The Weapon Bearer (Book 1) (32 page)

Leroy hurried over to him, followed by Master Harvel, the balding skinny castle chef. His large ladle was tucked up under his arm. “You need my attention for something, Kilen?” Kilen remembered that he would have to be at the training ground early in the morning so it was fortunate he had wandered his way to the kitchen.

“Actually, I do. I need a meal in my room early tomorrow before the others are served breakfast. Wizard Twilix wishes to train me on the wizard’s training grounds just after the soldiers breakfast ends. I will need something to sustain me awhile. Her training sessions are not easy, I’m afraid.”

“I will have it there. I have some tea made up If you would like a bit before you head back to your room.” Leroy didn’t wait for an answer but poured Kilen a glass. Kilen drank the entire bitter cup in one drink. The boy smiled at Kilen and handed him a tart, “This will help with the taste.”

“Thanks. Remember, early breakfast Leroy. I cannot afford to be late. I made a promise.” Leroy nodded. “How has Leroy been working out, Master Harvel? I hope that I have provided him enough time to help you here in the kitchen.”

“Great, Master Kilen. I do believe that you were very right about his cooking skills. I do believe that he may even replace me as the castle’s master chef if you let him stick around.”

Kilen smiled at the skinny man, “Sorry, I promised his father that he would be returning within the year. So gather all the knowledge from him that you can while he is here under your watch.” Master Harvel visibly slumped in disappointment.

“He told me as much. I guess I just didn’t want to believe it. Ah well, nothing to do about it. I need to make sure the bunch of lazy, no-talent workers in the back aren’t burning the morning biscuits.” He walked off towards the back of the kitchen when Leroy stepped forward.

“He’s not as bad as I thought. You won’t be having those horrible biscuits. I had a ham cooking since I left your rooms a while ago. It will be finished in the morning and I’ll serve it with some eggs. It will put some muscle on you before you know it.” Leroy smiled, and Kilen smiled back.

“Well I’m off to bed, looks like another full day tomorrow. Oh by the way, I will need you to tell Bowie I won’t be able to make the training in the morning because of Twilix. Have a good night, Leroy. If you need to sleep in my room, you have my permission.” Leroy nodded again and went about working his small piles of herbs with a mortar and pestle. Kilen left out the kitchen’s back door while eating the pastry that Leroy had given him. It really did take the bitter taste away. It tasted of fresh raspberries and reminded him of the previous year’s springfest. His mother had won a baking contest with her raspberry pie.

Crossing the training ground, Kilen didn’t know how he would ever get to sleep. After his drink of Leroy’s energizing tea he felt even more rejuvenated than before. He decided it would be a good idea to practice the forms Sgt. Wells had taught him.
I can help with that,
Max said.
The forms in your book are the same as the ones we are taught in the Fire Realm. I should be able to help you in that area, at least.

Kilen pulled his sword from his sheath and started the basic forms he was taught. Max told him to make adjustments here or there as he moved from one to another. He then started to tell Kilen which form to move into the next so that the forms flowed better than Kilen had skill to see. Kilen noticed a man watching him in the dark. He turned to face him and lowered his sword. The man crossed his arms to stop the night chill then scoffed and chuckled at Kilen before continuing on. Kilen didn’t like to be laughed at, so as soon as the man was beyond his vision he gathered a fog around himself as far a distance as he could. He closed his eyes and used the water vision to see his surroundings. Max made more adjustments and began to get frustrated with Kilen’s lack of skill in swordsmanship.
If it ever comes down to a sword fight without magic, you might want to just use those goofy long legs of yours and run.
Kilen even became disappointed in himself and lowered his blade tip to the ground. Then Kilen felt someone approaching through the fog coming straight for him.

“Well at least you’re practicing the forms, as horrible as you are at them. Let me give you some pointers,” Jace’s voice rang out in the night. “You made quite an impression on Twilix. You exceeded her expectations, which is saying something.”

“I only did what she asked.” Jace pulled a blade from underneath his cloak and wielded it comfortably like it was a part of his body.

“If you can see what I do, don’t release the fog. I will watch using the water vision also.” He held up a finger with a ring on it in the fog. “I will make adjustments to your form and we will work as long as you can hold out or get too frustrated to continue.” Max was ecstatic and added to Jace’s instructions. To help Kilen understand, he provided mental pictures of the Fire Realm. The two men practiced well into the night, and all the torches faded from the castles walls.

When they finished, Jace disappeared into the night just as quickly as he had come. Kilen made his way to his room and still did not feel tired. He would only need to have a couple hours sleep before morning, even without the earth magic to restore him. Leroy’s food and tea were providing him the energy and endurance he would need to complete the training. When he arrived in his room, Leroy was fast asleep on a pallet made up in the corner by the writing desk. Kilen washed his face quietly and pulled off his clothes and slipped into bed without waking his friend. Max and Joahna bid him goodnight and Kilen answered out loud into the dark room. It was nice to have more friends on his side. He just hoped that they were real.

Kilen woke to Leroy saying his name when he entered the room. “You’d better get dressed! I have your breakfast and some information for you.” Leroy pulled the cover off of the food tray he had, revealing two hard boiled eggs three thick slices of ham, some fresh fruit, and two biscuits. “Wizard Twilix has set you up to do practice battles with the fire councilwoman. The soldiers are excited about it and bets are being placed. Apparently, she has killed men that tried to help Twilix in the past. It’s because she gets angered during the fight and loses control. I would eat and get your head straight before you head out to face her.” Kilen was suddenly not very hungry. He had faced Mary last night but Twilix interceded before they got started. He would have to try not to anger the woman during the fight. With what he knew about women, there was a very small chance of that happening.

