Kosai awoke lying face down, elevated, and looking at a white, ceramic-tiled floor. The guard uniform had been removed and he was dressed in a white apron that was tied tightly up the back. He tried to move his arms and legs but couldn’t. He was restrained by a variety of straps. Large ones lay flat and tight against the small of his back while thinner ones decorated his arms and legs, leaving little space for his skin to breathe. He attempted to move his head but quickly gave up when his struggling against the overly sized cushions and dual straps that kept his head in place didn’t move. Kosai grunted and jerked in frustration.
There was a metal pang and click. Kosai rotated slowly upward in the bed. A man grunted at Kosai’s right. There was a second pang and metal click. Kosai, strapped to the bed, was upright and rocked slightly for a few brief moments before being completely immobile again. The man that had brought Kosai upright walked in front of him.
“Captain,” Kosai said quietly. He jerked his arm, attempting to habitually salute him.
“Kosai, don’t try to move too much. Your back is broken in three places, as well as a couple ribs. There is severe muscle and bone damage to your shoulder and your arm is suffering from an infection. Most of the tissue surrounding it was already rotting. The gash in your leg was stitched and wrapped. Now that you are informed of your condition, I want you to relate to me what happened. Leave out no details.”
Kosai told the Captain of the strange sandstorm that stood still and swirled in front of him like a moving wall. He explained the lizards and the hooded figure, and how he had struck out at the hooded figure, only to see his blade pass through him as if he were a dark, dense mist. As Kosai told about the hooded figure, the Captain moved to Kosai’s side. The Captain grew pale at the story and his hands started to shake slightly.
“When you fought the hooded figure, was it like attacking a ghost? Were his movements natural?”
“Yes, it was almost like he was real, but in other ways, not. But there was one other strange thing about him, or whatever it was. It had a vial, filled with a black liquid, attached to a leather cord that was wrapped around his left hand. After he walked away into the storm, I fought off the other lizard, passed out and woke up here.”
Kosai grimaced and shivered as sudden throbs of pain swelled and receded in his shoulder. The Captain stood silent and gripped Kosai’s right arm firmly, stilling the pain induced tremors.
“The pain is good for you, it will make you stronger,” the Captain said. A white hand print, almost as white as the hand that grabbed it, appeared and quickly faded as the Captain released his grip and turned to the cupboards. “How are you reacting to the encounter mentally?” he asked.
Each medical room had a wash basin on top of tan cement table. Above and below the table were cabinets filled with gauze pads, wraps, bottles filled with medication in liquid and pill form, other medical supplies, and fresh training cloths for the students of the Barracks. The Captain looked through the cabinets and pulled out a pad of gauze, a roll of white cloth and a glass bottle of burgundy liquid.
“Mentally, I don’t want to believe it. I stabbed him once and my sword went right through him.”
The Captain fumbled with the glass bottle, tried to catch it twice, and missed both times. The bottle shattered in the basin. Shards and chips of glass mixed with the brown, syrupy liquid. The Captain leaned over the basin and stared into his own dim reflection.
“Right through him,” the Captain said almost in a whisper.
“Yes. Maybe I am twisting the memories, maybe it didn’t happen. Maybe the figure didn’t really exist and my mind just made a story to deal with the trauma. It was so unreal. Captain, if I may ask, what are your thoughts?”
“I do not doubt that what you have told me is true.” The Captain pulled another bottle from the cabinet, uncorked the bottle of brown liquid and poured it onto the gauze. He removed one of the blood-soaked bandages on Kosai’s shoulder and applied the fresh gauze to the open wound. Kosai cringed. The Captain then gently wrapped the white cloth around his son’s shoulder. “Your wounds testify to the honesty of your story.” The Captain padded the blood that slowly seeped through the bandage with a cloth and then wrapped it again. “In the past, I have had no reason to doubt the orders of the Council. Countless times their orders have saved my men and protected caravans. But now, with the daily ambushes, you strapped to a table with severe bite wounds and scratches to your left arm and a broken back, the hooded figure...” The Captain stood still and stared blankly at Kosai’s shoulder.
“What are you saying Captain?”
“I’m saying things are not matching up. The Council is responsible for the caravan routes, assigning who guards the caravans, and how many guards to be on the escort. As of late, numbers required to escort the caravans has been dwindling. It would be no surprise to me that ambushes would occur more frequently, but they occur daily!
“It is either that the caravans have always been watched by nomads and the number of guard dissuaded them attacking, or the trade routes are being compromised to the tribes. This hooded figure, the lack of men ordered to protect the caravan, the sand storm, it seems to point to a set up. My gut twists and turns at the thought that someone within the council, slimy as they are, would betray us.”
“Then you are thinking a council member is behind the ambush,” Kosai said softly.
“It is a thought, and only that. Perhaps it is a slight suspicion. Perhaps someone is betraying the routes. This is not the first time I have seen one of my guards on a table as you are. Many times they come here only to be buried. The most I could do without being seen as a fanatic is to express my frustration to the Council for their poor choice in orders and attempt to persuade them to trust my judgment in the future. Perhaps my anger will draw out some additional information. I want to know their reasons for sending so few men.” The Captain put the roll of white cloth and empty vile back into the cupboard, and rotated Kosai so that he lay upright. “Continue to rest. I will return in a while with news.”
“Father, there was one other thing,” Kosai said. At the word ‘father’, the countenance of the Captain changed. His eyes softened and he leaned over Kosai, stroking his black hair. He was no longer the stern leader of the Barracks, but a concerned parent.
“What is it?” he said softly.
“Today, I – I felt fear. I was close to death, I think. Your training helped keep me alive.” The Captain smiled in response. “But when I was coming back from the caravan, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I will be a part of the Guard next year and I think it’s time I knew about who she was.”
At the word ‘her’ the kind emotional father was gone. The Captain stood up straight and retracted his hand.
“I have told you many times Kosai. That woman is best left alone and forgotten. She doesn’t matter anymore.”
“But she matters to me,” Kosai said weakly. “You haven’t told me anything about her. What was her name, her hair color, what did she do, what was she like?”
“Kosai!” the Captain barked, and then calmed himself. “I will have no more of it. As your father, I ask you not to bring her up again and to forget all desires to know more about her. As your commanding officer, I am ordering you to never bring her up again in my presence.”
“Yes sir,” Kosai said, looking down at the floor.
“Good boy,” the Captain said as bent over and kissed Kosai on the forehead. When the Captain exited the room, another student of the Barracks stood at attention next to the door. The student turned to the Captain and saluted.
