by D. L. Kramer
"Are you sure they'll be all right?" Paki asked, letting Kile lead him back to the camp.
"They'll be fine," Kile assured him. "Most colts aren't tryin' to get up and walk like that until at least a couple of hours after the birth." Kile waited while Paki moved ahead of him. "Ye're going to have ye're hands full with that, one, lad," he predicted. "I'd bet my father's crossbow on it."
Two - "Nahtan will be the new king"
Despite his usual urge to save everything, Paki was surprised--as he picked through his master's belongings--that he didn't want to keep any of it. In the end, he chose only the water skins, the skinning knife and his own small pack. He knew he could take the wolf skins and sell them, but didn't want anything to remind him or the horses of their master.
Kile had stayed with him for the three days since the colt was born, not once mentioning Paki's master. The first morning, however, Paki noticed his master's body was gone.
During the next few days, Kile showed Paki other tricks he could do with his silver flute to help the time pass. Last morning he took it out and played a simple, cheerful tune on it. Almost immediately, the air was filled with the songs of birds. Birds in more colors and kinds than Paki had ever seen before flooded the small camp. They rode on the horses' backs and heads, flitting from one perch to another.
Then, the night before, Kile played a sad, mournful song and nearly a dozen wolves appeared, flashing between the trees. Unlike the birds, the wolves stayed their distance, watching the humans and horses with curious but wary eyes.
Both times, the birds and wolves disappeared as soon as Kile stopped playing.
"Have ye seen the colt, lad?" Kile asked, coming into the camp and interrupting Paki's thoughts.
Paki looked up from the pack he was going through, turning his head to look around the camp.
"No," he replied simply. "I thought he was with the mare."
Kile dusted off his hands, then his breeches. "He was until I tried to catch 'im."
"Can't you just ask him to come back?" Paki asked. Kile hadn't mentioned that gift of his since the first day.
"It's not quite that simple," Kile answered, coming over to stand behind Paki. "Horses 'ave to learn to talk too and that takes time." He looked at the water skins beside Paki and the two large packs in front of him. "Ye can't find anythin' more to take?"
Paki pulled the straps on the pack shut. "I don't want anything here," he said, gathering his few items in his arms and standing up. "The highwaymen can have it all."
"Then put ye're things by Nicho and come help me find that blasted colt."
"Okay." Paki followed after Kile, pausing to set the water skins and his own pack beside Nicho.
The stallion and mare were both tied in the clearing, but the colt was nowhere to be seen. The mare seemed anxious, pulling on her lead. Paki went to search the wooded area up near the road while Kile went in the opposite direction.
Paki almost reached the road when he heard rustling behind him. Turning around, he caught a flash of the colt's dark coat as it made a leap toward the clearing. Paki dove after him, his fingers barely missing the colt's neck. Landing with a thud, Paki pulled himself back to his feet and broke into a run, trying to catch up with the spirited colt.
Bursting into the clearing, the colt skidded around the mare, then dove between her legs and looked out at Paki, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. Paki slid to a stop in front of him. He didn't want to scare the colt into running again and wasn't quite sure how to approach him. It didn't help that the colt could run longer and faster than Paki could ever hope to.
Paki took a tentative step forward, only to have the colt take one back. Stepping back again, Paki was surprised to see the colt step forward again.
"You're not being very good about this," Paki pointed out to the colt. "Kile says we can leave this morning, but we can't leave you behind." The colt tilted his head as Paki spoke to him, then pawed at the ground. "And you like to wander too much, that's why we have to put you in a rope lead."
Paki didn't dare take a step forward again, he knew it would be useless. The colt continued to blink his eyes at him, refusing to move unless Paki did. Several long seconds passed before the stallion reached over and nudged the colt out from under the mare. Paki seized the moment of distraction and leaped, this time tackling the colt and locking his arms around his neck.
The colt began to twist and turn, trying to wriggle free, but Paki held on and called for Kile to help.
It was only seconds later that Kile appeared, managing to slip a rope around the colt's neck just as Paki lost his grip. The colt turned and snapped at Kile as he tied the rope to a nearby branch.
