hello” before the other boys arrived. Ukiru wasted no time and immediately began the morning’s exercises. Just as Kael suspected, Donagh, Horace, and Rainer looked as though they hadn’t slept at all. During one of the seated positions, Horace actually fell asleep, much to the amusement of the entire group. Ukiru, however, took exception and considered the lack of attention a lack of respect.
“I understand that all of you will need time to adjust to your new life, but I will not tolerate this behavior,” he directed to the whole group. “All of you arrived at your rooms in plenty of time to get a sufficient amount of sleep. It would be wise for you to use that time for its intended purpose.”
Kael’s heart beat loudly in his chest and he felt his face get hot. It’s not fair that the rest of us are scolded for their mistake! He kept his mouth shut, wanting Ukiru’s anger to pass as quickly as possible.
When they resumed their exercises, Rainer kept his face toward the ground, trying to hide his snickering mouth.
Each day of the week continued in the same fashion, with Ukiru familiarizing the children with the daily routines. He explained that their real training wouldn’t begin until the start of the following week. In the meantime, the boys had fun acquainting themselves with their surroundings. For six days, they repeated the pattern until the morning meal of the seventh day.
Ukiru sat at the head of the dining table and spoke to the group. “The seventh day of the week is free time for you to do whatever you wish. We will have meditation and the morning meal after which you may retire to your room or spend your time with all manner of activities. There are games that can be played indoors or out. We have a library of books from which you may read. They day is yours to spend as you wish. We will all assemble here in the dining hall at sundown for the evening meal and the rest of the evening will be unscheduled as well. The seventh day is a day of worship unto the All Powerful and will not be a day for learning anything except to hear his voice speaking quietly to us. I hope that you will spend some of the time in meditation.”
The other boys hardly paid any attention to his last words. Everyone was so excited to have a free day that they immediately began to chatter amongst themselves.
Kael, however, was intrigued. His voice speaking quietly to us? Do gods speak at all? Ukiru kept talking of this All Powerful as if he were a person, but the gods that Kael learned about in Bastul were just statues. Sometimes people talked to them, but they never talked back. Or sometimes people left food offerings or lit candles for them, but they never gave anything back.
These thoughts quickly gave way to relief at having a break from the routine. When he lived in Bastul, he would study in the morning and have every afternoon as play time. He and Ajani would explore, hunt,
fish and occasionally wander into the city where they were not supposed to go. Kael was told that his father’s position made it dangerous for him to travel into the city without a guard. Of course, guards only inhibited the boys from doing many of the things they would normally do to occupy their time.
Ukiru’s loud but calm voice brought them all back to attention. “Settle down everyone.” When the children were quiet he continued. “Your servant will show you what games we have for you to play. Now that the meal is finished, you are free to go.”
The table exploded into a frenzy of activity. Most of the boys jumped out of their chairs and rushed out of the room as quickly as possible. Berit rose slowly from his seat, pushed his chair in to the table, and left in the direction of the library. Kael remained seated at the table with Ukiru.
“Do you not wish to join the others?” he asked the child.
“I stayed behind to ask you a question,” Kael replied.
“Please,” Ukiru said with nod.
“Where…” he began, then paused. Where are we? Something told him to keep the question inside. “Do you hunt?” he asked instead.
“Well,” Ukiru breathed as he sat back in his chair. “There aren’t many things to hunt at this elevation. It would take a whole day to descend into the jungle where the monks do their hunting, but I’ve heard that there are ground squirrels that live in the rocks a few miles from here. The monks here occasionally hunt the little creatures for the meat. I’m told it is quite a delicacy. Would that suit you?”
“Yes, it would,” Kael replied with a smile. “We hunt a lot where I come from.”
“Yes, I know. So you are a hunter?”
Kael nodded.
“I am as well. I’ve not been able to hunt for quite some time. Although, squirrels are not exactly a formidable foe. May I join you?”
“Yes, Sir,” Kael replied, unable to contain the excitement in his voice.
“Then we shall make a day of it.” Ukiru rose from his chair. “Let’s pack a few provisions and I will have one of the monks accompany us on the short journey.”
They left the dining hall and within half an hour, Kael, Ukiru, and one of the robed servants were walking across the valley northeast of the monastery, choosing to go on foot rather than take the horses. Pale grass crunched beneath their feet as they walked. The cool morning air felt strange in Kael’s lungs but it smelled sweeter and was more refreshing than the salty ocean air of Bastul. They quickly descended into the valley below and came upon a small river, flowing back to the south. Ukiru pointed out that this fresh water continued south until it fell off a cliff and into the ocean. They turned to the north and headed upstream into a forest of short pine trees. Crossing the river at a low, rocky shelf, they continued their ascent up the other side of the valley where the river narrowed to just a stream. As the sun crept higher into the sky, they left the water’s edge and climbed east until they reached a bank of rocks, exposed by the eroding soil.
The silent monk simply pointed at the bank.
Ukiru nodded. “This is the place.”
They stopped and laid their provisions next to a tree. The monk laid out weapons for the hunt and beckoned for Ukiru and Kael to come over and choose what they wished to use. Ukiru put his hand out, indicating that Kael should go first. Then he stood back and watched.
Kael looked at the assortment of weapons on the ground—a crossbow with a bundle of bolts, a spear, a sling with a leather bag of shot, and a bow accompanied by a quiver of arrows.
“What are you going to use?” he asked Ukiru.
