Chapter five
I had no more free time it seemed like I was running from one class to the next and teaching a select group the things I demonstrated in the sally. Sansei was as good as his word and fit it all in the open parts of my classes. They left me the early mornings for running. A few people started to join me and we had a core group Terry, Char, Kile, and two guards Vek and Ske they both were in charge of the kings detail and had been studying with me and sansei. Two people I insisted be in the classes were Terry and Char. Sansei smiled ear to ear when he informed them of the honor Terry was ready to kill me when she found out. Looking over at my two best friends as we complete the ten miles in the companions field's I feel pride in only two months Terry can best almost all her year mates but it is Char who has really taken to it, after me size for size she may be the best fighter in the circle that's not saying that we beat Zake he is real good and in a fight of equal skill size matters. However last class she scored three hits to two on Kile two years older. She had later that night crowed at dinner of his defeat. I was not there or I would have put a stop to it. Today I was going to teach her humility.
Sansei surprised me with his knowledge and attended all the classes. Mostly to observe, he walked around pointing out flaws in technique or form. He had heard of Chars little show. So when I called her to the center of the matt a smile broke out on his face. As anyone can tell you this is a bad thing for someone in the sally. I look at my friend; it's all anyone is talking about, how you thrashed Kile yesterday. When he bested you I never heard about it. These are privet lesion only our group is in attendance. Who could have told everyone else?
She stands in front of me and the smile falls from her face.
Usually I call the hits and falls. I look over Sansei, keep scour. He nods and I turn and bow.
Char looks at me, sets her shoulders and returns my bow. She immediately goes on defense.
I was real good in my old life but I was living it in this one. Training every day, running, and they tell you that teaching hones you skills. This was the first time I was the master. I let it all go like she did against Kile. Everything all the different stiles flowed in to something all my own. Even the two master monks were left speechless. I had only ever moved like this with Zake and then only Sansei ever saw it. She never stood a chance. Three humiliating fall one after the other as she stands I bow and with tears in her eyes she bows back. I whisper so only she can hear. Never boast of how you beat someone in my class again.
She drops her head and says, yes Sansei. She was the first one who ever called me that but she would not be the last. By the winter break everyone with the exception of My Sansei was fallowing her lead and no one ever talked out side of class again. That's not to say there was not some good natured ribbing in the class but no outsiders ever heard about it.
It was an hour before the last class before winter break. As were our custom Sansei and I sat in his office and discussed the upcoming Lessing and the previse one. Zake is going out after he visits his family it will be a long one, two to three years before we see him again. I wish you to match him. Show the kids something.
It had been a running joke that we called the students kids, some time they fought like three year olds. My blood was pumping Zake and I were a lot more evenly matched than anyone knew. He was aware of it and we spared three to four times a week. I'm going to miss him but Char is coming along nicely.
It was one of the greatest fights of my life and if I had a little more mass I might have won. As we stand after the match I bow low he returns the gesture and smiles. That will be the last time I ever win against you he tells me as he riffles my hair. You will be at least a head taller and twenty pounds heavier and all mussel next time I see you sansei.
I give him a hug come home safe Zake. He takes his leave and the others square off as my sansei and I prowl on the outside pointing out mistakes. Today was the first day of break but the class wished to have one more session before departing. Everyone was leaving including sansei I was told three weeks ago that I was not allowed to leave by Kyle. Some of my friends including Sansei, Terry, and Char had asked me to visit but when the circle found out he had to give me the bad news. Good work people lets wrap it up. I know most of you need to hit the road. That is when they surprised me with the gifts. I was floored they were only small things but it was the thought behind them. I didn't get you guys anything.
One of the guards' smirks is she kidding? Then the whole class including sansei bowed. I didn't know what to do but my training took over. Bowing back the words Arigatogozaimashita come out and I wait till they all stand before standing back up.
I had an appointment right after class with the kings own. Taking a quick bath I headed for his office. I hear a muffled come in after knocking on the door. His office is very neat everything has a place and it is in it.
I hear nothing but good things about you I felt it was time to meet you.
