Bant and Coll stood in front of the commandant’s desk. The room in castle Ulor castle was in the keep and was spartanly furnished. Kilin, the head of the Hidden Swords, was a simple man in his tastes and it reflected in the office and his quarters.
“That’s good news,” said Kilin as he read over the report Bant had just handed him. “With Fol dead that leaves all of Jint’s officers and supporters dead. Which means you are now free for your next assignment.”
“I do as I am ordered,” said Bant.
“I want you to go to Kithel,” said Kilin. “All the other Baron’s have swords assigned to them except for the Baron at Kithel.”
“I know Baron Hith,” said Bant. “He is one of Daniel’s main supporters. Without the reinforcements he brought to the battle we would have lost.”
“I know,” said Kilin. “Also, one of his children has been recommended to us as an apprentice. I would like you to take an apprentice. His child has experience with a sword, and a good deal of skill, too, I might add.”
Bant was silent for a moment. It had been two years since he’d had an apprentice, and he wasn’t sure he wanted one. “What is his name?” He asked.
“Her,” corrected Kilin. “Lisa is her name. And I know there hasn’t been a female member of the Swords for over two hundred years. But I will warn you, she’s headstrong and stubborn.”
“So is Hith,” said Coll. “But he knows when to give in to others and when not to rush into a situation. The question is: can she?”
“That’s what you’ll find out,” said Kilin as he reached for a crutch leaning against the desk. He had lost his left leg at the knee during the battle and as a result had been stuck giving orders while staying at Castle Ulor as the king’s advisor and commander of the Hidden Swords.
“Well, you two have a long way to travel,” said Kilin. “And there’s rumors of a few bandit gangs along the way.”
Coll grinned in a humorless way. “My my. Bandits. I don’t suppose they’ll listen to reason and surrender?”
“Probably not,” said Kilin as he led the way out of his office. “But you know the drill. Once they attack you they’re probably dead.”
“Oh, they’re dead alright,” said Coll with another icy grin. Bant shuddered. Coll had an extreme dislike of bandits. To the point of if he ran into one he killed him.
“You’d better get going,” said Kilin as they reached the main door leading into the castle courtyard. “You’ve got a long ride ahead of you.”
“Yes,” said Bant. “We do.”
“Still, I imagine it won’t be dangerous to the two of you,” said Kilin. “I’ve heard stories other than your reports. Bandits messing with you two is like a leaf in a fire. It can’t survive.”
“They’re just stories, sir,” Bant replied. “We don’t kill everyone. Well, I don’t,” he said as he looked at Coll who’d put on an innocent looking face.
“What?” asked Coll. “I just don’t like leaving them to prey on other travellers.”
Kilin shook his head. “try not to cause too much trouble, at least. Although, trouble seems to have a way of finding you two anyway.”
“Well, I just take it as it comes,” laughed Bant. “Besides, I don’t think a little trouble will kill me.”
“Or me,” chuckled Coll. “It’ll definitely kill whoever tries trouble with us, though.”
Kilin smiled humorlessly. “I’m sure you two will be fine. In the meantime, you have a twenty-day ride ahead of you. I’d suggest you get going while it’s still morning.”
Bant looked up at the sun. About nine thirty in the morning he estimated. “Yes, we’d better,” he agreed. “C’mon Coll, we’ve got a long road ahead of us.”
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