"Here now, watch ye'reself," Kile cautioned. "Ye're lucky ye're not older, or ye'd be getting the full bridle and not just a rope around the neck." Kile stepped away from the colt and helped Paki back to his feet.
"He certainly seemed to enjoy teasin' ye," Kile pointed out.
"Why does he always run away?" Paki asked, falling in step with Kile as they headed back to the camp.
"He's full of spirit," Kile explained. "And don't say I didn't warn ye," he added.
Paki retrieved his things from Nicho's watchful eye. Nicho nickered and nuzzled him as he started to walk away, then did the same to Kile as he approached.
Retrieving the stallion, Paki led him into the camp and retied him. Paki tied his pack on one side and the newly refilled water skins on the other.
Next, Kile went to get the mare and colt while Paki made sure everything was fastened just the way the stallion liked it. If anything were too tight, he would start biting, if too loose, he would simply refuse to move. Seeing everything was all right, he walked to stand beside the stallion's head. The huge horse leaned down to breathe hot air onto his shoulder.
"It's all right, boy," Paki reassured him. "No one's going to hurt any of us again." He hadn't ever ridden on the stallion and had to admit the thought of riding him both exhilarated and frightened him. Kile insisted they needed to move as quickly as possible, though, so he couldn't walk. The colt would slow them down enough. Kile even mentioned buying a small wagon from the first smith they found, though deep down Paki doubted the colt would stay in it for long.
"Ye about ready then?" Kile asked, leading the mare and colt over beside Paki. The colt walked with his head down and Paki would swear his feet were shuffling on the ground.
"Is he okay?" Paki asked, coming back around to the stallion's side.
"He's just sulkin' because 'e lost this round," Kile said. He handed Paki the mare's lead and the colt's rope, then laced his hands together and boosted Paki up onto the stallion's back.
"We'll get ye a saddle at the first town," Kile promised. "It's not more than 'alf a day's ride from 'ere, we should make it just about the same time as nightfall."
"I don't have any money for a saddle," Paki protested, thinking again that maybe he should take some of the skins from the large packs.
"Don't worry," Kile assured him. "It'll be taken care of." Kile walked to Nicho and pulled himself up into his saddle. "Now ye're sure ye can ride him all right?" he asked.
"I've ridden before," Paki answered. "And he usually does what I want him to."
Kile studied the stallion for a few seconds. "All right," he said finally. "He says he'll let ye ride 'im, so ye should be all right. Let's get goin'." Taking his reins, Kile led the way to the path that would take them back up to the main road.
They had only ridden a few leagues when Kile motioned for Paki to rein in. Paki looked around for the reason and soon saw a procession of some sort coming towards them. Before the group drew too near, Kile leaned over and unfastened the strap securing his double crossbow to his saddle. Resting the loaded weapon in front of him, he settled to wait for the procession.
"Who is it?" Paki asked, unsure of what to do if there was any sign of danger. It was obvious Kile didn't trust whoever was coming and Paki was painfully aware that he didn't have a weapon.
; "One of the BishopLords and 'is priests and guards," Kile responded, not taking his eyes off the approaching carriages and horses. Finally, he turned to look at Paki. "For some reason, the church doesn't like us takin' arms to plan against their future," he explained. "If one of 'em speaks to ye, just agree with whatever they say. It's safest for now."
Paki nodded his head. He had seen plenty of the church guards, but had never seen one of the higher priests.
The BishopLord's procession drew closer. Soon, Paki could see four church guards riding at the front, their brilliant blue cloaks flirting with the light breeze. Almost defiantly, Kile spread out his red cloak a little more, making certain the church guards saw the embroidery. As they passed, Paki saw a couple of them sneer in open contempt at Kile, who returned their sneers with a cheerful smile of his own.
Behind the guards came two carriages, embossed with gold and jewels and with curtains drawn. After the carriages came several priests. Their robes were marked with strange, mysterious symbols and the fronts of their scalps were shaved. Paki was surprised how young some of them were; they barely seemed older than himself. The priests passed them by, then one of the older ones broke away and circled back around. Paki saw Kile's hand twitch on the crossbow, but he didn't raise it.
