"I'm never getting on a boat again," Elias muttered under his breath as he stepped foot onto the docks. It had been a long trip and the sea had not been cooperative. Two months ago it had seemed like a good enough idea, but after a week of high swells he knew that it would take extraordinary circumstances to ever lure him away from land again. It was for the best of course. Nothing good awaited his return voyage should he ever decide to make one.
"
"You're 12?"
"Yes, sir," Elias Ward responded politely. It was a lie of course, but they would never accept him at age ten so it was necessary. The bulletins posted all across the kingdom were clear. No boy under twelve would be admitted to the King's Service.
"Where is your father" He has to sign you over."
"I'm an orphan, sir." Elias almost believed himself. He had coached himself for days prior in order to make himself as convincing as possible. His father had refused to understand how excited Elias was to serve the people of his kingdom and win glory for his family. The bulletins were clear. The only way to earn respect and fame for your family and yourself was to serve in the King's Service. Under the cover of darkness, after losing the argument to his father, Elias had stolen away. The headstrong child didn't understand what his father was trying to explain earlier.
"Whatever. Sign here and go sit with the others."
"
It had been five years since Elias had joined and he had excelled instantly. The martial lifestyle suited him well and despite having a two year age disadvantage he continually performed ahead of his peers. At the age of 15 he had now advanced towards foreign armies twice on the field of battle. It felt great to Elias. The best he could reason, some were born to compose symphonies and others to paint beautiful portraits. The cadre tasked with Elias" training often told him he was born to be 'someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed."
The training was relentless and unforgiving. It was not uncommon to feel exhausted both mentally and physically at the end of the day. Bruises and soreness were the tell-tale signs of a great learning experience and every member in the service worked hard. Quitting was never an option and failure was treated harshly. Even in this environment, however, Elias managed to find opportunities to smile and laugh. It was easy to bond and enjoy the company of those around you in such a situation. Their suffering bred closeness. He had endured countless trials with these boys and knew he could count on them. It made it all the more difficult to cope when he was selected.
Selection only occurred when a boy showed extraordinary potential and had glowing reviews from the cadre. It was a great honor to be chosen for this special assignment, but to Elias it felt terrible. He had never felt lonely in the past five years. His peers were always available for a laugh or a tirade. Suddenly he was ushered to a special section of the compound and pushed into a single room. Laying on his rudimentary bed he slowly drifted into slumber, never having felt more alone.
"
Elias was woken abruptly by a grizzled looking man kicking the edge of his bed.
"Up and at "em," the man spoke easily. Elias jumped to his feet and stood formally in front of the stranger.
"Oh, cut that out. That dog just ain't going to hunt any more. The only thing that impresses around here is results. You'll learn that though. On this side of the compound we do things a little differently. We don't yell at you to do anything. We tell you what has to happen and if it doesn't there are unpleasant consequences. You'll appreciate getting the job done much more than the unpleasantness. I promise."
"Yes, sir," Elias sputtered out, overwhelmed by this new development.
"Call me Simon."
"
It had been two years since Simon had taken Elias Ward as his charge and the young man had adapted to the new program as well as expected. Elias had not seen any of his peers in that time nor been able to enjoy the company of any others in the special training. Self-reliance was the most important aspect Simon pressed into Elias. Assignments would be solitary and it was best to accept that lifestyle early.
The skills Simon taught Elias revolved around more unconventional methods of warfare since the youngster was already adept and seasoned when it came to combat. Reconnaissance, sabotage, and assassination were the main focus of his lessons. This field craft was driven home with lessons every day, sometimes keeping Elias focused and on task for over a week at a time. He learned to push past the limits of sleep and the necessity to eat. The minimums of both were often necessary to accomplish an assignment. The punishments for failure were draconian.
At age 17 Elias Ward had become one of the most well-trained and efficient soldiers in the King's Service due to Simon's merciless training program. It was time for Elias to enter the field.
"
"Simon, I want out."
