Sauragia

Chapter 7

After breakfast, Rob showed Astron his duties about the Palace grounds. His first day was to be spent making a simple circuit of the Palace premises, though he would also take his turn guarding the Palace gates and watch over the garden, which was known to have bits of its produce disappear from time to time.

“It can get a tad tedious at times, but you learn to cope,” Rob told him.

The tediousness did not bother Astron all that much though, for his mind was always active in these new surroundings, and on this first day he had Rob to accompany him. And of course, there was the prospect of taking a walk in the woods with Johnny later to keep him motivated as well.

The day progressed quickly, despite walking essentially the same route for hours on end. By the end of their shift, it was only mid-afternoon, and there were plenty of daylight hours left to enjoy.

“Well, I think I’ll start with a little tuck, old lad! How’s about you?” spoke Rob.

“Maybe in a little bit,” answered Astron.

“All right. See you ‘round, mate!”

So, Rob went his way and Astron sped back to the common room. He looked around for Johnny, but didn’t spot him. So, he decided to take a seat at a little corner table where he could observe unobtrusively. There wasn’t much going on in the commons this time of day. Most were either on duty or preferred to spend their free hours elsewhere. And of course, those on night duty were still sleeping.

There were a couple of soldiers quietly playing cards on the central table. According to Rob, such games were allowed in the Guard, but only so long as no gambling was involved. Seated by the window opposite him was another guard a few years older than Astron absorbed in a book. He wore nothing, and seemed perfectly at ease doing so even as an officer walked by. Apparently guards off duty could wear whatever they wanted—at least within the barracks. This came as a pleasant surprise to Astron, who’d only worn clothes once in a blue moon growing up and still preferred to go without when possible.

At last Johnny entered, looking a little tired. He lit up on spotting Astron, and greeted him with the usual smile.

“Well now, ready to take a little trek?” he asked.

“All right, but shouldn’t we wash up first?”

Johnny shook his head. “No need for that. We’ll just get dirty again tromping around through the woods, so why bother?”

“Let’s go, then.”

And go they did. Right across the yard and out the front gate. The guards didn’t do more than ask where they were headed and then remind them to be back before supper.

“That’s curfew for us Guard types,” Johnny told Astron.

They turned right on leaving and exited the city through its west gate. There was a dirt path leading out into the woods, and they walked along it at a casual pace. Johnny took a deep, hearty breath of fresh forest air and let it out.

“Nothing like it. Really refreshing after spending all day cooped up within the Palace walls.”

“I agree,” said Astron. “There was a little wood that grew near my home. I used to love exploring it as a youngster, and even when I got older. It made me feel a little like one of the Ancients, you know? Surviving in the wilds, living off nature’s bounty alone, swimming in the water hole on hot days.”

“Sounds really nice.”

Astron nodded. “Yeah, it was. That’s one thing I miss about living in the country.”

“Me too. That’s why I spend so much time out here. I practically grew up in these woods, you see. My grandparents had a little shack to the north. I hatched there, actually, and my parents used to take me there in the summers. That’s where I learnt to fish, to hunt, to forage, and just to appreciate all the beauty and wonders this good earth provides.”

“Seems we have a lot in common.”

Johnny gave a sheepish grin. “Seems we do.”

At this point they left the trail in order to see “some of the more interesting stuff,” according to Johnny. Their walk lasted about half an hour all told. In that time, he did indeed show Astron many wonderful things, from the sizeable but secluded pond he sometimes swam in to a lovely little promontory above it, and even a large stone overgrown with moss that had faint impressions of writing on it.

“No one seems to know what it says,” he remarked. “Or why it was put here.”

“Hmm. What a shame.”

“How so?”

“Well, whoever put it here obviously wanted it to be seen and read by those who came after. Now it’s just a forgotten old relic.”

“But we can still see it,” retorted Johnny. “And we know that somebody made it, even if we don’t know who that somebody was. So, in a way, they succeeded.”

Astron furrowed his brow to try and figure that one out, then just shook his head. “If you say so.”

They returned with hours to spare before dinner.

“That was fun,” said Astron. “We ought to do it again, sometime.”

“Definitely. But right now I’m going to hit the washroom. You?”

“I think I’ll do the same.”

And so, go and wash they did. Thereafter they retired to the common room in time to join Rob and a couple others for a round of cards before going to supper.

