Kei's Gift

by Ann Somerville

  Kei glanced at him. “Up to you. Do you feel up to being bounced a little?”

  “A little—yes. I want to see this vehicle.”

  “Good, then let’s take you over,” Tiko said, clapping his hands together. His cheerfulness annoyed Arman nearly as much as his perpetual sourness had before. The captain poked his head out the door and signalled to his men who came and waited for his order. “We’ve arranged for the more hostile of your friends to be kept away, general, but I’m afraid everyone else wants to see this new cart in action too. I think there might be an element of wanting to see a Prijian general fall on his arse too.”

  Kei’s hackles went up immediately—his protectiveness was so endearing. “Drop him and you’ll answer to me. He can’t bear that even as a joke, do you hear?”

  Tiko grinned ruefully as he shook his head at a lad of half his age telling him off. None of Arman’s captains would have been so unconcerned. “You need to relax more, my lad. Just because people want to see it, doesn’t mean we’ll provide it.”

  He signalled to his soldiers who moved to pick up the strange chair that Arman had been moved about in before. Kei fussed around Arman and got a cloak around him and a boot on his good leg. “The second you are in too much pain, I need to know, understand?”

  Arman grabbed his chin and made Kei look at him. “Will. You. Stop! I’m not an infant, you know.”

  “Oh, and here I was thinking the Prij were born over six feet tall with golden beards. My mistake,” he said, his eyes crinkling up a little in amusement. “Now. Carefully.”

  Arman was speedily placed in the chair and his leg carefully supported, before the chair was raised on poles like a litter, and the soldiers took him from the house.

  There were people everywhere—in doorways, and at windows, some actually in the street itself. Unlike the first time he’d seen these villagers this way, there wasn’t the same suppressed anger, the same eerie, rather threatening silence. There was in fact a lot of ordinary noise, people speculating openly about his appearance and the way he was being carried. Arman was used to this from his frequent participation in public displays in Utuk, but his cheeks still burned a little from embarrassment. He really hoped they wouldn’t drop him, on his arse or anything else.

  The wainwright’s workshop was at the far end of the village. A small cart stood waiting, already hitched to an urs beast and on the ground near it was a kind of open box with a cradle in it, in which a leather seat had been placed. The back of the box was arranged so a passenger could rest their back against it, and there was even padding attached to it to buffer the vibration. This, he surmised, was to be his chair for the next few weeks. A man came forward and bowed. “General, I’m Ruik. I’m the one who built this for you.”

  “Then I thank you, sir. Shall we try it?”

  He was lifted into the thing very easily from the chair—it was of a height that would allow Kei or any of the soldiers to assist him in and out of it. Then the box was lifted, again on poles, and slid easily into the cart—he would face forward, which would be bliss. The box was locked securely into position and the poles stored neatly underneath—the craftsmanship was of an admirably high standard. Ruik climbed into the driving seat and turned to face him, “There’s no cover over this thing like we have with the wagons. Tiko said we’d have to make do with blankets and cloaks.”

  Arman examined the cart’s design. “If you were to attach canvas or an oilskin here and here,” he indicated, “then you could shield my body from the wind. If it rains—if you were to put poles up at the back there....” He pointed to where he thought they could be fixed. “Then it could form a complete shelter. It would be too small and stuffy to use all the time, but as a temporary measure, it would work well.”

  Ruik seemed surprised at his readiness to offer comment. “You have an artisan’s mind, general. The suggestions are good ones.”

  “I’d like to talk to you about designs later, if you have time. I note you don’t use springs here, but they’re another solution to the problem of vibration and jolting.”

  “Springs? I like to hear more about that—”

  There was a loud clearing of a male throat. “If you two gentlemen don’t mind,” Tiko said, “we need to get this trial over with in case the thing doesn’t even work.”

  Ruik grinned. “Oh, it’ll work, you cheeky bastard. Right, general, are you ready?”

