A Knight's Path (The Path of Cinder Book 1) Read online

  A Knight's Path

  Copyright 2017 by Nathan Grafton

  Cover Art by Soheil Toonsi @ soheiltoosi.com

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this bok may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Chapter 1 Conscription

  Alden woke up in his attic and a feeling of nervousness immediately settled over him. Today was the day that he would deal with the conscription in Youngston, a city to the north of where they lived. The Army couldn’t go to every town in the Kingdom of Cinder but they wanted everyone they could get. The solution force people to bring their sons to them.

  The Conscription was a one way trip into a soldier’s life. All for one gold crown to the ones who got taken. And nothing to the ones who didn’t. The rail would be the only reasonable way to get there and while most companies offered a discount for conscription they couldn’t operate for free. One silver scepter, a tenth of a crown, which was nearly half of what his father made in a year. The old farmer dealt mostly in copper pennies.

  The young man struggled to his feet and drifted over to the window. Alden looked out at the giant oak tree in the yard and found himself smiling.He used to be chased by his brothers, and James, and Alden would hide in the top of the old tree. They were both engineers and lived in The Lake City now. Alden didn’t care for the cramped quarters of the city. At one point they might have been luxurious that was before the Cataclysm.

  Alden dressed and then his mad dash downstairs. His mother, Isolde, looked exhausted. She probably hadn’t slept at all worrying about whether or not her youngest son would be taken from her. The young man felt a surge of anger rush through him but it faded quickly. Losing his temper would get him absolutely nowhere today.

  Isolde turned and smiled at Alden but the expression just made guilt course through the young man. The green eyed teen took his seat as his sister appeared from the next room. Jessica looked like she hadn’t slept very well either. Alden felt a strange mix of anger and guilt. The kitchen was quiet today and Alden missed the regular chatter that took place between his mother and 16 year old sister.

  A few minutes later Alden’s father, Tristan, drifted into the room. The older stretched and his face formed an easy smile. Alden silently wished he had nerves like his father but the truth was that his stomach churned.

  Alden snapped back to reality as his mother served breakfast and the young man ate without much thought. He didn’t even notice what he was eating. Serving in the Army, even though he would be paid well for his years of service, didn’t sit well with the young man. Returning home, going to the Academy and becoming an engineer seemed like a better idea. Even if he had to live in a city. Or he could go to a nearby town and learn a trade or craft. He wouldn’t make as much but he could stay near home and avoid the cities.

  Before the teen knew it breakfast was over and Alden was standing at the door, boots on his feet with his father at his side. His mother hugged the young man and pressed a cowlick down into his sandy hair, her bracelet dangling in front of his eyes, “Come home as soon as you can.”

  Alden just nodded his head, “Of course mom. I’ll be back ’fore you know it.”

  Jess hugged him next but didn’t say anything. Isolde spoke again instead, “Remember we love you. We’ll always be right here.”

  Alden smiled at her, “I love you to, mom. Don’t worry ’bout me.”

  Tristan placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and smiled at his wife, “If anything happens go to Geoffrey at the temple.”

  Isolde’s face formed a sad, nervous smile and Alden let out a breath. Geoffrey had always let them borrow whatever books they wanted from the temple library even though they believed in the Maker and not the Three Masters of the Triad and their court. The priest was a servant of the Lady of Truth and Alden had always liked him. The young man turned and followed his father out the door .Tristan set a brisk pace that Alden matched effortlessly. They would reach the rail station in a half hour and then it would be about an hour and a half to the city of Youngston. Alden wasn’t looking forward to this at all.

  The rail was a series of three metal strips, sitting on artificial risers every few feet. The center rail had electricity coursing through it which would provide power for the rail car to move. The rail itself was powered by either a Wizard on duty or by a crystal battery a Wizard had charged. The rail car drifted to a stop and Alden stepped into the metal box behind his father.

  The Cataclysm had changed the way the world worked. Earth had crossed paths with another version of the same planet in an alternate reality and a tear had opened. Magic had poured through, overloading technology and making the systems of the human race crash. Once the first rift had opened others had torn as well. Elves, dwarves, orcs and a dozen other creatures had poured through including a race known only as the Others. No one knew exactly what they were but they had laid waste to humanity’s cities and towns leaving them in ruins. Humanity and its new counterparts had outlasted the Others though and began to rebuild. Youngston was built on the ruins of one old city and some of the original structures remained, even if they stood uninhabited.

  Alden eyed the city of Youngston with distaste as the rail arrived in the station. He would rather spend a hot day in the fields then an hour in the city. The device slowed to a halt and rattled loudly before the door opened and Alden drifted down to the plaza below with the rest of the nervous families. The air felt thick and heavy and Alden glared at the conscription officers below.

  The mob somehow formed a half decent line as the officers went about their business. Some people left happy with all of their sons while others left worried over the fate of their children. Some of the later were proud of their children but they were all clutching a single gold crown for each of their children.

