Chapter 24: A Test Of Tempers

Landar

I walked out of Sigvolds office, and waited while he locked up. “This way. The ArchDuke wants to see you before he leaves on his next tower raid. You and the girl.”

“What was that brats name?”

Sigvold smirked as he took the lead and I followed. “You’re one to talk. You’re both the same age, and she didn’t try to kill one of the dukes most trusted advisors. And raiding companions.”

I grumbled under my breath.

“He’d have slit you in two, if he honestly thought you were a threat you know. Tavis is level twelve.”

“What's a level exactly? Everyones been throwing those around lately, but I have no idea what it means.”

Sigvold chuckled to himself. “Our nation categorizes peoples progression in magical power, spiritual strength, and physical might individually, unlike our new eastern companions who categorize people who specialize in one aspect over the other three by different names. The Kingdom knows that all power is simply that. Power. Energy is energy, no matter the form it takes. And so we have created a near universal categorical system.” We came to a large set of double doors. “Ah here we are.”

Sigvold opened one door and motioned for me to go through in front of him. “Alright, that's all nice and good. But what does that mean?” I asked as I walked into the courtyard.

The temple complex had been practically rebuilt from scratch. Most of the outbuildings including the orphanage had burned during the fighting years ago. What had replaced that once monolithic building with its different wings jutting off to each side of the central chapel was a sprawling three story complex honeycombed with internal courtyards and gardens.

No longer could the temple be used as a fortress, should the priesthoods decide to rebel again. It was far too open, with literally hundreds of entrances now. The only place that could truly be considered a defensive structure on the compound was the outer wall.

From what Sigvold had mentioned on our way to his office the change had made their work that much easier to perform. The healing hall was no longer a massive wearhouse. But rather a half dozen pavilions, with clean air, running water, and proper operating rooms and platforms. The central library of the old format had long ago overflowed with books, requiring the small overflow libraries I was familiar with that had been difficult to navigate. Now, several dozen smaller libraries had been built based on topic and security level. Better protecting the knowledge they contained, while simultaneously making research into a specific area of study that much easier.

In short, the new place was awesome.

“It will mean very little to you at this point, Landar.”

I shook my head trying to grasp the thread of the conversation again. I had drifted off watching the gardeners do their work.

“Right. But, then what level am I? That might help me get a better reference point.”

“You happen to be somewhere around level three. Maybe higher . . . It's difficult to gauge because of the spirit dormant in your core. She augments you, makes you stronger, faster, and more powerful in general. But merging so directly with a spirit can have . . . dramatic side effects. As you experienced first hand.”

“You can say that again. I still feel like I want to bite someone. You mentioned you might be able to help with that?”

Sigvold got his chuckling under control and cleared his throat. “Yes we can. It's rather simple actually, but it is painful. To say the least. Particularly with how well dug in she is.”

“You know, my ax is made from part of her and her mate. The dwarf that made it said something about the spirit of the creature still lingering around it. Could that help?” Sigvold examined both me, and my ax one more time as we continued to walk up a set of side stairs, and over into another court yard.

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This court yard was filled with terraces overlooking a sand pit in the center. Several strong looking men and women talked, while donning powerful looking equipment. Tavis, and the Arch Duke were among them.

I had to bite my tongue to keep from growling, as the she wolf's spirit stoked the fires of my rage again. After a few deep slow breaths, I was able to control it and convince her to settle back down.

“Do you have control?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think I do. She’s calm.”

“Good. Because you need to apologize to Tavis.”

We were still on the second floor terrace. Which was a good thing because my growling was only broken when Sigvolds hand touched my shoulder.

“He is not the object of your anger, Landar. He and his wife are good people. They just had a child from what I hear, and he is eager to serve on the dukes Tower Guard. He is just a person, one who has shown a willingness to do the hard work needed to protect this duchy, and our kingdom.”

I shook my head to clear it. “Right. I think I can meet the guy again, without trying to bite his throat out.”

“Good.” I followed him down another set of stairs, and when we came to the heavily armed and armored group of what looked like anime protagonists, with the color schemes of their armor and weapons looking like they were picked at random from a bag of Skittles, I bowed. First to the duke, then to Tavis.

“Knight Tavis. I owe you an apology.”

The group parted, and they all turned towards me. Most of the members of the little group wore smirks or looks of barely contained laughter on their faces, but the Duke simply stared. While Tavis’s expression was somber.

