by Chuck Black
All the while, Leinad was studying Fairos. He was a formidable foe. He fought ruthlessly and aggressively. It was a style Leinad was not accustomed to. There were clearly no rules of engagement to which Fairos adhered, and thus Leinad fought with strength tempered by caution.
The castle guards were no longer jesting or talking. Silence gripped them as this duel of mastery unfolded. They moved closer to the fight and gawked in surprise over the skill this slave possessed.
“You fight well,” Fairos said after Leinad thwarted yet another attack. “Where did you learn to fight?”
“I was taught by my father, sir.”
Leinad took the opportunity to test an offensive combination. A cut, a slice, and a cut followed by a quick thrust nearly landed his blade in Fairos’s shoulder, but a last-second parry deflected the blade just to the right of his arm. Leinad longed for the well-balanced strength of his own sword. In a duel of such closely matched skill, even the smallest hindrance could mean defeat.
Fairos laughed with delight. “You’ve been holding back, boy!”
Fairos began fighting with a new level of intensity and seemed to hold nothing back. Leinad now faced the full aggression of a battle-experienced warrior.
The guards and Quinn watched intently as the ferocious fight between boy and castle lord wore on.
Both men were breathing hard and sweating profusely. The physical strain was tremendous for both of them, and Leinad was beginning to struggle. He was fighting for his life now, and though his training was exceptional, it was clear that he was not the equal of Lord Fairos.
Fairos brought advance after advance, putting Leinad in constant retreat. Leinad’s sword flew to meet each cut, but his strength and will were faltering. Fairos seemed to sense victory approaching and pressed even harder. Leinad managed to counter with a cut and a reserved thrust, but Fairos parried the thrust and countered with a powerful slice. Leinad recovered just in time to meet the massive blow with his sword. The swords collided, and Leinad’s sword snapped midway down the blade.
Fairos coiled back for the final blow. Leinad readied himself for death, but he did not cower. Filling his lungs with a final breath, he stood tall and looked Fairos square in the eyes. Fairos appeared surprised by the response. His sword was raised and ready to strike, but it did not move.
Quinn turned away, not wanting to witness the death of his newfound companion.
“Kill him, Father! Kill him!” Leinad heard Fairos’s son yell from the side of the arena.
The sun gleamed off the raised blade of the bloodthirsty warrior, but Fairos’s countenance changed and he lowered his sword.
“Relax, boy. You will live another day,” he said to Leinad, less condescending than a short time ago. “All of my guards have faced the steel of my sword early in their service to me. They fear me, boy. Do you?”
Fairos did not wait for an answer but turned to face his castle guards and called to them. “Who among you will fight this boy to the death?”
Fairos’s only response from the men was silence and down-turned eyes.
“That’s what I thought,” Fairos said. “That is why … what’s your name, boy?”
“I am Leinad.”
“That is why Leinad will become your trainer. I do not have the time to train you effectively, and the boy is obviously capable. For training exercises, you will do exactly as he says.” Fairos glared at his men. “Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Lord Fairos,” came their unanimous reply.
“Leinad, tomorrow you will begin training my guards. The captain of the guards will schedule individual training with each one. You are still a slave here, but if you serve me well, that can change.” Fairos stared hard into Leinad’s eyes. “Kneel and swear your allegiance to me so that I know there will be no treachery from you within my castle.”
The voice of his father whispered in Leinad’s heart. “I cannot swear my allegiance to you, sir, for it belongs to one man only … the King of Arrethtrae. But I swear by the honor of my father that I will train your men without deceit, as you desire.”
Fairos’s eyes narrowed. “As far as you are concerned, boy, I am your king.”
Leinad’s resolve was evident, but Fairos clearly did not want to lose an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of his force by unnecessarily killing the talented youth.
“But for now, I will accept your word.” Fairos called for his servants. “Take the boy, feed him, and clean him up.”
