by Spoor, Garry
Kile had to think about that one for a moment. Everything seemed more complicated in the cities than back in Riverport. If a home or shop burned down in Riverport the entire community would gather together to rebuild it, it was just a given fact.
She quickly shook the thoughts out of her head. Morgan had gone off on one of his tangents and had dragged her along for the ride. Needless to say he did answer her original question about magic stones. It was at least feasible that a magic or enchanted stone could exist. If that was the case, then what type of enchantment would you place on a small blue and white stone, and why would Eric go through all that trouble to find it? It seemed to raise more questions than answers.
Kile’s last three months at the academy were dull, and she welcomed that dullness. She spent her mornings training with Luke, even though he claimed he had nothing more to teach her. She had never told him about the gift of the Lann that Guild Master Latherby had given her, but then she had a feeling the old stable hand already knew. He seemed to know as much about what was going on at the academy as Mathew Latherby did, and she began to wonder if the two ever exchanged information, although she had never seen them together.
The afternoons were spent with the guys, trying to get Murphy through his cultural studies or Alex through his logistics lessons, and sparring with Carter from time to time, although Carter wasn’t all that enthusiastic. The more she sparred with him, the clumsier his style of fighting appeared, and on more than one occasion she actually had to let him win to spare his ego. She didn’t know if Carter ever figured it out, but Daniel knew, and he always thanked her for letting his friend win at least once in a while. It was the least she could do for all the time he had thrown a sparring match for her sake.
As spring pushed into summer, she officially became a fourth year cadet. She gave up her dingy ill fitting light green uniforms for the more stylish dingy ill fitting dark green uniforms, and like every year before that, she stood along the fence line and waited for the new first year cadets to arrive. She watched the looks on their young faces, their awed expressions of seeing the academy for the very first time, and thought about her first impressions of the place that she had called home for the last three years, well, maybe home was not the word she would have used.
There weren’t as many barbs or insults this year, probably because the academy just didn’t seem the same, it had lost something in the fire, a bit of itself, a bit of its tradition. The Great Hall, although now nearly completed, just wasn’t the same Great Hall that she had tended classes in, and although the stables were now finished, they weren’t her stables. It was as Guild Master Latherby said; it might have been a blessing in disguise.
She even forced herself to sit through Oblum’s orientation, or stood as there were no seats, watching Gorum and Hunar play their part to perfection, and for the first time she really heard Oblum’s speech. The old headmaster had changed, or maybe it was just her perception of him, or maybe it was just her, but with all the changes the one thing that didn’t change was the new cadets.
There were those that bullied and those that got bullied and then there were those that just stood there and watched. She supposed it was all part of the learning process, and they would figure it out in time what it really means to be a hunter, and if they can’t learn, then there was always the eastern gate, and from the looks of some of the new cadets, she was sure they would be taking the walk before their first year was out. It wasn’t until she saw the small young boy being pushed down by a much larger cadet with greasy black hair that it brought back memories of her first day at the academy, and of Garret Treeman. Before she knew what she was doing she was half way across the list. One well place kick to the base of the leg and the larger boy toppled over backwards into the dirt. This got the other cadets laughing even harder and what made it more humiliating than just being knocked down and laughed at, was being knocked down by a girl and laughed at.
“First thing you’re gonna learn here is that Hunters look out for one another, if you can’t do that, maybe you should be looking toward the eastern gate.” She said as she stood over the boy.
“Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is?” The kid cursed from the dirt.
“As a matter of fact… I do, but the second thing you're gonna learn here is it doesn’t matter who or what you are, once you pass through those gates, you're just like everyone else. We’re all the same here. Rich, poor, beggar, prince or… princess, it doesn’t matter, we’re all the same. You should remember that.”
It was the same speech that Tree had told Eric on that day, almost word for word. She was surprised she even remembered it as the memories came flooding back. The only difference was that Kile had no idea who the kid was or who his father was, and she really didn’t care. She had enough people who disliked her, what was one more.
The boy got up, dusted himself off and looked around at his so called friends, the same friends that were laughing just as hard at him as they were at the boy he was picking on. He wasn’t sure what to do next and just glared at Kile who wasn’t much bigger than he was. Eventually he decided his best option was just getting out of sight for a while as he quietly followed the line of new cadets to the dorm. She turned to the boy that was still on the ground and extended a hand.
“What’s your name?” She asked him as she helped him to his feet.
“Tommy. Tommy Lens.” The boy replied, not making eye contact. She probably didn’t do the kid any favors, now he would doubtless be teased for being saved by a girl.
“I wouldn’t worry Tommy. If I can make it this far, you should have no problems.” She told him. It brought a smile to the young boy’s face as he followed his fellow classmates to the dorm, and although she hoped what she said was true, she couldn’t help but believe that his name would be one that Oblum would read on some cold morning during roll call as yet another cadet that had taken the walk.
