Saif's Story

by Barbara G. Tarn

  Talwar flashed them a smile.

  "Cremation it will be, then. Let's see the rest of the building. We might have to clean up the courtyard to make room for the funeral pyre..."

  ***

  Around midday Talwar invited Rohit and Aditya to eat with him. They had barely found a path to the upper floor and checked the rest of the building. They'd need scythes and Talwar's pole-arm to start cleaning up the courtyard, hence Talwar had opted for a break without going all the way back to the condominium.

  Rohit was a little nervous when he stepped into The Sour Stallion Tavern, one of the oldest of the city – as it boasted on a plaque. In spite of having lots of logs and wood in its structure, it had never burned down to ashes like some parts of the city had, therefore it still stood proudly on a shopping street.

  Usually the innkeepers kicked both Rohit and Aditya out as soon as they set their bare feet inside the door, no matter where the inn was in the city. But Talwar's tall frame hid them from view and they were showed a table before the innkeeper realized they looked like beggars – or maybe he thought they were the lord's (Talwar) servants.

  Rohit squeezed on the bench with Aditya and nervously scanned around, fearful they might be kicked out any minute. Smells of fried fish and cooked meat made his stomach grumble. The medium-sized establishment was so crowded it must be popular. Almost all patrons were sober and almost none armed – it was a loud and cheerful crowd of artisans and merchants with only a few shady characters among them.

  "Thank you for buying us lunch," he said shyly as the maid left with their order.

  "I'll need your strength to work on that building, I can't have you faint from hunger," Talwar replied.

  "Are we going to do everything by ourselves?" Aditya asked, worried.

  "Of course not, but I'm new to the city and I need the two of you to help me find the contractors to work on it." Talwar smiled. "Starting with that courtyard. I think Nightsun can direct me to the royal palace gardeners, but do you know any mason who could touch up those walls or artisans who can help her repair the roof tiles?"

  Rohit pondered the question, but his mind was blank. Again, Aditya was faster to respond with names that made him want to slap his forehead. He should really get a grip on himself. Talwar must think him stupid.

  Then the tray of food arrived and the smell of roasted chicken filled his nostrils. The potatoes were covered with rosemary and a thick brown sauce that smelled delicious.

  Rohit grabbed the chicken with greedy fingers and wolfed down the tender meat, cleaning the bones as best as he could, then grabbed the wooden spoon and ate the potatoes, cleaning his greasy hands on his dirty loincloth.

  He realized Talwar was still eating, slower, more careful, using a fork and a knife on his roasted beef, so that his hands remained clean. Rohit felt a little ashamed of his manners, but he had never sat with a well-bred nobleman before.

  He elbowed Aditya who was still slurping the grease and licking his plate, but his friend just shrugged.

  Talwar smiled at them.

  "You won't eat that fast when you're not that hungry," he promised.

  "And you should teach us manners," Rohit said, eagerly. "I mean, we could never infiltrate a palace to kill someone if we behave like beggars."

  Talwar chuckled and cleaned his mouth with a napkin.

  "Well, we'll have to set some rules for that," he said. "And the first is – never hurt a woman or child." His smile vanished. "No innocents shall be killed, is that clear?"

  He looked them both in the eyes. Rohit nodded immediately, Aditya after a brief hesitation.

  "You mean you had to kill innocents in Agharek?" he asked, puzzled.

  "Yes, it was my second mission and I swore never again." Talwar was serious and thoughtful now. "The first one was to kill a just man because he threatened the Guild's power. So no more selfish killings, no matter how much they're willing to pay."

  "Is it true many courtiers asked you to get rid of this or that noble?" Aditya asked.

  "Yes, but I always ask Nightsun before accepting the job. If he tells me that's a troublemaker, I'll do it, if not, I'll refuse."

  "And why do you trust Nightsun and not, say, Lord Arfan?" Aditya insisted.

  Rohit's heart jumped in his throat and he glared at his friend, but Aditya ignored him.

  "Well, Nightsun married Princess Nadira," Talwar said, amused. "And he's a member of a Magical Race. He's a magic user and his sister is a healer. I'm sure he's trying to preserve life as much as I am."

