The Deception

by Suzanne de Montigny

  “I don’t think there’s anythin’ out this way, Drachen,” said Ike, slapping his arm. “’Cept trees … and mosquitoes.”

  “Yeah. This is just one of yer stupid ideas,” complained Kayden.

  “No,” Drachen insisted. “We’re real close. I know it’s around here somewhere.”

  Ike stretched his neck and looked about. “There’s nuthin’ out here,” he said, his voice growing more cross by the minute while he scratched angry welts.

  “Yeah. Let’s go back,” snarled Kayden. “Yer wastin’ our time.”

  Drachen ignored them, pushing onward until the sun sat so low in the sky he had to squint to see. His stomach growling and his muscles aching, he finally turned to his brothers. “Alright, you win. Let’s set up camp fer the night. I got some dried meat an’ bread we can eat. Then tomorrow mornin’, we can look again.”

  Kayden eyed the small meal, rubbing his bulging belly. “That’s not enough food to feed a dog.”

  “Yeah, go hunt somethin’ up. It’s yer fault you dragged us out here, an’ that we’re stuck here fer the night,” said Ike, his arms folded.

  Drachen sighed and pulled out his bow. “Alright, then. You guys get the fire goin’, and I’ll be back in a while.”

  Drachen carried on down the trail through the woods, looking for signs of night animals. An owl hooted, and bats fluttered overhead. In the distance, he could hear wolves howling. Then, as the moon rose, he spotted it – the well-trampled spot among the trees. His heart thudded in his chest.

  “I found it!” he shouted. “Come quick!”

  Within minutes, his brothers burst through the brush, led by Kayden who carried a small torch from the fire.

  “Where? Where?” Ike hollered.

  “Over here. See the droppings?” He pointed.

  Ike bent over, scowling in the moonlight as he examined the dung. “I still say it’s deer poop.”

  “No, look. There’s prints there too. They’re much rounder than deer tracks, and they’re not cloven, plus they’re too small to be a horse’s. I tell you, they’re unicorns.”

  Grabbing the torch from Kayden, Ike dropped to his knees and examined what was there. After a few moments, he looked up, his eyes incredulous. “Ya know, Kayden,” he said, picking up a dropping and rolling it between his fingers, “I think he’s right fer once.”

  Kayden grabbed the dropping from his brother, his brows furrowing as he stared. Then he let out a whoop. “We’re gonna be rich!” he cried, throwing his hulk into the air. “Really rich!”

  The three men danced about like trolls in the moonlight until their stomachs reminded them they were still hungry. Seating themselves on the damp grass in the dark, they gladly ate their dried meat and bread without complaining, and talked well into the night about what they’d do with the gold they’d make from the unicorns.

  “We’re gonna get ourselves wives,” said Ike, “like our Momma. And build really nice houses, way bigger than the ones in town.”

  For a moment, the three men stared into the fire as sweet memories of their deceased mother filled their minds.

  “I want that purty girl, the one who walks past our shack every day. She’ll be so surprised when she sees our unicorns.”

  “Ya mean the one with the long, dark hair?” Kayden spat out a piece of gristle. “That’s the girl I want.”

  “Well ya can’t have her. She’s mine,” said Ike, pointing a fist at Kayden.

  “Guys,” Drachen interrupted, blocking Kayden’s punch. “No one’s gonna get anyone ’til we find the unicorns. So let’s hit the sack an’ look again tomorrow.”

  Grumbling, the men agreed and lay down for the night.

  The next morning, they set out, following the unicorns’ tracks until they mysteriously disappeared.

  “Where’d they go?” asked Kayden.

  “She warned me about this,” said Drachen, a finger to his lip.

  Ike grunted and raised a brow. “Who?”

  “The old woman – Ali. I paid ’er a visit.”

  “Ya paid ’er a visit?” asked Kayden, his eyes incredulous.

  “Yeah. And what an interestin’ visit it was. She told me unicorns could travel without leavin’ traces.”

  “No traces? Then what’ll we do?” asked Ike.

  “We just gotta wait,” said Drachen, laying down his pack. “They’re bound to come home sooner or later.”

