The Tower Of The Watchful Eye: The Legend Of Kairu Book 1 (29 page)

“
What can you tell me about the outpost?” I asked
him.

“
Everything,” he answered.

Walked into that one,
Cathy
chuckled.

“
What is the building layout?” I asked. “What can we expect
when we get there?”

“
Lots of bandits,” he answered. “The old barrack will be where
most of them will be.”

“
Where do you think the Princess will be kept?” I
asked.

“
The command centre most likely,” he replied. “It has the
prison cells.”

I nodded
slowly. “Tell you what. I’ll follow you in and cover your
back.”

“
Most of my enemies will come from the front,” he
smiled.

I think he is screwing with you now,
Cathy said.

It’s hard to
tell.

“
Don’t bring that staff though,” he continued. “Uncle will be
upset if we destroy any buildings.”

“
Plus I wouldn’t want to accidentally hurt you or the
Princess,” I added.

“
Yes, that wouldn’t be good,” he said. “Use that sword
instead.”

He pointed to
the short sword on my hip and I removed it and placed it on top of
my bag,

“
I’m not very good at it,” I said. “I would probably just end
up getting myself hurt.”

“
Really?” Donkor said confused. “Swords are easier then magic.
I will teach you tomorrow before we fight.”

“
I could use some lessons,” I agreed.

“
Here you go,” Abuya said as she brought over a silver tray
with the pot and cups.

She placed the
tray on the table and Donkor grabbed a cup and poured some water
into it. He motioned if I wanted some and I nodded. He poured my
cup and handed it to me.

“
I am glad you came by, Donkor,” Abuya continued. “I have a
small problem with a hole in the roof.”

“
Where?” Donkor asked looking around.

I felt my face
twitch it confusion.

“
Oh, just right over there,” she answered pointing to the
obvious hole in the roof in the kitchen.

“
Ah,” he said. “What caused it?”

“
I followed your advice and moved it,” she explained. “It
looks much better there.”

“
Yes it does,” Donkor agreed looking behind me.

I turned
around and noticed a tall statue of a soldier carved from wood
leaning up against the wall. The spear it was holding was almost
touching the ceiling.

“
Gacoki was nice enough to help me move it but when he picked
it up, the head went right through the roof,” Abuya
explained.

“
I’ll take a look at it when I’m done helping Andy,” he
smiled.

You can stick around for this conversation but I’m out of
here,
Cathy said.

No! Take me
with you!

***

“
Keep the tip pointed at my neck,” Donkor said.

“
It’s tough holding it out for this long,” I
replied.

“
That’s because your arm is out too far. Like this,” he said
showing his arm in the shape of an ‘L’ beside his body.

As promised,
Donkor was training me to use my sword for more then just swatting
the air uselessly; as Cathy so elegantly put it. He took me to the
town’s training ground and has been teaching me the most difficult
part of sword training:

Standing.

“
Feet apart shoulder length, body slightly angled away from
your attacker, tip pointed at the opponent’s throat and weight
shifted forward to your front foot,” Donkor recited as I shifted
into his position. “Ok, attack me.”

I swiped the
little wooden training sword at him and he blocked them easily.
“Less wind up,” he said as I changed my swipes to quicker strikes.
“Good.”

I stepped
towards him and swung my sword down at him. He blocked me with his
sword and I pushed down on it.

“
Good strike,” he chuckled. “But...”

He pushed my
sword back with all his strength and I staggered back and fell onto
my butt.

“
...You got out of position,” he finished with a smile. “The
point of the position is so that you can’t be knocked around the
battlefield. ‘You need to stand your ground or you will lose it’ as
the General would always say.”

I stood back
up and got into position. “How am I supposed to advance on you
then?”

Keeping his
upper body in the same position he walked forward a step then
planted his feet firmly into position. “Just always keep your legs
spread apart. Now attack me again.”

I swung at him
again and he blocked me easily and took a step back. I stepped
forward a little to get closer and he pushed my sword back. I felt
myself being thrown back and hopped backwards and regained my
balance.

“
Good,” he smiled. “It is good you learn quickly.”

“
You are a good teacher,” I said.

“
Now, I’ll attack you and you stand your ground,” he
said.

His attacks
were slow but powerful as I deflected each one. He started to pick
up speed and I was forced to start backing up. Keeping my balance,
I maintained the position he taught me and blocked all his
attacks.

He stopped and
I stood waiting to see what he would do. He went to swing his sword
and I anticipated where he would attack but he quickly changed the
direction and came at me from a different angle. I ducked down in
time to have the hat launched off my head.

He laughed.
“Got you.”

I patted the
top of my head to make sure I still had a head. “I can’t believe I
fell for that.”

Donkor walked
over to where the hat had landed and picked it up. The one side of
the hat had now collapsed into the middle but as far as I could
tell it was still wearable.

Oh joy,
Cathy said
flatly.

Donkor handed
me the hat and I put it on top of my head. I could feel it slide
off so I tilted it so the top part still pointed up.

“
How does it look?” I asked.

“
Not any worse than before,” he answered.

“
Thanks, I think,” I said.

“
You’ll be okay to save the Princess now,” Donkor said. “Well,
not really, but you have magic.”

“
Your faith in me is inspirational,” I said
sarcastically.

Donkor looked
at me oddly.

“
Never mind,” I said. “You are a good teacher. I’m surprised
they don’t let you teach others.”

“
Oh, I’m not smart enough to teach they said,” he said
sadly.

