First day of school
Skif backed up slightly so he wouldn't hurt his neck from looking up. Words, dat can't be good. In an attempt not to look like a pansy (he didn't want to disappoint Raf now did he?) he kicked the sell sword in the shins, hard. This may have hurt Skif more than his enemy but it gave him the chance to dart around the man and get back to Raf. Once in the safety zone he calmed down and looked at the scene. The sell sword was still standing but was holding his leg and the guards were running up. What bad timing. Wait, the guards were concerned for the man.
"Are you okay Herald Alberich?" One of the guards asked earnestly. Now that name rings a bell….
Realization hit and Skif smacked his palm on his forehead. Herald Alberich was the weapons master at the collegium. How could this upstanding Herald be a sell sword though? What a headache. Although, the headache could be from hitting his head.
The guards got a look from said Herald and backed away slowly resuming their post. Rick, whom Skif had momentarily forgotten about (due to a lack of importance) approached the Herald. Duzze 'ave a death senence?
The crazy guy, otherwise known as Rick, simply held out a hand and introduced himself. "Rick Edwards, sorry about the mix up there. My boy must have you confused with someone else. Herald Alberich was it?"
"Yes" the man replied. "Have important duties to be about I do." The man bowed and swept past Skif and Raf to enter the collegium.
Not able to hold it in anymore Skif let out a weak "ahhhh".
"Alright Squirt, what happened? You know 'im?" Rick ever the interrogator asked.
"Aye, I do. Got inna bit 'o trouble wit 'im once . Only 'e wasn't a 'erald den." By "Squirt" Rick had meant Skif. Kinda grumpy man today.
Rick didn't get it but Raf picked up and asked "a bully boy?" By this Raf was asking if Herald Alberich had been rough with him, got in a fight kind of thing.
Skif nodded, hopefully Raf would pick up on this and he wouldn't have to explain. For some reason, he didn't want Rick to know of his dealings.
Thankfully Raf got it as he nodded and finding no reason to stay outside entered the collegium, Skif on his heels and Rick sauntering in behind.
They reached the Dean's office only slightly late but Dean Elcarth made it seem like they had committed treason. He got right down to business. Rick handed him the heavy envelope with his money and Dean Elcarth got them busy.
Skif was given a piece of wood, paper and a feather pen to do a math and literature test designed to find out how good he was at each subject. Primarily so they would know where to place him in his education. He sat in the couch on the side of the room.
"Get busy then." The voice startled Skif, he was busy dreaming up anything that could have gone wrong.
"Sir, do I really have to do a test?" Skif asked. Sums had tramatized him, The stupid memorization.
"I will not have inept students smearing the name of our trainee's. You have two hours to write it. Based on what questions you get right we'll know how apt you really are." No choice. Skif walked over and sat down in the hard wooden chair. He looked down at the questions and wanted to cry, it was tempting it really was. Well, until he remembered that he could be placed somewhere else in the collegium. Soon after that and still starting at the sums it occurred to Skif that maybe Rick would be not pleased if he did badly. The man was still an adult and Raf couldn't always be around. Taking a deep breath Skif wrote out his first answer. 60 105
Rick was sent to the waiting room where he was punished for existing by filling out the paper work for Raf's position. Before Skif could assertain his postion he had to pass the math test first. They just needed a formal registration. Once that was done he would be free to leave; his "children" would remain at the school but he could visit on the weekend.
Raf had been escorted out of the office by Herald Alberich, whom he was apprenticed to. The second they were out of the office the Herald stated his dislike for the situation.
"Need an apprentice I do not. If not up to standards do you become, sent back home you will be. Promise this I do." Now Raf having a hard enough time trying to talk properly was completely overwhelmed by this Yoda talk. Noticing Raf's confusion he explained that he was from Karse, a bordering country. Basically Raf would get used to it, or die trying.
Raf was shown a part of the collegium Herald Teren had failed to tour them through. There were stables with a bunch of white horses which were described as Companions. The magic beasts of the Heralds, which Raf leaned could talk in your brain and think like a sane person. A nightmare for an interloper. If he made a wrong step he could get screwed over by talking horses, damn.
