Fire and Thorn

by Mary Vee

  The tight space in the clearing didn’t make sleeping any easier that night. Although the temperature cooled, tempers continued to roast their complaints.

  The next morning, Gilbert clicked his tongue loose from the roof of his mouth. He couldn’t remember being this thirsty any other time in his life. His stomach growled louder than a lion’s roar. The others must have heard it.

  He sat up and gazed at the Valley of Sharon then remembered to honor the Great King. Raspy garble spurted from his mouth like a croaking frog. “You provided for those who have gone before us. We’re thirsty and hungry. Only you can help us survive.” He swallowed. “We look to you for help.”

  Bold sunrise reds and oranges faded as the sun started its daily roasting of the desert. Gilbert's skin itched from layers of sweat. He’d only wished for a bath once before. Oatmeal and sweltering heat apparently caused a guy to do weird things. “Everyone up. Time to break camp.”

  The parched squires rubbed their empty stomachs. Some pulled their sticky, sweaty clothes away from their bodies. Others wiped sweat off their foreheads and necks with their blankets. No one bothered to mount. No one bothered to speak.

  They dragged their legs forward one grueling step at a time. Even poor Promise hung her head low, desperately wanting water.

  In all the misery, Gilbert still knew the Great King would provide for them on that very day. He tried to smile but couldn’t. He didn’t have the strength.

  Down the path, a large, scraggly bush caught his attention. Heat waves made the branches appear as red, yellow, and orange flames. He didn’t even have the energy to satisfy his curiosity.

  Though they had not hiked far that day, the team struggled to move forward. Gilbert forced himself to take one step then another. As the leader, he had to be an example at any cost.

  From thirty feet ahead, the same location as the large fiery bush, an unusual sound wafted up the trail toward him.

  Bloop, bloop…..tssssssss

  Gilbert stopped. The sizzle resembled a rattlesnake’s warning. But more than one. Maybe twenty. “Stay, Promise.” She obeyed as he inched towards the sound. The hissing grew louder.

  Bloop, bloop…..tssssssss.

  Bloop, bloop…..tssssssss

  The path widened ten feet before the bush then leveled. From the growing sound, he feared there might be more than twenty waiting to strike. He took a deep breath, drew his sword, then stepped ahead, ready to kill the serpents before they harmed anyone.

  Bloop, bloop…..tssssssss.

  Bloop, bloop…..tssssssss

  He cautiously moved forward with little steps, wondering why no one else acted as if they’d heard the snake-like sounds. He stopped two feet away from the bush and peeked around it.

  The sight caused him to gasp. “It can’t be,” he said out loud even though no one could hear.

  Gilbert stared in disbelief then rubbed his eyes and looked again. There, right before him, was not a mirage. It wasn’t his imagination. It was a bubbling spring. He fell forward, face first into the water.

  “Are you hurt, sire?” The steward called, his voice growing louder. “I hear a snake hissing. Is there a rattler?” The steward limped toward him as fast as his leg would allow.

  “I’m fine.” He laughed. “Come see.” Gilbert pushed himself up and ran past the steward toward the rest of his team.

  “Sire, there’s water here,” the steward shouted.

  Gilbert took Promise’s lead rope and pulled her forward.

  “Water?” The squires stopped walking. “He’s joking,” they said.

  “Look.” Gilbert let water drip from his hand.

  “Water! We have water.” They guided their horses as fast as they could safely take them to the fiery bush.

  “Yes,” Gilbert said, laughing. “There’s plenty for all of us.”

  He dumped the contents of his satchel and opened it wide for a makeshift mini trough then filled it to overflowing. The water sloshed and splashed as he carried it to Promise.

  Daniel tipped his flask and filled it. He drank a little then filled his satchel and served his horse. “This is delicious.” He drank more. “What a weird place to find a spring. How did it get here?”

  Ben’s eyes widened. He didn’t say a single word. This had to be the first time Gilbert ever remembered Ben not having words to say. “It couldn’t have been here long. Look, the ground shows no signs of being wet.”

