17 – It Is Tea, Isn't It?

Early next morning the whoosh of heavy drapes being opened and the corresponding daylight streaming into the room abruptly woke the young half-elf. Blinking against the brightness his blurred eyes fixed on a figure standing next to his bed.

"Father?" he mumbled. He was vaguely aware of a dull pounding in his head, no doubt from his ample consumption of the pressed grape the day before.

The Guild Master loomed over him, his thumbs hooked through the belt-loops of his waistband. He was dressed in casual attire, a fine linen shirt tucked into black britches. His silver hair was worn loose, long strands hanging over his shoulders and chest as well as the mane reaching down to the base of his spine. He allowed his son long enough to focus and push himself up against the pillows.

Sauren rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. Feeling it would be an impertinent act in front of his stern-faced father, he fought to suppress the threatening yawn. The blur left his eyes and once more he looked up at Sa'themar.

The azure eyes did not meet his mahogany ones, instead, they seem focused on the scar below his ribs – and the marks on his chest which were clearly scratches from fingernails. Absentmindedly, Sauren pulled the sheet up and folded his arms, keeping it in place.

His father looked directly at him now, his expression unfathomable. "You will resume training today. There will be no more interruptions. Should Brett be required elsewhere at any time he will appoint one of the trainers to continue in his absence."

"Yes, father," Sauren replied. He was normally good at interpreting his father's tone, but this morning it was different, abstruse, hermetic. It gave rise to Sauren's curiosity and he wanted to ask how the mission had fared, but something in his father's eyes staid his tongue.

A long pause stretched between them before Sa'themar spoke again. "I may not have witnessed you sneaking into the exercise courtyard when you were younger, but I know you did not develop as you are now without some form of vigourous workout over time. Plus, you never did leave everything as you found it, so I knew, for all you thought I did not."

Sauren swallowed. He was unsure where this was going. Nevertheless, he sensed his father was not finished and so he remained quiet.

"I also know I have been absent during some of the many academic and progressive achievements in your young life - and I regret that more than you realise. But, I am aware of your acumen, the innate knowledge you have acquired through your studies and observations. I am -proud of you."

The half-elf's silence prevailed, rooted by his father's praise.

Sa'themar turned, his head lowering just a shade as he moved to the foot of his son's bed. Without looking at Sauren he spoke once more. "You will be leader one day and I have no doubt you will strive to ensure the Blades continue to grow and become the best there is. I also want you to be respected, someone for others to aspire to and admire…" He then faced his son, something of a wistful smile hinting at the corners of his mouth. He raised a long slender finger and pointed to Sauren's chest. "Over and above those of the female persuasion, I mean."

The half-elf lowered his eyes, unexpectedly embarrassed that his father had deduced his recent activities.

The sound of Sa'themar's boots dully clicking on the steps descending from his bedchamber made him look up again.

As the Guild Master's back receded from view, he called over his shoulder, "Let not the intemperance of seduction distract you from your training, Sauren. Now, get dressed and prepare for your workout. Be in the courtyard in fifteen minutes."

Sauren listened as Sa'themar crossed the outer chamber followed by the door opening and closing with a dull thud. The youngling sat, still somewhat confused by his father's mood. Glancing down he noted the telltale scratches. A small guffaw vibrated in his throat. The Gods forbid Sa'themar saw his ass.

Throwing back the covers he rose, a little gingerly at first. His mouth felt dry, and the threat of bile rising was not far away. With a deep breath, he stumbled a little to the washroom and proceeded to freshen up for the day ahead.

The courtyard was already awash in the morning sunshine and readied for the Crimson Blades students' training. A roll-call was being carried out by each trainer as pupils gathered around them. Sauren watched all the new starts mull around, all looking uncertain of what awaited them. He grinned, not entirely unsympathetically, but with a degree of certainty that some would not make the cut. This first month would sort out the already adept, the complete novices to the utterly useless (one or two would have slipped through the selection process on a bed of lies, without doubt). Then finally, each successful group would be assigned to appropriate mentors.

The dry, dusty ground close to the storehouses boasted four rows of wooden targets, some with padded 'limbs' which all sat regimental, several yards to the right of where Sauren had emerged from the tower. These were designed to aid the development of different attacking styles and enhance a rogue's blade-throwing ability. The sight reminded the half-elf that his two friends would need to return the dummy in his chambers to its rightful place.

