After a peaceful night of sleep, Song sought permission from Chief to take Garinor to the outpost to gather news. He agreed and the two of them left at once.
They journeyed east at a leisurely pace, bantering playfully as they went, but also keeping a wary eye out for other sentries. Song had secured a short sword for Garinor and they also spent some time sparring together.
“It’s important for you to know how to defend yourself,” Song explained. “More so than knowing how to strike. After all, if you fall in battle, you can’t do any striking at all. But if you master defense, you’ll wear out your opponent and you’ll be able to get in a good blow.”
“Have you been in many battles?”
“Too many,” he replied with a haunted tone, but he wouldn’t elaborate.
Garinor picked up swordplay easily considering the circumstances. He had spent many hours sparring with branches in the forest with his friends, but swinging a real sword was much different. The balance of the weapon took getting used to and so did the knowledge that he could literally kill someone with it. His hesitation took effort to push aside for the training Song gave him, because he was afraid of hurting his new friend.
“The real test will be in an actual fight,” Song commented after a match. “That sounds stupid to say, but it’s true. The pressure is on, the emotions are high, and if you don’t react… Well, it’s not someone you know that you’re facing, but a complete stranger who sees you only as a threat. So it’s important to master these basic techniques.”
As the afternoon waxed, they saw a small house out in the distance and Song diverted Garinor’s attention to the approaching outpost. “You shouldn’t say much when you’re there. And we should give you a name or it will be suspicious.”
They debated an appropriate name for the novice and Garinor didn’t help matters by choosing names solely to hear Song’s reaction. “Master? Impressario? Brilliance?”
“Keep it up and I’ll call you Pest and that’ll be the end of it!”
They still hadn’t decided on a name by the time they had reached the outpost, so when Song introduced Garinor as Sprout, it was all the boy could do not to kick him. They were treated to a decent meal and they received news that the Lioness had indeed reported in about the boy’s visitation, but she had since gone on her way.
The few men in the outpost were a rowdy bunch who enjoyed their ale. The more they drank, Garinor noticed, the louder they became until the whole place was filled with raucous shouting and slamming of fists on tables with wild laughter. The general chaos made him uncomfortable and he drifted off to be on his own while Song joined in the fun.
While he rested in a small room, he stared up at the ceiling thinking about the people he had met on his journey, hoping that once his trek was over he would have the chance to visit them again. Song was a happy fellow whose balance of a light sense of humor with a serious side reminded Garinor of his best friend, Tomli. Inera at the orphanage was like a spunky grandmother, ready for a hundred more years full of activity. Jinorrah was a good-hearted boy thrust into a harsh situation, but he was making the best of it, and Garinor wanted so much to offer him a chance at true freedom. Elder Dorin was more of a mentor and guide, but he wanted to revisit the wise man and help him to rebuild the burned village of Arvion.
This turned Garinor’s thoughts to the stone that was in his pocket. Even after the days since he had punctured his fingers and bled onto the stone, it was hot to the touch, though he became accustomed to its heat while it was in his pocket. He took the stone out and turned it around, wondering what its purpose was in the grand scheme of his life. He found no answers looking at it, so he returned it to his pocket and laced his fingers behind his head.
Then his door opened.
“Had enough mead tonight, then?” he teased, thinking it was Song.
“Listen. Sprout. You’re in danger,” hissed a voice urgently. “Someone here is out to kill you. Yes, you. It’s dangerous here and your friend is too drunk to protect you. Come on, I have to get you out of here while there’s time.”