Path of the Specialist

by Pedro Urvi

  The fire was intense on both edges of the knives, but it was not affecting Astrid’s hands, wrists or arms. The combination had been made with great precision.

  “Very good. Second choice,” Engla said once she had checked that the fire was not hurting Astrid.

  Astrid put out the fire on the edges and wiped them carefully with the cloth once again. She took the two long thin-edged knives, which were for direct thrusts or stabs, wiped them, took out an ointment and spread a bluish substance along the edges. Then she poured a few drops from another phial on to the blades. The preparation reacted to the substance on the blades, which flashed blue. An electric thread leapt from one blade to the other, immediately followed by several arcs which crackled with a noise which sent shivers down the spine.

  “Good. Keep the knives in front of your face and cross them.”

  When Astrid did so, the electrical arcs leapt from one blade to the other with a lethal blue flash.

  Lasgol noticed that these too did not affect her hands or arms.

  “Third preparation.”

  Astrid picked another set of knives, the smallest, which were for throwing. She wiped them carefully, took out a phial and poured a whitish liquid on the edges, then stoppered the phial carefully again and put it back safely in her belt. On contact with the liquid, the blades began to give off an ominous whitish vapor.

  “Be careful!” Engla warned her.

  Astrid cried out in pain and dropped one of the knives on to the ground. At once the grass around the blade began to freeze.

  “Quick, the antidote,” Engla said, “or you’ll lose your fingers.”

  Lasgol’s eyes opened wide and his heart skipped a beat. Lose her fingers? Why? And then he realized that the elemental effect Astrid had created was that of water, and it was freezing everything it touched. If she had miscalculated and put too much... it would have reached her hand.

  She dropped the other knife, took out something from her belt and pulled out the stopper with her teeth, since she could not use the frozen hand. When she poured the contents on it there was a reaction, and a blue vapor issued from her fingers. She clenched her jaw and muffled a cry of pain.

  “For the sake of the Ice Gods, don’t let her lose them,” Lasgol prayed.

  Engla took Astrid’s hand and examined her fingers. “They’ll be all right,” she said. “When we’ve finished here, go and see Annika so that she can heal them with one of her ointments. They’re excellent.”

  Astrid nodded, obviously in pain, and Lasgol gasped in relief.

  “What was your mistake?” Engla asked.

  “The amount used is the right one for a normal knife, but not for a small throwing dagger.”

  “Exactly. The amount was correct, but not for this type of knife.”

  “It won’t happen again, Ma’am.”

  “I know it won’t. Your fingers will always remind you.”

  Astrid looked down at them and made a grimace of pain.

  “Remember when you use elemental knives, of Fire, Air, Earth and Water, you need to take the greatest care. The elemental effects can cause serious burns or paralyzing discharges, or they can leave the victim unconscious. That of Water, as you’ve experienced yourself, can freeze the limb it touches. But just as it can maim or kill an enemy, an accident can have the same effect on the Natural Assassin. Never be overconfident, always take the greatest care.”

  “I’ll always remember,” Astrid said.

  “I certainly hope so. And when you see Annika, ask her to give you a lesson in elemental compounds. Remember that any material which is learnt or used in the School of Nature will be used by the Natural Assassin to kill the enemy.”

  “Will I be able to try?”

  Engla smiled sourly and pointed to her injured fingers. “You’re not ready.”

  “But I’d like to...”

  “Later, when you’re ready. Your specialty allows for experimentation, the creation of new poisons and elemental effects for weapons, but it’s very dangerous. For now, you can only do it with my permission and under Annika’s supervision. Understood?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Very well, now go for your treatment.”

  Astrid left, and Engla walked over to where Viggo was practicing with three different sets of movements: an attacking one, a blocking one and a third, for counterattacking. Lasgol knew that he had been practicing those sets day and night; Engla’s lesson in humility had sunk in deeply. When Ingrid pestered him, he kept his usual air of unconcern, but Lasgol knew for sure that it was not real and that he was spending every moment of the day and night practicing. He certainly did care, and deeply.