He was shown the practice grounds where all trainees learned to use weapons and hand fighting. The area was completely empty, not like the rest of the collegium which was a buzz with the chatter and footsteps of trainees and Heralds. None of the trainee's were allowed to practice without the weapons master present for safety reasons. The last note worthy place he was shown was Herald Alberich's personal quarters. He saw the palace, albeit from a distance. The Heralds had a building to themselves and each had a fair sized flat. Alberich was angry partly because he would have to give up a room in his flat to his apprentice Tori, Raf. Poor man had no choice in the matter.
Raf's room was as big as Bazie's house, minus the stairs and hallway. The room was red and black which suited Raf fine, he didn't like bright colours anyway. He had a bed and fine blankets, a window rug bookcase and a desk. It was shocking at first, the room was fit for a richie. Which was probably the idea.
Now that he had seen the place Alberich dragged him back to the main place and forced him through what he called "the initiation process". Raf took a full bath, with soap and everything so when he came back out his blissfully short hair was wet, and had white things in it. Minutes later a disgusted weapons master marched him to the healers who advised them on how to get rid of the lice. Ew. At least the bath was great, nothing like cool water in the heat of the day.
That done they went to see a woman named Gaytha who outfitted him with clothes and shoes. He got mostly working clothes which Raf took as a bad omen. If he needed lots of work clothes, that indicated he'd be doing a lot of work. He wasn't completely over being lazy. The shoes needed to be made still, the ones Raf currently had were too small and in poor condition. You don't get new shoes in prison. Or pillows for that matter. The state of his shoes greatly puzzled Gaytha who had from his general attire assumed him to be of wealthy origin. He knew he should have gotten new shoes but you don't find shoes in the laundry, and if you do they're there for good reason.
Skif was exhausted by the time he was finally complete the math test. His brain had stopped functioning properly halfway through and even his knowledge of multiplication gave him a headache. The math test had to be examined by one of the mathematics professors on staff before Skif could fill his placement or get a room on the grounds thus landing him another night in Motel De Rick.
The next morning, alright, not really morning, but something similar to or at least ambitious enough to become morning, Raf was awoken by freezing water dumped on his head. He shot up and loosing his balance in the blanket fell on the floor in a heap. A very cold and wet heap, although the goal of waking up was acutely accomplished.
"Awake you are I see. Good, work to begin you have." The Herald Alberich was said with a yawn. He was kidding, right?
Raf could only stare for a moment before he untangled himself and with dripping hair asked completely forgetting his own accent "Erald, don ye sleep a tall? Da sun ain't even ou' yet."
"Deteriorate your speech does in hours that are early." Alberich observed. "While sleep the others do, see how sufficient at fighting you are we will see." Raf had to think about that for a minute, then it clicked, he was supposed to do fighting? Oh ya, eh.
Alberich was digging around in his drawer and pulled out underwear and clothing, all of which he chucked at his apprentice. "Dress, test you after we will." With that Alberich nodded and left, closing the door after him.
Raf was freaked out, the man had gotten into the room without his knowing! The smallest noise always woke up a thief. He knew he wasn't getting rusty, if anything that particular skill had been mastered in gaol. He pulled on a shirt and left the room not sure what would meet him once he left the building.
First, the spawn of demons (Alberich) insisted on seeing his physical status, if he was in shape or what. Truth be told, Raf hadn't exactly had seen any significant amount of sunlight until recently. The only physical activity found behind bars was the daily fighting, he had not even been walking around. He had carried Skif the previous day but that wasn't saying much as Skif was on the small side. Herald Alberich was not pleased, this resulted in an extra five laps for Raf and lot's more to look forward to. Raf was subjected to push ups a plenty and many other strenuous activities.
Deciding that Raf's fitness was lacking, (and the fact that Raf could no longer move) Alberich chose to cease for breakfast and made for the hall. The second he opened the door the bell rang for the meal. There was no way the Herald could have known what time it friggin was!
Raf was a dead weight by then, not to mention starved. He wasn't even gonna get a cut of the money when this was all over! Flipping rip off, exercising was pushing it. Raf ate his usual amount on account o' the fact that a thief never eats full before a job, and Raf didn't think he could resist much longer. Come on, a hall full of trusting people stuffing their faces not even watching their purse. You can't tempt a pick pocket like that!
