Talon rose and made his way through the kitchen, where loaves were rising before the hearth, waiting to be baked first thing in the morning. Realizing he had not eaten for hours, Talon paused to snatch an apple from a large bowl and bit into it. He thought they were to be used for pies, but was content that the loss of one would be no great hardship to Leo.
Making his way outside, he saw that the eastern sky was lightening. Soon it would be the time before dawn his people knew as the Wolfs Tail, that grey-upon-grey time in which a man can steal an early march upon the hunt or a long journey, before the dawn breaks.
Entering the barn and seeking out his pallet, Talon threw himself down, fatigue overwhelming him. The half-eaten apple fell from his hand. As he wondered what fate had in store for him and the reason behind Roberts many and seemingly pointless questions, Talon fell quickly into an exhausted sleep.
CHAPTER FOUR
Games
TALON FROWNED.
He looked at the cards laid out upon the table and attempted to discern any choice that might create a solution. After examining the four cards he had just turned over, he realized there was no possible way he could continue the game.
Sighing, half in frustration, half out of boredom, he swept up the cards and began reshuffling them. He resisted the temptation to turn and see if the two men watching him were showing any reaction.
The white-haired man he had thought of as Snowcap, but who was actually named Magnus, stood beside Robert, who was sitting on a stool, brought into the dining room from the common room. Robert had introduced the concept of cards to Talon a week earlier.
The deck consisted of fifty-two cards, in four suits: cups, wands, swords and diamonds, each a different colour, the cups being blue, wands green, swords black, and diamonds yellow. They were used primarily for games likel-in-land, pashawa, and poker, or po-kir as it was called in Kesh. Robert had demonstrated several games and had Talon play a few hands of each to get familiar with the ordering of the suits, from the card known as the ace, which Robert explained came from a Bas-Tyran word for unit, to the lord. The lower cards were numbered from two to ten, but Talon saw no logic as to why the unit, or the one as he thought of it, was the most valuable card, more so than the lord, lady, or captain.
Talon smiled slightly to himself. He didnt know why that little fact, that the lowest number, the single unit, was the most valuable card, irritated him. Still, he did well enough with the games Robert had taught him. Then Robert had introduced him to the concept of solitary play, using the deck for idle amusement when lacking opposing players. The games were roughly a variation on a theme, different layouts, as Robert called them, with different ways in which to draw cards from the deck. Some games required the player to build cards in rows based on rank, in alternating colours of light and dark, or in order of number, or a combination.
Earlier in the previous day Robert had taken Talon from the kitchen there were no guests so duty was light and had brought him into the dining hall. There he had introduced the game of four lords.
It was a perplexing game. Four lords were laid out from right to left, and four cards were dealt face up. The object of the game was to place the cards by suit next to the lords, the only prohibition being that cards must be placed next to cards of the same number or suit. The next goal was to create packs of four identical number cards, in a square. This continued until all four aces were together, at which point they were retired from the game. Then the twos, and so fourth until only the lords remained.
Talon had discovered early on that it was a very difficult game to win, relying far too much on the random luck of cards coming out in a certain order, rather than skill. But some skill was required in anticipating situations in which cards would be isolated from others of like value.
For half a day Talon had eagerly played the game, determined to become a master at it. Then he realized just how much random luck was involved and became disenchanted with it. Yet Robert still insisted that he play, and sat behind silently to observe.
As Talon laid out the next game, he wondered not for the first time exactly why Robert was doing this.
Magnus whispered, Robert, why are you doing this?
Robert whispered, The boys people have little abstract logic in their daily lives. They were hunters, farmers, poets and warriors, but their mathematics were basic and all the disciplines based upon advanced logic were lacking to them. They had builders, yes, but no engineers and far fewer magic-users than any other people Im aware of, perhaps one or two throughout the entire land of the Orosini.
They spoke in the Kings Tongue, the language of the Kingdom of the Isles, to prevent Talon from understanding them and Robert judged his hearing very sharp.
So the games are to teach him logic?
