The Staff of Sakatha (3 page)

“Sorus said something about a twelve month,” said Jon. “I’m not particularly familiar with your ways, what does that mean?”

“Each knight of Elekargul serves twelve months in the field and then twelve months in a town learning a trade,” said Thaddeus. “I’m learning the brewing business this twelve month, but you might be assigned as a carpenter, a mason, a tailor, an administrator, or any other job the first knight thinks might help you become a more rounded man.”

“Gotta be a bit dull,” said Jon as the two walked into the building where half a dozen wooden table were arranged in neat order, their chairs stacked on them perfectly. “After a combat tour how can you stand to brew beer and wait tables?”

“It’s more interesting than you might think,” said Thaddeus. “How old are you?”

“Seventeen,” said Jon.

“They grow them big in, where did you say you were from again?” said Thaddeus as the two sat down at one of the tables after they pulled down a pair of chairs.

“Tanelorn,” said Jon.

“I’ve heard of it, is it beyond Relm?” asked Thaddeus a puzzled expression on his face.

Jon nodded and smiled, “Yes, far beyond Relm, I would guess, although I’ve never heard of that place. Tanelorn is the gray city near the center of the continent east to west but near the frozen lands to the north.”

“Oh,” said Thaddeus his eyes wide. “That is a long way away. What could anyone from there want way down here in the Dorian Peninsula?”

Jon closed his lips and shook his head, “I’m sorry, Thaddeus, but that is something I am supposed to speak about only with the First Rider.”

“So you know about the First Rider then,” said the knight with a nod of his head.

“I have studied what we know of your people on my journey here,” said Jon, “But I’m afraid most of it is either old or of dubious reliability. I came on ship from Tarlton, and Sea’cra before that, and I’ve gathered as much information as I could while traveling. There is a Hobgoblin nation to the north of here, Hakor something or another?”

“Hakor’lum,” said Thaddeus. “It’s fairly far north though. I’m from a village of Hobgoblins in Hram’dros the orc nation to our east. You probably came through there if you traveled from Doria unless you braved the lands of the Formia?”

“The insect folk,” said Jon with a shrug his shoulders. “I was advised to avoid them so you’re right. I did come through Hram’dros. They consider the knights of Elekargul to be quite fearsome foes and cannot understand your nation’s aversion to slavery.”

Thaddeus laughed aloud. “They might not understand it but I’m grateful for it. As a Hobgoblin in Hram’dros I was a slave, although a willing warrior. I was wounded and captured while raiding Elekargul. It didn’t take me long to realize that a life of freedom is preferable to old loyalties and I was able to aid my new home in battle and gain my knighthood.”

“Yes, what did Sorus say your name was, Redhand?” said Jon. “And the girls, they are sisters but they have different last names? It seems confusing.”

Sorus took that moment to stick his head out from a back room. “I’ve got the water in the vats Thaddeus, do you want me to start mashing the barley?”

“Go ahead and get started,” said Thaddeus. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Where were we Jon?”

“Names, it’s a bit confusing how it’s all set up,” said the powerful lad and sat back in his chair. “You don’t have any beer ready to go by any chance? I’ve been traveling for over a month since I left Doria.”

“Of course, how inhospitable of me, Lara!” he called out and a young girl not yet into her teens appeared a moment later from somewhere in the back. She looked at the young man who sat next to Thaddeus and her eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped before she came over. “Lara, get Jon here a Smooth Strider, will you?”

The girl curtsied quickly and nodded her head up and down, “Yes, Sir Thaddeus. Hello,” she said to Jon and smiled at him. While Jon was seated they were almost eye to eye.

“Scoot now, Lara,” said Thaddeus and the girl shut her mouth, turned around, and dashed off towards a long bar near the side of the big chamber.

“You’re going to have to fight them off,” said Thaddeus.

“I’m not much good at fighting, at least that kind,” said Jon with a smile.

“Hmm, I doubt that, but in any case, you wanted to know about how people are named, right?” said Thaddeus.

“Right,” said Jon with a nod, his eyes watching as the young girl pulled down on a tap and a golden amber liquid poured into a large mug. “The sisters with the different names?”

