Vows

I climbed up onto my bunk and lay down with a contented sigh, reaching my arms above my head and stretching them out. I'd made the return journey from Tzeki at a more leisurely pace, but the travel was still tiring, and sleeping on the ground always made me stiff.

I didn't get long to relax. Within a few minutes, the door opened and admitted two familiar figures: Kal first, then Kinoc.

"Hey there," I said, sitting up on the bed.

"Hi Auron," said Kal. "How was home?"

"It was nice to be back. But strangely enough, I really missed this place."

"Me too." Kal grinned. "Can you believe it?"

I shook my head, then hopped off the bunk. "Where's Jan?"

The smile faded. "Kilika. He decided to stay."

"Really." I considered this piece of news. "May I ask why?"

Kal ran a hand through his hair, scrubbing at his scalp. Months in the northern climate of Bevelle had darkened it to its natural brown, but just a short time in the Kilika sun had returned a few of his blond streaks. "He decided he missed blitz and home too much. The Beasts asked him to come back, and he accepted."

"That's too bad."

He shrugged. "Eh. This is never really what he wanted to do anyway; he was mostly keeping me company. He was born to blitz, and he'll be happier this way. I'll miss him, but it's okay. Being a warrior monk was my second choice at first, but I know now that it's the right thing for me, with or without my brother. Yevon guided me here, and here I'll stay."

I squeezed his shoulder. "I'm glad."

He clapped a hand over mine with a smile. "Me too. Okay, I've gotta go pack up the rest of Jan's stuff. I told him I'd send it back soon."

I turned to Kinoc, who was sitting on his own bunk, unpacking. "You're quiet."

"No 'welcome back, how was your trip?'" He smirked.

"I could say the same, you know." I sat next to him. "Everything all right?"

"Sure," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Just, going back was kind of weird. I knew intellectually that life would go on in Luca without me, that my family and friends didn't stop doing their own thing when I left, but everything changed so much --nothing important, just all kinds of little stuff -- and I didn't really fit in anymore."

I nodded. "I felt that too, a little."

He quirked an eyebrow. "But it was a good visit?"

I kept my expression blank. "Very good."

"Tell me about it later," he said in a lowered voice. Then, more loudly: "Should we go see what abomination they're calling dinner now?"

"Ugh," said Kal from his side of the room, looking over toward us. "Now there's something I didn't miss."

"Maybe they'll actually make something half-palatable tonight, ease us back into it," I suggested.

Kal and Kinoc exchanged a glance, then laughed. "Gee, Auron, you were never such an optimist before," Kal said.

"Must be the furlough," I said with a smile. "It'll go away soon enough. Come on, let's go."

The next month passed swiftly, filled with tests and final lessons, and before I knew it, the day to take our vows had come. Kal woke first that morning, jumping out of bed and opening the door to our quarters. "Hey guys," he called out, picking up the wrapped bundles that waited for us, a name written on each. Instantly alert, I leapt down to the floor. Kinoc rose a moment later, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Kal handed me my package, and I opened it to find a new uniform: a dark olive green tunic and a pair of brown pants. It also held a note advising me that I should stop by the armory before the ceremony.

I glanced at my comrades and saw that theirs were the same. I could feel the smile spreading across my face. We had all passed.

"We did it," Kinoc breathed, staring down at his new uniform. Then he looked up at us, his eyes astonished. "By Yevon, we did it!"

"Yeeehah!" Kal's shout of jubilation unfroze us all, and we rushed together, hugging joyfully. We wouldn't be sworn for a few hours yet, but in that moment we knew: we were warrior monks.

The atmosphere in the mess hall was unlike anything I had ever before witnessed. Every single face held a smile, every step had a bounce in it. Even the food was edible, as if the cooks had taken extra care for the occasion. Instructors and other warrior monks stopped by our tables to congratulate us on our success. After breakfast, I went to pick up my new armor, a replacement for the hand-me-downs that I had been wearing, then returned to the room to change for the ceremony.

Everything fit perfectly -- the hours we'd stood around waiting to be measured last week had paid off. I twisted up my hair, then checked out the total effect in the mirror. Green wasn't really my color, I decided, but it was better than the dull blue of our training uniforms. And I found the gleam of my armor rather satisfying.

One more thing to do, and then I would be ready. I pulled my footlocker out from beneath the bunk and opened it. A single blank sphere sat inside, along with my recorder. I removed them both, slammed the locker closed, and sat on the floor next to it, cross-legged. I tossed the sphere into the air and caught it, thoughtfully looking at the orb for a moment. Then I placed the recorder atop the trunk before setting in the sphere. I pressed the record button, took a deep breath, and began to speak.

Barely-suppressed excitement rippled through the group of twenty soon-to-be warrior monks gathered in the courtyard before St. Bevelle as we waited to be lead into the Hall of Monks. Kinoc stood to my right, Kal next to him. On my other side was Nic, a magic specialist whom I knew slightly. He caught my eye and grinned. "I can't believe this is really happening!" he said.

