Talon opened his eyes. “It won’t be today though,” he said as Ahnon tossed the rabbit through the air. Talon caught it in his beak and threw his head back, swallowing it whole.
“You tired?” Ahnon asked.
“Hardly. A pack of hippogriffs were flying by. It looked like a pack of bachelors, so I just landed,” Talon said. “I’m not in the mood to listen to you today about me fighting.”
Ahnon looked up in the sky and grabbed his bow. “They mess with you, and we eat hippogriff!” Ahnon shouted.
Closing his eyes and lowering his head, Talon muttered, “That’s what I mean.”
“Hippogriffs? Where?” Kenna shouted, looking up.
“To the east. They should be overhead soon,” Talon said, looking up at Kenna. Kenna rode her horse over to Talon, looking up in the sky. “There,” Talon said, looking off to the east. They saw five creatures high in the sky. They could tell they were black but saw little detail.
After they passed over, Kenna sighed. “I wish I could’ve seen them up close,” she pouted.
“Would you like me to go and catch one?” Talon asked, stretching out his wings.
“NO!” Ahnon shouted, making Talon sigh.
Kenna reached over, patting Talon. “He really loves you a lot,” she whispered.
“I know, and I love him too,” Talon said, spreading his wings. “But one day, I’m going to bite him.” He jumped in the air, flapping his giant wings, sending out a cloud of dust and leaves.
When Talon left, Kenna moved over to Ahnon. “Ahnon, you have to quit treating him like a little kid,” she told him.
“Kenna, I’ve raised him from the egg.”
“You stole him from his momma!” Kenna shouted.
Ahnon shook his head. “No, his mother was killed by a group of hunters, and they tracked the nest down.”
“Why did the hunters kill his mother?”
“Money.”
“Are ahus̆-roc that dangerous?” she asked.
“Kenna, you can see how dangerous they can be, but there is another reason some hunters track them that I’m not in the mood to talk about,” Ahnon said in a tone that let her know to drop it.
Jedek slid off his saddle and moved to one of the pack mules to get some food. “What are you doing?” Kenna asked.
“Seems like a good spot to take a break,” Jedek said, eating. She and Ahnon nodded in agreement and got off their horses to join him. “Ahnon, can I ask you a question that’s not about Talon?” Jedek said.
“Yes, Jedek.”
“Who was Neeji?” he asked, shocking Ahnon. “You really like him, and I know he’s from the academy.”
Ahnon smiled. “Saw a lot in my mind, didn’t you?” Ahnon asked, and Jedek blushed. “Neeji was one of my instructors.”
Kenna dropped down on her butt. “Ahnon, come on and tell us the story,” she begged.
Letting out a sigh, Ahnon sat, folding his legs. “My first two years at the academy were my worst. I didn’t really want to be there, so I didn’t try and had to go to the whipping post every night. Secretly, I wanted to be kicked out but little did I know that I couldn’t be kicked out. After I was allowed to view the seeing stone, I tried as hard as I could to be the best. Master Kota saw the improvement and started talking to me and in a few months was tutoring me privately. It was almost a year later when I called him Neeji. It means father-teacher. Since he didn’t mind, that’s what I always called him. That man knew sword fighting like no other and was a fair wizard.”
Jedek smiled. “So you didn’t go to the whipping post anymore after that, did you?” he asked.
Ahnon chuckled. “What gives you that idea?”
Shock replaced the smile. “You had a master who liked you,” Jedek pointed out.
“Jedek, remember me telling you about trying magic without components?” Ahnon asked, and Jedek nodded. “Neeji was the one holding the whip.”
Jedek’s mouth fell open, and his food fell out. “Wh—” was all he managed.
“Jedek, bhari training is dangerous, and the whipping post lets you know you made a mistake.”
Cringing, “Are we going to get whipped?” Kenna piped in with a small voice.
“No, you will have other punishments, Kenna,” Ahnon said, filling her with relief.
Jedek shook the shock off. “Ahnon, if you have to whip me to train me, it’s okay,” Jedek said, shocking Ahnon.
“No, Jedek. If you notice, that is one weapon I don’t use. Granted, they do teach you whip extensively, but I’ve had enough of them for all of us. To be honest, I would be just as happy to never see another whip in my lifetime.”
