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Kijani studied the scraggly teen. Surely, she would freeze to death if she didn’t come out of the forest. Half her black hair was pulled back with a strip of leather and bunches of hair stuck out all over her head. Hollow, pale cheeks gave her a haunted, starved look. Kijani approached her with caution. She didn’t look like anyone he had seen at Bern Village, though there were enough families he could have missed someone. Her arms were huddled in a large fur. She didn’t seem threatening. In fact, she looked too cold and hungry to even speak. Kijani didn’t want her to slink back in the forest where she would be in danger. Even if she wasn’t from Bern Village, the forest was too dangerous and cold for anyone to live there. Kijani rubbed his chin. “You are the one who was watching a couple days ago.”
Her voice was barely audible, “Hi.”
“What is your name?”
She paused. Kijani took a close look at her pale complexion. He pulled some dried meat and berries from his pocket and handed them to her. She took the food almost greedily, gulping it down so quickly her stomach must have hurt. She was starving.
Pity glimmered in Kijani’s eyes. “Are you interested in training or do you enjoy watching my sons?” An amused smile formed about Kijani’s lips.
Her face flushed, or it would have if she wasn’t cold and hungry. Did she stutter because she was cold?
“I . . . I have had s . . . some training.”
Kijani tapped his fingers rhythmically on his leg. She obviously wasn’t from Bern Village. He knew every trainee, especially the few girls who trained. Most girls only trained because their parents wanted them to make it past level one and defend themselves in rare situations. Throughout the history of Bern Village, they usually had a female warrior, but not currently. They did have some female guards. “What level are you on?”
She stared at the ground, mumbling, “Five.”
Kijani peered at her uncertainly. Did she really pass that many Bern levels? He wouldn’t know for certain until she was tested. “Would you like to continue training?”
“I need to train as much as possible.”
Kijani raised a thick eyebrow. She needed to train? “Then perhaps you can show me what you have learned. First though, I need your name.”
She mumbled something.
“What?’
“Elaina.”
“Your name is Elaina?” Kijani rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Elaina was a name he could only recall hearing from one other person.
Elaina hesitantly nodded. “I sort of have payment.”
If Elaina was determined enough to learn, Kijani was willing to take her as a debt trainee. What payment could she have? “Do you?”
“I’m supposed to trade the mare for lessons.” Elaina pushed aside low tree branches, revealing a scraggly horse.
Horses were valuable and not common enough for the average person. Elaina either stole the horse or she was sent to Bern Village. Considering the name Elaina, Kijani was certain she was sent. “The horse will pay for your lessons.”
Elaina’s eyes revealed relief. Kijani filtered through the furs on her saddle and studied the horse in search of clues. “Some of these are nice-looking furs . . . and valuable. They will give you some good pocket money. Rachel will give you a fair price for them.”
“Rachel?”
“She’s the owner of the clothing store.”
“Oh.”
Kijani cast a sideways glance at Elaina and started talking about Bern Village in hopes of getting more information in return. Didn’t most kids like to talk when someone started a conversation? “Don’t trade the furs at the dress shop. They won’t pay you well. The General Store by the jail will try to cheat you. In fact, don’t go down that street at all. The General Store on Main Street will also give you a fair price.”
Elaina still didn’t give Kijani more information. He patted the thick stack of furs. “Did you get all these furs?”
“Yes.”
“By yourself?”
Ani cast her eyes downward. “I hunted by myself.”
Kijani knew Elaina was hiding information, but she also looked scared. He kept an eye on her as he studied some of the more valuable furs, all cleaned and salted with precision, though full of dust. He studied the horn, noting a slightly different shade of leather that set the horn apart from the rest of the saddle. “This is a unique saddle.” Kijani looked straight at Elaina. “Would you like to tell me where you got it, Elaina?”
Elaina flinched then stood in silence, as though trying to absorb the question. Was Elaina her given name? There must be a message, or a clue as to why she was at Bern Village. Kijani was determined to find it, but he wasn’t going to force information from a scared, starving teenager. “Let me know who gave you this saddle when you are ready. Come with me.”
They walked onto the training field, drawing stares from the two warriors and a small crowd who happened to be nearby. Bern Village rarely had newcomers. Any newcomer was the center of attention for a few days or months, depending on how interesting they were. A female level five warrior would surely draw attention for months.
Elaina fidgeted nervously. The village was still bustling with activity as people returned to their homes. Groups came and went from Kijani’s house, probably to report incidents. Kijani waved his hand at people who started walking toward him. Instead, they talked to his wife on the porch. Kijani’s sons were still cleaning their swords and aurium arrows.
