Chapter 7

Chapter 7 — The Handler

“So, Barnes, what’s next for us?”

Barnes set his drink down and looked toward Dre.

“We need to get you accustomed to our land before we send you out. And as the strongest in the guard, I’ve been tasked with keeping an eye on you two as well.”

Morgan crossed his arms.

Dre's expression became more serious.

Barnes looked between them.

“You two are strong and sharp. I’m sure you’ve figured that out already.”

He took another drink.

“And I’m also sure you want answers.”

Barnes smiled slightly.

“Which is why you agreed to come drinking with me, yes?”

He was right.

It was almost like he had been listening to their conversations.

Barnes leaned back in his chair.

“Don’t worry. I do plan on letting you do as you wish. And if there’s something you need help with, I was commanded to help you after all.”

Morgan studied him for a moment.

Barnes wasn't giving them much.

But he wasn't exactly hiding the fact that he knew what they were doing either.

“Well,” Barnes said, standing from the table, “let’s call it a night. We’ve already consumed enough ale to kill most men, and I’m tired.”

The attractive woman from earlier walked over as Barnes waved her toward the table.

He pulled six gold coins from his pocket and handed them to her.

“Thank you for the drinks. We’ll be using the upstairs rooms for the night.”

“Oh, you’re so very welcome.”

She smiled.

“I’ll be sure to thank you again later.”

She winked before walking away.

Dre watched her leave.

“Oh, so you two are like that, huh?”

Barnes smiled.

Dre shook his head in amusement.

“Man...”

The Castle

Tanji stood over the broken sword.

“So, Tanji. What did you think?”

“He is problematic.”

Tanji examined the blade carefully.

The damage wasn't from Morgan's swings.

There were no chips or bends in the metal.

It was a clean cut.

The hilt, however, had been crushed.

“He is incredibly strong and adaptive.”

The person standing beside him looked toward Tanji.

“Could you deal with him?”

Tanji was quiet for a moment.

“He might be a match for me.”

He looked down at the broken sword.

“But it’s Dre who I’m worried about.”

Tanji's expression hardened.

“I haven’t seen his skills, but he did send that useless knight flying.”

The room was quiet.

“Continue to do your part,” the voice said. “But be careful. We’ve come too far for an outsider to ruin everything we have worked toward.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

Tanji bowed and walked away.

The Next Morning

“Hey, wake up, Morgan.”

Morgan groaned.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m up.”

He rolled out of bed and stretched.

“Did he say where we’re going?”

“The market first. Then the training field.”

Morgan rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“Sounds like a busy day.”

The two men left their room.

As they stepped into the hallway, Morgan caught a glimpse through the open doorway of the room Barnes had used the night before.

The woman from the pub was still asleep in his bed.

Morgan stopped.

He looked at Dre.

Dre looked back at him.

Neither said anything.

They continued downstairs.

Barnes was waiting for them near the entrance, looking far more energetic than either of them.

“You boys ready?”

He smiled.

“We have a lot to do today.”

Dre looked at him suspiciously.

“You're way too happy this early in the morning.”

Barnes laughed.

“Follow me. We need to get some potions for training today.”

The three of them stepped outside.

The streets of the capital were already busy.

Merchants shouted from their stalls, trying to attract customers. People moved through the streets carrying baskets, crates, and bags.

Morgan's eyes immediately began moving.

Windows.

Alleys.

Rooftops.

Entrances.

Exits.

Dre was doing the same.

Barnes noticed.

“I thought I told you two to relax.”

“It’s a habit, man,” Dre said. “You never know when you’re going to take a shot and drop dead.”

Morgan nodded.

“Exactly.”

Barnes sighed.

“Please refrain from attacking anyone you think is a threat. It’s going to be a headache to deal with since I am your handler.”

Morgan glanced at him.

“Handler?”

Barnes shrugged.

“Apparently that's what I am now.”

Dre laughed.

“Congratulations.”

“I’m honored.”

Barnes continued through the market.

The sheer number of weapons was one of the first things Morgan noticed.

Swords hung from merchants' displays. Bows, shields, armor, and various pieces of equipment were stacked throughout the stalls.

People actually walked through the streets wearing swords.

Morgan wasn't sure he would ever get used to that.

Dre stopped beside a weapons stall.

“Damn. They really just walk around carrying swords like that?”

Barnes looked at him.

“You say that as if you don't carry weapons.”

“Yeah, but ours aren't hanging off our hips.”

Barnes laughed.

“You’ll get used to it.”

They continued walking until Barnes stopped in front of a small shop.

“Wait here for a moment.”

He gestured toward the door.

“I’m going in here.”

Morgan looked through the window.

Rows of glass bottles filled the shelves inside.

“What are those?”

“Potions.”

Barnes opened the door.

“Healing, stamina, mana. Basic stuff.”

Morgan followed him inside.

“So these actually work?”

Barnes nodded.

“They do.”

Morgan picked up a small bottle and examined the liquid inside.

“That's going to take some getting used to.”

Barnes paid the shopkeeper and gathered several bottles.

“Come on. We're done here.”

Dre looked around.

“That’s it?”

“For now.”

Barnes stepped back into the street.

“The training field is on the other side of the capital.”

Morgan and Dre followed.

As they left the market behind, the streets gradually became less crowded.

The noise of merchants and customers began to fade.

Morgan noticed something else.

There were fewer civilians.

More soldiers.

The buildings began changing as well.

Barracks appeared along the streets. Weapon racks stood outside several buildings, and soldiers moved between them carrying equipment.

Dre looked around.

“Now this looks familiar.”

Morgan nodded.

“Yeah.”

Barnes glanced back at them.

“You'll like the training field, then.”

The further they walked, the louder the sounds became.

Steel striking steel.

Commands being shouted.

The occasional roar of something Morgan couldn't quite identify.

Dre smiled.

“Sounds like we're getting close.”

Barnes grinned.

“Very.”

They rounded the corner.

The training field came into view.

It was massive.

Soldiers trained with swords and spears across one section while archers practiced against distant targets.

Others stood in groups, practicing what Morgan assumed were their skills.

Barnes stopped at the edge of the field.

“Well, gentlemen.”

He gestured toward the training grounds.

“Welcome to where you’ll be spending a lot of your time.”

Morgan looked over the field.

Dre cracked his knuckles.

“Now this is more like it.”

Barnes laughed.

“Before you two start breaking anything, let's go over what you're actually here to do.”

Morgan looked at him.

“Which is?”

Barnes' smile faded slightly.

“Learn how to survive.”

He pointed toward the training field.

“You’ve made an enemy of the King, and because of that, sooner or later the King will come after you.”

Morgan's expression hardened.

“So we need to get you two ready before that time comes.”