by A. D. Green
They packed up and set off shortly after, hurrying the horses west. Longstretch lay barely an hour ahead and although it was at Hiro’s insistence that they stop early the day before, he seemed intent now on making up for the lost time.
Renco rode beside Maohong, Lett having abandoned him to sulk in her Da’s wagon after an unpleasant incident with Happy. The cantankerous old mule nipped her when she had strayed too close. Shrieking in pain and clutching her shoulder she’d howled, cussing like a longshoreman and glaring at the beast.
Happy, for his part, looked totally unperturbed staring back as if to say well you did turn your back on me, it’s hardly my fault is it.
Mao thought the whole thing hilarious which didn’t help matters. Renco wandered over to see if Lett was alright but she was not in the mood to be consoled and stormed off to sit in her Da’s wagon, her earlier good humour vanished like mist in the sun.
Renco found himself standing next to Happy with Mao’s laughter ringing in his ears whilst watching Lett’s swiftly departing back. Happy’s head swung around and stared at Renco with big innocent brown eyes. You’re a monster, Renco thought, patting Happy’s neck despite himself.
That set the tone for the day. Renco ended up, not unusually for him, listening to Mao chattering on about all manner of things. At one point the old man produced a small length of rope from one of his many pockets to demonstrate how to tie a Kalbrasi knot, which was useful for securing a chest or door or restraining someone of ill repute. With a Kalbrasi knot, the more you struggled or pulled the tighter it became. Mao illustrated, but Renco wasn’t really paying attention.
They cleared Longstretch on the eastern tip of the Reach an hour after sun rise. The town was packed full of people all heading south. Flowing against the tide of humanity took them entirely too long and they got many queer looks from folk as they passed.
The road out of Longstretch followed the banks of the Reach west and north, the lake a glistening blue in the sunlight.
At midday they stopped and broke their fast with some dried meat, stale bread and cheese washed down with water. Lett’s sour mood had abated by then and she sat with Renco as they ate. She chattered away quite happily telling her stories.
Renco listened attentively, pleased her mood had lifted. A nervous energy infested him when she was near. Lett could talk about the moons and he would be happy. At one point during one of her more outlandish tales she’d leant over and rested a hand on his thigh and he almost bolted upright at her touch, as an electric tingle of energy infused him.
Renco was wondering, hoping they’d get to ride together when Master Hiro approached and Lett’s good temper inexplicably shifted again. Renco felt her body tense where it brushed against his, her voice falling silent. It was dizzying trying to keep up with her moods or even to understand them.
Renco looked at his master expectantly as he crouched down in front of them and smiled at them both.
“Why does he do that?” Lett hissed beside him.
Renco shrugged his shoulders. What?
“You know its creepy Renco? How he just comes over and stares at you. Doesn’t say anything, he ain’t right!” Lett insisted.
Renco didn’t understand her meaning. Master Hiro wasn’t just his master but his teacher, his confidant… his friend. More than that, he reflected, disturbed at having to quantify it, Master was the only one he could actually talk to. Sure he could sign with both Mao and Master but it wasn’t the same.
His face must have shown his confusion because Lett leaned in close and slipped an arm around his shoulder. Her mouth brushed his cheek, her breath tickling his ear as she whispered.
“Don’t worry. I’ll look out for you Renco. My Da is very canny.”
It was strange, the whole thing bizarre. He didn’t need looking after. Hadn’t he sorted those men out back at Greenholme? He should be indignant, he could take care of himself but her hair smelt nice and she was close her arm still around him, her body soft against his side where she leant in. Maybe they would ride together he thought, hope flaring.
Those hopes were soon dashed though, the afternoon faring no better for Renco than the morning. Luke Goodwill rode next to Master Hiro leaving Lett to tend the wagon and Renco to ride again with Maohong. He was minutely aware of her in the wagon behind but she didn’t call to him and he wasn’t sure he could just invite himself over, could he? It’s not like I can talk to her, he thought bitterly.
So he endured more knot demonstrations and old stories from Mao. The wrinkled old prune had a life time of knowledge and was more than happy to share it with him, but today Renco’s mind was elsewhere. Until that was, something Mao said caught his attention. What did he say?
“Lust and love eh. Mao say these two different things, same coin. Confusing eh, difficult for boy to know?” He smiled his toothy grin. Renco shifted uncomfortably in his saddle as Mao continued unperturbed.
“Girl like Renco, oh yes, very much. Set arrow at Renco’s heart.” Mao was enjoying himself entirely too much.
“Renco like rut with her yes? I think very yes.” He leant over and stabbed Renco's chest with a gnarly knuckled finger. “Renco do well guard heart, lust better here than love, eh!”
