chapter SIXTEEN
At the sound of Norlan's light knock on the doorframe, Jake came awake. He returned Norlan's greeting and got out of bed, feeling surprisingly refreshed. He splashed some water on his face and grabbed some new clothes out of his drawer. As he dressed, he saw Cherise's drawing of him, in a wooden frame, hanging on the wall near the door, something he missed last night. He would have to say something to her this morning. He quickly straightened up his room and headed to the house.
As they ate, Jake told Cherise again how he liked her drawing and thanked her for hanging it on the wall. Jake could see that she glowed from his praise, a wide smile on her face and her eyes sparkling. She excitedly told him that she would make him another; something to go with the first. She ate quickly, grabbed her drawing supplies and went to the table in the front room, the gentle scratching of her pencil reaching the kitchen as the others finished eating. Madalin leaned over to Jake, her hand on his, and whispered. "Thank you, Jake. She seems to want your approval most of all."
As they headed to the smithy, Norlan inquired about Jake's conversation with Jonas about his dream. Jake described him what had happened and what Jonas told him. Norlan seemed pleased that nothing came of it, though he did not say it, only nodding as Jake talked. He was silent for a while, lost in some thought as they walked.
After a while, he reached over to put a hand on Jake's shoulder, then spoke. "As I said before, Jake, I'm a simple blacksmith. I don't have the Jonas' power or Dominic's warrior skills. But, like them, I will do everything I can to see you safe." His honest admission and plain statement touched Jake, making him wonder again why these men would risk themselves for him.
The morning went by quickly as Jake went about his duties around the smithy and sharing some conversation and laughter with Almos and Dern. The two other boys were fascinated with Jake's training with Dominic, asking him to demonstrate what he had been taught. When he told them about his encounter with the princess during a break, he was not sure they would believe him, but that seemed to only increase the awe they had for him and the pleasure that he would share it with them. Jake was pleased by the reaction, glad to have some friends his age.
By the time he was making his way to the training grounds, Jake was feeling pretty good about himself. Keeping a hopeful eye out for another chance encounter with the princess, he kept his pace relaxed as he navigated the courtyard. He took a path to get as close to palace as possible while staying in the general direction he needed to go. He was a bit disappointed when he saw no signs of the princess.
Once he reached the Military District, though, he increased his pace to a slow jog, unsure if he had wasted too much time. Once he passed the guards at the gate, he sped up again, crossing the open training areas at a near run. He was not sure exactly what would happen if he was late, but now familiar with Dominic's indifference to discomfort and pain, he did not relish finding out.
Dominic was waiting for him, as usual, under the shade of the trees. Jake slowed down, trying to catch his breath, as he walked towards Dominic. Dominic cocked an eyebrow as he watched Jake approach, a slight smile on his face. "Are you being chased by someone, boy?" He asked sarcastically.
"No." Jake replied shortly, trying to breathe slow and steady. "I lost track of time and didn't want to be late."
"I'm glad you don't want to waste my time." Dominic said, the smile fading. "Look at it this way; at least you have warmed up for training.
Only allowing enough time for Jake to catch his breath, Dominic did his inspection and set Jake to training. The day went as the others had gone before, so shortly Jake was trying to ignore the bruises and pain that Dominic's practice sword was inflicting on his hands and forearms. He resolved not to drop his sword this time, no matter what. By the end of the training session, Jake's arms felt rubbery, swollen, tired and sore.
When Dominic called a halt to the day's training and took the practice swords, Jake headed over to the post to retrieve his sword. He was surprised to see Hailyn standing under the trees. So caught up in trying to avoid Dominic's sword, Jake had not noticed her arriving. He belted on his sword and headed over to see her, but Dominic was already next to her, speaking quietly.
"The boy does not need healing, girl." Jake heard Dominic growl as he got close. "You can tell Jonas I said so."
"That is a decision for Jake, not you, Dominic." Hailyn replied, voice soft and steady. She was one of only a handful of people that Jake had seen that did not seem to be intimidated by Dominic. "Just because you forgo healing does not mean others should."
"I'm not saying that he shouldn't be healed if there is something serious, but he needs to learn to endure and continue fighting even while wounded and in pain." Dominic replied, his voice even, but tinged with a touch of anger. "These minor training aches are nothing compared to what he may face outside these walls. You saw how he was when he arrived. That was but a taste of what our enemies will inflict."
Hailyn did not seem moved by Dominic's reasoning, but Jake arrived before she could respond. She turned to warmly greet him, a smile on her face. She asked how he was feeling, her gaze taking in the new bruises.
