Untamed Gift (Book One of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  “Clift, come over and meet Kallel.” Clift stopped grazing and walked over to scent the new person. And the new member looked at Alex strangely. He didn’t understand what Alex had done.

  “Did you just…” He stopped once Clift began sniffing the back of his head. “Is this horse to travel with you?” Marlin said Clift was a valued companion and goes with them everywhere, without sounding angered. “Alright now who is this third one who’s supposed to frighten me?”

  “Shade, I know you’re behind those bushes. Rise up behind me.” It wasn’t that Alex could necessarily see him, but it was like he could feel where Shade waited. Their connection always allowed the other to know where they were. It was a comforting feeling. A shadow streaked from under some bushes, crossed the road and ran underneath Alex without making a single sound.

  “Why did you just make those awful…” Kallel’s eyes widened when his question cut short. The wide eyes of Kallel looked at the ground behind the tall young man and slowly followed Shade as he appeared from behind. Kallel’s body began to shake in fear as Shade laid his head atop Alex’s right shoulder. The curved sabers easily missed his chest. “Is… is that a… a…”

  “Shadow Fang?” Alex asked to finish Kallel’s questioning sentence. “Aye, he his,” Kallel went sheet white, even under his dark sailor’s tan. “This is Shade. You do not need to worry about him, he will not harm you. You have my word.” He glanced between Shade and the other Freelan member. “Kallel, come up and meet him.” When he didn’t move Alex spoke to Shade. “Go over and introduce yourself properly.”

  Shade grinned, which almost made Kallel faint. Shade took his head off his elder brother’s shoulder and walked around to make an introduction. Shade carefully walked to Kallel and looked him in the eye while taking in his scent for future reference. He then turned his large head to meet Alex’s gray sight and stated “He smells almost like the shipping boat we took to reach the mainland. He smells of fish, wood and salt.”

  “That he does. Come back here and give him time to process us.” Shade turned and walked back over to his side.

  Shade sat on his haunches by Alex’s side. Lily came up and began stroking his bulky head absentmindedly. Then she began humming a beautiful melody which sent Alex’s pulse fluttering. Both Marlin and Clift also walked over to stand with them. Kallel just stood there gawking at the group like they were traveling performers or traders with the strangest wares. They all waited silently while he processed their pack.

  It took almost an hour before Kallel could speak coherently. “So you’re saying all five of you need to go together?”

  “I am.” Alex stated while finally being glad Kallel’s awkward silence ended, but disheartened that Lily quit humming a slow cheerful melody for a fourth time. It seemed she only knew the one, but it remained forever sweet. “Will there be any problems with my companions?”

  He cleared his throat. “Nay, but do you remember our agreement?”

  “We help you and you’ll help us.”

  “Good. Follow me and I’ll explain what needs be done. Can your fiend hide? Like before?” he was referring to Shade and Alex nodded.

  Soon all of them walked back into the torch lit town of Greeton, but they stayed to the outskirts and the shadows to avoid detection. The entire group had to remain absolutely quiet as they followed Kallel.

  A half hour later they spotted a hidden trail behind an old abandoned building. It was also a stone’s throw to the lake. It was dark, but Kallel borrowed a torch to lead them down a dreary path. Shade and Alex walked in the back of the line while Marlin, Lily and Clift stayed close to their guide. Once they were completely alone Kallel began telling what the outlandish group needed to do for him. “It has been many seasons since I’ve seen another member of Freelan who has needed help in crossing the lake. I have been stationed here for several years to aid those who need to get deeper into Alluan. Because of the lack of people requesting my aid, I’ve been a little too lax myself. The boat that I’ve got needs repairs before we even think of casting off. So with your promise to help it’ll be in worthy form that much faster.” He then glanced back at them all. “By the look of it, you have been traveling for a very long time.”

  “What gave us away?” Marlin asked jokingly, but Kallel took it an honest question.