Over the next few days, Astron got to know Johnny a lot better. They took more walks in the wood or around Saurahall, dined side-by-side, and occasionally even got assigned guard duty together. And yet, no matter how much time he spent with Johnny, he never got tired of his company. He enjoyed time with Rob too, of course, but not in the same way. Rob was fun, but could get a little irritating at times. Johnny, on the other claw, was a well-mannered lad, and Astron questioned whether he could ever really get annoyed with him at all.

It was through these friends that he became acquainted with many other members of the Guard. Many were slightly younger than he, and looked on with awe at the first real warrior they had met in a while. The vast majority of the Guard was too young to have experienced the action of the previous decades, and so they naturally peppered him with questions about his travels and heroic exploits. He felt a little bad about telling them that he’d done nothing of the sort other than killing a snake—which he actually felt a little ashamed of—and helping an old lady across a road once. But he thought it better to set them straight right off than lead them on with lies. Some still did not believe him, insisting that any who carried a blade as nice as his must have done something great to earn it just like in the stories. And of course, his scars were the subject of many an inquiry, and Astron’s curt explanation that “I fell down when I was younger” only bolstered their curiosity.

At the end of the first few days, he jokingly told Rob about these really young guards while they were sitting together in the commons one night. Rob, however, saw an opportunity. He had never been particularly popular among his fellows, being awkward and getting into trouble frequently, but he had started getting a little more positive attention since befriending Astron. So, he replied:

“Sounds like they want to make a hero out of you, Astron. Why not let them?”

“You mean encourage them with lies?” said an incredulous Astron.

“Not lies exactly,” said Rob. “Just expansions on the truth. You said you killed an adder one time. Tell them how big and ugly it was and they’ll believe you.”

Astron still did not look convinced. “It was hardly big, and it wasn’t really threatening me.”

“You’ve got to tell them something, old chap, or they’ll just keep making it up.”

“And making up the stories myself is better than letting them do it?”

Rob just sighed and shrugged. “Suit yourself, Astron. But you’re missing a great opportunity to gain some easy fame if you ask me.”

“Well, I’m not asking. And if I achieve any fame here, it will be from the exploits I do for real. Not those of younger guards’ imaginations. Good night now, Rob. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

And with that, the conversation ended as Astron stalked off to bed.

The next morning, Astron ate breakfast early and hurried to his post near the vegetable patch. The night watch was glad to be relieved and took off to the mess hall immediately, leaving him alone. He did not mind, for he rather enjoyed the silence. Defending the garden was not the most prestigious duty of the Guard, but it was important, especially in wartime. After all, it was the main food supply for all inhabitants of the Palace and its grounds.

Astron did not have to occupy himself too long before Captain Torilis meandered up. Saluting his officer smartly, Astron stood at the ready.

“No need for the formalities, lad,” said Richard. “Taking to your new duties, eh?”

“I’ve no complaints, sir, though I could do with a little more action.”

“I understand, Astron. There are quite a few guards your age who could say the same. As it is, I cannot promise you any wars soon, but I did wish to inform you of a little celebration coming up. You see, in a week it will be the first day of summer. We always like to bring in the new season with some sort of event to mark the occasion. In particular, we of the Guard like to do a little display of our talents. Good-natured competition and that sort of thing, understand?”

Astron nodded. “I think so.”

“Well, I was wondering if, perhaps, you would be interested in taking part?”

“I suppose so. But what sort of competitions are these?”

“Oh, the usual bow shooting, sword slinging, sprinting, and such. All the things we guards do for training. I thought you’d be particularly interested in the sword display.”

“Certainly, Captain!” said Astron enthusiastically.

“Good! I’ll hold a place for you then.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Captain Torilis looked as though he was going to turn and leave, but instead added, “By the bye, I’ve noticed the rumours going around among some of the youngest guards. I wasn’t sure you were aware?”

“I know about it.”

“They aren’t bothering you, are they? I can put a stop to them if they are.”

“Not at all, Captain. I understand they’re excited because I’m new and mysterious. Let them talk. It’s not like they’re harmful rumours. Besides, I’m sure they’ll lose interest after a while and forget about me as soon as something newer comes along.”

Richard thought about it for a second, then nodded. “You’re probably right there. No harm done, I guess. Well, be seeing you around, Astron.”

“See you, sir.” Astron saluted again as he watched the captain walk off. Rob was right about what a magnificent officer he was. The perfect commander, always looking after the needs of his troops. There was no doubt in Astron’s mind that Captain Richard Torilis was a rare and worthy soldier indeed.