"Would you like me to heal that, Jake?" Hailyn asked, pointing at his hands.
Jake glanced over at Dominic, but he had simply folded his arms across his chest, clearly allowing Jake to make the decision, though stark disapproval shone in his eyes. As much as he would have liked to get rid of the dull, throbbing pain in his hands, Jake decided that he wanted Dominic's approval more, especially after what Dominic said last night.
"No, thank you, Hailyn." Jake replied. "I'm fine. It looks worse than it feels." Hailyn gave him a look like she knew he was lying, but did not say anything.
"I'm glad that is settled." Dominic said, unfolding his arms. He did not say anything, of course, but Jake thought he saw some approval in Dominic's face at his decision.
Dominic motioned in the direction of the stables. "Go take care of the horses, boy. Tomorrow, we will have a short session and you will report to Armartas for horsemanship training. Going forward, every third day will be the same." He glanced over at Hailyn, his scarred face taking on a sly cast. "If the girl really wants to be of assistance, she can help you muck the stalls." Giving Hailyn a slight mocking bow, he turned and strode off towards the main training ground.
"You don't have to act like him, even if you are his apprentice, Jake." Hailyn said quietly, once Dominic was out of earshot. Jake could see some concern for him in her face. "Dominic is a warrior and has been on his own for many years. Despite his close friendship with Jonas, I think he has forgotten how normal people act. There is nothing wrong with being healed." She looked over at Jake expectedly.
"Thanks for the concern, Hailyn." Jake said. "I understand your point, but I really want to stay on Dominic's good side. I can deal with a little discomfort to do that."
Frowning, Hailyn muttered something under her breath. Jake only caught the words "men" and "stubbornness". Jake was afraid he had upset her, but when she spoke, she said. "I will accept your judgment about that. Just remember that asking for help is not weakness." She gave him a smile. "Let's go to the stables, Jake. I would like to see your horse." Her smile turned mischievous. "If you are nice, I may even help you clean the stalls."
As they made their way to the stables, walking at a relaxed pace, Hailyn asked Jake about his home. Surprisingly, Jake did not feel reticent to discuss his family and friends. He was sure talking about it would make him homesick, but sharing with Hailyn seemed to have the opposite effect. She was an attentive listener and asked questions when she did not grasp something. Her easy nature seemed to draw out his thoughts and he found himself sharing things that he did not intend.
"I'm not sure I understand you." Hailyn said, turning towards Jake with a confused look on her face as they walked. They were getting close to the stables. "You know that this Sabrina is seeing Donald, yet you won't step aside. Do you normally try to interfere with others' relationships? It seems especially unwise since it is clear that the girl Tina has taken an interest in you."
"I wasn't trying to interfere." Jake said defensively. He could kick himself for bringing up his predicament with Sabrina. He was caught up in his story and it had just slipped out. "It was just that I didn't know she was seeing him when I asked her out. But that is beside the point now. The fact is that she's too good for him; he's always been an arrogant ass."
"So, you seem determined to press your claim." She gave a rueful shake of her head. It was clear that she did not understand what he was trying to say. "By the way, how do you know that this Sabrina even feels the same way about you?" Jake gave a little start, remembering his father saying the same thing. "Also, perhaps she sees something in Donald that you do not. Have you thought of that?"
"Well, whatever might have been between Sabrina and me is not really an issue anymore." Jake said, trying to change the conversation. "I'm here for who knows how long, so they may be married by the time I get back." He paused for a second. "If I get back." He added, a little mournful.
Hailyn reached over and laid a hand on his arm. She tried to smile reassuringly. "Try not to worry about that, Jake. I'm confident that Master Jonas will find a way to get you home. You must be patient. Remember that you have friends here."
Jake returned the smile, grateful for the encouragement and that the subject had changed. "Enough about me. Tell me about yourself. Are you from the city? How did you become a cleric?" He asked.
"I'm not from the city; my home is in the far south." Hailyn responded. "I grew up in a small village near the border with Morison, close to the Inland Sea. My parents and sister still live there. My father has a small trading shop, mostly dealing with fish and seafood, while my mother is a seamstress. My little sister, Hanen, is almost eleven and still in school."
"Do you see them often?" Jake interrupted, a little surprised that Hailyn had no family here. "I mean, do you get breaks from your training to go home?