“All girls are named by their mother or aunt’s name as a given name and then Quick as the surname until they are of marrying age then they are called Speed. That way any knight knows if a girl is ready to be married or not.”

“What is the marrying age?” asked Jon as the young girl came over and carefully set the drink down in front of him.

“I hope you like it,” she said with a smile.

“Run along now, Lara Quick,” said Thaddeus and the girl frowned at him and wrinkled her nose.

“It’s up to the father to decided when a girl is eligible for marriage, or an uncle or brother if the father is not available to make that decision. Once the girl marries she takes on the given name of her husband as her own last name.”

“I think I see,” said Jon with a shrug. “And apprentice boys and what not take the name of their job, so Sorus’s surname is Brewer.”

“That’s right,” said Thaddeus. “Boys like that who are not chosen as squires by the time they are ten usually became lifetime craftsmen. Often they are actually the ones who run things and a knight doing his twelve month learns from them.”

“And the knights themselves?” asked Jon.

“Well, that’s a bit complex. When you are granted knighthood you can choose your own last name but it has to be from the list of acceptable names,” said Thaddeus. “You’re supposed to pick something that fits your temperament but people don’t always do that.”

“And you’re a Redhand?” said Jon.

“Correct again. It’s considered good form to take the name Redhand if in the battle in which you earned your knighthood you killed more than a single foe,” said Thaddeus with a shrug of his shoulders.

“And you achieved that?” said Jon.

“I was fortunate,” said Thaddeus, “but, to answer your question, yes.”

“And who makes the list of acceptable names?” said Jon as he took a long draught from his beer. “Ahh, quite delicious. Maybe the girl should bring me another as I might go through this one quickly.”

“Lara,” shouted Thaddeus but the girl, who watched closely from nearby, was already up and filled a second mug.

“When Brutus Brokenhand first settled in Elekargul he had two dozen of his trusted warriors with him and each of those men became the original named knights. But, if a knight does something particularly noteworthy then he is allowed to choose his own name to add to the roles. Redhand for example is one of those. During a particularly bloody battle a knight of Elekargul stabbed a terrible creature so deeply that he ended up pulling out the thing’s heart which stayed beating in his hand for a moment, thus Redhand.”

“That’s what Sorus meant about getting his own name,” said Jon. “He also said something about being a Coppercoin?”

“Yes, Coppercoin is the name that a young un-squired knight can take if he performs heroically on the field of battle to gain his knighthood. A lot of the boys want to be Coppercoins but they are few and far between. The original story is quite interesting but I think maybe it’s time you went to see Thorius Brokenhand before you have too many Smooth Striders,” suggested Thaddeus as he noted the speed with which the young man poured beer down his throat.

Jon gave his not quite empty second mug a rather forlorn look but then nodded his head and smiled, “You’re right of course Thaddeus. It’s been such a long journey I got a bit carried away. Which way to the mayor?”

“You’ll make a left out the door and then walk about two blocks until you come to a larger thoroughfare heading east and west. Take a left there and when you get to the red brick building that’s the place. You can ask anyone along the way and they’ll be glad to help you, Jon. You’re going to be quite an attraction here in Black Dale.”

Jon stood and looked at Thaddeus for a moment. “You’ve been a big help and so was young Sorus. He handled himself quite well. You wouldn’t know where I might find the First Rider?”

Thaddeus shook his head, “The First Rider is out on patrol and I’m serving my administrative twelve month so I’m not really in the loop. You might want to stop by the mason. Sir Odellius is an old friend of the First Rider and might know more.”

“Thank you again, Thaddeus. I’m certain I’ll see you around town for the next little while at least and perhaps I’ll stay long enough for you to join me in the field!”

Thaddeus nodded head and then turned towards the back of the shop, “Now be careful with the barley,” he shouted and strode through the door.

“What do you think, Mikus?” said a tall knight who wore a golden tunic with the symbol of four horseshoes that faced out from each other with a broken hand symbol in the middle. His hair was gray at the temples and thin on top and his steady blue eyes gazed at a younger man dressed in a plain tunic that bore the four horseshoe symbol but was empty in the middle. The older knight sat in a high backed leather chair behind a large oak desk clear of papers, although an inkwell and feather pen rested on it. The room contained a number of hunting trophies on the walls and a heavy carpet, both thick and lush, covered the floor.