  Charles picked up flaky earthen powder from the ground nearby and rolled it between his fingers. “This sand hasn’t seen water for a long time.”

  Sybil guzzled down her whole flask of water then wiped her face. “I know what happened. It was the Great King, wasn’t it, sire?”

  It sure seemed that way. Gilbert smiled. “I think you’re right.”

  A great silence followed.

  Then…

  Without a signal or command…

  His friends raised their flasks. “To the Great King.” They drank and sang while sharing the refreshment with the horses then drank some more and cheered.

  The mares slurped as wildly as Gilbert’s team. Again and again, they filled the flasks with the sweet, thirst-quenching water. The spring didn’t run dry the whole time they stayed. The squires poured water over their heads, splashing the steward and Katia in their excitement.

  Energy, motivation, whatever it was, raced through him like never before. “Fill every container you can find then prepare to move out,” said Gilbert. “We have a quest to complete.”

  The sun and wind dried their clothes and hair before they mounted. The gentle slopes of the next two switchbacks made riding easy.

  Gilbert's thoughts drifted to the next important issue. His stomach. They hadn’t eaten yet that day. His belly rumbled.

  He looked around, hoping to find a bush with berries, anything edible. A plump, juicy grape would taste great. The only thing that spanned the great distance before him was a sea of dry, dusty desert, thirsty for a cool, refreshing drop of moisture.

  He sighed. “Sorry, stomach, you will have to wait to dine.”

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Thorny scrub plants layered the last stretches of hard-packed, sandy trail. Gilbert recognized many bushes, herbs, and flowers, including sage, rosemary, and thyme.

  Not every plant had thorns, although it seemed like they did. The team tried to lead their horses around the prickly plants, but even the daisies sprouting from the trail wall had sharp points that stabbed the riders’ legs.

  At the valley floor, the path blended into an ocean of sand, peppered with bristly plants. Gilbert stopped and looked up at the sky. Shades of brown, oranges, and yellows from the evening sun blended with dark tans, greens, and golden hues on the mountain peak.

  Like a painting with watercolors seeping into the canvas, the desert hues mixed with sunset colors made the view breathtaking. “After this quest, I’m going to promise myself to ride out to the countryside as often as I can,” said Gilbert.

  Daniel nodded. “This. Is. Amazing.”

  “How can you say that?” Jonathon pointed toward the mountain. “The whole way here you whined about going back.”

  “You did too.”

  “Maybe I did.” Jonathon faced the desert and looked up at the darkening evening sky. “Ever since tasting the cool water from the spring, I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Yeah. Me, too.”

  A few moments later, Gilbert's stomach rumbled. The others must be hungry too. “Let’s find a place to camp and hunt for food.”

  Ben scanned the nearby area. “There isn’t an open place wide enough to put up tents, sire, unless someone would like to sleep on a pincushion.”

  He was right. “No. That won’t work,” said Gilbert. “Use your swords, knives, anything we have that will clear some of these plants for a campsite.”

  Ben was the first to dismount. He and Charles challenged the plants to a dual, chopping off the heads of their victims. Justin and Jonathon set up a competition chall
enging Ben and Charles to see who could chop off more plant heads. Whacking the brush was easy, but transporting the thorny pests posed a prickly problem.

  Daniel grabbed his blanket and flung it to the ground. He picked up discarded plants and set them on top, then gathered the four corners and carried them away from the camp. “Ow.” He dropped his load and picked thorns out of his hands.

  Jonathon shook a scrub plant free from his hand. “I look like a porcupine. These things really hurt.”

  “Pick them up like this.” Charles unsheathed his sword, skewered a plant, and swung it over to his blanket then flipped the hilt. When the plant refused to let go, he shoved it off with his shoe.

  “Sure. That was a great idea,” said Ben. “Now you have thorns in the bottom of your shoe.”

  “Thanks, Ben.” He rolled his eyes.

  Freshly chopped thyme, rosemary, and marjoram sat among the plants in the pile. The aroma riled Gilbert’s stomach even more. “Katia, take Ben and Charles and hunt for food. Steward, go along with them in case they need help. The rest of us will finish clearing a space and set up camp.”