"Are you insane" You're only 25. You have at least ten more years before they will even let you become a trainer. There is no "out.?"
"There has to be. I can't do this anymore!"
"Keep your voice down, Elias. If anybody else heard you there would be hell to pay. You know there's no getting out. Once you're in, you're in. You know this."
"Simon, these missions are eating at me. I didn't sign up for this. I can't go on with these assignments. It's not a question of if I'm leaving. It's a matter of how."
"Listen, I understand. I felt the same way back in the day. It will pass."
"It won't pass, Simon! I'm out."
"Alright, calm down a second. There's a new mission for you. It has a suspense date of two weeks from now. That can give you a head start, but you know damn well there isn't a place in this realm they won't find you."
"I'll leave then."
"Where" You've conducted operations in every surrounding realm and if they ever found out about you? There's not a safe place for you anywhere if you leave."
"I'll find one. Simon, you know I can't keep this up. I wasn't meant for this."
"I know. You have two weeks and then I can't cover for you anymore. I really hope you know what you're doing."
"Me too, Simon. And Simon?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Yeah, yeah. Get out of here, kid."
"
Elias had used the two week head start well. Bulletins were already going up around the realm, depicting him as a traitor and offering a heavy reward for information regarding his whereabouts. It was too late, however. He had forged an easy to follow path through most of the realm over the course of two weeks and then dropped off the map. The King's Service was tracking an enormous trail of information. Everyone had seen Elias over the past week and a half. In the last few days Elias had dropped off the map, secretly moving to the coast.
It took him a day to find the appropriate vessel " small, non-descript, and manned by scoundrels. Elias presented himself as a young man eager to try his luck on the open sea. The captain laughed and offered him a deckhand position. Like most of his men, the captain figured the new man was wanted by the law and trying to escape justice. The captain would never know just how right he was. Elias accepted and they left the next day.
"Hey, where are we headed?"
"RhyDin."
Where the hell is that"
?
Now Elias Ward stood in a new land. He moved down the creaking RhyDin dock slowly and deliberately, doing his best to regain his land-legs. Elias took one look back at the boat and the ocean, knowing the only way for him was forward. It was time to start again. The past might find him one day, but it would have to search hard.
"
"You're 12?"
"Yes, sir," Elias Ward responded politely. It was a lie of course, but they would never accept him at age ten so it was necessary. The bulletins posted all across the kingdom were clear. No boy under twelve would be admitted to the King's Service.
"Where is your father" He has to sign you over."
"I'm an orphan, sir." Elias almost believed himself. He had coached himself for days prior in order to make himself as convincing as possible. His father had refused to understand how excited Elias was to serve the people of his kingdom and win glory for his family. The bulletins were clear. The only way to earn respect and fame for your family and yourself was to serve in the King's Service. Under the cover of darkness, after losing the argument to his father, Elias had stolen away. The headstrong child didn't understand what his father was trying to explain earlier.
"Whatever. Sign here and go sit with the others."
"
It had been five years since Elias had joined and he had excelled instantly. The martial lifestyle suited him well and despite having a two year age disadvantage he continually performed ahead of his peers. At the age of 15 he had now advanced towards foreign armies twice on the field of battle. It felt great to Elias. The best he could reason, some were born to compose symphonies and others to paint beautiful portraits. The cadre tasked with Elias" training often told him he was born to be 'someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed."
The training was relentless and unforgiving. It was not uncommon to feel exhausted both mentally and physically at the end of the day. Bruises and soreness were the tell-tale signs of a great learning experience and every member in the service worked hard. Quitting was never an option and failure was treated harshly. Even in this environment, however, Elias managed to find opportunities to smile and laugh. It was easy to bond and enjoy the company of those around you in such a situation. Their suffering bred closeness. He had endured countless trials with these boys and knew he could count on them. It made it all the more difficult to cope when he was selected.
