by Danny Macks
Pious pouted. “When I am king, I won't ask. No one will touch me, or my friends, and live to brag about it.”
Chad looked around at the assembled archers. Within the castle, the common men looked up to Lauren and Chad didn’t see uncertainty or doubt on any faces. No one else would say no if Pious chose to flex his royal might today.
“No. Please. Let him enjoy his victory in peace.”
“You’re no fun,” Pious grumped, but waved the archers away.
"I have to prepare a funeral." He couldn't cave in to grief. Needed to stay busy. Funeral preparations would fill his day, today. But the next day, and the next? “How about we go riding, tomorrow?”
Mollified, Pious walked with Chad to the stables and the pair was soon chattering about horses and Pious’ upcoming re-introduction to the Winter Stallion.
*****
When Jeb returned to Aunt Cass’ cottage, he immediately released Midnight and his dam. Both mother and child pranced around a bit, stretching their legs.
“There’s a demon in that one,” Cass said from the gate as Jeb watched the pair roll in the grass. When Jeb turned at the sound of her voice, she loosened the laces on her dress and showed Jeb a nasty bruise at the base of her breastbone.
“Did the mother do that?”
“No, the colt. He’s a demon, I tell ya. Kicking the gate, kicking me. He’ll give ya nothin’ but trouble.”
Jeb glanced back at the colt who hopped up from rolling on the ground, tried to make himself look tall and crowded his mother. She swiftly and confidently put him back in his place, refusing to yield, and bumped him with a hip when he tried to force the issue. Jeb smiled back at Cass.
“He’s a little mule headed, but he’s just a colt.” Jeb whistled and Mother immediately ran straight to him, the colt following close behind. “We’ll be fine.”
While Jeb patted Mother and fed her a little snack, the colt hopped in the direction of the gate and Cass jumped back. Midnight started prancing around with his head and tail high. Mother lowered her head and snorted, and the sound reminded Jeb so much of a human sigh that he laughed out loud.
Cass growled and hobbled back to her cottage. “You two deserve each other!”
*****
When Lord Inius Ravnos first saw Midnight outside Erroll’s North Gate, the next morning, the look he gave Jeb was cold and hostile.
“I bought him after the fire,” Jeb said. “The bites and cuts happened before I got him.”
“And his hooves?”
Jeb glanced at the colt’s hooves, which he had trimmed only the morning before. They were cracked and chipped again. “He’s too little for shoeing, but he kicks. A lot.”
Inius hmmed skeptically. “Show me your tools.”
Jeb’s face burned. He had stolen a grooming brush and a hoof pick from Cass, but he was certain Pol had already claimed the rest of his tools at the Dancing Goat.
Upon seeing the pick and brush, Inius turned and started unpacking his horses. Although he had sent the bulk of his men and belongings with Lord Thesscore, he had brought along a single manservant, two large garrons and a charger. The manservant leapt to help and soon horse blankets, tents, armor and other accoutrements were spread across the field in neat rows.
“As of this morning, you are my responsibility, and I promised to deliver a groomsman to Thesscore, so that is what I am going to do. You want to neglect your horse, you are going to try living as one. Hand me your pack, Horse.”
Jeb glared at Inius, but the look he received in return was both mild and unyielding. No hate, no intimidation, and as implacable as the tide.
Inius emptied Jeb’s pack and laid out all the contents. “You have a good blanket, but your … what have you named them?”
“Midnight and Mother.”
“Midnight and Mother don’t have a blanket, so you don’t.” He set aside four woolen blankets from his own equipment. “You have food, but your mounts don’t.”
“They can forage!” Jeb interrupted.
“So can you.” He set aside two bags of oats with the four blankets. One by one, items moved from Inius’ equipment to this new pile, and the manservant’s expression also grew cold. Soon, a well-stocked pile formed … well-stocked for only two people and two horses.
