by Thomas Rath
Renja climbed to the top log and looked down at the horse. It just watched him waiting for its chance to strike again. If he could get close enough to it, he thought he might be able to jump on its back and possibly hold on. But how was he going to get it out of the corral? That would just have to wait. If he held on long enough, the horse would tire and then should be more manageable.
He inched slowly around the side of the corral feeling that his chances for success would increase if he attacked from the back. The horse just stood where it was not seeming to worry or care about anything that he was doing. Renja, lined up now with the horse’s rear, steadied himself for the jump. It would be a wild ride but he really had no other option. Taking a deep breath, he sprang from his perch, his line perfect with the horse, but just as he began to descend the horse moved forward and to the left leaving nothing but the ground to greet him as he slammed hard into the dirt. He let out a painful grunt but didn’t have time to worry about whether he was injured or not. The horse bore down on him the instant he hit the ground rearing its front legs in an attempt to crush him under their weight. He rolled away just missing having his head stomped on and then rolled further as the horse continued to come after him. Popping to his feet, he dodged left and then right as the horse continued to rear and kick attempting to pound him with its powerful legs.
He took a chance knowing that he was running out of time and options. The horse reared up again kicking out its legs, trying to catch him in the head. Renja dodged to the side and grabbed its main, attempting to pull himself onto its back. The horse twisted but Renja held on, still trying to get his leg onto the horse. It continued to twist and then suddenly reversed direction knocking into Renja’s side and stealing his breath. But he held on. The horse changed tactics and pushed him further to the side and then continued to sidestep pushing him toward the wood beams at the edge of the corral. Renja’s eyes widened when he realized what the horse was doing. It was going to squash him into the massive beams.
Just as he was about to be crushed, Renja jumped up and kicked his leg against the beam that was meant to kill him and instead pushed himself onto the horse’s back while pulling his leg up to avoid contact with the side of the corral. The horse smashed into the beam stealing some of its breath and some of its strength. Renja yelled out in triumph while lying as flat as he could against the horse’s back and gripping its main in both hands.
The horse jumped and twisted turning around and around but to no avail. When he was away from the sides, Renja pressed his legs as hard as he could against the horse’s sides trying to steady himself while at the same time hoping to limit the horses breathing so it would tire faster.
Soon, the horse’s gyrations began to slow, and Renja knew that he had won the battle. A smile played against his lips as the horse finally stopped and rested its rump against one of the large beams. Renja let out a heavy sigh. He’d done it. He was anxious to see Jne’s face this time when he trotted into the camp on top of the animal.
His smile faded though as he looked around the corral. It was far too high for the horse to jump out of, and there was no gate. It was as if the corral had been built around the horse. Renja loosened his grip some testing to see whether the horse was actually finished or if there was still life in him. Nothing. The horse merely dropped its head in submission. Good, it was beaten but there still remained the problem of getting it out. He gave it a tiny kick to get it to move forward and it complied without a fight. Reaching one of the leather straps that held one of the beams in place, Renja reached out his hand to see if he could somehow get it loose. He quickly realized that the knot was in a good position to get at but he would need both hands to untie it. Pressing his legs tight into the horse’s sides, he hesitantly released his grip on its mane and reached over with both hands while talking softly to calm his mount. It seemed to be working right up until the point when Renja found himself tumbling in the air over the top of the highest beam and out of the corral. He’d been played the fool by a horse. Landing with a thud, he let out a cry of pain and frustration as the wind was knocked from his lungs.
For long moments he rolled about in the grass trying to regain his breath while the horse neighed at him as if with laughter. Finally able to suck air back into his lungs, he slowly forced himself to his feet. There was not much night left and he suddenly felt the urgency of what he needed to accomplish. Time was slipping away too quickly. Straightening himself, he walked over to the corral and looked through the gap between two beams and stared at the horse.
“Can’t you just help me this one time?” he said, pleading with the horse. “Just let me ride you into camp and then I won’t ever bother you again. I promise.” The horse just stared at him not moving at all. Renja stared back their eyes locked in a battle of wills.
Renja could feel the minutes pass and knew time was quickly fading but for some reason he couldn’t pull his eyes away. He felt strange, almost as if he could see himself reflected in the horse’s eyes. The large dark orbs seemed to call to him to look deeper. Renja let out a soft breath and willed himself to look harder, to go deeper. He could still feel the wood against his skin but somehow felt himself getting closer to the horse. The smell of grass grew stronger and he could hear the wind gathering strength farther out on the plains. He could feel the fly that sucked the moisture from the horse’s eye and moved his hand to his own eye to try and flick it away.
Closer and closer he got to the horse though he knew that he was still outside the corral. Suddenly he felt a tremendous tug and then found he was no longer looking at the horse but instead was staring back at himself on the outside of the enclosure. But how? Strange thoughts and feelings immediately flooded his mind. They were feelings of pain and of sorrow, but mostly of anger.
Renja tried to sort through those feelings as they cascaded over him like a flood. He tried to soothe them, tried to make sense of them, tried to wash them away. This horse had been rejected. He had been rejected. Not accepted like the proud horses of its kin. He was not accepted. It was left to die, to waste away, to never feel the freedom of the wind against its face as it ran free across the plains. He was going to die. It was Renja. He was Renja.
