Paths of Knowledge (35)

“Here.” I interjected. I held out what appeared to be a small research journal to her. “Read it quickly since it must be returned before it is noticed missing.” I added with a wry smile. She stared at it in my hand like it was a snake poised to strike.

“You stole it?” Meli shrieked mortified.

“It was borrowed to give you an idea of what can be learned here.” I retorted. Sert had hunkered down to place his face between us. I could feel his stare, like Meli's, at me. Their thoughts had them ready to order me to return them to Atlantis on the spot.

“Semantics!” she exclaimed. “It is stolen property and you must return it now!” she continued angrily. “We will first ask the noble for permission to read his research documentation.” She added before turning away from me. Sert had sat with his back toward us. I sighed deeply as I read their thoughts.

With but a twist of my wrist and hand, the book vanished as quickly as it had appeared. It returned with a few dozen others of my private library hidden away. This like some of my other specialty tomes was a truthful copy of the one in Lorenzo's hands. If she had read in it at the right moment, Lorenzo's words would have appeared in it magically as he wrote them.

It was a small trick I had been using for many centuries with the permission of the more enlightened minded beings. My single and small looking copy contained every word those great thinkers had written as they wrote it. This gave me the most complete and up to date library that could ever exist. My ruse was a test to see if Meli would give up the honourable path to gain knowledge. It was the corrupted path offered outside of Atlantis that I was happy they refused to walk it.

I did in part hope she spoke with Lorenzo about this since the real tome sat in clear sight in his estate or in his hands. Lorenzo was smart enough to realize this was a test and either feigned confusion at the impossible event or become enraged casting me out as a thief. The later could give me a chance to observe my two companions as they devised a way of reaching Circe's Isle without me. It sounded cruel but, in a way, it would be good to know that they had that ability to survive without me.

Lorenzo to my surprise waited at the gates to his estate with his journal in hand. Meli sputtered next to me as she glared at the book she recognized being in my hand but a few moments before.

“But how can it be back here?” she choked out. Sert turned to look as I felt the same confusion forming in his mind though he remained silent. Lorenzo looked from Meli to me shrugging his lack of understanding. “The book!” she added. She pointed at it while Sert dismounted over the side to stand by her.

“My research journal?” he returned bewildered. I remained passive showing none of the merriment I felt at that moment. “It has been in my hands all day.” Lorenzo explained. “And the only one in the set that appears this way.” he added.

“How were you able to hand me the book he is holding?” she glared at me. “It must be a fake.” she surmised. Lorenzo walked over with his book open to show his notes to Meli. “You did not leave us to return it so where is the book you showed me?” she screamed at me. I pointed to the tome in Lorenzo's hands in silence. With a flick and twist of my wrist behind Meli's back, my copy of the journal reappeared in my hand for Lorenzo to see.

“If he has stolen my journal or bewitched it some how I would need proof young lady.” Lorenzo remarked. “Noble Melchia has visited often and helped greatly with my research with plants of other lands.” he challenged bluntly. Sert glanced confused from the noble to me spotting the book in my hand. Lorenzo and myself started to snicker as Meli turned to see the matching book in my hand.

“How can you have an identical book?” she muttered in disbelief. I opened mine to show the same script she noted in Lorenzo's journal. “It is the same writing ...” she gasped.

“Because they are my words young miss.” Lorenzo stated softly. “Open it to the last section so she may understand better you old trickster.” he ordered. I leafed through to nearly the middle of the book to find the last written page. Lorenzo had his open at the fourth page before drawing his quill from the spine of the book. He slowly wrote the words “not the same” in his book. The words slowly appeared as he wrote them in my copy. “It is a way of keeping each other informed.” he explained. “If something happens here that requires more knowledge than I have, he would know and come to my aid.” he continued softly. “His capture journal changes to reflect the book I am using to make it easier to recognize.” he added with a shrug.

“But you said you had to return it before it was discovered missing!” Meli glared at me. “Why the sudden subterfuge?” she added insulted.

“I could answer that question,” Lorenzo began slowly, “but I believe it is clear.”

“The hunger for knowledge can corrupt as easily as the hunger for power.” Sert stated softly and slowly. Meli turned to glare at him. “He offered you an easy path to gain knowledge under darker guise for you to prove your honour.” he added with a quick nod of his head.

Meli glared at Sert as she slowly accepted the book from my hand. She held it closed in her hands as she closed her eyes. I could feel the great debate coursing through her mind as she held this source of knowledge. After a loud suffering sigh, she forced the book back into my hands.

“I believe it would be better seeing and speaking directly with the noble about his experiments than reading his private notes.” she admitted. I smiled as the book vanished from my hands once more. I could feel that Sert was still unhappy with my methods but remained silent about it.

“I am master Lorenzo and I welcome you into my home.” he stated with a bow. “My guards will have the cart and horse brought in while we discuss.” he continued. “I am sure you will have much to speak of since I believe as an Alton you would be more skilled in botany and herbalism than my old friend is.”

“I did not know you had knowledge in the plant sphere?” Meli asked me. She seemed perplexed by learning this about me.

