A moment of inattention will be all the Orachai will need to reach for their swords or a dagger. Though their massively clawed hands make it difficult for them to grasp and fire a revolver, they are quite adept with other weapons. And so, the Brethren do not take their eyes off them.
“I won’t argue with you over borders, Knight. You have killed our General in an unprovoked attack. That is true and trust me when I tell you that is how the council will see it. You should make haste. Our party is due to reconvene with us any moment. This will not easily be forgotten.”
“I ken then that you will omit your own bloody hands in the commission of foul deed? Perhaps Lieutenant would paint a better portrait to council ears?” says Germanicus in a thinly veiled threat. Bromethius exchanges a brief look with his Lieutenant, Barrabus, who seems unsure and indecisive. Bromethius does not take the threat well. He moves his clawed hand ever so slightly. It is all the excuse Germanicus needs. Germanicus fires less than a fraction of a second after he reaches for his gun, sending Bromethius brains out of the back of his thick skull and drenching the other Orachai in crimson. Bromethius falls to the ground with a hard thud.
The other Orachai are too stunned to move. To stifle a bloodbath, Barrabus, the Lieutenant, raises his clawed hands in submission. “I submit. I submit, knights. I can speak for the Orachai. Gaius had not the council’s approval for the murder of the Sandonistas and the procurement of unlawful slaves. I will paint accurate picture for Council ears of his own transgressions.” Whether the declaration is a lie or not, the Brethren backdown, uncocking their guns-but very cautiously, never taking their eyes off the Orachai.
Still dubious of Barrabus, their hands continue to rest on the butts of their revolvers. In a split second, they could reach for their revolvers and end the stalemate for good. They reluctantly defer to Germanicus and wait.
“Enough bloodshed. The council could take it, either way, knight. Trust me when I tell you that you need a sympathetic voice to stifle a major conflict. A truce can still be maintained, but with my death, that possibility becomes impossible,” advises Barrabus.
Germanicus holsters his revolver. “Ai. Go in peace than, Lieutenant.” The Brethren holster their weapons as well. The Orachai depart. One soldier stands sentry, facing the Brotherhood, ensuring the peace is maintained. The Brethren back up slowly along with those rescued, never taking their eyes off the Orachai. Porsia sobs into Germanicus’ dust filled jacket and then watches as the Orachai depart for good. For them, the nightmare isn’t over until they are out of sight.
Chapter 3: Dante’s New Home
Dante walks around the massive auditorium with Cammilia at his side, still unaccustomed to his surroundings. A sense of agoraphobia grips him with the forty-foot vaulted ceilings and dormitory that seems to stretch on endlessly, causing his head to spin. He slept in a cave that was barely twenty feet by ten, and the small dwelling gave him some sense of safety because he could immediately sense his enemy coming. In this large space, his enemies can intrude at any moment.
Thanks to Cammilia, he senses depth perception, object alignment and even contours. And he avoids the pitfalls of newfound blindness like dangerous falls and slamming into objects. He pats her head affectionately and immediately warms to her touch.
With her cubs dead, Dante instills in her a sense of purpose as a newly appointed guardian, and she relishes the role of a surrogate. Though the boy is small and weaker physically than her, she respects his cunning and intelligence and together they are a formidable team.
Dante senses his presence when he walks into the auditorium. Cammilia alerts him to the presence of his dog, Shadow, who like his namesake, shadows the Merlin constantly. She whines in a low pitch and wags her tail frantically.
Merlin seems to possess other-worldly and preternatural abilities. At one moment, he had just entered the auditorium, and the next moment he is standing near Dante. It would have seemed disconcerting to most, even if they had their sight. Dante, however, is mesmerized and comforted by the Knight. The story told by Sylvia confirms all that Dante had suspected of him; he was deadly and not to be trifled with. According to her, he had fired two guns near simultaneously on his hip, killing several soldiers in the process. And yet, the man is as blind as Dante himself. Dante longs for such power. If he had such power, he could defend himself against such assaults.
