CHAPTER 40: THE ROAD TO BLACKWOOD

Simon turned sixteen before the next Starlight.

This time Lily's resistance had nowhere left to go.

She tried one final argument anyway.

"Would another year really hurt?"

Simon looked at her.

Pam opened her mouth.

Mike spoke first.

"His support time at the Hall is ending."

Pam closed her mouth.

Joseph, who had been silent through most of the discussion, added, "And if he stays, someone has to pay."

Lily knew that.

Everyone did.

This was no longer an early departure.

Simon had completed the years the Hall normally supported.

He had also become stronger during the extra year.

He remained in Middle Skin Tempering.

Not Late.

But he was no longer newly Middle either.

His torso and limbs had undergone many repeated cycles, his weaker regions had improved, and Hall considered his progress solid enough that guard selection should not be difficult.

For a poor farming household, it was an excellent result.

It still did not diminish what Alex had done.

Alex had reached Late Skin Tempering at fifteen.

Simon, after another year and years of three weekly medicated assistant meals, had become a strong Middle-stage trainee at sixteen.

That comparison felt right to Joe.

Alex had been exceptional.

Simon was good.

There was no shame in the difference.

Simon seemed to have accepted that too.

Mostly.

--------

Theodere held the local assessment the day before Starlight.

Three trainees passed.

Simon was one of them.

The Blackwood Guard would conduct another examination after they arrived, but Theodere seemed unconcerned.

"They'll test conditioning, foundations, judgment and whether you can follow instructions," he told them. "At your level, the assessment should be confirmation unless one of you decides to do something stupid."

Simon smiled.

"So, we're basically accepted."

"I didn't say that."

"You said confirmation."

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"I also said not to do anything stupid."

Simon looked mildly offended.

Joe thought Theodere had probably aimed the warning at exactly the correct trainee.

---------

That evening, Lily gave Simon the family's savings.

Twelve silverlings wrapped carefully in cloth.

Simon stared at the bundle.

For someone from their household, it was a large amount of usable money.

"I don't need all this."

"You don't know what you need yet," Lily said.

"I'll be earning once I'm accepted."

"Once."

He stopped.

Lily pushed the money into his hand.

"Don't waste it."

"I won't."

"Don't lend it to someone because he tells you he'll pay next week."

"I know."

"Don't gamble."

"I don't gamble."

"Then continue not gambling."

Pam added, "Don't drink whatever guards give you."

Simon looked toward her.

"You told me wine keeps men warm."

"I said a little wine warms old bones. You're not old."

Mike laughed.

Lily did not.

Her eyes had already become wet.

That ended most of the joking.

Simon closed his hand around the coins.

"I'll be fine."

Lily hugged him before he finished.

For perhaps half a second Simon looked embarrassed.

Then he hugged her back.

Pam joined them without permission.

Mary joined because everyone else had.

Mike waited until they separated before gripping Simon's shoulder.

Joseph only said, "Write when you can."

Simon nodded.

Joe found that more reassuring than one of his brother's old boasts would have been.

-------

Later, Joe found Simon outside checking his travel bundle for perhaps the fourth time.

"You have the money?"

"Yes."

"Clothes?"

"Yes."

"Food?"

"Joe."

"I'm checking."

"Mother has packed enough food for an invasion."

Joe sat beside him.

For a while neither spoke.

Then Joe said, "I'll probably take the assessment next year."

Simon stopped tying the bag.

"You?"

"That's usually who I mean when I say I."

"You'll still be young."

"So was Alex."

"You're not Alex."

Joe looked at him.

Simon realized what he had said.

"Oh, shut up."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"I was going to say you sound like Mother."

Simon groaned.

Then his expression became more serious.

"You actually plan to come?"

"If my progress is where I expect it to be."

Simon frowned slightly. "Why the guard?"

"Resources. Training. Blackwood. And if both of us are there, we can watch each other's backs."

Simon thought about it.

"Having your brain around might be useful."

"Thank you."

"Don't sound pleased. You overthink everything."

"That's why you need me."

Simon almost argued.

Then he nodded.

"Maybe."

That alone showed how much he had changed.

Joe waited before adding the part Simon would like less.

"If Alex is still there and doing well, use him."

Simon immediately frowned.

"Use him how?"

"If he has built a place for himself, stay on good terms with him. Learn who he knows. If he can put you with a safer group while you're new, let him."

"You want me to flatter Alex."

"If that's what it takes."

"I'm not flattering him."

"Then call it respecting an experienced senior."

"That's still flattering."

Joe smiled.

"I'm not telling you to follow him around telling him how impressive he is. But if Alex has spent a year or two building connections, don't throw away an advantage just because you want to prove you don't need anybody."

Simon looked out toward the dark fields.

Several years earlier, he would have rejected the idea immediately.

Now he thought about it.

"I'll see what he's like."

"That's enough."

"If he's still annoying, I'm not pretending he's not."

"Try pretending a little."

Simon gave him a look.

Joe laughed.

His brother had changed.

Not completely.

That was probably good.

---------

They left early on the morning of Starlight.

Theodere traveled with the three candidates and several adults connected with his caravan business.

The whole family walked them to the southern edge of Green Hollow.

Lily cried openly when Simon finally started down the road.

Pam claimed her eyes were irritated by dust despite the morning being nearly windless.

Mike stood with his hands behind his back and watched.

Joseph remained beside him.

Mary waved until the travelers disappeared completely.

Joe watched too.

He was worried.

He simply did not show it the same way.

Simon turned once before the road curved away.

He raised one hand.

Joe raised his own.

Then his brother was gone.

-------

The festival felt wrong afterward. Nobody wanted to stay home because that would make the absence feel larger, but none of them enjoyed Starlight properly either.

Lily bought food and barely touched it. Mike repeatedly glanced toward the road.

Pam began another guard story until Lily told her, with unusual sharpness, that she had heard enough stories for one day.

Joe took Mary through the merchant stalls. It gave them something practical to do.

He found several common ingredients for nourishing experiments and a cheaper substitute for one herb he had previously purchased from Merek.

Mary found sweets.

That remained one of the more reliable patterns in Green Hollow.

By evening, when the Seven First Fires were lit, Joe found himself looking toward the southern road again.

Next year.

He had already told Simon.

Now he had to make sure he was ready.