The Apprentice (31 page)

Trainers
immediately converged on the two boys and someone called a halt. A hush fell
over those watching the match as healers came forward.

“In
order to avoid any further injury, I am ending this match,” Darius called. He
pulled Byron off of Erik, who appeared to be struggling not to cry out in pain.
Without thinking, Rowan hopped the barrier and ran towards Erik.

“You
can’t fake that one,” Rowan heard Byron say as Erik lay clutching his left
shoulder.

“Hold
your tongue,” Darius spat. “I still have not declared you the winner of this
match, so do not test my patience. It is already wearing thin and your actions
have not reflected upon you favorably.”

Rage
filled Rowan as he strode towards Byron, but he suddenly felt a strong pair of
hands grab him and hold him back. It was Baird.

His
master shook his head to indicate that Rowan would not be helping by attacking
Byron. Rowan was not sure that was true, but he allowed Baird to lead him off
to the side of the field where trainers had taken the wounded Erik after
re-setting his shoulder.

Polite
applause brought Rowan’s attention back to the wrestling ring, where Darius had
declared Byron the winner.

Rowan
scowled and turned away, choosing to focus instead on his injured friend. Erik
was a mess. He sat propped up against a wall, his jaw clenched to subdue the
pain in his shoulder and the lower half of his face covered with a frightening
amount of blood. Luckily it did not appear to Rowan as though his friend’s nose
had been broken.

Erik’s
gaze was concentrated on the ground as he tried to avoid the shame of watching
Byron be declared the victor.

“Are you
alright?” Rowan asked. He felt foolish for asking such a question, but he
didn’t know what else to say.

It took
a moment before Erik responded.

“I
should have won.”

“Everyone
already knows that you can beat Byron nine times out of ten.”

“But
this was the only battle that truly mattered. I should have won. I know I can
beat Byron. This is my strongest skill and I had gained the upper hand, but I
still failed.”

“You
shouldn’t dwell on it,” Baird said from behind Rowan. “You did well and fought
honorably. That is what counts. Dwelling on a loss will not turn it into a
victory. It will only lead to more losses.”

“Yes,”
Rowan agreed. “Besides, you still have the swordsmanship competition tomorrow.
That will give you the opportunity to face Byron again, and I already know from
experience that you can beat Byron with one hand tied behind your back.”

The two
boys laughed.

“We have
practiced a lot,” Erik agreed.

“I am
going to return to my place by the throne,” Baird said abruptly. “The two of
you seem fine on your own and I am reluctant to leave my station unattended.”

Rowan
bowed to his master and said farewell, allowing him to return to his place
beside King Alden and Princess Eliza. Rowan guessed that Baird had chosen to
watch over the two in order to provide protection, but he wondered why Baird
seemed so focused on their security. However, it wasn’t his place to dwell upon
such matters, so he dismissed that train of thought.

Chapter 26
                     
 

The first day of the Revel ended
with Erik joining Rowan on the sidelines. After Baird left them, the pair had
been joined by the other boys that were not competing. Once Erik was able, the
group returned to their spot near the stands to watch the remaining events and
cheer on their other friends who were still participating.

After
the day of competition, a banquet was held to honor the day’s participants. It
was a grand celebration. The king spoke and the victors were presented for the
audience’s pleasure. Cooking fires roared and spat as the meat was roasted,
filling the air with the smell of smoke and spices.

Rowan
was seated alongside Erik and his friends, a group which grew giddy and loud as
the night wore on. Many of the boys stole cups of ale and wine that were meant
for tables other than their own, but Rowan chose to avoid such things. He’d had
experiences with alcohol in Corrinth and was in no mood for it at the moment.
He was disappointed that he could not sit beside his master, but Baird had told
him that he could not be shown any special treatment for the duration of the
Revel.

The
banquet was followed by festivities and the celebrations spilled out into the
city streets as the feasting turned to merriment. There was music and dancing.
People sang. Those with empty pitchers sang the loudest, and Erik led the boys
in a rousing chorus of “Lady Red’s Bed.”

Rowan
stayed for a short period to socialize, talking and laughing with the boys and
accepting well wishes for the morrow’s competition, but he quickly left. He
didn’t feel much in the mood for festivities. His stomach was beginning to knot
in apprehension of the coming day and the other boys were poor company for one
who was sober. Flushed faces and slurred speech told Rowan that a number of the
boys had already overindulged. Their voices were loud, their opinions were
strong, and the conversations had turned to meaningless babble. He did not envy
those of them who would be competing the next day.

Rowan
knew that he would do well, but for some reason he could not calm his nerves,
so he decided to be alone for a while. He considered seeking Baird, but his
master was conversing with King Alden and some other nobles Rowan did not
recognize, so he chose not to intrude.

