Chapter 6: Fighting Bruises

The seas were rough, rougher than Colan had ever experienced. The sky was black as pitch, he couldn't see a thing. He could only feel the water shaking him back and forth violently. Colan moaned, he was starting to feel scrambled.

"Colan! Wake up lazybeast! I don't sleep in like the King."

Colan opened his eyes and realized that is wasn't the water that was shaking him, it was Torrin. The ferret sat back and wiped his brow. "Phew, and here I thought slaves were light sleepers, having to wake up to that drum every day."

Colan sat up and reached for his tunic, which he had left crumpled on the floor. "It was a lot to take in yesterday." He muttered.

Torrin snatched the tunic away from him. "Uh-uh. Now that you're my personal...friend, you get a change of clothes. Somebeast delivered them early this morning, take a new one." He said, gesturing to a stack of fresh tunics next to him.

Colan started at them, wide-eyed. It wasn't just the fact that he had more than one tunic; they were different colors. Red, blue, green, brown, or tan, he could choose whatever color he liked. Torrin looked at him for a moment, confused, before his eyes opened wide as he realized what Colan was so amazed about. The expression only lasted for a moment before he quickly covered it up.

After Colan had chosen the green one and donned it, Torrin led the way into the small eating area. Opening one of the cupboards, he exposed a dark shaft in the wall. Pulling a thin cord that hung from the ceiling, he waited a couple of seconds. "Porridge for two, with honey and walnuts!" He called down the shaft. In a moment there was a squeaking and a tray rose out of the darkness, bearing two steaming bowls. Torrin pulled the cord twice more, than closed the doors to the shaft, sliding a bolt across them. "That's one advantage of being over the kitchens." He said as he placed the tray on the table. "The food comes fast."

Colan looked at the grey mass in his bowl dubiously, but when Torrin began to eat the stuff he picked up his spoon tentatively and mimicked Torrin, scooping the stuff with the wide end of the utensil and placing it in his mouth that way. He couldn't eat as fast as he could've if he had just slurped it, but he relaxed as he realized that Torrin was in no hurry. He scooped a bit of the yellow liquid that was drizzled liberally across the top of the porridge and tasted it. His eyes shop open wide as the warm sweetness engulfed his tongue. So this was honey. He had heard of it, but had never seen it before. Walnuts he had tasted though, sometimes they were smuggled into the slave compound, but not often.

"Well." Said Torrin as he pushed his empty bowl away. Colan started and set his spoon down in his half-full bowl, looking at it glumly. Torrin rolled his eyes and waved a paw at him. "Don't stop eating! You're not done yet." Colan picked up the spoon gratefully as Torrin continued. "Usually sword practice wouldn't start for another hour or so, but I want to get down there early so I can teach you a few basics before Barzkul starts knocking you around."

Colan pushed his now-empty bowl away. "Oh, er...thanks?"

Torrin laughed, "You won't be thanking me by the end of today, you'll have bruises all over."

"Sounds like a normal day t' me."

Torrin looked uncomfortable. "Umm, so why don't you get your saber and we'll head over to the practice field?"

Colan stood up and grabbed his empty bowl, along with Torrin's. "Where do these go?"

"Oh, those go back down the shaft." He said, pointing. "Then get your sword, I'll meet you in the front room."

A few minutes later, Colan stumbled into the front room, desperately trying to figure out how to buckle the swordbelt on. Torrin laughed and helped Colan sling it over his shoulder and buckled the attached belt around his waist. Motioning for him to wait, Torrin disappeared into the armory and soon after came back with a dagger, which he handed to the otter. Colan was surprised at how front-heavy it was.

"It's always a good idea to have a throwing knife in your belt." Explained Torrin as he opened the door.

The training field was flat and grassy in most places, although the grass had been worn away in some spots. Across the river Colan could see the slave compound. Its wooden walls were a dismal sight. Colan turned away, distracted by the sudden sound of wood on wood, then wood on flesh, followed by a yelp.

Torrin winced. "Sounds like my brother is intent on getting yours trained." He shook his head. "I don't envy him. Alspur thinks that the best way to train somebeast is to beat them until they learn how to block."

"Huh." Muttered Colan. "He'd have a lot of very good blockers if slaves were allowed to try to block."

Torrin grinned, "Alspur believes that offense is more important than defense. He counts on heavy strokes to batter away his foe's defenses and leave him helpless. Master Barzkul thinks the same. In one swift movement Torrin unsheathed his saber and held if in front of himself. "I believe in quite the opposite. I think that if you can block your opponent's attacks, you can wear them down, thus defeating them easier." Gesturing to Colan's blade, he said. "C'mon, take the saber out. I'll teach you the basics before Barzkul gets here."

