The Lone Apprentice

by I K Spencer

  "Yes but only with the family's approval. It is a great honor though, and none would refuse such an opportunity."

  "But then you never see them again and spend your entire childhood at the academy. It must have been very hard at first."

  "Yes. I remember everyone being so happy when the day came and so I was happy too. But when I looked back from the coach's window, I saw my mother crying. I cried some at night but I soon adjusted, then even came to love my new home. I have nothing but fond memories for the academy and miss it dearly."

  Teya nodded but Anthen could tell she thought it a cruel practice nonetheless.

  "How about you? I remember from our studies of Arnedon that women have much stronger roles than in the realm but women warriors are a rarity are they not?"

  "Yes. Unlike you, I came to this life quite by accident, following a man."

  "Harth?" Anthen queried.

  "How do you know that name?" Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

  "In your delirium," he explained quickly, "you called out to him."

  The guardsman noted how rapidly the woman's guard came up and was glad to have her as an ally and not an enemy.

  "Oh," she exclaimed, her face softening once again. "Yes. I met Harth when I was sixteen years and just coming of age. Harth was a great warrior and I fell hopelessly in love with him. He taught me much about warfare and I was already a skilled hunter and rider, besting most of the boys in my region. By then, I was spoiled for a normal life and pursued my own military career. There I was noticed and recruited for special assignments. As you can imagine, a smart woman can be a most effective spy."

  "Aye. And Harth fell in battle?" he asked gently, since she referred to him in the past tense.

  "Oh no," she said, laughing. "Harth is fine and still a trusted friend. I guess I really loved what he represented more than the man so we stopped being lovers and became comrades instead."

  "May I ask how long you have been an agent?" Anthen asked delicately, knowing it might be considered too much for him to know.

  "Why do you ask?" The smile remained but the eyes watched him closely.

  "Curiosity. It is all new to me and I wonder what it will be like in years to come."

  Teya paused, considering whether to answer. "I see no harm in telling you. I am fairly new to this life, just a couple of years. I love most everything about it except the loneliness. That much you can probably sense already."

  "Aye. That is probably why I miss the academy so."

  They sat without speaking awhile, considering the life they both had chosen. Teya had truly been given a choice but Anthen knew he made the choice as well, knowing and accepting the solitude that would come with the position. It was the pain of having his trust in his fellow guardsman ripped from him that really hurt.

  He rose. "Well I guess we should both retire."

  She stood and held up the handbow. "Thank you. Do not be alarmed if you hear some noise. I am going to practice for a while."

  He nodded and opened the dressing room door.

  "Anthen."

  He turned back and he saw sadness in her eyes.

  "I am sorry you were thrown into this terrible situation as your first test. It is not fair."

  The guardsman searched her eyes for a veiled motive but found only empathy. "No it isn't fair but I am getting better at accepting my fate. I shudder at how close I came to refusing to believe it all."

  She nodded solemnly. "I also want to say that from everything I have seen, there is no other I would choose to shoulder such an immense burden."

  He offered her silent thanks with his eyes, adding, "And know how very grateful I am to have your help. I too would choose no other."

  They bid each other goodnight, then Anthen closed the door and lay down on his bed. He listened to the muffled sounds of her shots and smiled as he noticed how rarely she missed the target.

  Chapter 29

  Anthen awoke shortly before dawn, feeling apprehensive and unrested. The mounting tension of their precarious situation kept him from sleeping well. He waited for the old woman who brought his tray to come and go, then opened his eyes and watched as the darkness gave way to the gray light of dawn.

  He was beginning to think that it might be a mistake for Teya to delay her escape any longer. She could at least warn of the impending invasion. With Garrick likely lost, maybe it was too risky for her to wait any longer. On the other hand, whom could she warn? Anthen knew that she must ride all the way to Carael and deliver the message to the king himself, since only King Jamen knew enough of the situation to give her story any credence.