“He knows many things that most would never suspect.” Lorenzo returned with a soft chuckle.

“You must know many things to always be of service to others.” I corrected quickly.

“Even very dark knowledge to face the darkest of times safely.” Sert remarked with a half smile. I sense the thought forming that brought understanding to his mind. “Like how to fight with honour against dishonourable foes that try to drag you down to their level.” he concluded softly.

“And it only took you five years and seeing it through a friend for you to understand?” I commented back with a chuckle. Sert smiled sheepishly at me as he nodded. “We will go around to the back training field to spar with your guards while you show Mekiliean your work in progress.” I stated slowly. “The hidden garden.” I added with a nod.

“Sounds acceptable to me if it is to the noble lady.” Lorenzo replied easily. I watched as Lorenzo lead Meli through the gates and a pair of guards arrived to escort the cart and mounts around the outer wall to the larger side gate. Sert walked next to me as we walked with the cart through the larger side gate. I lead Sert down a small stone pathway between the stable and main residence spotting a handful of guards patrolling the inner grounds. Waiting for them at the field was a half dozen mixed house guards from differing nations. They sat on their heels and knees but rose as one when I entered the field. Sert glanced at each of them seeing the different weapons but all had the same matching armour.

“We divide them between the two of us to practice them.” I announced to Sert. He nodded back to me in silence as he eyed the one side of the field. Sert watched me as I used simply hand signals to direct my three into practising basic moves. He mimicked my motion but seemed taken back as he spotted them using some of the techniques I had taught him.

“You have many students?” he asked. We both had entered the sparing directly signalling for single challenges. I was done my three quickly while Sert face the last of his cadre. I signalled mine to stop and watch as the two defeated guards of his did the same.

Sert held back as he faced a female opponent which could be his undoing. The sword strokes rang true as they clashed in perfect symmetry of artful beauty. The four men and the other woman nodded at each move until the twisting slash come up. I could see it in Sert's mind that he held himself back but would not allow himself a dishonourable blow. His sword snapped hard slapping like thunder against his armoured forearm before twisting the blade around hers. The razor edge of his sword was coming down quickly toward the unprotected back of her neck. I nearly screamed for him to stop but froze as the blade twisted in his hand to slap hard against her neck pinning her to the ground. She glared up at him angrily. He ran one thumb across his own throat in a clean slash then tapped the back of her neck with the flat of his sword.

The silence was heavy as they all looked in awe at this near death hit that never happened. Sert's sword flipped back to line his forearm as he stepped back. He held out his other hand to her in silence. She looked up at him glaring. I motion to the others to hold their position knowing this fight may continue if she so chose. I felt her wanting to slap his hand away and attack him barehanded. Her nostril flared as she decided her actions. Her body suddenly rolled under her before she launched herself at Sert.

His sword clanged as he tossed it behind him facing her unarmed with open hands. He grappled her wrist and twisted her in his grasp locking her arms inside his. With a quick sweep of his foot, he had her pinned to the ground under him.

“The dead cannot continue fighting.” he whispered in Greek to her. She froze under him. “This session is done between us.” he stated softly. He released her from his grasp walking slowly backward away from her. She twisted to look at him before slowly gaining her feet.

“Then why not end it proving me as weak?” she retorted in harshly accented Greek. “I would expect no less from any man I face.” she continued. Sert stood still, his arms at his side seemingly relaxed. I saw in his mind that he was more than ready to face her.

“My honour will not let me harm the dead.” he said softly. Even with my presence, the others back away in silence to give them all the space possible. “And by facing me without fear, you show strength not weakness.” he continued. She looked from him to me in silence. “You still live which means you will learn as I have done.” he added. Her eyes remained locked upon me as Sert turned and walked back to his two remaining trainees. I brought my fist to my chest slowly before flinging it toward her as my hand fluttered open. She smiled at me before nodding to me her acceptance and defeat.

“Sir!” she called. Sert turned to look at her. She slammed her fist to her heart solidly before flinging her open hand toward him. “The heart of this warrior beats because of what you have taught me today!” she stated loudly. “May I continue our lessons?” she asked softly.

“Yes, if I may learn why a botanist requires such truly devoted and elite guards?” he countered. A chuckle rose from around him.

“His plants are precious and rare.” she replied.

“In the wrong hands, they could be a danger to all of Greece.” another added in.

“I have never known plants to be dangerous.” Sert returned confused. I had but a second to place myself between Sert and the creeper that attempted pouncing on him. Sert stared passed me at the plant while I held it weaponless with the tendrils wrapped around my fingers.

“That is enough from you!” I commanded harshly. “Back to your position.” I ordered calmer.

“Did that plant react to my words?” Sert asked softly. The round of chuckles from the guards gave him an answer he did not wish to know. “I understand why such special guards are needed here.”

I chuckled before signalling a return to training having them work in groups which showed once more my techniques that had Sert knowing these where my students but he received more time than they had from me. We changed guard by midday but continued training until close to evening meal when Meli and Lorenzo finally returned.