The Weapon Bearer (Book 1) (48 page)

“That would be the marketplace here, sir,” he said pointing at the place in the map.

Without letting Kilen know whether he was right or wrong he continued on the line of questioning. “If we were attacking the town what would be the best way to come at it?” Kilen studied the map. He wasn’t sure what this question or the last had to do with map reading.

“If I was in charge of the approaching army I would approach from the east,” Kilen said, trying to sound confident.

“Why would you do that?” The lieutenant’s question caused Kilen’s mind to race. He was looking for a good reason to attack from that direction that he could put to words.

“The town is small and it couldn’t contain a very large force. They might be intimidated by seeing a large army approaching. The open fields would allow the town to see the larger numbers of the attacking army. It might intimidate them into giving up.”

“That sounds like it could work in your favor. Fear is sometimes a good emotion to exploit. Let’s change it around for a moment. If you were the leader of the township here how would you defend against this larger attacking force?” Bill stood with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, as Kilen started to see the game Bill was playing. He was trying to play his own mind against himself to get Kilen to back into a corner where he would lose a battle, but he still didn’t know what this had to do with reading maps.

Kilen answered the best way he knew how, “I wouldn’t defend. I would leave the town.”

“Where would you go?”

Kilen found the hill on the far side of the town. The river crossed fairly close and there was heavily wooded area on the other side. “Here, I would make a camp at the top of this hill to defend myself.”

“Why?” The lieutenant’s questions were starting to frustrate Kilen. He wanted to give a stupid answer to be at the end of it. He felt Max become more and more anxious in his mind. He obviously would have answered the questions differently.

“I can hunt in this forest for food, find fish and water on the other side. If the attacking army tried to cut us off from supplies I would be able to shoot them with arrows from higher on the hill. The hill would provide a hindrance in any attacking cavalry, or archers range on the attack. The trees here would provide for defenses and arrows. If the town didn’t win the battle they wouldn’t go down without a fight.”

Bill clapped him on the back, “Good good. Let’s switch it again shall we. Let’s say you are supposed to attack the town’s people that have started to defend from this hilltop using the strategies you named.” The tables were turned again and now Kilen was attacking the town. He knew that eventually he would be put in a losing situation.

“I am not allowed to withdrawal from the battle?” Bill looked disappointed when Kilen asked this question, but he shook his head and answered anyway.

“If you do, you would be named a traitor, and your family and house would be stripped of land and title while you were hung in public. You have no choice, but to bring this township of rebellious traitors to justice.” Kilen supposed that he was trying to give him a reason to want to lose lives in his mission. He took a deep breath and answered.

“I would come through the wooded area here to press up close to the hill with archers and infantry. It would give them the most cover from arrows, and allow them to close the distance for their weapons to return volleys’. Once I had the archers in range I would run the cavalry in from the town to give them the most unobstructed approach while the camp at the top was under attack from arrows. The cavalry would push into the middle of the camp while the foot infantry pushed up the hill and attack from outside in.” Kilen hoped he had covered everything and still stared at the map hoping a better solution would reveal itself.

While still watching the map Bill reached up to scratch his chin. “Have you studied battle strategy before, Kilen?”

“I have read a couple books while in school, Water Realm Battle History by Glen Roddan and Perseverance by J. D. Ropt.”

“Well it shows you study well, although I see a few flaws in your attack. Unless you were attacking a strategist you would have done well. So I am actually sad to say you have passed both of the classes I teach. I shall mark your name down so I know I have passed you, what is it then?” He pulled out a book and charcoal stick.

“Kilen Everheart, sir.” The man’s hand and fingers didn’t move at the revealing of his name, but stood stock still.

“You’re the weapon bearer that they have been talking about?”

“I don’t know if they have been talking about me, but yes I am a weapon bearer, second generation.”