  They set off at a walk until they were well outside the village, and then Ruik set his beast to trotting. The motion was most unusual, but hardly unpleasant, and so far removed from the unpleasant hard jolting of the wagons, Arman wondered that anyone would use any other means of travel once they had tried this. The cart moved along easily—a faster speed might risk crashing or even breaking an axle on the rough road, but this gentle trotting speed was perfect. The beasts could sustain this for several hours—he assumed Tiko planned to change over the animals pulling the cart during the day.

  More than that, he would be able to see what was happening and where he was going, and he would be prepared to endure a lot more discomfort than this to escape the prison the wagon had become. Ruik turned the cart around and they trotted back to the village where a crowd had gathered to watch them ride back. He waved regally to them, feeling flushed with pleasure at the successful experiment. Tiko beamed with satisfaction. “Well, that settles that then. We can leave tomorrow morning.”

  “I want to make some adjustments to the covers—the general made some useful suggestions—and I think I can make the cradle easier to get in and out of. But it’ll be ready, don’t worry,” Ruik assured him.

  Kei came up to the side of the cart and peered at Arman. “Was it all right? It was comfortable?”

  “Wonderfully so. Get Ruik to show you, if you don’t believe me. Captain, is there any objection if I were to stay to talk to the carpenter?”

  Tiko looked around at the crowd who were as fascinated as ever by the goings-on. “Not if you don’t mind being the centre of attention for a while longer.”

  “Not at all. It’s not like it’s anything new to me,” he said loftily, just to poke at Tiko, who duly scowled. “Get me down from here, please? There are some ideas I’d like to share with Ruik while I’m still here.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  He expected Kei to begin objecting within the hour to his prolonged visit with the wainwright. Ruik worked as they talked, and Arman described the operation of the calashes and other jesig-drawn vehicles while Ruik made the changes he’d suggested to his present vehicle, with a few innovations of his own. To his surprise, Kei listened to the discussion and joined in occasionally without the slightest indication of anxiety. Arman was also surprised when food and drink was brought for all of them, Tiko and his men included, so they could continue chatting and exchanging ideas. In fact, it was close to dark and lamps had been lit before Kei finally suggested, not very enthusiastically, they really should call a halt and begin preparing for the departure early the next day. Even then, he allowed himself to be distracted by something Tiko said, and said nothing more about stopping until Ruik lifted his head and said, “Oh, hello, Seya.”

  The clan head walked into the workshop carrying a lantern and regarded them all with a slight smile on her face. “Ruik, I see you have our visitors entranced.”

  “Not at all, it’s they who’ve been enchanting me. I’ve had the most wonderful ideas from Arman here. If I can get enough iron, I think I could revolutionise how we transport goods in future.”

  She raised an eyebrow and looked at Arman. “Once again you manage to surprise us, general. Are you feeling better?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Kei moved to stand behind Arman’s chair and placed a protective hand on his shoulder. “I’m grateful for your allowing me to stay.”

  “No more than we are for what you’re planning to do for our people. I know we met under the most adverse of circumstances, but I wanted to tell you I’m very glad you came to our village a second time. I hope the benefit
to you is as great as I feel it has been to us.”

  Kei’s hand tightened a little on Arman’s shoulder, so he placed his own hand over Kei’s to reassure his friend. “I fear Timo’s parents will never feel that way. I wish...is there nothing I can do while I’m here?”

  “No, not now,” she said calmly. She was quite an impressive leader of her clan—what a general she would make. “Meri, I think, will come around eventually. Jik...unfortunately, he’s always been hot-tempered and not a strong thinker, and I’m afraid his son was the same, to all our sorrow. I doubt speaking to you personally would do other than to inflame their anger again. Let time heal, general. It works for many things, as I think you are finding.”

  He bowed his head in acknowledgement. “One day I’ll return to complete the sentence you’ve placed on me, if I have any power to do so.”

  She smiled. “I hope to see that day, although I find it hard to imagine it. You’ll be made welcome, general—Arman. Such things are intended to benefit both victim and the guilty party. It’s not meant to humiliate.”

