Reign of Madness (Revised Edition) (21 page)

“Well, I spent much time at court, and many of the courtiers
were carrying them. I thought they looked elegant with the swirling, golden
hilts.” He ducked his head in embarrassment, “And, it was lighter than the
other swords. I did not have to work as hard.”

“You probably realize, now, that you did yourself a
disservice. It would have been more advantageous to practice with a heavier
weapon than you would typically carry. Even if you wanted to, you would not
have the strength to wield a longsword for any length of time.”

“Perhaps I will heed your words in the future and choose
another weapon; but for now, I am contending in the rapier competition. It
would do me little good to practice with a longsword at this point,” Tieran
argued.

“I disagree,” Kai stated. “Between now and the tournament,
if you practice every day for a couple of hours with a longsword, you will see
a marked improvement in your speed and endurance with the rapier.”

“Truly?” Tieran inquired with interest.

Kai grunted in affirmation and continued, “And, it would do
you
all
good to practice wielding your blades single handedly with your
off hands. Right now you are unbalanced. Besides, if your primary sword arm is
injured, you may have need to wield your blade in the other hand to save your
life. Even if you can never wield more than one blade at a time, you
should
be able to wield your blade effectively with either hand.”

Malcius nodded and motioned to his brother as he said,
“Palis practices with his left hand sometimes.”

Palis flushed and remarked, “Not as much as I should, but I
have been attempting to hone my skills. At first, it was very difficult and
extremely awkward. My mind kept screaming at me to switch hands. I am getting
used to it, though.”

“And that is the problem with these instructors of the
art
,”
the striker grumbled. “They teach for performance and showmanship rather than
practicality and battle prowess. If you had learned to switch hands from the
start, you would not have such a problem. I would venture to say Rezkin was
practicing with both hands from the moment he picked up his first practice
sword.”

The baron leaned in and lowered his voice as he asked, “Is
the man so good, then? You have made several remarks regarding his skill.”

Rezkin, the mage, the soldiers, Frisha and Tam were sitting
at another table on the other side of the room, but still, the room was very
small. Rezkin was actively focusing on the conversation at the other table, so
he heard the baron’s question. His companions, though, were engaged in their
own conversations and thus far had missed the passing remarks about his skill.
He hoped the answers to the baron’s question would come just as quietly. He was
not so fortunate. A sudden flurry of excited replies burst from the adjacent
table catching the attention of everyone at his own.

“He is a Dual-Blade Swordmaster, Father,” Waylen replied.

“You should have seen Rezkin and Striker Kai sparring on the
deck. How often do you get to see a close up performance of two Swordmasters?”
Palis asked rhetorically.

“I have never seen
one
,” Waylen remarked. Despite his
shyness, he had been elated to witness the match, and he was interested in the
discussion. “But, Father, he was so
fast
. I think I could never hope to
match his speed.”

Frisha furrowed her brow and stared at the table of nobles
as she said, “Wait, are they talking about
you
, Rez?”

“It was nothing – just a simple sparring match on the
deck during a practice session,” Rezkin replied.

“It does not sound like
nothing
,” Tam remarked. “It
sounds
like they believe you are a Swordmaster.”

Jimson rolled his eyes and said, “Really, Rezkin, the secret
is out.” He turned to Frisha and Tam and said flatly, “Rezkin is a Dual-Blade
Swordmaster, and he carries enchanted blades.”

Both of his
friends
were stunned for a moment, and
then Frisha’s face grew increasingly flushed with anger. Just as Rezkin
expected her to explode at him for keeping such a secret, she asked in a
disturbingly calm voice, “Does my uncle know?”

Rezkin cocked his head curiously and said, “Yes, he is
aware.”

The young woman slapped her fist against the table and stood
so fast her chair skidded across the floor nearly toppling over. “You mean to
tell me he
knew
you were so accomplished and wealthy enough to carry
enchanted blades, and he
still
rejected you?” she shouted. Every head
turned in in the direction of the unexpected outburst.

Rezkin held her gaze and said, “Yes.”

Frisha actually growled loudly in frustration. “I cannot
believe this! That’s why he told us to stay with you no matter what! If he does
not change his mind when we return, I swear I will personally strangle him!”

Whether from the shock of Rezkin’s revelation or the
uncharacteristic vehemence of Frisha’s eruption, Tam suddenly could not hold
back a round of laughter. Frisha scowled at her best friend and said, “What are
you
laughing at? This isn’t funny!”

Tam only laughed harder, nearly falling from his chair. “I
am sorry, Frisha. It’s just…it’s just hearing
you
threaten to strangle
the general. Ha ha ha! I’m picturing it now,” he said as he continued his uncontrolled
giggle, wiping tears from his eyes.