Renco was angry. What was the old fool on about? Poking him and saying he wanted to rut Lett? Rutting is what dogs do. He wasn’t a dog.
“What do you know of love?” He signed furiously, shocked at himself. Did he love Lett? He’d only just met her. It felt real though.
Mao’s eyes clouded over his head sagging forward. Renco felt his anger fade as quickly as it had come. Had he upset Mao? Mao never got upset, at least not like this. Upset his ale was spilled maybe or upset Renco had burnt the fish.
Mao didn’t answer for a while and Renco thought maybe he’d breached some boundary he shouldn’t have.
“It worthy question. Mao not always old man. Not always with Master Hiro. One day Mao tell Renco.” He sniffed and sat straighter in the saddle.
“Girl gone soon. Make sure she leave heart, eh.” Mao moved his horse a step to the left, away from Renco. A small gap but a chasm in reality, one that said he wished to be left alone.
Renco sighed, worried he’d upset his friend and perturbed at the thought of Lett leaving.
At least the countryside was beautiful. To the north of the road meadows rolled away, rising slowly into hillocks interspersed with woodland and bush. To the south not more than a stone’s throw away was the Reach. The lakes cool waters had sparkled blue in the morning but were a muted green now as clouds rolled in from the east, threatening rain.
The Reach was narrow, but looking across there was no bank to discern on its far side as it morphed into the infamous Grim Marsh. Renco saw many boats on its waters. A few were fishermen working its depths, baiting lines and laying pots but by far the majority were shallow draft skiffs and barges full of people, carrying them eastward to Longstretch.
The road too filled as the day grew long, busy with refugees. Most walked, carrying what they could with them. As their paths crossed they were stared at, some curious as to who would be heading into trouble, some sullen as they were forced to concede the road to the wagon, a few hopeful.
“Is Twyford coming?” more than one person called out, only for Master Hiro or Luke Goodwill to shrug their shoulders.
“We don’t know,” they would say.
Renco watched the kindle of hope in their eyes flicker and fade before they bowed their heads and trudged on.
Whole families were on the road, young and old. It was sad and sobering to watch and Renco felt the shadow of trepidation build in his chest. What were they heading into? Master’s warning about Fallston earl
ier seemed more poignant now looking at them.
They neared Fallston as night fell accompanied by a gentle sprinkling of rain. The fields outside town were filled with people in makeshift camps. Renco watched Master Hiro and Luke Goodwill talking loudly before finally they clasped hands. Luke rode over to Maohong.
“Lett and I head to town. Wanted to thank you for your company, you tell a good story and play a mean flute. I hope we’ve occasion to meet again, maybe on the road north?”
“Safe journey story teller,” Mao replied.
Luke turned to address Renco. “We haven’t spoken much.” He paused realising what he’d said before carrying on. “Never did get to show you much on the lute. Lett will miss you boy. She’s taken a shine to you. Take care.”
The way he said that last felt more a warning than goodbye to Renco who nodded his head back in reply.
“Don’t make me pull you off that horse.” He knew Lett was at his stirrup, had been aware of her the moment she stood and climbed down from the wagon.
Looking down at her Renco smiled aware her Da’s eyes were on him. Lifting his leg over the saddle horn he slid gracefully to the ground. Lett was in his arms hugging him as soon as his feet touched dirt.
“Take care Renco. See you again soon.” No warning in Lett’s goodbye but a promise, his arms encircled her and he hugged her to him. She fit against him snuggly, soft and warm but, he wrinkled his nose, she needed a wash. Should have taken a bath in the river with me this morning, he thought with a smile.
“Come Lett before the rain sets in.” Luke's voice was firm. He had hitched his horse to the back of his wagon and climbed up on board.
Lett reluctantly released Renco. Standing on tip toe she kissed his cheek before turning and climbing up next to her father. With a snap of the reins the wagon pulled off heading into town.
She was gone. A heavy weight sat on Renco’s chest, a sudden angst. He fought the urge to ride after her. Found he didn’t want her gone from his life. He couldn’t explain it.
Master Hiro said wandering over. He laid a warm hand on Renco’s shoulder.
Renco stared down the road after her. At one point Lett turned and waved. He raised a reluctant hand in return feeling like his heart was crushed.
Renco felt his Master’s displeasure over the link and was aware suddenly that he stood like a fool in the middle of the road. He looked about self-consciously.
A girl stood on the far side of the road not twenty paces from him. A young woman in fact, similar in age to his own he judged. She stared straight at him, her eyes piercing and intense. He felt unsettled by it or maybe it was her dogs. There were two of them sat either side, big wolfdogs one a mottled black the other a dirty white, it was a strange sight. Maybe it was why he felt troubled by her. Certainly something was off.