“Second generation or not, most weapon bearers usually rely on a strategist to prepare an attack plan that you just laid out. I think the King is gaining an important ally with you. A weapon bearer that knows the in and outs of battle is a great advantage. He can maneuver troops or adjust attacks, and others will follow.” He took two tokens from a pouch on his belt and handed them to Kilen. Here is your token. You have passed my class. I shall report your passing to Captain Lorusk if you can prove your identity.” He held up a hand before Kilen could object to having to prove his identity, “Some weapon bearers will pay for others to take tests like these in their place. I have seen it time and time again. Now then can you prove yourself?”

Kilen pulled back the cloak to reveal his blade and slid is slightly out of the sheath to reveal its elemental marks. Bill frowned, “Where is your chainger?”

“What is a chainger?” Kilen asked, confused by the question.

“A chainger is a link between a weapon bearer and their weapon, so they may use the magic from it even without holding it.” He revealed a dagger with one earth elemental mark on its blade to Kilen from the back of his belt. “You see my dagger is behind my back in its sheath, but I can still use earth magic because while in the sheath it’s connected to me by a chainger.” He turned to show a tiny chain leading from inside his belt line to the sheaths opening. A small metal sliver was connected to the chain and slid into the sheath where the blade would rest. “You see if I had a marked bracer, let’s say it was padded with leather so that my skin was not in direct contact with it, I would not be able to use its magic. But if the bracer is linked to my armguards or gauntlets that were touching my skin then I would be able to.” Kilen pulled up his chain necklace to reveal the two rings dangling from it. “Ahh see you have a chainger for your rings. You need to get one for your blade. I think the barracks keepers have a small supply if you need them.” The man finally wrote in his ledger Kilen’s name, “It’s disappointing that I will not be having you in class. Some of these men think a battle is won or lost by the strength in their arms, and not the strength in their minds.” He said nothing more as he rolled up his maps and turned to leave the room. They both knew that no more students would be coming today.

Finally feeling that the first thing had gone right for the day, Kilen left to find Ted and get a chainger for his sword. Kilen made his way out of the training facility and started across the training fields. He reached the sword arenas and found that his usual arena was empty except for the blood red ring along the inside of the rock ring. He started to walk across the ring as it was the quickest way to his barracks. A soldier waiting for his turn in a nearby ring ran over quickly, “Hey, big feet! You had best get out of there before someone sees you.”

Confused by the statement, Kilen simply replied, “Why?”

“There is a Kapal that lives on the grounds and that is his practice ring. If he see’s you in it, you will be his next practice partner. That is blood on the ground. Apparently one of his victims wouldn’t stand up to fight him so he cut his clothes off of him and drug him around the circle for days.”

Kilen didn’t know what to say or even if he should set the story straight. He decided to let the story stand. If they wanted to believe it and it would keep them away from Gortus’s arena it was probably better. “Thank you very much for the information.” He quickly backed out the way he had come and made his way around the arena’s perimeter. The change in direction made him look up in a different direction. There were troops lined along the castle walls on horses and hitching carts, wagons, and filling saddle bags. He wondered if he was always this oblivious when he was concentrating on one thing. He made a mental note to look around more and be more observant of his surroundings. Kilen noticed smoke coming from each and every one of the cookers Max had built and Leroy was moving among them quickly. He decided not to bother him and to continue on to the barracks. When he arrived, Ted was in a frenzy helping wielders to load their horses and fetching things for their travel. “Ted, when you get a moment I need your help in finding a chainger.”

Ted looked up only a moment before continuing his work tightening straps on horse’s saddles. “My lord, I am too busy to help anytime soon. If you wish there are some that might fit you on the shelves in my office. Take what you need. They are for your use anyways.” He moved on, quickly gathering more supplies and shouting to servants. Kilen quickly followed after, talking to Ted as he continued his work.

“What is going on Ted? Where is everyone going?” Ted laughed before he spoke still working to pack saddle bags and feed bags full of supplies.

