Chapter 2

Alec awoke to the all familiar thud thud thud of boots down the hallway leading to the barracks. He was awake enough that the boom crack of Commander Banin’s foot to the door did not startle him, but he will never be awake enough for it to not completely annoy. That’s the last day of that, Alec thought as he got ready for the final day of drills and training before graduation.
Commander Banin walked up the row of cots and inspected the recruits for the last time. “Today after drill and first candle meal you will meet with Paladin Kalic to establish your post-graduation assignments. Drill this morning will be light. You are dismissed.”
Alec grabbed his tunic and belt, threw them on, and walked out the door of the barracks along with the other recruits. Heren, Elfin, and Baron were a few steps ahead of him and talking quietly to himself. If I can get through one more day without getting on their bad side, that will be a massive success, thought Alec as he slowed down his pace to try and go undetected by those three.
“Today’s drill will be sword training, you will be in groups of two.” Commander Banin went through the columns of recruits and paired them off one by one. After the partners were made, the duels started. The sound of metal on metal pierced the air.
Elfin was paired with a small girl named Rinley. She was at least a head shorter than Elfin and was just as thin with long flowing auburn hair and dark freckles that stood out boldly on her pale blue Highfolk skin. Her bright green eyes took attention away from the scar that crossed her right eyebrow. Rinley doesn’t talk much about her past, in fact she didn’t really talk much at all. No one really knows her story but Alec remembered hearing that she was an orphan when she showed up at the Bitter Door.
Baron was partnered with A’si, a tall dark skinned boy who joined the order later than any of the other recruits. His family was brought over from beyond the Great Divide to serve in the Keep and when they arrived A’si was taken for the Order. Even though he joined the Order late, he caught on quick and his sword skills are second to none.
Heren was, of course, paired with Alec. He had always been an average swordsman, but Heren was top of her class. The way she danced around the field with her sword in hand was mesmerizing, she balanced the blade with such deadly elegance it was easy to get lost in her movements.
Heren made the first move in the duel. Holding her sword in one hand she swung at Alec and smiled at him as he just narrowly dodged the blow. “Oh Allie you must try harder, a Blind One could split you in two with how slow you move.” Alec frowned but didn’t let her get in his head. It was a mind game, for Heren, she knew exactly how to get him frustrated.
As her blows continued to come, Alec did his best to block them. Remembering his training, he kept his shield up and stayed mindful of his footing but Heren kept pushing forward. She had to be no more than a foot away from him at this point, swinging wildly and aiming every blow with brutal accuracy.
Alec knew he had to act fast if he wanted to have any hope of winning this. He blocked her next series of blows with his shield and attempted to push her back with the little momentum he had built up.
Alec’s advantage did not last long and before he knew it she was nearly on top of him again.
Crack, crack, bam.
Alec felt the air leave his lungs as he crumpled to the ground. The stone floor beneath his head grew warm and damp with blood as two gashes on Alec’s head poured open. Alec’s world was ringing, he couldn’t hear the instructors yelling his name or the other students attempting to snap his attention back from the pain. All he saw was white nothingness and all he felt was warm, wet, searing pain.
Alec came to a few minutes later and his head was ablaze with pain. He felt the gashes on his head and blood stuck to his hand. This is less than optimal, Alec thought. He looked around, Commander Banin and Rinley were both staring at him.
“We thought you were dead!” shouted Rinley in an excited but concerned tone. Her bright green eyes were opened as far as they possibly could and her face had a look of concern painted on it.
“No, we didn’t. But we were worried about you.” Said Commander Banin, in a much less excited tone. It was not uncommon for Rinley to get over excited and exaggerate a little about what’s going on. But the concern was genuine, and Alec appreciated that.
“Rin,” Alec whispered, “how did your duel go? Better than mine, I hope.”
Her voice rose again, “oh it went great, Elfy was no match for me. I bopped him and bopped him and bopped him until he fell over. It was really nice, honestly.” Rin was practically bouncing in excitement when she told Alec of the fight.
Both had forgotten that Commander Banin was still standing there until he cleared his throat and looked at Rinley. His cold blue eyes were piercing and it was obvious that their conversation was not entertaining him at all.
“Alec, the rest of the recruits have gone to see Paladin Kalic for their assignments. Come with me and we will meet up with them.” Banin looked over at Rinley and motioned for her to follow him.
The walk from the sparring grounds to High Reach, the building that all of the Order leaders worked, was long and never wracking. Alec was so worried that he’d get some garbage job for his first assignment. While other recruits were becoming Kingswatch and protecting the Keep from the wickedness that lay beyond the Bitter Door, he’d be inside the Temple of the Four scrubbing chamber pots and preparing food for the Priests. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, Priests have to eat and chamber pots have to be scrubbed. Alec felt as though he had to justify his thoughts lest he be caught in any kind of wrong doing. He wanted what the Order wanted for him, was willing to do whatever the Order called him to do for the good of the Keep and for the honor of the Four, but he really hoped that the scenario he just thought of in his mind did not come to pass.
