Chapter 9 - Sparring

~ Eight cycles of the seasons - 15 Years earlier ~

The warm and comforting morning sunlight of mid-spring filled the clearing among the trees. Bird call and the sounds of the mountains were interspersed with the sharp cracks and thuds of wooden batons striking each other in the play of training, a mockery of the dance of life and death at the edge of a blade. A sudden hollowed crack rang out, stilling the bird call for a moment.

Harks stepped back, nodding and dusting some splinters out of his hair that he had been showered with only moments before. He glanced at the baton that mimicked the length of his longsword, its beaten shaft still holding. Looking past it, he watched his adopted daughter as she threw the remains of one of her twin batons aside, its shattered length a splintered mess. She quickly shook her padded vest out and switched the remaining baton to her leading hand, her eyes on his, embers glowering.

“And this is why I can’t have you sparring with my boys anymore!” said Rietta in exasperation, watching at a safe distance, “You’ll take one of their heads off!”

Lia giggled, not taking her eyes from Harks’s baton, “Aye, Rietta! No need to worry, I can always fix them after I break ‘em.”

Rietta’s eyebrows rose, “You and your sharp tongue. I know you won’t do them damage, but girl you have gotten stronger. What is it with you and your kind? It is like you are the child of a dragon!”

Harks smiled slightly, starting to circle, raising his baton in guard and watching as Lia squared up, her eyes on his every movement. She rushed in, baton snaking as she wove it through the air, striking his as he deflected her blow. He sidestepped, blocking blow after blow as she struck his guard with canny precision. Meeting her eyes for a fragment of a second, he stepped into her reach, closing the space and forcing her to dance back, foiling the momentum of her attack and turning it on her.

Advancing, he pushed her back across the open arena, nodding as she deflected and slipped out of the path of his weapon. Finally launching herself backward into a tumble and rising to her feet again out of his longer reach and blade at the ready, held high to either guard or strike. She puffed, her arms trembling slightly with anxious readiness.

Harks reset his pose to a guard, “Harder.”

Rietta watched as Lia smiled, blue flames growing in readiness. Even the baton she was wielding started to shimmer lightly before she rushed forward, throwing her small form into the attack. Rietta shook her head.

“Harks, how long now?” she asked.

He whipped his baton into position, sharp retorts coming from the wood with every heavy strike, “After the thaws, mid-spring.” he said between each blow that Lia landed.

Rietta looked up at the sky, “That could be any day now. Lia, have you got everything ready?”

“Aye, Rietta!” Lia said, blocking a low blow.

Rietta watched their dance, Harks in control as Lia tested herself.

She frowned, “I don’t like that we are going to be losing both of you.”

Harks grunted slightly, switching his grip and driving Lia back before responding, “Chancellor Eira and Odessia had an agreement, this village has always been under the protection of the Academy as long as there was an official stationed here.”

Rietta watched him, “Pray tell, who?”

“There will be a small retinue from the Academy, a few academics will be arriving.” he said, stalling Lia’s advance.

“I don’t like the idea of new people in the village either. They are outsiders.”

Harks grimaced, limply guarding Lia’s strong return, “I found something of worth and worked out how to cultivate it.”

“It was you?”

He chuckled and shook his head, “I did so at Odessia’s request and experience.”

Harks quickly glanced over her, “It was the least I could do.”

“Harks!” Rietta yelled, watching as Lia rushed in, swinging in hard, capitalising on that one split second to act in his distraction.

Harks looked down, feeling the tap as she pulled the violent momentum of her swing at the very last possible moment and gently tapped his side. He caught her wide smile of victory as she paused, before pinning the baton and turning, tearing it clean out of her grasp and sending her tumbling in the process.

She quickly rolled and jumped to her feet, furious, “Papa?!”

“Lia, stop searching for the approval, tap and escape those with longer reach.”

“Papa, but if it were a real sword…” Lia argued.

Harks stared at her; one of his eyebrows rising.

Lia’s shoulders slumped, weathering his gaze, “If it were a real sword I would have already been dead ten times over.” she said as she walked back over, mock glaring at him as he handed back the wooden baton and dusted her off.

Rietta watched the exchange, a smile growing on her face, “Harks, you are a different man to the one I met entering this village eight years ago.”

Harks chuckled, looking down at Lia, hugging her to his side, “Same man, Rietta. But now with a purpose.”

Rietta nodded, “You still haven’t answered my question. Who is the Chancellor’s official and why is she sending an escort to bring you to the Academy?”

Harks looked at her, frowning, “Odessia never told you? Maybe she never found the need to.”

“Odessia? She was the… Orlwen found it strange that the Chancellor took great interest the other year when he arrived and delivered the letter from Odessia. He did not expect that the Chancellor herself would have taken the time to take him personally to see about the instruments and to give him lodging for the week.” Rietta said, a surprised look in her eye.

Lia stared at him, frowning, “Papa.”

Harks looked at Lia and smiled, giving her a nod, “Odessia and I used to instruct at the Academy.”

“You what? Odessia was a teacher?” exclaimed Rietta.

“I was her student for a time, when I was young. She saw my potential and I became her apprentice, not long after I became an instructor too.” he said, gesturing for Lia to gather their things.

“You and Odessia?” said Rietta in disbelief.

“The Chancellor and her were like sisters. Whenever there was any business that the Chancellor would personally see to outside of the academy, Odessia was at her side as an advisor.”

Lia smiled as she returned to them.