Jedek smiled. “All right, but I want to be at least half as good as you are.”
Ahnon stood. “You will be better if you commit to the training,” Ahnon said then called his horse over. They all mounted and headed off.
It was late afternoon when Ahnon stopped them as they traveled down a small valley. He looked up on the mountainside to the east, watching a pack of animals. The kids looked up, following his gaze. “What are those?” Kenna asked in wonder.
“Rock apes,” Ahnon said.
“Can we go see them?”
Letting out a sigh, Ahnon closed his eyes. “Kenna, you aren’t petting them.”
“I just want to see them,” she clarified. Not convinced but not wanting to see Kenna’s pouty face, Ahnon led them down the valley until they were less than two hundred paces from the rock apes. Kenna gasped, looking at the pack moving along the side of the mountain between the trees. Even from where they were, she could tell they were massive, half again taller than Ahnon with gray fur and skin, but what stood out was they had four arms.
Jedek shook his head. “I can’t believe Father had one of those,” he confessed.
“Okay, I saw them, we can go,” Kenna said when one stood up and started beating its chest with all four hands.
“We can’t yet,” Ahnon said, watching the pack. “That was a challenge, and if we leave, they will chase.”
“What do we do?” Jedek asked.
“Nothing. Stay here, and let them know we don’t care what they do, but we aren’t scared,” Ahnon replied. Suddenly, a shadow fell over the standing rock ape. Talon swooped over his head then flew off. The apes went absolutely crazy and ran up the mountainside, whooping and hollering as the pack slipped into thicker tree cover. “Or have Talon scare them,” Ahnon said, wheeling his horse away.
Kenna looked up in the sky. “Thank you, Talon,” she said, and a Talon let out a shriek that echoed off down the valley.
Jedek laughed. “I think that will let things know trouble is overhead,” he said.
Chapter 23
Two weeks later, the troupe started off early before the second sun crested the horizon. After riding for several hours, Ahnon stopped, looking south at a large valley. A mile away, he saw a thin trail of smoke rising up in the air. “That looks like a house,” Kenna said.
“It is,” Ahnon replied, looking around the valley then back down at the small clearing beside the house.
Jedek reached back and pulled out the scroll map. “Jedek, it’s a farmhouse. It’s not going to be on the map,” Kenna said. Jedek ignored her, unrolled the map, and pulled out the magnifying lens to look at the area. He spotted the river on the map going through the valley.
Shaking his head, Jedek looked up. “Ahnon, I think I know where we are, but we’re still a hundred leagues inside Elvendom. What’s that house doing here?” he asked.
Impressed, Ahnon nodded, “You’re right on our location, and I have no idea. They are either fools or very brave.”
“I think both,” Jedek said, rolling up the map and putting it up. “The house is small, so many can’t be living there, and with all the animals we’ve observed, let’s just say I would want an army or you going through the Iron Mountains.”
Ahnon tightened his mask. “Let’s go and see why they are here,” he said.
Shaking his head and not und
erstanding, Jedek followed. Ahnon had made it clear he didn’t want to get close to anyone.
As they neared the farmhouse, Kenna heard several kids cry out and run toward the house as a man came out of what she took for the barn. Both structures were primitive, but the house was the only one with a chimney. The man had a sword and was holding it low.
“He knows how to use it,” Ahnon said, stopping on the far side of the yard, nodding to the man.
“There are no beasts here that a hunter needs to kill!” the man yelled out.
Ahnon held up his hand. “I have no contract open now. We are just moving through. I am sorry to intrude, but seeing a settlement here shocked me,” Ahnon called out, his mask giving his voice a doom-like tone.
The man adjusted his stance. “A hunter and two apprentices in full dress makes me think otherwise,” the man said, twirling his sword.
Ahnon chuckled. “I like this man,” he said only loud enough for the kids to hear. Reaching up, he took off his mask. “There will be no fight today unless you or something else attacks us,” Ahnon said, and the man relaxed.
“What is your brand, hunter?” the man called out.
“Brand?” Jedek whispered.