“How is he, Captain?” the student asked. He was seventeen years old and slender. Tears were growing in his eyes. His name was Ulryck and he was Kosai’s closest friend in the Barracks. His muscles weren’t as sculpted as other students, but he proved himself in combat. Ulryck was also had a good heart and positive attitude which was something the Captain looked for in new recruits. Often after training, he was found helping new r
ecruits become familiar with the Barracks, answering any questions they might have. If there was an assignment to be had, Ulryck was the first to volunteer. After landing a strike during training, he always asked if his sparring partner was fine.
“He is in bad shape, but he will survive. How long have you been standing there? What all did you hear?”
“I heard enough to know that something unnatural occurred during the escort and about your suspicion.”
“Speak to no one what you have heard. When the others return from the escort, I will tell them the same thing. As far as anyone is concerned, Kosai was caught in a swarm of lindworms during a sand storm. Keep guard here and make sure that no one sees him. He needs his rest.”
“Yes sir.” Ulryck said as he saluted. The Captain returned the salute and went to the horse stables just outside the Barracks. The stable boy, Emmer, came to the door and stood straight and puffed his chest out as far as he could. He was only twelve and had a way for soothing sore horses after a hard run.
“Boy, fetch me a fast horse and be quick about it,” the Captain said.
“Yes sir,” Emmer said. He ran into the stable and returned shortly with a paint filly. Her left hind quarter, right side, and neck had a brown patch, trimmed with grey and black. Patches of fine gray hair smudged over her coat. A black saddle was strapped to her back and she was fitted with the proper tack.
“She may not be elegant, but she is the fastest,” Emmer said. The Captain swung onto the horse and kicked her sides.
The filly trotted down Outer Road. After a few minutes, the Captain coaxed the horse to a faster run. Her hooves beat the ground like a heavy drum. It was a route less traveled by the commoners, which gave the filly ample time to get set into a rhythm.
Further down the road, a group of men were pushing carts with the Three Brother’s mark on the side. A syndicate member pompously led the crew. He was a tall, slender man with dark skin. He held his head high, his eyes almost closed, taking too long of a stride and his left arm held precisely out to the side, holding the excess of his red robe. The carts conveniently took up most of the road, leaving only enough space for a little more than a person to walk on either side. The cart pullers looked up and frantically pulled off to the sides as the Captain raced towards them unyieldingly.
“No, no, we do not yield to anyone on the road,” the syndicate member said coldly. The Captain, seeing the arrogance of the syndicate member, guided the filly towards the outside and slowed her. The cart pullers pulled their carts away from the Captain and his horse. One raced forward, another tried to move towards the center of the road, and the other stayed straight. The handlebars of the cart that moved towards the center of the road got caught in the spokes of the cart that went strait. Both carts turned on their side. The filly reared up from the commotion, causing a couple other cart pullers to stop in their tracks, or back up. More carts tipped over, spilling their contents all over the road. Vibrant painted pots and glass jars filled with fruits and syrups shattered; the viscous goop congealed with the loose sand.
“Why didn’t you yield to me!” the syndicate member hollered as he counted the broken containers with his finger. “You ruined a whole cart worth of fruit. Do you realize how much that costs?”
“It must be such an inconvenience to you,” the Captain sneered, not looking at the syndicate member. The filly moved her feet, and the Captain reined her left and then right, trying to find a path through the mess. The cart pullers tried to gather the goods and clear a space for the Captain as quickly as their frail frames could allow. One of them picked up a broken glass container, and placed it back in the cart. He swore and shook his finger, as if he had cut himself, and then began to suck on it. The Captain saw that there was no injury, but that the man wanted a taste of the sweet liquid.
“Time, Captain,” the syndicate member said, moving to the front of the horse. “The loss of which is the only thing you have inconvenienced me of. I am a member of the Three Brothers. I have more money than I know what to do with. I could even buy that horse right from under your nose.” The Captain loosened the reins in his hand and sat tall and still and glared down at the man. The horse also stilled and snorted powerfully.
“Your hand would be cut off before the money purse was placed on the table. Now move commoner!” The syndicate member gasped.
“How dare you call me a commoner,” the syndicate member said.
“You are no more than that to me,” the Captain said.
The syndicate member placed his hand over his chest and stumbled back, and fell into the goopy mess. The cart pullers chuckled to themselves and bowed slightly as the Captain passed by them. The Captain returned the gesture with a nod and tight smile.
He held tightly to the reigns and turned the horse left at the next main intersection onto South road. The street was riddled with shadows from the scaffolding and poorly crafted wooden bridges overhead that linked leaning wooden buildings. The entangled structure of wood and rope wobbled in the wind and the settled sand fell onto the captain. He looked up briefly but could see no one.
This section of the city was called the Tangle. It stretched on and around the southern quarter of the city. Thieves and robbers, and anyone else who didn’t want to be found, hid within its ever-changing structure. It had not been mapped because the bridges and buildings were taken down and moved frequently.
The Captain rode the filly through the center of the Tangle, periodically glancing up at the overhanging structures and bridges. On either side of the road, people, old and young, sat in piles of putrid rags. Flies swarmed and landed in the corners of their eyes. Small clay pans were in front of them. Others stood, leaning up against the walls of the Tangle wearing similar sand and grime covered clothing. The people didn’t scream or jostle, but stared warily at the Captain as he passed.
The Captain looked forward through the haze of the heat. The road opened into the inner-most circle of the city not far ahead. It was a stone-paved circular courtyard with a three-tiered fountain placed in the center. All three tiers were identical in shape but varied in size, the smallest at the top and the largest at the bottom. They were casted from grey cement and slightly concave. The lips were evenly ruffled, giving the cement dishes a flowing look. On the underside of each tear, orange, red and pink flowers bloomed. Water continually shot up from the top of the fountain and splashed into the top tier before gently cascading back into the pool. The pool was also circular. A small lip of red stones and cement encompassed it and white tiles were laid in the bottom of the pool. The water drained into a large grated opening next to the base of the fountain.
Homeless, servants, dignitaries, councilmen, merchants, families and Guard came to the fountain to drink the sweet water anyway they could. Some filled buckets, others filled carafes, while the homeless and poor used their hands. It was calm and quiet around the water. No one spoke while at the well, but looked down, watching their vessels fill. To the east was Capitol road. It was lined with the red and white banners of Tessír. The banners were twice as tall as the Captain and hung from tall metal poles.
