Ahnon led the kids away from the house and pulled out the two slings they had used to fly out of the castle with him in what seemed a lifetime ago. “Here,” he said, handing them out. “Double and half, then Jedek, do one on me,” Ahnon said, closing his eyes.
Jedek cast his on himself as Kenna did the same, then Jedek turned to Ahnon and cast the spell on him. Feeling the spell course through him, Ahnon opened his eyes, pulling out a spell packet. “Let’s do it, you two,” Ahnon said then started speaking magic and rubbing the packet on his chest.
Kenna and Jedek put the slings they were in around Ahnon’s neck so they could sit on his sides. They were barely on when they started to float up. “Ahnon, you need to learn patience,” Jedek said, holding on.
“I’ll remember that, Jedek,” Ahnon said, throwing white powder in the air, finishing the orb spell. They watched the orb form around them as heat started pouring off Ahnon from the magic. “Get ready.”
Kenna took the advice, wrapping her legs around Ahnon’s leg and gripping handfuls of his surcoat. “How long till we get there?” she asked.
“Before lunch,” Ahnon said with a smile as Delmuth and Ava stepped outside to see Ahnon floating up, surrounded by shimmering air. Then, suddenly, he was gone, and a huge thunderclap sounded over the valley.
Kenna thought the world sat on her chest as Ahnon took off. She fought the blackness clouding her vision until she felt normal again. When she looked around them and saw the world blurring by, she started getting sick. Remembering the last flight, she looked ahead, and the feeling started to go away. “I want to learn how to do this,” Jedek said, grinning.
“Me to, just not this fast,” Kenna agreed.
“It will be some time before you two are ready to fly,” Ahnon said, shocking them.
“You’re talking,” Jedek said.
“Yes, I have been for several hundred years.”
Jedek tried to think of a smart response. “You know what he meant, Ahnon,” Kenna said.
“I’m not tired and drained this time.”
Kenna smiled. “Do you always go this fast?” she asked.
“When we left the castle was the first time I went that fast. Today, we are going faster,” he answered.
“How long till we fly, Ahnon?” Jedek asked.
Ahnon thought for a minute. “If you keep training as hard as you have, two years, maybe a little less,” Ahnon said, and Jedek sighed. “I’m the one that needs patience?” Ahnon asked.
“No, I need some also,” Jedek mumbled.
“Don’t worry, Jedek; you will, but this is the one spell that has killed many a wizard.”
Jedek suddenly saw a village ahead, then just as fast, it was behind them. Those on the ground heard thunder rip across the clear, blue sky.
“We aren’t flying into the city like this, are we?” Jedek asked.
“Yes, we are, but don’t worry. Nobody can see us. This is the next orb shield you will learn,” Ahnon said as they shot across the land.
It didn’t seem that long as they felt Ahnon slow down, and a nice-sized city was ahead on the horizon, stretching for leagues out over the land. Jedek was amazed at how suddenly the farm land began around the city, just like Ahnon had told them. “When we get there, remember; you are apprentices, so no talking till I tell you, okay?”
They slowly flew over and around the city until Ahnon found what he was looking for. Then he slowly lowered them into an alley across the street from a huge store. When they touched down, the kids climbed off, and Ahnon stopped the shield. After checking the kids to make sure they looked the part, he checked his mask, hat, and glasses. “You two stay two steps behind me, and don’t talk,” Ahnon told them, walking out of the alley with the two right behind him.
Several people jumped back when they stepped out, and a carriage stopped in the street as Ahnon walked right out in front of it, not paying it any attention. Jedek and Kenna followed, trying to act indifferent to everything, but the carriage had scared the life out of them.
Ahnon headed right for the shop’s door and pushed a man out of the way who was standing on the other side, talking to someone. He spun around to yell but saw the hunter with two apprentices and paled, telling his friend he was going home. Never pausing as he strolled inside, Ahnon pushed two people away from the counter.
A young lady gasped, seeing him lean over the counter to her. “Get the owner, and tell him to come here,” Ahnon commanded, and she nodded, backing away from him, then spun around and took off running. Less than a minute later, a short, chubby man came out, wiping his hands on a towel.