  Anthen was roused by Cidrl at the usual hour. He ate half the cold meal and delivered the rest to Teya, who opened the door instantly at his knock. She looked tired, probably struggling through the night with the same issues that disturbed his own slumber.

  Teya smiled gamely and mouthed, "Take care," as she took the food. As she closed the door their eyes locked briefly, each bolstered somewhat by the other's silent strength.

  A short time later he was summoned and followed Cidrl out the door, where they joined the man in black, Dolkes, who fell in step beside the traitor after a brief scowl of greeting for the apprentice. The leader of the Dolonarian escort, displaced from Cidrl's side by Dolkes, nervously followed at their heels, followed closely by Anthen.

  As Anthen expected they might, the party followed the familiar path to the chamber of the eager, young Dolonarian captain in charge of hunting down Teya. As they waited for him to join them, Anthen noted that Cidrl seemed nervous, which was unusual for the poised guardsman, especially when dealing with someone he could intimidate. Perhaps a more important meeting would follow this one.

  "Good morning gentlemen," the young captain said as he entered the room.

  "You have news?" Cidrl asked brusquely, ignoring the greeting.

  "Nothing of note," the captain answered nervously, quickly adding, "but we have made excellent progress in the scope of the investigation."

  "Meaning?"

  "We completed the dungeon staff searches and questioning sooner than expected and are well through the rest of the servants."

  "When will you have the entire palace searched?" Cidrl demanded, unimpressed.

  "Certainly by the end of the week."

  "Today."

  "Today? That is impossible sir." The captain winced under the pressure of Cidrl's scowl. "I mean, I do not have the resources. Questioning alone is—"

  "Put the interrogations on hold and focus on the search," Cidrl interrupted. "Time is short and I want the castle search completed by sundown. Understood?"

  "Yes ... sir." A brief look of anger in the thin Dolonarian face was replaced with resignation, no doubt remembering that Cidrl had the ear of some of Dolonar’s most powerful men.

  "Good," said Cidrl, rising and heading for the door. "Report anything unusual to me at once."

  Anthen's mind raced as he followed Cidrl from the military wing of the castle. His first thought was Teya; he searched for a way to warn her. His only hope, of course, was to be dismissed to his chamber or at least left alone. As they walked through the palace, he prayed that they continued all the way back to their chambers but his hope lessened as they left the usual path and passed through unfamiliar corridors.

  To his amazement, they walked through a large doorway and stepped out into the hot summer sun. Anthen had spent nearly all his days indoors since waking and the bright morning sun hurt his eyes. He ignored the urge to shade his eyes, focusing on Cidrl's broad back in front of him.

  Cidrl had said that time was short! Would they be leaving soon? As they walked the narrow, cobbled streets near the castle, Anthen thought about his strategy if he didn’t figure out Cidrl's objective before the traitor departed. Teya would then be forced to escape alone and he would continue his role until he could learn Cidrl's mission. Anthen didn't know what complications his departure would mean for Teya's escape but, with the net closing quickly around them, it w
as all the more reason for her to flee tonight. And if the Dolonarian captain held true to his word, there might not be a choice; Teya might be forced to flee even before his return!

  Anthen played his role well, lost in thought as they walked through the busy streets. The Dolonarian city folk strained to see the strangers but hurried away when they saw it was the dark lord from the west along with one of his abominations. The party halted before a ramshackle dwelling Anthen guessed to be an inn or brothel. Anthen had to stoop as he followed Cidrl and Dolkes through the low doorway and stepped into a dim, smoky barroom. Unlike the palace, with its unusually high doorways and ceilings, the room's low ceiling loomed just over the tall guardsmen's heads. Cidrl paused briefly, no doubt letting his eyes adjust to the dark room, then strode toward the back of the room, ducking each beam. Anthen noted the tavern was empty save the bartender, a shabby-looking man puffing at a thick cigar.

  Cidrl gestured for their escorts to remain behind, then the three westerners stepped through another small door to a private room. The dark room, lit only by a single dirty window, featured a large table, heavily scarred from the scrapes of countless tankards of ale. Seated behind the table was a single Dolonarian, obviously an officer from his uniform. Two more soldiers stood behind him.

