The Smiling Stallion Inn

by Courtney Bowen

  Basha stood there, stunned. He realized he’d been holding his breath the whole time. Finally he let it all out, breathing in and out as he tried to regain normalcy in his breathing.

  That was the most awe-inspiring thing he’d ever seen, and yet he wasn’t even sure it was real. Old Man didn’t seem fazed by it one bit, and neither did the priest. He wondered if he’d been the only one to see it. He tried to tell himself it had been only an illusion or a hallucination of some kind as the priest finished writing down the Oracle’s words.

  “She’s done, and I have here the oracle’s prophecy,” the priest said, reading over everything he’d just written to make sure that he’d gotten it all right. “Hmm, this is interesting. Never have I seen such a prophecy. She’s answered more than you asked, and what an answer.”

  “Thank you very much,” Old Man said, snatching the paper away from the priest. “Come on, Basha, let’s go.”

  “Wait a moment,” Basha said as he heard a rattling sound. “Why is she chained?” No one answered, and so he asked again, “Why is she chained?”

  “To prevent her from telling the whole truth,” Old Man finally said. “For on that day, it’s said that terrible things will happen, but that’s none of your concern.”

  “It’s not right,” Basha said, staring at the oracle. “Not right at all. She should be freed!” He tried to move toward the Oracle, but Old Man grabbed him and practically dragged him out of the cave.

  “Let go of me!” Basha cried, trying to pull away from Coe Baba, and away from Old Man. He was stronger than he looked.

  “There is no way to free her!” Old Man told Basha, leading Basha along the tunnel until they emerged into darkness.

  “How did it get so dark so fast?” Basha asked, his eyes on the night sky instead of where he was going. He stumbled and would’ve fallen if Old Man hadn’t righted him.

  “Never mind. The point is, if she’s freed,” Old Man continued, “then it would doom all those who wish to know their futures,” he said, leading Basha to the side, away from the rest of the camp. “Besides that, there is no way to break those chains. Some have tried, but no weapon forged by man can accomplish it. Those chains are made of a metal that not only restricts her body, but that part of her speech that could predict without reservation what will happen far into the future, which could doom all of us. Here, Basha,” he said, changing the subject. “Here is your prophecy.” He handed the paper over to Basha, who read it aloud by torchlight for Old Man to hear as well…

  “I, the Great Oracle, all seeing and all knowing, have found the answers you seek. You spoke rashly on the Rock, yet you’ve chosen your true destiny. As you wander, welcome strangers into your group, for friends you will have great need of in this journey. Travel southward through the forest, hills, and valley of this great country. Your path may change, but your goal must remain clear. Someone will try to hinder you and stop you using his powers over man and beast. He can’t see all, but he knows much about what is to come, and he will wait for you to come and meet him if you’re not beaten. Seek not only the Cup, but seek also the Tigora’l in this quest; seek him, and know the truth. No more can I say, for I speak of only the beginning. But you will learn more at the river oh-so wide and long; learn the ending from my younger brother. Heed this, and give thanks to the gods.”

  “Thank you,” Basha said softly to whatever gods might be listening before asking Old Man, “What am I to do now?”

  “Is it not obvious? Go, Basha! Go and fulfill your destiny!”

  “But what about this…Tigora’l? Should I beware of him, whoever he is?”

  “What? Oh, yes, yes…be wary of any danger, Basha. Be wary of anything that seems threatening,” Old Man said, trying to sound mysterious and looking around as if making sure no one was listening to them.

  “But strangers might become friends,” Basha added.

  “Yes, but there is always the risk there are other things out there in this world who would wish to cause you harm, and might even kill you if you let them get too close. This Tigora’l, he’s the worst possible thing that any normal, sane man might meet.”

  “I thought that was Doomba,” Basha said.

  “He’s even worse than Doomba,” Old Man said. “Now come along. We have to show the oracle’s prophecy to the town council, and then we can get you ready for your trip. It will be nearly midnight by the time we get home.”

  “Midnight?” Basha said. “But I thought…How long were we down there?”

