Gutter Rats: Origins Chapter 5

The next night was Quyloc’s first scheduled lesson with Borman. All day long, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He was so distracted that he let his guard down while sparring against Dravit and nearly got his head caved in. As it was, he was stunned badly enough that Tairus sent him to get some water and walk it off.

By the time their training was done for the day, Quyloc was sure Borman wasn’t going to actually tutor him. The offer had been some kind of cruel jest. He wasn’t going to make himself look like a fool by showing up at the man’s office carrying his book. He was an idiot for ever thinking someone would help him for no reason. People in the world didn’t do things like that.

He was sitting on his cot, staring furiously at the incomprehensible words in his book, when the door to the sleeping quarters opened and Borman stuck his head in.

“Did you forget?”

Quyloc jumped up. “No. I…uh…”

“Well, come on. I have other things to do tonight besides this.”

Still in disbelief, Quyloc followed the quartermaster to his office. Borman took a heavy key from his pocket and unlocked the outer door. Another key unlocked the inner door, letting them back to where his desk was. Two lanterns were burning, providing a much better light than what Quyloc was used to. A second chair had been pulled up to the desk.

“Sit.”

Cautiously, Quyloc sat. He still half expected this to be some kind of elaborate trap. Maybe he would be arrested for stealing the book.

But no watchmen arrived. Nothing untoward happened. Borman simply started the lesson.

“Do you know your letters?”

“Most of them.”

“Let’s start by going through them. You write them, and I’ll tell you how they sound. Once we get through the whole alphabet, we can start on words.”

The evening passed like a dream for Quyloc. After so long trying to pick the lock of the written word, he was being given the key. The pieces fell into place surprisingly fast. They moved from the alphabet to words and right away words started to leap out at him. The shorter words, anyway. Even Borman noticed it.

“I’m amazed at how fast you’re picking this up. Did you really get this far on your own?”

“Yes.” Quyloc didn’t look up. He was puzzling over a long word.

“Break it up. Sound it out.”

After a couple of stumbles, the word resolved itself. Quyloc stored it away in his mind and moved onto the next.

Finally, Borman stretched and stood up. “I’m sorry, boy, but my back is hurting something fierce. I can’t do this anymore.”

Reluctantly, Quyloc stood as well.

“You did really well.”

The praise made Quyloc feel awkward. He’d never had any before. He couldn’t look at Borman in case the man was actually mocking him.

“I think with a few more lessons, you won’t need me anymore.”

Quyloc risked a glance at him before looking away again. “We can do this again?”

“That’s what I said, isn’t it? Come back in two days.”

Quyloc nodded, mumbled thanks and headed for the door. Borman called out to him.

“I won’t have to come get you next time, will I?”

Once outside, Quyloc had to lean against the wall to get hold of himself. He couldn’t go into his quarters and let the others see him with so much showing on his face. He wanted to shout to the heavens. His joy and exaltation were unlike anything he’d ever felt before. It was exhilarating.

Anything was possible now. He was sure of it.

Rome looked up when he entered their quarters. “Where have you been?” He saw the book a moment later and nodded. “Oh, I see. I wondered when I didn’t see you at mess. I brought you some food.” He gestured to a cloth-wrapped bundle on Quyloc’s cot. “Don’t wait to eat. I already had to chase Kerv off once.”

Quyloc realized he was ravenous and tore into the food.

“I never knew anyone who could read.” It was Glane. He was looking at Quyloc with big eyes.

Quyloc felt awkward. “I can’t really read yet. Only a few words.”

“Still. I never knew anyone who could even do that. What are you gonna do once you can read?”

Quyloc shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess the army.”

Glane scoffed. “That’s crazy. Why would you want to do this?”

Quyloc fought the urge to look at Rome. He’d do whatever Rome did. He always had.

“Anyone who can read is better than this. You could be a merchant. Or some kind of aide to a nobleman. The army is too small for them as can read.”

Quyloc looked at him in surprise. He’d never heard anything like that from Glane before.

“Can I ask you something?”

Quyloc nodded.

“When you can read, would you read something to me? I never had anyone do that before.”

“Yeah. Sure.”

Glane grinned. “I can’t wait.”

Go to next chapter.