Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 10:17:03 EST
From: CMystryl@aol.com
Subject: Re: Neriam-10

*I want to thank all the people who have been writing to me about this
story.  This is my first story in the third person, and the feedback has
been greatly appreciated.  I do apologize for the length of time between
installments, but life does take precedence over writing, I'm afraid.*

	Alsuin looked over to Neriam and said, "Stay here.  I'll send Nell
up for you after I've had a few moments with my Master.
	Neriam nodded, and sighed in relief as his friend left the suite
alone.  He hadn't felt so afraid in a long time, and wondered why.  He
strode over to the window to see a large black coach with ornate gold and
silver gilding along the ledges and corners.  The coat of arms on the side
of the door bore a rapier point-down surrounded by a laurel crown.  Four
large, black stallions stood at the halter, each one sleek and proud.
Neriam didn't know a lot about horses, but these seemed some of the finest
he'd ever seen.  Their backs were straight and strong and their necks
arched finely.  Two men in livery-unrelieved black with silver-lined tunics
and rapiers-stood by the door.
	After a few moments, Nell knocked quietly on Neriam's door.  "Young
Master," she inquired.  He turned.  "The Master and Young Master Alsuin are
waiting for you in the main library.  If you'll come with me?"
	Looking down at his barely-clad body nervously, Neriam nodded.  As
he followed Nell down the main stairway, he used his training in the
monastery to summon all the calm he could to stop his body from shaking.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath once they reached to the closed
door to the main library.  The wood was carved with a relief of a knight in
full plate resting his hands on the pommel of a large sword point down in
front of him.
	Nell looked at the boy and waited for him to open his eyes before
knocking once and opening the door.  As she ushered him inside, Nell gave
him a quick rub on his shoulder to reassure him.
	Inside, the room was filled floor to ceiling with wooden
bookshelves crammed with wood- and leather-bound books.  Standing in the
center of the room, Alsuin seemed almost to glow an emerald green, his
silver hair shining as he shook his head emphatically.  Before him stood a
tall, well-built man.  He wore a bright red tunic and hose cut in a
military style with gold epaulettes and some thread-of-gold embroidery on
the sleeves.  His iron-gray hair and goatee gave his face a hardness as
though stone, but his eyes glowed with hidden relief and pleasure as he
looked at Alsuin.  They both had turned at the sound of Neriam's arrival
and Alsuin held out a welcoming hand.  Neriam joined him at his left
shoulder and together they faced Elmar Dulany, Captain of the former
Prince's Company of Reardon.  Elmar looked at Neriam for a moment and he
smiled appreciatively.  "Well chosen, Alsuin.  But isn't he young to be
your courtier?"  He laughed at the look of confusion on their faces.  "Oh
come now, Alsuin.  I'm not a fool.  I know why you had him dressed this
way.  And I won't deny that your choice has hit a nerve.  This boy could be
accepted into any of the noble Houses of the realm, and you brought him
here to me.  But still, I do not have need of another apprentice."
	"Sir," Alsuin countered quickly, "this is not a new apprentice.
May I introduce Neriam, acolyte of the Monastery of Araman in southern
Melkor.  He's the one who rescued me from my kidnappers and helped me to
safely arrive here."
	"Really?"  Elmar raised an inquiring eyebrow at Neriam.  "Would you
mind informing me as to exactly how one such as you did that?  Though you
are young, I won't deny you are quite handsome.  If you sold your services
for his release, I will recompense you.  But-"
	Neriam blushed and Alsuin cut him off.  "Master Elmar, I don't
think you heard me.  He is an acolyte of Araman, the lord of battle."
	Elmar hummed momentarily.  "Come with me.  You will give me a
demonstration of your skills, then."  He turned and walked out of the
library at a brisk, military stride.
	The two boys looked at each other.  Alsuin moved his hands slightly
in a fake mystical gesture and shook his head.  Neriam nodded and shrugged
helplessly.
	Elmar moved out to the training ground and gestured for the two
guardsmen by his carriage to join him.  As the boys joined him he said,
"Alsuin has told me what odds you overcame, Neriam.  Prove it.  Jochaim and
