Skandar finished his last set of lunges with the wooden sword when the group of five guards entered the training ground.
“Alright, that’s enough for today,” yelled Renier, “let’s go have some breakfast and continue after that.” He tried to be polite and stay out of the way of the guards; after all, he was a guest, and soon, he would have his own place, so a few lighter days for Skandar wouldn’t be a problem.
“We’ve never had a sword master before,” one of the guards said just loud enough for Renier to hear, “you sure he’s not a scam master?”
Skandar was about to run over and yell at them, but Renier put out his hand, “Boy, it’s just friendly banter from soldiers. Well, almost soldiers in any case,” answered Renier in a similar, just loud enough voice.
The soldiers immediately changed course toward Renier, “Master Orhan, a friendly spar? We would love some instruction from you!”
“Efendiler, I would love to, but I’m pressed for time.”
“It’s just a quick spar, Master Orhan. We’ll even pay for your services.”
“Alright, Efendiler, how about a little wager instead? Loser cleans the winner's weapons and armor for a month?”
“Sure. Which one of us are you going to fight first?”
“Oh no, Efendiler, I’ll fight all five of you simultaneously!” Said Renier as he took out his yataghan, “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”
The guards didn’t look so sure, but they were committed.
Renier moved to the center of the practice field; by this time, more guards had joined them, and a crowd had formed. The five guards took out their swords and surrounded Renier.
“Anytime you’re ready!” The five guards lunged in unison.
Renier entered his dagraha, and time slowed. With practiced persons and inhuman speed, Renier hit the wrist of each guard with the flat of the yataghan in the wrist and returned to his original position as if nothing had happened.
Five swords fell to the ground. “Efendiler, perhaps you should practice holding your sword before sparing! My apprentice has a better grip,” he said as he walked out of the yard, Skandar in tow. No one spoke.
----------------------------------------
“Ustasi Ohran, Mustafa Pasha asks that you join him in the main courtyard.” Informed the servant as he vowed.
When he reached the courtyard, a grey-haired sergeant, four middle-aged guards, a stout old servant, an older woman, and two young girls were waiting along with the Pasha. “Ah, Ohran, you are here,” exclaimed the Pasha.
“This is Ferid; he has been with my guard for twenty years and is well-trusted. The men were hand-picked by him,” he said, pointing to the warriors. Then he moved to the old servant.
“This is Harun; he has been with my estate for thirty years and will be your valet,” the stout man vowed and said, “Ustasi.”
“This is Farida; my wife picked her, and she is our best cook. These two are Lina and Rania, and they have been trained in our estate since they were very young. They will serve you well and keep your estate running marvelously,” commented the Pasha with great joy.
Renier was sure they were all spies for the Pasha, but that would change soon enough.
“They will go now, and you can move to your new estate tomorrow. Not that we want you to go. My wife and I are happy that you and young Skandar are here.”
“Thank you, Excellency, for all your help,” and he was grateful, although the help had cost him about five hundred gold ducats. But he didn’t lack gold. Ayg had been meticulous in her planning and had left him hundreds of millions in gold and jewels. Enough to maintain a sect of thousands of people for centuries.
----------------------------------------
Skandar was ecstatic! He had never had so many clothes. The five sets for everyday use, two for more formal affairs, undergarments, shoes, and boots were overwhelming. And then there was the fine, supple leather armor that fit him perfectly. He felt like a real warrior - in his mind, Skandar could see himself fighting battles and saving princesses. The only thing he was bummed about was that his master had not allowed him to get a real sword. Only wood for now, he had said.
This new bedroom wasn’t bad either. It was smaller than the one at the Pasha’s, but it was his. His master said they would live here from now on. However, he had hinted at going to an Island to train later. There were many mysterious things about his master, but he was treated well enough. Good food a clean, safe place to live, and he was becoming a warrior. He was mostly used to waking up before dawn and exercising now, but he hated the meditation. His eager young mind just didn’t like to sit still, and he felt his master’s disappointment every time he failed.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
There were other mysteries at the estate, too. Like the weird noises he had heard coming from his master’s bedroom or that spooky oath, he made all of them take: the servants and him. He could remember the words clearly.
‘Sealed upon my spirit and flesh, I do willingly swear to:
Safeguard the secrets of my master and this estate with unyielding resolve; shield them from the light of day and the whispers of the night.
Uphold the honor and dignity of this noble abode and serve my master with unwavering loyalty and grace.
Defend all within these walls from harm or foe with life or limb.
May my soul fracture should this trust be betrayed.’
And that weird feeling he had after the words were said and his master’s admonishment, “This oath is binding on your soul and will be upheld; don’t take it lightly.” He has said it was a mystical oath.
But those were minor things. Skandar felt for the first time in his short life that there was a bright future.
----------------------------------------
Behind a bookcase on one of the walls in his bedroom, a door led to an underground escape room. The Pasha had built it as a precaution in his younger days, and he had shown Renier how to work the mechanism to enter.
The room held very little interest for Renier until he noticed something extraordinary. There was a ley line about thirty meters to the east and one hundred meters down.
For the past ten days, Renier had dug a tunnel painstakingly, created a room above the spot, and carved an array on the floor to collect and concentrate the Mu energy. This would allow him to power defensive arrays and other things for his estate.