  "So what will you teach us besides table manners?" Rohit asked, cheeks on fire.

  "Weapons, wrestling techniques. The sword, the bow, the dagger, the brass wheel and, of course, the noose. And I'm sure you know how to survive in a town, but I believe I need to train you also in the wild," Talwar mused.

  "So how many years will it take you to train us?" Aditya asked, excited.

  "Two or three," Talwar answered. "I will have to think about it. But first, we need to put that building back in shape!"

  ***

  That night Rohit and Aditya were invited to eat in the condominium's common kitchen – which made Lalima supremely happy – and then to sleep there by the oven. The stone floor was cold, so both decided to lie on the wooden tables instead.

  One was big enough to seat a dozen persons, so they curled up on that one, close to each other for more warmth. As darkness fell over the building and the lights went out in the various apartments, Rohit stared at the carved wooden ceiling, unable to sleep.

  In the dark, the day replayed for him, from finding the poor monk's body to Talwar's exploration of the abandoned monastery, from the delicious meal at the tavern, through the afternoon errands to find the contractors and to the crowded, cheerful dinner in that very room.

  He had closely observed Talwar, Khanda, Princes Nadira and Lalima's mother Madhuri's table manners, eating much slower and trying to mimic Talwar, Nightsun and the other adult men and women sitting around him.

  "You awake?" Aditya's voice brought him back to reality.

  "Yes," he answered absentmindedly, his hand going to his crotch as Talwar's face and body filled his head again. Wouldn't be the first time he fell asleep after stroking himself, thinking about the gorgeous man.

  "I bet you're happy." Aditya pinched his arm with a chuckle.

  "Ouch," he chided, still stroking. "Of course I'm happy. It's our way out of the streets."

  "Mm, and spending the day with Mighty Talwar has nothing to do with it, I assume?" Aditya teased.

  Rohit turned his head, but saw only a shadow by his side. He could smell his friend, feel his warmth, but not see his face, which made him uncomfortable.

  Rohit sighed and let go of his manhood.

  "We will get off the streets forever, Aditya," he said. "Isn't that reason enough to celebrate?"

  "I wish you did it with someone else in mind," came Aditya's reply.

  Puzzled, Rohit rolled on his side to face the shadow of his friend.

  "What do you mean?"

  Aditya caressed his cheek.

  "You know what I mean."

  Aditya's lips touched his. It wasn't the first time they shared some form of intimacy, but Aditya had never kissed him before.

  "Talwar will never look at you," Aditya whispered, hugging him. "You'll have to make do with me."

  "Oh, Adi, I do love you, you're my best friend and my other half and everything, but..."

  Aditya pulled back with a sigh.

  "I know, I can't compare to Talwar. Sweet dreams, Rohit."

  Rohit felt him roll over to give him his back. He felt lonely and cold and hugged his friend from behind. Aditya patted his hand, but didn't hold it. Rohit kept his cheek against Aditya's back, listening to his friend's heartbeat, until sleep won him.

  3.

  The following months were sort of blurry for Rohit. He went to help at the monastery every day, slept soundly – from physical exhaustion – every night in the condominium's kitche
n, and Khanda's pregnancy slowly became obvious.

  Winter marched on even though the snow that covered the mountains to the north never reached Godwalkar.

  The Queen Mother died, the royal court settled and the Genn took government in charge, electing a council of elders that met at the palace to run the city. Most nobles retired to their own estates and lost interest in keeping the kingdom united.

  The palace itself became a semi-public building with a hospital and a school, so Nightsun, Princess Nadira and little Chandra moved back there, along with Nightsun's sister Goldenstar.

  Talwar and Khanda moved to the new school building soon after the winter solstice and started hiring people – a door keeper and a cook, husband and wife who also did the housekeeping – and advertizing the school course as self-defense in the tradition of the Fighting Monks of Zindagi.

