Paladin the path begins

Tar’vid woke to the sound of Luna retching into their chamber pot, he rolled out of bed to help her and couldn’t help noticing her growing belly more each day. Though she wasn’t fat by any means he thought, feeling the muscle in her arms as he held back her hair as she retched again. After a few moments, she sat back on the bed breathing heavily. Tar’vid wiped her face with the bed sheet. He had to admit he was a little scared. Luna eventually relaxed in his arms, staring up at him.

“Well, it seems our situation has gotten a little more complicated,” she said to him, her voice a little hoarse.

“Are you ill, I can heal you no problem” he replied looking into her eyes, they sparkled like gems in the moonlight.

“No Tar’vid I’m not ill, I’m pregnant!” she told him, collapsing back in his arms again.

He couldn’t help but smile at the news, sure this would complicate things drastically, but he would have a family of his own. He had always had Tar’son it was true and he was like a father. But blood family somehow felt more tangible, more real to him.

“We have to keep this to ourselves if my father finds out we’re both going to be hunted down. I’m guessing you know little of half-elves” she asked, looking up at him once more.

“Only that they’re nearly indistinguishable from other elves and retain all the traits of their parents” he replied unsurely. Other than a princess being above his place in the hierarchy, he didn’t understand why her father would kill her.

“Yindar, the religion of Keldran and several other elven states forbid the mixing of bloodlines. Our children will be born sterile and the gods decreed mixed species as the death of the elven people. As such many take it as a great affront to elven honour, generally killing the elven parent and in recent years the child is given to the Paladins to punish the child. Don’t look at me like that, it’s hardly how I view the world is it?” she said in a scolding tone, sitting on the bed and slowly lying down closing her eyes.

“That’s a lot to take in” he replied, sitting beside her.

“I know, I’m sure we’ll be fine. I’m so tired” Luna said with a sigh.

“I’ll let you sleep then, I’ve got training at Bruhnel’s compound. Perhaps Morkin or Tarquin know about the upcoming routes?” he said, kissing her forehead gently.

“Okay, I’ll join you later” she replied, falling asleep quickly.

Tar’vid pulled a new sheet over her, covering the sheet with several animal furs. It was probably warmer now, but he didn’t want to take any chances with the baby. He dressed quietly, not wanting to disturb Luna and slipped out the house, picking up Torgard on the way out. The sky was lightening as he reached Bruhnel’s compound with a stiff wind blowing down the street billowing his cape as a light rain started to patter down on the stone road.

“Morning Tar’vid, none of them are up yet, but your welcome to wait in the mess hall if you like,” the gate guard said to him kindly, Tar’vid thought his name was Earkheart but he couldn’t be sure.

“Thanks” he replied, stepping through the small gateway and into the courtyard.

Tar’vid made his way to the practice yard and as the guard had said the whole area was empty. He propped Torgard against a covered seating area, pulling up the heavy cover of the practice weapon rack and taking a weighted bastard sword from it. The sword was twice Torgards weight but was necessary for his strength training. Tar’vid stepped into the centre of the yard, slowly starting to work through the sword forms, building speed and power rapidly until the rest of the world seemed to blur from the speed of the motions. He slowly started to reduce the speed of his motion, finishing back into his original stance. As he looked down at the ground he smiled, seeing that he had moved no more than a foot either side of his position, the speed of his swings having created a small circle around himself. As he lowered the sword Tar’vid noticed several people had been watching him as Tarquin entered the yard, stifling a yawn.

“Sparring will have to wait a little while friend” Tarquin greeted him.

“Why’s that then, you finally conceded that you can’t beat me have you?” Tar’vid replied with a laugh, Tarquin starting to stretch out the stiffness in his limbs smiled wryly.

“Never, I refuse to believe I cannot defeat a boy. No, my friend, Genstark wants to see you at your earliest convenience. So, right now would be my guess” Tarquin said jovially, taking the cover off the weapon rack.