"I have only seen my family three times since I came to Sanduas, about four years ago." Hailyn replied, voice surprisingly calm. "The distance is great, a many days ride on horseback, so it is not practical to travel often. My family came here after I completed my first year as an apprentice." She had a sad smile, remembering. "That was the hardest time for me. I was a young girl and had never been away from my family before. The clerics were understanding and kind, but I was at that age where I wanted to be able to talk to my mother about things. After that, I went home for a week after my second year and my mother came to the city over a year ago when another family was traveling here."
Jake felt a little ashamed when he compared his homesickness to Hailyn's emotional strength. "You must think I'm a big baby, talking about how I miss my family, when I have only been away from them for a week." He said.
"Of course not, Jake." Hailyn assured him. "You are a stranger to this world, separated from your home. My family and I write each other often and I know that I can go see them if I need to. You have no way to communicate with your family. I think you are being very brave, considering the situation."
Hailyn's compliment took Jake by surprise. He had never had anyone tell him that he was brave before. He squared his shoulders back, trying to look more confident. "I'm sorry I interrupted you. You were talking about your training. Why did you decide to become a cleric?"
"'Decide' may not be the right word." Hailyn replied. "'Chosen' would be a better one. I was around fourteen when a messenger came to our village, announcing that a group of clerics were coming to Altdantos, the largest town in the area. They would be testing any who came to see if they had the spark to be a healing cleric. I had not selected the type of apprenticeship I would apply for, so my parents took me to be tested." She noticed the look of surprise on Jake's face. "Remember, being able to become a healer is considered a great honor. My parents saw it as an opportunity for me. Obviously, the clerics detected the spark." She gave a little sigh. "The most difficult thing was that I was only given a day to gather my things and accompany them to Sanduas."
She smiled. "Still, I do not regret coming. As I said, even though being away from my family has been hard, my trainers and mentors here have been very kind and understanding. I have learned so much and I get great satisfaction with helping people."
They had reached the stables and Jake led her to Dontas' stall. The horse was already standing near the door. Jake thought the horse recognized him, as it lowered its head towards him as he got close. He reached over and patted its head while Hailyn came up and stroked its face, Dontas seemingly enjoying the attention. Jake could see that Hailyn clearly loved animals. While she continued to talk softly to the horse, Jake went over and got Dontas' bridle and reins. He put them on and led him out of the stall, so he could clean it. To his bemusement, Hailyn actually offered to help shovel out the stall. Instead, he asked her to go get some fresh straw, then the hay and feed. Between them, they made short work of it.
After Dontas was cared for, they headed over to Shadow's stall. The soldiers and trainees working in the stables nearby were amused, and a bit scandalized, to see Hailyn helping Jake do the dirty work of cleaning the stall. It appeared that those menial tasks were not normally done by clerics. Once they finished, they headed out of the stables and left the training grounds.
"Thanks for the help, Hailyn." Jake said, as they made their way to the palace courtyard. "Maybe once I learn to ride, we can take Dontas out to see more of the countryside. It would be nice to get outside of the city for a while."
Hailyn looked over at him, a slight smile on her face, her eyes warm. "I would like that, Jake." She said simply.
They walked in silence until they reached the courtyard. There Hailyn said goodbye and declined Jake's offer to walk her back to the Temple. "You have been training all day, Jake. You don't need to add additional walking to it for me. Go home and rest." She reached over and gave his hand a quick squeeze, then headed off into the crowd.
Jake lazily made his way back to Norlan's, strolling along slowly and easily, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the late afternoon crowd, feeling pretty content on how the day went, with the exception of his new bruises. He was glad he was able to talk to Hailyn. She was easy to get along with and had a kind personality. He found that it was nice to have her as a friend. "All in all, not a bad day." He thought to himself.
He arrived back at the house, cleaned himself off and went inside for dinner. He was in a good mood, joking and making conversation with the family. By the time he helped with the dishes and bid everyone good night, darkness had descended over the city. He went to his room, got his equipment organized for the next day, then crawled into bed and fell into a contented sleep.
…
The next day went by quickly as Jake went about his routine. The morning flew by as he assisted Dern on a large project, getting to take some turns swinging the hammer at the hot metal under the watchful eye of Helman. After hammering away for a while, Jake could see how Norlan got his huge arms. It was tiring work, but Helman kept the sessions short, so Jake did not overtax himself.
Dominic kept his promise about the short session, even though Jake felt that it was more intense and focused than any before. Dominic seemed determined to milk every second out of the session. His practice sword seemed to move faster than ever and Jake was hard-pressed to parry even half the attacks. His arms and hands were throbbing when Dominic called a halt. Despite the pain, Jake was pleased that he had not lost his sword once.