Continuing on, various constructs of different heights and widths were strategically placed in the centre of the grounds. Their purpose was to determine trainees' guile as well as stretch their fortitude to the limit. Tiered seating surrounded the obstacles enabling trainer observation and an assemblage of fellow trainees to view those being put through their paces.

Beyond that a square area was cordoned off for basic exercising to take place; the warming up of muscles and stretching so as not to cause stress to the body before more gruelling tests. This would be the main port of call for first-year students - after the cleaning of stables and latrines, of course. A similar exercise pen lay a few yards to the left of it and another beyond that. The latter benefited the more advanced individuals, which at the moment consisted of only the trainers and elites. It would be a while before students reached that stage.

Sauren noted one or two professionals already going through their routines - including Lina Firefury. His steps slowed as he watched her. Such grace, he observed, even in the simplest of manoeuvres. His mind flitted back to the battle in the Blackened Woods where Lina and Yathas consummated the most perfectly synchronised attacks. They moved with such fluidity, their timing and intuitive evaluation of each situation seconded to none.

Her series of dynamic stretches held him captivated. He absorbed every move, assessing the muscles being worked and the benefit which attributed to the female rogue's expert delivery. A wish formed in his mind - to find someone who would compliment him in battle as the Firefurys did each other.

The sun's glow radiated in the woman's hair making it appear a lustrous, liquid gold. All senses fused giving rise to his appreciation of the woman in the all too familiar arena of lustful thought. He smiled to himself; perhaps someone would compliment him in that way too one day. His father's parting words interrupted his reverie; "Let not the intemperance of seduction distract you from your training, Sauren." He sighed. Father always managed to dissuade him from such daydreaming – even when he wasn't physically present.

"She's something else, isn't she?" a familiar voice said to his right.

He turned to face Reed, and Don, who had just caught up with the half-elf's left-hand man. They still looked a little peaky from the previous days escapade not to mention the generous amount of wine. Sauren smirked. "Yes, she is. Quite…wonderful." He cast his eyes in Lina's direction again but was drawn back to Don, who stood trying to subtly disguise the fact he was rubbing his crotch. Sauren's brow creased. "What the hell are you doing!" he growled, placing himself between Lina's line of vision and that of his fidgeting friend.

"Sorry," Don almost whined, embarrassment rising in a fiery flush from his neck. "But, I've scrubbed myself nearly raw. Damn well bled my cock."

Discombobulated for a few moments, Sauren looked to Reed. The young man offered no explanation but was apparently trying to suppress a giggle. With as much control as he could muster, Sauren asked Don what the problem was with his penis.

"Bloody pips and seeds," Don explained, still rubbing.

Reed had to look away, making a pretence of admiring all else in the courtyard. It was obvious he was about to explode with laughter.

Again, Sauren attempted to offer polite consideration to his bodyguard. "And how pray tell, did you end up with them there?"

Don looked doubly embarrassed. "I – I tried what you did with your whores."

"Concubines!" Sauren corrected in a hiss.

"Yes. Sorry!" Don mumbled, rolling his eyes. Clearly Sauren didn't like Maya and Leola being referred to as basely, but that's exactly what they were. Still, he offered sufficient apology to the half-elf.

"What do you mean you tried what I did?" Sauren enquired again.

With a resigned huff, Don explained. "When you rubbed the fruit onto Leola's body all the way down to … to her cunt. I tried it with Calissa, but..."

The half-elf chanced a glance at Reed. His eyes were welling with suppressed laughter. "I think he got confused with the pilgrim's bounty," Reed wheezed. "Thought he was stuffing a turkey."

"I did not!" Don protested hotly. "It - well it just looked like that's what he did," he whined, nodding in Sauren's direction.

Sauren's mouth split into a wide smile, mirth barely contained in his voice. "You idiot! I didn't put it inside her, only on the surface. The reason being, well…" A bray of a laugh escaped him. "…because I didn't want the problem you've ended up with, let alone the discomfort it would have caused Leola."

Don bowed his head and continued rubbing his genitals. "Well, I know that now!" He shook his head, deflated by his then lack of experience. "But I didn't at the time because I never thought about the pips getting under my foreskin as I was too…" He stopped.

