Chronicles of Nahtan Boxed Set #1: The First Three Herridon Chronicles Books: Mo'ani's Way, Halona's Way, Nahtan's Way

by D. L. Kramer

  "He was very special to you, wasn't he?" Rena turned to look at him.

  Paki nodded, not trusting himself to say anything else about the huge plowhorse. Rena had seen his tears in the cathedral, but he didn't want to share his pain over the stallion with anyone.

  "Have you talked to Bear about him?" she asked.

  "I don't have to," Paki said slowly. Bear already knew how he felt about losing the stallion. "Why?"

  "Talk to him," Rena urged. "Or to Lord Mo'ani."

  "Mo'ani?" Paki asked, wondering what Rena was talking about.

  "Didn't you know Mo'ani was part Mowik?" Rena asked. "His grandmother came west and married a nobleman named Damjen in what was once Herridon Hold."

  "Really?" Paki asked. It had never occurred to him that Mo'ani didn't seem to have a name for his land, unlike the surrounding holds. Paki had only heard it referred to as the Stronghold and as Mo'ani's Stronghold.

  Rena nodded her head. "That's why the Mowik Row of Elders don't mind when their boys and girls travel here to become Mo'ani. They know he'll make sure they know their customs and heritage."

  Paki nodded, his mind still racing. Mo'ani's skin wasn't that much darker than his own, and with his white hair, it was impossible to tell what color it had originally been. He decided to ask Mo'ani about it at practice the next morning.

  "I didn't know any of that," he finally said. "You really have done your share of studying."

  Rena shrugged and laid back in the straw, nestling down until she was comfortable. "Do you mind?" she asked after a few minutes.

  "Mind what?" Paki asked in return, studying her face. There was something familiar there, but he couldn't figure out what it was.

  She looked up at him, then reached up and put her arms around his neck. Pulling herself up, she kissed him deeply, then--almost hesitantly--pulled away.

  "If I sleep up here with you tonight?" Her eyes met his, and there was no mistaking the look in them.

  Paki paused, surprised at her actions. He wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the rumors that would spread if he agreed. Nicho was at the other end of the stable, so Paki didn't have to worry about him telling Kile, but Tyran was right below them, and didn't understand yet that certain things stayed between him and his master. Paki knew he loved Rena, and wanted more than anything to be with her, but he didn't want to make things harder for her than they had to be. A tarnished reputation would ruin any chance she might have of respect from the Mo'ani.

  "Uh..." Paki paused, trying to figure out what to say.

  "It's all right," Rena assured him. "Do you think I care what they say about me?" She smiled faintly. "Your problem is that you're afraid to take chances outside of the practice yard."

  Unsure, Paki sat up and rested his arms on his knees. "I guess I keep expecting to get hit if I do something risky." While most of the memories of his master had faded into his past, every so often he expected to feel a leather strap across his shoulder. Most of the welts had healed, but like the stallion and mare, Paki had enough scars to keep from completely forgetting those hard lessons. He also didn't doubt that's why the smell of ale still made his stomach turn.

  Rena sat up beside him. "Will you believe me if I tell you something?" she asked, resting one hand on his arm.

  "What?" Paki looked at her, determined not to let her eyes pull him in.

  "No one here can hurt you," she assured him. "Not Kile, not Gharald, not even Mo'ani. They're good men, and they won't do that."

  Paki turned away from her, trying to hide the feeling that swelled up inside him suddenly. The effort brought tears to his eyes. If Rena felt it from him, it would be the same as admitting his feelings to her.

  "What?" she asked, suddenly concerned.

  Paki shook his head, afraid to speak. There was someone here who could hurt him, and it would only take a word for Rena to destroy him.

  Rena moved to kneel in front of him. She touched his cheek lightly, drawing his attention to her face. Taking each of his hands, she guided them to her hips, then moved between his knees. When she kissed him this time, Paki pulled her closer, suddenly not caring what Tyran told Kile or Bear. His fears and emotions threatened to overtake him, and he wanted nothing more than to dispel them.

  Rena's kisses seemed to spark something within him, and the feel of her skin against his made the fire burn all the stronger. Paki willingly sacrificed his reservations and fears in that fire, finally finding the freedom he had told Kile he wanted almost eight years before. It was Rena's touch that loosened the rest of the knots that were holding him back.