“Finally, defense,” Inius said as he moved a bag full of armor and a poleaxe to the pile, “A horse cannot defend himself from thieves and bandits, so he must carry his lord’s equipment.”
“I can’t afford to buy this much gear,” Jeb complained.
“But you bought a horse! The moment you put someone else’s life in your hands, that decision has consequences.” Inius turned to the manservant. “Gerge, would you pack up the rest of the gear and catch up to Lord Thesscore? Take Slepner, Lily and Rose with you.”
“Can I talk you out of this?” Gerge asked. “When the city brat gives up and runs back home …”
Inius turned his back to his manservant and started packing the new pile into two large bags.
Gerge pulled Jeb aside. “If anything happens to him, this nation isn’t big enough to hide in.”
*****
With his knightly training, Chad hadn’t ridden purely for fun in years and his horse enjoyed stretching her legs as well. Pious wanted the biggest, most intimidating charger in the stable, but he hadn't sat on a horse in over a year or more. Chad and the groomsmen finally convinced him to accept a pony with a mild disposition instead.
Pious was a bit too hard on the bit and jarred his body when the pony trotted, but learned quickly and seemed to have an unconscious feel for the saddle. Although inexperienced now, Chad had no difficulty believing he had ridden often in a previous life.
Cresting a hill, they saw two men in the distance with huge backpacks, trudging up a distant hill with a small horse and an even smaller colt running loose nearby.
“That’s what is wrong with our nation today,” Pious suddenly declared watching the pair. “Peasants working while horses are idle. Soldiers are the same way: standing around doing nothing while lords, who should be relaxing, are training. When I am king, I am going to start mandatory, harder training for the common soldiers and the lords will only be needed for parades.”
In the distance, the colt trotted up behind the smaller of the two men and started shoving with his head, but wandered away when the human didn’t stop to play.
“Have you heard of the peasant’s revolt?” Chad asked.
Pious nodded. “King Oberon taught me about it. The peasants revolt happened when a bunch of idle know-it-alls got it in their head that a peasant could be a king and started demanding peasant children be tested as king. After killing the ringleaders, King Oberon compromised and agreed, but only the Death Test. He said there were too many ways to cheat the minor test.”
Pious grinned. “He taught me all the cheats too.”
“Weren’t you born a peasant?”
“I was never a peasant!” Pious snarled. “Lord Equus confirmed he knew my mother before I was born. I’m a lord’s son.”
Chad frowned as he remembered the revisionist circumstances of his own elevation to lordhood, and thought it best to change the subject. “So if you are going to train commoners to fight, how are you going to prevent another revolt?”
“I’ll work them hard enough that they don’t have time to plot a revolt. The peasant’s revolt sprang from idleness.”
*****
Jeb’s new pack weighed as much as he did, and he staggered carrying it. Inius was sweating too, and leaning heavily on his poleaxe, but seemed positively chipper. “Chk, chk, chk. C’mon Horse, just a bit farther. You can do it.”
“How about you carry the heavier pack for a while?” Jeb growled.
Inius grinned. “I am. Want to trade so I can prove it? Make it to the bottom of the far side of that hill and we’ll eat.”
At the top of the hill, Jeb saw a stream below. Mother trotted toward it and Inius said, “Call them back.”
Mother turn
ed at Jeb’s call and walked back up the hill to him. He petted her shoulder and walked her beside him to the water.
“So you do know horses,” Inius said. “Good. This won’t be as hard as I feared.”
At the water’s edge, Jeb dumped his pack on the ground, secretly hoping something inside was breakable, and glared at Lord Ravnos.
“Horses work hard, just like people. But like people, they sometimes get so busy working hard that they forget to plan for emergencies or take care of themselves.” Inius handed Jeb a rasp. “Show me you know how to use this. It’s sharp, so be careful you don’t take off too much.”
Inius watched Jeb work cleaning up Midnight’s hooves, then soaked some oats in water and handed the bowl to Jeb.
Jeb looked around for a spoon, then dipped a couple of fingers in the bowl.
