by D. L. Kramer
He also liked throwing random punches and making the fight even more physical than it needed to be. He had discovered that just because he used a two-handed sword, everyone automatically assumed he needed both hands to swing it. And while his balance was better, and he could deal harder blows with both hands, he could do enough damage with one hand to buy him some time.
He didn't know what to tell Kile about Rena, but knew he had to come up with something. The thought of telling him about her newfound ability still dried up his mouth and he decided to wait. Maybe it would be easier to tell Mo'ani.
As for what she knew about Nahtan, he knew he'd have to tell Kile about that. Kile still viewed Rena as a possible enemy and he would need to know what she was saying.
Standing up, he decided it was late enough for bed. The fire in the brazier was almost out, so he left it to finish smoldering.
Leaving the cathedral, he made his way back to the keep, then up to his and Bear's room. Setting his chain shirt, greaves, gauntlets and sheathed sword on the chair nearest his bed, he undressed, then extinguished the light and climbed under the rough blanket. Within seconds, Tiimu jumped onto his bed, circled around a few times and dropped down beside him. Paki reached over and scratched the fox's head, then tried to sleep.
Paki slept the night through with no problem and hadn't even stirred when Bear came into bed. Paki was the first one up and just finished dressing when Rouvin knocked on the door. Paki tossed Tiimu onto Bear's chest then opened the door as his friend stirred.
"The captain wants to see Bear in the training yard," Rouvin said.
"I'll get him there," Paki promised, closing the door when Rouvin walked away. "Time to go get your head beat in," he said, turning to Bear. Stepping over to the chair by his bed, he picked up his things.
"No, it's not," Bear argued, rolling over.
"I could pick you up and drag you down there," Paki offered.
"No, you couldn't," Bear mumbled sleepily.
"Okay," Paki shrugged. "I'll just tell Kile you aren't coming and he can come get you up." Turning back to the door, he deliberately rattled the latch as he put his hand on it.
"Don't even--" Bear rolled over, knocking Tiimu onto the floor.
Paki paused, halfway out of the room. "Are you getting up then?"
Bear sat up, running his fingers through his hair, brushing it away from his face.
"All right, fine, I'm coming," he said.
Paki smiled. "I knew you could be reasonable." Slipping one arm through the belt on his sheath, he swung his sword over his shoulder. "See you down in the yard." Bear mumbled something as Paki closed the door behind him. He paused to reach for Tiimu's mind, and asked the fox to make sure Bear got up. He no sooner made the request when he heard Bear yelp and knew Tiimu had nipped him.
Chuckling, Paki walked from the keep and out to the yard. Kile and Tamnor were inside the fence, fighting with their swords. Paki walked to stand beside Adie.
"Morning," she greeted, smiling at him. She hadn't pulled her hair into a topknot yet and it hung about her face and shoulders in deep red waves, reaching almost to her waist in back.
"Morning," Paki returned. He draped the mail shirt over the fence, then set his gauntlets on top. Dropping his shoulder, he caught the sheathed sword as it fell. He paused when Kile scored a hard hit on Tamnor's armored shoulder. "Ouch," he muttered, knowing how the hit would have hurt. Leaning over, he buckled the greaves over his boots and breeches.
Adie laughed. "Nothing like getting Kile into the yard again with someone who can keep up with him." She winced when Tamnor reciprocated with a hit of his own--this one on Kile's sword arm. "Speaking of which, within a couple of years, you'll be running him around the yard."
"I don't think I'll ever get that good," Paki shook his head as he hung his sheath on the nearest fence post.
"I do," Adie argued. "I've seen more students and apprentices than Kile ever will, and the ones like you and Bear don't come along very often." She turned back to the yard. "Did you know Kile was only nineteen when he was cloaked?"
"No," Paki turned to watch the fight. "He never said anything about it."
