He rolled when Reagan made for him with the butt of the spear just barely avoiding it. “I’m done. You’ll get more from me tomorrow.” He pushed himself up to his knees, shoulders slumped, his chest bare, and despite the mild temperature, he was covered in sweat.
Reagan shot the king a short glare and when he saw no protest to the display, he finally responded, “Very well, human, you take me down once, you are done for the day.” He offered the spear for Ben to take.
Ben sat still for a moment looking almost disappointed by the answer. “That’s it? The only break I get is to take you down?”
“I will not just send you off and have you let me look a fool in front of your master.” Reagan gestured towards Mâvis.
Ben didn’t even look in that direction, “It will make no difference if you send me off or not as to if you look the fool.” The comment drew a chuckle from the crowd and a toothy grin from the king.
Reagan recoiled the spear, “Very well, we finish the day.”
“No…no I’m in. I knock you out I’m done, right?” He took to one knee as Reagan grinned.
“You actually think you can knock me out, human?” Reagan burst into a laugh.
“Of course not, but that’s the deal, isn’t it?” He waived off the spear offered to him “No, no I’m all set. I’ll choose my own weapon.” Ben moseyed over to the fence and plucked a heavy club off the ground and a near perfectly round rock.
Reagan let out another laugh, “You wish to defeat me with that?” Ben casually took a batting stance and lightly tossed the rock up into the air taking a hard swing; it landed right off Reagan’s cheek sending him backwards and out cold.
The entire crowd burst out laughing as Mâvis straightened up and entered the courtyard, “That was interesting, Abbott, now let’s see you try with me.” A growl lingered on his words but he was beaming ear to ear.
Ben dropped the club to the ground and closed his eyes throwing his head back in protest. “I’m exhausted. And you know I am far from ready for you.”
Avarr taunted, “Yes, Mâvis, his challengers should wait until he is ready for them.” The comment earned a heartfelt scowl from Ben. However, it did not last long because he was dodging a swing from Mâvis in the next movement.
Ben barely recovered before the next one came and he wasn’t even on his feet yet as he scooted under the beast to avoid the third. Ben had just enough time to throw a spear in between himself and the axe as he tossed the weight of it off to one side and came back around in the same motion to aim it, only to see it snatched and removed in the blink of an eye.
“Ooh, I like it when you hesitate, makes for a quick kill.”
Ben ducked one swift blow and went after Mâvis hard for a few strikes almost backing the creature up. Mâvis reached through his blows, grabbed him by his chest and slammed him to the ground. He stood waiting for Ben to catch his breath, “Come, get up. I expect better.”
“You won’t get it, just finish me.” Ben let his arms flop to his side and closed his eyes hoping for a deathblow.
Mâvis hauled him off the ground and shoved the axe into his arms, “I will not accommodate your laziness. You finish with me or I will have you training till the sun rises with Avarr.”
Still out of breath, Ben heaved the axe up over his head and had to throw his whole body into it to swing it around. Mâvis dodged it chuckling and snatched it from him before slapping him to the ground. “Come on, human, I saw you do better than this moments ago.”
Ben sat on his knees breathless, “You are trying to make a fish walk. I’m not a fighter. I’m not a warrior, Mâvis.”
Kevin nudged Rob and he nodded back. If the king was willing to train humans perhaps he wasn’t so bad after all, “Hey can, um…can we train with you?”
Mâvis responded with a threatening glare, “I would sooner sharpen my blade on your bones.” Both the men backed off as he returned his concentration to Ben, agitated that these inferiors would be more willing to train than he was. Finally he issued an order to his brother, “Avarr, he is to rest until the next meal then work him till the sun rises. Perhaps the next time I test him, he will answer as expected.” With that, Mâvis stormed off in disgust.
Ben didn’t bother getting off his knees as the entire group dispersed. He just sat there looking blankly into space and cursing the king in his head. He took his next meal in seclusion outside the palace, hoping to avoid Lúta. She found him anyway.
