Journeyman Assassin

by Brian Keller

  Chapter 19

  Utsef led them through the trees, finding places to pass through the tangled mess that Cooper thought he’d never have been able to see. After a couple hours, Cooper thought they had been hiking through the forest in relative silence when Utsef suddenly stopped and turned to speak, “Do I need to walk even more slowly than I already am? The two of you sound like you’re dragging half of the forest behind you!” Utsef had an exasperated expression, “Once we get to our next campsite, I’ll begin teaching you how to move properly. Until then, do you think you can manage to at least pick up your feet as you step?” As they began walking again, Cooper paid special attention to how Utsef stepped. He would raise his feet to whatever height was needed to allow him to either step over, or step onto, whatever might be in his path. As Cooper began to mimic his teacher’s movements, to the point of trying to step wherever Utsef had, he soon began to hear the sounds of Kolrem’s trudging more clearly. Cooper occupied himself with simply following his teacher’s example for the first thirty minutes but soon he found himself looking ahead, trying to predict where Utsef would step next. He was looking at where he wanted to step when he bumped into Utsef. His teacher had stopped abruptly, and Cooper had been looking down rather than where he was going. Utsef said nothing, he reached behind him and eased Cooper away from him. Utsef had shifted into a crouch and was raptly studying something some distance in front of him and a little to his left. Cooper tried to look, but all he could see was vines, tree trunks, and leaves. The three of them stood silently while Utsef remained watchful. After a few minutes, Utsef turned and faced the boys, held a single upraised finger to his lips and moved his other hand in a pushing motion then pointed back down the path they’d just followed to come here. The boys turned and moved as silently as they could. After they’d moved about a hundred meters, Utsef hissed at them. They stopped and turned to look. Utsef drew very close, handed his pack to Kolrem and said, “Hold onto this. You boys wait here. I’ll be back in a few minutes, probably no more than fifteen. If I take longer than that, make your way back to the clearing. I’ll either catch up to you before then, or I won’t be coming.” Utsef didn’t wait for a reply, he simply turned and stepped off the trail. Within half a dozen steps, he almost seemed to disappear. The entire time he moved, the breeze blowing through the leaves made more noise than he did. The boys hunkered down at the base of a large tree, neither of them sure they should risk even a whispered conversation. They waited, and continued to wait. After what felt like an hour, but was likely less than twenty minutes, Kolrem gave Cooper a questioning look and pointed back the way they’d come. Cooper nodded and they got up and began to move as silently as they could manage. Cooper began to wonder, “Eight months? What would they eat? How would they survive?” The boys had walked about four or five minutes before Cooper had made the conscious decision that they’d simply have to return to the city. Getting there would be miserable with no food but it was better that than to stay here and starve, or at best, freeze during the winter. It was then that Utsef stepped out of trees a few steps ahead of them. He had a large bundle of cloth and furs draped over his shoulders, all tied together with cord. He spoke in a normal voice, “Alright. We should be safe to continue to the camp. We’ll need to make one stop along the way. I can’t carry everything.

  Utsef led them quickly along the trail. Once they’d passed the spot where they’d previously stopped, Utsef slowed slightly and became a little more wary. After walking a little further, Cooper noticed some blood and drag marks on the ground and then, twenty steps or so later another spot damp with blood and more drag marks. Just beyond this point Utsef led them to a spot about ten meters off the trail. There was a small pile of bags, sacks, weapons and boots. He turned to the boys, “Gather up all you can carry but don’t load yourselves too heavily. We still have a little way to go. We’ll need to make a second trip, anyway. We can’t afford to just leave all this here.” Cooper tied some of the bags together and slung them over his shoulders, then grabbed a couple bows in one hand and all the quivers he could find, five in all, in his other hand. Kolrem had started putting boots in any bags that had extra space and gathered up the five belts. Kolrem pulled the belts, along with the short swords and daggers attached, over his head so that they draped across him. He looked like he was uncomfortable under all the weight, but there was nothing left on the ground except a couple of bows. Utsef leaned down, picked up the bows and took a couple of Kolrem’s heavy bags in exchange, “You boys may regret trying to carry so much all at once. We still have about thirty minutes of hiking ahead of us.” He turned and led them back toward the trail, then stopped and spoke briefly, “Be mindful of how you carry those bows. Everything in the forest will seem like it’s reaching out to grab them.”

