by AC Cobble
Ben swished the practice sword around a few times to get a feel for it. The weight felt familiar but it was thicker than a real sword so there was more air resistance.
“Looks like you’re ready,” grinned Saala before lunging at Ben with his own practice sword.
Ben was caught off guard but managed to dance back before Saala landed a blow. The next two bells they fought in the dim cellar. The low ceilings and arches kept getting in Ben’s way and he felt like he was nearly back at step one. Over and over again Saala struck him and he found himself constantly on the defensive.
“The next two weeks,” said Saala, “you’ll spend mornings with me and afternoons we’ll both be with Rhys. I convinced that scoundrel to continue teaching us the Ohms.”
Ben hoped Saala’s talking would distract him, so he ducked low and advanced with a spinning attack he’d invented to use on the men at arms at Whitehall. Saala smiled and deflected the first strike then glided out of reach.
“Good thinking,” he continued, “that was the perfect time to get aggressive. Any time your opponent gives you an opening, use it.” Saala kept giving pointers as they fought. How he had any breath to speak was beyond Ben, who was panting and wheezing from the exertion.
After another bell, Saala stepped on an empty sack causing his foot to slip and Ben saw an opening. He quickly swung an overhead attack before Saala could reset but nearly lost his sword when it smacked into one of the low hanging arches. Saala chuckled and instantly reacted. He poked his own sword into Ben’s stomach, just hard enough to send him crashing to the ground.
“You got very close that time,” Saala said with a short bow.
Ben grunted from the floor.
“The next two weeks, we’ll take the time to find and practice in new terrain. I can see we spent too long in flat open fields.” Saala reached a hand down, “get up, Rhys will be here soon.”
“Where’s Renfro?” asked Rhys that afternoon.
“I’m not really sure,” replied Ben. “He said he has some things to do. I think he’s trying to come up with another option if the brewery doesn’t work out.”
“He should be,” nodded Rhys. “He’s living on Amelie’s gold and your skill making ale. Not a bad life, but it always pays to have a backup plan. That being said, you should keep an eye on him. The Guild in Fabrizo is dangerous, but in some ways they made it safer for someone like him. The Guild gets away with their petty theft and doesn’t rock the apple cart for the major merchants so they are tolerated. There’s no guild here and no protection. He gets caught doing something he shouldn’t and it could be off with his head.”
Ben gulped, “I don’t think he’d take up thieving again. I think he’s looking for honest work.”
“Maybe he is,” shrugged Rhys. “But once you’ve had a taste of easy money, it’s hard to turn it down the next time.”
Later that evening over dinner, Ben asked Renfro about it.
“Oh, I was down by the docks,” Renfro explained. “I had to learn to fish in Fabrizo. It was the only way I ate some days before the Guild took me in. I figure with this big of a river there’s got to be fishing around here too. I was looking into it.”
“Any luck?” inquired Ben.
“Not so far.” Renfro sat back. “There’s some old folk scattered around the water front, but from what I could tell, it’s more of a past time than a profession. I went down to the docks where Reinhold’s boat is and couldn’t get in there. There are some guards and they say it’s all private vessels. You have to prove you’ve bought passage on one to get in. I’ll keep at it though. Like I said, it’s a big river and there’s got to be fish.”
“Good,” said Ben. He was satisfied with Renfro’s answer and didn’t think there was any reason to bring up Rhys’ suspicion.
Two weeks later, it was time to find out if they could sell their ale. Despite Renfro’s prospecting, Ben thought Rhys had given them the best shot and that’s where he wanted to start. Rhys swung by for ‘a small taste’ and several mugs later had convinced Ben he needed to sell to the Flying Swan Inn. It had a small number of rooms and a large tavern with a reputation for quality.
“Tell em it’s a foreign style and produced in small batches,” advised Rhys, “they eat that stuff up here. Tell the owner Mathias that I sent you. Doesn’t matter if it’s any good, although I will say, this is very good.” He took a sip. “Maybe I should have another, just to be sure.”
The next morning, Ben and Renfro stood in the near empty common room of the Flying Swan and asked to see the proprietor.
“No solicitations,” barked a gruff serving man. “The manager only sees vendors once a week on Newday. And we already have plenty of ale and only serve the highest quality product. You’re wasting your time here young fellas.”
Ben and Renfro looked at each other nervously.
“Well, thank you for your time,” sighed Renfro. To Ben he added, “might as well try the Gnarly Dog next.”
Ben saw the wicked smirk the serving man gave when Renfro mentioned the Gnarly Dog and he knew that would be a dead end as well.
“Hold on,” Ben broke in. “We know the owner Mathias. Can we see him instead of the manager?”
The serving man blinked, “well, why didn’t you say so. Normally he doesn’t bother with this kind of thing, but if you really do know him… What did you say your name was?”
“Uh, Rhys,” replied Ben.
Moments later a hairy, burly looking man emerged from the back. Ben immediately began checking escape routes because the man moved like a swordsman and those scar and muscle sheathed arms didn’t come from wiping tavern tables.
“Ho,” he boomed, “I didn’t think I’d find Rhys out here hawking ales. That man is solely on the other side of the transaction.”
