The Sampler Platter: A Little Bit of Everything

by Susan Skylark

3

  They dismounted and Baye drew his sword, said he with a grim smile, “this may be a tad unpleasant until you master this particular skill. I am going to run you through and you must concentrate, even with death itself staring you in the face, you must hold yourself together until death or unconsciousness seize you, or until you can heal the wound. We will repeat the process until I am certain you can do it under any circumstances, it must become second nature. Are you ready?” Jace nodded, smiling incredulously at the thought that he was going to just stand there waiting patiently for his mentor to kill him!

  While he had successfully managed to maintain his concentration on several occasions where it was threatened, he had also nearly lost hold of it just as often, so Baye was determined to see that he could maintain control under any and all circumstances, so it was that he would somehow injure or distract the boy, sometimes to the point of death, but more often just enough to strain his concentration. At first the boy jauntily held his ground, fending off all attempts to thwart him with ease, but Baye continued to press him, grew ever more persistent, and at last Jace found himself on the defensive, barely hanging on, but determined not to fail. Baye struck him one last blow, upside the head with his sword hilt, and the boy crumpled to the ground, an awful light filled the clearing as he fell. The Messenger shook his head and knelt beside his senseless apprentice, who was radiant as the sun.

  Jace gasped awake, groaned at his failure, and quickly hid the luminescence. Baye smiled reassuringly at him, “I’m pressing you hard lad, you are doing well, but that isn’t good enough. Are you up for more?”

  Jace smiled as he gained his feet, “do your worst, sir!”

  Baye set himself for another round and for several more to follow, each time the boy managed to fend him off for longer periods of time and under more stressful or distracting circumstances. Barely clinging to consciousness, let alone staying upright, but feeling as if he finally knew what he was doing, Jace braced himself for Baye’s final strike as the man’s sword quickly pierced his heart. He groaned as he fell into darkness, but the clearing remained blissfully dim in the gathering dusk. Baye smiled down at the crumpled form proudly, that last bout had pushed them both to the limits of their endurance, and if the lad could withstand that, he should be able to maintain control under whatever conditions he encountered in the field.

  Adan sat his unicorn on the far side of the clearing, a look of horror painted on his face as he watched Baye run his apprentice through the heart with his sword and then smile proudly down upon his handiwork. The man must have felt eyes upon him, for he lifted his head and looked directly at the aghast apprentice. Adan took up his reins, ready to flee, but the unicorn stood as if rooted to the earth. He frowned at the shaggy head and concentrated, still awkward in his attempts to communicate with his mount through thought alone. The faithful beast turned his head and looked at his master with one great eye, pleading for understanding as he actually took a step towards the murderer. It seemed even the unicorn was part of the treachery this night or perhaps bewitched by the fiend! He jumped from the saddle, hoping to make a run for it, but Baye’s unicorn blocked his path and his own told him in no uncertain terms that he must speak with the man who had just murdered his best friend. With a sigh, he turned to face his doom with as much courage as he could muster.

  Baye stood a polite distance from Adan, waiting for some sign that the boy was ready to talk. The lad’s unicorn informed him that the boy was resigned to his fate, Baye thanked him for his help, and approached the boy. He saw terror in Adan’s eyes but also a courage that refused to back down, even at the approach of a traitor and murderer. He stopped a safe distance from the boy, that he might not terrify him more, and said quietly, “I am sorry you had to see that.”

  Adan quivered but said in astonishment, “how is it you have not broken Oath?”

  Baye grinned, good humor rather than menace filling his countenance, though unease tinged his voice, “there are some things you cannot know, lad, but things are not as they seem.”

  Just then Jace dashed up, curiosity and dread burning in his eyes and so tattered and filthy that he looked as if every Student in Astoria had taken a turn at hitting him with a stick after a five mile jog through a fen, but there was no doubt he was alive and well. Adan stared at him as if he had never seen a boy before, gasped he, “I watched you die!”

  Jace exchanged a worried look with his mentor and then met Adan’s perplexed gaze, said he with a strange smile, “technically that is true.”

  Adan frowned at his friend, “technically? Either I did or I did not, which is it? And don’t try to placate me with platitudes, I am no simpleton.”

  Jace studied his boots, one seemingly determined to dig a place to hide his entire being, said he, “no, you are not, but there are some things you cannot know.” He turned pleading eyes upon his friend, begging to be understood.

  Adan shook his head in disappointment, “then I fear we are at an impasse.”

  Baye said sternly, “lad, I need your word that you will keep what you have seen to yourself.”

  Adan frowned, “absolutely not! I do not understand what is going on here, but the Lady must know.” His eyes narrowed, “or will you somehow force me to comply?”