“I guess so, put this back for me would you please” Tar’vid replied, handing him the practice weapon and strolling over to pick up Torgard where there had been people a few moments ago.

As he left the yard and made his way inside the main building he bumped into Morkin, the older man looking concerned.

“What’s the matter, you look more serious than usual,” Tar’vid asked him, strapping the blade to his waist.

“There’s a man in Bruhnel’s office, I get a strange feeling from him lad. Be careful in there, you hear” Morkin replied, walking away quickly and not waiting for Tar’vid’s response.

He continued to the office where Bruhnel’s assistant Grace sat, twirling her long red hair as she looked up at him.

“He’s waiting for you sweetie, close the door when you go inside,” she said with a wink, before returning to her work involving several thick ledgers.

Tar’vid pushed open the door, closing it behind him gently. The room was well lit, sunlight now streaming in through three large windows behind Bruhnel’s desk and obscuring the two men’s faces in shadow.

“Ah, Tar’vid my boy come in, come in. Take a seat if you please” Bruhnel’s usual jovial voice called out to him.

Tar’vid walked over to the offered chair, sitting down carefully and remembering to prop his sword up against the desk first. Now out of the sun’s glare, he could see the man sat next to him, at first glance he looked no older than himself, sitting with the calmness of a man with supreme confidence, his shaven head shining in the sunlight.

“Now Tar’vid, let me introduce you to master Youi Fei of the order of mages,” Bruhnel said rather excitedly.

Tar’vid offered his hand, Youi Fei staring at it with contempt. Tar’vid knew this meeting was going to end badly.

“I am loathe to physical contact with others master Paladin. Please, take no offence” Youi Fei said to him, as condescendingly as possible Tar’vid thought.

Bruhnel glared at the man with obvious annoyance, his fingers steepled up in front of him.

“Now then my boy, I am aware, unfortunately, that you are to be away in the next few weeks and I would rather you travel by a waggon train in your... situation” Bruhnel stated, snapping out of his annoyance gracefully.

“Unfortunately all my waggons will be passing dangerous places my boy and here I get to our meeting with Youi Fei here,” Bruhnel said regretfully.

Before Tar’vid could ask how he knew all this Youi Fei raised a hand to stop Bruhnel, turning to face Tar’vid, the man’s features lit up with a grin.

“I, however, will be travelling in a more... haphazard manner and may be open to you and your elf friend joining me. I have only one stipulation though... you must best me in single combat” the Mage stated.

Tar’vid looked over to Bruhnel wondering if this was some kind of joke, he had been told by many of the devastating power of Mages. Though the general feeling had been that should one get up close a mage would be powerless, especially against a swordsman of his skill.

“You look confused master Paladin, do not worry I shall not be using magic against you... I swear it” Youi Fei said condescendingly.

“Why?” Tar’vid asked, though if he was being honest he relished the challenge.

“I have studied under many great sword masters, never have I had a true challenge. You are the talk of the town Tar’vid, defeating four men alone and besting every mercenary under Bruhnel’s employ” Youi Fei chuckled, “Indeed, I believe no other man can truly test me”.

“I see, but why a sword fight, should I have your power as a Mage I would be content hurling fireballs at my enemies” Tar’vid replied, knowing all too well the allure of such power.

“Because it requires great concentration to use magic... and I was never trained as a battlefield Mage, to my great shame, I had to find a more reliable way to defend myself” Youi Fei responded, his face tensing in anger.

“Very well then, I accept Master Fei” Tar’vid replied, restraining his excitement.

Youi Fei clapped his hands together excitedly, standing and looking out the window. “Excellent, I’ll be waiting in the practice yard when you’re ready”.

With that he walked out of the room, leaving the door wide open, Grace pulling it shut with a frown on her face. Tar’vid got up, bending down to pick up Torgard as Bruhnel leant over his desk, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Be wary of him my boy, I fear he is more than one of your more traditional magic throwers”.