He avoided eye contact and chugged his water before working on his potatoes. She reached for a bruise on his forehead and he ducked her, rolling his eyes, chewing silently for a moment.
“Why is he putting you through this, Ben?” She scooted closer and reached through his rejection to touch him anyway.
He looked away almost ashamed, “I don’t know. I’m not a warrior and I never will be. I don’t even want to be, Lúta.” His emotion brought him back around to face her and see what she thought of him. “They’re right I can’t protect you from challengers. Is it that bad? Will I face that fear every day? I mean there are other humans here, they are married.”
She pulled him in for a tender kiss and lingered to stare into his eyes, “I do not know, Ben, you may find it harder because you are different from me. But I swear you will never find me giving those arrogant behemoths reason to think I want anyone else.” She leaned into him closing her eyes and hanging on the few moments she had with him.
He set his plate down and embraced her as she let out a sob. “Shhh…”
“Get up human, I am ready.” Avarr had a pair of spears in his hand as he trotted down the walkway.
Lúta got up and growled at him. “No, Avarr, he has had enough. Go home.”
He responded narrowing his eyes on her, “Woman, I am not Mâvis, I would take care how you address me.” Immediately Ben took a stance between the two of them drawing a grin from Avarr. “So that is how I get your attention. Send your wife inside so we may begin.”
It appeared for a moment as if the three of them would be at a bit of a standoff, when Avarr shoved the spear at Ben, “Very well, let her watch.”
Ben stood down realizing that Avarr was right. To have her out there would not only be distracting to him, but it would be traumatic for her, “Lúta, please. It will be easier on me if you would go in. I don’t want you to see this if you don’t have to.”
She nodded to Ben, before turning her anger back on Avarr. “We are not through, Avarr.”
Avarr was by far a harder trainer than Reagan was. He spent the majority of the time sparring and Ben found the drills to be a welcome break in between. Come morning he wasn’t even steady on his feet anymore. As the sun peaked over the horizon, Lúta and Genevieve stormed into the courtyard shoving Avarr off Ben, “He is done! Get off him!” Lúta scolded him waiving a single claw in his face.
“Woman, I swear you test me.” He charged back.
Genevieve shoved Lúta out of the way and got in his face, “Now I test you, Avarr. Strike your queen, I dare you.” She paused waiting for a response. “I did not think so. Threaten her again and you will find yourself defending against me and you know what that will do to, Mâvis.”
Lúta threw a blanket over Ben’s shoulder and Genevieve rushed to take his other arm. They helped him back to the palace and into his room. Genevieve put two guards outside the door ordering no one to be let in, not even the king. To which they both rolled their eyes and scowled at her.
Then the queen stormed off finding Mâvis in the great hall feeding Jocelyn. “What was the point of torturing Ben like that, husband?” He ignored her and continued offering Jocelyn some of his food. “His training as you call it is finished. I will have no more of it.”
Her last comment earned her a chilled reply, “It is through when I say it is. I do not take orders, woman.”
“Mâvis, he could not even walk to his chambers of his own will. Lúta and I carried him…and your brother nearly crossed me.”
That got her husband’s a
ttention immediately, “He would not dare me like that love, do not play me for a fool.” He offered his daughter another bite of his breakfast before taking a couple bites for himself. “You wanted Ben to be set free. He has to survive on his own if that is to happen, he has to be able to protect his wife and provide for his family. I cannot in good conscious have him run around my island defenseless. Just waiting for the next ‘Diek’ to come along, slit his throat, and take his wife.”
He sat waiting for his wife’s response with the next fork full of food while his daughter chewed. Hearing nothing he continued, “Well which is it, Genie? Do you want him set free or do you want under my protection? I do not care at this point. You will have your wish, unfortunately either way Abbott has to live with the consequences.”
She stood silently for a few moments biting at her lower lip. “Why you have to be so hard on him?”