“Your uncle is one of the generals? Which general?” Kai
interrupted.

Frisha looked at the striker in dismay. “
The
General.
General Marcum, of course,” she replied.

“Oh ho! I did not realize that you, too, were a member of
the Jebai Household,” Kai responded, eyeing the young woman speculatively.

With a huff, Frisha said, “I am not. I am Uncle Marcum’s
heir. My mother is his sister.”

The striker’s eyes brightened as they landed on Rezkin. “And
you are courting her? This is most excellent, my lord. You are ahead in the
game. I had not realized you were already so well placed.”

Rezkin stood abruptly, and his frame seemed to expand to
fill the room. He glared at the striker and said, “Kai, you can strike those
thoughts from your mind, for they have no place in reality. If you must express
such sentiments, then I will not have you do so
here
. My intentions
toward Frisha are genuine, and I will not have you sully the appeal with your
absurd aspirations.”

Kai stood and bowed as he replied, “I apologize, my lord. I
meant no offense, though you cannot disagree that it is advantageous to have
the general on your side.”

Rezkin grumbled at the irony of the statement as he retook
his seat and said, “There is no
side
, Kai, and if there were, the
general would not be on it. The man hates me.”

Kai chuckled as he sat back down in his seat at the other
side of the room and plucked his tankard from the table. “I doubt that. I know
General Marcum, and if he truly hated you, he would not have permitted you to
escort his heir on a voyage such as this.”

Rezkin grunted and remarked, “I think you underestimate
Frisha’s capacity and influence. Marcum favors her and was inclined to give her
this opportunity only to satisfy her desire to attend the tournament. He only
agreed to my service because he knows I am both capable and willing to protect
her.” Of course, there was more to it. He did not mention the general’s
other
concerns regarding assassins and traitors. With Kai having been living in a
barrel for the last several months, he doubted the man had heard much about the
infamous Raven.

“That is the problem,” Frisha complained. “Uncle Marcum
admits that Rezkin is good enough to play guard and babysitter, but he’ll not
accept him for my husband.” Frisha flushed at the thought of Rezkin being her
husband and suddenly realized how many pairs of eyes were on her. She sat down
and buried her head in her hands.

Tam turned to Rezkin and asked, “You’re a Swordmaster?”

Rezkin strode past the foremast and placed his hands on the
railing as he looked out beyond the bowsprit. Thick forest lined the banks, but
over the distance it looked like a solid wall of brown and green. The river was
massive and wide, the current so swift that if one were to fall overboard, he
would be sucked under and drowned without any hope of swimming to shore. That
is, unless he was swimming with a broken leg, broken rib, and previously
dislocated shoulder after infiltrating a guild of assassins in the middle of
the night.

Several days had passed, and Rezkin decided it was time to
have a talk with Kai. The young warrior carefully weighed how much information
he wished to reveal versus how much he hoped to gain from the striker. The
young warrior believed it unlikely the older man would be able to give him the
whereabouts of Striker Farson, but he could possibly shed some light on the
intentions and loyalties of the strikers relative to the king. Rezkin needed to
ferret out his opponent, if one existed.

The warrior turned to seek out the striker and spied Tam
nestled in a nook reading a book. Tam was a year older than Rezkin, and yet,
Rezkin thought of him as being much younger. Tam had the innocence of someone
who had grown up in relative safety with few responsibilities other than to
learn his craft and tend to a few household chores. Tam wanted to be a soldier,
though, and he was in for a rude awakening if he did not gain some perspective
on the world. The young man had not integrated well into the groups aboard the
ship, and Rezkin intended for that to change.

Approaching his
friend
, Rezkin said, “Reading again?
I do not believe it is a habit suffered by any of the soldiers I have
encountered.”

“This was always my favorite,” Tam said. “I have read it a dozen
times. Being able to read this book was what encouraged me to learn my letters
in the first place.” With a twinkle in his eye, he said, “You should read it
sometime, Rez. I think you would find it intriguing.”

“Why is that?” Rezkin inquired.

Tam shook his head with a chuckle. “No, if you wish to find
out, then you will have to read it. I will lend you my copy.”

“Perhaps another time. You wish to be a soldier, Tam. You
should be practicing or learning from Jimson and his men,” Rezkin remarked.

Tam shrugged. “I’ve spent some time with them, but I figure
there will be time enough for soldiering after I join the army.” Tam frowned
and continued, “But I don’t know, Rez. It doesn’t sound at all like what I
thought it would be. I expected adventures to far away places and fighting vile
enemies and killing terrible monsters that wreak havoc across the countryside.
I thought I could help save a village of innocent people from brutal death by
fearsome foes.” His voice was passionate and energetic, as though reenacting
some bard’s tale. He shook his head sadly and said, “That’s not at all what
they do. They do paperwork and guard buildings and walls that are never
attacked. Millins said he has never even had to draw his sword in combat, and
he’s a
sergeant
.”

