Roderick sat atop his horse and looked out over the novices in the field as they gathered after lunch. He looked for Galen to see if he could tell how he was faring after spending the last two weeks going through the Disciplines session and attending the High Academy classes. He spotted him between Galen's friend Tomas and Novice Cara.
Galen looked much as he always did, calm and collected. Roderick thought his eyes looked a little tired, but that would be normal even for someone just going through the Disciplines. It seemed Galen looked to be holding up better than most novices. Some looked quite ragged at this point. The High Captain had already sent several novices home, and some had quit.
Roderick thought Galen had done well. He was very advanced at Mystics. Elite Dilwyn had mentioned to Roderick how impressed he was with Galen. Roderick couldn't help but feel some pride in his little brother's ability. Galen was excellent on horseback, and he had seen no problems with his agility or stamina. The only person who had any complaints about Galen seemed to be Darron.
"Did you teach your brother nothing about how to use a sword, Roderick?" asked Darron at dinner one night. "I know your father died when he was too young to learn, but I thought at least you or your brother might have helped him. Could you not afford a suitable teacher?"
"Galen was taught how to use a sword well. I have seen him spar. He may not be the best in the group, but I would still say he is better than most," said Roderick truthfully.
"You see what you want to see because he is your brother. He is much too timid and weak. He waits too long to strike."
"Galen is not weak or timid," said the High Captain. "He is calculating. He studies his opponent to look for weaknesses and patterns. He strikes when he is ready."
"That will not help him in a real fight," said Darron as he looked at the High Captain. "He won't have time to study his opponent when he has five men coming at him at one time."
"He might if he keeps practicing. Galen is very clever. I believe he is working extremely hard to be able to study his opponents quickly. If you watch him closely, you can see him starting to adapt and strike quicker. I think in time, he will be a very skilled fighter, Darron." The High Captain gave Darron a look that let him know she was done hearing any complaints about Galen.
Darron hadn't brought up Galen since, but Roderick noticed he was harsher on Galen than most in his group. Roderick knew it was due to him and not Galen. Darron had never gotten on well with Roderick. Even before they were named seconds together, Darron had seemed to resent Roderick for some reason.
Roderick believed Darron thought he would be named High Captain by Valian. When Dracia was named, Darron seemed to accept it. He had no objections when Dracia named him one of her seconds, and he never disobeyed her commands. Roderick never heard of Darron saying any harsh words about his captain, but Roderick still believed Darron had jealousy towards Dracia.
Roderick knew Dracia didn't trust Darron much, but she had named him to keep him close to her watch and placate him and his friends in some way. Sometimes Roderick would see Darron looking at Dracia in a way that made Roderick warry for his captain. If Darron ever showed a hint of dissent towards his High Captain, Roderick would not hesitate to make sure he wasn't a problem.
The novices were split into groups and sent to different areas for their sessions. Roderick nodded at Galen as he walked by him on the way to agility to train with the Sentinel Course. Roderick knew they were working on the blades portion today, which could prove interesting. He would have to find his way over there eventually.
As the novices left the field for their assigned spaces, Roderick looked up towards the Fortress to see his High Captain riding towards him on her black horse, and she was not alone. On either side of her rode Prince Leal and Prince Fannar, both atop impressive stallions. Next to Prince Leal rode Princess Lilith, side saddle on a small pretty mare. They rode towards Roderick at a slow pace as the High Captain seemed to be talking to Prince Fannar.
"Roderick," said the High Captain as the group came near to him. "We have guests today as you can see."
"Your royal highnesses," said Roderick bowing in his saddle. "I am glad you could join us today."
"We are very happy to be here," said Fannar. "Your facilities seem impressive, but I didn't expect anything less."
"What I saw of the Fortress seemed a little old fashioned and primitive to me," said Lilith.
"It is a little primitive," said the High Captain looking over at the princess. "Comfort and finery aren't needed here amongst the Sentinel. We take good care of our Elites and our Novices, but the Sentinel cares not about status or grandeur. We care about bettering ourselves and doing our duty by the kingdom."
"And the Sentinel has served well for over 2,000 years," noted Leal. "Our kingdom or royal family would not still exist without the protection of the Sentinel."
