King Edward, Part VIAnonymoushistoryghosts) $ #',16r;King Edward, Part VI Chap 6: Training The day Edward was to leave the Archmagister summoned him,presented him with a mithril staff and bade him farewell. Back in his small cell, Edward removed his novitiate robe anddonned the grey shirt, black pants and red sash he'd worn to theTower. He fingered the sash lovingly. His mother had purchasedthe shirt and pants, saying they looked sturdy and maybewouldn't show the dirt from the journey. Moraelyn had given himthe silk sash with its embroidery of twined leaves and flowers,birds and butterflies in mithril, dwarven and elven metallicthreads. But he'd waited until they were across the channel.Aliera had said it cost too dear; she had suggested cutting downone of Moraelyn's old ones to fit, but the elf had adamantlyrefused to let her have any of them. Edward smiled, remembering, and wrapped the sash twice roundhis waist then knotted the ends carefully. He took the staff andran down to meet his parents. He had meant to fling himself at them, but Moraelyn was aloneand Edward stopped still. "Where's my mother? Is she--?" "She wanted to stay and choose a horse for you. Didn't trustit to Beech." "A horse? For me! Really?" "Of course. You can't walk all the way to Morrowind." "I thought I'd have to ride behind -- someone. Look, theArchmagister gave me my staff! Isn't it beautiful?" The elf took it and hefted it, trying a few swings and feints."Good balance and weight for thee, I think. Light for me. Showme how you use it. Suppose I attack you." He used his barehands and Edward fell into a defensive position, blockedhim, then thrust the staff toward Moraelyn's ribs. He dancedeasily aside, but praised the boy. "A mage should have a dagger, too. I thought you might like tohave Tooth here." Edward's eye popped. Tooth had an ebonyblade and a hilt made from a real dragon's tooth. The elf slidit from its sheath and handed it to Edward who took itcarefully. The blade had a wicked point and the edge was sharpenough to shave with. Mats borrowed it sometimes. He'd carved the hilt, too. "Are you sure Mats doesn't mind?" "Quite sure." Moraelyn unbuckled his belt and slid the sheathoff it. There was a new belt for Edward of snakeskin, soft andpliable and a buckle with the black rose of Morrowind on it,just like Moraelyn's. "It's from the Companions." He knelt tofit the belt and dagger and the sash over it properly, andEdward threw his arms about his neck. "It's wonderful. I dothank thee and them, too! And oh, I've missed all of thee somuch." "We missed you, too, son. Let's go or we'll miss our tide." "I wouldn't want to worry mother," he said, trying to soundcasual about having a mother that would worry about him. "No fear; I told her not to look for us until tomorrownight....just in case. But we'll surprise her." "Good thinking." They made good speed and reached the inlet before the tide wasfull. "Shall I show you how to use Tooth, or would you ratherrest?" "Tooth! I can rest in the boat while you work." Moraelyn shielded himself and Edward too, saying that Tooth'sbite was no joke. "I could have shielded myself," Edward saidproudly. "I'm good at that. But my Heals go all wrong." "It'll come. Give it time." Evidently Tooth wanted time too. Try as he might, he couldn'tget near the elf with the blade, even though Moraelyn kept his feet planted and simply swerved his body, ducking andweaving...and laughing. Frustrated, Edward sheathed Toothand picked up the staff and whacked at him, swinging it withboth hands. It wasn't doing any harm, but it made satisfyingsounds as it thwacked against the spell shield. Moraelyn lethim hit, but stopped the staff easily when the spell had beenused up. Edward threw it on the ground and turned away; theelf reached for him in consolation. Edward snatched Tooth from the sheath and thrust it straight atthe elf's heart. The blade was knocked spinning from his hand. Edward had bracedto stop the thrust and hold it and he felt the shock eventhrough his shield. Then Moraelyn was kneeling before him,nursing his left hand across his right knee, his face grey withshock and disbelief. Blood was gushing from his wrist like afountain. "Give me thy sash!" "I--I didn't--" Edward's teeth were rattling in his head. Hefelt sick and dizzy. Bile washed up in his mouth."D-d-didn't--m-m-mean." So much blood. "Boy, don't faint now. I need thy aid. The sash. Now, Edward!Pack it into the wound. Gods, what a mess!" The hand was halfsevered at the wrist. Edward sat down abruptly, shaking allover, but his hands packed the sash into the open wound, then hewrapped the rest round the hand and wrist. "Take my sash and make a sling." Moraelyn eased the injuredlimb into the sling and then released his other hand. He took thewater bottle from his belt and drank it down. "I need morewater. Where's thy staff? There's a well two miles back.Where's Tooth? Go find it and don't cut yourself on it." "I don't want it." "Not many blades have bathed in Moraelyn's blood. 