  Ten - "So where was Herridon Hold?"

  Paki leaned against the open doorway to the empty storeroom. Inside, Mo'ani was checking the edge on his sword. He had awakened from his night with Rena feeling reborn. There was no longer any reason to hold back his opinions and thoughts out of fear. It was strange to feel the control he felt in the training yard while doing nothing more than standing in a hall.

  "Are you coming in?" Mo'ani asked, not looking up.

  "Yes," Paki answered evenly, staying where he was. He continued to watch Mo'ani.

  Finally, Mo'ani looked up at him. "Is something wrong?"

  Paki paused, then shook his head. "No, not really," he said. "I was just wondering why I didn't spot it sooner."

  Mo'ani waited for him to continue. When he didn't, he sighed.

  "All right, what?"

  Paki shrugged and sauntered into the room, swinging his sword and chain down from his shoulder.

  "You're part Mowik," Paki stated. "I suppose it should have been obvious way back when Bear told me you were the one who gave him his nickname. Translating Mowik names isn't a common skill."

  "Obvious way back then," Mo'ani repeated. "Do I want to know what brought this up?"

  Paki pulled his chain shirt on, then shrugged as if it weren't important. "It was just something I realized last night. Now that I really look at you, I can see the similarities between you, Bear and Tuketu."

  Mo'ani sheathed his sword while he waited for Paki to finish getting ready.

  "Yes, I'm a quarter Mowik," he said. "My grandmother was one of the first to travel west."

  Paki swung his sword belt over his head and one arm, then adjusted the sword on his back.

  "So what does your name mean?" he asked.

  "It means 'to meet'," Mo'ani answered. "Are you finally ready?" He pulled his sword from his sheath, indicating he didn't care if Paki were ready or not, his lesson was starting.

  Twisting his wrist and arm so he could pull the longsword from its sheath, he readied himself for Mo'ani's first attack.

  "I'd also like to know about Herridon Hold," Paki said, almost dodging Mo'ani's feint for his left side but catching his balance shift to escape the actual swing for his shoulder.

  "Herridon Hold died a long time ago," Mo'ani answered, not breaking his concentration or his pace. "My father was her lord. Late one night, lightening struck and it was burned out before anything but lives could be saved. The king was a good friend of my father's, and we moved into the palace. That's why I grew up to be Captain of the Guard."

  Paki narrowly missed Mo'ani's cut for his leg, and retaliated with a feint of his own. Knowing instantly his balance was perfect for it, he shifted the weight of his sword to his right hand, and managed to strike Mo'ani's shoulder with his left fist.

  "Would you quit doing that?" Mo'ani reprimanded, pausing for the slightest instant. "That sword's too heavy to do that in close combat."

  "I don't do it unless I know I can keep my balance," Paki pointed out. He misjudged distance, and the point of Mo'ani's sword barely caught his arm, drawing a thin line of blood. Paki realized absently it was right beside the scar from Aralt's dagger. Hopefully, Mo'ani wouldn't want to check his arm when they were finished.

  "Now you're cutting it close," Mo'ani said.

  "A little too close," Paki agreed. "So where was Herridon Hold?"

  "Up here in the mountains," Mo'ani said, his sword
ringing loudly as he caught Paki's wide swing. "The trail's long overgrown, but I could probably find it again if I had to."

  "So just what are the boundaries for your land?" Paki's balance shifted a little too much as he tried to dodge a second cut. He recovered quickly, but was certain Mo'ani could have hurt him if he'd wanted to.

  "Mostly just the mountains and the village now," Mo'ani answered, shaking his head slightly at Paki's mistake. "It used to stretch to just outside Herridon City." He turned easily to avoid Paki's next swing. "I've managed to keep the Archbishop's men too scared to try taking the mountains. That's why I built the Stronghold up here."

  "It didn't stop Janec from coming up here," Paki pointed out. He seized an opening and was suddenly on the offensive instead of the defensive. Mo'ani was forced back a couple of steps to absorb the force of Paki's sword.

  "Janec was here because he was supposed to be here," Mo'ani said evenly. "I told you a year ago the time was getting close for Nahtan to come."

  "What does that have to do with Janec?" Paki saw an opening and swung his sword towards Mo'ani's right arm while kicking for his left knee. Mo'ani caught the sword with his own, and dodged Paki's kick by twisting to one side, then hitting Paki's side with his own fist. Paki winced. Apparently if he was going to keep fighting like this, Mo'ani would too.

