King Edward, Part VI                                            Anonymous                                                       history                 ghosts                                                                     )	 $       
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        #  '  ,  1  6  r;    King Edward, Part VI    Chap 6: Training    The day Edward was to leave the Archmagister summoned him, presented him with a mithril staff and bade him farewell.  Back in his small cell, Edward removed his novitiate robe and donned the grey shirt, black pants and red sash he'd worn to the Tower. He fingered the sash lovingly. His mother had purchased the shirt and pants, saying they looked sturdy and maybe wouldn't show the dirt from the journey. Moraelyn had given him the silk sash with its embroidery of twined leaves and flowers, birds and butterflies in mithril, dwarven and elven metallic threads. But he'd waited until they were across the channel. Aliera had said it cost too dear; she had suggested cutting down one of Moraelyn's old ones to fit, but the elf had adamantly refused to let her have any of them.  Edward smiled, remembering, and wrapped the sash twice round his waist then knotted the ends carefully. He took the staff and ran down to meet his parents.  He had meant to fling himself at them, but Moraelyn was alone and Edward stopped still. "Where's my mother? Is she--?"  "She wanted to stay and choose a horse for you. Didn't trust it to Beech."  "A horse? For me! Really?"  "Of course. You can't walk all the way to Morrowind."  "I thought I'd have to ride behind -- someone. Look, the Archmagister gave me my staff! Isn't it beautiful?"  The elf took it and hefted it, trying a few swings and feints. "Good balance and weight for thee, I think. Light for me. Show me how you use  it. Suppose I attack you." He used his bare hands and Edward fell into a defensive position, blocked him, then thrust the staff toward Moraelyn's ribs. He danced easily aside, but praised the boy.  "A mage should have a dagger, too. I thought you might like to have Tooth here." Edward's eye popped. Tooth had an ebony blade and a hilt made from a real dragon's tooth. The elf slid it from its sheath and handed it to Edward who took it carefully. The blade had a wicked point and the edge was sharp enough to shave with. Mats borrowed it sometimes. He'd carved  the hilt, too.  "Are you sure Mats doesn't mind?"  "Quite sure." Moraelyn unbuckled his belt and slid the sheath off it. There was a new belt for Edward of snakeskin, soft and pliable and a buckle with the black rose of Morrowind on it, just like Moraelyn's. "It's from the Companions." He knelt to fit the belt and dagger and the sash over it properly, and Edward threw his arms about his neck. "It's wonderful. I do thank thee and them, too! And oh, I've missed all of thee so much."  "We missed you, too, son. Let's go or we'll miss our tide."  "I wouldn't want to worry mother," he said, trying to sound casual about having a mother that would worry about him.  "No fear; I told her not to look for us until tomorrow night....just in case. But we'll surprise her."  "Good thinking."  They made good speed and reached the inlet before the tide was full.  "Shall I show you how to use Tooth, or would you rather rest?"  "Tooth! I can rest in the boat while you work."  Moraelyn shielded himself and Edward too, saying that Tooth's bite was no joke. "I could have shielded myself," Edward said proudly. "I'm good at  that. But my Heals go all wrong."  "It'll come. Give it time."  Evidently Tooth wanted time too. Try as he might, he couldn't get near the elf with the blade, even though Moraelyn kept his feet planted and simply  swerved his body, ducking and weaving...and laughing. Frustrated, Edward sheathed Tooth and picked up the staff and whacked at him, swinging it with both hands. It wasn't doing any harm, but it made satisfying sounds as it thwacked against the spell shield. Moraelyn let him hit, but stopped the staff easily when the spell had been used up. Edward threw it on the ground and turned away; the elf reached for him in consolation.  Edward snatched Tooth from the sheath and thrust it straight at the elf's heart.   The blade was knocked spinning from his hand. Edward had braced to stop the thrust and hold it and he felt the shock even through his shield. Then  Moraelyn was kneeling before him, nursing his left hand across his right knee, his face grey with shock and disbelief. Blood was gushing from his wrist like a fountain. "Give me thy sash!"  "I--I didn't--" Edward's teeth were rattling in his head. He felt sick and dizzy. Bile washed up in his mouth. "D-d-didn't--m-m-mean." So much blood.  "Boy, don't faint now. I need thy aid. The sash. Now, Edward! Pack it into the wound. Gods, what a mess!" The hand was half severed at the wrist.  Edward sat down abruptly, shaking all over, but his hands packed the sash into the open wound, then he wrapped the rest round the hand and wrist.  "Take my sash and make a sling." Moraelyn eased the injured limb into the sling and then released his other hand. He took the water bottle from his  belt and drank it down. "I need more water. Where's thy staff? There's a well two miles back. Where's Tooth? Go find it and don't cut yourself on it."  "I don't want it."  "Not many blades have bathed in Moraelyn's blood. 'Twill bring you luck. Do as I say."  "The tide's in."  "Aye and Firsthold could be on Jone for all the good it does us. I can't row one handed."  "I could--"  "No, you cannot. You haven't the strength. The current's swift here. I prefer to die on land. Edward, we cannot stay here. The blood smell will  draw beasts. If I faint, get well away and climb a tree. And pray." He climbed to his feet and leaned on the staff, breathing hard. "Stay close, but don't grab at me, no matter what happens." He took a small step, then another.  "I'm sorry."  "Doubtless. You picked a poor time and place to turn assassin. A good assassin always has an escape planned."  "Yessir." Edward sniffed back his tears. "Sir, I cannot Heal you, but I can restore some vigor."  "Can you? 'T'would be of great help." The spell Edward cast shook the elf; he gasped, but stood straighter and firmer after the shock wore off.  "I can do it again," Edward offered eagerly.  "Nay. You have plenty of power but want finesse. But 'tis much better, now."  Moraelyn was walking better; he sounded better too. Edward tried to blot the picture of the injury out of his mind. They moved slowly, Moraelyn leaning against a tree from time to time to rest. Nothing molested them. After an interminable time of silent travelling they reached the old well. Moraelyn drained the first bottle and Edward refilled it, drank himself, then filled it yet again.  "We'll spend the night in there." 'There' was a large ramshackle building, apparently deserted. The elf kicked the locked door open. Inside it was  pitch dark. "Light?" Edward offered.  "Nay. I can see. Save your power and stay by me." There was a skittering noise. Rats! Edward shielded them both without thinking, pulled Tooth out, and placed his back to the elf's. A rat leaped and drove itself onto the blade. Moraelyn swung the staff and laid out two more. Others scurried off.  "Well done, lad!" They found a small windowless room and shut the door behind them. There seemed to be some wood about; probably it had been some  sort of storage room off the kitchen. Moraelyn sat down against the wall.  "So. You can use a knife. Was all that pretense? To put me off my guard?"  Edward was appalled. He burst into tears, protesting that he'd never harm Moraelyn willingly. "I meant it for jest; I thought it'd make you laugh...I was angry, at first, but at myself, my clumsiness, not you ... it was a sudden thought ... I love you dear!"  The elf reached out with his good arm and pulled Edward down to him. "That's worth a hand, then, any day."  Edward sobbed against his shoulder while Moraelyn soothed him with pats. "You are my real father."  "Edward, I am not..."  "Nay, thou art. Thou puts my well-being ahead of thine and loves me when I least deserve it. Thou's been kind and generous and never asked anything  of me save to my own profit. Thou'd give thy very life for mine. That's what real fathers do. And I've given thee naught but pain. He who sired me  despises me and my mother because we are unlike him. We are not like you either, and yet you love us well. I will do better by you, dear Father."  "I gave thee cause enough for offense. I took thy mother from thee."  "You risked losing her because you would not part me from my father. You did not know me and my father was your bitter enemy. And yet you took thought for us. You could not know how unnatural he is. It isn't in you."  "Granted. And yet the offense and your anger at it remain."  "I love you!" Edward protested. But he heard an angry edge in his voice.  "And hate me." Moraelyn's voice was so calm and quiet that they might have been discussing the weather.  "I can't do both ... can I?"  "Can you?"  "I didn't mean to hurt you."  "I believe you."  "Am I -- am I, evil? I was sorry: I'd give anything if it hadn't happened, but -- I -- "  "Took some measure of satisfaction in it."  Edward's throat was choked with sobs; he couldn't speak, but nodded into Moraelyn's shoulder. The elf's hand stroked him gently.  "Did I'ric tell you of the Daedra?"  "The demons? No. Is it a demon makes me do such things? I am evil, then."  "No, you are not. But the daedra feed on actions such as that. They -- encourage them. And your anger draws them. But they can't make you do anything. And they or it's not inside you. But it is connected to you."  "I don't want it. I want it to go away. How can I make it go away?"  "Why don't you want it? You draw power from it. That's what let you shield us both with the rats attacked."  "Magicka? That doesn't come from demons."  "No, but the ability to use it can. Look, some of your deeds feed the daedra. But you draw power from it at the same time. Then the power's yours, to use as you choose."  "Do you have a daedra?"  "I do and it's a big one, too, but I think everyone has one or more. Some are stronger than others, that's all. But don't go around asking after  them. It's not polite."  "I want mine to go away!" Edward wailed.  "So you say. But pretending it isn't there will not accomplish that. Having a daedra is a bit like riding a horse. You must keep control. The daedra do not care for you. It would as lief feed off your pain or injury or death as any other, and find a new host. They do not think or plan as we can and I do not think they experience time as we do. So acts that feed the daedra take place in the moment and while you are caught up in them, past and future cease to exist for you too. It is an intensely pleasurable experience, but it can also be very dangerous. And very addictive, so that you begin to think only of feeding your daedra. You cease to think of the gods and those you love and even yourself. When you have walked too far along that path, you lose the will to choose another."  "How terrible! What must I do then?"  "It is terrible, the worst that can befall a person. Remember this night. How you felt. Learn to recognize the daedra's hunger for what it is, and  think about what you do. You are young and this is heavy for you, but you are at risk. Ah!" The elf's body stiffened and he caught his breath. Edward guessed that the wound was paining him.   Moraelyn said that he must sleep a bit, and could Edward keep watch and wake him in an hour's time. Then he could set a lock on the door and they  could both rest.  "Aye, sir ... and I might do somewhat more. I cannot set a lock, but ... " The door would not latch, nor would it stay open, but would swing nearly shut. Edward felt about near the wall behind it and found a wedge. He shut the door and drove the wedge home with a chunk of wood. "I thought so. 'Tis awkward to pass such a door with both arms full of wood. We have such at  ho -- in Corcyr's palace. Now anything trying to come in will rouse you; you can use your power to cast heal instead of lock."  "Why, well thought of, indeed." He freed his blade and laid it on the floor beside him. "We may as well both sleep then."  They slept fitfully. There were often scrabblings at the door and in the walls, but nothing entered their small closet. Moraelyn cast Heal several  time during the night. By morning he pronounced himself as fit "as a one-handed man can be."  He unwrapped the sash-bandage and inspected the  wound. The bleeding was stopped; the hand was still warm to the touch; it no longer hurt him nor was it swollen or discolored. But the wound was still open and the hand useless. Nerves and muscles had been severed and some of the small bones broken. Such repair was beyond his skill. Edward, feeling the daedra feed on the sight, turned quickly away.  Moraelyn grinned. "You may as well let it feed; it's a harmless sort of feeding. The damage is done."  "I mean to starve it," Edward said firmly.  "You can try to do that or you can learn to control it instead, and still walk with the gods. I think we'd best go back to the Tower."  "Aye, they'll be able to heal you there, will they not?"  "I know not. At the least they'll be able to attach it more firmly than it is at present. Ah, do not look so downcast. The skill to mend it is  somewhere, if not in the Tower. Ssa'ass is good with battle injuries and there are Temples which know more of the healing arts than the Tower  mages. Besides, it's only my left hand." He held up the wadded sash, stiff with his dried blood. "The color's more practical than thy mother thought.  Let's see if we can wash it out a bit. Never have I come so ill-equipped on a journey. I might have been strolling down the main street in Ebonheart. Thy mother will kill me."  "Right after she kills me," Edward sighed. "At least returning to the Tower will delay that." They came out into the bright courtyard. The  morning sun was already high in the western sky.  "Not so. Edward, the Companions are coming now! I hear them. Jephre, let me think of a really good lie!"   Mith trotted into the courtyard. "Here they are!" he called back to the others. By Notorgo, you ARE injured. Let me see that. We thought to row  across to meet you; we saw the blood on the shore and tracked you here. What attacked you?"  "A demon."  "A demon! What!? In the open like that in daylight? Gods, what was it carrying, an ebony dai-katana?" Mith whistled as he inspected the injury. Aliera  and the others ran up. She hugged Edward, "Are you all right, darling? I was worried." then paled as she saw her husband's hand.  "You must be slowing down. How'd you let a demon do that to you?" Mith demanded.   "It was the boy ... he grabbed at my arm in fright and my shield spell failed. It wasn't his fault; it was an accident. Ali, don't look at it. Edward, why don't you take thy mother to see the rat you killed?"  "I want to watch Ssa'ass," Edward objected, then remembered that it would feed his daedra. But he might learn something about healing if he watched,  which would be a good thing. This was going to be more complicated than he'd thought.  "Oh, Edward," Aliera said. "You must keep clear in a fight."  "He killed a rat in the old inn there, after. Did right well. Kept his head, put his back to mine, shielded us both. Anyone's apt to panic in his  first fight. Especially if he isn't expecting it."  Ssa'ass came up last, as usual, elbowed the others aside and inspected the injury, hissing. "I cann fixxxx thissss. It'ss cleann." He looked it over  carefully, bending the hand back to open the wound. Then he brought the hand forward, so that the edges of the tissue met. He was very particular about getting it aligned just so. Then he had Mats hold it in place while he cast spells over it. All outer traces of the injury vanished, leaving not even a scar. Moraelyn swung it with satisfaction, twitching his fingers. "Thanks, Ssa'ass. It's stiff, but ... "  "Tomorrow, I finissshhh."  "My poor baby," Aliera fussed over Edward. "You must have been so frightened. And you spent the whole night in that awful house?"  "I'm not a baby. I wasn't afraid; my father was there." 