When the Captain closed the door, another bout of pain ripped through Kosai’s body. Kosai clenched his teeth and flexed his arms. When the pain in his back stopped, his shoulder felt like someone jabbed searing metal into his wound. Kosai groaned and breathed deeply.
“The pain is good for me, it will make me stronger,” Kosai said to himself. After the sharp pain dulled into constant throb, the door opened, but the person didn’t sound like any nurse that visited him.
The person closed the door and touched the glass of the lantern. The wick sparked and caught flame. Once the lantern was lit, the person walked over to the bed to look at Kosai. The silhouette was clearer. It was a woman. When she moved, she made no sound. Kosai thought she might be wearing cloth shoes.
Kosai clenched the side of the bed, thinking what he could do. It hurt too much to move. He could scream for help, but if this person was here to kill him, why did she light the lantern?
“Kosai,” the woman said in a soft, gentle whisper. “You can relax. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m a conduit, a healer.” She looked at his wounded shoulder. As Kosai breathed through his nose, he caught the smell of the woman; lilac and salt. “It looks bad. Let me help,” the woman said. She placed her hands on his shoulder and a silver glow radiated from her eyes and hands. The silver glow penetrated Kosai’s shoulder, causing relaxing warmth that soothed and erased the pain.
“Now let’s turn you over so I can fix your back.” The woman clicked a lever on the floor and turned Kosai so that he was facing the ground. There was the same soft silver glow and the soothing warmth that seeped into his back. Kosai let out a moan of relief as the knotted muscles in his back untied themselves.
“Can you heal my leg?” Kosai asked hopefully.
“Of course,” the woman said. She turned Kosai over, and the woman healed his leg in the same fashion.
“Who are you, why are you doing this?” Kosai asked. The healer smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t ask too many questions. Answers will come in time,” she said. “For now, speak to no one of this visit.” Kosai looked her in the eyes, and the silver glow emanated from them again. But instead of a warm, healing glow, the silver color grew brighter and brighter. Kosai closed his eyes to guard against the light.
When he opened them, he was lying in the bed. A cold sweat covered his body. The straps were undone and he could move freely. He touched his recently injured shoulder feeling the moist wrappings. Slowly, he rolled his shoulder. There was no pain. He sat up and slowly twisted his upper body from left to right. He checked his leg. He laughed quietly as he took off the bandage, feeling the flakes of dried blood on the cloth. He felt for the wound in his leg but found nothing. It was as if the injury never happened.
[][][]
The next morning, the doctor and nurses were baffled at his sudden recovery. They checked his movement in his arm and leg and asked him to twist his body as he did the night before. The doctor then asked Kosai to walk around the room, which he did joyfully. His legs were slightly stiff, but there was no pain from his wounds.
“I’d advise you to go out and get some light exercise. A good walk would do you some good. But report back here strictly for observation purposes before you go back to work.” As the doctor spoke he pulled out the Barracks training clothes from the cabinet; a pair of brown trousers and white shirt.
Eagerly, Kosai put on the trousers, removed the apron and put on the white shirt and walked to the Captain’s office. When he arrived at the door, he stood at attention and knocked.
“Enter,” the Captain said. As Kosai did so, the Captain looked up from reading a paper at his desk. “Kosai! You’re up and about! What happened? Last night you were riddled in blood and pain. Now look at you.” Kosai closed the door behind him and walked up to the desk. He promptly told the Captain about the doctor’s orders to take it easy. Kosai then sat down in the chair opposite his father and leaned close.
“A healer came last night,” Kosai whispered.
“What? That isn’t allowed unless I give written approval, which I didn’t. The school of the Faye knows that. Students need to learn from their mistakes. I’ll make sure that Daius knows about this.”
“She told me not to tell anyone, but considering you are my father, I thought you had the right to know.” The Captain folded his arms and leaned forward.
“Why do you think she doesn’t want your healing known?” the Captain asked, suspicion rising in his voice.
“Perhaps she wants those who saw my injuries, and those that would catch wind of it, to believe that I am miraculous. If the Dark One found out, it might give him a reason to worry.”
