The Apprentice (20 page)

Chapter 15
                     
 

Over the next few days, Rowan began
to learn the layout of the castle. He quickly discovered where to find the
kitchens and visited frequently. Food was cooked fresh every day and Rowan found
that he had a great appetite for breakfast.

Each
morning he rose before the sun was up and he took his food from the kitchen,
preferring that to being served in his room. After eating, he would train with
Baird, using wooden practice blades in place of the sticks they had made do
with while travelling. They trained each morning and again at night. During the
day, Rowan followed Baird as he went about his tasks, meeting with various
people and attending to things that Rowan did not understand. They met with the
king once more, though only briefly and not with the princess present.
Occasionally there would be a task that Baird was required to perform on his
own, and Rowan would be sent away on some task meant solely to keep him
occupied. Those were the times when Rowan would grow frustrated.

On the
dawn of his second week in Estoria, Rowan awoke early, the air cold despite the
sun. He awoke to find his master already dressed and awake.

It was
common for Baird to rise earlier than Rowan, but over the past week Rowan had
only awoken to find Baird still waiting for him once, on his second day in the
capitol. After that, Rowan awoke each day to find Baird gone, though his master
had always returned by the time Rowan had found food.

As
though prompted by the thought of food, Rowan’s stomach rumbled. He rose and
quickly dressed himself, donning clothing over his underclothes and wondering
what Baird had planned for the day. His master sat with his blade across his
lap, waiting patiently.

“Shall
we eat?” Baird asked as Rowan finished dressing.

Rowan
followed his master to the kitchens, where servants were hurrying about and the
sounds of work and preparation for the day to come echoed through the halls.
Even after a week, it still stunned Rowan that so much food was so readily
available.

As was
usual, the kitchens were warm and noisy. Despite the early hour, the kitchen
was filled with activity. Across the room, the head cook was shouting orders to
the servants, giving the serving maids orders and special instructions while
overseeing the food preparation.

“We
should eat quickly,” Baird said, grabbing some bread rolls, cheese, and several
strips of bacon. “Estoria can be a busy city in the daytime and I would like to
avoid the crowds.”

“We are
going out into the city?” Rowan asked, biting into a roll that he had cut open
and filled with meat and cheese. He chewed and swallowed before continuing.
“What business is there in the city?”

The
prospect of leaving the castle excited Rowan. He was in no way confined to the
grounds, but he had not yet been out to explore the city. All that he had seen
of Estoria had been when he arrived with Baird a week ago.

“I wish
to visit a friend of mine. I have a favor to ask of him and I would like you to
come with me.”

“Alright,”
Rowan said, wondering who they were going to visit. Eager to leave and excited
at the prospect of seeing the city, Rowan quickly finished his food.

They
left the grounds the same way they had entered—through the main gates at the
base of the rise.

Beyond
the wall and outside of the gates, the nearest building was at least two stone
throws away. No building was built too close to the wall, and the distance was
made even greater because the gates opened into a large plaza where there was
some cross-traffic as a number of people, all about on different tasks, were
going about their morning duties. Some glanced at Rowan and Baird as they left,
but none took a particular interest in the pair.

Baird
led Rowan along the main road, taking him through the plaza and turning west
down one of many streets.

They
walked in silence, and as they walked, Rowan studied the people and the city
around him. Estoria was unlike Attica or Barrinell, as it was smaller and less
cramped. Near the main road and in the areas close to the castle, the streets
were paved and solid, but as they journeyed on it became more common to find
dirt streets.

There
were many different kinds of people, and all seemed to be going about their own
business. There was much trading and selling going on, but the streets were not
crowded with stands and stalls. Instead there were shops along the road while
the stalls and carts were mainly confined to the plazas and open areas where
there was space to accommodate them.

“Estoria
is smaller than Barrinell and Attica, but I think that I like it better. It is
cleaner and less crowded.”

“The
capitol actually has more people than Attica,” Baird said. “But it does not
feel cramped because Estoria is larger and has the space to accommodate many
people. As it sits in the heart of our country, the capitol has no great wall
surrounding it. There is little need for such protection and its absence allows
for space and growth.”

Children
were playing in the streets and Rowan watched as a group of young boys kicked a
ball and swung sticks at each other, pretending to swordfight. A dog barked at
him as he passed.

The pair
moved farther and farther from the castle and into the heart of the Estoria.

“Where
are we going?” Rowan asked. The buildings had become more spaced out and they
were approaching the edge of the city’s boundaries.

“We are
almost there. Jared prefers to live on the outskirts of the city, as far from
the castle as possible. That way, anyone who wants to visit him must be willing
to take the time to make the trip. It is his own way of ensuring that people do
not waste his time.”

“Who is
he?” Rowan asked, stepping aside to avoid a cart pulled by an old donkey,
slowly making its way down the street.

“Jared
is an old friend, one that I have known for many years. It has been long since
I have seen him.”

They
walked down several more streets and Baird stopped outside of a building that
Rowan recognized as a forge.

Heat
emanated from the workshop and a dark smoke trailed up into the sky. The air
smelled.

It was
very loud, the sound of pounding hammers rang out in discordant notes. Steam
hissed as things were cooled and voices shouted out, bellowing to be heard.
There were a few blackened faces hurrying about their work, but no one took any
notice of Baird and Rowan.

“Jared!”
Baird bellowed, making Rowan jump with surprise. His master’s voice was loud
enough to be heard even over the noise of the forge.

