After parting with Jonas at the gate, Saga made her way inside. The Keepers’ Academy was a large building, supposedly the first permanent structure built in Beacon’s Ridge, though that story had always felt off to her. As a child, she and Epic had discovered underground tunnels running beneath the Academy, though they all seemed to end abruptly. Surely the tunnels were there first?
She walked the long stone halls, weaving her way through and around the throngs of students, teachers, and other visitors going about their business. This place was busy at all hours of the night, though the younger students had a curfew. She had fond memories of sneaking out in her younger days, but after reaching adulthood two years prior she was now free to come and go as she pleased, so long as she attended her classes and followed her mentor’s instruction.
She arrived at said mentor’s office door and knocked twice. Sure, he’d told her to come, but it wouldn’t do to barge in unannounced. The last thing she needed was to make him more upset, especially since he could still cancel her trial if he felt so inclined. “Enter,” came his voice through the door, and she obeyed.
Master Dorrin sat behind his desk reading a letter, his brow furrowed. He always seemed out of place in this environment, the simple but comfortable office furnished with a desk, two chairs before it, and several bookshelves crammed with books and notes. Saga wondered briefly if every office came with the bookshelves already filled, as she’d never seen him read any of them.
“Sit.” The command came suddenly after she stood for a few minutes, though it was clear from his tone that he was distracted. She sat in one of the chairs gratefully and waited for him to finish, but when he got to the bottom of the letter, he simply folded it, grabbed another from the pile to his left, and began reading that one. She sighed internally, though she didn’t dare externalize her frustration. As before, she knew when she was being taught a lesson; he’d been made to wait, and now so would she.
Dapper tapped out a rhythm on her shoulder. It wasn’t a message this time, he was just bored, but he wouldn’t leave her for an important moment like this. She smiled appreciatively at him, and he chittered quietly in response.
Master Dorrin went through two more letters before he grunted, folded up the last one, then clasped his hands before him, looking up at her. “Apprentice,” he began, his tone formal, “you’ve been selected to take a Journeyman Trial this year.” She opened her mouth excitedly to reply, but he raised a hand to silence her before continuing. “Don’t be mistaken, I still don’t think you’re ready, but the Headmaster insisted, and so we’ve reached a compromise.
“In a typical Trial, an apprentice bard travels to a nearby village, collects a simple piece of information, then returns to add it to our collection, therefore proving that they can perform a bard’s basic functions. If the apprentice has a Passion that allows them self-defense, we may stage a confrontation to force them to prove their combat prowess as well. Otherwise, they’re sent with several apprentice guards as part of their own Journeyman Trials.”
Saga nodded, though she’d deflated when he mentioned his doubts. “I understand. What compromise have you reached?” Her Passion, Dancing, was one of the martial disciplines that would have her face a staged fight. Maybe he was going to send her with a guard after all? Did he think she wasn’t ready for combat? She stilled her mind, knowing she wouldn’t get anywhere from guessing. Patience, she thought to herself. He already said you get to take the Trial, you’re almost there.
“I’m going with you.”
She blinked. “Beg pardon?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “I don’t recall you taking a blow to the head during your match with young Jonas earlier. Which of the four words did you miss the meaning of?”
She frowned. He’d always been like this with her, tough, bordering on insulting, and she’d learned to roll with it. “I’m sorry, Master, I’m just surprised that you’re taking the time from your busy schedule to accompany me on such a simple errand.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t flower your words with me, Apprentice. Say what you mean.”
Fine, then. “Why in dragons’ damnation are you coming with me? I don’t need my hand held, and I won’t be proving anything to anyone if you’re holding my hand the entire way.”
“Because I have my own task to fulfill in the village where you’re headed.” He watched her for a reaction, but she didn’t dare give one. “That, and your task isn’t quite as simple as collecting a letter or song and coming right back.”
She raised both eyebrows. She’d only rarely heard of this before. Sometimes, apprentices would be given an actual objective to complete on their Trial, a problem to solve, though no one could figure out why that was other than that every apprentice it happened to was considered to be exceptional in their studies. She wasn’t the worst student, but given how he’d treated her during her studies she’d always assumed her proficiency had left something to be desired.
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Seeing her reaction, his face twisted, and she thought she saw him holding back a smile. “Dove’s Landing is a logging village in the forest to our east. The forest there is a great source of lumber for Beacon’s Ridge’s craftsmen, but a few days ago shipments ceased. It’s not the end of the world, mind you, we have other sources, but the lumber from that village is well-regarded, and it’s in our interests to discover why they’ve stopped supplying us. You and I will travel to Dove’s Landing, where you will work with the people of that village to determine the problem and, if possible, solve it. If it is outside of your control, your instructions are to return to Beacon’s Ridge with information as to the nature of the problem so that it may be addressed appropriately.”