“There might be some promise in you yet,” the Captain said softly, leaning back in his chair. He paused for a moment and looked at the bookshelf. “How do you feel?”
“I feel fine sir,” Kosai said. He rolled his arms and twisted his body. “No pain, no stiffness, nothing, it’s as if the attack never happened.”
“If you feel up to it, come to the training ground this afternoon. Let’s put you through a couple sparring exercises. I’ll ask the doctor to be present. The sooner you can get started on your assignment the better. You’re excused.” Kosai saluted and left the Captain’s office.
“I need some fresh air,” Kosai said as he began to walk out of the Barracks. Two students were walking down the hall towards him –Ulryck, who was the same age as Kosai, and a recruit. New recruits were always paired with a senior student. This way, the education would be solidified in the older students, and the younger students would have a sense of security that someone was watching over them.
At times, these partnerships would quarrel, but when it came to life and death situations, the bond was stronger than ever. The younger student slowed his pace and went pale as Kosai approached them. The older student stopped walking, seeing that his young companion was disturbed.
“Do you know who that is?” the older student asked in a quiet hiss. The young guardsman shook his head.
“No. I saw him when he arrived. He looked dead… or at least close to it?”
“That’s Kosai, the wolf of the Capital Barracks. You shouldn’t be surprised that he has healed so quickly. If he wasn’t a student, he could be the Captain’s second in command no doubt.”
“A lieutenant, right?” the young student asked.
“Right,” Ulryck said. Kosai and Ulryck clasped each other’s forearms as they met. Ulryck then stood at attention and the younger student followed suit.
“At ease,” Kosai said with a smile. “Ulryck, it’s good to see you’re showing your new companion around.” Kosai looked down to the recruit. “I wouldn’t believe all the stories he tells you. What’s your name?”
“Deakon sir,” the boy said. “How did you heal so quickly?”
“That is the buzz this morning Kosai,” Ulryck said. “What’s happened? No one ever recovered as fast as you did.” Kosai stood up and looked at Ulryck.
“Are you and Deakon going to be at the sparring ground this afternoon?” Kosai asked, avoiding the question. The pair nodded. “I will be giving a demonstration then.”
“Yes sir, I’ll be there,” he said.
“Concerning my condition,” Kosai continued, “let’s just say that it looked much worse than it actually was. A few stitches and a day’s rest and I am back in action. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“But sir,” Ulryck leaned in close and whispered into Kosai’s ear. “The wound in your leg, and your shoulder; you were unconscious. I saw you when you came in and waited outside your room when you and the Captain spoke.”
“I said I wouldn’t worry about it,” Kosai said firmly. Ulryck slowly nodded.
“I understand. We will see you this afternoon,” Ulryck said.
As Kosai walked out of the barracks, students congratulated him on his swift recovery. He gave a wave or nod in appreciation but did not entice a conversation. He wanted to get ou
t of the Barracks. He wanted to breathe new air and see things other than the walls of his medical room.
As Kosai took the first steps outside, he took a deep breath. The sunlight warmed his shoulders and pricked the skin on his tan neck. It was good to finally be out among the people that he protected.
“Kosai sir,” the young stable boy said. “Are you in need of a horse this morning?”
“No, not today,” Kosai responded. He looked out on the roads, wondering where he should walk to. “Tell me, if you were to go for a walk this afternoon, where would you walk to?”
“If I was you Kosai, sir,” the boy started. He tugged on the Kosai’s sleeve and waved his hand for Kosai to come closer. Kosai leaned down so the boy could whisper in his ear. “We stable boys hear quite a bit when the horses come back. For example, I know the doctors said no rough work for you, but if I was you, and if I was itching to do some good, I’d head over to the market, but you didn’t hear it from me. It isn’t a pretty sight over there.” Kosai stood up and padded the boy on the shoulder. As he started off again, the boy yelled to him.
“Kosai, sir,” he said. Kosai stopped and turned to the stable boy. “Are you in need of a horse this morning?” Kosai walked back to the stable boy, confused.
“I don’t have the money for one right now,” Kosai said. The boy shoved one hand into his pocket and grabbed Kosai’s hand with the other.