Keeping his hands firmly in his pockets (which held small cash) Raf exited fully prepared to bask in some sunlight. It was hot out, the sun was shining and his skin needed some colour. He was laying on the grass his shirt somewhere next to him when the bell went off scaring the hell out of the unsuspecting drowsy boy. He was up in a second before he was hit with dizziness and on his rump again. Steady once more his thoughts cleared realizing he had to move grabbed his shirt and slipped it on, scratching his head as he ran. Alberich had instructed him to go to the practice area when he heard the bell. If he wasn't there by the time second and final bell went off he'd get in shit. He wasn't sure what the punishment would be, but he wasn't eager to find out.
Raf made it in time and found a much different scene from that morning. Boys and girls under the age of ten were scattered everywhere. A class then? Raf wasn't sure what he was supposed to do.
"Hey mister?" Raf looked down and met a young girl, slightly chubby but cute as far as things went. She was around seven or eight years old and naturally, was wearing pink hair bows round her pigtails.
"Ya?" He asked.
"How many classes did you fail? Aren't you a tad bit old?" She asked innocent enough. Raf had no patience for kids. Why couldn't you just hang them outside till they got older?
"Ere, I ain't in 'ur class. I'm jus' helping out." Raf crouched down so he was face to face with her. He brought his hand behind her ear and said "I charge fer lessons too. A penny bit should do it eh" and pulled the change from behind her ear. Now this would have made anyone laugh, except for dimwit here.
Finally it dawned on her; she didn't have any money behind her ear. "Hey, how'd you do that?" And perhaps to ruin his moment of success added "you talk weird".
Unsatisfied he stood back up and looking around for a hint of what he was supposed to do he answered "practice, lots 'o practice." He chose to ignore that last comment. He did have to remember to talk proper though, it was part of his persona. Goin undercover was an art, he would do it justice! Mind, he was going to have to watch out for Skif while battling Rick and wearing year old underwears. He knew he forgot to steal something.
He spotted Alberich who was ordering everyone over to him. Tori Edwards is he", he directed at Raf, "helping out he will be from now on. Respect you will give him. Continue work from yesterday we will be." He waved for them to get ready and taking Raf to the side gave him his own task. He was to shine all the wooden swords for the next class. Why wooden swords needed to be cleaned was beyond him.
"Observing the class you will be about. In time help with teaching you will be." Alberich looked pained for a moment before furthering "if ever adequately learned I have you." Ouch, dese goodie goodie folk are cranky pregnant mums.
The younger kid class was over soon enough and followed by what appeared to be the oldest trainees. The most skilled. Raf could throw a right hook and you wouldn't wanna be in the vicinity, but if you watched some of those guys go at it you wouldn't want to be in the country. That day the group was practicing whatever each individual wanted. One person was using the bow and arrow, another some kind of fighting style. Either way they were something fierce. Alberich wanted him to be like that? Pft, now he really wasn't going to stick around.
Intimidation could do amazing things to a teenagers nerves, but nothing to the stomach. Lunch came round and was all too soon followed by what? Oh indeed, yet another class. This one consisted of kids ranging from 8 to 13 so it was no big surprise when Raf found Skif tangled in with the group. What was a surprise was Raf's new definition for the word "time".
"Now!" Raf all but yelled at his esteemed master. "You said I would not have to help teach until I was", here Raf coughed for effect and drew himself up right. He dropped his voice a few octaves and imitated gruffly "Teach you will if adequately learned I have you".
Not altogether impressed Herald Alberich got a firm grip on his shirt collar and with two hands lifted him clean off the ground. Feet making futile attempts to be reunited with the ground Raf added "have I mentioned you have lovely breath sir?"
The rather annoyed Herald only let Raf's feet levitated boots kiss the earth once the trainee's were gathered for instruction. Raf had been instructed to teach them the basic fighting but found himself wishing he had something to clean.
Skif suffered much the same experience, minus the lice. Skif's room was of normal standards but just amazing to Skif. He was surrounded by students, many of whom pounded on his door.
It is important to note that the boy was not surrounded by Artificers but general students. Upon failing his test (quite spectacularly) he got a new placement. He was currently a Healer trainee, clad in the traditional pale green tunic. A Healer was someone with the talent to mend flesh and treat wounds and illnesses, a type of power that some posses more of than others. Skif, the resident talent hunter said, had a knack for it, something even Skif hadn't known about himself. Some people had more talent in it than others, supposedly Skif's potential was not fully "blossomed" yet but with proper tutelage and determination he could make a career as a doctor. It would do fine for his purposes but Skif really had no intention of applying himself.