Inius scowled. “That was for Midnight. Humans eat last.”
Jeb’s face burned as he held out the bowl to the little colt. Of course he knew that people sometimes supplemented when the mare didn’t produce enough milk, but Midnight wasn’t that thin and Harker had always been stingy when it came to spending money he didn’t have to. Jeb’s vision blurred at the memory of the man who had been as close to a father as anyone in the last decade.
“The city is only five miles back up the road if you want to give up.”
Jeb glowered at Inius. He hadn’t gotten teary-eyed over stupid oats. “I’ll die first.”
“Good horse. This second bowl is for Mother. I’ll start on a fire for our food.”
*****
Jeb and Inius had only traveled five more miles by the time the sun set and the pair set up camp for the night. After the horses were seen to, Inius gave Jeb a huge bowl of food, with a spoon, and said he would show Jeb how to set up snares where the horses wouldn’t easily become tangled in them.
“We’re going to need the meat. Your body is burning more energy and is going to want to build muscle.”
“I thought horses didn’t eat meat,” Jeb said, smiling around a mouthful of food.
“Snarkiness is good. It means I haven’t broken you yet. Show me your feet.”
Jeb moved his feet under his butt so he was sitting on them. “Why?”
Inius spooned another ladle in Jeb’s bowl then grabbed an ankle. “A groom’s job is to take care of his horses. A lord’s job is to take care of his people. So, are you going to let me take off this boot or are you a kicker, like Midnight?”
Jeb winced, inhaling sharply when Inius pulled off his boots, but didn’t kick.
“I thought so. I have some salve that will help those blisters heal and form callouses. Leave the boots off tonight and I’ll set the snares.” Inius moved back to the fire and started eating what remained of the food.
Jeb realized Inius had given him seconds before serving himself a first helping. He set aside the bowl. “You should have some of this.”
The lord shook his head. “I’ll know to make more next time. Eat.”
*****
Chad was waiting when the Grey arrived in his room.
“Tell me about ethereals,” Chad said immediately. “I’ve been reading and there isn’t enough information written anywhere in the library.”
The grey responded with seven signs that Chad didn’t know, then slowly spelled them out: courtesy, honesty, loyalty, courage, generosity, faith, and prowess.
“The seven knightly virtues,” Chad replied, spelling out ‘virtue’. “I know them.”
The grey showed Chad the sign for virtue, a quick upward motion with three fingers spread and thumb on index finger, and made sure Chad could reproduce it faithfully before continuing.
Did you demonstrate courtesy when I arrived? the grey signed.
“No, but …” Chad had to stop talking when the grey started signing again. He couldn’t talk and sign and read the grey’s signs at the same time.
And what does a courtesy man do when he is wrong?
“He apologizes and I am sorry, but there is so much I need to know and …”
Then I will answer your question. The most important thing you need to know about ethereals is that you cannot compel them into action nor can they compel you. We are souls, like any other soul and as deserving of courtesy. I will be honest with you, and generosity with my knowledge, and loyalty after my fashion, but I will require those virtues in return, at least in your dealings with me.
Chad’s face burned. He felt like a colt that had been put back in its place by its mother. “I’m sorry. Can we start again?”
Very well. Good evening.
“Good evening.” Chad started to sign more, but stopped, uncertain what would offend the ancient ghost.
I understand you wish to discuss the ethereals. What would you like to know?
“Well, to begin with, are you male or female?”
I have been asked this question before and I believe the question has romantic [something]. I am whichever answer does not signify romantic options to you. I am not romantic with humans. I am, however, not an it. That word has extra meanings that do not apply.
Chad didn’t want to know what the complex sign meant enough to derail the conversation. “No, I mean with your own kind. Are you a boy or a girl?”
You used the same sign and different words for male and [something]. We will work on your [something] in the future. But let me try and answer your question a different way.