“What I’m called. My seal,” Ahnon whispered back. Looking at them man, he called, “I’m called Dark Talon.” Kenna and Jedek both saw the man’s shoulders slump.
Jedek chuckled. “He seems to have heard of you.”
“I’ve gotten around some,” Ahnon admitted.
“Dark Talon, forgive my rudeness, but we live in peace here with many of the creatures around us. I am called Delmuth.” Jedek was just beside Ahnon and heard him mumble, “Delmuth and Ava,” before the man actually said his name. Jedek sat, shaking his head in wonder as a thousand questions filled his mind.
“Delmuth, may we come closer? I don’t like shouting.”
Delmuth sheathed his sword. “Yes, please do. I’m sorry I didn’t offer,” he said.
They rode over, and Ahnon slid off his saddle, holding out his hand. Delmuth shook his hand, grinning. “With a family to protect, I don’t blame you in the least,” Ahnon said. Delmuth was not as tall as Ahnon but was stockier with flaming red hair past his shoulders.
“Ava, we have guest,” Delmuth called over his shoulder, releasing Ahnon’s hand. Hearing the name ‘Ava,’ Jedek jerked, looking at the side of Ahnon’s face. The door to the house opened, and a pretty, blond woman holding a baby came out. She was followed by a passel of kids, nine in total from several years older than Jedek to the baby in her arms. “My wife Ava,” Delmuth said. Jedek gasped, wondering how Ahnon knew both of their names. In total shock, Jedek turned to Ahnon. Thankfully, his mask hid his expression.
Ahnon nodded to the lady, studying her closely and suddenly smiled at her, looking back at Delmuth. “Just a piece of advice,” Ahnon said, leaning toward Delmuth, “get a bow.”
Delmuth let out a laugh. “Had one but had to sell it in the spring. Wolves got the goats, so I had to buy some more. I’m making another, and it should be ready before winter,” he said.
Nodding, Ahnon turned around and went back to the pack mules. Grabbing two bows, chain mail, quivers full of arrows, and several swords, Ahnon carried them back, handing them to Delmuth. “Here, take these till you have yours ready. Took them off some bandits many weeks ago.”
In shock, Delmuth reached out, taking the supplies as his oldest kids moved over. “Sir, I can’t pay for these. This stuff would bring a good bounty,” he said as the two oldest boys helped their father hold the equipment.
“You need it more than some merchant, Delmuth. I’m teaching my apprentices how the world works. Money isn’t everything,” Ahnon said, “but it does help a lot.” Delmuth and his family went into a laughing fit.
When the laughter died down, Delmuth handed the stuff to the kids, telling them to put it up and not play with it. “Have you eaten, noble Dark Talon?” he asked.
“No, we don’t want to impose,” Ahnon said as Jedek and Kenna looked around the meager farm, agreeing with Ahnon.
“Nonsense. We can kill a piglet,” Delmuth said.
Ahnon bowed. “If we stay, allow us to provide a nice deer for the fire,” Ahnon offered.
Delmuth smiled. “That can take a while,” he chuckled.
Turning his head, Ahnon looked up in the sky then back at Delmuth. “One will be here shortly. Let your family know not to be afraid,” Ahnon said, making Delmuth curious and a little worried. Ahnon turned around and looked at the kids. “Masks off,” he told them, taking off his hat and glasses and putting them on his saddle. Hearing gasps from the family, Ahnon looked up in the sky.
Talon was coming in from the west, his wings blocking out the entire skyline as he neared. Everyone saw a deer in his talons. Two of the littlest kids ran inside as Talon slowed and dropped the deer then wheeled in the air and flew over, landing beside Kenna.
The animals on the farm were in complete hysteria at the sight of him. “A giant wolf!” one of the teens yelled, pointing behind Ahnon. Turning around, Ahnon saw Minos trotting up behind Jedek and stopping beside him.
“No, he’s with us,” Ahnon said, turning around.
Delmuth told his kids to go and calm the animals as Ava handed him the baby and walked past Ahnon to Talon. Ahnon smiled as she walked by him, and she nodded, giving him a quick grin. She stopped and looked up at Talon and started talking to him as Ahnon turned to Delmuth.
