Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  “Would you like to take a look around, this is our training arena, my students wouldn’t mind, I’m sure they would indeed be honored by your appearance” he says and opens the door wider using a nice wide gesture to welcome him in.

  “Honored, what do you mean?” Attonnan says looking around as he steps in

  He feels so out of place, he doesn’t know what to do, what to say. All he knows is that these people seem to think more of him then he really is.

  “You know, my students would love a chance to spar the man that took down three fully trained Hojo clansmen, and wounded the great Fuma himself” the older man says calmly and smiles at him.

  “I don’t know, I really just don’t know” Attonnan said and smiled at them.

  “It is only a spar, wooden weapons, you are an honored guest here, we treat you as we would treat a visiting noble” the older man said and smiled at him

  “I guess there is no harm. You promise no one will get hurt, especially not me” Attonnan says as he blushes.

  “Of course, as a personal request I shall assign ten of my most promising students” he says and with a wave of his hand the main of the floor clears of students.

  Slowly Attonnan steps to the middle of the room his face now flushes with sweat his body trembling. Ten of the older students walk to the middle of the room and smile at him. One of the students walks over and hands him a wooden long sword. Attonnan only bows and looks over

  “Are you ready young master Attonnan” one of the student says smiling at him

  “I, I guess so” he says and takes his place placing it firmly in front of him, an amateur and beginners stance.

  The group of Hojo students then begin to surround him, Attonnan sweats and even he can see the wooden blade begin to tremble in his hand. Then, like lightning it starts.

  The first to attack is the one right in front of him. Attonnan quickly blocks but sees that this is only a distraction and he quickly spins blocking the blade that was coming at him from behind. Then with amazing speed he snaps and drops low to one knee in a sweeping more hitting the leg of one of the students, dropping him to the ground. Swiftly he smacks the blade on the student’s temple dropping him unconscious. He hears the swift coming of a blade and quickly rolls out of the way. Attonnan continues to roll tell he is a good distance out of the way. Then quickly gets to his feet. He watches as the others students begin to lurch to him again, ready, he feels the blade begin to tremble again, he feels the sweat of his brow. Two students go for him at once. The blades come at him, quickly Attonnan spins to the right to avoid one of the blade and in the same move brings his blade up and blocks the other. As swift as the wind he spins more to the right placing himself beside and almost behind the first students. Attonnan then brings his blade down on the students shoulder then to the ribs… the student drops. Attonnan does not waist time, and moves on to the second student. The second student goes for a strike but Attonnan easily blocks the blade then spins placing himself behind the student slamming the blade into his back, making the student wince. Attonnan smiles to see the second student drop to one knee, but that slight time for himself almost costs him the match. The third, fourth and fifth student come at him. They are fast and their blades come at him all at once. But something has taken hold of him; it is a kind of calm of the mind. His blade comes up and blocks the first blade, quickly he steps to one side avoiding the second and drops his blade to his side blocking the third. Without a thought he brings his blade right to the first students temple making contact and dropping him to the ground, before the first even hits the ground Attonnan is already moving the second, a quick swing and his blade hits right in the ribs. The third goes to make another sweep, but Attonnan sidesteps, getting behind him, then, a quick blow to the back of the neck and drops him as well. The last four stare at Attonnan in shock and aw. Attonnan only stands ready, he sweat pouring down his brow now, his blade shaking more then ever, the older of the four nods and they move in for the kill, two place themselves in front of him, two place themselves behind. Attonnan can already feel the move before it happens. The two in front are just to keep his attention. He knows there strike will come from behind, but he will strike first. Quickly Attonnan takes a huge stride forward and goes for a blow on one of the students, the blow is easily seen and blocked, but that was just what he wanted. Like nothing he spins and lays his blade deep across one of the students behind him, hitting him square in the gut. He then spins and drops to one knee, extending his blade he hits the second students leg right from behind at the knee. The student drops and Attonnan rolls before a blade comes down on him. Taking advantage of the one student he slams his blade into the temple of the student that is still on his knee. The two that are left lurch toward him. Attonnan waits, closer, just a bit closer. Then like a flash he makes his move, he lunges forward this time his blow comes from below, the student does what Attonnan already knows he’ll do, a side block. As soon as the blades hit each other he flips it now spinning it so it is coming from above, the student didn’t see it coming and before he knows it he feels the hard sting of wood coming down on his shoulder. The second student steps back from all of this. He is probably the oldest out of the ten. He smiles and lowers his blade, nodding to Attonnan, then drops to his knees laying his blade flat in front of him. It is surrender. Attonnan is astonished and lowers his head.

  “You are an amazing youth,” the old man says laying his hand on the kneeling student; and then nodding to the others around to help those that are unconscious.

  “I, I don’t’ know what happened, what came over me. I just remember being scared, then. Then it was over” Attonnan says shaking his head.

  “I see Lord Fuma did not excaudate about your skill. You bested ten of my finest and they didn’t even touch you, if these were real blades nine of them would be dead and the tenth would be executed, surrender is not in the Hojo code, if you are caught and cannot escape or fight your way out, you kill yourself” the old man says looking hard at the kneeling student.

