by D. L. Kramer
"We'll wait for the watch on the battlements to spot them," Mo'ani instructed the two apprentices. "How long will depend on which way Kile has to take them."
"Why us?" Bear asked, tightening his grip on Chase's reins so the big horse couldn't get away if he tried.
Mo'ani shrugged. "Why not?" he asked in return. "You're my two best apprentices, I'm sure you could handle anything that might come up."
"But we're nowhere near Gharald or Janec's abilities," Paki pointed out. "And won't they be insulted?"
"They probably won't even care," Mo'ani said evenly. As Tavish brought him his horse, he looked up at the nearest battlement. The early sun of summer was just coming through the trees beyond the Stronghold, casting the shadows of the men standing watch there back onto the ground. Mo'ani waited, with Paki and Bear beside him, until one of the men turned and waved silently at them. He then motioned in the direction they were coming from, then turned back to his watch. "Looks like they weren't being followed," Mo'ani said, pulling himself into the saddle with the grace of a Dweller.
Mo'ani led the way out of the Stronghold, with Paki and Bear riding just behind him. They rode quite a distance out, and Mo'ani motioned for them to stop before the Stronghold was out of sight. If there were a problem, the Mo'ani on the battlements would be able to alert them. Ahead of them was the mountain pass Kile would take them through. A few sparse trees dotted the tops of the hills on either side of the pass, with nothing but rock and gravel at the bottom.
They were only there for a few minutes when the jingling of horses sounded ahead of them. Tyran shifted his weight nervously and Paki leaned over to pat his neck.
Kile, a man and a woman--all wearing red cloaks--came around the twist in the mountain pass. The man and woman were also riding Dwellers' horses. The three pulled their horses in just ahead of Mo'ani, Paki and Bear. Paki couldn't help but smile at Kile's raised eyebrow when he saw them escorting Mo'ani.
"Dhalos," Mo'ani greeted the man, then turned to the woman. "Sevanha."
The man bowed his head, his light hair a contrast to his darkly tanned skin. He wore a leather tunic under his cloak, and a broadsword was belted around his waist. Bright eyes immediately took in Paki and Bear as he looked at Mo'ani, and he nodded to each of them in turn.
"Lord Mo'ani," Dhalos returned. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion?" His voice was sharp and clear, and Paki didn't doubt it could carry for quite a distance.
"I suppose that depends on why you're here," Mo'ani said.
"Concern for the safety of our children," Sevanha answered. Like her husband, she had light hair and dark skin. Her eyes, however, were easily as dark as Bear's. She was also the first woman Paki had seen wearing a cloak. Most--like Adie and Evaine--wore a sash. The hilt of a sword gleamed over each of Lady Corydon's shoulders. "The garrison behind us has started burning the villages nearest it," Sevanha continued. "And we've caught church scouts mapping the terrain around Corydon Hold."
"We'll finish talking inside the Stronghold," Mo'ani said.
As they turned to go, Lord Corydon paused to whistle shrilly back towards the mountain pass. In response, two Mo'ani rode around the corner, leading three older children and their escort.
Kile moved up between Paki and Bear as Mo'ani led them all to the Stronghold.
"Do I want to know what ye did to earn this?" he asked them.
"We didn't do anything," Bear said. "Paki woke me up and told me Lord Mo'ani wanted us to escort him."
Kile looked at Paki, who shrugged.
"He told me right after you left," Paki said.
"I thought it was time they started learning some of the traditions," Mo'ani said over his shoulder. "Thanks to the Archbishop, we don't have many left."
"No, we don't," Kile agreed with a sigh. "But they aren't even cloaked yet."
Mo'ani turned in his saddle to look at Paki and Bear, then at Kile.
"I think your record is in danger of being broken," he said to Kile, turning forward again.
Kile raised an eyebrow at Paki, who shrugged again. They rode the rest of the way to the Stronghold in silence. Paki and Bear exchanged glances of their own at Mo'ani's comment, but neither of them said anything.