She nodded. This seemed simple enough, even if it was more than she’d expected. “Yes, Master. What will you be doing?”
He pointed at her. “My mission is none of your concern. All you need to know is that I’ll be collecting additional information myself, then continuing east into Balorn. I will support you in combat on the way to Dove’s Landing, but any dealings with the villagers in relation to your Trial will be left to you, and we will part when you are ready to return to the city.”
Saga considered his words. In the context of a normal trial, he’d be her assigned guard, but she was perfectly capable of defending herself in a fight, especially a staged one meant to demonstrate her skill. “Master, are you expecting danger on the road?”
Master Dorrin frowned, but once again it almost seemed as if he was suppressing a smile. “Why do you ask? Does it change your objective?”
“Well, I can’t think of another reason why you’d insist on coming with me. We don’t have to travel together, and I know you’re not doing it for the companionship.”
“Oh?” His eyebrow raised, and he now seemed more openly amused.
“Well, it’s no secret you’re not overly fond of me, Master,” she explained, confused by his expression. “I figured out early on that you’re hard on me because you hope I’ll quit, but I also know you’re professional enough to not try to sabotage my trial intentionally, so the only reason I can think of why you’d come with me is you think I’ll need you, and the only sensible reason for that is if you’re expecting real danger.”
She finished her explanation and took a breath, waiting for him to chastise her. Normally when she asked for clarification, he brushed her off and expected her to figure it out, but sometimes when she did and voiced her thoughts to him, he assigned her extra training for being “impudent”. She barely even understood what that meant, she was a Dancer, not a Wordsmith! The man was a walking contradiction, and it always frustrated her that she never seemed to know exactly what he wanted from her.
The harsh rebuke she expected didn’t come. She met his eyes, and there was something there, a glimmer of some emotion she didn’t recognize in him. He nodded slightly, she thought, but then his face hardened into its usual frown. “There have been reports of banditry in the area, encroaching towards our territory from Balorn’s lands. This task needs to be completed, but it’s both too dangerous for a typical apprentice but too simple for a full bard. This seemed like the ideal solution. Does that satisfy your curiosity, Apprentice?”
Saga nodded, grateful for his unexpectedly helpful response. He’d been off this entire conversation, but she wasn’t sure why. Was it another trick, a way to get her to lower her guard around him so he could punish her for slipping up somehow? No, this is different, she thought. Something is changing. She didn’t dare ask about it or otherwise point it out, though, lest she lose any of her theoretical progress with him.
“When do we depart?” she asked instead. “Today?” Apprentices who’d been given a Journeyman Trial normally found out in the early morning and left just after lunch, spent the night at their destination, and returned the next day, but it was already late morning.
Master Dorrin shook his head. “No. You will have to prepare for a longer journey than you likely expected. It will take at least two days to reach Dove’s Landing, most likely another day figuring out what’s going on there, then another two to return. In total, pack for at least a five day trip, including rations. We leave tomorrow morning.”
Saga resisted making a face. Field rations weren’t terrible, but she preferred cooked food. Fortunately, she had a spell in her arsenal that would help her hunt for small game if the opportunity arose. She rose from her seat, already planning on what to add to her pack. An extra change of clothes would definitely come in handy, and while she’d planned on leaving her wooden flute here at home, multiple days of travel would probably provide plenty of time to practice. Her Master had drilled into her that one could always be doing two things, even if one of them was walking.
“Saga,” Master Dorrin’s voice cut through her thoughts as she made her way to the door. She winced, realizing he hadn’t dismissed her, and turned. To her surprise, his face was neutral rather than annoyed. “I forgot to mention, the Headmaster knows we’re leaving in the morning, and he asked me to tell you he’d be coming for dinner tonight. Make sure you let your family know you’ll be gone for a while.”
Saga nodded, excited by the news. She hadn’t seen Grandpapa in days! “Yes, Master. May I be excused?”
Master Dorrin nodded, already having turned his attention back to the papers in front of him. “Yes, yes, off with you. Beacon’s Gate, dawn.”
She bowed, turned, and had to force herself to walk out the door rather than run. She had so much to tell her family and friends! She’d have to go tell her parents, of course, and Epic would probably somewhere near them. Arty, too, if she could find him. Miss Lessa would be pleased to hear Grandpapa was coming for dinner!
The thought of food made her stomach rumble, and she realized it was nearly highsun. Counting her impromptu training session with Master Dorrin, she’d been in, what, four practice duels this morning? Five? The hunger was beginning to catch up to her, so she decided to head home first to get lunch. After that, she’d find her family, give them the news, check in with Arty—he’d want to know too—then pack for her trip.
Her plans made, Saga headed for the Shapers’ Forge.