Horse Charmer

by Angelia Almos

  Where they have always been.

  Well, that didn't help at all. Where…did…you…come…from?

  Kali turned her head so her ears pricked to a far off peak behind Julyan's territory. Sky Mountain.

  Cassia followed Kali's look in confusion. The faraway peak. She wasn't sure whose territory the peak fell under, but since it was past Julyan's everyone would probably consider it his.

  Luki had just said the herds stayed in the lowlands.

  "Do you go into Julyan's territory to get horses?" she asked.

  He shook his head. "Too dangerous."

  "Why?"

  He hesitated. "Julyan has unnatural powers." He stopped, trying to gather his thoughts. "He's very clear that he doesn't want trespassers and he always knows when someone's entered his domain."

  She hunched her shoulders at the phrase 'unnatural powers.' That's how others would generally think of her if they knew the true extent of her abilities.

  And they haven't reached full bloom yet.

  Great…that…is…helpful.

  Kali snorted in response. Luki has Charmer abilities.

  What? Cassia looked at Luki. By the way he talked about Julyan you'd never think he was a Talent.

  He's not a Talent of the Guild. His abilities are minor compared to yours so he would easily escape any notice from all except for the horses of course.

  Does…he…know?

  No, he does what he does. Almost all wranglers have a touch of the ability or they wouldn't be able to do it. Those with more than a touch are highly sought after because they know where the herds are and don't have to hunt as long.

  And Luki… is one of…those.

  Yes. Rider coming. Kali swiveled her head to face the new threat just as Dall heard the same thing.

  "Someone's coming," Cassia said.

  "Hanging out at the foot of Julyan's territory is never a good idea." Luki took a firmer grip on his reins with one hand while resting his other on the short sword strapped to his saddle.

  A lone rider emerged from the trees and brought his horse to a halt. They stared at each other for a moment. The rider raised his arm in an odd greeting. Luki's stiff posture relaxed and he returned the greeting.

  "Relax." He urged his horse forward to meet the rider. "It's just Alrik."

  Kali trotted after Dall.

  "And who's Alrik?" Cassia asked.

  "Sorry," he said with a half smile. "A horse wrangler I know."

  She wasn't completely reassured. They had crossed the border into Karahan territory and if this Alrik ever came into the castle he might recognize her.

  "Greetings!" Alrik called, reaching over for a quick handshake with Luki. He moved on his horse with the same sort of ease that Luki did, but the lines on his face and graying hair showed him to be wrangler of many years. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

  "Business." Luki gestured to her. "May I present --"

  She interrupted him. "Lady Kaia. A pleasure to meet you, sir."

  Luki raised an eyebrow, but masked his surprise.

  "My Lady." Alrik bowed his head in respect. "What type of business brings you to my area of the woods? Most wranglers avoid these parts."

  "You know I do," Luki said, taking in the subtle warning in Alrik's voice. "I would never consider poaching."

  Alrik was quiet as he examined Luki's sincerity and then turned back to Cassia. "Luki doesn't usually travel with a companion."

  She tried to judge his odd tone, but Kali distracted her with a deep rumble.

  Many horses just past the edge of the woods. He's guarding something.

  "I didn't realize horse wranglers had permanent territories," Cassia said in her best regal voice.

  "Most don't," Alrik acknowledged.

  Luki interrupted the verbal sparring. "Lady Kaia's father commissioned a study to see why the horse numbers are dropping. I'm showing her the lands where the horses are roaming and used to roam."

  The boy can lie, Kali said in admiration.

  "And who is Lady Kaia's father?" Alrik asked.

  "My father is an advisor to the King of Karah," Cassia said and then corrected herself. "Now the queen."

  "Yes," Alrik said. "I heard about King Robet. Not a good omen for us."

  "You make the king's death sound personal?" Cassia asked.

  "King Robet supported the wranglers and our views," Alrik said. "Other kingdoms aren't so open and refuse to follow our advice even when we tell them the herds can't survive their dictates."

  Luki nodded in acknowledgement.

  Another rider coming.

