The Half-Light

by A D Lombardo

  To get a better look Kai hopped onto the fence. Haygan smiled at Kai, eyeing the new stock. “Good morning, Prince Kai. What do you think? See one you like more than another?” Haygan asked, nodding at the new horses. “Does one speak to you?”

  Kai swung one leg over the top of the fence to study the horses. He was sure this was a test. After his bonding with Smoke, he knew today he would need to do something similar, but he was unsure how since he was not touching the horses. He looked at each horse and reached out with his heart to discover what they would share. After a few moments, he turned to Haygan. “I don’t feel anything. Can I touch them?”

  “You give up too quickly. Hop down, I will hold them while you get closer.” Haygan motioned Kai over. “Just don’t walk behind them. Which one would you like to look at first?”

  Headed to the one in the middle, Kai pointed, “The chestnut brown with the black mane, please.” He slowly approached the middle horse, held out his hand palm up, to allow the horse to sniff his hand. Then he turned it over to touch its soft nose, running his hand up the front of its head. Kai paused just between the eyes.

  He stood there, sensing the horse, allowing it to see into his heart. In his mind, he began to picture riding him, the wind in his face. Again, as he’d done with his wolf, he opened his mind. My name is Kai, I want to be your companion.

  In return, he sensed confidence, loyalty, and speed. In his mind, he saw himself sitting in the grass, leaning against a tree with Smoke by his side. Looking up into the star-filled sky, he saw the moon rising. In his mind, he saw his horse eating grass in the distance. As he observed him, Kai saw the cinders of his fire flash in the night … and he heard the word Ember.

  Thrilled, he stepped back with awe. “He is truly amazing.”

  “I am sure he is, but don’t fall in love with the first horse you meet. Give the others a chance,” Haygan insisted.

  It didn’t really matter, he’d already bonded. After spending time with each horse, Kai stepped back and leaned against the fence. “I think the best horse is the chestnut brown. If I could pick any horse, I’d pick him. He’s perfect.”

  “Why did you pick him?” Haygan asked.

  Kai wanted to be sure, so he looked again over all three. “He seemed to be the strongest in my mind, the most loyal. And he was the only one that seemed to reach back out to me.”

  “Well, in all fairness you spent the most time standing with him. So, I am guessing you bonded with him. What’s his name?”

  “Ember,” said Kai proudly.

  “Well, Your Highness, he is yours. Your father requested three new horses—one for Master Gideon, one to replace the horse purchased for Master Tolan—and he told me I was to get a horse for you. He believes it’s time you had your own.”

  Surprise covered Kai’s face faster than he could control it. “Father thought of me when sending for new horses?” he blurted.

  Kai covered his gaping mouth as if he could wipe away the feelings before they were noticed. He took a deep breath and looked up at his horse.

  Ignoring his comment, Haygan took the other two horses out of the paddock. “Ember is a good name. Grab one of those brushes. I need to teach you how to take care of your horse. Before you can ride, you need to brush out his coat. You want him to be comfortable because it means you will be comfortable.”

  “Isn’t brushing a groomsman’s responsibility?” Kai asked.

  “It is their responsibility.” Haygan’s face became stern and serious. “Ember is your horse. Being privileged should not diminish your commitment.”

  Kai felt a little ashamed, thinking his rank was above hard labor. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I can’t take for granted the benefits my station provides.”

  With his hand over Kai’s, Haygan put it on the back of the horses’ mane. “Place one hand here on his mane, or here on the side of his neck. It will help keep him calm. Use the brush in your other hand, make long brush strokes along the grain of the horse. When you work with or ride a horse, they can sense what you are feeling. Their confidence comes from you, so there must be trust between you.”

  After brushing the horse, Haygan grabbed a brown leather riding saddle from the fence. “Grab a blanket from the crate,” he instructed.

  Kai approached with the horse with the blanket. The horse nuzzled and pushed him away. “Hey, why did he do that? I thought we were friends.”

