“Holy…how many?” Krys asked, thoroughly amazed.
“Seven thousand…give or take,” Bock answered. “They’ve been pouring in from all over the plains.”
“Ha!” Samantha yelled and spurred Maggie off toward the archers, but not before she shot a dazzling smile back at Gwaynn.
Bock laughed again. “I’m glad to have all of you back; Tanner needs to work hard with the new cavalry. They’ll be essential.”
Gwaynn and Krys watched the men closest to them work with katas.
“Are they heavy?” Gwaynn asked.
Bock nodded, following the King’s gaze. “All of them, katas, pikes, swords, everything but the bows, double the weight of their counterparts.
Krys whistled again, watching the men. “They’re improving.”
Bock agreed with the assessment. “Yes and growing stronger. Some are now veterans of two major battles, but we still need you and Gwaynn to begin working with them. Cyndar is a nasty little fighter, full of tricks, but she’s uncomfortable training anyone, let alone large groups…” His voice trailed off when he noticed Gwaynn’s attention was fixed on a pair of nearby soldiers working with katas. Bock wondered at it as Gwaynn rode slowly forward.
“Hold your left kata higher, Jake of Bern,” Gwaynn said interrupting the two men, but then motioned for them to continue. Jake looked up and caught sight of Gwaynn and Krys.
“Jake, the protector of Bern,” Krys interjected with a smile of his own. “Do as the King commands, hold your left higher. You’ll get knots on the side of your head if ignore such prudent advice.”
Jake smiled in greeting and pulled his left hand higher. But he was nearly exhausted and the heavy kata felt as if it were made of lead. Nevertheless he faced his opponent, ready to spar, but before they could begin Gwaynn was off his horse and approaching. Both men bowed slightly, but Gwaynn just shook his head.
“Continue,” he said softly and studied the two as they moved through a few forms before he stopped them once again. “Katas,” he yelled and another pair almost magically appeared.
“You’re tired,” Gwaynn said to both of them, “but if you keep your guard too low you’ll waist time and energy. A low guard complicates everything. It’s much harder to deflect an attack coming from the shoulders up, and you’ll likely lose your head. Keep your guard high; it’s much easier and more fluid to move downward. The entire earth is behind such a move. Use her to your advantage. Look…here,” he said and assumed the basic form, right kata chest high, left kata shoulder high, both points facing outward away from his body. “From this point your entire body is well defended and you can attack and defend at speed. Krys.”
His Weapons Master jumped from his horse, eager for a bit of exercise. Another set of katas appeared and they were now surrounded by a group of excited young men; most were newcomers and had yet to see their new King fight…but they’d all heard stories.
The two did not spar long, just a few quick bursts of speed and energy to demonstrate the wisdom behind the teaching. But they moved with such swiftness and exhibited such skill that even Lonogan was left a little breathless. Yes, he was very happy the King and his army had returned home. The soldiers, who’d gathered around to watch the sparring gasped at some of the more impressive moves and then applauded heartily, Jake of Bern the loudest of them all.
Gwaynn worked a while longer with them all, adjusting certain inadequacies but generally just encouraged the men.
“It’s good to have you with us,” he finally said to Jake, patting him on the shoulder before mounting up once more. “We’ll begin your true training tomorrow,” he added and glanced out in Samantha’s direction. She was busy working with Hahn and he knew there would be no luring her away, so he turned with Lonogan and headed back to most famous lumber mill in all of Massi.
Over a dozen men gathered around Jake as the King’s party road back off the Plateau. They jostled him playfully, though they all showed him a new respect.
“In tight with the King…” one older soldier ribbed Jake as if he were teasing the younger man about a girl.
Jake smiled. “They tried to pick a fight with me a while back, but they backed down. Lucky for them I guess...”
Laughter erupted loud enough for Gwaynn to hear but he did not turn back to look, instead he just rode on smiling.
II
The Executioner Ira Lacombe landed in Heron without any feeling of homecoming at all. He was Massi, but this land was never really his home. This was only the second time he’d returned since leaving more than two decades ago at the age of twelve. His last visit to Massi was nearly five years previous, when he was hired to kill a wealthy merchant who’d been greedy and foolish enough to steal from the wrong people. Lacombe returned to the land of his birth to execute the man and his family.
Standing on the bustling dock, the memory of the kill brought a smile to Lacombe’s face, for though the merchant was old, his wife was much younger. Young and firm she was, and though she was not a true beauty, she made up for it with robust enthusiasm in bed. Of course it was feigned enthusiasm brought on by the threat of death…but it was enjoyable enthusiasm nonetheless. Lacombe could not recall the woman’s name but he clearly remembered how eager she was to please, eager in many, many ways, and even though she showed great promise and a genuine talent in the carnal pleasures, Lacombe still took her life in the end. She squirmed with true enthusiasm as he strangled her slowly. He remembered how her eyes bulged and pleaded for mercy right up until the moment she died. She received none of course and when it was over he hung her naked body in front of her manor home as a warning to others. Yes, he remembered the woman well, even if he could not remember her name.
And now he was “home” once more, ironically to kill another woman, but this target was far deadlier than his last Massi victim. Lacombe was absent when the Tarina de Baard challenged and killed Tar Wazzner, but his spies spoke of her uncanny speed and skill. They also mentioned her beauty, but Lacombe doubted he would be able to coerce any sexual satisfaction from the Tarina before her death. No, he could not let his attention wander. He would have to be satisfied with the kill. He did not deceive himself. de Baard must be good, very good for it was not often that the High Tar of the Sinis warned of being mindful after issuing the kill order. Lacombe knew he would have to be careful, cunning and quick. There was little doubt that de Baard would recognize him for what and who he was, so the kill must come very fast and at the very first opportunity.
Lacombe looked about the dock in the early morning light as he waited for Sunwind, his large brown mare to be off-loaded. She was not his favorite, but she would draw no unwanted attention. He was playing the part of a warrior now; at least until de Baard was in his sights. He was dimly aware of the crowd moving about him. Those nearest the man from Sinis unconsciously gave him a wide berth without fully knowing why. Instinctively, in the deepest recesses of their minds, they labeled Lacombe as dangerous and skipped past as quickly as possible and when they were by, nearly all felt an odd form of relief. For his part Lacombe ignored the people around him…just so much clutter.