to catch one.”
“As long as he’s considerate enough to fall on this particular spot,” Hal said.
Stefan sensed the smile in his voice and turned quickly. He saw the other Herons were all trying to hide grins and realized that he was the butt of a joke.
“Oh,” he said. He considered taking offense, then realized there was no point in it. Thorn’s joke wasn’t malicious. He smiled in his turn, then challenged the others.
“But if you’re all so smart, maybe one of you can tell me what this horizontal net is for?”
Thorn chuckled then. “Good point, Stefan.” He looked at the others. “Well, do any of you superior geniuses have any idea what this is for?” They all looked suitably chastened. “Then let’s find out. Weapons and shields and report back here. On the double!”
As they raced away to the tent to collect their weapons, Thorn smiled to himself. The little interplay between Stefan and the others was a good sign. A day ago, the exchange would have tended to be sarcastic and a fight may well have started. Today, after a day of physical exercise and hard work, followed by a good night’s sleep and more exercise on top of it all, the atmosphere in the camp was already improving. The boredom had been relieved and the boys were eager to see what the net was for. There was a sense of purpose about the group once more. Thorn felt a small flush of pleasure to know that he’d helped create it.
The boys lined up expectantly with their weapons. Thornstudied them thoughtfully. Stig would be the best to start with, he thought. He was athletic and well coordinated and balanced. He gestured to the tall boy.
“Stig. Over here. Put your two feet into the net. Leave one square gap between them.”
Puzzled, Stig did as he was told, stepping into two of the gaps along the side of the net. He looked at Thorn.
“Now,” said the old warrior, “I’m going to call directions and you follow them. You go forward, back, left or right as I tell you. I’ll tell you how many steps to take each time. Do you follow?”
Stig nodded, frowning in concentration. He was beginning to see what this was about.
“All right. Shield up. Ax ready. Eyes up—there’s a savage Magyaran facing you. Now start to move. Forward three… right two… back one… left two…”
As he called the moves, Stig performed the actions, lifting his feet high to clear the net and stepping lightly. At first, the instructions were slow and steady, but as Stig gained confidence, Thorn increased the pace, adding in
half left
and
half right
so the boy moved diagonally. As Stig moved, his face a study in concentration, Thorn would issue other commands, reminding Stig to keep his shield high or his eyes up.
After a minute or so, the inevitable happened. Stig caught his right foot in the net as he attempted to follow a command to move to the left and was sent sprawling. The others laughed, but each of them knew their shipmate had performed very well. Most of them doubted they could match his sure-footed movements for so long.
Crestfallen, Stig climbed to his feet. But he was rewarded by anod of approval from Thorn, who then turned to survey the rest of the group.
“Nothing to laugh at. I doubt anyone else will do better.”
The group nodded good-naturedly. But Jesper—why was it always Jesper, Hal thought—had to query Thorn.
“How about you, Thorn? Can you do it that well?”
Thorn considered the question, and the boy who had asked it, for several seconds.
“Hmmm. Good point. Can I do it? It’s been a long time. I may have forgotten. But let’s see.” He held his wooden hook out to Stig. “Shield,” he said, and Stig helped him slip the strap over his right arm, watching with interest as Thorn fastened the ingenious clamp onto the shield handle and tightened it.
“Ax,” he said, when the shield was secure. He took it in his left hand and hefted it onto his shoulder.
He walked toward the net, pausing to look at the boys
“As long as he’s considerate enough to fall on this particular spot,” Hal said.
Stefan sensed the smile in his voice and turned quickly. He saw the other Herons were all trying to hide grins and realized that he was the butt of a joke.
“Oh,” he said. He considered taking offense, then realized there was no point in it. Thorn’s joke wasn’t malicious. He smiled in his turn, then challenged the others.
“But if you’re all so smart, maybe one of you can tell me what this horizontal net is for?”
Thorn chuckled then. “Good point, Stefan.” He looked at the others. “Well, do any of you superior geniuses have any idea what this is for?” They all looked suitably chastened. “Then let’s find out. Weapons and shields and report back here. On the double!”
As they raced away to the tent to collect their weapons, Thorn smiled to himself. The little interplay between Stefan and the others was a good sign. A day ago, the exchange would have tended to be sarcastic and a fight may well have started. Today, after a day of physical exercise and hard work, followed by a good night’s sleep and more exercise on top of it all, the atmosphere in the camp was already improving. The boredom had been relieved and the boys were eager to see what the net was for. There was a sense of purpose about the group once more. Thorn felt a small flush of pleasure to know that he’d helped create it.
The boys lined up expectantly with their weapons. Thornstudied them thoughtfully. Stig would be the best to start with, he thought. He was athletic and well coordinated and balanced. He gestured to the tall boy.
“Stig. Over here. Put your two feet into the net. Leave one square gap between them.”
Puzzled, Stig did as he was told, stepping into two of the gaps along the side of the net. He looked at Thorn.
“Now,” said the old warrior, “I’m going to call directions and you follow them. You go forward, back, left or right as I tell you. I’ll tell you how many steps to take each time. Do you follow?”
Stig nodded, frowning in concentration. He was beginning to see what this was about.
“All right. Shield up. Ax ready. Eyes up—there’s a savage Magyaran facing you. Now start to move. Forward three… right two… back one… left two…”
As he called the moves, Stig performed the actions, lifting his feet high to clear the net and stepping lightly. At first, the instructions were slow and steady, but as Stig gained confidence, Thorn increased the pace, adding in
half left
and
half right
so the boy moved diagonally. As Stig moved, his face a study in concentration, Thorn would issue other commands, reminding Stig to keep his shield high or his eyes up.
After a minute or so, the inevitable happened. Stig caught his right foot in the net as he attempted to follow a command to move to the left and was sent sprawling. The others laughed, but each of them knew their shipmate had performed very well. Most of them doubted they could match his sure-footed movements for so long.
Crestfallen, Stig climbed to his feet. But he was rewarded by anod of approval from Thorn, who then turned to survey the rest of the group.
“Nothing to laugh at. I doubt anyone else will do better.”
The group nodded good-naturedly. But Jesper—why was it always Jesper, Hal thought—had to query Thorn.
“How about you, Thorn? Can you do it that well?”
Thorn considered the question, and the boy who had asked it, for several seconds.
“Hmmm. Good point. Can I do it? It’s been a long time. I may have forgotten. But let’s see.” He held his wooden hook out to Stig. “Shield,” he said, and Stig helped him slip the strap over his right arm, watching with interest as Thorn fastened the ingenious clamp onto the shield handle and tightened it.
“Ax,” he said, when the shield was secure. He took it in his left hand and hefted it onto his shoulder.
He walked toward the net, pausing to look at the boys
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