A World Apart (The Jake Thomas Trilogy - Book 1)

by Tolle, Steven A.

  "I will not bite you, Jake." She said with a giggle, her perfume filling Jake's nose.

  "Ahh…thank you...ahh…Princess." Jake sputtered, flushing from her attention.

  "You are a stranger and it is my duty to make you feel welcome. You will have to come and talk to me sometime, Jake, so we can get to know one another." She said, gesturing at the palace. "I'm sure Lord Dominic will be able to arrange it."

  "Just Dominic, if you please, Princess." Dominic said. "The boy is obviously not used to the manners of court, so he will need some instruction before he can return."

  "I think I would prefer to talk with him without such instruction, Dominic." She said, her beautiful face frowning. "I have to talk to too many people with the 'manners of court'. It is not often that I can speak with a stranger, especially one around my age."

  "I'd be happy to talk with you, Princess, if I am allowed." Jake said. The princess smiled again at that. She took Jake's hand again and stepped closer.

  "I would like that, Jake…" She started, then stopped, wrinkling her nose. She stepped back, her smile slipping for a second, then recovered. "Maybe after you have had time to visit the baths and have settled in with the Mastersmith."

  Jake flushed bright red, aghast as he realized that she smelled his body odor.

  "Forgive the boy, Princess." Dominic said, voice sounding apologetic. "We have not had the time to seek the baths since arriving. He has had some adventure coming to us, leaving no time to properly bathe. I will make sure he is presentable, the next time you meet."

  The princess laughed and said. "If he has been having adventures, then he smells like he should."

  The king gestured and his herald rapped his staff on the floor again. Everyone turned to face the king again. The princess gave Jake's hand a squeeze. "We shall speak again, Jake." She turned and went back to her seat.

  The king spoke. "After hearing Brother Jonas' reasoning, I will entertain him, and my council, in a private audience. Dominic, Jonas has said that he can speak for you in this meeting if you wish to leave." Dominic nodded his accent.

  The king turned to Jake. "Jake, I understand that you have had a long journey. Please accompany Mastersmith Norlan to his home, so you can rest. I am sure that Brother Jonas will speak with you tomorrow."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Jake said.

  The king rose from his seat. "This audience is at an end. My council will meet in the council chambers immediately." He turned and headed for the double doors, Jonas walking next to him. Bows and curtsies followed him as he left the room.

  "Come on, boy." Dominic said, as he turned with Norlan and headed for the exit. Jake fell in behind Dominic and Norlan, still feeling the eyes of many of the people following him. They made their way outside of the palace walls and into the courtyard. The turned and followed the palace wall toward the north, then turned right and headed away from the temple.

  Dominic saw Jake's look as they changed direction. "Norlan lives in the River Quarter." He turned to Norlan. "Are the baths near the wall still open?"

  "Yes, Dominic." The mastersmith replied. "They should be open for another hour or so."

  "I will take the boy there, so he will not stink you out of house and home." Jake flushed angrily at that, but did not say anything. "I probably could use a bath as well." Dominic admitted. "After the bath, I will bring him to your home."

  "As you see fit, Dominic." Norlan leaned over to Jake. "I look forward to getting to know you, Jake. I will go and make sure your room is ready." He gave Jake a reassuring smile and headed off.

  Dominic and Jake wove through the streets as they made their way to the baths. With the streets only lit by torches, it became impossible for Jake to remember the path back. Jake was surprised by the number of people making their way down the paved streets. He tried to take in the surroundings as they walked.

  Dominic set a quick pace and Jake soon found himself in front of a large single-story stone building with a set of wooden doors in the middle, the city wall towering over the rear of the building. There was a sign over the doors with what looked like a waterfall painted on it.

  Dominic strode up to the door and went in, Jake following. As they entered, Jake could smell that slight musty odor that accompanies damp places. The room they entered was lit by several torches and had stone chairs lining one wall. There was an opening on the back wall, from which Jake could hear the faint sound of running water. There was a stone desk with a man sitting behind it, looking bored. He brightened when he saw Dominic and Jake enter and came over to them.

