Emblems of Power

by C L Patterson

  He got up slowly, and walked towards his cape, wondering if it was ever stained with his own blood. His fingers dangled and tickled the soft grey fabric. The present was in a small wooden crate, wrapped with a twine bow. Kosai pulled on the bow, loosening the string and opened the top of the box. A white tunic with blue stripes down the sides was neatly folded and covered in a little bit of straw. Kosai pulled the tunic over his head pushed his arms through the sleeves.

  “It’s a good fit, the cuffs are a little big, but it is a good fit,” Kosai said. The Captain nodded as he watched him loosen his shoulders in the cool silk. Kosai took the shirt off and was about to put it back, when he noticed a metallic object pushed to the side of the box. He pushed the matching trousers to the side and lifted the object from the box. It was a three pronged lieutenant’s talisman. The two pronged mark on his mask showed others that he was the senior student while the four pronged talisman was that of a captain. The cool, polished steel reminded him of his swords, sharp and powerful. His fingers delicately cradled the amulet.

  “Try it on, tell me how it feels,” the Captain said, smiling gently. Kosai unclasped the chain and put on the gift that Captain had given him.

  “Sir, this is such a gift. Why?”

  “Kosai, I am promoting you to Second Lieutenant. Many of the guard, and my lieutenants believe that your promotion would happen on you graduation, if not shortly after. No student of the Barracks, senior or otherwise has ever received a promotion to this extent, but it is needed and you have earned it. Leadership is a skill learned by doing, and based on your previous demonstrations of leadership in the field, even among the Guard, you have shown the skills and capabilities to be a lieutenant, save for your brief overreach in command on the training ground. You still have much to learn and this mission will aid you in your development.

  “With this promotion also comes a weight that will take some time to get used to. People will treat you, look at you, and talk to you differently then before. When you were the senior student of the Capital Barracks, people respected you because of your fierceness and the fact that you are my son. Now they will respect you because you are a lieutenant. When you give an order, it will be followed promptly. Never do anything that would compromise your integrity as a lieutenant or that would betray the trust of the people.”

  “Yes sir,” Kosai said with a salute.

  “Your guard uniform is in a box under your bed. I want you dressed and back here within a quarter of an hour. Make sure to take down you bed. Oh, and one other thing. I personally went out to investigate what happened and escorted a caravan that followed the same route as the one you were attacked on,” Kosai lowered his head. The Captain pulled out another box from behind his desk. He opened it and inside was one of Kosai’s deadly curved blades. “I was only able to find one of your swords.” The Captain pulled the blade out of the box and bounced the sunlight off of the metal sheath. “You will have no need of this when you are learning with the conduits,” he said as he put it back in the box. There was a long silence. “You’re dismissed.”

  “Yes sir.” Kosai felt naked and vulnerable without his swords and walked back to his bunk with his arms tightly at his sides.

  He cleared off his bunk and placed the bedding in the wooden crate at the foot of the bed. The house keeping staff would be in tomorrow to launder all the uniforms and soiled sheets, replacing them with clean ones. Kosai changed out off his bloodied and dusty training clothes and put those in the crate as well. The front of the white shirt was speckled with his blood. Seeing the red stain, a memory of the Dark One flashed in his mind, of the broken sword blade stabbed through his thigh, and the lindworm bite on his shoulder. Kosai cringed a little and touched his leg, tracing around where the scar should have been.

  He shook off the memory, puttin on his guard uniform. The white shirt was recently cleaned and pressed and the chainmail was free of sand. Eyelets ran up the calf and hamstring of the brown uniform trousers allowing greaves and cuisses to be laced onto the brown slacks. Lastly, Kosai put on his face mask, with the red mark of the senior student of the Capital Barracks, the mask of the Wolf.