  Katia folded her arms together and raised her chin. She eyed her assigned helpers. “Are any of you really good at hunting?”

  “Come on, Katia.” Ben rolled up his sleeves. “We’re trained squires. Of course, we can hunt.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that. Grab your weapons and follow me.” She whipped out two knives from her belt, the only ones left after the trail mishap, and twirled them around as though extensions of her fingers. She turned and confidently strolled away from the camp.

  Ben and Charles snapped their jaws closed. “Wow. She’s good.” They stumbled to their bows then ran to catch up.

  The steward rolled his eyes and picked up his sword. “You squires are about to get a lesson from a master, and I’m not referring to me.”

  Gilbert laughed. He unsheathed his weapon. “Let’s get back to work. Charles’s idea of using a sword to pick up the plants was good. Once you have it over the blanket, use a second sword to shove it off. Jonathon and Justin, carry the blankets full of plants away from the camp. The rest of you grab a sword and clear a bigger area.”

  The system worked well. They cleared the troublesome scrub plants before the hunters returned.

  Daniel and Sybil dug out the packed tents while Justin and Jonathon finished discarding the vegetation. “I would have traded my tent for some of those supplies that spilled on the trail,” Sybil said. She swiped her hands together.

  “You won’t think that way when we need shade from the desert sun tomorrow.”

  “I suppose you’re right. The camp is set. We only need food.”

  “They should be back soon. With Katia in charge, they’ll probably have an antelope strung over their shoulders.” Gilbert pictured Ben and Charles as the ones she’d make haul the kill and laughed.

  The desert had such a different scent from their home. The dryness woke a spicy aroma from the plants.

  The sun sank farther behind the mountain, leaving a lavender glow. A shiver crept up Gilbert's spine. His shoulders shivered.

  Jonathon rubbed his arms. “Brrrrrr. I’m cold. Daniel, help me get a fire started.”

  “There is a dead acacia tree near the end of the path,” said Gilbert.

  It didn’t take long for them to haul the wood back. Daniel arranged the logs and used wisps of bark for kindling. Jonathon hit two rocks together for a spark since the tinderbox disappeared over the mountain. They nursed a small flame into a roaring blaze.

  Gilbert, Sybil, and Justin finished grooming the horses then warmed themselves by the fire.

  By the time the flames blossomed into a bonfire, the hunters had returned. Ben and Charles heaved their quarry onto the ground. “We brought three large jackrabbits, and two, three-foot snakes, sire.”

  “That’s a lot of food,” said Gilbert. “We’ll eat well tonight.”

  Jonathan rubbed his hands together. “Fresh rabbit. This is going to be good.”

  “I’ve never eaten snake.” Daniel looked at the meat. “What does it taste like?”

  Ben smacked his lips. “Like chicken. Moist, tasty chicken. The king and I ate some on our trip to the other kingdoms.”

  The steward held out his hand to Katia. “May I use one of your knives?”

  “Sure, but I don’t mind cleaning the meat.”

  “I know. I’d like to help, though.” He poked the knife into the first rabbit and made a cut through the skin. The squires gathered around and watched.

  Katia searched the ground as if looking for something.

  “What do you need?” asked Gilbert.

  “Since my supplies are gone, I’ll need a spit to cook this meat. I also need the fire rearranged for cooking.” The squires didn’t move right away. “Now.”

  “I know where there’s more wood, Katia,” offered Daniel. “I’ll make a spit for you.”

  “Wait up,” said Charles. “I’ll go with you. Maybe I can find wood to make a walking stick for the steward.”

  Justin and Jonathon rearranged the campfire for cooking, moving the logs into a star shape. “Will this do, Katia?”

  “Yes, thank you.” She walked to the pile of discarded plants. “Fresh thyme, rosemary, and marjoram for seasoning.” She inhaled and smiled. “Perfect.” She stuffed the herbs into the meat and skewered all the pieces onto the spit Daniel found.

  Charles delivered a seven-foot, knobby branch to the steward.

  He drew his new walking stick close and smelled the wood then held it out to look at the patterns in the grain. “A fine piece of wood, Charles. Thank you.”