Even with the short session, Hailyn was waiting under the tree when they finished. Jake noticed for the first time that Dominic's saddlebags were next to the tree. Her presence seemed to annoy Dominic, but he did not say anything to her about it, just slung his saddlebags over his shoulder. Like yesterday, she asked Jake if he needed healing. Jake declined, conscious of Dominic's eyes on him. Hailyn gave a little smile and shrug and joined them as they walked to the stables.
Dominic led them around to the front of the stables where Armartas' office was located. When they arrived, Armartas was outside talking with a couple of soldiers. Once they joined him, Armartas dismissed the soldiers and turned to greet them.
"Dominic, Jake, Hailyn." Armartas said, greeting them in turn. "I'm especially glad to see you, Hailyn. I was about to send to the Temple for a cleric. We have a horse that came up lame during training. Would you be willing to look at him?"
"Of course, Captain." Hailyn said, concern in her eyes.
"I apologize for the delay, Dominic. I will return as quickly as possible." Armartas said to Dominic, gesturing towards Jake.
"No apologies are needed, Armartas." Dominic replied, making a small gesture with his hand. "The boy can help me saddle Shadow while you attend to this. He will meet you over at Dontas' stall."
"Are you going outside the walls?" Armartas asked.
"Yes. I thought to do a patrol to the southeast." Dominic replied. "I have been in the city too long and I need to exercise Shadow anyway."
"So, you won't be back before the gates close?" Armartas asked, even though it seemed more of a statement than a question. "Can I ask your path in case you are needed?"
"I will leave by the east gate and head to the foothills. I will work my way south from there." Dominic said.
"I understand. Safe journey, then." Armartas said. Jake thought he heard something more, something unspoken, in that statement, but did not know how to ask. Hailyn and Armartas left to see to the injured horse, while Jake followed Dominic to Shadow's stable.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Jake asked impulsively. "I can always practice my riding with you."
Dominic turned his head at Jake's question. "I'll be fine, boy." He replied, sarcastically. "I have managed on my own without a nursemaid for quite a while."
As soon as he said it, Dominic saw the disappointment and embarrassment on Jake's face. He said more gently. "It was a kind offer. The truth of it is that you are not yet ready. Also, you cannot do better than Armartas to train you in riding." He gave Jake a gentle slap on the back. "Don't worry. There will be opportunities for you to accompany me once you have some more training under your belt."
They finished the walk to Shadow's stall in silence. With Jake helping, hauling out the armor sections as Dominic attached them to Shadow, they had Shadow armored and saddled quickly. Jake noticed that Shadow seemed to become more animated, stomping his hooves, snorting and shaking his head, as the armor was put on. He asked Dominic about it.
"He has been trained to be aggressive in battle." Dominic replied, as he continued to check the straps and cinches. "He knows to stay calm in the stable, but once the armor goes on, he expects combat. Also, he has not had much activity this last week. He will calm again once I get him moving."
Dominic locked up the tack room, gave everything one last check, then slung his saddlebags and swung into the saddle. Shadow gave a couple of short chopping steps, anxious to move.
Dominic looked down at Jake. "I'll be back before our training session; I will see you then. Learn well from Armartas, boy." Giving Jake a quick nod, Dominic spurred Shadow down the hall and out the door.
Jake made his way over to Dontas' stall, passing by some trainees stacking straw bales under the supervision of a soldier. The trainees saw him and paused in their work, staring at him and whispering to each other, while the soldier gave him a respectful nod as he went by. Jake returned the nod, though it was a little shock to him, as that was the first time that had happened. The soldier, noticing the trainees' focus, shouted for them to return to work.
He unlocked his tack room, retrieved the bridle and went over to Dontas. He put the bridle on and led him out of the stall. He began to brush Dontas, losing himself in the work, as he waited for Armartas. He did not know how long he had been brushing when Armartas joined him.
"Are you ready to start, Jake?" Armartas asked as he came up.
"Sure, Captain." Jake replied, trying to be respectful. He returned the brush to the rack room as Armartas patted Dontas. He came back out, anxious to begin.
"You can call me Armartas, Jake." Armartas said, a smile on his face. "You're not a soldier, so you do not need to use my rank."
"Ok, Armartas." Jake replied.
"Let's get started." Armartas said, clapping Jake on the shoulder. "The first thing you should always do is check your horse, looking for any signs of injury or illness." He led Jake around Dontas, pointing out areas to focus on, showing Jake how to feel along the knees and lift the hooves to inspect their condition. He had Jake demonstrate back what he had just shown him.