  Nodding for Kai to try again, Haygan said, “You’ve got to earn his respect. You want him to be your horse, don’t you? Well, you must prove. You must stand up to him, show him you are not afraid. Remain calm and confident.”

  “I can do that.” Kai stood up tall and placed the blanket up over Ember’s back, then Haygan tossed up the saddle and secured it in place.

  Quick as anything, Haygan grabbed Kai by the waist and tossed him up onto the horse. Surprised to find himself in the saddle, he asked, “How did you do that so easily?”

  Finlee escorted Misty into the paddock, a gray mare that looked like the morning mist in the valley. Her saddle already secured by the groomsman. Haygan climbed into the saddle and brought the horse up next to Kai. “Let’s see how he handles. I will ride Misty alongside, you just keep pace with her.”

  “Can we ride out into the fields near the outlining farms to the west?” Kai begged.

  “Not yet. I don’t know yet if Ember is prone to spook. I’ve had no time to work with him yet. There are distractions enough in the stables and the training yard. I am not about to trust him with you in the open. We both know your father would have my head.”

  “I understand.” Disappointed, Kai pushed forward slightly with his seat muscles and kept Ember even with Misty as they rode around the outside paddock. He wanted to argue; he’d been riding for two years now. Unfortunately, he knew Haygan was right. Kai had seen a horse spook at the sounds of the city and throw a rider.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Kai caught Haygan squeeze Misty with his lower legs, right before she surged ahead. Mimicking the motion, Kai gave the same light squeeze, and pushed forward in his seat, encouraging Ember to burst into a trot. Beside Misty again, he settled back in the saddle, easing his horse’s trot into a walk.

  “I believe you are capable of testing Ember. Are you ready?”

  “Me? Test Ember?”

  “Time to practice your bond. Have confidence. It is the same as with Smoke. Trust him and yourself. Most of these tests can be done by any rider. I already have the groomsmen waiting. First, I want to see if loud noises will be an issue. If Ember bucks even in the slightest, I will stop the exercise.”

  Near the back of the paddock, Kai saw the men conversing. Haygan stood in his saddle, and the stablemaster pounded his chest with his fist twice. All three men mimicked the motion, banging their fists against blue and silver Diu shields, over and over. The clang of the metal rang loud across the open area, and Kai felt it pulse against him. Kai relaxed into the saddle and loosened the reigns. In his mind, he reached for Ember. Stay calm.

  Ignoring the sounds, Kai turned Ember around the back end of the paddock. He focused on sitting square in the saddle. Maintaining his balance and looking forward. His calm demeanor washed over Ember. The pounding ceased when they made the second turn, leading back toward the stables.

  Ember had done well. Kai felt a sense of pride well up in his chest. They had passed the first test. Remain calm amid chaos. Although he had seen this test done with other horses, this was the first time he’d been the rider.

  Before Misty could surge ahead, Kai gave Ember a stronger squeeze with his legs, encouraging Ember into a trot. A second squeeze urged Ember into a gallop; Haygan and Misty kept pace. He felt alive as they lapped the paddock. Their pace was exhilarating. After the second pass, they eased both horses back to a walk.

  Haygan motioned again as they rode toward the back of the fence. Kai noticed the groomsmen had spread out, two along the end, one around the side. Kai recognized the next test. Haygan pulled Misty to a stop away
from the men.

  “Again, remain calm for this test. Drastic changes in light can disorient both rider and horse. Your eyes will adjust faster than his. You must trust each other. The groomsmen need not know it, but you can try sharing your ability to glean, allowing Ember to see.” Haygan gave the nod to the men and urged Misty into a walk.

  The three men angled the shields. Bright beams of sunlight glared off the silver wolf design. They directed it at Kai and Ember; it was blinding. Unable to see, Kai closed his eyes and tensed his body. He pulled on the reigns. Below him, he felt Ember tense and pull right. Kai felt his leg hit Haygan’s. They had collided with Misty. He felt Haygan’s hand touch his leg.