“Open,” the boy said. Kosai did so, and the boy placed two silver coins in his palm.
“Kosai, sir, are you in need of a horse this morning?” Tears began to fill in the boy’s eyes. “Please,” he mouthed. Kosai, now concerned, placed the coins in the boy’s hand.
“I am in need,” Kosai said. The boy ran into the stables and returned with the same white horse that he rode into the desert. Kosai mounted the animal and looked down at the boy again.
“Not too fast sir. Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself,” he said with a wink. A tear rolled down his face. Kosai nodded and prodded the animal to move forward. He rode the animal at a walk towards Market Street. Long before he arrived, he could hear the voices of the crowd, but it wasn’t the common sound of bartering and trading. Today, the market sounded riotous and violent. Kosai quickened the animal to a trot, uncertain of what to expect. Instinctively he reached his hand down to his side for his sword.
“Foolish,” he said to himself as he re-gripped the reigns. “Hopefully I won’t need it.”
Five caravan wagons were lined up in the middle of Market Street, though the flag and mark they bore was not that of the capital. Two golden snakes, coiling around and facing each other with fangs bare, were painted on the wagons. The same emblem was on the red flags. Armored men with spears surrounded the wagons, though they weren’t members of the Guard. People surrounded the wagons, yelled and raised their fists in the air but kept a safe distance away from the guards.
“Make a path!” Kosai ordered. Slowly, and reluctantly, people moved so that he could make his way towards the wagons. It was then that he understood why the people were so upset. A syndicate member stood atop the center wagon, holding a loaf of bread in one hand.
“If you want to eat, you need to pay! I cannot give you this bread without you giving me in return what I need to survive,” the man said. He wore a long red robe with gold cuffs and lapels. There was a ruby gemmed gold ring on each of his fingers. Gold loops hung from his ears. His square jaw and dark skin gave him a commanding look. “Twenty pieces for a loaf of bread, thirty for a pound of meat, take it or leave it. No negotiations, no exchanges!”
The crowd began to encroach on the caravans. The man on the wagon waved his hands down to the armored men. They stuck their spears out clumsily. The tips of their spears wobbled and bounced in the air. Not one of the guards stood firmly.
“These men don’t know what they’re doing,” Kosai said to himself as he maneuvered through the crowd and closer to the wagons.
“Starve or pay! If you do not pay, I will take this caravan to other, more grateful cities,” the syndicate member said.
“I will pay!” a man said from the crowd. The crowd quieted. “I will pay,” the man said again.
“Good, good, yes see there is a man who knows what this is about. Let him through guards, let him through,” the syndicate member said.
Kosai watched as a second path was made in the crowd. He was a man of average size with blonde curly hair and his body showed signs of hard labor. His muscles were well defined, though he slouched as if he carried a great weight. A quiet determination filled his eyes. Kosai had seen that look before, though this was the first time he saw it in a citizen.
Senior members of the Barracks carried that look during battle and pursuit. It was the same look right before a killing stroke was dealt. The Captain was known for that look.
By the time Kosai reached the front of the crowd, the citizen was atop the caravan, looking at the syndicate member. The man held out an empty hand and then pointed down to the guards. The man was yelling at the syndicate member, Kosai could tell from the red face and the bulge in the man’s neck, but the crowd was so loud that Kosai couldn’t make out what was said. The syndicate member leaned back, eyes wide with fear. He reached inside his robe, pulled out a dagger, and took a few swipes at the man. The crowd screamed and yelled. The man dodged the syndicate member’s attacks well enough but lost his footing and fell onto the walkway that was atop the wagon. The syndicate member placed his foot on the man’s chest, pinning the man down and pointed the dagger at the man’s throat. The crowd went silent.
“Sheathe your dagger,” Kosai yelled. The syndicate member looked at Kosai, fumbled with the dagger for moment, regained his composure, and keeping the dagger pointed at the man, cleared his throat to address Kosai.
“You saw what he did! This man attacked me,” the member said.
