Book 2 Chapter 4: A new Mission

Are you sure she wants to see you again?” Vero asked, not the first time that day. He pushed back against an attack and turned as a blade missed his tail.

“I’m positive she will Vero,” Filtiarn replied. Vero frowned but didn’t ask the follow up question, much to his master’s relief. Vero honestly couldn’t see why anyone in their right mind would even want to be here. It was cold when it rained, and today was no exception. Thankfully he had trained against the fighting style that was prevalent here or else he would have been taken down long ago. The Master seemed to be enjoying it, at least to some degree. But the Ulrikan was obviously weighed down in his heart.

Vero sighed and dropped, before a soldier could lop his head off, then quickly whirled to strike the blade in the opponent’s unbalanced hand and knocked it away. The soldier panicked briefly before taking a leap back and fishing for a dagger to keep himself protected with. Vero paused, seeing his surprise and terror and didn’t pursue. Their goal wasn’t to take them down, it was to reach the bell.

The duo fought through the horde on their path that lead to the doors, but not with the ease Vero had hoped to have. When they reached the door, Filtiarn grabbed the rope and pulled on the string.

A loud pealing sound rang through the valley and the assailants stopped where they were and sheathed their weapons. This was Vero’s cue and he stepped in between Filtiarn and the door before they could swing open. As much as his inards wanted to ease up in releif, he knew better. This was only the begining.

When they could see inside, a Yowlumne with white, dusty clothes approached them. The attire had some gold trimmings but it was subtle. Vero stared hard at the Yowlumne as Filtiarn had instructed him to. The Yowlumne then turned on his heels with firm composure and with a signal from his fingers, ushered them inside. They sheathed their weapons before following.

There was no time for a break, but that hardly stopped Vero from casting glances around as they were led in. He began taking in the sturcutres, but kept his eyes pealed for any sign of white fur, hunting for any sign of Ylva. It was unlikely she would be on the lower levels, but not out of the question.

Filtiarn was busy keeping his head down and out of view.

Vero felt a bit of frustration when he could not see her. Though in the midst of his frustration, was a bit of surprise and curiosity. A few women, from both the human and Yowlume were among the countless men who looked at them with a fire in their eyes as if they wanted to challenge them. He kept his gaze steady, only giving the impression of familiarizing himself with the place.

According to Filtiarn, this show of anticipation mixed with hostility was normal and Vero was glad for all the nasty stares Filtiarn had given him to prepare for this. If he showed any sign of shrinking back or nervousness, it would reflect on them, and could hinder their search. The more confident and elite they appeared, the less opponents they would garner, and the more freely they could walk around the grounds without risking too many challenges. At least, that was what it was in theory. Hopefully he was doing it correctly.

When they approached the rooms, the Yowlumne in white was about to separate them, but Vero stopped him with a growl in his throat.

“I would prefer if my ‘friend’ was to stay with me. He is a ‘personal’ servant of sorts,” Vero said. While it irked him to tell the lie, not to mention lower the status of his master to a servant, he knew that it was by his master’s wishes and command that he do this.

The Yowlumne nodded but looked at him with a disapointed demeanour before opening a door to another ‘room’. Vero peeked inside. While the room was small, smaller than Vero had anticipated, it had two beds and a simple table stand in the center. There was no source of light other than the small window in the back. Vero stretched, wishing to shake out all the impact from those challengers leading to the place. He waited for Filtiarn to enter first and check the place before heading in after him, all in the name of keeping up appearances. Starting tomorrow, the head instructor of the training grounds would be in charge of their schedule.

After Filtiarn gave the all clear, Vero nodded at the Yowlumne guide as if to say thanks, before entering and closing the door behind them. He noticed a simple key by the door and took it, locking the door from the inside. He then took a piece of cord off his outfit and tied the key into a necklace for ease of keeping track of it. After making sure it was secure, he noticed the Ulrika had already sat down, relaxing for the brief moment they had. He sat down across from Filtiarn. He unstrapped his gear a bit to make it more comfortable to rest.

“You played that well, master,” Filtiarn said with a tease and Vero’s ears flicked in annoyance before he flung his sheathed sword at him.

“One day, sir. One day,” Vero growled back. Filtiarn chuckled and unsheathed the blade a bit before closing it quickly when they heard footsteps near their door. Vero wondered if someone had already come to challenge them. Filtiarn motioned for them to wait.

There was a distinct nock. Filtiarn’s ears flicked. Vero stiffled a sigh of releif. It wasn’t a challenger, as their knock would be different. Vero flicked his ears, asking how to proceede. Filtiarn asked for the key in that silent languge and Vero took it from around his neck and handed it to him while he laid down on the bed. Filtiarn rose and opened the door. A different Yowlumne with white robes was standing in the doorway with her hands on hips.

