Black Thorn

by Brandon Killpack

  Gideon smiled down at his sister. “I’ve missed you, Katrina. It is excellent to see you again.” Katrina flicked the blue scarf around Gideon’s neck,

  “See you're finally wearing your scarf.”

  Gideon laughed, “Yeah well now it’s cold enough, can’t wear a scarf while it’s hot out now can you.”

  They laughed and talked on their way to the keep; it was almost like old times, almost. The brother Katrina had known was gone, he had changed and not just on the outside. He was more reserved, even a little distant and inwardly she was sad for the bond that she felt was lost. She had lost that playful boy who always made her so happy and made it his mission to make her smile whenever she was down.

  Well, I guess we all have to grow up someday, she thought.

  Chapter 4 No Time For Tea

  L evi was lost in thought as he morosely sipped on his tea. He was stuck in between dwelling on the last six months and dreading the next six. He had changed, and he wasn’t sure if it was for the better. It seemed the better he became at the matters of state, the worse he became at dealing with people on a personal level. He was great at putting on a smile and dealing with the common people, and they loved him for it. However, he wasn’t making any headway in patching things up with Katrina. Every time he had worked up his courage to talk to her about it he would back down, muttering only a few words before slinking back into the shadows. He feared that there would forever be this invisible friction between them.

  His father had taken him aside, demanding an explanation as to his behavior. He had laid everything bare to him. How he blew up at Katrina and the staff. How he wasn’t handling all the responsibility. His father just shook his head saying

  "All will improve in time. You need to figure out how to handle this Levi. Just try not to push your family away while you’re finding yourself."

  It irritated Levi that his father saw this as some kind of personal quest and therefore wouldn’t actually help him. Sure he'd encourage him to no end, but that was all. This irritation had slowly turned into depression, which on a positive side it had tempered his temper. This thought had humored Levi.

  "A little light in my darkness." He muttered to himself.

  "What was that son?" Adam asked looking up from his plater.

  "Nothing father."

  Levi was returning to his thoughts when Katrina opened the doors to the hall leading a stranger in her wake. Levi sat a little straighter as he eyed the youth walking towards them. There was something familiar about him. His looks, his gait, even the way he carried himself reminded him of Gideon, but this tall and muscular figure couldn’t be him could it? He was so foreign and yet familiar, and he radiated an aura of power that was so palpable that everyone in the hall was now watching him approach. Levi was sure that it was the silence that captured his father’s attention. For he finally looked up to see what was going on. His father answered Levi’s pondering when he leaped out of his seat.

  "Gideon? My lord son is that you? You're so, so different." He went to embrace Gideon, but before he could cross to him, Gideon knelt.

  "Cadet Gideon, reporting for assignment my Lord."

  Levi watched as his father visibly sagged under the shock of the change in Gideon's demeanor. Before realizing what he was doing and standing erect.

  "Rise cadet, we receive you into Thornpine village. I will have sir Kallen alerted to your arrival.” He motioned to one of the many pages awaiting instruction. “But for now you are free from duty and will feast with us to celebrate your arrival.” He turned to another page and declared, "Bring out more wine and ale and have the cook serve up some roasts!"

  Gideon stood up, bowed at the waist, then smiled and embraced their father.

  “May I speak freely? Gideon asked.

  “Always my son.”

  “It is good to be home; I am very pleased to see all of you.” He said as he turned to smile at Levi. Gideon approached him, and Levi stood and extended his hand to his brother. “I am pleased to see the Academy has in acted some refinement in you, brother.”

  Gideon smiled awkwardly at this and seemed to be at a loss for words. Luckily for Gideon, a line of people were streaming into the hall to prepare for the feast and greet the returned son. As people approached Gideon, Levi excused himself to his seat where he sat watching his brother.

  He ordered a fresh pot of tea and some biscuits and continued to ponder the evident change in his brother. He was happy that he was back, it was far too lonely for Levi without his brother with him. As the servants returned with mounds of steaming food, Levi sat sipping his tea and munching his biscuits, all while listening to his brother's experiences at the Academy. His brother honestly seemed to love his new life, and Levi was happy for him, even if that life had to separate them.

  It was a common belief that Levi wanted to be a knight or something other than Jarl. This was simply not the case Levi simply loved the higher society and the rules that governed the way they lived. He couldn’t possibly imagine the life his brother was describing. It’s not that Levi couldn’t fight, after all, he had trained most of his life with the knight Kallen. He just preferred to handle things diplomatically. Using his considerable charisma to get others to see from his point of view.

  Levi’s training had ended once his duties that he was taking over from his father had become too much. He was strong, Kallen had said as much, but he lacked the desire to find ways to continue. Gideon could be the knight, Levi wanted to be king. Not that he was close to the throne, for him to be crowned his uncle, father, and both of his cousins needed to die. So it was doubtful that Levi would ever sit on the throne in Evenstar. This was unfortunate because he had ideas, a revolutionary idea that could shape the future for all of Rosenkar. Their continent was divided into many different kingdoms and the races of the world where separated, barely keeping up trading agreements with each other. This was unacceptable to Levi; there was so much potential if all the kingdoms of Rosenkar could work together. This he knew was a childish dream and an unobtainable one. As Jarl, he didn’t have the power to do anything.

