Chapter One Hundred and Eighty - The Parable of the Baker Knight

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty - The Parable of the Baker Knight

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty - The Parable of the Baker Knight

Raa! I roared as I swung my padded spade around. The head swooshed through the air and hit absolutely nothing because the clever sylph I was trying to bonk with it casually stepped back and out of the way.

Duck! Awen called out from behind me.

I dipped down, ears dropping flat onto my head just as a crossbow bolt (with a sandbag for a head) shot past where Id been.

Bastion smiled and casually flicked the wooden pole he had in place for a sword, slapping the bolt off course. Good timing there, girls, he said. And then he was stepping up and swinging for me.

I parried his first strike with the haft of my spade, then hopped over a sweeping kick--only the kick never happened; instead, mid-twist, Bastion shoulder-checked my tummy, grabbed the back of my knee, and sent me crashing to the deck back-first.

Erk! I coughed.

Bastion stepped past me and lunged for Awen. She tossed her crossbow aside and flung her arms out at him. Two balls of glass formed in her palms and launched out towards the sylph.

But Bastion was way too fast, and he weaved around both before stepping right up to Awen. He shoved her arms aside, ignored a kick to the shin, then threw Awen over his shoulder and to the ground right next to me.

Awa! Awen coughed.

We were both down for the count. Again.

Well done, Bastion said. Your teamwork is improving, and even your reflexes.

I raised an arm to protest, then let it fall back down. I was too pooped to get up. "Youre too fast, I complained.

Ive got nearly twice your levels, and a decades worth of combat training, Bastion said. Good training too. Day after day of being punted around by my seniors until I learned how to take care of myself.

I rolled onto my tummy, then pushed myself up. My warspade--with the end wrapped in a bundle of cloth--had fallen a few steps away, so I had to move over to pick that up. I dont know if were getting any better, I said.

The day before, Bastion and my friends tricked me into going back to bed after lunch. But today I spent all morning trying to fight Bastion. I wasnt back at my best, but I wasnt too far from it, and yet I hadn't landed a single blow.

Captain! Clive called from the quarterdeck. Land ahead!

I gasped, and seeing that Awen was already jumping to her feet and didnt need a hand, rushed to the bow to look out to sea. Out by the horizon was a long strip of green and brown. Were getting close.

Looks like it, Bastion said as he came over. I think thatll be a good place to end our training for today.

Was it really training? All that happened is that you threw me and Awen around.

Bastion nodded. Now you know how to be thrown around a little better. Dont worry, youll improve.

Of course I will. Im doing my best after all. Right Awen?

Right, Awen agreed with a very serious nod. Well be strong in no time.

We have some open General Skill slots too, so we should fill those out with some combat stuff, I said. But that can wait. Were heading to a port over in, uh. I pointed to the shore ahead. What nation is that?

I made a mental note to pick up some more provisions at Insmouth. We had some canned food, and wouldnt starve even if we had to ration things out for a month or more, but that didnt mean that wed enjoy beans three times a day.

Which was as good a reason as any to open a can and dump it into the stew. More protein was always welcome!

By the time most of the crew came down, the stew was simmering and I was filling out bowls with hot broth and placing them onto the table. We should get utensils with magnets built into them, I said as I put a bowl in front of Awen.

Ah? Oh, so that they dont move around? Awen asked.

I nodded. Yup. Whos on watch above?

Steve and Sally, Oda said.

Do you want to bring them some bowls, or will they be eating after?

Theyll take a break later, Oda said. Well just have to make sure not to eat it all.

I nodded, then got some help passing things around. Once everyone was set, we dug in. After having endured some of Amaryllis cooking, even something as boring as my stew felt great. So, did you scallywags figure out what you want to do once we land? I asked.

Joe shrugged. We might look for work. We might not. Depends. Heard that Insmouth is a pretty quiet place. So its probably safe, but that doesnt mean theres much to do there.

Finding work is important. Youll need some money to keep afloat. But with three of you helping each other out that shouldnt be too hard. Once you have work, all three of you should find a dungeon, Bastion said.

Amaryllis nodded. Hes right. Youre all going to find it hard to find better jobs if youre caught at your first evolution.

Is that a big problem? I asked.

Amaryllis made a so-so gesture. In bigger cities it isnt uncommon to have most of the population locked at their first evolution, with a few naturals having pushed past. Its good enough to keep things running smoothly. But anyone of a higher level, with more classes, will be seen as somewhat more desirable in any given position. The stats alone mean that a person will be more resilient.

Awa, theres also a, um, notion that people that have gone past level ten are likely to keep on going. That they have more potential? Keeping someone at a low level means that they stay dependent.

I should pay more attention to peoples levels, but it feels... kinda sad to only see people for the numbers, instead of seeing them for who they are.

Thats a pretty common way of doing things, Amaryllis said. In peacetimes, when everything is going well, its hard to discriminate against people based solely on class and level. Itll still happen. The amount of practice you need to... say out-blacksmith a Blacksmith is immense. Doesnt mean it cant be done.

The Baker Knight, Awen said. Uncle said he met him once.

Hmm? I asked.

Its a childrens story. Based on more or less real events, Amaryllis said.

You never heard of the Baker Knight? Joe asked. Everyone knows the story.

I shrugged. Whats it about?

A young man that got the Baker class deciding hed become a Knight, Amaryllis said. This was during some turmoil in Pyrowalk. The long version is filled with aesops and side stories. The short version is that he succeeded, eventually becoming a rather terrifying figure. The characters often played off as a bit of a goof though.

That sounds cute! I said. I had been slowly getting accustomed to all sorts of new cultures and people, but I never really considered what the children's stories were like. It was something else to dig into... one of these days.