"I see ye still 'ave the same weaknesses," the priest said to Kile, ignoring Paki completely.
Paki was surprised to hear the same accent as Kile's.
"They're my weaknesses," Kile responded evenly. "And they 'aven't undone me yet." He paused and Paki saw a ghost of a smile. "At least I can still think for myself," he added. "Ye'd better hurry on before ye're missed, Kiril. Wouldn't want the Lord Bishop to find ye're head missin' when he counts 'is sheep." The ghost of a smile grew as the priest turned his horse away from Kile. "I'll tell Marya 'ello for ye," Kile called after the priest. The priest's only response was to spur his horse faster. As the church guards bringing up the rear passed them, Kile chuckled. "Shall we continue?" he asked, tossing his cloak back behind him again and strapping his crossbow back onto his saddle.
"Who was that man?" Paki asked as their horses took the road again.
"Kiril?" Kile asked. "Our fathers were Mo'ani together. My destiny took me along the same path, his turned 'im into a traitor."
"Oh," Paki said quietly. "Was Marya his mother?"
To Paki's surprise, Kile laughed out loud. "No, lad," he chuckled. "Marya was a young woman we both tried to win the favor of."
"And you won?" Paki asked, interested. Kile hadn't opened up much about himself in the three days since they had met.
"Actually," Kile chuckled again. "I haven't seen 'er for close to thirty years, so I've no idea who eventually won 'er favors."
Paki rode in silence for several seconds before saying anything else.
"Are you married?" he finally asked.
Kile turned in his saddle to look at him. "I'm married to my destiny," he said, turning back around. "Why'd ye want to know?"
"You just haven't said anything about yourself since you helped with the mare," Paki said. He didn't want to be a nuisance, Kile might not want to teach him anything if he bothered him too much.
Kile slowed his horse so he was riding beside Paki. "It goes both ways," he confided. "Ye haven't told me much about ye'reself either."
"I told you where my family was from," Paki pointed out.
"And now ye know where mine is from," Kile shrugged. "My great-grandfather served in the King's Guard with Mo'ani."
"I don't know what my grandfather did," Paki said. "I don't even know what my father is." Paki turned when he felt the mare pull on her lead. Looking back, he could see the colt was tiring.
"We'd better rest," Kile decided, also looking back at the colt. "Wouldn't want to tire the blasted thing out."
"You don't like him much, do you?" Paki asked as they slid from their horses to the ground and led them off the road.
"He's too full of spirit for me," Kile said. "The stablemaster at the Stronghold will 'ave a day with 'im, I'm sure of it. He'll blame me for 'is mischief, too, like I had anythin' to do with it."
Despite his best effort, Paki smiled. He found himself liking this man who was little more than a stranger. Part of him wanted to imagine his father was like Kile, though Paki doubted Kile would have sold any of his children.
After tying the horses to graze, they settled in the grass to rest, Kile pulled out another pouch from Nicho's saddlebags. Opening it, he poured a handful of something into his hand, then handed it to Paki.
"What's this?" Paki asked, taking the bag and not recognizing the dried orange pieces inside.
"Dried peach," Kile said, sitting down beside him and tossing a piece into his mouth.
"I've never eaten dried fruit before," Paki commented, pouring a few pieces into his hand. They were softer than they looked and he was surprised at how much like a fresh peach they tasted.
"It's much lighter than carryin' fresh food and doesn't go bad on the road," Kile explained. He looked up as Nicho nudged him in his back. Handing the horse a piece, he chuckled. "It also won't hurt the 'orses if they want to share."
"How much farther?" Paki asked, handing Kile back his bag.
"The town I told ye about is just over that hill," Kile motioned to the gentle rise ahead of them. "Mo'ani's Stronghold's about four days beyond that."
"How will I pay for a saddle?" Paki wondered aloud. He knew he didn't have anything he could trade for even a poorly made saddle.
