The Apprentice Page 38

  Eventually Rowan tried to seek out the company of the princess, but she had become very busy. It was rumored that her father had begun considering her marriage options. If she were to wed one of the many princes of Lauratrea, the two countries would become connected, furthering King Alden’s plans for peace. There was even talk of arranging visits to meet and entertain several suitors.

  Even though such talk was only court gossip, Rowan couldn’t dismiss it. He himself had no claim on Eliza, but the thought of an arranged marriage upset him no matter what he pretended to feel.

  All seemed very depressing and lonesome for Rowan while the kingdom began to grow bright and optimistic in anticipation of a future that was stable, peaceful, and secure. The princess had only to marry and establish a new ruler to follow the example set by her father. Even Baird began to seem less strained, as though whatever had been worrying him was no longer a problem.

  When it became clear that he would not be able to see Eliza, Rowan became detached and focused on distracting himself, turning his attentions elsewhere. When he finally decided that he wanted company, he sought out Erik.

  Erik had noticed the change that had come over him, but like Baird, he said nothing. The two had become like brothers. They worked and sparred together and they understood each other well.

  “What will you do once it is time for your graduation?” Erik asked one evening. It was well known that the older group of boys would face their trials soon and be formally graduated, some earning ranks and the rest becoming soldiers. All who graduated would be joining various troops where there were openings, though none knew where they would be assigned. They could be sent anywhere, to a place for them to begin anew as men. There were a few exceptions, such as Byron, who had already been placed under a commander. Those few who had been given early assignments remained in the barracks until they were formally graduated, but they knew where they were going. It was expected that Darius would be speaking to them that evening on the subject.

  “I don’t know,” Rowan said. His was the only future that was uncertain. He expected that he would eventually be returned to Baird to fulfill his duties as an apprentice. Continued training alongside the younger boys would not serve him well. It would be a waste of his time. “I have thought about it often enough, but I have no answers or visions of the future. I am Baird’s apprentice and he trains me specially, but I know little about what he actually does. He is a master swordsman, but that is only a skill. I have never shadowed him, so I don't know. Perhaps that is what is to come.”

  “What does he teach you? It can’t be just swordplay,” Erik teased.

  “No. I learn other things from him as well. But it’s always little details that he gives, observations that I make. I learn a lot, but at the same time I never fully understand anything and he never directly tells me how his lessons are relevant. I ask. He answers. If information is useful, he will tell me. But there is much that he does not think that I am ready to bear.”

  “That doesn’t sound very helpful.”

  Rowan shrugged. “It is what it is. Baird is always saying that the most important aspect of his job is something that cannot be taught.”

  “What is it?”

  “He says it is one’s spirit and their resolve. I disagree, but what can I do.”

  Erik grunted in agreement.

  “What will you do?” Rowan asked.

  “I’m fairly certain that I will be kept here in the capitol. I have some relations in the city and Darius seems to think that I will do well here.”

  “That’s fortunate. It’d be a shame if you get assigned to some far-away post and we had to part ways. I would need a new sparring partner.”

  “Is that all I am good for? Being a sparring buddy for you to beat and bruise?”

  “I thought you already knew that.”

  Erik punched Rowan to get back at him for the jest.

  Later they were called in with many of the other older boys and Darius spoke to them about the plans that were being made to organize their graduation ceremony. Rowan absently listened to the speech without taking very much in. It didn’t concern him, so he did not need to care. They would be reminded about anything important later anyway.

  He later asked Baird about what would become of him. Baird told him that he could soon begin to shadow him, observing and helping as necessary. But Baird would not say when.

  Rowan resigned himself to waiting for the time when his situation would change.

  Chapter 43

  Rowan rolled over in his bed, uncomfortable and awake. From the quiet sounds of snoring, he could tell that the other boys were asleep. It was late and the barracks were dark, the light from the moon hidden.

  He closed his eyes and began counting his breaths, emptying his mind and trying to force himself to relax. But sleep evaded him.

  He did not know what kept him up. His day had been ordinary and he had worked hard, exhausting himself. He had not met with Baird, but even still he had trained throughout the day. He ought to be exhausted. He felt exhausted.

  When he knew that sleep would not return, Rowan tossed his sheets aside and rose from his bed. Perhaps a nighttime walk would calm his mind and allow him to rest easier.

  As he stood, his foot brushed against Tenro. He always kept it close. Rowan cursed as his motion toppled the blade and he hurriedly bent to catch it before it could fall to the ground and wake someone. He looked around to check that none of the other boys had stirred, and was satisfied that he had not woken anyone.

  Blade in hand, Rowan thought about taking Tenro with him but quickly decided against it. He would have no need of his weapon and it would only mean more trouble if he was caught breaking curfew with it. Darius would take it away.

  Always keep your weapon. You will need it most when you do not have it. Baird’s words came to mind unbidden. The thought gave Rowan pause, but he ignored it, leaving the blade beneath his bunk so no one would step on it in the dark. It would be safe there.

