The Rondari Commonwealth: Record of Thaddeus Edurwood


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    Chapter 2: Roadblock


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    Thaddeus’ father had been with the proctors for more than twice the time his interview had taken. Upon returning, his father had congratulated him with a warm smile and a hint of pride. He told him that everything was in order for his attendance as they left the waiting room.


    With the Academy’s commencement ceremony still two months away, however, Thaddeus and his father would be making the trip home for now. Thaddeus would return alone when it was time to officially begin his training.


    As they were making their way out of the administrative building, he saw two familiar children his age sitting on benches, both with a parent by their side. They were giving him curious looks as he and his father moved forward. Thaddeus wasn’t surprised by the looks. After all, he had been summoned to the waiting room not even an hour ago. They must have thought something had gone wrong for him to be returning so soon.


    Being the son of the Duke of the Northern Territory, he had been taught from an early age of all the different noble houses and families under his father’s purview. Granted, he had yet to meet all of the nobility in the North, he had met many of them over the years at one event or another. These two families, however, were more familiar than most.


    The man was Lord Selten, accompanying his eldest daughter and heir apparent, Clair Selten. The Seltens, although quite a distance away from Thaddeus’ home of Edurwood, visited on a semi-regular basis due to Lord Selten’s position.


    The woman, Lady Klein, and her second son, Kolton, lived only two days ride from Edurwood, so Thaddeus saw them even more often.


    “Lord Edurwood,” the man said as he stood and offered a respectful bow to Thaddeus’ father, his daughter following his example a moment later.


    “Lord Selten. Heir Selten,” his father said with a slight bow of his own, which Thaddeus mimicked.


    This was followed by a similar, yet slightly more casual greeting from Lady Klein.


    She gave Thaddeus a smile when he offered his own greeting, but she quickly returned her attention to his father, genuine worry apparent on her features.


    “Pardon my saying, my Lord, but that was a rather brief interview, was it not? Is everything well with young Thaddeus?”


    While Lord Selten seemed worried as well, he refrained from saying anything.


    “More than well, my Lady. I assure you,” his father said, clapping Thaddeus on the shoulder. “Let’s just say it wasn’t a difficult task for the proctors to determine which course Thaddeus here would best follow.”


    At this, Lady Klein’s son stepped forward with an excited glint in his eyes. “What course did you get, Heir Edurwood? I’m hoping for one of the combat programs myself.”


    They boy’s mother frowned at her son. Thaddeus figured it was in part due to him basically interrupting not just a lord, but the Lord of the Northern Territory. Beyond that, he assumed the lady wasn’t thrilled on the prospect of her second son seeing combat. The woman’s husband had been killed in action not two cycles ago, after all.


    “Kolton,” she said in a disapproving tone. “Apologize to Duke Edurwood.”


    “It’s no worry, Katherine,” Thaddeus’ father said with an easy smile. “You know I’m not that easily offended.”


    “You are one of the few exceptions, Conrad,” she said in amusement, her expression turning to a mild glare as she looked to her son. “The boy will find himself in trouble one of these days.”


    Just then, an Academy Administrator called for ‘Mr. Klein’ to report to the waiting room, which Thaddeus was thankful for. He was still conflicted about his recommendation for the Lunar Development Course. Along with the fact that none of them would likely believe him, he didn’t want to give that information away just yet.


    Saying farewell to the Kleins, Thaddeus’ father turned to speak to Lord Selten. As the two lords stepped away to likely speak of things that held no interest to Thaddeus, he turned to Clair.


    “Heir Edurwood, a pleasure,” she said with a haughty tone while holding out her hand.


    Taking the offered hand, he placed a chaste kiss upon it as tradition dictates. Pushing his annoyance at the interview aside, he forced a polite smile on his face. He didn’t want her worrying about him, after all.


    “Heir Selten, likewise,” he said, putting on an air of importance of his own. After a few moments of silence, Clair started to giggle. Another few moments, and she was having a hard time controlling her laughter. Thaddeus himself had broken from character and started to chuckle along with her.


    “How are you always able to hold a straight face longer than me?” she asked once she calmed down a bit.


    “Practice, Clair. Lots and lots of practice,” he said with a grin.


    “Good thing I’ll get plenty of practice from now on. Father said almost half of our class will be other nobles,” she said with a slight pout.


    “My father said the same thing. Most of them will be from the Northern Territory, though, so they shouldn’t be too snooty,” he offered.


    “I suppose you’re right,” she said in thought. “But what about when we advance to the Senior Academy? We’ll have to deal with nobles from the other territories!” she said in mock dismay.


    Thaddeus couldn’t help but chuckle again. “Don’t stress yourself out, Clair. We’re a long way away from that.”


    “Four years isn’t that long, Ted.”