For the next hour Colan learned how to hold a sword, correct defensive stance while holding a sword, and the rudiments of blocking. Colan found that blocking a swinging sword was much harder than it first looked, and Torrin had to pull his sword away more than once to stop from injuring the otter.

Torrin swung with exaggerated slowness, and Colan blocked the blow. Torrin gave a swift flick of his wrist and Colan's saber flew out of his grasp. Colan stood stunned, blankly staring at his empty paw. Nodding behind Colan, Torrin sheathed his sword. "Weapons Master."

Colan turned and saw a good-sized fox watching him thoughtfully. The fox turned to Torrin. "I assume you want him trained to be your practice partner?"

Torrin nodded, "Aye."

Barzkul grunted. "Pick up your sword." He ordered Colan. The otter hastened to obey, and as he touched the sword, something hard and heavy crashed into his back. Colan yelped as he rolled with the blow, picking up the sword as he did so.

He turned to face Barzkul, who was standing a few paces away, looking a little surprised that the otter had managed to pick up the saber. He lifted his heavy wooden replica of a broadsword, holding it high and to the side, ready for a powerful swing. "Your brother has no grasp of technique at all, but he's quite good at hitting his teammates with arrows. Are you any better?"

Then Barzkul charged in a series of slashes and blows. Colan tried to stand like Torrin had shown him, but had to retreat under the battery of blows. Torrin had gone easy on him, Barzkul had no such thought. Colan tried to block the blows stiffly, as Torrin had blocked his, but the shock of his blade colliding with the wooden one shortly numbed his paws. He began to dodge the blows and dance out of Barzkul's reach, leaving the fox swinging at air some of the time. When he couldn't dodge, he blocked, but he slanted the blade so much of the power was diffused. With both of these tactics he was able to keep half the blows from landing on him.

Barzkul pressed him mercilessly, trying to back him up against the wall, but Colan continued to dodge in circles. His strikes came fast and strong, and Colan stumbled many times at the pain of the blows. "It's over when you drop your sword." Barzkul hissed to him as he swung at Colan's head.

Colan ducked under the wooden blade. "Yes sir."

The fox, who had expected that the otter would gladly throw down his sword by now, was surprised. He could see the perspiration running through the otter's wet fur, and he was scoring more blows. The otter was slowing down, but he showed no signs of surrendering. Barzkul played with him for a few more minutes, then charges with a flurry of bows, most of which Colan wasn't able to block. He stepped back a moment, watching the otter teeter back and forth for a moment, dazed by the blows, then he put all his weight behind his shoulder and slammed into him. Colan fell back on the grass, his saber skittering far out of reach. After tapping Colan's chest none to gently with the sword, he turned to Torrin, who had been watching.

"He's trainable." The fox commented. "Stubborn, but some hard knocks will take care of that." He grinned somewhat maliciously, "Since I won, I would like to give him an order, m'lord."

Suddenly he felt something cold and thin press against his throat, along with a paw placed at the back of his neck. "I don't think you're won." A voice whispered in his ear. Barzkul was stunned, he hadn't though the otter would get up, much less pull a knife on him. "Drop your weapon." Colan hissed.

Barzkul looked at the Prince, but he was hidden behind that infuriating mask of his. "You wouldn't."

The knife tightened, "I've been beaten all my life, why wouldn't I kill you, now that I have the chance?"

The wooden sword dropped to the ground as Barzkul decided not to take his chances. His ears burned with shame as the slave released the pressure on the knife, walking away to get his saber. "Training's ended." Barzkul snapped, spinning on his heel and stalking away from Prince and slave. Defeated by two amateurs in as many days...he could sense the summons for his firing coming now.

"He's not going to show any mercy to you next practice." Torrin murmured to Colan as they left the field. He glanced at the otter. "You _sure_you haven't pick up a sword before today?"

"Aye." Said Colan. "Did I really do that well? I don't feel like it."

Torrin laughed, "I'm not surprised. I'm still amazed that you had the strength and nerve to pull out that throwing knife I gave you." He glanced at the sun. "C'mon, we can clean you up a bit before my tutor comes."

_ ~~***~~ _

Colan groaned with relief as Torrin smoothed a poultice over the welts Barzkul's practice sword had made. He began to re-dress Colan's back but thought better of it. "Those scabs can air for awhile. They need it."