  Rohit and Aditya were the first ones to apply and receive a room in the upper floor of the former monastery, but soon half a dozen of their peers joined, including a tough girl, Pooja, who would attend classes with the boys, but would be physically trained by Khanda, at least at the beginning.

  Rohit had never been to school and found the routine both fascinating and frustrating. He loved the physical exercises in the courtyard and the mock duels with Aditya as sparring partner, but in the classroom his mind wandered off during Acharya Talwar's lectures, lulled by the man's voice.

  He did get the rules and the history, but never really tried to learn to read or write. He could play with numbers in his head, but letters confused him. He learned that Acharya Talwar worshiped Zindagi, Goddess of Life, and it was her symbol that was burned on his palm as permanent reminder that he should never take a life if he could avoid it.

  That same symbol was on a seal that he took off the bottom of his pole-arm and set onto a ring so he could use it as a signet on official Guild documents. There wasn't an Assassins' Guild yet, but there would be one, eventually.

  Sometimes at night Aditya and Rohit reenacted their daily training by wrestling on the floor of their room and then cuddling in the double bed that was way more comfortable than the ground. They had razors to shave with – Acharya Talwar insisted on a clean body and there were baths in the lower floor of the monastery – clothes and shoes, and Talwar was slowly building the armory, where every night they put back sabers and straight swords, daggers and brass wheels. The training with the noose hadn't started yet.

  When the next summer hit the city, Rohit found himself healthy, well fed and with more muscles than the previous year. If he went out of the school and strolled through the streets, people didn't glare at him. If he entered a tavern or stopped at a street vendor, he wasn't chased away. He didn't have a lot of money, but enough to go out every now and then.

  Rohit and Aditya didn't pay for their education, but the others did – according to their family's wealth. Rohit and Aditya had full board at the school but earned some extra coins doing heavy work for nearby shopkeepers, helping them to load and unload carts or move big pieces of furniture for a small fee.

  When their nineteenth summer started, they worked even more throughout the longer days and stopped hanging out together at all times. Usually Aditya went back to the condominium to see Lalima, and Rohit wandered in the city, wondering if he could knock on Lord Arfan's door and ask him if he wanted company.

  It wasn't real sex with Aditya and he was tired of touching himself, but he was also still obsessed with Acharya Talwar and wasn't sure where else he could find the kind of pleasure Lord Arfan had given him what felt like a lifetime ago. He hadn't seen the lord in two or three years, and probably the elder man had forgotten him.

  Khanda was so big by then that Talwar himself sparred with Pooja, which made Rohit a little jealous. Pooja was a tomboy, but still female, and he thought she should stop training until her acharya delivered.

  And then one fine morning Aditya had to rush back to the condominium to call the midwife, Suneeri, while Rohit went to the palace to fetch Goldenstar, just in case. Khanda had already lost a baby and Talwar didn't want to take any chances.

  The class was quite disturbed that day by Khanda's screams and none of them ate much in the school canteen, but by the afternoon Suneeri went to Talwar with his bundle of joy, a baby boy he called Abhaya the Fearless.

  Khanda was still in her room and Pooja was allowed to rush to her side while Talwar looked awestruck and didn't dare touch the tiny boy who had the same ice-blue eyes as his mother. Rohit felt envious of the baby too, and decided he must find something or someone outside the school, or he'd go crazy.

  The long hot summer and sweating under the sun didn't help. Rohit became grumpy and nearly mute, observing everyone and everything but feeling disconnected. The physical training had become automatic to him, but in the classroom he often touched himself or wandered off with his mind.

  On a particularly warm day at the end of the summer, after Acharya Talwar's voice had taken him elsewhere for a good part of the afternoon, he was surprised when Acharya Talwar told him – and only him – to follow him to his office.

  Rohit exchanged a worried glance with Aditya and obediently followed Acharya Talwar into the small room. Talwar sat at his desk in the cool, semi-dark room, and Rohit stood straight in front of him, wondering what was next.

  "Take that stool and sit," Acharya Talwar said, his hands folded on the desk, his pale face only half-lit by the ray of sun coming in from the small window high up to his left. The light seemed perfect for the desk and the sheets of parchment on it.

