Training Aeryn

Year 23216

Month of Nevemme

Robin Longforn (age: 98)

Robin turned over in bed. His back got a cool rush from the built up sweat. Tummimar in Farthvevire was far hotter than in Thyrel. Half the time he couldn’t sleep. He stretched and sat up. His room was dark.

“Liserra.” He touched his finger to the tip of a charred candle wick. A flicker of fire brought light to his room.

He dressed in the lightest weight clothes he had. A loose short sleeved tunic, and pants. His sword belt wrapped around his waist overtop of the tunic. He slipped out of his room. At this hour, he did his best not to make much noise, allowing his parents the rest they needed.

They had recently returned home from a trade trip to Tortiaine. The heat there had been worse. He still bore a slight pink tint to his skin, from the extended exposure to the sun in that desert-like mining town.

At least everyone loved what we brought.

Robin and his father brought in tropic goods shipped in from Charveil. It contained hard-shell fruits, and bright colored citruses. They had some Thyrian crystals from Thyrel. Only a few could afford those, but they brought them anyway. He thought of the smiles on the faces of each person that came to their stand. Robin always got a kick out of letting the kids hold a Thyrian crystal after dark. He’d watch their faces beam in amazement as the light filled the clear mineral stone. They brought other goods, like cloths, dishware, and basic possessions that improved home life.

The light of the candle flickered out for a moment, blinding Robin as he made his way down the stairs. He held a hand against the wall for balance. Reaching the bottom, he went to the front door and slipped on his boots.

The air outside was warm, and he knew it would only get warmer once the sun rose above the Pincer Mountains.

Now, what to do? He looked to the empty streets in town. Nobody to entertain.

The distant sound of the ocean waves pulled at him. There was one thing he loved about living here. Here, he could walk right up to the waves. I can always train. He smiled and headed down the path to the beach.

He passed by the Aodh’s home, a single candlelight flickered in their living room. I bet Aeryn’s up reading again.

Even though they weren’t blood related, Aeryn was in every way Robin’s younger brother. Robin didn’t have any siblings, his mother dealt with some complications that made even his birth a miracle in and of itself. There was no reason to complain, and at the same time, he loved watching Aeryn grow up. More and more, Robin was asked to stay home while his father went out on trade trips. He’d been allowed on the most recent venture, and knew he would be here for a while again. Robin didn’t mind it. Training Aeryn held higher priority in the long run.

The last three years, Robin had been spending a lot of Aeryn’s free time training him. Both Aeryn’s father, Emory, and Robin’s father, Wren, wanted Aeryn well versed in hand-to-hand combat, sword art, and eventually weaving, but Robin wouldn’t be in charge of teaching him everything. When the time was right, Aeryn would be taken to Thyrel to train with Thoren Belfry, and very likely Durkquire Marks. Both were masters in their own subjects, of sword and hand-to-hand, and weaving.

Robin’s boot sunk into the sand. It felt wonderful, as though he had stepped on a soft pillow, or walked on some form of semi-solid liquid. He walked out across the dock to the end, some thirty feet out into the waves. The planks were wet, a few spots soaking in seafoam. His nose filled with the salty smell, tinted with the strangely addicting taste of seaweed. Dried and salted seaweed was one of many foods Robin enjoyed having here.

He shut his eyes and felt the incoming wave sprinkle water over his face. Robin took a deep breath and took a wider stance. He lifted his arms out to the sides and spoke the weave, “Listose Yeudins.” The wave caught mid-fall and shifted with Robin’s will. Opening his eyes, he watched the water flow. It followed the movement of his hands. It arched up and overhead, spreading out until it surrounded him in an orb of water. Pulling his feet together, he clapped his hands. The water burst outward. Droplets suspended in the air awaiting his next command. His movements shifted into slow poses that shifted seamlessly from one into the other. It stretched the water around him in unison with each strand of muscle inside him. A smile spread across his face. No other place had brought him this kind of peace. Water was his element. He could weave it in ways that few others could. Robin primarily used water weaving for entertainment, guiding it in complex shapes and movements.

“Zidu Leedis.” The weaving root words left his lips as natural as the water that crystalized in frozen floral shapes around him. He felt the draw upon his inner well, it was small and would refill within the hour. Robin looked around at his floating garden of ice.

I bet the kids would love this one.