  “You are all quite fit and your clothes look to be falling apart at the seams. Even your leader seems to have worn his shoes clean off.”

  “Who? Alex?” Lily asked and then turned to look at his large, bare feet. “He never wears shoes to begin with.”

  Kallel turned and looked in the back. “So, Alex is it?” Alex nodded and continued walking along with everyone. “I admire your courage, but isn’t it dangerous to walk barefooted all the time?”

  “It can be, but it is my problem if I’m ever injured.”

  He said “Hmm” and then went back to his earlier subject. “As I was saying, you all have traveled a very long time and must need new clothing and supplies. If you’ll help me harvest from my garden or find some wild game, I have a store owner who I use, when I need to sell my goods. Whatever I make can go to getting your supplies and repairs to my ship. What do you say?”

  Marlin and Lily looked to Alex for advice. He looked at Shade and told him what was said. Shade grinned and said “Tell him it will be more than a fair trade. We need soap and you need to get your own knife to help me with my prey. Oh and Lily has been explaining about a fascinating item called a brush. Could you get one for me?”

  Changing his voice back to that of a human Alex said “Shade says he’d like that. So our answer is aye.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Kallel said while laughing. “So you can communicate with a fiend? That sure must be a special item you’ve got.” Marlin and Lily looked at Alex again and he shook his head slowly. They knew not to explain his abilities to a stranger; even if he is Freelan. Too much is still at stake. “I wonder what Mary has cooked us up for supper? She’ll be astounded about our new guests, after so long. Not to worry, we have enough guest rooms inside my home for each of you.”

  They walked the trail for another hour while listening to their guide babble on and on about himself until he finally stated “Were here.”

  They followed his lead as they entered a suitable sized farm from the west side. There were two large buildings, one was his two story home while the other was mainly a horse and chicken barn. The home had several candle lit windows, which meant someone was home and busy with something because smoke and other delicious scents blew out from the chimney. The stalls and coop were just the right size to stable up to four horses, but there were only two already stabled within.

  The farmland itself was separated into two different plots of growing resources. One held harvestable vegetables and the other held fruit bearing trees and berry bushes. It was a nice piece of property for a man to own who didn’t have many farmhands to help. It was slightly larger than Alex’s old home, which brought back both happy and terrible memories. The worst memory was reliving a brilliant tower of flame consuming his home.

  The building clouds above stole Alex’s attention and he stated “It is going to rain very soon. Maybe we should pick up the pace.” Everyone took his warning seriously and quickened their gaits.

  The lake’s waves were lapping against the nearby bank, but Alex was unable to see the water through thickly overgrown bushes. Off to the south end of the farm was a wide path, leading to the main road presumably. It was easy to realize that was how Kallel usually travels to the town, to remain hidden in enemy territory, but be in plain sight. They had taken a secret route to his home.

  They all made it to Kallel’s home and he stopped on the entry way. “Alex, I’m sorry, but my home isn’t large enough to fit your fiend. I’m sorry but he must stay out here. There is plenty of room inside my barn for both him and your horse.”

  “I understand. I’ll stay out here with them then.” Alex said in complete understanding because of their large si
ze, but Kallel took it like he’d insulted a guest. “I didn’t mean it disrespectfully. It’s just…” he stammered.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m used to it. We’ll be just fine.” Alex looked to Lily and Marlin. They didn’t want to separate from him, but he said “The two of you go ahead on in. It will feel good to have a bed to sleep on after so long. Enjoy the respite he’s offered, the two of you deserve it. You’ll know where to find me if anything should occur.” Tension and pity crossed their faces, but he truly wanted them to relax after such a rough journey. “Besides, I’ll have a roof too.”

  He made his expression say; go on ahead. We will be fine. It won’t be the first time I’ve stayed outside for a night. Please enjoy yourselves. You need it more than I do and I hope it feels great.

