The Broken Key (02) - Hunter of the Horde

by Brian S. Pratt

  Two doors on the left past the library, the Seeker stopped. He opened the door for Kevik then motioned for Kevik to precede him into the room. Kevik gave the lad a nod of gratitude as he passed through.

  The room he found himself in wasn’t much, really. Merely a table with two chairs, the one on the far side of the table was currently occupied by a surprisingly youthful looking man in a dark robe. Behind the man in the robe, who had to be the Magician Harkan, were three shelves. Half a dozen books were stacked in a neat row on the middle shelf. Each of the walls to Kevik’s right and left had one of the orbs.

  “Are you Magician Harkan?” Kevik asked. He came to stand beside the chair before the desk. As he had not been instructed to sit down, he remained standing.

  “Yes I am,” Magician Harkan replied. He leaned back in his chair and looked Kevik up and down. “Aren’t you Allar’s apprentice?”

  Kevik nodded. “Yes I am Magician,” he replied.

  “Sad to hear about your master,” Magician Harkan said. “There was some talk about investigating you for misconduct when we heard the news.” Kevik’s face turned pale when he heard that. “Misconduct?”

  “Yes,” replied the Magician, “Since you wound up with his estate and all. But many here argued on your behalf, Apprentice. Seemed a few high placed members thought most highly of Master Mage Allar and didn’t think it likely for him to select an apprentice who would kill him.”

  “He was a good man,” agreed Kevik. He had no idea that he had been discussed by the Order’s magic users. For some reason that thought didn’t give him a good feeling.

  “But I digress,” he said. “If I understood the young Seeker correctly, you wish to test for Practitioner?”

  Kevik nodded. “That is correct,” he affirmed. “I have constructed my Staff of Power and can do the requisite spells for advancement.”

  “You didn’t by chance bring your staff with you?” questioned Magician Harkan.

  “No,” replied Kevik. “I didn’t think it would be needed at this time.”

  “Hmmm,” the man murmured. “A magic user should always have his staff with him young man.”

  Feeling a bit ashamed, Kevik said, “Yes Magician.”

  “Well, that’s neither here nor there.” He paused a moment as he looked through a small pile of parchment on his desk. Finding the one he was looking for, he scanned it quickly while Kevik stood there quietly.

  “You’re in luck, Apprentice,” Magician Harkan said. “Tomorrow at the third bell is the next time allotted for Apprentices to try for Practitioner.”

  “I’ll be here,” Kevik said. Tomorrow?

  “When you arrive, wait out in the Hall until you hear a Seeker announce for all Apprentices who wish for advancement to follow him. From the Hall he’ll lead you to the Well of Thought. Within the Well is where the testing will take place. Three Master Mages will be there and you must have all three agree for you to be allowed to proceed on to Practitioner before you’ll be so named. Understand?” Kevik nodded. “Yes.”

  “Should any one of the three Master Mages refuse you, you’ll have to wait one year before again being allowed to test.”

  “I don’t think that should be a problem,” boasted Kevik.

  “Hopefully your confidence is not misplaced,” Magician Harkan told him. He then waved for the Seeker to enter. “Please escort our young hopeful here back to the Hall.”

  “Yes Magician Harkan,” the Seeker replied with a respectful bow.

  As Kevik turned to follow, Magician Harkan said, “Apprentice?”

  “Yes?” Pausing in the doorway, Kevik turned back to see what the Magician wanted.

  “Don’t forget your staff.”

  Kevik wasn’t sure if the man was joking or not, his face never changed expression. “I won’t,” he assured him. Then turning, he followed the Seeker back to the Hall. Once the Seeker took his leave, Kevik made his way from the Tower of the Magi and crossed over to the eatery where Bart was waiting for him.

  “Well?” Bart said when Kevik sat down at the table. He was working his way through a large helping of beef and half a loaf of bread.

  “Tomorrow at three bells,” he said.

  “That soon?” Bart asked.