  “I am sorry master Iyasu, I shall not dishonor the Hojo again.” The student says now dropping his forehead to the floor in a deep apologetic bow.

  “Do not fret young Sokka, this was practice and you are only a student,” he says helping the young man up

  Attonnan is shocked, the old man, the master is so kind to his student. He did not yell at them, did not give a speech about dishonor and family, and how he was weak. This place it is nothing like his home.

  “Are you all right, you seemed shocked” master Iyasu said looking at him with his head cocked.

  “My last master was not as forgiving or as gentle” Attonnan says and smiles but keeps most of it to himself.

  “Would you like to stay and watch the training? I would always welcome another student, especially one of your caliber” master Iyasu says and smiles at him with a polite bow.

  “Thank you, I, I think I would rather keep looking around, it is only my first day” Attonnan says with a polite bow back

  Attonnan then turns his back and slowly walks out the door; he can hear the murmurs of the other students as he walks off. Not so much that he understands what they are saying but enough that he can tell that many of them are talking. He’s hoping that it is good.

  Once out of the training area he walks down the halls he again chuckles about how he is in contrast to everything around him. The guards and people move around him, not even paying him the slightest attention. He moves his way down the halls and though many corridors. Attonnan walks for a bit looking in on the doors that are open. At one time he finds what looks like a bathhouse but it is empty and he really isn’t in the mood so he just keeps going. Still moving on he finds a door that leads into a corridor; the corridor is unlike any of the others he has seen. The ground is paved with a brick, and all along the walls are bright red pillars that connect with an arch. In-between he can see banner
s hanging with words in a language that he cannot understand, but on the banners are shadows of animals, most he recognizes. The first two are a horse on his right; a stag on his left, the next are a snake, then a scorpion, then a monkey with a mantis, then a lion with a bull, then a tiger with a dragon. Then as he continues the creatures take on some more mythical looking form, three headed dogs, several headed dragons, multiple horned beasts that stand like men, griffins, sphinx, and other things. As he walks further he finds a set a doors that are bright red, engraved in the door is some kind of writing the writing is a bright green as he feels the writing he finds that it is actually stone placed into the wood of the door. His hand moves over the door and he can’t help but be drawn to it. Something about this place feels forbidden, he shouldn’t be here, but it is that vary feeling that is also driving him here. Taking a deep breath he tries the handle. He is in luck and the handle gives without a struggle. He then carefully looks around him one more time to make sure no one is with him. Then he carefully opens the door just enough to slip in, then quickly shuts the door behind him. Once inside he finds the room is not like any he has ever seen before. On the far side of the wall is a pale milky green statue of some kind of god or deity, one he has never seen before. It is a large man with a thin but muscular build. He is dressed in armor, a chest plate with the image of three dog heads carved on it. A skirt of some kind, it looks like strips of leather, armor on his calves that goes up to the knees. Sandals. A helm that covers almost all of his face, minus a T like cut so you can see his eyes, nose and part of the mouth. On the top of the helm is a main of some kind, he can only assume that in real armor it would have been horsehair, the mane runs from the center of the helm all the way down the back of it and he can guess that the hair would have touched just to the shoulders. In his right hand is a spear in his left is a large circular shield with a slight dome to it. At his side on the left is a shorter type of blade. Stepping closer he also sees that to one side of this man is a smaller statue, this is of a huge dog with three heads, the dog is huge build and vary muscular, it looks like the kinds of dogs that the armies used to have march with them, flopping ears and narrow eyes, shorter muzzles and only stubs for tails. The man has a look of determination and hate on his face. Attonnan begins to wonder what kind of god this is but can only assume that it is one of the gods of the east. On either side of the god and his pet are large scrolls each written in some kind of language he cannot understand? Beside this is two pillars about four feet tall with large bowls on them, inside the bowls are hot coals that are still aflame. Along the sidewalls are huge racks with all kinds of weapons on them, weapons that look like they have come from all over the elf lands and beyond. He wonders what the purpose of this room is, who this man is, what beast is next to him, and why does this place draw him in. He knows only two things, he must come back here, and often, and two, he must ask Lord Fuma about it.

  Taking in the aura of the place one more time he walks out down the hall once more. He has made up his mind. He will go talk to Fuma about it now. He must know more about this place and who this man is. He walks down the halls no longer paying much attention to the people around him. It is because of this that he accidentally runs into someone. Only once it is done does he focus. He looks up from the floor and finds himself now standing before Lady Elana, seeing it is her Attonnan naturally begins to shrink in fear.

  “Young Lord Attonnan wasn’t it” she says her eyes piercing through him.

  “Yes” he says his voice squeaking a bit.

  “I am off to Lord Fuma, I am hoping that he will give me more time with you. Your screams were so delicate and intoxicating. I was far from finished with you.” She says and lightly drags her finger down his chest.

  She only chuckles to feel his skin tremble under her touch. Yes he is afraid of her and he has every right to be. She is a mistress of the ebony hand, those trained in the delicate arts of torture and pain. They know how to use the flesh in ways that would make any other elf turn white just at the thought.