“I saw you preparing to fall upon this man with that knife,” Kosai glared at the syndicate member, holding his gaze as if he were in combat. The blonde-haired man stood and climbed down from the wagon. Kosai looked at him as he walked past. He understood now why the stable boy was so urgent. This man had the same hair and eyes. Kosai assumed it was his father. “Sheathe your knife,” Kosai ordered. The syndicate member did so.
“Guards, this young recruit is a disrupter to our business, do away with him,” the syndicate member ordered.
“Hold!” Kosai roared. The command rose above the noise of the crowd. He stood tall in his saddle and stared down at the guards. “Release your spears and walk away. You are no more worthy to be considered guards than a flea-bitten cur. Stand down!”
“And what right do you have to command my guards with such arrogance?” the syndicate member said before his guards could react. Kosai looked up at him and dismounted from his horse. As soon as he did so, the syndicate’s guards dropped their spears, backed up against the wagon and stood at attention.
“I am Kosai, Wolf of the Capitol’s Barracks.”
“I know who you are. I also know what happened to you. You are weak. My men could crush you right now,” the syndicate member said. “Men, have at him!” the syndicate member said. Kosai stood his ground, glared at the men and clenched his fists, his knuckles popping as he rolled his fingers into his palm. The men didn’t move. “Go, attack him, he is threatening our business. Do away with him.” The syndicate’s guards stood still.
“Your men prove their worth do they not?” Kosai called. “They are afraid. They cannot even follow a simple order.” Kosai looked at each of the guards. “None of you have done anything wrong. I am assuming he is paying to you to stand here?”
“Yes sir,” one of the men said. “But not with pieces. We are being paid in bread.”
“What happened to the government caravan?” Kosai asked.
“We don’t know,” the man said.
“Do not speak for me!” the syndicate member said. “Your precious caravan was attacked after the Captain left it. They had to retreat to
Linnouse.”
“How do you know this?” Kosai asked.
“We passed by them, late yesterday evening. They were quite a pitiful site,” the syndicate member said shaking his head.
“Twenty pieces for a sorry substitute of bread,” Kosai said. “Your bread is nothing more than wheat and oil. It’s harder than rocks. Will you not lower your prices?”
“How can we? It is not our decision. If I do not charge this, I will not have this job. I too have to pay for this bread and a substantial portion on what is earned.”
“Yet each of your fingers is adorned with gemmed rings, and your clothing is more than necessary. If you did not live so fashionable a style, perhaps you could afford to eat as well.” The syndicate looked down and shook his head.
“There are things, Wolf, things that you cannot begin to understand about this city. I am as in much need for bread as any of these people. I cannot,” he said.
Kosai shook his head angrily.
“Escort these caravans out of here,” Kosai said to the armored men still standing at attention. As the wagons began to move, Kosai turned back to the crowd.
“That man would take you for all that you have,” Kosai said to the populous. “And then what would you have for bread tomorrow? Be patient. The Council is doing all that it can to feed you and protect you.”
“You can’t even bring bread to us!” someone cried from the crowd.
“My children haven’t eaten in days,” cried a woman. Kosai held his arms up for silence.
“I will take what you have said to the Captain. He is doing everything he can to get to the bottom of this. I and others in the Guard eat the same bread and drink the same water as you. Please, be patient. You and I will survive one day without bread.”
“Is there anything you can do to stop the syndicate?” another cried.
“According the law, no. I wish there was enough to feed you. Please, be patient. There will be enough in time.” Kosai said. He climbed back onto the horse and headed back towards the barracks. As the crowd slowly disbursed, individuals gave Kosai a disappointing glare as he rode by them.
When Kosai was back at the Barracks, he nodded to the stable boy. The boy took the reins and held the animal as Kosai dismounted.
“You are your father’s son,” Kosai said. He rubbed the horse’s neck.
“I get that a lot. He said he was going to get bread, no matter what. He said I wouldn’t go hungry again. He promised not to breathe another breath until I was fed.”
“We are doing all we can to protect our caravans. You will have bread in time.” Kosai closed his eyes and shook his head. “I will tell the guard to double its efforts. I will do all that I can to make sure there is a caravan for you tomorrow. I promise.”
