The Key of the Keplian

by Andre Norton

  Eleeri was watching as the mare used the slackened rope to reach her foal with a comforting nose. “I see nothing evil here, just a mare who tries to protect her baby.” From the confused babble behind her she heard a short conversation.

  “ . . . away from the hold.”

  “ . . . gone to the valley. He’ll not return for days.”

  “Then what do we do? This may be a woman of the power.”

  The girl hid a triumphant grin. Their lord seemed to have gone away for some time. Already this bunch looked disposed to fear her, at least a little. She sent a mental command to her mount, and allowed her back to straighten slowly. Horse and rider seemed to loom now in a martial pose, awing those who gathered about her on foot. Slowly—portentously—she removed an amulet from her shirt pocket.

  She dropped lightly from her horse, walking over to where the handlers still kept a strain on the ropes. Lightly she touched the foal on his wet nose. The amber brushed the small muzzle and glowed softly.

  She held the amulet high. “Gunnora has spoken: There is no evil in this one. He has harmed none and must be freed.”

  From the back of the crowd a man thrust his way. He was burly of build, with blond hair that glinted in the sun. He scowled viciously.

  “The foal is too young to have done aught. But he will grow to be evil. All Keplians are followers of the Dark. Here we kill those who are of the Dark. Where do you come from, lady, that you do not know that?”

  Eleeri returned question for question. “Where do you come from, man, that you would torture a dam and her newborn foal? Who told you they are evil, when Gunnora herself says the foal at least is innocent?”

  His voice overtopped hers in a sudden roar. “Innocent? The Dark ones slaughtered my family when I was a child. A year since my brother was murdered by their kind while on a mission for those in the Valley of the Green Silences. Must we stand here while this woman seeks to take from us our lawful prey?” He moved forward.

  “Are you so hot to kill that you ignore payment?” Eleeri asked softly.

  The forward movement halted. “Payment?”

  “Aye. Gunnora says that the foal is innocent. If she does not say the mare is clearly evil, will you release both to me in return for weregild?”

  He blinked thoughtfully, diverted for this moment as he considered. “What do you offer, lady?”

  Good, she was back to being a “lady” again. “I cannot offer you the worth of a family slain, a brother dead, but I can offer two for two.” She waved a hand at the saddled, bridled horses that followed her.

  A singularly nasty smirk spread over his face and he nodded. “Done, lady.” Nor did he seem to care any longer whether Gunnora adjudged the mare. He held out his hand for the reins and both horses went to him at Eleeri’s order.

  “Now, lady. You get that pair out of here before sunset. You have one day. After that they’re fair prey again.”

  “I will need to buy food, fill my water bags.”

  “No. You get nothing here. We do not traffic with the Dark. Take your ‘friends’ and get out before we stone you.” He moved forward, with the savagery in his eyes deepening. She could see that he was delighted with his bargain but would attack her as well if he felt safe enough. His eyes had already begun to rest covetously on her saddlebags and plump bedroll. Her hand flicked to her bow, stringing an arrow before he could close on her.

  “Stand back, man. I have bargained fairly and will have that for which I have paid.” She called a sharp order to the men who still held the mare. “Release her.” They hesitated, and she moved the arrow to center on the man who stood staring. “Release her, now!”

  He called a reluctant command and the bonds fell away. With a swift heave of her body, the mare freed herself and leaped to her foal. With a sinking heart, the girl saw that the smirk was back. What now?

  “All right, now let’s see you convince that devil from the Dark to leave. The foal can’t walk.” He chuckled viciously. “The mare’ll kill you if you go near it now she’s free.”

  Eleeri nodded, but her heart lifted. He’d misjudged. “Maybe, and maybe I’ll kill you if you don’t leave now. You are a stupid, cruel, ignorant man. If all in this village are of your kind, I will be glad to leave. Now get away from here before I lose my temper.” Her eyes flamed with rage and the man retreated. With a final sneer, he slouched around the corner, leaving a small group to stand watching. One approached cautiously.