The Captain kicked the filly. The horse ran even faster around the fountain and down the road towards the Capitol building. It was a rectangular building with the same red and white banners hanging from the second level. A horse stable was off to the left. As the Captain reached the stable, he dismounted, handed the reins to the stable boy and ran up the stairs.
The marble stairs were cleared of sand hourly by custodians. Two polished grey statues of wolves sat on each side of the stair with two of the Guard standing on either side of the entryway.
They were two of the Captain’s most recent graduates, each sweating under the Council Guard uniform. The uniform consisted of knee-length chainmail, with a purple and green vertically stripped vest laid over the top. The black shoes had a curled point at the toe. The metal helmets came down just above the eyebrows and covered the back of the neck with a leather strap that went
under the chin. Tessír’s banners fluttered down from their halberds. The guards snapped to attention and saluted as the Captain reached the top of the stair. The Captain returned the salute and continued right, towards the Council’s Hall.
The floor was white marble with black veins running through the stone. The Captain’s footsteps echoed through the open hall. One of the guards chased after him. The hall turned left. Half way down was a set of large wooden doors with golden rings. Two more guards stood at the ready, holding halberds in front of them. They saluted the Captain as he approached them. Without slowing, the Captain pushed the doors opened and entered the room, turned and slammed the doors shut.
It was a large rectangular room with two levels. The first level was an open, marble floored room. The second level was filled with one-hundred and fifty chairs, seventy-five on the left and right sides. The front of the second level was for the Head Council and had only a single row of tall dark mahogany chairs. The backs of the chairs were padded with a purple velvet cushion, with a carved tower on each side of the chair. There were seven chairs, all filled with people in black robes with various colored trim on the cuffs and collars. Behind the Council was a large wooden door which led into another room where they retired when they needed to discuss matters amongst themselves.
There was another man who stood off to the side of the council and wore a dark blue cloak. His hands were at his sides. The Captain looked at him briefly. He had a brown goatee and coarse brown hair with strands of grey blending in. He was a small, slender man and did not shuffle or move as the Captain walked to the center of the room.
A full council was in progress, where representatives from the cities Linnouse, Port Rasmú, Anteperil, Jetismore, Ryshta, Varlette and Noiknaer were in attendance. The councilors wore colored robes for the city that they were representing. The seats were filled with reds, blues, purples, greens, yellows, reds, and other colors, making the plain white room transform into a rainbow.
The head councilman, who sat at the center of the seven chairs in front of the room, was addressing the other representatives when the Captain barged in, but was now silent. As the Captain walked towards the center of the room, he looked up and locked eyes with the head councilman. A hiss of whispers fluttered in the room. On the left side of the room, one representative from Linnouse, wearing the green robes with red trim of his city, stayed focused on the Captain. The Captain noticed this from the corner of his eye and turned to look. As he did, the representative mouthed “I’m sorry,” and then nodded. The Captain gave a quick nod in response and then looked back up at head councilman.
“I assume that you are here to collect an early payment for your services and collateral for the happenings this morning,” the head councilman said, dressed in his black robe with purple and green trim. Three members of the head council sat on each side of him.
His name was Rodrick. He had been in government since graduating from the school of Politics and Citizenship, first as a clerk and then working his way up through the years until he became head councilman. Not once had the Captain seen him dressed in casual clothing.
When the government caravans first started, he assisted in unloading the caravans, and then afterwards, proceeded to give a speech about how generous and kind he and the representatives were for implementing the program. Shortly after, while unloading a caravan, he insisted that banners be erected on the wagons bearing the standard of Tessír, so that the people knew it was the government that was providing for them. When the caravans started being ambushed, Rodrick retreated to the sanctuary of his government halls. It was repeated in the city that his charitable demeanor was only as good as long as the caravans were successful.
“Was the money worth it?” the Captain asked as he continued to stare at each of the head councilors. A few squirmed in their chairs and shifted their gaze, either looking at some trivial papers on their desk or the backs of their hands. Others sat perfectly still, their faces completely void of emotion. One councilor, a woman, had a slight smile.
“His sacrifice is worth the survival of the citizens,” Rodrick said after a long pause.
“I see everyday people starving in the streets, begging for want of bread. Where does the money go? Where is the food?” the Captain roared back.
A councilwoman, the one who sat still with a small smile three seats to Rodrick’s left, stood. Her name was Councilor Steran. She was a small, frail woman and she wore a black robe with red and blue trim, the colors of Anteperil. She also wore light blue lipstick and her nails were painted red.
“Food and money are stored here. If we were to share our supplies now, we might not have it for when the need was truly great. You wouldn’t want us to be found with naught when we are truly in need, would you?” she asked, her voice rising unnecessarily high at the end of her sentence.
“You’re right. It would be a shame if your wine, bread,” he paused and looked at the other councilors briefly, “and swine,” he said with emphasis, “were to be turned to the people. Tell me, how much of the peoples’ work and money have you spent on your own gluttony?”
“Captain!” gasped Councilor Steran, placing a hand on her chest. “I would never abuse my position to get gain. I do have my needs,” she giggled slightly and passed a glance to her fellow councilors. “We all have our needs. But the poor people, they do not know what they need, and their needs need to be managed. Besides, how many of your niceties have you earned off the sweat of your students?”
“She’s quite right you know,” Aleal said. She sat on the other side of high council and spoke quickly and clearly. She was from Port Rasmú, showing the interlocking blue and green bands of color on her cuffs and collar. “If we opened the grain stores, they would be emptied and consumed by night fall. We are here to manage their wellbeing, and you Captain, are where you are to manage their safety. Wouldn’t you agree Evaan?”
“Yes, quite,” Evaan said. He sat on Steran’s left and was a middle-aged man from Linnouse with straight brown hair and thick bristly mustache. He adjusted his yellow and red cuff. “But that’s not why you’re here, or why any of us are here. Captain, you have interrupted a very important meeting. We will hear your complaints afterwards.”
“I disagree, Evaan,” Councilor Simmons said slowly and softly in his true tenor voice. He was from Noiknaer. His black hair was combed fiercely and sharply to the left side. “Our meeting today is about the caravans, and the Captain may have some insight that would be… beneficial shall we say, to the cause. Captain, what news do you bring?”
“My son is dying,” the Captain said. The representatives gasped. Some, who were focused on the proceedings, frowned, while other bowed their head and tore a loose string from their robes.
“Sons, daughters, mothers, fathers… they are all dying, and frequently,” Simmons said in from his chair. “How is your son any different?”
The Captain growled at Simmons, breathed, and then continued.