As the group filed through the heavy doors of the Stronghold, Mo'ani motioned Paki and Bear to the side with him and Kile. They all dismounted and waited as the rest rode past, Adie appearing several yards behind the end of the procession. Mo'ani pointed out Lord and Lady Corydon's children riding with their parents. The oldest son looked only a couple of years younger than Paki and Bear, but Paki thought he looked awfully frail. Both the daughter and youngest son, however, closely resembled their parents.
"The oldest boy is Gahrit," Mo'ani said. "The girl is Mehlis, and the younger boy is Bredyn."
"What's wrong with Gahrit?" Bear asked. "He doesn't look healthy."
"He's not," Kile said. "He was sick a lot when 'e was younger, and 'e never regained any strength." He looked at Paki. "He probably couldn't lift ye're sword."
"Is that why his parents were concerned about them?" Paki asked.
Mo'ani nodded. "Mehlis is about thirteen now, and Bredyn no more than eleven. Gahrit has spent all his time learning how to handle the diplomatic side of running a hold, since he figures he won't be able to fight to keep it if there's ever a confrontation."
"He'll just outsmart whoever wants it," Paki commented, watching as Gahrit slowly dismounted beside his father's horse. His legs were unsteady, and Dahlos dismounted to stand beside him while Sevanha helped the other two off the horse they shared.
"Why don't you two take their horses to the stable," Mo'ani suggested to Paki and Bear. "If any of the children need their parents, we'll be in my office."
Paki nodded his head and led Tyran over to Dahlos and Gahrit while Bear went to get the other two horses.
"Excuse me, sir," Paki said. "I can take the horses to the stable for you."
Dahlos looked up from his son to Paki.
"So you must be the one Evaine told us about," he said.
"I must be?" Paki asked, puzzled. He wondered what Lady Bavol could possibly be saying about him.
"She said there was an apprentice here who was just a step or two below the captain," Dahlos said. "And Sewati's pretty well known, so I knew it wasn't him."
"Bear's actually a very good archer," Paki defended his friend.
"He means with a sword," Gahrit said quietly. His shadowed eyes met Paki's. "Your longsword is what gave you away, actually. There isn't another apprentice here who uses a two-handed sword, and that's the weapon Lady Bavol identified."
Paki started to say something, then stopped. How would Lady Bavol know what kind of sword he was using? He hadn't picked this one up until his training started at Valin Hold, and Matthios and Evaine had returned to Bavol Hold some time before that.
"I don't suppose you know how she knew what kind of sword I had?" Paki asked Gahrit.
Gahrit smiled faintly. "Yes," he said. "She's seen you with it."
Paki opened his mouth again, then closed it and shook his head. He was the last one who would try to figure out Lady Bavol. "Your horse, M'lord?" he asked Dahlos.
Dahlos chuckled and handed Paki the reins to the two horses.
"Lord Mo'ani wanted to meet with you in his office," Paki told him.
"I guessed as much," Dahlos nodded. He raised an eyebrow at his son, then turned to follow his wife, Mo'ani and Kile into the keep when Gahrit nodded his head.
Paki led the horses toward the stable, Gahrit in step beside him.
"I've heard there's quite a library here," Gahrit said.
Paki nodded. "There is," he said. "It's upstairs. Let me get these three taken care of, and I'll show you the way." He had wanted to go to the library this morning after practice anyway, both to see Rena, and to talk to Meda. He paused to put Tyran in his stall, then led the other two horses to empty stalls. After unsaddling each of them and making sure they had water, Paki put his sword across his back
again, and he and Gahrit left the stable.
Eleven - "Is that a dagger inside your left sleeve?"
Paki pushed open one of the library's double doors. The climb up the stairs was hard for Gahrit, and their pace slow. Still, the young man hadn't complained, something Paki admired.
"Young Master?" Meda asked when Paki came around the door. "I'd ask if you're here to study, but the sword tells me otherwise."
Paki smiled evenly at her, for once feeling like he was up to the challenge of taking her on. While he usually felt like she was able to run rings around him, he knew she wouldn't today. "This is Master Gahrit," he introduced. "He's interested in quite a few of the books here. I'm sure you can dote on him like you would me."
Meda pursed her lips, only giving Gahrit the briefest of looks. "Dote?" she asked pointedly.
