Warrior and King

Warrior

and

King

Michael O’Gara

Copyright © 2012 Michael O’Gara

All rights reserved.

eBook Edition

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This is a fictional work coming from the author’s imagination.  Any similarity to actual persons, events, places, organizations and companies, is purely coincidental.

Published by Heartland Indie Publishing LLC

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 1

Kalen is not happy and protests, I am a warrior not a nursemaid to a royal who has no skill at arms.

General Zorat raises his voice, Captain Kalen, it is not a request, but an order. You will comply!

Kalen bows and says, Yes, Lord Zorat.

Kalen knows that Baron General Zorat is not a man to be crossed. Kalen also knows he is fortunate enough, through skill on the battlefield, to have risen to a rank few commoners achieve. He and his core of men have taken much loot. Still, they are commoners and not titled knights. Kalen knows he must tread lightly.

The general adds, What happens in that practice ring is to remain a secret. Your life depends on it.

Kalen bows his head knowing he has pushed Zorat to the edge. He says, As you command, Lord.

Zorat says, You are to do your best. He hands Kalen a key and gives him instructions as to where to go.

Kalen wonders how he is to do meaningful practice with an untrained royal. Prince Crispin is a man of slender stature and is made fun of behind his back. The young man is too pretty by far and likes the latest fashion more than the latest weapons. To send him to spar against Crispin is asking Crispin to play at fighting. Still, an order is an order.

Kalen finds the special training room. Kalen takes the key he’d been given and unlocks the door. He goes in and locks the door behind him. He finds he is in a large open circular room. It is bare to the walls except for a rack with practice swords and shields. The ceiling is high with open beams and lots of natural light. Kalen trades his regular sword for a practice sword with dull edges and rounded point. He also takes a practice shield. He takes his helmet off and waits.

The slender figure comes into the room from the other side and locks the door. Royal Prince Crispin, heir to the throne, has on chainmail armor similar to Kalen’s. The prince has a helmet under his arm. Crispin picks up a practice sword and shield.

Prince Crispin comes toward the ring.

Kalen observes that at least Crispin can move in his mail and knows how to carry his equipment. That, however, is different from being able to fight.

Kalen bows and says, with just a hint of contempt, Royal Highness.

Crispin smiles, Do I detect a hint of contempt, Captain Kalen?

Kalen bows his head and says, Royal Highness, I meant no insult. I am your humble servant.

Crispin smiled, I do not think you are so humble. They say you are a cheeky fellow, but that you can fight.

Kalen says, I’m afraid, Royal Highness, that I am a poor instructor.

We shall see if our encounter is useful.With that Crispin puts on his helmet.

Kalen figures he outweighs Crispin by forty pounds. This will be a quick and easy defeat. This royal deserves a humiliating defeat and Kalen is going to administer it in the name of instruction. Kalen waits and Crispin gives the start signal. Kalen charges Crispin who seems frozen in place. Kalen swings his shield and is surprised when it does not make contact. Kalen has to parry a blade thrust with his own sword. Suddenly, he finds he is engaged with a very well trained and capable fighter.

Kalen swings his shield again. Crispin blocks the shield blow with his shield giving way and diverts the blade thrust Kalen made with his own sword. Kalen finds himself blocking and parrying as many attacks as he makes. He is amazed that this young royal is doing so well.

Kalen realizes Prince Crispin is using his speed to compensate for Kalen’s greater strength. Kalen decides to wear the prince down. Perhaps stamina is the young prince’s weakness. Kalen keeps attacking and after some time finally gains an advantage. Crispin goes down. To Kalen’s surprise, the prince evades Kalen’s next blow, rolling to the side and jumping up. Kalen has experienced such a move before and swings his shield hard against the prince’s helmet and the prince goes down. He does not get up.

Kalen takes off his helmet and goes to the prince and kneels down. He finds the dull practice blade at his throat.

Kalen laughs and says, Well done!

Crispin says, Help me up. My ears are still ringing.

Kalen stands and put out his hand. Crispin grasps it and Kalen pulls him up. Kalen realizes he is covered in sweat.

Crispin says, They are right. You are really good. In actual combat, I would have been slain. You would have finished me off rather than been concerned for my welfare.

Kalen says, Your Royal Highness did extraordinarily well. I have seldom been so challenged by an opponent.

Crispin says, What did I do wrong?

Kalen says, Nothing. What you need is more endurance and strength. In battle, the warrior who tires first is defeated.

Crispin asks, How do I build more endurance.

Kalen says, Longer sessions like this and exercises.

Crispin says, Then we’ll do it tomorrow.

Kalen looks Crispin in the eye and then remembers his place and bows his head. Kalen says, Royal Highness, I respectfully suggest it is best to let your muscles heal before sparring again. There are drills to develop endurance that will allow your body to heal without damaging it needlessly. It requires exercising alternating muscle groups.

Crispin says, You will show me these drills. How often should we spar?

Kalen looks up and says, I suggest three times a week, at least a day apart, Royal Highness. Three other days will be drill days.

Crispin says, Then that will be our routine. Warrior to warrior, Prince to subject, everything that happens here is to be secret.

Kalen says, Understood, Royal Highness.