“It’s different because my son sacrificed his life to protect the caravans to feed the people!”
Councilor Simmons held up a hand.
“And that sacrifice we are all grateful for,” he said. Steran nodded in agreement.
“But it wouldn’t be a sacrifice had I been allowed to send more of my guard, instead of Kosai. That order for him to go with so few others came from this room. If I didn’t know any better I would say that this council was planning on killing him!”
“Captain, you go too far!” Councilor Kevyn said as he stood. It wasn’t often when he spoke in council meetings, often giving one or two word answers. His belly jiggled and ruffled his robes as he stood, the fabric sticking between rolls of fat. The light from the room shined on his oily, sweaty bald head and thick neck. “Each of us knows the value of your son, and would never purposely endanger his life, or any of the guard for that matter.”
“I would almost believe you Kevyn,” the Captain said, walking closer to the black robed councilors.
“If you spent less time at the brothel house trading food for company, and more time caring for the countless bastards you’ve sired that are up in the mines. I might believe you. Wasn’t it because of those vices that you were excommunicated from the Three Brothers?”
“That has nothing to do with this Captain,” Simmons said, shaking his hand. “You have accused us of attempted murder and I ask you, what proof do you have to back your claim? None! The orders we gave about how many guard to send, we thought would be compensated by Kosai’s skill in combat and leadership. We felt, as a council, that this option was the most cost effective. The sandstorm was forecasted by our own school of transportation and logistics, which as you know is instructed by former nomads who have lived in that desert and swore allegiance to us and our cause.”
“Then you will trust my judgment in the future,” the Captain said.
“Not so,” said the last councilor. Nicóla was her name. She wore the yellow and red colors of Linnouse. Each ear was pierced twice. Large golden loops hung from her ears, and above those was a diamond stud. “Though your judgment, if heeded, would have saved your son, we still have more information on the upcoming caravans. We have reports about the weather and tribal movements.”
“And lately, you have failed,” the Captain said. “It is almost uncommon now to go out and not be attacked by nomadic tribes. I have earned all that I have, and paid for it with blood and tears, not ink and parchment. My Guard understands the desert better than any of you do. If any of the council cared about the people, you would trust my orders.”
“Enough,” Rodrick said as he held up a hand. “Captain, if you are here to criticize us in our efforts, then you are dismissed.” The Captain turned his back without bowing and exited the Council Hall before the Council could see the grimace on his face.
Someone whispered behind him, but he didn’t turn to see who spoke. Peteir and the two guards that guarded the entrance to the Hall ran after the Captain. When they reached him, they snapped to attention and saluted. Peteir then stepped forward.
“Captain, you cannot enter the capitol building unless on business,” he said. “It’s a new policy passed last week.”
“That’s why you were chasing after me. What about you two?” the Captain asked, pointing to the two guards who stood at the entrance to the meeting hall.
“If a meeting or trial is in session, it is not to be disturbed under any circumstances. We should have asked for documentation for appointments or summons papers.”
“Make sure you check next time I arrive. I taught you to be disciplined guards, not creatures of habit.”
“Yes sir!” they all said in unison, saluting the Captain.
“Back to your posts,” the Captain ordered. Peteir ran back to the entrance while the other two stood at attention on either side of the entrance to the council hall.
Once outside the meeting hall, the Captain motioned for the stable boy to bring him his horse. Her coat was mildly damp with sweat. Brush marks coated her neck and sides. The Captain walked up to the filly and slowly stroked her nose with the palm of his hand.
“Why the hard run through the city Captain?” the stable boy asked.
“Appearances in places like this are everything. Someone racing through the city on horseback with a look of determination carries more authority with it than any paperwork or official dress.”
The Captain placed his foot in the stirrup was about to mount when someone called him.
“Captain, Captain, wait!”
It was the man who stood with the councilors in the dark blue cloak. The Captain stepped down and turned towards the man.
“Captain, I am Representative Jaiken of the School of the Faye,” the man said.
“Conduits wore white, unless I’m mistaken,” the Captain said, eyeing the man’s clothes. The man removed his cloak and folded it in his arms. He did indeed where the customary white shirt and trousers, with a purple stripe down the side.
“Sir, if I could have a moment of your time.”
“What do you want?” said the Captain dismissively the Captain mounted the filly and took up the reigns.
“Captain, please, it’s about your son.”
“Leave us for a while,” the Captain said to the stable boy. The boy walked into the stables and started mucking out the stalls. “What about him?”
“The figure that attacked your son has killed nomadic tribes in the past for no apparent reason. He does not plunder or trade, just destroys. Children lie dead, next to their mothers. The men of the tribes were… it’s too much to say, except they were killed in the most violent of ways. Our Seer saw where he was going to be this morning and arranged a trade to be conducted that would intercept this figure a few days previous. We sent so few along with your prized student because he stood the best chance of survival, and if he failed, the consequences would be… um… minimal.”
“What do you mean Kosai stood the best chance for survival? Your decision almost cost my son his life! How is that minimal?” the Captain roared.
“The option of assigning you to this task was brought forward,” Jaiken said, “but was decided against. Your loss would be too much for the city to bear. The information that Kosai gained from his brief encounter is vital to our continued survival and the survival of our trade routes. Our Seer told us that if Kosai survived, it would lead to the eventual downfall of this figure.”
“What does the council know of this?” the Captain asked.
“Just as much as I have told you now,” Jaiken said.
The Captain shook his head and turned the horse down Capitol road. Jaiken ran up and stopped a safe distance in front of the horse.
“Captain please, I need to explain a few things to you.”
“Explain how my best student’s survival will lead to the death of this figure.”
“I can’t,” Jaiken said.
“No, you can, you choose not to.”
“No, really, I can’t. I don’t know anything more about it. Our Seer was completely silent and said that he would not release any more information unless Kosai survived. His survival means we have a firsthand account of this figure. Tell me Captain, has Kosai spoken to you about what happened to him in the desert?”
“Briefly and at my request, but I ordered him to speak to no one else of the matter until further notice.”
“Good!” Jaiken said and smiled. “If you could come with me, I will take you to meet our instructors. They will be able to give you more information. You can return the horse too; it isn’t that far from here.”
The Captain turned the horse back to the stables. The boy came out and took the reins as the Captain dismounted.
“Give her another brushing and you’ll get a piece of silver,” the Captain said to the stable boy. He smiled and returned the horses. “How long is the walk?” he asked Jaiken.