  Kevik nodded. When the server came over, he placed his order for the same as what Bart was having. “I’m ready,” he said. As he sat there and ate, the fatigue of the last two days came over him. With what was going on tomorrow, he better get to bed early tonight.

  Chapter Twenty

  _______________________

  “Didn’t think to see you guys again.”

  The mocking words reached into his mind and yanked him out from a very deep sleep. At first unaware of where he was, Riyan’s vision finally came into focus and he saw Torin standing in the doorway of their barrack room. A few of the other Recruits he hung around with were behind him.

  “I hear you’re going to be kicked out of the Guild in short order,” he said with a laugh. “What were you guys doing? Meeting some harlot?” Seth rose from his bed to his full six foot one, it was clear Torin’s words had struck a raw nerve with him. “Actually,” he said, “we spent our time rescuing a friend held captive, fought off an enemy four times our number, and paid our respects to the Tower within Ki’ Gyrx.”

  Torin looked at him and broke into laughter. A couple of the other Recruits whom he hung around with laughed too. “Quite a story,” Torin said somewhat sarcastically. “You better pray they buy it.” Laughing, he and his cohorts turned around and walked away.

  Soth came and put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Don’t do anything,” he warned.

  “We’re in enough trouble.”

  “Not to worry brother,” Seth said as he turned to face Soth, “they aren’t worth it.”

  “What do you suppose he meant when he said we were being kicked out in short order?” asked Chyfe.

  “Probably just said it to make us worry,” Chad said. “Some people are like that.” He gave Riyan a glance and received a nod in reply. Torin seemed to be cut from the same unpleasant piece of nastiness Rupert had been.

  Thinking of Rupert brought back memories of Freya. Riyan laid back on his cot and thought of her, wondering what she was doing and if she was married yet. He felt time rapidly slipping away from him.

  “Hey,” they heard from the entryway Torin had just vacated. Barin now stood there.

  “You guys alright?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” replied Chyfe. “Come on in.”

  Barin entered and sat at one of the tables.

  “Heard anything about Tad’s condition?” asked Seth. They had been worrying about how he was doing but hadn’t had any word as yet.

  “Just that he was hurt,” he replied. “The Drillmaster told us he was going to see him as soon as drills were over. That was twenty minutes ago.”

  “Great,” groaned Chad. “Hope he puts in a good word for us.”

  “So what happened?” asked Barin. “The rumor going around was that you snuck out to drink.”

  “For two days?” asked Soth incredulously.

  Barin shrugged. “Then what really happened?”

  “Well…” for the next ten minutes they took turns telling the story of the events as transpired. First the rescue of Bart at Durik’s place, then the subsequent chase through the forest to the Tower. Before they were able to finish the tale, one of the instructors who helped the Drillmaster appeared.

  “Alright,” he said as he came to a stop two feet inside their barrack. “The Drillmaster wants to see you five now.” He wore a grim look that spoke volumes, all of which were bad.

  “Good luck,” Barin said as the others moved to follow their instructor out of the barrack. Sadness came over him at the thought that they would be removed from the Guild.

  It was a solemn group that followed behind Swordmaster Terril. Swordmaster Terril was as unlike Swordmaster Tad as night was from day. Stern and uncompromising, he was one that demanded perfection and was
quick to point out any flaw that caught his eye. None of the Recruits walking behind him had ever heard him utter a single word of encouragement. The fact that he was the one who was taking them to see the Drillmaster boded ill.

  Along the way, they passed Torin and his cronies. They said not a word, but their expressions as they watched Riyan and the others pass by said it all. What Riyan wouldn’t give to remove the smug look from Torin’s face with a well placed blow.

  They quickly left him behind and entered the stairwell leading to the floors above. To their surprise Swordmaster Terril exited from the stairs on the second floor. None of the Recruits had ever been on this level as they had been told it was off limits during training.

  The Swordmaster followed the hallway that began at the stairwell and took them down past several doors. He finally came to a stop before a door engraved with an upturned sword. The door itself was slightly larger than the others.

