Ascendant (36 page)

“
Do you know Martel Vazan,
he works in the stables? He and his wife Izella are from Estada, from Tas
Herridos?
”

Paedris shook
his head.
“
I
don
’
t know
this Martel, Tas Herridos is in the far south of Estada, a long way from my
home in La Murta. I didn
’
t
know one of my countrymen was here in the castle! He showed you how to cook?
”

“
No, his wife Izella showed
me. I hope you like it.
”

“
Like it?
”
The wizard rose from the
chair and embraced Koren in a bear hug. When he sat back down, Paedris had to
brush away a tear.
“
Thank
you, Koren. People don
’
t,
they don
’
t
think of wizards as being human. We are. We have parents, and homes, and some
of us have families, too. I had a family, one time. I have a grand daughter
named Izella, although I haven
’
t
seen her in a long time. She is probably a grandmother by now.
”
Paedris ate another bite
of the chicken.
“
Ah,
this reminds me of home. Sit down, eat!
”

Koren wasn
’
t much hungry, he
’
d been snacking on the
food while he was cooking it, but he got a bowl of soup and a corn cake.
“
You had a family, sir?
”
The words were hardly out
of his mouth, before he feared whether he should have asked such a personal
question. Lord Salva was so often friendly that Koren sometimes for forgot
about being merely a servant.

“
Yes, I was married once.
”
Paedris
’
right eyebrow raised in
question.
“
You
’
re surprised? Don
’
t worry, most people are.
When I was a young, and foolish wizard, feeling full of myself, and not yet
aware of the great responsibility that comes with great power,
”
the wizard paused to give
Koren a sharp look, although Koren couldn
’
t
imagine why,
“
I
was in the court of king Manello of Estada. I fell in love with a girl there,
one of the king
’
s
nieces. My master, Cydall the wizard, warned me against it, but she was so, so,
kind, and gentle. We met when she saw a butterfly knocked to the ground by a
passing carriage, she held it carefully in her hand, and brought it to me,
asking if I could heal its broken wing.
”

Koren waited
while the wizard was lost in thought, after a minute had gone by, Koren dropped
his spoon on the table.
“
Sorry,
sir. You were saying?
”

“
Eh? Oh, yes. The butterfly.
I healed it, the wing was only bent, not broken, and she brought it to the
window, and it flew away. Arposa, that
’
s
the Estadan word for butterfly, that
’
s
what I called her, after that. Arposa. We had four children, they grew up to be
good people, all of them. My grandchildren, too, all good people, I had
seventeen grandchildren.
”

“
Had, sir?
”

Paedris took a
deep breath, composed himself, and ate another spoonful of soup.
“
Yes, had. They
’
re dead now, most of them.
Koren, how old do you think I am?
”

“
Uh, well, sir,
”
Koren considered what to
say, adults seemed to be offended if people though they looked old,
“
your hair has gray
streaks, so maybe you are, fifty? But I
’
ve
heard wizards live a long time, so, maybe, seventy?
”

Paedris shook
his head.
“
Koren,
I am one hundred and eighty two years old. Wizards age slowly, we can use the
power of the spirits to renew our bodies. So, I remained young, while my Arposa
grew old. I was able to slow her aging, at a great strain to my powers, but in
the end, she passed, as we all will, some day. So, you see, Koren, my master
Cydall was right, it is not wise for a wizard to marry a regular person, it can
only lead to heartache. And it can be cruel, for your love to see you remain
young and healthy, while they become old and frail. My children have all
passed, and most of my grandchildren also. When my last child died, I left
Estada, to come here, and dedicate my power to defeating Acedor. That is my
life now.
”

That sounded
terribly sad to Koren.
“
Yes,
sir.
”

“
That's enough speaking of
the past. We have this delicious food, let
’
s
enjoy.
”

Kyre Falco was
in a foul mood. Rumors of Ariana roaming around the castle with Koren had
reached his ears, and he was jealous. How could the crown princess choose to
spend time with a commoner boy like Koren, instead of royalty like Kyre? Koren
was nothing but a servant. He didn
’
t
even have a family!

Kyre was not
the only person in the castle who didn
’
t
like to hear of Ariana spending time with a common servant. Duke Falco had
ordered Kyre to become friends with Ariana, and Koren was in the way; Niles
Forne decided something had to be done, to get rid of Koren. The man
’
s scheming little mind had
considered having Koren kidnapped, but since the boy was under the wizard
’
s protection, such a plan
was far too risky. No, this needed a careful plan, not something to be rushed
into. He would start by making the castle an unpleasant place for Koren to
live.

“
He
’
s coming. You know what to
do?
”
Kyre
whispered, as he stepped back into the shadows.

