I glanced up at the healer. He had changed my life in countless ways and I was grateful. Somehow, I hoped to repay him for all that he had done. So, for now, I would do my utmost to learn all that he taught. As if he had heard my thoughts, Enelo spoke up.
“Today, we will get you settled, cleaned up, and rested. Tomorrow, though, we will begin your lessons. Be prepared to work hard for I have much to teach you to get you caught up.”
Enelo’s place was a modest one. A simple wooden house that matched the houses around it. It had a small porch area on the front, which we passed as we entered. He showed me around the house and told me to make myself comfortable. My room wasn’t as nice as the one I had stayed in at the inn in Relvan, but it was mine. Upon seeing my very own bed for the first time, all I could think about was drifting off to sleep. As I was about to lay down, Enelo poked his head into the room.
“Don’t sleep yet, Kayne, you need to bathe first.”
I helped Enelo carry a large tub into my room. We then heated water over hot coals and carried it to the tub. Once it was full, he gave me a rough cloth and a jar of some thick liquid.
“This is a mixture of oils and herbs that will help in removing the grime. Use it to scrub as much of that dirt off as you possibly can and then scrub some more.”
Stripping off my rags, I slowly settled into the tub. The water felt nice and made me even more sleepy. Pushing aside my fatigue, I washed the filth from my hair and body. The oils had a sharp, but flowery, scent to it, reminding me of springtime.
When I left the tub, the clear water was tinted brown; a testament to how dirty I had been. I was almost weary enough to fall asleep standing, but I struggled into my nightshirt and promptly fell into the bed. It was a blissful sleep.
Chapter 5
Two weeks had passed since I had arrived in Erelith. My time was spent studying letters and discovering the basics of medicine, which mostly consisted of watching Enelo mix remedies together. He told me that I was advancing quickly, but I still had much to learn before catching up to others my age.
A few times, Enelo left me alone to my studies. He had made a quick trip to the market for food and picked up my clothes from the tailor. For the most part, though, Enelo was always with me.
More and more each day, I was becoming accustomed to the house, lessons, and most importantly, my teacher. It was a strange concept, relying on him for everything while I simply studied. It went against everything I had done to survive in Relvan.
The best part of my new life was that I hadn’t felt true hunger since the day I met the healer. Without snatching a single loaf from any daydreaming merchants, I had eaten more food in the two weeks here than I would have in an entire month on the streets. Enelo said that I was eating him out of house and home and that we had to go back to the market. He insisted on me coming with him this time.
“It’s not good for growing boys to toil over books every day and I could use the help carrying the food back home.” Enelo said as he grabbed a plain basket.
The market…the thought of going back to that place with all those people made me nervous.
Enelo chuckled, seeing my expression.
“Don’t worry. It’s still early, so the market won’t be too crowded.”
Reluctantly, I followed him as we left the house and made our way towards the market. Down one of the roads we passed, I noticed a building that was nearly large enough to compete with the castle itself. From what I could tell, it was made with a unique mixture of stone, wood, and perhaps even other materials I couldn’t name.
I pointed at it as I asked, “What is that?”
Enelo followed my gaze and saw it in the distance. “Ah, the Academy.”
The Academy was extremely busy. Even during the early hour, it had many people coming and going. The grounds sprawled larger than any other I had seen except perhaps the castle itself. I could also see a considerably sized garden next to the Academy’s courtyard.
“That is where novices go to learn and, possibly, become masters themselves. Someday, I will send you there, once you are ready; though that day is far off.”
I would have to go there? With all those people? I already did not like the sound of that. But, there was a long time before I was ready; or so he said.
Shaking off thoughts of the Academy, we continued on our way to the market. Enelo had been right. It wasn’t nearly as packed as my first time here. I heaved a sigh of relief.
Enelo laughed, “See? It is not so bad. You may not think it now, but there will come a day when even large crowds do not phase you much, if at all.”
That would be a wonder. I doubted that I could ever feel comfortable in such a large group of people.
After browsing a few merchants’ wares, we stopped at a produce vendor. He had all kinds of fruits and vegetables to choose from.
As Enelo handed me his basket, he asked, “Which do you like best, Kayne?”
Glancing at the options in front of me, I answered. “The apples and pears.”
Enelo took a few of each and placed them in the basket. He also grabbed a few other vegetables, such as carrots and corn. Satisfied with what we had, he paid the man and we left the stand.
Enelo paused to contemplate our fare, “There is one more thing we need before we head home.”
I trailed after him as he made his way to a small stand slightly off the way. The basket was beginning to feel heavy, so I hoped that we would not stay much longer.
“Wait here, I’ll only be a moment,” Enelo told me.
I obeyed and watched him as he approached the tiny stand, but I was too far away to see exactly what he was purchasing.
Soon, he was back with two curious looking rocks attached to a stick. I set the basket of goods down as he offered me one. Wondering what to do with it, I looked at Enelo questioningly.
He wore a wide grin as he spoke, “I see that you have never had sweet rocks before. They is a very tasty treat.”
