by D. L. Kramer
They kept a steady pace for quite some time and had put quite a bit of distance behind them by the time they stopped to rest the horses. A farmer's canal from the river ran near the road and they were able to water the horses there. After a short meal, they took to the road again.
Just before nightfall they stopped and made camp. Several other campfires burned in the distance in each direction, evidence other travelers heading to or from Herridon had also stopped for the night. Their camp remained undisturbed and they headed out once again before dawn.
By late the second day, Kile led them off the main road and onto one of the many farm roads. They camped that night on the outskirts of a small farm community.
Midday of the third day, the stone battlements of Bavol Hold came into view. It loomed ahead of them, dark and unwelcoming.
"Not very inviting, is it?" Bear asked Paki.
"No, it's not," Paki agreed.
"It was built that way," Adie said. "It's more inviting on the inside."
"I haven't been to Bavol Hold for close to six years," Kile noted. "Has much changed?"
"Tuketu is almost old enough to be a student," Bear supplied.
"Not much," Adie answered, smiling at Bear's suggestion. "Lord Bavol is as crusty as ever and the lady still takes an active hand."
"It's nice to know not everything changed while I was at Valin," Kile chuckled. He turned to Bear. "We'll only stay the night, so don't get caught up with ye're brother."
"I won't," Bear promised.
Next, Kile looked at Paki. "Don't let Lord Bavol get to ye," he warned. "His heart's in the right place, even if 'e doesn't act like it."
Paki nodded his head. "Does he oversee the training of his students and apprentices?" he asked.
"Sometimes," Adie admitted. "Arlend, his oldest son, handles a lot for his father now that Lord Bavol has gotten older."
The near gates of Bavol Hold opened and three people rode through the gates. Two were cloaked Mo'ani warriors and the third was a young woman. Kile motioned for them to stop and wait.
As they neared, the woman tapped her heels on her horse's side and he leaped forward, galloping to meet them with the two men a few feet behind her. Paki noticed she was several years younger than either of the men, though she was older than he originally thought. He guessed she was somewhere in her late twenties. Her long blonde hair and fair skin were a sharp contrast to the dark green velvet gown she was wearing.
"M'lady," Kile greeted, bowing his head to her. "I trust the day finds ye well?"
Lady Bavol nodded, smiling at him. "As well as can be expected," she said. "You remember Tonek and Arlend?" She motioned to the two men with her. The younger looking of the two was quite a bit bigger than the other.
Kile nodded to the two men. "Lieutenant," he greeted Arlend, then turned to Tonek. "Ye've grown again," he noted.
"Much to my father's dismay," Tonek returned with a faint smile.
Kile chuckled. "Ye all know Adiella and Sewati, the other boy's Paki," he nodded at Paki.
"You've grown, too," Arlend said to Bear. "You were about half a foot shorter when Mo'ani took you back to the Stronghold."
Bear nodded his head.
"We can exchange pleasantries back inside," Lady Bavol decided. "I really don't want to leave his Lordship alone too long."
"Of course," Kile agreed. He nodded to Paki and Bear and let them move ahead to follow Lady Bavol back into Bavol Hold.
Bavol Hold was much more inviting inside, Paki agreed. The interior walls were draped with colorful banners and people laughed as they went about their daily routines. Like the Stronghold, there was a training yard at one end and students and apprentices paid close attention to what was being discussed in the center.
Lady Bavol led them to the stables where they all dismounted. Chase nickered at Kile and he gave the horse a warning look.
"Ye'd better watch this one," he warned the stable hand who reached for Chase's reins. "He's somethin' of a mischief."
"Yes, sir," the young man promised, tightening his grip on the reins. Chase wasn't quite the height of his sire, but was every bit as strong and then some.
Bear chuckled as they were led to the keep.
"I wonder if they realize how hard it'll be to keep him contained if he wants out," he whispered to Paki.
"I guess they'll find out," Paki returned. "He's been awfully cooperative so far, he must be planning on running for a month when he gets loose again."
Paki and Bear followed behind as Lady Bavol led them all to a large study. Tonek disappeared through a door at the back, but Arlend stayed with them.