Kosai was careful not to promise the boy and his family bread but that he would do all he could to ensure the success of the caravans. It would take more than his willpower and skill for a single loaf of bread or measure of wheat to reach the city. Kosai gave a quick, frustrated sigh and then smiled to reassure the boy.
The boy smiled back and took the horse into the stable. Kosai stood and watched the boy work. He led the horse into its stall, and brought it a bucket of water. After the horse began to drink, the boy climbed up a ladder that was near the entrance. The boards creaked as he walked in the loft. An armful of hay dropped from the second floor, into the horse’s stall. When the boy descended the ladder, Kosai walked up to him.
“Tell me, where does the hay come from?”
“The caravans use it as stuffing for their goods. When they offload, we buy a portion of their hay. It’s a good enough amount to make due for the horses.”
Kosai nodded and walked into the barracks.
“How is it that our people starve,” Kosai said to himself as he walked through the halls, towards the training ground. He stopped and punched the wall. We’re not good enough yet. People starve because of us, because of me. I need to be stronger. We need to be stronger. There’s only one thing to do, Kosai thought. He took a deep breath, stood up straight and continued walking to the training grounds.
The training grounds were filled with students. A thin cloud of dust stirred at their feet as they practiced kicks, punches, grapples and counterattacks. They didn’t hold back. In the Barracks, mistakes were paid for with pain. Their arms and legs were covered with black and blue bruises. Some of students had a cut eyebrow or lip. Kosai stepped into the arena and paced around pairs of sparring students, offering correction on techniques. Lieutenant Nuevon was in front of the group, sparring with Deakon, the young student Kosai met earlier.
Deakon punched, feigned, kicked and punched again, hoping to land a blow, but without success. His strikes looked more like spasmodic jerks rather than trained attacks. He was covered in sweat. Nuevon easily blocked or dodged the attacks with minimal effort. The longer the exercise went on, the more the younger student began to flail and drift away from the basics of combat. In a fit of anger, the young student jumped and attempted to land a kick on the lieutenant’s neck.
Nuevon leaned back enough for the kick to pass in front of him, and then thrust his shoulder into the boy’s side before he hit the ground. The boy crumpled like a burning leaf in midair. Deakon landed with a thud, tears beginning to grow in his eyes. Nuevon walked over to him and stretched out a hand.
“Leave me alone, I can get up myself,” he said. Slowly he pushed himself up from the ground and fell into a firm battle stance, head back, arms out, body turned to one side. His face was blotchy from heat, sweat, and tears. The side of his face was scraped from his fall and blood began to run down his cheek. “Again!” he yelled.
“No,” Kosai said. The boy turned and locked eyes with Kosai. “You aren’t in the right mind. You are completely dismissing the basics.”
“I’m not going to give up!”
“I never said that you did. But you can’t continue,” Kosai looked up at Nuevon. “Let me teach you something,” he said, still addressing the boy. Kosai took off his shirt and handed it to the recruit and walked up to Nuevon. “Let me be your partner. Don’t hold back.”
“As always,” Nuevon said as he fell into an aggressive stance. His arms were bent and in front of him at eye level, hands in loose fists. Kosai took a deep breath, rolled his neck and relaxed his shoulders. His hands rested at his sides.
Nuevon jabbed with his left. Kosai shot his right arm up and out in a circle, blocking the jab and forcing Nuevon’s left side open. Kosai took a quick step forward and landed a strike below Nuevon’s left eye. The lieutenant stumbled back for a moment, but before he could regain his footing, Kosai was on him again.
Kosai struck out with the heel of his hand, landing another blow to the jaw of the lieutenant. Then, as the lieutenant stumbled, Kosai grabbed the back of his head, and struck a knee into his solar plexus. Nuevon wheezed, but the wheeze was cut short. Kosai wrapped his arm around Nuevon’s neck, tucked his head under his arm and fell backwards, smashing Nuevon’s head into the ground.
Kosai pulled himself out from underneath the massive lieutenant. The other guards applauded him as he stood. Nuevon groaned and stirred, and slowly stood. Kosai grabbed his arms and helped him stand.
“Once you find an opening, a weak spot, anything, you push and push on it until your opponent is defeated; flailing about gets you nowhere,” Kosai said to the young guardsman.