Tar’vid nodded in response and left, with any luck he should have secured passage to their next destination by the end of the day.

When Tar’vid reached the yard there was already a large crowd gathered, Morkin and Tarquin stood close by the gate waiting for him.

“You’re really going to fight a Mage?” Tarquin asked astonished, grabbing his arm tightly.

“He said he wouldn’t be using magic, should be a piece of cake” Tar’vid replied with a shrug.

“What does that matter, Mages are trained rigorously in hand to hand combat. All those stories of their being weak are horse shit, the Mages probably spread the rumours come to think of it” Tarquin told him, getting angry at his lack of concern.

Tar’vid took Tarquin’s hand away, he was being spoken to like he was a novice swordsman fighting a grand master.

“I’ve got this, anyway he’s my way out of here come thaw and I intend to take it” he replied, taking a blunted sword from Morkin and passing him Torgard as he walked by.

“Kick his ass lad, man’s as arrogant as you. And I can only stand one of you at a time” Morkin said encouragingly, which drew a smile from them both.

Youi Fei took several test swipes with his training sword as Tar’vid approached, he was sure the Mage couldn’t beat him fairly, though he’d take no chances and end it quickly.

“Are you ready paladin, submission or unconscious are the win conditions?” Youi Fei stated taking a standard fighting posture at middle guard.

“Always, let us begin” Tar’vid responded breaking into a jog, blade by his side.

As he reached striking range Tar’vid shifted right, sidestepping Youi Fei’s predictable strike and clipping his outstretched leg, knocking the Mage to the ground to the cheers of the gathered crowd. Tar’vid circled the Mage counter clockwise never dropping his guard. Youi Fei grabbed his sword, standing in frustration and Tar’vid saw him wince as he put weight on his bruised leg.

“You can give up now if you like, there’s no shame in it” Tar’vid said mockingly, happy to be getting one over on the Mage.

Youi Fei didn’t reply with words, but with a scream of rage charging down Tar’vid and swinging wildly. He avoided the wild strikes easily and jabbed the Mage in the gut with the blunt tip of his sword, driving the wind out of Youi Fei and dropping the man to one knee.

“How is this possible, I was trained by the greatest swordsman in Tenyon and Cerdic” spat Youi Fei, clutching his stomach and tightening his grip on the blade.

“The best swordsman in the world resides in Whitecliff, and I was his star pupil” Tar’vid replied with a smile, offering the Mage a hand.

Youi Fei glared at him and thrust out his arm, Tar’vid felt like his whole body had been hit by a boulder as he rolled across the ground, rising to his feet slowly. His vision swam and he felt sick to the pit of his stomach. Tar’vid heard Tarquin yell something about no magic as he tried to find his feet once more. Youi Fei was mere yards away when his sight focused again and Tar’vid raised his blade, perhaps pointlessly against the Mage. Youi Fei’s face was a mask of rage now, clearly, he hadn’t expected he would be bested so quickly and had lost control. Tar’vid realised the feeling, Youi Fei was allowing his magic to consume him the same way it had tried to tempt Tar’vid so many months ago.

“Farewell Paladin, this is the end for you” Youi Fei yelled, a great mass of flame materialising in front of him. Tar’vid lowered his blade, running towards the Mage as fast as possible. Flames burst towards him as he heard cries of anger from the gathered men. There was silence as the cone of flames engulfed him, igniting his clothes and burning away his hair and eyebrows. Tar’vid leapt forwards, his blade raised high as he burst forth from the flames. He could see the disbelief on Youi Fei’s face but also etched on there was the horror of what he had just done as the power receded from the Mage. Tar’vid thrust his feet forward, landing double footed on the Mage’s chest and knocking the man prone as Tar’vid rolled with the momentum, putting his blade to Youi Fei’s throat in a fluid move.

