Victim of Fate

by Jason Halstead

  * * * *

  Alto rose up from where he studied the bloody ground several hours later. Clouds had swept in and blotted out the afternoon sun, making it even less likely he could make sense of the movements but he did see where they'd headed back to the east. There had been a fight and it looked like a horse had been killed. He wasn't sure whose horse it was; only scraps of fur, hooves, and a few bones were left behind.

  Alto took a deep breath and let it out, confused. There were remains enough for only one horse; the others looked to have escaped. Were the attackers so many they couldn't fight back? Against an army of ogres and trolls he could understand, but these were only animals. Twisted and corrupted animals, but animals nonetheless. Why would his friends just abandon him? Had they left Sebas behind, too, and this was what was left of him?

  Alto turned back to the unicorn and opened his lips. He snapped his mouth shut. Intelligent or not, the unicorn couldn't read the minds of his companions. The unicorn stamped its hoof and stared at the ground. Alto let his eyes fall and saw the same symbol drawn in the ground, three circles linked together inside a fourth circle.

  What did the symbol mean? He stared at it and was forced to admit defeat. "The farmer, James." Alto snapped his fingers. He turned to look at the unicorn. "You've saved me and I'm indebted to you beyond my understanding. I don't suppose an apple will repay the debt?"

  The unicorn whinnied and shook its head.

  Alto chuckled. "I suppose not. Can I impose on you for another ride? Not far to the east is a farm. My friends might be waiting for me there."

  The unicorn turned to offer Alto his side. Alto felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Tristam and the others had left but he wasn't truly alone. He might not understand the unicorn or what compelled it, but he was grateful for the company. "You need a name, I think. I hate to keep calling you horse or unicorn. I don't suppose you can tell me your name?"

  The unicorn turned its head and stared at him. Alto laughed. Words or not, the disdainful look the magical horse gave him spoke volumes. Alto glanced up and looked around. He frowned, searching for inspiration. His father had named Sebas but never explained why. What was a fitting name for a steed as incredible as a unicorn?

  A bitter wind swept across them, heralding the first flurry of snowflakes. Alto saw a wintry mote land on the unicorn's nose, prompting it to shake the frozen crystal off. Alto laughed. "Snowflake?"

  Alto was staggered by the unicorn as it bumped him with its haunch. He laughed again. "Okay, too cute. Ah! How about Winter? White and strong, but beautiful."

  The unicorn stared at him for a long moment and then dipped its head in acquiescence.

  "Well then, Winter, my friend, let us ride again! Soon you can be rid of me and return to your horsey delights."

  A whicker that sounded like laughter made the warrior smile. He mounted Winter again and they turned to the east. Instead of being a silent partner in the ride, Alto used his feet and hands on Winter's mane to guide him. They'd ridden only a few minutes when Alto guided the unicorn towards a shallow ford in the stream.

  Winter reared back, sending Alto flying from the unicorn's back and slamming him into the ground. A gray streak landed on the bank off to his right. The warrior scrambled to his feet, jerking his sword free as he did so. He paused when he saw the snarling creature leap through the air and slam into Winter's shoulder before he could turn to face the new threat.

  Winter fell, rolling on the hard-packed bank and struggling to rise up while the creature stayed atop it with unnatural dexterity. Alto ran after it but was afraid to strike with his blade for fear he might hurt the unicorn. He grabbed the gray fur and hauled back on it, yanking it free of Winter and sending it sprawling into the stream.

  Alto turned, intent to leap upon it and hack it to pieces. He hesitated, shocked by what he saw. The creature looked like a wolf at first glance but all four legs were wrong. The legs were spread out beside the body rather than under it. The creature didn't possess claws like a wolf either; its toes were padded. Alto squinted as it righted itself and turned to snarl at him with an all too lupine mouth. The creature looked like a cross between a wolf and a frog, albeit a giant one. He'd seen enormous wasps; a frog the size of a pony didn't seem so impossible anymore.

