by D. L. Kramer
Silence fell over the table as the three boys stared at their plates. Paki couldn't bring himself to ask Kile if they could stay and even Bear seemed more restrained when Othon was around. Jerai had offered to ask for them, but could only get his father's permission and had no place to ask Kile. Finally, Othon cleared his throat.
"It hath been brought to my attention that neither of thee wants to leave," he said, his deep voice even. "If each of thou would like, thou may remain here until Lord Olorun returns in two years."
Paki looked up at Jerai, who only shrugged. He and Bear both looked at Kile at the same time.
Kile studied both boys with narrowed eyes. After several long seconds, he shook his head.
"I don't think ye could stand 'em that long, Othon," he said. "Sewati causes more trouble than he's worth and Paki's got 'is studies back at the Stronghold."
"I don't cause that much trouble!" Bear declared, to which Kile raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
"I can study here," Paki added. "Meda told me Lord Othon had a library she expected me to visit while I was here." He paused, considering. "I didn't get a chance to visit it over the last couple of weeks and I really don't want to have to tell her I forgot."
Kile frowned at Paki. Paki was about to think he was still going to make them leave when Adie threw a bread crust across the table at Kile.
"It was your idea they stay," she said. "Quit tormenting them."
Kile's frown dissolved into a smile. He winked at Paki. "If ye want to stay, it's fine," he said. "Mo'ani already agreed if ye liked it here, ye could stay."
Paki and Bear smiled at each other.
"Our house hath rules," Othon added. "Thou will care for thine own horse each day and will help with the fields and herds. Thou art not to leave the valley without consent from myself or one of the Mo'ani's officers, and thou will not travel alone near any pass."
"That's fine," Paki nodded his head. "But can I ask one thing?"
Othon raised one eyebrow. "What?"
Paki sighed. "That no one calls me 'Young Master' while we're here?"
Othon chuckled and nodded his head.
Kile and Adie left early the next morning. Paki knew he'd miss them, but the excitement of staying with the Dwellers overshadowed it. He, Bear and Jerai rode as far as the ridge overlooking the valley with them. The Wardsman's Woods spread as far as he could see on the other side, and Paki knew he'd miss the calm serenity of the forest.
Nicho rubbed his nose on Aloyse's neck before they separated. Watching Kile and Adie descend the hill, Paki sighed.
"I guess we're here for the next two years," he said.
"I don't think it'll be that bad," Bear shrugged, turning Chase back towards the valley. "We're going to have to work either place, we can at least learn more here." He stroked the kit's soft fur absently.
Paki nodded his head in agreement, turning the stallion, he followed Bear down the hill.
"Might I suggest we work on learning to understand your horses first?" Jerai suggested.
"How?" Paki asked.
"Jaron or Tosia can probably teach you better than anyone," Jerai answered. "They'll be back from the herds tonight."
"What'll we do until then?" Bear asked over his shoulder.
"Whatever we want," Jerai laughed, spurring Aloyse into a gallop. The mare surged ahead, only to be caught by the stallion and Chase as they burst into gallops of their own.
They reached the tower, windblown and out of breath. They had slowed to a walk at the bottom of the hill, then galloped again the last league or so. Leading the horses into their stalls, the boys made sure they were settled and had their blankets put on them before leaving. Heading into the tower, they amused themselves for the rest of the day in Othon's armory.
When the sun finally set, Jerai led them to Jaron and Tosia's family ranch. The brother and sister were outside, waiting while their horses filed into the corral for the night. Tosia turned as they approached, her white blonde hair brilliant in the last light.
"Greet thee well," she called, raising her hand. Wheeling her horse around, she rode to the fence beside them. "Thou art still here?" she asked Paki and Bear.
"We're staying until Kile comes back," Paki said. "This is my friend Bear," he introduced.
Tosia nodded to Bear.
"They need to learn to understand their horses," Jerai said. "I thought you and Jaron could teach them."
Tosia pursed her lips, looking at Paki and Bear. "Thy horses are not bred of Dweller lines," she pointed out. "They will not be as easy to bond with."
