In addition to history and cultural lessons to help the boys adapt to their new environment, they were also taught horsemanship, swordsmanship and archery. Such skills were necessary for basic survival in Atlantis. Of course, it would only be cursory instruction. The real training would come at Strongthorne Academy. Bowie was a natural with the sword and Jack was an excellent shot with a bow and arrow. 

The trip to Andaar was meant to be discreet and the boys had to be protected, especially through the portion of the journey crossing the Forest of Quith. An escort of ten Centaur soldiers were assigned, including their original captors, Terrim and Scalt. Besides crossing the forest, it was still a dangerous journey as they would have to ride along the outskirts of Laidir. Tensions between Centaurs and Laidirians were high though there was less animosity in the more rural areas and it wasn’t uncommon for Centaurs to travel the back roads of Laidir on their way to Andaar.

After several weeks of study, it was time for Jack and Bowie to go. As the boys mounted their horses to leave Fronisi, Master Lumens came out to bid them farewell. He first addressed Bowie. “I am confident you will enjoy knight school very much.”

“I’m sure I will,” responded Bowie. “Thank you for putting up with us.”

“The pleasure was all ours,” said Master Lumens. “Bowie, you must work hard to prevent your emotions from guiding you.” 

“That sounds impossible,” said Bowie matter-of-factly. 

Master Lumens laughed heartily then put his hand on Bowie’s arm. “Do the best you can.” 

“Aye, I can always do my best.” Bowie bowed to Master Lumens. 

Lumens returned the bow then addressed Jack. “Don’t forget the advice your grandmother gave you: just be yourself. But to be yourself, you have to discover who you really are. That’s the real work.”

Jack thought about it for a moment and then asked, “Are we ready for what’s to come?”

“Great question,” was all Master Lumens said and stepped away from the escort.

Bowie leaned over to Jack. “Wouldn’t mind if he had a ‘great answer’ to follow it.” Jack nodded in agreement. 

Lumens addressed the soldiers. “Take care of these two. They’re worth the trouble as you well may discover during your journey.” Terrim and Scalt nodded in acknowledgement.

Lumens turned to the boys. “Jack, Bowie, we’ll speak again but not for a time. I bid you good fortune at Strongthorne.”

“Goodbye, Master Lumens,” said Jack as he bowed from his mounted position. Master Lumens bowed back. 

“Master Lumens?”

“Yes, Jack?”

“Much has happened to me, to us, this past month. Most of it still feels like a dream and little of it makes sense. But we do believe there’s a reason for it all. We want you to know that.”

Bowie added, “In other words, we trust you.”

Lumens eyes softened. “Your trust means a great deal to me and I will do everything in my power to be worthy of it.” Master Lumens bowed one last time to the boys. He didn’t stay to watch them leave the compound.

***

The ride through Kentauros was uneventful. They were able to stop daily at inns for meals and rest. Having never ridden horses before coming to Atlantis, Jack and Bowie were both saddle-sore at the end of each day but otherwise they managed well enough. During the journey, they became friends with the soldiers and shared in songs and stories. When they crossed the border into Laidir, that’s when things got dicey. 

Locals scoffed at the sight of the Centaurs. Several inns and shops closed their doors to the group and merchant carts refused to do business with them. Many a night they set up tented camps on the rough terrain well outside of populated areas. Toward the southern end of Laidir, they approached an inn called the Drowned Rat—not the most inviting of names. Regardless, the innkeeper, Angus MacAllister, was mildly cordial to Centaur patrons and at the very least welcomed their money.  

“Angus!” Terrim called out to the innkeeper. Angus came out and though only about five and a half feet tall, was built stout and strong. He didn’t look unhappy to see them but he didn’t look thrilled either.

“What have we got here? You ladies out for a tea party?” asked the innkeeper.

Terrim laughed. “I see your temperament has not improved with time, my old friend.”

“Nor have your looks,” Angus shot back. “And don’t call me ‘friend,’ but if your coin is true, you could have the face of a chimera for all I care.” 

Scalt threw Angus a bag of coins. “We’ll be leaving in the morning.”

“Aye,” said Angus. “Well, don’t just sit on your high horses all day! Come down here with us common folk. Aileen has a batch of venison stew on the fire. That should feed this sorry looking lot and the beds have just been filled with fresh straw so you can get your beauty rest. You sure need it!”

“Your hospitality is always a tonic to a weary traveler,” retorted Scalt.

“He reminds me of my uncle,” Bowie said to Jack.

Angus overheard Bowie’s accent and looked baffled. “What’s a Laidirian doing with this horse lovin’ lot?”

