“Have I ever told you the story about the man, the spring and the boulder?” the Captain asked. Nuevon shook his head. “There was man who wanted the intelligence and wisdom to solve any problem. He went to the local sage and asked how he could attain this wisdom. The sage told the man to follow him and led him to a boulder. Underneath the bolder was a small trickle of water, not even big enough to drink from. The sage told him that the boulder was placed atop a spring, and if he could move the boulder, he could drink from the spring and then attain wisdom.
“The man pushed at the boulder all day and night and it didn’t move. He grabbed some timber, and using the timber as a leaver, tried to move the boulder, but without success. He tried to dig under the boulder to create a path for it to move, but the boulder crushed the soft earth. On the third night, he sat, watching the trickle of water flow out from underneath the boulder and thought of a solution.
“He took the timber and struck it against the rock. The timber split creating a sharp point on one end. With that sharp point, he dug next to the boulder, scooping out the loose dirt in the hole with his hands. The next morning, a pool of fresh water was next to the rock with a stream that flowed down the hill.
“When the sage saw this, he asked the man what he learned. The man said that it is easier to find a solution, than to solve a problem.”
“I don’t understand,” said Nuevon. The Captain pointed at Deakon and Ulryck.
“Your young recruit does,” he said.
Deakon was on the ground again after his disarming attempt failed. His brow was scrunched and he was panting heavily. Ulryck extended his hand to help him up, but Deakon brushed it away.
“Again?” Ulryck asked. Deakon nodded. Ulryck thrust the wooden knife, and slashed at Deakon’s face. Deakon dodged both attacks and avoided the knife, stepping back, sideways, changing his stance. Ulryck thrust the knife forward again. In an instant, Deakon stepped into his opponent. Ulryck’s attack missed as the blade slid against Deakon’s shirt. Deakon slammed the ridge of his hand into the side of Ulryck’s face. Ulryck was stunned for a split second, and in that second, Deakon grabbed Ulryck’s arm with both of his, and tossed him over his hip. Ulryck was on the ground with Deakon on top of him twisting Ulyrck’s arm so that the knife point was touching Ulryck’s throat.
“Well done,” the Captain called out and applauded. Deakon looked up, smiled and then helped his mentor up. Ulryck smiled and patted Deakon on the back. “The path to wisdom was to drink the spring water,” the Captain said to Nuevon, “not to move the boulder. Wisdom is to focus what your goal is, not the problems that lie in front of it.”
The Captain excused himself from the training grounds and went into his office. He stared at the letters on his desk from the guards at the capitol building. Most were meetings with syndicate members and a few with the caravan drivers. The ones that interested him the most were the meetings when the council discussed the affairs of Noiknaer amongst themselves.
Some thought of asking the syndicate for help, others thought about asking for more donations from other cities to assist in the caravans, and other insisted on waiting on Kosai and the Captain to find a solution. But there was nothing, not a word said among the council members that would have hinted at the possibility of one of them, or some of them betraying the routes. He read the letters over and over again, looking for the smallest phrase that could incriminate some member of the council, but there was nothing. Each phrase as Hemmel heard it was so carefully crafted so that the only intention was for the betterment of the people. There was a knock at the door.
“Enter,” the Captain said, still looking down at the papers. Ulryck and Deakon entered and stood at attention.
“You wanted to see us sir?” Ulryck asked.
“Yes, I have an assignment for the three of us,” the Captain said. Deakon smiled. “Go change into some plain street clothing. High ranking officials of the Three Brothers believe that an uprising or some sort of disaster is coming. First, we will go to the Forge. I’ve a set of eyes and ears there that have been listening as of late. I need both of you to be with me as witnesses to what Ellene says. After visiting the Forge, we will split up. Ulryck, you will go out into Market Street, Deakon, you will be in the Pavilion, and I am going to the Tangle. We need to listen to what people are saying. I want you to pay special attention to anything about an uprising, caravan routes or food shortages. If you hear anything, do not engage with the individual, just listen and the report back to me here in my office at midnight.” The Captain looked at Deakon. “I was impressed with your throw this afternoon. You were pretty smart to see the opportunity. Keep using that brain of yours.”
“Thank you sir,” he said.
“And sir, this was next to your door,” Ulryck said, handing a letter to the Captain. The Captain took the letter and looked at it.
“You’re excused.” The Captain waved the recruits away, still focused on the letter. It was from Hemmel.
Sir,
Rodrick, Nicóla, and Evaan are concerned about a possible uprising if the caravan issue is not resolved. Steran, Aleal, Simmons and Kevyn are very calm and reserved. Rodrick is requesting immediate action to preserve the integrity of the routes, but does not have enough votes from other representatives, or the Council. He is trying to convince the others that an uprising and rioting is a strong possibility. The other side, especially Councilor Steran and Simmons, place trust in you that you will be able to solve this problem.
The Captain read the letter a second time and then stood, looking at each of the lizard skulls, swords, pieces of armor, books, ledgers, and other decorations that explained who the Captain was, and what he was supposed to be: a defender of caravans, skilled in fighting arts, a scholar in military strategy, a teacher, and a leader. He looked at Kosai’s sword which lay behind his desk: a father. He read the letter a third time.