  Alden felt his anger surge at the site of these people losing their children to the Army. There hadn’t been a war for seventy years but the King had to keep the ranks filled in case something ever happened. But why did they have to force people to give up their children for a year of training and seven years of service of watching the borders for a lousy crown? A crown was four years wages to his father but for eight years of a person’s life it was nothing. Plus they could be called back into duty until they turned 40. So eight years and a chain for twenty some more for one crown. It irritated the young man people had to join the Army.

  The line trickled forward until Alden and his father reached the desk. The man looked up at Alden and asked in a tired voice, “Family name?”

  The young man replied, “Flint.”

  The man flipped through his papers, “Number of children?”

  This time Alden’s father replied, “Four, three sons and one daughter.”

  The conscription officer looked up, “Your other sons?”

  Tristan swallowed nervously and answered, “Engineers.”

  The officer eyed the old farmer for a moment longer before nodding his head, “Very well. Step over here young man.”

  Alden moved to where the officer told him to as his father looked on. The young man was circled once and the officer slapped his chest once and grabbed his shoulder giving it a squeeze. The man nodded to himself and slapped Alden on the back once, “Your first name?”

  The young man answere
d nervously, “Alden.”

  The next question was just as brief,“Age?”

  The green eyed teen sighed, “17.”

  A doctor began to examine Alden as the officer continued, “Very well. Go join the others on the other end of the plaza as soon as the doc is done. You’ll be issued everything later. Understood?”

  Alden’s stomach sank as he bobbed his head, “Yes.”

  Tristan placed a hand on his son’s shoulder as the doctor stepped back, “It’ll be over before you know it. Makes me feel kinda proud I raised my son well enough to be a soldier. Do the family good you hear me?”

  The young man felt a little bit of pride at his father’s words and he smiled as he said, “I will. Let mom know I love her and I’ll write soon as I can.”

  His father smiled back, “I will son. Do what you gotta for king and country.”

  Alden turned away from his father as the older man took the one gold crown that was four year’s worth of wages to his family. The one good thing to come out of the day.

  Chapter 2 Enlistment

  Warren rolled over as he woke up and grumbled to himself. Sunlight was streaming in through the open, second floor window and had been shining in the young man’s eyes. There was a tap on the door and Warren groaned as he sat up and popped his neck. Today was the day he would get out of his father’s home and the old man couldn’t be prouder of him.

  Warren stood and stretched as a manservant swept into the room and bowed, “Good morning, Master Faulkner. I trust you slept well?”

  Warren smiled, “Of course, Joseph, and it is a very good morning.”

  Joseph moved over to the armoire, “Any preference on today’s attire, sir?”

  The young heir moved over to the window and looked down on his father’s property. There was a small lake with a few ducks in it and a well trimmed flower garden around it.

  He let out a sigh, he would miss the view before he replied, “Something that shows how trim I am.”

  Joseph didn’t skip a beat as he pulled an outfit from the armoire and laid it on the bed, “Of course, sir.”

  After a few minutes of struggling Joseph managed to fit Warren’s large form into the suit the young man thought made him look thin. The young man smiled at himself in the mirror as he pushed his black bangs away from his dark gray eyes. He could strike a figure when he wanted to.

  Joseph bowed again, “Will that be all, sir?”

  Warren nodded, “Yes, thank you, Joseph.”

  The manservant moved towards the door and opened it before replying with a bow, “Of course, sir.”

  The young man studied himself in the mirror a moment longer before he stepped out of the room himself. He wove through the grand hallways of his father’s estate until he reached the sitting room. His father. Wayne, was there, as always, managing papers. The old man looked up as Warren knocked but today he set down his pen and smiled.

  Wayne Faulkner stood and studied his son for a moment before asking, “I guess you will be leaving shortly?”

  The son bowed his head in acknowledgment, “Yes, father. I was getting ready to leave now.”

  Wayne stepped over to stand beside his son as he led the younger man out of the room with an arm around his shoulders, “Warren, I know I have never said it enough but I am proud of you. You are going to bring the Faulkner name honor and the respect of the Crown. You know your mother is not happy about this but I will handle her. Now go, son. Wear our crest with pride as you serve King and country.”

  Warren smiled up at his father and replied, “I will, father.”

  The young man stepped down off of the front steps of the manor and across the yard to where Joseph was waiting with the carriage. Wayne turned and stepped back into the house as soon as Warren had left his side. Being the head of one of the richest Merchant houses within the Kingdom was not easy. The young man smiled as he watched the country roll by. Today was the day he would join the Army.

  An hour later Joseph parked the car outside of the Army office in the capital of Cinnati. Warren climbed out of the car and burst through the front door. His gait was smooth as he sauntered up to the counter and leaned on it.

  The woman sitting behind it raised her eyebrows and looked at him for a minute before she said, “Well?”

  Warren answered, “I am here to enlist with the Army.”

