Day 13 of Spring in the Year 500 AV
“Sword up! Don’t let the point dip when you are in your guard stance!” Bael’s voice rang out as Jay circled him warily. Jay shifted his feet, forcing his legs a little wider so he could improve his balance. Sweat covered his brow, the wooden replica of a long sword, wavering in the air, arms straining from swinging the weapon. Another sword whipped through the air and cracked hard against the ten year old’s weapon. It jerked to the side and before Jay could recover, Bael’s wooden sword was pointed at the boy’s throat.
“Dead.”
Jay glared at him, ignoring the sword at his throat, panting heavily. “Not fair! You are way stronger than me!” He batted the tip of the fake sword away from his face with his weapon and walked away from the arena, next to the Ackina Planation Estate, towards a bench and a pitcher of water. He leaned the sword against bench and poured himself and Bael a glass. His trainer strode across the arena towards the boy, seeming as fit as ever, no sign of exertion showing. Jay offered the former mercenary the cool beverage and the man accepted it without a word. Bael sat down on the bench and looked at him coolly.
“Combat isn’t fair, Jay. Someone will always have an advantage over you. The key is to figure out where their weakness is and exploit it. If someone is stronger than you, then make up for it in speed and agility. If they have a longer reach, then figure out how to get inside of it. It’s all an elaborate game and each match, the rules change. You have to figure out what they are.”
Jay nodded still peeved but listening closely to his instructor. A mischievous light danced in his brown eyes as he tried to hide a small smile from giving him away. “How would someone beat you?”
Bael grinned, “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Now hop to, we are going to work on your footwork.” He stood and got ready to head back into the arena but Jay stopped him. Bael turned and saw a look he couldn’t quiet decipher. The boy seemed to struggle, a look of puzzlement on his face. He finally looked up, his thoughts rushing out in a torrent of words, innocence shining from his soft, brown eyes.
“Bael, where did you come from? How did you learn to fight? You haven’t told me anything since you came here…” Bael looked at the boy, his words tugging at the man’s heart. Over the past three years since his forced captured, the small boy had wormed his way into the older man’s life. The boy didn’t have any parents, none that he knew of at any rate. Bael nodded slowly, setting down his sword and sitting down on the bench. Jay, seeing his teacher was going to share a story, sat down in front of him excitedly.
“Three years ago, I had been on a long twenty day journey to Kenash. I was a mercenary back then, riding atop of my horse, exhaustion plain on my face. I had been hired to protect a caravan of Konti slaves bought from a man named Haev Provedan. who ran a slaving organization in Riverfall called the Rattling Chains. I had been hired there to travel along the coast with the Kenash slavers and protect them and their “wares” from any threat that may spring up along the way.” Jay watched the man’s facial expressions, the distant look in his eyes as he recounted the events. He interrupted the man before he could continue.
“Mercenary? What’s that?”
Bael blinked, brought back from the past. “They are swords for hire to protect people or hunt people down.” Jay looked at him in wonder, images of adventure and mystery flashing through his mind. “Did you kill anyone?”
Bael looked at him solemnly, debating on whether or not he should be truthful. Something inside him told him to be honest with the boy. "Yes, Jay. I have. But you need to understand something. Human life is sacred. You aren’t a god, you don’t get to chose who lives and dies. That kind of power can ruin a person. Remember that because one day you will be forced to take a man’s life.”
Jay stared at him, his innocent face meeting the mercenaries gaze. Bael looked at him, his heart strings tugging again because he knew that the innocence would one day be stripped away from the boy. All he could do was prepare him for it. He shook himself from the thoughts and continued his story.
“My hand rested on the hilt of my long sword, my other holding the horse’s reigns as the animal plodded along the dirt road behind the convoy of slaves. The small group was entering a clearing up ahead and would be making camp for the evening before continuing onto the last leg of our journey to Kenash.”