  "Good evening, good sir. What would you like tonight?" He asked, smiling and trying to be helpful.

  "Baths for both, as well as robes and sandals." Dominic replied, indicating Jake and himself.

  "That will be a total of twelve silvers. Five silvers each for the robes and sandals and one silver each for the bath." The man said, his eyes bright at the thought of a sale.

  Dominic opened a pouch on his belt and pulled out a gold piece. The man went back to the desk and made change, returning it to Dominic. He motioned them to follow and he led them through the opening and down a flight of stone stairs. At the bottom, there was a short hallway with an opening on either side, both covered with a curtain. He led them to the curtain on their left and pulled it back.

  "Please enter. These are the men's baths." As they went through, Jake found himself in a large room that echoed with the sound of running water. The room had an open space near the door and rows of rectangular holes cut into the floor to the right. These holes were tubs, Jake realized. There was steam rising from the tubs and Jake could see that several were occupied, the men's heads leaning back against the edge of their tubs. There was a long stone bench next to the left wall. The wall was pocketed with square holes, with a row of ten, each about three feet wide, lining the bottom. Above them were two rows of one foot wide holes. Dominic walked over to the holes as the man helping them left.

  "You can store your clothes and other items in these spaces." Dominic said, pointing at the holes as he unbelted his sword and sat down. He wrapped the belt around the sword and dagger and slid it into one of the large holes in at the bottom. He started to remove his armor, unbuckling his breastplate and sliding it in next to his sword.

  Jake came over to the bench and sat down. He was surprised that he felt a little weird getting undressed. He had never had a problem showering in the gym back home. Maybe it was because he was a stranger here or that he really didn't know Dominic. Shaking his head, realizing that he was letting his mind get carried away, he undid the cloak and put it into one of the smaller holes. He bent over and untied his shoes, nose wrinkling at the smell. As he was putting them in the hole, the man helping them came back, carrying a pile of clothing.

  The man set his bundle down between Dominic and Jake. Jake saw that there were towels and soap, cream colored robes and leather sandals. He divided it, placing a pair of sandals, a robe, towel and soap next to each of them.

  "I hope that the sandals fit." The man said. "If you have any problems, please see me and I will find a better pair." He gave a small bow and left.

  Dominic finished undressing and stood to wrap the towel around him. Jake could see that Dominic was scarred not just on his face, but there was a patchwork of scars crisscrossing his arms, legs and body. Dominic saw Jake's look and simply stared back at him. Jake turned away, embarrassed.

  "When you finish undressing, you can use any bath you like." Dominic said, as he grabbed his soap. "The water is heated and pumped into the baths. The water is circulated out quickly, so every bath is clean. When you finish the bath, you can rinse off over there." He pointed to what looked like a waterfall against the back wall, the source of the running water sound. He headed for a bath near the bench and got in.

  Jake finished undressing, wrapping his towel around his waist and placing his clothes in the storage hole. He made sure to wrap up his phone inside his clothes to protect it from the moisture. He grabbed h
is soap, which had the same floral scent as the one Dominic had given him, and headed for the nearest bath. He quickly got in, the hot water giving him a little shock. He sank into the bath, submerging his head and giving his hair a quick scrub, then came back up. He laid his head back against the edge, enjoying the hot water, and closed his eyes, the face of the princess filling his mind.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jake, eyes closed, was enjoying the hot water and thoughts of the princess when Dominic's voice intruded.

  "You are supposed to be washing, not sleeping, boy." Dominic called over.

  Jake opened his eyes and glanced over at Dominic, who was two tubs away. His head and shoulders were above the tub edge, which was level with the floor, and he was lathering his short hair and face with the soap. He ducked under the water, rinsing the suds away.

  Jake roused himself and grabbed his soap. He washed his hair first, then worked his way down his body. After a few minutes, he was feeling better about himself as he got clean after several days without a shower.

