The Pool And The Pedestal (Book 2) (16 page)

A few moments after he laid down on his bunk, someone knocked upon his door. Kael sat up.

“Who is it?” called the Southlander.

“Granu.” came the deep reply.

“Come in.” answered Kael throwing his legs over the edge of the bunk.

The giant opened the door and stepped into the room.

“I thought I might find you here.” smiled the giant pleasantly.

“You thought?” humphed Kael. “Or you knew.”

“I knew.” he frowned. “But I must protest your attitude, Kael. King Leinor gave me a task in the halls of Luxlor and it is my duty to carry out my pledge to the best of my abilities. If you didn’t want the protection, why did you accept it?”

Kael looked to the floor in shame.

“You’re right, Granu.” apologized Kael. “I’ve been rather unreasonable lately. You saved my life, yet I still find fault with the situation. I’m sorry.”

“No apology needed, son of Brelg.” said Granu solemnly. “However, I do believe you must assess your life and make some changes. I’m not your father, but lying in bed all morning cannot be helpful.”

“It’s not.” replied Kael. “And I’ve decided I must change. I’ve agreed to allow Ader to train me.”

“Excellent!” exclaimed Granu. “Spiritual and mental training provides one with clarity and purpose.”

“We could all use a little of that.” laughed Kael.

“That’s for certain, Southlander. I myself grow lax.” said the giant. “But recent events refocus my vision. I join your father in training the Zodrian Guard.”

“You do?” replied Kael.

Granu smiled.

“I’m not a child, Kael. I’m well aware that all here have witnessed my presence in the training yard.”

“Uh, ...sorry.” stammered Kael.

“I am also aware that your father feels he somehow manipulated me into such action.” continued Granu. “It’s true that the thought of actually partaking in the exercises hadn’t occurred to me until Brelg presented me with his shocking ineptitude with the long-handled pike. However, the ruse of your father was nothing compared to what called to my heart.

These militia are men, Kael. Brothers at the foot of our Creator. Whether they die at the hands of Ulrog while they struggle in the name of Avra, or at the hands of Keltaran doesn’t matter. What matters is the cause they are fighting for. A cause we share in common.

I am Keltaran by birth, but a soldier in the army of Avra in spirit. The latter must take precedence over the former. “

“Well said.” came a voice from the doorway.

Kael turned his head to see Cefiz leaning against the door post.

“From what I’ve seen on the training yard,” continued Cefiz. “I would join you in whatever army you chose.”

Granu bowed to the lieutenant. Cefiz moved into the room and Kael noticed a difference in his old friend. The round faced cook of “The King’s Service” had a harder edge to his features. Cefiz’s face lost the hint of a second chin, and the cook carried himself more confidently. Kael was immediately reminded of the movement and demeanor of Manfir.

“And I you, Master Cefiz.” said Granu. “The rust on your training was but a dusting on the surface. Your skills remain intact.”

Cefiz turned to Kael.

“We’ve taken to bolstering one another’s confidence, the giant and I.” laughed Cefiz. “It keeps us from acknowledging our.... limitations as we grow old.”

Kael and Granu smiled at the lieutenant.

“The boy trains as well.” stated Granu.

“How so?” asked Cefiz.

“I’m training under Lord Ader’s tutelage.” replied Kael.

Cefiz frowned.

“What’s wrong?” asked Kael.

“I’ve always known this day, like so many others I both feared and anticipated for you, would eventually come.” said Cefiz. “It’s.... unsettling.”

Kael furrowed his brow. He felt that he finally broke through his depression and taken a step in the right direction, but now to receive this resistance was disheartening.

“Why?” questioned Kael.

Cefiz hesitated, attempting to find the words.

“From this day forward, you are no longer the boy I helped raise.” said Cefiz. “From this day forward you are a man. A man like no other.”

“We are all men like no other, Master Cefiz.” interrupted Granu.

Cefiz turned to the giant and nodded agreement.

“Whether Kael decided to become an innkeeper or rancher, he is a man like no other, and Avra looks upon him as such.” continued Granu. “ The weight of a man’s burden changes nothing concerning his importance to Avra.”

“I strive to keep Kael a boy.” frowned Cefiz. “But time won’t allow it.”

The lieutenant turned to Kael.