A loud knock made Colan jump. Torrin straightened and looked toward the door. "That must be him." He said as he strode out of the room.

Colan was hard on his heels. "Who is this "teacher" of yours? I never heard you mention him by name, or even tell me what he looks like!"

Torrin shrugged, "He likes to keep his job as my teacher a secret, and you can hardly blame him."

Colan groaned, "There y' go again, he! I'm gonna meet him anyway, so who is he?

Torrin opened the door with a grin, "He's himself, of course."

"You!"

Sanem smiled sheepishly. "Yeah."

Colan sputtered, "You...You've lied to us all those times you told us you work in the orchard?"

The squirrel stepped in and closed the door behind him. "Not really, I work there most days, then every few days the guards drag me off and I come here." He shrugged, "Can you blame me for not telling you?"

Colan relaxed his tensed shoulders. "I guess not, everyone in the compound would kill you if they found out." Colan chewed on his lip. "Which brings me to ask...what do they think about us now?"

Sanem shifted his paws. "Wow, you get down to the difficult stuff fast don'cha?" He sat down on one of the chairs, sighing. "Beasts that knew your family don't hold what's happened against you, though that might change if you and Torrin act anything like friends. The beasts that don't know you though...you're not very popular among them."

Colan sighed, "I suppose they would feel that way. It's not like they're gonna pity me at all." He looked down, "It's not like I have any friends anyway."

Torrin stepped forward and put a paw on Colan's shoulder. "I'm your friend now, aren't I?"

Colan shrugged his paw off. "You'd be better off if you weren't."

Torrin drew back, looking hurt. "Wha? Why?"

The otter looked away and took a deep, shuddering breath. "I-I've had two real friend in my life, okay? And both of them have died." Colan closed his eyes. "I'm afraid that if we become close, you'll die too."

Torrin stepped forward again. Placing his paws on Colan's shoulders, he spun the otter around until Colan was facing him. "Colan," he said quietly, "Colan, even if I did die, I'd rather die knowing that I've had a friend."

Colan looked at him through tear-filled eyes. "T-Thanks, i-it's not often somebeast is willing to by my friend, especially since Ripfur hates me."

Sanem smiled at the new friendship. "So Torrin, have you laid down the ground orders for Colan?"

The otter looked up in confusion and apprehension. Torrin grinned, "No." Walking to the center of the room he turned to Colan. "Now listen up, I don't want to have to repeat this." Colan looked from Torrin to Sanem in confusion. The squirrel was only grinning widely, like he had been given a basket of nuts. "First," Torrin continued, "You take orders from me and only me. And that means you need to hear it from my lips. Anything else you can decide whether or not to follow." Colan's brows furrowed as he became even more confused. Torrin went on. "Secondly, you are not to call me by anything other than Torrin while we are alone. Of course, you'll have to pretend in public, but even then I won't ask any more of you then is necessary." Colan's confused stare turned into a smile as he realized that the orders were actually granting him freedom. "Thirdly, I give you permission to carry weapons, and use then to defend yourself. And lastly, don't hesitate to say anything to me. To you, I'm just Torrin."

Colan grinned, "I can follow those orders...Master."

Torrin glared at him, "You broke one already!"

Sanem stepped in. "Okay you two, stop it. Torrin, you have your studies, I'll begin Colan with his reading.

_ ~~***~~ _

"Okay, so that's an N, and that there's a U, and that...that's a T. So that spells..." Colan furrowed his brow, lips moving as he mumbled out the different sounds and fit them together. Then he laughed, "Ha, you would pick 'nut', typical squirrel."

A knock on the door interrupted their studying. Torrin motioned for Colan to open the door, turning back to his studies as Sanem moved to stand before him, head bowed and paws clasped behind his back.

Colan opened the door and found two guards standing there. "It is time for the slave to return to the compound." One said, rubbing a black-furred thumb over the pommel of his sword.

Colan nodded and turned back inside. "Master, guards are here to return the slave to the compound. Torrin looked up and waved a paw dismissively. Sanem bowed and shuffled out of the room, head down.

As the door closed, Colan turned and slumped into a nearby chair. "Do you get nervous every time the guards come?"

Torrin shrugged, "You get used to it after awhile I guess. The guards think of me as absent-minded because I don't pay attention to what others do around me." The ferret put his books away and pulled Colan up off the couch. "So, how did your first lesson go?"

The otter smiled, "It was confusing at first, but if you really concentrate, it makes sense. Though," his face fell, "I'm still not very good."

