"There are only farmers and their families living near enough for something like that. Even if it were one of them, what business would they have in knowing our position?" Bernar chimed in. "Farmers sell their goods at the marketplace in Coltend at least once a week," Garett added.
"Precisely, but therein lies the problem: The three ravens," the Master nodded. "The chances of the first two being a farmer are pretty high, but this one was too close to be anything of the sort. Thoma, where did you see it come from?" he asked.
"I didn't see it initially, Master. Edryd had pointed it out for me only after I heard its call," I jutted my thumb toward him. I could tell he was starting to get nervous while standing right beside me.
"Fine, but where did you see it come from?" Bernar stepped forward.
If he gives the wrong location, it might spell death for a simple farmer, I thought.
"I saw it come from the northwest corner of the fortress, Master," Ed replied nervously, prompting the Master's eyes to widen. "Our fears have been confirmed, then," he said grimly. "The study?" Bernar asked, getting a nod from the Master before he looked at the four of us with him with a piercing gaze.
"It's one of our own," he said gravely.
"The northwestern corner of this fortress is where the study lies. Now that Thoma has killed the beasts and cleared the way for the traitor, it only confirms what I have been thinking these last few months. However, that's not to say I've merely been sitting idly by and not taken any precautions," he continued, giving me a knowing nod.
I finally understood.
He sent me there because he trusted me not to give away the secrets he was trying to keep inside, I thought.
"But Master, those pages on the table held nothing of value. At the very least, none that I could see. What else was hidden away in there?" I asked, both concerned and confused. "The location of the Gwynnleaf," the Master replied seriously.
Bernar and Garett knew what this meant, but Ed and I glanced at each other, entirely befuddled.
"How could we have been so careless?" Garett asked aloud. "We weren't entirely careless. They could have been after just about any other piece of knowledge there. However, the precautions I took were to charm the ochelons and cast a spell that jumbled the words in all of the books except the one you found, Thoma," the Master gave me a nod as he concluded.
Why the hell would he leave the most important information unscrambled? I thought.
"But why that book alone, Master?" Edryd asked, feeling just as confused as I was. "Because the only way for us to confirm it was one of our own was to make sure that the information being sought after was the only thing left of value. This puts us in a better position to defend it and know exactly what they're after. As to why they're after it, I do not know," the Master replied.
"So, you decided to bait them by having me slay the monsters, and leave the information within reach to confirm your suspicion?" I asked, trying to make sure he understood it correctly. "Yes. It was a gamble on multiple fronts. I knew you were capable of it, and it was a true test of trust; the kind I have with everyone in this room. Including you, Edryd," he gave him a nod.
"Me, Master? But what have I done to deserve that level of trust?" Edryd asked, genuinely unaware of why that was so. "You're Thoma's best friend, and if he trusts you, then I am inclined to trust you too," he grinned, making Edryd blush and shuffle his feet. "Thank you, Master," he said with a hand on his chest, leaning into a grateful bow.
"I know your parents to be great Synners, and that you have the same fire in your heart as your mother did when I trained her all those years ago," the Master said with a slight smile. Ed's eyes widened and filled with tears. After all, he had never heard the Master say much of anything regarding his mother. "Thank you, Master," he choked.
The Master gave him a thin smile, then turned to look at the rest of us. "Since this has confirmed our suspicions, we are now tasked with figuring out who it is. I have a plan, but it will require all of our efforts," he leaned forward, folding his fingers together as we listened intently.
"Garett, you will watch the bow-casters, while Bernar will keep an eye on the seniors. But as for you two…" he trailed off, staring at Edryd and I intensely. "You will have the most vital roles, so pay close attention," he said, making both of us swallow dryly.
I'm not sure I like where this is going, I felt a bead of sweat trailing down my cheek.
"Bernar, Garett, and I are the masters during training, which means that the traitor is highly unlikely to say anything or do anything revealing around us. Seeing as no one else knows you're aware of our little plan, you are to be our eyes and ears within the barracks, understand?" the Master asked, looking us keenly.
"Yes, Master," we both said at the same time. "Keep an eye out for anything unusual, like the others and I will do. However, pay even closer attention to your circle of friends," he cautioned. "But, Master, why must we focus on our friends so much?" Edryd asked skittishly. "I will tell you why, but I want you to try to figure it out before I finish," the Master replied.