“Do you yield to me now?” Tar’vid said to the Mage, his breathing ragged from the previous lack of air.

“I do Tar’vid. Forgive me, I didn’t mean to use my power against you... also your head is on fire” Youi Fei replied, pulling water from the air and dousing the flames.

“How are you not incinerated, I unleashed such power on you?” Youi Fei asked after a moment in shock.

“Paladin stuff” Tar’vid replied offering his hand, Youi Fei took it gladly.

Tar’vid stayed still on his chair as Henrietta removed the burnt hair from his eyes and head.

“This one is going to cost me I guess!” Tar’vid exclaimed with a smile.

She smiled back plucking another burnt eyelash and making him wince.

“I said the next time I stitch you up, now I need to add next time you’re burned alive I guess. You are a curious man Tar’vid, there... all done”

Tar’vid sat up as Henrietta passed him a mirror, even Tar’son wouldn’t recognise him now. His smouldering eyebrows having been shaved off along with his hair, his eyelashes had been trimmed or plucked free. It had been horrendously painful due to his resistance to pain killing plants and potions. Youi Fei sat nearby with his head in his hands, clearly still pained over his actions. It had taken some doing, but Tar’vid had convinced the mercenary company not to lynch the Mage on the spot.

“You okay over there?” Tar’vid asked, sitting up and thanking Henrietta as she left with a slight wave.

“I still have so little control. The power Tar’vid, it’s so hard to restrain one’s self from grasping more and more” Youi Fei said, massaging his temples and unable to meet Tar’vid’s gaze.

“I know a little of what you’re saying, my prayers allow me to tap into the same power I think. I can channel more power and the urge can be great. But the cost to my health would be deadly”

Youi Fei looked at him in astonishment, placing a hand on his knee.

“Could you show me, I have never seen a non-Mage use magic before?” he asked, eyes wide with expectation.

Tar’vid thought about it for a moment, then folded his legs and started to utter the prayer of Salnah. Focusing on healing himself he felt the trickle of power flow through him, hearing Youi Fei gasp in astonishment as he dropped the prayer after a few seconds feeling a trickle of blood run from his nose. When he felt around his head he found his eyebrows and lashes had mostly regrown, with no injuries he guessed his body had accelerated his hair growth.

“Amazing, the great conclave tell us nothing of the Paladins magical abilities. And I have to know, did you know you would survive my fire attack earlier?” the mage asked, leaning back in his chair again.

“I had an idea, most of my life I’ve been unable to feel heat or cold. I took a chance that fire would also not affect me and for the most part I was right” Tar’vid replied, running his hand over his shaven head.

Youi Fei folded his arms, shaking his head.

“Not only am I a lesser swordsman, it appears I also have a lesser grasp of magic than you” his face racked with sadness.

Tar’vid clapped a hand on Youi Fei’s shoulder, standing from the sloped chair he’d been in.

“Well, perhaps I can teach you. As limited as my knowledge may be”

The mage looked at him crookedly, weighing up the proposition.

“Teach... me,” he said astounded, though mulling it over in his mind.

“Look, we’re going to be travelling together and perhaps on the way I can pass on some of my skill with a sword, my orders techniques for calming the mind may work as well”

“I suppose I did say if you bested me... very well Tar’vid, I shall put my pride aside whilst we travel. And perhaps your right, there is much I could learn from you and also, perhaps there are things you can learn from me” Youi Fei replied happily, standing quickly.

“I will be leaving in roughly a week, but do not worry. I will make sure you are informed well in advance. Until then Tar’vid farewell and thank you for making sure Bruhnel’s men didn’t lynch me”.

“Think nothing of it, friend, until next time” Tar’vid said with a smile.

“Indeed... friend” Youi Fei replied awkwardly, with that done he left the room. leaving Tar’vid alone once more.

Tar’vid sat back down gently, well he’d secured a caravan to travel with and gotten an early summer haircut. All in all not a bad start to the day he thought.