  The secretary rose and Warren saw her roll her eyes as she turned and knocked on the door beside her desk and call in, “I have a young man here who wants to join the Army.”

  A man’s voice said something and the secretary waved Warren inside. The room was an examination room and the man was dressed as an Army doctor. He motioned Warren over, “Decided it was time to serve the Crown?”

  Warren smiled, “Yes.”

  The doctor looked back at Warren and said, “If you’re going to join the Army you better get used to saying ‘Yes, sir.’ young man.”

  Warren stepped further into the room and replied, “Of course, sir.”

  The doctor started to look Warren over as he talked, “I am Doctor Crayford. I have a few questions I need to ask you. First off, what’s your name?’

  Warren kept his eyes forward as he replied, “Warren Faulkner.”

  Crayford sat down by his desk and started scribbling on his paper, “Your age, and father’s name?”

  The young man answered, “18, Wayne Faulkner.”

  The doctor mumbled under his breath, “Who would’ve thought, they have the same last name,” before continuing in a regular tone, “Are you wanted by the King’s Law?”

  Warren shook his head, “No.”

  Crayford finished writing and said, “Go wait in the lobby. The conscription officers will be back shortly and you’ll be issued everything with the recruits.”

  The young man turned and left the room feeling disappointed that he’d be stuck with everyone who got conscripted but he was also happy. He was a soldier of the Crown now.

  Chapter 3 The Crystal

  Alden spent the night in the barracks of the Youngston City Guard. The conscripted soldiers were ignored for the most part and the majority of them just sat around in numb silence. None of them had wanted to leave home, if they had they would’ve went and enlisted. What they wanted was secondary though so there they were. Alden was quiet but his eyes roved the room wondering what was held in store for them. His fingers tapped a steady pattern out on the steel bed frame. It was the only sound in the room but it was ignored.

  The only other person in the room who seemed to have any interest in the world around them was a young man with unruly brown hair and hazel eyes. He was shorter then Alden and had a few extra pounds on him but at least he was holding things together. His name was John Shaw. Alden laced his fingers together and leaned his head back into the pillow. It was going to be a long night.

  The next day Alden and the others were woke early in the morning and led down to breakfast where they ate a meal of thick gruel and then continued on their way. The officers formed them into a line and a man wearing black leather armor over a chain mail suit appeared. Alden grit his teeth as he reached into a bag. The man was a member of the Special Forces, lovingly referred to as the Blood Fists behind their backs by the citizens of the Kingdom. The nickname had to do with the gauntlets the Special Forces men wore. They were leather but the knuckles were coated with iron barbs that ripped and tore at skin whenever they stepped into a fight which was often. Many thought it was too often. The soldiers acted as the King’s interrogators and had a plethora of other heavy handed uses.

  Alden hid his scowl, no reason to draw attention to himself, as the line filed past the soldier. He held the crystal steady as each of the young men touched it. Nothing happened until Shaw touched it and a pale green glow filtered out of it. The soldier grunted and sent Shaw to a nearby desk and the line
continued. The crystal stayed dead to the world as each young man walked by and then it was Alden’s turn.

  For some reason the young man hoped it would stay dull and he reached out, placing a finger on it’s surface. A blinding, crimson light filtered out of the stone and Alden jerked his hand away from it like it was burning. The special forces soldier was quiet for a moment but then he grunted, “Head to the desk.”

  The young man stepped away from him and over to the table. A man in plate armor was sitting there and smiled up at him, “I am Knight Sergeant Malcolm Hunter. And you are?”

  The green eyed teen stared down at the Knight for a minute before responding, “What was that?”

  Sergeant Hunter leaned back, “Nothing serious. Everything will be explained later. Now, your name?”

  Alden blinked and then answered, “Flint. Alden Flint.”

  The Sergeant nodded and wrote a note down on his sheet, “Thank you, Alden. I will explain everything to you later but for now go ahead and rejoin the others.”

  The young man stared at the Sergeant and then opened his mouth before shutting it again. Alden turned and walked away, deciding it would be best to not irritate the trained warrior in armor with a Blood Fist he could order around. The green eyed teen took his place in line again as another long wait began. After all the young men had touched the crystal Sergeant Hunter pulled them out of the crowd and led them over to one of the wheeled transports that the King’s men used on special occasions.

  Alden eyed the vehicle suspiciously but the Sergeant answered his unasked question, “Normally, we would ride horses back to Cinnati but Youngston’s Conscription took place later then it should of so to get back on schedule we need to use a transport.”

  Alden shut his mouth as Sergeant Hunter opened the door. The Blood Fist climbed in followed by John and finally Alden. A black haired man in his forties wearing the robes of a Wizard was sitting in the back of the vehicle. Alden could see another Wizard sitting in the upper chamber, ready to power the vehicle with magic when they left. Sergeant Hunter entered the vehicle, shut the door and climbed into the top with the Wizard. A half minute later and they started to move, fast.