by H. M. Clarke
“Let’s all turn in and get some sleep. Peana’s men are taking the watch tonight so we should hopefully all be guaranteed a good night’s sleep.”
‘Okay,’ was the response from both Hauga and Adhamh.
Dearen stood a moment, undecided on whether to take their response at face value. She was expecting more of a conversation about the Pydarki. The two gave in too easily.
“If we leave early in the morning we should reach the base of Daegarouf by mid-morning then all of our questions should be answered.”
A loud rumble started in Adhamh’s chest and then his mouth opened in a yawn, showing all of his razor sharp teeth to good effect.
“I’m going to turn in. I’ll see you two in the morning.”
CHAPTER FIVE
ASNAR STAYED BACK WITH the bareskins when they started out in the morning.
Tayme went up with Trar and Adhamh and Raga and Hauga stayed close to their two charges. If Dearen stopped suddenly, Hauga would bump up against her.
Apart from some casual conversation with Hauga, Dearen spent most of the morning trek talking with Adhamh. And as she talked, Dearen began to remember more and more memories of a life somewhere in the sand and heat of an arid landscape where her only escape was the cooling air as she flew through the sky with Adhamh. Dearen was even able to remember Tayme and Trar and a lot of other faces and Hatars quickly passed through her mind. She noted that Adhamh was careful not to call her Kalena, and Trar made no effort to try and talk to her. Maybe with her and Adhamh talking together, Trar had decided to leave them alone.
On the early side of midday, the group began their ascent of Daegarouf.
The path was not wide and trees and shrubs over grew it enough to block out the sky. It gave the impression of not being well used and the Hatar flying overhead told them that the path could not be seen from the sky above.
The group moved into a single file and started their way up the mountain. They saw no sign of the Pydarki and even Dalon Peana found that strange. The Pydarki were very territorial and they should have demanded what their business here was by now.
‘Maybe they have seen us Dymarki and are letting us through?’ Hauga said.
“I doubt that. Two Dymarki with a large group of bareskins and two Hatar would not let them give us a free waiver to pass onto their mountain.”
‘Yes, they would challenge Dymarki, just as they would anyone else.’
‘So maybe it is the Bareskins then? Adhamh had told me that the Pydarki are now part of the Southern lands. Maybe they think it is a delegation from the south?’
‘Maybe. We will not know until we meet the Pydarki. It’s no use worrying about something you have no control over.’
“You’re right as always Hauga. We’ll just keep following the path up the mountain and I’m sure we’ll be met by some sort of sentry.”
Dearen moved forward and took the lead with Hauga following close behind. A glance back down the line showed her that Asnar (closely followed by Raga) had moved up to the head of the bareskins but Lieutenant Peana would not let the Pydarki pass in front of him.
Peana rode several paces behind Hauga. At least there was now a buffer between her and Asnar.
She turned her head forward and focused her attention back on the path. Her thoughts turned to ponder about Asnar. It was only a few weeks ago that she thought she may be in love with the man. Now the thought of him just made her want to punch something.
‘Just don’t punch me okay?’
Hauga’s voice popped into her thoughts and Dearen quickly realized that she had said her last thought aloud.
‘I won’t. Unless I think you deserve it.’
Hauga grinned. ‘You know I punch back.’
‘You can try, but you have to catch me first.’
Hauga looked at her askance and Dearen sighed.
‘Okay. I know you could catch me, but that doesn’t mean you will be able to deliver that punch.’
‘Do you want to put that to the test?’
Dearen smiled. ‘No, not at the moment.’ She looked at the undergrowth surrounding the path. ‘I just want to know where the Pydarki are lurking.’
“Shouldn’t we have been met by someone by now?” Lieutenant Peana called up the line to Dearen.
“I would have thought so.” Dearen stopped walking and went upon her tiptoes to look at the back of the group at Raga and Asnar. “Asnar? What is your opinion?” she called down the line to him.