"I know," I replied. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up in Father Falle's magic lesson with my hair on fire."

He laughed; he'd been present for my early misadventures in spell casting. "Good luck."

I was about to return the sentiment when we were interrupted by a shout of "Trainees!"

We all snapped to attention, and silence fell over the assembly.

An orange-clad warrior monk whose uniform and insignia marked him as a captain stood before us. He looked over the group and smiled. "This is the last time anyone will call you that. Congratulations. Now, turn right on my mark and prepare to march."

"Aye sir!" We saluted as one.

"Yevon be with us!" He returned the salute. "One, two, mark! Forward, march!"

I was near the back of the line, so it was several moments before I entered the hall. The torches were ablaze, and the high windows had been opened to admit a cross-breeze, so the banners waved in the air, their colors brilliant in the flickering light of fire and sun. Every standard representing a currently active squad was held by a warrior -- all captains and commanders had been called back for the ceremony. Warrior monks stationed in Bevelle were also present, standing behind the standard-bearers and officers. They all chanted an old marching tune and held a salute in our honor, and I felt a chill travel down my back. In a few moments, all these men would be my brothers.

I managed a quick glance up -- a small gallery lined the left wall, and it was filled with family and friends of those of us about to take the oath. I saw Xan and my father sitting together near the front. Then I returned my attention forward, to the Maesters standing at the front of the room.

Maester Brac was there of course, standing in front, smiling. Flanking him were the two non-human Maesters. Maester Kelk Ronso stood to his left, his face solemn. He was middle aged, his long white mane streaming down his back, well-polished horn held high. The other Maester, Jyscal Guado, had a place on Brac's right, and his cold eyes regarded us. He was much revered in Bevelle for bringing the Guado into the fold of Yevon. Rumor had it that he'd married a human woman to cement the alliance, then exiled her. Maester Kelk I had seen in the halls and the temple from time to time, but this Guado was largely a mystery to me. I found myself not regretting that fact.

I didn't have long to dwell on these thoughts, though, as I took my place on the floor. Total silence fell over the crowd as the Grand Maester rose from his throne, which sat on a dais behind the other Maesters. Trainees, warrior monks, and spectators all bowed in prayer.

Grand Maester Mika. Leader of Spira and Yevon for 34 years, a Maester for decades before that. I had also seen him upon occasion, but never in such an impressive, formal setting. He was stooped with age, but I could still sense the power he wielded. "Welcome," he said, in an ancient, quavering voice, "to the Order of the Warrior Monks of Yevon. You have all worked long and hard to gain this honor, and you have all been judged worthy to join these holy ranks. Now all you need do is take and uphold your vows, and Yevon will be with you for all your days. "

He sat, and we bowed again. Maester Brac then took a step forward.

"Do you willingly come to take these vows?" he asked.

"We do," we replied, speaking in a single voice.

"Do you accept the teachings of Yevon? Do you swear to uphold them?"

We responded to both questions affirmatively.

"Then present your blades and say the oath." As we removed swords and daggers from their scabbards, we all intoned the words I had spent the last year learning by heart:

"I pledge myself, my life, and this blade that I hold to the defense of Yevon. I swear to protect the temples along with the priests and the fayth within them. I pledge my loyalty and obedience to the teachings of Yevon, to the Maesters, and to my brothers within this order. This I solemnly swear before my order, before the Maesters, and before Yevon." I touched two fingers to my lips, then to the flat of my sword; the others did the same.

Maester Brac raised his arms to the sky. "In the name of Yevon and of His Maesters, I accept your vows and hold you to them. Yevon bless you and your steel; may you serve Him well for the rest of your days." He lowered his hands and looked straight at us. "I now officially welcome you all as members of the Order of Warrior Monks. Serve well, and you will be rewarded. Yevon be with us!"

"Yevon be with us!" Every voice in the hall joined in the call as we punched our sword arms in the air.

Kal found me as I exited the hall and threw an arm around my shoulders. I shot him a big smile. Then I saw Xan's head peering for me over the crowd. "See you later," I told Kal as I pulled away, slapping him on the back. He nodded, then ran off to where Jan was waiting for him. I yanked off my helm, caught Xan's eye, and waved. A smile broke over his face as he waved back, then pointed me out to my father. Dix and I strode toward one other through the throng, Xan at his heels. He gripped my forearms as he reached me, looking up at me with tears in his eyes.

"Son," he said, his voice thick, "I'm so proud. I only wish your mother were here to see this day."

Surprised by this open display of emotion, I hugged my father for the first time in many years. "You'll just have to stop by the Farplane on the way home and tell her," I told him.

He made a noise somewhere between a chuckle and a sob. "I may well do that," he said, stepping back. "She'll want to know about her first grandchild, too."

