“Fadrique, if you could stay a moment, I’d like a word with you,” Martin said.
The meeting was ending, and though Fadrique obeyed, he still looked annoyed as he remained after the other High Elders left, folding his arms. “What is it?”
Martin waited for the door to close. “Never touch my concubine again.”
Air hardly moved through his nose as he smirked. “Is that it?”
“You bruised her.”
“You don’t care about her.”
“I care enough.”
Fadrique shrugged. “She still has three months left with me.”
“No. No she doesn’t,” Martin said.
“It’s not up to you to decide,” Fadrique said.
“And who’s choice is that? Navir’s? You honestly think he’d agree to let her go to you?” Martin asked.
Fadrique gave him a strange look. “He already has. Why would I tell her if I didn’t already know it was a possibility.”
Martin’s heart quickened. “I wasn’t informed of this.”
“Probably because Navir has high hopes you will succeed. You are, after all, Martin the Healer,” Fadrique said. “Was there anything else you wanted to say?”
Martin said nothing. Clearly, he needed to talk to Navir. Why wasn’t he informed of this? Fadrique’s bow was stiff before he left the study.
***
Indenuel finished reading the letters and walked out to check on Tolomon. He was still going strong with Captain Luiz, both of them looking battered. Diego and Aaron watched with a keen interest, but all the other children had long since disappeared back to their studies. It was nearing lunchtime.
Indenuel felt content. It was a strange feeling to have considering fifty Kiamese soldiers appeared in Santollia City and tried to kill him, while almost succeeding in killing the closest friend he ever had.
The content feeling in his soul turned sour. What were they going to do about that? Were the Oraminians the prime target? He realized no one had talked to him about it. He was the Warrior. Shouldn’t he be informed about what was happening? Baleeah told him not to talk to them with that spy around him, but he found himself concerned for his Oraminian friends.
Tolomon disarmed Captain Luiz before whacking him hard over the side of the head and knocking him out. Diego and Aaron clapped.
“That’s the fourth time!” Diego exclaimed. “You’re doing amazing!”
“Ah, thanks Diego!” Tolomon said as two healers came over and quickly healed Captain Luiz.
“Do the one fighting technique you and Api made up!” Aaron said.
“I couldn’t do that to poor Captain Luiz,” Tolomon said as the man woke up, getting to his feet. “Need a break, Captain? I could fight one of the other soldiers for a while.”
Captain Luiz stretched out his arms before picking up a sword. “I’ll break at lunch time, if I haven’t gotten you before then.”
“Alright,” Tolomon said, moving to basic stance.
Captain Luiz smiled, moving to basic stance himself. “You were talking about a fighting technique you made up with Captain Nathaniel?”
“The idiot’s maneuver,” Tolomon said as they started to fight, the metal clanging.
“Sounds like a move you two would make up. What does it involve?” Captain Luiz asked.
“A healthy amount of idiocy,” Tolomon said.
“Well now you have me curious,” Captain Luiz said.
Tolomon shrugged, then threw his sword on the ground, it stuck straight up. Captain Luiz looked at the sword. “Yeah, that’s an idiot move,” Captain Luiz said before going straight for Tolomon, who dodged the blade before grabbing his wrist and breaking it. He then punched him three times in quick succession. Captain Luiz was flat on his back, his own sword pressed against his throat.
“What?” Indenuel didn’t blame Captain Luiz. How did Tolomon even get his sword?
“The idiot’s maneuver. To gage the stupidity of your opponent. If they think you’re still a threat without your main weapon,” Tolomon said.
Captain Luiz sighed. “In my defense, you are still recovering from grey death.”
“And that’s what makes you an idiot,” Tolomon said before punching him in the face, knocking him out cold.
Diego and Aaron lost their minds. “You are a legend! A legend!” Diego said, as Aaron jumped up and down. The military healers came over.
Tolomon stood up, shaking out his hand before grabbing his sword. “No, Diego. I’m not.”
“Yes, you are! Absolute legend!” Diego said.
“Whether or not that’s true, I stay at the top because I know I’m not immortal. A wise sentiment to take to heart yourself, should you want to pursue this career. The thing that will save your life is always remembering your own mortality, so you take out threats as quickly as possible. All the while you must have the clear mind needed to intimidate your opponent, so they become aware of their own mortality the moment they see you.” Tolomon swung his sword around before moving to basic stance right as Captain Luiz woke up. He groaned, rubbing his head and leaning against his elbows as he saw Tolomon ready to fight him, battered and bruised as he was. Captain Luiz sighed.
