by Tora Moon
“So we be sending Jaehaas with you to the Sanctuary.” Telekhaas smoothed his mustache. “We had thought to send a platoon with you, but Jaehaas here convinced us the two of you could travel faster and would be safe enough. A fighting-pack will escort you out of our territory.”
“When do you want us to leave?” Jaehaas asked.
“Tomorrow,” Belistril said. “The nest north of here, which you’ll have to pass, be active today. If you wait until tomorrow, the nest will be clear and it will be safe for you. Besides, Blazel, you look like you could use a few good meals and a day to recuperate.”
Blazel had to admit she was right. He was exhausted. There had been too many days since leaving the swamp that he’d traveled hard and not eaten much. A day to rest wouldn’t hurt.
* * *
After his meeting, Blazel was taken to the quartermaster, a stern matron with Brown and Yellow Talents. She took his measurements for shirts, pants, and boots, even though he had a good pair he’d received from the Strunland guard-pack. By the time he left her office, he had two new shirts, a tunic, another pair of sturdy trousers, and four sets of small clothes. And for reasons he couldn’t fathom, she had given him a set of dress clothes in the Haaslair colors of brown and yellow. He also had three new pairs of socks. He hadn’t had such bounty for many years. When he returned to his room to drop off the clothes, his cleaned red leathers were folded neatly on his cot.
Dolhaas found him a bit later and dragged him out into the practice yard for training. He handed Blazel a sandwich, which he ate on the way to the practice field. Blazel had developed his own style to fight the dangerous swamp beasts, but now that it looked like he was going to be riding with fighting-packs regularly, he needed to brush up on his group fighting skills. For the Haaslair, no other clan took their horses into monster battles, this meant learning to fight while riding. As the training progressed, his old lessons with Histrun came back and he soon did well while fighting on the ground. But no matter how he tried, he just couldn’t master the techniques while on horseback in one afternoon, especially since he was so new to riding.
When the centaurs broke off from the rest to practice their archery, Blazel, tired from the training, wandered over to watch. Jaehaas pulled back on his long bow and let an arrow loose. It thunked into the target, quivering among the other arrows already crowding the center. Blazel leaned forward to look down the line and saw not only centaurs with bows but quite a few women archers. He hadn’t seen them when he first walked to the archery range; the centaur’s large bodies had hidden them.
Blazel blinked, shook his head, and looked again at the women. Among the usual Reds, were Browns, Greens, and Yellows. He blinked in surprise when he saw a couple of women with blue hair. Blues were empaths, sensing and feeling other people’s emotions. They rarely fought, even in training, because they were so affected by violent emotions. Blazel moved to where he could see them more clearly. The Blues had pale blue hair, most with green or brown mixed in with it. He nodded to himself. Ah, that it explains it. They’re all weak Blues.
A loud, shrill whistle blew and all the archers lowered their bows. Blazel watched with interest the commotion at the field’s far end. The spent targets were hauled off and new ones put in place, several yards farther down the field. The new ones were of an odd material and shape, reminding Blazel vaguely of brechas. The archers moved a full quiver of arrows closer to them. The fletching on the previous arrows had been white feathers, but these arrows had dark red fletching.
A woman with deep navy-blue hair stood to the side a safe distance from the targets. Blazel’s forehead crinkled and his eyes narrowed to see such a strong Blue on the practice field.
The archers aimed and released their arrows. Jaehaas murmured a word. His flying arrow burst into flame at the same time as the other arrows did. They landed on the targets, which burst into flame. Within a few moments the fire died out. The arrows flew again. This time when they hit, Blazel noticed small bubbles of water surrounding the flame on the targets. He looked again at the strong Blue and could see her fingers moving. She was putting out the fires.
In the next round an arrow flew wide, missing its target. Before it could touch the ground, the flaming arrow was drenched in water. Blazel was impressed. The Blue was quite good, and powerful, to be able to keep track of so many moving objects.
