“A pleasure to meet you.” Gen was happy to see that blood spattered from his speech onto the large boy's robes.
Aaron checked his next punch. What was wrong with this boy? He didn't understand what was going on. The new boy was supposed to be crying and scared, so that Aaron could let him know that he was in charge around here. He took a step back as blood splattered onto his robes. He would retreat now and attack again when he understood what was going on.
“I'm in charge around here. If you know what's good for you, you'll show me some respect.” Aaron took another step back.
“I'll keep that in mind.” Gen reached up, before he could rethink himself, and grabbed his nose firmly in between his fingers. He pulled sharply to the side and reset his broken nose. The pain was almost more than he could take. Keep standing Gen. You've been through worse than this. Don't let them see weakness. Remember your training. His eyes were watering so badly he could barely see. He showed more teeth in his smile and aimed his eyes at the blurry vision of Aaron. He hoped he looked menacing enough. He didn't have the energy for a fight right now. His muscles still felt sore and raw.
“If that is all, I must find my room.” Gen stepped around the trio of bullies and headed, he hoped, in the direction of the dorms. No one stopped him. He would deal with Aaron tonight. He couldn't allow himself to be bullied; he didn't have time for it.
He found his room easily enough. It was simple and small. The dorms were in a large stone building split into four wings, two for boys and two for girls he assumed. His door had no lock though it was built of thick wood with heavy iron hinges. His furniture consisted of a bed, a desk, a wash-table with a small mirror, a small wardrobe, and a single chair. He tossed his pack onto the bed and used the washbasin to clean the blood from his face. He knew he wouldn't be able to breathe through his nose for a while. It was an annoyance he would have to put up with. He looked in the mirror and could see the bruises starting to form under his eyes. He pulled off his blood covered shirt and put it in the washbasin to soak. He pulled a clean shirt from his pack and pulled it on over his head. In the wardrobe, he found several pegs for hanging clothes. He hung his other pair of pants and placed his undergarments on the shelf above the pegs. He put his pack in the bottom and closed the doors. In the desk, he found a small, leather-bound book of blank pages along with a full inkwell and several quills. The peal of a large bell drew his attention to the window. The window had no glass but was covered by heavy shutters with a simple iron latch. He opened the shutters and looked out. The bell rang six times and the grounds outside his room filled quickly with students of all ages. Gen had no idea so many people were here. Other than Aaron and his gang, he had seen no other students since he had arrived. They must have been in class, he thought.
“You new?” The voice came from the door. Gen turned around and saw that it came from a boy of about sixteen years of age. He was wide at the shoulders and Gen could see his well calloused hands from his grip on the door-frame. He wore gray robes that looked well worn. He had dark hair, cut short.
“Yes, Sir,” Gen managed with a short bow.
“Time to eat. It's in the large building next to the north wing of the girls' dorms.” He smiled down at Gen. “I would take ya there, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Most everyone is headed there so I'm sure you'll find it. Good luck!” He nodded and left the doorway to continue on down the hall.
Gen looked around the small room. He walked out into the hall and closed the door behind him. He referenced the map he remembered and found the dining hall easily enough. The room was huge, large wooden tables with matching benches lined up throughout. The tables held large pitchers of drink, juice of some kind, Gen guessed. Students picked up empty metal trays and empty mugs, and then sat themselves down in groups. Gen noticed that people mostly sat with others wearing the same colored robes. He took a tray, a mug, and sat off to the side in the back of the room. He didn't like that he was the only one not wearing robes. It made him stand out and he didn't need to stand out just yet. The hall filled quickly, and it wasn't long before the doors at the back of the room opened. Gen looked through the opening and glimpsed a large row of ovens. Young students wearing brown robes came from the kitchen and started setting large bowls of food upon the tables. It was more food than Gen had seen in a long time. Bowls heaping with mashed potatoes, platters covered with what looked to be baked chicken, bowls of green beans, and many other vegetables covered the tables. He waited till last and filled his tray with small portions. It wouldn't do to eat too much; it would only make him fat and slow. He couldn't afford to be slow. He did indulge himself in an extra helping of chicken though, telling himself he needed the extra meat after the light meals he had eaten on the journey here. No one joined him in his corner and he was thankful for it. He ate all he had taken upon his tray. The pitcher at his table held water and he drank his fill. He looked up to find that he was the only one finished with eating. Students seemed to take their time with meals. They talked as they ate or read. The sound of the filled room slowly rose to a roar that made Gen's head hurt. Finally, another student finished his meal. He carried his tray over to the back of the room and slid it into a small slot in the wall. He placed the mug in the slot after it and left the room. Gen waited till several others had done the same, then stood and followed suit. When he left the hall, he found that the sun had set and night was coming quickly. Time for work.