"Are you sure you can't stay longer than the night?" Lady Bavol asked, lowering herself into one of the overstuffed chairs.
"We need to get to Othon's tower as soon as we can, Evaine," Kile said. He sat on the arm of one of the couches and motioned for Paki and Bear to sit down. "I'd like to stay and argue battle tactics with ye're husband, but don't dare take the time right now. Per'aps on the way back."
Paki sat down on the couch while Bear sat on the floor.
"You know," Lady Bavol said. "No one's called me by my real name for so long."
"I only left last week," Adie said, leaning against the mantle of the giant fireplace.
"And that's been so long," Evaine insisted. "These fools," she motioned to the outer door. "Insist on calling me 'Lady Bavol' and 'M'lady'. And of course none of my stepsons are going to call me 'mother'."
"Our father was going to make us," Arlend pointed out. "You're the one who told him not to bother."
"Your youngest brother is only a few years older than me," Evaine reminded. "It was only going to prompt more explanations than I wanted to give." She smiled at Arlend. "Besides, your mother was a gracious, beautiful woman and I would never assume to take her place."
Kile leaned over to Paki.
"They banter like this a lot," he whispered. "I think Evaine prompts it out of boredom."
Paki nodded his head as the door opened again. Tonek reentered the room, followed by a scowling, grey haired man. Lord Bavol was older than Paki expected. Lady Bavol had to be at the most a third his age.
"Lord Bavol," Kile greeted, standing to greet the old man.
"Keep your seat," the Lord of Bavol Hold growled. He shook off Tonek's offer of help and plopped himself down in the other chair. He settled his gaze on Bear. "What are you still doing here? You're brother's been waiting in the stable for you."
Smiling, Bear stood up. "Just waiting for your dismissal, M'lord," he said, giving Lord Bavol a sweeping bow. Nodding to Paki, he slipped quickly from the room.
Paki briefly wished he could go with, but knew Bear would appreciate some time alone with his brother.
"Too smart for his own good," Lord Bavol grumbled.
"Be nice, Matthios," Evaine prompted her husband. "Sewati did an admirable job restraining himself."
"That boy doesn't know how."
Kile and Adie exchanged faint smiles.
"Who's this one?" Evaine asked, her clear eyes settling on Paki.
"This is Paki, he's one of the boys from Mo'ani's Stronghold," Kile answered. "He and Sewati have become good friends."
"What's he doing going north with you?" Matthios asked, barely looking at Paki.
Paki wasn't sure what to make of the Lord and Lady of Bavol. Lady Bavol seemed open and friendly enough, but Lord Bavol was as gruff as he had been warned.
"He lost a mare not too long ago," Kile said. "We thought it might be good for him to learn some of the Dwellers' beliefs about horses."
"They believe in horses, all right," Matthios muttered.
"Their horses are extraordinary," Evaine said, giving her husband a sidelong glance. "I heard you came into possession of one of their prized stallions, Kile, after losing Chaya."
"A gift from Othon," Kile said. "Church guards blocked a Dweller family into their ranch, then set fire to their 'ouse and stable. Chaya was in the stable, but there was only time to
save either 'er or the family. We got the family out just as the stable roof collapsed."
"I'm sorry," Evaine apologized, her voice emotional. "You'd had Chaya since I was barely toddling around my mother."
"Adie and I left for Valin not long after," Kile shrugged. "After takin' care of the church guards there, she came back north. When Nicho was foaled Othon gave 'im to Adie to bring to me."
Paki was drawn into the story. Adie had told him Kile had sacrificed his last horse and Nicho was repayment, but he was glad to hear the whole story behind it. Kile seemed all the more honorable to him now. It occurred to him that Nicho would only be about five years old. Much younger than the stallion.
"Before I forget," Adie started. "Do either of you know who Tziyad is?"
Matthios turned and spat into the fireplace, muttering several curses.
Kile raised an eyebrow at Evaine.
"Tziyad is the Archbishop's chief aide and advisor," Evaine told them. "He's more coldhearted than the Archbishop ever could have dreamed of becoming." She paused to look at each of them, pausing the longest on Paki, as if deciding whether she should continue. "Rumor has it he was the one who suggested the Archbishop institute blood sacrifices," she finished after a few seconds.