“Master Hunter, how can I help you?” he asked, smiling.
“Talk in private,” Ahnon said, moving down the counter, away from the other people, who just wanted to get out of the store. At the far end of the counter, Ahnon handed over a list. “I need this the day after tomorrow at dawn, loaded and ready to go,” he said.
The man scanned the list and started sweating. “Master Hunter, the three heavy wagons and oxen teams alone will cost half a silver crown,” the man said, trying not to stutter.
Ahnon pulled a gold crown out, laying it on the counter. “Here is an advance,” he said, sliding the coin over.
The owner looked at the coin and smiled. “We will start at once.”
“I’m not finished,” Ahnon said. “You will be getting more stuff here from other merchants that I want loaded as well.” He handed over several sheets of paper. “I need these supplies ready in two weeks, loaded and ready to go. The man will be giving you a letter and will pay for your time and the other half of the balance,” Ahnon said.
The owner scanned the pages. “Master Hunter, I don’t have the money here to even buy this much stuff,” he admitted.
Ahnon reached down and pulled a small pouch out, handing it to the owner. “This should cover half.”
The owner looked under the brim of the hat, only seeing the shiny image of his reflection in the glasses. Looking at Ahnon, he was having trouble believing he was even a person. Opening the purse, the owner looked down and gasped, closing the pouch. “The Gods as my witness, it will be done,” the owner pledged.
Ahnon tilted his head to the owner. “Good merchant. If you do what I’ve asked, not only will I pay you, but you will have a letter of marque from Lord Reardon himself by spring,” Ahnon said, and the owner went pale.
“Lord Reardon,” he gulped, and Ahnon tilted his head again. The owner handed the purse back. “I will get the money from a lender. You don’t need to pay even half in advance,” he said raising his chin.
“No, good merchant; this helps you and I. You get what every merchant wants, and I get to make the Lord Reardon happy.”
The owner bowed. “Thank you, Master Hunter. I’ll get started at once,” he said, motioning to several people.
“Good merchant, make sure your people don’t forget anything without telling me or get sticky fingers. The chief steward will be taking the inventory,” Ahnon said, walking off.
“It will all be there,” the owner called out as Ahnon opened the door and walked out. Next, Ahnon went to a blacksmith and handed him a list and some coins. They went to several more stores, and then Ahnon stopped at a messenger office and paid to have a stack of letters sent across Thanos. It was late afternoon when he led the kids to the best inn in the city.
Walking up to the counter with an air prominence Ahnon paid for the rooms and led the kids to the dining room, taking a table in the far back corner. When the waiter left, Ahnon sat down with his back to the wall and uncovered his head, putting everything on the table. The kids, seeing him do it, followed suit. Kenna looked up at him, smiling. “I like being a hunter,” she said. “People even act scared of me.”
“People are scared of what they don’t understand. Hunters kill what they’re afraid of, so the fear transfers to hunters,” Ahnon said.
“Why were we so rude?” Jedek whispered.
Ahnon smiled. “If I hadn’t, we would proba
bly still be at the first store. If you act like you have power, then others listen, but just be ready to prove it.”
“How could you prove it to a shop owner?” Jedek asked.
“Go to another one and pay him double just to spite the first one,” Ahnon said, and Jedek nodded, liking the thought of that.
“Ahnon, who are those ladies over there?” Kenna asked, nodding to the far side of the room. Ahnon looked over with Jedek, who sucked in his breath seeing two of the biggest women ever wearing breast plates. Not fat but tall and very muscular and still beautiful. The third was smaller but still muscular and, like the others, beautiful.
“Amazons from Azonia,” Ahnon answered. “Jedek, don’t stare at them that hard. I really don’t want to fight them.”
Jedek turned back around and looked at him with wide eyes. “Ahnon, they’re huge,” he whispered.
“Not for an Amazon. I’ve met some that were two feet taller than me and twice my size.”
“But they’re still pretty,” Jedek said, getting a hard look from Kenna.
“Kenna, relax,” Ahnon said. “Jedek, they’re Amazons. I’ve never met an ugly one nor have I heard of anyone else meeting an ugly one.”