"Horny," Reed finished for him with a snort.

Sauren and Reed took up position, their backs facing their agonised friend and debated what to do while trying desperately hard not to give in to helpless giggles. After due consideration, Reed went to the dining hall while Sauren tried to comfort Don, assuring him all would be well again. A few minutes later Reed emerged carrying a bowl with a cloth over it. He handed the bowl to Don.

"What's this?" the troubled lad asked.

"It is simply cold tea," Reed said.

"What good is that? Is it drugged to stop the burning sensation?" Don pleaded.

"No," Sauren explained. "It's not to drink! Go into the loft in the stables and just dip your penis in the bowl. Cover with the cloth while it's soaking and it will soothe it. Best to sit down when you do that, by the way."

Don looked at his two friends. "Are you sure?" He reached out to accept the bowl, his hand a little shaky.

"Yes. Now go, before Brett arrives and sends you off to start training."

Don nodded and limped away to the stables, his friends, still smirking, watching him go.

"It is tea, isn't it?" Sauren asked.

"No," Reed replied.

"What then?"

Reed snorted again, the smile on his face infectious. "Cooking sherry."

Sauren bit his lip and scrunched his eyes. "You evil bastard," he laughed.

"Right!" a shout came from behind. The lads' mirth soon dissipated at the sound of Brett's voice. "Are we ready?"

"Yes," Sauren replied, tight, fighting to dispel the dregs of humour from his voice.

The human rogue walked round to face them. He took his time checking them over. "Where's the other one?" he asked, suspicious.

"He's seeing to an injury," Sauren replied, the faintest of twitches tugging the corners of his mouth. Reed cleared his throat in a pathetic attempt to disguise a laugh.

Brett stared at them, his obvious disbelief sounding in a low 'Hmph'. "Well, he'll just have to double-up when he graces us with his appearance."

Sauren and Reed both lowered their heads at the unfortunate turn of phrase as Brett stepped back and turned towards the exercise pen where Lina was still going through her routine. "We're going to start off with some stretches, and I want you running around the complex for a few laps, build your speed. Let's get…"

A bestial roar came from the direction of the stables. All eyes, including those of Lina Firefury turned towards the building. A thud followed and horses whinnied, the roaring now barely a series of disjointed grunts. From between the stalls, the dishevelled figure of Don staggered his way out, bumping into the doorway and the vertical support of the overhanging canopy. His eyes fixed on Reed and Sauren whose amused expressions infuriated him. He moved towards them, legs crisscrossing as he stumbled, his hands cupping his crotch. "Just you bloody wait!" he shouted and turned to bumble his way towards the infirmary. Questioning faces followed the enfeebled rogue as he made his way to the building at the far end of the complex.

The half-elf and his companion were still laughing when a very stern Brett glared at them, nostrils flaring and arms crossed over his chest. "I don't know what you've done to that lad but I'll find out and make no mistake, you are going to suffer also. Now git!" He gestured they enter the pen. "Lina!" he shouted over.

The blonde looked at Brett and his two pupils. She stood, hands on hips waiting for Brett to speak again.

"Put these two scallywags through their paces, will you? I need to see to the other one." He said.

"No problem," she answered, beckoning the boys over as Brett jogged towards the infirmary.

Sauren felt a little awkward being handed over to the female rogue who he admired so much, especially as she was now aware he and Reed had played some prank on Don.

The two boys stood in front of her, both staring at her trying to push certain thoughts to the back of their brains. Although not quite as tall as Sauren she still stood above Reed by a few inches. "Well then," she said, looking at each in turn. "What have you done? And you may as well tell me because I'll hear it from Brett anyway."

Reed blushed and lowered his head. "We can't tell you, Ma'am."

Lina moved her weight to her left leg, her leather girdle creaking as she moved. "I have two sons at home, one is ages with you Sauren, the other is a few years older and believe me there is little you can tell me that would shock."

