Rolling Thunder

by A. R. LEOPARD

  Gradually the wind began to die down and the rain settled into a contented drizzle. The thunder mumbled softly as the squall puffed itself out. Sir Lavison noted this with relief, though he also noticed that it was quickly becoming darker as evening set in. He knew Terragone didn't mind riding at night, as long as the weather was decent, and was just about to suggest their turning back when he saw Terragone suddenly leap off his horse and pull it into a stand of thick undergrowth. Sir Lavison knew Terragone well enough to know he needed to do likewise and so he followed suit, as quickly and quietly as he could. Once he’d pulled himself into a thicket near Terragone and gently held his horse's muzzle, he carefully looked over to where his friend was to get some indication of what to do next. Terragone was up against the trunk of a tree and was peering around it at something deeper in the woods. Sir Lavison gave his horse a stroke to reassure him and then slowly edged his way over to a thick tree he could position himself behind. Once safely there, he cautiously looked around the trunk in the general direction Terragone had been looking.

  At first, he didn't see anything. It was quite dark and nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Then something big moved, a horse, about a hundred feet away. A rather normal looking chestnut bay. Now why was Terragone so intent in not alarming a horse? Though somewhat rare, horses had been known to be found wandering lost in the nearby forests and fields. It was hardly enough to warrant all this drama. Sir Lavison kept his eyes on the animal knowing that surely there must be something else to have alerted Terragone, and sure enough he soon saw what.

  A man was standing on the other side of the horse, adjusting something on the saddle. Before Sir Lavison even had the time to look over to Terragone to see what he thought, the stranger had swung up onto his horse. He was more visible now and though Sir Lavison still didn't have a very good view of him due to all the undergrowth, he saw enough to know he'd never seen this man before. From what he was able to see, it appeared the stranger was a rather rough-cut, lean-limbed, n’er-do-well type of character, clothed in a dark cloak, the hood of which hid most of his face in shadow. The man studied the forest a moment, no doubt trying to pierce the growing darkness for threats. Sir Lavison was suddenly incredibly thankful for the deep shadows, since the man was clearly suspicious and Sir Lavison could also now make out that he was armed too. A longbow was strapped to his back and a quiver full of arrows was tied to the saddle. It would be useless to threaten a man who could shoot you long before you ever reached him, no matter your expertise with a sword. In any case it didn’t seem Terragone had any intention of making their presence know at the time.

  Then something quite unfortunate happened. Wildfoot, Sir Lavison’s stud, neighed impatiently and shook her head, causing her harness to jangle loudly. Sir Lavison snapped his gaze over to Terragone who was glaring at him with an intensely annoyed look. They were in a long-standing feud over whose horse was more intelligently developed and this just gave Wildfoot a pretty bad mark. Sir Lavison mouthed an apology, but when they both looked back to where the stranger had been, discovered he was gone.

  “I sure hope he's not hiding somewhere with arrow strung, waiting to kill us.” Sir Lavison whispered as he and Terragone walked over to where the stranger had been.

  “No, he rode away deeper into the forest. The hoof prints are clearly cut in the mud.”

  “Well let's follow him then.”

  “Why?” Terragone shook his head.

  “I didn't recognize him. And what was he doing in here?” Sir Lavison narrowed his gaze suspiciously at the darkness the man had disappeared into.

  “Probably taking shelter from the storm. And do really expect to recognize everyone you see?”

  Sir Lavison rolled his eyes, exasperated. “It may come as a surprise to you, but I do know most of the people around here. I also have the ability to remember a face, and even with his face two-thirds covered, I know I've not seen the man before. He looked suspicious to me. Who goes deep into the woods to find shelter from a storm when the edge works quite as well?”

  “We came in pretty far.”

  Sir Lavison shrugged as if that was irrelevant, “That’s different. And why would he ride away like that. That’s the kind of thing criminals and low lives do.”

  “Perhaps, but there have been a lot of strange people popping up lately. They're nothing to trouble yourself about. There is a royal occasion coming up and many people are traveling to attend.”

