by Brian Keller
Chapter 24
Once they were dismissed from class, Cooper walked quickly to his sleeping bay to retrieve Miss Camilla’s book, his pages and paints and then proceeded to Miss Camilla’s classroom. He wasn’t the last to arrive but when he arrived there were already a dozen students on the far side of the room working with flasks held over burners, or stirring fluids with glass rods. These students were older and he realized that Miss Camilla must have two classes concurrently in the same space. He thought this would be a real challenge, but then again, Miss Camilla seemed very competent. These students seemed to be working on their own from their books or sheets filled with complicated formulae, they probably didn’t need as much direct supervision. Several of his classmates were lined up along the wall on the near side of the room. As he joined them, Kolrem leaned over to take a look at the things he was carrying. He shifted down to stand next to Cooper, “Whatcha’ got there?”, he asked. Cooper shrugged as best he could with a book under his arm and said, “Master Worthan had me start copying one of Miss Camilla’s books since I finished copying my textbook early.”. Kolrem pointed at his box of paints, “What about that?”. Cooper was wondering why Kolrem was suddenly so interested but figured there was no harm in it. Kolrem seemed alright. “It’s a paint kit. Miss Camilla’s book is basically an herb encyclopedia, and it has painted illustrations of each plant.”. The boy pointed at the book, “Can I take a look at it?”. Cooper handed the book to him, he opened it and turned a few pages, “Wow. And you’re copying and painting these pictures too?”. Cooper shrugged and smiled a wan smile, “Well, ‘trying to’ is a better way of putting it.”. Kolrem nodded, “I’d like to see them.”. Cooper nodded, “Later, maybe. Looks like we’re about to start here.”. He accepted the book from Kolrem and tucked it back under his arm as Miss Camilla approached them.
Every time Cooper saw her he just felt a little excited. There was a strength in her but everything about her was still undeniably feminine. She was absolutely beautiful. He had to focus his attention in order to hear what she was saying, “…this class. You’ll need to pick out a place to sit. Any table in the either of the two rows on this side of the room. Each table has some equipment and materials. The vials, beakers, burners, etc. stay with the table. We won’t be using any of the glassware for a few days, in any case. Each table also has a book on it. This will be your textbook for this class.”, she smiled momentarily, “and there will be no need for you to copy it. When we’re finished with them, the books will go right back up on the shelves until the next class needs them.”. He sat himself at the second table from the front on the left side. He set down the stuff he’d been carrying as Miss Camilla walked to the front of the classroom and he opened up the book that was already there. The book started out explaining standardized terminology, and described some example procedures, and a few basic formulas to demonstrate how the terms were used properly. He flipped partway through the book and saw instructions on how to extract essential oils through distillation. Miss Camilla started to speak again, “Over the next few days you will learn the names for all the equipment and the processes described in the first section of your book. There will be a test each week to prevent you from falling behind. Failing a written test will result in remedial studies and a retest. It will be a few weeks before we begin any procedures but once we do, there will be graded procedures each week as well. Failing a procedural test will result in chores and remedial studies, and then a retest. I do not recommend failing a retest unless it is your intent to be removed from my class. If you decide that this class is too difficult or you simply no longer wish to attend for any reason, then do not waste my time. Simply let me know and you will be removed immediately, you need not go through the studies, test, remedial activities and retest process. However, before arbitrarily making the decision to leave my class it is important for you to understand that there are other courses and occupations within the Guild that will be closed to you if you do not successfully pass this course.”. She smiled reassuringly, “There are some classes that are simple… just show up and learn. This is not one of those classes. The material is specific and the procedures require precision. As we advance, the procedures become very exacting and mistakes can have serious consequences. Some of the components and many of the products of the procedures are toxic. We stay away from the really lethal stuff until next year, but do not doubt that you could be hurt or possibly killed if you really screw up. If you make a mistake in this class, do not attempt to conceal it or ‘fix’ it. Let me know immediately so we can assess if there is a need for a swift reaction.”. She paused for effect before adding, “Know that I always keep a ready supply of antidotes on hand for any substances we’ll be working with on a given day. Brewing and bottling antidote for the next day’s classes is how I occupy most evenings. In fact, the chores awarded for failing a procedural test, or for misconduct, is generally cleaning my equipment following my evening brewing”, she paused again, “and I closely supervise the handling of my equipment.”