The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge) (21 page)

At the end of the long room, Landon halted before the throne and bowed low. The lord rose from his throne and touched Landon on the shoulder, the sign that he was willing to speak with him. If he had remained in his chair, Landon would have been cast out by the two burly guards. Lord Dawson r
elaxed back into his grand seat as Landon stood.

“What is your name, stranger?” The Lord boomed.

“Landon, son of Jediael,” he said.

“Son of Jediael?” Lord Dawson repeated curiously. Landon recoiled at the sound of familiarity in the Lord’s voice at his father’s name. “You are an unexpected visitor indeed.
For what reason have you come?”

“I have come to pledge my aid to the safe return of
your daughter,” Landon said.

“Aside from the noble blood of your father coursing though you, what services can you provide that my own men cannot perform already?” It was a fair question. Landon had no expertise in solving mysteries, nor was he expertly trained in hand to hand combat. He knew that his power set himself apart from the others, but something inside of him urged him not to reveal this to the Lord of Ellington.

“I have nothing special to add, just an extra helping hand.”

“Then, why have you come to ask my permission? Surely you could have begun the search on your own.”

“I was sent by the sage Aldous. He instructed me to speak with you and offer any services I could,” Landon said.

“You have been in contact with the scientist?” Lord Dawson asked, and at that moment, Landon was unsure if revealing his friend had been a wise decision. Then, the Lord’s countenance relaxed and he said, “I am glad to hear he is still alive. We have not seen him for quite some time. If Aldous has sent you, then perhaps you can be of assistance after all. What do you need to begin your search?”

“I am unaware as to the information surrounding her disappearance. Perhaps you could enlighten me.”

“Very well,
my daughter, Mackenzie, has been missing now for over a year. The day she vanished, I had sent her on an errand of grave importance. She was carrying a special item to Lady Rowena. I sent Mackenzie to ensure its safe transfer. Along the way, her escort was attacked by an unknown enemy. No one was found. However, we did find the chest she was escorting empty which leads me to believe whoever has my daughter was looking for the item. I believe they are holding her, in an attempt to elicit information about the item.”

“What
is this item?” Landon asked.

“Unfortunately, I am not free to answer that question. You must understand there are matters of state which we Lords must keep confidential. Besides, the item is not important to finding my daughter.”

“But if I knew what it was, perhaps we could figure out who would have wanted it. That might lead us to her location.”

“Enough!” Lord Dawson roared standing. A minute later his face eased and he sat back down. “My security team has already sifted through all possible scenarios, and we have found no leads. You must concern yourself solely with finding my daughter or remove yourself from my presence.”

“I accept. Before I leave, perhaps one more bit of information might aid me in my search. Where was your daughter’s escort attacked?”

“We found her carriage on the road to the sea at the crossroads. T
here is where you should begin. I thank you for your service, Landon, son of Jediael. If you have need of a bed, inquire of Harding at his inn in the market district. Explain to him your mission and he will allow you to stay free of charge.” Landon stepped backwards and bowed again.

“I thank you for
your hospitality.” Landon said with a half bow. And with that, he left the Lord of Ellington in his throne to find some place to rest.

It was then that Aratus roused Landon from his sleep. The pain in his body had subsided a little, but he was not ready for more work. The dream of Ellington and the quest he should have been pursuing instead of training weighed on his heart. He knew that somewhere the Mistress of Ellington was lost and it was his duty to find her. It saddened Landon to know that she must remain so until he accomplished this task. He relayed this to Aratus.

“That is a terrible burden to bear. However, I believe leaving your search for Gavin would prove to be a far more dangerous decision. If he were to unlock the power of the ring, he might be unstoppable.”

Landon could only imagine the horrors that Gavin would unleash upon the realm. As much as it terrified him to trust another person he knew she was right.

“You are correct,” he said. “This is my priority. I must finish this first.” It was just the push he needed to arise from the bed upon which he was sleeping and continue his training.

“I’m ready, Master. Let us begin anew.”

Chapter Twenty

The Forging of Master Landon

Landon and Aratus stood along the lake’s edge in a small glade. The constant drum of the waterfall was beginning to give Landon a headache. It had seemed so peaceful when he first encountered this place, but living here for a few days was beginning to tire him. In addition, the ointment he had used to soothe his wounds had not healed them completely as his master had promised. He could still feel a pain when he walked and breathed. Aratus did not seem interested in letting up either.

“As I mentioned last night, you need to learn balance before any specific training can begin. Balance is essential to a fighter’s ability to carry out attacks and parries. In addition, a balanced fighter shows more poise at the start of a duel creating a mental advantage in his opponent. Usually, I train my apprentices to master this before choosing a focus style. However, since there appears to be a rush on the importance of you learning your skill, I will skip much of my routine.