He then popped it into his mouth. I studied the thing in my hand and hesitantly licked it. Sweetness rushed over my tongue instantly and I didn’t hesitate to have another taste.
Enelo chuckled, “Slow down and savor it, Kayne, for we won’t always be able to have them. Too much can make you sick to your stomach. Every once in awhile, though, it is a splendid treat. Wouldn’t you agree?”
I nodded in response, as I was too busy to say anything. We finished our treat and, satisfied with our lot, headed home.
~
I was in my room going over the notes that Enelo was having me study when I heard his voice from near the front door.
“Kayne!” he called.
I put down the parchment that I had been studying and met him in the kitchen.
“We are meeting the king today to make sure he is on his way to recovery.”
“We?” I asked, surprised at being included in meeting the king once more.
The first five weeks in Erelith had flown by after our first meeting with the king. I had, for the most part, been hard at work studying the lessons Enelo prepared for me. They seemed never-ending, since he always had more ready for me when I was finished with the previous one.
“Yes, I’m bringing you with in case there is work to be done. That way you can watch from a first hand account what being a healer entails.”
I had to admit, I was interested in seeing more of the castle. In Relvan, I had heard rumors of the castle of King Marius. But, hearing rumors was closer than I ever expected to get; let alone personally meeting the king.
We left and made our way through the streets once again to the castle grounds. A different pair of guards stood near the gates this time, but they still nodded respectfully to Enelo as we passed.
Inside the courtyard, Enelo spoke with one of the servants, who proceeded to lead us through the castle halls. The sight of all the swords, shields and banners decorating the walls still impressed me. Even though there were only small windows or none at all, the hallways were brightly
lit with torches, the light glinting off the various armaments.
Soon we arrived at the throne room. I nearly tripped as we entered, stricken by the sheer grandeur of it all. Here, there were windows with stained glass allowing for colorful rays of sunlight to stream through. Massive stone columns dominated the hall, allowing the ceiling to vault over twice as high as any of the other rooms we had passed. A large, dark red carpet ran from the entrance of the room all the way to the far end, where a marble throne adorned the lone dais. The king sat there, speaking with three men who were standing before him. As we approached, the men’s fine clothing and jewelry stood out, portraying them as either nobles or wealthy merchants.
The king stood as he saw Enelo and I approach. “Enough business. Let us rejoin the other guests.”
He motioned for the other nobles to proceed him. They didn’t look too happy about being dismissed, but they obeyed the king nonetheless.
Once the nobles were gone, Enelo bowed and addressed King Marius, “My king.”
I also bowed, but kept quiet as I was still a bit overawed by such extravagant wealth.
Marius waved his hand, “No need for that, you are trusted friends. Not many can boast of having saved a king.”
Enelo chuckled, “I suppose most cannot. You look well, Marius.”
As Enelo spoke, I looked closely at the king. He truly did seem much healthier, though he still had a slightly haggard look.
The king clapped Enelo on the shoulder, “Indeed, Enelo, it is all thanks to your efforts. Already, I feel like a different man altogether. But enough of me, we have a party to attend. Let us hope all goes well tonight.”
Enelo nodded in agreement, “I’m sure it will be a fine gathering.”
Marius and Enelo walked towards a side hall and chatted absently as they made their way to the party. I payed little attention to their conversation as I followed, still trying to study everything we encountered.
Soon enough we arrived at the entrance to the party room. There were people everywhere in fancy outfits and dresses. I definitely didn’t belong among such a crowd. I inched slightly behind Enelo so as to hide myself from the many eyes turning towards us as they noticed the king.
We stopped before entering and King Marius called over a boy that appeared to be around the same age as I was. At first I thought him a servant, but then I noticed how finely dressed he was.
The king spoke to the boy, “Erik, this is Enelo’s new apprentice, Kayne. Would you mind showing him around while Enelo and I take care of some business?”
The boy named Erik nodded, “Of course, father.”
Erik then grabbed my sleeve, grinned and began pulling me along. I glanced over my shoulder questioningly at Enelo, but he just smiled and nodded reassuringly. Reluctantly, I was lead through the mass of people, though most of them didn’t bother to notice us. Eventually we came to a stop next to a table filled with food.
Erik grabbed something off the table and offered it to me, “Here. Try this. It’s the best cake in Erelith. My mother says it's made from a plant called cocoa. It’s one of my favorite sweets.”
To show his enthusiasm, he ate his own small cake in one bite, closing his eyes and rubbing his belly in satisfaction. Hesitantly, I took a tiny bite of the small cake. It was good! I hadn’t ever had anything quite like it. I quickly ate the rest of it, going so far as to lick my fingers.
Glancing up, I found Erik chuckling as he watched me, “Told you it’s the best.”
I nodded and smiled, “It was good.”
Erik looked around thoughtfully for a moment before another huge grin spread across his face. “Have you ever played tag?”
A few moments later, after having explained the rules of the game, Erik tapped my shoulder and quickly ran off into the crowded room. I followed him, trying desperately not to bump into anyone. Eventually I caught up and tapped him on the back. He laughed and spun around, reaching for me. I laughed as well, and jumped back in order to dodge his outstretched hand.