  Rowan pulled a tunic over his head, wrapped himself in his cloak to protect against the autumn chill, and snuck outside. The night air was calm and crisp and perfectly still. A thick fog hung in the air, dampening everything and making Rowan shiver and pull his cloak more tightly around him, though it only helped a little.

  He took a moment to relieve himself before walking out into the mists. He absently wondered what it would be like to live during the night. It would certainly be colder. Yet the night was peaceful. In the darkness, it was easy to forget about the rest of the world and just exist.

  Rowan walked without paying attention to where his feet took him and found himself leaving the training grounds and walking towards the castle. The whole hill was surrounded by a wall, but there were areas where one could sneak inside. The light from the watch fires were hazy in the fog. He looked for the shadowy shapes of the guards walking the walls, patrolling the keep and watching for intruders. It would be best to avoid them.

  He crossed into the castle grounds using a very old tunnel that was hidden by overgrown brush. Anyone who stumbled across it would probably say that tunnel was the wrong word to describe the hole in the ground. It was little more than a crawlspace, so the brush that hid it was small enough to escape close scrutiny. Rowan did not know if the tunnel was natural or if someone had dug it purposefully, but it was useful.

  It was amazing how deserted the grounds were. It was as if the darkness had swallowed all of the people and guards who would normally roam the area. The fog was thick and oppressive, making it difficult to see anything more than a good stone throw away. It shrank the world.

  Scanning the grounds, Rowan could see the bobbing light of torches, but their height told him that they were carried by soldiers on the wall. There were none across the grounds.

  Rowan thought it strange, but he was grateful for the ease with which he could walk the grounds. With the usual guards absent, Rowan could simply walk without worrying about being spotted. It was a dark night a
nd the mist would only make it harder for anyone to spot him.

  He walked in the direction of the castle gardens. It was beautiful, full of wondrous plants and places to wander and be alone. It was not a place that he often had the opportunity to visit.

  As befitting the late hour, the gardens were empty. In the darkness, there was little to see. Rowan carried no torch or lantern with him, for any light would betray him to the guards. Yet he could make out shapes, and he was able to enjoy the smells that hung in the air. Occasionally as he walked, he would close his eyes, reach out his hand, and brush the nearby plants with his fingertips, trying to identify them by touch. He was a poor guesser, having little knowledge of the exotic plants found in the royal gardens, but he knew a few of them.

  He walked for a time. The gardens were built with many paths and a number of small areas where one could sit and rest undisturbed. The area was at once completely open and totally isolated. He guessed that it was meant to offer a sense of tranquility. It was a place for wandering and pondering.

  He enjoyed the silence for a while, just allowing himself to relax. Then he heard the voices.

  Rowan froze. He had not thought anyone else would be awake at such a late hour. The voices grew louder and Rowan realized that whoever was speaking was walking towards him. He looked around, realized that he had no time to escape unnoticed, and quickly dove into a small sitting area surrounded by well trimmed bushes, hoping that he was hidden.

  “Everything is in place. Baird has been dealt with and my men have their orders to keep away from the castle. Those that I trust are in place, but I have instructed them not to act. I will be the one to do it.”

  Rowan recognized the voice. It was Gannon. The memory of the last time that he had overheard one of Gannon’s conversations came flooding back. Suddenly it was making sense to Rowan. The person that Gannon had been talking about last time, the man who had been watched, was Baird.

  “So tonight we will finally act? You plan to see this through?”

  “Yes.”

  “And what of the boy? He could prove useful if we could control him.”

  “He is troublesome, but I he poses no immediate threat. He is in the barracks, guarded by Darius. I ordered my newest recruit to keep watch over him. Afterwards, when this is all over, he may need to be killed. He has grown close to the princess and I simply do not like him. He is Baird’s legacy, his successor.”

  They are talking about me, Rowan realized. And then, I wonder who he had watching me. Whoever it was did a poor job. I had no trouble leaving and navigating the grounds unnoticed.

  He stole a glance to see who Gannon was speaking with and he recognized the man from the feast that had been thrown when he first arrived in the capitol. Lord Evans, Rowan recalled.

  “What of the royal honor guard? And the troops who are either not under your command or who are loyal?”

  “The honor guard will soon be dealt with. Their deaths will look like a struggle, and if some of my men die, then it will only serve to throw suspicion off of me, for my men were obviously fighting to save our glorious king.”

  Rowan felt a sinking in the pit of his stomach. He was not fully aware of what was happening, but he had heard enough to know that it was something very bad. He needed to get help, to find Baird and raise some kind of alarm. He just had to wait for the right moment, when he could escape unnoticed. Gannon and the lord ought to pass a safe distance away soon.

  He could hear the footsteps passing him by. They had not noticed him.

  And it was in that moment that Rowan felt a hand grab him from behind, jerking him forward and out into the open.

  Chapter 44

  Disoriented, Rowan stumbled and fell to the ground. He tried to rise but something pressed down on his back, painfully pinning him to the earth while his arms were twisted behind him and held in place. A simple yet effective restraining hold, one that every soldier learned in training.

  “Who do we have here?” Gannon’s voice was unusually calm, as though Rowan’s sudden appearance had not startled him in the least. It gave him chills.

