Honor and Blood

by James Galloway

  "Well, we have time, I suppose," Tarrin shrugged. "I'd rather only go through this once, though, so where are the others?"

  "Nikki should be here any time now," Thean said. "I don't know about Shayle."

  "They'll just have to suffer," Singer said intently. "I want to hear the story!"

  "So do I," Ariana agreed.

  "You've heard it," Tarrin told her archly.

  "So? It's worth hearing again."

  "Alright," Tarrin acceded. "Where do you want me to start?"

  "At the beginning, of course," Thean told him. "Where else would a story begin?"

  "There are several beginnings to this story, Thean," Tarrin told him patiently. Jasana, who had been wandering from Were-cat to Were-cat boldly, padded over and dropped herself imperiously into his lap.

  "Your beginning is the one that matters, lad." Thean laughed. "It doesn't seem right calling you that anymore," he admitted.

  "I surely don't feel that young anymore," Tarrin agreed, settling Jasana into his lap and composing himself. "It all started right here. Strange that I'd come back here, that this would be the place that I'd tell this story, but this was where I grew up, this was the place I left behind when Dolanna and Faalken arrived in Aldreth."

  And so he told the story. He was relatively thorough about it, not leaving out things he would usually leave out, mainly because of the company. They would understand those parts of it, unlike humans. He didn't delve too deeply into any one part of it, relating the story in a calm, swift manner that related the details yet didn't concentrate on any one part. There were interruptions, however. Jeri broke in when he was describing the intrigue at the Tower. "Why did you bother with that?" he asked. "I would have marched right into the Keeper's office and dragged the truth out of her. Or just left, for that matter."

  "I very nearly did that, more than once," Tarrin told him. "But Allia and Keritanima were also there, and I didn't want to put them in any danger. If it would have just been me, I would have been gone long before it got serious."

  Thean got involved with it when Tarrin described what happened in Dala Yar Arak, grilling him on the Cambisi and his short interlude with Shiika, and when she drained him. "She should have known that she couldn't kill you, lad," Thean objected.

  "No, it certainly seemed to surprise her, Thean," Tarrin replied. "I wondered at first why it didn't, but I think I've figured it out."

  "And what's your solution?"

  "We regenerate," he shrugged. "That power stems from the Were magical condition, and that magic is drawn from Druidic power. She couldn't kill me because the energy of nature replaced what she took fast enough to prevent it from killing me. Not even a Demon could drain the All."

  "That's a logical reason," Thean said after a moment. "Our powers are at least partially Druidic in nature. It's why Were-cats all have Druidic ability."

  "At least some of us," Jesmind said shortly.

  "You have talent, my dear, it's just never been realized," Thean told her with a smile.

  Tarrin then told them about the desert, and about the Selani and the desert creatures. Ariana looked a little uncomfortable when he told them the story of the Cloud Spire, but didn't try to stop him. Then he finished the story quickly. "And here we are," he said in conclusion.

  "Here we are," Thean mirrored, taking a drink of the apple wine. "My, this is really good, Tarrin. Where did you get it?"

  "My father brews it," Tarrin answered. "It's one of the few casks left."

  "Then we should savor it, instead of inhaling it," he said, giving Rahnee a glance.

  "You savor your way, I'll savor mine," she replied flippantly, taking another long swallow.

  "Hello, the farm!" a voice called from across the meadow. Tarrin looked and saw three horses, all three fidgeting nervously, at the edge of the treeline where the cart track to Aldreth pierced it. The Were-cats were upwind, and so many predatory scents on the wind were upsetting the horses. The men riding them were Garyth, Jak, and Karn.

  "Picket your horses where they are and come on, Garyth!" Tarrin shouted. "The horses will get spooked if you bring them any closer!"

  They did so, leaving them cautiously grazing on the grass at the edge of the meadow and coming over. Jak and Karn looked a little nervous to be coming into the company of seven Were-cats and a winged creature they had never seen before, but Garyth managed to smile. "Well, some of these faces are familiar," Garyth said grandly, pointing at Rahnee first. "I remember selling you a satchel about two years ago, madam. And I've seen you in the village any number of times, good master," he said, looking at Thean.