Blazel continued to watch, fascinated, while Jaehaas emptied his quiver. A few more shots had gone wild—none were Jaehaas’s—and were snuffed out before they could hit the ground.
Finally, Jaehaas turned to Blazel. “I be finished,” he said. “Let’s go get cleaned up. Dinner will be ready soon. I be starving.” He left the empty quivers but took his bow with him as they left the practice field.
Several young fighters gathered up equipment and put it away while a group of children pulled the arrows out of the targets. The field was emptied quickly.
“How do you make the arrows flame?” Blazel asked.
“We have a couple of Reds who spell the arrows. You noticed we said a word just before they flamed?”
Blazel nodded.
“The word releases the spell. Without it the arrows remain unlit. It be genius. We don’t always catch the monsters in the nest, like they do in the other provinces; our plains be too vast. We often fight them as they chase the horses. The arrows allow us to fight them on the go.”
“I remember seeing them the other day when I was caught up in the fight. Do the other clans know about the arrows? I’m sure they could also use them.”
“You know,” Jaehaas said, tilting his head and frowning, “I don’t know if they do or not. It not be something we’ve ever taken to the Gatherings since the others don’t have to chase the monsters like we do. I’ll mention it to Telekhaas before we leave.”
They had the necessary room to themselves. Blazel was glad he didn’t have to clean up with dozens of men—and women. Just having Jaehaas there made him self-conscious and uncomfortable. He hurriedly washed and then dressed in his new shirt and trousers in the Haaslair colors. That night they didn’t linger over dinner as they were leaving at first light.
After dinner, Blazel carefully packed his backpack and saddlebags. One pouch bulged with all his new clothing. Jaehaas reminded him to leave the other saddlebag pouch empty; they would receive provisions in the morning from the quartermaster.
A light tap on the door woke Blazel. He lifted his head to see it was still dark outside.
“It be time to go,” Jaehaas said as he started moving around. A few moments later the lantern blazed to life, filling the room with light.
Ten milcrons later, they slung their bags over their shoulders and left their room. A large group of people was already in the stable getting their horses saddled. Lighzel was tied to the station’s rail where her saddle and tack had been stored. She greeted Blazel with a whinny and thrust her head into his chest, demanding he scratch her jaw. Laughing, he complied. He soon had her saddled, his bags and bedroll tied to the saddle, and was leading her out of the barn.
Jaehaas was waiting for him just outside the stable door. He handed Blazel a warm packet and a ceramic canteen. Inside the packet was a warm bread roll filled with egg, meat, and cheese. The canteen contained hot, rich taevo.
The fighting-platoon alpha who would escort them out of the Haasneh Territory turned out to be Lorstal. She nodded a greeting to him before calling out the order to mount up.
A beautiful sunrise blazed across the sky as they trotted out the gate. They rode east until they were past the fields and pastures surrounding the Keep. Once in the tall plains grass, they turned north. Lorstal set them a fast pace that still allowed the horses to rest and recover. The measures flowed under the horse’s hooves.
After the morning break, Kaelhaas chose to run as a stallion. Lorstal took the lead line of his horse. Soon after, a herd of horses broke over the horizon and joined them in their run across the plains. They continued on, stopping every few octars to rest the h
orses. As evening closed around the group, a safe house rose over the waves of grass.
The next two days followed the same pattern. With no signs of monsters, Blazel suspected they were traveling a route that avoided the nest sites.
When they stopped for their first morning break on the third day, Blazel let Lighzel drink her fill from the spring bubbling from the ground. Inlaid rocks formed a shallow basin to catch the water. After the horses drank, the basin refilled with fresh water. Blazel took the opportunity to fill his water skin. He wandered away from the others and sat down looking out at the plains while Lighzel cropped the grass.
A rustling alerted him. He slid silently into a crouch and waited. A rabbit nosed out of the grass. Without thinking, Blazel shifted into his wolf form and pounced on it. His powerful jaws clamped on its neck, severing its arteries. A couple quick gulps and the rabbit disappeared down his throat. A strange quiet made him look up as he licked his jaws clean.