Rowan
walked along a dirt path lit by the glowing paper lanterns that seemed to hang
across the entire grounds. They provided only dim light, but Rowan did not need
much in order to see. He made his way along the grounds, slowly distancing
himself from the festivities and the crowds, the buzz of the music and the many
conversations steadily fading away. Rowan meandered around, leaving the pathway
and slowly making his way towards the tree line that was a short distance away
marking the beginning of the kingswood.

The
night air was brisk and the light was dimmed as Rowan walked among the trees.
He enjoyed the chance to be alone, free to reflect and think about the next
day's coming events. He wandered for a short while until a muffled pair of
voices caught his attention. Curiosity drove Rowan towards the sound. He
wondered who else would have left the festivities so early.

Rowan
made his way towards the voices, making an effort to remain quiet so that he
would not be intruding.

“What
news have you?”

The
voice came from directly to Rowan’s left, startling him. He quickly darted
behind some brush. He knew that he should leave, that eavesdropping was wrong,
but curiosity held him in place. Curiosity and the knowledge that his departure
would be heard. The voice that had spoken sounded familiar, though he could not
identify it.

“There
is little more to report, my liege. He has continued his duties as usual,
though he has been going out of his way to watch over the king and the young
lady.”

“Yes. He
has become quite a thorn in my side. His presence is a hindrance and an insult
and I will be glad to be rid of him.” There was a pause before the first voice
continued. “Does he know that he is being watched?”

“I have
not made my presence known, so he knows nothing for certain. But he is a
suspicious man and is extremely careful. He most certainly suspects that he is
being watched. He has managed to elude my watch several times.”

“Then
you will need to watch him more closely from now on.”

“Yes, my
lord.”

Rowan
decided he was willing to risk a glance to see who was talking. He knelt low to
the ground and carefully glanced through the brush. He could see a man dressed
in the linens of a lord bowing to a man who stood with his back turned. The man
with his back turned motioned for the lordly man to stand.

“Continue
to watch him and report back if he does anything suspicious or out of the
ordinary. I know that he does not trust me, but I also believe that he is still
largely unaware of what I intend to do. Since I cannot deal with him directly,
not yet at least, we must keep him occupied and under observation.”

“Agreed,
my liege. Shall I have someone watch the boy as well?”

“There
will be no need for that; the boy is of no consequence. Now, I must return to
the festivities before my absence is noticed.”

With
that, the man turned, allowing Rowan to glimpse his face. Rowan instantly
recognized Gannon. He experienced a jolt of fear as Gannon strode past the spot
where he was crouched. He held his breath and pressed himself to the ground to
remain out of sight, but Gannon and the other man strode past. Rowan waited for
several moments, listening to the footsteps fading away, before breathing a
sigh of relief and standing up.

What
business did Gannon have that required him to hold a secret meeting while
everyone else was celebrating the beginning of the Revel? Gannon’s discussion
had revealed very little about what he was doing or who he was having watched.
It sounded suspicious, but Rowan could not be certain that what he had
overheard actually meant anything. He just had a feeling in his gut that told
him that Gannon was up to no good.

With
this event weighing on his mind, Rowan walked away in the direction of the
barracks. Few of the boys would be back there so early in the evening,
especially while the festivities were still going on. This would allow Rowan to
rest without having to worry about company.

Chapter 27
                     
 

The following day brought with it
an increased level of excitement and tension. Rowan awoke early, while the
morning mists still clouded the air. He was restless, as he had been all night.
Today was his first day of competition and apprehension was a knot in his stomach.

Knowing
he would be unable to sleep, Rowan abandoned the barracks and chose to take a
walk outside in the morning darkness, until first light signaled the beginning
of the second day of the Revel. As he left out, he checked to make sure that no
one else was awake. Erik was still resting, but another bed was empty.

The air
outside was thick with morning fog, adding a dampness to the already brisk air.
The sound of distant thuds told Rowan that someone was practicing for the day’s
events. Rowan walked towards the sound, marveling that the empty fields would
soon be filled with throngs of people. The ground now bore large patches where
the grass had been trampled and dirt was showing.

A short
distance away, Rowan could see Andrew practicing with a blade against a
striking post. Rowan wondered how long the other boy had been awake. He
recalled Andrew’s words from the day before. Rowan admired the boy’s
dedication, wondering what it was that drove him to work so hard. Next to
Rowan, Andrew was the most proficient swordsman. He recalled Erik having
mentioned that Andrew came from a family of retainers, and that he had only
been able to come to the capitol as a result of the generosity of some lord.

Not
wanting to disturb Andrew, Rowan kept his distance. After a few minutes, he
turned away and headed back towards the barracks. The first rays of the sun’s
light were creeping over the horizon, brightening the dawn and breaking up the
morning fog.