Crispin says, If anyone asks what you are doing, you are to just shake your head and act disgusted.

Kalen nods and says, Understood, Royal Highness.

Crispin says, Good.

Kalen bows his head.

You may go now, Kalen. You will be here tomorrow at the same time.

The prince takes off his helmet and says, My ears are still ringing. Quite a trick that. He leaves.

Kalen stays for a while to cool down. To leave covered in sweat will give away what has happened. Kalen leaves fifteen minutes after the prince. He passes a sergeant in the hall. The sergeant saw him come out of the room. Kalen does not say anything but shakes his head and tries to look disgusted.

Kalen is intercepted in the hallway by a soldier, Captain, the general wants to see you.

Kalen follows the soldier to where Zorat is waiting. Kalen enters the room and the soldier closes the door behind him.

Kalen gives a head bow and says, You called for me, Lord Zorat.

Zorat asks, How did it go?

Kalen shakes his head, tries to look disgusted. He says, I am commanded not to talk about it.

Zorat laughs. He says, Very good, Kalen. The prince is very pleased with you. You are relieved of your present duties. Your only duties now are those given to you by the prince. It is an honor.

Kalen says, Yes, Lord.Kalen is not happy. He has just been relieved of command.

Zorat says, You are dismissed.

Yes, sir. With that Kalen turns on his heel and leaves.

Kalen spends the night doing physical work to channel his anger at being relieved of command. The anger would have kept him awake in any event. He moves his personal equipment into the practice room and gets it positioned and installed. He does the work himself away from prying eyes.

Kalen finally goes to sleep in the early morning hours, having worked himself to exhaustion. He sleeps for a few hours before getting up. As he eats an early meal, he thinks about his situation. He resigns himself to making the most of a disappointing situation. He will get his revenge by working Crispin as hard as any new recruit. Before the appointed time, Kalen goes to the practice room. He makes sure he arrives before the prince.

The prince comes in and locks the door behind him. He has on chain mail as does Kalen.

Crispin says, Good morning, Kalen.

Indeed it is, Royal Highness.

Crispin looks around, What is this?

Kalen says, Conditioning aids. He goes to a large bag and takes out what looked like two swords with iron balls affixed to the end of the blades.

Crispin says, What are they for?

Kalen takes one and starts swinging it at the large heavy leather bag hanging from the rafters.

Crispin picks the other up, It is unbalanced and heavy.

Yes, Royal Highness. When your arms are so tired you think they will fall off, you do some more. When you use a regular sword it will seem there is nothing in your hands.

Crispin sighs, You are going to challenge me, aren’t you?

Kalen smiles and bows his head. He says, It’s my job that you have given me. You stand here and I’ll stand there. Hit it hard enough to drive it to me and I’ll drive it back with a blow.

Crispin says, And we’ll see who has the greater stamina.

Kalen says, Royal Highness, to be fair, mine is somewhat heavier than yours. Over time, we will increase the weight of yours.

Crispin says, Well, let’s get to it.

As expected, Kalen outlasts Crispin who finally just can’t go on. He puts the heavy practice sword down.

Kalen says, You did very well, Royal Highness. We’ll rest then start on the overhead blows. The bag on the floor is for that.

Crispin plops down on a bench and says, I will hate you by the time this is over.

Kalen says with a smile, But you will love me like a brother, Royal Highness, when you are in battle.

Crispin gives Kalen a stern look and says, For everything there is a price.

The afternoon seems long and Crispin leaves exhausted. The next day the two men spar. Crispin does not do as well as the first time they’d met. He is physically exhausted. Kalen assures him that will change. The following day, Kalen works with Crispin on strengthening his legs and waist muscles as they work with a metal ball, starting by passing it to each other as they stand back to back. Kalen instructs Crispin on how to generate power in movement through use of his legs. Again, Crispin gives out before Kalen. They change to other activities.

After two months in the practice room, Crispin’s stamina, strength, and ability has increased dramatically. Kalen finds he has become quicker as a result of sparring with the lighter Crispin. Kalen figures he is probably deadlier as well.

Kalen reckons that Crispin will never be quite as good as he is. Even now, Crispin is probably better than ninety nine percent of warriors that will be in the field. Crispin is probably better than all the nobles.

Chapter 2

In the third month of their arrangement, they have a particularly long and hard sparring match. As it ends, Kalen says, You seem exceptionally motivated, Royal Highness.

I am. I have a dangerous mission to undertake. I want you to go with me.

Kalen says, I am yours to command, Royal Highness.

Crispin looks at Kalen, Much depends on my success, perhaps even my life.

Kalen says, I will give my life to ensure yours is not taken.

Crispin says, I believe you, Kalen. I will not order you to undertake this mission, but I do want your help.

Kalen says, Then you give me a choice, my prince?

Crispin looked at Kalen for it is the first time Kalen has used ‘my prince’. Crispin thinks this is a good sign. Kalen is maturing emotionally.

Crispin says, "I will have only volunteers go with me. I will soon be going to visit Count Gaisin who is the father of my betrothed. It is a marriage arranged when I was just a child to prevent conflict and consolidate the realm. I believe when I am there, my potential father-in-law will provoke me. He will claim my response as an insult and