Knight Fall (The Champion Chronicles Book 1) (12 page)

“Oh?  Is it not working?” Goshin asked.

“It seems to be working just fine,” the king said.  “But it is this star.  It is not supposed to be there.”

Goshin raised an eyebrow.   He shuffled over to the looking glass and peered through the lens.  “Are you sure?” The old man asked, continuing to look through the eyepiece.

“Quite sure.  It is also not like any other star,” the king added.

Goshin stepped back from the looking glass, looking up into the sky to where the new star was located.  “How is that?”

“It does not move.  The other stars, they move like you taught me.  After the sun falls, the stars are in one place.  Before the sun rises they are in another place.”  The king fumbled through loose parchments lying on a desk nearby.  He pulled one out that was well used and full of notes and other markings.  “I marked them like you taught me.  In fact, if my markings are correct, it is as if the stars actually circle around this one new star.”

Goshin took the parchment with the markings and looked at it carefully.  “You are very accurate.  They do seem to circle around this one star.”

“What does it mean, though?”

Goshin handed the parchment back to the king.  “The stars in the sky are your gods having left the earth for their heavenly realm.  Is that not what you believe?”

The king hesitated for a moment, unsure if Goshin was actually asking the question or taunting him.  “Yes.”

“Then your gods have added to their ranks," Goshin declared.

“But it is not what you believe," the king said.

“Does it matter what I believe?”

“You are a wise and trusted servant, Master Goshin.  I do care what you believe.”

“But does it matter what I believe?” Goshin asked again.

The king’s eyes narrowed, trying to figure out where Goshin was going.  He seemed to always want to talk in riddles to get his point across.  He wished he would just say what he was thinking.  The king straightened himself and said, “You are an astronomer from a land that has studied the skies for centuries.  I would like your explanation as to the appearance of this new star.”

“There is an explanation,” Goshin said after a moment of reflection.  “But it is beyond me at the moment.  I know that is not the answer that you were looking for, but it is the one that you will get.”

“There are times when I do not like your honesty," the king said grimly, but with a twinkle in his eye.

“And there are times when I do not liking giving it,” Goshin responded in kind.

The king laughed with his friend.  “Can you guess?  Do you not have any idea?”

“I have seen stars appear before, but they moved.  Not like the other stars did, but across the sky, like the moon.  They come quickly and they go quickly. But this, I have never seen before.”

“It is ominous,” the king said.  “As the kingdom hangs in balance, something like this appears.  I do not like it.”

“The world does not revolve around Karmon.  It could mean nothing to you.”

“I do not believe in coincidence," the king said.  "I would like to do what I can to ensure that this has nothing to do with Karmon.  And, if it does, find out what I can do about it.”

“I can search what scrolls I have,” Goshin said.  “If the library of my people were still standing, then I would be hopeful that the answers might be there.  But for all I know, what I was able to salvage is all that exists.  It will take some time.” The old man gave the king a slight bow.

“I thank you.  I hope that it is nothing, as you suggest.  But I would rather have an understanding.”  He let his words sink in for a moment before going on to his next request.  “Now, there is another matter that I must ask of you, one that is more pressing.”

Master Goshin bowed again, and said, “I am your servant.”

The king smiled.  “I hope it is not too much to ask, but I would like to take advantage of your other skill.”

***

Conner found the door after about an hour of searching.  Marik had told him exactly where to find it, and it was indeed exactly where it should have been.  He just got lost trying to find his way there.  The castle was bigger than what he saw from the outside, which surprised him as much as it had surprised many attackers in history.  The castle walls could be breached, but there were also the lower floors that greatly exceed the castle’s footprint.  With corridors and halls that twisted and turned, the lower floors were easily defended.  Add to that the secret exits at the base of the cliff, the castle was nearly siege proof. 

Conner grasped the iron door pull and pulled the door open to reveal a lamp-lit corridor that sloped downward.  With a cautious first step, he entered the corridor.  The harsh light of the oil lamps made it easy enough to see by, but he still walked slowly as if he were waiting for something or someone to jump out at him.  The air got cooler as he went down, but not as cold as it was outside, which he thought strange.  After one sharp turn, the corridor ended at a large chamber filled with rows upon rows of swords, shields, and armor.  Most of the weapons and armor were lined neatly along the walls and floor, ready to be used in battle.  Others were spread across large tables, presumably being worked on.  Amazed at not only the number of weapons, Conner was astonished at the variety of weapons.  There were swords of all sizes.  Small swords that looked like they were for young boys, and large swords with hilts as long as his forearm.  He couldn’t even imagine two men being able to lift those swords.  There were swords with wide blades and thin blades.  Steel swords and bronze swords.  There was even an assortment of wooden swords.

He looked around, seeing no one.  He called out meekly, “Master Goshin?  Hello?”

There was no answer, so he continued down a row of weapons of a type that he had never seen.  They were each comprised of a long wooden handle, a steel ball, and a chain that connected them.  Some of the balls were wooden, others were steel.  The wooden balls had nails hammered in, the steel balls had spikes somehow attached.  He picked one up by the wood handle, holding it carefully so that the ball didn’t swing back and strike him.  It was a vicious weapon that would cause a lot of damage if struck with any kind of force.

“That is mace,” a voice said from the end of the row.  The words spoken were heavily accented which made him barely understandable.

Conner glanced up, weapon still in hand.  The man who was standing in front of him looked nothing like any other man he had ever seen.   His skin was darker that his.  Not tan from working in the sun like his fellow villagers, but different.  It almost had a green tint to it.  He was shorter than Conner and skinnier.  He wore a baggy grey tunic that hung loosely off his shoulders.