Rezkin nodded in understanding and said, “You want the role
of
hero
or
adventurer
from your stories, not a common soldier.”

Tam dropped his eyes to his closed book and said, “Yes, I
suppose so. But, there is no such position of employment, is there? It’s just a
fantasy.”

“Perhaps you are already living your dream, Tam. You helped
escort and protect a lady and delivered her safely to her guardian. You are far
from your home of Cheswick, traveling to a distant city for a tournament that
will attract visitors and participants from far-off lands. You have already
seen battle on two separate occasions and even taken a life in defense of a
comrade.”

Tam looked up with distant eyes as he thought over Rezkin’s
words. “Yes, I suppose that’s true. When you put it that way, it does seem
exciting; but it did not
seem
like some great adventure at the time. It
was just one event leading to the next and trying to survive.”

“That is the way of the world. The greatest adventures often
start with a simple task and rarely seem so great when you are enduring them,”
Rezkin replied.

Tam looked at Rezkin from the corner of his eye and said,
“You don’t sound your age at all when you say things like that.”

Rezkin grunted and said, “It was more than just coincidence,
Tam. You could have rejected my companionship in Justain, and your adventure
would likely have ended with bandits on the River Straei. Likewise, you could
have joined the army when we arrived in Kaibain and the adventure would have
ended in boredom. You jumped at the chance to travel to the tournament, though.
Finding adventure and surviving it means seizing opportunities when they
present themselves. Perhaps you have a natural talent for adventuring.”

Tam smiled at the thought. “That would be something,” he
remarked, “although I see no wealth in it. If it were not for the funds the
general gave us and your generosity, my purse would have already run empty.”

“Adventurers often survive off the patronage of wealthier
men,” the warrior commented. Rezkin cocked his head thoughtfully and said, “I
have a proposal for you, Tam. It is an opportunity, but I cannot say where it
will lead.”

“What kind of proposal?” Tam inquired.

“A position of employment,” Rezkin answered.

“You want me to work for
you
?” Tam asked in surprise.
“You know, Rez, I originally thought you a man of few means, but it seems I
underestimated you. I certainly never imagined you a Swordmaster. You now
employ a journeyman battle mage, and the striker defers to you for reasons I
have yet to understand. To be honest, I still don’t comprehend what goes on
between you and the general. I think you missed one important point concerning
my adventures, though, and that is
you
. I wouldn’t have had such
adventures and certainly wouldn’t have survived them if not for you.”

Rezkin considered the young man’s words. “Some of your
questions will be answered if you accept my offer, but you must not do so
lightly. I will be honest. It is a very dangerous road I travel. Any associated
with me are placed in danger, those in my confidence more so,” Rezkin
explained.

Tam looked at Rezkin askance and said, “What do you mean?
Are you saying we’re in danger just for knowing you? By the Maker, Rezkin, I
thought you said your priority was to
protect
your friends.”

“It is, but I do not believe that protecting and honoring
someone means locking him in a tower to prevent any ill from befalling him,”
the young warrior replied. “You desire a life of adventure, and I will assist
you in attaining it. Even if you fall in your task, at least you have lived
your life well.”

Tam shifted uncertainly and replied, “I guess I see your
point, but what of Frisha? She didn’t express any desire for such a life.”

“Which is why I did not force my hand when confronting the
general. You were present when I explained to her that I have many secrets, and
it is based on only a small portion of those secrets that the general made his
decision. Even though I disagree with Marcum, Frisha knows little of what
danger surrounds me. Therefore, she is unable to make an informed decision. I
must concede to her guardian at this time,” Rezkin explained.

“But you have not given up,” Tam observed.

“No. I am not so easily defeated,” Rezkin replied with a
grin.

“Then you should tell her. Tell her whatever she needs to
know to make her decision,” Tam asserted.

Rezkin shook his head, “This is no small matter. It is a
matter of conspiracy and death. Until I have more information, the less she
knows, the better. She has gained notoriety as the general’s heir, and that
may
protect her to some extent.”

“So, what of this job you offer?” Tam inquired, steering the
conversation back to the original topic.

“I would not have it supersede our
friendship
, Tam. I
can provide you with the financial means to accompany me on my own adventures.
In return you will perform whatever tasks I require and continue your weapons
training.”

Tam looked at Rezkin skeptically, “I get to adventure and
train with a Swordmaster and get paid to do it? Even Lord Tieran, the
duke’s
son
, doesn’t train with a Swordmaster, and I doubt it is for lack of desire
or means. You say I must only perform a few errands?”