Gen looked down from the roof of the girls' dorms. It had taken a while to find the joints in the stonework deep enough for him to climb, but he had found them. He had been up here several minutes. Finally, he saw who he had been waiting for. Aaron exited the hall, loudly belching and laughing with his friends. Gen followed him from the roof. No one ever looks up. Gen shook his head and followed his mark. He had to drop down after Aaron went into the west wing of the boys' dorms. The crowd was sufficient to hide in, and even though he wore no robes, he found that as long as he walked steadily, the other students paid him no mind. He marked Aaron's room in his mind and quickly left the hall and returned to the roof to wait.
A few hours later and night had set in fully. The grounds were quiet. Gen climbed down from the roof and quietly eased open the door to the west dorm. There were no lights, but Gen's night vision was good enough that he could make out the walls from the moonlight filtering in the windows at the end of the hall. He found Aaron's room and slowly tested the latch. It opened quietly and Gen whispered thanks to whoever had oiled it recently. Aaron had left the shutters in his room open and the moonlight shone brightly into the room. Aaron lay stark naked upon the simple bed in the room, snoring loudly. Gen cursed himself for not bringing any rope with him, but he didn't have any in his pack and didn't know where to get any. He would have to improvise. It took time, but he managed to quietly ease the sheet out enough to tie one of Aaron's hands to the headboard. He used his shirt to tie his other hand up. He found Aaron's small clothes on the floor and picked them up in his left hand. He held the cloth close to Aaron's face then quickly slapped the boy, hard across the face. When the boy's eyes opened, Gen shoved the small clothes into the boy's mouth. It wouldn't be the best gag but it would do for now. Aaron tried to yell through the gag but nothing more than a muffled murmur escaped. Gen drew his small knife and held it before Aaron's eyes. He let the moonlight reflect in the well polished blade. Aaron stopped fighting and grew still.
“You see this?” Gen turned the blade in the moonlight. Aaron nodded his head, his eyes wide.
“I don't have time for you or your little games. If you mess with me again, I'll cut your throat. Do you understand me?”
Aaron was frozen with fear. His eyes were locked on the knife.
“Maybe you didn't hear me. Perhaps I should give you a louder, more permanent message. Gen dragged the tip of the knife down the boy's chest and stopped above his pelvis. “Perhaps I should cut this off so you are always reminded?”
That got a reaction. Aaron shook his head violently from s
ide to side.
“Good. Then we have an understanding. Goodnight.” Gen flipped the knife over and jammed the hilt hard into Aaron's head, right behind his jaw. He was out in an instant. Gen removed the gag and untied the boy. He put his shirt back on and felt for Aaron's pulse. It was still strong and his breathing was regular. Gen left the room quietly and walked the grounds. It wasn't safe to sleep in his own room tonight.