Rietta looked at her, “Of course you knew.”

Lia nodded, “Aye, Rietta. But not long.”

“You will be resuming your role at the Academy, because of Lia?” Rietta asked.

Harks nodded, a small smile on his face.

Rietta nodded slowly, “Will you both be coming back?”

Harks frowned, distracted, “Every year for a few weeks, this village is my home now... I will be the main liaison.” he stopped, peering ahead, “Rietta, its Lil.”

They continued to walk until Rietta’s eldest ran up to them.

“Ma!” he said breathlessly, “Ma, four – three riders – six – six horses.”

Rietta looked at him, “Lil? Riders?”

Lil nodded, pointing at Harks, “They – they rode past – asking ‘bout.” he finally managed to draw a full breath, “Asking about Odessia.”

Lil finally stood, “Da is checking one of their horses, sorting a thrown shoe. He sent them to your place.”

“Who is it?” Lia asked excitedly.

“Da wouldn’t say, just told me to fetch you.” Lil said excitedly, looking back and forth from Lia, Harks and Rietta, “They aren’t wearing normal clothes and they all have crests on their cloaks, two of them kept their hoods up, hiding their faces. They spoke funny too.”

Harks nodded slowly, “There is your answer Rietta, it is time.”

Rietta looked at him in concern, grasping Lia’s hand and frowning, “It’s too soon. I’m not ready to be saying goodbye tomorrow.”

Lia walked at Harks’s side along the road that led to their home. She was holding his hand, filled with nervous energy.

“Papa, I need to speak with Mother, Father and Dessia tonight.” Lia said, a worried look on her face as she looked up at Harks.

He nodded, “Alone, or would you like company?”

“I want to spend some time there, just me. It’s not as cold at night, and I haven’t fallen asleep there for a long time.”

“Even if you do, dearest daughter, I know where to find you.” Harks said gently, looking down and meeting her eyes.

He looked up as their home came into sight. Five horses and a rider stood out the front.

Lia pointed, “Papa!” she said, almost dragging him along in excitement, her concerns forgotten for the moment.

The man who was tending to the horses turned, hearing Lia’s call. His midnight blue cloak concealed his figure, but his hood was swept back over his shoulders. He stood of reasonable height with wheaten hair of medium cut, strong facial features and tipped ears that immediately betrayed his elven heritage.

Harks stared at the man as he and Lia drew closer, “Erann? By the gods, Eira sent you all the way out here?” he called out in greeting.

Erann swept his cloak aside, crossing his arms over his chest and laughed, “Harks! Well met, old friend. With good purpose!” he said, his voice boisterous as he stepped forward to meet them.

Erann clasped Harks’s hand and hugged him, “May the gods be damned! It’s good to see you Harks. It’s been too long!”

Erann stepped back and offered his hand to Lia, bending, “Is this the new student? The mighty Odessia’s grand-niece?”

Lia glanced quickly at Harks, who nodded to her, “My name is Lia, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Erann, and that pleasure is all mine.” he replied with a smile, gently shaking Lia’s hand before standing and directing his gaze at Harks, “Where is the old girl hiding? I still owe her, remember.”

Harks frowned, shaking his head his smile faltering, “You didn’t get the letter, did you?”

Erann stared at Harks, quickly looking at Lia and then back, “Letter?” his expression falling, recognising the look on Harks’s face, “No… She’s gone? When?”

“Dawn of Winter, a year past.”

Erann stood silently and frowned deeply, “Was it peaceful?” he asked.

Harks nodded, looking down at Lia and smiling sadly. Erann followed Harks’s glance, kneeling to Lia’s level.

“I am sorry, Lia. I did not mean to…”

Lia smiled, her amber on his gold, “It was Odessia’s time.”

Erann nodded, squeezing her shoulder carefully as a frown etched deeper into his brow. He stood, meeting Harks’s eyes momentarily with a pained expression before gesturing for them to follow him. Harks guided Lia between the horses, the mood now sombre. Erann opened the gate and held it for the both of them, patting Harks’s shoulder.

“I will deal with the horses, you have company to attend, old friend.” Erann said quietly as they passed.

Harks stopped and met his eyes, “No, don’t play like this Erann.”

“Apologies, they let themselves in.” he said, frowning.

Lia looked up at the exchange between the two men and gripped Harks’s hand a little tighter, “Papa?”

Erann glanced down at her, his eyes shifting back to Harks in silent understanding.

“Papa?” Lia said again.

Harks looked down with a smile, leading Lia forward and to the main entry of their home. He noted the gear stacked against the wall and the two pairs of dirtied travelling boots sitting by the door. He glanced back at Erann to see him idly standing by the gate, lost in thought, coming to terms with the news.

“Papa, they don’t know that Odessia is gone.” Lia said quietly.

“No, they don’t, and for Erann to be here, this is no normal escort.”

“Papa, who is Erann?” she asked.

Harks looked at her, slipping his boots off, “Erann is the Chancellor’s current attendant and champion. He protects her and is nearby her side at all times.”

Lia’s eyes widened, looking at the closed door, “The Chancellor?”

Harks nodded, helping Lia straighten out her dusty clothing and quickly correcting her hair, calming the panic in her eyes.

“There is nothing to fear, dearest daughter. Just be yourself.”

Lia smiled uncertainly and hugged him tightly, feeling the warmth of his hand on her back.

“Ready?” he asked.

Lia nodded, waiting as Harks opened the door, pushing it aside as they entered