  The campfire snapped, drinking in dripping meat juices. A savory aroma wound through the air. Jonathon stood close to the rabbit meat. “You guys can have the snake. I’m eating rabbit.”

  The others moved closer to the fire and kept a watchful eye on the sizzling supper. “Can you make it cook faster, Katia? I’m so hungry. I could eat a whole camel,” said Sybil.

  Daniel inhaled the meaty aroma. “If Katia cooked, I’d eat whatever she served.”

  Katia lifted the spit from the fire. “If you squires will back up. Unless you’re not hungry.” She cut pieces of rabbit meat and handed it to Gilbert first then the others. “You’ll have to hold your food. The proper serving plates fell down the mountain.”

  “Don’t worry.” Gilbert bobbled the hot meat from hand to hand and blew on it. He took a big bite of freshly cooked rabbit, chewed then swallowed the most delicious meat ever. He licked the juices from his lips then ate another big bite. As his stomach felt better, he chewed slower, squeezing drops of flavor onto his tongue and savoring every morsel.

  Later, Katia brought him some snake meat, too. He couldn’t decide which tasted better. She probably could take an old shoe and turn it into a delicacy. He leaned back and enjoyed the heat from the flames.

  Jonathon waited for his second serving. He licked his lips when asked which meat he wanted. “Rabbit please.” Katia winked at Gilbert and cut a portion for the famished squire. Jonathon sighed. “At last,” and accepted the food. He held it up to his nose and smelled. “Is this rabbit?”

  Katia shrugged. He tentatively drew the meat to his mouth. Inch by inch, his jaws opened and the meat slid onto his tongue. He bit down squeezing the juice and smiled. “Best rabbit ever.”

  “Chew carefully, Jonathon, you just ate the rattlesnake,” Ben said and held the most serious look.

  Jonathon flung his hand up. “I did not. This is rabbit. I know what I’m eating.”

  A loud guffaw burst from the squires. They fell back onto the sand and laughed. The steward pursed his lips and pulled out his journal from his belt. Charles gasped. He walked on his knees toward the enforcer and clasped his hands together. “Steward, no. Please don’t report us.” Another laugh burst out before he forced his lips sealed and cleared his throat. “Seriously, Steward, please?”

  The squires interrupted his groveling with a burst
of applause for the performance.

  Jonathon pressed his hands to his lips. “You all are joking. I really ate rabbit, right?” Even the steward laughed this time. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He raised his chin. “I happen to like the taste.”

  They drank water saved from the spring then tucked the flasks away before tempted to drink more.

  “Katia, that was the best meal I’ve ever eaten,” said Ben.

  She nodded her appreciation. “I suppose even the least favorite food would’ve been a feast for a starving squire.”

  All eyes fell on Jonathon.

  “I concede already. I ate snake and liked it. It tastes like chicken.”

  “Good.” Katia removed the spit and began the clean-up. “Tomorrow we’ll look for fruits and nuts.”

  “That would be nice, but we’ve been looking down at this valley the whole trip,” said Gilbert. “There isn’t anything but sand, rocks, and scrub plants.”

  “True, sire. But, while hunting near the base over there,” she pointed, “we found a small, shady crevice with a mountain pool. The water is crystal clear. Of course, we couldn’t see it from the trail. Growing beside it is a—”

  Gilbert blinked. “Wait a minute. Back up. You found what? Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  Charles threw his scraps into the fire. “Seemed like dinner was more important at the time, sire.”

  “Well then.” Gilbert held his flask high. “A toast to the provider of water. Give more to the horses, and drink your fill from the saved spring reserves. Tomorrow, we’ll resupply our containers at the mountain pool.”

  The squires cheered and doused their thirst and warmed themselves around the crackling flames, telling stories. Justin and Jonathon talked about the battle with the dragons and what they could do differently if one attacked them in the desert.

  Gilbert attempted to stifle a yawn as the stories dragged on and on. “I hate to interrupt, but we need our rest. Tomorrow may be the day we end our quest. First, there are a few final details I need to share with you.”