Part 2 (1/2)
Kendan frowned thoughtfully. ”Three.”
Zadok looked surprised. ”Three? Is that really necessary?”
Kendan ignored the question and turned to Adesina. ”Give me your arm.”
Adesina held out her left arm. He pushed back her sleeve, drew a knife and cut the crook of her arm. She resisted the urge to flinch. Zadok handed Kendan three small vials, which were filled with Adesina's blood and carefully sealed. Zadok took the vials over to one of the tables and bent over them, ignoring Kendan and Adesina as they left.
They made their way back to the ground level, pa.s.sing other pairs of students and teachers on the way. They were ignored, just as Kendan ignored them.
He showed her a room filled with a large variety of minerals, dried plants, live plants, and other things used by apothecaries. There was also a cupboard filled with medical supplies standing next to a small fountain at the far end of the room.
”From now on you will treat your own injuries.”
The challenging gleam was back in his eyes. Adesina stiffened her back and walked over to the fountain. She picked up a shallow bowl sitting at its edge, filled it with water, and began to carefully wash the wound.
Her knowledge of medicine was limited, for she had only been studying it for a year. However, treating a simple cut, such as the one on her arm, was done easily enough. Adesina dabbed a healing salve on the wound, wrapped a clean bandage around it and pushed her sleeve back down. Kendan watched without comment and then led her back to the courtyard.
Another small serving boy stood at the end of the yard holding two scabbards. Adesina felt a wave of apprehension as she saw Kendan draw one of the two swords. Practice weapons used at the school were the exact image and weight of real weapons, but they were mostly made of wood and usually caused no lasting damage. The weapon in Kendan's hand was very clearly a real sword. He offered it to her. ”Here we practice with real weapons, not the ones to which you are accustomed.”
Adesina took the sword and spun it experimentally. Yes, it felt the same, but she was still disturbed by the idea of using it on her Shar. Kendan drew the other sword and bowed. Adesina barely had enough time to bow in return before he attacked. Startled by his speed and ferocity, Adesina immediately took a defensive stance. Form followed form, and Adesina found herself being pressed harder and harder.
She knew that Kendan was testing her limits and was surprised to find that she was getting angry. It had been a trying day and Adesina was tired of tests. In a burst of energy, she did a quick feint, jabbed him in the side with her fist and knocked the sword from his hand.
Kendan pursed his lips thoughtfully. ”Some would criticize you for attacking without your sword.”
Adesina lowered her guard. ”Only if they were the one who had lost.”
Kendan suppressed a smile. ”Perhaps.”
Then, with movements so fast even Adesina was surprised, he wrested her sword from her hand and brought it to her throat.
Adesina stared at him in shock. ”That is not allowed. I won, you must yield.”
”Do you honestly believe that your enemies will follow the rules you have been taught?”
Kendan sheathed the sword and did the same to the one that had fallen. He handed them to the serving boy with an almost careless expression on his face. He then motioned for her to follow and led her to her next lesson.
Chapter Four: A New Path.
It was a full year before Adesina was called back to the Sharifal's tower. The time seemed to pa.s.s like an eternity.
The amount of information she had received daily was almost overwhelming. It took constant effort to retain it all. Every time she won a victory, Kendan would twist it and take it from her. She never got the same amount of sleep two nights in a row and sometimes she went for days without food. Yet, through all of this, Kendan continued to push her harder and harder.
There was no regularity in her schedule, which was something every s.h.i.+ was accustomed to having. Some days were spent on only one subject, and others covered them all. Adesina also struggled because her body was still changing as she matured. Every day was an adjustment physically, and a battle to remain disciplined and unemotional through the ruthless pace of her studies.
Adesina's sixteenth birthday came and went without note. Her only consolation on that day was that she was allowed three meals; however unlikely it was that her birthday was the reason for that.
In spite of all of this, her life was not without its pleasant moments. There were times when Kendan was sweet and understanding. Unfortunately, he seemed to be nothing but extremes. When he was harsh his words and actions would border on cruelty, and when he was kind he treated her with tender affection. His inconsistency was, to Adesina, the deepest cut of all.