"We're still willing to learn," Bear said.
"Let me speak with my brother," Tosia said. "I shall let thee know by the morn."
"Thank you," Paki said.
The three boys turned and left, walking back to Othon's tower. Paki slept restlessly that night, waking often to see if it was daybreak yet.
It was about an hour before dawn when he decided he wasn't going to get any sleep. Pulling on a clean tunic and breeches, he slipped from his room. Checking by both Bear and Jerai's doors, he heard no sign of activity and decided he was the only one who couldn't sleep. He couldn't help it, the thought of learning to understand the horses kept him awake. He had seen Kile and Nicho moving in perfect coordination with each other and knew deep down he and the stallion could do the same.
Deciding to see what Othon's library held, he made his way up the stairs. The library's doors weren't locked and he slipped inside.
The library was dimly lit by torches along the walls and darkened lamps sat on each table. Finding a tinderbox beside one of the lamps, he lit it and carried it with him as he read the directory at the end of each row of shelves. Finally finding the one he wanted, he walked down the row, skimming the titles on each of the books and scroll covers. Finally deciding on several dusty volumes, he pulled them from their shelf, balanced the lamp on top of them and made his way to the nearest table.
Within the first few pages, he found himself engrossed in an account of Zakris, his daughters and his brother Zared. He lost track of all time and it wasn't until Bear sat down beside him that he looked up, realizing it was well passed daybreak.
"I don't know how I knew you'd be here," Bear smiled, glancing through the pile of books in front of Paki. The kit was laying draped over his shoulder, chewing on the collar of Bear's vest.
"You should read this," Paki said, turning back to the book. "Did you know Zared can stop Zakris from doing something? He just has to act before Zakris finishes."
"Who?" Bear asked.
"Zared, Zakris' brother," Paki turned the page and kept reading. "When Jensina wanted a baby, her father wanted to grant her wish and create one for her, but Zared found out and stopped him. That's why the lion brought that baby to Jensina. The lion wasn't a regular lion, so when he found the baby, he knew the baby wasn't a mortal baby."
"You're not still on that story are you?" Bear asked. "I thought you'd finished that one."
"I never found out much more than Adie told me," Paki pointed out. "She didn't know what happened to the baby."
"So what was this baby then if it wasn't mortal?" Bear asked.
"All it says back here," Paki paused to flip back several pages. "Is that he wasn't 'manflesh', but wasn't 'godflesh' either. The lion found the baby in the woods outside Jensina's house and brought it to her."
"So she got her baby," Bear shrugged.
Paki skimmed through the last few pages, shaking his head. "That's just it," he said. "She couldn't keep the baby. Adie told me that much, but it doesn't say anything else about him." He closed the book and pushed it away from himself, obviously disappointed. The book had told him a few things Adie hadn't, but not much. He reached for another book from his stack but was stopped by Bear.
"Tosia came by," Bear said. "Jaron agreed to teach us, but we have to be at their ranch before mid-morning." He stood up. "Come on, you can read these later."
"But--" Paki looked at the stack of books in front of him. H
e knew the rest of the story was in one of them, he was sure of it. Still, he had at least two years to read them, and it was obvious they had already been waiting here for a long time. Surely a few more hours wouldn't matter. Standing up, he picked up the stack of books and followed Bear to the library doors. Pausing by the librarian's desk, he handed the stack to the young man standing there. "I'll be back for these later," he said. "Can you hold onto them for me up here?"
"Thy books will be safe," the young man nodded. "Should I not be here upon thy return, they shall be behind the lectern." He set the books on a shelf below the counter and turned back to his own writing.
Jerai was waiting with the horses outside the stable. Chase, Aloyse and the stallion had all been saddled and Jerai handed Paki and Bear their reins. Taking the lead, Jerai led them out to Jaron and Tosia's family ranch.
