“Okay,” Mel said breathlessly, “We’ve tried them individually, we’ve tried any combination of small groups, and we’ve even tried to overwhelm them with all of us at once.”
“That last one almost worked,” remarked Deborah.
“Right,” Mel continued. “So what we need to do is not all try to slip through. We need to only try and get one of us through.”
“Eve or Silas,” Nic commented. “They’re the smallest and would most likely be able to slip past in the confusion.”
Silas bristled at this comment. “Let it be Eve. I want to keep at this.”
Eve smirked, “Sadist! Fine, I’ll take the hole if you can make it.” At this, her smirk turned into a wicked grin.
“Alright,” Deborah perked up, “who do we go for?”
Mel reviewed their options. “Yero does this for a living; training I mean. Rock has that blasted staff and easily held off Deb and Nic when they went for him. Fleet of Foot is fast and wiry. First Thunder has a lot of muscle to spare. However, I think he may be our best target. He swings broadly and relies on his size to intimidate. If we all fervently engage him then he’ll have to make his defending strokes even broader, leaving Eve room to slip through.”
They all agreed and without hesitation rushed over to mob First Thunder. Their combat was sloppy, as only Mel had participated in a few weekend fencing lessons offered through the high school over a year ago. However, their few days of training while in the Crossroads was starting to pay off even through their inexperience. They also battled with enthusiasm. Yet, First Thunder kept them at bay. Then Mel started grouping his shots with Deborah’s. Then Nic caught on to the strategy and concentrated his attacks on First Thunder’s left side along with them. Silas too moved over to the far left and feigned trying to escape, but clumsily.
First Thunder nearly burst into laughter when he realized all but one of the children were in easy reach for one mighty swipe. It was time to teach the children a lesson about spreading out your forces better. With a bellowing roar, First Thunder extended his right hand, swinging his sword to encompass his attackers. Then, just as his swing passed its apex, Eve dodged to the right. First Thunder saw the movement and started to pull back the might of his blow so as to be able to defend against the strike he thought Eve was getting ready to deliver. Eve didn’t strike, though; she ran through the gap between First Thunder and the wall, and was down the corridor behind him in a breath’s passing. He turned his head slightly to see Eve sprinting away and growled.
The blow he had intended to sweep the rest of the children against the wall now lacked sufficient force and was countered by a well-placed staff on Deborah’s part. Silas began a series of rapid blows aimed squarely at First Thunder’s shield. Deborah pushed on First Thunder’s sword arm with her staff. Meanwhile, Nic and Mel danced in and out of each other’s ways as they aimed sword blows at First Thunder’s midsection and legs. They were harrying him effectively, yet not overwhelming him. However, at the moment when First Thunder was bracing himself to rush forward and grab at the children, Eve’s wooden sword swung up from behind him and smacked him in the groin. Even through the protective leathers First Thunder felt the force of the hit and fell to one knee gasping. Eve’s second blow hit him in the right temple, and First Thunder crumbled.
Mel, Nic, and Silas backed away from their sister and First Thunder. All of them were cringing. Deborah regarded Eve with a great amount of shock. Eve shrugged at them all.
“What?” she said, exasperated. “I learned it from the sheriff’s self-defense course.”
“Did you kill him?” Silas asked.
Eve sneered as First Thunder groaned. “Please, though he may feel the need to be dead when he tries to walk.”
“Uh, hey, guys,” Nic spoke up, trying to get everybody’s attention. He pointed to the other three trainers jogging over to them. “We should run,” he said matter-of-factly. And they did.
*
That night over dinner most of them tried not to laugh as Yero told the story in the Way House dining room. Fleet of Foot didn’t, however. First Thunder had a bruise developing on his head and a pouch of ice between his legs. He grumbled under his breath as the story came to a conclusion.
Rock leaned over to First Thunder and whispered, “Father always warned you about being overly confident and of extending yourself too far.”
Those within earshot smiled broadly and tried harder to stifle their laughter.
David let a small grin play upon his lips and looked over to Eve. “Who would have thought those self-defense courses would have paid off in this manner?”
Fleet of Foot was finally able to bring himself under control as Yero began speaking once more. “It seems you all take to lessons well. I’d like to help more, but our patrol is heading out again tomorrow. I commend you for your working together and pressing what advantages you had. Mel, you have a tactician's mind, and Eve, your tenacity will protect you well. Nic and Silas, your sword strokes are starting to show more control. Deborah, you’ve got blocking with that staff down really well. There is more work to be done, however, and I suggest you keep practicing every day.
“I want to point out to you that the other side receives training as well. They are taught similar lessons, and they won’t hesitate to fight dirty and kill. You did right to run when you saw us coming to First Thunder’s aid. Most of your weapons work is rudimentary, and in order to become truly effective you will need to practice so that actions become reflexes. Again, I wish I could help you more. . .”
Rock stood and clamped his hand on Yero’s shoulder, “Never fear, good warrior; my brothers and I will educate these young ones. You see to the realm.”
