For the first time the whole day Delmer saw Rebenna's fair features relax.
Chapter 8
It was a nice walk and allowed them to rest. Tymon left the king’s shoulder occasionally and flew above them, but gave them no more signs that they were being followed.
When Delmer's stomach started to growl, he realized they had only had those pieces of rabbit all day and that he still had the berries he had picked earlier. He handed a few of the berries to Rebenna.
Rebenna looked grateful. "Thanks, I'm starving."
"So am I. How about we stop to have something to eat in Windy Hollow?"
Rebenna grinned. "Good idea. Come on let’s race by foot." She pulled Trouble into a faster gait. Delmer laughed and followed suit with Lancelet. As Lancelet broke into to a trot, Morag jumped down and jogged along.
They reached Windy Hollow within the hour and tied the reins to the hitching post. Delmer kept his sword and bow on him, and Rebenna her dagger. It was a shady town, and Delmer suspected no one would mind if they had weapons on them. Tymon took off and circled above their heads, but Morag stayed stubbornly next to her master.
Rebenna had been the victor of their race, and as her prize Delmer ended up paying for her lunch. Rebenna had in fact insisted on him buying it, but Delmer didn't mind.
They ate in a tavern, and Delmer was fascinated by it. He had never seen anything like it, and the people in it interested him. Rebenna laughed when she noticed Delmer's amazement.
The food was good, but in Delmer's opinion the beer was better. The only problem was the tavern keeper complaining about Morag. He had told Delmer he was going to remove her, and Delmer had just smiled. "By all means try."
As the tavern manager reached down to grab Morag, she snapped at his hand. She was determined not to leave Delmer's side, and no drunk was going to take her away. They faced no other problems, but Delmer still worried about having drawn too much attention.
Next they went to a small shop that had everything from clothing to beer in stock. There they got another few sets of clothes, including warmer attire for the bitter cold weather. They also got flasks for water, climbing tools, cheap tents, and blankets. Rebenna was in her element: She bartered with the shopkeeper and inspected every item before buying anything.
Delmer quietly stepped back and watched Rebenna in action. A man joined him. He was rugged, with the traditional Malzepherian dark hair. He wore an eye patch, and when he opened his mouth Delmer could see some teeth were missing.
"Getin' lots of supplies, huh?" The man had a low, gravelly voice.
"Yes, is there a problem with that?"
"Nope, but no one's bought this much in...never."
Delmer shrugged. He didn't really care. They needed the supplies, even if that made them look suspicious.
The man didn't seem to notice that Delmer hadn't responded. "Name's Bunt. What's yours?"
“Umm...Jonathan."
"Had to think there, didn't ya?” Bunt slurred his speech and Delmer had to strain to hear. “Say, you’re takin’ a trip to where? Looks like ye be climbin' a mountain or somethin'."
Delmer was really beginning to get annoyed. This man has no right to be prying into our business.
"Sorry, Johnny boy, just tryin' to be friendly. So, what's your relation to that gal over there?" Bunt jerked his head and pointed at Rebenna.
Delmer had hoped no one would ask why Rebenna was with him. "She's my—wife," he finally said, as they had agreed.
"Nice look to her. Looks like she's Noennaan. Any good in bed?" Delmer's cheeks flushed and Bunt just took it as a sign that she wasn't. "No shame in that, but..." Just as he was about to continue, Rebenna walked up.
"Are you ready to go, honey?" Rebenna didn't hesitate; she had sensed the conversation was making Delmer very uncomfortable.
She has no idea what she just saved me from, and I don’t intend to tell her.
"Yes, let's go." His words came in a rush and he hurried out of the store.
Now they only had a couple of coins left, and the sun was beginning to set. They needed to get out of town, unless they were to stay at an inn. They barely could afford a room with one bed if they pulled their money.
"Come on, we'd better get going,” said Rebenna. “Trouble and Lancelet will have had a chance to rest, and we can ride a few miles before the sun completely sets."
