Bacorium Legacy (14 page)

“Not quite,” he insisted, as he sheathed his blade. “You had me in defence for most of the fight. You were clearly the better swordsman.”

“Hmm...” Brand said, smiling. “Well, I suppose I'll take that as a compliment.”

Dori approached them, the sound of his polished wooden cane striking the stone floor interrupting their banter. “Well, well. You two'll have plenty of time to talk later. Brand, why don't you and your master go to the healing chamber? Luca and I have a bit to discuss.”

“Aye,” Tranom agreed. “Come, my apprentice. Let's leave them be.”

“Alright,” Brand said. He started off, but then he seemed to remember something, and he went back to his side. “There's something I want to ask you about. Could you come see me when you're done here?”

“Sure,” Luca told him with a shrug.

“Thanks.” And then he and Tranom were gone.

Dori reached into his ragged cloak and produced a flask, which he took a quick drink from before he spoke. “Your family will be the death of me, you know that?”

Luca wasn't quite sure what to say, so he didn't say anything. Dori paced back and forth a few  times, then he stopped and faced him.

“You have skill,” Dori said to him. “Raw talent, I should say. Not many here are good enough at swordplay to manage to wound Brand. So congratulations on that - he's the temple's top student, and with good reason. And I will also say that it wasn't a bad idea of you to hold back at first, keeping your true fighting style secret until you had an idea of your opponent's skill. It was cautious - and caution like that could easily save your life.”

Luca knew what was coming next just by the way Dori was speaking. “But...?”

However, Dori didn't continue. He changed subjects, asking, “How is your leg?”

There was a small cut through his trousers, and a bit of red staining it. The bleeding wasn't particularly bad, but it stung to the touch.

“I've had worse,” Luca said.

“It looked quite painful when it struck.”

Luca frowned. “I was hit by an arrow not very long ago in that very spot. An Acarian fired it at me - during the attack that took my father's life. That's why it hurt - normally such a shallow wound wouldn't even slow me down.”

“Was it the physical pain that hindered you, or a phantom pain - the pain of your father's death?”

Luca looked up at Dori. The old master watched him intently, leaning on his cane and scratching at his unkempt beard.

“In a normal battle, that wouldn't have made a difference.”

“Ah, but this was a normal battle,” Dori said. “Or at least it was as far as you were concerned. Brand was right - I had seen all I needed of your swordplay at the point where he offered to make an end of it. Your insistence to continue told me more about the person you are. I could see the pride behind your eyes - Brand had drawn your blood, but you could not be content with things until you did the same.”

Luca found himself scowling. Dori was too right for his comfort.

“Your abilities are sufficient, as I suspected they would be,” the old man continued. “This goal of yours - getting your revenge on Zinoro - if it came down to something as simple as your swordplay against his, I'd have faith you could beat him. That is not the problem.”

“What is the problem, then?”

“It is that you lack the maturity to be the swordsman your father was. You are too angry, too impatient, and you have too much to prove. You are the kind of person who would rush right into a dangerous situation without thinking of the consequences. Following that kind of logic, you'll dig yourself an early grave. And it won't make a difference whether you can fight or not if you get yourself killed before you can even get to Zinoro.”

“You're saying I'm not cautious enough?” Luca demanded. “Just a moment ago, you were commending me for being cautious.”

“Caution to preserve your pride, versus caution to preserve your life?” Dori said rhetorically. “Which do you think your father would rather you have?”

Luca was silent.

“I can see you're eager to leave, so I'll say one last thing,” Dori said, moving closer to Luca and looking him in the eyes. “Think back to when your father was killed. Why do you think he refused to fight back against Zinoro, even when his son's life was on the line?”

<> <> <>

Brand pulled the replacement robe on, and tossed aside the one with the slash in its back. He thanked the healer who had mended his wounds, and left the healing chambers.

His master, Tranom, was waiting for him outside. “All patched up?”

Brand grinned. “Yeah, I'm good.”