Conner looked from the strange man to the weapon.  He thought briefly about swinging it, but he didn’t want it to come back and strike him in the leg.  Instead, he set it back in its place.

“It is not for you,” the old man said.

“What?”

“Mace.  Not for you.”  He stepped forward, his eyes scanning Conner up and down.  After a moment, he took four big steps to reach Conner and grabbed his hand.  He turned it over, rubbed it, and then held them both while looking in his eyes.  “You shoot bow, but you do not use sword.”

“Yes,” Conner said slowly, trying to figure out who this man was and why he was acting so strange.

“It was not question,” the man replied sharply.  “You are thin, with long limbs.  Good for archer, bad for Knight.”

“I am not a Knight,” Conner said.

“Oh?  Then what are you?”

Conner had to think for moment. He didn’t know who he was, or what he was.   “I am Conner," he finally said.  "The Princess’ Champion."

The old man smiled. “Yes, I hear.  And yet, you do not use sword.”

“No.”

The old man’s smile grew wider.  “Again, not question.”

“Master Goshin?” Conner asked.

The old man nodded.  “I am,” he said.

“I need a sword,” Conner said.  He looked across the room at the rows of swords, resting and ready to be used.  “I am to train with the squires.”

“They use broadswords.  They are big, wide swords that are heavy and cumbersome.  Too heavy for you.”

“If I am to train, then I will need one.”

“Follow,” Goshin commanded.

Conner did, following him down an aisle of seemingly enormous swords, most of which were taller than him and probably just as heavy.  “How does anyone wield one of these?”

Goshin turned his head back and said, “Knights are grown large around here.  They are trained young and eat lots.”

“It must hurt to be struck by one.”

“It not hurt.  One strike and you would be split in two.  You would not feel, you would be dead.”   A slight small fell across the old man’s face.

Conner return the smiled.  “Unless I dodged out of the way.”

“You could only dodge for so long,” Goshin replied more seriously.  “This one.”  Goshin handed Conner a sword that was not quite as long nor as wide as most of the others.

Conner went to take it, but the old man suddenly pulled it away.  “Left hand.”

Conner reached this time with his left hand and held it awkwardly.  “I use my right hand,” Conner protested.

  “You will train with left hand,” Goshin said.  He paused for a moment before adding, “When you train with the squires, you will train with left hand.  They train with clumsy weapons using clumsy techniques.  You will learn strength with left hand. “

“But I shoot a bow with my right hand,” Conner said.

“You will not shoot bow while you train. When you train, you use left hand,” Goshin repeated.  The man turned and walked away from the enormous broadswords.

Not sure what to do, Conner followed Goshin away from the racks of broadswords towards the back corner of the room.  Past a number of shields of various sizes and shapes, Goshin came to stop at a small rack of thin swords.  He stood, looking at the swords for several moments before picking one up and handing it to Conner.

Conner, clumsily moved the wooden training sword to his right hand and reached for the long, slightly curved, singled-edged sword with his left hand.

Master Goshin slapped the wooden sword out of his right hand painfully.  “No!  Right hand.”

Confused, Conner took the sword with his right hand.  He looked at it closely.  It was actually lighter than the wooden sword, but had a single, sharp edge that curved slightly to a pointed tip.  He took several practice swings and Goshin looked on with approval.

“I have never seen a sword like this.  It is so light.  Will it break?”

Goshin laughed aloud.  It came out as a sharp burst and lasted for several seconds.  “That sword has been used for centuries by my people from the west.  It is shunned by Knights as too light.  But in the right hands, with right training.”  He handed Conner a second, identical sword.  “And with two swords, you become not just man, but machine.”

Conner moved the two swords, one in each hand, trying to figure out how he would fight with them.  “How would I defend myself with no shield?”

“Shield not necessary,” Goshin replied.  “With these, and much training, you could dodge forever.”  A sly smile crept across the westerner’s face.  “Or at least long enough to kill your opponent.”

Goshin took one of the swords back and carefully placed it back in its slot.  “We will begin tomorrow.  She is yours.”

Conner looked around, wondering what he was talking about and then he realized that he was referring to the sword.  “Mine?”

“Yes.”

“Start with a real sword?” Conner asked.  "The squires only use wooden swords."

“It is the only way,” Goshin replied.  "Squires are clumsy and will cut themselves.  You are not.  When with me, you train with steel.  When with squires, you train as they do."

Conner slowly looked over the sword and said, “I have never seen or even heard of this type of sword."

“It is light sword that does not carry much punch,” Goshin replied.  “Which is why they do not use it, and look upon it as if it were but a twig.  A knight is strong.  And slow.  Which is why their broadswords work for them.  One strike can cleave a man in two.”

Goshin took the sword from Conner and looked at it closely.  Then, with a quickness that belied his age, the old man swung the sword three quick times.  “This sword, thin and light, can cleave a man in two as well.  But only if you know how to use it.”  He then sheathed the sword in a simple leather scabbard and handed it back to Conner.

“You will teach me?” Conner asked.

The old man paused and looked closely at the young man who stood in front of him.  After a moment, he replied.  “Yes.  I will teach.  But, will you learn?”

Conner nodded, an eagerness in his eyes that told the old sword master that he did not clearly understand the question.

“I am from a village named Tobin from the far, far west,” Goshin said.  He turned to walk, but Conner did not move.  “Come, come.  You must understand, if you are to learn.”

Conner followed while Goshin continued.  “Tobin is located on a large island.  We were part of an ancient civilization with a history that exceeds even that of the Taran Empire.  We call ourselves the Hurai.  It is part of a race of people that are different that you.  Our skin color is different.  Our hair is different.  The shape of our eyes is different.  I do not know why God made us so different.”