Amidst The Rising Shadows (Book 3) (29 page)

What had come to be known as the training area was comprised of various fields of previously unused land outside the city of Rexel. The soldiers of the FNA all went through basic field training where they were evaluated on their skills with common weapons particularly the knife and staff. They were called upon to navigate a five-mile track that ran through the forest that held challenges of its own. After their basic training they were divided into various groups with some being taught how to use Hythariam weapons and technology. During all of this they were called upon to work at whatever task was required for keeping the camp operating.
 

Sarah had left them a few moments before saying she would be back soon.

“We caught sight of you two from the airship. I was sorry I couldn’t join you,” Verona said.

“It was spur of the moment. The airship’s pilot nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Sarah leap off the gangplank,” Aaron grinned.

Verona looked at him for a moment, then clamped his hand on Aaron's shoulder. “It’s good to have you back, my friend. I’m glad you’re able to take a look these men.”

“It was a close thing for all of us. I keep thinking that the spy had unfettered access to all of you and well...things could have been a lot different,” Aaron said.

Verona nodded, “Sarah never believed. Somehow she knew it wasn’t you. I’m sorry to say that I thought it was some effect of her being influenced by the Drake.”

“I could see why you would think that,” Aaron said, suppressing a shiver at the image of Sarah attacking him. Her blue eyes, glowing yellow like the Drake's. “All of you came together in the end, and that’s what’s important.”

“She blames herself for giving the Falcons to the clone,” Verona said.

Aaron nodded and felt the loss of his swords more than he was willing to show. “What choice did she have?”

They were silent as they walked on, and Aaron glanced at the skies above Rexel, “There are a lot of airships now.”

“They’ve been working almost around the clock on them, but there have been much more in the air lately since Lorric,” Verona said.

“What do you mean?”

“Our Hythariam friends have been frantically searching for the Zekara but are unable to find them. They revealed themselves at Lorric, but have since gone quiet.”

Aaron nodded.
 

“Will you be able to face the High King without your swords?” Verona asked.

“I won’t lie to you, I would feel a lot better facing him with them than without them, but they’re lost. At least for now. I still have this,” Aaron said lifting the rune-carved staff.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Verona said digging into his pack. “Tanneth asked me to give these to you,” Verona said, handing him two small curved axes.

“Thanks,” Aaron said.

“Two of them in case you miss with the first one. Isn’t that what Tolvar’s son said?”
 

“Yeah,” Aaron said. “We could sure use his help.”

“We can use all the help we can get,” Verona grinned.

“Sarah told me that you’ve come a long a way in being able to tap into the energy,” Aaron said.

“She did, did she? Why do I feel like there is a target painted on my back?” Verona laughed nervously.

“I recall you and Sarik getting a good laugh when I first tried to jump on the deck of the Raven,” Aaron said.

Verona shook his head, “I knew that someday you would make me pay for that.”

“Yup,” Aaron said, coming to a halt.

“Really, right now?” Verona asked, glancing around.

“You can already do it. You just don’t believe you can,” Aaron replied.

“That’s because I tried, and it didn’t work out so well,” Verona said.

“When Sarah was first trying to show me how, I was too focused on the actual act. What you need to focus on is where you’re jumping to. Look at that tree branch right up there,” Aaron said.

Verona grimaced, “So high up?”

Aaron leaped up to a thick limb about thirty feet from the ground and turned to face his friend. “Your turn.” He watched as Verona focused and could sense the energy being drawn into his friend. Verona squatted and pushed up and rose a few feet into the air and then landed. After a few more attempts, Aaron could see the frustration setting in and leaped back down.

“Close your eyes,” Aaron said. “Trust me. Close them. Picture the limb. Build a perfect picture in your mind. Now draw in the energy and feed it into your muscles, but expand to feel it in the air around you.” Aaron waited a moment before continuing. “Now I want you imagining yourself jumping to the tree limb-- No need to talk.” Aaron continued drawing the energy into himself. He could sense it in Verona. The potential was there. “Now imagine Roselyn is up there waiting for you.”

“This is stupid,” Verona said, but didn’t open his eyes.

“No, it’s not. The only thing keeping you from reaching that limb is you. Focus, Verona,” Aaron said. “Think back to the tower. Everything is riding on you getting to that limb.” Aaron felt Verona’s lifebeat darken at the mention of the tower, but the energy flared within him. In a burst, Verona launched into the air, passing the tree limb, and the tree for that matter. He crash landed beyond, and Aaron was at his side in seconds asking if he was okay.

Verona glared at him for a moment, and then his face split into a wide smile, “I just jumped.”

“Yes, you did. Landings are a different skill set and will come in time,” Aaron snickered and extended his hand, helping his friend up.

“You are having too much fun with this, my friend,” Verona said. “But thanks.”

Aaron’s face grew solemn, “Better here in practice than in a battle with the Elitesmen.”

Verona nodded.

“I can’t tell you how many trees I crashed into trying to keep up with Sarah,” Aaron said.
 

“Come on, they’re right over there, and it looks like we have some company,” Verona said.

Aaron glanced at the group of FNA soldiers and saw Sarah standing with them. Two Elitesmen-- former Elitesmen, Aaron corrected himself-- were there. They had changed their clothing into the common garb of a soldier, but Aaron could sense their connections to the energy around them. They walked over, and without word the soldiers of the FNA lined up. The two former Elitesmen joined them.

Isaac appeared, still wearing his dark-leather duster.

“I’ll serve, but I’m not wearing a uniform,” Isaac said.

“Have you trained anyone before?” Aaron asked.