  Levi was a plotter and a highly intelligent one at that. His father had known this early on, and once Levi had come of age, used his son in all kinds of dealings. Handing over more responsibility as the years wore on. Now Levi wanted a challenge, something no ruler had ever done before. It’s not that he longed for a different life, just a more influential role.

  His siblings were growing up and chasings their dreams and secretly inside he envied them of their ability to chase the obtainable. Not that he would ever admit that to them, or to himself for that matter. He was far too proud to reveal a weakness of any kind.

  Gideon finally made his way back to the table after greeting everyone. Levi watched him approach taking in the fact that his brother was back. He could feel a calming coming over him as Gideon sat down. His brother was back; everything was okay again.

  “So tell me, Gideon, how did you do in your classes?”

  Gideon looked a little awkward, I did fine in sword drill, okay in bestiary and history of Warcraft. That being said I need to learn some basic magic from Kallen while I am here or I won’t be asked to come back. Other than that they were fine.”

  Katrina joined them, sitting on the opposite side of Gideon.

  “Well did you at least enjoy yourself? Make any friends? Sneak into the Shield Maiden’s quarters?”

  Gideon laughed uneasily. “No nothing like that, I did have a good time though, and I made a good friend. His name is John, but he won’t be returning. He’s going to be a healer.”

  Levi noticed his brother became more reserved at this question, so he changed the subject.

  “Well while you were bashing about with your sword I have been learning how to run this place.” Levi gestured with his hand at the hall.

  “And I am more than ready to join the Shield Maidens!” Katrina put in.

  Gideon smiled, and the conversation continued in this fashion for sever
al hours. Levi was the happiest he had been in months; he was even able to talk to Katrina a little without there

  being too many awkward moments.

  Chapter 5 Bitter Changes

  A month had passed since Gideon had returned home and from the start, things were clearly not as he had left them. His brother kept to himself most nights, not bothering to converse or to join in on any of the festivities. Oh he’d come and watch from the sidelines as Gideon, and the knights would drink and feast, but never for very long, and he never spoke but a few words to him. Katrina had also changed. Not long ago she would have bugged him to go and adventure with her or to help her with her training. Now she seldom asked him to venture with her into the woods and was so accomplished with her training that he needn’t train her at all. In fact, it was she that had shown him a thing or two. She was turning into quite the fierce warrior. As for his father, he seemed to be fading away. Gideon worried about him most of all as he always seemed preoccupied and lost in thought. It was funny that they had all commented on how he had changed, but it seemed to him that they were the ones who were different.

  Thornpine also had changed, his safe little village was now dealing with Goblin invasions and the cropping up of slims in the fields. If it wasn’t one pest, it was another, but worst of all was the dire wolves that had come down from the Blackridge Mountains. These wolves were the size of small horses in some cases and so vicious that it took two to three fully trained knights to deal with them. It was as if nature was calling all evil to his little haven. He knew this wasn’t so, that the whole kingdom had been having issues, but in his heart, a growing uncertainty was creeping up on him.

  Asif the land was being covered by a physical darkness that none could escape. Chuckling to himself, he drew away from these dark thoughts and tried to pay attention to the guard meeting his father was holding.

  The nice thing about the night watch was whenever his father would come and speak to the guards, knights, and squires it brought him back to the present and gave him the vigor of a man far younger than he.

  “Evening everyone, evening. Now before you go about on your duties, I have a few announcements. First, we have received reports of a large goblin force heading in our direction. They crossed the borders of Evenstar four nights past and seemed to be on a straight path in our direction. Whether they are coming for us or as I suspect they are migrating into Elden woods, we all must be on our guard.”

  There was a great clamoring all around as the cadets and younger knights and guardsmen were all eager to see some action.

  “This brings me to my second item for tonight. Until these invaders are either dealt with, or they leave, all cadets and men who served less than a year are restricted to inside city limits and will also be cycled into the day shift.”

  A great groan erupted from the guards and cadets, Gideon among them.

  “This is final!” Adams sharp tone cut through the cacophony like a dagger through flesh. The men all around instantly went silent and stared attentively at their Jarl.

  “I will not have the blood of my people needlessly spilled, not today or any day. Sir Kallen and the other seasoned warriors have all agreed that the risk is far too great. We know you're eager for combat, and you will see it, but not now. You’re dismissed, speak to Sir Kallen or Captain Larson for your assignments.”

  Adam looked around at all his men and then turned and left the barracks with Gideon trailing in his wake.

  “My Lord? My Lord?” Gideon called after his father who had already crossed the courtyard and was about to enter the Keep. With a sigh, Adam turned and faced his son.

  “Gideon, we are alone. Drop the “My Lord” and just address me as Father.”

  Gideon was momentarily taken aback but relented. “Father, why can’t I take my normal watch at the northern border? If the goblins are coming, they’ll approach from the south. I’ll be fine, and if I do cross swords with a goblin, I will bring you glory and win.”

  Adam shook his head, “Gideon did I raise you a fool?”