“What are they doing here?” Kenna asked.
“Probably buying prisoners,” Ahnon said, and Kenna nodded. “The small one is a priestess, and the others are warriors protecting her. More ceremonial than anything. Priestesses are magi.”
“Why buy prisoners? Don’t they have their own?” Jedek asked.
Kenna looked at him in shock. “Slaves, Jedek.”
“That’s wrong,” he said shaking his head.
“Jedek, I had three slaves, so don’t get on your high horse,” she snapped in a low voice.
Jedek took a breath, and Ahnon lifted his hand. “Not here or now, Jedek. Honch has the toughest laws on slaves there are. I know many people from other countries who go to Honch and sell themselves into slavery,” Ahnon said, making Jedek lean back in his chair. “Damn, they’re coming over. Don’t talk,” Ahnon whispered and leaned back as the three walked over.
The two giant Amazons wore thick, bronze breastplates, gauntlets, steel tasset belt that looked like a skirt and shin guards with red capes flowing off their shoulders. Their hands rested on sword hilts at their waist as the priestess stopped at their table and looked down at Ahnon. “Your apprentices were staring. We thought they might like a better look,” she said. She was wearing the same armor, but hers wasn’t as thick, and she had a bag on one hip and a dagger on the other.
“Forgive them; I was just assuring them that women could be beautiful and still be strong warrior priestesses,” Ahnon answered with a slight bow of his head.
All three smiled at the compliment, and the priestess nodded at Ahnon. “Thank you, hunter,” she said then looked at Kenna. “It’s refreshing to see a woman outside of Azonia trained to fight. Except for Nazar, I didn’t think anyone else did.” Kenna smiled and lowered her head to the priestess.
One of the female guards, the bigger one, stepped around the priestess. “The priestess spoke to you, child. Speak back,” she grumbled.
“Captain, talk to my apprentice like that again, and you will die before you finish your sentence,” Ahnon warned as his eyes narrowed. “As you can see, she is an apprentice and doesn’t talk until I give her permission, just as it is on Azonia. I’m sure if you take off your breast plate, we can find some whip marks from your master,” Ahnon said with small sneer.
The priestess grabbed the captain’s arm and squeezed it, glaring at the huge woman. “Hunter, I apologize for the rudeness of my escort,” she said through gritted teeth, and the captain looked down at the floor, grimacing, clearly afraid of the smaller priestess.
“No need to apologize, priestess. It was just a misunderstanding. I’m sure your captain didn’t mean anything,” Ahnon said then stood, motioning to the other chairs. “To prove our respect to you and your guard, please join us for supper,” Ahnon offered with a slight bow.
The priestess groaned, trapped by the hospitality. “Thank you, hunter. We would be happy to,” she said, pulling out a chair. The other two sat on each side of her with one next to each kid. Jedek was staring at the captain with what could only be described as awe. Ahnon looked over at Kenna, seeing the same from her as she stared at the one sitting beside her with an open mouth.
“Apprentices, you may speak openly,” Ahnon said, smiling.
“Wow,” Jedek said, staring.
“I want to be this big with muscles and still be pretty,” Kenna said, and Ahnon tried not to laugh as the guard blushed.
“Young apprentice, don’t stare,” Ahnon said quietly, and the priestess was chuckling silently.
“You seem to know a lot of Azonia, hunter,” the priestess said.
“Yes, I have an open letter of invitation from Queen Immeril,” Ahnon said, getting a surprised look from all three.
“You have hunted on Azonia?” she asked.
“Once, but I’ve visited several times. The queen likes my company,” Ahnon said, taking a sip of water.
The priestess was at a loss for words, but the captain wasn’t, “Hunter, you’re a man, and only a man who has faced the coliseum can have audience with the queen,” she said.
“Well, actually, I met her first then heard about the law, so I went and beat everyone there for a season,” he said casually. “The queen gave me her key.”
The priestess bowed her head to him. “Then you have my respect, hunter,” she said, almost making Ahnon fall out of his chair. Amazons were almost as hard as griffons to bow to anyone other than their own royalty.