It was work that he could entrust to no one, so he had gotten little sleep while he completed the project. Now, he was working on expanding the project.
Renier moved cautiously down the avenue. Stealthy moving from shadow to shadow. The habit was ingrained in him by the experiences of his journey. 'Nothing can harm you here, child. The arrays that protect the sect are still functioning,' Ayg explained. Relaxed, Renier started to stroll down the avenue, gawking at the buildings, trying to read the signs that adorned each one. He had never seen this kind of architecture. Ayg noticed his curiosity and started serving as his tour guide. 'This is the skills library. You'll learn about skills after you develop your Samvid Nexus,' said Ayg, pointing at a building to the right. 'This is the alchemist hall; there are many elixirs there that will help you grow.' As they came to an intersection, she continued to explain, 'If you go to the right, you'll reach the Zenith Tower, and to the left is the Etheric Shaping Hall. I'll explain Etheric Shaping, but you won't be able to practice it until you reach stage three…’
Renier came out of the memories of his first day on Ombre Island as he finished shaping the last piece of Lucine Spirite he needed for the perimeter defensive array. He missed Ayg the most. It had taken him a long time to understand the genius of her planning and the depth of her sacrifice, and it left a hole in him that decades had not been able to fill. He would finish the mission.
That night, he embedded the two hundred and thirty-two talismans in the outer walls of the estate and made an etheric connection to a controlling array in the underground escape room. ‘No one will climb over the walls of this estate,’ he thought, remembering the fateful night.
It was quite the complex he had built. A workshop for Etheric Shaping, one for Alchemy, and another for meditation and exercise that, although more modest, like the Zenith Tower, increased gravity and Mu energy pressure.
This would give him a little more time before taking Skandar to Ombre Island.
He protected the entrance to the complex with the strongest shield he could make, and only his phasing technique could get through. Eventually, he would make a key bracelet for Skandar so he could start to train inside. But for now, he was delighted with the results.
----------------------------------------
Renier noticed a woman tending the garden's soil as he walked through the courtyard of the Pasha’s house. As he neared her, she suddenly turned, dropped to her knees, and started to kowtow, saying, “Thank you, master Ohran!”
He had not recognized her at first, but then it dawned on him that it was Viper. She was thinner, and the once lustrous skin had started to age.
Two months had passed since he left the Pasha’s estate, and he was back with a special request.
The Pasha was seated behind his desk in the study. "Selamün aleiküm, your Excellency," said Renier as he entered.
"Aleiküm selam, master Ohran, we have missed you. How is your new estate?”
“It is excellent, your Excellency. Thank you for selling it to me.”
“It is nothing, master Ohran. I had built it in case we had a daughter; it could be her dowery, but alas, we had only sons. Please, have some tea with me. This is an excellent blend I just received from India.”
“Thank you, your Excellency,” the men sat at a small table that looked to the east garden of the estate. Viper was now tending those flowers, and Renier wondered, but the Pasha’s conversation returned his attention.
“We will be having a small dinner in two weeks, and I would like to invite you to join us. Nothing extravagant, just a group of friends and some of my functionaries in the city's government,” commented the Pasha as he sipped his tea.
“I would be honored, your Excellency,” replied Renier.
“Now, young Orhan, to what do I owe this visit?”
“Your Excellency,” Renier got to the point, “I would like to ask for your help with two things. First, I need to make some inquiries and get news from Constantinople. I was hoping you had a contact I could use. Two, I would like to join the Silk Merchant’s Guild, and I hoped you could write a letter of introduction.”
“Certainly, Master Orhan. I’ll do even better than that,” he said. Then he turned and, in a slightly higher voice, said, “Tahir!”
A young man entered the study almost immediately, “yes, your Excellency?”
“Tahir, make sure to add Emir Faruk Bey, Ibrahim Effendi… and Halil Pasha to the guest list for the dinner in two weeks.”
“Certainly, your Excellency,” answered Tahir. However, he was surprised at the last one.
“I’ll do better than a letter. I’ll introduce you to some people at the diner and make a personal recommendation.”
Renier and the Pasha talked for another hour about the affairs of the Empire. Although he was sure it was because of his connection to the Sultan, the Pasha was very attentive, and they were becoming, he thought, friends.
----------------------------------------
“Young master Orhan bought an estate from Vali Mustafa Pasha al-Angori. We have tried to infiltrate, but the guards or servants would not take bribes. We also tried to enter at night, but a powerful ward protected the perimeter. Stronger than we have ever encountered,” reported the Yendeci spy.
“Disappointing. We will need to devise another plan to get in. Maybe we can engender a fortuitous encounter,” answered Meryem, perhaps a little too eager.
----------------------------------------
“He must have reached stage four or even stage five. I want a team of stage four led by a stage five, and I want him killed. We can’t allow some kid to run around and kill our brothers. He’s probably fortified his new home; the Enclave had some extraordinary arrays. So, set up spies around Ancyra and give them our best cloaking talismans. I don’t want them detected. They will report immediately if he leaves, and we’ll set up an ambush he won't escape,” Zain was livid after the report, “also, get the five imbeciles that were guarding the entrance and behead them and display their heads on pikes in the main courtyard. I want everyone to understand the price of failure!”