CHAPTER 19
That night, Kosai lay in bed exhausted. He understood why Zenith told him about building up a tolerance. As he willed sparks of flame into existence, he had to envision his entire body on fire, and then concentrate that feeling into a small point in front of him. After the four hours of training, the mental image combined with the immense power of the Faye running through his body in an instant drained much of his energy. During the two hour study session, Kosai was too tired to read and stared at the page, not seeing words or letters even, but black squiggles on a white background.
When Mearto arrived to hear an oral report, she was upset for his lack of effort and told him that if he was so tired, that it was better that he would just go to bed. Kosai agreed.
As the time passed, the students worked their way into their bunks, lighting candles with a snap or a touch of the wick. Eventually, he mustered enough energy to roll onto his side and stared past the shadows of other student’s candles.
A few students were up, reading and whispering to each other from books they retrieved from the library. Shàn walked by and glanced at Kosai blankly. Kosai stared back. Shàn walked to his own bunk, lit a candle, flipped through a book and made notes with a quill. Shàn looked over at Kosai and gulped; his throat constrictions were visible in the light.
Theo and another teacher, who looked like he hadn’t missed a meal and always had seconds, entered the room. Theo walked quickly, but proudly, over to Shàn, whispered something in his ear, and then moved further back in the dormitory. The other teacher walked slowly and seemed to focus more on the leg of chicken he was chewing on. Shàn looked again at Kosai, got out of bed and left. The other teacher talked to three other boys, and soon they were all walking out of the dormitory with Theo taking up the end.
“Where are they going,” Kosai asked groggily.
“Muck duty,” Theo said, “out in the city tonight for punishment.”
“What did they do?”
“Skipped class.”
Satisfied with the response, Kosai rolled over to his other side and closed his
eyes. Sleep took him instantly, caressing him away in soft warmth that enveloped him from head to toe, making his skin feel like a cloud stuck in a sunset.
CHAPTER 20
Night settled in Noiknaer when the Captain and his two students arrived at the Forge. Paer was still behind to the trading table, sorting nails, horse shoes, ax and chisel blades, and other metal tools into buckets or bins. The Captain rapped the table with his knuckles to get his attention. Paer turned, put down his bucket and rushed into the heart of the Forge.
“What!” Ellene clamored. Paer was mumbling something, but the Captain couldn’t hear it clearly. “Fine!” she bellowed. “But finish sorting, and then go.” Ellene pushed through the doubled doors with Paer behind her. Paer went straight back to sorting.
“What can I do for you Captain,” Ellene said, eyeing the two students warily.
“Have you heard anything about Kosai?” he asked.
“He was the talk of my customers for some time. Everyone saw him come in all bloody. There was a rumor of a quick recovery and promotion, but nothing beyond that.”
“Good,” the Captain said. He looked over at Paer who stopped sorting to listen to his teacher, but started back up again when Ellene shot him a look.
“When you last visited me, you were so concerned about someone plotting against Kosai and were so eager to find the answer. Why the sudden change?”
“I found out who’s trying to kill him, as well as a few other things. Tell me, have you heard anything about a possible uprising?” Paer stopped sorting immediately, seeming to be frozen by the Captain’s question.
“I have, though nothing formal,” Ellene said as she looked over her shoulder at her student. “Paer knows more about it. I think he should talk about it. C’mon Paer, what do you know?” Paer stood slowly and turned. His face was pale and he looked firmly at the ground.
“What have you heard Paer?” the Captain said gently.
“Sir,” he started, and then stopped for a time. The Captain stayed silent. “I’m the oldest of four and my family is hungry. Father had enough, he says. He goes out to the streets each day begging for food. He made pots, vases, carafes and water skins, but no one buys. The Three Brothers seemed to sell only jugs and things for a while. He started begging. He took what last he had to put me to school so that I could get out. He tried many times to start his business again, but no one would buy. There is no money here. Other beggars are the same as Father.” He paused again and looked at the Captain. “I don’t want him to go to the gates,” he sobbed, tears running down his cheeks. “My family will die.”
“C’mon Paer,” Ellene said, obviously annoyed with the sudden emotion.
“No one is going to the gates,” the Captain said tenderly. “What exactly have you heard?” Paer wiped his eyes with his hands and cleared his throat.
“A few nights ago, when Father was out, he came across a group of beggars. One of the men lost his daughter to hunger and thought about taking his family to Linnouse to work in the mines. His wife said no and thought to take work at the brothel to help feed the family. The husband said no to that. While the beggars talked about how much poorer they were than the next, my father mentioned the councilors and representatives and how they have food.
“Since then, they meet at the same place each night. More people come to hear Father speak. Father comes home promising that soon we will have enough to eat. I overheard him and Mother arguing over this one night. People are preparing to take down the capital unless they can get food, I don’t know when, but soon. Father promised us food, soon.” He looked at the Captain with a smile, as well as worry.
“Thank you Paer,” said the Captain with an approving nod. “But tell your father to wait. I may need his help, as well as others shortly.” Paer sighed in relief and smiled. The smile faded as he made sense of what the Captain said.