“Food’s ready if ya new dogs come now. Otherwise, ya ain’t gettin any till the next meal,” she said with a gruff accent. Filtiarn looked back at him as if asking him if he heard and Vero nodded, waiting while Filtiarn came over and gave hims his cloak and weapon. They exited, locking the room behind them and following this new guide, a female. She was quite fast on her feet and more than once, Vero had to jog to keep up with her brisk walk.

When they got to the mess hall, Vero was quite surprised that it was scrupulously clean. He had expected food in places, perhaps some sign of decay and some other messes, but his ideology was proven wrong. As if noticing, Filtiarn chuckled at Vero’s expression.

“The cooks and chefs are the scariest here, you better keep the rules if you want food and a head,” he explained, quietly, though without the silent languge. Vero quietly gulped to calm his nerves. If the challenges were already enough to worry about, now the chefs were also frightening. This place was quite the anomaly. As they came in, Filtiarn wiped his feet on a mat and Vero quickly emulated the motion. He followed Filtiarn who was, by far, more experienced with this place and washed his hands and face before going to the table. The cook who had fetched them, watched closely with a gleam in her eye. Vero picked up on her words as she talked with another cook.

“Must be the best behavin folk we’ve had in a long time, see,” she said to another cook who walked close to her. “Didn’t even have to ask, and they’ve been cleanin themselves up nice and proper.”

“Reward them with a few extra pieces of bread and cheese,” the chef said and she saluted.

“O’ course sir,” she replied and dished the food up quietly before heading over to where they were sitting. She set the food down in front of each, and when Filtiarn saw the plate he looked up in surprise.

“A thanks, from thee head chef,” she said quickly, before he could ask. “He wanted ye to get a bit more for behaving like good folk. Ain’t seen many of yer ilk here so its a bit of praise if ye be asking, though ya better thank him later,” she whispered and Filtiarn and Vero both nodded before thanking her for the food. She left and Filtiarn had a large grin on his face.

“What is it?” Vero asked before biting into some of his food.

“The chef’s either new or something, because I don’t ever recall receiving such an honor of extra food in all the years I was here,” Filtiarn whispered.

“Really,” Vero asked pondering it. “Best be staying on their good side then.”

“Now master, don’t ye be picking up on the accent too much. Ylva dear would not enjoy it too much,” Filtiarn said and Vero choked on some food as he stiffled a laugh. He was certainly surprised to hear Filtiarn speaking with such an accent.

“Well, well… you'll be fitting in quite soon, just don’t go picking up any girls heart now,” Vero teased and Filtiarn’s expression went dead serious, though there was light in his eyes.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, lad. I’ve already got the best, and I ain’t bein swayed from her,” he said with such a straight tone that Vero had a hard time not laughing at him. Filtiarn’s expression softened as a smile drew itself on his face.

The two finished their meal and Vero watched in case anyone might challenge them, but none did. Other than when they had been trying to get in, no one bothered to pick a fight with them, making the day rather uneventful. Aside from Filtiarn teaching him the ‘etiquette’ and layout of the place, it was almost disappointing. Vero plopped down on the bed and listened as Filtiarn sat down on his own.

“So when do we do drills?” Vero asked.

“Patience boy, that is a privilege given to those who are deemed worth the training. When we get there, you will regret that you asked for it,” Filtiarn warned and Vero grunted in disbelief. He doubted anything could be more strenuous than what he had endured the last few months.

Morning came soon and Vero was roughly woken. He looked at the little window and noticed it was still dark. He frowned at the master but Filtiarn ushered him out to begin their drills. This went on till breakfast and Vero wondered why the intensity of the drill had gone up. Hadn’t they been pushing it back home? He greedily ate the food, struggling to keep his manners. If not for Filtiarn smacking him to remind him a few times, who knew how the cooks would react.

After eating, they rested in the room. No challengers came and Filtiarn roused him from his dozing for the next drills. Vero didn’t bother complaining as he could tell the Ulrika was dead set on this. They lasted till the late lunch and Vero ate as kindly as he could. The master had gone after his stomach a few times during the drill and so his appetite was a bit stiffled.

Again they rested until it was afternoon drills. They heard the sounds of fighting outside and Filtiarn explained that it was normal for would be apprentices to tackle the challenge of entering after some one got in, just because the fighters would be tuckered out. Vero waited, but not one bell toll was heard, meaning they had unsuccessfully made the attempt.

The afternoon drills lasted late into the night before they stopped by the kitchen. They were again given a little extra in their morsel and Vero noticed the eyes that stared at them with contempt and hostility. If food was that coveted, he wondered why no one had made an attempt to challenge them yet. As they returned to their room, Vero broached the subject with Filtiarn. They mainly communicated with their tails and ears. Only saying words that were not part of the silent language.

Vero learned that while they showed their jealously freely, since the two of them hadn’t reacted it had scarred off some assailants and the others were going to play it safe and watch their drills and figure out a weakness to exploit. Of course, none dared start a challenge in the mess hall as that was a sure way to have your meals taken. It was more of an unspoken rule than an official rule, but it was strictly adhered by the vetrans.