  Sir Lavison sighed, and with the air of a suffering saint, declared, “Well, if we're not going to chase him I think we'd better turn around and head back. It's not raining anymore and even the thunder has faded away for the most part. I see no need to stay here overnight.”

  Terragone smiled demurely, “You are correct.”

  And with that, they returned to their steeds, mounted them, and rode back to the great castle Hermin Druer without the slightest attempt at any more conversation. Terragone's mind had turned again to tomorrow's celebration while Sir Lavison's mind still puzzled over the mysterious stranger.

  —————

  Back at the castle, the young men separated, Sir Lavison going to procure some dinner, and Terragone, to find his father. Terragone’s father was a busy man (he was king after all) and Terragone had to ask around quite a bit before he finally found him. He was standing in a seldom-used sitting room, hands locked behind his back, gazing at a portrait hanging on the opposite wall. The portrait was of a child, very pretty and very young, with a white kitten sleeping on her lap. The child’s face was gentle and kind as she gazed at the little creature.

  “It was today, wasn't it? Thirty years ago today. I'd forgotten.” Terragone quietly walked up to his father and joined him in gazing at the young child.

  The elderly man turned and there was Harvest. His chestnut hair was silvery grey now and his face wore many a care-worn furrow. Much can happen in forty some odd years. He was still strong and sound both in body and mind, but many other things had changed and he was in no way the man he had been all those years ago.

  “Yes, my son. Today, thirty years ago, your only sister died without ever knowing she would someday have a little brother. I wish you could've known her. She was so sweet and kind. Quite like your mother, only more independent.”

  The king smiled, remembering again wee Verna before her last and fatal illness. His shoulders drooped and Terragone silently placed a hand on his father's arm. It was hard to wholly sympathize when he had never met his older sister, but he knew his mother and father were still grieved. There are some holes that can never be filled again, no matter the number of years that pass.

  Harvest took a great breath and turned to smile at his son,“Well, and where have you been this afternoon? Caught out in the storm, no doubt.” and with a wave, he led his son out of the room and down the long hall.

  “Very nearly. Sir Lavison and I took shelter in a forest just as it broke.”

  Harvest smiled benignly, “And are you ready for tomorrow?”

  Terragone nodded, “I believe so. I don’t love these great celebrations the way you do and I don't fancy the idea of all of those parents coming to throw their daughters at me, but I will enjoy it as much as I can.”

  “Yes, I suppose you'll do fine,” the king said rather absently before shaking himself out of it and turning to his son, “Now, how about you go and get something to eat. When you're done, come find me. I have something exciting to tell you. And bring Sir Lavison too, if you run across him.”

  “Of course, your majesty.”

  And with a slight bow, Terragone parted ways with his father.

  —————

  Harvest sat down at a ponderous desk and began flipping through his most recent correspondence. There was a letter from Ozival, now king of Essa. He and Ozival were not now as close as they had always promised be, but they still wrote each other on occasion. The bulk of this particular letter was to inform Harvest of yet another feud between the neighboring nations of Falair and
Thaxa, and to warn him to stay out of their squabble. This news hardly surprised or concerned Harvest. Falair and Thaxa were always fighting over one thing or another. The king of Falair was young, only about Terragone’s age, and the king of Thaxa was a hothead and quite rash. The perfect recipe for trouble. No, Harvest had something much closer to home to worry about. He had sent out an exploration vessel months ago and had yet to make contact with it. It was very unusual, short of tragedy, to lose complete communication with one of his ships like this. He waited eagerly for some news of its whereabouts, but there was nothing new today. At this point, he was beginning to fear the worst.