  “I can only say again how much I regret my actions and my part in this war.”

  “To hear you say that is something none of us expected. Kei, is it really wise for your patient to sit in the cold like this? It’s gone suppertime.”

  He felt Kei start behind him. “Oh gods! Ruik, we really have to stop. Tiko, please could you—”

  “Calm down,” Tiko said, winking at Arman. “Yes, it’s time to stop.” He signalled to his men. “Ruik, we’ll leave as soon as there’s any light at all in the sky. I’ll be down here an hour before that to get the cart hitched. Don’t make any more changes to the thing, please—the Rulers will put a luxury tax on it.”

  Seya coughed in a way that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “True. Let me walk you back to the house.”

  It was now completely dark, their audience of curious villagers long since gone back to their homes and their evening meal. Seya walked calmly alongside Arman’s chair, and entered the house after him, waiting for him to set on the ground again before she spoke. “Farewell, then, Arman. May your journey be a safe one.”

  “May your village thrive and be left to live in peace, madam.” He still found it odd the way the Darshianese didn’t use titles between themselves—he felt it deeply disrespectful, himself.

  “That’s all anyone wants,” she said. “Kei, thank you also for your service. I know your family will be eager to see you again.” Kei bowed but said nothing—he always became rather quiet when his family or village were mentioned, Arman had noticed. “Goodnight, gentlemen.”

  She swept out and Tiko grinned. “Another conquest, general. That’s quite a spread of catches—healers, clan heads.... I’d like to know your secret.”

  “Shut up, Tiko,” Kei said crossly, ordering the soldiers to take Arman to the bed. “Perhaps his secret is his manners, something you’ve not learned in forty years.”

  “Nor you in twenty, my lad. You mind how you speak to your elders—you might be as tall as a tree, but you’re not too big for a spanking.”

  “Try it and I’ll lace your next stew with tirsel leaves. You’ll be shitting too hard to spank anyone.”

  Tiko grinned at Kei’s bad temper. Arman sighed. However fast they travelled, this would be a very long journey.

  Chapter : Return to Darshian 8

  The first day on the road had been amazingly enjoyable. The weather was good, the road dry and firm—“good racing conditions”, Arman had commented as he was placed into his “chariot.” All of them were feeling refreshed and fit after a two-day break—three nights on a real bed had re-energised Kei, and even his nightmares hadn’t been so awful for a change. Arman was visibly blooming, and Kei wanted to keep it that way. Not only was Arman to have two good nights’ rest for every three or four on the road, Kei had insisted they carry many more fresh fruit and vegetables than had been possible before. It meant somewhat heavier loads for the two pack beasts, but the absolute weight was less because they only needed to carry stores for four days instead of over a week. They would all benefit from better food.

  There was no doubting the pleasure Arman felt in being freed from the wagons. Every time Kei looked at him, he was smiling a little, enjoying the crisp cold fresh air and the sunlight. Ruik had ensured he was largely protected from the wind by a large oilskin which came up to Arman’s neck, mounted like a tent over the cart box. Under it, he was in the warmest clothes they could scrounge for him, his bright hair hidden under a wool scarf. He looked rather odd, but hardly cold or uncomfortable.

  Travelling at the speeds they maintained, made conversation difficult, but it didn’t matter. Arman seemed to be enjoying the scenery, even though, being still winter, all the plants were dormant and they were weeks away from the first buds and shoots appearing. The last and only time Kei had travelled this route, he’d been too tired to know more than where his feet were to be placed. Now he saw it with Arman’s eyes, knowing how strange and flat it must appear. Arman had seen it twice before of course—but in the circumstances, he could have taken little interest in it. Though he was now undoubtedly preoccupied by what was expected of him in Darshek, he was not so lost in his thoughts that his attention wasn’t also on the landscape around him.

