Amphital: a fantasy novel project
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(I'll tie those two plot lines up, soon enough)


"Here's your knife back, lad. Though if you plan on going into battle, you'd be better off with something more suited than that. I don't think that would go through the mutton at the Jackline, let alone though even a thin leather shirt."

"Thank, you sir," Trey said. He didn't bother to sheath the belt knife. He didn't even look up.

"No need for 'sirs' around here, lad, no one but us guardsmen at the moment."

Trey did look up at that, and saw the same man who had helped him hours ago, right after the attack. "You're not an officer?" Trey asked. "But the cord on your shoulder..."

"Marks me as a sergeant, lad, not anything fancy like an officer or commissioner. My name is Bearn, and that or 'Sergeant' will be good enough for the likes of me."

"Thank you," Trey said. He took the man's extended hand, and tried to match the strong grip. "Thank you, Bearn. Please, I am called Trey."

"Good to know you, Trey."

Trey felt honoured in a small way, being treated as an equal by a guardsman. But he still calls me lad, Trey thought.

"So lad, do you know how to use that table knife of yours, or were you planning on scaring folks by calling out the guard?" Bearn chuckled. "Or were you planning on asking them nice-like, once you got there, to knock off with the murder and killing?"

Trey winced, and put a hand to his throat. I haven't had a chance to look, but I bet there will be some ugly bruises, Trey thought. He thought over Bearn's question, and then shook his head. "I don't know what I was doing. I wasn't thinking, I was just..." Trey couldn't put the rest of it into words. "I do know how to fight. My Grandpa taught me how to wrestle, a little bit about knives, but, well he died about two years ago. I used to go each spring, early, and back again at least a couple months in summer. But now I'm studying with Master Leonir in the shop, rather than going out to help with the family flocks."

"So a shepherd. Or, a wool merchant? Is your family beholden to a landlord, or do you own the woolly buggers?"

"We own the sheep, and Master Leonir helps us run the weaver's shop here in town. My father and uncle are usually out, either buying the wool, or down to Timol to buy the dyes, or selling cloth and yarn at Lembri, or on Palmara, though mostly they travel the other cities and towns of Altis"

"Perhaps I should bow and call you 'sir'?" Trey gave Bearn a nasty look. "Perhaps not," Bearn said. "Though it does seem like we have a more honoured guest than we realized."

Bearn leaned back. "I'm guessing my Captain asked you already, but what was a fine citizen like yourself doing in dark alleys this late at night?"

"I work odd jobs around the Bell's Stream district, a bit at the Three Sheets, a bit for the craftsmen nearby. Master Leonir lets me earn money in the evenings, when I'm done with my studies at the shop. I was walking home, well, I was running since I was already late, when I heard the scream"

"The master Weaver doesn't pay you?" Bearn asked.

"Well no, Sergeant. My family owns the shop, we pay him," Trey said.

"Your father doesn't give you an allowance?"

"My father used to give me pocket money, when I needed it. But he's been gone, close to eight months now. My uncle doesn't give me much." He seems to begrudge the need to feed me, Trey thought. "Master Leonir has been good enough to let me use my evenings how I will. Though I have to finish my chores and studies at the shop first, of course."

"Of course, lad." Bearn nodded, and stood. "And we've already kept you much too long, your Master will worry. It's nearly sunrise."

Trey sat up with a bolt. He hadn't realized the hour, with so much else that had gone on this night. "Oh no!" he said. I know I nodded off, but how long was I asleep? Trey thought.

Bearn clapped a hand to Trey's shoulder. "No need to worry, Trey, I'll walk you back to your shop myself. Once they get over the joy of seeing you safe and hale, and the shock of seeing you dragged home by the watch, we should be able to explain things." Bearn helped Trey to his feet, half dragging Trey's shoulder out of its socket as he pulled him up.

"And Lad, I'll look in on you at the Three Sheets, if you'll be working there tonight?" It was half a question, more of an order. Trey only nodded.

"Good, good. I'll have something for you then."

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