  Chapter 13

  Danae’s Revelation

  The unicorns burst forth in the meadow, tearing off flowers and marveling at their sweetness.

  “It’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted!” cried Alannah.

  “The others were right,” whinnied Lilia. “Purple flowers are good.”

  Joyous laughter rang out. Foals gamboled about for the fun of it. They spent the day feasting and playing. Then, when the shadows grew long, Icarus led the herd under the large spread of a tree for the night where Ulysees fell into the deepest sleep he remembered.

  He awoke the next morning to Icarus’ trumpeting neigh. Springing up, he obediently pointed his horn at the stallion. When all the unicorns stood at attention, Icarus announced, “This is a beautiful valley. I’d like to explore it some more. So have a feed, and then we’ll be off.”

  Cheers arose from the herd.

  It was a day of wonder as they discovered numerous other meadows, each as beautiful as the last, and a forest deep and rich. For Ulysees, the best part was that the herd seemed to have forgotten his and Téo’s terrible deed. With the splendour of the new valley, it had all drifted away.

  Testing out his belief, he moved a little farther away to see if anyone was watching. No one seemed to notice, so he took a few more steps. When he neared the edge of the meadow, he heard a whisper.

  “Ulysees.”

  He glanced around, unsure if he had imagined it. There was no one around but Danae, and he had his nose to the ground. Ulysees turned his head again, searching.

  “Pst,” said the voice again. “Ulysees.”

  “Danae?” Ulysees said, pushing his brows together, “did you just call me?”

  “Hush! Don’t look at me. Pretend you’re eating.”

  Taking the older stallion’s cue, Ulysees bent his head and pulled on the grass with his teeth.

  “There’s something you need to know, and you need to know it now.”

  The colt shuddered at the urgency of Danae’s voice. “What?”

  “There’s no Jaresh.”

  “What?” Ulysees shot a look at Téo, motioning him over, and then bent down for another mouthful of grass.

  Téo sidestepped toward them, throwing furtive glances back at Icarus.

  “There’s no Jaresh. I’ve been trying to tell you for a long time, but the mares won’t let me. Icarus made him up.” Danae tore off more grass.

  “How?” Ulysees asked, resisting the temptation to turn and stare with incredulous eyes.

  “It happened many seasons ago – many, many seasons. Some of the older mares still remember. Icarus wanted to be the Great Stallion, but there was already a very powerful one in place named Sampson.”

  “So what happened?” asked Téo.

  “Icarus had a small following, a group of very young mares who fell for his sense of humour.”

  “Icarus had a sense of humour?” Ulysees’ eyebrows shot up in amusement until he forced them down again.

  “Yes. He used to be a pretty nice guy until he got ambitious. Then he started rumours about how there was a superior being who would take away their powers if they didn’t obey Icarus. After a while, even the older mares started to believe him. It ended in a battle between him and Sampson, and because Icarus was younger and stronger, he won.”

  “What happened to Sampson?” asked Ulysees, pretending to chew.

  Danae lowered his voice. “Icarus killed him.”

  Ulysees gasped. “But unicorns don’t kill each other.”

  “Well, he did.” Danae made a casual move closer. “Ul
ysees, you have to listen to me, and listen hard. I may not move with the herd much longer. I’m too old, but I want you and Téo to find the truth. Go along with what Icarus says to stay safe, but remember that the Legacy of Azaria was not the poisonous thing it’s become. It’s up to you to find the truth.”

  Ulysees’ heart raced. “But how?”

  “Look for it. Some way, somehow. You’ll feel it inside.”

  “But…” Ulysees’ heart beat faster.

  Danae eyed Icarus. “I have to go before they know I’ve told you.”

  “But Danae…” Ulysees whispered. The old stallion didn’t answer. Ulysees shot a quick glance sideways. He was gone.

  Ulysees’ head spun in confusion. He twisted his body around and stared at the herd with new eyes. They’d all been living a lie? His mouth hung open. And it was up to him to find the real Legacy of Azaria? Why him? His gaze fell on Lilia and Alannah. Should he tell them?