  —————

  Terragone did not waste much time on his meal and was soon off to find Sir Lavison. With a few questions, he soon discovered his knight was in conversation with a tradesman outside the castle gate, but that he'd be back in a few moments. Terragone asked to be notified as soon as Sir Lavison returned and then he wandered off to a quieter wing of the castle, up a flight of stairs, down a long hall, and into a fire-lit room occupied by only one other. It was Laurelina, his pure and good mother. She was sitting before the hearth, staring into the flickering light. He went up to her and kissed her silvery white head. She looked up and smiled. In her hand was a small miniature of his baby sister. She too was remembering that day.

  “Do ever wished you'd had brothers and sisters, son?” she asked quietly as he seated himself at her feet.

  “I don't know,” Terragone leaned back against her chair and stared into the fire himself, “I suppose in some ways I do, but Sir Lavison is almost like a brother you know. And sisters? I'm not sure. I suppose it would depend on what kind of sisters they were. Did you ever wish you'd had siblings?”

  “Oh yes, lots of times. But you know,” and she smiled to herself, “I also wished I were a wild pig once.”

  Terragone smiled too but continued, “You didn't even get any siblings by marriage. But maybe you didn't want any siblings that way.”

  Laurelina sighed and stroked her boy's dark chestnut head and gazed silently into the flickering light.

  A quiet knock was heard at the door. Terragone quickly rose, kissed his mother again, and went to see who it was, though he already knew. It was a messenger telling him Sir Lavison was back and waiting for him. Terragone looked back at his mother. She was staring absently again, thoughts far away, so he quietly shut the door and followed the messenger.

  —————

  “Finally!” Sir Lavison exploded as soon as Terragone came up to him, “I've been waiting forever.”

  Terragone was skeptical. “What were you up to, sir, if I may ask?”

  “Oh, so polite! I was asking a man who sees more than most if he'd happened to have noticed any strange men in the vicinity as of late. Especially those of a rough and grubby nature.” Sir Lavison carefully examined his immaculate fingernails.

  “And?”

  “Well, he said that there were many such men around lately. Not so much in the near kingdom as in the outlying villages. Very suspicious I think.”

  “Could be, but as I believe I already pointed out, there is a pretty significant celebration tomorrow and surely there will be many people traveling in for it. In any case, the king wants to see you and I right away. I don't know what about.”

  Sir Lavison quickly put his hands down and said very decisively, “Well let’s go find out, shall we?”

  And with that, they both strode off to find Harvest.

  —————

  “Sit down, please, and make yourselves comfortable.” Harvest carefully released a letter onto a pile of other papers, “And good evening to you, Sir Lavison. I hope you didn't get too wet this evening. I hear you enjoyed a refreshing ride.”

  Sir Lavison nodded politely and said, “I suppose you also heard about the mysterious stranger we saw in the forest.”

  The king raised his eyebrows questioningly and looked over to his son, “No, I didn't hear of it. Was it very unusual?”

  “I thought so. Terragone doesn’t agree, but it is strange don't you think?”

  The king seemed to relax, “I'm sure it's nothing. There are many travelers coming for the prince's celebration so there are likely to be many strangers mulling about. Don't lose sleep over it.”

  Terragone managed to look triumphant even while maintaining a rather serious expression. Sir Lavison attempted to look like he was in total agreement with the king and nodded sagely at the king’s explanation.

  Harvest smiled and continued, “I asked the two of you to come this evening because I have a very special something I want to announce. Terragone, your mother and I decided that as a gift this year we are going to send you on a sojourn, to anywhere you'd like. You could go to the mountains or up into the far north or even on a sea voyage if you desire it. I can also easily arrange for you to travel as far west as Falair or Thaxa if you want it. I have connections and Kasteyn’s father was a friend of mine and would not begrudge your visiting his land. Sir Lavison would go with you of course, as well as any other knights you choose.”

  Terragone smiled knowingly at Harvest, “Thank you Father. I cannot think of a gift I would want more.”

  In many ways it was a kind of atonement. Harvest knew his son disliked these celebrations, particularly when he was the reason for the festivities. This was his way of making up to his son this inevitably huge occasion. Harvest sometimes wondered, however, what would happen when Terragone became king and there could be no avoiding these types of situations.

