Sunstone - Dishonor's Bane (Book 2) (7 page)

Shiro looked into the eyes of his fellow students and saw a variety of expressions, awe, dismissal, and resignation. He couldn’t discern one expression of support in those faces. If he couldn’t see one friendly face, how could he function as a guild master? Boreko was absolutely right.

Desiku put his hand on Shiro’s shoulder, once the others had withdrawn.

“Mistokko taught you well. Just the right amount of power. Not many would choose to reinforce their breathing. It’s an easy spell and not detectable.”

“Not a fair fight for you,” Shiro said, trying to ignore the pain in his wrist. “I did learn—”

“What do you mean not a fair fight? I reinforced myself as you did. Strength and wind. The students would not have noticed. If any of them had the ability to fight without enhancement they would have been winded in less than a moment or two. Whoever taught you swordsmanship, did an admirable job. Now, you were saying about what you learned?”

“Tishima distracted me. I don’t know what he said, but only that his words pierced my concentration and that was the deadly pause that you used to strike my wrist.” Shiro now held his arm up. The pain made him say the last few words through his teeth. The excitement of the duel had run out and now his arm throbbed.

“Ah, you can overcome that and deal with Tishima’s little trick tomorrow, even with a bound arm,” Desiku said. “Battle strategy. You need to employ it whenever you are in danger of encountering more than one opponent.” He broke into a smile. “Go to the infirmary and have them heal that. You are done for the day.”

Shiro left the field. He glanced at Tishima, who beckoned him to join him on the raised walkway.

“Very good. You were nearly a match for Desiku today. Even I couldn’t detect your enhancements magically, but I’m experienced enough to know you both used your power. Should you ever need our assistance, at any time, be assured we are your friends, Desiku and I. Go now and see to your wrist.”

Through the pain of his injury, Shiro didn’t know if he wanted to be drafted into Tishima’s group. He had plenty of respect for all four friends, but he still had reservations about trusting any of them, with the exception of Boreko. However, no other apprentices had ever approached him with any friendly intentions at all.

He reached the infirmary and a healer examined his injury.

“Swordplay?” The healer clicked his tongue. “Master Tishima is too free with his students. Who broke your wrist? I’ll report him.”

The request took Shiro by surprise. “I’d rather not say. We were involved in an intense sparring match. I hold no grudge against my opponent.”

The healer glared and waved his hand over the wound. He looked at Shiro’s face. “Have you never been healed before?”

Shiro shook his head. “We had a woman who healed in our village, but this is the first broken bone that I have had.”

“Women!” The healer screwed up his face and returned to concentrate on Shiro’s wrist. He felt an itching of some kind deep below his skin. “The bone is now knit, but you’ll have to be careful with the injury for a week. No more swordplay!”

Shiro didn’t appreciate being treated like a child, but he didn’t want a new enemy, so he gathered his things and quickly left. The wrist throbbed, tingled and itched all at the same time. He’d never had a bone treated by a healer-sorcerer. In fact, he’d never been healed for anything.

He’d not practice with weapons, as asked, but that wouldn’t stop him from seeking more counsel from Desiku or Tishima. Fighting in groups and learning to split his focus seemed to be a vital element missing from his instruction.

The next day, Shiro sought out Desiku on the practice field, but he didn’t appear. He finally approached Master Tishima. He bowed low and asked for an audience.

Tishima had him come up to the raised walkway. “Looking for Desiku?”

Shiro curtly bowed his head.

“He has been re-assigned to the Southern Isle. Guard duty. Because of you, I’m afraid.”

A frown turned down Shiro’s lips. “I didn’t tell the healer anything, even though he asked.”

“I knew you wouldn’t. One of them.” Tishima turned his head and gazed over the heads of the practicing apprentices. “Instructors aren’t supposed to break bones under any circumstances. I’m afraid Desiku was overzealous in his match. I look upon your wrist as an indication of how much of a challenge you were for him.”

Shiro grabbed his wrist. “I wanted to learn more. I need to learn how to split my focus so I’m more aware of my surroundings.”

Master Tishima grabbed the railing with both hands and laughed. “You are precocious, farmer. I’m releasing you from weapons training. You’ll just have to practice on your own.”

The news disappointed Shiro.

“Don’t take it as a demotion. It’s graduation. Desiku is one of Roppon’s best swordsmen and you fought him well. None of these,” Tishima jerked his chin towards the students, “are suitable practice partners. For splitting your focus, Boreko will do well enough. It’s not a martial art, but an enhancement to your mental powers. It is excellent that you see the need. It’s all you have left to do with me. Good luck, Shiro. I hold out my offer to you again. Should you ever require help in any way, seek out any four of us. You are dismissed. Farewell.”

