The Broken Key (02) - Hunter of the Horde Read Online Free PDF

sunup and lasted until late afternoon. They learned in part the history of the Guild, some of its more notable members, and of course the Codes. Those were beat into them so many times that for awhile Riyan was actually reciting them in his sleep.
    Lord help them if at some time during their drills they gave less than their all. If the Drillmaster, or any of the other swordsmen that helped thought that they hadn’t, they were privileged to remain behind after the other Recruits had left for an extended, serious workout. Such a workout was anything but fun and once you experienced it, you never again gave less than your all.
    After the drills were through for the day, their time was their own. They weren’t allowed out of the Guild’s grounds save for one day in ten. At that time they were made to tie the crossguard of their swords with white cloth to tell anyone they came across that they were Recruits and not to be molested. That in effect they were under the protection of the Guild. Anyone violating the White Scabbard would be visited by more experienced guild members to ‘discuss’ the situation as it were.
    This day, when the drills were over, Riyan’s muscles ached all over as they usually did. He hadn’t been kidding when he wrote his mother that she wouldn’t recognize him.
    His body had grown quite muscular over the months since coming here.
    He put his fat-ugly away and then went with Chad back to the barracks they lived in.
    “Have to find Raestin,” he told his friend. “He said he was going to leave on the morrow.” Once back at the chest at the foot of his bed, he retrieved the box containing the letter and half a dozen silver coins he was sending his mother.
    “Want me to come with you?” asked Chad.
    Riyan tossed the box onto his bunk and shook his head. “No,” he replied. Then as he buckled on the plain sword he had acquired shortly after coming to Gilbeth, he added,
    “This won’t take long.” The sword already had the white cloth tied around it.
    One of the rules they had to follow was that they must wear a sword at all times when not coming or going to drills. Supposedly it was to get them better used to having it on.
    They also weren’t allowed to break the white cloth and draw their swords except in a life and death situation. And they better have an eye witness verifying that it was if they did.
    “Alright,” replied Chad. “I’ll meet you in the mess in an hour.”
    “You got it,” agreed Riyan. He picked up the box and left Chad in the barrack. He glanced out a window as he passed by and gauged that the sun still had an hour before it set. Now that fall was here, the days had begun to grow shorter. Raestin had said that he would meet Riyan in the foyer of the Guild.
    The foyer was a large area where members could come and take their ease. It was also where many of the local Recruits could meet family and friends without leaving the grounds. Riyan always liked going to the foyer to see the battle worn fighters that frequented the place.
    When he entered the foyer, he scanned those at the tables and others sitting in the lone chairs spaced about the room. A grin came to him as his eyes settled on Raestin. He was over to one side talking with a man wearing the livery of one of the local nobles.
    Almost all the hired swords, whether it be private or by the city, were members of the Guild. A few didn’t have the social connections or the gold to get accepted into it. Suffice it to say, if you were a fighter and didn’t belong to the Guild, you were looked down on.
    Also, if someone were in need of hiring a fighter for, say a guard’s position, they were more likely to choose a member over a nonmember.
    Raestin noticed his approach and gave him a grin. “Why if it isn’t young Riyan,” he said. Then to the man he was talking to he added, “I’m acting as currier for him.”
    “Ah,” the man nodded.
    When Riyan came to stand before them with the package in hand, Raestin