“
They are just jealous because they know you could beat them,”
I said encouragingly. “With that smart and simple logic of yours,
you will be the greatest teacher. You should ask your cousin after
we save her.”

“
She won’t be able to help me,” he said.

“
I don’t see why not,” I said. “She will be the Empress one
day. Do people often say no to her?”

“
No,” he said then slowly smiled. “I’ll ask.”

“
Good,” I smiled back. “We should go save her then so you can
ask.”

“
We better hurry then,” he said dropping the wooden sword and
running. “I want to be a teacher.”

I dropped the
wooden sword and chased after him.

Do us a favour and always stay on his side of whatever army
he trains,
Cathy said.

That’s the
best advice you’ve given.

I’d like to think not waving like an idiot at the Emperor was
one of my best,
she said,

Chapter 25

The outpost
lay on the other side of the trees that surrounded Bauda to the
north. The landscape became hillier as we were starting to reach
the border between Archanion Field and Ghanlar Mountains. Further
down the horizon the mountains grew towards the sky.

It was
understandable why Donkor was upset with the bandits holding the
outpost. Sitting on the border, it was the first line of defence
against invasion. With bandits fleeing at the first sign of an
army, the border, outpost and village of Bauda lay unprotected. The
military needed to reclaim the outpost. Returning the fort to Nesqa
was as much part of my duties now as retrieving the items for the
Keeper.

With the
School of the Elemental becoming more hostile and the threat of the
Masters silencing Master Pryce, all four provinces of Kalanden
could be thrown into a war against the Mages. It was important to
make sure everyone was prepared.

Ooo, someone has become all noble and righteous,
Cathy said.

It is only the
truth. I won’t be able to hide or run away from it. It is as much a
part of my life as you are.

So we will get to keep killing people?
Cathy asked.

As long as we
need too.

Then I’ll be right behind you,
Cathy
said
. Well...inside you...but that doesn’t
sound...

Quit while you
are ahead.

Cathy chuckled nervously
. I’ll shut
up now.

Donkor and I
stood at the edge of the forest, planning our way in. With its
large stone wall and watch towers, the outpost was more like a
castle. The gate was currently wide open as the bandits didn’t feel
the need to keep the front door closed while they were coming and
going. It was going to prove tricky to get into the place should
the gate be closed.

“
We need to charge now,” Donkor said. “While they are not
expecting it.”

“
If they shut that gate we are done for,” I explained. “And
frankly, I don’t want to get an arrow in the butt.”

“
They hurt,” Donkor informed.

“
I believe that,” I responded. “So here is what we are going
to do. I will disguise us with an illusion spell and we will walk
into the outpost and hide.”

“
What type of disguise would work?” Donkor asked.

“
I’ll make us invisible,” I answered.

Donkor’s eyes
widened in shock. “You can do that?”

“
Yes, but we have to be very quiet,” I said. “They can’t see
us but they can hear us.”

“
And smell us?” Donkor asked.

“
Yes but we should be okay as long as you don’t stick your arm
in front of their noses,” I answered.

“
Okay,” he nodded.

“
With us invisible, we sneak in and you stay out of sight
while I get onto the top of the wall,” I said. “I’ll take care of
the archers so they don’t shoot you in the butt.”

“
Arrows hurt,” he said.

“
Exactly,” I nodded. “You ready?”

He pulled out
his cleaver and smiled. “Always.”

“
Follow me and don’t make a sound,” I said.

“
Or smell,” he reminded me.

“
Or smell,” I agreed.

I reached out
with my mind and tried to tune out the hum of the forest. I
crouched down low and started walking into the opening. I couldn’t
make out any archers but they had to be in the towers by the front
gate. I continued forward until I felt the faint hum of human
minds. Targeting the closest ones, I planted my Illusion and picked
up speed.

My goal was to
make it to the side wall and only target the minds needed to get us
in. I couldn’t make out how many minds in total were in the
outpost, not without dropping the Illusion spell first, and I
couldn’t trick everyone.

When I touched
the warm stone wall, I smiled to myself briefly before continuing
to the corner. I peeked around and saw the front gate was still
clear of bandits.

I could get
used to this.

Is Andy Holcombe ACTUALLY enjoying something?
Cathy asked playfully.

I rounded the
corner and kept pressed against the wall as I approached the gate.
The hum of mental energy drew closer and I stopped and motioned for
Donkor to crouch down. A bandit emerged and I used the Illusion
spell on him. He turned around and faced the fort again to shout at
someone but I couldn’t make out the words clearly.

After the
bandit finished, he turned around and starting walking away from
the fort. I could continue to trick his mind for a bit but he would
soon be out of range. If he decided to come back after I had
stopped the spell he would see us.

Motioning for
Donkor to follow, I picked up my pace and made it to the edge of
the gate. The bandit was almost out of range and I dropped the
spell to focus inside the outpost. A different bandit was walking
away from the gate and I could feel a couple of minds along the
wall close by. I planted the Illusion spell and peeked around the
corner.

There were two
bandits at the forge, one was working while the other was
inspecting the swords and talking. Further in was a large building,
which I guessed, was the barracks and the command centre stood at
the back. The courtyard was quiet and empty as the bandits must
have either been out on raiding parties or sleeping while waiting
for night. Either played right into our hands.

Considering you are attacking a military outpost in broad
daylight, I’d say we are very lucky,
Cathy
said.

They have the
Princess and know the Emperor won’t compromise her health to come
after them. They look like they are just making sure no other
bandits try to muscle in on their action.