  “What do you think of these sets?” Engla asked him. Her tone suggested that she was testing him.

  Viggo stopped and considered his reply.

  Ingrid was intrigued. “Let’s see what he says.”

  “He’d better not say anything inappropriate,” Lasgol said, and Ingrid nodded.

  “The more I practice, the more useful I find them,” Viggo said, and he did so honestly, without the least sarcasm.

  “Which one do you like best?”

  “The third one, counterattack, definitely.”

  “I guessed you’d choose that one. Let’s see how much you’ve improved.”

  “I’m ready,” Viggo said.

  Engla took out the dreaded blue phial from her belt and poured the substance on the edges of Viggo’s weapons, then her own. The blue sparks ran up and down the blades, making blue arcs leap from edge to edge.

  “In position. Go.”

  Viggo nodded and began the movements. Elder and pupil moved in unison, with a speed and synchronicity in their moves that were impressive. Engla attacked, and Viggo blocked and immediately counterattacked. Engla evaded or blocked the counterattack, so that sparks leapt at the contact of their weapons, with a very disturbing sound. They went through an entire set of movements, then stopped.

  “That was really good,” Ingrid said, impressed.

  “Viggo’s been practicing non-stop. He can do all the moves blindfolded.”

  “Is he really making that much effort?”

  “And more.”

  Ingrid remained thoughtful. She had not been expecting that.

  “We’ll repeat. This time I’ll go faster,” Engla warned him.

  They started, and Engla was moving at a truly demonic speed. But Viggo was not lagging behind. The knives met and the sparks leapt from weapon to weapon. It was awesome, both because of the impressiveness of the discharges and the speed and fluidity with which they both attacked, blocked and counterattacked. Viggo went through half the set without being touched, but then the dreaded moment arrived. A belated blocking movement cost him a discharge in the leg he was using for support. He cried out in pain and sank to one knee, unable to control the trembling in his leg.

  Engla waited for him to recover without uttering a word, and they went on.

  The attacks, blocks, dodges and counterattacks filled the air with blue sparks while Elder and pupil carried out a dance of complicated steps and movements. Viggo received another discharge, this time in his right arm. But he did not let go of his weapon, even though his arm was shaking uncontrollably and there was an expression of pain on his face. In the last counterattack he was too slow, and Engla got him again, this time on his left side. He was left lying on the ground in convulsions, but did not let go of his weapons.

  “That was a good exercise,” Engla told him. “I can see you’ve been practicing, You’ve improved substantially, and I like that. Keep up the good work. We’ll do it again in a week’s time.”

  “Yes... Ma’am...” Viggo muttered from the ground.

  And she left, leaving him lying there.

  “That was awesome,” Lasgol said.

  “Yeah,” Ingrid said, sounding impressed, “it really was. He did very well, really well.”

  “You could tell him that, it would cheer him up.”

  “Praise him? No
t on your life.”

  Lasgol shook his head. “You’re two of a kind.”

  “He’s a halfwit and I’m not.”

  “Well then, I’ll give him a bit of praise. He could do with some support.”

  “I can’t stop you,” Ingrid said, and went on looking at Viggo trying to stand up.

  Lasgol knew they could not go and help him, so they stayed watching him slowly getting to his feet. In fact he had performed incredibly; he had a natural ability for fighting with knives that was simply astonishing. Lasgol was glad for him. Maybe he would manage to graduate after all. Although seeing what the training was like, the Proficiency Test was likely to be tremendously difficult. Lasgol felt his stomach churning. Yes, those final tests were going to be terrible.

  Chapter 23

  Astrid and Viggo were practicing fighting with Assassin knives in a clearing east of the Lair. They were repeating, over and over, the series of movements Engla had given them for the next training session. They had to memorize and interiorize them so that they would become almost instinctive.

  “Eight,” Astrid said, calling out the move as she attacked with her right-hand knife.