The next morning Kile was up early and out of the dorms to welcome the new day. There were only a few more of them until the graduation ceremony and she just couldn’t sleep as she strolled through the compound with Vesper riding on her shoulder all the way. The yarrow was a little annoyed about getting up so early, but if he was still set on traveling with her, he would have to get used to it.
She followed the familiar route up to the stables. It’s new wood and clean stone made it stand out among the older buildings, and although some of the stones from the old structure were used to rebuild the foundation of the new building, most of it had been carted away. It wasn’t a bad place; it just wasn’t her place as she walked around the perimeter, although she had learned that it was the cutting edge in stable design, whatever that meant. It was wider now, to house more horses as well as a few classrooms for Master Pike, so the place that she had slept her summers and spared with her friends was now some twenty odd feet inside one of the new classrooms.
As she walked around the corner she saw Hunar running across the open field. The mastiff jumped on something in the grass and picked up what appeared to be a stick, and then ran back the way she came. She followed the dog’s path to see Oblum standing outside in a short sleeved shirt and pants with Gorum lying by his side fast asleep. Hunar brought the stick to the headmaster and the two tugged with it for a while before Oblum pried it free and tossed it once again. Hunar was never able to explain the joys of fetch to Kile, but the dog loved the game all the same.
“You’re up early cadet.” Oblum said as he pulled the stick from Hunar once again.
She didn’t think the headmaster had noticed her as she stepped from the side of the stables. He appeared so relaxed and normal when he was with his dogs, not the gruff, overbearing Hunter that scared little kids.
“I couldn’t sleep sir.” She said as she walked across the field toward him.
“Worried about the graduation ceremony?” He asked.
The ceremony wasn’t that big of a deal, the fourth year cadets sat in the Great Hall as Sir Oblum cal
led out their names, they then had to collect small ceremonial items from the staff and guild members before receiving their final papers. It was a simple process that could easily be handled by a messenger, but it did worry her.
“It’s an easy ceremony.” He assured her.
“Oh, I know sir. I saw Tree’s.”
“Trees?” He said looking around; clearly not understand what she meant.
“Sorry sir, I meant I saw Garret Treeman’s ceremony when he graduated three years ago.”
“Oh yes, Treeman.” Oblum replied, and she could tell by the look on his face that he remembered the name. “He was a good cadet and a good Hunter. It was a shame what happened to him. I’ve noticed that you wear his pin. Did you know him?”
Her hand instinctively went to the small sliver tree pin that she wore on her collar.
“Only briefly sir.” She replied. “He was going off on his probationary year when I started.”
“Yes… yes of course.”
Hunar returned with the stick and this time dropped it at Kile’s feet. It made her a little uncomfortable to be taking the game away from Oblum.
“Looks like she wants a younger arm to throw it.” He laughed.
She picked up the wet stick and tossed it as far as she could, she couldn’t’ really say it went further than the Headmaster’s throw, but Hunar didn’t care.
“You’re nervous about your year of probation?” Oblum asked as he sat down beside Gorum. The old dog placed his head in his master’s lap.
“I guess I am sir...a little.” She replied.
“You, you shouldn’t have a problem. I can see you receiving your level five certification in no time. If it was up to me I’d certify you now, what with your action during your final year here at the academy.”
“What sir, you mean burning it down?”
“Is that how you see it?” He laughed. “Well, it doesn’t matter, you can’t be judged based upon the three years here, only what happens out there, when you’re on your own, but I’m sure the council will keep your academy years in mind. I can see you getting your level five in maybe two, three months tops.”
“I thought I had to go the entire year before I was eligible for certification.”
“What, No. What are these instructors teaching you? You can be certified anytime during the next year. Why, I was certified four months after leaving the academy. I mean if you survive the year you’re automatically certified, but if you prove yourself and you do a good job, you’ll receive your certification earlier.”
“I never knew that.”
She could become a certified level five hunter before the current year was out.
“Yeah, but it’s a curse in disguise.” He warned her. “The guild only pays your way while you’re on probation. Once you receive your level five certification, then you’ll have to pay your own way. Room, board, stable fees, guild dues, it all adds up.”
“I never considered that.” She replied. She barely had enough money to get to the entry examination, could she actually make it on her own. “Does the guild, pay well sir?”
“Pay well? Not likely, that’s why a lot of hunters seek out open scripts, but I wouldn’t be too worried about it. You do get paid while you on probations so keep that in mind, and there are a lot of inns and stables that give hunter’s discounts, they think it drums up business, you just have to keep an eye out and look around for the best deals.”
“I guess I never considered that side of it.”
“Most new Hunter’s seldom do.” He said as he struggled to get to his feet. “That’s why the drop out rate is so high after the first year of probation. It’s not as if you will be completely on your own. The guild does look out for its own. If you find yourself in a tight spot there are always the guild houses where you can stay and eat for free. I’ve spent my share of nights in those and I can tell you… I wouldn’t’ recommend it.”
