by D. L. Kramer
"He must have been here when father created the woods," she said, her voice quiet. She turned to look at her sister. "Why would he not want any of them to die?"
Halona shrugged, fingering a tied lock of flaxen horse's mane as she smiled. "Perhaps life is more precious to him than it is even to our father."
"But why?" Jensina asked. "He is not a god, nor is he a mortal--"
Halona gave her sister a deliberate look. "Just like your son."
"Yes," Jensina nodded. "They seem to have a strange aversion to death, don't they?" She paused to scoop up a dying sparrow at her feet. The bird did not struggle, his black eyes showing his acceptance of what was coming. Jensina stroked the bird's head, holding it while it died in her hands. She gently laid the body back on the ground when she felt the bird's spirit lift freely into the air around her.
"Perhaps it has something to do with whatever circumstances brought them here as they are," Halona suggested.
Jensina stopped, her eyes searching the nearby woods. "Alsynder is near death," she said quietly. "But he will not fight it."
"I know," Halona nodded her head. "But he served his purpose and then some. He was there to tell Nahtan of his true self, and he was there to provide Sewati d'Mowik with the kit fox that was so much his alter ego."
"I still don't know why you decided to do that," Jensina turned back to her sister.
"The fox showed Nahtan he could touch more than a horse's mind," Halona replied with a faint shrug. She fingered the flaxen mane again before tucking it in the cuff of her sleeve. "Now I've got to find at least one more servant to send."
"Oh?" Jensina asked, her eyebrow raised. She wondered for not the first time what her sister was scheming.
"Father asked me to also send some of my servants to help Nahtan along with the Wardsman," she explained. "I imagine since your two are remaining behind, father thought Nahtan might need some other guidance. I have already sent Areli--though for some reason he changed his name. I need to choose another."
"Do you have any idea whom to send?" Jensina asked. "You don't have many given to living among the mortals--even if only for a short while."
Halona nodded. "That does seem to be my problem," she admitted. "And one I'm going to have to consider for a while."
"Well you'd better hurry," Jensina said. "They're leaving now."
Fourteen - "You need to trust us"
Valry had heard her father and Bear talk about traveling and camping on the road for as long as she could remember. Her father didn't seem too fond of it now for some reason, though he wasn't complaining. She couldn't have guessed from their stories of rainy, cold nights and dried rations that it was as much fun as it was. Not only didn't she get into trouble for running around barefoot, but the adults actually seemed to expect her to get dirty. Not even Nana made any big issue out of her dirty feet--and Nana usually got very upset when she got dirty.
Tion seemed to know all sorts of games they could play when they stopped each evening for camp. Even though the older boy couldn't speak, Valry found she didn't need him to in order to understand him. His hand motions, expressions and eyes explained the rules to each of his games. She was then able to explain it to the other two girls. While the two girls usually didn't play with them, Tion never seemed to tire of her company, and changed his games to suit her abilities.
"Valry, come out of wherever you're hiding right now!"
Valry clamped a hand over her mouth to hide her giggle as Nana continued looking for her. She wiggled further back under the wagon when Nana stopped near the wheel.
"Hiding again?" Her father's voice reached her the same time his boots appeared beside Nana's. Valry heard something heavy thump into the wagon and she ducked lower out of reflex.
"It's that mute boy that teaches her these things," Nana's voice was stern and accusing. "You'd think after a month of this, they'd be tired of the game."
"Tion's just enjoying his freedom," Nahtan returned.
"What if they leave the camp?" Nana asked. "They could get hopelessly lost in those woods at night."
"Don't worry," Nahtan assured her with a chuckle. "I'm pretty sure we could track them down. And if we couldn't, then a night in the cold would teach them not to wander so far away."
"How can you say that about your daughter?" Nana's voice was shocked.