"Have you ever been in a real fight, High Captain?" asked the princess.
"Yes," said Dracia. "I have been in several. Most recently, in the southeast of the kingdom three months back. There were a group of one hundred Gedonial soldiers who had a ransacked several villages there. I took a group of twenty-five Elites with me. We were able to rid the area of the soldiers within two weeks."
Roderick looked over at Dracia, wondering if she had any new ideas on why the soldiers from Gedonia were in the southern hills, raiding villages.
"Do you enjoy fighting, High Captain?" asked the princess.
"I am not sure enjoy is the right word. I am proud to serve my kingdom. It is good to use the skills I have learned. I feel a sense of camaraderie with my fellow Elites that gives me pleasure," answered the High Captain. She paused for a moment. "I do not enjoy hurting or killing others. It is a necessary evil to ensure the safety of our kingdom."
"Our Navalian soldiers are very fierce," said the princess. "I believe many are chosen for their love of fighting. I don't think any of our soldiers have any qualms about killing others."
"That is not things are done here," declared Roderick. "The Sentinel finds value in human life. We fight to protect our kingdom and our king. Make no mistake though, our Elites are dangerous and deadly warriors."
The High Captain nodded at Roderick. "Yes, I do not like killing, but I would do anything to protect my kingdom and those I serve."
"I believe our guest would like to observe some of the Disciplines," said Prince Leal. "Where do you suggest we start, High Captain?"
The High Captain looked to Roderick. "What is your opinion?"
"We have novices working through the Sentinel course today. I believe they are starting on the blades."
"That should be interesting," said the High Captain. "If you will follow me, I will take you to the course."
Dracia leaned down and stroked her horse, whispering into his ear, before leading him towards the Sentinel course. She trotted away as Roderick urged his own horse forward, and he found himself riding next to the princess.
"May I ask you something?" asked the princess.
"Yes, your highness. You may ask me anything."
"Why is your High Captain always whispering to her horse?" She watched her brother and Prince Leal ride ahead to catch up with the High Captain.
"When we become Elites of the Sentinel, we are taken to the stables to have a horse choose us. We are put out in the paddock with the young horses of the Sentinel. One of the horses comes and chooses us, and then we are bonded. We train with our horses; they know our voice and our commands. The High Captain is very bonded with Aarit, more so than any horse and rider I have ever seen. I think she could get him to do anything by just whispering to him."
The princess looked at Roderick and shook her head. "This place is so strange. I do not understand your High Captain. I have not met any other women like her."
"We have a few women Elites here at the Sentinel and several who are training at the moment, but no, you will not meet another like our High Captain. She is very unique," said Roderick.
"You almost sound like you worship her a bit," said the princess looking at Roderick carefully.
"I am very devoted to her as I should be as her Elite and her second. Furthermore, she is worthy of some awe, I believe. I have seen her do amazing things in battles." Roderick paused and looked up ahead at Dracia talking to Prince Fannar and Prince Leal. "You may not understand her, your highness, but she is worthy of your respect. You will gain nothing here in Winsdell by vocalizing your criticisms of her."
"I apologize. I didn't mean to criticize her. I am merely trying to understand her. I believe she is an old friend of Prince Leal's. She seems to be important to him in some way."
Roderick couldn't help a small laugh. "You should remember it then. The prince will not enjoy you questioning or belittling the High Captain in any way. Anything you say about her, you also say about the Sentinel, and all people here are very proud of the Sentinel."
They rode up to the Sentinel course to find a novice in leather armor getting up off the grounds just to the side of pole hop.
"Up you go, Novice Bax," yelled Elite Smithy to the novice on the ground.
Bax rolled and got up slowly. He looked up at Smithy angrily. "Again? I've already tried three times. Someone else can have a turn. I'm tired of getting beaten up."
"You haven't even made it past the pole hop. I don't think you are really trying. I think you are too scared of those blades up ahead. Elites of the Sentinel do not let fear get in their way," said Smithy loudly. "Now up, novice, and go again."
