The Broken Key (02) - Hunter of the Horde (37 page)

He glanced back at the Recruits for a brief moment, his facial features depicting displeasure. Of course they always depicted displeasure, so it was hard to tell how he was really feeling at this time. Taking hold of the handle, he opened the door.

Their Drillmaster stood facing them upon a dais on the far side of the room. Standing alongside their Drillmaster were the rest of the instructors who had at one time or another assisted in their training. Tad was not among them.

Swordmaster Terril brought them to stand before the dais. Behind them, they heard the door close. To Riyan, the closing of the door felt like the closing of his future. Each of those standing with him felt the ominous hand of fate in the air as they came to a stop before their Drillmaster. Riyan held his head high and met his gaze. Though he was to be ousted from the Guild, he would do so with honor. Swordmaster Terril moved to stand with those upon the dais.

“Few times during my tenure as Drillmaster here at the Gilbeth Guild have I been faced with the situation such as stands before me now,” their Drillmaster said. His voice was of even timbre. If there was any anger within him, he kept it under control well.

“You five have left the Guild’s grounds without authorization, broken the Law of the White Scabbard, and your actions caused grievous injury to Swordmaster Tad.” Riyan swallowed as all that was true. There could be no denying the accusations they were laying against them. Still, he stood there straight with head held high. He knew that what he had done was the only thing he could have done. No way could he have left Bart to the tender mercies of Durik.

“The penalty for breaking any one of the aforementioned infractions is expulsion from the Guild,” he said. “Never again to be allowed to join.” He glanced from each of the Recruits in turn, meeting their gaze, then moving to the next. When he came to Riyan, his gaze lingered slightly longer than it had with the others. “Is there anything you have to say in your defense before judgment is passed?”

A thousand arguments raced through his mind, but Riyan was unable to articulate any of them. Then from where Chyfe stood next to him, he heard him say, “Code fifty seven.” The Drillmaster’s eyes widened at the declaration. “What do you know of Code fifty seven Recruit? You have barely managed to learn the first thirty?” The sound of a throat being cleared broke the stillness of the room just before Chad said, “Swordmaster Tad suggested we have you explain it to us at this time.”

“He did, did he?” the Drillmaster asked.

Five heads bobbed affirmatively in unison.

“Code fifty seven states…

Turn not away from an honorable comrade facing ignominy or death.

…meaning, not to stand idly by while injustice harms those about us.”

“Which is what we did!” asserted Riyan. “A friend of ours was on his way to torture and death at the hands of a less than honorable man. Chad and I could not remain here and leave him to his fate.”

“Swordmaster Tad has so informed us,” the Drillmaster explained. At the surprise that appeared on several of their faces, he added, “I’m sure you’ll all be happy to hear that he is doing well. His family is on the way to take him back home during his recovery.”

“That’s good news,” Riyan said.

“He also recounted the rescue of your friend, the subsequent chase through the Ki’

Gyrx Forest, and the creative ingenuity which allowed you all to escape the trap that had been laid for you.”

A seed of hope sprung into being at those words. The lines of worry that had been all but engraved on Riyan’s face began to slacken. Perhaps they would not be expelled from the Guild? But then, the Drillmasters’ following words extinguished his burgeoning hope.

“However, the Law of the White Scabbard states that once the White Scabbard has been broken, the one doing so is forever barred from rejoining the ranks of the Recruits.” Standing there, their Drillmaster again met the gaze of the Recruits standing before him.

Riyan braced himself for the worst.

The Drillmaster gave them half a minute to let that sink in before saying,

“Subsequently, those who have broken the White Scabbard must be summarily removed from the Guild…” again he paused before adding, “or promoted to Armsmen.” Armsmen? Did he hear him right? Riyan lifted his eyes to the Drillmaster.

“Armsmen?” asked Seth in a quiet voice.

