when we enter the city,” Cyn advised as he handed the blade back to Jonas.
“When I met Airos, he had the High One’s mark on both his hands. My mother said it means that he was a master swordsman. Is that true?”
“It is. I had heard of Airos before, but I never met him in my travels. He was a first rank cavalier, the highest rank in their order. I believe there are only a few first rank cavaliers in the lands of Kraawn. His death is a huge loss and it must be reported to the King in Finarth immediately. If he had a mark on both his hands that meant that he was a master swordsman with both hands, ambidextrous, very rare. He was the best, maybe even a match for a Blade Singer, as you heard Landon say.”
“Do you have to be a cavalier to get marked as a master swordsman?” asked Jonas.
“No, not necessarily, it depends on the mark. Some armies offer master rank marks that represent their imperial standards. They are all wizard marks, which makes them very expensive. Some kings give them out to soldiers that pass the master swordsman tests. It is very rare though; to pass the test is difficult and few have the tenacity to train as hard and long as it takes to get that mark. If a cavalier gains the mark then they are God Marked by their god’s symbol. I have only met four people with the master swordsman marks. One man is a general in the Annurien army, one was a Halyean cavalier out of Onith, in the west, and another is the master at arms in Finarth, along with Prince Nelstrom.”
“Onith? Halyean? I have never heard of them.”
“Onith is the capital of King Olek Landibar’s lands, far to the west, over the Tundren Mountains. Halyean is the god of sea, the main deity worshiped in the port cities that riddle the Algard coast. It is believed that Halyean is Ulren’s brother, but do not take my word for it, the gods are not my strong point.”
“What are the tests?” asked Jonas.
“Why?” Cyn laughed. “Do you want to become a master swordsman?”
Jonas paused. “Yes, I do,” he said firmly.
Cyn looked at him, shaking his head with a smile. “I see you are determined. It is a fine goal, but a very lofty one. Make sure you are prepared for failure as well as success,” he replied.
“What do you mean?” asked Jonas.
“They do not give the mark out freely. You must pledge your allegiance to a kingdom to get the training, or join the school for cavaliers, which is no easy task. Most young men who want to become a cavalier never even make it past the initiation phase, for there are tests of heart and courage that most men cannot pass.”
“If that is my destiny I will pass them,” Jonas said, his tone firm and confident.
Cyn glanced at Jonas, nodding his head in understanding. “You know young huntsman, part of me thinks that you might,” he said smiling. “Now enough talk. I feel like I’m traveling with a woman.”
Jonas laughed. They rode on in silence, taking in the beauty of the countryside, each immersed in their own thoughts.
***
On the ninth day they set up camp next to a little stream that flowed under the bridged road to meander through a flowering meadow. A large stand of trees flanked them on the left and the grassy meadow made for a soft welcoming campsite. Landon stepped down from his wagon looking for Allindrian. One of the mercenary guards saw him and rode up to him on his horse.
“You were looking for Allindrian, sir?” asked the blond haired warrior.
“Yes, Janson, have you seen her?”
“She has been scouting for several hours now. She should be back soon.”
“Very well, we’ll set up camp here.”
“Very good, sir,” the warrior responded with a nod and rode off to help facilitate the camp’s set up. The wagons, all twenty of them, were set up in a semi-circle with the mercenaries forming the other half of the circle. Inside the perimeter were Landon and the other workers and merchants. Fil and Jonas slept in the middle with Landon.
Fil strode up to Jonas as he was adding wood to a fire. “Hey, Jonas,” he said, casually sitting down to warm his hands by the flames.
“Aye,” replied Jonas.
They sat together quietly for a while, enjoying the warmth of the fire as the rest of the men finished erecting