"Surprising," Adie shook her head. "That used to be the first relevant thing anyone learned about him. Then again, he has calmed down quite a bit in the last fifteen years or so. There were about twenty apprentices back then and he'd beaten them all so many times none of them would fight him anymore." Her eyes grew distant for a moment, as if that time were as clear to her now as it was then. "Mo'ani cloaked him the morning he beat the Captain of the Guard."
"I'll bet that captain didn't like it very much," Paki said. He hadn't seen another Mo'ani beat Kile in the yard, and wondered how Kile would take to losing. He didn't think it would sit very well.
"Actually, the captain didn't mind," Adie continued. "A year later Kile was made lieutenant at the Stronghold and two years after that, Captain of the Guard." She sighed quietly. "I don't want to be there when he finally loses. The tantrum he throws will be horrible."
"That makes two of us," Paki agreed.
In the yard, Kile moved quickly, dodging out of the way of Tamnor's swing and turning just enough to pull his sword away with a sharp twist of his own. Pushing Lord Devayne against the nearest wall, Kile produced a stiletto from his belt and held it point-first against Tamnor's chain-protected throat. It would only take a slight effort to push the narrow weapon through the links and Tamnor got Kile's point immediately.
"All right, you've won," he said, holding up both hands. "You can have my lands, my ladies, my children, my people and anything else I take pride in."
"Ye can keep it all," Kile said with a chuckle as he let Lord Devayne go and resheathed his stiletto. He paused to examine his cloak as Tamnor retrieved his sword. "Ye got my cloak dirty," he said. Sheathing his sword, he brushed at the edges before putting it back behind his shoulders and adjusting the clasp.
"What'd I miss?" Bear asked, appearing beside Paki. He set his chain shirt and gauntlets on the fence beside Paki's and rested his crossbow against the post. He already had his greaves on and was untying a piece of leather from his belt for his hair.
"Just the captain beating one of the allied lords," Paki shrugged. "Nothing really."
"I may as well go back to bed then," Bear muttered.
"By the way, why did you yell after I left?" Paki asked.
"Damn fox," Bear muttered. He held up one arm and Paki could see Tiimu's teeth marks.
"Maybe you should get that cleaned," Paki suggested, keeping a straight face.
Bear looked up him. "Why do I get the feeling you had something to do with it?"
Paki shrugged. "Beats me," he said. "He's your fox."
"Ye're next, Bear," Kile said, walking over to them. Except for the slight sweat on his brow, he showed no sign of exertion.
"Guess you're not going back to bed," Paki said, this time allowing himself a smile.
Bear scowled at him, then looked at Kile. "Could Paki go first to give me some ideas of what to do?" he asked hopefully.
"No," Kile shook his head. "The last thing I want to see in ye're hands is a two-handed sword."
Bear sighed and gave Paki one last dark look before pulling on his chain shirt. He divided his hair into three sections and began braiding it, tying the ends with the strip of leather from his belt.
"You laugh once," he threatened Paki as he picked up his gauntlets.
"No more than you ever laughed at me," Paki promised.
For his part, Paki thought he did quite well keeping a straight face while Kile tested Bear's balance and possible skill with several different swords and pikes.
After almost an hour, both Kile and Bear seemed to think a short sword would work best. Paki guessed it was because it let the fight get close enough Bear could result to kicks and punches to help him.
Kile started teaching Bear some defensive moves, and after another hour or so, let him go to practice with his crossbow. Paki already knew his turn
was next and had his chain shirt on before Bear was out of the training yard.
The armor did slow his reactions to Kile's attacks, and he knew several of the hits would leave bruises. It also tired him out faster. By the end of the first hour, his muscles were complaining and he was temporarily blinded a few times from sweat in his eyes.
Kile showed no sympathy and took advantage of any pauses on Paki's part. He deliberately left himself open a few times, giving Paki a chance to gain some lost ground.
Before Paki grew too exhausted, Kile ended the lesson. He let Paki rest while Rouvin started the drills with the other apprentices.
