“Nearly there,” Relam said to Oreius, smiling. “And a day early at that.”
Oreius grunted in reply.
Relam turned in the saddle to look at the old man. “Something the matter?”
Oreius glanced at him from under his bushy eyebrows. “Hmm? Oh, well, yes there is, actually.” He harrumphed and frowned again, staring down at his saddle, deep in thought.
Relam waited, wondering what was on the old warrior’s mind.
“The problem,” Oreius finally said. “Is that I promised a decision on whether or not I would train you upon our return to the capital.”
“Oh,” Relam said, understanding. “Is it that hard of a decision?” he asked, suddenly worried.
Oreius snorted. “Not hardly. I must confess that my mind was all but made up even before we left.”
In favor of or against? The prince waited on tenterhooks for the promised decision, hoping that Oreius would agree to train him. He had grown to like the old man’s irascible nature in the last few days, and his knowledge and skill were incredible.
Relam continued to wait, and all the while they drew closer and closer to the gates of Etares. He did not dare speak, or rush Oreius for an answer, lest he unwittingly tip the scales in the wrong direction. Finally, as the west gate swung open to admit the victorious soldiers, Oreius heaved a great sigh.
“I will train you,” he announced.
For a moment, Relam wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’ll train you,” Oreius repeated. “Once you have had your traditional twelve months off, of course. Return to my house then, and we will begin your training. You have impressed me, Relam. Tar told me all that you could be, all that you were, but I had to see for myself. You have great potential, boy. As a warrior, and as a future king.”
Relam bowed from the waist as they rode under the portcullis and back into Etares. “Thank you, master,” he said humbly.
Oreius grunted. “Well, that’s taken care of. Good job leading the mission, boy. I’ll see you in a year.”
And with that, the sword master urged his horse into a canter and rode off towards his home in the eastern part of the capital.
Chapter 19
“You can’t be serious!”
“Cevet, you know I wouldn’t joke about something like this. It’s real, it’s happened.”
The smaller cadet dashed sweat from his forehead and heaved a huge sigh. “You realize that you must be the first cadet ever to get approval from a master three weeks after passing the trials? And to be approved for training by Oreius, the best of them all!”
Relam nodded, setting his practice sword down. “Yes. It’s not something that happens every day. I’m just glad he didn’t turn me down. Then I would have had to train with D’Arnlo, and I’m not ready for that.”
Cevet sat and looked around Tar Agath’s training facility. They had met that morning for another sparring session, and worked themselves to exhaustion with twelve bouts, seven to Relam, five to Cevet. Only now had they had a chance to discuss business, such as Relam’s finding a master.
“This will put Garenes in a state I’m sure,” he muttered. “You training with Oreius. He was so looking forward to D’Arnlo favoring him over you.”
“He should get used to disappointment,” Relam grunted, sitting as well. “Do you think he’ll go after Oreius as well to try and match me?”
“I certainly hope so,” Cevet said eagerly. “If only we could be there to watch when it happens.”
“Do you think he’ll be thrown in the river?”
“It’s certainly possible.”
They sat in silence for a long moment, then Cevet shot a sidelong glance at Relam. “While we’re on the subject, what were you doing with Oreius and those soldiers for the last week or so? Some kind of mission?”
Relam rolled his eyes in exasperation. “It was supposed to be a secret mission,” he pointed out.
“Well you can’t expect it to stay a secret when you parade through the city with a hundred mounted soldiers, four prisoners and wagonloads of treasure.”
The prince nodded soberly, remembering that day. He had taken the cavalry back to the palace as an escort for the wagons full of bandit loot. Along the way, they had turned the prisoners over to the Citadel, where they had been locked in the Eyrie tower with the remaining assassins. Relam hadn’t heard if they had been questioned or if any useful information had been obtained from the new captives.
As the column had moved through the city, it gathered quite a following. People crowded the streets as the cavalry passed with all the soldiers in bright armor and Relam out in front of it all, a conquering hero. When they had arrived at the palace, the wagons had been parked as close together as possible and a perimeter set up to keep the people away.
It had taken only minutes for the king to arrive and take charge of the situation. The wagons were spirited off to the treasury, the people dispersed, and the soldiers returned to their barracks.
“This is more than I ever imagined,” Orram had said at the time, raking a hand through his hair. “Well done, Relam. Very well done.”
“Is the meeting still on today?” Relam asked Cevet now, glancing at him.
Cevet shrugged. “As far as I know, yes.”
Relam nodded. “Then I’d better get going, it’s only an hour or so until it starts. Any updates on the mood of the Assembly or the Council?”
“Other than they’re confused and want to know what the hell is going on?” Cevet asked with a grin. “No not really.”
“Good,” Relam muttered. “See you next