  “Kai, relax. See the paddock in your mind, listen to the sounds around you. Listen to the hooves beat against the ground. Trust Ember. Squint if you need to, most men do.” Haygan’s reassured him.

  Ember’s rocking motion calmed Kai. His body followed his horse’s rhythm, and he felt Ember relax. Slowly Kai eased Ember away from Misty, her stride no longer guided them. Even with his eyes clamped shut, he could still see the sunlight blaze against him, and he sensed it hindered Ember’s ability to focus.

  He needed to see without his eyes. Kai thought of the threads of energy woven into the fabric of life. He needed to glean the world around him. As Kendra had taught him, Kai took a deep breath and cleared his mind. The sounds of the world faded. Within his soul, he sensed energy, he let the power build, and a wave of light flowed outward. Connected to the essence, Kai had a clear picture of the yard in his mind. The three men positioned around the fence glowed, but the reflected sunshine did not blind his mind.

  He heard the beat of Misty’s and Ember’s hooves against the hard dirt of the paddock. Their physical form pulsed with light. Kai was astonished that he could see each strand of hair on Ember’s mane. Silky threads of light.

  Confidently Kai made the turn at the back of the paddock and squeezed Ember with his legs, urging him into a trot. With his mind, he pushed his vision of the fence to Ember, and Ember made the second turn back toward the stables. When they passed the third man, the sunlight faded from his eyes. Pleased, he squeezed again, and Ember galloped around the yard.

  Eyes closed, Kai noticed Haygan pull Misty to the center of the yard, waving off the groomsmen. Confidence surged through Kai into Ember. The bouncy rhythm of Ember’s gallops warmed Kai’s soul, and he felt their connection grow. Through their bond, Kai knew Ember could see in his mind what Kai saw in his. The open yard, the fence, and each barrel positioned throughout.

  “Listen to my voice, Kai. Confident teams—rider and horse—rely on each other. Any rider can close his eyes and ride. They trust their horse to navigate through the blackest of nights. Horses see better than people. This is a good opportunity to build your bond. Don’t worry about anyone watching us. This is common practice.”

  Pommel in hand, Kai steadied himself, directing Ember toward the barrels strewn through the paddock. Together they practiced switching between the different gaits and rhythms of each. After several switchbacks between the barrels, Kai felt the natural ease in which they blended together. Ember eased to a walk. Kai opened his eyes and rode to Haygan and Misty.

  Kai felt alive. Connected. “That was amazing. In my mind, I could see everything, down to the smallest detail.” Still reeling, he looked at Haygan. His look told Kai he too was proud.

  “It’s still impossible to understand.” Haygan shook his head. “You, being able to see the ambient energy. I would never have believed it possible. You should see the real world in your mind, only with a bit of a glow. Everything with its own degree of brightness.”

  They both stared at each other. Kai pleased, Haygan bewildered. “How long have you been able to glean?” Haygan asked.

  Kai thought back. “Only a few nights. Kendra doesn’t know yet. She came to check on me and fell asleep on my sofa while I practiced. Baby Cordelia and Nola consume most of her time.”

  “Interesting. Very interesting. So much like Mariana…” Haygan mumbled under his breath.

  “How well did you know my mother?” Kai wanted to know the truth. “Unlike Kendra, you won’t speak of her. When she comes up, you close off and get quiet.”

  Haygan’s face turned solemn. “You’ve done well today. I say we’ve done enough riding. We need to cool the horses off.” Without another word, Haygan pressed Misty into a trot and rode to the gate.

  Being brushed off hurt and confused Kai. Why would Haygan avoid talking about her…unless? Unless they had been very close, and her loss hurt him a great deal. Kai knew that it upset him to remember his mother was gone, so he let it go.

