by Melina Grace
“On The King’s road? Where on The King’s road?”
“Where we’re going,” Caris said, surprised that Kalen didn’t know. “They’re everywhere along The King’s road, they’re looking for us, for the pendant.” Caris’ brow furrowed as she wondered how she knew that. She shrugged her shoulders and started to get up.
“I wonder where Janen is. I want to see Janen,” she said excitedly.
“Do you feel able to walk,” Kalen asked as she steadied her.
“I’d walk anywhere to find Janen,” Caris said with a sigh.
Kalen suppressed a smile and helped Caris walk over to sit by the fire, where Janen worked, preparing soup.
“You’re so good at making soup Janen, isn’t he Kalen? Isn’t he good at making soup?”
Kalen smiled.
“You said she was okay! What’s wrong with her?”
“She will be okay, she’s just drunk.”
“Drunk? Why? What did you give her?”
“Nothing, It’s just a reaction some seers get after having a vivid vision.”
Janen’s face went white. “What do you mean... seer?” he asked in a low voice, barely louder than a whisper.
Kalen looked at him in confusion, finally saying, “Janen, I know your village didn’t know much about Caris’ gifts but surely you know she has the markings of a seer?”
“What markings?” he choked out the words.
Kalen frowned at him, “These markings,” she said holding her hair out and pointing toward her own eyes.
“So she’s to be a healer and a seer?” he mumbled to himself. Forgetting about the soup, he said, “I’m going to hunt.” Kalen watched him wander off into the trees without his bow. She shook her head at him and moved over to the fire to finish the soup.
Jeniel sat by Caris, listening to her enthusiastic talking, and rescuing her tea from spillage from time to time. Crispin lay on his bedroll close by, resting his sore stomach; and Kilew helped Syngar with the horses while plying him with questions about their quest to retrieve the pendant.
They left the horses to crop grass and settled themselves at the fire. It wasn’t a cold day but it was a habitual meeting place, so the small group sat well back watching the small flames leaping about.
“Kilew, is there some way of calling the scouts in? Caris has had a vision, and we need to discuss its content with everyone.”
Kilew turned away from the group and holding his hands up to his mouth, in a complicated cone, made a piercing bird noise that echoed into the trees. After pausing, he did it two more times and then turned back to the conversation.
“I don’t suppose you could find Janen, Syngar? If we wait for him to finish sulking, he will miss the whole conversation.”
“Janen doesn’t sulk,” Caris chimed in.
Syngar was about to protest but Caris continued, “I’ll go find him!”
“No, no, no,” Jeniel laughed, pulling Caris back down. “Syngar will do it, wont you Syngar?” she asked with a brilliant smile.
He stood, smiling wryly at himself as Kalen snorted. He looked at Kalen and said, “I’m too old for this.” She laughed at his retreating back.
“Ooo, my head hurts,” Caris said, holding her head in her hands.
It wasn’t long before two female scouts loped into the clearing with their long light strides. A little while later Syngar returned with Janen.
“Found him sitting under a tree, seems he forgot his bow,” Syngar said with a smirk.
“See, I told you he wasn’t sulking, he was hunting!” Caris crowed, not understanding Syngar’s comment.
Janen gaped at Syngar in betrayed indignation.
Syngar laughed, “I didn’t say you were sulking, she did,” he gestured at Kalen.
Janen turned a hurt look toward Kalen.
She smiled at him, “I don’t know when you are going to stop torturing yourself over insignificant things. It’s hard not to say you’re sulking when you are.”
“It’s the sort of thing I would expect you to say to me, not to others about me,” Janen responded in a low voice.
“You are right, more sensitive than usual, but even so, if you think I spoke out of line, then I am sorry,” Kalen replied sincerely.
Janen shrugged and went to sit by himself at a small distance from the group.
“Glad you’re not sulking,” Syngar quipped, as he sat down beside him.
“Caris is a seer,” Janen said.
“Of course she is,” Syngar replied.
“You knew? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Everyone knows.”
“Not everyone knows, I didn’t know, my village didn’t know.”
“Truth to tell, I don’t know why you’ve got your breeches in a knot over it, it’s a special gift. You should be happy for her.”
“Of course I’m happy for her, I’ve always been happy for her. I was happy she never had to know the limitations of poverty, coming from a wealthy family; I was happy she was the best bow person in our village; I was happy for her being so clever and strong willed. I’m happy to see the delight she has found in plant lore and learning healing and I am happy for her that she is a seer. She is amazing, she was always beyond my means and so it shouldn’t worry me that she grows ever more beyond me.”
“Janen, I don’t think she is as beyond you as you seem to believe,” Syngar said as Caris collapsed beside them laughing.
“Janen! Why are you sitting so far away? Did you catch anything when you were hunting? Remember when we used to hunt together? I miss those days.”
“I miss those days too,” Janen mumbled.
“Lillin, are the other scouts far? Do you think they’ll be long?” Kalen asked.
“They are keeping watch; we can relay messages to them.”
Everyone moved in closer to Kalen, concerned to hear what she had to say.