  He glanced back at the Recruits for a brief moment, his facial features depicting displeasure. Of course they always depicted displeasure, so it was hard to tell how he was really feeling at this time. Taking hold of the handle, he opened the door.

  Their Drillmaster stood facing them upon a dais on the far side of the room. Standing alongside their Drillmaster were the rest of the instructors who had at one time or another assisted in their training. Tad was not among them.

  Swordmaster Terril brought them to stand before the dais. Behind them, they heard the door close. To Riyan, the closing of the door felt like the closing of his future. Each of those standing with him felt the ominous hand of fate in the air as they came to a stop before their Drillmaster. Riyan held his head high and met his gaze. Though he was to be ousted from the Guild, he would do so with honor. Swordmaster Terril moved to stand with those upon the dais.

  “Few times during my tenure as Drillmaster here at the Gilbeth Guild have I been faced with the situation such as stands before me now,” their Drillmaster said. His voice was of even timbre. If there was any anger within him, he kept it under control well.

  “You five have left the Guild’s grounds without authorization, broken the Law of the White Scabbard, and your actions caused grievous injury to Swordmaster Tad.” Riyan swallowed as all that was true. There could be no denying the accusations they were laying against them. Still, he stood there straight with head held high. He knew that what he had done was the only thing he could have done. No way could he have left Bart to the tender mercies of Durik.

  “The penalty for breaking any one of the aforementioned infractions is expulsion from the Guild,” he said. “Never again to be allowed to join.” He glanced from each of the Recruits in turn, meeting their gaze, then moving to the next. When he came to Riyan, his gaze lingered slightly longer than it had with the others. “Is there anything you have to say in your defense before judgment is passed?”

  A thousand arguments raced through his mind, but Riyan was unable to articulate any of them. Then from where Chyfe stood next to him, he heard him say, “Code fifty seven.” The Drillmaster’s eyes widened at the declaration. “What do you know of Code fifty seven Recruit? You have barely managed to learn the first thirty?” The sound of a throat being cleared broke the stillness of the room just before Chad said, “Swordmaster Tad suggested we have you explain it to us at this time.”

  “He did, did he?” the Drillmaster asked.

  Five heads bobbed affirmatively in unison.

  “Code fifty seven states…

  Turn not away from an honorable comrade facing ignominy or death.

  …meaning, not to stand idly by while injustice harms those about us.”

  “Which is what we did!” asserted Riyan. “A friend of ours was on his way to torture and death at the hands of a less than honorable man. Chad and I could not remain here and leave him to his fate.”

  “Swordmaster Tad has so informed us,” the Drillmaster explained. At the surprise that appeared on several of their faces, he added, “I’m sure you’ll all be happy to hear that he is doing well. His family is on the way to take him back home during his recovery.”

  “That’s good news,” Riyan said.

  “He also recounted the rescue of your friend, the subsequent chase through the Ki’

  Gyrx Forest, and the creative ingenuity which allowed you all to escape the trap that had been laid for you.”

  A seed of hope sprung into being at those words. The lines of worry that had been all but engraved on Riyan’s face began to slacken. Perhaps they would not be expelled from the Guild? But then, the Drillmasters’ following words extinguished his burgeoning hope.

  “However, the Law of the White Scabbard states that once the White Scabbard has been broken, the one doing so is forever barred from rejoining the ranks of the Recruits.” Standing there, their Drillmaster again met the gaze of the Recruits standing before him.

  Riyan braced himself for the worst.

  The Drillmaster gave them half a minute to let that sink in before saying,

  “Subsequently, those who have broken the White Scabbard must be summarily removed from the Guild…” again he paused before adding, “or promoted to Armsmen.” Armsmen? Did he hear him right? Riyan lifted his eyes to the Drillmaster.

  “Armsmen?” asked Seth in a quiet voice.