Kijani would have brought Elaina into the house for a full meal, but he needed to know what she was capable of. Uncle Crevan had a certain style when he was teaching trainees. Though each trainee was unique, Kijani could probably identify Elaina’s master if he saw her train. Kijani did give her a snack first. It would help, but he would obviously consider how cold and hungry she was while testing her. Kijani nodded at his younger son. “Darian, I need a placement test. Mehdi, take the horse and tie it to the rail by the house.”
Darian sheathed his warrior sword and ruffled his hand through his blond hair. He slipped the weapon pack off and searched the field for someone to test. The only person on the field with them was the tall girl Kijani found in the forest. Kijani watched Darian with an amused grin. Placement tests were only necessary when a trainee stopped training for a while then started again. It was unheard of for a girl to need a placement test, which explained why Darian was still looking for someone to test. Kijani pointed toward Elaina as she hefted all the furs off the horse. She snuck two books from her saddlebag, stuffed them into the bundle of furs, then laid the furs on the ground by her own weapon pack. Mehdi took the horse and walked it to the porch. Kijani tried to identify the book under the Forest Guide, but he couldn’t see the title. It didn’t concern Kijani though. Most people had a few guides.
Darian skeptically stared at Elaina’s filthy, hole-filled clothes. Kijani nudged his chin at her. Darian hesitantly raised his fists, as though afraid of smashing a delicate flower that was already suffering from harsh conditions. Elaina immediately stepped into a perfect fighting stance. Afraid Elaina couldn’t block him, Darian slowly released a punch.
For the first five steps for each level, warriors learned self-defense and hand-to hand combat. Elaina went through each move flawlessly, albeit slow because Darian was too afraid of hurting her to conduct a real test. Elaina seemed to follow Darian’s lead and do slow, cautious hits when she demonstrated the step as the attacker. After the first five steps of level one, Darian gently handed Elaina a bo staff, as though he expected her to collapse at any moment.
Kijani contemplated the scene in front of him, noticing more than the shabby clothes. It took months for treated vorlin leather to start falling apart. Her clothes were not only old, they were beat up from a harsh journey. Splatters of dried, green blood were evidence of survival, probably from a wild glinirv or blindier attack. Due to the absence of green blood on her shoulder, tears in the shoulder were likely from a separate attack. Judging by how far apart the claw marks were, the tears were probably related to the valuable scleftaire fur Kijani spotted on the saddle.
Elaina went through the bo staff steps perfectly. The final step for level two included sword basics. As Elaina grasped the sword, it looked natural in her hand, as though the sword was an extension of her arm. Jagged sleeves from her jacket fell to her elbow, enabling Kijani to spy the well-developed muscle in her forearm. Her beginning stance was perfect, her defense and attack flawless.
“Keep going,” Master Kijani rubbed his prickly chin, his blue eyes sharply considering Elaina. Darian and Elaina tossed their swords into the barrel and went through level three hand-to-hand combat. They picked up their bo staffs and completed more steps before gathering practice swords again to finish level three. Darian paused, viewing Elaina with a shocked expression on his face.
Kijani nodded. “Perfect. Level four.”
Though moves were becoming more complicated, Elaina went through each one with ease. Her precise footwork and quick movements drew more observers to the field. When she hoisted Darian over her back, she didn’t grunt or strain. Elaina shivered then stretched her neck from side to side. Kijani considered her familiar fighting style as he recalled being trained by his uncle Crevan.
Elaina glanced nervously at the crowd before doing level four as the defender. When Elaina started hand-to-hand combat as the attacker, Darian and Elaina’s practice session doubled in speed, probably because Elaina looked desperate for warmth. Darian stopped treating Elaina like a breakable figurine and started testing her, as though he was dueling with her in a tournament.
After going through the entire level, they switched hands and went through the same exercises with their left hand. Master Kijani watched, impressed. Elaina used her weak hand with unusual ease. If Elaina and Darian dueled using only level four sword moves with their left hands, Kijani was certain Elaina would win. “Level five.”
Level five moves had many deviations and were more complicated than level four. Elaina completed eight level five steps with their deviations before Darian tapped her with his sword.
“I was working on that one when . . .” Elaina stopped mid-sentence.
A chilly wind tore through holes in Elaina’s jacket, blowing dust off. She set the practice sword against her leg and rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them.
Master Kijani nodded. “Switch hands.”
On level five with her left hand, Elaina fumbled on the same step that stopped her on her right hand. She was certainly well-trained. Kijani rubbed his chin. “Impressive. Level five is the last level to become a warrior, but I suppose you know that already. Who trained you?”
Elaina glanced at the crowd then back to Kijani. She waited until Darian went back to his weapon pack before quietly verifying Kijani’s theory, “Master Crevan.”