  Alto fell back as the hybrid wolf leapt at him. He thrust his sword up between them and buried it into the chest of the beast. The weight of the creature forced the hilt out of his hand and the beast landed on top of him. Alto scrambled to push it away and roll back to his feet. He drew his knife when he came to his feet but the hybrid was convulsing where it lay on the bank of the river.

  Once it stopped twitching, Alto retrieved his blade and cleaned it off. He sheathed it and turned to see Winter standing there, blowing clouds of steam into the air. Alto walked up to him and rubbed his hand down the unicorn's side. "It's dead, whatever it was," Alto tried to assure him. He grinned. "That thing had your number, though, didn't he? Guess we'll call us even?"

  Winter stomped the ground, barely missing Alto's foot, and snorted.

  Alto laughed and patted the unicorn's neck before he climbed up onto his back. "Let's try this again, shall we?"

  Winter whickered and leapt across the stream before falling into an easy gait towards the east.

  * * * *

  The sun was setting behind Alto and Winter as they rode up to James's farm. James and Kevard were working on fixing damaged boards on the barn. James turned and looked up, hearing the unicorn's hooves on the hard ground. He stumbled and called out for his boy to look.

  "Hail!" Alto cried out to them as he rode up. He slid off Winter's back and took a few awkward steps until his muscles loosened. "I was here the other day. Yesterday, I think? Saints above, it's been a long night and day. I've lost track of the time."

  "Alto, right? I remember you. It's good to see you. Uh, is that...I mean, that's not the horse you rode out on. That's not even a horse, is it? Um, what is it?"

  "This is Winter," Alto said with a chuckle. The unicorn whinnied and stomped its hoof. "And yes, he's a unicorn. I was separated from my friends in the forest and Winter came to me and helped guide me out."

  "Ran into your friends in Fairhaven. They was fresh out of the woods and looking worse for wear. They said the wasps was dead."

  "That all they said?" Alto asked.

  "They said they lost you in the woods, too," James said. "They feared you was gone for. Guess they was wrong."

  "Any mention of why they didn't look for me?"

  James frowned. "What happened in there?"

  Alto looked at Winter and received an encouraging snort. He turned back to the farmer and said, "We found the nest but before we could get close to it, a fog rose out of the stream and killed the wasps. It made us sick but we got away. I was closest to the fog; I think it messed with me the most. I barely reacted when some animals came out of the trees and attacked us. I fought them off but couldn't make it to my friends."

  "They said something about some monsters in the woods that they feared got you. Said one of their horses was killed, too, one that belonged to the man that looks almost as young as my boy here."

  "Namitus," Alto breathed.

  "Yeah, that's the one."

  "So Sebas lives."

  "Sebas?"

  "My horse." Alto grinned with relief.

  "Oh, well, I suppose that's true enough, but the boy's riding it now. Said they was headed to Holgasford next."

  Alto nodded. "As am I."

  "Be careful, son; don't go looking to do no harm. They don't strike me as the type to steal a man's horse."

  "No, they're not," Alto agreed. "They're my friends. I don't fault them for thinking me lost. I told them to go on and that I'd join them."

  "You look no better off than they did," James said as he came closer. "Holgasford is a long ride to the north. Come inside. We don't have much but we can get to our root cellar now. My wife's making dinner; it's a stew without much more than some barley and leftover
stock from the pantry."

  Alto felt his stomach lurch at the thought of a home-cooked meal. He nodded. "I could do well with some food, but I don't want to put you out."

  "You risked your life for us," James said. "It's the least we can do. It seems my daughter is gone; it would do my heart good to help someone I think she'd have liked."

  Alto nodded. He'd forgotten about the farmer's daughter in his ordeals. "I saw no sign of her. I'm sorry."

  James nodded. "It is what it is. I thank you for looking. Come, Alto, inside to a warm fire. I've no livestock left but plenty of hay and oats in the barn for your, uh, steed."

  "That okay with you?" Alto turned to Winter.

  A toss of the mane and a stomp of its foot was his answer.

  "Got any apples or carrots?"

  James laughed. "He's got a bit of a sweet tooth, has he?"