  Viggo blocked the marking knife, which was directed at his stomach, with an accurate defensive stroke. “Nine. These sets of exercises are really boring.”

  “Ten. It’s what Engla’s told us to practice,” Astrid replied as she attacked with the other knife and launched a thrust toward his neck.

  “Eleven. Well, it’s a bore,” said Viggo as he threw his head back to let her knife brush past in front of his nose.

  She attacked with both knives at the same time, aiming for his chest. “Twelve. It seems to me as if we’re dancing.”

  “Thirteen,” said Viggo. “An elaborate dance, with weapons. I think it’d make a real spectacle at a royal ball.” He crouched and delivered an upward thrust with his right forearm, which hit her wrists and knocked the blow aside. The knives went over his head.

  Astrid twisted the knives around and struck with a downward two-handed thrust. “Fourteen.”

  Viggo counterattacked with a swift stroke to her heart. “Fifteen. You’re dead. End of set.”

  Astrid wiped the sweat off her brow with her arm. “Okay. Let’s change positions. Now you attack and I’ll defend.”

  “Are you all right? You don’t look well.” He was looking at her with his head to one side.

  “Yeah... I’m a little tired, that’s all.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve seen you travel through half the North in the snow and the cold without flinching.”

  “Maybe lunch didn’t agree with me,” she said, and got into position to repeat the exercise.

  “We can stop for a bit if you want. We’ve been doing this all afternoon.”

  She smiled. “You’re just looking for an excuse to stop.”

  “It’s just that it really makes me sleepy.”

  “But it’s really helpful,” said another female voice.

  They turned and saw Ingrid coming from the river.

  “What makes it so helpful?” Viggo asked her.

  “How do you think soldiers practice hand-to-hand fighting with the sword and axe?” Ingrid asked.

  “How should I know? Do I look like a soldier?”

  “You look like what you are, a dumbass.”

  “Don’t provoke me, bossy-boots...”

  “The royal army trains its soldiers with sets of exercises like these – simpler, obviously – and they make the soldiers repeat them every day. On the other hand the Invincibles of the Ice have more complex sets, like the ones you’re doing, but for sword and shield. They practice day and night, and that’s why they’re so good.”

  Viggo gave her a challenging stare. “And how do you know that?”

  “Because of my aunt.”

  “Oh... that’s true...” He was silent for a moment, seeming to remember what had happened to her. “Well, they might be helpful for the army, but we’re Specialist Rangers in Expertise, and this is really boring.”

  “Maybe, but it’s useful. It’s already proven, and that’s why it’s used in the army and here. So go on repeating the moves until you’re doing them without thinking.”

  “And why have you come to spoil our practice?”

  “I came to watch you practicing and see if I can learn something new.”

  Viggo could not resist this. “Oh, if you’re with me you’ll always learn something new. And exciting!”

  Ingrid did not know what to say for a moment, then instantly she turned red with embarrassment and fury. “Don’t talk rubbish and get on with your practicing! You numskull!”

  Viggo gave her a mischievous smile and bowed pompously.

  “Shall we continue, Astrid?”

  “I thought you’d never stop arguing. You’re really funny,” said the brunette, who was now sweating profusely.

  “Are you sure you’re all right? You look terrible, and you’re sweating a lot.”

  “I feel a little weak and I’m very hot. Maybe I’ve caught a cold. It’s nothing. Let’s go on.”

  Viggo nodded. “One,” he said, and attacked, swiftly sliding his right leg forward and delivering a stroke at Astrid’s stomach.

  “Two,” she said, and deflected the movement with her left forearm.

  “Three. You’re a little slow.” He attacked, moved his left foot forward and launched another stroke, this time with his left hand. The knife was aimed at her stomach.

  “Four,” she said. She dodged the blow with her right forearm, but she was fractionally too late.

  “Five. Get ready,” he said, and struck at the leg she was using for support.

  “Six.” But to their surprise, she was unable to move her leg back in time and Viggo’s knife hit her thigh.