  Cassia looked past Alrik as a second rider emerged from the trees. This rider hung back in the cover of the trees.

  "We have company." Luki motioned to the second rider.

  Alrik sighed. "I told her to stay put." He turned and gestured for the rider to come up. "Curiosity can be a dangerous thing for those so young."

  As the rider grew closer, Cassia could tell it was a girl about her age and felt a slight affinity for the girl in pants. Not many girls braved the ridicule of wearing men's clothing. At least not in her world. Cassia looked down at her own custom riding pants. Well, she supposed a lady might wear these if going on a long riding journey to see the various herds.

  "My daughter, Fayline," Alrik said as the pretty brunette with large green eyes reached them. "She doesn't always listen to her father."

  Fayline ducked her chin, but didn't apologize for disobeying him.

  "Lady Kaia." Alrik gestured to Cassia. "And you remember Wrangler Luki."

  "Yes, I remember Luki," Fayline said with an impish smile.

  A jolt of jealousy flashed through her and she wondered if she'd ever had the same expression of admiration when she looked at him. His handsome face probably opened many doors an average horse wrangler would find closed.

  "Fayline." Luki bowed his head.

  Cassia noted a slight coolness in his tone. Kali sneezed, interrupting her thoughts. The mare was greatly amused by the follies of humans.

  "Lady Kaia," Fayline said as if suddenly remembering her manners.

  "Miss Fayline," Cassia said with a smile and nod.

  "You must join us for dinner," Alrik said as he turned his horse.

  "We still have some distance to go today," Luki said.

  "Please do Luki," Fayline said, "and Lady Kaia."

  Cassia smiled slightly at being an afterthought. "Thank you, Wrangler Alrik. We would love to stay for dinner."

  Luki shot her a look of surprise, but didn't verbally object.

  What are you thinking?

  We…can not just pass by…Julyan.

  Alrik led them toward the line of trees. "You're more than welcome to stay the night with us. Darkness falls quickly in the mountains."

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  "Are you going to tell me what's between you and Fayline?" Cassia asked as they bedded their horses down in the barn.

  They were alone for the first time since riding into Alrik's homestead. They'd been briefly introduced to Pakelika, Alrik's son, who was almost the spitting, if younger, image of his father. Pakelika had shown them the barn with few words before going back out to help his father and Fayline with the herd.

  Luki didn't even look at her. "Nothing."

  She bit her lip. Normally, such a terse tone would have silenced her. Leaning against Kali and the mare's quiet encouragement, she pushed aside the tiny little voice telling her Luki's personal life was none of her business. "What I saw wasn't nothing."

  He grunted. "She wants to marry me."

  "Oh." Okay, she hadn't seen that one coming, but than again, maybe she was just stupid. Fayline clearly had an attachment to Luki.

  He turned to face her fully. "Your father approved the match."

  "I didn't realize my father arranged marriages outside of his own children."

  "He didn't arrange the marriage." He finished spreading the straw around his horse. "He approved it. Alrik took the match to him hoping to convinc
e me to agree to the union."

  "And did you?" She held her breath.

  "No, and that's made everything weird and extremely uncomfortable between us. Alrik feels insulted and I feel…"

  "You feel," she prompted.

  "Pressured. I haven't been back here since the last time I said no."

  "Which was?"

  "About half a year ago."

  Cassia frowned. "But she's so young."

  Luki laughed. "Only a year younger than you. In case you hadn't noticed, that's marrying age. You only got a reprieve because your father couldn't agree on the treaty that included your marriage. You'd be married now if you hadn't run."

  "So, our staying here?" She waited for him to continue preferring not to think about her own almost wedding.

  "Wouldn't be my first choose. It's not like Alrik's going to attack me in the night. It's just uncomfortable. They're all waiting for me to give up."

  "But you won't," she said, hearing the firmness in his voice and wondering at his firmness not to marry.

  He shot her a determined gaze. "I won't yield to pressure."

  "Fayline is very lovely." She didn't know why she felt compelled to point that out. It wasn't like she wanted him to change his mind.