  “I doubt your visit will be pleasant, Lord Fuma is furious at you, you were only to give me ten lashes” Attonnan says his voice trembling but his body held straight and firm.

  “Yes well, I guess we did get carried away,” she says calmly thinking to herself. She remembers the orders well; break him. But she knows the way this works with Lord Fuma. He has been broken and Fuma is playing the part of the good guy. Saying he only ordered a small punishment so that Attonnan will trust him. She wonders how far Fuma is with the progress in Attonnan. From the sound of it he may already be Fuma’s lap dog.

  “I was on my way to see Lord Fuma as well. I think I will enjoy hearing him yell and punish you” Attonnan says his eyes blazing at her now.

  She only lets out a bit of a grin. The young man is showing a bit of malice now. She is sure that Fuma will defiantly approve of that. She only gives a polite nod and then continues on her way to the thrown room. Attonnan takes a deep breath part of him wants to go the other way, let her have her fate to herself, but there is a little voice inside of him now telling him that nothing will be better then to hear Lord Fuma yell at her, to watch her receive her punishment. Maybe if he is lucky he will get a say in how she is punished. The voice in his head now getting the better of him he goes and moves down the halls to the thrown room. As he walks he looses sight of Lady Elana, she had gone ahead of him and he is guessing with her stride she easily moved too far for him to see. The halls move and turn as he looks for the thrown room. Soon he comes across the training room. Looking inside there are still students in the room, but this time they are pared up against one another. There is an older looking student walking the room. He remembers the student; it is Sokka, the one that surrendered to him. He looks around the room some more but does not see the older man, Iyasu. Sokka soon notices Attonnan and bows to him.

  “Master Attonnan, can I help you” Sokka asks calmly on his face is a sweet smile. “I was looking for master Iyasu, you see, I’m lost. I’m looking for the thrown room. I wish to talk to Lord Fuma” Attonnan says, not sure why he feels the need to explain everything but it is too late now.

  “Master Iyasu has gone there himself, I’m sorry but I myself cannot take you. Master Iyasu has put me in charge of training until he gets back. I shall summon a page though and he will take you” he says nods to him.

  Sokka then walks over to a wall with some small ropes on it. He then takes hold of the rope closest to him and pulls it three times, there is no sound but Sokka seems to feel that this is enough and goes back over to Attonnan

  “A page will be here in a moment. Until then I should get back to my duties” he says and with a bow he goes back to walking though the students watching them spar.

  Attonnan waits a bit unsure about all of this but then just as Sokka said there is a tap at the door. Sokka smiles, walks over and opens the door. Standing there waiting is a young elf boy, he can’t be any older then 7, he is dressed in long black pants, black boots, a red belt. A long sleeve red shirt, over that a black short sleeve shirt and a black cloth strip around his forehead. The young elf has grayish skin and bright yellow eyes. His hair has been completely shaved off.

  “You summoned me sir” the young man says and bows low to Sokka

  “Yes, young master Attonnan here needs you to guide him to the thrown room” Sokka says and smiles at the young elf.

  “Yes sir” the young elf says and bows again, then looks over at Attonnan and is stopped in shock.

  He has never seen an elf like that, skin as white as porcelain, hair as black as raven plumes. The only color to him seems to be his eyes and lips; his lips are as red as blood and his eyes, blue, a bright royal blue. Quickly recovering himself he bows and then turns to walk away

  “Thank you Sokka” Attonnan says and with that follows the young man down the hall

  They do not walk for vary long but time after time they
move though the halls and make some turns, a couple of lefts, a few rights, Attonnan tries to remember the path but is sure that he has already lost himself only half way though. The page takes him right to the door of the thrown room but stops.

  “Here it is sir, I must get back to my duties so if you do not mind” the young elf says and with a bow is gone in a haste.

  Attonnan only stands there; he didn’t even have time to thank the young man. He chuckles to himself and taps on the door. There is no answer. Taking a deep breath he pounds on them, they are thick doors perhaps they didn’t hear him the first time. There is a sudden sound, a tapping sound. And then the doors slowly open. Once the doors open Attonnan finds himself facing a large elf in full armor.

  “Were you summoned boy?” the man says glaring down at Attonnan

  “Well no, I only want to talk to Lord Fuma” Attonnan says now looking down at the floor.

  How could he be so stupid, he should have known that he wouldn’t get in without being summoned? He will just have to wait tell the next time he sees Fuma to talk to him. Ask him about Lady Elana, how she was punished and ask him about the room.

  “Let him though. I wish to speak to young Attonnan” Fuma’s voice echoes past the doors.

  The guard only growls a bit and then steps to one side. Attonnan enters the thrown room. It is just as he remembers it from his first day here. A large room with huge pillars lining the sidewalls. The same two banners of black with the red handprint are hanging there. And the same two huge black wolves are sitting at either side of the thrown. As he walks in they growl at him but Fuma who is sitting on the thrown only pets them along the head to silence them. Also in the room are Lady Elana, and master Iyasu.

  “Ah, Attonnan, I had no real intention of talking to you until after tonight, it seems however that you have come to find me a bit early.” he says and waves his hand for Attonnan to join him near the thrown.