Unfamiliar with Zero
chapter 5
Disclaimer I own nothing in this sandbox
Baldwin looked at the gathered magelings. There were only four three boys and a girl. That said it probably a sign that most visiting nobles kept it in there pants while here or were careful. None were his bastards. He was sure. One looked like that danish ex raider and his English wife. The others looked like his father so they were probably his cousins of some sort. Damn his father.
"I've had you gathered here so you can serve your nation and protect your families. You are going to spread out across the continent to look for signs of war . Things like the price of leather, beans, rope and iron. We're going to have to teach a few languages to all of you, plenty of mathematics the basics of enciphering and bring your magic up to basic level. We will start with that. How many of you can actually use your magic?" Three out of four raised there hands. " How many of you can read and write?" Two out of four raised there hands. "We have time which is why called you here so early after the tithe. We will do class work for the first half the day. Magic and physical training the second half. That includes things like riding & weapon use . You will have a free day every Sunday. Lets get going back to my manor. you will be sharing a room no funny business. You are here to serve not kill each other rape each other. If you want your own room that will given as a reward to who has the highest overall marks that month. After you drop off you things meet me in the yard. We will work on your magic tonight before bed."
Bidashal knew the elders were wise. The Danube was the most important river to enter the black sea it had a canal that connected it the Rhine. It was a way to bypass Byzantium and there stranglehold on the silk road. The Turks had been been on the rise since they had taken Astrakhan and so they might try something on the sea. Multiple goals would be served by patrolling the sea. But Bidashal got sea sick. This sea went from freshish to brackish water. It was a big lake. It was over 2500 km from end to end . His stomach didn't care.
"I don't need to know conic sections. If I need to know about a problem I will do it in algebra and work from there. You know the set of rules the Muslims invented. Let me know when we start on non integer exponents, spring mass systems or a test. I' ll be in the yard. " Johann left the room and headed to the training yard.
The boy looked a lot less impressive from the ground . Pieter had seen the boy melt rock without a chant . "Get up and hit me ! Stop using the same strike. You want to conserve power but don't step as you swing" gesturing up. "Come on boy, attack". The boy swung from a low guard but lost control of the blade mid swing and hit himself with the crossguard of the practice blade. " Are you here to learn or waste my time. Now do it right this time or start running laps near the horses." This time the boy feinted up then stepped and swung across finally hitting him. " Good Now do it again."
Baldwin looked up from the map to the sounds of swordplay in the yard. It was the boy again probably. He barely attended arithmetic saying he already knew what they were teaching. The boy was better at arithmetic than himself damn him. He attended History ,Languages ,and Magic Lessons just fine. But if he already knew the lesson he would go train at something else like right now. Making his way to the yard to see how the impromptu lesson. The boy was learning slowly but learning all the same. Stepping in to Yard he Grabbed a practice blade . It was time to teach the boy some ticks. Addressing the Teen " It's Time for you to try magic at the same time just try to deflect our strikes with that barrier I showed you and maybe a few strikes back for now." So saying He and Peiter struck out. Pieter with a highguard to mid cut. Himself with a lowguard to thrust. Johann managed to block the first but overextended himself. Baldwin felt the shield try and stop his blade. Pushing though he stated " Almost good enough. But Almost isn't ever Good Enough. Lets do this again and again until your language lessons start up.
Joseph looked up from the map. If he could find and marry Charles's Daughter he would have a claim on Germania. He had only just ascended the the throne of Gallia securing his position was vital. Killing off his rivals was only the start. Tristan was abomination its borders cut off there access to the Atlantic to the west. To the north the Netherlands all but blocked his access to the Baltic. Germania controlled the connection to the silk road via the Rhine to Danube Canal. He turned the key on the music box next to himself and plotted.