Unexpectedly, my back hit something and I tumbled to the floor. I looked up to see a noblewoman looking in shock at her white dress, now covered with a large red splotch. I had caused her to spill her drink. Horrified, I rose to my feet trying to slip away but she caught my arm in a surprisingly strong grip.
“Look what you have done! You’ve completely ruined my dress!” The noblewoman shouted angrily at me. I cowered down, afraid at what would happen to me. I couldn’t escape, though, because of her hold on my arm. She kept cursing and shouting at me. I could barely understand her, wanting nothing but to run far from here.
Suddenly, a hand reached out and removed the woman’s hold on me. I tried to run but was quickly grabbed by the shoulders from behind. I looked up to see Enelo’s face and was immediately comforted. Enelo would know what to do.
All of a sudden, I heard a loud voice shout out, “Silence!”
Immediately, all conversation ceased. Even the angry noblewoman stopped her cursing. I looked to see King Marius with a frown on his face glancing between the noblewoman and I.
The king asked, “What happened here?”
The irate noblewoman responded, “This oafish child ran into me and ruined my dress! Just look at it!”
She gestured at her stained dress, proving to all that harm had been done to her.
Enelo forced me to my knees and did the same for his king. He bowed his head as he spoke, “Forgive him, my king. He is but a child and, as we all know, children can be foolish at times. I accept in entirety the fault for his behavior and will reimburse the affronted lady the cost of her dress.”
I was surprised that Enelo had taken all the blame onto himself. It was one thing to help me when it didn’t cost him much, but taking the blame in front of this crowd of nobles was another altogether. The king glanced into the crowd to see his son, Erik watching the scene unfold. When the prince noticed his father's gaze, he blushed deep red and vanished from sight. Marius sighed and looked back towards me.
“I find this to be acceptable. See that it is done, Enelo,” he announced, gesturing us to rise.
The noblewoman was furious as we rose to our feet. She screeched, “That is all? The boy should be punished!”
The king fixed her with a harsh glare, “You dare question the verdict of your king?”
At this, a few of the royal guards made their presence known by stepping a bit closer to the king. The noblewoman paled and shook her head, “No, my king.”
She quickly curtsied and made haste towards the exit. I caught her eye and she glared at me before leaving. I shivered, hoping to never see her again.
The king addressed the crowd, “Let the festivities continue!” He raised his glass in a toast and everyone followed his lead. I watched as the crowd dispersed and began to mostly ignore us one more. I sighed in relief. Enelo grabbed my shoulder gently and we approached the king, now talking privately beneath the hum of the crowd.
Marius sighed, “I am sorry, old friend. I have a feeling that my son was also involved in this matter.”
Enelo waved his hand in dismissal, “It is nothing. Boys will be boys after all. I am sure we both did worse things in our youth.”
King Marius grinned, “That we did, and we still survived.” The king then gestured towards a nearby table, “Shall we sit?”
Enelo replied, “I think perhaps it is time for us to retire.” My teacher glanced at me before bowing to the king. I also bowed as well, recognizing the hint for what it was.
The king nodded, “Perhaps it is. We will talk another time then. Fare thee well, Enelo. Kayne.” That said, the king moved on to converse with other partygoers.
Enelo quietly lead me out of the party room. He stayed silent until we were alone and away from any prying ears. Then, he grabbed me by the shoulder with one hand and looked me in the eye.
“I am not angry with you, Kayne. I know that you were merely playing with Prince Erik and bumped into that noblewoman. In the future, though, when we go to th
e palace, you have to be very careful. Not everyone here is nice and forgiving like the king and his family are. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, saddened that I had let Enelo down.
“Good,” he said, smiling at me. “Now how about we go home and get some rest. You still have your lessons tomorrow.”
I smiled, glad that Enelo had taken the fault for my actions and even more happy that he was still going to teach me.
Chapter 6
“Master Enelo!” I spoke loudly, searching for him.
Sweat dampened my dirty clothes. I had been helping our neighbor, John, chop his firewood, as I had done every week for the year that I had been in Erelith. He had thrown out his back around the time I arrived and just couldn’t manage anymore. John paid us for my services, so Enelo did not mind. Enelo also said it was healthy to exercise and being cooped up to study for too long made the mind go stale.
“Master!” I called again, wondering why he wasn’t responding; it was not that big of a house.
I checked the kitchen first, with no sign of him, and then went to the small study, where I found him poring over an old book. He was so engrossed in thought that when I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder he nearly jumped out of his chair.
“Good heavens boy! Sneaking up like that could kill a man.”
I shook my head and laughed, “I did not ‘sneak up’ on you. You were so lost in that book a herd of wild boar could have run through the house and you wouldn’t have batted an eye.”
Enelo snorted, “Since when have you started making light of your benevolent teacher?”
A wide grin spread across my face, “I always have, though recently I began speaking my thoughts aloud.”
He chuckled as he settled back into his chair.
“I take it you are finished with the firewood. How about your lessons for today?”
The Student Page 3