“Sorry sir,” muttered a nervous Ben, “Master Rhys had directed us to this Inn and I couldn’t think of another way to avoid getting kicked out of here.”
“If you know Rhys well enough to drop his name and you aren’t face down in the river, then I suppose you’re worth my time,” the man answered. “Let me see what you’ve got.”
Half a bell later, Ben and Renfro walked out of the Flying Swan Inn with an order for five kegs and five more kegs in a week. After that, Mathias told them they’d see if the patrons drank it and go from there. Ben felt buoyant though, when they mentioned they had 20 kegs of stock, Mathias suggested they ramp up production immediately.
Mathias kept all of their sample bottles to pass around to his staff for tasting. Ben thought that they didn’t need any more samples though, at five kegs a week, they’d need to start brewing now just to keep up with that order.
Three months in The City and the brewery business was going well. In the last week alone they’d sold 20 kegs to Mathias and several more to individuals. Mathias started offering a premium if they kept him as their only public customer. Ben was happy to keep their product exclusive for the time being and make fatter margins but Renfro was pushing for expansion and wanted to capitalize on the excitement people had for something different.
“I don’t know what to tell you about that,” Rhys drawled. They were meeting him at the Flying Swan Inn and were enjoying some of their product. “It depends on what you want to do I suppose. You expand, that means adding employees and a whole lotta headaches. Might get the notice of some of the big guys and competition in The City isn’t always friendly. Of course, if you plan to settle down here and make a life out of this, then maybe it’s worth it to build a serious business.”
Ben shrugged. “That’s just it, I don’t know what I want to do. Things haven’t worked out so far like we planned and I don’t know if I want to stay here.”
“What do you mean you don’t want to stay here!” interjected Renfro but Ben ignored him.
“Give it some time,” said Rhys. “The Sanctuary is always like this, secrets and more secrets. They’ll let you in when it’s time.”
“We’ve been here three months and I
haven’t even gotten to see them! They’ve barely written. How do we even know they’re ok?”
“I told you they’re ok,” sighed Rhys with a shake of his head. “I saw them two weeks ago and they’re both fine. Tired, but fine.”
Ben sat back glumly. The promised free days at the Sanctuary had not happened for Meghan and Amelie and aside from a few brief notes, he had no communication with them. Rhys visited the Sanctuary irregularly and he’d been their only source of news about how the girls were doing. Lately, it had started sounding repetitive. Tired, but fine.
“I’ll go by tomorrow and see what I can find out. I’m pretty much straight in to see my handlers then I’m back out. Not a lot of time for sightseeing. I’ve been working for them for 3 years now, not a lot of time in the eyes of the Sanctuary. They think long term. It’s not like they let me wander around the Initiates’ Quarters on my own.”
“It always sounds like you hate the place,” said Renfro. “Why do you keep working for them?”
Rhys grinned and answered, “gold.”
Ben leaned in, “you’ve got enough gold, don’t you? I never see you spending it. Can’t you quit if it’s that bad?”
“Oh, it’s not really about the gold,” smirked Rhys and his expression darkened. “I pretend it is but you know me well enough by now. I’m not a good man. There have been times I’ve been a very bad man. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve thought about it more and more. What if I could do some good in this world? The Sanctuary was the way I was trying to do the right thing for once. Doing good, doing what’s right, it isn’t always as easy as it seems.”
“What do you mean?” asked Ben. “Don’t take what isn’t your’s, help others, don’t put your needs above someone else’s… That’s a start, right?”
“Remember when I helped you two out of that jam in Fabrizo? Bargained you right out from under the knives of the Thieves Guild. It cost poor Lord Frederick in Whitehall his life though. Two for one, does that make it a good act? Or maybe because I know you and we’d been getting to be friends. Is that good to protect your own at the expense of someone you don’t know?”
“Oh,” replied Ben sitting back. “I see.”
Rhys tapped the worn handle of one of his long knives, “you live by the sword and have the power to make life and death choices, sooner or later, you will. I was getting tired of it. That’s why I joined with the Sanctuary. Figured I’d trust them to call the shots and maybe I’d end up doing some good for once. Problem is, I’m not so sure that good is what they’re doing.”
The next Newday, Ben finally got a chance to go to the Sanctuary and see Meghan and Amelie. Rhys had returned with the news after his last visit. Ben was nervous, it’d been three months since their emotionally charged goodbyes and a lot could change in that time. What Rhys said was weighing heavily on him as well. Would they be the same two girls he travelled with from Farview or younger versions of Lady Towaal?
Renfro said he would stay behind to check on some business leads but Ben figured he just wasn’t as close with the girls and wanted a day off. They’d been working hard recently and he didn’t think anything of Renfro needing a break.
The Sanctuary was located in a high walled compound on the north end of the island. It was a half bell walk from the brewery and Ben’s apartment. He had made the trip twice already when he was waiting to hear from the girls and wanted to see what he could see. Which wasn’t anything from the street. Some of the taller towers around the north end certainly had views over those walls but on casual checking he found most were private residences and none seemed open to a young man trying to spy on girls in the Sanctuary.