“Thank you. Maybe it will excuse me for one of my apprentices, who keeps staring,” Ahnon said, kicking Jedek under the table.
“Sorry,” he said and looked away.
“It’s of no bother,” the captain said, nodding at Ahnon as Kenna gave the captain an ugly look. Fortunately, nobody was looking at Kenna.
The food arrived, and they ate together as the kids asked about Azonia, and the priestess questioned Ahnon. When supper was over, they all parted with both guards kissing Jedek on the head, making him blush. Ahnon put a hand on Kenna’s shoulder, squeezing it to remind her to keep her mouth shut.
As Ahnon left the table, Kenna and Jedek followed. “Ahnon, why didn’t they tell us their names?” Kenna asked, still giving Jedek an ugly stare.
“Amazons only tell their names to friends. Their positions mean more to them. If we would’ve been in Azonia, the guards would have told us what units they were with along with rank, and the priestess would have told us which temple she belonged to. They see themselves above the rest of us,” he said, climbing the stairs to their room.
Glancing out of the corner of his eye and seeing the look Kenna was giving him, Jedek said, “They seem really arrogant and ostentatious,” hoping to appease her.
“They acted like all Amazons,” Ahnon informed him. “The warriors of Spree are just as bad.”
When they reached their room, Jedek immediately apologized to Kenna for anything he did wrong, making Ahnon sigh with relief. Kenna smiled at him and kissed Jedek’s cheek as they all laid down on the bed, still dressed, and quickly fell asleep.
Chapter 25
The next day, the kids followed Ahnon around the city again as he dropped off lists for stores to send to the general store. The last place they went was an armory, and the kids grinned upon entering. Weapons of war were everywhere, and they looked on in wonder as Ahnon talked to the owner.
After giving him a list, Ahnon took the kids around the store, measuring them and pulling out chain mail, gauntlets, axes, spears, over a dozen different swords each, and many other things. Then he bought them each a wooden sword just like every sword he just bought. Last, he bought each a bow and quiver full of arrows. These he told them to put on their back like his except to let the bow down. When they left, Jedek moved closer. “Thank you, Ahnon. It’s a great bow,” he said.
; “No, Jedek, it’s a just above a piece of trash,” Ahnon told him with a snort.
“It was the most expensive one there and the best-made one.”
“The reason I bought them is for you two to practice till we make your own,” Ahnon said.
Jedek stopped. “You spent that much on training? You bought the wooden swords why?” he asked as Ahnon stopped and turned around.
“Don’t ask, just do. Remember?” Ahnon reminded him and spun around, heading back to the inn. They ate again with the Amazons then again slept in their clothes.
They left the inn before sunrise as Ahnon instructed them how to drive a wagon as they walked the deserted streets. When they reached the store, it was still dark, but the owner was waiting outside for them and led them around back.
Coming around the store, they saw three teams of wagons with one team that had two wagons trailered together. Pulling the wagons were the biggest oxen the kids had ever seen with two oxen for each wagon. Their heads were so high up even Ahnon could walk under one without ducking. They had huge horns that curved out then back toward their faces, and their bodies were covered in thick, long, brown fur.
Ahnon walked over as Jedek and Kenna gaped at the massive animals. “Giant woolly oxen,” he said.
“Bet they aren’t that fast,” Jedek said.
“You would be right there, but they walk as fast as a horse. They can walk for a week without stopping and are ten times stronger than a horse,” Ahnon replied, and Jedek groaned.
“We aren’t stopping, are we?” he asked.
“Only to eat and water the oxen.”
Kenna pointed at the wagons. “Ahnon, why are the wagons bowed down in the middle? Are they fixing to break?” she asked.
“No, Kenna, they are heavy load wagons. Each one can carry ten tons,” Ahnon said as the owner came over, handing Ahnon several sheets of paper.
“Here is the inventory, and I will have Lord Reardon’s supplies ready in two weeks. I’m sorry we couldn’t get everything on three wagons,” he said as Ahnon handed over what he owed.
Dawn of Man (Thanos Book 1) Page 33