Skif, being the social butterfly that he is, had to be dragged out of his room by the other curious trainee's. Once he was out he realized just how few in green there were. The coligeum was after all mostly made up of Artificers. Skif was going to be hard pressed to remember all the names, with luck he'd be out soon and never have to see them again, thus their names could go out the window. The trainee's nearest were at or slightly above his age, their names were Beth, Verden and Carmen. They were his self proclaimed "tour guides" until he got used to the place and made friends with those he wanted to.
The dining hall was huge, enormous and otherwise entirely large. Very spacious. Everyone ate there together. Raf and Skif were actually in the same room, but could never have found each other.
The class was divided into 3 groups. Skif opted for the throwing group, consisting of bows and arrows and surprisingly, knife throwing. The knives used with his group were entirely cheap, they rather resembled the old butter knife he 'n the gang used at supper. Dull, light and not even balanced. He suspected they were only for technique, but in the long run wouldn't it screw up someone's throwing? Here he had a bizarre image of some guy getting stabbed with a butter knife and blood everywhere before the guy fell over dead with said knife still firmly stuck in his head. It just wouldn't work. There was just no class in that.
However this is unrelated to Skif who was simply observant, he spent most of the lesson getting hassled by his partner, Beth,a girl no less, on his poor stature.
"No, no no! You hold it like this you see?" she said as she corrected his posture. "And these two fingers have to stay together, pull back slowly, release." She was a good teacher, he got it on the target that time.
Herald Alberich came around just before the end and approving of his flawlessly straight posture and professional squint, requested to see him after class. I dinne do nuthin wrong yet! Oy, he still wants to talk wif me, yon bastid. Skif still remembered well the last time they had a chat, not at all the most fond of his memories.
The bell went and class was dismissed, Skif stood lazily against the wall trying not to look nervous, this was the man who had tied him up and threatened him with a dagger! He had kept it and it was currently in his bag. He believed in being prepared. He whistled a tune as he watched Raf and Alberich put things away. The Herald seemed to find this annoying as he soon gave up on his task (leaving it all for poor Raf) and stalked over to him.
"Companion's field, you have not yet visited? Cooler, I believe it to be there." Herald Alberich stated. Skif had in fact seen it on his tour but followed nonetheless.
Skif was anxious. The man already knew him, and where he was from. Said Herald didn't seem to mean him any harm, unless he wanted to lead him away to kill him. But that in itself was an illogical move, he'd surely be caught. No, a sell sword like that was very sneaky, if he meant him harm he would have already received it. Besides, it was too hot out to be diggin' any six foot deep holes.
In any case, their connection broke when Jass died. Skif came to a dead end and for a time, had dropped the case. He had heard a while back about his Uncle Londer being involved but dismissed it almost immediately, the smelly creature never knew where he went. However Skif was desperate, at least his uncle might lead him to another clue. He could drop by that weekend, or preferably after his current heist. Beel might know something if Londer won't tell, unlikely though. Something to think about.
"Not to be rude sor, but I ain't never 'eard an accen' like yours afore, I wasn't about to ask ye' when we first met." A shiver went down his spine, that wouldn't have ended well. "Where's at from?" Skif asked, forgetting to speak proper. For some reason he just didn't feel like putting out the effort.
"Karse", The Herald replied. Fucking Karse! "A Captain I was, in service of Vkandis Sunlord. You need not know more." Alright, so Valdemar had a Karsite Officer as a Herald, an important law enforcing figure... Did they even know that? "We have something in common I think", the Karsite went on. "Love my home I still do, and miss it. You miss your home?"
A knot formed in Skif's throat as his thoughts jumped immediately to his burning home. His heart hardened and he replied "Did we come 'ere to talk about loving parents or what? You wanted ter talk, so spit it out."
Skif avoided Herald Alberich's eyes (not hard to do being as short as he was) and thus missed the concerned look the guy threw his way. You see, it is quite impossible to insult a Captain. "This way", was all he said. Soon they came to the Companions field and Kantor, which is what Alberich introduced his horse as, walked along with them.
"An uncomfortable subject, I'm sure this is. When we were at the cemetery, questioned you I did about Jass, you told me he burned your home and you were seeking revenge, do you remember this?" Skif nodded in the affirmative. Then again I saw you yesterday, and now as a student. I think to myself, what is this boy doing here? Searching for a better education are you?"
