Jonis by Rowan Erlking (free children's online books txt) 📖

bed, shaking and clutching his scroll in his hands. Though he knew that fire would take care of any demon offspring, the words of the demon haunted him. It would come for him one day.

*

Sgt. Romley was sent out of the camp for a long R & R. Troop Gold had to merge with Troop Red the morning after. Lt. Ballis eyed them dangerously as they lined up for inspection, having heard everything about the incident. He glared at Jonis but left him quite alone. As it turned out, Staff Sgt. Hybiss regulated over five troops in the camp, and the lieutenant had already heard the sergeant’s diatribes against the Cordril. Many blamed Jonis for Sgt. Hybiss’s death until Gen. Gomery held a camp-wide assembly the second day after the incident and hung a medal around Jonis’s neck, one larger than the award Lt. Chappel had given Emrit. His speech was long, warning all to beware of the growing demon population.

“You will be facing more than men out there, soldiers. The Sky Children were demons that used their ability against us. Now we face ancient enemies. All of you must be aware that anyone can be an enemy.”

With his hand on Jonis’s shoulder, he continued with his praise. “This young man two days ago ended what could have been a dangerous demon infestation. And we ought to give him credit also for the service he rendered in administering a cure for the parasite infestation a while back. In fact, this young man also should get credit for assisting Recruit Yarran in the creation of the foot fungus cure in the latrines. It seems that Recruit Macoy has been looking after the well-being of this camp since the moment he entered it.”

Emrit lifted his chin and smiled, watching Jonis avoid the stares of his troop mates as he at last got credit for the fungus cure, among other things. Of course, some of the men were avoiding looking at him also, realizing now that they owed Jonis a lot. Many were discomfited that they were indebted to a demon.

But Jonis stood with his head bowed, too embarrassed to receive such praise. Never had he gotten such attention, let alone public praise. Deep inside, he felt there had to be a catch. Never had any good come to him without a catch—except possibly for Mr. Farren. But his time with that generous man had been short-lived.

“Today we award recruit Jonis Macoy the title of Military Magister.” Gen. Gomrey smiled, putting his hands together in a clap. He clapped until every one did.

The applause made Jonis’s cheeks flush even redder.

“May he continue to protect the citizens of Brein Amon.”

Jonis was allowed to join his troop as soon as the applause died down. Minutes after, the soldiers were dismissed, and they marched back to their barracks.

“Congratulations!” Korin slapped him on the back, grinning widely.

“Amazing!” Temis said, extending his hand for a shake.

Jonis shook his hand, making sure his glove was still secure. It was unnerving, watching all these people suddenly go public with their friendship.

Emrit was grinning, along with Cyle. “You deserved it. Wow! Military Magister! I guess this means you can spend more time studying those scrolls of yours, right?”

Knowing what Emrit was implying, he nodded. “Of course. And you’ll get copies.”

Emrit smiled broader.

“So, magister,” Oprin said still retaining his old sneer. “What is Mr. Wonderful going to do now?”

Jonis knew humans were as changeable as the weather. He had not expected Oprin to remain friendly forever. Jealousy worked on a man making them traitors to their promises. Jonis replied, “Well, if I meet Mr. Wonderful, I’ll ask him.”

The men laughed, now feeling free to support the demon. Even Oprin smiled. He nodded his head.

“Did you see that bonfire?” Julwes murmured. He still looked shaken up. “I think they made it extra large to warn that demon not to come back into camp. Do you think it will try?”

Everyone waited to see what the expert would now say. Jonis found this attention smothering.

He shrugged. “Sure beats me. It might. Then again, it just might wait until I leave the camp. After all, I hear the general and all the other officers are going to wear steel collars in their suits now. And the inspections—”

“Yeah, I heard that,” Oprin said. “The doctor now will be searching for demon signs. I also heard they are making you write a list of demons and how to identify them.”

Jonis sighed. “I have to start it tonight. But you have no idea how many demons there are in this world. In fact, I don’t think I know all of them. Out in the northern forests there are more. And we have yet to experience those that might come up from Minor Gull in the south.”

“But you know the common ones of Greater Gull, right?” Julwes asked, keeping careful watch on Jonis’s face.

It was a hard proposition. Jonis, himself, knew nothing about demons. He had to rack his extra long memory to recall what he knew about bird parasites when he fought it. Though his dreams about his demon hunting ancestors went in and out of his thoughts, it still did not make the know-how ready to use. It was like delving into a vault to find a particular paper from millions of stacks of paper. Luckily, his scrolls were good reminders.

“I think I can remember them,” Jonis said with a shrug.

His fellow recruits murmured but did not comment. The boy appeared just as weighed down as he had been with the heavy load he had to carry though the obstacle course—if not more. They left him alone.