"Leisl," Nahtan's voice remained calm. "Trust me when I tell you that Tion's learned how to take care of himself out there. Besides, Valry knows if she ever gets separated from me in the woods, she is to stay calm and stay put until I find her."
"I'm sure the hungry bear or lion that finds her will find that very convenient."
"Yes, Leisl," Nahtan said. "A group of Mo'ani Warriors are going to set up camp right in the middle of a bear or lion's territory." He was silent for a moment. "You need to learn to trust us," he finally continued. "The safety of you and the children is our utmost concern when we stop each night." He took a step closer to her and his voice lowered. "Especially you and Valry. We don't know what we'll find in Edgewind, and for now you two are the only family I have."
"I think some of your companions are closer to you than us."
"In some ways, yes," Nahtan agreed. "Bear's the closest thing I have to a brother, but deep down I know he can't ever be that. You are my sister, and Valry is my daughter. Because of that, I will always feel more responsible for you two than anyone else." He paused for a moment and Valry heard something slide along the wagon above her. "Don't worry about Valry tonight, I'll find her. They've just about got the tents up, why don't you go heat some water and see what sorts of teas Yenene has?"
Leisl didn't reply and Valry watched her aunt walk away from the wagon. After a moment, her father crouched down to look at her.
"Why don't you be nice to Leisl for a few days and stay within her sight?" he asked her, holding out his hand.
"How did you know where I was?" Valry asked, accepting his offered hand and letting him pull her out.
Nahtan pointed out the row of tied horses nearby. "You're in plain view of half a dozen of them," he said, smiling. "And Nicho and Chase are very protective of you."
"Not Renato?" Valry asked, climbing up the spokes of the wheel to watch her father shift the bags of wheat and salt in the back of the wagon.
"Renato isn't old enough to be protective of anyone but himself," Nahtan answered. "It takes horses--especially Dwellers' Horses--a while to 'settle down' into a bond."
"Can you teach me how to talk to the horses?" Valry asked. When Nahtan finished, he picked her up and turned back to the camp.
"Maybe when you're older," Nahtan said. "Jaron and Tosia would be the best ones to teach you--they're the ones who taught Bear and me."
Valry wrapped her arms around her father's neck and rested her chin on his shoulder. When was he ever going to understand that she wanted to learn these things now instead of when she was "older". It would be much more fun to be able to talk to the horses now.
**********
Yenene watched as Gaurel stroked the falcon's chest feathers, quiet chirps and clicks coming from his throat. Gaurel usually fed the bird just outside the camp so he didn't disturb the others with the odd sounds he used.
"I think you're recovering nicely," the young man said quietly, offering the bird another piece of shredded venison. The falcon took it eagerly, grasping it in his talons as he shredded it still more.
"You certainly seem to have developed quite a friendship with him in the last month," Yenene said, coming up beside him. She sensed something between the bird and the boy, but couldn't quite pin down what. Neither Jensina nor Kutci offered any help, which only raised her curiosity. Gaurel had taken on the responsibility of caring for the huge bird almost immediately upon joining them, and the falcon's health seemed as important to him as though it were his own child.
Gaurel gave the young priestess a faint smile. "I understand it was you who took him to Jensina's altar to heal him," he said. "Thank you--though I can't pict
ure him as ill as His Majesty says he was."
"I'm not sure it was entirely illness," Yenene said, sitting on a nearby fallen log. "I'm sure you've noticed how old he is."
"Well," Gaurel looked back at the falcon. "I'm not an expert in these things--I'm not even sure how long they're supposed to live, to be honest."
"Most live about twenty or so years," Yenene answered. "I can't even begin to guess how old he is, but I'm certain he's much older than that."
"Really?" Gaurel began studying the falcon with a renewed interest. "I wonder how in the world he got so old."
"Jensina wasn't able to tell me," Yenene answered. She didn't bother mentioning Kutci. Few people knew of the strange other spirit that spoke with her, and Yenene didn't want to upset people by telling them.