“I was lost in thought as a cry of pain rose up ahead and I was jerked from my thoughts. I looked up and saw one of the slavers hitting a small slave woman across the back with a small pouch of something, most likely soap. I knew it was a popular form of beatings among slavers because it inflicted pain without leaving any bruises on the victim. I spurred my horse forward and forced the animal into a canter.”
“I had seen that sort of behavior before, slavers mistreating their slaves when the owners weren’t around. It was a practice I didn’t tolerate. I brought the animal to a stop directly in front of the slaver. The man was forced to take a step back, startled, as the animal loomed over him. The slaver turned towards the mercenary, a look of fury upon his face as he was interrupted.”
Jay watched as a dark look came over the man sitting in front of him, anger starting break through his calm demeanor. The boy had never seen Bael angry before. He wasn’t sure if he should be scared or in awe.
“I swung my leg over the horse and dropped to the ground, slinging the reigns over the horse. ‘What is the meaning of this? Why are you beating this woman?’
“The slaver glared at me, a large scar stretching across his face. ‘What business is it of yours? Back off you petching shyke.’ He turned and lifted the bag, intending to continue beating the woman but I whipped out my hand and wrapped around the man’s cocked wrist.”
“’I don’t think so,’ I said. The scar faced slaver looked up incredulously at me and then down at his entrapped wrist. The Kenash man tried jerking his arm free but couldn’t. The slaver’s face turned bright red with rage.” Jay interrupted again, questions swirling in his little mind.
“Why was he hitting her? Was she breaking the law?” His inquisitive eyes peered up at the former mercenary.
“No, Jay. She wasn’t. Some people, like this slaver, are just very mean people and like to hurt others. Just because one person has power over another doesn’t mean they are given permissions to abuse it or them. Don’t forget that. You need to stand up for those who can’t defend themselves, okay?” Jay nodded and Bael continued his story.
“The slave spat and growled as he tried to free himself. ‘Let go of me or I will have the rest of our guards rip you to pieces. You’re here to protect us not to tell me what do to!’ Spittle flew from the man’s mouth as he continued to try and wrestle his hand free from my grip.”
“’I am here to protect you and your slaves. Even if that means protecting them from you. Just because you are in charge of them does not give you the right to hurt them. They are people just like you and me.’ I released his grip from the slaver and crouched down beside the Konti who lay cowering on the ground and I offered her my hand.”
“’Are you alright? That man won’t hurt you anymore. Here, let me help you up.’ The woman looked up from underneath her arms shyly, not sure whether or not to trust me. She hesitantly took my hand and allowed me to help her up. After I made sure she was okay, I rounded on the slaver who had been beating the woman.”
“If I see you touching her or any slave like that again, you will regret it. I promise you that.’ I left the thinly veiled threat hovering in the air and without another word, turned, swinging one leg over my horse and kicked the animal in the sides, coaxing it forward. The slaver with the scar across the face yelled back at me angrily.”
“Watch your back! You’re going to be sorry! I promise you that!’ I ignored him, not bothering to respond and kept moving towards the camp ahead as the slaver kicked the dirt angrily. At that point, I should have expected retaliation but for some reason it didn’t even cross my mind.”
"Later the next day, we were about to enter the town limits when a small group of Kenashians met us. One started to call the non-citizens together and was going to tell us something about the rules but was stopped as the scar faced slaver whispered something in his ear. I wasn't close enough to hear what was said but it seemed like some sort of agreement had been made when they shook hands. The man seemed to change his mind and waved us non-Kenashians away. The slaver grinned at me and I knew something was up. I just didn't know what."
Bael sighed as he recounted the tale. Jay leaned forward on his hands, eager to hear what happened next. The former mercenary stood. “Alright, time to get back to training.”
“No! Not yet! What happens next?! Please, please, pleeeeease! Just tell me a little bit more.” Bael turned and looked at the young boy. He could almost see the adventures that the boy spun in his head, the glorified sword fights, the hero saving the day. If only real life were that simple. The man relented.