  "Her beauty isn't a concern. The issue is…my feelings. I don't have those feelings for her. I considered her to be a nice enough girl until everyone decided we should marry."

  He turned bright red as if suddenly realizing how much he'd admitted to her. He busied himself checking the leather straps on his gear for wear.

  She should drop the subject since he clearly didn't want to talk anymore, but just couldn't let it go.

  Someone is approaching.

  Cassia jerked and turned to the intruder, expecting Fayline, but it was Pakelika.

  He has a touch, Kali said.

  Like Luki?

  Kali was quiet as she evaluated him. Not as strong as Luki, but stronger than his sire. He's using it right now on Dall.

  Cassia straightened in alarm. To do what?

  Trying to learn where we've been and why we're visiting. Interesting he knows so much for such a low level of gifting. Ah, he's switched to me.

  And?

  He'll learn nothing from me.

  Sorry…I am worried. They are strangers.

  "Settled?" Pakelika asked, standing in the shadows.

  They're not strangers to Luki. Don't worry. All will be well. Pakelika's given up. Dall also didn't give anything away. Kali turned her head to nicker at Dall who curled his nose at her. He doesn't like me. Interesting. He senses Luki's unease when around us and has decided we aren't friends.

  Luki's unease?

  Their conversation was interrupted when Luki answered Pakelika. "They're bedded down."

  Pakelika nodded and gestured for them to follow him out of the barn. Pakelika was a man of few words from what Cassia had seen so far. She might as well put all that royal upbringing to some use.

  "I want to thank you for your family's hospitality," Cassia said with a gracious smile. "It will be of great relief not to have to sleep on the ground this night as Luki had promised me."

  "Luki knows he's welcome here." Pakelika shrugged his shoulders as they stepped out of the large airy barn.

  "We were going to go farther today," Luki said in a defensive voice. "I hoped to be much closer to Castle Karah before we camped."

  She resisted the urge to kick his ankle at the dig he directed to her. "Your family has a beautiful place."

  Pakelika shrugged again and Cassia was beginning to think it was a tic. "It serves its purpose." He led them into the large and squat log home. A cheerful roaring blaze greeted them. "Father and Fayline will be back soon from bedding the herd down."

  She wanted to ask them about the herd. She'd never known anyone to keep a wild herd fenced in. Luki's story about her gave her the perfect excuse to ask questions, but she figured it would probably be rude to start drilling them.

  "Mother!" Pakelika called out to the woman busy at the stove. "Father's guests."

  The tiny woman quickly dried her hands and stepped forward in delight. "Welcome to my home, Lady Kaia, I'm Marelda, and Luki, it's good to see you again. Please, make yourself comfortable."

  Marelda drew them toward the sitting area next to the fire. "Dinner will be ready soon. A chill has hit the mountains as fall settles, making a fire so cheerful in the evening. Don't you think?"

  Cassia grinned at Marelda's easy and relaxing chatter. "I do."

  "Pakelika tells me you've been visiting all of the herds," Marelda said. "How are they?"

  Uncertain how to answer the question, Cassia looked to Luki for guidance. He stared back at her, but finally turned to Marelda.

  "Few and far between," Luki said.

  Marelda tsked. "So sad. You haven't been over-culling, have you my boy?"

  "No, Marelda," he assured her. "I've been careful, but I can't say the same for all the wranglers. It takes a lot longer to gather a string when you only take one per herd. Many don't have the patience or time for that."

  "Well, hopefully, Alrik will change that soon," Marelda said, clasping her hands in her lap.

  The door banged open and Cassia glanced over in expectation, but it was another daughter she hadn't met. She looked to be about the same age as Princess Margarette, Torr's sister.

  "Ah, Gabrial." Marelda beckoned her daughter over. "Come meet our guests. I was getting worried. Night is falling much faster and you must keep to your chores and not woolgather."

  "Yes'm." Gabrial shed her shawl and came to join the circle at the fire. "Mister Luki."