“Kosai,” the lieutenant said. “I congratulate you on your quick recovery.”
“Thank you, sir,” Kosai responded.
“Buy why did you spar so hard? You have taken me down before, but never like that,” Nuevon said. Kosai growled and shook his head.
“Why? We aren’t good enough,” Kosai said angrily. “Today people will go hungry because we cannot protect our caravans. We need to step up the training. Every time we fail, someone dies of starvation. We cannot let that happen again!”
“Kosai,” Nuevon said softly. “Talented as you ar
e, do not forget your place. I and others share your frustrations. But these students would only learn to cower and run, especially Deakon, if we beat them every day.”
“Then motivate them. Tell them to fight hard and never hold back. Tell them that on this ground, they don’t need to be afraid of failure,” Kosai said.
Nuevon suddenly stood at attention. As Deakon lined up next to the Lieutenant and stood at attention, Kosai turned, facing the entrance to the training grounds and stood at attention as well. The Captain walked down stairs and onto the dirt. He wore brown trousers and a white shirt, the training clothing of the Barracks. The students and guards smiled. A few doctors, nurses and other students stood, watching the Captain, and occasionally looking at Kosai.
“At ease,” the Captain said. The guards on the training ground relaxed their posture slightly and watched as the Captain walked up to Kosai. “I cannot walk five steps in the Barracks without hearing something about you.” The Captain turned to Nuevon and cocked his head slightly. “What happened to you?”
“Kosai wanted to spar, to show our recruit here a few things. He took me down almost instantly.”
“I see,” the Captain said. “Kosai, today’s training exercises was to be on the basics of combat. What you did was a full-on attack. Why?”
“Another caravan was attacked and did not arrive earlier this afternoon. People cannot afford the syndicates prices. Every time we fail, someone dies of starvation. I won’t let that happen again. We need to step up the training. We need to become stronger.”
“I see,” the Captain said softly. He paused for a moment and looked down at Deakon and then back up at Kosai. “Do you know what our students would learn if we were to teach by your methods?”
“They would learn to be better guardsman,” Kosai said without hesitation. “They wouldn’t be afraid of holding back. They would learn from their mistakes.”
The Captain shook his head.
“The reason for this training program is to build confidence in our students and in their ability to fight. They understand that when they go out, it could be their last excursion. It is the fear of death that keeps them alive, not their fear of pain.”
“It is also that fear of death that immobilizes them and costs them their life and the success of the caravans. Your most famous maxim is that ‘the pain is good for you, it will make you stronger.’ Why do our students have to learn the pain of near death in the field? Why not here?”
“I would rather have my students fear battle than fear training. If they fear training, they will not learn. Pain is a good teacher, but it is a poor master.”
“Then what is your plan for ensuring the success of our caravans?”
“That will be discussed later.” The Captain looked over his shoulder at the entrance of the Barracks. More students gathered on the steps, eyes fixed on the Captain. The Captain turned to address the growing audience.
“Most of you have heard about Kosai’s condition when he arrived. Most of you have heard of his recovery. But does this surprise you? This is the Wolf of the Capital Barracks! You have seen him today walk the halls, and a few of you have seen him spar on these grounds today. Yet some of you doubt his miraculous recovery.” The Captain looked directly at the doctors. “I am here to prove to you that Kosai is as healthy and strong as ever.” The Captain turned back to Kosai and stretched his arms across his body. “Kosai, let’s try your methods and see how things turn out. Don’t hold back.” Kosai smiled wildly.
“Same to you Captain,” Kosai said.
Lieutenant Nuevon and the Deakon stepped back, giving the Captain and Kosai room to spar. Kosai stayed still and waited for the Captain to make the first move. He didn’t wait long. The Captain shuffled forward and struck out with his right. Kosai took a step back and twisted his position so that the punch passed by his face. Seeing the opportunity, Kosai reached up to grab the Captain’s arm, but missed. The Captain had his left hand up by Kosai’s shoulder and his right arm was down by his waste.
Kosai got his arms up in front of him just in time. The Captain swung his massive forearm across his body and connected with Kosai’s block. Kosai grunted and doubled over as an unseen knee smashed into his gut at the same time.