“Woman, the warrior that calls for his challenge will be harder. I was trained the same way, as was Avarr…as was every warrior that has grown up here. Maybe not where you are from, but here we are trained as cubs to defend ourselves. You will not find Jocelyn defenseless. I swear it, wife.” He placed the empty plate on the table and had to fight back a grin as Genie snatched her daughter out of the chair and scowled at him.
Mâvis stood and kissed them both before continuing, “I will give him a few days to rest, after the night he had I am sure he needs it. But his training resumes as soon as he is well.” He scanned her expression for understanding, “You have to trust me. This will make him a better man.”
Chapter 30
Ben woke alone and in need of a bath. He struggled through the icy water and even found it soothing after a few minutes. The fire was helpful for getting dressed and he wrapped a still swollen knee with some homemade bandages to keep it stable.
He made his way to the kitchen and snatched himself some breakfast at the dismay of the kitchen staff. The cook scolded him. “Are you not to eat with the king?”
He snapped back, “I’ll eat where I like till I’m under order. I spend as little time in his presence as I can. What’s it to you?” He crammed a hunk of cheese in between some sliced bread and stammered out into the courtyard throwing his medical bag over his shoulder and heading towards Mark’s cottage.
He was on the street all of a few moments before he noticed Thomas following him as usual. “Good day, friend. I see you’re ready for our rounds.” Ben’s tone was chipper and condescending in the same breath.
“You will need to make it quick, human. The king has business with King William and I need to return.” The beast offered him half his attention as he took note of a few odd merchants in the square. “Do you know them, human?” He had noticed Ben’s attention on them.
“I want to say they remind me of some merchants from Freyr’s village but it has been so long I could not be sure. I honestly don’t think Mâvis cares to do business with Freyr should we tell him?”
Ben turned to go back to the palace and Thomas stopped him, “If they are here they probably arrived with King William. In which case they are under heavy guard already. He does not take his trading lightly.”
“Very well, but I feel uneasy about this.” Ben bit his lip and continued to Mark’s house.
Mark opened the door, “Hey there, good to see you out and about. I heard you hit a foul ball right off Reagan’s noggin.” Mark laughed as he reached out with his broken arm and took a hold of Ben’s hand giving it a good squeeze. He clenched his teeth through it. But Ben’s eyes widened at the effort.
“Very good, you are coming along nicely. Let me get a look at it.” Ben peeled back the sleeve on Mark’s arm and opened the splint marveling at his own handy work for a few minutes. “That is healing beautifully. I think we can take out the stitches if you are up for it.”
Mark slapped him on the back and welcomed him in to the dismay of Thomas. Mark’s wife poured them both a shot of vodka and cut up some sausages and cheese. Ben waived off the vodka, “Ma’am that’s not good for this type of procedure. It will make the scarring worse due to increased bleeding.”
Mark scooped the shot up anyway, “Nonsense, do you know where you are ‘human’? Scars make you a warrior here.”
Ben offered his shot to Thomas who took it no questions asked and snatched the jug from Mark’s wife to help himself to another before ordering the doctor to proceed, “We do not have all day. Get this over with. I will not care if you leave the work half done.”
As Ben tooled and cut through the threads pulling each one out he watched Mark wince in pain and thought some idle chit chat would take his mind off the task, “Mark, how long have you been married on this island?”
The man opened one eye as his teeth gritted a bit through a long thread pull. “You are married yourself, why would you ask a question like that?”
“I just wonder if you have ever been challenged for your wife and if so how did you deal with it? I have no intention on your wife if that is what you are thinking.” Ben scowled back at the insinuative expression taking over Mark’s face. “Honestly, I think you have been here a bit too long.”
Mark looked up at his wife as she silently Okayed the discussion. Then he turned back to Ben after a deep breath, “I was challenged a few times. I fought once, and lost nearly lost my life. I gave up and sold her twice to save myself…she poisoned them to get back to me. Honestly, it hasn’t been a problem since. The two of us worked out how to deal with issues should they arise. That is something you and your wife will have to deal with.”