  "Nahtan and his army will have to know what to expect from the church guards," Mo'ani pointed out.

  "And who better to tell them than the Archbishop's own Captain of the Guard?" Paki asked.

  "Exactly," Mo'ani nodded. After a few more minutes, he signaled for Paki to stop.

  Paki lowered his sword, suddenly aware of how sweaty he had become.

  "You're getting fast," Mo'ani noted. "I honestly didn't expect you to kick."

  Paki shrugged and sat down. "I guess I should probably tell you what I did to Brijade when Kile put me up against her," he said when he had caught his breath.

  "Do I even want to know?" Mo'ani asked.

  "I tripped her backwards and pinned her," Paki confessed. "Then I threatened to drop her in one of the water troughs."

  "Paki," Mo'ani sighed, shaking his head. "I would really prefer it if you would keep a sword between you and your opponent. Especially if your opponent is Lady Takis."

  "She's not that bad," Paki said.

  Mo'ani looked at him for a moment. "Actually, she's that good. Besides," he insisted. "You'll live a lot longer if you do."

  "I know," Paki nodded his head. "You might have had a dagger in your belt that you could use."

  "Exactly," Mo'ani said.

  "But you didn't." Paki smiled as Mo'ani shook his head again.

  "And you could have spotted it if I had?"

  Paki paused, not sure if he could have or not.

  "I don't know," he confessed. He did know someone who could teach him, though. Actually, he knew a couple of people. He looked at Mo'ani, his eyes gleaming. "But I'll learn," he decided.

  Mo'ani started to say something when a knock on the door interrupted him.

  "Come in," he called.

  The door opened, letting in a young Mo'ani.

  "M'lord," he said. "The west scouts have sent in word that Lord Corydon, his family and an escort are coming through the mountains."

  Mo'ani's eyes grew concerned.

  "All right," he said, looking back at the young man in the doorway. "Go tell Kile and Adiella." When the young warrior had left, Mo'ani picked up his sheath, sliding his sword into it.

  "What's wrong?" Paki asked, sheathing his own sword.

  "Lord Corydon wouldn't be bringing his family here unless something was wrong," he said quietly, his mind obviously racing. He walked to the door and Paki followed him into the hall. Mo'ani's pace quickened.

  Paki followed Mo'ani out of the keep, where they were met by Kile.

  "There are thirty men gettin' saddled to go meet 'em," Kile said, pulling on his gauntlets. "The scout says they 'ave an escort of fifty, so I'm guessin' they were afraid of bein' followed."

  "Most likely," Mo'ani agreed. "How far out were they?"

  "They should be 'ere within the hour," Kile answered. One of the stable boys appeared beside him, leading Nicho.

  "Your horse, captain."

  Kile nodded and took Nicho's reins.

  "Have Adie check the rear before you come back here," Mo'ani ordered. "If there's any sign of anyone, take them down the long way."

  "I already planned to," Kile said, pulling himself into Nicho's saddle and tossing his cloak behind him. The warhorse lifted his head, and shook his mane, obviously anxious to be going.

  Mo'ani and Paki stepped out of the way as Kile turned Nicho towards the other Mo'ani.

  "What could be wrong?" Paki asked. "Isn't Bavol Hold closer if there was a problem?"

  "Not by much," Mo'ani answered, watching as Kile and Adie led the row of Mo'ani warriors from the Stronghold. "It's possible the church guards from the garrison behind Corydon Hold cut them off from Bavol." He paused. "If the Archbishop was moving, though, I should have received word from Matthios or Evaine."

  "Unless they couldn't get word through either," Paki suggested.

  Mo'ani thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "Evaine can always get word through," he said.

  "What could it be then?"

  "I don't know," he confessed. "Unless something happened to Evaine on one of her excursions to Herridon." He looked up at Paki. "Go find Bear and saddle your horses. The two of you can ride out with me to meet them."

  Paki blinked in surprised. That honor was usually reserved for the highest ranking officer in the hold at the time. It should have been Gharald and Janec riding out with him, not two apprentices. Not about to question the offer, Paki nodded and turned towards his and Bear's bunk.