  Cooper felt certain that Utsef didn’t understand how to estimate time correctly. Thirty minutes…? It had to be almost double that by the time Utsef stopped and let his bags and bundles fall to the ground. He’d stopped in what might pass as a clearing, but was a circle no more than fifteen meters in diameter. What made it obvious was that it was completely devoid of underbrush. No prickly vines anywhere within it. Kolrem didn’t even take the time to set his load down, the moment he stepped into the clearing he dropped the bows off to one side and let himself fall gently to the ground. Utsef had a faint smile on his face, “Good. Since we won’t need to make a return trip to gather the rest of those items, training can begin sooner.” Cooper could hear a groan from under the pile of bags that had come to rest on top of Kolrem.

  As Utsef began to examine the items they’d carried to the campsite, Cooper felt compelled to ask, “Sir, who were the people wearing and carrying all this gear? And why did they need to be killed?” Utsef glanced up at Cooper, “I hadn’t pictured you to be the squeamish type.” Cooper shook his head, “Not squeamish, sir. I don’t care that they’re dead, whoever they are. I’m just curious as to why. Were they some kind of threat? Is there a bounty?” Utsef chuckled, “Bounty? No, nothing like that. More of a threat; that’s a tale that’ll wait for another time. Prove to me it’s worth my time, and I’ll consider telling you my story. Fair enough?” Cooper nodded. He hadn’t realized that his question was treading into personal territory, but now that it was apparent, he didn’t take the refusal as an insult. If someone he’d just met asked him to ‘tell his tale”, he’d send them away too.

  Utsef began separating what had been collected, organizing them in small piles of similar items. Gradually, Kolrem’s bags were retrieved and the contents examined. Any items that “didn’t have a practical use” got lumped together in the same sack. As a result, there was one bag that had a small collection of coins, a few pieces of jewelry and a couple trinkets that must’ve had some kind of sentimental value to someone. One item caught Utsef’s attention the moment he saw it, “Oho! Boys! Come look at this!” He held a disc in his hand, not much bigger than three coins stacked one on top of the other. As Kolrem pushed himself up to regain his feet, Cooper got first look. He felt certain he knew what it was, “That’s a compass, isn’t it, sir?” Utsef nodded, “Yes, it is. Now this is an item that won’t get tossed into the bag. It’s useful rather than useless.”

  Utsef told the boys, “Go and select a bow along with two quivers of arrows. I’ll claim the remaining quiver. You’ll use these to train with over the next few weeks, or months, depending on how long it takes for you to successfully make your own.” Kolrem was apparently still trying to relocate his good humor, “So, if I can’t make a decent bow, I’ll just keep using this one?” Utsef nodded then took a few steps and started to unstack a small pile of furs, “Yes. But why use a bow like that for longer than necessary? I’ll show you how to make one like this.” Cooper couldn’t stop his short gasp. He really didn’t know anything about bows, but he knew this had to be something special. Held upright, it looked a little bit like the number three. It was made of several different types of wood layered together somehow, then carved and polished to a dull
sheen. The entire bow couldn’t have been more than four feet long from tip to tip but it looked like it could send an arrow through the side of a house. Cooper glanced back at the bows they’d picked up earlier and now those just looked like sticks with string by comparison.