Dearen could only just see the top of the Pydarki’s head over the small group of bareskins, so she focused on Raga who towered at least a foot over the tallest in the group and stood right next to Asnar.
‘So you want to talk to me now?’
“Just answer the question Asnar. Remember, no one made you come with us. You are free to leave at any time.”
Dearen could not see, but she could imagine that Asnar was giving one of his sour looks at her.
“We should have been met by some of the watchers by now.”
“Watchers?” Peana asked.
“The Watchers are those that guard the approaches to Daegarouf.”
“And?” Dearen asked after Asnar hesitated and stopped speaking.
“They are to assess the intentions of visitors by stopping them. Visitors who are welcomed are allowed to pass through. Visitors who are not are....eliminated.”
“So, what does it mean that we haven’t been stopped yet?” Dearen asked.
“I don’t know. Everyone is stopped. Maybe they have seen me with your group and they are letting us through unhindered. But I do feel that we are currently being watched.”
‘Adhamh?’ Dearen glanced up through the trees to the sky, trying to see if she could get a glimpse of any of the Hatar.
‘Yes?’ the Hatar’s voice slipped into her mind with ease, like it was a natural thing for it to do.
‘Do either you or Trar see anything in the forest around us?’
After a short interval, Adhamh answered her.
‘There are a group of six figures coming towards you from higher up the path.’
‘Do you think they are Pydarki?’
‘I would say that it is a good probability that they are.’
‘Huh? I’ll take that as a yes.’
Dearen turned to the rest of the group.
“Adhamh has just told me that there are people coming down the path towards us.”
‘Kral and I are going up to keep an eye on them. Kral wants you to be careful.’
‘Trar, tell Kral that he’d better spend more time looking after himself. Just be careful. Remember that mind bolt that hit Adhamh.’
‘He’s already warned us about that.’ Trar replied. ‘We’ll call if these people don’t look like they are going to be friendly.’
‘Okay, Trar.’
“Tayme and Trar are flying up to get a look at who is coming down to meet us.
Lieutenant Peana pushed his way past some of his men and Hauga to dismount next to Dearen. His horse took the opportunity to take a nibble at some of the nearby blackberries. Peana glared down the path as if expecting the approaching group to suddenly appear.
“They are not with us just yet Dalon,” Dearen said. “But it won’t take them long to get here.”
The lieutenant did not reply to her but looked back at this men. “Jack and Hanton. Split the men and position yourself defensively on either side of the path. These people may be friendly but we don’t want to leave anything to chance.”
“Lieutenant, they will know how many men are supposed to be here,” Asnar called out as if addressing someone who was a little slow.
“That may be, but we will not be taken by surprise again. The Captain had reason to distrust the Pydarki and your attitude has shown me that his distrust in your people may be justified.”
“I think I agree with you Lieutenant Peana.” Dearen heard the words leave her mouth and now knew in her heart that she did not trust Asnar. Not now.
‘Dearen-
‘
‘Hauga. Do you trust Asnar? Truly?’
‘Not like I once did.’
‘Then let’s see what presents when the six Pydarki coming down the mountain meet up with us.’
‘Yes, Cearc.’
“We’ll wait here for them to reach us,” Dalon said. “We might as well give our legs a rest and a stretch and make ourselves comfortable while we wait.”
‘THEY COME.’
Adhamh’s cryptic words popped into Dearen’s mind just as the Pydarki made their presence known a short time later ahead of them. They made no effort to hide or disguise themselves but walked straight and tall towards them.
Dearen moved to go meet them but Lieutenant Peana placed a hand on her shoulder and held her back.
“Let me go forward. I don’t know what your relationship is with the Pydarki, but they come under the rule of the Empire, and they have to accede to any military request.”
‘Let him take the lead for now Dearen. Once we met with someone in authority, then we can make our request known.’