Once Dontas had been checked out, Armartas had Jake saddle the horse. He did not assist, testing to see if Jake remembered the earlier lesson. Once Jake had the saddle on, Armartas inspected the fit, explaining a couple of minor errors that Jake should correct. Satisfied, he had Jake get on, showing him how to adjust the stirrups for a proper fit. Having Jake remain in the saddle, Armartas took the reins and led Dontas outside to a training corral.
Handing Jake the reins, Armartas told him to just sit there and get used to being on the back of the horse. He left, limping back into the stables. Jake shifted in the saddle, trying to get comfortable. Dontas took a couple of steps when Jake moved, but did not start forward. Jake stroked his neck and made some soothing sounds. He felt a little thrill, feeling empowered as he sat on the back of his horse.
Shortly, Armartas came out of the stables, riding a large brown horse. He came over and instructed Jake on some basic commands, how to handle the reins and some tips on comfortable riding. Once Jake demonstrated that he had the commands down, Armartas said. "Let's start with a walk. Get Dontas moving."
For the next couple of hours, Jake rode around the corral, getting more comfortable as time went on. Once Armartas was satisfied that Jake could handle his horse, he led them out of the corral and to the main training grounds.
"Let's pick up the pace." Armartas said. "See how you feel at a gallop." Jake tapped Dontas with his heels and the tan horse took off, hitting his stride quickly. Armartas caught up and rode next to Jake, keeping a watchful eye on his technique. Soon, they were having the horses taking short sprints at full speed. Jake was having a great time, the wind rushing by as he leaned over the pommel as Dontas powered forward.
Jake was a bit disappointed when Armartas called an end of the training and headed back to the stables. They slowed the horses to a walk, letting them cool down. As they made their way, Jake decided to ask about Dominic leaving for the night.
"Armartas, this may sound strange, but there seemed to be something about Dominic heading east that you recognized. Why did it matter which way he went?" Jake asked.
Armartas was quiet for a moment, as he thought about the question. "How much do you know of Dominic's history?" He asked quietly in reply.
"Jonas had told me that he was a great warrior and commander of the Army and Royal Guards." Jake said, recalling their conversation. "He mentioned that Dominic gave up those titles years ago, but would not explain why. He said that it was Dominic's story to tell, but he also told me not to ask him about it."
"That is good advice and I would encourage you to follow it." He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "The reason I reacted is that Dominic's old home is to the east, near the foothills. He hasn't been there in a while and plans to visit it on his patrol."
They rode in silence, as Jake tried to figure out why that was important, until they reached the front doors and dismounted. They led the horses into the stable.
"I know that we will see each other every three days, Jake, but I encourage you to take Dontas out as often as you can." Armartas said as he handed the reins of his horse to a trainee. "You have access to the stables and your tack room anytime you want, so feel free to go for rides. As with most things, the more you do it, the better you become. Until next time." He shook Jake's hand and headed to his office.
Jake could feel a little tightness in his legs and groin from the riding, as he led Dontas back to his stall. He hoped that would pass as he got better. When he reached the stall, he found Hailyn waiting for him. She helped him unsaddle and brush Dontas, as well as feed and water him. As they worked, he asked Hailyn about the lame horse.
"Oh, he will be fine." Hailyn replied. "It seemed to be a strain rather than something more serious. I healed him, just to be sure."
"You can heal animals as well?" Jake asked, realizing after he asked that it sounded pretty stupid since she just said that she had.
"Yes, Jake." She replied. "We actually come and spend time at the stables as part of our training. People will also bring their pets to the Temple when they are hurt or sick. We believe they are creatures of the One, the same as we are, so healing is provided."
"That makes sense, I guess." Jake said.
Once Dontas was back in his stall, they headed out. As they made their way out of the training grounds, Jake mentioned to Hailyn about what he had learned about Dominic's old home.
"I don't get what the big deal is." Jake said. "Why is Dominic visiting his old house something that shouldn't be spoken about?"
"What did Master Jonas tell you about Dominic?" Hailyn asked cautiously. As they weaved their way through the crowd to the courtyards, Jake told Hailyn about his conversation with Jonas the night he arrived.
When he finished, Hailyn stepped closer, dropping her voice. "Master Jonas must have his reasons for not sharing Dominic's complete story with you, Jake. The most likely one is loyalty to his life-long friend; the story is not a happy one." She placed a hand on his arm. "I cannot say anything more than this: the reason we treat Dominic going to his old home with sensitivity is because his wife and son are buried there."