  The Captain stood outside his office, dressed in armor, cape with his own blade strapped to his hip. He held Kosai’s cloak and sword under his arm. Kosai stood at attention in front of his father. The Captain circled around Kosai, examining the armor plating, scanning the knots, and adjusting his chainmail with sharp tugs so that it sat perfectly even across his shoulders. Content with his son’s preparation, he swung the hooded cape around Kosai, tying a square knot across the chest with the strings, and clasping the shoulders of the cape to his armor.

  “Are you ready?” the Captain asked. Kosai nodded. “Good. Keep the amulet amulet out. To the people, it will look like I am on an errand with one of my lieutenants to assist me.”

  Father and son, Captain and lieutenant, walked out onto the dusty streets towards the school. Kosai recalled his inward criticisms about not being good enough to protect the people, to protect the caravans. He understood now that the future survival of the people, of his city, depended upon this mission’s success, upon junior lieutenant Kosai’s success.

  CHAPTER 7

  People moved to either side of the road as Kosai and the Captain walked side by side down Market Street. The Captain’s stern, ragged stare gleamed power, rank, honor. Kosai could only gaze down the road, glancing at the people; their brown, torn, dust covered clothing draped over their frail bodies.

  Kosai tried not to breathe in the ripe smell of waste that gathered on the edges of the road. Children ran next to the small streams of refuse, pausing for a moment to watch the Captain and Kosai walk by in their uniforms.

  The Captain and Kosai continued through the crowded street. Merchants stood behind their stands, attempting to sell what little wares they could offer. Some sold tools, some plates and dishes, and others cloth and clothes. Kosai looked at each of the tables as he walked by and noticed that today, not one of them sold food of any kind.

  As they walked out of Market Street and into the pavilion, the Captain slowed his pace and walked up to the fountain. Crowds of people walked to and from the fountain, filling buckets and barrels with the fresh, clean water. The Captain dipped his hands into the cool water to drink. Kosai did the same.

  “Kosai,” the Captain said softly. “Place your amulet inside your shirt. I do not want the school to see it… at least not yet.” Kosai did as he was told, though he wondered why. “That domed building on the other side of the plaza is where we are headed. When we get there, you need stand back from the stairs while I talk to the two beggars.”

  When they walked up to the domed building, Kosai did as commanded. The Captain stooped down and whispered to the beggars. Kosai closed his eyes and focused on their words.

  “What business brings you here, Captain of the Guard?” one of the beggars asked.

  “My business is with the Teachers and concerning my student…” The Captain’s words drifted off as the crowd roared in excitement. Kosai turned and watched as a group of citizens, in tattered clothes, rushed from Capitol road, towards the pavilion.

  “You there, what is the commotion about?” Kosai yelled pointing at a boy about twelve years old. The young man turned, but did not stop.

  “A new shipment just arrived! Fresh fruit and meat straight from the sea! The Three Brothers are auctioning off the goods in Market Street!” he yelled. The Captain clapped his hand on Kosai’s shoulder.

  “How quickly news travels through our streets,” the Captain said.

  “But we didn’t see anyone from the syndicate on Market Street? How could we have missed it?”

  “My guess is that they sent messengers ahead. The caravan probably just entered our gates when we left and entered Market Street as we entered the pavilion.”

  “At least some of them will be able to eat today, the sell being an auction.”

  “So instead of charging ridicul
ous prices, they charge them for all they’ve got without knowing what they’ve got. They’ll sap every piece of silver from them today.” The Captain grunted in frustration. “Let’s be going. The teachers are waiting for us inside.”

  Kosai and the Captain walked up the short stair and into the building. A cold gust of wind brushed over them as their boots clicked on the marble tile floor. One of the beggars walked in with them and escorted them left, down the curved hall. As the three walked down through the stairs, thirteen figures stood in a circle in the arena. The beggar led the Captain and Kosai into the center of the group and then walked back up the stairs. A cold shiver cut down Kosai’s back. His stomach turned, he shook with nervousness, breathed a little harder, and slowly raised his hands to eye level, preparing to strike.