  “Lady, if Gunnora judges these, then it is not for us to naysay her. But truly their kind follows the ways of the Dark. We cannot trade with you for anything obvious. Gerae will know and make our lives hard for us. But if there is anything small we could provide?”

  Her mouth suddenly watered. Her supply of salt was running low. If she had that, she could continue to feed herself easily by the hunt.

  “Salt—will you trade as much salt as you can spare?” He nodded and vanished hastily along with others. They returned bearing small hide bags containing not only salt but ground flour and some kind of sweetener. From the bandits she had killed she had taken small coins in silver and copper. These she proffered with a quiet comment.

  “Of Karsten but nonetheless valuable. Those who owned them have no more use—for anything, even hunting those not of their kind.”

  She could see that idea sink in. The word was even whispered in a soft hissing. “A spy—she has been spying in Karsten.”

  She handed over the coinage, watching faces. They seemed to be happy with their bargain but not so delighted that she had overpaid.

  “Are there other villages to the north?” She would find out what she could while they were well disposed.

  “No, lady.” A hand rose to point. “That way is the forest of the Mosswomen.” A finger swung then to the northeast. “That way are the mountains again. Between those there is the river. Gerae will pursue you; best you leave the Keplians and go. Then he will kill them and leave you alone.”

  “If he follows me,” Eleeri said in a hard-edged voice, “it will not be a stranger to you who dies. Thank you for your trading.” The man who had spoken for them nodded.

  “Go in peace, lady. But beware of those beasts who are not truly beasts. The mare will kill if she has the chance, and so will Gerae. You are between the mountains and sea with no place to hide if you take them.” He turned away, his friends following, fingering their bounty in the Karsten coins. Eleeri turned back to the Keplians. The foal had managed to gain its feet, but looking closer, the girl could see why Gerae had been so amused. At some stage it had been struck brutally across the hocks. The small animal’s hind legs were swollen and bruised. There was no way it could walk any distance, and even as she watched, it sank back to the dusty ground with a forlorn whicker. The mare eyed her, standing protectively over the baby. Eleeri felt a surge of anger at the people who could treat a tiny foal so cruelly, and before she had thought, she was moving closer, crooning gently.

  The mare stamped warningly, and Eleeri reached out with her gift. To her surprise, she felt the tiny jet horse under her shirt give out a flare of warmth. Her fingers touched it. Strange . . . it was warmer than its contact with her skin warranted. She allowed it to fall before her throat and saw that the mare’s eyes were fixed on it, wide with interest. She began to talk softly, explaining. The mare appeared to listen. Now she was trying to urge the foal to his feet once again. The baby tried and failed.

  “Mare, we must leave here. That man will come back and kill your foal soon.” She reinforced the message with mind-send, becoming interested in the strength and clarity of mind-pictures from the mare.

  “If I lifted him onto my horse, I could walk and we could travel away from here. If you will let me help him.”

  From the mare she received a blast of distrust. Slowly she reached out to stroke the baby. As she did so, she allowed her mind to broadcast admiration. How beautiful he was, how strong and sturdy. How brave. It would indeed be a terrible thing to see him die. She would risk more
even than she already had to prevent this. Her mind drifted to other horses she had known, and to her surprise she felt a gush of contempt from the mother, a feeling of indignation. They were not horses; how some human had felt about those others was nothing to her.

  Eleeri smiled, sending acceptance. But whether they were horse or not, that man would return to kill. Did the mare still wish to be here when he did? She did not. Then she must allow the girl to aid her foal or remain with him to see him die. Pictures of the mare fighting came in reply.

  In return, the girl sent pictures of the mare dying, shot through with arrows and spears. Then her foal, bound, slaughtered, discarded, and dead.

  Capitulation. The mare would graciously permit the human to help her. Moving with a slow smooth motion, Eleeri lifted the small beast and placed him comfortably on the bedroll-padded saddle. Taking the reins, she walked to the gate and opened it. The mare paced after.

