by H. M. Clarke
The Pydarki had done nothing but moan, complain and argue about the decision to go to Daegarouf. For some reason, the man did not want them to go there, which just made Dearen want to know what Asnar is trying to hide from them. The Pydarki was wrapped in his bedroll near the southerners listening to them talk amongst themselves.
Hauga and Raga still sat by the campfire talking silently with each other. So far on this trip, Raga has been the biggest surprise. Now that he was seeing some action, his aggressive confrontations have ceased, only showing itself again if Asnar tried to talk her into turning back to Councilmeet. Hauga had told her not to worry, and he had been right. Again.
On the other side of the clearing lay the two Hatars. Trar had her head tucked up under her wing and was either trying to go to sleep or already was asleep. Adhamh, on the other hand, was very much awake, his glossy black head reared up above his body and his sapphire blue eyes which matched the underside of his neck reflected back the firelight as he stared at her.
Dearen had not spoken with the Hatar alone as yet. Now would be as good a time as ever with everyone else occupied with their own concerns and conversations. He had been the only one of the Kalarthri southerners that had not been trying to get her to remember her past. And because of this, it made Dearen want to talk to him more. She felt safe talking to him without being pressured.
Dearen got up from her seat by the fire and placed a hand on Hauga’s shoulder to warn him that she was moving and headed over to where Adhamh lay on the edge of the campsite.
As she approached, the Hatar lowered his head so that they could talk at her eye level.
“Hello, Adhamh.”
‘Hello, Kal-Dearen.’
Dearen was thankful for the Hatar’s courtesy at not trying to make her answer to that other name.
“I think now is as good a time as any for us to have a quiet, and private, conversation .”
‘If you wish.’
“Unlike Kral and Trar, you have not been trying to get me to remember my past. Why?”
‘Why? Why haven’t I been trying to get you to remember me, or why haven’t I been?’
“Why haven’t you been?”
Adhamh moved more onto his side and snaked his head around to be able to see her better.
‘Because memories should not be forced. They should come naturally. Then you will know that they are real and not a trick of the mind or implanted from someone else.’
“Implanted?”
‘I don’t mean anything bad,’ Adhamh hurried at Dearen’s shocked reply. ‘It’s just that if you talk to someone enough about a memory, then you may start to remember an event that you may not have actually witnessed or been involved with.’
“Ah. I think I see,” Dearen said as she sat down on the ground and made herself comfortable beside Adhamh’s head.
‘Is there anything that you want to ask me?’
Dearen took a moment to think before she replied. “If I am this person that Kral and Trar think I am, was I a nice person? I mean, a truly nice person?’
‘Of course, you are. I’m sure Kral and Trar would not have told you otherwise. You are good, kind, fair and loyal which is why you make a good Wing Commander. And why you will make a good Cearc.’
“Hauga would probably tell you the same thing about me. After all, he tells me the same often enough when I start to doubt myself.”
‘That is something you’ve always done. You were taken from your parents as a child and raised in Darkon to be Kalarthri. You just turned out to be special. You hold the Talent that makes you able to take and use the Krytal Crystal without killing you so that you can be paired with a Hatar’le’margarten and become a member of the Flying Corps.’
“Huh. So I was taken? What then does that make me?”
‘It makes us property of the State. If we were not Hatar Kalar, we would be pensioned out after thirty years of service. Because we are Hatar Kalar, we are indentured to the State for life.’
“So Kalarthri are slaves? This mark on my face tells people that I am a slave? That I am owned by someone else?”
‘Yes. The leaping Ram tells people that you are a Hatar Kalar. A standing sheep denotes an administrator or clerk and a crowing rooster denotes a Kalar that is assigned to menial duties with the military.’
“So, if that is the case, why would I want to go back with you? Especially if all I have to look forward to if I do is to be a slave?”
‘I cannot say. Things have changed since we were sent out to look for you. You are now a political leader in your own right. And you have joined the Dymarki. The Suenese believe that at the moment the Ice Tigers are working with the Arranians.’
“Lieutenant Peana’s men should be able to correct that information with them when they report in. Especially if they have found evidence that the Arranians have been passing messages to these Justicars.”
‘It might. Even so, the Suenese will not take kindly to one of their own siding with the enemy. Though, Prince Garrick, the heir apparent, will take your side.’
“A prince would take my side? I thought that I was a slave?”
‘Prince Garrick seems to have an interest in you, though I am not sure of the reason. He and his brother, Harada, always act as a protector for you. As if he knows you are destined for great things. Perhaps…Perhaps…’
Adhamh’s voice trailed off into its own thoughts. This left Dearen to muse over her own. She should have come to speak with Adhamh long before this. The feathered lizard made a lot of sense and did not seem to hide from or sidestep her questions. He answered them simply and directly with no padding or decoration to try and sway her opinion one way or the other.
‘Perhaps this means I should stay here with you. At this point in time staying here is really the only choice you have. Because of our Krytal connection where you are, then I must be,’
“Really? You would stay with me and the Dymarki?”
‘Yes. You have grown up with me. You and I are best friends, family even. We will always be best friends. And wherever one goes, the other will follow. Which I think was clearly demonstrated with your Quest North. When you found me, the urge to hunt dissipated did it not?’
“Yes, it did.”
As Dearen replied, she felt a buzz from behind her ear which was quickly followed by a warmth that seemed to flow over her skin. And with the warmth came flashes of memory. Flashes of Adhamh, flashes of Kral, flashes of other Hatar. And then the flash of her hands wrapped in Adhamh’s neck feathers as she sat on his back, flying fast through the air. The memory bought with it an intense feeling of joy and exhilaration, Dearen found herself reaching out and scratching Adhamh behind his earlobe. It felt natural and familiar as if she had done it thousands of times before.