  “Come on, come on!” Old Man cried, and Basha bounded after him so as not to lose the light. “Never show that prophecy to anyone you can’t trust, for it’s your prophecy, and very private and personal. It can be used against you,” Old Man said as they left the camp of the worshippers and the Cave of Wonders far behind.

  * * * *

  They returned to Coe Baba with the prophecy just before midnight. Basha had wondered if they’d encounter anyone waiting up for them, and he was surprised to find most of the town seemed to have roused themselves from slumber when they heard the hooves clopping down the road. His parents and Oaka greeted him with hugs. The members of the town council were present as well. They read the oracle’s prophecy and decided to reconvene immediately, instead of tomorrow morning.

  As they entered the town hall, Basha paused and turned back to his parents. He hugged them as Oaka came up slowly behind them.

  “Oh, Basha…” Habala said, wiping away her tears. “Is it—”

  “I’m going, it seems,” he said.

  “We’re going to miss you,” Geda said. “I do hope you take care of yourself.”

  Habala inhaled one last time as if she was going to cry again, and Oaka said, “Don’t worry, Mother, he’ll be all right.” Oaka lifted his head. “I’m going with him.”

  Basha, Geda, and Habala all gasped as Basha said, “Oaka, are you sure? I mean, I was dreading going off on my own, but what about Mother and Father; what about Sisila?”

  “Oaka, don’t go—listen to him,” Geda insisted.

  “You said you wouldn’t!” Habala cried.

  Basha looked at them, wondering why they seemed more upset at Oaka leaving, but perhaps it was the prospect of losing both of them and being left alone.

  “No, I’ve decided,” Oaka declared. “I’m not going to let Basha go without me. We’re as good as brothers, Basha. I couldn’t let you take on this risk by yourself.” He turned. “Mother, Father, I was being selfish earlier. Basha needs someone to look after him, and I’ll be coming back, I promise. Sisila understands. She will be proud to hear that I’m doing this, and she knows that nothing could ever stop me from coming back.”

  Habala and Geda sighed, looked at each other, and slowly nodded as they feared they couldn’t argue this out much longer without losing both of their boys to a lack of support. Still, they dreaded the long walk back to the inn, followed by the days of preparation and then the day of farewell, after which they’d be left alone, all by themselves in the back of the inn.

  Basha and Oaka hugged, slapping each other on the back, and were joined by their parents before the town council members emerged from the town hall.

  “We’ve decided to follow the oracle’s words,” the mayor said, glad that the baron and Lapo weren’t awake to take away his authority. He handed the paper back to Basha. “And we declare that Basha shall go on his quest to retrieve Tau’s Cup for Jawen, daughter of Lapo and Mawen, in order to fulfill his obligations of engagement for marriage. But we’ve an addendum to make,” the mayor declared before the crowd could get any more riled up. “Basha shall go with a volunteer.”

  “I’ve volunteered,” Sir Nickleby said, stepping forward before Oaka could say anything.

  The knight turned and bowed, facing the stunned innkeeper and his family. “I’d be honored if you’d let me do this,” he said. “For it would be my pleasure, and I’d protect your son as if he were my own.”

  Basha stared at the knight and then glanced up at his
parents, a little bit thrilled at the prospect of traveling with his mentor. Habala and Geda glanced at each other, perhaps hoping that with this announcement…

  “I still don’t trust him,” Oaka muttered to himself. There was no chance he’d change his mind on Sir Nickleby’s account. “I’m still going,” Oaka announced.

  Iibala stood off to the side, frowning to herself. She’d hoped her father would change his mind by the time he got here, but he was still set upon going with Basha. She hated him for that. She probably had not helped matters any when he’d caught her packing up to follow after Basha herself. She’d not let Basha go without some protection, she’d told her father, especially if it was true that Oaka would be staying behind. Sir Nickleby had told her then that he’d go to keep her away from Basha, knowing that she’d not want to accompany her father on such a long, long trip.

  She hated her father for forcing her to stay behind, but there was, of course, another reason why he wanted to go. She thought she knew what it was.

  * * * *

  A few days later, Jawen woke up early and stared at the sunlight peeking in through the shutters. She wished this day wouldn’t begin. This was the day Basha would leave.

