Page 29 of By the Horns
Raptor
Gents,
One of the fledglings here is being very secretive. My suspicions are aroused. Will update when I learn more.
—R
PS—You’re lucky I’m such an ingratiating sort.
Fledgling Gwenna,” MasterJay says in a sharp voice as we line up for the day’s training. “Tell me, what is the shop behind the fishmonger’s stall on the docks? The one with the anchor on the sign?”
The look on Gwenna’s face is utterly blank, and I almost feel sorry for her. I’m tempted to give her the answer—the moneylender—but if I do, Master Jay will shit himself. He’s a teacher unlike many others, in that he feels the best thing a fledgling can learn is self-sufficiency. It’s an admirable thing to teach in a guild that values teamwork, because I’ve been saddled with terrible teammates far too often.
This is one of Jay’s favorite ways to dole out lessons, too. He asks about something benign, and if you don’t have the right answer, he knows what area of expertise you’re lacking. Can you read this map? No? Then you get to spend the day redrawing the map until you’re familiarwith everything on it. Do you know the Old Prellian symbol forbelow? If not, you need to spend the day brushing up on the most common Prellian glyphs that an artificer will run into. Do you know the layout of Vastwarren City like the back of your hand? No? Then you’re going to walk the streets with a heavy pack on your shoulders until you do.
Poor Gwenna has borne the worst of Master Jay’s tasks. She doesn’t know Prellian symbols. She’s never first on an obstacle course. She’s unfamiliar with a lot of Vastwarren. She’s not great at anything physical, and that’s me being generous.
She composes herself after a moment and then pins a smile to her face. “I don’t know what’s there, Master Jay. Shall I get my pack?”
“Yes. Find the building behind the fishmonger. Then write me a list of all the buildings along the two closest streets and what times they are open. Wear your loaded pack at all times, and if you take it off, I’ll be informed of it.”
“Yes, Master.” She moves away from the breakfast table, heading across the dorm to get one of the training packs near the front door.
Master Jay stops in front of Hemmen. “Prellian symbol for ‘danger’?”
Hemmen rubs his bulbous nose and thinks for a moment. “It’s a bird, upside down with the feet in the air.”
The correct answer. Master Jay grunts. “You’ll be on the obstacle course today. I want you to practice the current setup, running it repeatedly. Kipp will be at your side to run it with you. Do you think you can do the course blindfolded, Kipp?”
The slitherskin taps his hand over his heart twice, a quiet affirmation.
“Good. Partner up, then. Hemmen, watch Kipp to ensure he doesn’t remove his blindfold. Kipp, you are to report back to me how many times Hemmen performs the course. I expect no less than fifteen rounds.”
Hemmen’s face falls. He runs a hand through his messy hair and looks as if he wants to protest, but then nods, defeated. “Of course, Master Jay.”
Master Jay gazes at Kipp and they share an unspoken nod. I suspect that Jay is sending Kipp with Hemmen to keep Hemmen busy more than because Kipp needs to work on anything. In a very short period of time, Kipp has quickly become Jay’s favorite. I must admit that the slitherskin is extremely competent for all his small size, but I bet it’s his silence that makes him Jay’s prized pupil. Jay doesn’t like back talk.
That leaves just me and Arrod awaiting tasks for the day. Master Jay strides up to us, his hands behind his back as he eyes his remaining students. He gazes at me before turning to Arrod. “What’s the symbol that marks a Prellian burial chamber?”
Arrod thinks for a moment. “It’s that yellow bird, isn’t it?”
“It is not,” Master Jay bites out sharply. “You will go to the guild library and study Prellian glyphs. I want you to know a hundred basic symbols by the time this month is over. Do you understand me? We are still in the early days, fledgling. I’m still testing your abilities. You must be competent on your own before you can work as a team.”
“Yes, Master. Of course, Master.” Arrod nods, giving Master Jay a quick, respectful bow before turning to leave. I catch a hint of a smile on his face. Lazy shit knows exactly how to work Master Jay already. Something tells me that he did that on purpose.
Well, two can play that game.
Master Jay approaches me. “Is it even worth me asking you if you have the city memorized? Do you know what’s near the riverside docks?”
“I know there’s at least three brothels,” I say. “Do you need their names?”
His face turns a mottled, dark shade. “Get a pack and accompany Gwenna. I don’t want either of you back until you’ve mapped those streets. And take the long way.”
“Yes, sir,” I drawl, pleased.
Gwenna tries toavoid me, little minx that she is. She races ahead of me on the streets, heavy pack bouncing against her back as she walks as quickly as possible over the cobbled, sloping streets. She’s been avoiding me the last couple of weeks, and I’m not certain if it’s because I annoy her or if it’s because she has things to hide.
The more she tries to avoid me, the more I wonder if she’s the thief who’s been stealing from the guild. But when I picture her working with murderers, I can’t see it. I don’t know what to think. It’d probably be smarter for me to go spend time with Arrod, because he deliberately got out of the more difficult training and seemed pleased about it, but I find myself chasing after Gwenna instead.