Reaching the horses, Rebenna leapt up onto Trouble, and Delmer mounted Lancelet a little more clumsily. As they urged the animals into a trot, Tymon appeared to land on Delmer's shoulder. Morag bounded along beside them, having recovered her energy.
Again, they stopped a few miles away from Windy Hollow and made camp. They had bought salted meats and dried fruits, and because of the time decided to eat them instead of hunting for more food.
Delmer seemed much more at ease now that they were away from Windy Hollow, but he was still edgy. Whenever Rebenna asked him a question, he would jump and mumble his reply. He didn't bear any resemblance to the young king that she had befriended, and Rebenna resolved to learn why. She suspected that it had something to do with the man he had been talking to.
She blurted out, "Delmer what is wrong? Why are you acting so anxious? What happened back there?"
His eyes widened and he became pale. He gulped and timidly said, "Nothing happened." His reply was weak and unconvincing.
Still, he looked extremely nervous and more than a little embarrassed. She was genuinely concerned for Delmer and pressed a little bit more. "Delmer, I'm your friend. You know you can trust me. Tell me what's troubling you. What did that man say that was so upsetting?"
Delmer hung his head and told her what the man, called Bunt, had said. Rebenna had expected that Delmer had given away who they really were or something horrible, but what he recounted surprised and somewhat embarrassed her.
Rebenna had lost her composure and it took her awhile to regain it. When she managed, she tried to lighten the mood. "Well, at least we know our cover story works."
Delmer laughed nervously. He had calmed down and seemed more relaxed now.
The king has his insecurities. Almost immediately after having that thought a more sinister one popped into Rebenna’s head. What if I were to tell King Marus that I've found out Delmer's weakness?
She shook off the thought. She had told Delmer she would help him. Besides her king had proven himself to be untrustworthy, and she really had no intention of helping him.
Rebenna heard Delmer's slow breathing. The horses moved around restlessly, and Tymon dozed in a nearby tree. Morag lay between Delmer and her, although the dog still occasionally glanced around. As Rebenna scanned their crude camp, she laughed to herself. Her position had changed so much. She had been transformed from a cocky young ambassador used to luxuries to a young woman ready to work hard and in tune to what others thought. She also felt much more secure in who she was. As she fell asleep her thoughts drifted to her experiences in the past few weeks and then to Delmer.
The next day they both awoke early, half expecting to see Delmer's personal guard hovering above them. But they were nowhere in sight.
They ate a quick breakfast and mounted their horses. Trouble was herself again. She was full of energy and ready to go.
As Rebenna had noted, Malzepher was a much flatter country than Noenna, and they were able to move swiftly. It was quite a monotonous country, flat with the occasional grove of trees or knoll. The only distinguishing features of Malzepher were the Illuminai Forest, the Razorback Hills, and Slate Mountain, located at the center of the hills.
They didn't need to push their horses as much as they had the day before, but by Rebenna's calculations they would reach Razorback Hills in two days. The hills would be more difficult to navigate, so it would probably take them another day to reach Mount Slate. She wondered how they would survive the climb and find the items while their supplies lasted.
Delmer was murmuring to Morag. He caught her eye. "Don't worry, we can do this. Just trust me." He
had read her mind, it seemed.
"Don't worry? Delmer, we are attempting to do something no one else has survived. We don't know where the items are located on the mountain. For that matter, we don't even know if the items are on the mountain. We're about to attempt the impossible and you want me to trust you!" She just exploded. All her thoughts rushed out at once.
Delmer threw her a look and started laughing. "Yes, trust me," he gasped after a few minutes. "Listen, Rebenna, I know it sounds strange, but I know where the items are. All I ask is you trust me. I'm trusting you, although you were going to betray me."
His logic made sense to her, but her thoughts still plagued her like nightmares. "I know, Delmer, and I do trust you, but...I'm scared"
He carefully guided Lancelet over to her and touched her hand gently, "I'm scared too, but I have to do this. No one else can. If you want you go back to Kingdom Cove or even back to your home I won't mind, and I certainly wouldn't consider you a coward."