  Alex patted Clift’s flank and Shade’s rib to gain their attention. With a simple gesture for them to follow they did so without any regret or grumbling. As they walked towards the stalls Clift eventually said “Do we have to stay in there?” because he had too many memories of being confined inside because his human slavers only let him out when they needed to keep his strength.

  “The gate won’t be shut on you, I’ll see to it. You may do as you’d like, but Shade and I need to get some much needed rest, plus it would be welcome to have a roof over our heads after so long.” Shade agreed with Alex’s assessment and his golden eyes were getting heavy. He was about to drift into his dreams if he stayed awake for much longer.

  Once the other horses saw Shade they began to spook. They neighed in terror while trying to kick their way to freedom from the closed stall. Clift trotted up to them so they could understand that Shade wasn’t going to eat them. Shade chuckled at his well deserved reputation. It took very little time as Clift calmed his brethren. Then Shade and Alex made their way inside the barn when Clift said that they would do their best to remain calm with a predator in their midst.

  They arrived at the stalls moments before the rain began to pour. The stable door remained open as Clift entered an empty stall and began eating some fresh hay. Alex gathered more dried grass, from a fresh pile in the barn’s corner, and tossed more inside Clift’s stable. Once he was content for the night it was time to make up the last stall for the two of them.

  More hay was used in the last open stall, to make a softer pallet on the solid soil ground for them. After spreading it out evenly, Shade tested the work by laying down first. He grunted, in relaxing pleasure, and then looked to his brother. “Good work. Now we can finally rest in comfort after so long journeying. I’d like to hear what all the man said.”

  As he laid on his side Alex laid his head against Shade’s ribs, listening to his powerful breathing and heartbeat. For the next thirty minutes Shade and Alex discussed what Kallel said and figured on what they could possibly do to assist him. During their slow discussion someone came sloshing through the rain, coming in their immediate direction. The steps were quick, to avoid the rain as much as possible. The person wasn’t being silent.

  As Alex sat up, Shade turned his head in the same direction. They wanted to know who chanced coming to see them in such dreary weather. Someone was using a lit torch because the dark ceiling turned into a flickering dark orange. The flames came closer and rounded the stall they resided in. Then a petite head poked around the corner, carefully. “Oh my; my husband wasn’t joking about a Shadow Fang being in our barn.”

  Before them was their host’s wife, Mary. She stood shorter and thinner than Kallel, but she seemed pleasant and welcoming. Her hair was a soft brown that laid down her back and across her shoulders. She wore a nightdress that was wet from the rain, but why had she come out? Then her arms moved and drew their attention away from her presence. In one hand she held a burning torch and in the other held a large covered wicker basket. She had a motherly aspect to her expression which was comforting.

  Standing up in greeting, he asked “May I help you with something, Mary?”

  She was still looking at Shade in wonder. Since he is one of the Big Three, it is unknown to see such a wild predator lurking inside your barn. Then she looked up at the tall boy and smiled. “Oh I’m sorry for my conduct. I wanted to bring you out some of the dinner that was remaining from our evening meal. I couldn’t have any of my guests going hungry with so much food in our home, now could I? My husband told me that your group was traveling with an actual Shadow Fang and I had to see it for myself.” She sat the basket down and said “There is much I still need to do. We haven’t had guests in a very long time and I need to prepare the rooms for your companions. Rest well…umm…both of you.” She smiled and then left without either of them able to tell her thanks.

  Inside the basket were three large loaves of bread, two carrots and a large piece of salted meat. Shade ate two of the loaves and they split the remaining evenly. After eating their meal, they resumed talking before falling into their dreams. Before they fell asleep though, neither Marlin nor Lily came back outside to see if they were alright.

  Alex truly hoped they were enjoying the guest rooms.

  Before the sun graced the sky Alex awoke, feeling remarkably sprightly. The hay bedding had been remarkably softer than the hard ground he’s slept on for months. There was a string that wasn’t being used in the barn so he took it to wrap on his staff. He put the sling over his chest and the staff didn’t get in the way as his body moved. Alex now understood why his uncle wrapped his item this way when his hands were both occupied.

