Black Thorn Read online

  “Hey, John may I speak with you a moment?”

  He turned to face Gideon. “I didn’t mean to get anyone in trouble.”

  “What? Oh no this has nothing to do with that. That guy is an arrogant, twiggy, son of a troll. Anyways I was just wondering if I could help you with your paper?”

  John smiled a little uneasy, “I do need someone to help me with my letters. I can learn if you give me a chance.”

  Gideon clapped him on the back, “I’m sure you can. The Academy doesn’t recruit stupid knights. I’m sure you’ll learn in no time.”

  “Let’s just get through this paper first.”

  Gideon agreed, and the two of them headed off to finish out there day. The day ended with a full parade where they marched around for an hour until dinner was ready for them.

  Afterward, most cadets were ready to drift off to sleep. The time after dinner being set aside as their own, but no. Sir Shamus wasn’t the only one who expected papers to be written or pages read.

  Those whom could not read or write were paired with those who could because all knights had to be able to read orders and write them out. It was a test of character to those expected to teach the others. Some had viewed this chore with scorn, but Gideon was happy to extend his knowledge.

  It helped that John was an eager learner, as Gideon soon discovered, he picked things up quickly and while he would need a lot of practice, the two of them had been able to hash out both of their required papers by the end of the night.

  “Thank you, Gideon,” John said, “I doubt that I will ever be able to pay you back for your kindness.”

  “I don’t; you’re far more skilled with magic than I am. I could use your help. How the heck have you been able to perform everything the instructor has asked?”

  John took a moment before replying, “I’m not sure, magic just makes sense to me that’s all. I can visualize it in my mind and then just do it.”

  Gideon took him at his word but felt a little letdown. Man if only I could understand magic like him, I’d be unstoppable.

  O ne day as they poured over the bestiary they now carried for their class Gideon asked, “So how did you end up here anyways John?” Realizing how it sounded, he quickly amended, “I mean why become a knight?”

  John smiled at him, apparently not offended. “Well, the short of it is I came from a poor family of farmers, and I want a better life for myself. I mean, I’m the youngest out of twelve brothers and sisters, there weren’t any favors left for trades or work when it came to me. So I entered a tournament and ended up winning the whole thing, I even beat some of the older men. Sir Jacob was there, and after I was awarded the prize money, he approached me about knight school. Said he’d pay my way, my parents took his offer immediately, and a year later here I am.” Gideon knew sir Jacob, he was one of Udda’s knights and as kind-hearted a man if there ever was one.

  Gideon smiled at John, “I’m glad you’re here John.”

  “Me too, this sure beats picking potatoes in the fields.” This comment sent them into a fit of laughter. Sometimes a friendship doesn’t come easy, but other times circumstances put someone in your life just when you need it.

  The weeks began to pass, and Gideon who thought early on that his favorite class would have been Magical theory or sword drill, but he was wrong. There was much more to the magic that he ever thought. By the end of his first year, he would be expected to know how to send beams of different colored light into the sky, as all knights and guards use these as signals and being able to produce a six hundred foot beam of light wasn’t the easiest thing to do. Also, he needed to be able to do primary healing or battle triage as his instructor called it and when it came to drilling even though he was an extremely skilled swordsman, he was, as Commander Jackman put it, “An un-tempered blade that’s in need of shaping.” So he lost his luster for the class soon after the first.

  History of warfare should have been called an account of the world because that’s what it covered, but as his professor said history is warfare. There has never been a span of time where some kingdom wasn’t fighting another. We could learn from their tactics, and that is history that needed remembering. A knight’s job wasn’t just to be strong but well educated. In times of war knights where commanders and their soldiers’ lives depended on them. Gideon usually wasn’t too interested in history, but he found this becoming his favorite class.

  Bestiary was the one class that he loathed more than anything. The pompous Sir Shamus continued to make his and John’s lives hell as often as possible. Although it was becoming much harder to embarrass John now that he was excelling with the written word, it didn’t stop him from giving them loads of work to do over each weekend or scoring them low for reasons that never made sense to Gideon.

  With time passing as quickly as it was Gideon began thinking of the rest of the year. Each knight hopeful was given six months of field training a year to prove what they had learned in the classroom. They were stationed under a knight, generally in their hometown so long as the town had a knight stationed there. Gideon would return home and train for six months with Kallen and the others in the barracks. He’d eat, sleep, and train like all the other guards and watchmen in Thornpine. He would be treated like everyone else, no special treatment for the son of the jarl. Which thrilled him, he was ready to prove himself. To step out of his father’s shadow and become his own man.

  B etween drill and his studies, Gideon was surprised to find that his time at the Academy was nearly over. Five months had flown by, and soon he’d be back home for his field training. He felt strange about going home, he had grown close to the other boys, and he would miss his friend John. Yes, especially John, who wouldn’t be returning to the Academy.

  He had walked into the barracks one day to see John looking over a piece of parchment. He was making a face which Gideon couldn’t identify.

  “Hello John, what’s that you got there?”