  He was washing his feet when Dominic got out of the tub and went over to the waterfall, rinsing off any leftover soap. Dominic finished the shower and head back to the stone bench, drying off as he went. He picked up the robe and slipped it on, sitting down and tying on the sandals. He glanced back at Jake and growled. "Hurry up, boy. It is getting late and you can come back to luxuriate in the water some other time."

  Jake stifled a retort and finished his bath. He got out and headed over the waterfall. Hanging his towel on a nearby hook, he stepped into the water flow. Thinking it was heated like the baths, he was not prepared for the ice-cold water that poured over his heated body, which nearly took his breath away. Letting out a curse, he quickly rubbed his body clean and leapt out of the water.

  He ran to his towel, grabbing it and drying off as quickly as possible. He started to shiver slightly as he wrapped the towel around his waist and headed back to the bench. He saw Dominic watching him, a slight smile on his face.

  "Did I forget to tell you about the waterfall?" Dominic asked innocently. "It's a little colder than the baths." Jake glared at him as he threw on his robe. Dominic smiled slightly. "A little cold water won't kill you, boy."

  Jake belted the robe and stood up, reaching in to the storage hole to recover his stuff. Now that he was clean, he could really smell the funk coming off of his clothes and shoes.

  "You don't need to put those back on." Dominic said. "You can wear the robe for now. I asked Norlan to see if he could find you some clothes to wear."

  Grateful, Jake sat down and picked up the sandals. It took a couple of seconds to figure out how they laced up, but he did not want to ask Dominic for assistance for something like putting on shoes. He was sure he would not hear the end of something like that. Jake took out his phone from his pile of clothes, put it into a pocket on the robe, and refolded his old clothes, stacking them on top of his shoes. He tucked them under his right arm and turned to Dominic.

  "Help me with this, boy." Dominic said, as he organized his armor and clothes. He belted his sword on over the robe and put his vambraces, greaves and boots inside his breastplate. He handed Jake his bundled clothes and moved towards the door, armor under his left arm. They climbed the stairs and left the building, the attendant wishing them well and encouraging them to return, and walked out into the night air.

  The temperature had cooled a bit, the heat of the day fading. Jake could feel the cool air moving over his sandaled feet and under his robe as they walked down the street. It was not uncomfortable, though Jake would have preferred to have more on than just the robe.

  They passed several shops that were selling what looked like beer to Jake, with people milling about the entrance with containers. As they made their way down towards Norlan's, Jake tried to remember the names of the shops they passed, so they could act as waypoints if he wandered down here again. They passed several taverns along the way, music and voices spilling out into the street.

  "Can I ask you something, Dominic?" Jake said, as a thought occurred to him.

  "You can ask me anything." Dominic said, emphasizing the 'ask'. "That does not mean you will get an answer."

  "Ok." Jake said, figuring that was the best he could hope for. "What did you mean when you told Genela that Jonas did not have to come when the king called? I mean, he is the king after all."

  Dominic snorted. "That is the result of the overreaching of a king. As you have seen, the clerics perform healings and other functions for the people, regardless of station, as part of their calling. They exist on the gifts of the people, as well as some business interests. About two hundred and twenty years ago, some advisors to King Aleren the Third convinced him that the clerics should not give away their services when they could levy charges for them, which, of course, the crown would get its share. At that time, the realm had finished fighting a war with Aletonia, which had drained the royal treasury. The king summoned the Chief Cleric, Bandeos, to court and handed down his demand, even going so far as setting the rates."

  Dominic gave a sharp little laugh. "Much to the king and his advisors' surprise, Bandeos refused. In front of the entire court, he told the king that the clerics' skills were a gift from the One and their help was not for sale. No one would be denied their services."

  "The king, stupid sot that he was, had Bandeos arrested on the spot for treason. Word of his arrest spread quickly through the city. The clerics, in response, closed the Temple to all of the nobles, refusing to perform services for them until Bandeos was released. The clerics serving in the army also left in protest and returned to the Temple." He looked over to Jake, eyes gleaming in the torchlight. "You have to understand how big an impact that was; the army had just fought a war and many of the soldiers had the clerics to thank for still being alive."