  Viggo stopped his attack. “You’re very slow. There’s definitely something wrong with you.”

  “It’s... nothing...” But she could not finish the sentence and fell to the ground.

  Instantly he knelt beside her. “Astrid!”

  Ingrid ran to his side. “What’s the matter with her?”

  “I don’t know. She’s been a bit odd the whole day.”

  She put her hand on Astrid’s forehead. “She’s burning with fever.”

  “It’ll just be a cold.”

  “No... this is something more serious...”

  “Why d’you say that?”

  “She’s just fainted, and her pulse... is very weak.”

  Viggo looked horrified. “We’d better take her to the Lair! Quick!”

  Supporting Astrid by the arms, they carried her back to the Lair as fast as they could. As they arrived, they met Frida and Elina, who were coming back from a Nature class. Gonars and Sugesen were a few steps behind them.

  “Where’s Elder Annika?” Ingrid asked urgently.

  The two girls looked at each other blankly, and Frida pointed inside the Lair. “Inside, preparing a beverage. We’re bringing her the plants she sent us to search for.”

  “What’s happened?” Elina asked.

  “Astrid’s sick,” Ingrid said harshly, and they ran to the Lair. Astrid was unconscious by now and her feet were dragging.

  “Elder Annika!” they called as they went into the Cave of the Runes.

  They set off for the Cave of Autumn as fast as they could. Sigrid was coming out of the Cave of Winter, alarmed by their shouting.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Ingrid and Viggo turned to her, with Astrid hanging between them.

  “Mother Specialist!” Ingrid said. “Something’s very wrong with Astrid!”

  Sigrid ran to them. “An accident?” she asked.

  “We don’t know what’s happened to her. She’s sick. There hasn’t been an accident.”

  “We were practicing and she fainted,” Viggo said. “And she’s one of the toughest people I know.”

  Sigrid examined her eyes and took her temperature and pulse. “You did the right thing, bringing her here quickly,”
she told them.

  Annika appeared at the entrance of the Cave of Autumn wearing an apron and gloves for alchemy. Immediately she realized what was happening and signaled to them to hurry.

  “Bring her down, I’ll have a look at her.”

  They took her to the Specialization of Nature quadrant inside the cave, and Annika indicated a bed beside the wall. Carefully, Ingrid and Viggo laid Astrid on the bed. She was still unconscious, and her whole body was burning.

  “Move over, please,” Annika said, and began to check Astrid quickly and thoroughly.

  “Let her work,” Sigrid said. “Wait outside.”

  Ingrid and Viggo looked at each other uneasily.

  “What is it?”

  “We’ll know soon enough. Go outside, please. Annika needs to work in peace.”

  “All right,” Viggo said, and led Ingrid away. Outside, Frida and Elina, Gonars and Sugesen were waiting for them.

  “What is it? How is she?” the two boys asked.

  “We don’t know anything” Ingrid said. “Annika’s looking at her now.”

  “Does anybody know where Lasgol is?” Viggo asked. “We have to tell him.”

  “The Wildlife people have gone to the end of the valley to work with the wild beasts,” said Frida.

  “They won’t be back until tonight,” Elina added.

  “Damn...” Viggo growled.

  “Nothing’s going to happen to her,” Ingrid pointed out. “She’s with Annika. She’ll heal her.”

  “She’s an excellent healer,” Frida assured him.

  “And she knows more about healing medicines than anybody else in the whole North,” Elina said.

  “Yeah... you’re right,” said Viggo. “Besides, it won’t amount to anything.”

  “Of course not,” said Ingrid.

  The evening went by, and night fell. Molak joined them outside the cave. They waited, seated on the ground, barely speaking, deeply worried. Sigrid came out of the cave and went back in with Ivar and Engla, which did not reassure anybody. They did not come back out.

  When it was dark Elder Gisli came back, along with Lasgol, Luca, Erika and Axe. They were taken aback by what they saw.

  “What’s the matter here?” Gisli asked.