“Okay fine. Just a little bit more…”
“Sword up! Don’t let the point dip when you are in your guard stance!” Bael’s voice rang out as Jay circled him warily. Jay shifted his feet, forcing his legs a little wider so he could improve his balance. Sweat covered his brow, the wooden replica of a long sword, wavering in the air, arms straining from swinging the weapon. Another sword whipped through the air and cracked hard against the ten year old’s weapon. It jerked to the side and before Jay could recover, Bael’s wooden sword was pointed at the boy’s throat.
“Dead.”
Jay glared at him, ignoring the sword at his throat, panting heavily. “Not fair! You are way stronger than me!” He batted the tip of the fake sword away from his face with his weapon and walked away from the arena, next to the Ackina Planation Estate, towards a bench and a pitcher of water. He leaned the sword against bench and poured himself and Bael a glass. His trainer strode across the arena towards the boy, seeming as fit as ever, no sign of exertion showing. Jay offered the former mercenary the cool beverage and the man accepted it without a word. Bael sat down on the bench and looked at him coolly.
“Combat isn’t fair, Jay. Someone will always have an advantage over you. The key is to figure out where their weakness is and exploit it. If someone is stronger than you, then make up for it in speed and agility. If they have a longer reach, then figure out how to get inside of it. It’s all an elaborate game and each match, the rules change. You have to figure out what they are.”
Jay nodded still peeved but listening closely to his instructor. A mischievous light danced in his brown eyes as he tried to hide a small smile from giving him away. “How would someone beat you?”
Bael grinned, “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Now hop to, we are going to work on your footwork.” He stood and got ready to head back into the arena but Jay stopped him. Bael turned and saw a look he couldn’t quiet decipher. The boy seemed to struggle, a look of puzzlement on his face. He finally looked up, his thoughts rushing out in a torrent of words, innocence shining from his soft, brown eyes.
“Bael, where did you come from? How did you learn to fight? You haven’t told me anything since you came here…” Bael looked at the boy, his words tugging at the man’s heart. Over the past three years since his forced captured, the small boy had wormed his way into the older man’s life. The boy didn’t have any parents, none that he knew of at any rate. Bael nodded slowly, setting down his sword and sitting down on the bench. Jay, seeing his teacher was going to share a story, sat down in front of him excitedly.
“Three years ago, I had been on a long twenty day journey to Kenash. I was a mercenary back then, riding atop of my horse, exhaustion plain on my face. I had been hired to protect a caravan of Konti slaves bought from a man named Haev Provedan. who ran a slaving organization in Riverfall called the Rattling Chains. I had been hired there to travel along the coast with the Kenash slavers and protect them and their “wares” from any threat that may spring up along the way.” Jay watched the man’s facial expressions, the distant look in his eyes as he recounted the events. He interrupted the man before he could continue.
“Mercenary? What’s that?”
Bael blinked, brought back from the past. “They are swords for hire to protect people or hunt people down.” Jay looked at him in wonder, images of adventure and mystery flashing through his mind. “Did you kill anyone?”
Bael looked at him solemnly, debating on whether or not he should be truthful. Something inside him told him to be honest with the boy. "Yes, Jay. I have. But you need to understand something. Human life is sacred. You aren’t a god, you don’t get to chose who lives and dies. That kind of power can ruin a person. Remember that because one day you will be forced to take a man’s life.”
Jay stared at him, his innocent face meeting the mercenaries gaze. Bael looked at him, his heart strings tugging again because he knew that the innocence would one day be stripped away from the boy. All he could do was prepare him for it. He shook himself from the thoughts and continued his story.
“My hand rested on the hilt of my long sword, my other holding the horse’s reigns as the animal plodded along the dirt road behind the convoy of slaves. The small group was entering a clearing up ahead and would be making camp for the evening before continuing onto the last leg of our journey to Kenash.”