“Stupid,” Kosai thought. A second later, the Captain slammed both of his fists on his back. Kosai hit the ground and inhaled a mouthful of dirt. Through the coughing, Kosai managed to roll out of the way and onto his feet before the Captain could stomp his ribs. Kosai couldn’t get a firm footing before the Captain was on him again.
The Captain struck downward toward Kosai’s collarbone with a fist. Kosai recognized the feint, took a step backwards and rotated his body so that the blow passed by. Kosai grabbed the Captain’s wrist, locked his fingers around it, pressed down on the hand and pulled. As the Captain lurched forward, Kosai struck out, attempting to strike the Captain’s jaw with the ridge of his hand. The Captain blocked with his left arm and smashed through Kosai’s grip with his left fist. As soon as the grip was broken, the Captain feigned an elbow strike. Kosai brought his hands up to protect his face, and the Captain punched Kosai in the stomach.
Kosai leaned forward slightly. The Captain took advantage of the opening out and uppercut Kosai in the jaw. Kosai fell back as the blow connected and everything went black. Kosai woke a few moments later as the Captain was patting him on the cheek. He sat up slowly, coughed, and spat blood on the ground.
“There you go, up now,” the Captain said as he grabbed Kosai by the arm and helped him up. “If any of you have doubts about Kosai’s health, let him speak freely. I am pleased with your efforts. Carry on,” the Captain said. One of the nurses began to whisper something to one of the doctors, but was quickly hushed. As the students worked and practiced, the Captain helped Kosai up the stairs, holding one of his arms over his shoulder.
“Captain,” one of the doctors started. “We need to move him to the medical wing.”
“No,” the Captain said flatly. “Kosai is fine. But if you would please bring a basin of water and a cloth to my office, it would be much appreciated.”
“Yes Captain,” the doctor said. He nodded to one of the nurses who went running ahead of the Captain.
As the Captain and Kosai entered the hall of the Barracks, Kosai stopped walking and stood up straight.
“Captain, I think I can handle it from here,” Kosai said. The Captain let go of his arm, stood up straight and faced Kosai.
“Never interrupt my training exercises again. Next time, you will be put back in the medical wing.”
“Yes sir. But-”
“There are no buts. The program is set up this way for a reason. We will discuss this more in my office.”
The two walked silently back to the Captain’s office. A basin of water with a small wash cloth was placed by the door. Kosai picked them up and walked into the office. Neither spoke as the Captain gestured for Kosai to sit in a chair across from his desk. The Captain took the cloth that was laid on the edge of the bowl, and wiped the dirt and blood away from Kosai’s face.
“Kosai,” the Captain started as the last smear of blood was cleaned off. “You are a talented fighter and guardsman. Yet you lack one thing. You lack patience and humility. If you thought as you fight, with a strategy in mind and waiting for your enemy to reveal his weakness to you, I would consult with you on more matters. You want problems solved now. You are rash in your thinking. Do you realize that if we trained students as I have trained you, they would fear battle? Yes, they would be cowards. Your plan lacks practical instruction. Do you understand?”
“Yes sir,” Kosai said with his head bowed.
“I understand that you are frustrated. I am too. That is why I am sending you on an assignment. You need to find out who is leaking the information. Once we find that, then we can attack. If you notice behind you, your cloak has returned from cleaning and repair. I hope it fits you well. Oh - and there is a present there for you too.” Kosai turned an
d noticed steel framed coat rack that was next to the door. The steel twisted upward and sprung out at the top in four directions. Each limb had a hook, and on one of those hooks was Kosai’s hooded cape.
He got up slowly, and walked towards his cape, wondering if it was ever stained with his own blood. His fingers dangled and tickled the soft grey fabric. The present was in a small wooden crate, wrapped with a twine bow. Kosai pulled on the bow, loosening the string and opened the top of the box. A white tunic with blue stripes down the sides was neatly folded and covered in a little bit of straw. Kosai pulled the tunic over his head pushed his arms through the sleeves.