. Her eyes scanned the classroom, looking at each of the new students. Once she was satisfied that everyone had been paying attention she had only a few more words to say, “In ten days you will have your first written test in this class. You could be tested on any of the material within Section One of your book or on anything discussed in this class from this point forward. For today, simply begin studying Section one. Today, I will be giving most of my attention to the students on the other side of the room. If you have a question on any of the material, get my attention and I’ll come help you.”. She looked across the students again, nodded, and went to the students on the other side of the room. As he read through the material he began jotting down notes on a blank sheet of parchment. Writing down certain terms and their meanings would help him retain the information better than simply reading it. It was a tedious first class but everyone had to start somewhere. After almost two hours had passed, Miss Camilla returned to their side of the room to make sure each student knew where they needed to go next. Cooper learned that Rukle and Kolrem also had their next class with Master Brais. Miss Camilla told them how to get to the room Master Brais used for his Beginner Classes.
The hallway leading to Master Brais’ room took them down several feet, possibly even a full floor down. The classroom looked more like a small arena with all sorts of wooden beams, frames of metal bars and pipes, ropes, and freestanding stone walls. All these structures occupied the space in the floor of the arena. The floor was covered in sawdust and sand. A man was seated nearby when they entered the room. As they approached, he stood and held his hands out from his sides as if to embrace the space between them and in a rich baritone voice that echoed dramatically within the room said, “Welcome to the Arena.”, he dropped his tone to a conversational tone, “Or so I am told it is called by the students. Probably an apt name considering the shape of the room. In the coming weeks this room will likely award you more pain and bruises than your combat classes. You will learn that with exercise and proper technique much of the pain and most of the bruises can be avoided.”. The man was dressed in what looked like a section of a ship’s sails. His clothing looked like a dingy, white robe made from canvas, except that the lower part was divided and tied to form leggings. He still had the appearance of wearing a robe since he had a breechcloth that extended below his knees, nearly to mid-calf. His head was almost completely covered, leaving only a gap across his eyes. The fabric over his head and wrapped around his face and neck looked more like white silk and was pulled snug, not like a turban. The shape of his head under the cloth suggested he was either bald or kept his hair close cropped. His eyes were a deep, rich brown and from what little of his eyebrows that could be seen, they appeared dark and bushy. He otherwise had a small to medium build and appeared quite trim. He moved with an easy, fluid grace. He clapped his hands a single time and kept them gently clasped as he said, “Let’s see what we are working with. Follow me to the ropes.”. He spun and walked down onto the sand. He
stopped and turned sidelong, gestured at the boys and then turned and swept his hands across the ropes and simply said, “Climb.”. Cooper had been down to the Waterfront enough to have watched sailors climbing the ropes, though truthfully most of them preferred climbing the netting. He’d observed the technique they’d used but had never tried it himself. Each boy moved forward and grabbed a rope. Cooper pulled himself up a little and then brought his knees up with the rope on his right side. He used his left foot to reach under his right and hook the rope and draw it back under to form something resembling a stirrup. Using both his arms and legs he stood up on that stirrup, re-grasped the rope above his head and kept repeating this process. Each time he extended himself and repositioned he gained half his height or more on the rope. He glanced over and saw Rukle climbing the same way he was. He looked like he had done this before, his movements were smooth and coordinated. He went up the rope with ease. Cooper looked over at Kolrem. He was using mostly upper body strength but would pinch the rope between his feet as he advanced his grip. Rukle reached the top first and he held his position, waiting. Cooper and Kolrem got to the top at nearly the same time. Cooper had to pause near the top and reposition his feet. He’d almost lost control of the rope at one point. Kolrem reached the top next with Cooper less than a second behind. Kolrem looked like he was having difficulties holding his position but managed to hold on until Master Brais called for them to come down. Cooper watched Rukle release some of the tension with his feet as he let the rope slide through and he slid down hand under hand. He followed Rukle’s example and found it quite easy, though he slid more than he wanted initially and ended up feeling some heat from the friction across his palms. He learned quickly to adjust the tension with his feet to control his descent. Kolrem had a much rougher time. He started climbing down hand under hand and ended up sliding down halfway before letting go and falling the last few feet. He landed fairly well and started blowing on his hands to cool them. Once all the boys were standing on the ground Master Brais smiled and said, “Again.”. Kolrem looked aghast, the other two boys were halfway up before Kolrem had taken off his tunic and wrapped his hands inside it and grasped the rope again. This time he watched the other two boys and fumbled his way up the rope as he learned the technique.