He dropped his outstretched hands and the frozen lilies followed, dropping into the waves. They bobbed with the rise and fall, and washed up onto the white sanded shore.

The morning sunlight bled over the mountains, glinting off the ice and casting small prismatic colors across the water.

I will have to bring Analyse here, someday. He thought of her face. He planned to court her on his next trip to Thyrel.

“Robin!” The call came from Emory, his voice distinct from Robin’s father.

He turned to see Emory wave at him from the far edge of the beach, where the silky sands blended into the grasses of the fields. Robin jogged over.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Aodh?” He stopped a few feet from him.

“Aeryn could use some training today. Do you have some time to work with him?” He pointed back at the Aodh’s home with his thumb.

“Sure thing. Have you all been well these last few weeks?” He followed Emory as he turned to walk back towards his home.

“We have. I hope the time you and Wren were gone wasn’t too hard on your mother, we did what we could to help where she needed it.” Emory rubbed at the back of his neck, a yawn paired with the motion.

“She appreciated the help. You all have been so kind to watch over her when my father and I are gone.” He nodded at the Aodh’s home. “I saw a light on, was Aeryn up reading again?”

Emory chuckled. “Yes.” He stopped walking where the path diverged to the front door, turned and faced Robin. “I’ll send him your way around noon.”

Robin nodded and waved a hand briefly before leaving. The hours passed by as Robin helped his mother, Rebecca, get ready for the day. He helped her down to the town market to pick out some fresh produce, spent an hour there, and then returned home. Once his mother was comfortable in their living room, with a nice open view out the front window, he noted where he would be and left home.

Aeryn met him halfway between town and the Aodh’s farm, and they began training. This was the best place to practice. The large open fields gave them plenty of room.

“No, not like that.” Robin’s sword whispered into its sheath. He walked over and tapped Aeryn’s shoulder. “Lower it.” He lifted Aeryn’s elbow and aligned it with the sword Aeryn held. “If you don’t have a firm stance, your enemy will drive you back with every blow.” Robin looked over Aeryn’s form. He was still young, a teen in human years. He thought for a moment about the day he first met Aeryn as an infant. It didn’t feel all that long ago, yet here Aeryn was, sixteen years old, and training.

“Is this better?” Aeryn said. His arm shook a little, from holding it up for an extended period of time.

“Better. Let’s see how you hold up, now.” Robin returned to his place in front.

He gripped his sword, the leather well-worn and fitted to his grip. He took a steadying breath and focused on Aeryn’s blade.

Don’t overpower him. He reminded himself.

The moment of calm was gone. Robin rushed at Aeryn. His aim came at Aeryn’s neck. The ring of pure-tempered steel sounded with each blow.

He’s doing well.

He stepped up his combinations. Each swing came in harder, faster. Aeryn stumbled, blocking the last blow that came too close to hitting. Robin changed up his footwork and dashed around to Aeryn’s side. He swung his blade upwards, fully capable of stopping before it would hit him.

Aeryn’s eyes widened, he shifted and drug his sword from the other side of his body to try to block Robin’s incoming swing. He wasn’t fast enough. Robin changed the direction of his swing and met Aeryn’s sword, knocking it from his hand.

“Not bad.” Robin bent over and picked up Aeryn’s sword. He had picked this blade out specifically for Aeryn. The metal was a soft gold. The grip, a deep red leather, and the cross guard curved towards the tip of the blade with fire-like tips. It was fitting for the Gift bearer, he thought. However, Aeryn wouldn’t know he’s the Gift bearer for a few more years. Even then, it wasn’t a certainty.

“Are you trying to kill me?” Aeryn wheezed and leaned on his sword.

“I don’t know about killing, but maiming, maybe.” Robin pulled Aeryn in, wrapping his arm around Aeryn’s neck and rubbed his knuckles into the top of his head.

Aeryn tugged and pulled, trying to get out of Robin’s hold.

Robin laughed and released him. “How about we take a break from sword play. We’ve been at it for the last hour.” He stretched his arms up, and then rested his hands on the sides of his waist. “I’ve got it.” Robin looked up at the cliffs. “It’s a hot day. Let’s cool off.” He felt the widening smile across his face and jogged ahead, to the grassy foothills of the south Pincer Mountains.

“Can’t we walk?” Aeryn called.

“It’s important that you can run long distances. Count this as part of your training today.”