“Thanks sir.” She said although he wasn’t making much of a case for the guild.
“Well, you can always do what Folkstaff did. I don’t think he’s ever paid for a room, he spent most of his nights sleeping under the stars and living off the land.”
That was always an option she thought, but a nice soft bed would be nice once in a while.
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t be too worried about it.” Oblum said again, and each time he told her not to be too worried about it, it only made her worry more.
The headmaster motioned to Hunar that the game was over. “I think you’ll be just fine Cadet. Better get ready; a new day is starting soon.”
Almost on cue, the moment Oblum said it, Kile hear Master West ring the bell.
The advantage of being a fourth year cadet in a three year academy was that they weren’t required to do anything for the first few days, until they received their destination papers, so it was considered to be a well deserved yet small vacation. That was unless of course you were recommended by instructors to escort the new cadets around, like Daniel had been. They couldn’t make you do it, but they strongly suggested that you did, and Master Adams had informed them that from this moment on, everything that they did would go toward their evaluation and ultimately determine whether they would be certified or not.
Survive your probationary year, you’re certified, prove yourselves during your probationary year and you’ll be certified earlier, screw up and your out. It was pretty clear, even to the most easily confused cadets such as Alex. The problem that she had with the whole idea was that they kept saying survive your probationary year, which was an indication that some cadet at some time, probably didn’t. Then there was always the vague notion of screwing up, how does one actually screw up their probationary year. When asked, Master Adams would just tell them not to do anything that went against the code, but that didn’t cover much. The best advice he could give was just “do your job” and “keep your head down”. As long as you don’t make waves, you couldn’t be blamed for anything.
She decided she was going to keep her head down from the start and hid away in the stables while the other forth year cadets were escorting the first year cadets around the compound. She wasn’t asked, which really didn’t surprise her, and she definitely wasn’t going to volunteer. There were still members of the Guild Council that wanted her gone, and now she could put a name to them, the so called sons of Terrabin. She didn’t fit in with the direction that they wanted to push the guild and so she was an obstacle waiting to be removed. She was sure Erin Silva was having the same problems being the only other female Hunter, but she had been in the game a lot longer than Kile. Erin was a certified level one Hunter and not someone that could easily be gotten rid of, Kile didn’t have that luxury. She wasn’t going to fool herself or tell herself otherwise, the council would be watching her closely. One screw up, one missed step and she could still find herself out of the academy after putting in her three years. She knew she had at least one friend on the council, if she could dare call Guild Master Latherby a friend, he had been watching out for her, but that didn’t make her safe. She couldn’t give the guild a reason to throw her out.
She hung around the stables, talking to the new horses and writing down their names upon the plaques beside their stalls. She had a feeling that their owners wouldn’t use the names, but it made the horses feel better and it gave her something to do. Whenever one of the groups was given a tour of the stables, she made herself scarce, taking a leaf out of old Luke’s book and sinking into the shadows. It was times like these that she envied Carter and his edge.
“Hey Kile, you in here?” Daniel called out as he came through the stable doors with fifteen first year cadets in tow.
“Nope, try someplace else.” She replied as she sat in the hayloft watching them.
“Come on, someone wants to meet you.”
She really didn’t want to get involved with the old cadet passing on wisdom to the new cadet tradition, but since it was Daniel, a brief appearance couldn’t hurt. She jumped down from the ha
yloft, landing among the new cadets and scaring the life out of a few of them. She was happy to see that she was actually taller than most of them, which either meant she had grown since her first year here or that the guild was getting desperate.
“Geez Kile, could you at least warn me if you’re going to do that.” Daniel said, trying to catch his breath. She hadn’t realized she had scared the life out of him as well. If nothing else it got the cadets laughing.
“Who wanted to see me?” She asked.
Daniel motioned for one of the boys to step forward, the frail young kid that had gotten knocked down last night.
“Cadet Tommy Lens.” She acknowledged. The boy’s eyes lit up, probably because she had remembered his name.
“I… I wanted to… um… I wanted to thank you for… you know.”
He was not a very eloquent child, a little shy, a little awkward, and rather small. Kile didn’t really think that he would last the first year, but then most cadets didn’t think she would last the first year and now she was graduating.
“Don’t mention it.” She said, not that he actually had managed to mention it. “All you have to do is believe in yourself and you’ll do fine here.” She told him, clapping him on the shoulder and walking through the crowd of first years. She was getting a little uncomfortable with them surrounding her.
“Are you really the only girl at the academy?” One kid asked.
“For the next three days, I suppose I am.” She replied.
“Do you know the hunter Erin Silvia?” Another one asked.
“Well, yeah, I suppose I do, she was the one that sponsored me.”
“Is it true that you burned down the stables?”