  He watched the fillies dancing about, their giggles filling the air. Then his hair rose. There was something too terrible for words only a stone’s kick away from them.

  “Alannah!” he cried.

  Chapter 14

  The Plan

  The three men huddled together, the campfire flickering between them. Sparks rose up into the cool night air, disappearing high above the trees.

  “We’ve been waitin’ now for two weeks,” complained Ike, “an’ the unicorns still haven’t come back.”

  A loud snap erupted from the sizzling sap of the wood.

  Drachen heaved a sigh, admitting his defeat. “I don’t think they’re gonna. They’re terrified o’ humans. You should’a seen how they reacted when they saw me. I guess that’s why no one’s seen ’em in sixty years.” He reached over to throw more twigs on the fire, the smell of burning wood filling his nostrils.

  “Well, if you’d’ a moved a little quieter, they might still be there,” said Ike, a sarcastic note in his voice.

  Drachen clenched his teeth, his anger held in check. “Doesn’t matter what happened before. What we need now is to find ’em.”

  “But where? The forest goes on ferever.” Kayden swept a hand toward the darkness that surrounded them.

  The fire flared up as the twigs caught fire, casting dark smoke into the air that drifted into Drachen’s face.

  Drachen coughed and waved it away. “Well, I been thinkin’ about it,” he said. “The old lady knows I saw the unicorns, right?”

  “Yeah,” said Ike.

  “An’ if my hunch is correct, she’ll go lookin’ fer ’em, and if there’s anyone who can find ’em, it’s her.” He let out a sinister chuckle.

  “But she won’t help us,” said Ike. “Ya told ’er ya wanted to catch one.”

  “Who said anythin’ about her helpin’ us? We’ll just watch ’er real close and stay one step behind ’er. She’ll lead us right to ’em.”

  His brothers’ eyes lit up.

  “And when we finally catch one, ya know what we’re gonna do?”

  “No,” said Kayden. “What?”

  “Cure lepers, that’s what,” said Drachen, giving a confident nod.

  “Lepers?” Ike bolted to his feet. “I don’t want nuthin’ to do with ’em! We could catch it like our Mama did.”

  “But we’d have a unicorn, right?” said Drachen.

  “Oh, yeah. I forgot,” said Ike, setting himself down again.

  Drachen remembered the day his mother left them. She had taken him aside from his two much younger brothers and pulled up her sleeve, revealing the white patch of skin.

  “What is it?” he had asked.

  “It’s the disease,” his mother said, her voice shaking. “Leprosy.”

  Drachen reeled. “Leprosy?” His voice cracked on the word. He waited, holding his breath, hoping she’d say it was all a joke, but instead, her face turned red, and she nodded.

  “At first, I thought it was one of those white spots like when you’ve had too much sun, except now I can’t feel it anymore.” Her eyes glistened, and she broke into soft sobs.

  “But Mama, there must be herbs.”

  She shook her head. “No, Drachen. If there were, the healer would have cured all of us. I have no choice but to join the colony, far from the town.”

  “But Mama,” Drachen’s voice trembled. “Ya can’t. Papa’s gone. We need ya.”

  “I know, but there’s nothing I can do.” She pulled him close to her bosom, holding him tight. Together they cried, their sobs racking their bodies.

  After a time, Mama took a deep breath, swallowed, and then drew herself back from him, her hands still gripping his shoulders. “Promise me you’ll look after your brothers.”

  “But I don’t know how to look after ’em.” He stared at his two siblings who played in the distance, young and innocent. “What’ll I do?”

  “Whatever you can,” she said. “Surely there are people who’ll hire a boy.”

  “No, Mama … please …”

  “You have to. Just promise me you’ll always stay honest, okay?”

  “But Mama …” He reached for her arm.

  “Be a good person. Do the right thing.”

  “But …”

  And then she left.

  Drachen shook away the memory. Anger filled him at the fate life had dealt him. Be honest? Ha! Hadn’t he tried? He grabbed more sticks to add to the fire, shaking away any guilt feelings he might have, and then addressed his brothers.