"I could come up with something a little less complimentary," Paki suggested.
Meda studied him for a moment. "I'll remember that the next time you need some gaping wound stitched," she promised, then looked fully at Gahrit. "What exactly are you interested in?" she asked.
Gahrit hid his smile, obviously enjoying their easy banter. "Thaniel of Basiyr," he replied.
Paki was amazed to see the look of surprise on Meda's face, though she recovered from it immediately.
"How do you know about Basiyr?" she asked.
"I enjoy reading old history books," Gahrit shrugged. "It's fairly easy to find his writings and references to him--he was a prolific writer."
"Very old history books," Meda confirmed. "Do I want to know why you're interested in him?"
"He was the general and brother-in-arms for the War Bringer," Gahrit answered. "And the one who traded his soul so the Olorun line could be redeemed."
War Bringer...Paki immediately recognized the phrase from Kile's coat of arms. But Kile hadn't said anything about his family line once needing redemption. Interest sparked in him and he made a note to mention Gahrit's interest to Kile.
"The history books are along that wall," Meda said after a long pause, pointing to the east end of the library. "I'm not sure how many of Thaniel of Basiyr's writings we have."
Gahrit nodded to her and turned to disappear between a row of shelves.
Meda watched him go, then sighed.
"What is it?" Paki asked.
"I didn't think anyone that young knew about that," she said quietly, her voice contemplative. "Just when I think the younger generations have forgotten history, hope is renewed for me."
"Knew about Basiyr?" Paki asked. He'd never seen her react that way before.
Meda nodded her head slowly. "Valerik Olorun committed so many atrocities, his entire line was damned, down to the last descendent who would ever be born. Basiyr struck a deal with Zakris, promising to give his soul for complete judgment of the wrongs if the Olorun line could be redeemed one day by one of Valerik's descendents."
"Just what did this entail?" Paki asked slowly, not sure if he liked the sound of it.
Meda shook her head slowly. "I don't know the details," she said. "Pater Isak could probably tell you." Her eyes seemed distant for a moment as if she were trying to recall an old history lesson, then they cleared and she looked at Paki. "Now since I don't want you starting any fights in here, and I doubt you're here to read..."
"I did want to talk to you," Paki said, remembering one reason why he wanted to come up here with Gahrit.
"Oh?"
Paki nodded his head, then took a step back and carefully looked at Meda. Kile said she wore three knives on her. Her hair was in its usual topknot, but not as full as Adie's, so he doubted Meda could hide anything in the band like Adie did. She wore a choker around her neck, and a loose fitting silk blouse. Her skirt was full and floor length, hiding her boots. It wasn't until he realized one cuff on her blouse was looser than the other that he was sure he found one. He stepped back to the counter.
"Is that a dagger inside your left sleeve?" he asked. He smiled faintly at the look on her face, knowing he was right.
Meda raised an eyebrow at him. "And what's brought this up?" she asked.
"I need to learn how to see weapons when they're hidden on people," Paki said. "I was told you always have three knives on you."
Meda studied him for a moment. "Yes, it's a dagger," she answered. Pushing up her sleeve, she revealed the slender, silver weapon. The quillon were barely wider than the blade. It was held in a leather sheath, and at an angle to draw it quickly with her right hand.
"Will you show me how to find them?" Paki asked.
"It's not that easy," she said, rolling her sleeve back down again.
"Neither is handling this," he nodded to the sword on his back. He didn't doubt there were entirely different tactics used in hiding weapons, though. While he could always resort to brute force with his sword, it seemed to him that subtlety was needed to learn this particular skill.
Meda studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Let me think about it," she said.
"Fair enough," Paki nodded. He was also planning to talk to Adie about the same thing, and Adie didn't have Meda's values or concerns. Letting Meda go back to her writing, he turned and walked along the row of shelves looking for Rena. He finally found her sitting on the floor by a shelf sorting through scrolls. His heartbeat quickened as he approached her and his mouth seemed to suddenly go dry. "Sorry I left so early," he said, coming up beside her.
Rena smiled up at him, then turned back to the scrolls on her lap. "You have practice," she said. "I don't imagine you'll be able to sleep in late anytime soon."