 

Jonis sat up all night constructing a list of demons and how to identify them for the doctor to use. That week he was kept busy painting demon circles at the entryways and in the doctor’s office. In some areas, he had them cut out the stone in the ground and lay in stone so that the white line could be permanent. All of these, he made before the end of the week. In his off-hours, the doctor had Jonis brew up potions and cures for future use, marking expiration dates on them. When they had shooting practice, instead of running as before, Jonis was sent to study his scrolls and make transcriptions for the doctor, privately saving copies for Emrit. When the new recruits came, each man was treated for worms and fungus upon entering, with Jonis’s assistance. All were checked for demon parasites, and gratefully, all of them passed.

Chapter Ten: In Transit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Do not use sending spells for traveling…..

If you try sending yourself, you will lose your memory,

as well as all that you carried on your body.”

 

 

 

A year to the day Jonis had arrived to Camp Dalis, Troop Gold stood as the senior troop of the camp. There existed another troop with recruits who had been there longer, but it was Troop Black—the troop of leftovers that had yet to be accepted into the army for some reason. Troop Gold waited for their papers now, dreading to be put in to Troop Black. Troop Black had the strictest drill sergeants, there to clean up whatever had made them unworthy to be in the Brein Amon army.

“Look at that,” Oprin murmured as they marched their five miles that day. “Fresh meat.”

Julwes peered through the fence, shaking his head. “No wonder. That Cordril is gone again, I suppose to administer enemas.”

Several in the troop chuckled.

“Maybe.” Emrit snorted. “But these days the doctor has been having him make a large stock of brews and lotions. I think he is expecting him to get shipped out soon.”

“Our papers,” Oprin murmured.

“Do they actually think the Patriarch will want a Cordril out there?” Julwes asked.

“He was a great help in here,” Emrit snapped.

“Agreed,” Temis added. He was now a lean muscular man, not a shadow of his former fat self.  “I think he’ll be the first sent out.”

“I think they’ll keep him here. He’s been too useful,” another man put in.

“Stuck in Troop Black, and not deserve it,” Cyle said with a sigh.

“Maybe he’ll celebrate his fifteenth birthday here. I hope the officers have a cake made for him!” Korin laughed loud.

Emrit chuckled, turning around and marching backward, “I don’t think so. If the doctor is making him stock up, that is proof Jonis is on his way out.”

 

Jonis was indeed kept extremely busy with the doctor lately. He had studied every scroll and transcribed all of them. Copies were in the doctor’s office, as well as in Emrit’s locked box. Jonis was able to put the finished scrolls away with his father’s sword. Standing at the cabinet, Jonis sighed, stroking the sealed scabbard and sword. One day he would be able to use it again. Perhaps when he was an officer, he would be allowed to use his old weapon. Instead, he closed the doors, locked them, and handed the key back to Gen. Gomrey. All of his things would remain inside and sealed until he was his own man.

Returning to the doctor’s office, Jonis picked up the cooled milk and clove oil solution, and he poured it into another jar, sealing it. He had taught the doctor a few sealing spells so he could close up the tranquilizer cabinet and prevent theft of valuable objects. He looked at the red paper and the poorly scrawled writing on it. The doctor did not have the knack, and it took a while for it to work. Sloppy handwriting was partly the problem. The other part was that the man smudged the words sometimes and had to start over. It wasted reams of red paper and too much ink. It was later that Jonis learned that he could make a general-use seal, so only the doctor or nurse could open it. That saved him a lot of time.

“Are they ready?” the doctor asked, walking into the room.

Jonis nodded, gesturing to the counter. “Those you can use now if you need them.”

“I need them. Two men are infected with tapeworms.” The doctor shook his head. “Some people are so disgusting.”

“Be careful with tapeworms,” Jonis said. “They can break off and continue to grow inside the intestine. I recommend you make those men drink five cups of the brew and sit on the pot all day. They may need multiple enemas.”

“They’re going to hate us when they find out what they have to go through.” But the doctor turned to follow Jonis’s advice.

Going back to his work, Jonis picked up another jar and filled it with potion. He carried it with two others back to the storeroom. They had expanded it to include demon purging devices and anti-fungal washes. The ingredients and instructions sat on their shelves just in case the book ever got lost. Returning to the room, Jonis went back to filling the jars.

“Recruit Macoy.” Lt. Chappel stood in the doorway. “You are ordered to join your troop out on the west clearing. Your orders have come in.”

Jonis put down the jar. “Already?”

The lieutenant smirked. “What? Are you worried about your new post? If you do get accepted by the army, you will ship out today. Now join your troop.”

“Yes, Lieutenant Chappel.” Jonis put a lid on that last pot