Ascendant by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Koren had thought he could train with the weapons master when he wanted to, when he had time and felt like sparring. No such luck. Paedris had worked out a schedule with the weapons master, and Koren now had to report to the sparring ring three times a week, in addition to his own work for Paedris. And caring for Thunderbolt, and working in the stables to pay for the horse’s keep. And the three times a week tutoring in writing, history and mathematics that Paedris had insisted for Koren. With the weapons master, there was training with the sword, of course, but also Koren learned to use a shield, a pike, a spear and a bow. The bow he liked best, he had always been deadly accurate with arrows when hunting, and now he never missed a target, even when Koren was on horseback and the target was also moving. The sword training was the worst. Instead of a chance to show off, and whack the weapons master with a practice sword, the training involved what the weapons master called Forms; endless repetitions of swinging the sword around, and placing his feet in exactly the correct position, and bending his elbow just so, until Koren’s whole body ached, and his arms felt like they would fall off from weariness. Koren thought that, after training with the weapons master and the man’s stupid Forms, that he was going to curl up in the Form of a ball, and be stuck in that Form forever, because he was so stiff and sore.

Between his two jobs, caring for his horse, and combat training, Koren decided he needed to forget about silly things like looking for a lost Cornerstone.

Koren was cleaning up after the wizard’s dinner, when he lifted a knife, and balanced it on his finger, like the weapons master showed him to do with swords. “Sir,” he asked, “I’m training to use weapons.”

“Hmm? Yes, the weapons master tells me you are learning quickly.” The weapons master had sounded overjoyed to have such a talented and obedient student, rather than the clumsy, arrogant royal children he was used to.

“Yes, sir. I am doing my best, sir.” And Koren had the bruises and aching muscles to prove his efforts. “Am I going to get a real sword, sir? To protect you?”

“Eh? Why would I need you to protect-” Paedris sucked in a breath. Having to remember all the lies he’d told was getting to be all too much. “Oh, certainly, yes, of course, now that you are gaining skill, it is time for you to get a sword of your own. Yes, yes, that is a capital idea.” Paedris hoped to venture out with the army in the summer, and would take Koren with him. For that, the boy needed weapons of his own, weapons he was familiar with, rather than whatever second-hand gear the army had available. Perhaps the weapons master had, no, Paedris had a better idea. Koren was working very hard, the boy deserved a reward.

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