Bartak Cry

The rasping breath of the Lord rang painfully in my ears as I turned back to see him slumped against a tree gasping like a fish out of water. I wanted to come to his aid, to pick him up and carry him, but he had specifically forbidden me from helping him in any way. Why I obeyed I couldn’t say. It had only been three days sense some yoke tried their hand at assassinating the young Lord and he lost all his memories. I still cursed myself for letting it happen. I dared shirk my duties and put in such harm’s way. 

I should have been flogged for my lack of hindsight. While the assassination had failed it still was paid in a heavy cost. The young Lord had lost his memories. How twisted could fate be to do such a thing. I should have been there. I thought sadly as I stocked towards the young Lord finally finding it in me to disobey his order. Only for him to raise a hand and stop me. He cracked one eye in my direction in a silent order to stay as he pushed himself off the tree trunk.

“I-I can still go. Lead the way, Bartak.” I wanted to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped me. He looked so determined to do this. When the young Lord came to me earlier that day requesting to run with me, I couldn’t help but gasp. For the young lord to desire to train with me was beyond mind boggling. Never had the young Lord ever asked to join in my training. I still remember how disheartened the young Lord had been in the past when he saw what sort of training, I put my men through when I first offered to train him at request of his father. So, for the young Lord to ask to join him now was beyond miraculous. So, when I hear a laugh from just ahead, I glared at the fool. My second in command Tame stood just ahead with twenty of my other men. Tame was a tall man, but shorter than me. everyone was shorter than me. 

He had light blonde hair, and blue eyes. He was handsome, the epitome of what I knight should look like. Now if only his personality match. The young man was too jaded for his own good. Guess that’s just how soldiers were. After all I didn’t want some pompous brat to act as one of my men. Knights often coming from named families. No, I picked my men from the common soldiers from the Talark’s personal army. Each man a former comrade when I acted as commander for Duke Jamar’s forces. The men were handpicked for their loyalty and their skill. None were masterful warriors, but even Royal knights would struggle against my men.

Still their personalities were rough. Each man was loud obnoxious and more than a little rude. But all were good men. I knew that, but to hear them laugh at the lord had me planning a torturous training regime for them as punishment. Tame spoke up first shouting at me and the young Lord. “We only just left the mansions garden. Don’t tell me you are tired from that alone.” I wanted to beat Tame over the head for how rude he was being to the young Lord. But before I could order him to shut up the young Lord spoke up. “It’s a big garden, but don’t worry I just needed a quick rest we can keep going.” 

I was astonished by his words. I knew the young Lord hated to be teased, but never had I heard him snipe back at anyone. Tame seemed just as shocked but I could see the devise desire behind his eyes. Oh dear, he sees this as a game doesn’t, he. Tame like all soldiers was not one to back down when someone tried biting back at them. A good trait to have but not when faced with the man they were supposed to serve.

“You should follow the young Lords example Tame!” another of my men shouted. “He hasn’t complained once, yet you are whining like a babe without a tit!” all the guards laughed at Tames indignation. I would have to promote that man if Tame didn’t check himself. “You heard the young Lord we are to continue our run!” I barked as everyone began to move again. The run took us from the Baracks at the back of the mansion. We did a lap of the garden and took the main road towards the village proper where we would then break off down a side road and up the mountain at the south of the village where we would round the base of the mountain path before returning to the mansion. 

The run normally took my men two to three hours to do. Instead with the young Lord following behind. We ended up stopping time and again so the young Lord could catch his breath. Extending the time spent running. Each time Tame tried to tease him. But the young Lord braved it all only sniping back when he felt he had grounds to.

“Come on Tame, if you keep watching me you won’t be able to dodge any low hanging branches.” The young Lord teased back as Tame rubbed his face where he had indeed taken a branch earlier. It was so odd to see the young Lord so outgoing. He had never talked to his guards before. Often having me do. I remember how he said the guards were too rough for him to get along with. But here he was, running with them and sharing in their crass humor. I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. 

Still as we stood at the peak of our run, a stone out cropping from the side of the mountain giving perfect view of Cal’sar. The young Lord stood panting against a tree, as he looked out over the village. He seemed surprised as he looked over it. “Its two villages?” He said confusion dancing across his eyes. I chuckled at the look. “No, it’s one but normally a river splits it in two. Without the river you can’t see the bridge that connects the two sides of the village.”

I explained as the young Lord hummed. I remember his reaction the first time he saw it. He had called it humbled, but now him seeing it a new again must have had him painting a different opinion. “Without the river the village is going to suffer. We have a lot of work to do.” He spoke softly. I was surprised by how determined he sounded. I knew the young Lord wanted to be better. After he had read through his records of activity as Lord. He obvious had become disheartened with himself. He said he was a failure of a lord. I knew that wasn’t the case. He just wasn’t prepared is all. All the tragedy’s that befell the village were not his fault. 

I wouldn’t dare let him think that. He seemed determined to do more, to become a better man. After the attempted assassination he changed so much. Today was a prime example of that. never had he been so outgoing and determined. I knew many men who faced death and came back changed because of it. while the young Lord may not remember who he was, he had been changed by this experience. Till he regained his memories it was my duty to help him grow now.

He had already told me that he would be a better man. I didn’t need him to be better. He already was fine in my eyes. My boy you don’t need to change. I thought before chiding myself for the presumption. He was not my child, even if I helped raise him, he was not my boy. But I couldn’t help but see him as that. He was my surrogate son after all, it was only right I help him. He took a deep breath and faced me. 

“Shall we finish this run?” He asked a smile forming on his lips. Tame and the guards cheered as they turned to finish their run. “Come on boy!” Tame shouted as he waved at the young Lord. “Let’s race back home. The last one there pays dinner!” Tame took off before I could chastise him for being so disrespectful. But the young Lord just laughed at his words. “You will be using my money any ways so who cares if I lose!” he shouted back as he took after my second in command. I truly could not believe what I was hearing. I shook my head and made sure to plan the most brutal training ever devised by man to punish Tame.

But judging by how the fool smiled as he continued to taunt the young Lord, how he laughed with him. I knew he would take any punishment in stride. Look at you, you are earning their respect. I thought as I watched my boy sprint after the men. In time I was certain he would grow into a great man himself. I simply had to continue guiding him. That was the job of a parent after all.