  "That smith of yours makes some of the most popular tools in the Heartwood, Master Garyth," Thean said politely, nodding towards Karn. "We've been in despair since he closed down his forge."

  "Give me a month, and I'll be open again," Karn said in his gravelly voice.

  "And we'll help make sure that happens," Jeri said strongly.

  "It feels, weird, coming to help humans," Singer laughed. "But we all miss Aldreth. The Woodkin have been in arms since the Dals took over the village. Much of the human goods the Woodkin use here in the north came from here. They're getting tired of having to get things from Arkis."

  "You should have said something sooner, madam," Garyth told her. "If you'd have been willing to help, we would have pushed them out long ago."

  "We're usually not permitted to interfere in human affairs, Master Garyth," Thean said patiently. "It's a part of our laws. But this is a special case, so the laws about that have been suspended."

  "Well, Tarrin, I came to tell you that everything's ready," Garyth said, looking at him. "The Rangers know we're coming, and they're going to gather outside Torrian. We have runners going to tell the men of Watch Hill to quietly get ready. We're going to have to take the garrison there, but once we do, they'll join us on the way to Torrian. We'll be leaving tomorrow at dawn."

  Tarrin nodded. "How many men do we have?"

  "About fifty," he replied.

  "And us," Jeri said in a strong voice.

  "We're very happy to have our Frontier neighbors helping us, good master," Garyth said with quiet dignity, nodding to Jeri.

  "Neighbor. That's a very good word," Thean laughed. "Aldreth has always been a good neighbor. We should have intervened long ago. Sometimes our laws are too strict, I think."

  There was another scent drifting in on the breeze, and it made all seven Were-cats turn towards the treeline. A human wearing a plain brown robe stepped from the treeline, his hair white and his features curiously ageless. He was being accompanied by a Centaur and a flitting Faerie. The Centaur was very big and very nasty looking, with a horse body that had a human torso attached where the horse's head would be. The horse body was huge, with brown coat and shaggy white fetlocks around the hooves. The human body was large and muscular, with a face that had curiously wide, almost equine features. He wore nothing but a bandolier about his chest, but his horse's back had a packsaddle attached to it that held a large bow, quivers of arrows, and a large, formidable-looking battle axe. The Faerie looked as all Faeries do, a tiny being with bluish skin. This one had blond hair, and wore a tiny little gossamer shirt with a pair of knicker-like pants. This one was a male Faerie, though it was hard to see that until he got very close. The three of them marched across the meadow, through the stream, and reached the gathering of Were-cats, Aeradalla, and humans quickly. "Laws are laws for a reason, Thean," the man said patiently.

  "Sathon," Thean said in surprise, as all of them came to their feet respectfully. "I'm surprised to see you here, good Druid."

  "Fae-da'Nar is getting tired of your meddling, boy," Sathon said with an amused look at Tarrin. "Having Triana annoy us is bad enough. But to tell Sarraya and Haley to do it as well? Have you idea how angry the Druids are with you at the moment?"

  Tarrin gave the small man a surprised look.

  "We know all about what's going on, Tarrin," the druid Sathon said calmly. "Fae-da'Nar has met and disc
ussed the problem. We've decided that it's a problem so serious that we must supsend the laws of isolation and help. If the ki'zadun succeed in their plan, they will destabilize the entire world. We cannot permit that."

  "What are you talking about, honored one?" Singer asked.

  "When the Aldreth humans march south, they won't just have the Were-cats with them," Sathon said. "The Centaurs and some of your Were cousins are gathering in the village, and others are moving this way as we speak. When the humans go, Fae-da'Nar goes with them."

  "Though we detest your kind, Were-cat, we will agree not to kill you while the Druids lead us," the Centaur said in a powerful voice.

  Tarrin did not appreciate saying such a thing, especially when the Centaur was standing on his home soil and saying that in front of his daughter. "You watch yourself, Centaur," Tarrin said in a flat voice. "You're standing in my territory. I don't care what you think about me, but you'll speak and act with proper respect while standing on my land. Do you understand?"

  "Your territory?" Jesmind objected hotly. "Our territory!"

  The Centaur didn't look very impressed, but the Druid turned and motioned towards him sharply. "My apologies," he said stiffly.

  "Save it," Tarrin snapped.