  Baye smiled sadly, “I can do nothing of the sort and you well know it, but this secret cannot be exposed, I fear if you do not intend to remain silent, things may go ill for you.”

  Adan suddenly saw a vision of Brie floating through his mind and he blanched, said he, “what are you involved in?” He stared almost accusingly at Jace, “I read those books you tried to keep hidden. I needed a certain book and thought you had it in the pile under your bed, I found them there. To think I thought them nothing but mathematical texts! Whatever you are embroiled in, it is eerily similar to those fantastic stories.”

  Jace gaped, “you could see what was truly written on those pages?”

  Baye frowned in thought, if the boy could read the Legends, perhaps there was more to this predicament than he had thought, and a way out too. Asked he of Adan, “what do you think is going on?”

  Adan smiled wistfully, if a tad embarrassed at his own whimsy, said he, “I think the stories are true, that you two, and probably that pushy servant too, are in on something huge.” He took a deep breath, as if to gather his courage, then blurted out, “and I want to be part of it.”

  Jace gasped, “but it is not like joining the Teaching sect, you don’t just tell the Lady and everything turns out just peachy!”

  “Why not?” came a singsong voice, far too melodious to be of human origin. Jace, Baye, and the two unicorns were immediately on their knees while Adan froze in terror, a magpie perched inexplicably on his shoulder, though it was no bird but the Master Himself. Continued the pert avian form, “are you sure this is what you want? I have Called, you desire it, or think you do. One of their number has just retired from this service and I am in need of a replacement, but you must know that nothing will ever again be the same. Do you still intend to go through with this?” Adan nodded slightly, joy in his eyes. “So be it,” chirruped the small avian form as the Light burned forth and obliterated them all.

  When they were again aware of anything but the Light, four forms still radiated the light of their Master: two men and two unicorns, but they quickly schooled themselves to normality again and exchanged looks of sheer wonder and joy. Jace frowned, “where is Adan?”

  Baye shook his head, “the same place you were when you were supposed to be in the dungeon. He likely won’t reappear for several days.” He grinned impishly at his apprentice, “which will give you a chance to practice another important skill. How would you like to impersonate your friend?” Jace’s astonishment was all Baye could have hoped, continued he, “as my apprentice, your schedule is mine to determine, so folks won’t much notice if you aren’t around, but if an unattached apprentice suddenly goes missing, people will start talking. Will y
ou do it?”

  Jace frowned in bafflement, but nodded, as Baye began explaining that it was a skill akin to that of a unicorn’s ability to drape himself in whatever guise best suited him at the moment, albeit it must be something of vaguely the same shape and size. As Baye explained, Jace’s smile grew and his eyes danced in eagerness, but before they could give it a try, he asked, “how are the unicorns a part of this?”

  Baye gave him a patient smile as he suddenly changed the subject, but said, “why don’t you practice what I have just preached while I explain that part of things. Are you trying to learn everything in one day?” Jace grinned mischievously in reply but did as he was bidden, trying on various guises, as Baye continued, “the unicorns with which we are partnered are as unique among their kindred as we are. You have yet to meet your future partner, but when you do, you will not be parted until one of you decides to quit the mortal sphere forever or until the end of time, whichever happens first. The creatures maintain most of their native gifts, but also gain various skills and talents with which you will become acquainted in future, for I need not reveal everything tonight.”

  He watched the boy for a few minutes, offered some advice on how to improve matters, and then continued, “they do lose their ability to trade their lives for ours, should we be mortally wounded, which is rather moot in our current occupation as death is no longer a major factor, but rather an annoying acquaintance that pops up from time to time, usually when he needs money or wants to borrow something.” Jace gaped at this irreverent reference to something so serious as death, but then laughed outright, for it was no longer the greatest enemy of his mortality as it once had been. It was no longer the end of everything he knew, but rather a nuisance to be dealt with when necessary and otherwise ignored.

  Then a thought occurred to him, “you said I could heal myself?”

  Baye laughed, “you are determined to learn everything tonight, aren’t you?”

  Jace grinned sheepishly, “only as much as possible, but there is always tomorrow I suppose.”

  Shaking his head in wonder at the lad’s voracious appetite for knowledge, he said, “when wounded, you can heal yourself, though it must be done in a way that will not draw attention to your curious nature.” He paused significantly and said, “on occasion, you may also be allowed to heal others, much as a unicorn may take on another’s wounds as his own, though the unicorn usually dies in process.”

  Jace frowned, “sometimes?”

  Baye nodded, “in certain circumstances it is allowed or vital to our mission, but if done too often or in the wrong way, it will draw attention to things that should remain hidden. You will know when the time is right.”

  As Jace mulled this over, another thought occurred to him, “how is it that Adan’s mount refused to run and actually took a step towards you when Adan was certain you were some sort of murderous fiend?”