Rebenna turned her head to see Delmer trusting Trouble for the first time. She looked into his eyes and set her jaw. "I'm not going anywhere."
Delmer smiled. His smile seemed to light up the entire day and it kindled the fire he had already lit in Rebenna's heart. For a while they rode hand in hand, not caring if one of them was a king and the other an ambassador from an enemy country.
For the rest of the two-day trip, they continued riding peacefully together. Morag kept them entertained with her antics, but the days were otherwise uneventful.
When they reached the Razorback Hills, they located the goat herders. Delmer seemed uncertain about leaving his precious animal companions with strangers. Morag and Tymon had been Delmer's friends when he needed them most. However, Delmer knew he could not take them into the harsh environment they were about to enter.
The herders saw the ragged travelers and wanted to help them, so they readily offered to care for Morag. She would be of use to them, and when they heard the insane task her master was about to undertake, they pitied the dog. The herders were less sanguine about assuming the care of Tymon. They had lost young goats to birds of prey before, and to them Tymon was just a miniature of those monsters of the sky.
They only agreed to take him when Delmer explained all the bird needed was shelter. He would catch food for himself, and even help exterminating their mice.
The herders happily took the two horses as well. Even though Trouble and Lancelet would have been helpful over the next days, they wouldn't have been able to survive the harsh conditions in the mountains.
When Delmer and Rebenna were about to depart for Slate Mountain, he hugged Morag fiercely, telling her she must stay with the goat herders. Morag whimpered and licked Delmer's face. His eyes brimmed with unshed tears and Rebenna, unwilling to see the king overcome by emotion, looked away.
Delmer turned to Tymon, which had landed on his shoulder. He raised a finger and Tymon nipped at it. He laughed, allowing himself to stroke the gyrfalcon for a few seconds. Rebenna quickly hugged Morag and patted Tymon’s head. Tymon flew off to a nearby tree and watched them.
Then Rebenna gently touched Delmer's shoulder. Delmer turned, "May we meet again, my friends."
He spoke in the Old Tongue, the language that had been used when Malzepher and Noenna had been one mighty empire.
Chapter 9
They picked their way through the rolling hills, and with every step Delmer's resolve weakened.
He could not help slipping back into doubt, his resolve wavering as he surveyed the hostile terrain before them. He had found the courage to give Rebenna courage, but now he wondered again whether it was wisdom or vanity that had sent him on this quest.
As he walked, however, he could not help remembering one of the rare confidences his father had made to him. Sitting next to his son in his study, the former king had looked far wearier than Delmer had ever seen him. He had confided that every day he worried about whether he was doing the right thing — whether Malzepher would profit from his decisions. Delmer had been startled then, but now he understood what his father had experienced.
The advice the king had offered the prince had made his face brighten, however. "It is no use worrying about it. Sometimes you just have to trust in yourself and in your decisions."
Those two sentences convinced Delmer he had to go through with his plan. Although he could take the easy way out, he would stand by his decision.
He was jolted when he stumbled on a rock and was flung back to the present. He glanced up and saw Mount Slate looming ahead, and the sight filled him with determination.
I'll honor my decision even if it kills me.
As though hastening to meet their doom, the travelers quickened their pace. Something about the mountain pulled them towards it.
They broke into a jog and settled into the rhythm of the hills, rising and falling. The scenery began to change. The withering bushes faded and then became trees, tees the likes of which Delmer had never seen before. They were a good deal taller than the gnarled, ancient trees near Kingdom Cove, their boughs forming a triangular shape. Instead of leaves, the trees bore green needles attached along the branches.
The wind whistled, and Delmer heard rustling in the undergrowth.
Something is horribly wrong here. He wasn't sure what it was, but he strung his bow. Sensing something amiss, Rebenna drew her dagger as well.
A feline scream pierced the air. Delmer whipped around to see a mountain cat pin Rebenna to the ground.