  All three men were squat, rugged-looking figures and the first thing Anthen noted was that they seemed completely unfazed by Cidrl or his lieutenants. All three eyed the visitors coldly and Anthen detected none of the nervousness or outright fear he sensed in most Dolonarians they had come across. Their uniforms were clean but plain compared to the officers who roamed the palace. Anthen took in the heavy swords of the hard-looking men and realized that these were real warriors with fighting experience.

  The leader gestured them to a seat across from him. Cidrl and Dolkes sat while Anthen remained standing. The seated man had a dark, weathered face and a long, unkempt black beard. His red-rimmed, dark eyes shifted across the three of them, then he took a drink from a bottle of amber liquid sitting on the table in front of him.

  Cidrl spoke first. "Good morning. I am—"

  "I am Field Marshal Vlaednyk," the man interrupted. His raspy voice sounded like a growl. "You will call me Field Marshal Vlaednyk or Field Marshal." The man took another long pull from the half-empty bottle.

  Anthen felt his stomach churn with nervous excitement as he realized that this man must be the one sent by the bald leader who had refused to discuss the objective's details two days earlier. This might be his opportunity to learn Cidrl's quest!

  "I will be leading the expedition," Vlaednyk asserted.

  "Of course Field Marshal." Cidrl smiled, quickly shifting to a placating manner as he realized he could not intimidate the battle-hardened veteran. "When will you be ready to depart?"

  "Two days."

  "Excellent. Excellent. Dolkes here will leave in the morning and ensure all at the rendezvous point is ready. Once we cross the border, we will travel by night, escorted through each province by one of my men."

  "A real man or one of your soulless animals like this one?" Vlaednyk gestured toward Anthen.

  "I assure you Field Marshal, my men are very capable and of course, have unquestionable loyalty." Cidrl chuckled and continued. "Once we have cleared the realm, we may travel again by day."

  "For your sake they had better be capable," the field marshal replied, laughing as well, though his eyes remained hard.

  Anthen forgot himself for a moment and frowned. He quickly regained his blank expression but not before it gained the attention of one of the men standing behind Vlaednyk. The man stared at him for a few moments before shifting his gaze to Cidrl once more.

  Anthen forced himself to listen closely but could not clear the strange news from his mind. Cidrl's destination was not inside Isaencarl? He was sure he had heard the man right but it made no sense.

  The two men talked for the next several minutes about the tedious details of arms and supplies. Anthen hoped they would let some useful detail slip but there was nothing.

  "And how many will be in your party Field Marshal?" Cidrl asked in his most conciliatory tone.

  "Why do you ask?"

  "Well, you see, once we cross the border into Isaencarl there is the risk of discovery. A Dolonarian witnessed riding through the realm by night would cause great alarm, as you might imagine. May I suggest, just yourself and these two worthy-looking men of yours. Along with my men, that will give us plenty for the task."

  "And leave us severely outnumbered eh?" Vlaednyk laughed. "I think a score a better number."

  "Impossible!" Cidrl's angry eruption burst through his tactful performance.

  Anthen noted a change in the field marshal's expression at Cidrl's angry response. A new spark of interest flickered in the previously bored visage, as though he saw something in the traitor's face worthy of his full attention. There was still not a hint of fear visible in the Dolonarian, however.

  Cidrl's tone was moderated once again when he continued. "Field Marshal, I cannot possibly sneak twenty Dolonarians across realm soil, even at night. Discovery is our only real risk."

  "Bah. Twenty or ten. What is the difference?" Vlaednyk dismissed the concern with a wave of his large hand.

  "A sizable difference actually," Cidrl countered. "Twenty riders brings twice the risk that one will be seen."

  "I will consider your suggestion," Vlaednyk replied in a tone which made it clear he considered the matter finished.

  "Field Marshal, it is critical—"

  "Enough!" Vlaednyk slammed his fist to the table. "We are finished." He rose from the table.