“I was wrong to attack you without provocation. I can make excuses, but in the end it was my hand that swung the ax, and my decision to attack you before I had all of the information. I hope you can forgive me.”

I bowed deeply this time in apology. I had no idea what the proper etiquette was for this kind of thing among the nobility. But a man bowing to you while offering you an apology could hardly be misconstrued as an insult.

Tavis stepped forward and put a hand on my shoulder, and I stood straight meeting his eyes. He was taller then me by a whole hand. But the fact he didn’t need to bend over to meet my gaze meant I was growing into my natural size.

“You’re forgiven. And I have to beg your forgiveness for raising my sword against you, and your loved ones. Your father eventually forgave me. He’s a good sparring partner, you know? Never holds back. But your mother? That woman still hasn’t let me live it down.”

Before I could ask how he knew my mother, another voice chimed in.

“Wait a minute,” another knight said as Tavis stepped back. This knight wore a familiar looking set of arms and armor. He was a member of the Auditors, or had been at one point. But he was young, younger then I would have thought a member of their group could be. Except . . .

“Hello Ezekiel.” I said as I stood nearly to his height and met his eyes.

“Wait . . . no. No way you’re that little brat my father let off with a warning. I fought beside your mother and father, kid.”

“I saw. You were a half decent military leader back then.” A wave of slight laughter ran through the group.

“Excuse me.” Ezekial tried to step forward but another man, much older, intercepted him with a palm to his chest.

“Ha! I knew I liked you kid. I see you still haven’t learned to keep that sharp tongue in your head.” The man was gray, nearly bald now.

“Coin Lord.” I bowed my head in respect.

“Enough of that, else it’ll take longer to be through all the bowing and formalities, then the conversation deserves. Do you remember what I said to you the day we first met?”

I thought back, and the memory made me smile. “You said i’d be dangerous, if I learned to keep a civil tongue enough to live long enough.”

“Exactly. And you’re not there yet kid.”

“Thank you. I was only teasing, Ezekial. I am sure you have grown into a fine officer.”

“You’re half my age, kid.” Sigvold intervened then, and took Ezekial off to the side. I didn’t know what the conversation was about but “What? He is,” came from the still youthful knight several times.

“It's good to see you humble, kid.” Duke Mortimer said with a smirk. “But I agree with the old Coin Boss over here. You need to learn when to keep your mouth shut more. You’re a peasant, right? Raised as one? That is a bit of a problem. Hey Sigvold, we’re having that girl join the tower school right?”

“Which one, your grace?” Sigvold asked as he and Ezekial returned to the group.

“The one with the scary mother.”

“Oh yes. Sakura Gamra. As long as she passes Mother Margarets melding test, as Landar here has, then we were planning on extending an invitation. Yes, your grace.”

“Right. Well, give one to this kid too.”

“Yes, your grace.”

“What?” Ezekial complained. “There are only a few dozen slots a year, and you’re giving one to a foreigner, and a half farel peasant?”

“If it was a normal slot Zeek, you’d have a point.” Mortimer said. “But I get three slots, and well . . . i’ve never really used them before.”

“Wait. You’re using your family slots your grace?” One of the other nobles asked.

“Yup. I get three slots every year and i’ve never used them except for my nephew that one time. And the royal academy poached him right out from under the towers watchful gaze anyway. So I have some free room here.

“Your grace, they are meant for your family.” Sigvold said.

“By the gods are all of you just going to nag me on this? Yes, they’re for family. The girl is going to be my fosterling for a few months while we figure things out. Sigvold, i’m sending you to act as liason with the turtles to even things out, and the don’t think i’m kidnapping the poor girl.”

“Of course your grace. I expected as much.”

“And on top of that I'm pretty sure once we get the turtles here, the schooling opportunities are going to more than double. They have over half a dozen sect schools, according to Yu’s telling that came with them. So that shortage of slots you mentioned Zeek? It's not going to be as big of a problem.”

“Oh.” Ezekail’s expression softened and his eyes glazed over and he considered the implications of the new information he was being presented with.

Mortimer made a dismissive gesture to the entire conversation. “Anyway. So the girl is going to be in my household for a little bit. As for you,” Mortimers eyes rested on me. “We need to have a long chat with your family about your future.”