‘There are many different forms of saber combat. I have narrowed them down to three basic categories. Any type of fighting will ultimately result in learning and using these forms. They are named for animals which best represent their style: the Lion, the Ox, and the Eagle. First, the Lion. Just as a lion is fierce, powerful, and aggressive, this fighting style embodies sheer attack with a detriment to defense. To wield it effectively, the user must possess energy, strength, stamina, and speed. Most fighters who use this style exclusively do so out of arrogance of their own skill. It is a deadly form, and one that is very useful in the most dire of circumstances.

‘The Ox is a sheer defensive form with a limit to attacks. Much like the animal for which it is named, it is sturdy, dependable, and can work well for any user. A swordsman of this style intends to wear down an opponent before striking. Mastery of the Ox requires patience, focus, and determination. For it is only with these attributes that a fighter can truly wear down his opponent. There is also a warning associated with this style. If you come across an enemy who possesses a great amount of tenacity and stamina, this style will wear you down. It is very tiring to always defend and never attack.

‘The Eagle is a combination of the two. Like the noble bird, it uses quick strikes and rapid retreats. It is a balanced style, but the most difficult to learn. To master all of the movements associated with this style takes years. Instead of using improvisation, there are patterned attacks and defenses associated with this style. You will need determination, speed, strength, and focus to wield this style.

‘You must choose which style you prefer to learn. I will instruct what you wish, but remember, though Gavin is your foremost enemy, he is not the only villain in the world.”  Finished, Aratus stood silently waiting for Landon’s choice.

“What technique did you teach Gavin?”

“His arrogance led him on the path of the Lion. He was the only student I ever had to master this style as rapidly as he. That was many years ago, however, and he may have mastered others. I cannot be certain.”

“Then, I choose all three styles. I may not master them, but if I can become proficient in each, I stand a better chance,” he decided.

“I caution this choice. To confront an enemy of Gavin’s expertise, you will need more than simple proficiency. You must find mastery before you can truly defeat him.”

Landon pondered this information. Gavin was the type of person to take pride in his skill. He was not the type to spend time relearning a new style because his pride would not have allowed him to do so. Landon was positive his skill rested in the Lion alone.

“What do you counsel, Master Aratus?” Landon asked.

“There is no one style which is preferable to another, nor does one style serve as a counter-weight to another. Any discipline you choose will serve your purpose against Gavin so long as you come to mastery.”

Landon thought over the styles for a long while. The Lion was certainly attractive for in it he would learn the ability to wield death. However, he worried that this might lead to pride such as Gavin’s. He did not trust himself with this power especially if he was to regain his ring. The Ox was an alternate option that played more into his desire for deterrence. If he could master wearing a person down and saving his own energy, it would most likely teach him how to conserve his ring’s power. Lastly, Landon considered the Eagle. It was a perfect balance of two worlds and would give him the ability not only to learn when to strike when necessary, but defend himself and others. It may take a lifetime to master, but Landon liked the challenge. He had always been a quick study and thought that this would be the ultimate test. “I will master the Eagle,” he said confidently.

“So be it. I respect your ambition; though, this will not be a quick training,” she said as if she knew what he was thinking. “Only dedication will prepare you for the many enemies you will face. I already know that you possess determination, focus, and strength after your first task on the cliff. Your next lesson will be to learn speed. How proficient are you at swimming?”

Landon’s heart sank. He had never had a need for swimming, and he greatly did not like the prospect of having to now. “Rather poor, actually. I can manage when the water is calm, but beyond that I am not confident.”

“Then this will be the perfect opportunity to learn. As I mentioned before, you need to learn balance. Coupling this with your need to learn speed, I have a task that will serve you well. You must conquer these skills before I can show you any of the movements associated with the Eagle. Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be, I suppose,” he said with cynicism.

“Good, here is your task. I will send logs over the fall. You must gain balance on each as I send them. In the meantime, I expect you to maintain a ready stance in which ever position you feel most comfortable. You goal is to complete ten successful logs and maintain balance on the final log to the river. At that time only will you be able to sheath you sword and jump to solid ground. We cannot move forward until this task is complete. Do you understand?”

“Aye,” was all Landon could reply. The difficulty of this task overwhelmed his senses. He watched as Aratus easily scaled the rock face next to the cascade and disappeared over the cliff.
She makes it look so easy
, he thought. But before he could think anything else, a log the thickness of a full grown tree came hurtling over the fall. It hit the water creating a giant wave before it. Landon drew his sword and tried to time his jump onto the log. It was far more difficult than he imagined. As he leapt onto the beam of wood, he felt his feet skid across the slippery bark and before he knew it, he was holding his breath underwater. Quickly, he swam to the surface. As he did so, he moved back onto the embankment to prepare for another attempt.

He did not have to wait long. As soon as he was up, another large log poured over the cliff and into the large lake. He readied himself and again leaped onto the board. Again he failed and splashed into the water. Once more he made his way onto the grass and prepared himself for another attempt. It too was unsuccessful.