“Sir,” Leinad said, “there is one request I would humbly ask of you to improve the effectiveness of the training.”
Fairos stared at Leinad. “What is it?”
“The captain of your guards took possession of my sword when I became a slave here. I humbly ask for it to be returned so that I may carry out your wishes to my utmost.” Leinad wondered if he’d crossed the line.
Fairos hesitated and then turned to the captain of the guards. “Keston, return the sword. When you can best him, it is yours again.”
Fairos left the courtyard with his son under his arm.
As Keston reluctantly handed the magnificent sword over, the sneer on his face made it quite clear to Leinad the depth of bitterness this humiliation caused the man. Leinad had just made an enemy, and he made a mental note never to turn his back on Keston.
Leinad was pleased to resume training with his own sword, but his spirit was also troubled. By his expertise, Fairos’s power and influence would grow. Should I have accepted death to prevent Fairos’s expansion? What will my fellow slaves think of me? What will become of Tess now that I am not there to protect her? What would the King of Arrethtrae want … the King that I have never seen?
This turn of events was completely unexpected, and Leinad felt uneasy with his new position. It was a path he never anticipated. It was a path he felt ill-prepared to take.
A SAVAGE BATTLE
Living conditions for Leinad improved greatly once he became Fairos’s trainer. All of the amenities of the castle were his, though his conscience prohibited him from indulging beyond his needs. He was even allowed a certain amount of freedom as Fairos’s trust in him grew. However, his heart was ever upon the slaves beyond the castle’s inner walls. He was able to get Tess assigned to lighter duty, but it was small compensation for the hardship he knew she was enduring. He asked Quinn to watch out for her when he could not. Although he was bound by his word, the thought of true and complete freedom was always on his mind. Even though he might find a way to escape, he knew he could never leave without Tess.
Leinad trained Fairos’s men daily, imitating the training his father had given him. The guards improved dramatically and were quickly becoming a skilled and disciplined force. Fairos told Leinad that he was pleased with the transformation.
“My power in Nyland and in the kingdom is growing,” he said to Leinad in an unguarded moment. “I will be the most powerful man in the land!”
One day, Leinad’s training was interrupted by an alarm from the guard stationed on the southeast watch-tower. “Rider approaching!”
There was urgency in the rider’s approach, and Keston halted the training sessions and reported this news to Fairos. Fairos entered the courtyard just as the rider charged through the gate.
He jumped from his horse and quickly knelt before Fairos. “My Lord Fairos, have mercy.”
“Rise and speak,” Fairos commanded.
The man stood and drew a deep breath. “I was sent by the people of the Valley of Nan. We received word that the Eminafs were approaching our valley. With almost no defenses, our only hope was to leave the valley and find protection, so we set out for Nyland two days ago. The Eminafs have discovered us, and their entire force is nearly upon us. Please, Lord Fairos, help us! They are a vicious people, and no one will survive if you do not help.”
“Who are the Eminafs?” Leinad asked.
Fairos turned toward Leinad, and concern was on his face. “They are bloodthirsty nomadic warriors. They travel from region to
region, killing and stealing everything they find. In times past we have suffered the edge of their swords as well.” He paused for a moment, then turned back to the messenger.
“How many of your people are there?” he asked. “Two hundred, maybe.”
Leinad knew that Fairos would never take a risk without the possibility of gaining more in return. Regardless of the motives of Fairos, he knew that he needed to help save the people of Nan.
“I called the Valley of Nan home once, Lord Fairos,” Leinad said. “These people helped me. Please let me go and help them.”
Leinad could see that Fairos was intensely focused as he considered the situation. It was at times like this that Leinad understood why Fairos was the powerful man he was. He began to speak his thoughts.
“Once the Eminafs are finished with the people of Nan, Nyland and my castle will become their next target.” Fairos paused. “I will not wait and let them lay siege to my castle or destroy my land. Most of the Eminafs will not be mounted, but we will be, so we will attack them on the plains in the open. Though they may outnumber us, we will have the advantage.” He turned to Leinad. “With the skills you have honed in my men, we will destroy the Eminafs once and for all! Keston, prepare the men—we leave immediately!”