Dearen glanced back at Hauga and gave him a small nod. It made sense and it would let her slowly make the Pydarki aware that a bareskin is now the Dymarki Cearc.
“Okay, Dalon. You take the lead, but I’ll be just behind you.”
Peana nodded and began to walk up the path towards the approaching Pydarki. Dearen stopped just behind him and was surprised to find Asnar right behind her.
‘Don’t interfere Asnar.’
‘I won’t. I don’t think Raga would let me even if I wanted to.’
It was then that Dearen noticed Raga’s tall form come up behind the Pydarki.
Dearen gave him a knowing smile.
‘Raga. Keep an eye on him. Make sure he behaves himself.’
‘Yes, Cearc.’
Once they made half the distance between them the group stopped and waited for the Pydarki. The Pydarki group was taking its time travelling towards them, probably still assessing them and wondering why they are here.
Lieutenant Peana stood a little ahead of the group as the six Pydarki approached them. Dearen stood at the front of the main group. Asnar stood in between the two standing as if he wanted to leap on anyone that said anything that he thought out of place.
‘Or anything that might place him in a bad light.’ The thought came unbidden to Dearen’s mind. It was as if she was now seeing the Pydarki truly for the first time. He was not concerned about her, he was not concerned about the Dymarki and he was not concerned about the bareskins.
He was only concerned about himself and is upset that his pet bareskin and her Dymarki are not doing what he wanted them to.
The strangers stopped a few paces ahead of Lieutenant Peana. They were silent, staring at them all, taking in the sight of three different peoples (four if you include the Hatar’le’margarten) travelling together. Finally, the shortest of the Pydarki stepped forward and gave Lieutenant Peana a slight bow.
“Welcome strangers. You have entered into territory held by the Pydarki of Daegarouf. We wish to know what business brings you to our home.”
The tone was soft and polite. Dearen’s eyes switched from the short Pydarki to Asnar. Asnar was still, waiting for Peana to respond, to Dearen it seemed as if he expected a greeting from his fellow landsmen and was a little put out that he wasn’t acknowledged. What is going on here?
“I am Lieutenant Dalon Peana of the sixth battalion. We are searching for our missing Captain. He was coming to Daegarouf to talk with someone and we have come looking for him.”
The short Pydarki nodded at his words and then looked past the lieutenant to the rest of the group. “That would explain the Suenese and the Hatar’le’margarten above. But the Dymarki are not looking for your Captain are they?”
“No. They have come to talk to the Pydarki Council.”
Then the Pydarki’s eyes focused passed Dalon Peana’s shoulder and drilled into Asnar.
“I see you travel with Asnar.”
Dalon began to turn to look at Asnar but stopped himself.
“He joined up with us a few days back. He is known to the Dymarki.”
After a slight hesitation, the Pydarki stepped back to stand with his fellows.
“Though we know nothing about your missing Captain, you are Suenese and the Dymarki are known to us. We will take you up to rest and eat and we will inform the council of both your respective requests.”
“Thank you. The thought of food is most welcome.”
The Pydarki gave Lieutenant Peana another slight bow and then gestured to the group to follow them up the path.
CHAPTER SIX
“IT’S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING decent to eat for a change,” Tayme contentedly sighed as he reached over to dish out more stew from the pot. Next to the pot was a leg of roasted venison with roasted vegetables and at the far end of the table was a platter of meat left a little on the raw side for the two Dymarki who were both happily helping themselves to it.
‘At least some of us are happy,’ Dearen thought.
‘Trar and I are happy as well. The Pydarki have given us deer to munch. We haven’t eaten in a few days and were getting a little peckish.’
‘Okay Adhamh, then it looks like only Peana and myself are the only ones not happy.’
‘You haven’t met with the council yet. You have no reason to be annoyed.’
‘I know, but I expected a little more acknowledgement from the Pydarki than what we got. I am the Cearc.’
‘You have to remember that to the Pydarki you look just like a Suenese. They don’t know who you are because they haven’t been told.’