II
A loaf between friends
Sunshine poured its warming glow down through shimmering leaves to land reluctantly upon a thin boy sleeping up in the branches. Gen awoke to the sound of crying. He didn't move while letting his ears focus in on the sound. Heartfelt sobs came from the other side of the trunk below him. He sighed and slowly climbed down from the branches. Since he wasn't going to get any more sleep, he may as well find out what was wrong. Walking around the trunk, he discovered the source of the annoyance. A boy about his age was leaned up against the tree, his face buried in the crook of his arm. He had tan skin and tightly curled black hair. He wore dirt colored robes that appeared to be torn in a few places and stained with dirt and grass.
“What's a guy gotta do to find a quiet spot to sleep around here?” Gen broke his silence though he kept his tone light and jovial.
“I'm s-sorry.” The boy looked up scared and made to run away.
“Now hold on a moment here. It's rude to wake someone up and not even tell them your name!” Gen put on a smile and tried to look friendly.
“T-Thomas.” He tried to wipe his face on the inside of his robes but it did no good. His face, now that Gen could see it, was covered with cuts and bruises. One of his eyes was swollen nearly shut.
“Let me guess. Aaron's work?” Gen spit to the side.
Thomas nodded. “I don't recognize you. Are you new here?”
“I arrived here yesterday. Come with me. Let's take care of this.” Gen grabbed Thomas' hand and walked back toward the buildings of the Schola.
“Take care of what? Who are you?” Thomas just stumbled along after, too confused to do anything else.
“I'm sorry. How terribly rude of me.” Gen stopped and turned to Thomas, bowing slightly in an odd manner. “Gen Hothman.”
“Nice to meet you, Gen, but what did you mean you'll take care of this?”
“I mean Aaron. I think he's had free reign of this school for too long.” Gen's voice sounded cold to Thomas. It didn't seem to fit his young frame. When he met Gen's gaze, his eyes reflected that same cold. Thomas shuddered and retrieved his hand.
“Why would you do that for me? No one else seems to care what Aaron does to me. No one else but Meeka anyway, and she's not always around.”
Gen stopped and thought for a few moments. Finally he looked up. “How about a trade of services. I'll take care of Aaron and in return you show me around this place. Tell me how things work here. Deal?”
“I would do that even without you helping me. Though I don't know how you are going to help me. You aren't much bigger than me.”
Gen turned and walked away again. “Where did you see him last?”
“They were behind the kitchens, chasing the chickens there.”
Gen stopped to let Thomas catch up to him. “Lead the way then.”
They walked into the Schola proper through back alleys and paths that Gen made sure to pay attention to. He would have to come back later and explore all the ways in and around this place. Even with Thomas taking his time, they soon came to the back of the kitchens. Gen heard the sounds of panicked chickens and laughter. Well at least they were still there. Thomas stopped dead and Gen had to grab his hand once more to pull him around the corner. It didn't take long for Aaron's friends to spot them.
“Look who's back for more! And he's brought a friend! Look how they are holding hands. Isn't that cute!” Aaron turned from the chickens but his smile vanished when he saw who was with Thomas.
“Aaron. This one is mine. Touch him again and you will regret it.” Gen's voice was again like ice and Thomas could have sworn that he saw Aaron flinch at the sound of it. Who was this child? He couldn't be much older than he was. Why was he so scary?
“Ooooo looks like the new kid doesn't know his place. Show him Aaron! Yeah Aaron! Show him!” The laughs from Aaron's friends grated on Gen's nerves but he kept it from showing. This would go one of two ways. He didn't care much which way it went. The end result would be the same.
“I don't have time for this, Aaron. Call off your dogs and be gone from here.” Gen's eyes never left Aaron's. He kept them hard. He hadn't played the intimidation card much in his life yet but he had seen others do it many times. He hoped he got it right.
“Come on, guys. Lets find something else to do. This place stinks all of a sudden.” Aaron turned to leave.
“You're gonna just let him boss you around like that?” a skinny child with sandy blond hair and brown robes asked. Aaron grabbed the boy by the front of the robes and slapped him hard across the face with the back of his hand.