 “There may be more than a few, and they will not
necessarily be easy. There is a condition, though,” Rezkin said as he held up a
finger to emphasize his point. “I require your complete loyalty. There may be
no conflicts of interest. When we fight our foes, you stand with
me
.
Whether against foreign invaders or your own father or brothers or even the
king, you stand with
me
alone.”

Tam gripped his book tighter and jumped to his feet with a
scowl. “You seek to
buy
my loyalty? I thought we were friends, Rez, and
you saved my life more than once already. You know I stand with you.”

Rezkin held Tam’s eyes in his gaze and said, “I know that
even friends and kin will balk in the presence of the king and threats of
treason. What would you do should your family be captured and placed upon the
block in your stead?”

“My family would commit no offense to warrant such an end,
and any king or lord who would do such a thing wouldn’t be deserving of my
loyalty,” Tam replied with conviction.

“I imagine it is easier to say than it is to look upon their
tear-stained faces, the nooses around their necks, and image your loss,” the
warrior remarked.

Tam frowned and said, “Can you say you would feel
differently if it was Frisha in their place? I may not know your secrets, Rez,
but I think I know your heart. A man must stand for something, and I believe
you stand for right. Whether you believe me or not, I stand with you.”

“When you question my actions or decisions? When you believe
I have committed egregious offense? What then?” Rezkin inquired.

“I will confront you, as a friend should,” Tam replied.
“Every man must be held accountable to someone.”

“And, the king? Is the king held accountable?” Rezkin
pressed.

Tam shifted uncomfortably and replied, “The king or any
noble is accountable to his subjects. Isn’t that what you said?”

Rezkin smiled genuinely and gripped Tam’s shoulder as he
said, “That will do, Tam. I believe we have an agreement on this matter. As to
the matter of employment?”

Tam scoffed. “I think even the general would not begrudge my
decision to train with a Swordmaster over becoming a common soldier –
even if he
does
hate you,” he finished with a grin.

“Very well,” Rezkin replied as he turned and nudged the
young man forward. “Our first order of business is to interrogate a striker
– again.”

Tam’s eyes widened, and he asked, “What makes you think the
striker will agree to answer your questions?”

“Oh, he
will
answer my questions – one way or
another,” Rezkin remarked. Tam looked at Rezkin sideways to gauge his friend’s
sincerity. Rezkin was not smiling.

The two made their way to the quarterdeck where they found the
striker pummeling Palis and Waylen, again. Rezkin made a show of looking around
for the other young lords, and Kai remarked, “The other pansies said they
needed a break. Bah! They are a lost cause. A few bumps and bruises and they go
running.”

Rezkin shrugged. He could not really disagree. The young
men’s training had been sadly lacking in discipline. Palis picked himself up
from the ground as he worked his shoulder in circles and rubbed at a bruised
hip. Waylen was holding his blade in his left hand and several of the fingers
on his right were bandaged together. Rezkin had just found the next practice
subject for his unwilling healer. Reaylin could protest all she wanted, but he
knew the young woman would not turn the young man away with broken bones, especially
with the upcoming tournament.

“Kai, I need to speak with you,” Rezkin announced.

The older man lost his sadistic grin and furrowed his brow.
He had expected Rezkin to confront him long before this. “Yes, my…
lord
,”
he replied and turned to his students. “Do not think this a reprieve. You can
practice even without my presence.”

Both young men nodded agreement as two pairs of observant
eyes bounced back and forth between Kai and Rezkin. Everyone had noticed Kai’s
odd behavior toward the young warrior. A striker was subservient to no one but
the king; and yet, the man genuflected and capitulated repeatedly to his young
savior. For the most part, the others convinced themselves he did so as a
matter of respect and honor for the man who saved his life, but in truth, even
that explanation never sat well with them.

Kai sheathed his sword and walked steadily past his liege.
Rezkin followed, trailed by Tam. Issuing directions, he guided the striker into
a secluded space below decks in the cargo hold. Rezkin knew from his
reconnaissance practice that no one visited this part of the ship, and the
water lapping at the hull could help prevent eavesdroppers from hearing
anything – not that he expected there to be any eavesdroppers, but one
should always prepare in any case. Trunks and crates were strapped to the
walls, but in the center was a small open space. Kai noted a single chair had
been placed in the center.

“Is the seat for me or the boy?” Kia inquired.

“Sit,” Rezkin ordered.

Kai grumbled as he sat in the chair. Tam nervously moved to
one side. He wished he could simply disappear amongst the crates, but the
striker watched him curiously.

“If this is about me exposing you for your
Skill
, it
was only my intention to ensure you had the proper respect from those boys,”
the striker remarked.