"I heard his name in the cathedral," Adie mentioned. "But we haven't heard of him at the Stronghold."
"Damned demon spawn is what he is," Matthios growled. "Doesn't want anyone knowing his name or what he does. Everything's in the Archbishop's 'name and glory' and all."
"It would undermine the Archbishop's power if people knew 'e had an advisor," Kile pointed out.
"How do you know about him?" Adie asked.
Matthios shrugged and motioned to Evaine.
"I had opportunity to meet with one of the bishops," she offered. "With a little persuasion, he explained something of their recent changes to me."
"Speakin' of changes," Kile said. "I don't suppose ye know what 'appened to Captain Janec do ye?"
"I always thought his mother dropped him on his head," Matthios muttered.
Evaine exchanged smiles with Kile and Adie.
"We don't know the details," she started. "But we did hear rumors of some sort of internal conflict. Janec was on the losing side and as a result was put in charge of a unit of newly commissioned soldiers. Last we heard he was trying to regain the Archbishop's good graces by finding you," she nodded to Kile.
"He caught up with us in Castyl," Kile told her. "But was taken out of commission, for a while at least."
"It would have been better if he was taken out of commission permanently," Matthios suggested.
They all looked up when the outer door opened.
"Begging your pardons," a young Mo'ani said as he entered the room. "But one of the horses has broken out of the stable and is causing problems."
Paki turned to look up at Kile. Kile sighed and shrugged.
"Then catch the damned thing," Matthios barked. "Don't tell me no one can corner him."
"Actually, M'lord--" the young man started, but stopped when Kile raised his hand to him.
"If it's the horse I think it is, Matthios, they won't be able to catch him until he wants them to."
"What are you talking about?" Matthios grunted as he pushed himself out of his chair.
Kile looked at Paki and motioned to Lord Bavol
"He was one of my horses, sir," Paki said quietly. "He's something of a troublemaker at times."
"And what'd you name him?" Matthios pinned his narrow eyes on Paki.
Paki looked helplessly up at Kile, who only shrugged.
"Chase, sir," Paki finally answered. "Actually, Sewati named him."
"Might have known," Matthios motioned to Evaine and she stood and took his arm. "Then let's go find out what sort of horse can't be caught by any man." Matthios led them to the door and out into the hallway.
Paki fell in step between Kile and Adie. "He won't get mad at Chase will he?" he asked.
"Probably not," Adie smiled at him and put one arm over his shoulders. "He'll more likely get mad at whichever stable hand let him loose."
Paki sighed and walked out into the late afternoon sun.
Just like at Mo'ani's Stronghold, a path of destruction told them where Chase had been. Tipped over water barrels, a pair of toppled sawhorses, tar spilled across the dirt and vegetables from one of the tables was strewn all over. Over by the training yard, Chase appeared to be cornered by several of the apprentices. To make matters worse, he didn't have a halter on. He definitely wouldn't be caught until he wanted to be.
Bear stood with a taller boy by the stable door and seemed to be waiting for something. Paki guessed the other youth was Bear's brother. Seeing Paki and the others come out of the keep, Bear said something to his companion, then jogged over.
"That's the third time they've had him cornered," he supplied. "Last time he jumped clean over their heads."
"What kind of horse is that?" Matthios asked, squinting at Chase in the sun.
"His sire was a plowhorse, sir," Paki answered. "His dam was used as a pack horse, but she was almost as big."
"How did 'e get out?" Kile asked Bear. "Ye know better than to let 'im loose without a halter."
"I do, but the stable boys here don't." Bear answered. "One opened his stall to feed him and he took over from there before I could stop them."
They watched as the circle of apprentices closed around the dark horse. Chase shook his mane and neighed at them, as if taunting them closer. He paused to look over at the group, then nickered at Kile. Kile sighed. They all knew what was coming now.
"He's going to bolt to his left," Evaine predicted. "Look at the way he's watching where they all move."