“With that much power comes great responsibility, Dante. Such powers come with a cost, and they must only be used for righteousness. It is the Oath that we must abide by. It is the Chivalric Code, the code all Knights are sworn by. Do you ken?”
“Ai.” Did Merlin just read his thoughts?
Merlin moves closer to Dante, dropping to one knee. Dante liked that –the fact that Merlin approaches him on his level. “Ai, it’s true. I did read your thoughts, not as an intrusion, but just to show you what I am capable of. Do you ken? You will always have a home here, Dante for as long as you want, but your inclusion in the Knighthood is voluntary; though it is contingent on your acceptance. Is this what you really want?”
“Ai. Don’t want to feel scared anymore, so I don’t.”
“We can offer that to you, boy. And much more. We can give you peace and solace, but that journey will be a difficult one. Are you ready for it?”
Tears well up in his eyes and he hugs Cammilia fiercely. “Ai. Want to be whole again.”
“That’s a start. You will learn forgiveness in time. Come with me. There is someone I want you to meet.”
They walk through a large courtyard situated adjacent to a massive gymnasium. Though he can’t make out all the visual details, he detects the pervasive smell of rank sweat. A gruff sounding man chants out to the boys in a booming voice that causes Dante to flinch. “Fye!” the man orders.
In response, the boys chant “Fye! Fye!” The chant reverberates throughout the halls with the fervor of religious fanatics, and the deafening loudness signifies a multitude. Dante had never heard anything like it.
Growing up in a small town, he is unaccustomed to such a large group of people, especially boys his age. Though there was a modern schoolhouse in the town of Coiffen, his father insisted on home schooling them and employed two sages for such an education, Viteus, the Elder and Faustus.
“It is good you are so schooled, boy,” interjects Merlin. “A well-rounded education is pivotal to your studies and mandatory for all recruits. You will be ahead of many in that regard.”
Dante turns his head towards Merlin, a look that is part consternation and part fascination. “I cry your pardon for the intrusion, boy. Old habits die slow,” says Merlin.
“Can you teach me to do that, Merlin?”
Again, Merlin bends down on one knee to approach him. “If our maker has seen fit to give you such gifts, then they will become evident soon enough, as it was for me. I can, however, teach you something even more valuable. To thwart such attacks from a telepath like me. Depending on how extreme your circumstances are, that may be your last line of defense.”
“I don’t understand, Merlin.”
“I know, but one day you will. Let’s go.” Dante follows Merlin through the hallway, which is much like a maze. Amazingly, he has no trouble keeping up with him. They walk through a large archway. The walls are painted alabaster white, and a large, sepulchered cross hangs above the archway. Dante can smell the amber wood as if the resilient pine had just been cut yesterday. A large Oak desk holds several parchment papers on it. The man behind the desk peruses the notes he had just written, with a contemplative look on his face.
Only six months before, he had received a plethora of new recruits, over seven hundred in fact. Each new batch of recruits brings new and difficult challenges. Lesson plans are always written down, but as Dottore, Germanicus could deviate and improvise to suit the new group. When Dante and Merlin walk in, Germanicus rises to meet them. His own dog, Shep, sits next to him. “Dottore, this is Dante, whom I have spoken of.’’
“We are well met, Merlin,�
� says Germanicus.
“Ai.”
Cammilia quickly assesses who is in charge, as she would in her own pack. She notes the differences in their demeanor and builds and intuits it to Dante. Though unspoken, it is clear who is in charge, and the differences are reflected in their appearances.
Germanicus is several inches shorter than Merlin and lacks his massive proportions, though both are muscular and their bodies reflect their lifestyle and discipline of physical battle prowess. Germanicus has more of a wiry build and taut, sinewy muscle and a flexibility unimpeded by larger muscles. Like Merlin, he is symmetrical and perfectly proportioned.
Everything about Merlin is utilitarian - extreme agility, the ability to call forth massive numbers of muscle fibers from such a large frame, extreme flexibility and a preternatural speed and reflexes, unmatched by anyone. His longer limbs support his large muscles and do not impede his extreme flexibility.