Shiro bowed to Master Tishima and left in a cloud of confusion.

~

Roniki lifted up his finger to stop him from continuing to answer the question that he had asked of Shiro. “Did you have a female healing with power in your village?” Roniki said, anger darkening his face. “You are mistaken. Women have no Affinity.”  His eyes went wide and he lifted his finger again. “Don’t argue with me. It is a myth that women can tap into the power in any way. She’s just talented with herbs and poultices.”

Shiro nearly sighed. At least he hadn’t brought the subject up. Roniki came into the class rather well informed. The person who treated his arm obviously told Roniki of their conversation. The healer had obviously been responsible for Desiku’s dismissal as well.

“The woman healer in Koriaki never claimed to heal with power.” But the notion of women with power was a novel thought. As he remembered the village healer’s results, he could believe she used some kind of power. He knew those who had been healed and trusted what they said.

Female sorcerers, another political issue!  Roniki taught with more rigid dogma than his Political Theory professor ever did. His harangues never ended. The Guild Council must be an incredible collection of stubborn old men. Although Roniki wasn’t old, his concepts were set in ancient stone.

~

With his weapons class over, Shiro spent that time with Boreko. He wanted to begin talking about fragmenting his focus, but first he wanted to get his mentor’s opinion of women sorcerers.

“Women don’t seem to have an equal access to Affinity than men do. It’s certainly not a mental issue. I’ve known enough women with minds of steel, but it might just be part of the physical makeup of men. That’s not to say there are no female sorcerers. I personally believe that there might be thousands of them among us. As far as the Emperor and Guild are concerned, women have no place in the hierarchy of magic practitioners. It’s all nonsense, of course. The best healers I’ve ever seen were women. But they are persecuted and in some prefectures if women sorcerers are found, they can be put to death. Not many practice openly except in remote villages.”

That made sense to Shiro, but the ignoring of simple fact by the Guild didn’t. “Is it possible to change the Guild’s minds?”

Boreko shook his head. “No. The Guild would have to admit women and that would dilute their power. Don’t bring it up. Even thinking such a thing could get you reassigned. A broken bone was all it took for Desiku. Some similar gaffe is all it would take. Would you like to spend the rest of your life as a stableboy in some obscure guild house?”

Shiro contemplated Boreko’s words. “It doesn’t seem very fair to dismiss someone just for what they believe. Perhaps running a stable might be preferable to being culled.”

“You speak like a teenager, Shiro. Start thinking like an adult. We live in a structured world and if we don’t like the structure, it is we who will suffer.” Boreko said. The man shivered at his own advice.

Shiro had to smile. “A teenager, eh? I remember coming here months ago and you thought I was in my thirties.”

Boreko laughed and then turned serious. “That doesn’t dismiss the fact that you are still convinced that you can rebel against the Guild.”  He rubbed his head and said, “Now let us talk about fragmented focus. It is a little-practiced talent among most sorcerers. I’ll bet there are only a handful in the Guild headquarters who know how to do it. The talent is required for survival in battle. You need to split your mind into pieces. You start doing it on your own, and then you will enhance it with your power. It is openly taught to battle sorcerers as a defensive measure when fighting other sorcerers.”

“Battling sorcerers? Does that ever happen?”

Boreko nodded. “In feudal wars between the lords. Sorcerers can attack your mind. If you fragment your focus, then only part of your consciousness will be affected. When you enhance your powers, it increases your focus on what you are doing. That was why your attention was restricted to Desiku’s actions and it took Tishima’s piercing spell to disturb you.”

“You mean Tishima did it on purpose?”

“Of course. Desiku wasn’t affected by the call and it was Tishima’s attempt, if you will, to end the fight.”

Shiro rubbed his wrist. “A painful way to stop the duel.”

“And so, Desiku paid for it with his banishment.”

Even his ‘friends’ had toyed with him. Shiro felt anger take over. “I’m not happy.”

“There is no requirement for you to be happy about it. Desiku and Tishima paid mightily for damaging your wrist. They didn’t want to be accused of favoritism. I’ve told you enough times that we do things we may not like if they have a purpose to keep hostile eyes from looking in our direction.”

Shiro’s anger transitioned to reflection, now that he knew the entire picture. His misgivings about his four mentors, Mistokko, Boreko, Tishima and Desiku, faded away. They had dragged him into their little cabal for his own protection and, like it or not, he would have to help them as they had offered to help him.

“Now here are some exercises that I want you to perform. Knowing you, fragmented focus will soon be second nature.”

Shiro went from moving his eyebrows independently of each other to being able to think in three streams of thought in a few weeks. He couldn’t do much more than channel his thoughts, but he could do it.