  John looked up at him, his face falling into a frown. “I’m being transferred to Wilden, to work with the healers. I won’t be coming back next spring. They want me to have someone on one time with a master then I will join the mages guild to further my magic.”

  “Oh, well um congratulations! This is a good thing right?”

  John looked up at Gideon and gave him a sad smile. “I will be paid more, and I do think I can make a difference, but I’ll miss you and the Academy, heck I’ll even miss Sir Shamus giving me a hard time.”

  Gideon cleared his throat. “Well, we will see each other again. I mean this isn’t goodbye, its… see you later.”

  Gideon was happy for him for his new opportunities, but inside he mourned the loss of his friend. So as September gave way to October Gideon’s time in Evenstar came to an end. He would not return until the following April, and that was only if he mastered the magical arts he was expected to know while he was back in Thornpine village. The news of John’s new assignment had troubled him enough that he didn’t study as much as he should have and commander Arlan was very upset at his testing. He gave him a note to Kallen detailing what all he needed to work on before he could return.

  “You have talent boy, but I’m afraid magic isn’t one of them.”

  He bid his goodbyes to John and his other friends he had made during that last six months; then he made a brief stop to say farewell to his uncle and cousins.

  “Be on your guard as you travel back home. Hordes of Goblins have been spotted crossing our borders, and people have already been hurt. I’d hate to see my nephew added among the number. I wish you’d consider using the ferry” His uncle said to him.

  “Yeah don’t be careless and have your head taken off.” Trevor said clasping a hand over his shoulder and walking him out of the palace before Gideon had to tell his uncle yet again he would be walking back to Thornpine, “You’ll have to excuse Jason for not walking you out of the city. He and father are neck deep with that Goblin issue. Father says it’s never been this bad before and he
’s never known the brutes to gather in such numbers before.”

  Gideon chuckled, “Well it’s good for you guys to see some action. Can’t leave it all to us northerners although I’m surprised it’s continued for this long. When I arrived six months ago, you were having issues with them.”

  “Yeah well, it’s gotten worse since you’ve arrived… you didn’t bring the bruits with you right cousin?” They laughed and continued down to the gatehouse. It was great to be going home, but Gideon hadn’t seen as much of the city as he had wanted to, being fare too busy at the Academy. Finally, as the gatehouse came into view, Trevor turned to him and said,

  “Well here we are, I’ll see you when you return in April be safe Gideon.”

  Gideon briefly embraced him before turning to leave, a thrill of excitement pulsing through him as he began his next adventure. Gideon wasn’t overly worried as he trudged around the great Star Lake. He had his sword at his side, and his shield draped over his pack along with his bow. In his bag beside containing rations, cooking implements, and clothing. It also held his armor, each piece wrapped in cloth. If something was out there, he would be ready.

  He took his time returning home planning to stretch out the trip even longer than before. Kallen wouldn’t mind if he returned a little late and after the rigid structure of the Academy, he was happy to be able to do as he pleased.

  He found a small hill that brought him above the waist high grass. From there he was able to enjoy the lake in the evening light. The lake was an enormous crystal blue, and all around him grasses, mosses, ferns, and the random evergreen popped up. The further north he went the thicker the trees would become until he eventually crossed into the fringes of Elden wood where deep in its depths hid the Elven cities. Thornpine village was once one of these cities, named after the great tree that grew in its village square, the town sat in a natural meadow, and everything near the village prospered. It was said that the mystic white pine tree that gave off a ghostly white glow at night and dripped mana like dew in the morning was planted by the Maker himself and that is why the Elves had built a city around it.

  Gideon drew himself out of his thoughts of the village when a strange grunting caught his attention. Gideon rolled over from his spot on the hill and made himself flat. There just at the bottom of the hill stood a small group of Goblins. Their short stature and grey-green skin were unmistakable. Gideon counted four, and from the looks of it, they had just been in a scrap. Two were wounded, and the other two were caring the carcass of a dead calf. Apparently, they had just raided a nearby farmhouse.

  Gideon knew it was unwise to try and tackle four of them even if two were wounded. As silently as he could, he drew his longbow and two arrows. He knocked one and positioned himself on one knee. From here he was able to draw the bow. He took one of the Goblins that carried the calf in his sights and let fly his arrow. It hit the Goblin in the stomach, just low of the heart. Drawing quickly he loosed the next bolt. It found home in the chest of the other Goblin who fell dead on the spot. Now all he had to deal with was two injured Goblins and one that was quickly bleeding out. In a bellow of rage, the Goblins spotted him. One drew a battered old sword and clamored up the hill; the other pulled a recurve bow and let arrows fly randomly at Gideon, clearly not caring if he hit his companion.

  The Goblin that had the sword met Gideon on the hill, and there they had a quick but deadly dual. Its attack where furious but lacked the strength even to put a dent in his defenses. With a swift slash across the neck, he was able to dispatch the first Goblin. The second was a much harder target. The closer Gideon got the better the creatures aim became. Until Gideon had no choice but to leap from the hill on to the Goblin, driving his sword through it in the most intimate way. With his heart pounding he strode over to the Goblin that was bleeding out and stabbed it deep in the chest ending its suffering. He was then very sick spewing his dinner all over the grassy hillside. This was the first time he had taken a life, and the act hadn’t sat well with him. Wiping the bile from his lips, he walked back up the hill and gathered his things. He would choose a different slope to sleep on tonight.