“Across the courtyard, into that domed building,” Jaiken said, pointing to the structure. It was a smaller, one story building with five stairs leading to the opening. The Captain had passed by this building many times but never entered.
They walked through the pavilion and stopped at the fountain. Both the Captain and Jaiken scooped their hands into the pool to take a quick drink and then walked towards the building. The Captain was looking up at the entrance as he approached the stairs. The building had a dome top with pylons around the perimeter that supported an overhanging roof. It was as brown as the sand and barren as the desert. There were no banners, flags, or windows. It had only one open entrance that was the size of a normal door. Two beggars sat in front of the steps. A metal pan was in front of each of them. Their heads were down and arms outstretched. Jaiken stretched his arm in front of the Captain to stop him.
“Wait here,” Jaiken said. He walked up to the beggar on the right, squatted down next to him and whispered something in his ear. The beggar nodded and gestured for him and the Captain to walk up the stairs.
“What was that abou
t?” the Captain asked.
“I had to tell our guards that you are on an errand to visit the Seer.” The Captain looked back over at the beggars.
“Their appearance is extremely deceiving,” the Captain said.
“They may look like they are begging with their arms outstretched, but one is actually casting a spell of sorts to dissuade people from entering the building. If someone happens to break through the barrier and is not a member of his school, he or she is followed into the building by the other beggar, the one I talked to, and killed.”
“Spells? And so much secrecy… what do you have to hide?”
“You will see in time,” Jaiken replied.
Torches lit the inside of the building, giving a gentle but penetrating light. The cement floors were not painted or decorated in any way. The hallway was wide enough for a caravan to pass through and curved in both directions.
“The hall to the right leads to our sleeping quarters, library, garden, teachers’ offices, classrooms and conference room. You will see more of those later I would imagine. You are wanted however in our arena.” Jaiken and the Captain turned left. After twenty paces, the hallway changed into a long, shallow stair that turned sharply to the right. After twenty more paces, the hallway opened into a large, dome like room.
Like the council room, the room had two levels. The lower level had a dirt floor with a high wall that surrounded it. The second level was filled with rows of chairs. Each chair was carved from a dark brown wood. The backings of the chairs alternated between the two symbols of Tessír, the hammer and anvil and the fist holding two strands of wheat. The top of the backings was slightly rounded and the seats had a flat salmon colored cushion.
“This is our arena where we test students,” Jaiken said. “You will be meeting our Seer here. Ah yes, there he is.” In the center of the room was short man in a heavy brown robe that wrinkled and folded over his joints. A triple-coiled rope was wrapped around his waist and tied in front of him in a thick square knot. The ends of the rope were capped in gold. He also wore a rope necklace adorned with a large, polished white bone that looked like an oversized metacarpal.
As they walked towards another set of stairs that led down into the arena, the Captain eyed the chairs and brushed his fingers along them as he walked. “The chairs were gifts from the capital,” Jaiken said.
“What for?” the Captain asked.
“A continued commitment to serve I believe were the words of the council,” Jaiken said.
“And the service we can provide as of late lacks utility, doesn’t it, Jaiken? Captain, it’s good to see you,” the Seer said, chuckling to himself as the Captain and Jaiken stepped into the arena. He favored his left leg as he walked towards the Captain, extending a hand in greeting.
“Likewise,” the Captain said shortly, shaking the Seer’s hand briefly. His eyebrows were well trimmed and his head was completely bald. Age spots and freckles covered his tan skin.
“I know that you are here to relay what Kosai saw in the desert and of the figure that attacked him.”
“And to relay my frustration. Kosai came to me, near death, for what? What makes an encounter with this figure worth the life of my son?”
“I have my reasons,” the Seer said softly. The trio stood in silence for a moment.
“Jaiken, please tell the others that I will be late. You are dismissed,” the Seer said. Jaiken bowed and exited through a plain brown door with a brass handle on the back wall of the arena. When the door closed, the Seer shook his head.
“I apologize for not being able to tell you sooner Captain, but the walls seem to be growing ears as of late and trust in this school is as thin as parchment.” He paused and wiped the back of his neck with his hand. The Captain scowled mildly, keeping his eyes on the Seer. “The orders for the routes always come from me, as well as the number of guard to escort the caravan. You would do well to remember that attacks used to be far and few between. Some days I would plan an entire month and not foresee an attack. Now, there is an attack every journey. I thought of everything except a reduction in the amount of guard sent on the escorts. I planned it in my mind, Saw into the future, and Saw the attack from the hooded figure.”
“Seer, I did not come here for rationalization, I came here for answers,” the Captain said. The Seer sighed.
“Captain, I fear that someone close to me is leaking our trade route orders to a group that may want the capitol and the Guard to, well, disappear. That is why I asked Jaiken to leave. On top of that, the hooded figure that Kosai encountered is an old enemy of our school with a dark and bloody past.”
“Help me understand then how all of this is pulled together. Tell me that Kosai’s injuries were worth something.”
“First, let me explain one detail. Your son will survive his injuries, and I never intended that he would be in such critical condition as he is now. As to the worth of the experience, that will be determined in our next meeting,” the Seer wiped a thin layer of sweat from his forehead. “I would like for you to share what Kosai saw with us then. Before then, you need to know a few things. First, know that the figure that Kosai encountered is known to us as the Dark One. He is an old enemy who killed many of our teachers in a way more violent than any of us could imagine. Recently, I was asked to foresee the Dark One’s demise, and I saw your Kosai destroy him. The method was peculiar. The two battled first in the desert, and then the city, and then a cave, and then the desert again. The scenery continued to shift and change as they fought. In the end, everything went dark. When the vision returned to me, Kosai stood over the Dark One, holding his sword triumphantly. Only on very rare conditions do I See things that are so unclear. This morning, I sent Kosai on the caravan thinking and hoping that he would destroy him. I suppose he is to encounter him a second time.”
“Why is the Dark One a threat to your school? Besides murder, what else do you have against him?”
“I think that answer would be best given in the next meeting,” the Seer said, “but that is not what I wanted to talk to you in private about. I need Kosai to help me expose the one leaking the information about the trade routes. This school will also train him in our ways. In exchange, I will pay Kosai double his average monthly earnings.”
The Captain remained silent.
“We will also be feeding him and providing lodging. I will personally see to his safety.”
The Captain didn’t respond.
“I can’t afford more than double without it looking suspicious. And I have the perfect cover for him as well that would fit both our school’s needs and my own. You would also have access to him if required, as well as to our facilities,” the Seer said earnestly.