Mark chuckled at Thomas, “What about you, buddy, anyone ever challenge you for your wife?”
Thomas looked up from some nuts he was picking through and gave Mark a lovely ‘as if’ stare. “You two finished yet or do I need to drag Abbott out of here bound and gagged?”
Ben cut the last of the sutures and gave them a good rip sending Mark doubling over in pain. He looked up at Thomas grinning, “I’m all set let’s go.”
They bid the family a good day and passed right through the market square again. Ben taking note that the suspicious merchants were no longer there. Still his conscious gnawed at him for an answer as to who they were. Rather than retreat to his quarters and avoid the king as normal he followed Thomas up to Mâvis’s office chamber.
Ben waited quietly by the door for the two kings to finish their discussion and for the rest of the guards and guests to leave. Finally, the last of King William’s advisors left and Ben stepped forward to talk with Mâvis before being stopped by Thomas. “The meeting is finished, human. We leave now.”
“I wasn’t here for the meeting Thomas. I wish to see Mâvis.” Ben shrugged off the guard’s grasp one time and Thomas snatched his arm up a second time.
“The king has business to attend to and has ordered me not to let him be disturbed.”
Ben shoved the guard off and took a defensive stance, “And I am his servant and need his ear. I swear I’ll have it.”
Mâvis peered up from his documents a bit amused by the display, “Let him be, Thomas. Unless I am with my wife Abbott is to be treated as I would be.”
Thomas stood down but was completely shocked by the order, “Sir, I am to take orders from a slave?”
The king sat up slapping his documents on the table to display his aggravation over being questioned, “Unless you hear it from my mouth Abbott’s orders are my orders. Should you find something amiss you may bring it to my attention. My servant has a duty to fulfill and you will not cause him delay in the future, is that clear?”
Thomas nodded as he exited the room and closed the door.
Ben relaxed his stance and took a seat in front of Mâvis’s desk. “Does that mean I can order him to stop following me around? I have no desire to escape, not sure why I need to be shadowed.”
Mâvis smirked for a second, “You could not escape if you wanted to. Guards or no guards I would hunt you down and punish you unmercifully. But that is not why I have ordered him to follow you.” He
flipped through a page of the document and scanned the next page. “Honestly, Abbott, the only reason I have him following you is so he will stop following me. Between him and Reagan I am ready to lose my mind.”
Ben laughed, completely dismissing the threat, “Didn’t you do this very work?”
“Exactly, I can do it better than the two of them combined. They are as dedicated to their duty as you are to yours, human. Now, tell me why have you barged into my office demanding my ear anyway?” Mâvis was starting to grow impatient with his own conversation.
“I saw some merchants in the square that could I almost swear are from Freyr’s village. Is it common for vendors from there to travel this far?”
Mâvis thought briefly before speaking, “Freyr’s boats are too small to make it this far. His merchants would come with assist from King William or Ormr. I know Ormr is not here trading. Reagan knows his enemies well and would make quick work of them. I trust they are here with King William, but when I venture out later I will see who I recognize. Nonetheless I am impressed on your efforts to take note of their presence.”
Mâvis signed a few of the papers before continuing, “King William would like us to travel to his village on his return trip. It appears a cub washed ashore a few days ago and he seeks your advice. I agreed to it so long as Avarr is free to keep watch here.”
“A cub?” Ben repeated him looking puzzled.
“Mmmm, a human cub. He was in a boat with a female human but William says she died that night.”
Ben stood to leave, “Very well, I’ll pack accordingly. Do you know what will come of him?”
“From the sounds of it Olivia is smitten with him. They will probably raise him as their own. It is no concern of ours, you can check on the cub and let them figure it out.” Ben continued towards the door before Mâvis stopped him one last time, “Oh and, Abbott, I expect to see you for dinner. Cowering in your chambers will not dissuade me from continuing with your training.”
Doctor Abbott Page 24