As soon as the circle was almost closed around him, Chase reared back, then took advantage of his would-be captors' momentary fear to bolt. As Evaine predicted, he slipped easily to his left, then took off at a full gallop towards Paki and the others.
Matthios and Evaine instinctively moved out of his way while Kile, Adie, Paki and Bear stood their ground. Just as he always did, Chase skidded to a stop in front of Kile, his dark eyes daring him to try to catch him.
"Do ye really want to do this again?" Kile asked the young horse. Moving slowly, he took his flute from his belt and played the first few notes of the low melody he had used before.
Chase tilted his head and looked at him, then turned and looked at Matthios and Evaine. Snorting at Kile, he turned and trotted right up to them. Evaine reached out her free hand and stroked his nose. Paki was surprised to see Matthios do the same.
"So you're smarter than most," Matthios admitted, then looked around at the exhausted students and apprentices. "And you're smarter than any of them."
"No offense, M'lord," Bear said. "But he hasn't been caught yet."
"He was very well named," Kile added.
"Let me at least get a rope for him," Adie offered, slipping past Paki. She was met halfway to the stable by Bear's brother, who was carrying a halter. Taking it from him, she carried it to Chase.
With not even a twitch of a muscle, Chase stood still while Adie slipped the halter on him and tightened it.
"Now he's been caught," Bear declared.
Chase lipped Matthios' fingers before Adie led him back to the stable.
"You said he was your horse?" Matthios asked Paki.
"His sire's mine, sir," Paki said, something occurring to him. "I gave Chase to Bear." He hadn't officially. He had just offered to let Bear take him to the Dwellers' valley. But it made sense to Paki. Bear was bold, sometimes reckless and much smarter than people thought. He and Chase were made for each other, Paki decided.
Bear gave Paki a surprised look. "Thank you," he said simply, his dark eyes telling Paki he wanted to know why he would make such an offer.
Matthios looked at Bear. "Hmmphh," he snorted. "Might have known you'd have a horse like that."
Kile put a hand on Paki's shoulder. "Why don't ye two go run it out of 'im. I'm sure ye're n
ot that interested in what we're talkin' about."
"Come on," Bear grabbed Paki's arm and pulled him over to the stable. They were met at the door by Adie on her way out.
"Guess we should have known he was planning something," she smiled at them.
Paki paused to look at everyone cleaning up the mess Chase had left.
"Kile suggested we run it out of him," he said. "Can we go out of the hold to do it? I don't think anyone here likes him very much."
Adie nodded her head, then looked at Bear. "Do you remember the way to Gale Lake?"
"West, over the hill," Bear supplied.
"Don't go anywhere else," Adie warned them before heading back to the keep.
"Do you mind if my brother comes?" Bear asked.
"No," Paki shrugged.
Bear led Paki into the stable, then down to the stalls where their horses were. As they saddled Chase and the stallion, Bear's brother appeared leading a tall mare. Her cream mane and tail spotless against her darker coat.
"Paki, this is Tuketu, my brother," Bear introduced. "Ke, this is Paki, but he wants a new name, so don't remember this one."
Paki nodded to Tuketu and finished saddling the stallion.
"A new name?" Tuketu asked.
"Maybe," Paki shrugged. "I don't remember what my birthname was, 'Paki' is just a nickname."
"Good enough reason for a new one," Tuketu decided. He led the way out of the stable.
Paki was surprised to see Tuketu's horse only had on a bit and bridle. "Doesn't she need a saddle?" he asked.
"I like riding without one," Tuketu answered, swinging up onto the mare's back. "Gale Lake?" he asked Bear.
Paki and Bear both swung onto their horses' backs.
"Yes," Bear answered.
The gatekeeper swung the gate open for them and as soon as they were free the three horses broke into a gallop. Circling to the west, the horses needed no prompting to race toward a gentle hill in the distance. The mare kept pace with the stronger horses and was beginning to inch her way ahead as they reached the bottom of the hill.
Paki felt the stallion throw his weight into climbing the hill, his days as a plowhorse obviously coming back to him. All three pulled in as they crested the hill. Below them, a crystal lake surrounded by thick trees shone brilliantly in the mid-afternoon sun.