  —————

  The moment after Harvest had dismissed them and they entered Terragone’s official chambers, the prince was assaulted by his knight's very strong opinions on the matter.

  “Definitely westward, into the Jagged Mountains and the wild lands beyond.”

  Terragone raised his eyebrows as he looked over a map laying on his desk, “That was one of the options, yes. But there is also the north and all the strange things you hear about the northern mountains. And personally, I love the sea and have long desired to go explore it for myself. And south, where our nation’s wealth is forged, those miles upon miles of ‘green gold’.”

  “I still say we should go west.” Sir Lavison insisted.

  “Well, this is probably not the time to take a sea voyage. Not after this unfortunate problem with our exploration vessel. Seems a bit insensitive to all the families waiting in dread for word of their loved ones.” Terragone drew a little x with his finger over the ocean.

  “Agreed. So west it is.”

  “Be quiet and let me think.” Terragone reprimanded, “Up north there are so many absurd and strange folktales. They say it is quite unlike any other part of the world for fantastical happenings. And Essa has been a friendly country for generations.”

  “It’s too cold up north.” and Sir Lavison reached forward and made the x himself this time.

  “The south would not be cold. And there is much monumental and ancient history down by the Emerald Fan and the old city of Heillard. Gailli was birthed down there, among the green fields and fresh springs.”

  “Fascinating I’m sure, but it’s hardly a wild wilderness anymore. No danger or dare, just a lot of tourism.” and Sir Lavison made another x.

  “And then there is the west…” and Terragone went into a thoughtful silence.

  Sir Lavison took the opportunity to fill in for him, “To the west are the wild and expansive grasslands, bordered by the Jagged Mountains and the Tanlyiere, both dark and dangerous and still quite mysterious. And once beyond them, there is the wasteland that is Falair, a land unfamiliar to both of us. And further west still, beyond Falair, who knows. Uncharted lands.”

  “Uncharted is probably a bit of an overstatement.” Terragone smartly interjected, “Falairians and Thaxans would know what was further west.”

  Sir Lavison shrugged, “Still.”

  Terragone thoughtfully thrummed his fingers against the wood.

  Sir Lavison waited.

&nb
sp; Then with a decided thump on the table with his fist, Terragone made a large invisible circle over the only region without an in invisible x on it, announcing, “West it is.”

  5

  James Learns About this New World

  James walked stiffly down the dirt road, his muscles quite achy from the previous day’s exertion. Helix walked easily beside him, humming quietly. It was early morning and the sun, fresh from her nightly rest, was throwing bright beams over the hills and vales stretching away on either side of the long dirt path. Both gentlemen had packs strapped to their backs stuffed full with bread and cheese and potatoes Fona had packed the night before. James figured it was only a matter of time before his back too would begin to ache from the load.

  Last night, after James had finished his meal, he had declared himself much too worn out for any long discussions. Rem had told him quite merrily that there would be plenty of time tomorrow to catch up on the details. That is, unless he planned to rise early next morning to travel south with Helix. Naturally James jumped at the opportunity to avoid having to talk about what would only make him sound like a crazy person. So, without consulting Helix first, he had declared that was exactly what he had planned to do. Helix hadn’t said anything at the time except to smile and nod. Even that morning, after they had set off and were well away from the fairy village, Helix did not ask him to clarify or explain his sudden decision.

  So it was, by some unusual luck, James found himself free from having to explain anything, even though it meant he had had to rise far earlier than he had anticipated and a whole day of walking stretched before him. But even a daunting walk was not so bad when you had such a merry companion. In fact, Helix no doubt was very knowledgeable about this world and could tell James everything he might want to know. If he'd thought of it yesterday, there were things he would've asked Daisy, but the rapture of being in a new world had been enough for him then. Not today though. Today was a learning day. He already had a plan of how to best space out his questions so as to last all day and so avoid any long, awkward silences. There was little he hated so much as he hated an awkward silence.