The brother and sister were waiting for them, each sitting on their own horse. To begin with, Jaron had first Paki and the stallion, then Bear and Chase, move through a series of steps across the corral. Paki moved through them as Jaron instructed, from a walk to a canter to a fast trot to a gallop. Bear handed the kit to Paki, then he and Chase repeated the same series, Paki tried to guess what Jaron was watching for. When Bear was finished, Jaron motioned for him to come over. Chase galloped toward them at full speed, skidding to a stop at the last second.
"Thou must keep thy horse in check," Tosia said to Bear. "His spirit longs for the wind, but thou must keep his hooves on the ground. Thy horse cannot fly."
"Now tell him that," Bear said, taking the kit back from Paki.
"Nay," Tosia shook her head. "Thou must learn to tell him thyself."
"That's what we want to learn," Paki reminded them.
"Thy horse is great of heart and loyalty," Jaron said to Paki. "He hath already sworn his soul to thee. Thy bond with him shall surely come in short time."
Paki smiled faintly and reached over to pat the stallion's neck.
"Tomorrow morn," Jaron continued. "Either my sister or myself will begin working with both of thee each day. I promise that upon the captain's return to our valley, thou shall know thy horses' thoughts and hearts."
As Jaron had promised, either he or Tosia worked with Paki and Bear for at least a few hours each day. Both boys were put through exercises they were promised would open their minds and make them more aware of the horses. Paki had no problem with the meditations, but Bear's restlessness made it hard for him. During one meditation, Tosia explained to them that the awareness and ability to bond with the horses came from Zakris himself.
Within a month, Paki began to be more aware of the stallion's whereabouts and mood. Just by walking into the stable each morning, he knew how the stallion's night had gone. Tosia also began helping them train their horses to respond to verbal commands with no touch on the reins or other indication of their wishes.
By the time the first snow fell on the valley, Bear confided to Paki that he was sensing the same things about Chase. Neither of them seemed able to sense things about the other's horse, but Jaron assured them that would come in time and with practice.
The winter promised to be a heavy one, the first snowfall was almost knee deep and the sky threatened more by nightfall. The cold made it impossible to do much outside after their work with the horses and Paki, Bear and Jerai were soon forced to find new pastimes.
Much to Paki's surprise, it was Lord Othon who supplied them with things to do. Othon obviously remembered long winters from his own youth in the valley had no end of suggestions for them. One assignment he gave them was to create maps of the underground tunnels, another to use those tunnels to check on the Dwellers confined to their ranches by either age or sickness.
Othon also turned out to be quite the storyteller, and long nights were passed in his study as he told the three boys stories of his own adventures before his accident, and several of after. Jerai had obviously heard many of them before, but Paki noticed he still became engrossed in them. Even Bear's kit enjoyed the time in the study, taking great delight in attacking the fur rugs on the floor until he finally curled up before the fire, exhausted.
Late one night, Bear and Jerai had both excused themselves for bed, while Paki remained behind. He and Othon sat quietly in the study, the fire popping and crackling.
"Hast thee visited the library yet?" Othon asked into the silence.
"Once," Paki admitted. "I found what I thought would be interesting books, but only got one read and never got a chance to go back to read the others."
"Why?" Othon's eyes shifted from the fire to Paki.
Paki shrugged. "I guess I just got too busy working with Jaron and Tosia and the horses."
"Jaron says thou art doing exceptionally well," Othon nodded. "Thy stallion is indeed a loyal horse."
"He's saved my life," Paki said quietly. "I can't imagine not having him."
Othon nodded his head again. "Thou should visit the library between thy adventures with thy friends."
"I guess," Paki said. "Except I'm starting to think there aren't any books for what I want to know."
"And what doth thee want to know?"
Paki looked up to see the Dweller Lord studying him evenly. He knew, then, that he could ask or tell Othon anything and it would be taken seriously. The Dwellers' love and respect for their lord became very clear to him in that instant.
"I want to know what happened to Jensina's baby," he finally said. "All I know is that she couldn't keep it and had to give it back to the lion."
"Tell me, Paki, didst thou feel anything in the Wardsman's Woods?"
"I wasn't afraid there," Paki shrugged. "But I lived with a trapper for a long time and we spent most of our time in different forests, so I know what the noises are."