“Excellent,” Tranom told him. They started to walk. “You did well today. To face both sons of Lodin in a row, and to emerge from both fights with only a single scratch... You're much better than I was at your age.”

“You flatter me, master. But really, Luca was the one who won that match.”

“In a true fight you would have beaten him,” Tranom said. “You deserve the praise. Now, you know the emissary from T'Saw will be here in a week or so. I have no doubt you will be chosen for this mission. After all, you're the temple's top student.”

“King Zaow's mission...” Brand muttered. “How many students are being chosen?”

“Three. While Luca is not a true student of the temple, I have no doubt he will be one of them. The spot was previously reserved for his brother, but the outcomes of your matches will show which of Lodin's sons is the superior fighter.”

“I'm fine with that,” Brand said. “I'd much rather be on the team with Luca than Ash. Hell, I'd pick anyone in this temple before Ash.”

“I had a feeling you would say that.”

“Who do you think will be picked for the third position?”

“Of the third, I am less certain. There are several potential candidates. We can't be certain until the emissary announces it. Even you and Luca's positions are uncertain, though I would bet money on you both being picked.”

“I suppose only time will tell,” Brand said. As they passed the training chamber from before, Brand noticed Luca emerging, looking rather pale. “Excuse me, master.”

Tranom nodded, and departed into the garden. Brand went over to Luca's side, who did not notice him approaching until he was just before him.

“You alright?” Brand asked him.

Luca nodded. “Yes, yes, I'm fine. What is it?”

“Come with me, it's too crowded to talk about it here.” Brand placed his arm over Luca's shoulder and led him away from the others to a more remote area. Luca was rather irritated at the contact, but he said nothing. His curiosity had been piqued.

When they were at last alone, Brand looked Luca closely in the eyes and spoke to him. “I'm putting together something secret,” he said in a quiet voice. “Tonight, several students and I will be going out into the forest that borders our temple. There have been reports of a special beast making a nest there - a monster not commonly seen in these parts. We're going to go out and hunt it. I was hoping you could join us.”

Luca's eyes brightened. It was clear to Brand that the prospect of a good hunt intrigued him. But he did not immediately agree.

“Would that be allowed?” he asked. “I thought the gates closed after sunset.”

“We are given a generous amount of freedom here,” Brand told him. “Technically, we are not supposed to go out after the gates close - you're right about that. But the gatekeepers will let us through. I'm the temple's top student, and you're the son of Lodin. They'll turn a blind eye for us.”

“If you say so. And what is this beast that you're so eager to hunt?”

“I'll tell everyone once we're on our way. I like to keep things suspenseful. So what do you say?”

Luca looked down at his left leg for a moment, and considered. “I could use a good hunt. Very well, count me in.”

Brand grinned and he pat Luca on the shoulder. “Excellent. Meet us at the gates an hour after the sun sets.”

<> <> <>

Going on a hunt will help, he told himself. It will. It will help him get his mind off what Dori said. He told himself that like a man pleading for his life.

Luca walked through the grounds of the temple, doing his best to memorise the layout of the place. The many students, all dressed in the same white robes, gave him the occasional glance, but for the most part the excitement his arrival caused seemed to be dying down. Despite how relaxed and laid-back everything in the temple seemed to be, the students actually appeared to take their training quite seriously. The training rings were always occupied, with a pair or two waiting on the sides for their chance to spar. A circular path ran along the temple's outer edge, which students jogged through. He spotted a weight room, a pond to swim through, and closed sanctums in which to meditate and strengthen mana.

He was impressed. Allma Temple was so secretive, that stories of what went on within its walls ranged from the outlandish to the nightmarish. In reality, it was a place full of decent people who took their training seriously, but had a good time and didn't overwork themselves. Were it not for his other plans, he might have considered staying there for a few years, and training as a student himself.

But there were things that needed done.

As Luca made his way around the temple, meeting a few people here and there, he kept an eye open for a certain girl with black hair. He expected her to be wandering around the place, much as he was. Eventually they would bump into each other, she would laugh and tell him about her morning, while he patiently listened.