“He will
not hear me otherwise,” Baird explained.

He then
proceeded to bellow again. This time there was movement in the back of the forge
and a deep voice called out over the roar of the furnace.

“Whoever
it is, I will be with you in a moment.”

Seemingly
satisfied, Baird leaned back against a wall and waited. Rowan followed his
example, but found the position uncomfortable. Part of the wall protruded and
stuck into his back, so he straightened and stood while waiting.

There
was a wide alley on each side of the forge that separated it from the
surrounding buildings. In the alley were barrels of water and a pile of wood
for burning. As Rowan looked around, he noted that few of the buildings on this
street were houses and there were no inns in sight, likely kept away by the
noise and the smoke.

Back
inside the forge, the activity continued seemingly without pause. Rowan could
not identify the man who had called out, though from where he stood he could
not see the whole of the forge, only the outer area and a small portion inside
the building that was visible through the open doorway.

After
many minutes, Rowan looked to Baird. His friend Jared had not emerged to meet
them, nor had they been given any further attention. Rowan wondered if the man
had forgotten about them, but Baird seemed content to wait.

“Jared
will see us when he is ready. He is a stubborn man and there is little use
trying to stop him while he is working.”

Rowan
thought it rude to ignore a guest for so long, but he said nothing.

They
continued to wait, and just as Rowan was beginning to grow weary of it, a large
bearded man came outside, coughing to clear his throat.

He was
well built and seemed large, despite standing at least a head shorter than
Baird. The man’s shoulders and arms were thick with muscle and his body was
covered in sweat. He took a dirty rag from his belt and wiped his face, which
was only slightly dirtier than the rag itself. When finished, he tucked the rag
back where it came from and looked about, shading his eyes from the sun.

His gaze
found Rowan and Baird standing across the street and he grinned.

“Baird,”
Jared exclaimed, stepping forwards and widening his arms in greeting. “It is
always good to see you, though you do not stop by very often.”

“It is
good to see you as well, Jared. Though you are not quite as tall as I remember
you being the last time I visited. Have you grown shorter?”

“You
take that back!” Jared’s shout only made Baird grin.

“We used
to be of a similar height,” Baird whispered to Rowan. “Then I grew taller and
stronger and he did not.”

Rowan
looked up at his master and then over at the smith. Baird was certainly larger,
but Rowan doubted that anyone would consider the smith a small man.

“I am as
I always have been, Baird. And you are still the size of a small mountain.”

Jared
the smith now stood only a few paces away. The man was about a full hand taller
than Rowan. His black hair was pulled back out of his face.

“What is
the reason for this visit?” Jared asked. “I am a busy man and I have work to
do.”

“This is
my apprentice, Rowan,” Baird said. “I came to ask you to forge a blade for
him.”

Jared
ignored Baird as he spoke and focused on Rowan, who was reeling from what his
master had just said. “Perhaps we should go inside where we can speak at
length. It seems that we have much to catch up on.”

*           *           *

“How long has it been since I saw
you last—two years? Three?” Jared stared at Baird from where he stood leaning
against a work bench. He had taken them in off the streets, to a house of sorts
built behind the forge. It was a small building, with a small front room that
was meant for dining and a larger back room with several cots, presumably where
the apprentices slept.

Rowan
sat at the table with Baird, having kept silent since Baird had announced him
as his apprentice. At the time, Jared had seemed interested in Rowan—in Baird’s
apprentice—yet now he was focused solely on Baird.

“It has
been less than three years,” Baird said, “of that I am certain. That would have
been around the time that I returned from the South. I visited you often after
I returned from the Grey; I remember gifting you that stone.”

“I
remember that. Smooth as glass and black as the night. You told me it had
fallen from the sky.”

“It was
the truth,” Baird said, though Rowan could tell that the smith remained
skeptical.

“So
where have you been since then? Last I heard, you were in the East heading to
Lauratrea. Something about a diplomatic mission or some other business. Now I
find that you are back in Estoria and you have an apprentice. There is much
that I am missing.”

“Lauratrea.”
Baird spoke the name of the country as though it told the story for itself. It
took him a moment before he spoke again.

“I
was
in Lauratrea. For a time.” Something about the way Baird spoke told Rowan that
the time his master had spent in Lauratrea had been significant. He spoke as
though he had many memories that had been forgotten. “That was some time ago;
at least two years. I returned to Estoria. To the king and to my duties.”

“I don’t
have time for a saga, Baird. Do not spin me a tale like a bard, just tell me
how you have come to have an apprentice.” Jared spoke with agitation, though it
was clear that he was interested in what Baird had to say.

“As you
wish. It will be easier this way, I suppose, for I will not have to delve into
details that are best left unspoken.”

So Baird
told the tale of how he met with Rowan. He offered many more details that he
had left out when telling others, but he did not tell everything. Baird spoke
of travelling to the North, but he gave no reason for his trip nor offered any
details of what he did and Jared did not ask.

When
Baird finished, Jared turned to face Rowan.

 “So you
are going to be Baird’s apprentice.”

“Rowan
is
my apprentice.” Baird interjected. “I have been teaching him for some time now
and I have already talked with King Alden. His apprenticeship is official.”

“I’ve
been telling you to take on an apprentice for years. I’ve already got three or
four myself,” Jared said, indicating the figures that were working in the
front. “And I was not the first to give you that advice. Yet you always
refused, preferring to be alone. What made you change your mind?”