Everyone was staring at him. Some had shocked looks on their faces, but most were afraid. Lorstal and Kaelhaas looked concerned. Blazel lowered his muzzle onto his paws and whined. Only then did he realized what he’d done, but he didn’t understand why they looked so scared.
Kaelhaas approached him cautiously, crouching down to be eye level with him. “Blazel,” he said softly, “you still be with us, buddy?”
Blazel lifted his head off his paws and looked quizzically at Kaelhaas. What does he mean? Of course I’m still here.
Kaelhaas looked at the bits of fur on the ground and then back at Blazel. “We have food. You don’t have to hunt.”
Blazel had forgotten about the food in his saddlebags. He had spent too many years alone, killing food when it presented itself so he wouldn’t go hungry. Hunting in his wolf form was still second nature to him. Apparently, it wasn’t acceptable behavior. Blazel whined again and scooted back.
“It be okay. I know,” Kaelhaas said in a gentle voice. “It be instinct for you.” He stood up and turned back to the crowd. “He not be a ravening beast. Go back to your business.” He made a shooing motion. The group dispersed, going back to their horses and re-tightening girth straps or filling water skins.
Kaelhaas turned back to Blazel, who still hadn’t shifted back to his human form. “We be leaving you here.”
Blazel felt his lip raise, revealing his teeth.
“No, it not be because you killed a rabbit.” Kaelhaas sounded exasperated. “This is the boundary between our territory and Haaslorn’s. I had planned on telling you before the incident. I be sure the Haaslorn scouts will spot you soon. They know Jaehaas, so you’ll be fine.” He stepped toward Blazel. When Blazel didn’t duck away, he petted Blazel’s head. “It’s been a pleasure, Blazel. Take care of yourself and be safe. Mother’s blessings on your journey.”
Blazel reached out a long tongue and licked Kaelhaas’s hand. He was still too shaken by the fighter’s disapproval and rejection to shift.
Lorstal called the order to mount and in a few milcrons only Blazel, Jaehaas, and a Red were left at the spring. He hadn’t expected anyone besides Jaehaas to accompany him. Knowing they’d only be traveling with him a short time, he hadn’t paid much attention to the other fighters in the group, especially the women. Curious, he shifted back to his human form.
The woman had vibrant red-brown hair and dark brown eyes ringed in red. Her hair was chin length, with bangs cut straight across her forehead and brushed the tops of her eyebrows. She was medium height and wore red leathers, like every other Red when out fighting monsters.
She had a long helstrablade strapped to her waist in addition to carrying her helbraught. The staff portion of the helbraught was the height of the woman and hers had a twenty-inch blade made from the helstrim alloy attached to the end. The blade was sharp enough to penetrate the thick, tough Malvers monsters’ hide.
“I be Ambrelya,” she said, holding out her right hand, still gripping her helbraught with her left. “I be coming with you as far as Strunlair Keep.”
Blazel gripped her wrist in a warrior’s greeting. “Why?”
“You made a valid point yesterday,” Jaehaas said.
“I know the spell for the fire arrows,” Ambrelya said. “Belistril and Telekhaas thought it be important for us to share this knowledge with the other Clans. We hadn’t realized they didn’t know it until you mentioned it.”
“Good,” Blazel said, nodding. “The more information we share among ourselves the better it will be when the madness arrives.” His forehead crinkled in a frown. Now, why did I say that?
“What?” Jaehaas jerked back. “What was that about?”
“Great, now I’m channeling Chariel.” Blazel shook his head. “She said I would be recalled home when the madness was approaching.” He started pacing, looking down at the ground. “She didn’t know what it meant, only it was bad. I don’t know if she was talking about the new janack and the strange behavior of the monsters, or something else. Whatever it is, we have to hurry.”
He leaped into Lighzel’s saddle and kicked her sides. She jumped forward into a gallop. An octar later, he finally slowed down to allow the other two to catch up to him. He had to get to the Sanctuary before the madness hit. But what madness?