"You are very closely knit in your friendships, and I know you care a great deal for them. However, as it currently stands, the likelihood of someone outside your circle accidentally spilling something that may or may not be revealing is extremely low. Before we left for Coltend, do you remember I had commented on Thoma's use of the Kyr spell?" the Master asked.
"I do, though what relevance it has escapes me, Master," he shrugged. "Everyone there knew I was talking about him. He is Bernar's brother, my right-hand man before even Master Garett. Not to mention his recent frequent visits to my study…" the Master said, letting his words hang a little in hopes that Ed would begin to piece it together.
"So, the traitor, or traitors, will think that Thoma knows more than he should and make them more likely to slip up," Ed nodded his understanding. "Well done," the Master grinned. "That will be all for now, gentlemen. Everyone knows their job, and it is essential that none of what has been said here ever gets out. If it does, we will have to start over," he continued.
Ed and I recognized that our part was over when the Master lowered the barrier on the door. We bowed respectfully before leaving with Garret and Bernar to return to training.
At the base of the stairway, we all went our separate ways and returned to finish the remainder of our training for the day. Swords, bows, and hand-to-hand combat drills were being conducted across the training grounds, but Ed and I struggled to maintain focus.
Bernar took over for the seniors, overseeing their training and began teaching them new movesets and combinations to test out on each other. Grappling, disarming, tripping, and guard weaknesses were all addressed during the remaining four and a half hours.
Near the end of our training session, we heard a call from atop the fortress walls. "Someone is coming," the bow-caster who stood guard called out. "Hold," Bernar called out to his trainees and headed towards the main gate. When he arrived, he opened the hatch through the main doorway to find a hooded figure on a white horse.
"I bring news from Coltend and Caegwen," the hooded figure said in a near angelic voice. Bernar instantly recognized the voice and grinned. "Open the gates," he called out. The mighty wooden gate was opened, drawing everyone's attention as he rode a short way into the training yard with Bernar following closely behind.
The hooded figure dismounted his large horse and stood nearly a head taller than everyone present, including Bernar. He drew back his hood to show a perfectly carved face, with bright yellow eyes. His face was bereft of any facial hair, and his jawline was perfectly symmetrical to the rest of his features. Small hooped earrings of gold and silver intertwined hung from his pointed ears.
Bernar was seemingly the only one who knew the elf.
"Bernar, why are you grinning at me like that?" the elf raised an eyebrow. "Anwill Taffy, you old bat! It's good to see you again," Bernar said just before wrapping him in a tight hug.
The little I knew of elven culture reminded me that elves were not usually fond of physical contact when greeting each other. Instead, they often placed one hand across their chest and bowed, but the look on his face was priceless when my brother squeezed him tightly.
Don't laugh. Don't laugh, I snorted.
"It's Taaff, Bernar, though I do recall you always having issues with elven names. I must admit, it's good to see you, too," the Anwill said with an uncomfortable smirk as he pulled away. "You're not wrong. It took me years to learn your name, let alone all the others," my brother waved dismissively. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be locked away in a library somewhere?" Bernar asked sarcastically.
"You're still as much a thorn in my side as ever, but no; not this time. I'm here as an emissary for King Elhael," Anwill sighed. I could only stare at the strange interaction taking place in awe.
I knew Bernar had gone to train with the elves when he was a few years younger than me, but I had no idea he was still so close with them.
I wonder if that's why the king was staring at me during the council, I thought momentarily before utterly freezing when I noticed the elf was giving me the same, strange look as if he'd read my thoughts.
He exchanged a glance with my brother, then chuckled lightly as he shook his head. "Where is the Master?" he finally asked after a moment's pause. "Oh, he's probably still in his study. Follow me," Bernar nodded toward the door, prompting Anwill to look up at the fortress.
"A thousand years later and this place remains very much the same," Anwill muttered idly as he glanced around. "It's good to be back, after so long. Do you remember I once told you that the first of us trained here?" he asked. "You mean you wouldn't shut up about it, but yes, I do," Bernar rolled his eyes with a chuckle.
"It's not my fault I always felt like I had to repeat myself with you," Anwill grinned. "Fair enough. Welcome home, then. I'll lead you to him," Bernar smiled brightly as he scratched the back of his head.
What in the ever-living fuck just happened? I thought.