  "An Aeradalla!" Sathon said in surprise, coming over to where Ariana had been sitting quietly. Tarrin saw that the Aeradalla looked a little uncomfortable being surrounded by so many strange beings, but the gentle smile and warm hand Sathon extended to her seemed to make her relax. "It's been ages since we've seen any of you, my lady. We of Fae-da'Nar miss you. Would you tell your rulers that Fae-da'Nar still offers your people their ancestral place among us?"

  "Ariana, good Druid. We still remember Fae-da'Nar," Ariana smiled. "Unfortunately, the way of things makes us stay where we are. But I'll be sure to tell our King for you."

  "Very good, my dear, very good," Sathon smiled, patting her hand warmly. "Alright then, my children, we have things to do and not much time," Sathon said crisply, clapping his hands. "Jesmind, are you going with us or staying here?"

  "Me and Jasana are going, good Druid," Jesmind said respectfully. "Tarrin needs us to be near him right now."

  "Alright then, all of you, let's help them get their den ready to be left empty for a while," Sathon instructed. "Thean, you and Rahnee help patch that barn. Jeri, you and Kimmie get to work on that building over there. Singer, I want you to inspect the roof and make sure it's in good repair. Mistress Ariana, I'd appreciate it if you'd help her. Now hop, all of you!"

  Tarrin blinked. Just like that, Sathon had asserted his authority over them all, and he saw that all the Were-cats moved to obey him. That surprised him, but the quiet elation he felt at Sathon's presence made him very, very relieved and very, very hopeful.

  Fae-da'Nar was going to join the effort. And not just the Were-cats. They'd have a force of Woodkin as well, Centaurs, other Were-kin, and other beings Tarrin probably wouldn't even be able to imagine until he saw them. Tarrin's relief at that thought was tremendous. Now the taking of Torrian and the liberation of the Sulasian army from its trap was virtually assured.

  Things were starting to look very good.

  "What are you two standing around for?" Sathon said sharply, looking at Tarrin and Jesmind. "Put out this fire and hide that wine before we end up with a bunch of drunken Were-cats!"

  Jesmind picked up Jasana as Tarrin chuckled. "Did it occur to you, Sathon, that you don't have to order us around?" Tarrin asked.

  "I know, but sometimes Were-cats need a boot to the tail to get them going," Sathon smiled. "I know about you, Tarrin. I respect your authority here. You are a Druid on your chosen ground, and it's not my place to usurp your domain."

  That made the Centaur's eyes widen. It surprised Tarrin as well, for he often forgot about that. Tarrin was a Druid, and though he was a Sorcerer, to Fae-da'Nar, the fact that he was a Druid was much, much more important. A Druid's chosen ground was considered holy ground, a place where no Woodkin would start or participate in a fight. Since Tarrin had chosen his home as his chosen ground, that made his farm and it surroundings a place of peace, and it gave Tarrin absolute authority over anyone who entered his chosen ground.

  "That's alright, Sathon. I forget about that sometimes," Tarrin admitted.

  "I humbly beg forgiveness, good Druid," the Centaur said with surprising humility. "I did not mean to give offense to you here." Of course, the way he said it, giving Tarrin offense somewhere else would be perfectly acceptable.

  "Forget it," Tarrin told him bluntly. "You don't like me, I don't like you. That's fine. It shouldn't stop us from being able to work together when it's needful, however."

  "Truly," the Centaur agreed with a nod.

  "I hope you don't mind me going over your head that way, brother," Sathon said contritely. "But I could see that things needed to be done, and you weren't getting to them."

  "It's alright, Sathon," Tarrin told him with a wave of his paw. "I don't consider myself to be much of a Druid."

  Garyth, Karn, and Jak still stood where they were, being very quiet and watching what was going on with a slight wildness in their eyes. Tarrin looked at them and laughed. "Alright, I'm sorry we sort of forgot about you three," Tarrin told them with a rueful smile. "Sathon, may I present Garyth Longshank, mayor of Aldreth. Jak Longbranch, Garyth's bodyguard, and Karn Rocksplitter, the village smith."

  "It's a pleasure, gentlemen," Sathon said with a smile. "I'm Sathon, the Druid who lives closest to your village. At least I used to be," he said with a smile at Tarrin. "I think you should return to your village, good mayor. Any moment now, a large complement of Centaurs and human-looking Were-kin are going to march into the village. Your calm words will prevent a panic."