  “I heard him leave the barracks and followed him here. He was spying, listening in on your conversation.”

  Rowan could not move his head to see, but he recognized the voice of the person pinning him to the ground. It was Byron.

  “This is not good! Not good at all! The boy has heard us. Who knows how much he overheard. We should—”

  “Silence yourself, Evans! We do not want to be heard. And stop struggling, boy!”

  Rowan gasped as Gannon kicked him hard in the ribs. He stopped struggling. There was a pause, and he guessed that there was some nonverbal exchange between Gannon and the lord.

  “Byron, you have done a good service. Though you failed to apprehend our young knight-in-training until it was too late.”

  “I followed him and would have kept him from the castle, but I couldn’t figure out how he got in,” Byron complained.

  “No matter. I shall chastise you later. Right now I shall attend to our problem. Release him.”

  Stunned sounds came from both Byron and Evans. Even Rowan was startled by Gannon’s order. Yet he felt the pressure leave his back and his arms were released. He stood, evaluating his options as he took a quick glance around. Gannon must have noticed because he said, “There is no point in running. On this night, my men are the only ones you will find, and they have been instructed to kill on sight. And if you are thinking of raising an alarm, you should know that it will make no difference. It will, however, mean that you forfeit your life. My plan will not be stopped.”

  “And what plan would that be?” Rowan knew that he would not be able to make it past the wall again. Not without being seen. Gannon or Byron would catch him and kill him before he could squeeze himself through the tight hole. His best option was to wait and hope to alert the castle.

  “Byron, have the guard send me a few men. They can spare the hands. And make sure they are ready to keep anyone from entering or exiting the castle grounds.”

  Byron bowed deeply before he hurried off into the night. Rowan lost sight of him quickly as the mists obscured his being.

  Perhaps running would work. The mists would provide ample cover after only a short distance.

  Rowan was beginning to think that Gannon had simply ignored him, but not so. The man returned his attention to Rowan as soon as Byron was gone.

  “My plans, boy, should be obvious by now. I am starting a revolution in which I will take control of this country. The king will die and I shall take his place. Tonight will be the beginning of a new era.”

  Rowan was stunned at the audacity of the man standing before him.

  “You admit this to me freely?”

  “Do you think me a fool, boy? I speak freely because as of this moment, you are no threat to me. You have stumbled upon something that you were not meant to discover, and now you must be removed.”

  Rowan heard footsteps behind him, the heavy clanking of armor. His escape was cut off. He had missed his chance to run. He cursed, wishing he had his blade.

  “I will have none of that while you are in my presence. Not on this, of all nights.” Gannon made a motion to the soldiers who had taken up positions behind him. Rowan felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and a guard grabbed both hands and twisted them behind his back painfully where they were tied and held in place by a strong grip. He struggled but was held tightly.

  “Take him away, and keep him locked up. I want that boy kept under guard and given no liberties whatsoever.”

  “I say we kill him,” Evans put in. “He knows too much and he serves us no purpose alive. Are you truly so vain as to keep him prisoner just for your own amusement?”

  “Quiet, Evans. He may serve some purpose yet, especially with Baird still around.” Gannon turned to his soldiers. “I do not care if he gets roughed up and gains a few bruises, but this boy is not to die. Not tonight, at least. Not while he may still prove useful. Now take him away fro
m me, I have other important matters to deal with.” Footsteps faded into the night as Gannon left.

  The hands that held him pushed, and Rowan was forced to stumble forward. He glanced backwards but one of the soldiers struck him across the face. The hand wore a gauntlet and the blow drew blood.

  Rowan cried out before he could be silenced.

  “Curses. Someone shut him up or gag him. Gannon will destroy us if he alerts anyone in the castle.”

  “Don’t worry. If the castle guard isn’t dead, they will be soon.”

  “I don’t care. What if Gannon hears him?”

  The hands forcing him forward pulled him to a stop and Rowan heard a ripping sound. He felt something pressed against his mouth but he locked his jaw shut. The soldier cursed and punched him in the stomach. He coughed and the cloth was shoved in and bound around his head.

  When done, they marched onwards, leading him towards the back of the castle where the older buildings stood unused. The gag tasted wretched and smelled even worse. Rowan could feel bile rising in his throat. He made sounds of protest but the gag muffled his noises so that they came out as groans.

  Another punch.

  Rowan groaned again, but quietly. He did not want to be struck again.

  He tried to focus. To think. Where were they and where were they going? The guards seemed to be taking the long way around the grounds. Rowan’s feet were growing heavy and he was finding it difficult to keep moving forward and remain upright at the same time. But he forced himself onwards, hoping for another chance. A moment where he might be able to escape and stop this madness or alert someone. Can no one see what is happening?

  “What was that?”

  Rowan had heard it too. The faint sound of something moving, something that was hidden by the darkness and the mists.

  “Probably just a dog or some animal, you fool. Don’t get spooked. They’re the ones who should be afraid,” the lead guard said, gesturing towards where Rowan could only assume that the castle stood. Princess Eliza flashed through his mind.