    “Maybe. But four years of practice is better than nothing.”


    “I suppose,” she said with a glum look.


    “Anyway, how have you been? It’s been some time,” he said, changing the subject.


    “Has it?” she asked, gaining a small grin. “Did you miss me that much, dear Thaddeus? We were in Edurwood not three cycles ago, were we not?”


    Thaddeus shook his head letting out a fake sigh of exasperation. “It’s just small talk, Clair.”


    “If you say so,” she said with a smirk. “But, I’ve been well enough. The ride here was longer than I would have liked, but it was pleasant all the same.”


    “I suppose I’m lucky in that regard. It’s only three days ride to Edurwood.”


    “You’re heading home then?” she asked with a hint of disappointment.


    “Yes, we were on our way to the stables when we met you and the Kleins.”


    She seemed to sulk at this, a frown making its way to her lips. “I’ll be staying here until term begins. I would only be home for a month if I were to return, and I don’t fancy six weeks of riding in such a short span of time.”


    “That’s a shame. I’m sure you would have liked to see your family again before then,” he said, patting her arm in sympathy. “With any luck, your interview will be brief so you can settle in before the moon rises.”


    “Speaking of the interview,” she began, her frown turning to a look of curiosity, “what course did you get? You never answered the Klein boy.”


    Thaddeus felt his eyebrow twitch. Why did he have to bring up the damned interview?


    “I’ll be in a combat course,” he answered, keeping it vague.


    While not a technical lie, for the Lunar Development Course was first and foremost a combat course, it was on a whole other level compared to the other courses. He just hoped she wouldn’t question him further on it.


    “Perhaps we’ll be in the same program, then. I’m also aiming for a combat course,” she said as their fathers approached, apparently done with their conversation.


    “Father says I would do well in any combat courses that are magic-focused,” she said with a hint of confidence, mixed with embarrassment. An odd combination, Thaddeus thought.


    Lord Selten, on the other hand, had a face that was dripping with pride. Thaddeus couldn’t help but smile.


    “I stand by what I said. My Clair will be the best damned water Wybrani in the academy!” Lord Selten declared, puffing out his chest as he put an arm around Clair’s shoulders.


    “Father…” Clair muttered, her face gaining a bit of color.


    Both lords chuckled, Thaddeus’ father patting Lord Selten on the back. “I believe you, Mikael. I believe you,” he said, turning to Thaddeus. “It’s time we make our way to the stables, son. Clair, it was good to see you.”


    “You as well, Lord Edurwood,” she said with a small bow.


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    “Lord Selten, farewell,” Thaddeus said with a slight bow of his own. “Heir Selten, I’ll see you at the start of term. Until then, stay well,” he said with a smile.


    “Same to you, Heir Edurwood,” she said, offering a smile of her own.


    With their farewells done, Thaddeus and his father continued on their way to the stables, hoping to cover a good amount of ground before the moon rose.


    His father was looking at him with ill-concealed mirth as he always did after meeting with nobility. He knew just how much Thaddeus disliked standing on ceremony and tradition and being proper.


    “Just wait, Ted. When you begin your training, the pomp and circumstance will be constant.”


    “Clair and I were just talking about that. The only positive is most of our peers will be from the Northern Territory as well, so it shouldn’t be too bad,” Thaddeus said. When his father didn’t respond, he glanced up and saw a smirk on his father’s face. “Right?”


    “You’ll have to find out for yourself, Ted.”


    “Fantastic,” he mumbled as the stables came into view.


    When they arrived, the stable hands were directed to prepare their party’s horses. He stayed at the stables to prepare his own mount while his father made his way to the nearby tavern to retrieve the rest of their group.


    He entered the stall that was housing Ash, his beautiful gray courser, and stroked the sides of her neck.


    “Sorry, girl. You couldn’t come inside with me. You know that,” he said when she seemed to be ignoring him, turning her head as if annoyed.


    His father often joked that Ash had the attitude of a Restonian – easy to displease and prideful to a fault. Thaddeus liked to think his father was right. Ash was a Restonian bred courser, after all.


    Horses were known to have attitudes, but no one back home in Edurwood had ever met any animal with an attitude as pronounced as Ash’s. Thankfully, her personality also included a deep affection for him.


    She could be very temperamental, especially around strangers, which was why Thaddeus usually readied her himself. She had once kicked an unfamiliar stable hand with such force, he had feared for the poor boy’s life. He was lucky the kick had only caused some bruising and a broken arm.


    He knew she would be unhappy about being cooped up in the Academy’s small stable while he had been at his interview. Back home, the stables were much more spacious and had access to a large paddock where she could run around and expend her youthful energy. In addition to the cramped stables here at the Academy, she had been around unfamiliar people, further adding to her agitation.