Torrin clapped him on the back, "You'll get better, I know you will!" He noticed Colan's face screw up in pain and suddenly remembered the otter's wounds. "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you alright?"

Colan nodded weakly, and swallowed before replying. "Yeah, I'm just a little sore."

Torrin took the otter's wrist and pulled him towards the tower stairs. Once inside the tower, he pushed Colan down on his cot. "Lay there on your stomach. I'm gonna get some more salve." The ferret walked off grumbling. "A little sore my footpaw! He's gonna take it easy these next few day if I need to tie him down!"

Colan smiled softly as he lay on his stomach, muzzle in the pillow. The ferret really did seem to care, and Sanem sure liked him. Colan really wanted to trust Torrin, but his past experiences with any of the "vermin" types had been filled only with pain. It was hard to get past that view of them now. Mentally reviewing his choices, Colan came to a decision. He would trust Torrin with his life, the ferret had control over it anyway, and he would do his best to keep Torrin out of harm's way. He chuckled slightly; nobeast would expect a slave to act as a guard.

A soft touch startled him, and he realized that he had dozed off. His body tensed for a moment, then relaxed as he recognized the feeling as Torrin rubbing a salve onto his back. He sighed at the cool sensation and Torrin chuckled.

"You like that, don't you?"

Colan's answer came as a pleased moan. "Yess..."

Torrin's voice soothed him. "Now sleep, I'll take care of myself, you rest and heal."

Colan's eyes drifted shut as he fell into a deep slumber.

Torrin lounged on the stone stairs and watched the sleeping form of his slave, his charge, his friend. In some ways the otter seemed to have maturity far beyond what he should, and in others he seemed to be just a cub.

Colan began shifting, whimpering and moaning in his sleep. Torrin hurried over and placed a paw on the otter's head. "Shh, Colan, you're safe here." At his murmurings the otter quieted and relaxed. Torrin bit his lip as he looked at Colan. He'd do his best to keep him from harm from now on, the otter deserved that.

Torrin sat on the stairs for a long time, sometimes reading, sometimes watching Colan. He wondered how much the otter trusted him. However much (or little) it was, he'd strive to make sure that trust was well-placed.

_ ~~***~~ _

The sun shining through the tower window was what finally woke Colan. After a momentary wave of alarm he remembered what Torrin had said and relaxed. Swinging off the bed, he noticed a piece of paper lying on the ground. Picking it up, he studied the writing. After a few minutes of intense concentration, he managed to make out the note.

Colan,

I had some things I needed to do. Food is on the table.

Torrin

Colan walked to the dining area and found a bowl of porridge. It was cold, but that was his fault for sleeping in.

He had just finished eating when a knock came at the door. Hurrying over, he unlocked it and swung it open to reveal a burly rat on the other side.

"Can I help you, sir?" Colan asked politely, hoping that the rat would leave, his looks made him nervous.

The rat smirked at him. "Is your master here?"

Colan shook his head. "No, but he should be back later, can I-"

"Good." The rat shoved Colan back and strode into the room. Colan yelped as he landed on his back. The rat drew a wickedly curved dagger. "The cap'n isn't pleased that you left his diving crew, especially since you two were on such good terms."

Colan gulped as he scooted backwards across the floor. He slid his paw along his belt for the dagger Torrin had given him and whimpered when he remembered that he had taken it off when he went to bed.

The rat grinned and picked Colan up by the front of his tunic, muscles rippling under his fur as he held the otter at arm's length, paws off the ground. Colan wrapped his paws around the arm that was holding him like a playtoy, wondering why he hadn't had the sense to keep the door shut. Torrin had a key, why in the world did he think it was the ferret knocking?

The blade inched toward him. "The cap'n wants yew t' have one final lesson."

In a last-ditch effort Colan spun, his heavy rudder slamming into the back of the rat's locked elbow. The burly guard howled in pain and dropped him, clutching his arm close to his chest. Colan sprang to his footpaws and sprinted off; the rat's enraged shouts lending speed to his footpaws.

Colan slid into his room, pausing only for a moment to grab his saber and dagger before taking the steps two at a time up to Torrin's room. Bursting through the door, he looked around frantically for a place to hide. Spying the ladder set into the wall, he darted up it with a speed he didn't know he had. Rushing across the top of the tower he skidded to a stop and looked over the side, gulping at the long drop to the ground below. The strip of brown below looked tiny, sandwiched between the river and the castle walls, and there was no way to get down without pulverizing the bones in his legs. Sighing, he turned back to the trapdoor. He'd have to make his stand here.