“You’re good to go,” Ellene told Paer before he could ask another question. Paer jumped over the counter and headed home. “Be here early in the morning to finish sorting!” she called after him. “Why do you need his father’s help?” Ellene asked. “Or any help for that matter? What are you scheming?”
“It’s all a boulder,” the Captain said softly and smiling. “An attack on the caravans practically every day, most of the time leading to failure, the success of the syndicate, the betrayer of the routes; it’s all a boulder.”
“What are you talking about and what’s this got to do with Paer?” Ellene asked.
“I have been cutting down my list of suspects of people who may have been betraying the trade routes for gain. The Three Brothers had no part in it, but are preparing for an emergency.” The Captain paused and looked around. Ellene wasn’t going to have any other customers tonight. He then looked at the two boys. “What I am about to say, you will never repeat.” Ulryck and Deakon nodded. The Captain turned back to Ellene. “Kosai has been at the School of the Faye, next to the Capital building, the one with the two beggars in front of it.”
“That’s a school? I always wondered what it was.”
“In this school, they plan the government caravan routes. Kosai is in there and found out that one of their members is betraying the routes to nomads. But it comes back to the question, which group benefits from the destroyed caravans, this school, the syndicate, or the council?”
“The syndicate obviously,” Ellene said.
“That was what I thought. But the Three Brothers haven’t been selling. They’ve been stock piling inventory. The destroyed caravans are making them afraid, although they do benefit.”
“That school then. They have to get something out of this,” Ellene said with a tinge of excitement in her voice.
“Yes! But how do they get their reward? They do not get any of the goods from the caravans. Who pays them and with what?”
“The tribes don’t have anything of value, at least, I don’t think they do anyway.” Ellene frowned.
“They don’t. Kosai met with one of the tribes last night and they are in as dire straits as we are and the School has no use for people who aren’t proficient in their talent.”
“That only leaves the Council,” Ellene gasped and leaned on the counter.
“Exactly, and that was what I meant by boulders. At the heart of the whole thing is the Council. Some, like councilor Rodrick, are unaware that other members of the council, like Steran, are killing off the people by purposely cutting off the food supply.”
“And you have evidence of this?” Ellene asked. The Captain shook his head.
“No. I know who is betraying the routes, and I have a good suspicion that he is working under the direction, or perhaps with, members of the Council. I just can’t understand why the council would want to starve out its own people?”
“Perhaps the council members are that evil,” Ellene said. She looked behind the Captain and put her hand above her eyes to block out the sun. “Is that… is that… fire?”
Ellene pointed at the black clouds that billowed up against the evening sky and shifted sideways in the wind. The Captain turned and saw the clouds, and then followed them down with his eyes, trying to find their source. A red glow lit the area.
“It looks like it’s coming from the syndicate,” the Captain said. “Deakon and Ulryck, go alert Lieutenant Nuevon of a fire at the syndicate school, don’t worry about your assignments for tonight, I have a feeling this will take up your time. Ellene, you have been most useful.” The Captain leaned over the table and kissed his sister on the cheek. She smiled and then shooed him off with her hands.
When the Captain reached the pavilion, students of the Three Brothers were filling buckets at the fountain and running back to their school. Others joined in, filling their water buckets and following the students. Fires were very rare and it was customary that when there was a fire, everyone helped put it out, because everyone’s livelihood was at stake.
The Captain ran up to one of the students from the syndicat
e school and grabbed a bucket from him to help him run faster. He was dressed in a red coat, with metallic gold buttons that had the symbol of the Three Brothers on them. He wore black shorts and shoes. His hair was parted and his face was red from the light reflecting off of his coat, the heat, and the work of hauling water.
“Is your school on fire?” the Captain asked as they ran. The boy nodded. “Was everyone able to make it out?”
“Beoran was still in his office, scrambling to hold onto as many papers as he could and was working to get a note that was stuck in one of his coat pockets he had hung up. We had to drag him out of his office.”
“Has it spread?” the Captain asked.
“I’m not sure sir.”
“Do you know what caused it?”
“A group of older boys ran into the school and told us all to get out. They were carrying torches so we did what they said.”
“Thank you for the information. Take off your coat and shirt when you can. You will heat up too fast in them and won’t be of any use in putting out the fire.”
When the Captain arrived at the syndicate schools, he poured his bucket onto the fire, which was followed by another splash of water from someone else’s bucket, with yet another splash after that. Water from people the Captain hadn’t met was being poured onto the blaze. Beoran lay on his back in the street in front of the school moaning at the sight of the flames.
“Beoran,” the Captain called.
“Oh Captain, my school, the paperwork!” he cried and let out another painful moan.
“Beoran, look at me,” the Captain grabbed Beoran, picked him up with his one good arm and stood him on his feet. “I know you’ve been hiding something from me. What is it?”
“My school!” he said again.
“Tell me!” The Captain pulled Beoran close to his face so that all he could see was his eyes.
“It would take too long to explain, but it doesn’t matter. It’s over, it’s all over, those backstabbers.” Beoran twisted his face angrily, cursed, and spat at the ground.
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