The First Blade of Ostia Read Free

personality that will thrive under that scrutiny.’
    Bryn disagreed, but he said nothing. He would deal with anything that might come when necessary.
    ‘I’m the first to admit that I may be wrong and I don’t want you to feel that I’m trying to steer you in the direction of military service. All I would ask is that you take the time to consider your options; don’t rush into anything. It’s also worth considering staying here to continue your studies as a Fellow of the Academy, or travelling to one of the other academies to study there for a while. It’s not as glamorous or well-paid a pursuit, but it is worthwhile and can be immensely satisfying on a personal level.’
    ‘I’ll think on it,’ Bryn said, his mind already set.
    ‘Well, that’s everything I think. My door is always open to you, if I can be of help. Good luck with whichever path you choose. And congratulations once again.’
----
    A s Bryn left the office , he mulled over what he had been told. The advice dal Damaso had given him was good and it would be foolish to dismiss it out of hand, no matter how focussed he was on the arena. The arena was what he had always dreamed of, though, and it was finally within reach.
    Bryn was of modest means; he had no titles or lands and would not inherit any, so he had to make money with his blade. The arena represented the best opportunity for this, and even if a military career was more respectable in the long term and would give greater chance for social advancement, the money he could earn from a few years of duelling in the arena was very tempting. Not only was it a boyhood dream, it offered the opportunity to amass great wealth in a short time. A little luck and success was all it took.
    As pressing as the decision was, his first priority was to clear his things out of his room in the Academy and find somewhere to live in the city. He would be able to return to his family home until he had scraped together enough coin to pay for somewhere himself, but that wasn’t a solution in the longer term—or even the short term, when he thought about it.
    ‘Did you pass?’ Amero’s familiar voice came from behind Bryn.
    ‘Yes, of course I did,’ Bryn said.
    ‘Me too,’ Amero said. He wore a smile so wide it almost split his face. He walked down the corridor that their rooms were off with his usual casual swagger. ‘Only second place though. I assume I have you to thank for that?’
    ‘I’m afraid you do,’ Bryn said.
    ‘Whatever will you do with all those swords of honour?’
    Bryn smiled. ‘I’m sure I’ll think of something.’
    ‘Hard to believe we’re done here. I’ve spent more of my life in this place than anywhere else. I’ll be glad to see the back of it, though. Now I can get on with my life.’
    His words struck a note with Bryn, and it was the first time that he had given any thought to how he felt about finishing there. He was not glad at all to be leaving; he was keenly aware of how much he was going to miss the place. Bryn had been incredibly happy at the Academy. What lay ahead felt so uncertain, frightening even.
    ‘So where to next?’ Amero said. ‘Back home?’
    ‘I expect so. For the time being anyway, until I can afford something of my own. I don’t really fancy moving from here into a rat pit just to be independent, though.’
    ‘Well, I might have just the thing,’ Amero said. ‘I’ve a place in Oldtown, it’s big enough for two and you’d have your own room. It’s yours if you want it. After getting used to there being so many people around the whole time, I’m not keen on rattling about the place on my own.’
    ‘Thanks, but I doubt I could afford the rent in Oldtown. Not for a while anyway.’ It would be a very long time before he might be able to afford the rent in such a desirable part of the city. Possibly never.
    ‘I’m not too worried about the rent; I just want a friendly face around. How about rent free for the first month and then we can agree to a