* * *
As they rode, the plains seemed empty of life to Blazel. Since entering Haaslorn Territory they hadn’t seen any horse herds. He missed the thunder of hundreds of horses’ hooves pounding the ground as they ran.
Late in the afternoon they saw a man sitting on a horse on a distant rise. Jaehaas waved at him, then whistled a pattern of notes. The other man whistled, waved back, and then turned his horse away, disappearing in moments.
“The Haaslorn know we be here,” Ambrelya explained to Blazel. “They’ll keep an eye out for us and let us know if there be any danger. Otherwise, they’ll leave us alone.”
When they stopped at a safe house for the night, they had it to themselves. Jaehaas took Blazel outside, set up practice targets in the courtyard, and to Blazel’s surprise, handed him a bow.
“Here, it be for you,” Jaehaas said. “Archery be a good defense against the monsters—and be good for hunting.”
They practiced until it became too dark to see the target. At the end, Blazel could hit it at least once every three times. He admired Jaehaas and Ambrelya’s skill; both could hit the target in the dead center two out of three times and hit somewhere on the target every time.
After they ate and the dishes were done, Ambrelya went to a cupboard, brought out a board game, and started to set it up. Blazel smiled and indicated he wanted the red pieces. Keshe was a popular game played even by the Phengriffs.
After a few rounds, he asked in what he hoped was a nonchalant voice, “Why was everyone so scared this morning?”
“You don’t understand, do you?” Jaehaas moved his piece and then looked at Blazel. “We be worried you had gone rogue. You shifted, killed, and ate that rabbit without thought. Once we become adults, we rarely hunt in our wolf forms and never eat as a wolf. It be believed to lead the man into losing control and turning rogue—an ill thing to become—and dangerous to everyone in their blood lust and insanity. And to eat while everyone else be hungry be an act of selfishness, something rogues do.”
Blazel scrutinized the game pieces while he tried to understand. He kept his head down and said slowly, “I have been alone for a long time. If I didn’t snatch a rabbit or something else when I found it, I would go hungry or waste precious energy trying to catch something later. I was not being selfish.”
Jaehaas patted his arm. “Of course you weren’t.”
“I am not a rogue.” Blazel lifted his head and stared into Jaehaas’s eyes. “I do not tear my prey to pieces. I do not kill people. I’m not a rogue.”
“No, you not be,” Jaehaas agreed. “You be a lone wolf who sometimes forgets his manners.” Jaehaas smiled, his eyes crinkling with the movement.
Blazel lowered his eyes. “I will try harder to remember them.”
Ambrelya reached across the table and patted Blazel’s hand. “You be doing fine. We understand and will help you. From what I’ve seen, you be a good guy.”
Blazel felt his ears redden and he ducked his head. Soon after Jaehaas won the game and they went to bed.
Over the next few days, they quickly covered the measures. With only three of them, they could travel faster and longer, cutting down their rest times. As they traveled farther north, the plains began to undulate with rolling hills. Every so often, a scout would whistle and wave to them from the top of a hill. The three safe houses they stayed in for the night were empty. Not once had they seen any Malvers monsters or run into a battle.
This worried Blazel. “Why haven’t we seen any monsters?”
“Our route takes us away from the known nest sites,” Ambrelya told him.
“And the only way for new sites to form,” Jaehaas added, “be from malicious deeds such as rape or murder. It be one reason we put down rogues as quickly as possible. We don’t want their misdeeds to form new nests. Besides, the plains have always been sparsely populated. We have fewer nest sites than the other provinces. It seems to take more than horses to attract the monsters; they need people. Have you ever noticed there are ruins of our ancestors wherever there be nest sites?”
Blazel nodded. He’d seen the same thing as he traveled the length and breadth of Lairheim.
“There has to be a reason for it,” Jaehaas continued. “I believe the Malvers monsters be here to destroy us. But why or for who, I don’t know.”
“I’ve thought the same thing.” Blazel rubbed his beard. “Perhaps it’s time to ask the Supreme about it. I’m sure she knows.”