Knights: Defenders of Ollanhar

by Robert E. Keller

  ***

  Taith was going to be a Squire of Dremlock, but the news did nothing to improve his attitude. As the Knights broke camp the next morning, Taith refused to ride on Lannon's horse. It was still foggy and raining in the grey light of dawn, and Taith sat on a stump looking cold, tired, and sullen. He waved the Knights away.

  "Taith, it's time to move on," said Lannon.

  Everyone but the lad was on horseback and eager to depart. The Knights exchanged impatient glances. Not this again, some of them muttered. The rain and cold had everyone in a sullen mood.

  "That's an order, Taith," Lannon added.

  "What if I don't obey?" said Taith. "Will you use your sorcery on me again? I know you want to hurt me with your magic."

  "That's nonsense," said Lannon. "I won't hurt you. But you're not going to hold up this mission. You're coming with us, one way or another."

  "Of course Lannon won't harm you, Taith," said Dallsa. "Lannon would never do that. He is too kind and noble to do such a thing."

  "Lannon will keep his sorcery in check," said Aldreya. "Nevertheless, you will ride with us. We cannot leave you behind."

  "I don't feel like riding," said Taith. "I just want to sit here. So please stop bothering me. I don't care about your stupid mission. I'm cold and tired, and that's all I care about right now. Understand?"

  "We shall see," said Aldreya, her eyes narrowing.

  "No one tells me what to do," said Taith. "And unless Lannon is planning to bully me with his weird magic, I'm going to be making the rules from now on. I know that I have some special powers like Lannon does and you people need me. So you're going to wait until I feel like riding."

  "You can't hold that over us," said Lannon, struggling to remain patient. "We do need you, Taith. But we also need to complete our mission."

  Dallsa motioned to the lad. "Come, Taith," she said softly. "You can ride with me, and I will see that you receive wonderful care."

  "You eat too much," said Taith, with a sneer. "You're kind of fat. Your horse might give out with the two of us on it."

  Dallsa's mouth dropped open. "That's not very nice, young man. I'm trying to help you, Taith. Where are your manners?"

  Taith shrugged. "Just being truthful."

  For a moment, there was silence as the Knights contemplated what to do. Then some low, muttered words came from Daledus' throat. The Dwarf had sat scowling in silence long enough, and he could no longer contain himself.

  "Get on a horse!" Daledus growled. "Or I'll jump down there and take my hand to your rear until you can't sit down!"

  Aldreya glanced at Daledus and shook her head--a warning for the Dwarf to stay out of it. "I can handle this," she said.

  Daledus ignored her. He raised his hand in a menacing gesture. "Don't think I won't administer a fierce spanking, lad."

  Taith glowered up at him. "Go ahead and do it then, bully."

  Daledus' face turned crimson. He leapt off his horse and seized the boy, lifting him off the stump. "When I give an order, you do it. Understand?"

  His face pale, the boy nodded.

  Daledus carried him to his horse. "Now we're going to ride out, and you're not going to slow us--or I'll spank your rear good and hard."

  Aldreya looked displeased, but said nothing.

  Lannon was reasonably sure Daledus wouldn't harm the boy and was just trying to scare him into riding with them, but the Grey Dwarf's gruff manner and unpredictable behavior made for a tense moment.

  "Daledus is too harsh with him," said Dallsa. "The boy can be troublesome, yes, but he has just lost his father and needs comfort."

  Daledus sat proudly in the saddle, his fierce eyes daring anyone to challenge his authority to order the lad around. The boy sat with him, holding the reins and looking baffled.

  "I'll make a man out of you yet," Daledus growled in Taith's ear. "You want to ride with Knights, then you'll learn to act like one."

  "I never said I wanted to ride with you people," Taith replied.

  "What did you say?" Daledus snarled.

  Taith swallowed. "Nothing. I didn't say a thing."

  Daledus laughed. "I thought as much. Now guide that horse right and proper before you spoil my good mood. Maybe later I'll let you swing my axe."

  "I can't swing that thing," Taith replied. "It's too big."

  "Have faith in yourself," Daledus roared--loud enough that Taith covered his ear. "I don't want to hear you talk like a weakling ever again."

  "Okay, I will," Taith said quickly. "I mean, I won't. Whatever--just don't shout in my ear. Sheesh!" Taith's hands trembled as he held the reins.

  "Daledus is treating that boy rather poorly," said Dallsa.

  Aldreya didn't reply. She seemed content to let Daledus continue to display a Dwarf's style of parenting to Taith.

  "What if Daledus beats him?" asked Dallsa.

  "Our Sacred Laws forbid such punishments," said Aldreya. "Besides, Taith endured enough of that at the hands of his father. And it isn't necessary. In time, the lad will come to learn our ways and his behavior will improve."

  Dallsa gazed at Lannon. "Watch over him, Lannon."

  Lannon nodded. He knew little about raising children, but he vowed to do his best until Taith was delivered safely to Dremlock. In many ways, his own childhood had been miserable in dealing with his father--who bore a dark illness of the mind and soul that sprang from the Deep Shadow. Lannon hadn't received beatings, but he retained scars from his childhood nonetheless from watching his mother and father fight endlessly over every petty thing imaginable. Lannon was simply relieved that someone else was looking after Taith and he could relax a bit, though he intended to keep an eye on Daledus and make sure the Dwarf didn't deal with the lad too harshly. After all, Taith wasn't a Grey Dwarf and wasn't used to their ways.

  "Can I ride with Aldreya?" Taith asked.

  "Ask that again!" snarled Daledus, leaning close to the boy so that his bushy beard was practically smothering him.

  "Can I..." Taith cleared his throat. "I'm fine right here, actually."

  "I'll make a Dwarf out of you yet," said Daledus.

  "I can't be a Dwarf," said Taith, disgust in his voice "because..."

  Daledus leaned close to him again. "Because why?"

  "Come to think of it," said Taith, "that would be a great honor. Dwarves are wonderful."

  Daledus leaned back, a smug look on his face.