by D. L. Kramer
Nahtan debated riding without a saddle, but in the end decided against it. Renato still wasn't as comfortable with the saddle as Nahtan wanted him to be, and until he was, he would have to wear one.
After saddling him, Nahtan took his lead and walked him from the stable. Bear and Chase waited outside while Bear adjusted the blanket under Chase's saddle. Standing a full head taller than Renato, Chase tossed his heavy mane and stamped his oversized hooves anxiously. Nahtan couldn't help but smile, seeing much of Chase's sire in him. He missed his first horse's reassuring nudges on the back of his shoulder, but since the stallion's death both Tyran and now Renato had found that link and performed the mental version through his bond with them. Like the color of his daughter's eyes, the memories were something that was painful at first but now he wouldn't trade them for anything.
Nahtan pulled himself up into the saddle while Bear finished with Chase's blanket, then did the same. The two friends rode toward the wall encircling the castle and Grand Cathedral, then through the gates and out into the city.
With them both wearing their cloaks and no armor, and without a closer look, they would be seen as nothing more than two Mo'ani Warriors. Nahtan relished being unrecognizable when by himself or with Bear. The people of Herridon had grown attached to their king, but expected him to always use the same habits as the Archbishop. Nahtan wasn't given to such pomp and formality, and only went along with the extravagances during certain celebrations.
Something about Valry always attracted attention, however, and he knew their ride back to the castle wouldn't be so unnoticed. For as much as the citizens, merchants and soldiers liked their king, they adored his daughter all the more. Nahtan couldn't help but wonder if Valry's mother played a part in that. He knew without a doubt that Rena had returned to Jensina's service when she died shortly after Valry's birth. Being a goddess' servant would certainly allow her more influence than others, and Nahtan had to concede that Jensina probably saw Valry as her granddaughter just as she viewed him as her son.
The Mo'ani watching the east gates saw them coming and stopped the incoming traffic so they could pass through the gates with no hesitation.
Once out in the open, both horses jumped into a gallop. The wind over his face, through his hair and under his cloak renewed Nahtan. Renato carried him as surely as Tyran had and Nahtan felt the horse's delight at being able to run as fast he wanted. When they were nearly a league from Herridon, Nahtan touched Renato's mind and the horse slowed to a trot, Bear and Chase doing the same beside him.
Off in the distance, he could make out the dust trail of two approaching horses. They continued at a trot, and within an hour, he could make out the white of Nicho's coat and the dark Dweller's mare Valry would be riding. Nahtan reached out for the mare's mind, smiling when she answered. Even though Renato had eagerly bonded with him during his initial training, Nahtan still had a special liking for the mare. When Valry showed an interest in learning to ride, Ayita was an obvious choice and had taken instantly to the young girl.
Not long after, Nahtan and Bear reined in their horses to wait for Adie and Valry to reach them.
"They're only a half league or so out," Bear said, shielding his eyes from the sun as he watched Adie and Valry ride.
"I think these two are tired enough," Nahtan noted, patting Renato's neck. A dry breeze blew past them, and Nahtan felt Renato shiver beneath him. Several minutes passed before the two approaching horses disappeared, then came into view again as they cleared a low rise. Nahtan could make out his daughter's dark hair as the breeze blew against them.
When they were several yards away, Adie pulled Nicho in, the mare doing the same on her own. Adie flipped her red hair back behind her shoulders, moving it easily from her topknot. The grey and white streaks at her temples had spread to her brow as it blended with the rest.
"Well met," she greeted them, still observing the tradition of waiting to be greeted before continuing when met by a nobleman.
"You don't have to do that," Nahtan pointed out to her, dropping from Renato's back and walking over to the mare. "Hello, Ayita," he greeted the mare with a soft pat before turning to Valry. The mare nudged him with her nose and she leaned into his hand.
