Mage of Silence

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

The weather was calm as Castien and Daeron set sail for Angelcynn. Daeron stood at the railing beside Castien and watched the shore slowly fade from view. Castien had his back to it as he stared up at the light clouds that dotted the azure blue sky and he thought, Would that my life were as pure and clean as they are.

Daeron turned and must have seen something in Castien’s face. “Will you miss your home? You know it won’t be safe to return until our people can use the information you obtained to eliminate the Baron and his colleagues.”

Castien smiled, touched his heart, pointed back over his shoulder toward the place they’d left, and then tapped his head, gesturing in the direction they were headed.

“You’ll learn to love my home, you’ll see. And we need you, there are more like him, despots and tyrants who must be stopped or contained, monsters who must be destroyed for the good of all.”

Castien nodded. He knew Daeron was right, and he could be instrumental in doing this but…Finally he turned to look at the far distant shore, just a line on the horizon now. I’ll miss you, Maman, take care of my sisters. I’ll be back someday, I promise. With that thought he pushed off of the railing, strode across the deck to an open area, beckoned Daeron to follow. Once he was there Castien drew his sword. Daeron smiled and his own sword almost jumped into his hand.

“A small wager, say five pence, that I can disarm you before the sun is over the yardarm.”

Castien nodded, and they touched swords. The ‘battle’ was on. Daeron was good, one of the best in truth, and Castien was still recovering from what had been done to him. He started slowly and found himself on the defensive for quite a long time. As they parried back and forth, neither of them gaining the ascendance, some of the sailors gathered around and Castien heard bets being placed, the majority on Daeron, which just added to his incentive to win in the end. Slowly the tide changed as remembered moves and Castien’s need to prove he was still as good as they both knew he was gave him the edge he needed. Castien’s fingers began to ache however so he switched hands. He laughed at the look of surprise on Daeron’s face. From then on the battle went Castien’s way and just before the sun reached its zenith he was able to take Daeron’s weapon. Daeron grinned and gave a sweeping bow before he took five pence from his purse to hand them to Castien.

“You’re better than I remember,” he said, “and I had no idea you could fight with either hand.”

“Know thy enemy,” Castien signed and Daeron nodded. They sheathed their swords just as the captain came to tell them luncheon was ready and asked if they would join him. Both nodded they would and he ushered them to his cabin.