“Everyone saw him come into town with the brewer boy this morning and he was talking with the blacksmith’s daughters. Nobody knows much about him yet but he’s going to have to come here eventually dad,” said the young man who fingered a slim sword scabbarded at his side.

“The symbol on his cloak, some kind of plant, what’s that all about?” said the man.

The boy shrugged. “I don’t know dad. Why don’t you send for him?”

“Let him come to me,” said the man and pursed his lips. “There is something strange going on for a fellow like that to just show up in Black Dale. We’ll have the First Rider breathing down our necks soon enough and that sanctimonious Coppercoin never liked me, not since we took the challenge together that one year.”

“He’s always been nice to me, dad,” said the boy as his face broke into a small smile.

“That’s because he knows it will make me angry, Mikus,” said the man. “Mark my words, son, mark my words. That stranger brings trouble to Elakargul and trouble to me. The faster we can get rid of him the faster we get back to our way of life.”

Just then the outer door of the chamber opened and a plain looking woman with dark eyes peeked her head inside. “Sir Thorius, there is a young man here to see you.”

“Thank you, Servellia, you can show him in,” said the older man and then made a motion with his hand to Mikus. “Sit down there and pay close attention to everything he says. I want to make sure I remember every word in case we can use it against him later.”

“But, dad,” started Mikus but was cut off from further discussion by a hard glance from his father.

A moment later Jon Gray strode into the room, a huge smile on his face and he nodded his head to the man behind the desk. “I’m Jon Gray from Tanelorn, my father is the Gray Lord and I’m here to discuss a matter of great importance to both our nations!”

Thorius looked at him coldly and shook his head sadly, “I have never heard of this Tanelorn or this Gray Lord of yours, how can I be expected to treat you as an ambassador if I do not even know the nation you represent?”

“I have papers,” said Jon, taking a step back, and rummaging around inside his gray jerkin.

“What on earth could papers mean to me?” said Thorius, “If I have never heard of this Tantalorn? You could have written anything about anyone. How would I know the difference? I’m sorry young man, you have come a long way for no reason. I offer you the hospitality of Black Dale for as long you would like, but that is all that I can give.”

“But,” said Jon, his smile fading for the first time, “you don’t understand, Sir Thorius.”

“I understand all too well young man,” replied the knight with a slight smile on his face and again a sad little shake of his head. “You hoped to create some sort of stir, bilk some money, or run some sort of a scam on the people of my little town. Well, it won’t work, not while I’m on watch. So, you might as well take your little confidence game somewhere outside of Elekargul. We are not a nation of people to be fooled easily.”

“But,” said Jon opening his hands to face up and spreading his arms.

“No buts,” interrupted Sir Thorius. “If you don’t leave my office immediately I’ll send for some knights. You can stay in town for a few days but if I hear word you are trying to spread any of this Tantalorn nonsense then I’ll have to do something about it. Do I make myself clear?”

“I … yes. I understand,” said Jon and stood to his full height. A look of calm replaced the anger that had threatened to burst through. “Thank you for your time today.” With that the tall young man turned and strode out of the room, his fury only barely in check. Once out into the street he managed to stifle the scream that rose in his throat but his fists clenched at his side and his jaw was tight. “Damn that bastard,” he said to himself and stood there for a long moment as walkers by stopped to gawk at the stranger for a moment before they continued on their way. It took him a little while to remember that the mason supposedly knew the First Rider but in his anger he couldn’t remember exactly where he was supposed to go. “And damn if I’ll ask any of these miserable people,” he muttered to himself.

It took him half an hour as he wandered around the small village and stewed noticing almost nothing about town before he found himself in front of the building that seemed to fit the bill. There was a placard out front which Jon couldn’t read completely but the squat stone structure and the large number of half cut and uncut stones that lay in the yard served to make it clear what kind of place it was. Jon walked around to the back and spotted an immensely fat man with a chisel in one hand and a hammer in the other at work on what was clearly a statue of an orc with a long spear. Jon moved closer and was surprised at the detail of the work even in this half-finished condition. The man who worked on it sweated profusely and, when he pulled a rag from his back pocket to mop up the overflow, noted Jon for the first time.