  She got up though and dressed quickly in the dim light. She’d have to hurry up or she’d miss him. She slipped out of the bedroom she shared with Talia and went downstairs, checking to see if anyone was in the front hallway or in the parlor. She didn’t want anyone seeing her leave.

  She rushed off to join the small crowd of townspeople accompanying Basha and Oaka. She knew they’d already be packed up with everything they needed and their two horses saddled. They’d head out toward the eastern outskirts of town, saying their final good-byes there. That’s where she’d meet them.

  * * * *

  Basha and Oaka looked around, already saying good-bye to Coe Baba in their minds as they thought about how they had spent their childhood here. How they used to play over there, how they’d ask for candy at that store…They got a little misty-eyed with such thoughts.

  The party stopped near the fields on the eastern road that curved toward the south. This was the end of town proper and the beginning of the wilderness. Oaka hugged his father and received a kiss on the cheek from him before he hugged his mother and kissed her. Basha hugged his father and kissed him on the cheek before he hugged his mother and received a kiss from her as well.

  “My boys, my boys,” Habala wept as she tried to hold each of them tight.

  Sir Nickleby called out as he rode up on his war stallion, his packs all squared away on the back of his saddle. “What a quest this will be, my boys, what a quest,” he said, smiling at the startled Basha and Oaka as his horse tossed its head and pranced in place. “Never fear, Habala, I shall bring your two sons back, for I’m Sir Nickleby, one of the greatest knights this land has ever known. I’ll take your two boys to Coe Pidaria, where we’ll pick up the Cup and bring it back home, just as simple as that.”

  Sir Nickleby turned his horse around and faced the crowd of townspeople. He unsheathed his sword and raised it high into the air as his horse reared and everybody scrambled back from the beast’s flailing hooves. “I’ll bring these boys back and keep them safe along the way, for I’m a knight of Arria!” he said, sheathing his sword as the horse’s front hooves landed back on the ground. “They’ll return with many great stories, and nothing shall have gone wrong.”

  “Do you think he’s trying to prove a point?” Oaka muttered to Basha.

  “You could have stayed,” Basha retorted.

  “I have my own reasons for going; what’re his?” Oaka asked just as Sisila walked up beside him and placed her hand on his arm. “Can we speak a moment?”

  “Excuse me for one moment,” Oaka said, before going with Sisila to a quieter spot near the periphery of all the hubbub.

  “Oaka, I still believe you’re doing the right thing,” Sisila said, peering up at him, “I know things will be better this way.”

  “Sisila, I hope you have faith in me,” Oaka said, smiling half-heartedly. “I really hope. I will return. I promise.”

  “I’ll be here waiting for you, Oaka. Each day without you…I can’t begin to describe what it will be like without you. I wrote a note to you,” she said, reaching into her pocket and handing him a folded piece of paper. “I tried my best to describe how much you mean to me, and how I can’t bear to be apart from you. Yet our love is stronger than words,” she said. “I know you’ll come back to me.”

  “Oh, Sisila, I wish I could give you something like this,” Oaka said, staring down at the piece of paper he couldn’t bear yet to open and read. “I will return, and we’ll have a wonderful life together with lots of children and a happy home.” He smiled and hugged her again. “My dear Sisila,” he said hoarsely, kissing her, “how I love you.”

  Basha watched them from afar, biting his lips as he wished that he’d not caused this upheaval in everyone’s lives. He would make this up to his family…somehow.

  He heard someone approaching and turned around as he said, “Hello, Jawen.”

  “You can’t do this to me, Basha,” Jawen cried, hugging him roughly. “I can’t believe this is really happening. You can’t do this to me, or to Oaka and Sisila, or to anyone else here, for that matter. I won’t allow it,” she declared, pushing herself away to stare up at him. “I won’t let you leave, and—”

  “It’s a little late for this, isn’t it?” Basha asked, wishing she could be as supportive of him as Sisila was of Oaka.

  “I tried to deny it; I tried to think it wasn’t really happening, but Basha, why can’t you just stay here with me?” Jawen asked, sniffling. “Why do you have to go at all?”