All but a handful of guards were soon mounted and exiting the castle across the drawbridge. Leinad found the familiar eyes of his friend and read the concern in her countenance. All he could do to reassure Tess was to nod and wink. Quinn stood beside her and returned Leinad’s farewell with a casual salute.
Fairos’s army rode east toward the Valley of Nan. Most of the men wore helmets and armor. Leinad wore a leather tunic and carried only his sword. He had tried the armor once, but did not like how it slowed his movements and restricted his vision.
“How far out are your people?” Fairos shouted to the messenger above the sound of galloping horses.
“No more than an hour’s ride, my lord.”
As Fairos’s force of nearly two hundred men crested a hill, Leinad felt anxiety in his stomach. A battle scene was unfolding before them. The people of Nan were a short distance from the base of the hill that Fairos’s forces were descending. The vicious Eminafs were nearly upon them, and their savage cry filled the air. Those that were mounted led the barbaric army, but once they saw Fairos’s men, they fell back with the rest of their ground warriors before resuming their advance. Leinad estimated that the Eminafs outnumbered them two to one.
“To battle!” Fairos yelled as he led the charge down the hill toward the advancing Eminafs.
His men shouted in unison and drew their swords. Never having experienced a real battle, Leinad wanted to stay close to Fairos and learn quickly how to fight and survive.
The people of Nan were sandwiched between two forces, each screaming and charging with weapons before them. They continued their flight toward Fairos and up the hill.
Fairos ordered his men to split into a left and right flank to allow the people of Nan passage through their charge. The division put them at an immediate advantage by allowing them to engage the Eminafs on two fronts. Leinad and half of the men followed Fairos to the right, while Keston led the other half to the left.
Just moments before the Eminafs would have crushed the people of Nan, Fairos and his men engaged the bloodthirsty warriors with full force. The distinct line of forces quickly dissolved into a wild mesh of crashing steel and armor.
Leinad thought the mere sight of the Eminafs up close was enough to unsettle even the bravest of men. Their faces were painted to appear as skeletons. Wild hair flowed from their heads in an unnatural orange-brown color. Almost none of them wore armor, and their swords were sinister, with extra short blades protruding from the handle guards. What Leinad found most unsettling, though, was their shrill battle cry.
The mounted Eminafs were the first to engage and the first to fall. The advantage of Fairos’s mounted men over the Eminafs’ ground forces was significant indeed, and the numbers soon became equal. The Eminafs turned to attacking the horses of Fairos’s men to equalize their fighting position. Leinad’s own steed was taken out as well, and he found himself on foot in the midst of the deadly battle.
Leinad focused on each encounter while maintaining awareness outside his own arena. The recent months of fine-tuning his skills rewarded him. Sword fight after sword fight, his blade flew to vanquish these warriors of terror.
Fairos’s men fought superbly because of the training Leinad had given them. As the battle wore on, the Eminafs began to falter and attempted a retreat, but Fairos pursued them with his men that were still mounted and gave no mercy. Their casualties were minimal compared to the decimation of the Eminafs. The battle belonged completely to Fairos.
Upon his return, the men cheered Fairos in their triumph. He sought Leinad out and praised him for the excellent training he had given the men. Leinad was thankful to have saved his people, but the bitter taste of battle was hard to swallow.
Fairos and his men escorted the people of Nan through Nyland and on toward the castle. Fairos allowed them to camp a short distance from the castle and even provided food and fresh water, but Leinad became concerned, for he knew the heart of Fairos. Leinad visited the people in their camp and talked to their leaders.
“You must leave this land at once!” he told them.
“The people are weary, and we have nowhere to go,” one of the men said. “This is good land. Here is where we will make our home.”