  “I know people would be willin’ to do anythin' to bring their loved ones back into their families, right?”

  “Yeah,” said Kayden.

  “And we could help ’em do that in exchange for gold.”

  “Mm-hm,” said Ike.

  “I mean lots o’ gold,” said Drachen, spreading his hands out in the air. “An’ what’s even better is we’d come off as real honourable folk.”

  “Us?” said Kayden.

  The men broke into raucous laughter.

  “Yeah, us,” said Drachen, giving a firm nod. He leaned forward. “An’ once we’re rich, we won’t have any trouble gettin’ ourselves wives.”

  The men’s smiles grew wider.

  Then Ike furrowed his brow. “But what if we can’t find a unicorn?”

  Drachen’s eyes flashed. “There’s always the horn.”

  “What horn?” asked Kayden.

  Drachen clasped his hands together. “The horn o’ the Great Stallion that Ishmael killed. Ali’s family’s still got it. An’ once we get it, we can grind it down an’ sell it.”

  “And how will ya get her to tell us where it is?” asked Ike.

  “I have my ways,” said Drachen pushing down his dread of the tiny woman.

  “Wha’do ya mean?” asked Kayden.

  “We’ll squeeze it out of ’er.” He squashed an imaginary neck, devilish amusement dancing in his eyes as he let out a cruel laugh.

  Chapter 15

  The Creatures

  “Alannah!” Ulysees shouted.

  The filly’s head shot up.

  “What is it?” she cried, her voice pitched high.

  Ulysees pointed to the horror that lay close by. Long, curved ribs rose from the ground in stark contrast to the vivid green of the tall grass and the bright colours of the wildflowers.

  “Over there.” He took cautious steps to the protruding bones, Téo close on his heels.

  Ulysees lowered his head into the grass and searched what lay before him. At the base of the ribs, scattered bones extended to a tail many times the length of the largest stallion. Long femurs lay crumpled alongside the remains, but it was the size of the skull that took his breath away. He let out a soft whinny.

  “Its head was larger than an entire unicorn,” Ulysees told Téo. “Icarus!” he called.

  The stallion shot them an impatient glance, and then did a double-take. He hurried to where they stood. “What the …” He did a quick scan of the area. “It must be an omen.”

  “An omen?” asked Alannah.
<
br />   “A sign,” said Icarus. “Jaresh isn’t pleased with us. So he’s sent us the bones of a giant beast to warn us.”

  “Warn us of what?” cried a mare standing close by, her face marked with fear.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” asked a stallion.

  The news spread like a giant wave crashing against a rocky shore. The unicorns descended upon the remains of the creature, their hides rippling, and their voices shaking.

  “What sort of creature could be so huge?” asked Sarah.

  “I don’t know,” said Ulysees. “But I wonder how it died.”

  “Or when it died,” said Téo.

  Danae’s voice rose above the group. “It died a long time ago,” he said. “A very, very long time ago.”

  The mares mumbled hopeful words and opened a path for him.

  Icarus’ eyes flashed at the old stallion. “And what would you know about it?”

  “Enough to know these bones aren’t new,” Danae replied. “I’ve seen the remains of deer and how long it takes the meat to rot from them. Look, even the wind has torn at them for many seasons.”

  Icarus shoved his face dangerously close to Danae’s. Steam flared from his nostrils. “You know nothing. Nothing! Understood?”

  Danae planted his front hooves firmly into the ground. “I’ve been around a lot longer than you, and I remember way more than you think … quite a bit more,” he said. “And, I say they’ve been here a long, long time.”

  Icarus’ eyes burned with hatred. He pawed his front hoof menacingly.

  Their eyes locked, foe upon foe. Ulysees’ muscles tensed as he waited for the confrontation to come to blows.

  Danae emitted a low rumble. “It’s time you told the truth, Icarus.”

  “I am the truth!” the Great Stallion’s voice threatened.

  “No, you’re not,” Danae snarled.

  Icarus laid his ears back, letting out a fierce neigh, and then reared up, his hooves battering Danae’s face.