"But papa," Valry's voice was serious as she jumped from the saddle into her father's arms. "Mo'ani says you should always wait to see if you're welcome." She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, then pushed herself away when she saw who he was with. "Bear!" she squealed, squirming in Nahtan's grip. He let her down and she ran over to Chase's side. With a smile, Bear leaned over in his saddle and held his arm out for her to clasp her small hands over. When she had, he took hold of her and pulled her up onto the saddle in front of him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
"You really ought to have kids of your own," Adie pointed out, watching Bear as Valry turned and made herself comfortable in front of him.
"That wouldn't be any fun," Bear smiled.
"No, he'd much rather spoil mine," Nahtan sighed and took Ayita's lead, then pulled himself back into Renato's saddle. He didn't envy Valry's attachment to Bear. As Captain of the Guard, her protection as heir was his responsibility. With a strong bond and trust, if her life were ever in danger, Bear could provide her more security than Nahtan's position as king ever could. Valry would need to have complete trust in Bear for him to provide her with that.
Nahtan, Adie and Bear turned their horses back towards Herridon and set out at a trot. Nicho's eyes still looked the slightest bit wild to Nahtan, and he gently touched the warhorse's mind. In the years and months since Kile's death, Nicho had finally accepted Adie as his mistress, though the pain and memory of having Kile torn from his mind was still fresh. Nahtan understood entirely how the Dweller's horse felt. Whenever he thought back to losing Tyran as suddenly, his head started pounding all over again.
"I thought Jaron wanted him back to breed him," Nahtan commented to Adie, motioning to Nicho.
"He wouldn't go," Adie shrugged and Nahtan caught the faintest hint of a smile. "I promised Jaron I'd bring him up to the valley next summer."
"Let me know if you need an escort," Nahtan said.
Adie nodded and the conversation turned to a casual discussion as they returned to Herridon. Nahtan mentioned Evaine's visit, but didn't tell Adie what he had planned.
Just as Nahtan knew would happen, as soon as they cleared the gates, people started noticing them. Several Mo'ani quickly fell in step before and behind them, and while Nahtan didn't want that much attention drawn to them, he couldn't argue. They were there to keep him and Valry safe, though he sometimes doubted Zakris himself could pull the girl from Bear's protection.
They had just turned onto the wide avenue leading to the castle and Grand Cathedral when Valry suddenly turned her head to look behind them, then looked at her father.
"Papa, why is that man hitting that boy?" she asked, pointing to a side alley.
Nahtan turned to look where she indicated and immediately pulled Renato to a halt. Just inside the alley, a burly trader held a pack horse's lead while a dusky skinned boy of about eight summers cowered against the wall, one hand over his cheek as he tried to blink back tears. The image brought out the pain of each and every one of the scars on Nahtan's back and arms. Fifteen summers ago, he had been that boy.
"Would you like us to take care of it?" one of the Mo'ani asked.
"No." Nahtan dropped from his saddle and walked directly over to the alley, his dark eyes pinned on the trader. As the trader moved his arm to strike the boy again, Nahtan caught his wrist, then turned him and pushed him back against the other wall. "You should know better than to strike those who can't defend themselves," he said, his voice even but his eyes burned as he glared at the man. A hoarse rasp came from behind Nahtan as the boy crouched down against the wall, too frightened to run.
"And you had best mind your own business," the trader growled, moving to push Nahtan away from him. His speech was slurred, and he moved c
lumsily, giving Nahtan even more of an advantage.
Nahtan grabbed the trader's arm and turned, driving an elbow just below his ribs and forcing the air from him. Nahtan shifted his weight and turned a second time, bringing up the dagger from his left forearm sheath. Taking a handful of the trader's hair, he pulled him up and pressed the dagger into his throat.
"You must have missed the declarations that owning slaves is illegal," Nahtan said easily, not caring if the trader recognized him or not. He turned to one of the Mo'ani warriors waiting nearby. "I think his packs need to be checked. Escort him to the trader's office for a complete inventory and adjust his tax claims appropriately if needed."
The Mo'ani and two others stepped forward, taking the trader from Nahtan. The trader fought against the three Mo'ani, though it was useless. Nahtan turned to the cowering boy and knelt beside him.
"He won't hurt you again," he said, his voice calm. "What's your name?"