“Excellent, Shiro. Now we will enhance your thoughts so you can expand your mind in an instant. Let me teach you a spell to get you started. With practice you’ll be able to initiate the fragments with a thought.”

Shiro practiced all day long, thinking about one thing as he focused on another. His abilities responded to his persistent efforts.

~

Shiro approached Master Tishima and asked for a sparring match with one of his students to make sure he could focus under stress.

“You use battle sticks and I’ll have three students fight you with swords. I will ensure that all of you will know the consequences of breaking bones.” Tishima nodded to Shiro and said quietly, “By the way, Desiku sends his regards from Kyohama.”

Since Shiro had been pulled out of the weapons classes, he had not sparred with any other students. He looked at the practice field and realized that he didn’t see any apprentices, but sorcerers with substantial training in arms. He was sure none of them had ever observed his practices. They nearly sneered at Shiro as they went through their practice forms. Shiro observed them all and didn’t see them as challenges, but he needed this test.

Master Tishima called for the start of the match. Shiro began to fight the three. He split his mind, but a pause in his defense cost him a bruised upper arm as a slash made it past his defenses. Shiro fought back and turned around as he did so. He found that the fragmented focus did not put eyes in the back of his head.

Shiro had to make sure he didn’t strike back with any force. He could break bones as well as his attackers and that wouldn’t do.

Tishima called out again. His opponents hesitated, but the fragment that he used to focus on his fighting didn’t stop, but he processed the intent of Tishima’s call without missing a thought. He had passed the test and began to take care of his opponents.

He tapped on the sorcerers’ hands, not striking as hard as Desiku, but soon the three stood holding bruised hands with their wooden swords at their feet. Tishima called the exercise to a close.