  Dominic shook his head. "The situation came to a head when the king decided to send the Royal Guards to reopen the Temple and force the clerics to obey. As soon as that was known, whole companies of soldiers abandoned their posts and surrounded the Temple, prepared to defend the clerics. The Royal Guards were not happy with these orders, many having fought alongside the soldiers; nonetheless, they formed up ranks in the courtyard. The soldiers established defensive positions and waited for the attack. The city was on the brink of civil war, one in which the king would lose."

  "Fortunately for all, the king's brother was a smart one and could do the math. He deposed the king, ordered the Royal Guards back to their barracks and released Bandeos. Bandeos, in turn, asked the soldiers to return to their barracks, as well as the clerics that served with them. He reopened the Temple to all. After a cooling-off period, the new king and Bandeos met and came up with the Agreement on the Relationship of Clerics and the Crown."

  "This agreement states that, for perpetuity, the Chief Cleric is independent of the Crown, serving only as an advisor. The Chief Cleric has the sole authority to run the Temple and the clerics, without interference from the Crown. In return, the clerics agreed to continue to send healing clerics to the army, open their schools to all and support, when possible, the Crown's initiatives."

  "Bandeos and his successors, like Jonas, have been astute enough about court politics not to exercise this autonomy often or openly. Jonas could have refused to come to court, but he knows when to pick his battles."

  After walking about five minutes or so through the maze of buildings, they turned a corner and come upon a single-story home, made of stone with a tile roof, surrounded with a wooden fence. It was on a large lot, had grass and trees surrounding it, the front of the home facing out towards the other street. Warm yellow light radiated from the windows. Jake saw a couple of smaller buildings at the back of the main home. Even in the dim moonlight, Jake could tell that the grounds were clean and well maintained.

  Dominic walked up to the gate in the fence and called out. "Norlan, we're here! Where is that dog?"

  The door facing the gate opened and Norlan walked out. He gave a wave and
replied. "You don't have to be afraid, Dominic. I have him tied up on the other side of the house."

  "I'm not afraid, Norlan; I just know how fond your family is of that dog and didn't want him to make a mistake." Dominic said with a slight smile.

  "He is a smart one; he knows you. I am sure it would have been fine." Norlan said, smiling.

  "I was worried for the boy." Dominic said dryly. He reached over to Jake and took his clothes back. "Go with Norlan." He said, then his face hardened. "Mind your manners, boy; he is a good man. Don't make Jonas or myself regret this. I will come by to check on you tomorrow to make sure you have not broken anything." Dominic nodded to Norlan and strode away before Jake could protest, leaving him grumbling under his breath.

  "Don't let Dominic fool you, Jake." Norlan said, grinning, opening the gate to let Jake in. "I think he actually likes you." He gently closed the gate behind Jake and led him to the house. He opened the door and motioned Jake through. "Welcome to my home."

  Jake entered the house, finding himself in what had to be the kitchen. He saw pot and pans, knives and cooking instruments stacked neatly along the far wall. There was a wooden island in the middle of the room, with a couple of wooden bowls on the top. Norlan passed by Jake and walked to island.

  "Madalin! Cherise!" He called out, motioning Jake to join him. "Come meet our guest."

  As Jake joined Norlan, he could see that beyond a dining table, the kitchen opened up into a living room. The room was lit with candles and decorated with some colorful banners and a couple of paintings. Next to a curtained window, a large brick fireplace took up one corner of the living room. There were a couple of high back chairs facing the fireplace, a small fire burning. At Norlan's voice, Jake saw a figure rise from each chair. One was a woman, the other a girl about twelve or thirteen.

  As they approached, the woman gave Jake a welcoming smile. Jake thought she was attractive for an older woman, around five foot six, with wavy dark hair and light brown eyes. When she smiled, her face had a kind look that reminded Jake of his mother.