Suddenly, they understood each other. Renja didn’t know how, but he knew that he and the horse understood each other. They had to get out. They had to get back to the tented city of the Rena’ja. Unexpectedly, Renja felt himself jerk forward and no longer was he staring at himself through the horse’s eyes. He watched as the horse turned about and then raced forward, lifting into the air with a tremendous leap that sent it soaring over the top post and his head to land softly on the ground behind him. Renja laughed. It was free. They were free. The horse trotted over and nuzzled its nose against Renja’s neck. They understood each other.
Once again Jne was the only one to greet him as he rode the horse into the camp two hours before sunup. He had passed water and horse. Her eyes seethed with hatred and loathing, her body tense with the desire to kill but her voice remained surprisingly steady. “You will not survive steel. Prepare yourself. You will be tested at midday.”
Renja’s smile disappeared. Midday? He was beyond the point of exhaustion. All he wanted to do was sleep. He wanted to object but knew that there was no use to it.
Jne’s face suddenly softened but her words were chill. “You have made it to steel, Renja, but you will not succeed this time.”
He opened his mouth to reply but it turned into a great yawn instead. When he looked down again Jne was already gone.
CHAPTER TWELVE
He had six hours to prepare, but there was no use in trying to practice anymore. He could barely keep himself standing let alone hold up a sword. There was nothing he could do now but sleep and try to regain some of his strength. His previous two victories would be for not if he was unable to meet and win the final challenge. His only preparation would be rest.
Once again when he returned to his tent, he found food and drink. He left the horse outsi
de not bothering to stake it down or tie it up. It was not his to command or to keep against its will. They understood each other now; that was all that mattered. The horse could come and go as it pleased, though Renja hoped that it would stay with him. It was the only friend he had.
Quickly devouring the meal, he lay down on his blankets and closed his eyes. Jne’s face, filled with anger and hate, immediately appeared in his mind making him sigh. What had he done to deserve such loathing and animosity? He wanted to ask but knew that it was futile. She would not tell him anything more than was strictly requisite.
She was such a contradiction. Or maybe he was the contradiction. No matter how much she hated him, Renja could not help his regard for her. She was attractive, even with the constant scowl on her face, but he didn’t think that his feelings for her were based on her physical appearance. There was something else about her, her manner, and her dignity, which called to him. He sighed again. No use dwelling on it now. He had to rest. He would face steel in only a few short hours and whether Jne cared if he lived or died was not a top priority.
He could only guess that the test required him to fight someone. Probably Kardosh. He had not seen any of the Tjal use a sword but Jne. But judging from Kardosh’s stature and fluidity of movement, he knew that these final hours before noon very well could be his last. Surprisingly, the thought of death didn’t bother him. Right now, if death afforded him some rest, he would welcome it.
A sharp light suddenly beat across his face and Kardosh’s voice broke through his thoughts. “It is time, Renja,” his voice rolled. “You will now face steel as your final test.”
Renja cracked an eye at the shadow that filled the tent flap, the blinding light coming in from behind it making him blink. “It can’t be noon already,” he yawned. “I just laid down.”
“It is time,” Kardosh retorted, his voice emotionless. “You have five minutes to appear at the circle fire or you will…”
Renja raised a hand to cut him off. “I know, I know. Or I will be killed. I get it.” The tent flap closed and he was left in darkness. He almost put his head back down on his pillow but knew that if he did he would never wake again. Pushing himself up with effort, he grabbed the swords that he’d left by his bedroll and staggered toward the tent flap. Pulling it back he had to place a hand over his eyes to dull the brightness of the noonday sun. His body still cried for sleep but he was determined not to die in his bed. At least he would die with some honor intact, if that even really meant anything to him. For all he knew he might have been a rogue thief that had no honor.
A gentle snort to his left brought his head up finding him face to face with the horse. It was still there. He smiled. It had not left him. “I hope to do the same for you…” he stopped in mid-sentence and then looked down under the horse’s belly. “…boy. If I make it through the day, I will have to come up with a name for you. For now, enjoy your freedom. I must go and try to win my own.” The horse raised his head and snorted as if to wish him luck and then Renja turned toward the camp and started for the circle fire.
As with the night previous, the entire Rena’ja Tja was present. This time though, there was no fire and all the logs and ash had been completely removed leaving the circle free of debris. So, here is the testing ground then. Surprisingly, Renja didn’t feel as nervous as he felt he should. In fact, the sleep had quickly left his mind and body as he weaved his way through the tents toward the circle. The idea of living alone without identity was far worse than the idea of death. Today he felt he would be satisfied either way, though given a choice he would still choose life.
Kardosh was in the center of the circle and motioned him forward. It looks like it will be Kardosh after all, he thought, as he broke through the crowd and met the large Tjal man. Kardosh regarded him for a brief moment and then raised his hands to silence the gathered crowd.
“Here is Renja, for that is the name he has chosen since his own has left his head.”
Renja raised an eyebrow at that since the name was really given to him by Jne, but he kept his mouth shut.