Paki kneeled down, maneuvering his sword so it didn't knock anything from the nearby shelves. He wanted to say something--anything--but nothing came to his mind. Instead, he reached over and touched her cheek, then took her hand and kissed it lightly when she looked at him. His fingers trembled, and he wondered if she felt it. He realized if he stayed kneeling beside her, he might end up making a fool of himself. Smiling, he stood up. "Lord and Lady Corydon are here," he said, trying to think of something to say. "So I don't know what the practice schedules will be for the next day or two. I don't know when I can risk being out of the bunk after curfew again--" He found himself wanting to spend every moment he could with her, just having her near him.
"That's all right," Rena said, nodding reassuringly at him. "We should probably be careful anyway. Besides, Meda's suddenly found lots of work for me in here."
Paki smiled again, glad she understood. If Mo'ani found out he was spending every night in the stable, he'd risk being turned away from the Stronghold for repeatedly breaking curfew. "Which means I'd better get out of here, or she'll find lots of things for me to read."
"I think she mentioned that," Rena nodded.
Paki leaned over to brush a quick kiss across her lips, then turned to leave. Meda wasn't at her desk, and he managed to get out the doors without her catching him.
He almost made it completely out of the keep when Kile caught up with him inside the main doors.
"Did ye take Gahrit to the library?" he asked.
Paki nodded his head. "He wanted to do some reading on Thaniel of Basiyr," he said, watching for Kile's reaction.
"Basiyr," Kile repeated the name, then sighed. "Now there's a man who understood loyalty like no other."
"Because of what he did for Valerik Olorun?" Paki asked.
Kile nodded his head, not seeming too interested. "Bear went to catch up with the archers," he said. "Did ye 'ave any plans for ye'reself the rest of the mornin'?"
"Just regular practice," Paki shrugged. "Why?"
"I'm curious about just 'ow good ye've gotten since Takis Hold," Kile folded his arms.
"You see me every day in the training yard," Paki reminded, not sure if he wanted to know where this was going. He remembered Kile's face-off with Lord Devayne all too well. Even though it was just been between friends, many of their blows were real.
"I think ye've been holdin' back in the yard," Kile commented.
"I haven't, really," Paki insisted.
Kile chuckled. "I'll tell ye what," he offered. "If ye can hold ye're own against me for a while, ye don't 'ave to practice today."
Paki eyed him suspiciously. "Just how long is 'a while'?" he asked. He doubted he would last as long as Lord Devayne.
"I'll let ye know," Kile assured him. "Are ye up to it?"
Paki thought about it for a moment, then nodded. Kile wouldn't kill him, and he didn't think he'd hurt him anymore than Mo'ani did. At least he hoped he wouldn't. "On one condition," Paki said.
"What's that?"
"You leave that," he pointed to Kile's stiletto in his belt. "With Janec or Gharald." He'd seen Kile fight with two weapons, and it wasn't anything he wanted to be on the receiving end of.
Kile nodded his head, then motioned for Paki to precede him out of the keep.
"In the yard?" Paki asked, surprised.
"Aye," Kile nodded again. "I saw enough of that damned storeroom when I was ye're age, I don't care if I ever see it again."
Paki couldn't help but grin, finding a strange comfort in knowing Mo'ani had made Kile's training just as hard as his own was. He pulled open the door and walked into the morning light, Kile in step beside him.
The apprentices were being paired off for their matches. Paki stopped to pull his gauntlets from his belt and to situate his sword while Kile told Gharald and Janec what was going on. Paki received a reassuring--or perhaps sympathetic--pat on his shoulder from Janec as he walked past. The part of Paki's mind that usually told him he was insane for taking chances was silent. He started to wonder if the fight was a good idea, or if he was too crazy for his own mind to admit it.
Paki closed his eyes for a moment and took a couple of deep breaths. Reaching over his shoulder, he pulled the longsword from its' sheath, his hands immediately comfortable with its' weight. The voice in his mind finally spoke, telling him to stay relaxed and to rely on his instincts. Paki found it wasn't that easy to obey. His heart pounded with anticipation and he kept adjusting his grip on his sword.
