SKINRIPPER BANDITS (2)

The Knight Lords' Meeting Room

The teachers had gathered in the Meeting Room. Lord Morra, who taught the weapons class, sat quietly in his seat beside Lord Faragur, who taught barehanded fighting.

Monk Aramir, the internal energy instructor, sat alone with his eyes closed.

Lord Borelis was tossing a knife into the air casually, much to the unease of his neighbor Lady Ellen, who taught horsemanship, history, and magic to those who had been born with the talent.

The Knight Lords sat anxiously awaiting the Knight Master.

The door suddenly swung open.

They started slightly, and began to rise from their seats until they realized who had joined them, and slouched back down again.

"Sorry I'm late," said Agnaris, quickly taking his seat.

Lady Ellen barely had time to roll her eyes when the door opened again, and the Knight Master stormed in.

The Lords straightened up once more, and waving them back into their seats, the Knight Master began the meeting.

After discussing the new quests, budgets and weapons, the conversation turned to the new recruits.

"Are there any students in particular from your houses that you think deserve to be mentioned?" the Knight Master asked.

"West Palais and Arago Asturia are talented students," said Lord Morra. "They are excelling in their classes, and Arago is making dramatic improvements in learning our language."

"Arell Archad, Kuvia Voltri, Adele Worbrook and Luisa Aldrey show great potential in their healing abilities. They know their herbs," said Lady Ellen proudly, ignoring Agnaris's sniggers.

"Arial Vermont," said Faragur, and the room hushed.

"Arial Vermont and his three friends Kyle and Lisa Lethe, and Helia Zephyr are showing a remarkable pace in their learning, unmatched by anything this Academy has ever seen. Arial can ride a horse as though he has ridden them for years, he uses blades like they are merely an extension of his arms, his fighting style is lethal, and the level of his internal energy is unfathomable."

Monk Aramir nodded, his eyes still closed. The other did not deny Faragur words.

Each one of them had taught a class with the boy, and they all had the same uncomfortable feeling that he knew more about their craft than they did.

Ellen had become so annoyed with what she had thought to be cockiness that she had sent Arial to tame a horse, brought by a merchant from the distant land of Ariundus; a horse with flaming red hair, and eyes to match, a horse that could not be tamed by any of them.

A demon horse, they had called it, a beast that within five minutes Arial had tamed, and which could only be ridden by him.

Lord Morra also nodded because of his experience dealing with the boy.

He was teaching Tiger Dance when he notices that Arial can perform until the Eighteen stance, when he was just only teaching the class until the ten stance.

When asked Arial reply he could guess how the stance would develop itself.

He is mature, calm and collected more than any people for his age.

"Kyle and Lisa also are quite talented. Kyle Lethe is stronger than his sister but Lisa Lethe shows the ability to quickly understand and easily employs anything that is taught to her. And even though she is talented is swordsmanship, her archery talent is also not shabby. Helia on the other hand is a diligent student and also have potential to become a very outstanding students"

'But that white hair boy…..'

The Knight Lords all silently agreed that the boy's knowledge was unnerving. He knew things others did not, he carried himself and spoke in the way of someone much older than his years.

"I hear the four of them are taking a quest," said the Knight Master, breaking the silence.

"Yes, a hard one," replied Faragur.

"You allowed them?" Ellen gasped, appalled.

"Hey, he followed the Code," said Agnaris.

"What choice did he have?"

"But they are only children," Ellen said weakly. From the corner, Monk Aramir suddenly spoke.

"They will be fine. Arial is a strong boy." He had felt Arial's internal energy while the boy was meditating during his class. The raw power had astounded him.

The Knight Lords changed their topic of conversation to more mundane matters. But Agnaris sat quietly, his head resting on his hands, considering Aramir's words and why he had been so deeply affected by them.

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12 Seedmonth 1007 AF

Dawn arrived, and with it brought vivid green leaves and the invigorating smell of fresh morning air. Arial's horse whinnied, and he stroked its fiery red mane.

"Where are they?" he said to Kyle.

The boys stood together by the entrance, waiting for Lisa and Helia to join them. As if in answer to his question, the girls came hurrying along, carrying their knapsacks and supplies.

"Sorry we're late," panted Helia. "Lisa misplaced her supplies."

"Typical," said Kyle, rolling his eyes. "She's always losing her stuff."

"If only I can misplace you, my dear brother with all the annoyance you brought me over the years" she said

Kyle smiles and said "Sorry, the annoying part came as a service for you, dear sister. God look you from the Heavens and said "No, I must contain this little girl" he said dramatically

Helia laughed a little while Lisa glares at her.

"Sorry. He's funny"

"Thank you, milady" Kyle said bowing his head slightly just to annoy her sister more.

Arial looked at the horses

There were destriers that Kyle brought for him, stallions that were used as warhorses and palfreys, bred for general-purpose riding, war and travel, for Helia and Lisa.

After that checking their supplies and double checking their bags and another little banter with the siblings deciding whether what is best to eat under the starry night (which is a fairly interesting thing to debate on when you have the siblings arguing between meat soup or potato mash) the four friends mounted their horses and rode out of the castle.

Their fellow recruits in Fierce Dragon had wished them luck the night before, and some, such as blushing Luli Archad, had even woken early that morning to bid them farewell.

She even gives Arial some cookies

They left the Academy gates with a cocktail of excitement, fear and anticipation in their hearts. Their first quest had begun.

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Last chapter for the day