"No sor!" Skif replied disgusted. "I don't really have to tell you nuthin, but truly I was hoping we could mebbe combin' forces." Skif answered, a complete lie of course. But now that he thought about it, that could actually work.
"And your "brother", Tori, is he into all this business as well? I should warn you, young or not, be lenient on wrongdoing, the government will not be."
"Are you kiddin? Do we look alike? He's a friend, his dad agreed to pay me in here, don' approve of my livin on dem streets. Tori used to give me a supper, on my way home he'd wait out back with a bread roll or whatever was leftover. 'Es a good guy". Well, Skif was on a roll. Somehow, he was even managing to keep perspiration to a minimum. If he could fool this man, he could fool anyone."
"Explain it does, why a Companion you are lacking. Young Tori won't be overly helpful, until experienced fighter I have him trained as." they walked around silently for a while, Herald Alberich likely considering his explanation. Skif thought it was well done, clearly they weren't related, but Raf did appear better off than Skif, even with his newly chopped hair which by the way, fit in well with the current fashion.
"Believe you I shall, whether truthful or not you are does not matter in our business. Poor you are, and a homeless kid too. How'd you get by? Surely you could not live off the Edwards forever." How much to tell him? He should by all costs avoid telling about his career. He could explain his history with the Hollybush, if he tweaked it a little.
So he told only of his life as if he stayed at the Hollybush Tavern, took off and lived with a charitable old man seeking company until the house burned. Then he lived with the Edwards in one of the spare rooms. If that actually happened to anyone, getting to live with rich people because they liked you, my god they won the lottery. But that was Skif's story. Bazzie, the gang, and his thieving stayed out.
"A huge blaze you say? Remember it, i think I do. Down on Cornerwalls street? The house under street level?" What could he do, too much detail apparently.
"Aye, that was it. I tried to get to 'im but some sodder knocked me out, pow right behind the ear. I sure 'ad a bump the next morning' I can tell you." Alberich stopped dead and was gapping at him.
Next he asked the scariest question Skif had ever heard, "And woke up in the restaurant across the street on the bench, you did?"
"Yaaa..." No effing way, this was the same guy? They just kept running into each other, it was getting slightly ridiculous. "How could you stop me form helping him! He couldn't get up the stairs, he was drolly sleepin', I coulda helped 'im!"
"No, a fire that bad I have not seen since I was in Karse myself. You'd have been burned believe me. I have the sight, I knew before I even saw you you woud die. I saved your life." Skif still refused to believe that, he could have saved them, if he'd just had the chance. And this was the man that stopped him. "I'm sorry for your loss, truly. To avenge them then, you would destroy the man who commanded Jass?"
"Of course! Why else would I; eh, chase him like I did." Skif stumbled out. A bit of a touchy subject."
"Sneaky you are, I have already seen. A boy like you I could use to finally track down the head man. We, the Heralds that is have been searching for the same person as you I believe. Kidnaps children form the street he does, lucky you were to be taken in. This man has committed many crimes and our job it is to bring him to justice, and keep safety over the streets. Motivation to help, I think you have."
"I'll do anything!" Here, Skif could get the guy that murdered Bazzie and the boys, and get rich at the same time.
"Understand you do that allowed I am not to endorse your help? A dangerous game this is, as you well know." Skif implied yes with an eager nod and a bounce. "What are you capable of?"
"Sor, if I was older I'd be in the army as a spy, I went around for months over 'em houses lookin' through papers 'n blackmailin' people. I have a keen ear, in the bar I often listened to you an' Jass in your dealings. I trade information an'-" Alberich cut him off.
"That's enough, more involved you are than I even suspected. How you got in the bar, want to hear I do not. We know little of this man, your knowledge and expertise will be very helpful, I forsee. When a plan for you I have, I will inform you. Till then, off to class with you. Late for last period, I believe you are.
Ignoring the heat, Skif ran to class with a smile, very enthused about this new development, and the bag full of money he just relieved the weapons master of. Herald Alberich, the stony Karsite, stared after him unaware of his recent loss. Not really sure what to believe he looked to his Companion who simply stomped the ground in confusion. Deciding that it didn't really matter, Herald Alberich marched back to find his apprentice still trying to put all the equipment back in it's rightful place.