“Well, they are small, fast creatures. I think I will use the crossbow for speed and accuracy.”
“Me too.”
“I’m sorry but we only brought one of each. Had you chosen first, the crossbow would have been available to you. Now you must choose between the other three.”
Kael thought for a moment and then bent down, grabbing hold of the spear.
“Are you sure that is the best choice?”
Kael stopped, reconsidering the positives and negatives of each weapon. Then he shrugged his shoulders. “This will work. I’m good with a spear.”
Ukiru smiled as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t.
When they had chosen their weapons, Ukiru and Kael set off in search of their prey with the monk following at a close distance, carrying a quiver and a few other provisions. Kael wasn’t sure of how to approach these animals, so he stayed close to Ukiru and followed his lead. Ukiru led the hunting party up a collapsed section of the rocks and then began to traverse the shelf above. He explained quietly that the ground squirrels could be seen scurrying from the shelter of the rocks to forage for food. They would be quick and their dusty brown fur was a perfect camouflage for this rocky terrain. They walked for almost an hour before any sign of movement.
All of a sudden, Kael noticed a small brown shape dart out from the rocks. He raised his spear and waited for the rodent to turn around and come back before throwing his spear. The squirrel, startled by the sound above, sprang to the right as the spear struck the ground only inches away. It paused for a second before heading for the safety of the rocks.
Ukiru took aim and loosed his bolt, pinning the animal to the ground.
The three hunters scrambled down the rocks and gathered up their prey. The monk placed the squirrel in a cloth bag and slung it over his back.
Ukiru patted Kael on the back. “That was excellent. You have very quick reflexes.”
“Thanks,” Kael replied, even more determined to catch his prey.
They continued to hunt along the rocky slopes until the sun had passed its zenith. When they turned around and began to make their way back to the starting point, Kael chose to walk along the bottom of the rock wall, several yards behind Ukiru who stayed on top. Along the way Kael remained silent, scanning the rocks for another chance.
“You were about to ask me something this morning,” Ukiru called down.
Kael wrinkled his eyebrows.
“At breakfast,” he continued. “You were about to ask me a question, but you mentioned hunting instead.”
Kael was surprised that he had noticed. “Where am I?” he finally asked.
Ukiru smiled. “You will know in time. For now, I will say that you are a long way from Bastul.”
“Why is it a secret?” Kael asked.
“Because you need to forget about your old life. You must come to see this place as your home and all of us as your new family. The more you think about Bastul, the harder it will be for you to adjust to this place.”
Suddenly, movement at the corner of Kael’s vision interrupted the conversation. Ukiru raised his crossbow, but Kael had already sighted the rodent and thrown his spear. The animal rolled to its side, pierced by the spear, and slid to a stop in the dirt.
Kael looked to Ukiru whose eyebrows were raised.
The hunting party gathered the remainder of the provisions next to the tree and headed back to the monastery with two squirrels to show for their efforts. Kael was finally starting to feel comfortable in his new surroundings, although he hadn’t really made friends with anyone yet, like some of the other children. Coen seemed friendly, but then again, he was friendly with everyone. It was comforting for him to hunt; it reminded him of his normal life in Bastul.
The return trip took less time, and was considerably easier than climbing the valley earlier in the morning. No one spoke the entire way back and Kael was perfectly content to follow the other two men, listening only to the sounds of nature and a few quiet footsteps. The monastery was also silent when they returned and Kael couldn’t help wondering where all of the other children were. The monk took the squirrels and promised Kael that the meat would be part of the evening meal.
“You should wash up, it will be evening soon.” With that, Ukiru excused himself.
After washing his face and hands in the bathing room, Kael went to his room to change his clothes. He felt himself rushing in order to get back out
side and find out where the other children were. He quickly found a fresh tunic and rushed downstairs, pulling it on as he went. He wandered for several minutes before entering the library where he found Berit sitting by a window. The large, dust-covered book on his lap suggested that he had been there for quite some time.
“Have you been in here all day?”
Berit looked up from his reading with a startled look on his face. It was apparent that he had grown accustomed to the privacy and silence. “Yeah,” was all he said in return.
Kael waited a few minutes, hoping that the other boy might elaborate on what he was reading. When nothing happened, Kael realized that Berit might not be the best person for striking up a conversation.
“Do you know where the others are?”
Berit looked at Kael without lifting his head. “I think some are out back,” he said with a nod. “I heard them earlier.”
“Thanks.” Kael tried not to look hurried when he left the library. Even though he had been gone all day with Ukiru, he was beginning to feel like he had been left out of something. He exited the building and circled around to the back, but was disappointed to find that the back of the building butted up to the wall which surrounded the whole monastery. Kael turned around and made his way to the front courtyard, exiting through the front gate, but there was still no sign of the other children. Then he remembered the cliffs overlooking the ocean that he found on the second day after his arrival. He hadn’t been back since that day and decided to wander in that direction. As he neared the ridge to the south, he heard laughter. He stopped walking and waited a few minutes before he heard it again and realized that the sound was coming from the other side of the ridge.
By the time he reached the top he was winded, but the ocean view made the climb worth the effort. The sound of laughter drew his attention to the right and he could see Donagh, Horace, Arden, and Coen gathered around a pile of small stones. As he walked toward them, Horace threw a rock toward a stick planted in the ground. His stone flew wide of the target and landed in the sand. Horace stepped back and Coen, who had already chosen his stone from the pile, stepped forward.