Paki walked back to the fence and Brijade handed him his sheath. He slid his sword into it, then handed it back to her and pushed his sweat-soaked hair back. She was once again wearing the leather vest and wrist guards and her hair hung in a braid down her back. Normally she'd be in the training yard with the others, but with winter coming, her time was restricted. Paki knew she was spending most of her mornings making sure there would be enough supplies to see the people of Takis Hold through the winter.
"You're right," she said. "Bear is a big threat to himself with a sword."
"I warned you," Paki pulled off his gauntlets and used the edge of one tunic sleeve to wipe his face.
"So why didn't you trip the captain like you did me?" Brijade laced her fingers together and set her chin on them.
"Because the last time I tried that, he almost broke three of my ribs," Paki shrugged. "He expects things like that. I could tell by the way you were attacking me that you didn't."
"Now I do," Brijade muttered.
"Well, good," Paki smiled at her and picked up his gauntlets again. He put them on, took his sword from its' sheath and walked back into the center of the training yard.
Six - "She wouldn't back down to anything"
The morning they left, the sky was overcast and the air held the slightest hint of early autumn. Brijade and Tamnor rode for half a day with them, before turning back to Takis Hold.
They rode until an hour or so after dusk, then stopped to make camp. Paki went to collect firewood while the others set up. Being the most comfortable in the woods of all of them, he offered to take the first watch.
As everyone settled for the night, he took up a post beside a large oak, where he could both watch the camp and look out through the trees. Every so often, he touched Ayita's mind, hoping she'd warn him if she sensed any danger. Each time though, she reassured him with her own mental nudge, reminding him of his stallion.
Everyone had been asleep for a couple of hours when Bear stirred and sat up. Tiimu also raised his head, blinking tired eyes at his master, then with a deep sigh lay back down and went back to sleep. Bear brushed his hair back from his face and slid out from under the blanket, trying not to disturb the fox again. Wrapping his cloak around himself, he walked to sit beside Paki.
"Don't you get tired of doing this?" he asked, trying to get comfortable.
"No," Paki shook his head and looked back out at the trees again. Several yards away, a small, brown owl lit on a branch and studied them, tilting its head from side to side. Paki wouldn't have seen it except for the fire reflecting in its eyes. Bear didn't notice it. "But nights were the only times I felt safe."
"That doesn't mean you have to like it now."
Paki shrugged. "This is the most balanced place I know," he said, not sure how to explain it to Bear. "Everything knows exactly where it belongs. A wolf can't all of a sudden decide it's going to quit eating meat one day anymore than a bird can decide it's going to stop flying or a fish will stop swimming."
Bear began braiding a narrow lock of his hair. "Did I ever tell you you're kind of strange?"
Paki shrugged and chuckled. "I don't think so, no," he said.
"Well, you are," Bear finished with the braid and tossed his hair back.
"So what's the story with you and Lady Takis?" Paki asked. The owl hopped from the branch and silently flew off into the night. Paki wasn't surprised that Bear still didn't notice it.
"We're friends," Bear shrugged.
Paki considered his friend. "No," he disagreed. "She and I are 'friends', I think it's a little more than that."
"What do you think?" Bear asked. "You saw her when we got there. She hadn't seen the captain since she was six years old, and she treated him like he spent every summer there. She wouldn't back down to anything." Paki could hear Bear's respect for Brijade in his voice. He could also hear his attraction.
"She likes you a lot, you know," he told Bear.
Bear smiled. "Yeah," he agreed. "I know."
The two young men continued to visit until Adie came to take the second watch. As they made their way back to their bedrolls, Paki paused.
"I'll be back in a minute," he said to Bear. "I forgot to tell Adie something."
Bear nodded sleepily as Paki turned to jog back to the large oak.
"I didn't want to say anything in front of Bear," he said, stopping to crouch down beside Adie. "But there's something out there."
"Something like what?" Adie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know," Paki shrugged. "When I was looking for firewood, I didn't see a single bird's nest or startle any mice. I also didn't see any deer trails." The owl he'd seen earlier had been the only creature and he found himself wondering where it might have come from.