“It’s a good fit, the cuffs are a little big, but it is a good fit,” Kosai said. The Captain nodded as he watched him loosen his shoulders in the cool silk. Kosai took the shirt off and was about to put it back, when he noticed a metallic object pushed to the side of the box. He pushed the matching trousers to the side and lifted the object from the box. It was a three-pronged lieutenant’s talisman. The two-pronged mark on his mask showed others that he was the senior student while the four-pronged talisman was that of a captain. The cool, polished steel reminded him of his swords, sharp and powerful. His fingers delicately cradled the amulet.
“Try it on, tell me how it feels,” the Captain said, smiling gently. Kosai unclasped the chain and put on the gift that Captain had given him.
“Sir, this is such a gift. Why?”
“Kosai, I am promoting you to Second Lieutenant. Many of the guard, and my lieutenants believe that your promotion would happen on your graduation, if not shortly after. No student of the Barracks, senior or otherwise has ever received a promotion to this extent, but it is needed and you have earned it. Leadership is a skill learned by doing, and based on your previous demonstrations of leadership in the field, even among the Guard, you have shown the skills and capabilities to be a lieutenant, save for your brief overreach in command on the training ground. You still have much to learn and this mission will aid you in your development.
“With this promotion also comes a weight that will take some time to get used to. People will treat you, look at you, and talk to you differently than before. When you were the senior student of the Capital Barracks, people respected you because of your fierceness and the fact that you are my son. Now they will respect you because you are a lieutenant. When you give an order, it will be followed promptly. Never do anything that would compromise your integrity as a lieutenant or that would betray the trust of the people.”
“Yes sir,” Kosai said with a salute.
“Your guard uniform is in a box under your bed. I want you dressed and back here within a quarter of an hour. Make sure to take down you bed. Oh, and one other thing. I personally went out to investigate what happened and escorted a caravan that followed the same route as the one you were attacked on,” Kosai lowered his head. The Captain pulled out another box from behind his desk. He opened it and inside was one of Kosai’s deadly curved blades. “I was only able to find one of your swords.” The Captain pulled the blade out of the box and bounced the sunlight off the metal sheath. “You will have no need of this when you are learning with the conduits,” he said as he put it back in the box. There was a long silence. “You’re dismissed.”
“Yes sir.” Kosai felt naked and vulnerable without his swords and walked back to his bunk with his arms tightly at his sides.
He cleared off his bunk and placed the bedding in the wooden crate at the foot of the bed. The house keeping staff would be in tomorrow to launder all the uniforms and soiled sheets, replacing them with clean ones. Kosai changed out of his bloodied and dusty training clothes and put those in the crate as well. The front of the white shirt was speckled with his blood. Seeing the red stain, a memory of the Dark One flashed in his mind, of the broken sword blade stabbed through his thigh, and the lindworm bite on his shoulder. Kosai cringed a little and touched his leg, tracing around where the scar should have been.
He shook off the memory, putting on his guard uniform. The white shirt was recently cleaned and pressed and the chainmail was free of sand. Eyelets ran up the calf and hamstring of the brown uniform trousers allowing greaves and cuisses to be laced onto the brown slacks. Lastly, Kosai put on his face mask, with the red mark of the senior student of the Capital Barracks, the mask of the Wolf.
The Captain stood outside his office, dressed in armor, cape with his own blade strapped to his hip. He held Kosai’s cloak and sword under his arm. Kosai stood at attention in front of his father. The Captain circled around Kosai, examining the armor plating, scanning the knots, and adjusting his chainmail with sharp tugs so that it sat perfectly even across his shoulders. Content with his son’s preparation, he swung the hooded cape around Kosai, tying a square knot across the chest with the strings, and clasping the shoulders of the cape to his armor.
“Are you ready?” the Captain asked. Kosai nodded. “Good. Keep the amulet out. To the people, it will look like I am on an errand with one of my lieutenants to assist me.”
Father and son, Captain and lieutenant, walked out onto the dusty streets towards the school. Kosai recalled his inward criticisms about not being good enough to protect the people, to protect the caravans. He understood now that the future survival of the people, of his city, depended upon this mission’s success, upon junior lieutenant Kosai’s success.
CHAPTER 7