    Maybe he could find out if there were other stables on Academy lands where he could board Ash. He would hate to leave her in such a confined space throughout his four years of training.


    If the Academy didn’t have anything more suitable, he’d go so far as to check the nearby villages for a stable she’d be comfortable in. If she was this annoyed after barely an hour, he didn’t want to think about what she’d be like leaving her here for days on end.


    He had hoped being around his father’s horse and the horses of the rest of their party would help, seeing as she was familiar with all of them. It seemed it hadn’t, given Ash’s attitude.


    “We’re leaving any minute now. You’ll be able to run as much as you want, okay?”


    He moved his hand to her forehead, scratching just the way she liked it. After a bit more soothing, she relented, giving a neigh as she nuzzled into Thaddeus’ hand.


    “There’s a good girl,” he said in a gentle tone, stroking her white mane.


    After giving her plenty of attention, he proceeded to strap his saddle and check her hooves. He had reset her shoes just before leaving home, but it couldn’t hurt to make sure they were still in good condition.


    Just as he was finishing her final preparations for the journey home, his father returned with the captain of the guards who had accompanied them from Edurwood.


    The guard captain was in his mid-twenties. His short, wavy dark hair and smooth face made him look even younger than he was. The man may very well be the youngest person in his position in the entire North, if not the entire Commonwealth. But, Thaddeus knew the man’s title was well deserved.


    Behind his youthful visage and easygoing demeanor was an ever-vigilant gaze and a skill at arms that rivaled more than a few knights. His father had once said that the man was likely the most talented swordsman in the whole of the Northern Territories. Furthermore, the man was a natural leader and held the respect of nearly all his fellow guardsmen.


    “Is Princess Ash ready, my Lord?” the man asked, a wide grin on his face.


    Thaddeus shot him an annoyed look. While heir to the lordship of Edurwood, he technically wasn’t a lord. But, it was proper for those of lower classes to address the recognized heir of a noble family as such. Seeing as he and the captain spent a good amount of time in each other’s company and were rather friendly, Thaddeus had asked him to just call him by his given name.


    The man never did.


    “Yes, Captain Burke, Ash is ready,” he replied, not even attempting to hide the annoyance in his tone, much to the captain’s amusement.


    The man turned to the half dozen guards who had followed from the tavern. “Mount up, boys. We’re heading home!” he said to some cheer.


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    Thaddeus spent the beginning of the journey exercising Ash, who had an incredible amount of energy. He’d run her ahead of the group, followed by one or two of the guards for his protection. Then, he’d run her back to the rest of the party.


    This went on for about an hour until Ash seemed to be satisfied, at which point they rejoined the column of Edurwood riders.


    The rest of the horses seemed content to go at a normal travel pace. Thus, his father spent much of the start of the trip talking with the guards.


    Normally, Thaddeus would be doing the same, as he enjoyed speaking with them. The guards, most of them ex-soldiers, always had interesting stories to tell.


    This time, though, he kept to himself. He didn’t want any of them to worry, his mind still conflicted over his interview. Amongst other things.


    He made it through the remainder of the day keeping mostly to himself. The few times he did talk to any of the guards, they didn’t seem to notice his mood. Or, if they did, they didn’t comment on it.


    It wasn’t until late morning the next day when his father rode up beside him.


    He didn’t say anything at first, likely deciding how to address Thaddeus’ mood. When he did speak, it thankfully wasn’t about his mental state.


    “For someone who dislikes proper etiquette, you did well with the Seltens and Kleins.”


    “Why would I not act like a proper little heir?” Thaddeus said with a bit of sarcasm, a true grin on his face. It was always fun joking with his father, bad mood or not.


    His father chuckled, shaking his head. “That was an unexpected meeting between nobility. Normally, you have advance notice of any such meetings. I’m just proud of you, is all.”


    “I’m not a ten-year old boy any longer, father. Besides, it’s not like I would do anything to embarrass you,” he said, his grin growing larger. “At least not on purpose.”


    They both laughed at that, a comfortable silence taking place of the conversation for a few moments.


    “Why are you bringing this up now, anyway? That was yesterday.”


    “When we parted ways with the Selten’s, my mind was on something else. Lord Selten brought something concerning to my attention,” he said, adopting a pensive look for a moment. “And while we were riding yesterday, you didn’t seem like you wanted to converse with anyone.”


    “Was it that obvious?” Thaddeus asked.


    His father chuckled. “I think even the horses noticed.”


    “Great,” Thaddeus mumbled. He hoped he hadn’t rubbed any of the guards the wrong way.


    “Anyway, I know how much the etiquette of the nobility annoys you. I was the same way when I was your age.”


    This was a surprise to Thaddeus. He had a hard time imagining his father as anything other than Lord Edurwood, Duke of the Northern Territory.