Othon nodded. "History says the Wardsman's Woods were among the first created by Zakris. It was there the lion of thy story found Jensina's baby, and it was there he returned the babe when Jensina sought to hide it from Zared."
Paki leaned forward in his seat. "The one book I read said the baby wasn't mortal, but it wasn't a god either."
"No one hath written what the baby's soul was," Othon said evenly. "My own belief is no one knows."
"But what happened to it after the lion took it back from Jensina?" Paki was anxious to hear the rest of the story. When he was distracted by other things, he forgot how much the story drew him in.
Othon turned back to the fire. "The lion was unable to care for the babe and soon had to leave it. Zared went in search of him, knowing as long as the child lived, Jensina would spurn his twisted love. He found the baby where the lion had left it and fell upon it to devour its' soul."
Paki blinked. Jensina's heart must have broken to have the baby she loved die in such a way. No wonder she looked so sad in the statue.
"Poor Jensina," he whispered, wishing briefly he could look at her beautiful, sad face in the cathedral at the Stronghold.
"She is strong, Paki," Othon looked back at him. "She felt the baby's pain and drew strength from it to resist Zared. To this day he pursues her, and to this day she turns him away."
Paki nodded his head and sat back on the couch. He felt strangely at ease now knowing what had happened to the baby. Remembering Isak's comments about Jensina, he would remember to place a handful of wildflowers before her statue when he returned to the Stronghold.
"Thou should get some sleep," Othon said quietly. "Thy teachers have much in store for thee tomorrow."
"They say that everyday," Paki stood up. "Did you need some help?" he offered.
Othon shook his head. "I'll stay here a while," he said. "If thou would place more wood on the fire, I would appreciate it."
Paki stirred the fire and put a couple more logs onto it. Bidding Othon goodnight, he left the study and went to his room. Slipping into the bed, he lay awake for quite a while, trying to imagine what it was like for a god to lose a child. Just before falling asleep, his thoughts drifted to his own parents and he found himself wondering if t
hey ever worried about him or his sister.
The winter in the valley was longer than Paki thought it would be, even though he knew he was much farther north. When it was typically early spring at the Stronghold, it was still frozen and cold in the valley. Spring finally came, and with it came more time to work with Jaron and Tosia.
Both Paki and Bear surged ahead in their lessons with the horses and by the first heat of summer, Paki could sense what the stallion felt. The spot where he was hit by the crossbow hurt off and on and his back legs ached before a change in the weather. The stallion also seemed to notice the new bond and took advantage of it to make Paki aware of any other discomforts.
Paki noticed that Bear and Chase weren't as close as he and the stallion, but Tosia assured him it was because Chase was still so young. She told him that many Dwellers' horses wouldn't fully commit to the bond until they were closer to five or six years old and a non-Dwellers' horse could take longer.
Much to Paki's surprise, that summer Bear began talking to the Dwellers who played the flutes. He seemed determined to learn to play one, and Jaron finally agreed to teach him that, too. They were all surprised to discover that Chase responded faster to the flute than he did to any other lesson.
They had been out for the entire morning and had just returned to the ranches. Jaron and Tosia watched as Paki, Bear and Jerai walked their horses around the corral, each horse lifting his hooves in different paces. When they were at the side farthest from the road, the clear, gentle notes from a flute drifted to them. Realizing it wasn't Jaron's flute, Paki turned to look for whose it was.
Sitting on his own horse outside the corral, Lord Othon held a silver flute to his lips and played the same notes again. The stallion flicked his ears, but kept walking the direction Paki had indicated. Chase, however, stopped and turned to face Othon. Paki pulled the stallion in and watched in surprise as Chase first turned one way, then the other, all seemingly in response to the notes Othon played. He looked at Jerai, who was smiling faintly at his father.
"I knew he couldn't resist," Jerai said when he realized Paki was looking at him. "Jaron's one of the best horsemen in the valley, but my father's the very best. If there's a way to get a horse to do something, he knows it."