  Anthen felt his spirits sink. Another meeting with nothing to show for it. He and Teya were running out of time. If they were forced to split up before knowing Cidrl's destination, the chances would be very much stacked against them since they could only guess at his target. More likely than not he would then be left alone to thwart the traitor's plan and one against twenty or more were not favorable odds. Anthen had a desperate urge to put his knife to the traitor's throat and force the truth from him but knew that would not work.

  "One more thing," growled Vlaednyk, looking up at the much taller Cidrl as the two men faced each other by the door. "Do not even think about crossing me," he hissed. "I have no doubt that you have a plan to ambush or lose us. Perhaps in the caves, eh?" The field marshal smiled but there was no friendliness in his face. "Well, do not think that we have not anticipated your every move. As you may have noticed, we are not the soft, finely dressed strategists you are used to seeing at the palace. Every one of us is battle tested and, has a taste for it." The field marshal laughed and the two men behind him snickered.

  "Field Marshal I assure you. We all have a common goal and I know that to betray you would put that goal at risk, so put your mind at ease. I know we have been enemies throughout the ages so let us, you and I, set a good example." Oozing all the charm he could muster, Cidrl extended his hand.

  "You do have a silver tongue; I will give you that much. Is that what they are teaching at your academy these days? This war may be even shorter than I previously expected." His large hand closed around Cidrl's strong grip and the two leaders eyed each other.

  "Tell me one thing Guardsman. You're sure they are there?" the field marshal asked eagerly.

  Anthen felt a stab of fear as he saw the traitor's smile broaden into a semblance of the maniacal grin that still haunted his dreams. The unsettling expression appeared for only a heartbeat and he thought it was just his imagination until he saw, for the first time, a measure of uneasiness flicker across the field marshal's face.

  "Aye. They are there," Cidrl answered in a strange, quiet voice.

  ********

  Teya sat just inside the door in her narrow cell. The door stood partly open, allowing the afternoon sun to stream in. For a short time each day, she could enjoy the sun on her face and dream that she was far away, basking in some mountain meadow in her homeland instead of a prisoner in this foreign
land. If someone happened to enter Anthen's chamber she would quickly pull the door closed.

  Even though she had reached a decision to help the guardsman, it was still very hard for the normally active woman to stay cooped up. Each hour seemed endless, especially under the growing threat that she would be discovered, then killed or recaptured. Death would be the better alternative, considering the torture that awaited her if she returned to the dungeon.

  It took all Teya's discipline to remain imprisoned in this new cell voluntarily as well as to ignore the fear growing inside her. Not only was there the fear that she would die a violent death far from home but if that happened she would also fail to warn to her countrymen and that failure could cost thousands of lives, not to mention Arnedon itself, if she could not alert her homeland's leadership in time of the colossal danger festering so close to their homeland. That fear ate at her every waking moment.

  Teya broke the monotony by visualizing their escape. She saw the two warriors racing through the city on horseback, each of their arrows finding its mark. She always pictured them free of the palace for she loved the outdoors and longed to smell the fresh air and feel the wind in her face.

  Her reverie was broken by the slight scraping she knew to be the door to Anthen's chamber opening. She noiselessly pulled the dressing room door closed to a crack and peered through the small opening. She pulled her knife free and placed Anthen's handbow nearby as she listened. The cleaning woman had already been through and it was too early for the dinner tray to be delivered. Besides, the footfalls were those of someone considerably larger than the slight servant woman who serviced the chamber.

  A shadow came into her view, then Teya's heart began to pound as she saw the stocky frame of a Dolonarian soldier. She briefly caught sight of the man's face and could tell he was nervous, no doubt knowing the occupant of the chamber. He moved back and forth across Teya's narrow field of view several times, then she saw him warily look through Anthen's pack, as though afraid of its contents might be the source of his terrible fate. The man's search was clumsy and not very thorough but he steadily moved around the room in her direction. She then lost sight of him completely but heard his progress, ever closer.