After three more trips up and down the rope Master Brais took them over to a series of horizontal wooden beams held by netting in between them. The netting was secured at the edges to poles sunk in the floor. From above it likely resembled a spider web. As they walked over, Master Brais handed a small tin to Kolrem and instructed him to smear a small amount on his palms and fingers. He added, “After class, go and visit Miss Camilla. Tell her that I have sent you for some ointment to treat your rope burns.”. Master Brais continued, “Now we have an activity for you that should spare your hands. It’s all footwork unless you fall. Should you fall, just turn your body to land flat on your back into the netting. The objective is to move freely and quickly around the circle of beams and netting. Moving around near the center is easier for jumping from beam to beam but the network reacts violently to movement. Moving around the outside edge is much more stable, but the jumps from beam to beam are nearly impossible. I’ll demonstrate.”. He pulled himself up onto the netting and stepped over onto one of the beams. He walked along the beam about halfway to the center and then almost skipped from that beam to the next and the next. When he landed on the third beam, he stopped. The webbing hadn’t seemed to react much to his movement until he’d stopped. Then it looked almost like ocean waves across the whole setup. Master Brais was standing easily, riding the waves of beams and netting, and he walked towards the center and stepped from beam to beam. As he stepped on each beam it dropped down. Stepping from one to the next caused the one he had been standing on to spring back abruptly, which pulled on the one he was standing on. This had the overall effect of making what had looked like ocean waves to look now like stormy waters. Master Brais still seemed unperturbed by it and just rode the waves. Before they’d settled he walked back to the outside edge and dropped down to walk back to the boys. He looked at Rukle, “You first. Twice around. No stopping for more than two seconds. Today, if you fall, come down off the net.”. Rukle climbed up and moved most of the way to the center. The beams were a few feet apart so it took a distinct step from one to the next. The action of Rukle walking had caused the netting and beams to begin shifting. He turned and stepped quickly from beam to beam. He made it halfway around and had to step sideways on his beam just to try to recapture his balance. He paused long enough to predict the rhythm and proceeded to the next beam but he was further from the center so it was a short hop from beam to beam. Rukle managed to cover three more beams before he missed the fourth. With the beams pitching the way they were it had become difficult to predict where the beam would be in order to land on it with solid footing. As Rukle sailed over his intended beam, he tucked himself into the fetal position and landed sideways on the netting between the beams. Rukle had narrowly missed landing headlong on the fifth beam. He pulled himself into an upright position and climbed onto the fifth beam, walked to the outside edge and dropped off the netting. He looked at other two boys. He shrugged as he said, “It doesn’t look easy, but it’s harder than it looks.”. Next was Kolrem’s turn. Cooper knew that although Kolrem’s main advantage was strength, he wasn’t slow. His footwork wasn’t bad, but no one would accuse him of being graceful. Kolrem went all the way to the center and tried to quickly skirt around the contraption. He got almost as far as Rukle but that’s only because he got thrown that far before he landed. As he climbed down, Cooper was already moving to the edge. He climbed up and onto a beam. As he walked along it towards the center he got a feel for how the beams moved. He knew that would change as soon as he started moving across them, instead of along them…. Maybe that was the solution!? Even if he were wrong, how bad could it be? It was Day One..! He moved close to the center, where the space between the beams was about three feet apart. He didn’t even wait for the netting to settle. He quickly stepped from beam to beam until the movement of the netting would make it unlikely that he’d successfully reach the next beam. He then turned and walked toward the outer edge, which pulled the netting tighter along all the edges and stilled the beams. He then pivoted and returned to the same spot where’d he’d been and crossed a few more beams. He’d planned to continue this pattern for two rotations but after getting almost a full rotation, he misjudged where he thought the next beam would be and got pitched into the netting. As he climbed down, Master Brais was noiselessly clapping. As Cooper drew nearer, Master Brais spoke, “Clever. Using your weight to calm the netting. That is allowed today, but after today strive to maintain the same distance from the center throughout the exercise.”