“Forgive me wife. She loves the magical creatures of the world and likes speaking to them when she can,” he said.
“Oh, believe me. I know all about that,” Ahnon said. Delmuth handed the baby to one of the older girls and dragged the deer over so the oldest boys could skin it.
When he came back, Ahnon looked at him. “Have you seen many people here?” Ahnon asked.
“No, you be the first in the five years we’ve been here,” Delmuth said.
Ahnon motioned the kids to dismount as Ava continued to talk to Talon, and several of the younger kids moved over to Minos. Minos tried talking to them, but they didn’t understand his words though they did understand he wanted to play. “Where did you get a goat?” Ahnon asked as Minos started playing with the kids.
“One hundred and nine leagues to the southeast is a hamlet,” Delmuth said as Ava walked up.
She curtsied. “Dark Talon, it is an honor,” she said as she stood back up. “We have heard of your exploits and are honored that you have come to our home.”
Chuckling, “Okay, enough of that,” Ahnon said.
A smile filled her face. “Your name is legend, my lord,” she told him.
“You may call me Ahnon, and drop the ‘my lord’ please.”
“Yes, Ahnon. Let me go see about lunch,” she said and walked away.
Kenna and Jedek stayed close to Ahnon, much to the disappointment of the kids, until lunch was ready. They just listened as Ahnon talked with Delmuth, finding out about the area. Kenna was spellbound by all the creatures Delmuth spoke about. Jedek was a little worried about the creatures and Kenna’s fascination with them.
After lunch, they said their goodbyes and left the family. It was mid-afternoon when they finally headed out with Ahnon leading the kids west. When they were away from the farm, Jedek moved his horse beside Ahnon. “We’re heading west,” Jedek said.
“Yes, we are,” Ahnon agreed.
“Ahnon, we just came from here,” Jedek said.
“No, we came in from the northwest.”
“You know what I mean.”
Ahnon laughed at him. “Yes, Jedek, I know what you mean, but there are several large valleys this way. One might be what we are looking for. This valley is spoken for. I’m sure the one we want is close,” Ahnon said as Kenna came up on the other side.
“Ahnon, just who makes your maps?” she asked, handing the map to Jedek, and he put it in his saddlebag. “They are awfully more detailed than the ones I’ve seen, and I’ve never seen one that you had to have a looking glass t
o see detail.”
“There is a group of wizards in Fantshu that use spellbound birds to fly over the land, and they draw maps from it. They release them every five to ten years,” he answered.
Jedek whistled. “Bet those are expensive,” he said.
“That scroll you have in your saddlebag cost me five gold crowns,” Ahnon said. Jedek sucked in a breath.
“So,” Kenna said.
Jedek looked over at her. “That would feed and supply that family we just left very well for three years,” he said, making the color leave her face.
Taking their time, they moved over the ridge, leaving the valley with the family and Talon guiding them to a camping spot just off another valley. Moving out early the next day, they crossed the valley and headed back up into the mountains.
It was two days later in the morning when they stopped on a high ridge overlooking a large valley, and Ahnon looked up in the sky. “What?” he said, looking up then to the east.
Kenna and Jedek looked across the tree-filled valley and saw the river running through the middle of it. Jedek was just guessing, but he figured the valley was around ten to twelve leagues wide with the west side showing several tall, snowcapped mountains. They couldn’t see the southern end and could just make out where the northern end twisted back into the mountains.
“Come on,” Ahnon said, guiding his horse down the ridge.
Unable to get beside him, the two followed with the rest of the horses and mules. When they reached the valley floor, Kenna rode up beside him. “What is it?” she asked.
“Talon said there’s another farmstead or a group of buildings on the west side,” Ahnon said, confused.
“So?” Kenna asked.
“That’s an awful lot of farms for this country, Kenna,” Ahnon said, pushing his horse into a gallop. The mules grunted as they broke into a gallop, voicing their disapproval. It was just midday when they stopped in a glade below a small rise surrounded by trees. Reaching the top, half a mile away, they saw three buildings nestled next to a steep, south-facing ridge. There was a nice stream running right next to one of the buildings then continued down the rise to merge with the river behind them.
Dawn of Man (Thanos Book 1) Page 31