  Said said murderous fiend with a grin, “you are perceptive lad, perhaps a little too much for comfort, this will be your last question for the moment, else we’ll be here all night, that and we’ll have nothing to talk about over the next year or three. We have the ability to speak to and fully understand all unicorns, not just our particular companions as our comrades do, nor are we impeded in understanding, as is common when a man is trying to understand exactly what his mount is trying to convey. I merely asked the creature to wait and he complied, well aware of the Shadow even if our comrades are not. It can be quite a handy skill in numerous circumstances, especially when trying to track down a missing Brother.” He looked significantly at the boy and said, “that is a topic we will discuss at length another time, now, ‘Adan,’ we had best get back to Astoria, as the Lady sent you in search of us, thinking I might be overdoing it with you just out of a sickbed, and before you ask, yes, I gained that insight from our quadrupedal companion.”

  Jace, doing an admirable impression of Adan, smiled impishly and then thought to try his hand at another new skill, thinking at Adan’s unicorn and asking if he might mooch a ride. The beast snorted his eager approval, thinking the charade would be rather fun, especially since his own master was going to be absent for a time. They mounted up and rode home, towards which Jace’s horse had long since bolted in all the excitement. Asked Jace of his mentor as they rode along, “so what has come of your actual apprentice, if anyone inquires in the course of this charade?”

  Baye smiled villainously and the boy suddenly wondered if his incessant questions might be pushing the man over the edge, but he said quite seriously, “Jace is out on some errand or other, perhaps a training exercise in the woods?”

  The faux Adan grinned, “after that encounter with his father, that would not be a bad idea. He probably needs a little time to think things through.” He frowned, “what do you think my father had embroiled himself in? He was not exactly a man with any sort of social aspirations, that old fortress was all his pride and joy, far more than even his own family.” He smiled sadly in remembrance, “he cast me out because I would not dedicate my life to its continued construction.”

  Baye said thoughtfully, “I suppose that villain was interested in the structure itself, perhaps promising to complete it if your father would allow him to use it as he would. It would be quite a strategic outpost for our enemies to maintain, especially if we were unaware of it. That dismal place will bear watching until it has rotted beyond use or interest.”

  By now they had reached the outskirts of the city that had grown up around the original walls of Astoria and they turned to less interesting topics, to themselves as well as to anyone bored enough to try listening in. They dismounted in the courtyard, dismissing the unicorns to be about their own business, and entered the keep, just in time for the evening meal. Baye said in parting, “I will check on you from time to time in the coming days until your friend returns and is able to get out of bed, but until then, you are he and will do as he would do. I’ll see that you get a copy of his schedule, but I think you know him well enough to play the part.” He grinned a bit too rascally for Jace’s comfort, and said, “just don’t do anything that might attract attention, be as low key as possible.” He raised his eyebrows and Jace nodded his full agreement, wondering what it was the man was worried about. ‘Adan’ went in to dinner while Baye went to attend to other matters.

  Hawk greeted him as he was trying to decide where to sit, said he in some surprise, “Jace has been assigned a mentor already! The boy is barely out of his sickbed, only numbered among the Brethren for a few days, and already he is paired up with the most renowned of the Messengers!”

  Jace shrugged indifferently as he sat beside his companion, “the Lady has her reasons, who are we to question them?” He smiled ruefully, “we least of all.”

  Hawk smiled sheepishly and said, “you are right, I should not be questioning the Lady’s judgment or spreading gossip. I guess I am just a little impatient for my own adventures to begin.”

  Jace laughed, “aren’t we all? But that day will come far quicker than we can imagine and then we may long for the days of peace and study! Come friend, are you in that much of a hurry to spend the next century sleeping rough and seeing your friends but rarely?” Hawk smiled his incredulity at this obvious sense but did not answer, for Briane and Ella approached, intent on joining them.

  After an exchange of greetings, Ella asked for Briane’s benefit, “where is Jace?”

  The apprentices exchanged a knowing look before Jace replied, “he was paired up with a mentor today. Who knows what the man has him doing?”

  Briane exclaimed, “he’s barely out of a sickbed! He hardly has the endurance to walk across the courtyard, let alone to go jaunting about the countryside on some bizarre training exercise.”

  Jace smiled in amusement, actually he felt quite ready to do just that or far more, despite his recent trials, several encounters with death, and everything else he had endured in the last twelve hours alone. Ella raised her eyebrows and said ste
rnly, “you find this funny Adan? Have you no compassion for your friend and Brother?”

  Jay joined them and asked with a smile, “what has Adan done now, my lady?”