Merlin touches Dante on the shoulder and gently pushes him forward. “I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” says Merlin.
“Thankee Brother,” says Germanicus in response.
As to be expected, his voice is booming and forceful. It leaves no doubt that he is stern and not to be trifled with. There is no disputing his authority. Dante instinctively moves behind Cammilia in a gesture of meek humility. He turns his head to the boys in the gymnasium, who seem to be getting louder by the second. “Fye! Fye!”
“We are well met, boy. Are we not?” asks Germanicus.
A lump forms in his throat and he finds it difficult if not impossible to swallow. His right hand goes to Cammilia, and her presence instantly quells his fears. Germanicus moves to embrace him with a partial hug, as is the custom among the Brethren. It is forceful but comforting. Cammilia continues to nudge his side, and Dante is able to break his temporary silence. “Ai Sai, we are well met,” says Dante, who manages to keep his voice from breaking.
Germanicus sits down in his chair. Cammilia nudges Dante with her muzzle.
“The bond between the two of you is strong,” observes Germanicus. “You are well ahead of most boys in that regard. Her inclusion in your journey is mandatory. She will be your rock, your refuge, your closest ally. I see that your bond is already intrinsic. Your fate is linked to one another.”
“Ai. She is the reason I am still alive.”
“Ai. That’s true. But she is also an instrument of God, and it was God who has spared you for what purpose I do not know. I do not pretend to know the will of God. Merlin believes that it was portentous that he found you and that you were spared. He believes that perhaps you were destined to be found - to become knight, perhaps?”
“Ai. And what do you believe, Sai?” asks Dante.
“I don’t know. But we are obligated to you, and you are under our protection whether you decide to live as a recruit or not. Through that archway and into that gymnasium you will go if you wish to join our ranks. But you must relinquish your ego, your preconceived notions of destiny and entitlements. There are no entitlements here, boy. Whether you are the son of a King, a pauper or a slave, as Merlin was, you enter through that archway as everyone else. Equal as everyone else. Merlin has examined your eyes, and he believes that someday you may regain sight. But even if you do, it is highly doubtful that you will make knighthood. We will not extend to you any allowances for your disability, so do not ask. Almost fifteen hundred recruits are in that gymnasium. After eight years, I can guarantee we will count ourselves lucky to have a dozen, if that. So, you see the odds are not in your favor. The fact you are blind will make it that much harder. Do you ken?”
“Ai, Sai. I ken. I want a chance to live as you do.”
“It must be earned.”
“Ai.”
“But you must also leave something else behind, boy?”
“What is that sir?”
“You must also leave behind your hate. I can feel your vengeful spirit and seething rage boiling over. It is obvious to me as the nose on your face.”
“I promise you I hold no vengeful spirit in my heart.”
“Don’t lie to me, boy! Why wouldn’t you want retribution for what was done to you? Look to me!” Germanicus orders sharply.
Dante reluctantly turns to him, feeling the heat of his baleful, radiating stare. “They murdered your mother and butchered your seven your old sister. Your father was permanently exiled. Who wouldn’t want vengeance for that?” At the mention of his mother and sister, tears well up in Dante’s eyes and stream down his face.
“The perpetrators of this vile act of butchery will not go unpunished. But it is not for a boy to seek such retribution. The interlopers affect us all as a society, and they will be found. This is not an isolated incident. Did you believe that you lived in a glass bubble? We are the Brotherhood, and you must trust that justice will be administered.”
Dante sobs quietly. Germanicus removes a perchief from his pocket and hands it to Dante, who wipes his eyes and blows his nose into it. Dante moves to return it, but Germanicus puts up a hand. “No, boy. You keep it. It’s yours.”
Germanicus walks around his desk to face the gymnasium through the archway and watches as the recruits jab forcefully into the oak panels before them. They had been doing the exercises for over an hour, and many boys had voluntarily quit. Syrus quietly ushers them out when they give up and brings them to Merlin, who administers their care, stitching up bleeding knuckles and giving them pain relief. Then they will receive their walking papers.