“How did you hear of the fight? I’m supposed to be training.” Kilen began to eat the breakfast that was provided for him.

“That fire wizard woman was talking to a Kapal man before the soldiers arrived. She was saying something about not needing his assistance today because she was going to expend her energy on some new weapon bearer Twilix was training. So I just assumed that it would be you.” Kilen finished his plate while Leroy tidied up the room. Then he washed the food down with the same bitter tea he would be drinking at every turn. Leroy promptly produced another raspberry tart wrapped in cloth from one of his many pockets. Kilen was grateful to have a friend like Leroy.

“Do you need anything, or are we good on supplies?” Kilen asked while putting on his boots and strapping on his sword belt.

“Oh, we bought enough to get us through the rest of the week, and Master Harvel is providing a lot of the more common herbs I need, now that I’m teaching him some recipes. Don’t worry about me or the supplies. You have a fire wizard to deal with.” Kilen nodded in response, wrapped on his cloak, and thanked Leroy again before he ducked out the door. Kilen stepped out of the barracks into a cool ,thickly clouded summer morning. He could make out Twilix in her blue hooded cloak crossing the wizard training grounds. Mary was nowhere in sight. The lack of her presence made him ease a tiny bit.

Twilix pushed back her hood, revealing her golden hair and green eyes. She looked Kilen up and down. “Don’t you have armor?”

“I do. Jace told me I would not be using it as a scout. He told me I should look inconspicuous, that way I can overhear conversations.”

“I understand, but you will probably need any help you can get today. Hurry and put it on. It won’t help to delay Mary. She is ready to help train you right now.”

Kilen was startled by the tone in her voice, “I don’t see her anywhere.” Kilen looked around the training ground.

Twilix pointed to the middle of the wizard’s training ground where a large bonfire was burning. “She’s waiting for you there when you’re ready. Please hurry. I don’t want to have to re-grow all of your skin.” Kilen realized that Mary was the bonfire. He turned to ran inside his barracks. When he entered the door Leroy was just about finished cleaning. Kilen started throwing things out of the trunk and wardrobe.

“Hurry, help me get my armor on!”

***

Bowie stepped out of his barracks wearing a bright green outfit and his black hat ,with the intention of getting some practice time in even if Kilen wouldn’t be able to make it. He wanted to see how well his new bow worked anyway. He moved out to the field and found Captain Lorusk and John Curtain, the archery trainer, standing in the middle. Bowie knew that whatever game they would be playing it would be a dangerous one. Bowie thought it would be in his best interest to give them what they wanted for the time being. “Captain Lorusk, Trainer Curtain, good morning.”

Lorusk stood with arms crossed squared off with Bowie looking at him, as if he was buying a steak at market. “I suppose I should call you Master Cresent, after all.” He said nothing else and Bowie thought it would be best to say nothing until he was asked directly. After a moment, the captain let out a breath of air and relaxed. “If you have no one to train yet, I would like to see these skills of yours. Apparently, I have missed out twice now. Once when you out shot my second, and the other time was literally behind my back if he is to be believed.”

Bowie spoke up, “I have come to practice but I’ll show you what I can Sir.” Bowie placed a foot on his bow and bent it so that he could fix the string into place.

“Very well, let’s move back a bit. How far back can you still strike the target, boy?” The Captain now had his hands down at his side and appeared to be taking a very friendly tone with Bowie. He thought it was a trick and decided to keep up the appearance of a good soldier, as much as he knew how. John Curtain fidgeted with an arrow as he stood by the captain’s side, but said nothing.

“Further back yet, captain. I’ll go as far as I can. If you would excuse me some warm up shots. The king told me my old bow wasn’t as good as I thought, so I bought a new one, sir.” Bowie lifted the bow so that the captain could take a better look. He looked it over without touching it and then nodded his head in approval.

“Let me know when you are ready,” was all the captain said as he moved off to the far end of the range. John followed, still fidgeting with his arrow. Bowie stretched his bow to test its strength. It had a harder pull than the one he had before. It was taller and made for longer shots. The arrow would have to leave his hand going a lot faster. He tried to figure the best he could on the range of the bow and nocked an arrow. He breathed like his grandfather had taught him and released in the natural pause in the breathing pattern. The arrow landed in the center line of the target but barely on the top edge. The arrow had gone faster than Bowie had anticipated. He would have to lower the bow’s aim even more. The second shot he landed in the red circle. Satisfied, he moved ten paces farther back. He took three more shots, landing them all in the middle circle. He moved back farther. He felt confident that with this bow he would be able to make longer shots more accurately than he had before. The only problem was, that with a stronger and longer draw, he would have to make longer arrows to compensate. It would have to wait until he could get the materials. Right now he had two other problems. When he turned to face Captain Lorusk there were three other men with bows standing talking to him. Lorusk waved them away. They seemed disappointed as they walked away.

“I am ready Captain.”

“Good, let us see your skills then.” Lorusk and Curtain moved to follow Bowie. “Proceed,” the captain said with his arms folded across his chest. Bowie took aim and let the arrow go. It landed just above where he had predicted. He made the adjustment and let a second arrow go. It landed very near the center of the target. Bowie started to make more distance, and the other two men followed. Bowie made another shot and moved back yet again so that he was now standing almost touching the barracks wall. He took another shot, and it yet again landed in the center. Bowie relaxed his bow and the captain stood looking at him. “Proceed,” he said again.