The rat growled as he rushed through the rooms, indiscriminately knocking things over. He didn't have time for this! The Prince would come back at any moment and then where would he be? This was supposed to be an easy task, go in when the Prince wasn't around, stab the whelp, and get out. No problem, right? He grunted. "Easy? I didn't know he'd be so flamin' fast!"

A rustling made him grin and turn, so the whelp had gone up the tower, had he? Well, that made cornering him all the easier. He walked in and grinned at the cot beneath the window. The Prince liked this one a lot already. Confident that the otter wasn't in this area of the tower, he mounted the stairs. The rat's eyes widened as he pushed open the door to the Prince's room. He had never seen anything so extravagant in his life. A soft noise made him turn just in time to see a shadow move away from the square of light cast from a hole in the ceiling. The rat gave a snarling grin as he clamped his dagger between his teeth and pulled himself up the ladder.

Colan felt his heart beat faster as the rat hauled himself through the trapdoor. As he stood and took the knife from between his teeth Colan felt all delusions of grandeur desert him. He couldn't take this rat on with only one lesson under his belt. The only reason he had beaten Barzkul was because the weapons master hadn't expected him to continue and wasn't actually trying to kill him. Against sombeast who was actually trying to kill him, he stood no chance.

Sheathing his saber and knife, he sprinted across the tower. Planting a footpaw on the top of the low wall he pushed off, spreading his arms wide as he sailed away from the tower, the rat's dagger passing harmlessly beneath him as he soared out over empty space.

Colan was surprised at how calm he felt. Diving from this height into a river he hadn't ever swum in before was a stupid thing to do, but he hadn't had much choice. He felt the wind start to cut through his fur as he gathered speed, angling for the water. Taking a deep breath, he brought his paws forward over his head just in time to cut into the water.

The impact left him dazed, with barely enough presence of mind to swim back to the surface. Taking a deep breath he lay back and rested, not registering the current or the bank passing by slowly. His eyes drifted shut as the adrenaline left his body.

_ ~~***~~ _

I wonder if Colan's still asleep. Torrin thought as he neared his rooms. He felt great, although a little tired from the free practice day he had had that morning. Lunch had been quiet and after he had deflected a few questions on the whereabouts of Colan not a lot of fuss was made about it.

Torrin grabbed the handle of the door to insert the key but, to his surprise, the door was already open. That's odd... He though as he pushed it open, calling out. "Colan, I'm...Whoa."

The ferret looked in on his room in a state of shock. Furniture lay overturned, the doors to the other rooms swung crookedly on their hinges. Torrin unsheathed his saber, the ring of the blade giving him a small measure of comfort. Gripping the hilt tightly, he moved into the room cautiously, eyes darting to every corner, every shadow.

"Colan? You here?"

A noise from the tower made him turn. Moving slowly, he leaned against the wall next to the door. A rat soon slunk out of the tower, putting a dagger away. Torrin was slightly relieved not to see any blood on it. He couldn't banish the thoughts of other ways to die though. The rat began to make his way to the door, muttering.

"I hope the fall killed him, Cap'n's not gonna be happy if he gets away."

Torrin's blood ran cold, what had this rat done to Colan? In four swift strokes, the rat's belt dropped to the ground, along with his dagger, and he was pressed against the wall with the tip of the Prince's saber pressed against his throat. The rat's eyes grew wide with fear at the sight of the furious ferret in front of him.

"Talk fast and truthfully rat, and you may yet live." Torrin pressed the blade harder against the rat's throat. "What did you do to my slave?"

"I didn't harm him."

"Then where is he?"

The rat looked away. "I...I don't know."

Torrin sighed as he pressed the blade against the rat's neck even harder. He said the next few words slowly, as though speaking to a babe. "What happened to him the last time you saw him?"

The rat bit his lip and whimpered before replying. "He jumped off the tower."

Torrin's jaw tightened, "If he is dead, you will become Runtha's new tester, he discarded the last one. If he is alive though, I'll let him decide what to do with you."

A look of terror came over the rat's face a second before he lunged forward, slitting his own throat. Torrin stepped back in revulsion as the rat fell to his knees, blood gushing from his sliced arteries and wind whistling through the opening in his slashed windpipe. With one final rattle, the air left his body and he slumped sideways, dead.

Torrin stared at the body for only a moment before sprinting out of his rooms. Dashing down the hallways he spotted a couple of guards. "Remove the corpse of the intruder from my room." He shouted as he rushed past. He had no doubt that Colan had meant to land in the river, the only question was, did he make it and, if so, where was he now?