  The rest of his trip was relatively uneventful and on his sixth day of travel when the city could finally be seen between the trees. The great burning braziers that surrounded the city and marked its main street where similar beacons lined the lane in the near darkness. As he entered the village proper the aroma of many dinners being prepared assaulted him, making his stomach rumble reminding him that his rations had run out the previous night. Despite his discomfort, he made for the Thornpine, an overwhelming longing to see the god tree guiding his feet.

  Chapter 3 Iron And Tears

  F aster girl!” Kallen barked. “Rerun the drill, move faster, and no mistakes now!”

  Katrina returned to a ready stance and began acting out her sword drill again. Slash-back step-parry-twist-slash-block- sidestep-thrust-back step-lunge. She performed all the moves with the utmost haste. A week ago, she had been able to perform this and all the other drills perfectly, now, however, she was garbed in a full suit of weighted armor. Kallen had insisted on her wearing it for all future training sessions, both private and with the boys he’d been training. He had also given her weighted anklets and bracelets to wear while she went about her day.

  “We need to build up your strength and speed, and this is one of the fastest methods I know. “Kallen had told her one day as he presented the articles to her. It was taking a long time for her to get used to the extra weight and the effect they were having on her coupled with all the extra training had really started to alter her body and made her more than a little uncomfortable. It didn’t help matters that Levi had caught her examining her toned arms and stomach in the mirror one morning and commented,

  “You know, boys don’t really like muscular girls.” He said this casually as he strolled by, and the comment had shaken her. This comment together with the fact that Levi now rarely spoke to her was taking its toll. Although he had been distant since Gideon left, he was now becoming downright hostile. Not knowing what to do or say she let had it go, but on days like today where she had already given what her body could put out, that comment would worm its way into her head. Her self-doubt was compounded whenever she would train with the boys. Before they had been friendly and a few of them flirty, now there was a definite change. No longer were they so chummy and the ones that flirted moved their attention to girls of a softer variety. So when her body was aching all over, and she could barely lift her sword arm to her chest, her confidence would crumble, and she would wonder if the life of a shield maiden was really for her.

  “Enough!” Kallen called, drawing her out of her head once more. She dropped her sword and shield to her waist, letting them dangle on her limp arms and lose grip before she slowly slumped to the ground.

  Kallen sat on his haunches next to her, appraising her, “Listen to me Katrina, I’m not sure what’s stuck in that head of yours girl, but it’s affecting your training.” He wagged his finger at her, “Now I’m only going to say this once so listen well. You are one of the most skilled warriors I’ve had the privilege to train, hell you’re second only to Gideon, and I bet you could give him a run for his money. So whatever is going on, whatever you’re thinking about letting it go, and I mean now. You can’t let these thoughts or feelings bring you down, because I promise you that you are your own worst enemy. We all get discouraged, but a real warrior sticks out her chin and faces up the next hit. So that’s that girl, I want to see your best tomorrow, now go on off with ya.”

  Katrina struggled to her feet and gave him a small bow before returning her sword to its sheath and slinging her round shield across her back. As she limped her way back to the keep, she let the tear flow freely. Despite Kallen’s kind words, she was still in a dismal mood. She limped past the dining hall pausing briefly to stick her head in and see if dinner had been served yet.

  There at the head table, her father sat in his customary seat facing the
doors his back to the far wall and his nose in a pile of papers. So engrossed was he that he didn’t notice her at all as she stepped back into the hall and limped to her bedroom. If he were still working, then dinner wouldn’t be served for some time, so she had plenty of time for a bath. And boy did she need it, she thought as she gave her arm a sniff.

  Katrina stopped a servant girl outside her room and asked her to have the tub in Katrina’s privy room filled. Closing the door to her adjoining bedroom, she began to take off her armor. Aching as she was she took care to unstrap each induvial piece and place it gently back in its wooden case. The full suite was unique in that it was designed to be attached by the wearer and subsequently removed as well. It was half an hour until she was able to remove all the armor and slip her bruised and cut body from her tunic and pants.

  She slowly dipped herself into the deep claw foot tub and let the water soothe her bare skin. Periodically she used her magic to heat the water to her own personal temperature. The keep did have running water, and the boilers even kept the water reasonably hot, but she liked to be well steamed. Her skin was turning a deep shade of pink as she let the heat work its wonders on her tired and sore muscles.

  D ried and dressed in a blue blouse and matching skirt she made her way back to the dining hall. As she opened the heavy oak doors, the heavenly aroma of roasted elk wafted over her. She spied her father still sitting in his seat alone picking at his food and drinking deep from his flagon. The hall was unusually empty for so early in the night, only a few knights and guards were scattered among the four long tables that faced her fathers. She sat down and helped herself to the meat and some potatoes before asking, “Where is Levi?” Her father continued to munch and slurp away seemingly not to notice that she had spoken. She reached out a hand a grasped his, “Father?”