  "I guess he does." Alto looked at the unicorn and was rewarded with an approving whinny. He followed the farmer as he walked to the house in search of the sugary vegetables. It wasn't his home or his family, but he was looking forward to a single night of normal.

  James glanced back before entering the house. "I thought unicorns only let maidens ride them?"

  Chapter 10

  Alto woke the next morning in a strange place. He'd grown accustomed to sleeping in new places but it took him a moment to remember the small room. He'd slept in Rosalyn's room, a guest of James and Willamina for the night. He wondered how Winter had done in the barn. Or, for that matter, if the unicorn had even bothered sticking around. Alto hoped he hadn't been abandoned; it was a long walk to Holgasford and, as strange as it seemed, he'd come to enjoy the unicorn's company.

  Alto gathered his things and made his way out into the farmhouse. He moved as quietly as he could but noises in the house reassured him that he wasn't the first to rise. James was tying his boots as Alto walked out. The farmer grunted a greeting and flashed the young warrior a smile.

  "Up at the sun—you really are a farmer's boy!" James chuckled.

  "James, leave him be," Willamina scolded.

  "What?" the farmer asked. "Just seems a shame having such a strapping young man risking life and limb when he could be safe."

  "Without him and his friends, we'd not have a farm to live on. No farmer could have done what they did."

  Alto opened his mouth to point out that they didn't end the threat but the two continued to badger back and forth. Alto smirked. He knew they weren't upset, just showing their love for each other in an unusual way. He found he missed the dialogue. Not enough to stick around, though.

  "My thanks for your hospitality and for a room. A night's rest has done me wonders. But I've far to go and the daylight's wasting."

  "The daylight's wasting," James echoed. "See what I mean? He's a natural. Sun’s up in the swamp, my father used to say."

  Willamina shook her head and turned back to the kitchen. "Stay for breakfast, at least."

  Alto chuckled. "I would. Your cooking is every bit as good as my mother’s, but then James would come up with something and I'd be obliged to help. Before long I'd be here the full day, then the week and soon enough I'd never leave."

  "Sounds like a plan then, what's for breakfast?" James chirped up.

  Willamina laughed. She shook her head. "Go, Alto, go before he gets his hooks in you!"

  Alto made his way outside with James and found Winter wandering through the farmer's barren field. The unicorn looked up as they came out and walked over to join them. "I'm glad you're still here," Alto said.

  James shook his head and stared at Winter's white hide and horn. "He's beautiful," the farmer admitted. "Can't say I ever expected to see anything like him."

  "I don't know what I've done to deserve Winter helping me, but I hope I can keep doing it," Alto admitted. He turned to the unicorn and said, "What say you, friend? I've got many miles to go to the north. Will you bear me? I promise more apples and carrots as soon as I can find them. Clover, too, if I can manage it this late in the year."

  Winter whickered and brushed up against Alto. Alto grinned at the contact and rubbed the animal's neck. "Seems I'm off then. James, I can't thank you enough for your help. You've made me feel alive and well again."

  "Stop by anytime, Alto. I can always put you to work if you'll accept room and board as pay!"

  Alto grinned. "An honest wage for honest work, the best a man has any right to ask for."

  James threw his hands up in the air. "Get going, boy, or I'll lame your steed and keep you hostage!"

  Alto climbed onto Winter's back and grimaced. He had enough coin to buy a saddle but little more. That was supposing he could find a town with a saddle for sale. Until then, he would bear up under the discomfort. He just hoped he wouldn’t need to fight from Winter's back; he'd be doomed to fall and bust his head open.

  With a final wave of farewell, Alto guided Winter out and headed to the north and east. Holgasford was days away, but exactly how to get there from Fairhaven he wasn't certain. He shrugged the worries away. Sooner or later he expected he'd cross a road and from there other travelers or a town. Alto's stomach grumbled as they rode over a low hill and left the farm behind. Maybe breakfast wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all.

  * * * *

  "I'll walk the rest of the way," Alto told Winter on the final morning of his trek to Holgasford. Winter snorted and turned away from the apple Alto offered. "It's not that far! And besides, the Kelgryn are a superstitious lot. Probably less than a handful of them have ever seen a unicorn before."