I sit a little straighter in my chair. Thank you sir.
We do have some things to discuss the biggest is confining you to the grounds. We want you to know it is not a punishment and we will arrange outings for you. Did Kyle explain why?
Yes sir he told me until my mage gift opened enough and I learned to protect the power I had I was a tasty treat for blood mages.
Well yes a little blunt but right to the point. I also wished to discuss your farm. We had a team of mages go over it that's were Del had gone. They found some disturbing things high traces of blood sacrifice also a circle of power. The local priest said it was holy in nature. That is part of why I asked to speak with you they wish to purchase the land and buildings from you.
What sect are they?
Torrying they worship the Twain. Your family had staked out over a thousand acres and had them legally deeded. As a trainee the crown holds them for you without taxes until you have an heir or you sell them. They wish to build a temple over the circle. The offer is extremely generous.
What are we talking about?
Five thousand golds and if you sell to the clergy it is tax free.
It was the place I was born, the place I came into this world, and a place I would probably never visit again. What would I do with all that?
It would be placed in the royal bank until your sixteenth birthday you would of course receive 2% interest a year that works out to ten golds which you will receive on the first of every year.
A small fortune for a student, one hundred golds Val piped up.
Do you think I should do it?
We have a new home now love and even if you never need the money you may have littles someday and wish to help them or buy sweats for a hardworking partner.
I would shower you with them if they ever let me through the gate you will just have to suffer along with the treats I sneak out to you from the hall love. He watches my face knowing who I was talking to than came back to the present. We have only one problem I tell him, I am unsure of my birthday.
He smiles at me, not to worry you would be surprised to find how many young ones come through here in the same boat as you. we let them pick a date and it is put in the books.
Thinking hard I wish to have something that reminds me of home. I want it to be the 4th of July. You can sell the farm to them tell them I hope they have better luck there than we did. Del also found some money and valuable that he is bringing back with him for you if you wish to have me hold on to any of them or liquidate them let me know. Del will be back in a few days.
It was a bit lonely and without Val I probably would have sunk in to a deep depression. The first day as the sun hits my face, don't forget we have to run. I had gotten used to have others with me and was feeling a little sluggish. Let me sleep.
Get up you will thank me later when the others are throwing up.
Grumbling, slave driver.
I have a surprise come on down to the track. We had named the trail in companion field the track after seeing the improvement in the stamina in my running buddies others started to also run mostly heralds and trainees but soon bards and guards also were using the path. The place was empty it felt like I was the last person on the planet. I step over the bridge and see my surprise. Stretching out were the two monks from my classes Brother Phil and Brother Tike. What are you doing here? I knew they ran everyday with the other monks at the temple. The iron monks had earned the name from being able to run from sun up to sun set. A bard had told me that in one song it tells how they ran for thirty miles and fell on the invaders and fought for two days.
Sansei we came to share your morning run.
I knew they were going to miss the workout with their brothers being there with me. I didn't make a fuss they know I can't leave so they came here. I just started to run the trail snaked around the edge of the field we had beaten a dirt path around. We all had good wind so every once In a while someone would say something.
It is nice to run to a change of scenery don't you think Brother Tike?
Yes Brother Phil. We finish the ten and they tell me they will see me tomorrow.
How did you manage this?
I asked Ross to ask Char to see if she could find anyone for you to run with while they were gone. Val trotted over and I put my arms around him.
Your too good for me love. I owe you one.
I hear there are pocket pies set out for breakfast.
I'll see what I can do.
He gives me a nudge with his nose. You can bring it to me when you give me that nice long grooming you have been promising me.
Things kept up like that I stayed busy reading or running or doing my Kata's or if all else failed grooming Val to an inch of his life. He never shined so much others in the field were getting snippy with him he told me later so I started to brush unpaired companions. He would show up with one of his friends and although they never talked to me I would talk to them. Val would pass on what they had to say. That was pretty much the first week. Then on the start of the second week we were finishing our run and standing with Val was Del and Griff. I throw myself into Del's arms.
We walked back toward the stables. I have sold the farm have you heard?