    “Really?”


    “Yes. I’m sure I caused my own father to go gray a few years early,” his father said with another laugh.


    “But just as you are now, I was the heir to Edurwood. Even though it seemed so tedious and unimportant, I tried my best to act with proper etiquette. Eventually it came so easy, it wasn’t even a hassle anymore.”


    “You will one day lead this family, this house, these lands, and everyone and everything in the Northern Territory. While it may be tiresome, proper etiquette is traditional of the nobility, and tradition is important to them.”


    “I know, father,” Thaddeus said in a serious tone before gaining a smirk. “I promise to do my best to be a good little heir. But if I end up punching some arrogant lord-to-be, I apologize in advance.”


    His father just sighed, but couldn’t hide the slight smirk from Thaddeus as they came to the crest of a hill. After a bit more conversation, his father rode ahead to speak to Captain Burke at the front of the column.


    Thaddeus rode alone, the nearest guards having a conversation a few horse-lengths behind him. The amusement of joking with his father began to fade as the source of his mood resurfaced in his mind. He couldn’t help but think of what had happened at the interview. It still didn’t make sense – the words of his father and the proctors felt hollow for some reason.


    He continued thinking it over as Ash guided him along.


    “Thaddeus…”


    Shaking his head, he looked to see his father was once again riding alongside him. Hadn’t he just gone to speak with Captain Burke?


    “Yes, father?”


    “You were far away again, son, with that troubled look,” he said with a hint of concern.


    “Sorry, father. My thoughts travelled.”


    “As they often do these days. What’s on your mind this time?”


    Thaddeus remained silent for a moment, observing the scenery. He must have really spaced out, for he hadn’t even realized they’d made it to Baldrom Bridge, hours away from where they’d camped for the night.


    “I was thinking of the interview…”


    “About your fire magic, you mean?”


    “Yes,” he said after another brief silence.


    “I just don’t understand, father. I don’t understand why you say it’s so special or why the proctors thought it was worthy of a recommendation for the Lunar Development Course.”


    His father had a contemplative look on his face before saying, “I’m quite adept at most magics, but my strongest is my earth magic.”


    “Really? The ‘Northern Bulwark’ is good with earth magic?” Thaddeus joked, referring to his father’s nickname from when he was a commander in the Commonwealth’s military.


    His father chuckled, saying, “My point is, as good as I am with earth magic, I was in my twenties by the time I could control it to the level you control your fire magic. And even that took an incredible amount of concentration. It still does. But you, Ted – you do it with an ease I’ve only ever seen a handful of times.”


    Thaddeus didn’t say anything, thinking over his father’s words. Was he really that far ahead?


    “That’s why you want to join Lunar Development. You want to train your other abilities to the point where your fire magic isn’t needed. You hate that your strongest magic is the same that took your brother from us.”


    Thaddeus felt the color drain from his face as he turned to look at his father. He was sure his eyes were as wide as a deer’s at the moment.


    “Lord Edurwood!”


    Turning to the shout, Thaddeus saw Captain Burke rushing toward them with a look of urgency clear upon his face.


    “What is it, Captain?”


    “An attack,” the captain announced as he reached them. “Some of the boys rode ahead and found a caravan in shambles.”


    “Bandits?” Thaddeus asked with a hint of nervousness, his conversation with his father forgotten.


    His father thought for a moment, before shaking his head. “Bandits don’t operate in these regions, Thaddeus. At least not in the numbers needed to take a caravan. I’m not saying it’s an impossibility, but there hasn’t been bandit activity on that scale east of the Great Gorge since before your birth.”


    Thaddeus didn’t say anything more as they picked up the pace, crossing Baldrom Bridge over the Cerulean River. As they followed Captain Burke toward the attack, his sense of unease continued to grow.


    It was only a few minutes later when he noticed a stench on the wind. It was an unpleasant smell, but nothing he couldn’t handle. As they got further, though, Thaddeus found it hard to breath with how thick the air was with the smell. Then, as they crested over a small hill, Thaddeus felt bile rise in his throat at the sight of the ravaged caravan below them. He’d seen people with grave injuries from animal attacks or accidents. He’d seen death before.


    He’d even seen his father execute criminals on a handful of occasions. This, though, was death and destruction on a scale Thaddeus was having trouble comprehending.


    There were at least fifty carts and carriages broken – many of them smoldering from being set alite. What stood out to him the most, though, was the lack of noise. He figured they would hear crying or moaning from the survivors, but they were met with silence instead. He didn’t know how many were in the caravan, but everyone he could see was on the ground, unmoving.


    As he composed himself, he turned to his father whose jaw was clenched, a hard glint in his eyes.


    “If not bandits, who could have done this?”


    “Or what…” his father whispered before dismounting his horse.