“Are you trying to tell me what to do? Get outta my face before I break yours!” Aaron pushed the child back and stormed off, his friends following quickly after. Thomas stood in stunned silence for a long time.
“How? How did you do that?” Thomas finally asked.
“Aaron and I worked out a deal last night,” Gen said, nonchalantly. He shrugged and walked toward the kitchen. “I think I could use a bite to eat. You hungry?”
“Don't change the subject. What kind of a deal did you work out?” Thomas moved to stand between Gen and the kitchen door.
“A simple one really.” Gen locked eyes with Thomas. “He stays out of my business and I don't cut parts of him off.” Gen stepped around Thomas and entered the kitchen. Thomas sat on the ground. Had he just made a powerful friend, or was he worse than Aaron? He sat and thought till the kitchen door opened and Gen returned with a large loaf of bread. He tore it in two and sat down next to Thomas, handing him half and taking a bite of his own. A friend then, thought Thomas.
III
Staff Training
The summer sun beat down upon the children seated in a semi-circle. They all wore simple cotton pants and short sleeved shirts. A lone adult stood at the focus of the circle. Sweat beaded upon his forehead but he seemed not to notice. He wore simple, soft leather armor and held an old and battered quarter-staff.
“The staff is the first weapon you will learn here. Can anyone tell me why?” The teacher’s voice rang out strong but was answered only by silence. Finally, one of the children raised his hand.
“Yes Thomas?”
“Because it's just a stick?”
“You are partially right. The staff is common and can be found easily upon the battlefield. Anyone else know why it is the first you will learn?” After more silence, a thin boy at the right end of the semi-circle raised his hand.
“Yes?”
“Many of the techniques are the same between the staff and other pole-arms.”
“Very good. You're Gen, correct?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Master Ambern. Welcome to the Schola.”
“Thank you.”
“Well it sounds like you know a thing or two about the staff. Would you care to demonstrate?”
The boy stood, walked to the center of the circle, and picked up the spare staff off the ground. He backed up a few paces and stood to the side, the end of the staff pointing at the teacher's face.
“Attack when ready.”
Gen started a slow circle facing Master Ambern studying his opponent's movements. Ambern was middle aged but well muscled. His forearms were over-sized, telling Gen he most likely trained with a longbow more than melee weapons. His boots showed wear more on the balls of his feet than the heels, telling him his opponent wouldn't easily be thrown off balance. He played out the combat in his mind and several ways he saw that he could win, though the man's greater size and obvious experience weighed heavily against him. He decided to play dumb and see how t
hat went. Gen rushed in at half speed and took a basic thrust at the teacher's face. Ambern countered it easily and Gen let his staff swing to the ground. He made a show of pulling it back to the ready.
“Good attack. Nice aim. Attacks at the opponent's face will sometimes throw them off.” Ambern spoke loudly over his shoulder to the group. “Again!”
Gen attacked again, this time with a slow feint to the teacher's feet followed by an attack again at his face. It was so irritating to project his movements and he hoped his irritation didn't show. Ambern once more blocked the blow easily, not fooled by the feint.
“Good. The feint can be useful if performed correctly.” Ambern bowed slightly to Gen. “Thank you. You may sit with the class again.” Gen placed the staff back on the ground and resumed his seat.
Master Ambern spoke at length about the weapon and went over some basic attacks and defenses. An hour later the bell rang from the tower to signify the end of class. Gen got up to leave with the rest of the students. He stopped when Ambern called his name. Gen walked to the teacher and they waited till the other students had left.
“Yes?”
“You were holding back today.” Ambern's expression held a deep frown.
“Why do you think that?” Gen kicked himself mentally for not hiding his irritation better. He would have to work on that.
“I know a thing or two about fighting.”
“I see.” Gen met the teacher’s gaze and dropped his masked expression. He went over the calming techniques and let his mind focus only on the present.
“I want you to fight me again without holding back. I have to know where your skill level is before I can train you.”
“Rules?”
The Dark Path Page 2