“You seem quite desperate to have him,” the Captain paused, but did not give in to the offer. “Do you have a suspect?” The Captain asked.
“It could be several individuals,” the Seer said. “When I plan a route, I dictate the route, a teacher named Mearto transcribes it and Jaiken sends it to the Council, which then forwards it to you.”
“It is you, Jaiken, Mearto or a member of the Council that is using this information for gain,” the Captain said cuttingly.
“Rest assured Captain, I have no reason to do such a thing. I am very young and at the same time very old. A seer’s life is much shorter than most,” he said as he grabbed his left knee and rubbed it gently.
“I don’t understand,” the Captain said.
“When a Seer looks into the future, a portion of the Seer’s life is taken. I have Seen many caravans, wars, ambushes, storms, and a variety of other things.”
“How old are you then? Fifty? Sixty?”
“I am thirty-five,” the Seer said softly, “And already I look as if I could be your father.” There was a mournful pause. “I cannot stand to see people dying from starvation in the streets while I am dying as I try to save them. I hope and pray to the Faye that the betrayer is found before it is too late for me.”
??
?Do you have any suspects yet?” the Captain asked.
“A while ago, during the evening as I was retiring to my room for the night, I noticed Mearto heading out. She was dressed rather casually, almost as if she would want to blend in with the poverty. I didn’t think anything of it until the next week when she left a second time. I began to take a note of it, in my journal, of when she was leaving and noticed that it was on the same nights that I had planned the caravan routes. It wasn’t long after that when the almost daily attacks from the nomadic tribes began. I can’t imagine a woman such as her going and talking directly with the nomads, so she must have a contact who has connections to the tribes.”
“And why would a high member of your school do such a thing?” the Captain asked.
“Could be anything, could be nothing for all I know. This is where Kosai comes in. I am going to assign Mearto to train Kosai. She will think that she is training him to defeat the Dark One, and he will learn if Mearto is the one leaking the information and if she is, why. If not her, he may be able to find out who is. What do you say Captain? Will you lend him to me?” The Seer’s arms were outstretched, and sweat rolled down the side of his face.
“The money is not what entices me. It is the oath that each Guard takes to protect the city and its people. The protection of the caravans means the sustainability of the citizens. Kosai will agree to it,” the Captain said. The Seer sighed in relief. “However, I will still expect payment at the first of each month. I will also do some digging and see what I can come up with.”
“Do you have any idea who she might be leaking this information to?” the Seer asked.
“The Three Brothers syndicate pays well to those who remain loyal to them. They are wealthy, suffer no attacks on their caravans, and have more than they need. The lack of attacks on their caravans makes me think she is telling them, and then they are buying off the nomads as mercenaries to attack the government caravans.”
“I will arrange a summons for you to request a few warrants,” the Seer said. “But the Capitol enjoys the taxes from the Three Brothers so it will be difficult to persuade them to sign the warrants,” the Seer said. The Captain nodded his head slightly.
“Can’t you look into her future and see if she is the one betraying the city?” the Captain asked. The Seer chuckled.
“I wish it were that simple. The strain from Seeing a specific individual for an extended period is great, and I don’t have the strength to withstand it as I once did. But events such as planned patrols, Seeing a person’s death, a child’s birth, what an individual’s spouse might look like, things that have no specific time restraint are much easier to See. It is much easier to See if an event will happen, rather than when an event happens.” The Seer leaned in slightly, biting his bottom lip.
“Then tell me Seer. Can you tell me if Mearto will share the caravan routes with someone outside this school and the Council?” the Captain asked slowly.
“Yes, I can. I have been waiting so long to see if someone would ask me that question,” the Seer said.
“Then why didn’t you see it in the first place?” the Captain said, confused.
“I can only See when I am asked to See by another. It is one of the many rules for my talent. Even if I wanted to See something on my own, I couldn’t, the Faye would not allow it.”
The Seer smiled and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, they were covered in a gray film. “It is early in the morning, just before the sun rises. The moon is a waning crescent. Mearto is standing outside a building. It is not unique. It is a square cement house with one window. The door opens. The light from inside illuminates a sign above the door. The name is hidden but there is an emblem of two golden snakes twirling upward around each other. She and this man sit at a table. He is average height. His face is shrouded by tan cloth. A map is placed on the table. She is telling them of where the caravans will travel. The man nods and gestures to the door.” As the Seer finished speaking, the grey film faded from his eyes.
There was a slight change in his appearance. More age spots appeared on his face. The veins in his hands and neck seemed slightly more prominent and a few more wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. It was as if he had aged a few years in a matter of seconds.
“You’ve probably discovered why most Seers don’t live too long,” the Seer said.
“I will lend Kosai to you once he has healed and no sooner,” the Captain said firmly. He stretched out a hand, and the Seer took it.
“You have done a great service to this city and its people. Far greater than I think you have realized. Come, let’s join the others. They are earnest to hear your report.”
They walked up the stairs, down the hallway, past the entrance and into the first door on the left. The ceiling looked like the underside of a wooden ship. A long rectangular table was in the center of the room. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling. Where candles should have been, little balls of yellow light hovered. Around the table were fifteen high backed chairs that looked like those found in the Capital Council room. All but two were filled. Jaiken was the first to notice their arrival.
“Ah, Captain, glad to have you with us,” Jaiken said, gesturing to the two open chairs next to him with an open hand. The Captain and the Seer walked up to the table and sat.
The teacher who sat at the head of the table stood. He was taller than the Captain and broad in the shoulders. He wore a white shirt with laced sleeves. A purple stripe ran down each side of his shirt. He held a long thin staff in his left hand that was decorated with various marks and intricate burns. Any muscular definition was hidden beneath his loose white uniform. He wore a tan cloak and had a short, white beard and mustache. When he stood, the room quieted and everyone turned their attention towards him.
“Captain, thank you for coming here today. My name is Daius, and I am the principle and head teacher of the School of the Faye. Before this meeting begins, I think it would be appropriate for each of us to introduce ourselves to the Captain. Why don’t we start with Theo?” Daius gestured to a man that sat at his left.
Theo explained that his official title was Assistant to the Head Teacher, but was more commonly referred to as the Assistant. He was from Anteperil and was average height but thin in the face and hands. The Captain studied him quickly, searching for some characteristic that would make him stand out in a crowd. His nose protruded like a parrot’s beak and he spoke with a calm, quiet, deliberate and slow, airy voice.