  Wanting an early start, Alex found the wagon behind the barn and it had been rained on all night. It was larger than his old wagon and could be pulled by the two steeds still asleep in their stalls. The wagon had four large wheels made of wood and reinforced with metal. The bed was made from worn wooden planks, but it would still work adequately for transportation. The harvesting tools were on the side of the building, fortunately they were still sharp and in good condition. He tossed three pairs of well worn work gloves onto the wagon seat along with a hand held scythe, a pair of shears and a hoe. Alex held the hoe for a few moments in remembering his uncle’s. After placing the tool inside the wagon he grabbed several large wooden baskets that were stacked neatly inside the barn.

  After checking that he had what would be needed Alex pulled the lead ropes until the wagon began rolling. He learned to roll up his pants legging in wet weather long ago. The rain turned the soil to mud and it made pulling the wagon slightly more difficult. As he pulled the wagon it suddenly became too easy.

  Alex stopped and the wagon did as well. He had gotten stronger, but his struggle with the mud made it too difficult for the pulling of it to be this easy. His suspicions were revealed when a large and furry, ebony head with golden eyes lifted itself above the bed of the wagon. “I just wanted to help.” Shade said with a wolfish grin.

  “I appreciate the assistance.” Shade grinned even more and butted his head against the wagon again, once Alex began pulling.

  There was a large path between the vegetables and the fruit plots. They moved around the front of the silent house. With Shade’s help, they moved the wagon onto the muddy path and stopped when they were close enough to the harvestable crops.

  At this time of year Kallel had planted carrots, cabbage, squash and tomatoes. The only ones that could be harvested right now were the carrots and the tomatoes. On the other side were apple and orange trees along with red raspberries, mulberries and blueberry bushes. Only the raspberries berries could be picked because the other plants had only begun to flower.

  Sliding on a pair of gloves first, he grabbed a basket and the hand held scythe.

  As Alex began walking across the field Shade said “I’m unable to assist you in harvesting the vegetation, but I’m capable of something else.” His head turned towards to the tree line, his ears attuning to begin the search for food. “I’ll go hunting and see if I can bring back some meat. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Shade then sprinted into the woods while avoiding the more delicate crops. Then w
ith a powerful leap, he cleared a bush and vanished.

  Walking up to the tall row of wires that the tomato vines had crawled onto, he began the familiar task. The wires reached five feet high. There was a ladder nearby but it was unneeded. The tomatoes were red, plump and juicy. They were almost all ready to be harvested, only a few needed more time. The vines are hard to cut without ripping the fruit from the green stem so it requires a sharp blade to harvest it and keep the tomatoes beauty, without bruising the meat. He knew he’d need to be careful dealing with the scythe.

  He sat down the bucket and gripped scythe more securely to begin collecting the top row of tomatoes. It took a few tries to get the technique down again, but tomato picking became easier. When picking the tomatoes he’d hold four at a time in one hand before depositing them in a basket carefully, before doing it all over again.

  On the fourteenth deposit, the first bucket was completely filled. He left the scythe by the ladder while he lifted the bucket of tomatoes. The work was strenuous and he quickly began to perspire. After loading one bucket he grabbed five more to bring over. It had gotten warmer, even at this early hour, so Alex left his tunic on the wagon. He became almost instantly cooler without it and he still wore the staff slung over his exposed back.

  By the time he finished filling the eighth bucket a familiar voice shouted in the distance. “Good morning, Alex! Already working I see.”

  Morning had broken as Marlin walked over with a mischievous smile etched on the corners of his mouth. Someone had a great night. He was in freshly washed clothes and had shaven properly. It had been three days himself so Alex’s beard was still short and bristled. Even Marlin’s hair had been cut shorter than last night’s style. He was wearing a new, but old, pair of leather boots. Kallel probably loaned them so that Marlin could work the farm.