'Twillbring you luck. Do as I say." "The tide's in." "Aye and Firsthold could be on Jone for all the good it doesus. I can't row one handed." "I could--" "No, you cannot. You haven't the strength. The current'sswift here. I prefer to die on land. Edward, we cannot stayhere. The blood smell will draw beasts. If I faint, getwell away and climb a tree. And pray." He climbed to his feetand leaned on the staff, breathing hard. "Stay close, butdon't grab at me, no matter what happens." He took a smallstep, then another. "I'm sorry." "Doubtless. You picked a poor time and place to turnassassin. A good assassin always has an escape planned." "Yessir." Edward sniffed back his tears. "Sir, I cannot Healyou, but I can restore some vigor." "Can you? 'T'would be of great help." The spell Edward castshook the elf; he gasped, but stood straighter and firmer afterthe shock wore off. "I can do it again," Edward offered eagerly. "Nay. You have plenty of power but want finesse. But 'tismuch better, now." Moraelyn was walking better; he sounded better too. Edwardtried to blot the picture of the injury out of his mind. Theymoved slowly, Moraelyn leaning against a tree from time totime to rest. Nothing molested them. After an interminabletime of silent travelling they reached the old well. Moraelyndrained the first bottle and Edward refilled it, drankhimself, then filled it yet again. "We'll spend the night in there." 'There' was a largeramshackle building, apparently deserted. The elf kicked thelocked door open. Inside it was pitch dark. "Light?" Edwardoffered. "Nay. I can see. Save your power and stay by me." There wasa skittering noise. Rats! Edward shielded them both withoutthinking, pulled Tooth out, and placed his back to the elf's.A rat leaped and drove itself onto the blade. Moraelynswung the staff and laid out two more. Others scurried off. "Well done, lad!" They found a small windowless room andshut the door behind them. There seemed to be some wood about;probably it had been some sort of storage room off thekitchen. Moraelyn sat down against the wall. "So. You can use a knife. Was all that pretense? To put meoff my guard?" Edward was appalled. He burst into tears, protesting thathe'd never harm Moraelyn willingly. "I meant it for jest; Ithought it'd make you laugh...I was angry, at first, but atmyself, my clumsiness, not you ... it was a sudden thought... I love you dear!" The elf reached out with his good arm and pulled Edward downto him. "That's worth a hand, then, any day." Edward sobbed against his shoulder while Moraelyn soothed himwith pats. "You are my real father." "Edward, I am not..." "Nay, thou art. Thou puts my well-being ahead of thine andloves me when I least deserve it. Thou's been kind and generousand never asked anything of me save to my own profit. Thou'dgive thy very life for mine. That's what real fathers do. AndI've given thee naught but pain. He who sired me despises me andmy mother because we are unlike him. We are not like you either,and yet you love us well. I will do better by you, dearFather." "I gave thee cause enough for offense. I took thy mother fromthee." "You risked losing her because you would not part me from myfather. You did not know me and my father was your bitterenemy. And yet you took thought for us. You could not knowhow unnatural he is. It isn't in you." "Granted. And yet the offense and your anger at it remain." "I love you!" Edward protested. But he heard an angry edgein his voice. "And hate me." Moraelyn's voice was so calm and quiet thatthey might have been discussing the weather. "I can't do both ... can I?" "Can you?" "I didn't mean to hurt you." "I believe you." "Am I -- am I, evil? I was sorry: I'd give anything if ithadn't happened, but -- I -- " "Took some measure of satisfaction in it." Edward's throat was choked with sobs; he couldn't speak, butnodded into Moraelyn's shoulder. The elf's hand stroked himgently. "Did I'ric tell you of the Daedra?" "The demons? No. Is it a demon makes me do such things? I amevil, then." "No, you are not. But the daedra feed on actions such as that.They -- encourage them. And your anger draws them. But theycan't make you do anything. And they or it's not inside you.But it is connected to you." "I don't want it. I want it to go away. How can I make it goaway?" "Why don't you want it? You draw power from it. That's whatlet you shield us both with the rats attacked." "Magicka? That doesn't come from demons." "No, but the ability to use it can. Look, some of your deedsfeed the daedra. But you draw power from it at the same time.Then the power's yours, to use as you choose." "Do you have a daedra?" "I do and it's a big one, too, but I think everyone has one ormore. Some are stronger than others, that's all. But don't goaround asking after them. It's not polite." "I want mine to go away!" Edward wailed. "So you say. But pretending it isn't there will notaccomplish that. Having a daedra is a bit like riding a horse.You must keep control. The daedra do not care for you. Itwould as lief feed off your pain or injury or death as anyother, and find a new host. They do not think or plan as we canand I do not think they experience time as we do. So acts thatfeed the daedra take place in the moment and while you arecaught up in them, past and future cease to exist for youtoo. It is an intensely pleasurable experience, but it canalso be very dangerous. And very addictive, so that you beginto