“You don’t understand! Once Fairos is organized and ready, he will make slaves of you all. Then you will never be able to leave!”
Just as Leinad finished speaking, Fairos and fifty of his men rode into camp. His face of compassion was gone. He approached the circle of men and remained on his horse.
“Leinad, wandering a bit far from the castle, aren’t we?” he said with a patronizing tone. “I wonder what brings you out here today?”
He spoke harshly to the men standing before Leinad. “Gather your people so they can hear me.”
Within a few moments, the people of Nan were gathered together, and Fairos’s men quietly encircled them.
“Fairos, please don’t do this,” Leinad said as he saw the inevitable unfold. Fairos ignored him.
“People of Nan, I hope your stay here has been a pleasant one,” he shouted for all to hear. “Because from this moment forward, you will be my slaves.”
The people’s voices rose in alarm and petition. Fairos gave his men a signal, and they all drew their swords. The people hushed to silence.
“You have no place to go and no food to eat. I will give you both, and in exchange you will work for me. Work hard and you will live. Work sluggishly and you will be punished. Try to escape and you will die! Do you understand?”
Once again the people murmured angrily in protest, but the guards closed in on them. Leinad felt anger mounting within him.
“Fairos, you cannot do this to these people,” Leinad exclaimed. “They came to you helpless, and now you turn them into slaves? What kind of a man are you?”
Fairos glared down at Leinad. “I am a man of great power, Leinad, and you are forgetting who you are!” Fairos’s anger eased slightly. “Return to the castle before you do something we will both regret.”
Leinad did not restrain his own anger. “If you enslave these people, I will no longer train your men!”
“What a shame, Leinad,” Fairos said with contempt. “You could have been one of my best, but instead you will be a slave once more, and your people will suffer for your insolence.” He turned to Keston. “Remove his sword, put him in peasant clothes, and take him to the wall. Tell the overseers to watch him closely. No longer will any of my men speak the name of Leinad. His name is slave!”
“Yes, my lord … gladly!” Keston smiled vengefully as he dismounted and removed the coveted sword. He ordered two guards to strip him. Keston escorted Leinad to the overseers and found numerous opportunities to strike him along the way.
“Mark my words, slave,” Keston said as he struck Leinad across the back with the pommel of Leinad’s sword. “Now that I have recovered my sword, a day is coming when I will recover my honor as well by killing you!”
JOURNEY TO DEATH
Many months passed, and the yoke of slavery was heavy for the people. Some wondered if death would be their only escape from the torment. Lord Fairos’s men increased their use of the whip to attain the level of productivity they desired. No one was exempt from punishment—not the old, not the sick, not the children.
The heat was stifling, the air heavy, damp, and still. In spite of the oppression, Leinad and Tess usually mustered the energy to pass an encouraging word to everyone they encountered during their labor.
“Leinad,” Tess said softly one day, “our people are dying. Is there no one who cares? Is there no one who can deliver us from this bondage? I try to encourage the people, but it seems hopeless.”
Tess’s words were hard for Leinad to hear, for he was a young man dealing with intense guilt. His skill with the sword had saved the people, but it was also what had delivered them into bondage—a bondage that appeared to have no end. It was his sense of responsibility for Tess and for the people that kept him going.
“I will find a way out of—”
“Move it!” an overseer shouted to an old man as he struggled to carry a brick up a slight incline to the wall.
Leinad and Tess turned to see what poor soul was to be the focus of the abuse that was sure to come. The old man tried to quicken his pace, but he stumbled and fell. The overseer uncoiled his whip and struck the browned bare back. The old man moaned in pain and tried to recover, but the overseer cursed and laid another lash into the bleeding flesh.
Leinad’s guilt quickly transformed into anger—anger that rivaled what he felt when the Dark Knight killed his father. Leinad ran to the old man and arrived just in time to thwart another whiplash. He now stood between the old man and his aggressor.