"I told ye it'll be taken care of," Kile assured him again. "I know an outfitter in town who owes me a favor or two. I'm sure he can find one that'll fit ye're stallion."
"You don't have to do that," Paki said quietly. No one had ever done such a thing for him before. His parents were too poor to own a horse. His experience riding them was from riding the mare when his master was too drunk to go on errands himself.
"I know, lad," Kile smiled evenly at him. "But ye can't ride for four days without a saddle." Kile paused to hand Nicho another piece of dried peach.
"Why are you so nice to me?" Paki asked. "You stayed to help me with the horses and now you're helping me get someplace new."
Kile watched Paki for several seconds before sighing. "Because, for one reason or another, fate wanted us to meet," he finally said. "I 'adn't planned to take that road where we met. I was plannin' on takin' a cross-country route to the Stronghold. But one mornin', I woke up, saddled Nicho and we turned and started down that road. I didn't know why, lad, but I just knew I was supposed to follow that road. The first three days nothin' 'appened, but on the fourth day, ye came burstin' out of a row of trees desperate for help." Kile shrugged.
Paki studied Kile intensively. He was surprised when Kile stayed with him after the colt was born and felt safe with him around the camp. Kile hadn't asked him again what happened to his master and by the next morning, his master's body had disappeared. Paki was afraid to ask Kile where it was, somehow he knew Kile was the one responsible for its' disappearance.
"But you're a warrior," Paki argued. "I can't be any use to you."
"Who says ye have to be of use to me?" Kile asked, raising his eyebrows. "Ye're free now, lad, ye can do what ye want with what's left of ye're life." Kile paused. "But ye can come with me if ye want. The village outside the Stronghold would give ye plenty of opportunities."
"I don't know," Paki shrugged. "You must have other things to do."
"Other things?" Kile looked skyward, obviously thinking hard about what Paki suggested. "I've nothin' to do but wait for Nahtan," he finally decided, looking back down at Paki.
"Who's Nahtan?" Paki asked.
"Nahtan will be the new king," Kile explained. "He's the one Mo'ani trains warriors to fight for."
"When will he be king?" Paki asked, fascinated.
Kile shrugged. "No one knows. His comin' was foretold before the last king fell to the church. Ye won't hear mention of 'im in any school or seminary now though, the church doesn't like to hear 'is name."
"Why? Don't they want another king?"
"No," Kile answered bluntly. He pulled himself to his feet. "Let's get goin' and I'll tell ye the rest on the way into town." He offered a hand to Paki, pulling him up.
Kile boosted Paki back up onto the stallion's back, then once again handed him the leads for the mare and colt. Pulling himself back onto Nicho, they once again turned onto the road and continued on their way.
"So, what about Nahtan?" Paki asked, getting comfortable on the stallion's bare back.
"Well," Kile began. "Close to seventy years past, the last birthright king died before he could marry or 'ave children. When 'e died, the Archbishop took the throne, puttin' the kingdom under the church's control.
"Most of the officers in the King's Guard were nobleman and the soldiers were simple, 'onest men. The Archbishop disbanded the King's Guard, sendin' 'em all back to their 'omes and families. Eventually, they all died. All of them except Mo'ani," he added. Kile nudged Nicho to pick up the pace as they started up the gentle hill.
"But," Paki paused, trying to figure out a problem he could see, but was too complex to figure out in his head. "You said Mo'ani served under the last three kings. It seems like he'd be very old." Without a motion from Paki, the stallion matched his pace to Nicho's.
"Aye, he is," Kile nodded. "He trained my grandfather to be a King's Guard."
"But," Paki continued to struggle with the problem in his head. "People don't live that long."
"That's what 'e thought, too," Kile affirmed. "By the time the rest of the King's Guards were dead, 'e went to a soothsayer. She told 'im 'twas 'is destiny to train Nahtan's warriors."
"So that's when he started training people like you?"
"No, first he turned 'is keep into a Stronghold with enough stores to last six years of siege. Then he started lookin' for young men to train."
"Did he just go around and ask people if they wanted him to teach them?"