Kijani decided not to question Elaina further as she was clearly nervous. It was obvious she needed a place to stay and regular meals. Kijani didn’t know why Elaina was sent to Bern Village, but he knew that Uncle Crevan wouldn’t send her without good reason. “I suppose you will stay as a boarder.”
“A what?” Elaina blinked a few times.
Kijani smiled. He certainly wasn’t going to let a warrior his uncle sent to Bern Village live in the forest! “The horse will cover five months of training if you stay as a boarder. You will have a room and three meals a day with snacks.”
Elaina’s jaw dropped, quivering in the cold. “That sounds nice.”
“This way.” Elaina followed Kijani while he talked, “Since you are almost through with level five, you will likely be a warrior before five months of training are done. Village warriors who want to train in master level classes may use their pay from the village. Winter rates only include a room and meals after the training field is no longer usable. You said you want to train as much as possible. Does that mean you want to continue after level five?”
Elaina’s voice was firm, “Yes.”
They walked past the horse tied to the porch, then up three stairs to a firm, wooden door that opened to a good-sized living room with a large sofa and two chairs on either side of an opening that led to a dining area in the kitchen. A fire crackled near the kitchen wall, next to the hallway. A kind-looking woman was wiping her hands on a gray towel. A warm smile played about her lips and she stood with confidence. Kijani pointed to her. “This is my wife, Tvuna.”
Wonderful smells wafted through the air. Elaina longingly gazed past Tvuna’s blond hair at the kitchen.
Kijani nodded at the newcomer, “This is Elaina. She is staying as a boarder and is already a level five.”
A grin spread across Tvuna’s face. “Ah, finally! A girl for Kijani to train. He hoped to train Jessie as a warrior, but she wasn’t interested.”
“Let’s not scare her away Tvuna.”
Tvuna patted Elaina on the shoulder. Elaina flinched. She looked at Tvuna’s hands, noticing a slice of bread, though Tvuna was holding the bread the entire time they were talking. Tvuna had a knack for knowing when visitors needed food, and visitors always devoured Tvuna’s hearty snacks. Elaina looked from Tvuna to the bread. Tvuna pushed it closer. “This is for you.”
“Thank you.” Elaina gingerly took it, as though afraid her cold, rough hands would squash the delicate treat. Elaina nibbled on it while her other hand grasped a large bundle of furs that would make most teens fall over.
Tvuna led Elaina through the living room and down a hallway to a simply furnished bedroom. Kijani followed, mainly out of curiosity. Elaina groggily gazed around the room, spotting a small table, chair, dresser, wardrobe and a bed with only a mattress. Everything was clean, except for occasional dust scattered across the floor, noticeable in the dim light creeping in from a window.
Tvuna stayed in the hallway. “I will get the bedding for you. Did you come from the city?”
“I . . . guess so.” Elaina set her furs in a corner, as though disoriented and overwhelmed.
Kijani was bursting with curiosity. Elaina was obviously harmless and Tvuna didn’t seem concerned. Tvuna was intuitive and probably figured out Elaina would stay with them before Kijani brought her into the house. If she objected, Tvuna would have given him a sign to express her disapproval. Kijani strolled down the hallway then out the door to the starving horse.
Elaina was using Uncle Crevan’s stillborn daughters’ name. Uncle Crevan wouldn’t tell her to use that name unless it was part of a message. Anxious to discover why his uncle sent Elaina to Bern Village, Kijani walked the mare to the stable.
The barn wasn’t far from the house. It protected two other horses and a vorlin from the harsh weather. Kijani led the mare to an empty stall and scooped some hay into it. Elaina’s journey must have been rough, but she and the mare would recover.
Kijani pulled the saddle off the horse then placed it on a rail by two others. Horses were for warriors and the wealthy, both in the northern cities and at Bern Village. Uncle Crevan must have had little choice but to send Elaina through the forest on her own. After watching Elaina, it seemed highly unlikely that she would steal anything, especially a horse. If she was inclined to steal, she would have taken food while she was wandering around the village. A horse and sword would make survival more likely when traveling through the forest. The sword in Elaina’s weapon pack was a standard one, used for guards at Bern Village who weren’t warriors.
Kijani pulled at the saddle and carefully studied it. He started at the saddle horn and slowly peeled the top layer of leather away, revealing the original leatherwork. Embedded in the leather on top of the saddle horn was a small symbol with two swords crossed, their points upward and a mountain behind the swords, the symbol of a master. Kijani poked around the underside of the saddle and tugged at the leather surrounding the wood. A piece of wood had been carved out then replaced. Kijani retrieved an aurium dagger from his weapon pack and dug around the line, separating the pieces of wood, working away the replacement piece. The piece of wood fell out, revealing a small hole. He put his fingers in the hole then pulled out a piece of paper. Kijani stuffed the note in his pocket, restored the saddle, and swung the barn doors open. He locked the doors shut and made his way along a well-worn dirt path to the kitchen entrance. He stepped through a doorway into a hallway that led to his room at the back of his house.