Robert nodded. They are a start. This is very basic problem-solving.
Magnuss pale blue eyes were fixed upon the cards on the table. Ive played four lords, Robert. You taught it to me, remember? It is a difficult game. He wont win many.
Robert smiled. Its not about winning. Its about recognizing a no-win situation. See, hes recognized that those four cards ensure that he cant win. They watched as Talon gathered up the cards, leaving the lords in place, and started a new game. At first, he went through the entire deck to reach the point of realizing he had no chance of winning. Now, less than two days later hes recognizing the more subtle combinations that show he cant win.
Very well. So hes got potential, talent even. That doesnt address the question of what it is you plan to do with the boy.
Patience, my impetuous friend. He glanced at Magnus, who watched Talon with a fixed gaze. It would have been better had you more of your fathers temperament than your mothers temper.
The white-haired man didnt shift his gaze, but he did smile. Ive heard that from you more than once, old friend. He then looked at Robert. Im getting better at reining in my temper, you know.
Havent destroyed a city in the last few weeks, have you?
Magnus grinned. Not that I noticed. Then the stern expression returned. I chafe at these games within games.
Ah, said Robert. Again your mothers son. Your father has taught me over my entire adult lifetime that we can only deal with our enemies when they present themselves. Over the last thirty years weve seen so many different assaults upon the tranquillity of our lives that it defies imagining. And theres only been one constant.
Which is? Magnus turned his attention again to Talons game.
That no two ploys of the enemy have been alike. The servants of the Nameless One are cunning and they learn from their mistakes. Raw power failed, so now they achieve their goals through stealth. We must respond in kind.
But this boy ?
Fate spared him for a reason, I believe, said Robert. Or at least, Im trying to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. Hes got something. I think had this tragedy not befallen his people, he would have grown up to be simply another young Orosini man, a husband and father, warrior when the need arose, farmer, hunter and fisherman. He would have taught his sons the ways of his ancestors and died in old age satisfied at his lot.
But take that same lad and forge him in the crucible of misfortune and heartbreak, and who knows what will occur? Like fired iron, will he become brittle and easily broken, or can he be turned to steel?
Magnus remained silent as Talon began another game. A dagger, no matter how well forged, has two edges, Robert. It can cut both ways.
Dont teach your grandmother to suck eggs, Magnus.
Magnus grinned. My father never knew his mother, so the only grandmother Im aware of did a fair job of conquering half the world; I wouldnt have dreamed of teaching her anything.
And you have your mothers nasty sense of humour, too. He turned from the Kings Tongue to Roldemish to say, Talon, thats enough. Its time for you to return to the kitchen. Leo will tell you what needs to be done.
Talon put the cards away in a small box and handed the box to Robert, then hurried to the kitchen.
Magnus said, Im still uncertain what you think this boy will contribute to our cause.
Robert shrugged. Your father showed me many things when I was young, but the most important lesson of all was simply the very nature of your home. Your island provided refuge and school to all manner of beings I couldnt have imagined in my most youthful dreams. He pointed towards the kitchen. That boy may prove to be nothing more than a valuable servant, or perhaps a well-crafted tool. His eyes narrowed. But he also could be something far more important, an independent mind loyal to our cause.
Magnus was silent for a long moment. Then he said, I doubt it.
Robert smiled warmly. We had doubts about you when you were younger. I remember a certain incident when you had to be confined to your room for what was it? A week?
Magnus returned a faint smile. It wasnt my fault, remember?
Robert nodded indulgently. It never was.
Magnus looked toward the kitchen. But the boy?
He has many things to learn, said Robert. Logic is only a start. He must come to understand that even the most important issues in life can often be seen to be games, with a sense of risk and reward and how to calculate them. He must learn when to walk away from a conflict, and when to press his luck. Much of his nature, what he was taught as a child among his people, must be taken from him. He must learn about the game of men and women did you know his future wife was being arranged for him while he waited upon a mountain-top for his manhood vision?
I know little of the ways of the Orosini, confessed Magnus.