  “The boy does well Captain,” a deep voice said, though Kosai could not tell whom it came from.

  “Show me your faces!” Kosai barked.

  “Kosai!” the Captain scolded.

  “Captain,” an old female said, “we thank you for him, for the time promised to us by him. He has shown us that he is somewhat attuned to the Faye. He will do well here. Kosai, we welcome you into our School.” Each of the individuals removed the hoods from their faces and smiled.

  The old woman was short with tight curly grey hair that surrounded her head like a rain cloud.

  “This is our head matron. She will escort you to your room,” someone with a deep voice said. Kosai turned to the voice. The man stood behind them and approached the Captain. He was taller than his father and just as muscular. In his left hand he held a thick wooden staff that was decorated with dozens of brands. “Thank you for your time Captain and for your student.” The Captain shook the teacher’s hand and nodded. All the teachers except the head matron exited the arena. Kosai let out a soft grunt of frustrataion for not taking a mental picture of each of the teachers. The torches flickered and sizzled for a moment against the marble pillars. As the teachers were leaving, the Captain grabbed Kosai’s arm firmly and leaned in to his ear.

  “Kosai, we have only a few minutes before you are escorted to your room and I am escorted out of the building,” he whispered. “I want to give you one more piece of advice. Tell no one of your mission. Learn as much about each teacher as possible. Good luck.” Kosai looked up at the Captain and nodded. As a beggar began to walk down the stairs to escort the Captain away, the matron walked up to Kosai.

  “Kosai, it’s so good to see you finally. We have all been, well, at least most of us have been excited to aid and guide you here in your journey through the School of the Faye.” Her voice shook and her head wobbled as she spoke. The beggar made his way down the stairs and stood behind the head matron. “Captain, this fine gentleman will escort you back to the city. We greatly appreciate your time, sacrifice, and service to us.” The Captain turned to look at Kosai, but didn’t say a word. His face spoke enough.

  “Kosai, if you would please.” The old woman beckoned him up to her side. Kosai closed his eyes and took a deep breath, regaining his composure, but still wary of what was around him. “Let me show you to your room, and then to your instructor,” the woman said as she wrapped her thin arm around his.

  Together they walked up the stairs and down the hallway. They stopped at the entrance for a moment for Kosai to give his last goodbye to the Captain. He stood at attention and saluted. The Captain returned the gesture and walked into the pavilion. Once they passed the door, the woman cleared her throat.

  “Your arms are so strong son. It’s so nice to have someone walk with me. I don’t get that opportunity often, with everyone studying and practicing; most of the time I am tending to the laundry, meals, and injuries. Tell me a little about yourself, what do you like to do in your free time?” The woman asked, looking up at Kosai as they continued to walk slowly down the hall.

  “I… train,” Kosai said.

  “That will benefit you here, but don’t overdo yourself,” the woman said, jabbing her sharp elbow into his ribs with a smile and soft laugh. Shortly after the entrance, there was a wooden door on the left. The hallway widened significantly, looking almost like another room. Smaller chandeliers, similar to the one in the meeting room, were spaced evenly apart from each other and lit the grand hall with the same glowing globes. The hallway continued down to one end of the school and then turned to the left. “Do you have any questions about our school?”

  “Conduits wear similar white uniforms with different colored stripes. Why?”

  “It distinguishes skill here in our school. They are all the same uniform, but the stripes change as the wearer increases in their ability. The color blue is what new students wear. It provides the most protection, reducing the power of any attack by ninety percent. The green striped robe is the same in that it provides protection, but only reduces the pain by thirty percent. The purple striped robes are what the Teachers and top students wear. Our Head Teacher, Principle Daius, also carries the Teacher’s staff. It is passed down from Head Teacher to Head Teacher, carrying with it a portion of knowledge privy only to the Head Teacher. Where is your uniform? I heard it was supposed to be sent to you.”

  “The Captain is sending it back today.”