The steps leading up to the Reach were the worst part of the journey. Each of the 573 steps leading up to High Reach were put there by the Priests of the Order to memorialize each day of the great war between High Keep and Caerum Ba. The Order of the Four fought for 573 days to liberate the Keep and purify the wickedness from beyond the Bitter Door. But, as one can imagine, those were a lot of steps to climb. Alec appreciated the significance of them, but he did not enjoy the workout.
When Alec, Rinley, and Commander Banin reached the top of the steps, Alec felt like his legs weighed as much as a Kelrathian Stag. “Pick up your feet, boy. We’re nearly there.” Barked Banin.
When they reached the top of the Reach stairs, Alec was in awe of the size of it all. The ornate white double doors leading in were lined with beautiful red and white candles. Runes engraved on the doors were glowing blue with a magical energy that Alec didn’t quite understand. Alec knew the runes were symbols from the old war, but they never came up in his training for the Order.
Banin opened the double doors. The hallway leading into the main chamber is lined with painted portraits of the high priests that have come before High Priest Mae’zbek. Between each portrait wae an ornate golden sconce that looked like the head of a dragon holding each candle. The pieces that held each candle in place looked as if they were made out of bone but Alec was sure that that couldn’t be dragon bone. Alec had only heard stories about dragons from his parents. They claimed to have seen a few when they escaped Caerum Ba but Alec never really believed them.
As they walked down the High Hall, Alec continued to be amazed at the architecture of it all. He had never seen anything like this. The marble floors were lined with a beautiful red carpet that felt soft under Alec’s boots.
The hallway was long, or maybe it was just Alec’s nerves making it feel that way. Each step brought him closer to the future that he’s waited so long to attain, each step brought him closer to everything that he has fought for.
After what felt like an eternity, Alec heard familiar voices coming from the hall ahead. Commander Banin opened the doors leading to the main hall and Alec saw all of the other recruits. Some were talking in joyful tones, excited for what their assignments were. Others with hushed, disappointed voices that showed their less than exciting assignments.
“Oh goodness this is it!” Rinley had been quiet this whole journey until now. Alec loved listening to her voice, he had never heard anything like it. The way people talked in Highkeep was just so boring to him, there was nothing special about their accents, but Rin, she was different.
Commander Banin led Rinley and Alec through the crowd of recruits to the massive door that led into Paladin Kalic’s office. Banin knocked on the door, “recruits Alec and Rinley to see you sir.”
Kalic had Rinley go in first. Alec stood with his back against the white marble wall for what felt like three eternities. When Rinley opened the door, her demeanor was the same. She’s impossible to read, Alec thought, he could never tell if she’s happy or not. She always just bounced around from place to place, demeanor never changed.
Before he got to ask her about her assignment, the booming voice of Paladin Kalic hit like a hammer against raw steel. “Alec, please come in.”
Alec pushed past Banin and through the solid stone door that lead into Paladin Kalic’s office. His office was incredibly well lit. Candles lined the walls and a massive bone chandelier hung from the ceiling. The room itself was filled with smells that Alec hadn’t smelled since he was a kid. It smelled like the great oak halls of Caerum Ba, the fireplace roaring in the corner of his room was likely the source of this.
It was quiet in the Paladin’s office. The only sounds Alec heard were the scribble of quill against parchment and the crackle pop of the fire. Alec looked at the fire for a while, losing himself in the dance of the flames. He hasn’t seen a fireplace in so long, the barracks never had anything like that. Alec was just in awe of it all, struggling to take it all in.
“Recruit Alec, you have been with us since you were four, is that correct?” Kalic was looking at him now, Alec’s attention snapped back to him from the fire.
“Five years old, sir. My family fled Lord Barinium’s rebellion in Caerum Ba, we went through the mountain pass until we came upon HIghkeep.” Alec didn’t want to overshare, but he wanted to make sure that the Paladin understood his story. Alec was proud of his story, after all. He was thankful that his family saw it fit to run from the wickedness of the outside lands and to retreat into the safe watch of the Four within Highkeep. The keep was the best place for anyone to stay, and with Alec joining the Order, there was nothing more holy or noble.
“Very good. You have been with us for quite some time, you have proven to be an asset to the Order.” Alec beamed at these words. An asset to the Order. Surely this means Kingwatch, or at least something like it. “The Order needs men of all types to serve us within the wall and beyond the wall.”
Beyond the wall… Alec’s blood went cold. The Order that served beyond the wall were basically glorified baby sitters for the Blind Ones. He had no interest in serving with them, they were the scum of the Kingdom and traitors to the Order.
“You have shown great potential with us, and in time I think you could serve as a Cardinal or a Paladin. While I know that it is not the most glorious position, I need men like you serving us beyond the Bitter Door. You’re faithful to the Four, you won’t abandon us or forget your commitments. You are faithful through and through. At first candle you will report to Lieutenant Heren, you will join her and other Order Knights for your first assignment beyond the wall.”