A Headstrong Youth
Part 1
The approaching beast Mirrhe roared with a wild display of its distorted maw. Joren, brown locks falling into his face, hacked at the thick roots that scratched and dug stones into his bound legs, drawing blood. Trying as he could to free himself without slashing his own flesh, the apprentice looked up from the dagger at the oncoming creature. Panting and in pain from the burning sensation in the wounds Mirrhe had already inflicted upon him, he wondered if these were to be his last thoughts. Unable to pull himself off from the ground, he lifted the dagger and did not close his eyes to the huge bear-like monster that was almost upon him.
~~~
“I know,” was the sole reply Yavan gave to Joren’s discovery, leaving the youth blinking wordlessly as Yavan again took up writing his report. Joren could not help but stare and mouth soundlessly at his master after his nonchalant response.
“B-… But sir, the black moss on the trees… It’s merely fifty paces away from the village.”
“I heard you the first time.”
“So we must investigate.”
“No.”
The answer was blunt and Joren, though dumbfounded, knew a directive when he heard one. However, both instinct and Order teachings did not let him back down.
“Why not?” he insisted.
Yavan sighed and put down his quill, wrinkles deepening at the corners of his eyes and mouth as he pinched both shut.
“Because the Order is already aware and will intervene as it sees fit.”
The young man bit back a sudden reply as the older knight spared him a pale blue-eyed glance, made colder still by his gray and white hair. His strong features were stony and brokered no argument. After a few seconds, satisfied with his junior’s silence, he returned to writing until his report was complete. With care, he put away his writing tools and turned once again to the youth who had barely moved a muscle. He exhaled slowly.
“I understand your frustration, Joren, but this is beyond our jurisdiction.”
“I had the understanding that our duty was to protect the people from surrounding threats.”
“It is.”
Joren’s voice became more frantic. “But these demonstrations of– “
“Joren,” Yavan cut off curtly. “Enough. Know your place.”
The teenager swallowed with difficulty. Finally, bringing up one fist to his other open hand before him with perhaps a tad too much vigor, he offered a short bow to his master before turning around and exiting the study to make for his own small room.
The nineteen year-old let himself fall on his back despite the hardness of the mattress; it mattered little to him. He was used to it and worse. Besides, his anger made the jolt feel satisfactory and it was better than having to leave the building for lack of privacy.
He couldn’t understand his master’s words. He had been doing so well over the past few months and had made Yavan proud. He had been so certain that he was worthy of trust; indeed, Yavan had even proven so himself by letting him in on more information than his station might otherwise have warranted. And yet today, now, he was left in the dark! Why? Why not investigate as per normal course of action?
Granted they were one person short after Wellic’s retirement but that did not change the essence of their work. Black moss, and in such quantities, was a bad sign if ever he had been taught of one. Blood had been shed and would again if nothing was done. Joren bit his lip so that he felt pain and held it until his jaw was sore.
What bothered him most was what he had not told Yavan. Though he detested withholding information from his mentor, he knew that telling him would result in being more closely watched and that would not do. Not when, as one distraught mother had told him at market the day before, children were disappearing every month.
Joren was resolved. He knew what he must do.