“Traditionally the Order of the Elite required that senior members be involved with teaching. I know that the Safanarion Order had similar traditions,” Isaac answered.

Aaron nodded, “I would appreciate it if you would help us train these men. Colind believes that they have potential.”

Isaac’s gruff exterior softened as much as his craggy face would allow, “I will do my very best, but what of the others?” asked Isaac, gesturing to the former Elitesmen.
 

They were close to Aaron’s age, and he could tell they didn’t like being demoted to a common soldier. Aaron also knew he didn’t much care what they liked. “We all need to start somewhere.”

Isaac stepped closer and spoke softly, “They joined your cause at great cost to themselves. They are not novices, but highly efficient killing machines.”

Aaron shifted his gaze so the two former Elitesmen could hear, “That’s the part we need to change. They need to be highly efficient at protecting.” Aaron moved to stand directly in front of the former Elitesmen, but he addressed all the men. “Killing is easy. Anyone can kill. Whether with a weapon or with their hands, the act of taking a life is simple and permanent. With the Hythariam weapons it becomes easier still and with less training. Now don’t mistake me, I’m not talking about the inner turmoil that comes from killing, even in self-defense. I mean that killing on its most fundamental level, the act of thrusting a knife into your enemy where he is most vulnerable, is simple and at the same time one of the most horrible acts a person can do. Killing changes you, and the more you do it the worse it is.
 

"The real challenge is keeping those around you alive. Fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves is worth a great deal. Teaching others to defend themselves is better still. And creating a world where we're not living by the sword every day is ideal.”

“What about your enemies, do they not deserve death?” one of the former Elitesmen asked.

“What’s your name?”

“Rohnek, my Lord.”

“Sometimes our enemies deserve death. When it comes to survival and it’s either you or them is different than using death as a means to remove obstacles in your path,” Aaron said.

“But you’ve killed Elitesmen and many others,” Rohnek said.

“They were trying to kill me--” Aaron began.

“Quite a lot of them actually,” Verona quipped.

“My point is that killing should be something that is used as a last resort,” Aaron continued.

The other former Elitesman raised his hand, and Aaron nodded to him.

“Zedya, my Lord. There is a war. These are soldiers,” Zedya said. “There will be death.”

“Yes, there will. Too much death, but eventually the war will be over. I’ve been to Khamearra, and I know the Elitesmen there kill for the slightest offense or to pull innocents into their experiments. We will fight this war because we have no other choice, but one day the war will be over,” Aaron said.

Rohnek and Zedya both lowered their eyes. Aaron knew there were some that relished the power of the Elitesmen Order and then there were those who had to function within its confines to survive.
 

“My promise to you is not to judge you on what you did to survive. You now wear the uniform of the Free Nations Army and will be judged on the actions and achievements you accomplish from this moment forth. You are part of something, and in time it will become part of you. You all have abilities and talents. You are here because there are some who believe that you have the potential to learn. Some of you already know a great deal. Help your fellow soldiers. There is no one standing here right now who doesn’t need help or can't learn something new,” Aaron said, walking down the line of men.

“We have a short window of time for training. Some of you will be coming with us on a mission. We’ll have more on that later. Right now I’d like to see what you can do. Verona tells me that he and Sarah have already gone over the slow fighting forms. Let’s see how well you learned,” Aaron said.

The training session must have been rudimentary for the former Elitesmen, but they didn’t complain. Their form was perfect, and they carried out whatever he asked them to do with rigid focus. Rohnek and Zedya both wore mask over their thoughts, and at some points Aaron wondered what they were thinking.

Colind had been right to single out these men. Some had real potential in their own unique way, but what was common among them was a strong sense of self. Something they would need if they were ever successful in tapping the energy around them. More than once he wanted to have the Falcons with him and wield them into the bladesong of awakening.
 

After an hour they dismissed all but ten of the men, which included Rohnek and Zedya. They needed their help for what were about to do. Aaron planned to keep a close eye on them and had to trust whatever vetting process Isaac had used to allow them into the Resistance.
 

Sarik came at a run across the yard and met them.

“Tanneth is waiting for us on the east field,” Sarik said.

They met up with the Hythariam, who was working among three long tables inside a tent. The young Hythariam had his fine white hair tied back and tucked into his shirt. He wore dark gloves, and next to him were a pile of octagonal containers several inches across. There were several basins that were filled with dark powders and one that contained a powder that shimmered in the light.

“Is that powder from the yellow crystals used to power the airships?” Aaron asked.

Tanneth nodded, “The black and red powders are used to ignite the charged tiny crystallized dust for a truly powerful explosion. One of these can take out this whole area.”

“Is it safe for us to be standing here?” Isaac asked.

“It is if you don’t sneeze,” Braden said, coming from behind the crates stacked on the other side of the tent.

“Warden,” Isaac greeted.

“They are safe enough to handle when I’ve got them inside these canisters. The outer walls are meant to break apart in a wide arc that will shred anything close by. The metal used is something we have that is highly resistant to heat, which is why they don’t simply burn up during the explosion,” Tanneth said.

“They are so small. How much damage can they really do?” Sarik asked.

“I planted enough of these on the structural supports of one of the Citadel towers and brought it down,” Tanneth said.

“I can attest to that as I was on top of the tower when it collapsed,” Aaron said. “How many do we have?”

“This is the final batch. I have three crates we can take with us,” Tanneth said and picked up one of the octagonal balls. He rotated it to show a small panel, “This is the timer, which I recommend setting after these have been put in place.” Tanneth started closing the canisters, and he and Braden stowed them away.