His was the opinion that she sought in all things. His approval meant more to her than she even cared to admit to herself. Most of all, she felt a warm admiration for him that she often hoped he returned.
They strictly adhered to the code of conduct between a Shar and a s.h.i.+, but Adesina was closer to him than she had ever been to anyone else. The hours upon hours that they spent together every day made it difficult for them not to grow close, in spite of the days when Kendan treated her sharply.
It was now mid autumn, and Adesina sat in the Sharifal's office reflecting on how her life had changed since the last time she had stood in that room. Signe walked into the office and sat down across from Adesina.
”I have been watching you closely, Adesina. I am pleased with the progress you have made.”
Adesina stared at her hands. She did not feel she had made very much progress. The past year had seemed like one failure after another.
Signe studied Adesina's grave expression. ”Is something wrong, child?”
Adesina slowly shook her head. She didn't think she could put into words what she felt, let alone how to make Signe understand. When Signe saw that Adesina wasn't going to give more of an answer she sighed quietly. ”I have an a.s.signment for you.”
Adesina looked up, almost unable to believe what she had just heard. ”What about my training?”
”You have received sufficient training for what I must ask of you, and this cannot wait.”
A brief nod was Adesina's only response.
”There is a northern organization that threatens the southern lands of Tunith. Essentially, it is a cult of magic-users who try to force others to submit to their rule. We have been fighting against them covertly for several years. Certain political considerations have prevented open warfare. I need you to position yourself in a place where you can be of use to our resisting forces.”
The young s.h.i.+ s.h.i.+fted in her seat nervously. ”How am I to do this?”
Signe handed Adesina a stack of papers. ”There is a city in the central lands that locals refer to as the High City. It was founded by a group of people who felt the world was too corrupt and sought to cease any sort of a.s.sociation. They built the city so that it is practically impenetrable and set a strict standard of living for those within the walls. Few are allowed into the city, but if you can establish yourself as a citizen there, you will be untouchable from those outside. This is the first step of your mission: to establish a solid alibi as a citizen at the High City. Everything you need to know is in those papersa”a detailed background for the ident.i.ty you are to a.s.sume, how to contact the local faction, and so forth.”
A wave of uncertainty washed over Adesina. The past year of training had proven to her how much she still had to learn. More importantly, she was aware that she had never put her skills to use in a real life situation. Her only a.s.sociations had been with those at the s.h.i.+mat fortress. How could she possibly pa.s.s herself off as a normal citizen?
Adesina did her best to keep these doubts from her face, but Signe sensed that something was wrong. ”What is it?”
She quickly shook her head. ”Nothing. Is there anything else?”
The Sharifal gave her an appraising glance before replying, ”Yes.”
She placed a beautifully carved wooden box in front of Adesina and opened it. Lying on a bed of deep red velvet was an exquisite sword. It was slender and slightly curved, with intricate engravings etched down the center of the blade with the greatest skill. Beside the sword was a simple sheath with the image of a diving falcon near the top.
Signe smiled at the stunned expression on Adesina's face. ”Upon graduation every student is given a special weapon made specifically for them. The weapon is infused with a few drops of their blood, making it truly theirs and no one else's. This is your Blood Sword, Adesina. I have never been more proud to present one to a student than I am now.”
Adesina picked up the sword with a sort of awe, the importance of this moment falling upon her shoulders. She tested the balance of the blade, which was flawless, and twirled it experimentally. It was the perfect weight and length for her, and in her hand the gleaming metal seemed to come to life.
She placed it back in its case somewhat reverently. ”What does the falcon mean?”
A slight smile played at the Sharifal's lips. ”It is to be the symbol by which you shall be knowna”one who attacks from above. Now, child, kneel before me.”
Adesina did as she was instructed. Signe turned her penetrating gaze on the budding young woman before her. ”Do you, Adesina, swear eternal loyalty and unquestioning obedience to the Sharifal of our order, even should it cost you your life?”
”I do.”