Dearen dropped her spoon letting it clatter to the table top and leaned back in her chair as Tayme started eating from his newly filled bowl. She had been moving food around in her bowl for the last fifteen minutes without eating any of it.
‘But they’ve not acknowledged Hauga or Raga. Asnar had told us that the Pydarki are going to support the Dymarki in claiming our homes back. What they have shown us so far does not look like support Adhamh.’
‘The Pydarki also come under the subjugation of the Suene Empire. Do you think the Pydarki are going to leap for joy at the sight of Dymarki when there is a Suenese Military officer with them?’
Dearen pulled a face. ‘Okay...you have a point.’
‘Wait and see what happens when you, Hauga and Raga go to meet the council.’
‘You know Adhamh is right Dearen,’ Hauga cut in. ‘You have to learn patience.’
‘She has never been,’ Adhamh replied.
‘So we need to move patience up to the top of our list of things for Dearen to work on then.’
‘Sounds good Hauga.’
Dearen closed her eyes and shook her head.
‘I see you two have been talking about me.’
‘We have just been comparing notes Dearen.’ Hauga looked down the table at her with a big chunk of dripping meat sticking out from his mouth. ‘If Adhamh is going to be staying with us now then I have an extra claw to help get you into shape to be the Cearc.’
‘Get me into shape?’
‘There is more to being Cearc than leading us into battle and telling us all what to do.’
‘I know that...And you are right. I do need to learn. I need to learn how to be a good leader, ruler and I need to learn more of Dymarki culture and history. And Adhamh can help me to regain my memories back.’
‘Wait... memories back? Do you believe me now when I say you are Kalena and to me is the best, most precious friend that I could ever have? We are family.’
That comment surprised Dearen. Surprised at the fact that an answering feeling of happiness rose from her stomach at Adhamh’s words.
‘Yes, Adhamh. I do believe both you and Kral. But for the time being, can you still call me Dearen?’
‘Of course, I can.’
The joy in Adhamh’s voice was infectious and the melancholy depression that Dearen was feeling had lifted away from her. The smell o
f the food on her plate now assailed her nostrils and Dearen began to scoop up the meat and vegetables onto her spoon and eat.
Across the table from her, Lieutenant Peana was just finishing his own plate of food. His men sat at the opposite end of the table from the Dymarki and were also busily eating their fill.
“Why are they making us wait?” the Lieutenant said pushing his now empty plate away from him.
“They are probably gathering members of the council to meet with us. After all, we have to assume that they don’t all live in a big room waiting for people to come and visit them.”
Peana gave Tayme a scathing look before turning to the man seated at the table behind him.
“Asnar, is Kral right?”
The Pydarki dropped his spoon and wiped his mouth with a cloth before he turned to look at Peana.
“He is right. The council will need time to gather. They have their own jobs and responsibilities that they will need to be drawn from.”
“We really haven’t been waiting all that long, and at least they’ve fed us and gave us a place to wash up and sleep,” Tayme said as he reached over to the serving dish to scoop more stew into his bowl.
“You really have a bottomless hole for a stomach haven’t you Kral.”
“Kalena, I’m not saying anything against your camp cooking, but this is the best food I’ve had for months. I’m going to eat as much as I can hold because you never know what tomorrow may bring. And I don’t want to meet tomorrow on an empty stomach.”
‘You never want to meet anything on an empty stomach Kral,’ Dearen heard Trar say.
Lieutenant Peana sat back in his chair. “If they have to gather the council, then we might be here for a while. I think this might be a good time for any of us who can to get some shuteye. Tayme, since you want to eat you can take first watch.”
Tayme nodded to the Lieutenant, unable to speak because his mouth was full of stew.
‘That sounds like a good idea.’ Dearen thought to Hauga.
‘ Go to sleep Dearen. I’m going to be up for a bit. I’ll wake you if something interesting happens,’ Hauga replied.