Shortly thereafter the children helped the Coterie brothers clean up. While they did so, Yero pulled David aside.
“We had four council members show up today,” he said, his voice laced lightly with stress. “Each house has brought around fifty or more men. We’ve started setting up tents around Council Rock. We’ve word to expect at least five more council members tomorrow; they did not indicate the size of their parties. The king will hold to a meeting tomorrow with the current council members and the proxies of those not present.
“I hear you plan on having some of your children attend the council meetings.” Here Yero paused as David nodded his head. “Last night the king had a meeting with General Kolk, and all throughout the day today I’ve seen members of the army personally loyal to the king and Kolk lurking around on no specific task. I believe the Lord Avrant has taken an interest in you and your family. I would suggest you not bring any of your children to this first meeting of the council. If you do choose to bring your children thereafter, I would limit the number to one or two. I think it goes without saying that you are to be the only one armed. In addition, know this; Lieutenant Hogan has used what influence he has to help select a few of the guards to be present in the council meetings. They are men from our patrol and have been asked to ‘assist’ you by protecting yours if something outrageous should happen during the council meetings.”
“Thank you,” David replied. “I hope your association with me is not affecting your standing.”
Yero waved the words away. “I’m not an elf, sir; my standing in this kingdom is as high as it is going to get. Besides, several years ago, my actions foiled an assassination plot. My Captaincy is my reward and one the king is honor bound not to revoke. Be warned, though; should the king really want to know about you, I’m sure he’ll eventually ask Hogan or myself about our time with you. However, as you’ve conducted yourself above reproach, there is nothing the king’s watcher, Hogan, or I could report that would alarm him.”
David bowed his head deeply and said, “Thank you for all your help. I will follow your advice and leave my children in the care of the Coterie brothers tomorrow while I attend the reopening of council alone. Before you leave I would like to ask one more favor of you.”
Yero nodded, indicating that David should cont
inue. David pulled out a small, flat leather envelope sealed with an elaborate ribbon of wax.
“My wife and I were separated when we crossed from our world. I’ve received news that she is headed for Dauntalus. Unfortunately, the messenger could not bear a message from me to her. Do you know of a trusted messenger that could take this letter to her? I’m not sure where she will be within the Central Kingdom, but I’m certain she should be there soon if not already. I know it is a lot to ask of a messenger, but I would be willing to compensate graciously as I can.”
Yero smiled and took the letter. “Actually, I know of a messenger that would appreciate such a challenge. Are you familiar with the nisse?”
A look of shock covered David’s face. “I have only heard of them. When I was here last some talked of them, but I did not encounter any.”
“I am not surprised. The nisse hardly mingle with the other races. They are more reclusive than the limnaid or polyheme.”
“Aye,” David chimed in, “but I’ve fought alongside the polyheme in a campaign in the far north during the Season of a Thousand Crossings. During that time, I also saw a delegation of the limnaid. Are you saying that the messenger you have is nisse?”
“Yes, a more outgoing lad that my family has known for years. He’ll carry your letter to the capital and be able to take the time to locate your wife. Should I instruct him to wait for a reply?”
“I would like to establish ongoing contact with her, but I don’t know how long my business here will take or how long it will take to track my wife down. I could very well be on the road by the time he got back here. I know I am to go to Dauntalus at some point in the near future. No, don’t have him wait. My letter does not really require a response, and we can talk about it when we meet face to face once more.”
Yero bowed. “Very well. Now, if that is all I must make sure my patrol is ready for the morning.”
“Thank you, you’ve done plenty. You’ve been a great help to my family and to me.”
Yero left David then, and David retired to his room to get himself ready for the next day.
Chapter 19
Just south of Council Rock lay the hamlet of Ven, the true seat of power in the Seventh Kingdom. Here the people lived solitary lives, doing in public what must be done and then retreating to their homes. In the least assuming house, near the town’s storage silos, resided a small man of great girth. He was known by the townspeople as the Bean Counter, as it was his job to monitor the intake and outflow of the food silos. No one doubted his honesty, as nobody was left wanting and the castle proper just over the hill never sent complaints about the flow of food. However, people were not quite comfortable with him and were often polite, yet guarded, in his presence.
The townspeople didn’t know that he wasn’t a man or even a person. They didn’t know that the Bean Counter was a demon commonly known as the Manipulator (or called by his master, Falsifien). They didn’t even suspect that such a deception could occur. Neither did they know that the Manipulator fed them more than grain; the demon also served into their lives vices that kept them cloistered in their homes. These vices, fueled by lesser and greater demons, kept the people quiet and let the Manipulator do his true work of undermining the Seventh Kingdom.
Everywhere else in the Seventh Kingdom, the abundance of food was lessening and the coffers of the local lords were growing. The king’s spies reported that the lords were selling crops without reporting income and hoarding excessive quantities for themselves. Monies were entering the kingdom, but no taxes were being paid. The king sent out collectors to call out the local lords, but the landholders denied any wrongdoing. They provided faked ledgers, accused the gaeders of failing to maintain crops, and accused the Void’s forces of stripping fields. The cycle continued with Falsifien feeding Lord Avrant the truth and then making sure the local lords could provide irrefutable evidence to the counter.