The
other boys would be waking by now and Rowan wanted to prepare himself for the
day.

*           *           *

By the end of the hour, Rowan was
assembled with the rest of the boys for the day's events.

Darius
had ordered everyone who was competing to don the formal silver and blue
competition tunics. When they assembled, it immediately became clear that many
more boys were competing that day. The barracks filled with the blue and silver
colors of the Revel uniforms. Rowan wore his own tunic, which had been given to
him the previous week. He tugged at it until it rested comfortably on his body.
The tunics were made to look nice, but they were made of a rough material that
irritated the skin.

Darius
quickly dismissed everyone who was not competing. Only a small group of boys
left the barracks to go and observe from the sidelines. The rest, like Rowan,
remained with Darius.

“I am
going to say exactly what I said yesterday,” Darius said. “All of you should
know which events you are competing in. Once again, I want to see everyone who
is competing act honorably. There have already been some questionable actions
in this year’s Revel, and I do not want anyone to act in such a way that will
dishonor themselves, their training, or their king.

“With
that said, I want each of you to report to the trainer that is overseeing your
event. I will be overseeing the swordsmanship competition for today, along with
trainers Emid, Torrhen, and Allan.”

Many of
the boys dispersed in order to find the trainers for their own events. Rowan
kept close to Darius since he would be demonstrating his blade-work in the
swordsmanship competition. He was surprised when he saw Erik. Despite his words
the other day, Rowan assumed that with an injured arm, Erik would be out of the
competition.

“You
still plan on competing?” Rowan asked his friend.

Erik
stared at Rowan. “It would be a shameful thing to allow such an injury prevent
me from continuing.” Erik rubbed his shoulder, which was still swollen and
showed some bruising. Erik seemed to know Rowan’s thoughts as he continued. “Do
not worry. I have no illusions about my chances of victory or about my ability
to compete in some of the other events. But this competition is my chance to
prove myself, and this—” Erik indicated his shoulder “—will not hold me back.
It is not even my sword arm.”

Rowan
nodded in agreement. It would do no good to try and convince his friend to bow
out of the tournament. If Erik felt that he could compete, then Rowan had no
right to stop him.

“Does it
pain you?”

“Yes.”

Rowan
said nothing more. The two of them had grown close over the past weeks and
Rowan did not need to voice his sympathy for his friend. Such a feeling went
unspoken.

Soon
Darius called the boys to attention in order to describe the structure of the
swordsmanship competition.

“As you
can see, there are a great number of competitors,” Darius began. “Because this
is one of our largest and most honored events, the swordsmanship competition
will span the course of two days. The preliminary bouts will take place today
and the finals will be held tomorrow. I will break you into four groups for
today’s bouts. From each group, only five will advance to the finals tomorrow.
I wish you all the best of luck.” With that, Darius sorted the boys into
groups. He worked quickly to separate everyone, making sure that they knew what
group they were with and when they would be competing.

Rowan
found himself placed among the third group. He was thankful when Erik was
placed in a different group from himself. He did not want to duel against his
friend, especially after Erik’s injury yesterday. He worried that Erik might
face Byron, but the bully was placed in the fourth group along with Andrew.
Rowan was happy for that. Andrew was a skilled swordsman; Byron would have a
hard time competing in this tournament. Rowan wondered if he would even get the
chance to fight Byron himself.

Once
Darius had all of the boys sorted into groups, he quickly herded them to where
all of the other competitors for the day had gathered. Everyone was ordered to
form lines and they were marched out onto the training fields where they were
met with a thunderous applause.

Rowan
marveled at the difference, at how much the area had been transformed in such a
short time. The sun shone brightly overhead and the fields were crowded with
people, all of whom were cheering for the boys who would be competing that day.
The cold silence of the morning was gone, replaced by an almost oppressive
atmosphere of excitement.

The
whole group of boys was herded out towards the center of the largest field.
Rowan shuffled along, following closely behind those in front of him and being
followed closely by the boys behind. As he walked, Rowan caught a glimpse of
Heath and some of the others that he was friendly with. He smiled in their
direction as a greeting.

As he
had yesterday, Darius stepped forward and formally presented the boys who would
be competing. His speech was very much the same as the day before. When Darius
was finished, King Alden stepped forward to say a few words and officially
begin the second day of the Revel. When the king had finished speaking, Rowan cheered
along with the crowd as the group broke apart so that the competitions could
begin.

Though
he had experienced the Revel yesterday, it was an entirely new and overwhelming
experience now that he was on the fields as a competitor.