“Caris has had a vision of The King’s road swarming with lost ones looking for us and surrounded by the Dark One’s lizards in the trees.” Kalen paused as those who hadn’t already heard the news murmured their horror. When their attention returned to Kalen she said, “I think our only option is to avoid them. Lillin, Minkre do you know of another path south?”
“There is a path; we passed it two days ago. If we press forward, we will reach a trail branching off this one heading south, it winds back to the path we need. We will save some time going that way, rather than doubling back. The path I speak of winds through the forest south and comes out to the east of Nader’s Crossing. We will lose days going that way rather than by The King’s road,” Minkre replied.
“The King’s road is no longer an option. It is no longer safe for travellers. It is imperative we bring word to The King as quickly as possible. I see now that I should have stayed with the elves and sent you all ahead of me. Even now, I am considering returning. I know we cannot spare any scouts to return with me, I beg of you to allow me to return alone,” Crispin said.
“That is not an option,” said Kalen at the same time as Jeniel spoke,
“No, you must not.”
Crispin looked around the circle, struggle evident on his face.
“Oh Crispin, it’s all my fault. I was the one who caused your injury. I will take you back to Telvendor!” Caris declared.
“It was not your fault Caris. You are not a geboath, you did not attack me, you have saved my life more than once and I would happily entrust myself to your escort back to Telvendor, but The King will have need of your gifts and I cannot deprive him of them. I will speak no more of returning. We will move forward with all haste, and I will spend longer in the saddle each day,” he said the last with a pointed look at Kalen and Jeniel in turn. “I think we should go forward, rather than back, if the scouts and Caris have no objection.”
Kalen moved to Caris’ side and began questioning her about whether she knew how far the lizards penetrated the trees. Lillin disappeared into the forest.
When Lillin returned some time later, she
reported that the other scouts had noticed nothing of concern ahead. Kalen had gathered no more useful information from Caris. So the group decided that as Caris’ vision had shown the lizards surrounding The King’s road and they were still some days from that point, they should be safe to press forward until the end of the day.
Once the decision was made, they quickly packed and mounted up, Kalen putting Caris on her own horse. They rode the rest of the afternoon, until as dusk approached, they reached a point on their path where another path forked back alongside the one they were travelling. It led quickly downhill, separated from the path they had travelled by large boulders and a steep incline. The land they had travelled so far had been for the most part flat and Caris, who was coming down from her giddiness and labouring under an intense headache, was nonetheless, intrigued by the varying landscape.
One of the scouts held a quick conference with Kalen and Crispin and they made the decision to follow the trail to the bottom of the valley to camp by the creek. Caris rode with a throbbing headache and a sense of contentment. She suspected she had made a fool of herself more than once since her vision but as she looked around her companions, she was aware she was in a safe place.
It’s strange, she thought, we are being hunted by scores of grey people and vile lizard creatures. I am definitely not safe, but with these people, I feel safe from judgement. Tears welled up in Caris’ eyes as she realised the burden of hurt she had carried for so many years. She allowed herself to explore that pain briefly before looking around at her new friends with an immense sense of gratitude.
Her eyes came to rest on Janen who rode ahead of her. He never judged me; despite my difference, he always called me friend and encouraged me in my abilities. I am glad he rides with us now.
Caris smiled to herself as she remembered her behaviour toward him that afternoon. He had been down about something, though at the time she had been oblivious. I gushed all over him more than once; he must have been so embarrassed. At least I didn’t profess undying love. I’ll play it cool and hopefully he’ll just put my odd behaviour down to being drunk. She smiled and shook her head at herself, stopping quickly, with a wince, as pain seared through her.
It was dark when they reached the bottom of the valley. Two of the scouts had drawn in close to lead the way down the last half of the descent as the humans were struggling to find their way in the dark. Lillin and Minkre had reached the bottom ahead of them and had six bobbies roasting over a couple of fires.
The firelight revealed a knee-deep narrow stream flowing along the bottom of the small valley. Large moss covered boulders lined the hill, working their way up amongst the trees. The elves had built their fires, not far from the stream, in a wide clearing surrounded by the long drooping leafed trees that filled the valley. Caris had never seen trees like them before but, with a throbbing head, she decided that morning would be soon enough to take a closer look.
She opted instead to go straight to the stream where she knelt down and submerged her whole head. The icy water caused the pain to flare. She withdrew quickly, wringing her hair out and shivering as cold droplets ran down under her shirt. Jeniel met her with a wide cloth; she led Caris to sit by the fire and gently wrapped her hair up on her head within the material.
Caris laid down, cushioning her head on her arm, letting the warmth of the fire wash over her. The cold water had been a shock, but it did help to clear her head, and now that she was warm with her head cocooned, the pain began to recede. She felt ready to sleep and after eating the meal Kalen handed her, she curled up with her fur and elven blanket and happily succumbed.
In the morning, Caris wandered under the drooping trees, while the others finished breaking their fast. Kalen approached her.
“How are you feeling?”
“Much better than yesterday,” Caris laughed. “My headache is gone, and so too, my drunken foolishness. At least, that is, if I am foolish I won’t be able to blame it on being drunk,” she said with a grin.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, have you had that experience before?”
