Newblood - A fantasy novel for NaNoWriMo 2018; CHAPTER- 6: Difficulties

Autumn, Year 21 of Koram

Aasia woke up and felt she was in a bed, wonderfully soft and warm. The next moment a jolt of fear coursed through her HOW?. She sat up and noticed that she was wearing the dusty stained clothes she was wearing yesterday. Had she failed? She could not remember, she had a headache and everything was still a bit foggy. She looked around, the room was small cube carved out of rock like so many others she had seen. The door was slightly ajar and pale light shone through it.

Aasia noticed that her right hand was tied to something, Not tied, broken she reminded herself as memories resurfaced. It was a test to become an apprentice. All the Aghauri children pass through similar tests after one year as novice, the result determined their path to be a Keeper or a Warrior. Aasia had to face this test just after eighteen days of training, but she was older than other novices- almost double the age.

The test was to best an animal, sometimes it was an angry hog or wild cat other times something exotic like a small python. The test was inside a pit fifteen feet wide. The novice could carry a blade weapon and the floor was strewn with rocks which were often the best weapon. Aasia had chosen the crim- a thin pointed dagger, double edged and six inches long. The master had pointed out that whatever happened, she would be safe. But being lowered into a pit to face a wild dog Aasia was apprehensive.

The dog was a small hairless creature about two feet tall, with a red tinge to his eyes. It stood poised to attack but surprisingly did not move even after Aasia had landed safely and was facing him. Aasia was very reluctant to attack and waited as the students and master watched from the rim. She had to do something so she stepped forward, the dagger held in front, away from her body. The dog leapt without warning and latched onto her wrist. The dagger fell away useless as pain bloomed. Her other hand was alive with fire and instinctively she pointed it at the dog, but at the last moment, just before the energy blasted out she moved it a fraction away. The brightness of the blast flashed at her, that was the last thing she remembered.

She laid down and closed her eyes, willing her mind away from thinking about the dog. More than her life was at stake here and she was worried about a wild dog. She scolded herself. She heard the door creak and found the matronly Aghauri who acted as nurse carrying in a plate of food. The sight of food made her stomach growl. Aasia was busy eating propped up in bed when she felt a gaze on her. Master had walked in and was standing quietly near the door. He was holding something covered by the folds of his sleeves.

Aasia made an awkward bow. "Master."

"That was interesting." He said, still standing just inside the door. He motioned at the nurse and she left closing the door behind her. He continued. "That blast made you faint, you know. It was not the bite but your own action which laid you down."

Aasia tensed, expecting rejection. She clenched her teeth not wanting to show the riot of emotions she was experiencing.

"Why did you shift your aim? Don't tell me it was a mistake, I was there; you shifted your hand at the last moment."

Aasia replied. "The dog was not my enemy, did not deserve to die."

"Even if it was your chance at becoming an Aghauri mage? I'm surprised, really."

Aasia's face reddened with embarrassment but she would not apologize when she had done no wrong.

"Here." the master said walking up-to the bed and placing the dog- one ear half burned and a long crimson burn mark on his hairless skin from his left ear to his tail, singed but alive. Aasia's heart surged with joy and the tears of disappointment she had been holding back now flooded out. Master waited till she was done cuddling the dog.

"The blast ripped a hole four feet wide in the side of the pit. That is a record I think."

Aasia composed herself and nodded. Master continued. "Report to Reith Glodam tomorrow, you are to train with him. Now I will leave you to rest."

Aasia knew "Reith" meant "seasoned warrior". A title given to warriors who have won more than one battle. She had not heard of this Reith before now. The Two masters who taught the new apprentices were Rath Klemen- for the warrior group and Reith Tagro for the keepers. She would know by tomorrow, Aasia thought.

The elf mage was Myanse of Fernvale, he was one hundred and ninety two years old. He had been a teacher and then a friend to Zarafar. Mahon was awestruck at the casual display of magic. Be it hiding the entrance to the passage in, or the diffused light which made it possible to navigate the stone tunnels, or the permanently burning fire in the kitchen, or the small tunnels bored through meters of solid rock to let fresh air in. Pinnet and Mahon had led the horses inside to a small stone paddock which had grain and hay to last a few months and now were sitting in the kitchen across the table from Master Myanse supping hot broth.

To Mahon the elf looked weak and old. His thin tall frame, the pale wrinkled face framed by grey hair and a white wispy beard added to this impression. Pinnet's cordial behavior was to the contrary and Mahon decided that the mage could teach him a lot of things even if he was not very powerful, this, if nothing else deserved to be respected. Pinnet was relating the events since Aasia's disappearance and had reached the point when they had turned away from the main road to ride through farmlands. Myanse raised his hand. "Shhh." Then he stood up, "A pigeon has arrived, I will be right back." and he strode out without waiting for an answer.

Pinnet said. "He has courier pigeons which I have distributed to some of our group. They are used in emergencies only." From the tone of his voice it was clear some bad news was expected. They finished the broth in silence and Mahon had cleared the table when Myanse walked in bearing the bad news. "Shamarank team is dead- all of them killed by the Butcher and he has left the city to catch Mahon. This pigeon was sent by the captain of the ship Wolverine, she docked this morning." Mahon looked at Pinnet who replied the unasked question. "Grey and May were a part of the team." Mahon's world was burning down, the father and mother he had known all his life as his only family were dead due to his carelessness. He felt Pinnet hold him by the shoulders and shake him. "Mahon it was the destiny that saved you from the Butcher's hand. Look son, I am sorry but I have to leave you and go to the city to lay a false trail. You understand?"

Mahon's grief was paralyzing, was unable to speak but he held onto Pinnet's hand. "Butcher can't be allowed to sense you or Aasia, all the lives and sacrifices are for you two to succeed. I don't know the path ahead, only that you are key to any resistance against the Elven Kingdom. Mahon I have to leave now. It can take ten days to three weeks before I can get back. Use it to learn as much as you can. Ellysia, Zarafar, your infant brother, Grey and May all you could call family have been hunted and killed by the Kingdom. This is a way by which you can honor their deaths."

Mahon did not let go of his hand, instead of pulling away Pinnet stood there sharing Mahon's grief. Myanse broke in. "Pinnet let go of him. Mahon! Hey! look here son." Myanse stepped near and slapped Mahon gently. Pinnet jerked his hand out and stepped back. Myanse was holding some powder in his hand which he blew at Mahon's face, Mahon swayed for a moment holding his head and then fell unconscious. Myanse turned to Pinnet. "Go Pinnet, I will manage here."

Mahon woke up lying on a wooden cot in a stone room, a small lantern hung high on the wall providing weak yellow light. He lay there for sometime mourning his loss. But remembering the grief did not make it go away. Eventually he sat up feeling thirsty but there was no water in the room, so he walked out; leaning onto the wall from time to time. Mahon felt the presence of an elf and started towards it. He saw a door and sensed that Master Myanse was behind it. Before he could push the door, it was opened by Myanse. "Come in Mahon, would you like some ale." Mahon entered the room. There were thick rugs thrown on the floor, some scrolls were lying in a corner and a small serving table kept in the center held a jug of ale. "Sit down" Maynse pointed across from himself. "You need to control your extreme emotions- they trigger unpredictable magic." he continued after handing a mug of cool ale to Mahon and said. "Let me tell you about Zarafar."