“
We
’
ll take care of it, your
Grace.
”
The
boy Niles Forne had chosen for the task was a nephew of Baron Pendran, an
vassal of Kyre
’
s
father. Utri was only a year older than Koren, but big for his age, with a
round face and curly brownish hair. He had been trying to grow a mustache, but
the hair on his upper lip was sparse, like a brown cat had rubbed up against
him, and left some fur behind. 
“
That
stupid farm boy won
’
t
know you
’
re
involved.
”

Utri Pendran
and three of his servants swaggered out into the courtyard, talking loudly and
tossing a ball between them. Koren immediately sensed the group was trouble,
and moved aside, but one of the boys ran next to him, to catch the ball. The
boy pretended to trip, and fell into Koren, knocking them both to the ground.
“
Watch where you
’
re going!
”
Utri shouted as he sprang
to his feet.

Koren stood up
warily and brushed the dirt off his clean shirt. He had been on his back from
the palace, after having lunch with Ariana and looking at old maps, which
Ariana loved to do.
“
Me
watch out? You
’
re
the clumsy one!
”

“
Watch your mouth when you
’
re speaking to your
betters, boy.
”
Utri
snarled, and his servants laughed as they surrounded Koren.

Koren didn
’
t recognize Utri, who had
arrived at the castle only a week earlier.
“
Better? How? Better at tripping over your own
feet?
”

Utri
’
s eyes narrowed. Now he
was genuinely angry, not play-acting for Kyre.
“
You
’
re
the wizard
’
s
brat, aren
’
t
you? Koren?
”

“
Koren Bladewell.
”

“
What I hear is, you
’
re just Koren.
”
Utri snarled.
“
You don
’
t have a family name,
because you don
’
t
have a family. Your family dumped you on the side of a road. Ha! What kind of
scum were your parents?
”

Before he
could think, Koren jumped at Utri, knocking him to the ground and pounding the
bigger boy with his fists. The three Pendran servants joined in, punching and
kicking Koren, until they were pulled apart by a guard.

“
What
’
s this?
”
The guard asked, as he
held Utri by his collar.

“
Release me!
”
Utri demanded.
“
I
’
m the eldest nephew of
Baron Pendran!
”

To Koren
’
s surprise, the guard
stepped away from Utri.
“
Sorry,
young sir, I didn
’
t
recognize you.
”
The
man scowled at Koren.
“
Koren,
I expected better of you. Brawling in the courtyard? You be on your way.
”

“
He attacked me!
”
Utri protested.
“
I demand satisfaction! It
is my right, I am a Pendran, and he is a common servant.
”

The guard, who
was also a common servant, was used to dealing with fights between the boys in
the castle.
“
Yes,
the law is on your side. So, if you want to fight, you can fight in the
sparring ring.
”

Koren had
never been in the sparring ring, where soldiers and guards trained. Kyre had
invited Koren to watch him spar, but Koren had never been inside the ring. The
guard opened the gate, and said
“
In
you go. Just you, Utri, you
’
ll
not bring your friends along this time.
”

“
I get to choose the
weapons.
”
Utri
pointed out.
“
He
hit me first.
”

The guard was
surprised, he assumed the two boys would fight with their fists.
“
What
’
s your weapon?
”

“
Swords.
”
Utri said with a smile.
He was good with a sword.

The guard
frowned, then snapped his fingers.
“
Fine.
Swords you want, swords you
’
ll
get.
”
He
opened the weapons locker, and pulled out two wooden, padded practice swords.
Utri took one, tested it for balance, and cut the air with a series of strokes.
“
It
’
ll do.
”
He announced with a wink
toward his servants.

The guard
handed Koren the other sword.
“
Have
you ever used a sword?
”
he
asked in a low voice.

Koren shook
his head. Other than play-fighting with sticks, the only weapons he
’
d ever held was a knife or
a bow. Swords weren
’
t
any use on a farm.

“
I can
’
t tell you much in a short
time, but even with the padding, these swords can hurt.
”
The guard warned.
“
Normally you
’
d be wearing a padded
jacket, but, as this is a duel, well, you
’
ll
have to do your best. I
’
ll
stop the fight if you are hurt bad.
”

Then the guard
stepped outside the ring, and closed the gate behind him.

Utri held up
his sword. Niles Forne
’
s
plan had not involved Utri whacking Koren with a sword, but Utri was enjoying
the change in plan. He would teach the servant boy a lesson, then the Falco
family would owe the Pendrans a favor.
“
Do
you yield?
”
Utri
had never known anyone to yield before the fight had begun, but it was part of
the rules that the question had to be asked.