Caris’ face darkened. A part of her felt resentful, that other than Amarin, no one had ever tried to teach her anything about her gift. She liked Kalen and didn’t want to be angry with her but she felt she could have done more to help her understand herself.
“Not like that. Remember that village we rode into? The one that the derks had completely wiped out?”
Now it was Kalen’s turn to look dour, “Yes, I remember it well.”
“Well, before we got there I saw pictures of the derks there, of ... it ... happening. I didn’t know then that it was real, I thought I was just having distorted memories of our village... But I’ve never had the drunkenness or the headache before.”
“Did you know nothing of your gift? Was there not a seer in your village to train you?”
“No, you are the only seer I’ve ever met. I never knew there was such a thing as a seer,” she tried not to sneer the last word.
“Garner told me you were ignorant of your gifting.”
“Garner?” Caris remembered clearly her conversation with Garner and how instead of laughing at her, he had taken her visions seriously. “Why didn’t Garner tell me what was happening then, if he knew?”
“He thought I should’ve been the one to teach you if you hadn’t been trained, as indeed I should. I am sorry Caris that I have never approached you on this topic before. When you joined the Horse, I took it for granted that you had been trained as all young seers are, it wasn’t until Garner approached me that I realised maybe that hadn’t happened.” Kalen stopped, evidently struggling with something.
“I have been taught the responsibilities that come with being a seer my whole life, Caris. But I am often remiss, and when I am, it is often others who suffer the consequences.” Kalen looked down at the ground. Caris watched her intently, not understanding what Kalen was saying but aware that it was costing her a lot to say it. “I also had forebodings leading up to the derk attack on that village, but I was distracted, enjoying too much the company of my friends, to stop and evaluate what my disquiet portended.”
Bravely, Kalen met Caris’ eyes, “So you see, it is not only you I let down. After the attack I had a lot to work through, a lot to forgive in myself, admittedly I am still working on that. When Garner approached me about you, I felt myself too distraught to immediately take on an apprentice. I thought we would have time.”
Caris looked at Kalen dumbstruck. No stranger to guilt herself, Caris felt immediate sympathy for Kalen. At a loss to know how to help Kalen when she had never been able to forgive herself for failing her mother, or more recently for causing the geboath attack on Crispin, Caris finally said, “Well, we have time now.”
“We have time now,” Kalen echoed. Thus, as they continued their journey, Kalen began to teach Caris about her gift.
The journey south through the forest was a pleasant one despite the small band’s impatience to reach The King quickly. The woods were beautiful and diverse and though not as familiar to the elves as Telvendor, still well known. Crispin continued to heal and grow in strength and was able to ride farther each day. The elves agreed to learn how to ride, taking turns on Syngar and Kalen’s horses, Prince proving too uncooperative for the green riders.
The scouts weren’t very happy about riding, claiming their legs were better than a horses, but finally agreeing that once they reached Nader’s Crossing they would need to buy horses and press on to The King at all speed.
Jeniel was excited to learn and Caris enjoyed taking the role of teacher for a change. Kilew was glad to learn something new and believed the knowledge would enrich his storytelling. Caris had learnt that his insatiable craving for hunting out stories was why he had joined them on their mission. Each night he practised his craft on the willing members of their small band, sending the weary travellers to their rest with minds full of adventure, heroes, and magical beings.
A fresh windy afternoon saw t
hem arrive at the western edge of Nader’s crossing. People gaped at the three King’s Horse, the seer in elven clothes, and the handsome young man who, as Caris noticed for the first time, was dressed in clothes little better than rags. However, it was the eight elves that drew the most attention.
Caris had never seen a town before and, after so long in the bush, the sound and smells were an assault on her senses. It was not that long since she had sat around the campfires with hundreds of elves and thankfully, the streets were not very crowded, so she was not as overwhelmed as Janen seemed to be by the number of people who stopped to gawk at them. Caris felt ridiculous in her beautiful elven clothes, like a derk wrapped up in an eppet’s coat, but as most people were engrossed in the beautiful elves that walked proudly with them, she was able almost to forget herself.
She looked over at Janen, wondering what his first impression of the town was. She was surprised to see he had dismounted from Prince, where he would have had a birds-eye-view. He was walking sandwiched between his horse and Syngar, staring red faced at the ground. She saw Syngar try to step away from him and Janen’s arm reach out quickly snatching him back to his side.
Caris looked around at the town again, wondering why Janen was acting so strangely. She couldn’t recall ever seeing him frightened before and wouldn’t have expected him to hide behind someone if he was. Seeing nothing threatening, she shrugged her shoulders at him and went back to gawking at the town.
They were walking down a wide dusty road that ended abruptly at the trees where they had entered, its only purpose seemingly to divide the buildings that lined its sides. The buildings were large and built right up against each other. They all seemed to be shops or businesses of one kind or another, and Caris wondered how many people must live close by to make so many shops necessary.
They hadn’t gone far before the road began to narrow and become more crowded. People hurried in and out of doors conducting business or stood in small groups talking. As Caris noticed the dresses the women wore, she became glad she wasn’t wearing her hunting clothes.