Shiro bowed to his opponents and then to Master Tishima, who nodded, locking pleased, as he left the practice field. He fought to keep a smile off of his face, but as soon as he found himself alone on a walkway, he pumped his fists in the air.

~~~

Chapter Seven

~

T
he time for the Final Test finally arrived
for Shiro. He had succeeded in not antagonizing Roniki any more than his mere existence in the Advanced Affinity class did. Boreko told him that he had learned all that the Guild had to offer apprentices, including how to restrict the sapping of life energy when tapping into the nexus and how to borrow power from other sorcerers. Any further instruction would come after the Final Test, which could come at any time.

Shiro doubted that he fit into the Guild’s plans. Boreko confirmed those suspicions. In fact his fellow sorcerers had virtually ostracized Shiro’s mentor. They had spent the last week strategizing about eventualities and both were prepared for the worst possible outcome: banishment for both of them.

A knock appeared at Shiro’s door. Two men, faces hooded in red robes, thrust out a white robe for testing. Shiro took it and the men withdrew for a few moments permitting him to dress in private.

Shiro removed his black apprentice robe and pulled on the shirt, pants and farm boots he initially brought with him. He put a knife on his belt and stuffed food and money everywhere he thought it wouldn’t show. If it were his lot to be banished, Shiro refused to go unprepared. If he passed, the clothes and supplies would merely be put back into his wardrobe.

Shiro walked out into the hallway and, with both men flanking him, they made their way to the testing room. They descended stone steps leading down to the testing chamber in a basement level that Boreko had told him about. Apprentices were not allowed below ground. Shiro could feel why. The humming of a nexus vibrated beneath his feet. He let it top up his power.

Torchlight painted the dark, windowless room in flickering yellow lights. Surely they could have spelled light globes, but it would reduce the intimidation that was surely part of the test.

Shiro stood in the center facing the arc of a low table. All of the seven men seated before him wore hooded yellow robes. All were masters in the Guild. The two red-robed escorts stood in front of the only door leading out.

Master Yushidon in the center began. “Show me how to destroy a letter.” He offered a parchment page to Shiro.

Shiro placed it on the stone floor and muttered the right spell with the right gesture, incinerating the parchment with a flash of light and sparks.

The next five men requested similar demonstrations of proficiency including Tishima asking him to repeat his little storm trick. The last man, Roniki, sat back with his arms folded. Shiro’s heart beat more quickly as he prepared for the worst.

“Reconstitute the burnt page,” the figure requested. Tishima sat up from his place at the table and complained that it was an unfair question.

“Do you withdraw the question?” Yushidon said. By the blasé delivery of the inquiry, Shiro realized that whatever plan Roniki hatched Master Yushidon might be in on it.

His heart sank, as Roniki defiantly said, “No.”

Immediately Shiro realized that a trap had been sprung. He didn’t know what rule he could possibly have violated. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. He gestured and muttered the words that brought back a page floating in front of him. He let the page levitate towards Roniki. He could see the man flinch as the letter came closer.

The man snatched it from the air and read the page. “This man has violated our laws of confidentiality. Our rule is once a sorcerer destroys a document, it is never, ever to be brought back. To do so would violate our pledge to the bureaucracy, the emperor and our patrons. We have no choice. Shiro of Koriaki has forfeited his right to a place with us.” Roniki’s voice was the embodiment of disdain mixed with triumph.

Shiro glanced at Tishima, who sat back with his arms folded, face impassive.

“Remove your robe,” Master Yushidon said. Other’s moved to protest, but the master waved away their complaints.

Shiro complied, revealing his old clothes, ready to face banishment.

“Wearing clothes under your robes. This stinks of Boreko’s involvement.” Shiro could feel Roniki’s sneer. “He will join you in your banishment.”

The men in red left the room, returning moments later escorting Boreko to the center of the room.

“I am sorry Boreko. Did you warn the apprentice to be prepared for failure?” Master Yushidon’s face was red with rage.

Boreko only nodded.

“You will accompany him. I am grateful for your service to the Guild. May your death be quick and painless.” The Master waved his hands and recited a spell. The council immediately disappeared from Shiro’s sight.

~

“You’re just too smart for our own good,” Boreko said with resignation looking over the flat horizon. The sun began peeking over a faraway ridge, giving little warmth to the cold air. The flat landscape was sloshed with the same dull light brown color, bleached of contrast and devoid of any vegetation.

“Any idea where we are?” Shiro began to pull out his supplies. Boreko took his robe off revealing traveling clothes of his own. In a few minutes, they looked at two piles of supplies at each other’s feet. Yushidon expected them both to die. Shiro would delight in proving the guildmaster wrong. Boreko had been removed with little more than token thanks. Shiro couldn’t believe the dispassionate way he had been banished. Tishima had never given him an encouraging word other than his test. What else could the old weapons master do?

“No way to tell. It all looks the same for a hundred miles. Teleporting is something not taught to apprentices and not all sorcerers can do it. I never really learned how to do it well, since I always needed the help of two or three sorcerers for me to generate the power to do so. I think these are the Barren Lands of the South Isle. They aren’t just barren of sustenance, but little Affinity exists here. Never had a knack for directions.” Boreko said wringing his hands.

“You’re in luck. I do have a knack for directions. Move away from me.” Shiro waited for Boreko to walk ten paces away. He closed his eyes and said a battle spell that was useful in locating a ruler’s enemy in time of war. Turning his head halfway to his left, he pointed. “There is the closest concentration of human life. It looks like we’re headed south.”

The two re-distributed their provisions and hiked off towards the south. Before long, Boreko started to limp. “New shoes from Remi?” Shiro asked. “They’ll break in before we’re through. Make sure you don’t get blisters.”

Boreko just gave Shiro a dirty look. They trudged on. Needing all the strength they could muster, Shiro didn’t use any more magic for navigation. The sun beat down on the pair and at midday, he cut the hem of Boreko’s robe to provide wrappings for both of their heads.

As they walked throughout the day, they occasionally passed human bones littering the land. There were few plants and none of them looked edible. Culling. Shiro thought there was a good reason for culling crops and animals, but never human beings. As he walked his anger grew at the Guild for their arrogant callousness. He was not one to be culled—especially for political reasons. Then he paused, letting Boreko walk ahead. Is that what I did with my family? Did I inadvertently cull them? The thought chilled Shiro.

They stopped at night by an outcropping of rocks. A number of bleached skeletons littered the area. Shiro stopped his thoughts to consider the placement of the skeletons. Why did they all die here? He began poking a soft sandy spot with his knife.

“What are you doing?” Boreko said.

“Making sure we are the exception rather than the rule, my friend.” After a few more pokes, a four-foot snake slithered up from the sand to be skewered by Shiro. He grabbed the creature behind the head as it twisted and coiled and then cut its head off. “Dinner.”

Boreko made a gagging sound. “I can’t eat that.”

Shiro smiled as he began to skin the snake. “Suit yourself. That only means more for me. We’re not eating it raw, by the way. I’m sure between the two of us, we know a good spell for heating rocks.”

Shiro walked around the cropping and found a properly shaped stone. He used a destruction spell to create a bowl out of the rock. His lightning trick provided the water. He drank from the stone bowl and let the miniature storm fill the bowl again for Boreko. Later, the pair had actually eaten their fill. Boreko rose unsteadily and walked around the outcrop to his friend.

“Here is your water ration. Drink all of it. There must not be much moisture in the air for this took more out of me than I thought. I won’t have any trouble sleeping tonight.”

Boreko walked over to the sandy patch. Shiro grabbed him by the arm. “No. There may be other creatures in the sand. We sleep on harder ground.” He found a flat spot and began picking rocks from the surface. “Sleep on your robe and you’ll be fine.”

~~~