“One more round, then I’m breaking for an early lunch.”
Diego’s eyes were filled with amazement, his jaw slack. Indenuel smiled, shaking his head before turning around and entering the house again. Again, the content feeling was there. Tolomon was alive, he was alive, Matteo, Isla, and Emilia were almost here. Thinking about the people in his life brought a smile to his face. Thinking about his duties as a Warrior, about what he’d learned about God, the fear that the Oraminians might take the fall for this, it brought the anxiety back.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Is there a place I could write a letter?” Indenuel asked a servant.
“We could have some paper, ink, and a few quills sent to your room if you’d like, Warrior,” the servant said.
Indenuel headed toward his room. It had been a while since he’d written to Nathaniel. He had sent him a few letters by now, and he ought to reply to them. And he always felt better after writing him.
***
“Navir?” Martin asked before walking into the reading room of the High Elder’s library.
Navir continued reading, holding out a finger as he finished the paragraph before looking up. “Martin, hello.”
“I was told you’d be here,” Martin said, sitting across from him.
“Where else would I be?” Navir asked with a laugh. “How can I help?”
“You told Fadrique he could have Inessa back for another three months?” Martin asked, trying to keep the incredulousness out of his voice.
“Ah,” Navir said, writing down the page number of his book before closing it. “I sense we will be having a long conversation about this.”
“It doesn’t seem like we should,” Martin said as Navir picked the book up gently and headed back into the library to return it. “You saw yourself what happened to Inessa while she was with Fadrique. How can you justify sending her back?”
He returned, closing the door softly behind him. “I assume a year break would have helped cool him down. Considering it’ll be closer to two, even two and a half years, that should be plenty of time for him to realize his wrongs and do better if Inessa needs to return to him.”
Martin stared at Navir, blinking. “And you’ve been working with Fadrique? Helping him, you know, not beat up a woman?”
“Fadrique is perfectly aware of his sins,” Navir said.
“But is he doing anything to stop them? That’s my main concern.”
“It shouldn’t be your main concern,” Navir said. “Your main concern is impregnating Inessa.” Martin winced, though he tried not to. It seemed like such a vulgar term. “You do that, and you won’t have to worry about whether or not she goes back to Fadrique.” Martin ground his teeth together. “How is that going, by the way? Have you gone over what the healers left you?”
“You cannot possibly allow this. Stress might be a factor, and if she knew she’d go back to him, it might make things worse.”
“Then don’t tell her,” Navir said.
Martin let out a breath. “Why wasn’t I informed?”
“It was a decision made while you were gone. Though I’m certain I passed on those notes.”
“I would have remembered reading that,” Martin said.
“Seems like we both suffer from ailments of old age, my friend,” Navir said. Martin rubbed his forehead, glaring at the table. Maybe Navir had written something about it, but since he had used the trip to do everything possible to ignore Inessa, it must have trickled into his reading as well. “Do what you must. You are, after all, the most powerful healer in the world.”
“Except for Indenuel,” Martin mumbled.
Navir shrugged. “Indenuel is in a category all his own. Keep us posted on Inessa’s progress.”
“Please talk with Fadrique. Get him working through this. Make sure the other concubines-”
“Stop, Martin,” Navir said, raising a hand. “Do not trouble yourself with this.”
“Navir-”
“Do not trouble yourself,” Navir repeated, his voice growing darker. “Don’t forget what you’ve done. Don’t forget the proof we have of your own adulterous affair all those years ago.”
Martin glared at Navir. “You can only use that proof once, and you’ve used it to create the concubine law. You cannot hang it over my head anymore.”
“I swore I wouldn’t use it more than once, but if you anger Fadrique enough, he will certainly use it. And he isn’t as level-headed about it as I,” Navir said.
Martin’s heart pulsed in stifled anger the way it always had when Navir brought up the proof they had against him. He didn’t care if the rest of the world knew it, but he could not let Sara know. This would break her. “What you are doing to me is wrong. It’s not like you’re clear of sins yourself.”
“But you are the only one that has verifiable proof of yours. And in a court of law, that’s really all that matters. Focus on your own problems and leave Fadrique to his.”
Martin closed his eyes, taking a steadying breath before he stood and walked out of the room.