Those
first moments where chaotic; many boys struggled to move in separate directions
without knowing quite where they were supposed to go. It was only the second
day of the Revel and the boys were still unfamiliar with the way the training
grounds had been reorganized. Trainers shouted, struggling to make themselves
heard over the shouts of the crowd and the general din. Rowan chose to stay
where he stood, waiting for the group around him to thin before heading towards
Darius on the sidelines.

The
group with which he would be competing had already begun to gather. Rowan
joined the others, looking around fields as he idled. Most of the boys had
dispersed and the trainers had quickly been able to organize them and bring
some level of order to the fields. Rowan saw Erik and Andrew as they made their
way towards their own groups, but both boys were too focused to notice him.

The day
was hectic and rushed, though incredibly slow to begin. It was a long while
before Rowan heard a horn and the unmistakable sound of metal on metal, indicating
that one of the swordsmanship events had finally started. He wondered which
group it was, but he could not see through the chaos to find out.

Rowan’s
own group was still waiting for an open section of field before they could
begin their competition. He wished that he could be among the boys who had
already begun competing. He had no close connections with any of the boys in
his group and the constant waiting was beginning to bore him. And though he
would admit it to no one, a knot of apprehension was churning within him as he
waited, making his stomach flip. He convinced himself that it was only nerves
because of the crowds. To distract himself, he concentrated on checking his
armor and testing the balance of the blunted tourney blade that had been given
to him. He found it to be adequate; nothing to praise and nothing to fault.

When
Darius finally called for the boys in Rowan’s group to compete, the sun was
high and the air was hot. Rowan’s stomach growled with hunger, but he had
turned away the food offered to him at midday, fearing that he might see it
again in a most unpleasant manner.

Darius
led the boys to a familiar section of the practice fields and organized them
with their opponents. The moment that Rowan took his blade in hand and stood
face to face with his opponent—a boy named Brandon—his nerves began to calm and
his mind began to clear. Sparring was a practice that was familiar to him. He
performed the routine salutes honoring his opponent, his judge, his audience,
and the throne, the last being a salute that was very rarely made since one did
not often have a royal audience.

Rowan
relished the thrill of the competition and threw himself into the duel with
everything he had. The jarring clash of metal on metal gave Rowan a rush of
adrenaline.

The
match was quick and Rowan easily dominated his opponent. His time spent
sparring with Erik and some of the other boys had helped him to maintain his
stamina and improve his style. Yet even so, when Rowan pulled off his helmet at
the end of the match and saluted his opponent, his face was flushed and his
hair was matted with sweat. The armor and tunic were hot and the summer sun
only made it worse. Rowan’s summers in Corrinth had been hot since he lived in
the North, but there had always been the ever present shade of the trees that
surrounded his home. Here there was little to block the sun.

Following
his bout, Rowan was given a short reprieve. He sought out a shaded area and
took a moment’s rest, sitting down and allowing himself the opportunity to observe
some of the other events. Several other boys were sparring with blades near the
spot that he had come from, and off to his left, the trainers had cleared off
and marked a flat area where some of the boys were competing in leg-races.

Rowan
watched some of the other competitions absentmindedly for a while before he was
called back to the swordsmanship competition, where he once again dueled and
won against another boy.

The day
continued on in very much the same fashion. Rowan continued to win his duels
quickly and efficiently, something the crowd took notice of. Many people began
to cheer him on as he continued to best the boys that he faced. It quickly
became evident that Rowan was more skilled with a blade than most of the others
in the competition. By the end of his first day, Rowan had not lost a single
match. He had quickly gained the favor of the crowd and his was one of the many
names being chanted.

At the
close, Rowan was thoroughly exhausted. The swordsmanship competition was one of
the last competitions to end that day. There had been at least eighty boys
entered, with a full score placed among each of the four groups. Since Rowan
was one of the last to compete in his group, he had been kept near the dueling
area and he was unable to know how Erik or Andrew had fared. Erik’s injury was
worrisome. Rowan knew that his friend was a fair swordsman, but his skill was
going to be severely tested now that he was dueling with an injured shoulder.

Rowan
had easily earned his place in the finals of the swordsmanship competition for
the following day, as had four other boys from his group. He was not overly
worried about them, having defeated one already and having had the opportunity
to observe the matches of the others. Rowan recognized that each of them was
skilled, but he felt confident in his own abilities.

Once he
had been officially declared a finalist in the day’s competition, Rowan quickly
returned his weapon and his armor to the master-of-arms on the far side of the
fields. The boys were not allowed to keep the tourney blades or the armor,
though they were meant to keep their tunics for the duration of the
competition.

After he
was relieved of his equipment, Rowan made his way back across the training
fields, searching for Erik and Andrew. Although still crowded with spectators
and boys competing in different events, the fields were not as hectic as they
had been earlier in the day. Still, though he looked around for them, Rowan was
unable to spot either. Instead he found Darius.