  Rohit sat, but didn't relax. He fidgeted, waiting for Acharya Talwar to speak, noticing how his musky scent permeated the small office, covering the smell of dust and candlewax.

  Rohit dared to look up and met Talwar's brown eyes.

  "How can I help you, Rohit?" Talwar said. "You seem... distracted, impatient. Do you have personal problems? I know you don't talk to your family and I'm not that much older than you, but if I can help..."

  Rohit took a deep breath to calm the butterflies in his belly. He wasn't going to tell Talwar how much he wanted to nestle against him and taste his lips and body.

  "You... mentioned you went to a fighting monk school," he said. "Did you... did they teach you how to remain chaste? To control your... urges?"

  "Ah, that." Talwar sat back in his chair and seemed to relax. "You can't ask a young man to be chaste. But you can teach him to control his basic instincts. Is that what you want to learn?"

  Rohit nodded eagerly, unable to speak. Would Acharya Talwar touch him to show him how to control his body? He pressed his hands on his sudden boner.

  Talwar's eyes glanced that way and the man looked even more amused.

  "I assume you know how to touch yourself?" Talwar asked. "And you sometimes play with Aditya?"

  Rohit gulped but nodded, eyes wide. He wasn't sure if he should run away or stay. He wasn't sure he liked this private lesson or where the conversation was going.

  "How about I take you to a professional?" Talwar continued. "Do you think that would help?"

  "No!" Rohit blurted out. "I'm not interested in women!"

  "Oh." Talwar looked surprised, but recovered quickly. "I see. Well, I'm sure we can find male professionals, if that's what you need."

  "No." Rohit's excitement was gone and his shoulders slumped. "I don't need a professional. I need to learn to control myself. Can you teach me that?"

  Acharya Talwar stared at him, thoughtful, then slowly nodded.

  "I can try. I make no promises, but I'll do my best."

  4.

  At the end of the summer they had a short break after almost nine months of courses. A couple of the boys needed to go home and help the family business and three had come from out of town, so they went back to the vineyards and fields outside of Godwalkar, again to help their families with end-of-the-summer jobs.

  As the leaves of the maple trees started turning all shades of red, most students returned, but not all. Leaving Pooja with Khanda an
d baby Abhaya for a slightly different education, Acharya Talwar took Rohit, Aditya and two more boys to the countryside.

  They didn't head towards the mountains, but towards the forest that used to be the border between Gajendra and Lakeshi, never reaching the fabled town of Darantasia and building log cabins in the woods to protect themselves from the weather.

  The routine changed into purely physical training. They hunted for food, learned to cook, wrestled in the clearing in front of their new shelters and sat in meditation under an old oak that gave Rohit a great sense of peace.

  He didn't expect to enjoy living in the wild, washing in cold streams and sitting around campfires with a small group of friends. If he looked up at the sky during the night, he saw the same stars blinking back at him and many more since there were no torches after sunset to spoil the view.

  The smells of the forest were very different from the ones of the city, and he soon learned to recognize plants by their looks and their smell. He also loved the berries he found the following spring, and listening to the birds sing.

  One of the other boys was an expert on forest plants since he was a herbalist's son. He also knew mushrooms very well – which were edible and which were poisonous – and he asked Talwar if they'd ever use poison in their line of work.

  "Poison is for cowards," Acharya Talwar answered gravely. "Yes, some assassins in Agharek use blowguns with poisoned darts, but you will be better than that."

  "The court was full of poisons," the apprentice replied with a scoff. "If it weren't for the Genn, they'd already be all dead."

  "I know that they tried to poison King Naveen before killing him with blunt weapons," Acharya Talwar said. "Goldenstar saved his life at least twice. But we do not deal with poisons and if you don't like this, you can leave right now. It's my school and my rules."

  The student frowned but nodded.

  The small community thrived in isolation for two years. Acharya Talwar had brought a high leather collar that protected the neck to teach them how to use a noose. They learned to throw it, so that the round weights at its end wrapped around the victim's neck, and to use it to strangle from behind.