Then the Sword Bearer arrived. Instead of becoming undone, Falsifien welcomed the challenge. The demon knew the Truth Wielder’s brood were to be the new rulers of the Crossroads and whispered as much to the king. The other lords were not given the truth; however, the story they were fed involved a threat to their position within the governance of the kingdom and their properties. To them, the Truth Blade represented an accounting of their actions that they could not falsify. The local lords acted predictably. Local garrisons were armed, bulked up with sell swords, and prepared for the eventualities of war. All, Falsifien smirked, orchestrated from an unassuming little house in the town of Ven.
*
A week passed. The remaining the council members had finally arrived. Council was now in full swing, but the lengthy bickering and observance of tradition seemed to multiply and the true purpose of the council was yet to be discussed. David, being a working man and not a politician, tried to quietly endure until he felt he was needed. When at first he started to bring his children to the meetings, the council members were riled at the observers. However, the king defended David’s children’s right to be present, to the surprise of both David and the councilors.
Had David known that King Avrant suspected the truth about the Koens’ destiny in the Crossroad, he would not have brought his children into council at all. Falsifien’s whispers of the new twelve and the opportunity for Avrant to rule absolutely both haunted and sugared his dreams every night. He had begun to correspond with sympathetic members of the family, though he had yet to hear back from them. Until then, he would watch the Truth Blade and his brood, gathering all the information he could. David’s insistence on having his oldest children there provided the king with an opportunity to observe them directly, instead of through General Kolk’s army spies.
However, Avrant would not get to personally observe many members of the Koen family. Of the five oldest children, only Deborah, Mel, and Nic regularly attended council. Eve detested attending and only did so when her father insisted that she try again. He shared with her his own dislike of politics and won her over a few times. Silas only attended once, and then only until the afternoon recess. He found all the members of council to be detestable and felt the king came off as conniving. He refused to enter the tent again and when David pushed, Silas told him flatly that he would never rule a kingdom in such a manner and would study so he could find another way.
Therefore, Deb, Mel, and Nic filled seats next to their father most of the time and discussed with him their observations. Both Deborah and Mel watched the proceedings in the context of the United States’ own political circus. After meetings they would discuss with their father the similarities and differences. Nic, on the other hand, was showing himself to be a keen tactician. After attending council, he would point out to his father the growing alliances and the deeply rooted hatreds. David had the aid of the Sword of Truth to help him filter through the lies and half-truths that were flying around the council tent. Nic, however, was able to pick up on many of these even without the sword’s help.
*
The week wore on. The children became immersed with study as Hogan found an aged dwarf tutor, Zilda, who was willing to share her knowledge with the Koens. She was told they were fairly new to the Crossroads, and thus she spent a great deal of time teaching them geography, xenobiology, and (briefly) politics. Outside this, she tested the oldest five in universal arithmetic, encouraged them to learn to read Trade Speak (a muddled blend of the various languages from all the different races), and when David insisted, gave them lessons on different system of government. For everyone else, except Jeremiah, she brought in specially made books to train the children’s minds to read both English and Trade Speak, so she could further their knowledge of math and science.
Jeremiah challenged Zilda daily. Within the week, he was easily deciphering the English/Trade Speak books and was asking for books in the other languages. He quickly absorbed the science and math Zilda taught to the younger children, surprising the tutor, his father, his siblings, and even himself. He was eventually given projects to
do with the older Koens. He seemed to absorb everything he touched. The only subject he didn’t seem to excel in was weapons training.
*
As another week began, the children grew accustomed to their training drills and their skills grew. The older children began to favor certain weapons, and the Coterie brothers tailored their training to include more focus on those armaments. The youngest Koens were still given the broadest training, in deference to traditional Coterie practices and David’s insistence that they know how to defend themselves, yet not necessarily become full-fledged warriors. The Coterie excelled at training young children to become fighters.
In addition to the Coterie brothers’ skills, many of the children threw themselves into their physical exercises in order to take their mind off many things: missing their mother; not fully understanding where they were; fighting back fears; and seeing God in a new light. Thus the training was starting to pay off. Reflexes were becoming faster. What was at first strenuous work was becoming less tiring. Eyes were becoming keener, and the children were instinctively becoming able to adapt to changes in the landscape when running or dueling.
*
The days were busy and helped keep the children’s and David’s minds distracted. However, the nights were times of loneliness, fear, and longing. For David, he had a valuable asset to lean upon in order to make life bearable. In his loneliness, in his longing, in his moments of uncertainty, he could hold tight to the Sword of Truth and hear the promises of God resounding in his ears. He felt the warmth of the Lord’s love and knew he was walking down the right path. However, he could not share the physical presence of the sword with his children, for it was an angelic weapon not meant for the hands of earthly rulers until the end of days. Thus David drew strength from the sword and then, like every other father, went to his children to comfort them in their times of trouble.
The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) Page 17