I looked over to Xan, who was smiling sheepishly. "Kera had the baby?"

He nodded, shy but proud. "The day before we left. A girl. We named her Paine."

"For your mother." He nodded again. I embraced my brother-in-law. "Congratulations! So that's why Kera's not here?"

"Right. She said to send congratulations to her little brother, though."

"How did it go?"

"The birth went fairly smoothly, but she was exhausted afterwards, and it's no trip for a newborn. Relle stayed behind to help her."

"Of course." I glanced at my father, who was still beaming at us -- the expression looked completely wrong on his normally stern face -- and decided my request could wait. Then I heard my name called from behind me, and Kinoc walked over, followed by a middle-aged warrior monk who looked a lot like him.

"Hey!" We embraced quickly, then I turned him toward Xan and Father. "This is my friend Kinoc. My brother-in-law Xan and my father Dix."

Kinoc indicated the man behind him. "And this is my father, Wen. Dad, meet Auron and his family."

Bows and greetings were exchanged all around. Dix immediately engaged Kinoc and his father in conversation, so I took my moment to pull Xan aside.

"I have a favor to ask," I said under my breath.

Xan raised his eyebrows. "Sure, anything."

I pulled out the sphere from the pouch where I'd hidden it. "Get this to Relle. For her eyes only. Definitely don't let Father know about it."

He took the sphere. "No problem. I don't suppose I can ask what's on it?"

"My vow," I said quietly, "to her."

"Hello, Relle," I had said, sitting before the sphere that morning as it recorded. "I hope this message finds you well. In a few hours, I will take my vows before Yevon, swearing my oath to the warrior monks. I want you to know that the oath I am about to swear to you, I take no less seriously.

"I pledge myself to you, Arelle: my life, my love, and my faithfulness. No other will ever share my bed or be my wife. This I solemnly swear before you and before Yevon." I kissed two fingers, then turned them out toward the sphere, mimicking a gesture I would make in the ceremony later that day.

"Trust in this promise as I trust in your love. When the time is right, I will return to you." Bringing my hands in front of me, I bowed as far as my seated position and armored torso would allow. "I love you." I gazed into the sphere for a moment longer, as if it were her eyes, then reached out to switch it off.

Xan nodded, then stashed the sphere in his bag. "So, now what?" he asked in his normal tone of voice.

"I should be learning about my posting any minute now," I said. "They said they'd tell us after the ceremony." As if my words had called it forth, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see an officer behind me.

"Brother Auron?" he asked.

I saluted. "Yes, Lieutenant."

He smiled. "Good. I need to talk to you. Brother Kinoc, too -- is that him?"

I looked over to where he was still chatting with our fathers. "Yes, sir. Hey, Kinoc!" His head turned. "Over here."

Kinoc joined us. "Auron, Kinoc," said the man, "I'm Lieutenant Gibson." I recognized him then as part of Maester Brac's escort on that evening we'd met in the Hall of Guardians all those months ago. Did that mean--

Gibson continued before I could complete the thought. "I'm the Lead Sword for Gray Squadron, and I'm here to offer both of you postings as swordsmen."

I had been about to come to this conclusion on my own, but I still couldn't really believe it. We were being assigned to Gray Squadron? But that was the most elite warrior monk squad in Bevelle, the personal guard to Maester Brac. I swiveled my head to look at Kinoc. He stared at the officer, apparently at a loss for words, possibly for the first time in his life. I swallowed hard and turned back to Gibson with a fresh salute. "Sir, this is an unexpected honor, but we accept. Don't we, Kinoc?" I nudged him with my elbow as surreptitiously as I could manage.

With a tiny shake, he came out of his stupor. "Yeah. I mean, yes, sir! Of course, sir!" He finally saluted as well.

Fortunately, Gibson seemed amused by our stunned reaction, his brown eyes twinkling. "Excellent. The Maester will be most pleased. Someone will be by to show you to your new quarters this evening. Congratulations." He saluted us and walked away.

Finally Kinoc turned to meet my eyes, a look of utter disbelief on his face. "This has got to be a joke, right? Gray Squad?"

I shook my head slowly. "I was hoping for a good posting, but this... Not even in my wildest dreams..." I took a deep breath. "Well, the Maester did say he'd be watching us."

"I guess he liked what he saw." The truth was starting to sink in. He reached out and grabbed my shoulders. I grasped his in return. We grinned at each other like idiots for a full minute. Then he dropped his hands and tore off in the direction of his father. "Dad?" he shouted. "Dad, you'll never believe this!"

I watched him go, still pleasantly in shock.

"Auron?" Xan was still by my side; I had completely forgotten he was there. "What's going on?"

I turned toward him. "That was my new commanding officer. I've been posted to Maester Brac's personal guard."

"You're kidding!" Xan clapped me on the back. "That's incredible."

"Yes. Come on, I have to go tell Father." I couldn't wait to see his reaction.