Terrim had a cover story prepared. “I caught him trying to ride off with my horse a few days back. I gave him the choice between losing his hand or becoming my servant for a time.”

“Aye,” said Bowie. “I was desperate to be with a woman and I didn’t really care what she looked like. It’s been so long I wasn’t seeing straight. I didn’t know it was his horse I was hitting on. I thought it might be his sister. You can see the family resemblance.” Everyone stared at Bowie including Angus. Then Angus broke out into a laugh that echoed against the stratosphere. Jack and the other soldiers joined in. Even Terrim laughed, though he had just been gravely insulted.

“That will teach you to make friends with a Laidirian,” scolded Angus.

“I’ll think better of it next time,” acknowledged Terrim.

“Douglas, Donnel, get your sorry butts out here!” yelled Angus to his two sons. “We’ve got some ladies here for tea. Tend to their horses while I make them some wee little sandwiches!”

The group feasted on an excellent stew, compliments of the innkeeper’s wife. As evening approached, everyone retired to the main room which had a roaring fire going to ward off the night’s chill. Douglas and Donnel brought out a recorder and harp respectively and played soothing tunes which aided in the digestion of the venison stew. 

Two guards stood watch outside. The other soldiers inside kept their leather armor on and had their swords close by just in case.

Between the warmth of the fire and the music, Jack and Bowie began dosing off. The soldiers, while relaxed, remained alert. They never forgot they were in Laidir.

The guards rushed inside. “We’ve got company,” said one guard.

Scalt asked, “How many and who are they?”

“Looks like a Laidirian goblin patrol. Sixteen horses, medium armor.”

“Everyone keep your swords by your chairs. Be ready but don’t look ready.” He looked at the innkeeper and his family. “Downstairs is not a good place to be right now.”

“You don’t need to tell us twice.” Angus hurried his family upstairs to hide out. 

Terrim turned to Jack and Bowie. “Stay behind us. It may be fine or it could turn ugly. Depends on their mood.”

The front door opened, letting in the brisk night air. Four Laidirian soldiers, wearing dented armor streaked with blood, walked in. The sergeant, a tall and broad man with jet black hair down to his shoulders, immediately locked eyes with Terrim. A fresh, bloodied gash ran across his right cheek.  

“That explains the rancid smell. I thought ol’ Angus might have been gutting a chimera,” said the Laidirian sergeant. His three men laughed.

Terrim couldn’t just ignore the jibe. “I pray your sword is sharper than your wit.” The Centaurs all laughed. 

“Aye, you can ask the goblins who found out the hard way tonight,” said the sergeant.

“Looks like one of them left you a little something,” said Terrim, pointing to the gash on the sergeant’s face.

The sergeant touched his wound. “You mean this? Just a kiss really. He tried to get a bit amorous but I set things straight.” 

“Come, join us. I’m sure there is enough stew for you and your men—”

The sergeant cut him off and got right in his face. Soldiers on both sides tensed up. “You’re in Laidir!” said the sergeant. “You don’t invite us to stay. We decide whether or not you and your men go!”

“But we were here first,” said Bowie.

The sergeant looked at him. “Who are you and what are you doing with this lot?”

Bowie stuck to the earlier cover story. “Name’s Bowie. They caught me trying to ride off with this one’s horse. I thought it was sister at first. You can see the family resemblance.” It had the same effect as it did earlier in the day. The Laidirians’ laughter filled up the room. Jack playfully elbowed Terrim in the ribs. “That one never gets old,” he said chuckling. Terrim did not return the chuckle. 

“I gave him the choice of being my servant for a bit or losing a hand,” said Terrim.

“Losing your hand would have been less painful than spending time with this lot,” the sergeant said to Bowie.

“I know that now,” responded Bowie, which spurred another round of laughter. Bowie took the sergeant aside and whispered to him. “Look, I owe this bloke another two weeks and he hasn’t treated me half bad. Let me serve you and your men tonight. You’ll get some extra attention and he gets to feel like a hero loaning me out to you as a gesture of friendship. Besides, we’re leaving in the morning.” 

The sergeant thought about it for a while. Truth be told, he and his men were exhausted. Despite his dislike of Centaurs, he knew they had to be tough to travel so far into Laidir and the last thing he needed tonight was a fight ending in needless bloodshed. Bowie had also given him a way out that would help him save face.

The sergeant turned to Terrim. “I suppose if you’d loan out this lad for the night, we may all be able to get along.”

Terrim accepted the deal. “He’s all yours.” 