Curious, Renco snapped and looked at her through the flow, immediately taking an involuntary step back. Her spark was too bright, so intense it was hard to look at her. In the flow she was a soft blue-white nimbus of energy, pulsing gently.
He snapped back. She was stood there still as he knew she would, her eyes still fixed on his. Renco wasn’t sure what he had just seen. Not even master’s aura was so strong. For all that energy though she looked frail. There was a brittleness about her and a deep sadness he’d sensed through the flow.
Bizarrely she raised a hand in greeting and he found himself raising his own in return, a connection of sorts. She was slim and athletic in build but looked hard where Lett was soft. Her dark brown hair was long and dishevelled lending her a wild aspect.
Leaning heavily on a staff she turned towards a wagon on the far side of the road. Her movements like that of a frail old woman as she hobbled away the dogs flanking her protectively all the way.
Renco glanced one last time after Lett but the wagon had all but disappeared in the gloom and soft spit of rain. He led his horse off the road to Master Hiro who held the reins of the other horses out for him to take, a disgruntled look etched on his face.
Renco knew he should mention the girl but he’d sensed nothing bad in her, no danger, just sadness. The memory of her raising her hand in greeting still firm in his mind decided it for him and Renco led the horses away without saying anything. Besides, he told himself, master was being an ass.
After the camp was set they ate a sparse meal of dried fish, fruit and some nuts Renco and Mao had gathered on the ride earlier that day. They ate beneath an awning to keep the rain off setting no fire because of it, so there was no light as night descended.
Renco and Hiro stripped off their already damp clothes to keep them from getting any wetter before going through their forms. Renco had excellent night vision but even so it was not needed to practise by. Afterwards they didn’t spar. Renco’s heart and mind were elsewhere and Hiro knew it. Huffing, he said nothing to his student instead sitting next to Mao and talking with him quietly.
Renco joined them under the canopy a short time later, listening to the patter of rain on its hide.
“I go in the morning Mao. You’ll be responsible for Renco whilst I’m gone,” Hiro said abruptly.
“Gone where master? How long?” Mao replied. He smoked a long thin handled pipe and Renco could see the glow of the tobacco as he drew on it.
Renco listened tense and intrigued. Why would master go and why not take them?
“West and north. Wait two days, no more than that. If I’ve not returned, head to Rivercross and await me there. I will find you.”
Mao didn’t say anything for a while. The pipe glowed again before he exhaled. Renco could smell the earthy tobacco smoke as it plumed into the air.
“Yes master.”
That was it? That was all Mao was going to say? Renco needed more. Wanted to ask master what he was doing? Why couldn’t they go? Master had never left him before and the thought made him anxious.
That one sentence encapsulated all his fears.
Master Hiro tsked at Renco but didn’t answer.
In the morning when Renco awoke Hiro was gone. Renco was a light sleeper, his senses always alert even in sleep, but not that morning. Master had left without making a sound. Even his horse had been silent. That he'd left so quietly, without saying a word, made Renco uneasy. First Lett, now Master Hiro, Renco thought, both gone, both leaving him behind and alone.
The rain still fell, a steady autumn shower, the sound against the canopy adding to his melancholy.
With a rustle of blankets Mao sat up stretched and yawned. Leaning his ancient creaking body to one side he farted, took one look at the weather and tucked himself back under his covers.
Renco screwed his face up. Well, maybe not entirely alone he conceded.
Chapter 64
: Red Cloaks
Nihm stood in the back of the wagon staring off into the dark, the rain pattering softly on the canopy above her head. She could see his camp across the road. The young man intrigued her still and thinking on him helped take her mind off her own heartache.
She recalled
the scene perfectly. Him stood in the road, body ridged staring after the wagon with the pretty blonde girl in it, screaming his anguish. Only no one heard him, no one except her it seemed.
Nihm sighed into the night air trying to make sense of what she’d seen and heard. At first she thought it must be her imagination, an externalised reflection of her own pain. That it was all just in her head. Only it wasn’t imagined. Sai had said as much, had sensed or heard it as well. The man projected a thought and she perceived it.
Sai’s analysis was that the man hadn’t directed the thought at her. It just so happened she’d heard it in her mind, much like if he’d shouted out loud.
Nihm asked frowning.
Nihm thought back to the man’s cry and the moment it exploded in her head. She had known it was him, their minds seeming to touch in that instant. She felt a tumult of emotions, despair, anger, love as if they were her own. It was disorienting to say the least. He was hurt and confused then as his cry faded it was gone, like a door slamming shut.
Nihm was curious. The cascade of emotion she felt lacked meaning. Why was he messed up? The girl obviously but who was he and how had he connected to her mind? Did he know he had? All these questions assailed her. She wasn’t sure why she raised her hand to acknowledge him. Maybe it was just to say she’d heard his pain, that she shared it.