  Their other two bunkmates were already up and had left. Bear was just starting to wake up, and Tiimu was at the bottom of his master's bed, chewing on a piece of jerky.

  "Come on," Paki said, picking up Bear's tunic, breeches and boots, then dropping them on his friend's stomach. "Mo'ani wants us to get our horses ready." Next, he picked up Bear's chain and crossbow and dropped them on his legs.

  "I'm going to hurt you," Bear grumbled, pushing his clothes to one side.

  "No, you're not," Paki sat on his bunk. "You move too slow."

  Bear sat up, giving Paki a dark scowl. "Practice doesn't start for another hour," he pointed out after glancing out the window.

  "I don't think there'll be much practice today," Paki said.

  "Why not?" Bear started to lay back down again. Paki reached for Tiimu's mind, and suggested the little fox bite his master on the foot. Tiimu obliged, and Bear sat back up again with a curse. "You damned thing!" He kicked at Tiimu, only to be snapped at. Tiimu picked up his jerky, hopped off Bear's bunk, and crawled under it to finish his breakfast.

  "Lord Corydon is coming through the mountains," Paki said. "Mo'ani offered to let us ride out with him, but if you don't want to, I'll go find someone else." He stood up and started to walk towards the door.

  "He offered what?" Bear demanded, suddenly awake.

  Paki pretended not to hear him and left the bunk. He wasn't surprised when Bear caught up with him outside, obviously having dressed in a hurry. He carried his chain and crossbow while trying to tie the top of his tunic.

  Kile and the others had left, and the hold seemed strangely quiet. Mo'ani stood by the far end of the corral, talking with Tavish.

  "What's going on?" Bear asked.

  "I told you," Paki shrugged, turning towards the stable. Tyran hadn't seemed to notice him and Rena last night, and Paki hoped he wasn't smart enough to make any guesses. "You should probably tuck in your tunic," he suggested, pulling open the stable door. Paki was surprised to find he had no desire to tell Bear what had happened the night before. He had figured out Bear's relationship with Brijade, and decided Bear could figure out his with Rena on his own.

  Bear paused to tuck in the ends of his shirt and
fasten his belt. "Why is Lord Corydon coming here?" he asked, catching up with Paki as he pulled Tyran's saddle from the tack room. "And why did Mo'ani say we could ride out with him?" He set his crossbow on a nearby bench and pulled on his chain shirt.

  Paki shrugged. "I have no idea," he replied. "To either question. But I wasn't going to argue about the latter."

  "Of course not," Bear muttered. "Maybe he's setting us up to be humiliated."

  Paki smiled faintly as he got Tyran's bit. "Mo'ani wouldn't do that, and you know it."

  "The captain would," Bear pointed out.

  "Kile already went to escort them in," Paki told him. Setting Tyran's things on a nearby bench, he moved out of the way and waited for Bear to get Chase's.

  Bear pulled out Chase's saddle and tack.

  Paki carried his things to Tyran's stall while Bear went to Chase's. He glanced to the loft overhead, but didn't see any sign of Rena still sleeping there. She must have left to go to the library shortly after he went to his practice with Mo'ani.

  The Dwellers' stallion still wasn't sure about his saddle, even though he had been wearing one for almost a year. Paki reached for his mind to reassure him, and Tyran stood still while Paki put his blanket on, then the saddle. He trembled slightly as Paki fastened the buckles. Taking the reins, he led Tyran from the stable. Outside, he pulled his sword and belt over his head and shoulder, then fastened the sword to the saddle. Bear appeared in the stable door, leading Chase. The big horse pawed the ground anxiously with his oversized hooves, sensing that something out of the ordinary was happening. His dark coat shone brightly in the sun, reminding Paki for the briefest moment of the stallion. A nicker from Tyran brought him back.

  "Don't worry," he assured the gold colored horse with a faint smile and a pat on the neck.

  Mo'ani and Tavish began walking toward them. Tavish nodded to them each as he went into the stable after Mo'ani's horse.

  "Good morning, Sewati," Mo'ani greeted.

  "It might have been," Bear returned. "Until I got bit."

  "Tiimu?" Mo'ani asked.

  Bear nodded his head, and Paki had to work not to smile. He had found the ability to communicate with Tiimu useful in waking Bear up, and that Bear had never been able to reach the fox's mind kept anyone from guessing that Paki could.