  Tiko wanted them to make the maximum speed they could, to give both beasts and men the longest possible rest in Ai-Tuek. He expected them to be there easily within three days instead of the six a man on foot or a walking beast would take. A day in Ai-Tuek, four more on the road—and then Kei would be home, briefly. Ai-Albon had acquired a mind-speaker temporarily, sent to the village from Darshek while the conflict with the Prij was ongoing. Myka, Reji and everyone else would know he was coming—and that he wasn’t going to stay. He’d already begun to rehearse the arguments in his mind.

  Still, it was good to ride at more than walking pace, and the cold air was invigorating. By the time Tiko called a halt near a small waterhole, he said he’d calculated they’d made sixty miles that day. Despite that, Arman was in better shape than when they’d had travelled less than half that distance in a single day before. His obvious lack of discomfort proved how much pain he’d previously been concealing, and Kei cursed himself at not having taken more steps than he had done to prevent it or ease it. He wasn’t sure what he could have done in the circumstances, but there had to have been more than protecting the man from Neki’s explosive stews.

  With such a small of group of them, there was no need to distinguish the prisoner from his guards, nor did Kei feel that was how the soldiers saw things. Arman was manifestly no flight risk, and since Kei would not leave his side, and Tiko enjoyed talking to Kei—and even, he might grudgingly admit, the general himself—they just sat around the same campfire, eating the same food, and listening to the same bad jokes. Soldiers could be astonishingly vulgar, Kei discovered. He’d expected Arman, high-born and well-educated as he was, to be somewhat disgusted by it, or perhaps just bored, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the stories of sexual adventure Tiko’s men could tell, but he just listened, and smiled, and seemed almost at peace.

  The only time tensions rose was when it came to settling who shared which tent. The soldiers used small two-man tents, and to save space, exactly three had been packed. Though Arman would hate it, Kei felt he really had to ask Tiko to share with the general. To his surprise, Tiko shook his head and asked Kei to step away from the others so they could talk privately. “You know he’d be easier about it if you shared the tent.”

  Kei was slightly surprised Tiko was pushing them together after spending so long being suspicious of their friendship. “That’s as may be, but it’s better for me if I don’t.”

  Tiko quirked a disbelieving eyebrow at him. “Really? Because I’ve noticed something very odd about you two. When you slept in the wagon with him, you always looked better rested and so did he. It was the same in Ai-Darbin. I’d rather not listen to the pair of you mutter and cry out all night with ba
d dreams, or have you keep the rest of us up that way. So you’re sharing a tent and that’s it.”

  “No, I can’t,” Kei said furiously. “It’s not good for me to—”

  “To...?”

  “To feel good...damn it, it’s like giving spirits to a habitual drunkard!”

  Tiko was taken aback. “Being a bit dramatic there, aren’t you? Look, it’s for three weeks. You’re a lot better than you were when I first met you. Can’t you grit your teeth and enjoy yourself for that long, or is punishing yourself how you plan to get over what’s bothering you? “

  It sounded stupid even to Kei’s ears. But at the same time, it could set back what he’d achieved thus far by weeks, even longer. Still—he was going to Darshek, so it might not matter. If there was a solution, it would be found there, not in Ai-Albon. “All right,” he said with ill grace. “But I don’t like being pushed around.”

  “I’m an army captain, healer, it’s my job to push you around. Come on, man, stop looking so morose! The general could be wearing a cast-iron loincloth for all the threat he poses to you.”

  Tiko seemed to think that so long as Arman wasn’t a sexual predator, Kei faced no danger from him. He couldn’t push this point without exposing more of himself than he wanted—and there was the undoubted truth that he and Arman both suffered excoriating nightmares when they slept apart, although Arman still did so occasionally even when Kei was close. Kei could only accept the practicality of the situation, and hope he’d come far enough along his recovery for it not to make too big a difference. There was also the simple fact that sleeping next to one of the soldiers would be uncomfortable, although he’d tried to convince himself he could bear it. A small part of him was relieved that he now wouldn’t have to.

  He got Arman settled on the thick padded pallet, and then dragged his own bedroll into the tent. Arman was astonished at his doing so. “Kei?”