“Just remember this old cook when you are Lord Kael.” smiled Cefiz.

“I highly doubt I’ll ever be called that.” said Kael rising. “And by the way, which one of you is on duty?”

The pair looked at one another in confusion. Kael feigned an exasperated expression.

“Which one is supposed to be watching me?” explained the boy.

Granu smiled and nodded toward Cefiz.

“I suppose Cefiz here.” said Granu. “I’m sure that is why he arrived at this cell door.”

“That’s true.” smiled Cefiz. “It’s my time.”

“Excellent.” said Kael. “Then I’m happy to inform you that I’m hungry and wish to go to the dining hall. Perhaps we could scrounge up some food for ourselves.”

Granu frowned.

“All those hours I stood hungry on the rooftop above and you don’t feel the pangs of your appetite until now!” exclaimed the giant. “The hand of Avra can sometimes be cruel to his most devoted servants!””

The trio broke out into loud laughter and exited the cell for the kitchens of the Hold.

CHAPTER 8: RED HAT AND BALD HEAD

A few days later, Kael stood atop the roof of the Hold practicing his listening abilities. The lad grew bored with the same conversations he picked up from the recruits, so he stepped over to the outer edge of the Hold. People crowded the streets below. He readied himself to focus on the conversation between a merchant and customer when three small figures emerged from the southern gate of the Hold.  Chimbre, Sprig and Lilywynn cloaked themselves heavily in order to hide their features from others on the street, but Kael could discern the trio anywhere. They gathered twenty spans from the southern gate and held a brief conference. Chimbre nodded to his sister and headed East , while Sprig turned and disappeared down an alleyway to the West.

Kael grew used to the trio flitting in and out of the Hold at will. Ader still used them to gather information and their ability to go virtually unnoticed was a great boon to this effort.

Lilywynn pulled her cloak tightly about her face and moved toward an alleyway to the south. With his sharp eyes, Kael followed her through the gray of the darkened alleyway. The young woman lurched to a halt and turned toward the shadows on her right. She appeared startled, but not alarmed. Kael strained his eyes as a figure moved from the shadows and approached Lilywynn. The young woman shot a glance back toward the Hold and Kael dodged behind a large, water cistern.

Lilywynn spun back to the figure and became quite animated. Kael wondered what Ader would do in this scenario. Was this a private matter for the young woman? Did he need to discover more? He bit his lip as he fought with the issue. The encounter might not last long and the mysterious figure might disappear as quickly as it appeared.

The decision was made for him. The figure moved in closer and embraced the young woman. Lilywynn fell into the embrace with ease, but only for a moment. She shoved her admirer away and began a rebuke. A moment later the Elf girl clamped her mouth shut and stomped angrily from the scene.

The figure turned and pity overcame Kael. Eidyn’s stern face and pursed lips could not hide the depth of disappointment within his eyes.

The following morning Kael awoke to the sound of the training bell. In the past week he had simply rolled over and covered his head with his pillow. Not today. The Southlander jumped from his bed and hastily dressed. He opened his doorway to find Cefiz asleep in a chair propped against the hallway wall. Kael quietly crept past the Guardsman and headed to the rooftop.

“I guessed correctly.” stated Ader as Kael burst from the stairway. “You’re ready for more.”

“Yes. I am.” replied Kael eagerly.

“Where is your escort.” questioned Ader sweeping his hand behind Kael.

“I left him sleeping in the hallway below.” smiled Kael.

Ader grinned back at the boy.

“Poor Cefiz. He trains every opportunity he gets and spends the remainder of his day chasing after you. He’s a good man, Kael.”

“I know.” returned Kael earnestly. “I’m lucky  to be surrounded by so many good people.”

Ader nodded in agreement then tossed a garment toward Kael. The boy snatched it from the air and shook it open.

“A cloak?” questioned Kael.

“We’re going outside the walls today, you and I, and I don’t want to risk being identified.” stated Ader. “I believe you’ll be safe with me. We shall leave your escort in the hallway catching up on some much needed rest.”

The Seraph drew a similar cloak about himself and headed toward the stairs. He descended two at a time and before Kael knew it, the pair stood at the southern gate to the Hold. Ader waved a hand at the recruits manning the station there, then turned to Kael.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

Kael quickly draped the cloak around his shoulders and tied it across his neck. He drew the hood up and around his face then nodded to the old man.

