When Jack woke a few hours later, he felt like an old army messenger who’d spent the night running through rain and mud with an urgent message. “Ow… My body.” He forced himself to sit on the edge of the bed, wincing as his muscles protested. “Why do I keep waking up at this hour?” The wall clock showed just past six in the morning.
With a resigned shrug, he got dressed and sat at his desk to craft another spell scroll. He needed the coin, and despite feeling sore, he wasn’t going to waste the day.
Having been reminded of the existence of training facilities at the Adventurers Guild, his plan was to pick up his items from the washhouse, visit the spell scrolls shop, and spend an hour on archery training.
Before all that, he had to have breakfast and test the waters with his mother regarding archery training. The subject had been put aside due to Jack’s injuries, but he was certain his mom wouldn’t have forgotten.
Less than two hours later, Jack was at the kitchen table with Polly—his sister was awake before nine for once—and Zia, eating a delicious breakfast of pastries, cream, and fruit. Their mother was still tending the oven to complete an order for one of the Lundun businesses she supplied.
“So, why’s this called a cornetto and not a croissant? It looks like a croissant, Mom.” Jack took a bite into the golden baked cornetto topped with fresh cream and strawberries he’d been examining. To his untrained eye, it looked like a croissant. He groaned with delight, “Hmm… that’s delicious.”
Zia nodded in agreement as she too took a second, much bigger, bite of her cornetto, not caring what it was called. The sweet crescent-shaped pastry was stuffed in her small mouth; the fresh cream spilt from the pastry’s sides and down her chin.
Polly was silent, too busy enjoying her breakfast.
Anna laughed. “You need to take your time, little one, or you’ll lose most of the cream.” She glanced at her son, “The differences are a croissant is made from puff pastry, making it flaky…” she paused to take something out of the oven, “…while a cornetto uses a richer dough that’s not as flaky, and has a softer interior with a crisp exterior.”
Jack nodded while taking another big bite. “It’s really nice. We should have these every morning,” he half-joked.
Zia nodded while licking the cream from her chin and fingers. “It’s really nice,” she mimicked Jack in an almost understandable mumble.
Anna paused what she was doing. “What are your plans for today, Jack?”
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He swallowed the bite of cornetto. “I plan to practice my scribe skills and later check out the Adventurers Guild’s training areas for archery practice.” He grinned. “Perhaps eat a delicious dinner with my mom…”
Polly interrupted with a loud scoff. “I hope they have barn doors for you to aim at.”
Jack ignored the insult. As soon as you are out of the house, I’m gifting your room some spider egg sacs. He gave his sister a smirk.
Their mother sat down in front of Jack. “After what happened, you still plan to learn to use a deadly weapon?” She looked concerned, and the laughter lines around her eyes had become more visible. “You’re a scribe, Jack. Not a warrior!”
Polly Laughed. “A really boring scribe.”
“Not now, Polly.” Their mom’s frown deepened.
Polly went back to eating her breakfast in silence.
“I know, Mom,” Jack smiled, “but what happened has made me more determined than ever to learn to defend myself.” He looked at his sleeping younger brother in his cradle. “What if we were all out on a hike with Dad and a…” he paused to look across at Zia, who was still enjoying her cornetto breakfast, “…and something happened?”
His mom forced a smile. “That shouldn’t happen.” She interlaced her fingers together in thought. “Your dad only ever takes us to safe areas.”
Jack nodded. “Where I went to practice archery is supposed to be safe.” He again looked at Zia, not wanting to upset her. “Well, you know what happened… I’ve heard the King’s Army is recruiting Apprentice Scribes. It will be a while before I reach the apprentice level, but what if I have to spend time in the army like Dad had to?”
Young people were conscripted into the army for a couple of years. The only reason Jack avoided conscription in his past life was a combination of being badly scarred, travelling, and spending most of his time living away from people like a hermit. Also helped that the Kingdom’s officials believed he died in the fire that burnt his home to the ground, so they weren’t aware he was an Apprentice Scribe.
“Hmm…” Anna shook her head, but before she could continue, Jack interrupted.
“It’s only the Adventurers Guild training area, I’m not planning any more trips to a forest to practice now that I know there’s a much safer option. I just want to be fit and capable of defending myself and the people I love.” He gave his mom a smile.
Polly scoffed but kept quiet despite the look on her face suggesting she had a good insult ready.
Jack continued, “I’ll store my bow and dagger somewhere safe where small hands can’t reach them.” He’d already considered this. His dagger could be kept out of reach on his bookshelf, and the bow and quiver stored on a hook, high on the wall in his room.
His mother frowned. “I don’t like it… But you are an adult now, and we have to let you make your own choices… and mistakes.” She gave him a stern look. “If I find any of your deadly weapons on the floor or within a child’s reach, I’ll…” She paused before continuing, “…I’ll cook them in my oven on full power.”
Jack laughed at the threat and the image of his mom stuffing his dagger, bow, and quiver in the oven; she had a huge oven, so they would all fit.
“I’m not joking, Jack.” She pointed at him. “One time and they’re all ash.”
He nodded. “I understand, Mom. And I appreciate your trust in me.” He stood, groaning a little from his still-aching body, and gave his mother a hug, which she returned.
Seeing a hug, Zia joined in. She had sticky fingers that managed to find only Jack’s clothing.