The next teacher was Viktor from Linnouse. His small blue eyes, nose, and ears, combined with his short, well-kept hair made his face look too large. He spoke succinctly, but those short words carried a tone that carried experience and command.
Xidan was from the country of Caite. Her hair was as black and shiny as a polished obsidian stone. Her natural tan complexion and slanted almond eyes were some signature characteristics of one from Caite, but she spoke without a dialect, as if she was raised in Tessír.
Isaac was from Linnouse and was a round, overly plump man. The sight of one who was so well fed made the Captain’s stomach turn. Supposedly, it was a glandular issue, but even as he introduced himself, he spoke with a mouthful of chewed chicken, freshly bitten from the leg in his hand.
Alkine was from Port Rasmú and was just the opposite of Isaac. He was short, thin, frail, and stuttered when he spoke. He mentioned his passion for books and then sat down.
The Seer was next, but didn’t stand, instead gesturing past the Captain to Chaerell. She was from Anteperil and explained that she came from a family of merchants that existed before the Three Brother’s. She was a tall woman and was in good physical condition. Her muscles, though small, showed the Captain that she knew the value of work.
Faeris was from Noiknaer, and when he stood, a small tendril of fire licked off from his shoulder, but no one said anything. He spoke of his family and how they had starved to death, even with the assistance from the government caravans.
/> “I’m telling you this Captain, not for your pity, but for your trust,” he said, then sat down and the next teacher stood.
“I am Emalee,” she said. She looked at Faeris tenderly. “Faeris is a man full of passion, and dreams of a day without hunger. I think you can appreciate that Captain.” The Captain nodded. “I am from Noiknaer as well. My father was a teacher here in this school, and was murdered by the Dark One, as well as my mother.” She was a smaller woman, with brown curly hair that went down to her shoulders. When she sat down she whispered something in Faeris’ ear, but the Captain couldn’t hear what was said. Faeris nodded and the next teacher stood.
Jacqueline was from Port Rasmú. She was tall and slender woman with long blonde hair and green eyes. She, like Alkine, didn’t say much but watched the Captain with a studious eye. The Captain smiled back at her.
The next teacher stood slowly, and with a great deal of effort. The last female teacher who sat at his right helped him stand. The Captain guessed she was Mearto. The teacher introduced himself as Wysen. He was an older man, with scraggly grey hair that flowed from his head to his beard like a tangled ball of white thread.
The last teacher stood, introduced herself as Mearto, and sat back down. She wore a brown robe over a plain green dress. Her braided red hair flowed down to the small of her back. Daius looked at her, shrugged, and then stood.
“On behalf of this school, and the teachers that are present, I wanted to personally thank you for the sacrifice you gave of sending your best student into uncertain danger. Jaiken has informed us that you have a report on his encounter, and with humility, we ask that you give it.” When Daius finished speaking, he gestured to the Captain and the Captain stood.
“Kosai is stable for now. It will take an extreme amount of time for him to recover from his wounds. His back has been broken and there is severe muscle damage to his left arm from a lindworm bite. It may take up to two years before he has fully recovered, if it is the will of the Faye, he might be able to keep his arm. His encounter with the hooded figure was… odd,” the Captain said. He relayed to them Kosai’s story in every detail he could remember. He also mentioned that the Dark One carried a vile filled with a black substance. When he finished speaking, he sat down and Mearto stood.
“I believe one thing that still baffles all of us is how the Dark One seems to have gained the ability to be both a specter and material being. Captain, concerning the black vial that was in the Dark One’s hand, did Kosai relate to you anything about it?” Mearto sat down when she finished speaking and the Captain stood.
“There was a stream of purple lightening from the black vial when one of his strikes connected with the figure.”
“I would venture to argue that this vile has granted him a form of immortality,” Daius said as he stood up. “Captain, we must be honest with you. The Dark One has, in previous years, attacked nomadic tribes. These tribes would then blame Tessír and attack the caravans. Then, according to our resources, the Dark One disappeared for a time. Kosai survived the attack, but I believe it was by luck. Seer, I believe you have something to add on that effect.” He gestured towards the Seer with an open hand. After the Seer stood with some effort, Daius and the Captain sat.
“Kosai is the one I Saw who would defeat the Dark One. The Captain has agreed to lend him to us. Simple axe and sword cannot kill the Dark One, nor can rock or arrow. He acts like an apparition, yet he has not died. If he is going to attack again, and he will, Kosai must be prepared to use the skills that we teach and we must begin teaching him as soon as possible.” The Seer sat down. Mearto stood next.
“And who exactly is going to teach him? He has not shown promise; else we would have taken him. The Awakening could very easily kill him too if he is over eager and we would be without one of the more talented guardsman.” She stayed standing and gestured to the Seer for him to speak.
“That is why you will teach him,” the Seer said calmly. Mearto flushed in frustration and sat down hurriedly. “You are the only other to survive a forced Awakening and you know firsthand what to expect.” The Seer turned to the Captain. “The Awakening is a necessary process for each student to go through here. For those who are naturally attuned to the Faye, it is quick and painless, but it is very dangerous for those who are not. Rest assured, I saw Kosai kill the Dark One, so he will survive.”
“Captain, I thank you for giving us Kosai,” Daius said. “I ask that he report to us when he has healed and no sooner.” The Captain nodded and looked down at the table. “With that, this meeting is adjourned. I would ask all of you to be on guard and be watchful. The Dark One may strike at any time.” The teachers stood and began to walk away from the table.
“Excuse me,” the Seer said. “I would think it to be a great disservice if we were to leave without telling the Captain the history of the Dark One and why we need his student.”
“You didn’t tell him?” Daius asked.
“I mentioned that it would be brought up in this meeting,” the Seer said, wiping sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his robe. The Head Teacher shook his head.
“Captain, why then did you agree to it?” the Head Teacher asked.
“If what the Seer saw is true,” the Captain said, “and I am under the assumption that it is, then I have nothing to fear. His absence will be a hindrance to the Barracks, but I want to know exactly what Kosai will be getting himself into and why the Dark One is such a threat to you,” the Captain said. The Head Teacher looked at the Seer, shook his head and sighed.
“Murder is the only offense that we hold against the Dark One,” Daius said. “I must clarify however that it is not just the offense, but the events surrounding it that worry us. When our school was young, our second Head Teacher who was named Zenith decided to trek out into the desert to meditate and cleanse his mind. He returned with a mass of knowledge which greatly advanced our understanding of the world and its energies.