"No," snapped Bax. "What you are asking is not possible. I've seen no one make it through the blades without getting knocked off or nicked up. You said you have seen some who can run through the course, but I doubt it. Those blades move too fast. You haven't even told us what the leap of death is yet, and I don't think I want to hear it."
"Novice Bax," said the High Captain loudly. "I understand you are frustrated, but that is no way to talk to your instructor or an Elite of the Sentinel."
Bax turned and noticed all who had ridden up for the first time. His face went very red, and he looked down at the ground. The High Captain hopped down off her horse and walked over to Bax.
"Do you really think it isn't possible to finish the Sentinel course?" asked the High Captain as she stood next to Bax.
"I don't know, Captain. I have a hard time believing anyone could get past those blades."
The High Captain made a slight noise of annoyance. She walked over towards Roderick, taking off her sword. She handed it to him and grabbed the reins of her horse, bringing him close to the Sentinel course.
Prince Leal hopped down off his horse and walked over to Roderick. "She's not really going to try to run the course, is she?"
"It would seem so," said Roderick looking up and watching his High Captain.
"High Captain," said Prince Leal as he walked closer to her. "Do you not need armor before you attempt the course?"
"Am I a novice, your highness?" asked the High Captain with a grin.
"No," answered the prince.
"Then it is not required." The High Captain unfastened the cape she wore. She handed it to Prince Leal with a small curtsey. He took it and frowned at her as she turned away.
The High Captain stood in front of the Sentinel course with her horse, stroking the side of Aarit's face and leaning in to whisper in his ear. When she leaned back, he whinnied and shook his head before taking off towards the end of the course. He stood still at the end as though watching his High Captain.
"Please start the course, Elites," said the High Captain looking at the Elites who were positioned on each side of the course. They pulled the ropes to start the swinging logs and blades.
Roderick watched from his horse as he held the High Captain's sword. He knew she could run the course as he had seen her do it a couple of times. She was the only one he had ever see run it completely clean, but it had been a few years. He hoped she knew what she was doing. He had to trust that she did.
The High Captain stood before the logs and waited, taking a deep breath. After a moment, she dodged the first few logs with ease, spinning and running as though the heavy wood twisting around her was no bother. She came to the end of the log bump and waited, watching the three logs in front of her spin and swing. She then moved fast, making it just past the first two logs and then rolling under the third as it swung towards her. She landed at the end, next to the long wooden ramp. She stood and ran up the ramp.
She paused for a moment before the pole hop and tucked two strands of hair that had come loose from her braid behind her ears. Taking another breath, she waited for the logs in front of her to swing past before jumping and landing on one foot to the pole closest to her. She jumped again, landing on the other foot for the next pole.
Roderick smiled a little to himself, thinking she was showing off a bit using one foot on each pole, but he knew she was trying to make a point. She kept jumping from one pole to another using every other foot until she came to the end and onto the platform. She ran forward to come face to face with the blades.
The blades were six pair of curved steel that hung from varying heights. They swung by left and right, rapidly. The High Captain stared at the blades for a moment. Roderick knew if one hit her in the right way, she could easily be killed. He did wish she had put on armor before running the course. He looked down to see Prince Leal watching her closely, clutching her cape tightly.
She made her move suddenly running between the two lower blades in front of her as they passed. She didn't stop for the next pair; she rolled underneath them as they swung over her. She stood very still for a moment, a light breeze causing the pieces of hair that had come loose from her braid to sway. The blades in front of her were slightly staked apart from one another. She moved and bent down under one before jumping high over the other, her skirt flying around her as she leaped through the air.
She landed in the middle of the blade portion just in front of the next set. She took just a few seconds to collect herself before she rolled under the next set, and quickly hopped on her feet to run through the next ones as they passed. She faced the last pair that moved independently of each other, each swinging by as the other went high into the air.
Roderick watched as each blade would swing high shinning in the sunlight, while the other swung in front of the High Captain. She took her chance as the blade in front of her swung down low, leaping over it, before running fast. The last blade came just behind her, scrapping the back of her skirt. Roderick let out a loud breath of relief, watching the blade just miss her.