“They are going back to their stations. Now that the wizards have all returned they have cities and townships to guard.” Kilen looked around and finally saw that almost every soldier was readying horses and checking their weapons. The presence in the castle was the largest force anyone would probably ever see assembled. Kilen counted the ranks and columns of men standing in the wizard training fields as they assembled. He counted over one hundred and fifty thousand men and still growing as they completed their formations. He knew that somewhere in that mass of men would be four guards sent to set order in Humbridge. They would see his friends and guard their street. He wished he knew which ones so that he could send them with a letter, apologizing to his mother. Kilen was wasting time before his training with Jace, so he went inside and found the shelf with all the chaingers on it. He sifted through them to find one that would slip into his sword sheath. There were some with loops and some with small clasps. He had no idea what kind of weapon or armor they would be used for so he pushed them to the side. Finally he found one that fit perfectly into his sword sheath with a smooth thin metal plate that would slide down inside his trousers against his hip. He attached it and let go of the hilt. He still felt the power of the sword still coursing through him. He smiled as he left the barracks to make sure and get to Leroy and his food before it was all gone. He felt much different being able to use both hands while walking around the training grounds. No one paid him much attention as he walked around. To them he was another recruit wandering around a vast training grounds. He caught Leroy’s eye as he approached his cooker.

“Right on time. I have some wild hog for you. They are found easily in the lands of the Kapal and its one of their most used dishes. Of course here wild hogs are harder to come by, but Gortus was able to point me to the right butcher in town.” Leroy beamed with pride at the plates he had been able to prepare. There seemed to be a rather large hog on a spit inside the oven spinning and roasting as Leroy cut slices from the shoulders, legs, and rump. He pulled a pot stewing in the back and produced potatoes and carrots from the boiling. The pig smelled so good Kilen didn’t waste any time sitting down beside the oven. He watched Leory make several more plates for different nobles in the castle. Seeing that Leroy was too busy helping with the troops leaving and the nobles’ Kapal dishes, Kilen left him to work in peace. He would have to tell him how good the hog was when he got back to the room tonight.

He wondered if Jace would be back where he was yesterday during his test. He made his way to the guard house near the front gates of the castle and found Jace right where he thought he would. He was sitting on a barrel with his hood pulled up around his face, whittling on a small piece of wood. Kilen walked up and stopped a couple paces in front of him, “I’m ready whenever you are.” He stopped whittling and looked up, just as Kilen felt someone approach from behind using the water vision. The man in the cloak sitting on the barrel looked up with a wrinkled sun blotched face, smiling a gap toothed smile. Quickly, Kilen turned to face the man approaching, knowing that he had failed this test already. Jace stood smiling at him as he turned with his open hands raised in front of him. Suddenly Kilen felt something poking him in the ribs from behind. It was the small wooden piece that then old man was whittling, a small wooden dagger.

Jace spoke softly as the pressure remained in his rib, “Death can be waiting at every corner. Never assume you know who you speak with until you see their face. Any man, woman, or child can kill you, even despite your skill and power with magic. Never assume that your best friend, trainer, or even lover hasn’t been bought by your worst enemy.” He took a step closer to Kilen and stared deep in his eyes, “If I had been, you would be bleeding out where you stand.” The old man released the pressure in his ribs and went back to wildling his wooden dagger. A shiver ran down Kilen’s spine, “Come on then, we have more lessons to learn today.”

Kilen followed Jace out the main gate and tried to slouch and walk just like Jace did. They both covered their heads with their hoods, but let their faces be seen. Kilen assumed it was so they wouldn’t draw suspicions of having their faces hidden. Having their hoods up made them less recognizable from anyone that really wanted to look. Jace once again made multiple turns weaving in and out of alleys and back yards, passing busy streets only when necessary. Finally, in a dark alley he stopped and faced Kilen, “Up we go.” Jace leaped up to the rooftop and landed without a sound. He disappeared beyond the ledge. Kilen attempted the same but over shot the ledge my several feet, making a large amount of noise as he landed. His weight knocked a couple clay tiles loose from the roof. They made even more noise as they crashed onto the ground below. Kilen tried to recover and slunk along the roof to join Jace squatting just to one side of the peak, so that only his head showed above. He whispered to Kilen, “You must practice that. You not only alerted anyone inside this building to our presence, but you also gave someone a trail to follow with the tiles on the ground below.” Kilen nodded to Jace that he understood.