Translated From Sarconain Highway

Spring came, melting the snow in the lower valleys, though the mountains were still blanketed in the cold whiteness.  Jack and Melissa turned fourteen, and Melissa contacted the Scouts to see if she was still eligible for a Junior Scouthood.  Jack and Jasper began preparing for their trip north. 

It was still very cold when they set out, but they pressed northward despite the icy wind.  Jack carried a map that showed where the sheltered camps were, and though it sometimes took them a little out of their way, they did their best to make one of these camps every night.  Both knew that if they did not, they could easily freeze to death.  They crossed the Nitrasia River and entered Dragontongue land on the third day of their trip.  Following Melissa's directions, they turned north-east.

Jasper found himself constantly looking over his shoulder.  "We're being watched," he said to Jack in an undertone.

Jack nodded.  "I feel the same way."

The 'watched' feeling continued through the day, wearing on their nerves.  Finally Jack decided to scout around.  All Sarconians were woodcrafty, and if Jack was not a Scout, he was certainly a better woodsman than any Jasper had known of on the plains.  He vanished into the woods with barely a sound, intent on circling around and spying on their backtrail.  Everything was silent, save for the wind in the pines, but this did not make Jasper relax.

Suddenly there was a startled yell from Jack.  He tumbled down a low bank into the road, a figure leaping after him.  Jasper sized his bow and knocked an arrow to the string.  Jonathan had taught him archery during his visits to the Breaker farm, and Jasper, already slightly familiar with the skill, had caught on quickly.   Jack rolled to a crouch, dagger drawn.  The figure halted at the sight of Jasper's drawn bow.

"Well met," she said.  "A see that at least one of ye is prepared for attack."

"Are you the one who was following us?" Jack asked.

"Ye knew A was following ye?" the woman asked.

"We suspected it," Jack replied.  He had not relaxed.

"Well met, indeed!" said the woman enthusiastically.  "A did not expect ye to notice me.  Relax, ye two.  A was testing ye."

"Testing?" asked Jasper, relaxing the string and lowering his bow but not taking the arrow from the it.

"Aye."

Jack stood up from his defensive crouch slowly, his dagger still ready.  "Gilthoniel Dragontongue?"

"Aye.  Yer sister sent ye?"

"Yes, Melissa told us to come find you."

"Very good.  Follow me."

They followed her down the path they had been on, then turned onto another trail.

"Ye do know that war is coming?" Gilthoniel asked as they walked.

"War?" the two boys asked in unison.

"Aye."

"The Aranara?" asked Jack.

"Partially.  There's also a corrupt lord on the plains - he's out to take the throne.  That's why A'm going to teach you."

"But why us?"  Jasper voiced the question that was on both boy's minds.

"Do ye realize what ye are?" Gilthoniel asked Jasper.

Jasper looked very confused.  "Apparently not," he said slowly.

"You are the first plainsman to come to the mountains in over a century.  Do you have any idea how pivotal that is?"

Jasper shook his head.

"Well," said Jack,  "I think I might."

Glithoniel sighed.  "Ye may very possibly have the power to unite the kingdom."

"What!?" cried Jasper.  "Me?  I'm just an orphan who ran to the mountains because I had no other choice!"

"It may have started that way," said Gilthoniel, "But it is very possible that the Lord has other plans in mind for ye.  For now, though, live yer life.  Ye are familiar with the ways of the plains, now ye must become familiar with the ways of the mountains.  That is the first step.  If ye understand both cultures, ye will have a better chance of uniting them.  But we will speak no more on that now.  Now is the time when ye will both learn swordcraft so that ye'll have a better chance of living through the war."

 

Gilthoniel lived in a comfortable stone cottage.  The teaching arrangement was simple. In exchange for Gilthoniel's lessons, which went beyond swordcraft, the boys helped with some of the heavier chores that needed to be done around the cottage.  Most of the day was spent on a hard-packed dirt circle that was about twenty feet in diameter.  They got a basic introduction to every bladed weapon known to Gilthoniel, but she concentrated on teaching them to handle the longsword, the two-handed sword,  and the dagger.

They started out with wooden swords, Gilthoniel dueling one while the other watched or taking them both on at the same time, teaching them to attack together effectively.  She was not very gentle with her practice sword, and when they failed to parry a stroke, they felt it in a hard, stinging blow.  This made them more determined, however, for, not liking the thought of being bruised from head to toe, they defended themselves with vigour.  Although their efforts did not give them real returns until a few weeks had passed, Gilthoniel was pleased - the boys knew the consequences of a poor defense. After some time, they moved on to using real swords with blunted edges.  Gilthoniel drilled them endlessly, and the clash of steel on steel became a familiar sound. 

The days slowly warmed, and the leaves dared to come out.  Jasper breathed in the clean spring air as he watched Gilthoniel and Jack duel.  Both were pouring sweat, for the duel had lasted a very long time.  There was one clash, then another, and suddenly Gilthoniel's sword flew from her hand and skittered across the circle.  "Very good," she said to Jack.   "I think you are ready."  Gilthoniel was exausted, as was Jack, and so there was no more duling for the rest of the day.  They studied inside instead.  Jasper dueled Gilthoniel the next day.  He had no idea how long they fought, only that suddenly, just before his legs gave out, he managed to disarm his teacher.  The next moment, he simply sat down, too tired to stand any longer.  Gilthoniel, breathing heavily, sat down as well, though she did not collaspe as Jasper had.  "I could train you more," she told him, "but you are good, better than most swordsman you will meet.  I will give your  training a little more polish, and then you can go home."