***
Indenuel finished writing the letter, then placed his quill in the ink pot before blowing it dry, giving it a final read.
Nathaniel,
Thank you for your letters. They have helped me face the challenges in front of me. I, too, appreciate your friendship. Thank you for the warning about Tolomon’s temper. I’m certain it saved my life.
You mentioned in one of your letters about the weight on Martin’s shoulders you saw soon after he became High Elder. I understand what you mean now. There are things I’ve learned from the High Elders that have rattled my soul, and I feel like I can never be the same after this. And I realize I might have learned my purpose. Your family, Tolomon, the small family I’ve created from my village, they are my purpose. Despite the crazy thing that has happened, the army surrounding Martin’s house to keep me protected, I feel happy.
I don’t have much else to say, I simply wanted to write and say thank you for your letters.
-Indenuel
He waited for it to dry before he folded it and stood up. He walked out of the library to check on Tolomon when he almost ran into Captain Luiz who was holding a plate of food.
“Ah, hello Indenuel.”
“Captain.”
“Look, we might have to reschedule your training. I honestly thought I’d get Tolomon knocked out by this point,” he said before taking a bite of wheat bread smothered with strawberries.
“It’s alright, Captain. It’s been nice to rest today too,” Indenuel said.
Captain Luiz nodded. “Yeah, I heard how you saved Tolomon’s life. How are you feeling? Did that take too much energy?”
“No, not too bad. I’m back to normal,” Indenuel said.
Captain Luiz gave a low whistle. “Honestly, that in itself is super impressive. Tolomon, I understand why he’s still up and battling. You, I don’t know how you’re still standing. You should still be recovering yourself.”
Indenuel didn’t know what else to do but shrug. “I feel alright.”
Captain Luiz nodded before glancing behind him where Tolomon was fighting with another soldier. “I know you were super rebellious in your decision, and I should chastise you for saving him, but honestly, thank you. I know Graduates are supposed to sacrifice themselves for someone like you, but I’d volunteer to sacrifice myself for Tolomon to stay alive. The man is a Goddammed legend who I still can’t knock out.” Captain Luiz took the last bite of his bread.
“Does that mean he’s going to stay my bodyguard?” Indenuel asked.
“He’ll need about a week to recover fully, but yes, he will. If the man is lasting this long after being hit with Grey Death, he’s still the best Graduate alive. Maybe ever.”
Indenuel nodded, feeling himself relax. Tolomon was going to stay. He did his confession, and Tolomon was always a man true to his word.
“Are you going to be alright? It can’t be easy getting knocked out over five times in a morning," Indenuel said.
Captain Luiz gave a groan. “Try over fifteen.”
He took a quick intake of breath. “Yeah. I don’t think that’s healthy.”
“It’s the sabbath day tomorrow, so I’m guaranteed to have the day off to recover,” Captain Luiz said as he skewered a piece of rice wrapped in an herb and popped it in his mouth. “Seriously, these are so good. How does Sara do it?”
Curious, Indenuel raised his hands. “May I? Check?”
“Yeah, of course,” Captain Luiz said, pointing toward his head. Indenuel placed his fingers against Captain Luiz’ temples before closing his eyes, sensing the fatigue that came from being healed far too much. Also, after a few sessions with Martin, he could identify the stress and anxiety. He smoothed that out, then went through a quick healing of the aches and pains of the muscles, easing the fatigue caused by the healing power. Indenuel let go, and Captain Luiz smiled. “Not sure what you did, but it was something. Thanks.”
Indenuel nodded as the man drained the rest of his glass. “Diego thinks Tolomon will stay standing until after dinner.”
Captain Luiz chuckled. “If you asked me that this morning, I’d say no. Now I’m not so sure.” He handed his empty plate to a servant before doing another stretch. “Alright, I better get back out there.”
“Good luck,” Indenuel said. Captain Luiz gave a half-hearted wave before heading out the back door. Indenuel handed the letter to Derio to give to Nathaniel. He headed to get himself some lunch when he almost ran into Martin.
“Oh, excuse me,” Indenuel said.
“No, no, pardon me. I cannot seem to focus today. Tell me, have you seen Inessa?” Martin asked.
“I haven’t seen her all day,” Indenuel said.
“Good,” Martin said.
“What?”
“Forgive me, that slipped out.” He patted Indenuel’s shoulder. “I will see you later.”
Indenuel nodded as Martin hurried off to talk to Derio. He was acting strange today.