He knows nothing of the most common knowledge in the city; he has no sense of duplicity and deceit, so he has almost no instinct for when someone is lying to him. Yet he has a sense in the wild that would rival that of a Natalese Ranger.
Caleb told me he hunted like no city-born man, agreed Magnus.
Your brother spent years with the elves; he should know.
Agreed.
No, our young friend Talon is an opportunity. He is, perhaps, unique. And he is young enough that we may be able to educate him to be something few of us can be.
Which is what? asked Magnus, clearly interested.
Unlimited by our heritage. Hes still able to learn, while most of us at his age are already convinced we know everything.
He does seem a ready student, Magnus conceded.
And, he has a sense of honour that would serve a LaMutian Captain of Tsurani descent.
Magnus raised an eyebrow. Those of Tsurani descent were as hidebound where honour was concerned as any men living. They would die to discharge a debt of honour. He looked for a moment to see if Robert was exaggerating and realized that he wasnt. Honour is useful, at times.
He has a mission already, even if it has yet to come to the surface of his mind.
Mission?
He is Orosini. He must hunt down and kill the men responsible for the obliteration of his people.
Magnus let out a long sigh. Raven and his band of cutthroats. No mean feat, that.
The boys already a hunter. When he is ready, hell seek them out. I would rather have him do so with better weapons than his bare hands and native wit. So, there is much we must teach him, both of us.
He has no skill for magic, I imagine, or else you would have sent him back to Father instead of bringing him up here.
True, but you have other skills besides magic, Magnus. I am not jesting; he has a nimble mind and there are far more complex tasks to discipline thought than playing games with cards. If he is to serve us, he must be as tough in spirit and intellect as he already is in body. He may not have any skill in magic, but he will face it, and he will face minds far more adept in backstabbing, double-dealing and deception than he could possibly imagine.
If its double-dealing youre worried about, you should have brought in Nakor to tutor him.
I might still, but not yet. Besides, your father has Nakor down in Kesh on some errand or another.
Magnus stood up. Ah, then the prospect for war between the Kingdom of the Isles and the Empire of Great Kesh is now excellent.
Robert laughed. Nakor doesnt wreak havoc everywhere he visits.
No, just most places. Well, if you think you can ready the boy to chase down Raven and kill him, good luck.
Oh, its not Raven and his murderers Im concerned with. Hunting them is only part of Talons training, albeit his journeymans piece. If he should fail, then he would lack the true test of his skills.
Im intrigued. What lies beyond?
Talon will avenge his people when he kills everyone responsible for the obliteration of the Orosini. Which means he may not rest until he faces down and destroys the man behind that genocide.
Magnuss eyes narrowed, the pale blue becoming icy. Youre going to turn him into a weapon?
Robert nodded. He will need to kill the most dangerous man living today.
Magnus sat back on the seat again and folded his arms across his chest. He looked towards the kitchen as if trying to see through walls. Youre sending a mouse to beard a dragon.
Perhaps. If so, lets ensure the mouse has teeth.
Magnus shook his head slowly and said nothing.
Talon hauled water up the hill and saw that Meggie waited for him and that she was frowning. She was the antithesis of Lela, tiny where Lela was voluptuous, fair to the point of pallor where Lela was dark, plain where Lela was exotic, dour where Lela was exuberant. In short, at not even twenty years old, she was more than halfway to being a middle-aged scold.
Took you long enough, she said.
I didnt realize there was a rush on, said Talon, now comfortable with the idiomatic Roldemish he was being told to use almost exclusively.
Theres always a rush on, she snapped.
Following her up the hill, Talon asked, Why did you come down to meet me?
Kendrick said I was to find you and tell you youd be serving again tonight in the dining room. She wore a shawl of drab green which she gathered tightly around her shoulders as she walked before him. The days were growing cold and the nights colder; autumn was turning to winter and soon snow would come. Theres a caravan from Orodon to Farinda staying over tonight, and it seems theres someone important travelling with it. So, Lela and I are assigned to the common room with Lars, and you and Gibbs to the dining room.