"Does she actually talk to you?" Gaurel asked, his eyes still not leaving the falcon. He turned the bird in different directions, studying his feathers, eyes, beak and feet.
"In a way," Yenene answered after a moment. It was difficult to describe how she communicated with her goddess. It was more a run of images, as if she were watching someone else's dreams. "Sometimes I just see things, other times I hear a voice telling me things. Whether it's her voice or not, I can't tell you. I only know it's never been wrong."
"Maybe it's Halona talking to you," Gaurel suggested.
"I am Mowik," Yenene answered. "We are Jensina's people, not Halona's."
"That's an interesting thought," Gaurel urged the falcon onto a low branch, then came to sit beside her. "Does Halona actually have any people like Jensina has the Mowik and Dwellers? I've been through quite a few townships where there didn't seem to be any completely dedicated group."
"Halona's people are in the west," Yenene answered. "But each goddess has separate gifts that any mortal can ask favors from them."
Gaurel was silent for a moment, his face considering what she said. "So if Halona is the Goddess of Good Fortune and Jensina is the Goddess of Desires," he smiled again. "What if one desires good fortune?"
Yenene returned his smile. For some reason she was pleased that he both wanted to learn things, and already knew enough to ask intelligent questions.
"Then I would suggest they ask Zakris," she replied.
Gaurel chuckled and stood up, offering her his hand. "Since she'd probably be more likely to listen to her priestess than to a nobody like myself, would you ask a favor of Jensina for me the next time you 'speak' with her?"
Yenene accepted his hand and brushed off her skirt after standing. "I think she prefers it if people ask their own favors," she said. "But I can suggest something."
Gaurel picked up the falcon again. "Ask her to convince His Majesty that his people greatly need him. While his passive self-unimportance is a definite change from the Archbishop, he needs to view himself with some importance and even a little selfishness."
Yenene smiled again as they turned towards the camp and began walking slowly. "Wait until you're around him a while longer," she advised. "You might be surprised at just how much attitude he can have."
"I've heard them talk about the Battle of Devayne Field," Gaurel said. "Is that what you mean by 'attitude'?"
Yenene couldn't help but sigh. The men and women who had fallen in that battle still haunted her. She didn't understand how it could not bother some of the others--like Lady Takis. As for herself, she remembered the face of every church guard she had fired an arrow at, and still carried their church pendants in her waist pouch. Someday she hoped Jensina would tell her she'd had no choice and she could finally discard the pendants.
"I prefer to call that a true blood frenzy," she said after a moment. "I know there was no way to avoid it, but I don't think they had to be quite so certain their enemies were dead." Her memories of the battle almost kept her from seeing the shadows that flashed across Gaurel's eyes. They were gone before she could be certain she had seen them.
"I--" Gaurel stopped walking and seemed to have a hard time phrasing what he wanted to say. "I--saw the battlefield through the eyes of someone who was there," he finally said, his young voice sad. "I think I share her opinion that war isn't always a good thing."
"But sometimes it's unavoidable," Yenene said, her voice gentle. "It's something we all have to come to terms with."
"Is it truly unavoidable?" Gaurel asked, his eyes meeting hers. "Maybe one day people will learn that the consequences outweigh the advantages."
"Maybe," Yenene nodded her head after a moment. "But probably not in our lifetimes."
**********
Calan finished counting his coins into his pouch and pulled the strings tight on it before tucking it under his cloak and vest on his pack. Nahtan's excursion was certainly raising attention in the towns they passed through, as well as offering Calan ample opportunity to expand his business interests. The villages and towns were finally getting closer together and word was traveling ahead of them now, so each new stop was getting more attention--which was exactly what Nahtan wanted.
Calan did his best at each town to leave yet another memorable mark, paying the farmers and trappers nearly half more than what the regular suppliers would, but still significantly less than he'd pay buying from those same suppliers. He was even able to arrange for transportation of the goods to Herridon at only a fraction of the price more. So while the farmers would remember him for his generosity, he was also increasing his profits.