  "They're not going to be able to get into the village, Sathon," Tarrin said with a laugh. "I put up a Ward that will keep out anything but humans and Were-cats, to protect it from any Dal Goblinoids that may try to come in while we go down to free Torrian. I didn't think that others would be trying to come there."

  "Well, that's alright, Tarrin," Sathon chuckled. "We can camp outside the Ward's boundary. There's plenty of open space around the village. And I'll have Mikos leave a herd of his Centaurs here to help protect it from any attack."

  "It will be done, Sathon," the Centaur, Mikos, said immediately. "I vow that no Dal or Dal ally will come within a thousand paces of the village while my herd defends it."

  "Very good, Mikos. I suggest you go now, so you can tell the others about the Ward, and see to the dispensation of the group."

  Mikos banged his fist against his chest and immediately galloped off towards the cart track.

  "I think we should go as well, Tarrin," Garyth said. "I'm sure that that Centaur is going to cause a row."

  "Alright. I don't know if I'm staying here tonight or if we'll be moving into the village for the night, Garyth."

  "We're staying here," Jesmind said firmly.

  "Well, there's my answer," Tarrin smiled. "So I'll see you in the inn before dawn. Alright?"

  "We'll be waiting, Tarrin."

  "I'll be coming with you, Garyth," Sathon told him. "The Woodkin there are going to need a Druid. They're not used to humans. My presence will calm them."

  "We'd be happy to have you, good Druid," Garyth said respectfully. "I'll send messengers if anything important happens, Tarrin."

  "That's fine," Tarrin told him. "You'd better get going."

  "Tomorrow, then," Jak said with an extended hand. Tarrin took it warmly, and it reminded him that before they both had changed so much, Jak had been one of his best friends. He hoped that after it was all done, he and Jak could be so again.

  "See you in the mornin', boy," Karn growled in his gravelly voice. "We'll be ready."

  "Garyth, why don't you take a couple of casks of my father's wine to Aldreth with you?" Tarrin asked. "I think it would help everyone relax a little right now."

  "There's still some left?"

  "We hid the entrance very w
ell this time," Tarrin said with a laugh. "We have enough left to give those that want it a taste."

  "I haven't had a glass--of course! Let's go get it!" Garyth said exuberantly.

  Tarrin led the humans towards the big barn, and to his surprse, the Faerie was following him. He had been silent up to now, flitting along beside him, and he reminded him of Sarraya for a moment. "It's good to meet you," he said in his tiny voice. "I've heard alot about you, Tarrin."

  "You have? From who?"

  "My wife, Sarraya," he smiled. "She visited the colony a while ago and asked me to come plead her case to Sathon personally. My name is Alix."

  "Well, it's good to meet you, Alix," Tarrin said. "Sarraya is one of my best friends."

  "She says you're a stubborn pain in the butt, but she loves you anyway," Alix laughed.

  "That's Sarraya, alright," Tarrin chuckled. "How was she when you saw her?"

  "Tired, but alright," he answered. "Why are they staring at me?" he asked, pointing at the humans.

  "They've never seen a Faerie before, Alix," Tarrin said calmly. "Garyth, Karn, Jak, this is Alix. He's a Faerie."

  "It's good to meet you," Alix said politely.

  "Uh, it's nice to meet you too," Jak said uncertainly in reply.

  "Don't worry, I'm just the first of many shocks waiting for you three," Alix said with mischievious little grin. He was a Faerie, alright.

  "Actually, I think the first shock was seeing Tarrin's friends around the fire," Garyth admitted with a laugh. "Who was that winged woman?"

  "She's an Aeradalla, a very rare race that lives in the desert," he replied. "She's going to be our eyes in the sky."

  "I hope the village is ready for this," Karn growled.

  "They've dealt with the Woodkin before, Karn," Tarrin said patiently. "It'll be a little different than before, but I think they'll be alright. After the initial shock wears off, anyway."

  "It's all very strange," Jak said quietly.

  "That about defines my life since leaving home, Jak," Tarrin said with a rueful look.

  "No, I mean them coming out of the forest. They don't have any real interest in what's going on, do they?"