  Cooper was struck by a sudden thought, “Sir, you’re a Guild instructor, right?” Utsef nodded and Cooper continued, “Are you an Adept or a Master?” Utsef shrugged, “I couldn’t tell you, I’ve never asked.” Cooper pressed on, “Is seems like you’ve mentioned many things you’ll be teaching us, and teaching us to thrive here… your course must cover a wide variety of topics.” Utsef continue to nod as Cooper spoke. Cooper finally got around to the question he wanted to ask, “What’s the name of your course? Woodland Survival, or something?” Utsef now shook his head and said, “Fieldcraft.” as he turned to lay his bow back on the pile of furs.

  Over the next several days, Utsef taught the boys the importance of many things they had previously never considered, such as the importance of carrying two blades. Cooper had started to speak but Utsef held up a finger to silence him, “Now, I’m not talking about those two blades you’ve got across your back. I’m talking about two kinds of blades. The actual number of blades you carry is up to you, whether two or twenty. For instance, you wouldn’t use either of those blades sheathed across your back for cutting rope, or skinning a deer, or carving wood. You could do that, surely; but that’d be foolish unless those were the only blades you’ve got. You have your killing and fighting blades and you have your camp knife. You need your camp knife for day to day tasks. The point is you don’t use a killing knife for anything but what it’s meant for.”

  This conversation flowed right into another topic, ropes and cord. This seemed to be another subject that Utsef held in high regard. “There are several things that can be made into cord. Before you leave these woods, you’ll know most of them and be able to use them. If you want to leave these woods well-fed, and well-prepared, that’s a skill you’ll learn well.”

  This got Kolrem’s attention, “Rope and cord will help me be well-fed, sir? If there’s a connection, I don’t see it.” Utsef laughed, “Well then, you’d better look harder! What’s that bowstring made of? How will you make traps and snares with no cord? How will you patch tears in your clothing? Or bind pieces of leather? Yes, making cord will be important in your future, no need for consulting a fortune-teller about that.”

  And so, Utsef taught them how to beat and crush plant stems to get fibers, then weave and those fibers together to make cord. Utsef worked right alongside them, he gave the lesson as he formed his own cordage from the same material, “If the cord is strong, and thin enough, it can be used as a garrote or a bowstring, and if it’s long enough, a noose. You’ll also use cord to make many kinds of traps and snares and, if nothing else, you’ll want it to bind bundles together or use it to hang food from tree limbs where other animals can’t get to it so easily. Lengths of cord can also be knotted together to make crude nets. In fact, we can start working on your hammocks now. If you’re cord isn’t worth the time you spend on it, you’ll know it when your hammock falls apart and you end up on the ground.” He paused to chuckle as he pictured it, then continued the lesson, “Long hairs from animals, including people, make very good cord too. In fact, ropes made of human hair are some of the strongest, yet lightest to be found anywhere. Those ropes sell for a very high price. If you ever find one and you have enough money, buy it. Even if you don’t need it, you can always take it back to the Guild and usually sell it for a considerable profit.