  They passed through and departed from the village. Hating eyes watched them go.

  Gerae decided he would not follow too soon, or too obviously; his word had been given before too many. He would wait this day and the next. The moon was nearing full. Tomorrow as soon as the moon rose he would be on their trail. Then let the witch see if she could put him off with bribes and clever words.

  His mind dwelled on her slender form, the arrogance of her voice. It would be pleasure indeed to teach her that he was not to be so despised. He spent his day making plans and preparing for a journey. It had been kind of her to give him the horses that would help him to take her.

  Eleeri had learned well the lessons of war Far Traveler had taught her. He had passed along many wise sayings and warrior maxims. One might be translated as “Believe there will always be pursuit and act accordingly.” She believed, and to the mare’s indignation was acting accordingly.

  They had struck the branch of the river within an hour’s fast walking. There Eleeri led her small party into the water to travel upstream for another couple of hours. At the beginning of a long stretch of shallow water she allowed a few scattered hoofprints to show.

  Then she turned them about and they waded back downstream. Where the river forked, she took the fork to the far side and continued to wade. She suspected that Gerae would follow as soon as he could escape the eyes of his neighbors. This wouldn’t make it so easy for him, particularly if he sneaked off after dark.

  She mind-sent this to the mare and received a feeling of amused agreement. Something about the response caught Eleeri’s attention. There had been a note of intelligence in the sending. The amusement had been more sophisticated than the simple emotion of an animal. She spoke again, sending as she did so.

  “May I be favored with a name I can use for you and the small one?”

  Distrust!

  “It doesn’t have to be your own, just something I can use. Humans feel awkward when there is no name.”

  Amusement again, consideration. Then *I am Tharna. My son is Hylan.*

  Eleeri halted her footsteps before she realized. That had not been the mind-send of a beast. It had been the clear concise sending of an intelligent mind.

  The mare’s mind sent wicked laughter. *Humans! They say we wear beast shape, therefore we are beasts, and stupid. True, the males of our kind are often not as bright, but we are more than mere animals, shape or no shape.* The mare found with surprise of her own that the human was pleased with this. *Why does this information delight you?*

  Eleeri tried to explain and gave it up, simply sending her emotion in a rush of feeling. Increased anger at the treatment of mare and foal, friendship that could be deeper with an intelligent mind, admiration of the pair—of the mare’s courage, of the foal’s beauty. It was that last which melted the receiver a little.

  *My son is a fine colt. I marvel, human, that you appreciate him. Yet I suppose even a dull human can see his beauty.*

  Eleeri assured her she could. She glanced at the slender legs as they hung over the bedroll and a thought occurred.

  “That man will pursue us all, I am sure of it. Do you know much of this land? Is there a place where you might be safe?”

  *If he follows us alone, there are few places. There is nothing to divert him from our trail. Nor would my kind become involved. They would see no reason to do so. I see no chance of being free of him unless he is killed.*

  Eleeri walked on in silence, considering. If Gerae wouldn’t stop following, then he would just have to be dealt with. She’d seen his eyes on her and her possessions. If he could kill all of them, he would have a good horse, its gear, and everything else in her saddlebags. It might even be that the thought of loot pulled him more strongly than the death of the Keplians.

  There’d been something else in his last look. If he took her unaware, she, too, might be a long time dying. He hadn’t scrupled to torture a foal. Out here where no one would know her ending, he was unlikely to have scruples about her, either.

  To take her mind from the thought, she began to question Tharna. “What do you know of the Dark?”

  The mare’s skin shivered in response. *There is a tower on the lands my people graze. For long and long it was empty. Half-ruined. Then one came. The Keplian stallions answer his demands. They have become still more cruel. We have always been enemies to others who share the lands. We kill them where we can, as they kill us. Now the tower lord demands we do not do this.*

  “How does he enforce that?”

  *He can lay on us a compulsion. At first he did so often. The stallions were used to bring humans to him.*

  “How did they bring humans?”