She dropped her dagger and Delmer readied his arrow, but immediately realized that if he misfired he could hit Rebenna instead of his intended target. With a shout of frustration, Delmer flung aside his bow and drew his sword. I can't let it kill Rebenna now that we've come so far!
Delmer's bare blade flashed in the sun, giving the murderous cat a warning. It leapt off Rebenna and spun around to face its attacker. As the cat turned, Delmer slashed horizontally and made contact with flesh. However, it was not the cat's head that fell from its body, but its ear. The cat's movement had made Delmer overcompensate, not causing the fatal blow he had hoped for.
The cat howled in rage and gathered itself to crush Delmer. A sharp whistle stopped the cat short and the king quickly advanced upon the injured animal. An arrow flew out of the brush, landing between Delmer's feet. He instantly came to a halt, almost overbalancing and falling flat on his face. The cat whirled around on its haunches and bounded into the trees. Delmer was startled at the odd actions of the cat.
I'm not sure what just happened, but that cat was not acting on its own.
Despite his confusion, Delmer hadn't forgotten about Rebenna and rushed over to her. She had been knocked unconscious, and her blood was everywhere. Delmer spotted a gash running from Rebenna's forearm to her middle finger, along with various other cuts. Though the mountain cat had almost completely shredded Rebenna's clothes, it had not created more extensive harm. Delmer also suspected that Rebenna had hit her head hard and was more concerned with that injury than with her other wounds.
Delmer easily bound her cuts, using the bandages Rebenna had bought. He had never suspected that the basic medical care sessions he had been forced to take would come in handy, but once again he had been proved wrong. As he moved her arm cautiously to bandage the deepest cut, he realized that her shoulder was resting at an unnatural angle. It seemed to have been dislocated when the cat had pinned her down. Delmer frowned uncertainly at the limb. He had popped a joint back into place before, but his training had not covered dislocations. With some trepidation he finished tying the bandages.
Trying to make Rebenna comfortable, Delmer propped her head on his lap and threw his cloak over her. He took her injured arm and firmly manipulated it back towards the direction of the joint. She groaned and her eyes fluttered open. Just as she became fully aware, the shoulder popped back into its socket.
She screamed in agony, but then hushed. There were tears in her eyes, but she stayed perfectly still with her head in the king's lap
. "Delmer?" she asked wearily
A grim smile came to his face. "Yes, I'm here."
"What happened?"
"A mountain cat jumped out of the bushes and pinned you to the ground. It shredded most of your clothing and cut your arm. You have a good-sized bump on your head from when you fell too. I had to pop your shoulder back in, and that was the pain you just felt."
"How did you get the cat to leave?"
"I cut off one of the cat's ears. Then its master called it back. That was no wild beast."
Disturbed to think they were not alone on the mountain, Rebenna gave him a faint smile. "Thank you."
"I wish I could have done more. How does your head feel?"
"Like it just got run over by a hundred horses, but I'll manage. Will you let me up now?"
Delmer gave her a slight nod and helped her to her feet. He helped her create a makeshift sling with the bandages. She sighed in relief as the cloth bore some of her arm’s weight.
Rebenna caught the concern in Delmer's eyes. Acting on impulse, she leaned forward and gave Delmer a brief hug with her good arm. "That stupid cat didn't hurt me enough to prevent me from coming with you."
As Rebenna drew back, she saw Delmer's surprise. "Rebenna, you can't come. You're injured, you can't climb a mountain. You don't even have two working arms.”
"Delmer, I can and I will come. I've made it this far and I'm not turning back now." She set her jaw and stared at Delmer defiantly.
Delmer's voice softened, "Rebenna please, don't injure yourself more."
"I'm part of this mission. Don't coddle me."
"You can't come. I can't look after you all the time."
Rebenna glared at him. "I've been trained in swordsmanship and archery. I can fight bare handed just as well as any man too."
"It won't be my fault if you hurt your shoulder further." Delmer scowled, then frowned thoughtfully. "You know, it's funny that I'm disinclined to let you come after that incident, considering you were the one who convinced me to come on this journey in the first place."
Homecoming Page 8