As Dearen scratched, she could feel the Hatar producing a low hum through her fingertips. That and the distinctive spicy smell of Hatars made the memory flashes come faster, and the buzz now became a throb behind her ear.
“Adhamh…I remember you. I remember flying.”
The Hatar did not say anything but his sapphire blue eye seemed to twinkle in response. Dearen thought she could feel an answering vibration from Adhamh as her fingers scratched against Adhamh’s skin.
‘Dearen! Stop what you are doing!’
The mental shout startled Dearen out of the moment and she jerked her hand away as if she had been caught stealing sweeties.
Adhamh’s head swung around to face the camp and Dearen caught sight of Asnar rushing towards them. Hauga and Raga had leapt up from their seats and the Bareskins were still sitting, confused at what was going on. Trar moved slightly, but only to make herself more comfortable as she slept.
‘What is happening?’ She heard Hauga call out.
‘I don’t know. Asnar saw something,’ Dearen replied to him.
Hauga and Raga began to move towards her as Asnar sprinted past them.
“What’s going on Asnar?” Dearen called out to him.
“Get aw
ay from him Dearen,” the Pydarki shouted at her.
“From Adhamh? Why?”
“Just get away from him,” Asnar said harshly as he stormed up to her and reached out to grab her arm.
“You have no right to dictate who I talk to Asnar,” Dearen shot back as she jerked herself out of his reach.
Asnar took an aggressive step forward and suddenly found himself face to snout with a snarling black Hatar.
‘I would take a step back if I were you Pydarki.’
Adhamh’s soft mental voice slid through the hearing of all sentients and there was no mistaking the implied threat behind the words.
Asnar leaned forward and Adhamh let loose with a loud rumble letting his lips part back showing his sharp fangs.
CHAPTER FOUR
Dearen reached out and touched the back of Adhamh’s head.
“Adhamh. It’s okay. I can handle this.”
But the Hatar did not move. Neither did Asnar.
“Adhamh?” She said his name again. Finally, her voice seemed to penetrate past Adhamh’s protectiveness and his lips relaxed back over his fangs and he lifted his head, though not straying far enough away that Asnar would be out of reach from his quick jaws.
‘Are you sure? I don’t much like the man’s attitude. For an apprentice Mystic, he’s very arrogant.’
‘Apprentice? How could you know that?’ Dearen asked in surprise. She had always thought Asnar was a Master, though he had never said so outright and she had never asked.
‘The hair decorations tell you what a Pydarki does and what his training is.’
‘Ah. I didn’t know that,’ Kalena replied as she stepped forward to stand in front of Asnar. Just as Hauga, Raga, Tayme and Lieutenant Peana and some of his mean arrived.
“Asnar, you have over stepped your mark. I am Cearc of the Dymarki, and I can talk to whoever I choose. No Dymarki, Pydarki, Hatar’le’margarten or bareskin is going to dictate who or what I talk to. Do you understand me?”
Asnar looked hard at Dearen before looking up at Adhamh and then at the new arrivals behind him.
‘Answer her Asnar,’ Hauga said as the silence began to draw on too much for him.
The Pydarki’s defiant attitude did not leave his body or expression as he turned his head to look at Dearen.
“I understand.” His voice was soft as he spoke, but that did not disguise his anger.
Dearen looked hard at him a moment more before pointing back to the campfire.
“Then go back to the fire. If you still want to travel with us, then be ready to leave with the rest of us tomorrow. Otherwise, leave to whatever destination you choose.”
For a moment Asnar looked like he was going to object, but what actually came out of his mouth was “I will travel with you tomorrow. I need to go to Daegarouf.”
“Then go.”
Asnar turned and pushed his way past the two Dymarki and the group of bareskins. Tayme and the Lieutenant, both looked questioningly at her before they and their men followed Asnar back to their seats.
‘Are you alright?’ Hauga asked stepping up and placing his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m fine Hauga.”
‘We’ll need to keep an eye on the Pydarki. He’s acting strangely.’ Raga said, his ears still flattened hard against his head.
“he’s definitely not being his usual self. He’s acting like an old one in a panic, or like a cub that took some stored food and was worried about being discovered.”
‘Either way, I’ll keep an eye on him,’ Raga said and then turned to follow in Asnar’s footsteps back to the camp.
It looks like Raga has nominated himself to be Asnar’s new shadow. The Clan leader was determined not to have anyone interfere with what the council has decided.
‘Looks like that question is decided Dearen, I’m going to make sure that Asnar does not bother you. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He’s not usually like this.’
“You’ve known him longer than me Hauga.”
‘Something is troubling him. It’s almost as if he’s scared.’
“Of us going to Daegarouf?”
‘Maybe he’s scared of what will happen to him once he goes back to Daegarouf.’ Adhamh’s head snaked above them as he kept a sapphire eye on the Pydarki.
“Why would he be scared of going back home?”
‘Depends on what he has done, doesn’t it,’ Adhamh replied.
‘Yes, it does.’ Hauga’s gaze followed the Hatar’s as they both looked at their topic of conversation.
“Look, we don’t know if any of that is true,” Dearen said. “We will just continue onto Daegarouf, tell them our request for them to send warriors and then go on to the Muster point.”
Hauga nodded but Adhamh gave no reply. Dearen took the lack of response for agreement.
“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 be
tween 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.