The boy looked up at him and shook his head. His dark hair was tangled and in several different lengths, and his clothes torn and dirty. He wore no boots or shoes and there was almost as much grime on his fingers as on his feet. His tears had cut narrow clean streaks through the dust on his face.
Nahtan studied the boy for a moment. Something wasn't right here. He reached out a hand to the boy but he shied away, afraid of being struck again.
Nahtan stood and turned back to the others. "Bear, take Valry back and get Yenene. Have her meet us in the courtyard." As Bear nodded and Chase started forward again, Nahtan turned to Adie. "Come see if he'll talk to you."
Adie dismounted and walked over, careful to let the boy see her approach. Nahtan stepped back as she knelt by him.
"We're not going to hurt you," she said, her voice gentle. "You won't be going anywhere with the trader again."
The boy gave her a tentative look, then shifted his gaze to Nahtan. He opened his mouth, but only a hoarse cough came out.
Adie reached out carefully, brushing the boy's long, unkempt hair away from his face. The boy stiffened at her touch, but didn't pull away. With the hair moved, both Nahtan and Adie could see the rough scar across the boy's throat. Adie turned to look up at Nahtan, her blue eyes searching his.
"Nahtan?"
Nahtan clenched his fists. "Find out where that trader's been," he said. "I want to know where this boy came from."
Adie nodded her head and offered the boy her open hand. The boy hesitated, then lifted his hand to hers, still keeping cautious eyes on Nahtan. Adie stood, pulling the boy up with her.
Nahtan waited until Adie had the boy out of the alley and his back turned before allowing himself to kick the wall. He had no way of knowing how long ago the boy was sold. Judging by his appearance, it had been several seasons. Clenching his teeth, he followed Adie back to the horses.
Adie helped the boy onto Ayita's back and took the lead from Nahtan. The boy seemed unsure about riding the horse and gripped the saddle until his hands turned white. They moved slowly so as not to frighten him anymore. The Mo'ani still with them made sure to keep any onlookers well back until they reached the gate and twelve foot walls surrounding the castle and Grand Cathedral. They rode around to the courtyard where Bear, Yenene and Valry waited for them. As Nahtan dropped from Renato's back, Yenene stepped to his side.
"Sewati told me you found a boy?" she asked, puzzled as her black eyes moved over the boy on Ayita's back.
Nahtan turned as Adie helped the boy down. "His throat's been cut to take away his voice," he said, leading Yenene over. "I thought maybe Kutci or Jensina could help you understand him." Whether or not Jensina would help depended on the boy's own fate. Kutci, however, wasn't bound by the gods. A spirit from another time and other gods like Nahtan, she shared her healer's knowledge with Yenene.
Yenene nodded her head and knelt in front of the boy. She didn't speak, but brushed the hair from his eyes as she looked him over. "We should take him inside," she finally said, her voice quiet and saddened. "I doubt he's eaten much for a week."
"Put him wherever you think best," Nahtan said. As Yenene stood and took the boy's hand, Nahtan turned to Bear and Valry. "The next time you complain about nothing going on, I'm going to hit you," he said to Bear.
Bear smiled and pulled Valry up onto his back. "I just said there was nothing social going on," he corrected.
Nahtan sighed and shook his head. Adie joined them as they walked to the castle.
Two - "You think he's dying"
Nahtan held his dagger vertically with the point against the table. Giving it a slight push with his finger, he watched it turn, the brilliant steel of the blade reflecting the light from the window at his side. He wished Bear could fight with a sword, or that Brijade or Jerai were here. Things seemed clearer when he could fight his frustrations out in the training yard.
Lord Bavol and his two sons had arrived nearly an hour ago, but Nahtan told them he'd talk with them after they'd rested from the three day trip from Bavol Hold. Evaine had been right, and Lord Bavol was clearly showing his age. At almost a century old, he had been alive an extraordinary period of time. The only people Nahtan knew of who had lived longer were Mo'ani and the Archbishop, and they had each been kept alive by the gods to wait for him.
Valry was off checking the guard posts with Bear while Adie was looking into the trader's travels for the last several months. The boy they had brought back to the castle with them had responded well to Yenene and she had managed to get him to eat and rest while she dressed the cuts and scrapes on his stick-thin body and cleaned some of the dirt and grime from him.