“Those who stand with me here, have attested that you will not bring dishonor to the Guild,” he said. “Each of you has demonstrated the knowledge of the required Codes to be promoted to Armsmen.” He let that sink in as well and watched as hope sprung anew on each of their faces. “But that alone would not have mitigated the breaking of the White Scabbard. Swordmaster Tad’s account of your actions stated that you faced your enemies with courage. When he was mortally wounded, you did not abandon him to save yourselves, but endangered your own lives to bring him to safety. You exhibited courage, skill at arms, honor, and to some small degree an understanding of tactics. That, is what saved you from the ignominy of expulsion from the Guild.” He gave them a grin. The first grin that any of them had ever seen break his stony visage.

“Yes!” Chyfe exclaimed, then he got himself under control when the Drillmaster gave him a stern glare.

“Your names and rank will be entered into the Guild’s registry,” the Drillmaster announced. “From this day forward, you are Armsmen of the Warriors Guild. Live in honor.” He nodded to Swordmaster Terril.

Swordmaster Terril stepped forward and descended the two steps until he came to stand before the newest of the Guild’s Armsmen. “Follow me, Armsmen,” he said before moving towards the door.

Riyan cast one more glance back to the Drillmaster and saw him give him a grin and a nod. Other instructors who had never given them so much as a kind word, broke into grins as well.

“Don’t dawdle,” Swordmaster Terril said from the doorway.

The Armsmen hurried to catch up and were soon back on the ground floor where they once again passed through the halls of the Guild. It soon became evident that Swordmaster Terril was taking them to the foyer. By the time they entered the foyer of the Warriors Guild, most of the Recruits whom they had drilled with had seen them passing through the hallways and had fallen in behind. Everyone ‘knew’ they were going to be kicked out of the Guild.

At this time of the evening, the foyer was filled with members and guests. When they emerged from the hallway and entered the foyer, Swordmaster Terril led them over to the same area where the man had spoken of the sacking of Sandlun some time ago. Behind them, the Recruits who had been following passed into the foyer as well. Conversations began to die away as people started to realize something was going on. Those who were members of the Guild recognized what was about to happen and waited expectantly.

Once Swordmaster Terril had them in position atop the platform and were facing towards those in the foyer, he held his hand up for quiet. The room quickly quieted down and every eye turned towards him. “I’d like to introduce the newest Armsmen of the Gilbeth Warriors Guild,” he announced in a loud voice that reached every ear in the foyer.

Coming to stand behind Riyan he said, “Armsman Riyan Borenson of Quillim.” Riyan’s eyes had sought Torin out in the crowd before his name had been called. He felt indescribable joy at the expression on Torin’s face when he realized that not only had Riyan not been dismissed from the Guild, but that he had gained Armsman before him.

Then one by one, he announced the names and city of birth of the other four. When he came to Chyfe and announced ‘Chyfe Weiskon of Catha,’ Riyan didn’t at first pay much attention to what was said. He was too engrossed with the moment. But then when Swordmaster Terril came to Chad and began his introduction, that’s when it hit him…

Catha!

That was the city Bart believed was the one mentioned in that old tome they found in the hidden room of the Archives. He turned his head slightly and glanced to where Chyfe stood between Seth and Soth. If he had been born there, his help in finding the final two segments could prove invaluable.

A roar of applause and welcome erupted after he finished Chad’s introduction. “You may stay in your barracks until morning,” Swordmaster Terril told them. “Come see me on the second floor after breakfast.”

“Yes Swordmaster,” they replied. Then the crowd came forward and the rest of the evening was spent with congratulations and tales told to them by complete strangers of their days as Recruits and Armsmen. Barin and the other Recruits who were on good terms with them came forward to offer their congratulations as well. Of Torin and those who didn’t much care for them, there was no sign.

When Bart arrived an hour later, he was pleasantly surprised to discover the outcome.

He didn’t stay long as there was little opportunity to find a moment alone to speak to them. Finally he said they’ll talk in the morning after they leave the Guild and returned to Kevik’s estate.

Early the next morning, the five of them headed to the mess for breakfast. They had slept in as they no longer had any particular reason to get up early. By the time they reached the mess, the other Recruits were already in the courtyard at drills.

“Glad we don’t to have to do that anymore,” commented Seth.

“You got that right,” replied Chad.