The rest of the day followed the same pattern. Logs collected at the mouth of the river and formed a dam. Still Landon could not seem to master even gaining a footing on the wood. His goal of mastering this technique rapidly was quickly fading. Eventually, Aratus called him to a halt and instructed him instead to gather the logs into a pile on the grass. This too seemed difficult due to his weak skills at swimming, but he managed. Most of the timber was salvaged and piled against the cliff walls.

Aratus watched Landon work from her perch atop the waterfall. He felt slighted. Yesterday he had accomplished an impressive task. He had scaled a cliff in the most impossible way, and she had not even watched. Today, he had failed his task in the worst way, and she was there for every laughable moment. He could not understand her motives. He grabbed the last log and tossed it into the pile. Once again his body was entirely taxed.

As soon as he placed the last log in the pile, Aratus quickly descended the mountain and met him where he stood. He was relieved the day was over. He was so tired he was unsure he could even make it to supper. Aratus, however, was not quite finished.

“This will not do. You must move the logs over to the cliff by the fall so they will be prepared for tomorrow’s work.”

Landon could not believe what he was hearing.
Did she not witness what had just taken place?
There is no possible way I could survive doing that
! Yet, he had sworn to obey his master, and if he truly wanted Gavin to find justice, he would have to continue to obey her. He swallowed his anger and pride and responded in the only way he knew Aratus wanted, “Yes, Master.”

He moved to the pile and began to dislodge the first log. It felt heavier than the first time he had placed it there. He set it down and rolled it across the fertile glade. Slamming it against the wall, he turned to grab the second beam. He worked this way until the whole pile was moved.  The sun disappeared just as he finished the task. Aratus, who had been sitting on the turf the entire time watching, stood and approached Landon. There was some light left, but it would be gone before they reached the inner cave. He was eager to sit by the fire, but Aratus once again had other plans. She unsheathed her sword.

“The best warriors are never tired, always ready for battle. It is in our most weakened state that our natural abilities take over,” she instructed.

Landon doubted this very much but knew he had little choice. He drew his sword as well. She stood with her strong foot slightly back and the sword pointed directly at Landon. He attempted to mirror her but could barely hold his sword up. As soon as he set his back foot, she was upon him. Landon didn’t have time to plan or think, he simply parried and blocked and twisted away from her quick reflexes and sharp blade.

With every stab and thrust Landon felt her try to dislodge his weapon. He had already learned that lesson. He didn’t care if holding on to it killed him, he was not scaling the wall again. She continued her advance spinning Landon in circles, and somehow he continued to stand his ground. He was unsure what was happening, but he was finding a strength he did not know. Aratus had worked him past the point of exhaustion, yet here he was continuing to defend himself.

At the most critical moment of the match, Landon saw that Aratus had left herself open to an attack from the side. Whether it was purposeful or accidental he was unsure, but he knew that it would probably be the only offense he would muster in this fight. Swiftly, he swung his blade from under a block toward her left side. He felt victory as it lithely moved into her ribcage. He saw the hole in her garment pierced by his sword, but before any blood was drawn, his hand was vibrated by a violent block from the elegant blade. Aratus had recovered just in time to stop him.

It was at this moment that the match was called off. The light had failed and the master and the apprentice could barely see each other. Without speaking, the two of them stood in the growing twilight staring at each other panting. For the first time in their relationship, she learned his aptitude for learning a skill. He was improving simply by watching her fight. She was yet to teach him any specifics about stances, movements, attacks or blocks and yet, he was creating them.

“I am impressed,” was all the attention she would give the matter.

§ §
§

The rest of the training progressed much more swiftly than either of them had imagined. Within a few weeks Landon mastered his agility on the logs and was easily leaping from one to the next with ease. Soon, the two of them began to challenge each other using the logs as their sparring ground. Landon’s skill at acquiring new knowledge served him well. A few months passed with Landon learning ready stances and the movements associated with the Eagle. Each time Aratus taught him a new movement, he had it memorized within a week. He became so proficient that in sparring matches, Landon came closer and closer to actually getting a strike on his master.

As the months passed, and the movements increased in complexity, Landon began to add his own improvisation to the steps. This caused a sore spot for Aratus who had seen this before. Every student who began to do so always found death at the hands of their greatest enemy. It became such a nuisance that she felt she had to confront Landon about it.

“I will have no more of this nonsense!” she cried in the midst of one match. Landon was caught off guard.

“Do not begrudge me for learning so quickly. It is only due to your great tutelage.”

“I have seen this arrogance before. It will lead to your demise.”

“Why does this upset you so? I am taking your training and adding to it.”

“The movements are purposeful. They are designed so that in the heat of battle, you will not need to think. The hesitation between deciding your next move and acting upon it is just enough to get you killed. I have seen it more times than I can count. You task is too important to allow that. Gavin preys upon hesitation and weakness. He will no doubt see it and take full advantage.”

Landon had not considered this. He was becoming so excellent at the Eagle that he thought the additions would help him. He had not understood the true importance of the movements until this moment. He understood the error of his ways and his heart filled with remorse.