think only of feeding your daedra. You cease to think of thegods and those you love and even yourself. When you havewalked too far along that path, you lose the will to chooseanother." "How terrible! What must I do then?" "It is terrible, the worst that can befall a person. Rememberthis night. How you felt. Learn to recognize the daedra'shunger for what it is, and think about what you do. You areyoung and this is heavy for you, but you are at risk. Ah!" Theelf's body stiffened and he caught his breath. Edward guessedthat the wound was paining him. Moraelyn said that he must sleep a bit, and could Edward keepwatch and wake him in an hour's time. Then he could set a lockon the door and they could both rest. "Aye, sir ... and I might do somewhat more. I cannot set alock, but ... " The door would not latch, nor would it stayopen, but would swing nearly shut. Edward felt about nearthe wall behind it and found a wedge. He shut the door anddrove the wedge home with a chunk of wood. "I thought so. 'Tisawkward to pass such a door with both arms full of wood. Wehave such at ho -- in Corcyr's palace. Now anything trying tocome in will rouse you; you can use your power to cast healinstead of lock." "Why, well thought of, indeed." He freed his blade and laid iton the floor beside him. "We may as well both sleep then." They slept fitfully. There were often scrabblings at thedoor and in the walls, but nothing entered their smallcloset. Moraelyn cast Heal several time during the night. Bymorning he pronounced himself as fit "as a one-handed man canbe." He unwrapped the sash-bandage and inspected the wound. Thebleeding was stopped; the hand was still warm to the touch; itno longer hurt him nor was it swollen or discolored. But thewound was still open and the hand useless. Nerves and muscleshad been severed and some of the small bones broken. Suchrepair was beyond his skill. Edward, feeling the daedra feedon the sight, turned quickly away. Moraelyn grinned. "You may as well let it feed; it's aharmless sort of feeding. The damage is done." "I mean to starve it," Edward said firmly. "You can try to do that or you can learn to control itinstead, and still walk with the gods. I think we'd best go backto the Tower." "Aye, they'll be able to heal you there, will they not?" "I know not. At the least they'll be able to attach it morefirmly than it is at present. Ah, do not look so downcast. Theskill to mend it is somewhere, if not in the Tower. Ssa'ass isgood with battle injuries and there are Temples which know moreof the healing arts than the Tower mages. Besides, it's onlymy left hand." He held up the wadded sash, stiff with his driedblood. "The color's more practical than thy mother thought. Let's see if we can wash it out a bit. Never have I come soill-equipped on a journey. I might have been strolling downthe main street in Ebonheart. Thy mother will kill me." "Right after she kills me," Edward sighed. "At leastreturning to the Tower will delay that." They came out intothe bright courtyard. The morning sun was already high in thewestern sky. "Not so. Edward, the Companions are coming now! I hear them.Jephre, let me think of a really good lie!" Mith trotted into the courtyard. "Here they are!" he calledback to the others. By Notorgo, you ARE injured. Let me seethat. We thought to row across to meet you; we saw the bloodon the shore and tracked you here. What attacked you?" "A demon." "A demon! What!? In the open like that in daylight? Gods, whatwas it carrying, an ebony dai-katana?" Mith whistled as heinspected the injury. Aliera and the others ran up. She huggedEdward, "Are you all right, darling? I was worried." thenpaled as she saw her husband's hand. "You must be slowing down. How'd you let a demon do that toyou?" Mith demanded. "It was the boy ... he grabbed at my arm in fright and myshield spell failed. It wasn't his fault; it was an accident.Ali, don't look at it. Edward, why don't you take thy motherto see the rat you killed?" "I want to watch Ssa'ass," Edward objected, then rememberedthat it would feed his daedra. But he might learn somethingabout healing if he watched, which would be a good thing. Thiswas going to be more complicated than he'd thought. "Oh, Edward," Aliera said. "You must keep clear in a fight." "He killed a rat in the old inn there, after. Did right well.Kept his head, put his back to mine, shielded us both. Anyone'sapt to panic in his first fight. Especially if he isn'texpecting it." Ssa'ass came up last, as usual, elbowed the others aside andinspected the injury, hissing. "I cann fixxxx thissss. It'sscleann." He looked it over carefully, bending the hand back toopen the wound. Then he brought the hand forward, so that theedges of the tissue met. He was very particular about gettingit aligned just so. Then he had Mats hold it in place while hecast spells over it. All outer traces of the injuryvanished, leaving not even a scar. Moraelyn swung it withsatisfaction, twitching his fingers. "Thanks, Ssa'ass. It'sstiff, but ... " "Tomorrow, I finissshhh." "My poor baby," Aliera fussed over Edward. "You must havebeen so frightened. And you spent the whole night in thatawful house?" "I'm not a baby. I wasn't afraid; my father was there."