“If I were you next time, I’d cut off his hand—and stick it in his mouth!” the sergeant said to Terrim as he slapped Bowie on the back. He called out to his soldiers, “Come on, boys! Tonight, we’ll play nice with the horsemen!” He extended his arm to Terrim. They embraced hands to elbows, the handshake of warriors. “Sergeant Garbhan at your service.”

“Captain Terrim at your service.”

The innkeeper and his family came out of hiding. As the evening progressed, stories were shared, music was played and food and drink were served to the contentment of the inn’s warrior patrons.

In the morning, after a hearty breakfast of eggs, cheese, hard bread and a strong drink resembling coffee on steroids, the Centaurs along with Jack and Bowie prepared to depart the inn. But one last exchange of insults between the Laidirian and Centaur leaders was a necessary formality before continuing on their journey.

“Have a safe trip, you pansy kissing toads,” said Sergeant Garbhan.

“I’d make you kiss my bum,” said Terrim. “But your mom beat you to it!”

Everyone laughed.

When the Centaurs were out of earshot, Sergeant Garbhan turned to his men. “I hate to admit it, but I like that lot!”

The escort rode south along the Laidirian boarder without further incident.

***

The sun sat low in the sky as they approached the outskirts of the forest. “We’ll camp here for the night,” said Terrim. “I don’t want to attempt to cross the forest in the dark. Get a fire going right away. And I want two guards on duty.”

Scalt stepped up. “Let me take a quick gander to make sure there aren’t any enemy troops or bandits close by.” 

“Good idea, but don’t stray too far in,” said Terrim.

Scalt proceeded into the forest. At the base of a tree about fifty yards in was a small cave with an opening just big enough to accommodate a man in a crouched position. On the floor of the cave, he noticed the faint glint of a metallic object.

He looked around one last time then removed his sword and set it close by before entering the cave. There was a sharp slope and it was nearly pitch black save for a pinhole of daylight poking through the forest canopy to the cave floor.

Scalt picked up the object, a dagger. The coat of arms on the handle was an eviscerated chimera. “Skul!” he said out loud. Four sets of red eyes opened around the periphery of the cave. Scalt suddenly realized his mistake—he had entered a goblin den and just woke up four of the creatures. With their excellent night vision, the goblins immediately recognized the unwanted visitor in their midst. The goblins hissed, ready to attack. Scalt yelled to cause a diversion and then bolted for the exit.

From the camp, the unmistakable shrill cries of goblins pierced the twilight sky. Terrim called out, “Goblins! Take up defensive positions!” Four of the Centaurs grabbed bows and arrows. Another four grabbed swords and shields and took up formation. Bowie grabbed a spear and positioned himself next to them.

From the edge of the forest, Scalt bolted forth toward the camp. Two deep bloody gashes could be seen running from his lower jaw to his neck. A few seconds behind him were four goblins in hot pursuit.

Jack and Bowie had heard about goblins while in Fronisi but nothing prepared them for seeing the creatures in person. With their black skin, the goblins initially appeared as mere shadows in the twilight but as they got closer, their formidable size and ferocity could not be camouflaged. They were truly terrifying to behold! Each one stood close to seven feet tall though their posture was slightly hunched over like a velociraptor. Their musculature was lean yet proportional to their height. Their hands were similar in structure to human hands but with longer digits tipped with razor-sharp, one-inch claws. Their feet bore a similar shape to human feet but elongated and arched, clearly evolved for speed. And they were fast!

“We can’t shoot without the risk of hitting him!” yelled one of the archers. 

Another soldier called out, “He’s not going to make it in time! They’re gaining on—”

Before the guard finished his sentence, Jack grabbed two flaming branches from the fire and ran toward Scalt as fast as he could.

Bowie called out, “Jack, what are doing?” He didn’t respond.

 “Follow Jack and attack at will,” commanded Terrim.

Bowie wasn’t about to abandon his friend. He followed the others and was able to outrun them because he wasn’t weighed down by armor as they were. 

The goblins were so focused on their quarry, they failed to see what was unfolding in front of them. They were almost on top of Scalt. The lead goblin swiped at the fleeing soldier. The leather armor took the brunt of it, but the wretched claw still managed to catch exposed flesh along Scalt’s rib cage causing another gash. The burst of adrenaline coursed through Scalt’s legs and he actually gained a few feet of distance but then lost his footing and fell to the ground with a thud.