The mess was much quieter without the other Recruits. In fact, most of the tables were empty as all but a few had already come and gone. They went and received their food then sat at a table off by themselves.

Riyan took a bite and as he chewed, turned to Chyfe. “I thought you said you were the son of a local lord?” he asked. He had tried unsuccessfully several times last night to broach the subject about Catha being named his city of origin. But every time he had tried, someone always interrupted them with one congratulatory comment or another.

He gave Riyan a grin. “I am,” he said. “My father performed some service for Duke Alric and was made a Baron several years ago. That’s when we moved here to Gilbeth.

By claiming Catha as my city or origin, I was able to join and be trained here.” It was the usual custom for Recruits not to be trained in the city of their birth.

Chad was sitting across from Riyan and his hand suddenly froze on its way to deliver the next bite to his mouth as he realized what they were talking about. He glanced to Riyan questioningly and received a nod in reply.

“Do you remember the city well?” Riyan asked Chyfe.

“Do I?” he asked with a chuckle. “You might not believe it, but I was a wild one. My parents at one time threatened to send me away to a relative I had never heard of, who had a farm out in the middle of nowhere, if I didn’t straighten up.”

“Did you?” asked Soth.

Giving them a mischievous grin, he said, “As far as my parents knew I did.” Then he laughed. Turning back to Riyan he asked, “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I had once heard there were ancient ruins in the area,” he said. “Maybe some that had existed before our people came to these parts.”

“Well you heard right,” he replied. “That whole area is riddled with them. In fact, I heard that Catha itself was built on top of a series of ruins. There is even a widely held belief that they may date back to the time of the King as a number of his coins have been uncovered from time to time among them. I would even…” Then he came to an abrupt stop and stared at Riyan.

“What?” Riyan asked.

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with what we just went through the last few days would it?” he asked.

Trying to keep his voice neutral, he said. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Oh I don’t know,” he said. “Men show up, kidnap a friend of yours because he believes you know the location of the King’s Horde. Now you’re asking about ancient ruins…”

“Does it?” asked Seth. With an eager expression on his face, he awaited Riyan’s answer.

Riyan didn’t immediately reply. He glanced to Chad for help but he only shrugged.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Soth asked. Lowering his voice, he said, “You guys are on the trail of the Horde!” The last word was said a bit too loud and one of the men at the nearest table looked their way for a moment before returning to the conversation he had been having.

Three faces were looking towards him for an answer. “Maybe,” he grudgingly said.

“I knew it!” Seth exclaimed quietly. Then he put two and two together. “Is that why you two are here?”

Soth turned to his brother. “You mean the Archives?” Seth nodded. “You spend an awful lot of time up there Riyan.” When Riyan began to refute the statement, Seth didn’t allow him the opportunity. “Don’t give me any of that nonsense about how much you love bending over an old tome and painstakingly transcribing it. I’m not going to buy it.”

“Alright,” Riyan said, giving in to the inevitable. “But I want each of your solemn oaths not to repeat anything about what I am about to reveal. On your honor.” His eyes met each of theirs and they could see that he meant it.

“I so swear,” Seth and Soth said at the same time.

“So do I,” agreed Chyfe. “On my honor.”

“First of all, Chad and I didn’t join the Warriors Guild simply because of what we wanted to find out,” he began. “We honestly wish to be here. It just worked out that we could do one while hunting for the other.” Chad nodded agreement.

“We came here looking for information about a coat of arms,” he said. As the one bearing the two headed falcon was the one that pertained to Catha, he didn’t mention the other. “It bears a two headed falcon, one head looking to the right and the other to the left. In its left claw is grasped a stick with but a single leaf upon the upper end, and in the other claw was a dagger with the blade pointing down.”

“In the Archives I came across an old tome that mentioned old ruins located in a city known as Kartha,” he said. “It also mentioned the fact that this city lay on the shore of a large lake which boasted an island.”

“There was no mention of the King, or the coat of arms. Our thought was to go to Catha and see if there was any indication of the double headed falcon coat of arms or the King on any of the ruins.”