“The grandeur of his return was cut short when he came to our school with his son, intending to burn him on an altar. He even convinced a few of the teachers and students to help him. When the rest of the Teachers caught word of what was happening, they ran to the child’s aid. The child had already been placed on the altar and fire set upon him, but somehow, only his clothes and hair had been burned. The child remained unharmed. Somehow, he had managed to kill Zenith and a few of his cohorts. Those of us who weren’t in league with Zenith took the boy as our own and cursed those who had conspired to kill the child as Nameless.
“He grew through the ranks and became an assistant to the Head Teacher, and then betrayed us. One by one, he secretly killed many of our Teachers. By some strange method, he managed to drain the bodies of their blood. When he was discovered as the murderer, the head teacher, as well as those who were still alive, attempted to curse him as Nameless and then kill him. They failed. The Dark One, as they named him at that time, was impervious to their attacks and did not fight back. He left on his own accord.
“We don’t know how your son is going to defeat the Dark One, we just know that he will.”
“I can see now why the Seer was reluctant to tell me about the Dark One,” the Captain said, glaring at the Seer.
“Captain, we are asking much from your student,” the Seer said. “If there was another way, I would have it. Kosai is our only hope against the Dark One. I ask again, will you lend him to us?”
The Captain nodded.
“Then this meeting is adjourned,” Daius said. “Thank you Captain for your attendance,” The Teachers and Jaiken left the table and exited the room. The Seer and the Captain remained seated.
“Captain,” the Seer started, “I cannot thank you enough for allowing your son to come study with us. I also hope that his reputation will precede him and he will make quick work of this investigation.”
“There is a reason he is called the wolf of the Capital Barracks,” the Captain said with a grin.
“Thank you,
Captain. I will send Kosai’s uniform sometime this evening. I am looking forward to his arrival. You will also be receiving a Council summons letter to request of a warrant for the Three Brothers.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Enter,” the Seer said. Jaiken walked in. “Oh, Jaiken, good to see you again. What were your thoughts on the meeting?”
“I think that it’s good for everyone to be on the same page. There is an anxious feeling among the Teachers. It is bothersome that we don’t know what the Dark One is up to. Should I escort the Captain out?” Jaiken asked.
“No, no, I will do that,” he said as he turned to the Captain. “You and your guards are making quite the sacrifice for us.” There was soft, determined look in the Seers eyes. His brow was slightly bent and his hands were still.
“You’re welcome,” the Captain said softly.
“Jaiken, if you would please, go to the Head Teacher and see if there are any errands that he needs done with the Council. I have nothing else for you today.” Jaiken bowed softly and left. The Seer watched the door long after it closed and held up a finger to his mouth, gesturing to the Captain to be silent.
“He makes me nervous,” the Seer whispered. “Come, I will show you the way out.” The pair walked in silence out of the school and into the pavilion. The two guards continued to chant softly with their metal pans in front of them and their arms outstretched.
People walked down the dusty roads, the sounds of trading and bartering from the market washing over the pavilion like a soft breeze. A seemingly never ending crowd of commoners filled the street. The breeze carried smells of fruit, harsh spices, salt, meat, sweat and excrement, creating a lingering aroma like a damp, moldy rag. The water from the fountain gurgled and splashed like an unending fit of violent hiccups.
“You are concerned that Jaiken may have heard too much,” the Captain said. The Seer nodded.
“It is as I said before. The trust in our school seems to be as thin as parchment. I fear that my words may have placed you and your student in more danger than was already present. Forgive me.” The Captain furrowed his brow and looked down at Seer.
“He will suit you well. If he can survive the desert, my training, and being mauled by desert lizards, then I think he will be able to survive whatever danger your school may put him in.”
The Seer nodded again.
“Thank you again Captain.” The Captain nodded to the Seer, said goodbye and turned out into the city, heading back to the Barracks.
The populace moved out of his way as he walked down the center of the streets. He kept his stern, stoic look as he walked, but his thoughts were turned to more sensitive subjects.
When he reached the Barracks, he went straight into his office and sat in his high-backed chair behind his desk. The chair was like the style that the council had, though not as tall. The desk was made from a heavy, deep red wood. Carved roses and lily flowers decorated the trimmings of the desk. A white and red floor rug with the emblem of Tessír in black was laid in front of the desk, extending to the doorway. Bookshelves filled with books and trophies lined the left wall. Some of the trophies were from the combat competitions of his youth. Others were the fangs from lindworms that he killed. A steel coat rack was to the right of the door. It was as tall as the door and at the top, sprouted into four different hooks.
“All paid with blood,” the Captain said. The Captain ran his hand along the desk, feeling the smooth resin polish.
Some years ago, he took a small band of guard and tracked down a group of nomads that captured a carpenter’s family. He and his guard rescued the family and killed a few of the nomads, though it was not without a loss. He and a few of his students were put out of commission for a couple months. During the recovery, one of his students passed away from infection.
The desk was given to him as an anonymous gift, though he knew exactly where it came from. When he confronted the carpenter, the carpenter quickly changed the subject. When pressed, the carpenter denied knowing anything about the matter.
The rug was given after the Captain and a few newer guards who were on patrol stopped a band of thieves from stealing bolts of cloth from a textile and fashion school. The thieves carried short knives. They stabbed and slashed at the Captain, drawing blood on his arms and chest. The Captain did not want to kill the thieves, so he did not draw his sword. He ordered his patrol to incapacitate the thieves, but not to cut them.
After the thieves were beaten and rendered unconscious, they were taken to the gate keeper and sentenced six months of gate duty. When the owner of the school caught word of the deed, he and his students conducted a ceremony to openly thank the Captain with the floor rug.
The coat hanger was given as a gift from Ellene, his sister, when Kosai was delivered to the Barracks as an infant. Raising him was filled with blood and injury. A knock at his door roused the Captain out of his reminiscing.
“Come in,” the Captain said. One of the guards entered carrying a wooden box.
“Sir, these just came in for you, two letters and a package.”
“Yes, bring me the letters and set the crate next to the coat rack. You’re dismissed.” The guard set the box down next to the coat rack, handed the two letters to the Captain, saluted, and showed himself out the door. The first letter was folded in fourths while the other was folded in thirds and sealed with a wax impression of Tessír’s mark. The Captain unfolded the first letter.
“Captain: here is Kosai’s uniform as well as the summons for the warrant. I thank you again for meeting with me and the teachers of our school. Give Kosai my best and I wish him a quick and full recovery.
The Seer”
Satisfied with the Seer’s prompt efforts, the Captain went to check on Kosai’s recovery.
CHAPTER 3