Selection only occurred when a boy showed extraordinary potential and had glowing reviews from the cadre. It was a great honor to be chosen for this special assignment, but to Elias it felt terrible. He had never felt lonely in the past five years. His peers were always available for a laugh or a tirade. Suddenly he was ushered to a special section of the compound and pushed into a single room. Laying on his rudimentary bed he slowly drifted into slumber, never having felt more alone.
"
Elias was woken abruptly by a grizzled looking man kicking the edge of his bed.
"Up and at "em," the man spoke easily. Elias jumped to his feet and stood formally in front of the stranger.
"Oh, cut that out. That dog just ain't going to hunt any more. The only thing that impresses around here is results. You'll learn that though. On this side of the compound we do things a little differently. We don't yell at you to do anything. We tell you what has to happen and if it doesn't there are unpleasant consequences. You'll appreciate getting the job done much more than the unpleasantness. I promise."
"Yes, sir," Elias sputtered out, overwhelmed by this new development.
"Call me Simon."
"
It had been two years since Simon had taken Elias Ward as his charge and the young man had adapted to the new program as well as expected. Elias had not seen any of his peers in that time nor been able to enjoy the company of any others in the special training. Self-reliance was the most important aspect Simon pressed into Elias. Assignments would be solitary and it was best to accept that lifestyle early.
The skills Simon taught Elias revolved around more unconventional methods of warfare since the youngster was already adept and seasoned when it came to combat. Reconnaissance, sabotage, and assassination were the main focus of his lessons. This field craft was driven home with lessons every day, sometimes keeping Elias focused and on task for over a week at a time. He learned to push past the limits of sleep and the necessity to eat. The minimums of both were often necessary to accomplish an assignment. The punishments for failure were draconian.
At age 17 Elias Ward had become one of the most well-trained and efficient soldiers in the King's Service due to Simon's merciless training program. It was time for Elias to enter the field.
"
"Simon, I want out."
"Are you insane" You're only 25. You have at least ten more years before they will even let you become a trainer. There is no "out.?"
"There has to be. I can't do this anymore!"
"Keep your voice down, Elias. If anybody else heard you there would be hell to pay. You know there's no getting out. Once you're in, you're in. You know this."
"Simon, these missions are eating at me. I didn't sign up for this. I can't go on with these assignments. It's not a question of if I'm leaving. It's a matter of how."
"Listen, I understand. I felt the same way back in the day. It will pass."
"It won't pass, Simon! I'm out."
"Alright, calm down a second. There's a new mission for you. It has a suspense date of two weeks from now. That can give you a head start, but you know damn well there isn't a place in this realm they won't find you."
"I'll leave then."
"Where" You've conducted operations in every surrounding realm and if they ever found out about you? There's not a safe place for you anywhere if you leave."
"I'll find one. Simon, you know I can't keep this up. I wasn't meant for this."
"I know. You have two weeks and then I can't cover for you anymore. I really hope you know what you're doing."
"Me too, Simon. And Simon?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Yeah, yeah. Get out of here, kid."
"
Elias had used the two week head start well. Bulletins were already going up around the realm, depicting him as a traitor and offering a heavy reward for information regarding his whereabouts. It was too late, however. He had forged an easy to follow path through most of the realm over the course of two weeks and then dropped off the map. The King's Service was tracking an enormous trail of information. Everyone had seen Elias over the past week and a half. In the last few days Elias had dropped off the map, secretly moving to the coast.
It took him a day to find the appropriate vessel " small, non-descript, and manned by scoundrels. Elias presented himself as a young man eager to try his luck on the open sea. The captain laughed and offered him a deckhand position. Like most of his men, the captain figured the new man was wanted by the law and trying to escape justice. The captain would never know just how right he was. Elias accepted and they left the next day.
"Hey, where are we headed?"
"RhyDin."
Where the hell is that"
?
Now Elias Ward stood in a new land. He moved down the creaking RhyDin dock slowly and deliberately, doing his best to regain his land-legs. Elias took one look back at the boat and the ocean, knowing the only way for him was forward. It was time to start again. The past might find him one day, but it would have to search hard.