The gray ethereal dropped his hands then started to slowly rotate. He formed a large protruding belly, then stretched himself until he was thinner than Chad and taller than Thesscore, then reformed himself into a glowing mastiff, then formed a grey doe, before forming an impressive set of antlers. He remained in the form of a large, impressive, glowing, grey buck and turned back to Chad, waiting.
“You are anything you want to be,” Chad finally said.
The grey resumed his usual humanoid form. No. I am myself. Unchanged. But me is not a shape, or a gender of any kind. Just as, to my sight, you have always been you.
“How long have you known me?”
I met you more than … Nimbus paused and Chad cursed the fact that the ethereal face was entirely expressionless. … seven winters ago.
“Seven winters ago would be the reign of Pious the First, when Kibus and Cormeum were a single nation. How much earlier have you known me? All the way back to the time of the ancients?”
You skipped several signs when speaking. The words you are missing are …
Chad laid his hands flat on the table and spoke without signing. “And you are avoiding the question. When you said you knew me seven winters ago that was a lie of omission. Honesty is more than clever phrasing so you are not technically lying. If you are going to claim knightly virtues, claim them truly.”
Nimbus stiffened. Paused as if thinking. Then he bowed to Chad and floated down through the floor and out of the room.
Chad looked down at the page where he had planned to write notes. It was still blank. He sighed, jotted down a quick shorthand of the signs he had learned this session, then wrote, “Who knew you could wound an ethereal’s pride?”
*****
Jeb woke when Midnight stepped on him.
He grumbled about the clumsiness of colts, saw that the eastern sky hadn’t even started to lighten with pre-dawn and rolled over in the woolen blanket Inius had given him. Midnight stepped on him again, harder.
Growling, Jeb sat up and saw Nimbus waiting for him.
I can’t do this. He impugned my honor.
“Was he right?” Jeb wasn’t sure who ‘he’ was, but he had some guesses. “You and I have been arguing for as long as I’ve known you and I’ve never gotten under your skin.”
I don’t have skin.
“You know perfectly well what I mean.” Jeb rubbed his face and figured if he was going to be up he might as well try and find those snares. His boots were stiff and hard and he had to work the leather to warm them up enough to put on his feet. “Were you acting honorably?”
> Nimbus hesitated like he did when he was about to lie.
“No, you weren’t,” Jeb finished for him. “And you are feeling embarrassed about it.”
Boots on, Jeb rose and started to search for the snares when he noticed Midnight pulling at his horse blanket with his teeth, ignoring Nimbus. Mother was prancing back and forth, clearly agitated, some distance away. “What did you do to her?”
She tried to kick me when I approached Midnight. I let her. She didn’t like the experience.
Jeb untangled the colt from the blanket designed for a much larger horse, and Midnight immediately ran to comfort his agitated dam. “Is your new king an honorable man?”
He and I have never gotten along. He used to ...
“No, now. Is he honorable, now? In this life.”
Nimbus hesitated again. I disturbed your slumber. I am sorry.
“You don’t get off that easy. Answer the question.”
I always hated when you two ganged up on me.
Jeb chuckled. “Go back to Erroll City and see to your king.”
*****
Jeb was fairly confident he had located all the snares when he returned to the campsite with four rabbits. A fire had been lit, but Inius was watching Midnight do his hopping and kicking thing, rearing then kicking nearly as high with his rear legs when his forelegs hit the ground.
“I wondered why his shoulders and ankles were so developed. Did you show him how to do that?”
Jeb chuckled at the thought. “You can call me Horse, but I have human muscles. A human can’t do that.”
Inius gave Jeb a smirk, dropped the blanket from around his shoulders and stepped away from the fire into the grass, stretching his shoulders as he walked.
When he was well away from the equipment, he raised his arms, leapt and landed in a handstand. He wobbled a bit, finding his balance and Midnight stopped his own exercise to watch. Then, very slowly, the aged lord bent his elbows until his hair brushed the grass, before shoving hard and landing back on his feet.