Jeremi are my two best guards.  Face them to a standstill, and I'll
actually believe him.  Unfortunately," he added wryly, "I have to do this.
I've taught the boy too well to know when he's telling the truth."
	Neriam shrugged.  "If you like, but I'm not exactly dressed for
fighting."  "Nonsense.  Those clothes aren't hampering you.  Remove them if
you like, but I have no uniform to fit you."  He exchanged a conspiratorial
grin with Alsuin as Neriam struggled with his options-or lack thereof.
	Neriam stepped back into a defensive stance.  Both guards
approached warily, recognizing his familiarity with fighting.  Elmar nodded
approvingly as the guardsmen attacked simultaneously from flanking
positions.  Jochaim thrust out with a quick punch as Jeremi launched a kick
at Neriam's midsection.  Neriam spun, knocking the kick aside with his
forearm and launching out with a spin kick that slammed into the side of
Jochaim's head.  The guard spun and dropped to the ground as Neriam
followed through with a punch to Jeremi's chest.  Jeremi blocked with the
side of his arm and quickly counterattacked with rapid-fire punches.
Neriam dodged the first two, blocked the third with his arm, and quickly
snagged the wrist of the fourth punch.  He stepped sideways and placed his
palm against Jeremi's now-straightened elbow, threatening to break it.
Jeremi tried to bring his other fist across and Neriam stuck his foot
behind Jeremi's knee, dropping him down to his back.  As he rose, he
noticed Jochaim had drawn his rapier and was advancing.
	Spitting blood, the guard thrust viciously with his weapon.  Neriam
sidestepped the lunge and stepped in, trying to minimize the effectiveness
of the weapon.  As Jochaim raised his arm to deliver a downward cut, Neriam
stepped in with a cross block, grabbed his wrist and twisted, forcing the
arm to twist and straighten, making the surprised guard double over to
avoid dislocating his own arm.  Neriam grabbed the rapier from his
nerveless fingers and slammed the hilt into his back as he brought his knee
up into the belly of the guard at the same time.  Gasping, Jochaim dropped
to the ground and did not rise.  Neriam whirled the rapier around in his
hand with only the slightest hint of unfamiliarity, and placed the point at
the neck of Jeremi.  He looked up to see Elmar's approving smile.
	"Well done.  Well done.  You are a very skilled fighter.  It seems
Alsuin was telling me the truth.  Sorry about this, but after you're here
for a little longer, you'll understand.  Welcome to Reardon."
	Alsuin whooped loudly and Neriam helped the two groaning guards to
their feet.
	They nodded at him, neither betraying his feelings at being beaten
by a boy less than half their age.
	Placing an arm companionably around Neriam's shoulders, Elmar led
him into the house.  "You see, my boy, this whole kingdom is filled with
the best: the most beautiful, the most skilled warriors, the shrewdest
traders.  Being the best means that we have no one to compete with save
ourselves."
	Neriam nodded, somewhat understanding.  "So, despite the façade
of beauty, the entire realm is ripe with politics, plotting and intrigue."
Alsuin smiled.
	"Now," Elmar continued, "I've never played by those rules, and so
consequently have friends all over the place; from the meanest salon to the
palace itself."  He smiled conspiratorially.  "For saving Alsuin and
returning him to me, you have my unending thanks and any reward you desire.
For proving your worth in combat, I'm willing to offer you more.  If you
like, you are welcome to join my employment."
	"Huh?"
	"Would you like to be my next apprentice?"
	"What does that mean," Neriam wanted to know.
	"Well, it means that you'll do a lot of what Alsuin is doing.  I'll
be training you towards my purposes.  I assure you, they aren't evil ones,"
he added, seeing Neriam's discomfort.
	"Does that mean that I'd be...um, dedicated to Amarah?"
	Elmar gave him a cocky grin.  "Do you want to be?"
	"I'm not sure.  I don't think so."
	"Then you don't have to be."
	"Can I think it over?"
	"Of course.  But for tonight, we'll have a party to celebrate
Alsuin's return," Elmar exclaimed.  "You both prepare.  Alsuin, stick close
to our young friend; don't let any of the wrong people too close to him
tonight."  Alsuin nodded amiably.  "Come on, Neriam.  You're gonna love
this!"  Taking his hand, he led his friend back upstairs.

*I apologize for how short this installation is, but from here on, I have a
new staging point for the story, so this seemed a decent break.*