  "Gabrial," Luki said. "You've grown." The girl blushed and Cassia could see she would also become a beauty once she grew out of the awkward phase. "Lady Kaia, this is Gabrial, Alrik's youngest child. Gabrial, Lady Kaia, a friend of mine."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you," Gabrial said, walking to stand next to her mother.

  "Go and set the table." Marelda directed her and with a last smile Gabrial darted off to do her chore.

  "How's Alrik's project coming?" Luki asked.

  Marelda sighed. "I wish I had more to report. The darn beasties still aren't cooperating. Alrik has made their containment as natural as possible, but not a single live foal this season. Pakelika and he will work on it again this winter and hopefully by spring they will be ready and willing to breed."

  Cassia's jaw nearly dropped. "You're trying to breed the horses."

  "Yes," Marelda said. Pakelika grunted in warning. "Oh, hush. Luki knows, and if he's showing her the herds' problems he'll tell her what we've been doing. She might as well hear what we've been doing straight from us.

  "The wild herd numbers keep decreasing every annual," Marelda continued. "Alrik became concerned several years ago and began to cull some of the best mares from the herds and brought them here. For the last three annuals he's turned stallions out with them the entire spring, but nothing. The first annual, all the stallions did was fight and try to find a way out from the fencing. We seem to have solved that problem and we were sure last year that several of the mares took as the stallions stopped breeding them, but nothing this spring. Again, it seems as if all the mares are pregnant and I know Alrik has high hopes, but we had high hopes last summer."

  Are you hearing this, Kali?

  What?

  The herd. They are breeding them.

  Without much luck.

  How do you know?

  No foals in the herd.

  Right. Cassia nearly laughed at her own folly. Kali would have noticed. Why haven't they been successful?

  We need freedom. Kali sighed. Honestly, I don't know. Kali was quiet for a moment, but Cassia could sense her turning thoughts. That's part of why I came for you.

  Came for me? Cassia was in shock. Luki had given Kali to her.

  I allowed Luki to catch me, as I knew he was going to where I needed to be. They have returned.

  She barely prevented herself from turning to the d
oor, but realized Marelda had continued to speak with Luki and he'd been answering questions about his own hunts for herds while she'd been deep in thought talking with Kali. It would be pretty odd if she just started staring at the door.

  The door banged open and Alrik came in. Marelda immediately rose and embraced her husband.

  "Telling stories, my dear," Alrik said fondly. "Fayline is bedding the horses, but will be right in if you want to begin supper."

  Marelda checked Gabrial's dinner set and then began passing platters of food to Gabrial to place on the table.

  "Please come." Marelda gestured to the table.

  Cassia wasn't sure she could eat. She wanted to go out and query Kali on what she'd said, but she would have to wait. Manners demanded at least that much. Kali withdrew from her and focused on something else. Fayline was probably in the barn.

  Luki took Cassia's hand and she glanced at him in question at the unexpected gesture. But his focus was on Alrik, who stared at Luki. He hadn't missed the hand grab. Alrik frowned before sitting at the head of the table. Luki moved down to sit next to Alrik, pulling her down in the chair next to him. It was then she realized what he'd done. He'd made certain he wouldn't sit next to Fayline.

  Cassia wanted to roll her eyes at the movement. Everyone knew you sat across from the person you were courting. That way no accidental touching occurred and you could look each other in the eye when speaking. She expected him to immediately drop her hand, but he didn't and a warm feeling began in her stomach. He slowly released her fingers when he saw her gaze was directed at their joined hands.

  "Still no luck, I hear," Luki said, turning from Cassia to Alrik.

  Alrik frowned in disapproval, but then appeared to shrug it off. "Coming spring will be different. I doubled the size of the enclosure. It makes it harder to maintain and patrol to prevent poaching, but the herd is happier. All the mares bred this season. It's just a matter of waiting and watching."

  Fayline quietly came in, and sure enough, she sat directly across from Luki. Only then did Gabrial, Marelda, and Pakelika sit. Gabrial next to her, Pakelika across and Marelda at the other end of the table.

  "I wish you success with your endeavor, Alrik." Luki raised his glass. "Even if it will put me out of business."