  In the evenings, the boys would continue to spar. Occasionally, Utsef would join them. When the boys first sparred, Utsef hadn’t appeared interested in participating and Cooper tried goading him into joining them. Cooper had said, “You do know how to fight, don’t you, sir?” Utsef nodded, “Of course. I knew how to fight before I ever joined the guild, but Master Loril showed me how much I had left to learn.” Kolrem blurted out, “Master Loril?!?” Utsef nodded, “Of course. Who else?” Kolrem replied, “Sir, Master Loril is the Guild Smith!” As Utsef’s expression changed to one of mild surprise, Cooper got Kolrem’s attention, “Uh, Master Loril used to be the combat instructor. He evidently decided to take the position as Guild Swordsmith because it was either something he wanted, or because he was uniquely qualified due to his affinities.” Now, both Utsef and Kolrem were looking at him, each of them surprised, but for different reasons. Kolrem had a moment of realization, “So that’s why Mister Skran had Master Loril come help him demonstr-” Utsef interrupted him, “Skran?! Skran is the weapons master now?! Alright, Kolrem, you first. Arm yourself and attack me however you like. I need to assess what you’ve been taught.” Kolrem squared off against Utsef and paused, “Just so you know, sir. I have Manifested. I’m getting pretty good at controlling it, but still have a ways to go.” Utsef said nothing. He still didn’t have a weapon in either hand when he waved Kolrem forward. Kolrem hesitated again, “Um, sir. You don’t have any weapon.” Utsef smiled, as he stood with his thumbs tucked in his belt, “Why do I need a weapon? You’re bringing yours.” He winked at Cooper. Cooper couldn’t imagine why he was winking. He’d heard that if people were isolated for too long, it could damage their mind. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to wonder whether Utsef had been alone for too long. Kolrem shrugged, positioned his feet, and launched himself at Utsef. The teacher calmly stepped to the side and swept his left arm forward, towards Kolrem. Kolrem reacted almost immediately. He stopped advancing and began thrashing his arms as if he’d become entangled in something. On closer inspection, Cooper could see that he had. Before Cooper could see any more than that, Utsef swept Kolrem’s legs out from under him and swiftly positioned himself over Kolrem and captured his wrists. Kolrem was struggling to try and free himself from some kind of netting and Utsef started telling him, “Stop…. Stop! I’ll get you untangled. Relax! If you pull too hard, it’ll cut you.” Kolrem was visibly angry, “I thought we were sparring! That’s just dirty fighting!” Utsef was chuckling, “Perhaps it’s time you learn that there’s no “fair” or “unfair” in what we do. If I get caught up with what you’d call a “fair fight”, it means that I simply didn’t have time to prepare.”

  Once Kolrem was freed, he didn’t appear to be any happier. Utsef sat the boys down to speak with them, “Perhaps it would be better if I explain a few things first. Other classes in the Guild are different from mine. Weapons class is for all students. It provides a basic knowledge needed to defend yourselves against any but a trained attacker. Etiquette class is for all students, if for no other reason than to teach roughly-raised slum children how to behave properly. Even Master Darius’ class and your Stealth training applies to more than one specialty.” He paused to take a breath, and perhaps a little for effect, “Only one kind of student is brought to me; future Assassins.” He paused for a few seconds to allow the boys to absorb that information. Once he saw the realization happen, he continued, “So, let us continue, but this time without the self-pity and pre-conceptions of what may or may not be “fair”. As Assassins, it will be your job to weigh every possible factor in your favor before you go out to fulfill a contract. What you don’t know can hurt you, and it often does. In fact, when we’re done here, it should be the only thing that does.”

  Chapter 20

  From that time forward, Utsef sparred with them on equal ground, without tricks or exotic weapons. Master Loril had taught him well and it appeared he’d forgotten none of his lessons. It seemed that he was every bit as fast as the older Master and just as invulnerable to attack. From time to time during a match, Utsef would call out an opportunity that he hadn’t taken advantage of. The boys began to hear him say, “Net!” or “Dart!” a few times with each sparring match.” Both Cooper and Kolrem felt a little exasperated by this and after a few evenings of practice, Cooper had decided on how to tactfully express it. As Utsef was building a fire, Cooper voiced his thoughts, “Sir, we have not learned how
to employ any weapons except for blades… and small clubs.” Utsef gave Cooper a sideways glance, “And what about your chain hook?” Cooper was confused, “Chain hook, sir?” Utsef turned to face him fully, “Yes. Your chain hook. You have that hook on a tether. It’s a rough example of what we would call a chain hook. It’s a weapon of Lukasi origin.” Cooper was shaking his head, “I had no idea, sir. And no one has taught me to use it. I thought I invented it. I wanted it for a specific purpose and decided to hang onto it.” Utsef appeared interested, “A specific purpose? I’d have to agree. There are only a few purposes such a weapon could fulfill. Anything you wish to add?” Cooper shook his head, then thought of something and chuckled, “Someday sir, if you tell your story, perhaps I’ll tell mine.” Utsef let out a single chuckle.