  Winter snorted again. He swung his head back and took the apple, and then turned away from Alto again. "You think I'm just tired of being asked if I'm a maiden?"

  The unicorn whickered, a sound Alto was beginning to suspect was laughter.

  "Do I look like a maiden to you?" Alto grumbled. "I'm tired of it, yes, but do you have any idea how difficult it is for a man to ride bareback? I can't hardly walk or sit down after the days we've spent together!"

  Winter turned and bit at the chain links of his shirt.

  "The armor's no fun for you either? I guess that makes sense. If you'd let me fit a saddle, you wouldn't feel it, though, so that's your own fault!" Alto remembered when he'd tried to put a saddle on Winter's back. The unicorn had not been approving and he'd taken a front hoof in the stomach as punishment. His armor had saved him from injury but the blow had knocked his wind from him.

  Winter stomped his front foot, a friendly reminder of the incident. Alto grimaced.

  "So let's walk, or, if you'd prefer, you could return to your forest. Kind of a nasty place, though, if you ask me."

  Winter nodded and stepped sideways to give him a gentle nudge towards the road.

  "You know a proper mount would let me load a pack and bags as well," Alto tried to reason. Winter danced away from him. "Just as well, my horse should be waiting for me. You're smart and amazing, but you could stand to learn a few things from him."

  Winter lifted his tail and left a steaming suggestion of what he thought of that on the grassy floor of their campsite. Alto sighed and picked up his pack. "All right, let's go then."

  They walked side by side down the road towards Holgasford, joining up with a larger road busy with merchants and other travelers. Each person they passed fell silent, gaping at Winter. After they left them behind, Alto could hear the whispers. A smile crept on his lips at one point when he heard a man say to another, "Pity none of us could ride it; legend says such a beast will only bear a maiden on them."

  Winter glanced at him and Alto winked back. Winter huffed but kept walking with his head held high. Alto reached up to pat the unicorn on the back and then let his hand fall to his side. In the distance, he could see the sharpened timber logs that made up the wall around Holgasford.

  The distraction of the people around them made the time and distance pass quickly. They stood at the open gates and waited their turn to enter. Amidst the overcast skies and the press of humanity, Winter's whit
e fur seemed to glow. Others kept their distance, staring and whispering but not daring to come within a few feet of them.

  "What's this?" a guard called when the people in front of them cleared away. "Is this some kind of joke?"

  "No joke, friend," Alto said. "His name is Winter, and he's a unicorn."

  "You don't look like a maiden," the guard said.

  Winter offered a horsey chuckle while Alto scowled. "No, I'm not. My name is Alto; I'm a friend of Jarl Teorfyr and Princess Patrina."

  The guard's eyes widened. "Alto? Of the Blades of Leander? You've changed some since I last seen you."

  "We've met?"

  "I was with the jarl when he marched in the spring to Kingdom lands to help with the siege of Highpeak," the guard said.

  Alto stepped forward and offered his hand. The guard took it and they embraced. "The honor is mine," Alto said. "Those were interesting times."

  "Seems you live in interesting times." The guard cast a look at the unicorn. "Is this a gift for the princess?"

  Alto turned to Winter and saw the unicorn looking suspiciously at him. He smirked. "Winter has his own wants and goals. I have no claim to him; he's been a great friend to me in my travels. He does what he wants, but with a sweet apple, I find I can get him to do a little more than most."

  Winter stomped the ground, earning a chuckle from Alto. "May we enter, my friend?"

  "Of course, the stables are to the right of the gate."

  Alto turned to look at Winter. The unicorn had refused to spend time in stables before and he suspected this would be no different. His memories flashed back to the trouble he'd gotten in the first time he'd ridden Sebas into a Kingdom city instead of stabling the stallion. He shrugged. "My thanks. Could you tell me how to get to the palace? I've never been here before."

  The guard laughed. "Straight away. The jarl's hall is in the center of the city; it's also the highest point."