  “All is well then. While I have you for a few more moments, I want to share with you what this school is and what we teach. Our school, the School of the Faye, was formally founded by Zenith, the second head teacher. Here, we help those that are attuned to the Faye grow their abilities, and mold our students into helpful members of society. Most of our students travel north to Varlette, I believe you know it as Last Stand, and try to repair the Seeps by creating Living Earth. They work closely with the graduates from the Barracks in reclaiming the city. Conduits that stay in the cities aid in excavation of minerals and water, and healing.” The Matron said the world ‘healing’ firmly, and slowly, looking at Kosai with a mischievous, understanding grin. “Oh and look, down the hall there is Mearto, your teacher. Mearto!” she called. She released Kosai’s arm and waved down the hall. “Mearto, your student is here. Come, come meet him.”

  She was a tall, slender woman. Her long red hair was in a triple braid and swayed softly side to side with every step. As she turned her head, white streaks spun and twisted in the blue irises of her eyes, like thin, lofty clouds. To Kosai, she looked to be in her early twenties.

  Kosai would be graduating into the Guard within the year and courtship would be the next matter to attend to. No time was given in the Barracks on matters of courtship and women, and Kosai didn’t allow himself the time, focusing his attention to training. Kosai stared blankly back into the stormy eyes. Through his teenage years, he was so focused on becoming a stronger, more talented fighter that there was no time in his life for any girl or woman. It wasn’t as if he didn’t take notice to an attractive woman, or was kept away from them. It was just that Kosai never took interest in the opposite sex. Kosai felt vulnerable. Looking at her made him wish that he had at least asked about proper etiquette around women. His heart raced, his eyes stuck on hers. There was something about her that sent pins and needles up and down his spine.

  “So you’re the outsider I’m to teach?” Mearto criticized.

  “That is no way to talk to your newest pupil.”

  “He has shown no promise, has no ability, and probably can’t even snap a flame in his fingers,” her attention turned to Kosai. “Can you?” She snapped her fingers summoning a spark to appear.

  “No,” Kosai said softly. Blood rushed to his face and his cheeks warmed.

  Mearto shook her head and stared at the ground. Kosai couldn’t keep his eyes from wandering. The sight of her neck made Kosai’s back tingle. As his gaze lowered, the flushing feeling in his cheeks began to grow into his neck and shoulders.

  “Kosai!” His eyes jumped from her waist back to her eyes. The warm feeling disappeared as her gentle sky colored eyes changed to a raging, swirling and twisting, thunder storm.

  “S
orry. I don’t think it is much appropriate-”

  “That’s right, it isn’t. Thank you matron for bringing our guest, you may leave us.”

  “He is going to have a fun time with her,” Kosai heard the matron say with a soft chuckle as she turned to walk away.

  “Since you enjoy scanning with your eyes, I have your first assignment.” As Mearto continued down the hallway, Kosai couldn’t help himself as his eyes drifted down her long braid, to the small of her back and to her hips. “And if you keep looking at me like that, I will make you believe that you are a horse for the rest of your life.”

  Kosai, terrified that she might execute her threat, hurried to her side, turned the corner and continued walking down the hall.

  “Down at the end of the hall and on the right is our mess hall. Halfway down, on the left, in the open the area, are the teachers’ quarters. Students can walk in the open area, but are not, under any circumstances, to enter the teachers’ rooms unless invited. The second door from the last is the laundry services should your uniform get soiled. At the opposite end of the hall on the west side, is your dormitory. There is one bunk and one trunk per student, similar to the Barracks I believe. And this is the West Stair.” She paused placing her hand on a handrail to a staircase that spiraled up and down. A soft green light floated down from the stairs. Below was complete darkness. “Above us is our patch of Living Earth that we call the Oasis. It is where most of the students meditate and study. The Seer spends most of his time in the Oasis and is available to the students of our school at any time, but I doubt you will have any time to spare for such visits.”