  Tharna snorted in apparent amusement. *Humans love horses. Are my kind not far more beautiful? We appear tame. When we appear willing to be ridden, humans will risk much for that favor. Once on our backs, they are caught. Unable to dismount. They may thus be borne to the tower.* She whisked her tail in disgust. *I do not approve. That is, I did not. Now I think it would be well if humans were all taken to this tower lord. They are his kind. Let him use them.*

  “What does he do with them?”

  *I know not. Only that they go in and do not come out again.* Eleeri was left to consider that in silence. Her mind then returned to the worry of Gerae. The mare, too, believed he would follow them. He might even be able to obtain help from others if he lied with sufficient conviction.

  Her eyes went to Hylan. His legs were badly bruised, and she was no trained vet. It would be at least a week before the injuries healed sufficiently for the foal to do his share of the walking. On the other hand, Gerae already had two good horses, thanks to her bargain. He could ride both into exhaustion to catch her—if he could find them at all. With luck he was floundering about on a riverbank many miles from here. She regretted giving up the horses she had cared for and loved. Gerae might ill treat them in an effort to catch up. But if she kept to her tactics of muddling trails, he would spend more time watching the ground and riding slowly. That would spare innocent beasts as well as possibly gaining her and the Keplians time and miles on him.

  Tharna agreed. Not that the Keplian cared for horses, or for humans, but the safety of Hylan was everything to her. If this man could be kept from her foal, she would agree to any idea which might work. She, too, understood the danger; with her colt unable to walk, she must reluctantly depend on the human to keep him safe. It galled her. But at least the human spoke to her fairly, treating her as a Keplian and not as one of the stupid beasts they rode.

  Two days passed as they continued to follow the river road. At intervals they halted for the colt to nurse. At night they took it in turns to watch, half a night each. Both had the feeling that behind them Gerae followed.

  They were right. Worse still, he was not alone but had successfully convinced two others to join him. Thus far they had been spectacularly unsuccessful in their hunt. They had chased the trail upriver, found the deliberate hoofmarks, and wasted more than a day following farther upriver as they scanned the banks. Then, fearing they had missed where thei
r quarry had left the water, they had backtracked very slowly. They had then ridden on into the beginning of the mountains.

  “She wouldn’t come here, Gerae. It’s to my mind they’ve gone on down the other fork.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  His companion snorted angrily. “I reckon they won’t take that foal into the mountains. It won’t be able to walk yet, not for days. No, they’ll stick to the plain. Hope to lead us into some Keplian trap. If we split up, we can check the bank on both sides at once. That’ll cut down tracking time.”

  It did, but by the time they struck Eleeri’s tracks again, she and the Keplians were skirting the mountain spur. They kept within the foothills. As long as they traveled at a walk, the foal was no great burden to the horse. At first the mare’s bruises and lash marks had pained her greatly, but with the passage of days they healed slowly. The girl’s obvious concern for her, the offering of herbs to help her heal, surprised the mare. She was not used to a human who liked her. That Eleeri honestly did, and that the emotions of that liking and would-be friendship were coloring her every mind-send, were gradually winning the mare over.

  They had spoken little as they marched. Now Tharna found herself wanting to talk, to discover why this human was so different from those others she had known.

  She hovered over her foal. Hylan was improving with each day that passed. Soon he would be able to walk part of the trail instead of being carried the whole time. The human’s interaction with the foal had also surprised her. Hylan clearly trusted the girl and Tharna wasn’t sure she approved that. But the human had helped the colt’s injured legs, rubbing on the juice of mixed herbs to ease the pain. She laughed with him, stroked and patted him with affection. Lifted him with such care at each resting place. The mare watched her colt as he trusted, and slowly she, too, began to trust.

  Behind them the pursuit had quickened. The three had met others, who had loaned them spare horses in their supposed pursuit of killers in exchange for their own leg-weary mounts. The trade enabled the trio to press the trail hard.