“I was lost in thought as a cry of pain rose up ahead and I was jerked from my thoughts. I looked up and saw one of the slavers hitting a small slave woman across the back with a small pouch of something, most likely soap. I knew it was a popular form of beatings among slavers because it inflicted pain without leaving any bruises on the victim. I spurred my horse forward and forced the animal into a canter.”
“I had seen that sort of behavior before, slavers mistreating their slaves when the owners weren’t around. It was a practice I didn’t tolerate. I brought the animal to a stop directly in front of the slaver. The man was forced to take a step back, startled, as the animal loomed over him. The slaver turned towards the mercenary, a look of fury upon his face as he was interrupted.”
Jay watched as a dark look came over the man sitting in front of him, anger starting break through his calm demeanor. The boy had never seen Bael angry before. He wasn’t sure if he should be scared or in awe.
“I swung my leg over the horse and dropped to the ground, slinging the reigns over the horse. ‘What is the meaning of this? Why are you beating this woman?’
“The slaver glared at me, a large scar stretching across his face. ‘What business is it of yours? Back off you petching shyke.’ He turned and lifted the bag, intending to continue beating the woman but I whipped out my hand and wrapped around the man’s cocked wrist.”
“’I don’t think so,’ I said. The scar faced slaver looked up incredulously at me and then down at his entrapped wrist. The Kenash man tried jerking his arm free but couldn’t. The slaver’s face turned bright red with rage.” Jay interrupted again, questions swirling in his little mind.
“Why was he hitting her? Was she breaking the law?” His inquisitive eyes peered up at the former mercenary.
“No, Jay. She wasn’t. Some people, like this slaver, are just very mean people and like to hurt others. Just because one person has power over another doesn’t mean they are given permissions to abuse it or them. Don’t forget that. You need to stand up for those who can’t defend themselves, okay?” Jay nodded and Bael continued his story.
“The slave spat and growled as he tried to free himself. ‘Let go of me or I will have the rest of our guards rip you to pieces. You’re here to protect us not to tell me what do to!’ Spittle flew from the man’s mouth as he continued to try and wrestle his hand free from my grip.”
“’I am here to protect you and your slaves. Even if that means protecting them from you. Just because you are in charge of them does not give you the right to hurt them. They are people just like you and me.’ I released his grip from the slaver and crouched down beside the Konti who lay cowering on the ground and I offered her my hand.”
“’Are you alright? That man won’t hurt you anymore. Here, let me help you up.’ The woman looked up from underneath her arms shyly, not sure whether or not to trust me. She hesitantly took my hand and allowed me to help her up. After I made sure she was okay, I rounded on the slaver who had been beating the woman.”
“If I see you touching her or any slave like that again, you will regret it. I promise you that.’ I left the thinly veiled threat hovering in the air and without another word, turned, swinging one leg over my horse and kicked the animal in the sides, coaxing it forward. The slaver with the scar across the face yelled back at me angrily.”
“Watch your back! You’re going to be sorry! I promise you that!’ I ignored him, not bothering to respond and kept moving towards the camp ahead as the slaver kicked the dirt angrily. At that point, I should have expected retaliation but for some reason it didn’t even cross my mind.”
"Later the next day, we were about to enter the town limits when a small group of Kenashians met us. One started to call the non-citizens together and was going to tell us something about the rules but was stopped as the scar faced slaver whispered something in his ear. I wasn't close enough to hear what was said but it seemed like some sort of agreement had been made when they shook hands. The man seemed to change his mind and waved us non-Kenashians away. The slaver grinned at me and I knew something was up. I just didn't know what."
Bael sighed as he recounted the tale. Jay leaned forward on his hands, eager to hear what happened next. The former mercenary stood. “Alright, time to get back to training.”
“No! Not yet! What happens next?! Please, please, pleeeeease! Just tell me a little bit more.” Bael turned and looked at the young boy. He could almost see the adventures that the boy spun in his head, the glorified sword fights, the hero saving the day. If only real life were that simple. The man relented.
“Okay fine. Just a little bit more…”