“Excellent.” whispered Ader and he stepped through the gate.

Ader led the boy out away from the plaza around the Hold and into the winding narrow streets of the city of Zodra. They walked and walked.  Kael huffed and puffed to keep up with the surprisingly quick old man. They were gone quite some time and the streets were beginning to fill with Zodrians going about their daily business. Ader stopped unexpectedly and drew Kael in close.

“What are they talking about?” said the Seraph pointing to a pair of middle aged women standing on the stoop of a tenement house.

Kael calmed himself and focused. He slowly coaxed his power out toward the women.....

“The older one laments the carrying on of her eldest daughter.” replied Kael after several moments of ‘listening’. “Out to all hours at a different ale house every night. The other offers her condolences.”

“Excellent.” stated Ader. “Let us move on.”

After several blocks, the pair entered a large marketplace, one of many throughout the Capital. Ader pointed to a pair of dock workers.

“And that pair?” smiled the Guide.

Once again Kael focused ....

“CAPS! CAPS FOR SALE GENTLEMEN! FIFTY COPPERS FOR A HAT!”

Kael’s eyes went wide at the wild eyed young man standing just inches from him with a huge display of caps hung from a rack. The young man carried the rack in one outstretched hand and with the other he retrieved hats and deftly flipped them on and off his head to model them for his projected customers.

“Uh ... no thank you.” mumbled Kael searching for the dock workers.

“BUT YOUNG MASTER! THE COLD SEASON IS NEARLY UPON US AND I SEE YOU DON’T SPORT A STURDY CAP!” bellowed the peddler.

“Uh... yes that’s true, but I don’t want a cap.” said Kael.

“YOU MAY NOT
WANT
A CAP MY GOOD MAN, BUT YOU DEFINITELY
NEED
A ....”

“No, thank you.” interrupted Ader through steely eyes. “You are a hard working young man. You may return to your business.”

The peddler’s permanent smile dropped from his face and he looked at the Seraph.

“Yes ... I
am
a hard working young man.” mumbled the peddler as if it were the first time he ever held the notion.

A smile of satisfaction quickly replaced the peddler’s toothy grin and he looked at Ader through calm eyes.

“You gentlemen have a fine day.” said the peddler and he turned back toward the marketplace.

Kael cocked his head back and gave Ader a questioning look.   

“Forget that little trick.” said Ader nodding to Kael’s targets. “The dock workers?”

Kael spun and noted the pair quickly moving away. He prepared himself to focus, but in an instant they were gone. The Southlander frowned.

“It’s much different with distractions, my boy.” stated Ader. “You must control it to the point where distractions make no difference.”

“Can you do that?” asked Kael.

Ader laughed.

“My boy, I could try on every one of those caps, choose the one that fits best, buy it,
and
still hear every word the pair of dock workers utter across the marketplace. Such is the ability honed through hundreds of years of practice. I do NOT expect you to acquire such skill overnight.”

Days passed. Ader and Kael continued to frequent the streets of the Capital. At times, Kael was sent out without the Seraph, as long as Cefiz shadowed him closely. Other times, Ader accompanied the boy and pushed him into more difficult situations. One day they strolled near the palace when Ader pointed to the crowd ahead.

“Do you see the two noblemen jostling in the crowd ahead?”

“Yes.” answered Kael.

“Well?” said the Seraph.

“What do you mean?” asked Kael. “They’re moving.”

“So?” replied Ader.

“So?! They’re moving.” complained Kael. “How can I send my ...whatever... to listen to them if they’re not there when I arrive?”

“Overcome it.” stated Ader flatly.

“Overcome it!” exclaimed Kael. “How?”

“Overcome it.” said Ader raising his eyebrows.

The Guide snatched an apple from a passing cart and tossed the cart woman a copper. She smiled and bowed to him. Kael frowned and glared at Ader.

“Overcome it.” grumbled Kael.

“I’m waiting.” sang Ader as he munched on the apple.

Kael huffed and searched for the noblemen. Their heads bounced along about fifty paces ahead in the crowd. One wore a red hat decorated with a blue feather, and the other was bald. Kael focused on them and searched them out...

“FINEST ALE IN THE CAPITAL. COME ON IN!” yelled a barman as Kael walked past an ale house.