The three weaved their way through the large temple through several hallways till they reached a door near the back. Nimer took out a set of brass keys. They jingled while he unlocked it. Ray and Jex's eyes grew wide, gazing upon everything inside with wonder.
Weapons of various shapes and forms lined the walls and tables inside the room. Bows hung on hooks along with various quivers. Off to the left stood a table and various bottles and flasks along with various containers, jars, and bowls filled with herbs and ingredients on shelves.
"Welcome to the Gurdon weaponry and potions room," Nimer said waving his arm to show off the room's content and stepped inside with the two awestruck farm folk at his heels.
When Jex entered the room he immediately went for the swords, running a hand along their sheen, metal surfaces.
"If it's not much trouble for you, I would like to teach you a thing or two about the blade," Nimer stated, walking up next to him. He pointed to the blade that Jex googled over. "That would be a bastard sword. I find that you need to be much more experienced to use it."
Jex sighed. "But it's the biggest one here."
Nimer shook his head, "I will not teach you if size is your only worry. We need to focus on skill first."
Ray couldn't help but laugh at Jex, though part of her was worried whether learning the blade would just put him in more danger than he had already put himself in. She walked up to Jex's side. "I think you should listen to Nimer. He knows more than you do."
Jex sighed and took note of his teacher, "Alright. How do I begin training to use a blade?"
"Glad you asked," Nimer stated smugly and walked to a corner of the room where a vase held long wooden sticks. Nimer pulled one out and handed it to Jex. Its appearance was like that of a blade with a tapering edge to it. Its base was thick like a handle. "You will be using one of these."
Jex frowned. "But it's wood."
"If I gave you a real sword right now you might cut your hand off," Nimer said.
"I'd rather keep my hand thank you," he said and followed Nimer into the middle of the room.
"Watch as I do," Nimer said, holding the wooden sword in front of him. He stepped forward raising the wooden sword then stepping forward again bringing the wooden sword back down in front of him. Then stepping back he raised the sword again and stepped back once more, lowering it. He repeated these steps four times before surrendering his spot to Jex. "Now do as I did."
Jex stepped into the middle of the room and began to give his hand to the controlled technique. With his first step he raised the sword very high above his head and froze, then Nimer placed a wooden sword to his chest.
Jex froze.
"Lesson number one, know where to protect. Lower your sword. Raising it like that will leave you vulnerable and an easy target. This is a control exercise. You must be in control of the sword," Nimer taught. "Try it again."
Jex lowered his sword trying the exercise again. He kept the sword lower. As he went along Nimer walked around him in a circle. He commanded him where to fix his form as he went, telling him to slow down or speed up. Ray watched from afar, leaning on the wall. The three spent the afternoon like this and the mornings and evenings for the next three days. When the task became monotonous, Nimer added extra steps of moving the sword in a slashing motion to the left and right. Each movement was fluid and graceful, rolling into the next.
In the evenings, Jex meditated to learn self control and focus. It took two days before he could even sit still for more than twenty minutes without being distracted, but eventually he got it. He would sit on the back porch outside with a blanket over his shoulders and let the cool air soothe him into a deep concentration. Nimer had told him the trick lay within the counting and picturing the movements that he made with his sword. Jex pictured it every time he closed his eyes and soon counted his steps everywhere he went.
Ray noticed a change within the first week of Jex's training. He had become increasingly calm and focused. Even with their short window of time they spent together, Jex seemed more at peace with himself.
On the seventh day of training, Jex and Ray walked toward the weapon and potion hold. Ray looked to Jex and the content smile on his face. She couldn't help but feel happy for him. This was what he wanted his whole life and here it was being placed in his hands with his hard work and effort. Little did they know, Nimer had a surprise waiting for him.
Jex opened the door to find Nimer standing in the middle of the room with an object wrapped in an old, worn cloth. Ray stood by as Jex walked up to the man and placed his hands behind his back, a stance of respect toward Nimer as his teacher.
Nimer stared at him in the eyes. "If it weren't for the fact that we must continue our journey in a few days, I wouldn't be rushing things. But I feel you've earned this." Nimer held the wrapped object out horizontally and placed it in Jex's hands.
Childlike wonder sprang to Jex's mind. He let the cloth fall away from the gift revealing what Jex had always wanted, a custom made long sword sheathed in a black sheath. It was made with a hilt of gold and studded with various red gems and the handle wrapped in black leather. Unsheathing the sword, he raised it so it gleamed in the torch light. Jex ran a hand along the flat edge of the blade. He could see his own reflection and his smiling face stared back at him.
"No strings attached?" Jex asked Nimer smugly.
"None whatsoever," Nimer said picking the cloth up off the ground. "It's yours."
Jex proudly turned to Ray, beaming. "Ray! Look at it!" he chimed walking up to her. As he neared he noticed tears in her eyes. Concerned, Jex lowered the sword and asked, "Ray, what's the matter?"
Ray wiped her eyes and smiled at him. "I'm so happy for you, Jex. That's all." But that was not it at all. Jex now had a sword and that could pose more danger to him than just a hunting knife. She wanted him to be safe and sound. She eyed the scar above his left eye. She wanted nothing more than for him to be safe.
She embraced the boy with a tight hug. "Promise me Jex you'll be safe."
Embracing her back with one arm he nodded. "I will, I promise."
"That reminds me," Nimer chimed in after a moment. "Ray, I have something for you as well." Walking over to the wall, Nimer pulled off a long bow with brilliant designs of wolves and moons engraved in the wood. He brought it over to her and let her admire it. "This belonged to someone very special to me, a friend if you will. I believe that he would want you to have it. And don't forget your arrows." Nimer motioned to yearns filled with various arrows.
Ray hesitated before walking over and running a hand along the tops of the arrows, admiring the assorted feathers on each; reds, greens, blues, greys, and browns. Her eyes widened at the sight of bright orange and gold feathers of some of the arrows. "What kind of bird did these feathers belong to?"
"Those are phoenix feathers," Nimer stated. "Arrows with phoenix feathers travel faster than any arrow. You may use them if you would like to."
Ray reached out, taking hold of an arrow and knocked it on her bow, pulling back and aiming at the wall. She stood strong, puffing out her chest. The bow barely creaked under pressure. The girl could tell right away that it had been well used before her but had been well kept. It was perfect. There was not a thing more that she could ask for.