It was a pleasant walk to the Sanctuary. All of the streets in The City were broad and well maintained, but as you got closer to the seat of power, fountains, statuary and open parks became more common. The south end of The City was where most of the commerce took place and also where most of the bridges to shore landed. The north end near the Sanctuary was where the governmental buildings were, a college of the sword, the wealthier citizens lived and something called a university – although Ben was a little vague on what that was.
When he grew near the Sanctuary, he found himself on a verdant green tree lined boulevard that led directly to imposing copper gates. The gates were the only break in the high walls that opened to the city streets and were polished to a brilliant shine. On his first trips around the area he noticed the walls appeared to be a seamless grey stone that crossed the entire width of the island. Their construction was a mystery to him. He suspected it was a small wonder though compared to what the Mages inside were capable of.
Despite their height, it was clear these walls were more for privacy than protection. No army on the continent of Alcott would be willing to challenge the power concentrated behind them.
Since it was Newday though, the copper gates stood open for visitors. Two huge smiling faces representing an ancient woman and a young one were embossed on the gates. Below them, a small handful of guards stood and directed the few visitors on where to go. They were armed and armored. While they were alert, they did not appear to be concerned with who came and went.
“Reason for your visit?” one blonde headed man called out when Ben drew close.
“I’m here to see Ame… I’m here to see two Initiates. They’re expecting me.” Rhys had instructed him on what to say and Ben had memorized it like it was a secret passcode. He winced as he fumbled but the guards took it in stride.
“They’ll be at the Initiates Garden then,” the blonde man replied. “Straight ahead to the breezeway then follow it to the right. About five hundred paces and you’ll see the hedgerows surrounding the garden. Ask anyone you see there for the Initiates by name and they can point you to them. Direct to the garden of course.”
“Of course! Thanks,” replied Ben.
The guard nodded and turned his attention back to the streets beyond the gate. A second guard kept his gaze on Ben as he started towards the breezeway. Not in an unfriendly way, but watchful. These men may not be expecting trouble but they weren’t shirking their responsibilities either.
The inside of the grounds surprised Ben, though he wasn’t sure what he had been expecting. Along the outer wall were ungroomed trees, tall grass and wild flowers as far as he could see. Compared to the planned and manicured nature of the rest of The City, it seemed odd. The amount of unused space was also shocking to someone who’d spent the last three months in The City where they built towers thirty stories into the air because they’d long ago run out of land.
The way to the breezeway was a straight pebble strewn path about ten paces wide. Compared to the wild flora around him, it was meticulously kept weed free and clean.
Interesting thought Ben as he made his way into the famous home and training grounds of Alcott’s Mages. Unlike the bold, striking entrance to Argren’s keep in Whitehall, the Sanctuary was almost aggressively unassuming. The Mages were making a statement to their visitors he decided. They wanted to show they had no need and no desire to impress.
It was powerful. Where King Argren put towering gates and walls, plush carpets, glittering gold fixtures, tapestries, crystal bowls, trumpets and liveried staff to greet and fawn over arrivals, the Mages had pebble walkways, untrimmed grass and wild flowers.
The breezeway was merely a junction in paths he found. Beyond it, he could see the path led into more open spaces and three or four story white stucco buildings further on. The breezeway had a large open arch where the path came through then went off to the right and left to connect to more of the white buildings maybe a thousand paces from where he was standing. Anyone entering the Sanctuary had a bit of walking to do before they found their destination.
Another guard was meandering around the arch in the breezeway but he merely nodded a greeting when he saw Ben turn to the right. A few other men were walking ahead of Ben but they and the guards were the only other people he’d seen since he entered.
A gentle wind stirred the l
ong grasses around him and rustled the leaves of the scattered trees while he walked. He had to admit, it was a very peaceful place and he found himself lulled into forgetting that this place existed to train Mages. Mages like Lady Towaal who called lightning out of thin air to burn a score of attacking demons.
He shook himself and regained focus when he saw the other men duck out of sight behind a low green wall. It was the hedgerow the guard had mentioned and so far the only sign of human cultivation.
A thin wire gate stood open in the hedge wall and the pebble paths narrowed and continued into a large garden. Here, there were blooming flowers, fruit trees and small fountains. The kind of thing he would have thought to see. A large bird with a rainbow hue of tail feathers walked by and he saw Meghan and Amelie sitting on a bench near the entrance to the garden.
“Hi,” he said.
“Ben!” Both girls sprang up from the bench and rushed over to give him hugs. A confusing barrage of questions started about how he was, was his apartment clean, was that really his hand writing in the letters, did he need money, was he ok?
“Hold on,” he interrupted. “I haven’t heard anything about you two! I came to ask how you were doing. With all of your free days cancelled, I didn’t know if you needed my help.”
The two girls looked at each other but they didn’t laugh in his face like he was suddenly worried they would. “We’re tired, but fine,” said Meghan.
Ben rolled his eyes. “That’s what Rhys always says.”
“It’s true,” added Amelie sheepishly. “The studies are very taxing and it takes a lot out of you, to focus on something for so long. It’s not easy to learn what we need to learn. But we’re not hurt or anything like that, if that’s what you were worried about.”