Kijani set the note on a wooden table in one corner. Most people would dismiss the note as gibberish. Kijani instantly knew what the note really was. He pulled a drawer open and grabbed a piece of paper, quickly interpreting the note. When he was done, he read the translation:
Kijani, Hagan, or Lang (whomever receives this note),
The warrior is named Ani Louise, the daughter of an elf who was captured then kept by King Reth. I have sent Ani to Bern Village to save her life. King Reth is using her. If his next plan for her does not work, I believe he would prefer she not live. The last beating he gave her would have killed a normal teenager, but Ani Louise is not normal. She is naturally precise, has the strength of a well-trained human, and she thinks like a strategist. I suspect Ani used an elf shield to protect herself from the worst hits King Reth gave her. She has been trained in elf shields, in Bern techniques through level five step eight, and is a gifted archer. With a little more strength, she can be an aurium archer.
Ani may escape with her mother, Larissa, who suffered from a severe leg injury given to her by King Reth. Ani visits her mother often. I am not certain she will leave without her, though it would be better for Ani to leave Larissa behind because Larissa cannot use one of her legs. As an elf, Larissa is highly dependent on others.
I told Ani to change her name. Though I told her to choose her own, I suggested she call herself Elaina. I am certain you can decipher my reason for this name on your own.
Though I do not believe any spies from the northern cities will arrive at Bern Village for several months after she arrives, I must advise caution. It is critical that no one from the northern cities discovers Ani is there until after my family and I leave Glanton. Some people at the village will go to one of the northern cities if they feel they have valuable information. It may be tricky to keep everyone from discovering who she is. Ani should arrive in early fall. Since people don’t leave Bern Village in the fall and winter, even to relay valuable information, the risk of a spy leaving Bern Village before we leave Glanton should be low.
After I left to help bridge the gap between Bern Village and the northern cities, I was under the employment of King Reth’s father who died not long after I arrived. I cannot remain under King Reth’s command any longer. I plan to return to Bern Village on the week of Elaina’s birthday. Assume we will leave at that point, for if we don’t, there will be bigger problems than villagers knowing about Ani Louise. For that reason, it will be reasonably safe for villagers to know who she is after Elaina’s birthday.
I have trained seven soldiers at Glanton as warriors, though I admit I left some strategy out of their training, because I suspect at some point they may be enemies. I will give you more details on this after we arrive.
As the daughter of King Reth, Ani is part telepath. We should consider a certain possibility mentioned in a book I showed Kijani before I left. Proceed with Ani’s permission. Let her read what we know. If it works, you will have to watch for villagers who would betray us to the northern cities more closely.
I am certain I do not need to tell you the information in this letter is sensitive. You may let Ani read it. Take care of Ani Louise for me and say hello to my family.
Please inform Louie that Ranvir arrived safely.
Crevan
Kijani leaned back, absorbing the information he discovered in the letter. Ani . . . Elaina’s hesitancy made sense. Uncle Crevan seemed to think Elaina would arrive in early fall, but winter would begin in a couple of weeks. Kijani would pull more information out of her and discover if she ran into trouble prior to her arrival.
When Kijani left his room in search of his sons, Darian and Mehdi were walking into the house with their weapon packs. Kijani’s commanding voice rang through the house. “You boys finish cleaning up then tell Hagan and Lang we are having a closed meeting to discuss a note from Uncle Crevan. Stay out late tonight. I’ll send Elaina your way eventually. Where will you be?”
“We’ll eat at The Grill, then Master Lang’s,” Mehdi said.
“Take Jessie with you.” Kijani marched down the hall. He spoke to Elaina through the open doorway to her bedroom. “You probably want to clean up after your trip. If you take some furs to the clothing store, Rachel will buy them from you. She has plenty of clothes for you to choose from. Come back after your shopping trip then you can take a bath.”
Elaina stuttered, “O . . . okay.”
“Jessie will show you where the store is.” Kijani checked behind him then lowered his voice. “Try not to tell anyone where you came from. We are having a meeting about a note Uncle Crevan sent. Thanks for delivering it.”
“What?”
“You delivered a note to me.”
Elaina looked like she was terrified that she forgot something. “I did?”
“It was in the saddle but don’t tell anyone that part.”
“Okay.” Elaina hoisted half her furs onto her shoulder then left her room with a bewildered expression on her face. Kijani mulled over all he should discuss during the master meeting.
