The Unfortunate, стр. 14
Despite the day’s infancy, Gildas, as on most mornings, had already been awake several hours. He stood in the shadows outside the cells and watched as the champion of his fighters prepared for the day’s training. It was a process the owner of the academy had previously seen, and as far as he could tell, the fighter had developed an exact order from which he never strayed. Awiergan first wrapped bands of cloth and leather around his wrists for padding and hands for grip. He then applied the same type of wrappings to his shins, and once he was satisfied, the champion’s final preparation was to retrieve his shirt of mail. But when he turned to retrieve the armor, he jumped, having been startled by his cell’s intruder.
“Damn you, Gildas! Why do you do that?”
The owner of the academy not only ignored the curse but also chuckled lightly before speaking. “Your dedication never wavers, does it, Awiergan?”
“I am simply preparing for the day.”
“Yes, hours before anyone else.”
“I have always thought it better to be prepared sooner rather than later,” Awiergan explained and laid the chainmail aside. “Would not you consider it worthy advice?”
“Yes,” the master replied and lowered his hood. “We are alike in many ways. Particularly, as in this instance, we both possess keen organizational skills, one of the many reasons why I trust you.”
“So why are you here?” Awiergan chuckled. “It cannot be to startle me or to praise me.”
“No,” Gildas’ chest heaved slightly as he too expressed humor. “As much as I am entertained by one and as much as you enjoy the other, I came to ask a favor.” The academy’s owner paused briefly before concluding, “I shall depart for the capital soon, but I do not want my men’s training delayed because of my absence.”
The fighter nodded as an indication he understood what had been implied, that he would be responsible, and he eventually inquired, “Anything different this time or should I proceed as normal?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. I want you to make certain the training commences as usual, and I want you to oversee the men until I return this afternoon.”
Awiergan bowed his head slightly. “I promise nothing will occur similar to last time.”
Gildas nodded as he recalled the occurrence that had been referenced, a fight that had resulted in the death of one of his best men.
It happened so quickly, Awiergan had reported. There was little I could have done. One moment everything was proceeding as it normally would. Then I heard shouting and turned in time to see the dagger drawn and Brogan stabbed. He was dead by the time I was able to get help.
How the other fighter had acquired the blade was still unknown, but he had been quickly punished with a return to Dorstor Keep’s prison. Since then Gildas had increased the inspections of the fighter’s cells and had done so with increased diligence. The incident, however, did not affect the owner’s level of confidence toward his champion, and having concluded his memory, Gildas finally answered, “I trust you … beyond all others.”
Awiergan was quiet momentarily, possibly recalling the memory of the fight, himself, before he furthered the conversation with another inquiry. “What business causes your absence?”
Had it been one of his other fighters, Gildas would have reminded that it was none of his concern, but he instead smiled and replied, “I am to visit Dorstor Keep. I need to find challengers for you and your brothers.”
“It surprises me that you are permitted to do such.”
Something else Gildas would not have accepted from his other slaves, a challenge of his authority, but he smiled before answering, “What? Visit the dungeons?”
“No. Claim prisoners, murderers and rapists at that, when they have been condemned to die.”
“Which many of them will in the fighting pits or even better, the Dorstor Arena.” Even though Awiergan already understood Gildas’ reasons for recruiting men from Dorstor Keep’s prison, the owner of the academy still did not hesitate to detail the situation and the contributing factors. “Besides it allows for a profit which would otherwise not exist with regular executions. It provides me with coin to support my family, it provides for more cells at the keep, and it ensures criminals are justly punished.”
“And what of those who survive the Dorstor Arena, who take the lives of your fighters?”
Gildas shrugged. “If that occurs I see it as the will of Fate.”
The fighter nodded and finished adjusting the chainmail tunic he had pulled over his head while Gildas had been talking.
“Even if one of my men is defeated by a new recruit”—the academy’s owner added—“you must remember, I never lose. If an untrained criminal can best one of my fighters, I would deem that he has already proven his worth. That is enough to earn him a permanent spot in my academy. As I stated, I never lose.”
Awiergan again nodded to indicate he understood, and before he returned to finish preparing, he offered a final suggestion. “Then find worthy opponents to face the brotherhood of the Unfortunate.”
✽ ✽ ✽
On most occasions Gildas’ visits to the capital were to meet with Winnix’s king, but this trip was for personal reasons. Because of the upcoming tour he had planned, Gildas needed to find men to serve as challengers for his fighters. He understood the punishments reserved for criminals, and when selecting men for his academy, he used this knowledge to his advantage. Even though he knew the prisoners were expecting to be executed, he would not hesitate to explain the possible savagery used on some occasions.
During the years he had served to maintain Winnix’s justice, Gildas had developed a fair understanding of crime and punishment. Despite the numerous offenses he had encountered—such as fights, thefts, rapes, and murders—they had all shared a similar characteristic. The more severe the crime, the more harsh the punishment. Whereas the penalty for