Val and Griff are talking he is still in the back of my head but more like background noise. Yes Holt reached out. He told me you talked. After helping Del groom Griff and getting him some good feed with a few treats for both of our companions Del grabbed two saddle bags and we headed for my rooms. He stepped in and looked around; books were staked on the desk three and four high with a small space to work. It was the only clear space on the desk. The rest of the room is spotless.
Sit he tells me and I sit on the end of the bed he grabs the only chair at the desk. I found some interesting thing and some very valuable pieces of jewelry he pulls out a gold chain that must be three feet long an emerald pendant and a ruby broch. Death had left a few things to help my back story besides the jewels. He pulls out a thick packet of papers. Some of these are very enlightened. Holt will have to look at them before I can give you them but they are yours and I will make sure you get them. They also had some strange knifes and an account in the traders bank, but they didn't have a balance so we will have to look into this. Do any of these help you remember?
No Del something's just come to me like the fighting I seem to pick things up fast. Val tells me it just means I have time to learn new things. I like to read now.
Del looks at the desk; I can see that how many books have you read?
I finished first year studies I am half way through the second year course work.
He shakes his head, to think you didn't know how to read five months ago.
I'm used to being a kind of freak but I have made some good friends.
I'm sure you have, he scrapes all the jewelry back into the saddle bags and returns the papers. I will get these to Holt.
It took three days before he called me to his office for another appointment. Walking in I see Del sitting with Holt. Come have a seat we have a few things to discuss. I know Del showed you a few things it took a while to go through the papers. It seems your grandfather was some kind of an arms teacher and they fled from the eastern empire for some unknown reason. It would explain your training he must have been very accomplished. I looked at the records they told the boarded guards they were farmers. I also inquired about your account they deposited over a thousand gold marks a life time wages for a farmer or the sale of property. What would you like to do with the account?
I think you should put it with the rest in the crown account Ra.
My head is cocked as I lessen to Val, put it in the same account that you set up for me sir I know the crown has my best interest at heart.
Halt smiles, I have a paper for you to sing transferring the gold it will result in twenty additional golds a year.
More money to spoil me with pocket pies and treats as far as the eye can see.
It doesn't matter I have nowhere to spend it love.
Save it up Halt has promised we would have outings.
We have this conversation as I am singing the paper. He puts the three pieces of jewelry on the table. Would you like to keep these?
I pick up the broch this one to remember them by maybe someday the memories will return. Sell the rest and put it in the account Master Holt.
He moves the other two off the table and puts three knifes on the table two throwing blades and a fighting knife. No one has ever seen this design the royal armor could not figure out how the blade was made.
I picked it up it felt right in my hand. In barely a whisper with eyes only for the knife in my hand I tell them what I remember. The steel was folded fifty times it was made by a master smith it was going to belonged to my brother he was about to turn sixteen. Dad's own design I watched him as he made it at his forge. Grandfather called my brother Supiningu-Shi(spinning death) he was so fast with a knife in his hand he could take anyone. He was going out into the world mercing and looking to bring home a bride. grandfather had a letter ready to go out with him. Grandfather's word still held sway in some quarters.
What was his name?
I looked at Del, they called him Shi-O-Arukimasu(walking death). There should be sheaths for all of these.
Halt opens a draw in his desk and takes out two wrist sheaths and a fine hip sheath and places it on the desk. Picking them up I tell them mother made them. I blinked it was the first memories I had of my hoist.
Holt and Del were staring at me waiting to see if I would say anything else. I saw their faces. All of them, tears are falling down my face I remember them all.
Do you remember your name?
I hate Holt a little right now, she died with the rest of her family my name is Raven. I wipe the tears streaking down my cheek with the back of my sleeve. Unknown to any in the room Death lifted his hand from the back of my head just before he leaves a thought blasts him. You will not tamper with my chosen.
Death smiles I give them an answer to some of their questions it will ease her way. Holt will go to the circle with this and many will relax and see she is an asset and not a danger.
How much of that was the truth?
Surprisingly almost all of it Val. Wind in your face my child. Death leaves and no one in the room is any wiser.