Chapter 4- Once more to the road

“What do you remember of the gifts?” asked James.

“Not much. I didn’t get far in my studies before I stopped attending classes,” replied Ethan.

“Do you remember the three schools of gifts?”

“‘And in His goodness the Giver bestows gifts in body, mind and heart,’” recited Ethan. “Everyone knows that. We all heard that teaching over and over from the village elder during our monthly thanksgiving meetings. But what does that have to do with our swords breaking?”

Instead of following Jarod inside after their swords had shattered, James had led Ethan off to the shade of a nearby tree and started in on this strange questioning.

“I’m not talking about what you learned in meetings, but what you learned in classes.” James ignored Ethan’s question. “Tell me what you remember.”

“Not much. I only attended class for a brief time and that was over two years ago. I remember that there are the three schools of gifts with two or three unique gifts in each school. Some warriors have a gift. Are you saying I have the warriors gift?” Ethan was getting excited now.

“It’s called the gift of arms. And yes, you may have that gift.” Ethan couldn’t hide his smile as he listened to James speak. “But maybe not. You are untested. For the first two years of training, we teach the basics of each school of gifting. Anyone with a gift has the potential of manifesting any of the nine gifts. We cannot determine exactly which gift they are strongest in until the time of testing. Just because you showed some gifting in arms today, doesn’t mean that is your strength. We won’t know until you are more fully trained and then tested.”

“Does this mean that I’m going back to the school?” asked Ethan.

“Maybe, but not yet. I’m not sure that would be best for you right now. You still have a few enemies at the school. I don’t know going back now is the answer. Do you know how our fathers were trained in their gifts before the schools were established?”

“I thought we always had the schools,” replied Ethan.

“It’s true that the schools have been with us for hundreds of years, but that wasn’t always the case. Before the schools, each Gifted trained under another older, more mature Gifted. It was teacher and student living together and traveling together long before the schools came into being. That method of teaching had great strengths as well as great weaknesses. The greatest strength was in responsibility. Each Gifted was responsible for taking on students throughout their lifetime. Passing on all your knowledge and learning to another kept each one tempered with caution. As we sought to root out pride and ambition in our students, it helped us remain humble in ourselves as well,” explained James.

“Then why don’t we still do things that way?” asked Ethan.

“Two reasons,” said James. “One, a corrupt teacher would pass on their corruption. When Fargas battled the Nine, what many people fail to realize is that the Nine were all the product of one corrupt teacher. Fargas was the first to realize the dangers that one evil or misguided teacher could have on a whole generation. He was instrumental in establishing the first schools that were oversaw by the council. Only those with the highest honor and morality are allowed to be proctors in the schools.”

“I thought humility was supposed was required as well, Proctor James,” joked Ethan.

James smiled at the joke. “Quite right, my young student.”

“What was the second reason for the schools?”

“The second reason has to do with the gifts themselves. How many gifts are there?”

“Nine,” answered Ethan.

“Some might disagree, but that is the generally accepted answer. And how many gifts can one Gifted possess?” queried James.

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“Usually just one, although they say the Watchers have two.”

“And not just the Watchers, but others can be strong in two or sometimes even three of the nine gifts, but this is highly uncommon. So what happens if a student shows a strength that his teacher doesn’t have?”

“His teacher cannot properly teach him how to use his gift?”

“Exactly so. I would not be able to teach someone the gift of healing, because I only barely understand it myself. But a school has proctors trained in teaching all the gifts. No matter what your strength you can grow in your gift at the schools.”

“So why shouldn’t I return to school and continue my training?” asked Ethan.

“Corbyn is still at school. He’ll be there at least another two years before he leaves for his apprenticeship. He is more disciplined now, but he still has a great dislike for you for some reason. He is also a natural leader, and the other students seem to follow his example. If you went back to school, I’m afraid he’d make it bad for you.”

“So I don’t get to be trained in my gifting because of Corbyn?” Ethan outraged.

“I didn’t say that. I said you shouldn’t go back to school, at least not yet. I didn’t say you wouldn’t be trained. I propose that we train you the way our distant fathers were trained, together as teacher and student. I’ll be traveling for the next several months and I’d like to take you with me. We’d begin your personalized training immediately. If it doesn’t seem that you are gifted in arms, then we’ll reconsider. I can then talk to the head proctor about having you reinstated, or we can send you to one of the other schools for training. However, it seems likely that your strength is in arms, and I am highly qualified to begin your training in that gift.”

As Ethan listened to what James had to say, he became excited. Thoughts of the open road, traveling and adventuring with James sang in his mind. He was Gifted! And he’d be able to train with James, the one person he admired most in this world, and he would be free of the bullying he experienced at the school. But then a couple of concerns stopped his imagination from running away.

“Does that mean I won’t see Melinda again?” Ethan asked before he could stop himself. He turned red as he realized what he had said.

James just smiled at his young friend’s embarrassment. “She’s due to leave the school soon anyway to start her own apprenticeship. Whether you go with me or not, you’ll not see her much in the foreseeable future.”

Trying to cover up his embarrassment of asking about Melinda, Ethan added, “And what about Jarod? What will he say if I leave my apprenticeship with him?”

“Why don’t we go talk to him together over supper and we’ll see if we can’t convince the old soldier to let you go?” With that, James stood, pulled Ethan to his feet and together the two made their way towards the house.

~

Jarod took the news surprisingly well. He seemed as excited for Ethan as Ethan felt himself. And in his own words, Jarod approved saying, “It’s the best place for you boy. There’s no better teacher you could have than that old schoolmarm! You do well to listen to him and he’ll teach you your ways. And if it don’t work out, you can always come back to old Jarod. My broom will miss you, boy. You’re the best housekeeper I’ve ever had. Ha!”

After supper Ethan began packing his few belongings. He had a couple of changes of clothes, a belt knife, a few coppers he’d saved and a small wooden carving of a goat that he treasured. That was it. It was all he had in the world. There was one other item laid out on his bed, the carved box he had made for Melinda. He hadn’t had the chance to give it to her yet. She was supposed to come by in a few days and he was going to give it her then, but now he wouldn’t be here. He would be heading out to the north with James as soon as he had his stuff together. He had tried to get James to head back to the school first or to wait a few days, but James was insistent. They had to head out immediately. Ethan had no choice but to leave the box with Jarod to give to Melinda when she came by.

Ethan looked over at the brief note he’d written to place within the box for Melinda. He considered tearing it up and starting over or in writing more, but he didn’t know how to say what he felt, so he simply put,

Melinda,

I won’t be here when you come. It’s the one thing I would change if I could. Your friendship to me has meant more than you could possibly know. This box is for you. I hope you can use it in your travels. I made it by hand. It may look empty, but it is filled with my affection for you. I hope to see you again one day.

Your friend,

Ethan

He placed the note in the box and wrapped the box in paper. He left it on the kitchen table with her name written on the outside. Jarod would make sure she got it. James was already waiting at the door, and Jarod was sitting wordlessly at the fire smoking his pipe. Ethan stopped at the door and looked back as Jarod met his eye and simply nodded. Then Ethan was gone.

Ethan was leaving again. He was only fourteen years old, but this was the third time he’d left home. His home with Elsme when he was eleven. It wasn’t the greatest, but he had warm memories there. When he was twelve, he left Arvin and the musky rooms off of the stable. No one would envy that home, but to him it had been filled with warmth and acceptance. And now he was leaving again. Jarod had been kind and had done much to train him in what it meant to be a man not afraid to stand up to those that would stand against you.

He thought for a minute that maybe this was why so few people stepped out onto the road. Not for fear at what they might face, but for love of what they would leave behind.