The Surveyor Girl and the Forbidden Knowledge by Akira Nashiki

Author:Akira Nashiki [Nashiki, Akira]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cross Infinite World
Published: 2018-07-31T07:00:00+00:00

***

RELIVING the taste of the shepherd’s pie made with an abundance of salted meat that was served for dinner, Unen exited the tower. She was a little worried—or rather lonely—because Irena hadn’t returned for quite a while since she left to train.

On her way across the gangway bridge, she happened to spot Irena and the other two illuminated by the cressets’ fire, beyond the shrubbery.

I get why the two swordsmen would be together, but why is Mouru present for their sword practice? The wind carried other voices, from the main residence, to where Unen was standing, scrunching her brow.

Curious, Unen stopped at the bend to carefully peer around it. King Klinack and Aide Harabal were standing right beside the entrance to the main residence, staring down at the courtyard.

“Training without being commanded to do so. Some dependable youths we have visiting our castle,” Klinack said sincerely, in a tone containing neither sarcasm nor flattery. “Our kingdom’s future is secure as long as we continue to have young people like them.”

“Indeed.”

Unen smiled widely to herself from the shadows of the gangway bridge’s pillars. Glancing back at the courtyard (and ignoring Mouru crouching in the corner), Irena and Ori were diligently fighting a mock battle with each other.

“By the way, Harabal, it looked like you were in a deep discussion with that mage over something.”

Surprised by what she heard them say next, Unen looked away from her friends’ battle and back to the king and his aide.

“He asked if we are going to war.”

“Unthinkable!”

“Yes, I relayed the same thing to him.” Harabal’s tone was flatter than a slab of ice. “Just goes to prove how consequential a precise map is,” he stated matter-of-factly.

The king made a big sigh. “So you say. But to be frank, I don’t believe it’s as critical as you make it out to be. Say we go to war with a neighboring kingdom; we can always just gather the necessary information even without possessing such an accurate map. No?”

“I believe if we asked our ancestors about the necessity of the alphabet before the invention of written language, they would’ve given an answer similar to what you just said, Your Majesty.”

“Geh.”

Clearly, Harabal had rendered Klinack speechless.

“The girl’s knowledge is the real thing. It will be dangerous to leave her to her own devices any longer.”

Not wanting to hear any more of what Harabal had to say, Unen quietly turned on her heel. Careful not to make any noise, she returned to the tower that housed their assigned rooms. On the gangway bridge, Unen bit down on the inside of her cheek. She was sick of hearing others suggest her skills were unsuitable for a tiny little girl.

Knowledge was wings. It gave one the power to look at the world from a height that rivaled the Falcon Eyes of the mystic in Yezero. It was a power even the poor, weak, and insubstantial human being like Unen could possess.

Balling her hands into tight fists, Unen looked up at the stars twinkling in the sky.

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