There were plenty of things for Nahtan to read and make decisions on, but he didn't feel like it. A knock on the door drew his attention, but he didn't respond. If it was any of his friends, they would come in without his telling them to. If it was one of the Mo'ani, they would think he was asleep or gone and not bother opening the door.
After a moment, there was a second knock, followed by the latch turning and the door opening.
Nahtan looked up to greet Evaine.
"So the noble king hides from those who'd seek his attention?" she asked, smiling as she closed the study door behind herself.
"The 'noble king' is tired of tavern owners petitioning him to let them stay open all night," Nahtan returned, looking back to his dagger. "Besides the new problems in the city."
Evaine sat down beside him. "Adie told me you found a slave boy," she said, then paused. "And that it upset you."
Nahtan looked up at her. "I know exactly what that boy went through, but at the same time I don't," he responded. "My master never even threatened to cut my throat to keep me from talking."
"What are you going to do with him?" Evaine asked.
Nahtan shrugged. "I'd like to find his family and send him back to them, but if he was as young as I was, he won't remember them. I'm sure that's why Leisl was sold when I was, so that I'd be able to find her later and learn about my parents."
"Perhaps he has a sister too," she suggested. "Or a brother."
"The BishopLord is dead," Nahtan replied. "They used to take one child for any month of unpaid tithes. Without the tithes to enforce, it's my guess they're either buying children from poor families or stealing them and cutting their throats so they can't tell people what happened."
Evaine nodded her head as silence fell between them. After several moments, she spoke again. "If you cannot find his family, let me know," she said quietly. "We'll take him in at Bavol Hold."
Nahtan couldn't help but smile. "Has having Taleise made you want more children?" he asked.
Evaine met his smile with her own. "Matthios lost a son, and here is a son with no parents. I think it would...complete things for him."
Nahtan studied her for a moment, the tone of her voice undeniable.
"You think he's dying," he stated.
After a moment, Evaine slowly nodded her head, her eyes filling with tears. "I doubt he'll go without a fight though," she said. "And we thought he
was close to dying before and he recovered."
Nahtan nodded his head, remembering when Lord Bavol had been so ill.
"I just want to make sure everything is settled so if he doesn't recover his strength, he can go knowing things have been taken care of," Evaine continued.
"I understand," Nahtan said. "I'll do what I can to help you get everything at Bavol Hold set."
Evaine nodded and stood from the chair. "Thank you," she whispered, brushing a kiss past his cheek.
Nahtan watched her leave the study, then sighed. Yet another problem. Hopefully this one would be settled after dinner tonight. Setting the point of his dagger back in the table, he spun it again.
After dinner that night, they adjourned to a private study. Bear made sure the Mo'ani knew they weren't to be disturbed, then took a seat just inside the door in case someone managed to get past the guard's patrols. Nahtan set Valry down and she immediately took off for where Taleise waited by her parents. The two girls giggled between themselves for a moment, then crept off to a corner of the study as the adults seated themselves.
Nahtan waited while Evaine helped Matthios into his seat, his aged hands shaking on the arm of the chair. His eyes were still sharp though, and Nahtan doubted he was as close to dying as Evaine feared. Arlend sat in a chair across from his father while Tonek chose to stand. Both of Lord Bavol's sons had outgrown him, Tonek by over a foot.
"I hear we have a little problem at Bavol," Nahtan began, looking from Arlend to Tonek.
"You know how we feel about it," Arlend pointed out. "We're not diplomats, and we'd end up ruining everything Bavol stands for."
"We can hold it," Tonek added. "But neither one of us would do well maintaining it."
Nahtan nodded his head, knowing they were right. "You really aren't being very fair to your father though," he stated. He looked directly at Arlend. "You're the oldest, it's your responsibility." There was a time when he would have felt out of place addressing a Mo'ani Warrior well over twice his age and experience. The past three years and quiet guidance by Mo'ani, however, had taught Nahtan that there was a time to listen to elders, and a time to make them listen to him.