“How are we... going to cool off up here?” Aeryn’s pace slowed.

Robin slackened to a walk as he approached the edge of the cliff. The waves crashed up against the shore and parts of the black stone that dipped into its depths. “Here is perfect.” He stretched a hand out at the water below. “Listose Yeudins Ledus.”

The weave drew out more than Robin had thought it would and his next breath caught in his chest. It didn’t draw out too much, but he would require some time to rebuild his inner well following this. He directed the incoming wave up the side of the cliff until it seeped over the top, and froze into solid ice.

Aeryn stood beside him now, eye’s wide as he looked over the edge at the newly formed slide of ice. Robin made sure that the end tipped them back towards the shore, keeping them away from any of the sharp rocks that the incoming waves would throw them against.

“Speechless?” Robin laughed. “You know you could try weaving sometime.”

Aeryn shook his head. “I’m good. I don’t need to risk my life for fun.” He punched at Robin’s shoulder.

“Oh you don’t?”

Aeryn ducked, anticipating Robin’s outward reach. Robin wasn’t going to let him pass this up. He caught hold of Aeryn’s tunic and pulled him right up to the edge.

“What if it breaks?” Aeryn pushed back.

“You doubt my skills?” Robin let him go. “I see. I’ll go first.”

“If ma finds out….” Aeryn shuddered. “Or father.”

“You’re welcome to hike back down to town in your sweat. I’m going to cool off.” Robin knelt down at the shimmering ice. “Aizrau!” Robin shouted out the courage call of the Ethrea and pushed off the cliff.

The cold of the ice penetrated within seconds, but it felt so good with the heat of tummimar bearing down upon him. The wind in his face whipped his hair with the turns. His stomach jumped with every drop until he splashed into the cool water of the Astiri Sea.

He stayed under the water a moment before reaching up for the surface. His sore muscles felt relief and his mind relaxed. He took in a deep breath when he broke above the waves. Robin turned and waved up at Aeryn.

“Come on! You can’t let fear keep you from experiencing life!” he shouted.

Aeryn looked hesitant still.

How will he be ready? Robin thought of the burden that was coming Aeryn’s way. He has skill. A lot of potential. His eyes were glued to Aeryn, waiting to see what he would do.

The seconds passed like minutes. Then, Aeryn sat at the edge, his feet dangling off. The air filled with a “whoop” of excitement as Aeryn slid down the icy slide and dropped into the ocean.

Robin hollered when Aeryn surfaced. “That’s the spirit!”

They swam to shore and sat on the sand, letting the sun slowly dry them. This was one of those times when nothing needed to be said. They stared out over the waves, watched flocks of fowl travel from one side of the cliffs to the other in the evening light.

“Aeryn.” Robin leaned forward and wrapped his arms causally around his raised knees.

Aeryn made a sound of acknowledgment.

“No matter what happens in the future, don’t forget to find joy in it. You’re still young. Life is simple. You’ve got me to protect you, but, someday, you’ll need that skill.”

“Are you planning on leaving Farthvevire? You know I would go with you, but…. ” Aeryn sighed.

“I know, your parents need the help.” Robin reached up and rubbed his sandy palm against Aeryn’s wavy hair. “It’s okay lil’ bro. I don’t ever plan to be gone long. A trade trip here and there. You’ll have to put up with me for a while yet.”

Aeryn pushed Robin’s hand off and brushed the sand from his hair. “What is all this training for, anyway?”

It was Robin’s turn to sigh. He was under strict orders not to say anything on the matter. Not yet. “There’re rumors of a war starting up between Marmeada and Jushosh. Tensions are getting pretty high. Verra’s already at war with Jushosh over ores in the mountains. If there’s a draft, we want to be ready. To survive.” His explanation made enough sense. It would satisfy Aeryn’s curiosity, for now.

“It’s that bad, huh?” Aeryn laid back on the sand and draped an arm over his eyes. “Why can’t everyone just get along?”

Robin nodded. He had wondered the same thing. Life was better when you didn’t judge someone’s intentions with malice. He hoped Aeryn’s life wouldn’t be filled with hardship in the days to come. However, the seer’s words spoke of an evil rising in Marmeada. The darkness could not be left unchecked. Light would have to confront it. The light of the Gift. A light that Aeryn would carry, and one that Robin would defend.