  The question confused Gideon giving him pause, and Adam continued before he could respond.

  “Let me put it to you another way. You are sixteen, sixteen winters you have been on this earth, and by the Maker, I would have you see many many more before you see a battle.”

  “But I-“

  Adam raised his hand to silence him and continued, “I know you took on four goblins by yourself. Two injured and two not. They were unaware of you, and you killed them from afar. Have you forgotten what it was like to take a life? Do you not remember the tang of bile the act enticed? It never changes and every life you take fragments yours until you are a shattered shell of whom you once were. Until the haunted faces of the ones, you have killed fill your sleep. If I can, I will keep that burden away from you and all the other knights and guards. It’s not just the physical harm that can be done to you boy; it’s the scars that you can’t see, the ones that don’t heal.”

  Gideon looked sheepishly at his father, “I still think I could handle it.”

  Adam sighed, “One or two sure, but not an army. Now you’ll be here in the courtyard for the night and Kallen will take your place at the northern border and if you should think about ignoring my orders I would remind you that I am your Jarl, you’re Lord and if I have to hold that over you, I will. I don’t want to, but I will.” Adam squeezed Gideon’s shoulder then turned and went into the Keep leaving Gideon to stew in his thoughts.

  He marched around the courtyard, fists balled and temper rising. Did his father think he couldn’t handle it, couldn’t hack it as a knight? Hadn’t he already proven himself a warrior? Hadn’t he already beaten the enemy? Why must his father baby him so? He kicked a stone and sent it skidding into the darkness. Finally, in his frustration, he said to the night, “There’s nothing a stupid little goblin could do to me if it had my sword in its belly!”

  “Oh, but what if the stupid little goblin got its spear in you first?”

  Gideon whirled around as Kallen’s bear-like frame stepped into view holding out Gideon’s sword and shield. He accepted them and bowed.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Kallen moved closer and gripped his shoulder hard, before letting go and taking half a step back.

  “Don’t think of this as missing out on the action,” He said, “Think of this more as giving an old knight like me a chance to prove he’s not just a used up old corpse. It’s not often I get to do the night watch Gideon, and when I do, I’m the one who’s normally here in the courtyard.”

  Gideon’s anger cooled and was replaced with contentment. If the courtyard was good enough for Kallen, then it was good enough for him. Kallen began to walk away, heading to the northern border, and then he stopped and called over his shoulder.

  “You’re a good warrior; your father knows that. So don’t go brooding all night, trust me it’s a long shift and no good can come of it. Besides, chances are we all will see battle soon. So keep your sword sharp!”

  Gideon watched as Kallen faded into the darkness. He was right, after all, Gideon was acting like a spoiled child, or better yet a blue blood. He laughed at the thought, thinking back to his instructors.

  A true warrior did what he was told without complaining. Besides he thought, this is Thornpine, and nothing ever happens here. Then he chuckled “At least I’m not doing slim control in the fields.”

  S ome hours later found Gideon rounding the stone brazier for what had to be the thousandth time that night. He stopped and stepped close to the coals burning in the basin to fend off the worse of the crisp autumn air. He rubbed his arms down and warmed his hands before continuing his rounds. He hadn’t bothered to grab a cape or a cloak before his watch so all he had on him was his armor and the blue scarf his sister had made him which he had been wearing almost continuously since he had returned.

  Belatedly he thought of the nice warm bed back in the barracks with its large fireplace set in the front of the sleeping hall. H
e had moved into the barracks on the first night he had returned home, and it was now more home to him than the Keep was. It reminded him of the Academy and the nights spent with John and the rest of his classmates. He let out a sigh and watched the steam of his breath disappear into the ether.

  This was boring work, he thought as he crossed the courtyard for the entry gate. Knighthood was supposed to be glamorous. Saving beautiful maidens and fighting trolls, kobolds, and all the other creatures of the night. Not one of the thousands of great stories ever started with the hero doing sentinel duty… yet here I am.

  The job wouldn’t have been so bad if he had another knight or guard to do the rounds with. At least he’d have someone to talk to and pass the hours with. He thought of Kallen and stepped out of the courtyard to gaze down at the sleeping village and off to the northern border where Kallen was now.

  How would the old knight be doing? Would he be just as bored as Gideon was now? Or would he have some thrill of being so close to the northern forest? On Gideon’s first night and every night, since he started the watch, every snap of a twig and sliver of movement would send the adrenalin pumping through him. His mind would conjure images of Elven battalions or armor clad Orcs, or even the silent glide of a ferocious dragon coming down off the mountains to turn the village into kindling. Would the old knight be the same? Would tonight bring him the excitement he’d been craving?

  Gideon shook his head and walked back to his path, glancing around the courtyard. The only movement came from the flickers of shadows cast from above. Positioned on the battlements that sounded the Keep was the Nighthawks, his father’s personal rangers. Unlike standard guards or archers, they were a small group with one purpose, keep the Jarl alive. While they numbered only five, they were very good at their job. Gideon stared at the hooded figure a while longer, feeling a bit envious before continuing his pacing. Wouldn’t be good for them to see him slacking while on the job.