“He has come seeking life as a Rena’ja and has proven himself past the first two tests. Today you will witness whether or not he is worthy to stand among us.”
Renja scanned the crowd briefly trying to find an encouraging look from anyone but was only greeted by cold, hard stares. Was he to be an outcast no matter if he won or lost? Searching the crowd again he tried to find Jne, but found her to be strangely absent. He thought for sure that she would enjoy seeing him die during his test with steel. Where could she be?
Kardosh’s voice boomed again. “The wager for his life has been set at one hundred five and twenty to one. Is there any who wishes to bet on the side of his life?”
Renja searched the crowd again. He couldn’t blame the odds, he would not have bet on himself either, but he figured that there must be at least one or two people who were willing to take the risk for such a large return. Nothing. All was silent. Not even the wind made a noise. Neither man nor nature wanted to take that bet. So be it, he thought.
“Then let the test begin,” Kardosh grunted, a slight smile tickling the edges of his mouth. “The one left drawing breath shall stand with the Rena’ja.”
So it ends, Renja thought and turned to face Kardosh, his swords held up and ready. Kardosh raised his eyebrows and then shook his head, the smile full grown on his face. “Not me,” he said, pointing across the crowd.
Renja followed his finger and watched as the people suddenly gave way allowing another figure to enter the ring. His mouth dropped. “It can’t be.”
Jne leveled her gaze on him, the fire in her eyes hot and raging. In the blink of an eye her swords appeared in her hands and she rushed forward in a fury of strokes meant to end the contest quickly. Kardosh barely moved away in time to miss catching one of her swings with his own throat as the Tjal woman bore down on Renja.
Renja’s hands instinctively brought up his swords to block her downward thrust but he was too late to catch the slice across his chest. He felt the blade dig in just as he twisted away from the blow bringing both swords in front of him as he did so to catch any other attacks. Jne had missed judged though, thinking her first strike would end the contest she left Renja enough time to gather himself. Blood seeped from the wound turning the front of his shirt red but it was not bad enough to cause any immediate concern. He ignored the pain and kept a sharp focus on his opponent.
Jne’s face betrayed her obvious disbelief that he still stood and had not been severed in two by her vicious onslaught. Again the hate and anger clouded her eyes and she howled as she bore in on him. Renja was better prepared this time though and her blows were deflected as she shot in low and then reversed both cuts attacking his neck and midsection. Renja was hard pressed to keep her steel from his skin but miraculously deflected her attacks while backing away and giving ground.
Jne did not stop this time though as her swords worked their way in, each blow getting closer and closer to hitting its mark. It was all he could do to move his swords in time to catch hers as each slice, each thrust, became harder and harder to deflect. One of her swords suddenly cut through his defenses as she thrust in low and then changed to a slice across his leg; a move designed to cripple her opponent.
Again Renja found luck was his friend as his foot caught in a rut sending him back just as Jne’s sword swept in. The sword still sliced across his thigh but had missed its intended target, which would have severed his leg completely. He grunted from the pain as he hit the ground and rolled to the left as Jne’s blade’s buried themselves in the dirt close enough to his back to cut his shirt.
He took a gamble and kicked his legs back as hard as he was able; knowing that to fail would mean certain death. Jne was just pulling her swords and aiming for the killing blow when his legs connected with hers knocking her off balance. An audible gasp escaped the crowd as Jne’s body went crashing to the ground. Renja jumped to his feet, glancing briefly at the gash on h
is thigh. Like the one on his chest, it hurt and bled but would not kill him too quickly from loss of blood. He knew he needed to change his strategy if he were to live much longer. Though a few small cuts would not harm him, many would bleed him out fast. He had to go on the offensive and thought now was his chance but Jne was up too quickly and he found himself backing away again in desperation. He would not last like this.
“You will die painfully for that, Renja,” she hissed, her swords flashing in a flurry of steel. Renja met her attacks as best he could, giving ground and circling around as he did so. The loss of blood and the lack of rest were beginning to affect him though, and he could tell that his parrying strokes were getting slower and weaker while Jne still seemed fresh. Again a sword slipped through and Renja felt the burning gash in his left shoulder and then again on his arm. The blood was slipping down to his left hand now mingling with his sweat and making it difficult to grip his blade. His heart pounded in his chest and his breathing was becoming labored as Jne continued her assault. He could feel the desperation beginning to well up inside of him. Death loomed just outside the circle now and was pushing its way in, drawing ever closer, reaching for him.
He ducked just missing a cleaving cut that would have taken off his head and then brought up his sword to block Jne’s as she brought the cut back down. Her other sword snaked in towards his midsection but was turned away just enough to pierce through his shirt just barely slicing past his side. Suddenly, Jne’s face was right in front of his and Renja found his opening. Snapping his head forward, he connected with her right eye sending her flailing back, her eyes wide in shock. For the second time he had managed to score a hit, albeit neither had been with his sword and neither caused any damage compared to what he was suffering. The crowd erupted. Not in support of Renja but in utter disbelief that once again Jne had taken a hit. Renja vaguely caught glimpses of people arguing and money changing hands as a whirl of activity suddenly exploded around him.