  She gave him a cold, imperious look, spurning his suit for the thousandth time though he seemed impervious to the idea that any woman could reject him. She refused to speak to him on general principle, he wasn’t nobly born after all, and his open and unwanted pursuit of her hand had mortally wounded their friendship. Brie spoke up, amazingly perceptive of what was happening around her despite her blindness, said she, “Adan is showing far too little concern for my poor brother’s difficult situation.”

  Jay smirked, “I believe the almighty Jace will somehow manage. At least if his reputation is half what it used to be, now he’s very nearly forgotten.” He shrugged as if Jace’s loss was his gain, “but that’s what comes of mortal glory I suppose.” He eyed the apprentices, as if he found their very existence a joke, “but you fellows want nothing to do with such mundane issues anyway, so it is of little matter.” He smiled at Ella, “can I get you some dessert, my lady?”

  Her answering look might have frozen water but did nothing to faze Jay. She turned her attention back to Brie, “speaking of trying times, what of you my dear? This cannot be easy for you, is there aught else we can do to assist you in your distress?”

  Briane smiled wryly, “it is certainly not easy, but I brought it upon myself, prying into matters that were none of my business.” She sighed heavily, “and I shall likely rue it all my days.” She brightened slightly, “but it has also taught me how dear my friends truly are, how fragile and fleeting is life, and how blessed I am, even when I have been dealt a grievous blow.”

  The entire table stared at her, as if she were a complete stranger, for never had they thought to hear such words from this fierce, stubborn girl. Ella was speechless for the first time in her life, but at last managed to stutter, “that is quite the revelation, my dear!”

  Briane smiled ironically, but there was no bitterness in her voice, just grim amusement, “it took blindness to truly make me see. I have always been completely self-reliant and strong, never weak or helpless, I never needed anyone else, until now; I now realize how utterly wrong I was and hope you can forgive me?”

  Again they stared at her as if she had lost her mind, only the two apprentices seemed to understand the changes so suddenly wrought in this young woman they thought they knew so well, but it had all been a facade, an act, underneath was a girl on the brink of womanhood, confused, angry, and scared, who pretended to be fierce and strong and stubborn to protect her fragile heart from an indifferent world. Her brother’s sudden transformation had been but a chink in her armor, her experience in the dungeon was the fatal arrow that pierced that small, vulnerable hole.

  Ella said in some trepidation, “come dear heart, you have been through so much of late, do not dwell so upon such weighty ideas until you are whole of heart, body, and mind once more. Do not make any rash decisions you might rue for the rest of your life.”

  Briane said quietly, “when am I supposed to dwell upon such important matters? In the carefree, heedlessness of youth and health? I think not, I have come to realize what an insipid little thing I once was, but no more. A rash decision you call it? Is that what you fear, dear Ella, or is it that your own heart cries out for this very thing yet your mind quails in horror at the mere thought and will do anything to avoid such a doom, even to those closest to you?” She turned towards the faux Adan and whispered, “the reason I was so furious with you when you took your Oath was not that I felt spurned, but rather that I was bitterly jealous, for I wanted that very thing for myself, in my heart of hearts, yet I would not admit it, even to myself.” She smiled ruefully, “but now that I am blind, I see at last.” Tears tinged her voice, “can you forgive me?”

  Jace wanted to embrace his sister then and there, proud of her as he had never been before, but knew as Adan, the gesture would be completely inappropriate, said he, no little touched, “of course, dear Brie.”

  She smiled sadly, “I must speak with the Lady upon the matter, but I think I know what I shall make of my life.” Her smile grew warm as a thought suddenly occurred to her, “the Lady! She is no milksop, the Brethren may perhaps be a fit home for me after all.”

  The apprentices shook their heads at this common misperception while Ella actually deigned to exchange a horrified look with Jay at losing yet another friend to the inevitable draw of these fanatics about them. Both suddenly began to wonder if they should seriously think about quitting Astoria ere their own fall to such nonsense was imminent. If both Brie and Jace could be drawn in, anyone could. Jay mentally began to count the days until his father’s merchant train returned and Ella wondered how close she was to securing an acceptable match from amongst the noble sons in Astoria. On this uneasy note, the small company broke up, the apprentices agreeing to accompany Brie back to her room while Jay and Ella fled in opposite directions, as if the others carried plague.

  Jace was glad for Hawk’s presence, it meant he would not be put in an awkward situation with his sister when she thought him her formerly beloved. They walked her to her door, bid her goodnight, and then walked quietly back to their own quarters, each lost in his own thoughts and neither wishing to return to the boisterous jollity that was typical after supper amongst the Students. Jace returned to his room and gratefully shut the door behind him, for he had much to think over and a hopeful thought was growing in his heart, but he wanted to discuss the matter with Baye before he let his imagination run wild with eagerness.