  “Jawen, you know why I have to go!” he said, pulling away from her. He was trying to hold steady, but it was hard to resist her. “You know as well as I do that this is part of my oath to you!”

  “I’ll talk to my father, and whoever else protests, and we’ll just have something else arranged so you don’t have to go. You don’t have to fulfill your promise,” she said.

  “No, Jawen, I can’t, the oath…We’ve been through this before,” he said, moving away from her again. “The town council agreed this has to be done. It’s the only way we can get married,” he pointed out. “I mean, what if you can’t arrange something, and we lose each other just because I didn’t fulfill my oath?”

  In some ways he wanted to go just as much as he wished he didn’t have to, but he knew he had to fulfill the oath and the prophecy of the Oracle. He was curious about what it meant for him, what could be out there, this Tigora’l or whatever it was.

  “Seek not only the Cup, but seek also the Tigora’l

  in this quest. Seek him, and know the truth.”

  Basha couldn’t forget those words. He’d wanted to find out the truth ever since he was a young boy who found out his life wasn’t what it seemed to be. The truth had always mattered to him, far more than even he’d realized, the knowledge that he needed to complete himself. He hated questions, puzzles, and riddles without answers. What he wanted was the truth, even more than he’d ever wanted Jawen. He wondered if the Oracle was right, if she knew more than she’d said, or if that mysterious brother of hers might know the truth about Basha’s origins.

  “You and I losing each other won’t happen,” Jawen said, interrupting his thoughts. “You can offer another oath, a much simpler one.”

  “No, Jawen, that wouldn’t be possible,” Basha said, turning to her. “Your father and the baron would just flash that broken promise in our faces and stop any other future engagement or wedding plans, saying that I can’t be trusted. No one would trust me for breaking my oath. I really would be a balnor to them, then.” He sighed, fuming at the thought. “You’d not love me then, and I’d not be able to live with myself.”

  “Basha, that’s not true!” she insisted.

  “I’m this close to being that sort of person already,” he declared, holding his thumb and forefinger le
ss than an inch apart. “I don’t want to be known as the man who didn’t go on his quest and face all of the people who’d know I’d failed before I even tried.”

  “I don’t care what they say, Basha,” Jawen said.

  “Well, I do.” He stopped and stared at her. “I’ve thought about it, Jawen—a lot. I don’t want to be looked down upon in shame. Can’t you imagine what that would be like for me?” He lowered his head, pressing his lips together as he shook his head. “You wouldn’t want the shell of a man I’d be.”

  “Oh, Basha, you’re leaving me here forever; I just know it!”

  “I want to fulfill my promise to you,” Basha said. “I’m going out on this quest to be a better man, worthy of your affection. You deserve to love a whole man. I will be back,” he told her adamantly. “This isn’t the end for us; it’s only the beginning. You mean more to me than anyone else on earth. I promise—”

  “Stop it, enough promises!” Jawen cried. “This isn’t what I wanted; this is never what I wanted!” She rushed to embrace him and whispered, “I don’t want the Cup; I want you, Basha, I want you.” She kissed him.

  “This is who I am, Jawen, and this is what I’m doing for you,” he whispered and kissed her tenderly on the lips. “I love you too, and I’m sorry for this, but it’s what I must do. Please forgive me,” he said, pushing himself away from her.

  “I forgive you, but I don’t think I can ever forgive myself,” she whispered.

  “You’re not to blame, Jawen,” Basha said, sighing. He was as much to blame here. “Goodbye,” he said, letting her go.

  “Never forget I love you, too!” Jawen called out as she watched him walk away.

  He mounted Talan and waved at her. “I won’t forget!” he called back, with a smile for only Jawen.

  Oaka was already seated on Joko. And then Sir Nickleby waved goodbye and flicked the reins of his war stallion. The animal set off, followed by Joko and Talan, and the townspeople crowded together on the road, waving farewell to the boys. Basha and Oaka glanced back, the faces of the people they had known all their lives dimming, even those of Jawen and Sisila, until the figures were mere pinpoints in the scenery.