He was a little disappointed that it never happened.

Some time in the afternoon he found himself back at the bedroom Tranom had given them, and he went inside, thinking that he might find Emila there. Her travel belongings, left there the previous night were still there, but she was not.

It was strange, not seeing her at all. Luca had grown so used to her constant presence, that it felt odd that she was not constantly beside him. There was something unhealthy about that. He wasn't lonely or anything. He didn't feel any overwhelming urge to run to her. If anything, it was like spending a long time sleeping on a certain bed, and then waking one day in a sleeping bag in the woods - or waking up in Saeticia one day after spending several months in Arimos.

Luca decided to get some rest before night came, so that he would be at his best when it came time to hunt this monster Brand spoke of. The bed was inviting, but his previous oath would remain untarnished - he was not going to use it while he shared the room with Emila. His sleeping bag would be just as good. However, his sore back disagreed with that promise.

Perhaps he would wake up in the evening and Emila would be there.

He closed his eyes and several hours passed. He rose, and turned on the lights, for the room had grown too dark to see in.

Emila was not there.

<> <> <>

Emila was, however, waiting at the gates of the temple, along with Brand and two other students.

As Luca drew near, she gave him a fleeting glance, before looking away, casting her eyes down. He knew what that look meant - that there was something bothering her. Something she wanted to say, but wasn't sure how.

Brand on the other hand, greeting him enthusiastically. He told him how glad he was Luca had come, and other things Luca only half listened to. He introduced him to the other two boys in their company. One he had met already - Allma's squire, Rael. The other was a young man whom he had only seen briefly earlier in the day - a boy with short black hair named Davik.

“So - will you tell us what this monster we'll be hunting is, Brand?” Luca asked him.

Brand clasped his hands together and a big grin spread across his face. “Ah, yes. The creature we will be searching for - the deadly ouroboros.”

Everyone exchanged confused glances.

“You're joking,” said Rael. “An ouroboros in these parts? You never see them outside of Mainyu”

“What's so strange about that?” Brand asked. “Mainyu is Torachi's southern border. It's just a trip north over the mountains, and you're right on our doorstep. Sightings do show up every now and then. But usually the local hunters from the neighbouring villages take care of them. I've been told by the gatekeepers that the merchants who bring food carts to the temples have been seeing an ouroboros in the woods. It will take a few days before the villages hear about this, so we have a chance to get it before they do.”

“And what's the point of this?” Rael asked. “If the locals are going to take care of it anyway, then why should we bother?”

Brand looked at Rael for the briefest of moments, then said: “Why not? It's a hunt. A good hunt. Why let somebody else take care of it, when we can have the fun ourselves?”

Rael frowned, and looked away disapprovingly. Davik simply shrugged, and Emila was impassively silent. Luca, however, placed his hand on his sword's hilt, and gave Brand a sure nod. It was a confirmation that he would follow him, seen often on the battlefield, that only two warriors could fully appreciate. He returned the nod, and an unspoken pact was formed between them.

Brand turned to the others - with the exception of Luca - and spoke to them. “If anybody wants out, now's the time to say so.”

“I'm in,” said Emila without a moment of hesitation.

“Me, too,” Davik added, though a brief moment of doubt was visible in his eyes.

“I guess I'm in, too,” said Rael. He did not look Brand in the eyes when he said this.

“Excellent,” Brand said, clasping his hands together. “Then let's go, before the night grows any older.”

And with those uplifting words, they set off.

Brand led the group, confidently marching forth, his scimitar sheathed across his back. The rest of the group followed behind him in varying states of certainty, in the order of Rael, Luca, Davik, and Emila.

Luca wanted very much to talk to Emila, to ask her what she had been doing all day, and why she was coming with them on this hunt. The absence he had been feeling all day was not lifted by her surprise appearance here. But he could not do that, especially in front of three other people whom he hardly knew. They were on a hunt now - personal matters would come later.