"I thought it was strange we couldn't find anything to eat," Adie sighed. "I'll keep my eyes open for it."
Paki nodded his head, rose and walked back to his bedroll. He fell asleep immediately, and was almost tired enough to ignore the humming in the background of all his dreams.
They set out the next morning shortly before dawn. It would take them almost two weeks to reach the Stronghold, and Kile wanted to cover as much ground as possible each day. There was some debate about which way to go, since there was no direct route to the Stronghold. At the crossroads a few days ahead of them, they could either turn back towards Valin, or head north, and eventually turn onto the road to Herridon. As he listened to Kile and Adie discussing the different routes, Paki secretly hoped they'd choose to backtrack towards Valin. He realized the road north would take him back by the spot where he and Kile had met. In the end, Kile chose the north route, knowing they had more allies in the small towns along the way in that direction.
Shortly after they made the turn at the crossroads, the trees completely disappeared. Far in the distance, Paki could see the mountain range that hid Mo'ani's Stronghold.
By the start of the second week, they reached the foot of the mountains. Kile led them through a wide pass with low hills on one side and a steep grade on the other. A couple of days after clearing the pass, the road they were following ended on the road leading to Herridon. They rode until almost nightfall, then Kile motioned for them to stop. He then motioned for Paki to come up beside him and Ayita responded before Paki could nudge her.
"Do ye want to keep goin'?" Kile asked him.
Paki looked around them, trying to make out details in the dimming light. He had been getting quieter the closer they got to the turnoff, but hadn't thought anyone had noticed. Then again, Kile was the only one who had seen the conditions Paki had lived in.
"How far are we?" Paki asked quietly, not able to recognize anything.
"About a league," Kile answered, just as quietly.
Paki looked back out at the thin forest to their right. Would it be better to pass it in the darkness, and not see, or in the light, and remember his master's strap and the mare's trusting eyes? He looked around himself again and caught a glimpse of Rena, one hand over her mouth and tears coursing down her cheeks, as she looked at him. Paki sighed, cursing under his breath for forgetting about her newfound ability. He didn't want her pity for what she was feeling, he found he didn't even want her sympathy.
He had been dreading returning to the spot where he and Kile had met, but now he realized there was nothing there but forest. He had long since outgrown the fears
of a ten year old boy, and the forest had never frightened him.
"We can camp here," Paki finally said to Kile. "It's okay."
"I just wanted ye to be sure," Kile said. He turned Nicho off the road and dismounted, then led everyone back into the trees.
Paki made sure to do as much as he could to set up camp, not giving Rena a chance to talk to him. When there was nothing left to be done, he went to gather firewood and look for game trails with Adie and Bear. They were all tired of dried rations, and Paki had a pretty good idea of where to look.
While gathering the wood, he spotted several likely spots and pointed them out to Adie. As she and Bear turned their attention to hunting fresh dinner, Paki gathered their share of the firewood from them and returned to the camp. He left the wood by the pit Kile had cleared, deliberately avoiding Rena. He knew she would approach him soon enough, but he didn't want to talk about his past yet. Paki realized it wasn't her fault she was able to feel what she did, but it had reminded him that he and Bear were still the only other ones who knew about her empathy. And it reminded him that his past was what had made him decide to follow Kile to the Stronghold. It was part of his past, and he didn't want to talk to her and bring it up again. He wanted it left as far back in his memories as he could possibly push it.
Paki turned to look for Kile. Rena was sorting through the firewood, separating the sticks for kindling. She gave Paki a sympathetic look, but didn't say anything. Paki then spotted Kile searching through Nicho's saddlebags.
"I saw a couple of rabbit burrows," he said, coming up beside him. He absently realized he had grown tall enough he could now look Kile eye to eye. "No deer trail, though. Adie and Bear shouldn't have too much trouble flushing them out."
"Rabbit, huh?" Kile asked, rebuckling the saddle bag. He turned to look at Paki, studying him for a moment. "I don't suppose ye saw enough to feed us all?"