Calan's moving through the areas off the main road also served another purpose. While Nahtan and his "honor guard" took the main road through town, Calan and a couple of the Mo'ani took the outer roads around, looking for any sign of the rogue church guards who supposedly lurked in the shadows. So far, they had found no trace of them. Calan had heard a few brief mentions of men wearing blue cloaks and uniforms, but they had yet to find any rumors strong enough to follow. There was, however, the wary look in the eyes of the farmers' and their families that told Calan plenty--along with the protective way they shielded their children from him until they realized he was there as part of the King of Herridon's group. Once he started making honest offers for their goods, their last suspicions seemed to disappear.
Feeling eyes on him, he turned to find the young mute boy watching him from several feet away. Calan glanced around, wondering where Nahtan's daughter was. The two were rarely seen away from each other. The boy watched him for a second, then shook his head slowly as if telling him Valry wasn't there.
"Is there something I can do for you?" Calan asked. Their camp was set up in a large sheltered grove of oaks and the children's' tent had been set up closer to the fire while Calan and the Mo'ani had set up their tents and bedrolls encircling the camp. The boy walked over and handed him a folded scrap of flour bag. Calan raised an eyebrow as he took it and unfolded it. On one side, the boy had written a note. It took Calan a moment to read the tiny writing.
"Why do you want a bag of cherries?" he asked when he had finally deciphered it.
Tion turned and motioned towards the tent where Valry and the other two girls were setting up their beds for the night.
Calan looked over, then back to the boy. "Are you trying to impress one in particular, or all three?" he asked, keeping a straight face. Several of them had noticed the bond developing between Valry and him. Tion had, in a sense, become almost like her older brother. Tion's only response to Calan's question, however, was just to shrug.
"I'll see if there are any available," Calan promised the boy. "But they don't grow many cherries this far south, so I can't guarantee anything."
Tion nodded his thanks, then turned and left Calan to his nightly preparations. Calan watched him go for a second, something not quite connecting in his mind. Shrugging, he absently put the piece of flour sack on the pile with his cloak, then turned to his bedroll.
**********
Rial kept his gaze low as he watched Lady Takis sparring with one of the Mo'ani warriors. Her red cloak and narrow curved sword seemed to flow together in a series of well choreographed
movements, each always a step ahead of the unlucky Mo'ani who had accepted her challenge.
Her fierce brutality and deep hatred for the church guards didn't puzzle Rial like it did some of the others. She had suffered the loss of her family while young, just like him, but yet she had found a way to balance that with honor and loyalty--two things he could not reconcile with his own thoughts and feelings. He had sworn fealty to Nahtan at his coronation, just like the others, and he would uphold his oath. He felt no deep emotion for the words, however, which had tasted hollow to him.
His dark gaze shifted when Nahtan's daughter approached him slowly, her hands clasped in front of her and her blue eyes pinned on him. She came to stand beside him, then lowered herself to sit at his side.
"She really wants papa to fight her again," Valry noted, her tone easy as she shifted her gaze to the fight several yards from them. "He's afraid the only way he could win is to cheat, though, so he won't until she's beaten every other Mo'ani here."
Rial looked down at her. "And how would you know that?" he asked. He wondered for a moment if their king used his young daughter as a confidant.
"I can feel his thoughts," she said, shrugging as if it were nothing. "I can feel any strong feelings from people," she continued after a moment, turning her eyes slowly up to him. "Why do you hate Lady Takis so much?"
"It's a mutual dislike," Rial returned.
"She doesn't trust you," Valry stated. "She doesn't know you well enough to really hate you. She feels like you betrayed her and the people from her hold."
"I suppose those are valid points," Rial agreed. He didn't have any remorse for the Takis Mo'ani who had died while with him in the southern villages. It was part of their jobs as soldiers.