The goblins had their claws out and teeth bared, ready to pounce on their victim when suddenly they were blinded by firelight. Jack waved the flaming branches in front of their faces. He knew most forest creatures feared fire, at least where he was from. He hoped the same instinctual behavior applied in Atlantis. It was a gamble but he didn’t have time to think about the outcome. Fortunately, his gamble paid off. The goblins reared back, putting their hands in front of their faces for protection.

Bowie plunged his spear into the goblin on the left, penetrating its heart and killing it instantly. The other goblins were disoriented, which gave the soldiers time to attack in full force, disposing of the other three.  

“Secure a perimeter,” commanded Terrim. “And get him back to our camp. Pull out the healing kit and start cleaning those wounds. Scalt, are you alright?” he asked concerned.

It stings a bit,” Scalt said coyly. “My sword is fifty paces into the forest by the tree where their den was.”

Terrim turned to two of his soldiers, “Grab torches and retrieve his sword. Be quick about it!” They complied.

“It was foolish of me,” said Scalt, “walking straight into a goblin den. If they hadn’t been sleeping, I’d be dead for sure.”

“If it hadn’t been for Jack’s quick thinking, you’d be dead for sure,” said Terrim.

Scalt turned to Jack. “It’s true. I am grateful for your bravery. I owe you my life.”

“You owe me nothing,” said Jack. “It’s an honor to be of service to one who risks his own life every day.”

“Well said,” said Terrim.

Bowie whispered to Jack, “Quite the poet, aren’t we?”

“Shut it!” Jack whispered back.

Scalt turned to Terrim. “I retrieved this from the cave.” He handed Terrim the Skullian dagger. Scalt became light-headed and nearly blacked out.

“Tend to him,” said Terrim. “He’s badly wounded.”

“Yes, sir!” Two of the soldiers got under each of Scalt’s arms and took him back to the camp.

Jack looked at Terrim. “Sir, you look concerned.”

“It may be nothing, but goblins generally don’t collect things.”

“It could be a coincidence,” offered Bowie.

“Perhaps,” said Terrim.

They waited until morning before riding through the Forest of Quith. With such a large group, the chance of a daytime attack from goblins, chimera or any other forest predators was unlikely. Though the canopy of tree tops was dense, streaks of light managed to squeeze through. Still, great caution was exercised. There could still be bandits or others up to no good, not to mention enemy troops. Jack and Bowie rode in the middle with Scalt who was feeling better after having his wounds dressed and getting a good night’s rest.

A few hours into the ride, the forest noticeably thinned. Scalt explained goblins were not known to inhabit this portion of the forest. By noon, they entered into a small clearing just in front of the tree line demarcating the forest’s border.

“We will leave you here,” said Terrim.

“We don’t want to arouse any suspicion,” added Scalt. “Two new students riding in with an escort from Fronisi would surely lift a few curious heads. We’ll wait an hour or so before riding into town to resupply our journey home and rest up.”

It was not easy for Jack or Bowie to say good-bye to Terrim and Scalt. After Lumens pardoned the boys, they had become good friends to them.

Jack and Bowie dismounted and unloaded their packs from the horses. “Gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure!” said Bowie.

“Likewise, Bowie,” offered Terrim.

Scalt pointed forward. “The main road will take you straight to the academy. Farewell and good fortune to you both. You will learn much but the learning will be hard. The next time we meet, you will not be the same men we parted with today.” Terrim and Scalt in turn placed their respective right hands over their hearts and then extended them palm up to the boys, a Fronisi gesture of welcome and good-bye, the “Aloha” of Atlantis as it were.

The boys returned the gesture. Jack spoke first, “We thank you and your men for providing us safe passage.”

Terrim smiled. “Master Lumens believed the risk was worth it. We trust his judgment. After our journey with you, we trust it even more.”

Scalt, still bandaged from the goblin attack, came forward. “What you did was brave beyond your years and I am forever grateful.” He bowed to Jack who returned the bow. “And Bowie, I don’t know if you’re extremely brave or extremely reckless.” The soldiers laughed. Scalt continued, “I suspect a little bit of both. But I do know this, you are a warrior.” He bowed to Bowie who returned the gesture.

Bowie felt things were a getting a bit too serious, “Lads?”

“What is it?” asked Terrim.

“Thank you for not running your spears through us when we first met.”

Terrim laughed. “You’re very welcome! Keep that sense of humor, Bowie. You’re going to need it for what’s to come.”

“Good luck and farewell,” said Scalt. They would not see their friends again for a long while.

“I’m going to miss those guys,” remarked Bowie.

“Me too,” said Jack. “Come on, we don’t want to be late for school.”

Next Chapter: Welcome to Knight School