. Cooper shrugged and nodded. It had been well worth a try. Master Brais added, “Students initially called this setup of beams and netting ‘The Contraption’, over the years the name has evolved into simply ‘The Trap’. I only mention this so that in the future when I direct you to attempt “Twice around the Trap”, there will be no further explanation needed.”. For the next hour Master Brais assessed the boys’ abilities on balance, agility, stamina on various implements and obstacles. Once class was finished, the boys agreed that they didn’t ever recall a time when their entire body felt so fatigued. Kolrem went back to Miss Camilla’s room to ask about the salve that Master Brais had told him to get from her. Cooper and Rukle each went back to their rooms, walking side by side most of the way back. He asked Rukle where he’d learned to climb ropes so well. Rukle just shrugged, “I’m a Waterfront kid. My dad went out to sea a few years ago and never returned. Mam died two years ago. I’ve helped with repairs on the riggings of newly arrived ships ever since.”. Cooper nodded, “It seems that most of us have similar stories. I guess that should be expected. If we had parents, we’d likely still be at home with them.”. They walked the rest of the way in silence, each in his own thoughts and memories.
Chapter 25
T
he week seemed to pass by quickly with each day so filled with activities. Master Darius filled his class with instruction and hands on exercises. Cooper seemed to have a feel for it. By the end of the week he’d even managed to successfully open Master Darius’ lock but he hadn’t been paying attention to how long it had taken him. At this point, even if he had picked it in the allotted time or less, he’d have kept it a secret, he still had too much to learn. Master Darius was encouraging the boys to develop sufficient skill with bypassing locks. He’d said, “Locks are fairly straightforward. You boys need to absorb the material and demonstrate proficiency so we may then move along to Traps. That’s where the real challenge is. Anything could be a trap, the only limits are imagination and the ability to pay for its construction. We’ll learn how to make some rudimentary traps but if you want to make very high-end traps, then you’ll need to learn other skills as well, and those are not covered in this class. We will discuss how traps are made simply as a means to teach you how to avoid them, or if unavoidable, at least teach you how to either disable them or trigger them in such a way to survive the event.”. He paused, realizing that he’d digressed significantly, “But enough on Traps! Back to the material at hand… Locks and how to defeat them.” They’d been learning how to construct a key by impressioning. Master Darius had been saying, “Once you have made yourself a key, label it somehow. Some form of code engraved somewhere on the key is best. Better that than to be caught and found with a key clearly labelled “Princess’s Boudoir”.”.
Mister Skran’s classes were ramping up in both speed and intensity. Skran had been watching Cooper, Rukle, Kolrem, Habbon and Aden very closely. Each boy was fast approaching the proficiency expected to merit testing. Cooper had learned every lesson and was implementing every new technique effectively. He wasn’t flawless by any means but certainly better than would be expected for any first year students. Rukle and Kolrem were not far behind. Rukle was prone to recklessness, sometimes ignoring the importance of protecting himself while performing a lethal strike. Kolrem would sometimes resort to brute force if finesse and technique weren’t gaining the results he wanted. Against most opponents he was skilled enough that if brute force failed he could still recover and defend himself, but if he was fighting Rukle or Cooper, being overly forceful usually resulted in him receiving a bruise or two. Another week, maybe two, and these boys would need to advance, or at least be tested.