Reed shifted, looking askance at Sauren. The half-elf had turned his head the opposite direction. "Well, yesterday we all…"

"Went climbing!" Sauren injected quickly, looking at Reed, eyes hot. He would not divulge their sexual exploits, particularly when it had all happened in a secret location in the bowels of the Keep. He turned his eyes to Lina, the mahogany once more toned down. "Don, unfortunately, lost his footing and his… well, a branch scraped his…erm…" He couldn't quite bring himself to say the word penis to a lady, regardless of the fact she had two sons, whose penises no doubt she had seen many a time when they were little boys.

"Oh, I see," she said, nodding her head in understanding.

Relieved she had accepted the fabricated explanation of the origin of Don's discomfort, he felt the rest of the story could remain unchanged and admitted what they had done.

Her mouth fell open. The boys were startled when she knocked their heads together; not hard but it took them completely by surprise. They were massaging the sides of their heads when she spoke again. "You must have known alcohol would burn, and to apply it there, well that was just irresponsible, boys!"

"Sorry, Ma'am," Reed offered. Sauren mumbled something along the same lines, mortified that the woman he had been worshipping saw fit to crack his skull with that of his friend.

"I think it's Don you should be apologising to, not me."

"As you wish." Reed spun on his heels.

"Not now!" she said forcefully. "Right now you are going to drop and give me twenty push-ups. Both of you."

The boys shared a knowing look. Twenty was easy. Down they went and completed the task relatively quickly. Both were fit enough to endure simple things as push-ups. They were about to rise but Lina told them to stay where they were. "Put one hand behind your backs and give me another twenty using one arm. Then change arms and repeat."

It was doable, but it ached a little. They didn't finish the sets quite as quickly as the first, but they at least completed them.

Next she had them doing more using their knuckles for purchase. By the end of that round, they were feeling the burn in their triceps, serratus anteriors and creeping along their pectorals. They were instructed to flip onto their backs, the next exercises being alternate crunches - again twenty. Now abdominals were starting to feel the effects. Sit-ups, twenty – core, lower back and obliques. She told them to get up and start lunges, again twenty, alternating legs. The bite began in their hamstrings and quadriceps.

The sun had risen a good bit above the horizon now and the temperature was already indicating a very hot and sticky day ahead. With all the exercising issued and the sheer determination to complete it all, the two boys shirts were clinging to their skin and hair clamped to their faces.

"Okay, go get some water," Lina said to them. Each pen had a water bucket and ladles for the participating students' and trainers' refreshment. These were replenished by staff regularly during the day.

Sauren and Reed rested on the small bench next to the water and drank avidly. The half-elf drew his arm across his brow making his sleeve darken from the sweat. From a pocket in his britches, he pulled a thin leather thong and tied his hair back in a ponytail. He cursed under his breath that he had not thought to do that before the exercises had begun.

They sat for a few minutes, quiet, simply taking sips of water and looking around the complex. New trainees were being put through their paces too. From the expressions on some faces, it was proving hard-going for them, while others seemed to sail through whatever their trainer instructed. Chatter, shouts, hails and the occasional laugh reverberated around the courtyard.

"She's a taskmaster," Reed opined, wiping away sweat that trickled into his eyes.

Sauren grinned. "That she is. Doesn't help that we were still half-drunk from yesterday."

Reed laughed. "True."

The boys looked towards the infirmary. "Wonder how he's doing," Reed said.

"Probably all bandaged up now," Sauren replied almost distantly. Reed's bubbling laughter, however, pulled him back to the present. The imagery struck him and he couldn't keep the smile from his face either.

"Wh - who do you think had the honours? Pretty nurse or ugly old priest?" The left-hand man managed in a whisper.

The mahogany eyes sparkled with mirth. "Stop it! We'll get into more trouble."

Reed's laughter subsided and he nudged Sauren, spilling his water as he knocked elbows with him. "I think we are by the looks of it."

The half-elf turned. From the edge of the wooden constructs, Brett's thunderous face appeared. He was striding purposefully towards them. "I guess he doesn't see the funny side," he sighed. As if there wasn't enough ill-feeling between him and Brett it seemed the gauntlets would be cast on the ground once more.

"We're going to be really sore by the end of this day I reckon," Reed said in agreement.

"Boys! Up! Give me the same again," Lina ordered.

Replacing his ladle in the water bucket, Sauren stood. "I think 'sore' will be an understatement, somehow."

Nodding, Reed joined his friend and the two of them dropped in front of the female rogue then started the whole series of sets again.