Free Flight of the Nighthawks by Raymond E. Feist

horses.”
    Zane turned and said, “We don’t ride, Caleb.”
    Caleb said, “You’ll learn while we travel.”
    The boys exchanged glances. Riding was something reserved for nobility, soldiers, rich merchants, and the occasional traveler, but farmhands and town boys got from place to place by shank’s mare or in the back of a wagon. Still, it was something new to contemplate and anything that would break the tedium of this journey was welcome.
    Tad shrugged then Zane grinned, his face lighting up as he said, “Maybe we can become fast messengers?”
    Caleb laughed. “In that case you’ll have to become very good riders, and how is your sword work?”
    â€œSword work?” asked Tad.
    â€œFast messengers get paid all that gold for getting their messages through in a hurry and safely. That means avoiding highwaymen, but also being able to fight to the death if attacked.”
    The boys looked at each other again. Neither had touched a sword in their life and both thought it unlikely that they ever would. Zane remarked, “Young Tom Sanderling went to soldier in Nab-Yar, and he learned to handle a sword.”
    â€œKesh trains all their dog soldiers to be swordsmen,” said Caleb, “but, if memory serves, Old Tom wasn’t happy about seeing his son go a-soldiering.”
    â€œTrue, but what I’m saying is that if he could learn, so could we,” said Zane.
    Tad said, “You could show us. You carry a sword, Caleb, so you must know how to use it.”
    â€œMaybe,” said Caleb, realizing he’d probably have to teach them a few basics when they camped that evening.
    Â 
    Tad swung wildly at Caleb, who easily moved to the side and smacked the boy hard across the back of his hand with a long stick he had cut a few minutes before. The boy yelped and dropped Caleb’s sword on the ground. “The first rule,” said Caleb, bending down to retrieve the fallen weapon, “is don’t drop the sword.”
    â€œThat hurt,” said Tad, rubbing his right hand.
    â€œNot as much as it would had I been using a blade,” said Caleb, “though it wouldn’t have hurt for as long, because I would have gutted you a few seconds later.” He reversed the sword and tossed it to Zane, who caught it deftly. “Good,” said Caleb. “You’re quick and have a steady hand. Let’s see if you can avoid repeating Tad’s mistake.”
    The sword felt as if it were alive and deadly in Zane’s hand. It was heavier than he had expected and its balance felt odd. He moved it around a little and flexed his wrist one way and then the other.
    â€œThat’s right,” said Caleb as he circled the fire to face Zane. “Get used to how it feels. Let it become an extension of your arm.”
    Suddenly he lashed out with his branch, intending to smack the boy on the hand as he had Tad, but Zane turned his wrist and caught the branch on his blade.
    â€œVery good,” said Caleb, stepping back. “You may have a knack for this. Where did you learn that?”
    â€œI didn’t,” said Zane with a grin, lowering the sword. “I just tried to keep the stick from hitting me.”
    Caleb turned to Tad. “Did you see how he did that?”
    Tad nodded.
    Caleb motioned for Zane to drop the point of his blade, then stepped over to the boy and gripped his wrist. “By turning your wrist,as you did, you achieve the most efficient use of your arm strength and energy. You’ll see men who use their entire arm, sometimes up to the shoulder, and sometimes you have to do that for a particular block, but the less strength you use early on, the more endurance you’ll have should the battle wear on.”
    â€œCaleb, how long does a fight usually last?”
    â€œMost are short, Tad. But if two men are evenly matched, it can continue for a long time and endurance becomes vital. And if you’re in