She jumped off the platform and walked over to the old rope ladder that went up to the high platform. Before climbing the ladder, she whistled loudly, and her horse took off galloping around the course, circling it. The High Captain climbed the ladder swiftly, pulling her body up each rung as though she weighed nothing at all.
She pulled herself up to the high platform and walked over to the edge, looking down to the ground. The platform was about the height of the Fortress's second floor, meaning if you hit the ground, you would probably easily live, but there was a good chance you would break something. Of course, the leap of death wasn't just jumping off a platform. It was jumping off a platform onto a moving horse. There were many things that could go wrong, things that would result in severe injury or death.
The High Captain watched her horse circle around her once, before she crouched down, ready. She closed her eyes for one moment, listening to the galloping feet of her horse as it approached then her eyes suddenly opened, and she jumped. Roderick watched with a held breath for a moment, fearing she had misjudged, but as she fell, he could see Aarit increase his speed. She landed perfectly in the saddle of her horse and grabbed the reins, steering him to turn around back towards the novices.
She stopped next to Bax, who was staring at her with his mouth opened. She jumped off her horse and looked at him.
"Do you think the course is possible now, Novice Bax?" asked the High Captain.
"Yes, Captain," said Bax quietly with wide eyes.
"Then I will see much improvement from you when I stop by here next week, is that understood?"
"Yes, Captain," said Bax blinking his eyes quickly.
"I am sorry to have taken up so much of your time, Elite Smithy," said the High Captain as she turned to look at the old Elite.
"No apologies needed, High Captain, that was a very informational demonstration I believe our novices needed."
Roderick looked over the crowd of novices to see Galen close to the front. He had a small smile on his face as he stared at the High Captain. Roderick realized Galen looked impressed. He had not seen that look on his face very often.
The High Captain walked over to Prince Leal and held out her hand. He stared at her for a moment with a slight smirk on his face before he handed her the cape in his hands. He bowed before her as she fastened it back on.
"That was very impressive, High Captain." He stood back upright. "I'm not sure I would like to see you repeat it, but it was very inspirational. Perhaps we could meet later, and we could discuss your performance."
"I am very open to hear what you have to say about it," said the High Captain as she turned and walked towards Roderick, leaving the prince smiling after her.
Roderick handed her the silver sword with a small smile of his own. "You usually aren't one for showing off, Captain."
She shrugged a bit. "I felt like the novices, and maybe our guest needed to know what I am capable of."
"You seem to have made quite an impression on at least one of our guests," said Roderick looking at Prince Fannar. He was looking at the High Captain in a way that made Roderick believe he could easily read his thoughts, and they were not for polite company.
The High Captain turned and looked at the brother and sister who were close to one another. "I think I might have scandalized the other," said the High Captain looking at the princess who had a sneer on her face.
Roderick looked at the princess for a moment, thinking maybe she had noticed how Prince Leal looked at Dracia. The prince would need to be more discreet if he didn't want her and the world to know his feelings for her, but perhaps Prince Leal was tired of hiding.
"I believe I would like to return to the palace, I have seen enough for one day," said the princess, haughtily.
"Really, Lilith?" asked her brother. "I was rather looking forward to seeing other things the High Captain might show us."
"I am tired of this, Fannar. It is so hot today, and the smell of this place is getting to me."
"I can take the princess back to the palace," said the High Captain. "I have a meeting this afternoon there that I need to attend."
"Do you?" asked Prince Leal, walking up to stand next to High Captain.
"Oh, yes. I believe it is of an urgent matter, so I would hate to miss it."
"Why don't I escort you both back then," said Prince Leal looking at Dracia with raised eyebrows. "Fannar, if there is more of the Fortress you would like to see, I am sure Roderick would be glad to show you."
"No, I should head back with my sister. I will come back another day if the High Captain will have me."
"You are welcomed any time." The High Captain walked over to her horse. She put her leg in the stirrup and pulled herself up, swinging her other leg over the saddle.
"Roderick, please oversee Disciplines this afternoon. I will be back by dinner," said the High Captain as Prince Leal mounted his own horse.
"Yes, Captain," said Roderick. He watched them ride off before turning back to watch the novices try to make their way through the course.