Chapter Two – Part 11 – The Halo
“I’ve been here quite some time.”
The voice called from behind Kintere, causing the entire party to turn on their heels at the sudden words. Not ten spans away, where moments ago no one had been, a mountain of a man stood, easily dwarfing Kintere by a quarter span. Clearly a warrior by his muscle and bearing, the raven haired man stood with legs akimbo, bandage-wrapped fists planted firmly on his hips. Even as big as he was, with shining green eyes and pale, tattooed skin, Kintere had the sense there was much of this man which did not show. The way the hills of ice floating down the Penance coast during the spring seemed small, but much of their mass rested hidden beneath the sea.
“Curia,” the man rumbled, sketching a bow of the neck. Clearly, he did not defer to Thryche as others did.
“Halo,” Thryche returned, doubling himself at the waist with great effort. “I honour you.”
Suddenly, Kintere was very afraid of the mountainous man before them. To command so humble a greeting from Edvard Thryche – there was real power here.
“I see you,” the man returned formally. “I also see your students. Which are the two I am to take?”
“One, master. His name is Kienor Blackfang.”
Thryche indicated Kienor and the hunter stepped forward, thrusting out his chest, arms straight at his sides. Kintere couldn’t see his friend’s face through his mask, but he would have sworn the man was smiling.
“Pride. Good. You will be of great benefit. But what of the other, Curia? I am told there were to be two.”
Thryche nodded, placing both hands on the pommel of his cane.
“There were to be, master Legaeta. However, I have since reassessed the talents of the second, and see clearly he would be of no benefit to your school.”
“So he is weak.”
“Yes.”
Kintere drew a sharp breath. How dare the Curia call him weak! He tightened his fists, opened his mouth to speak…
And didn’t. The look in both Thryche’s and Mireya’s eyes stopped him. The Curia wanted him to be cautious. He had seen that look often during his teaching. It was no surprise, and he knew that Thryche would explain later.
Mireya, however. She looked frightened – though for what reason, he could not tell. Was she scared he would leave? Or that he would be hurt by this walking mountain to whom Curia Thryche bowed so easily?
Kintere decided it didn’t matter. He closed his mouth, bowed his head.
“He is more suited to the teachings Frost and Firehand can provide, rather than those of yourself and Master Cawna.”
Legaeta sighed, his hands falling from his hips. It seemed suddenly that a great weight collapsed his shoulders.
“Sadly, master Cawna is no longer among us,” Legaeta said with great reverence. “She joined her husband in places beyond last week. I have been forced to replace her with someone of other talents.”
“I am sad to hear that, master. Cawna was a fine sword and weaver. Might I inquire as to her replacement among the Elite?”
“Yes – my apprentice, Bloodlash, has proven herself quite adept in a number of fields. She takes Cawna’s place as the second among the Elite, and leads the Halo.”
Thryche nodded, as if it were only logical. Kintere felt he was missing a great deal of the history behind what was being said – he would have to ask Rhayd later what significance the Elite and this Halo had to the weavers. Legaeta was clearly too distracted to make hard consideration of the fact that he had lost a student.
“Master Legaeta,” Rhayd said, breaking his silence. “My name is Rhayd Khalenn. My sister, Rhailynn, has attended your school. I must ask – is she well? Is she here? I haven’t heard from her in quite some time.”
Legaeta narrowed his eyes on Rhayd, and what might have been a sinister smile appeared at one corner of his lips.
“Oh yes, she does very well,” the huge man said slowly. “She has made quite a name for herself among the weavers of Attensah and beyond.”
“Is she here,” Rhayd repeated, visibly frustrated by Legaeta’s avoiding the question.
“I suspect she will make herself seen if she chooses,” the master of the Elite said carefully. Kintere didn’t like his tone – where Curia Thryche deferred to Legaeta, there was a note in the Elite’s voice that said he would defer to Rhailynn, if she asked. From his answer, Kintere suspected she had, in fact, asked.