The other boys who decide to stay work through the painful exercises, which at this point, have become excruciating. Several oak panels are stained red from gashed knuckles. A few of them are splintered with the beginnings of small, fist-sized holes.
“Fye! Fye!” 0rders Syrus in a voice that seems loud enough to drown out Dante’s thoughts.
“Fye!” yell the recruits in return. A loud ‘snap’ is heard from one of the panels and Germanicus sees that Maximus broke through his board. Once again, he is the first one to do so. The other boys look at him admiringly and jealously. He beams.
Syrus walks up to him. “Well done, Maximus. You are the first to break through your board. Your reward is-”
Syrus snaps his fingers to Gaius, his assistant. Another board is brought out. “Another board.” Maximus looks disappointed, but then his look of disappointment gives way to a big, shit-eating grin. The gifted recruit is the only son of King Menelaeus. Although he is only eleven years old, it is obvious he will be as tall as his father. He is already several inches taller than the other boys and unusually strong and agile for his age. His sharp reflexes are unmatched by any other recruit, and he is also academically proficient. Many feel it a foregone conclusion that he will reach his knighthood.
Maximus has no doubt that he will reach knighthood and has aspirations for the throne himself; for only a knight of the Brotherhood can attain the highest office in the land. Unlike other kingdoms, the King does not inherit his title. It must be earned.
It is believed that this prevented unworthy kings from ascending to the throne. And the system had worked for hundreds of years, dating back to the time of King Arthur himself. In all of that time, no tyrant had ever ascended to the throne.
Though Maximus believes he will attain Kingship, Germanicus and Merlin are not so convinced. They believe that his intentions are not so benevolent. A turmoil is brewing in his mindset, and one side will prevail. They hope that his benevolent side will prove the victor, but only time will tell. Only those who are pure of heart can attain knighthood, no matter how well they perform physically and academically. Many of Maximus’ actions appear to be motivated by selfishness. Attempts to reform his selfishness prove somewhat successful, but the boy has a mischievous and conspiratorial eye about him as if he is attempting to outwit his elders.
“Continue!” commands Syrus. “Fye! Fye!”
“Fye!” The recruits yell with as much fervor as they can muster.
Germanicus looks at Dante with an int
ense, piercing gaze. Dante flinches uncomfortably. Cammilia whines, sensing his discomfort. “Is this the life you want, Dante? The choice is yours. Your inclusion as a recruit is voluntary.”
“Ai. To be one of you. To be one with you. It is what I want with all my heart.”
“Good. This life will demand it.”
“When does my training begin?” Cammilia continues to nudge him and then whimpers, as if in warning.
Germanicus throws a small leather ball directly at Dante. Instinctively, Dante brings up a hand and catches the ball. Although it wouldn’t have done any real damage if it hit him in the head, it would have been painful. “It already has. This was the interview entrance. Meet me in the courtyard in five minutes.”
Dante walks out into the massive gymnasium, with Cammilia trailing behind him. Germanicus and Syrus’ wolves Timberland and Shep, shadow them as well. They reach a large wooden shelf case, which houses numerous objects of varying sizes and shapes. The objects are made of wood as well.
Dante is eager for the lesson but remains reticent and unsure. Though he has no doubt of the Dottore’s intentions, the man still intimidates him. “Are you ready for your first lesson, boy?”
“Ai, Sai!”
“From now on I am your Dottore, and you will address me as such. Understood, boy?”
Dante swallows hard. “Ai, Dottore.”
“Before you is a large shelf case, housing numerous wooden objects. To the right is the respective shelf board that has numerous shapes, corresponding to the size and shapes of the various objects on the shelf case. As quickly as possible you will grab one of the objects from the shelf board and place it into the respective slot of the shelf case, starting from right to left at the top of the shelf. You must find the exact sizes that correspond or the object will not go through. You cannot move your body to complete the task, only your wrists. Do you ken?”
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