  “Those who stand with me here, have attested that you will not bring dishonor to the Guild,” he said. “Each of you has demonstrated the knowledge of the required Codes to be promoted to Armsmen.” He let that sink in as well and watched as hope sprung anew on each of their faces. “But that alone would not have mitigated the breaking of the White Scabbard. Swordmaster Tad’s account of your actions stated that you faced your enemies with courage. When he was mortally wounded, you did not abandon him to save yourselves, but endangered your own lives to bring him to safety. You exhibited courage, skill at arms, honor, and to some small degree an understanding of tactics. That, is what saved you from the ignominy of expulsion from the Guild.” He gave them a grin. The first grin that any of them had ever seen break his stony visage.

  “Yes!” Chyfe exclaimed, then he got himself under control when the Drillmaster gave him a stern glare.

  “Your names and rank will be entered into the Guild’s registry,” the Drillmaster announced. “From this day forward, you are Armsmen of the Warriors Guild. Live in honor.” He nodded to Swordmaster Terril.

  Swordmaster Terril stepped forward and descended the two steps until he came to stand before the newest of the Guild’s Armsmen. “Follow me, Armsmen,” he said before moving towards the door.

  Riyan cast one more glance back to the Drillmaster and saw him give him a grin and a nod. Other instructors who had never given them so much as a kind word, broke into grins as well.

  “Don’t dawdle,” Swordmaster Terril said from the doorway.

  The Armsmen hurried to catch up and were soon back on the ground floor where they once again passed through the halls of the Guild. It soon became evident that Swordmaster Terril was taking them to the foyer. By the time they entered the foyer of the Warriors Guild, most of the Recruits whom they had drilled with had seen them passing through the hallways and had fallen in behind. Everyone ‘knew’ they were going to be kicked out of the Guild.

  At this time of the evening, the foyer was filled with members and guests. When they emerged from the hallway and entered the foyer, Swordmaster Terril led them over to the same area where the man had spoken of the sacking of Sandlun some time ago. Behind them, the Recruits who had been following passed into the foyer as well. Conversations began to die away as people started to realize something was going on. Those who were members of the Guild recognized what was about to happen and waited expectantly.

  Once Swordmaster Terril had them in position atop the platform and were facing towards those in the foyer, he held his hand up for quiet. The room quickly quieted down and every eye turned towards him. “I’d like to introduce the newest Armsmen of the Gilbeth Warriors Guild,” he announced in a l
oud voice that reached every ear in the foyer.

  Coming to stand behind Riyan he said, “Armsman Riyan Borenson of Quillim.” Riyan’s eyes had sought Torin out in the crowd before his name had been called. He felt indescribable joy at the expression on Torin’s face when he realized that not only had Riyan not been dismissed from the Guild, but that he had gained Armsman before him.

  Then one by one, he announced the names and city of birth of the other four. When he came to Chyfe and announced ‘Chyfe Weiskon of Catha,’ Riyan didn’t at first pay much attention to what was said. He was too engrossed with the moment. But then when Swordmaster Terril came to Chad and began his introduction, that’s when it hit him…

  Catha!

  That was the city Bart believed was the one mentioned in that old tome they found in the hidden room of the Archives. He turned his head slightly and glanced to where Chyfe stood between Seth and Soth. If he had been born there, his help in finding the final two segments could prove invaluable.

  A roar of applause and welcome erupted after he finished Chad’s introduction. “You may stay in your barracks until morning,” Swordmaster Terril told them. “Come see me on the second floor after breakfast.”

  “Yes Swordmaster,” they replied. Then the crowd came forward and the rest of the evening was spent with congratulations and tales told to them by complete strangers of their days as Recruits and Armsmen. Barin and the other Recruits who were on good terms with them came forward to offer their congratulations as well. Of Torin and those who didn’t much care for them, there was no sign.

  When Bart arrived an hour later, he was pleasantly surprised to discover the outcome.

  He didn’t stay long as there was little opportunity to find a moment alone to speak to them. Finally he said they’ll talk in the morning after they leave the Guild and returned to Kevik’s estate.

  Early the next morning, the five of them headed to the mess for breakfast. They had slept in as they no longer had any particular reason to get up early. By the time they reached the mess, the other Recruits were already in the courtyard at drills.