  Chapter 15

  Entitlement

  Kai meandered across the courtyard, entering the back of the palace through the laundry. Inside he found Kendra collecting the day’s wash.

  Kendra looked him over. “Filthy day, I see.” She looked down at his dirty boots. “Leave your boots. They can clean them for you tonight. I am sure you will want them back in the morning.”

  He untied the laces and realized his back was getting stiff. In the doorway, Kendra sniffed the air. “My, don’t we smell of nature. Let’s get you upstairs. You’ll need a bath before joining everyone for dinner.” Kendra leaned toward a young maid folding clothes. “Julia, please have hot water drawn in Prince Kai’s bathroom.”

  “Yes, Miss Kendra,” she replied before scurrying off out of sight.

  With a huff, Kai dropped his shoulders and rolled his eyes. “Family dinner…tonight? I’m exhausted.” He tried to dust off his hands on his pants and only succeeded in stirring up more dust.

  When Kai walked past, Kendra got a renewed whiff, and she buried her face in the fresh laundry. Her eyes peered at him over the white linens. “Oh, my, you need a bath.” Kendra gave a short nod toward the stairs. “Yes, you need to have dinner with your family tonight. I believe your father wants to talk to you.”

  A sense of dread welled up in Kai’s throat, then he thought of Ember. He did owe his father a thank you. He silently followed Kendra to his room. As he slipped into the hot bathwater, it felt good on his sore muscles. Kai watched the steam rise above the water for a few moments, then he slowly slipped his head beneath the surface.

  Before heading down for dinner, he took a moment. Outside on his balcony, he gazed over the city. Pinpricks of light dotted the hillside below. A chilling breeze blew announcing the change in weather. The air smelled of snow.

  Dinner was the usual fair. All the adults sat around discussing matters of state and the pending winter festival, while the children kept quiet conversations with whomever sat near. He’d hoped to sit near Amelia, but she had taken to sitting with Tolan. The pair sat huddled together, whispering and laughing. Landon now sat alone, glaring at Tolan.

  For Kai, it was all he could do to stay awake. Mostly he pushed the food around on his plate. He wanted to eat; he just didn’t have the energy to bother. While most had finished and were now gathered around the fireplace visiting, he sat staring at his plate. Iver cleared his throat, and Kai looked up startled. They were alone at the table.

  Iver put down his cup, leaned back in his chair and folded his arms in front of himself. “I spoke with hunter Marduk. Seems you’ve been out of the palace alone.” He raised his eyebrows at Kai. “More than once.”

  With a look of concern, he tilted his head to one side. “Son, I don’t like you going out on your own. You really should take someone with you. I know you’re getting older and you think because you have your wolf you can go alone. I assigned a guard detail to you for a reason. You’re a prince.”

  Kai glanced around the many faces trying not to eavesdrop; although he did notice Landon grinning from ear to ear. Embarrassed, Kai wanted to shrink. He piped back in frustration, “But father, the guards never want to leave the city, the groomsmen are always busy, and Kendra no longer has time. I didn’t mean to go that far. I am sorry. I won’t…”

  Iver held up his hand and moti
oned for Kai to stop talking. “I wanted to talk to you this morning in private, but you failed to show up at breakfast.” The king glanced at Cazier. “Stop by my study after dinner, we will discuss this further.” Iver turned to Cazier and began discussing other matters.

  The walk to his father’s study was agonizingly slow. He could tell by the document and map covered tables it had been a busy day. Dark circles under his father’s eyes were something Kai was not accustomed to seeing. When Iver closed the door behind them a lump formed in Kai’s throat.

  “Let me get straight to the point son. There need to be changes. Cazier believes I have neglected your military training. Both he and I served, and it is simply expected of a royal. However, your mother wanted a different life for you. But since she is not here to advocate her position, it falls to me. To my recollection, she wanted you to be an ambassador.

  “Your ruling in Milnos notwithstanding, the Grand Duke and Master General both think you should make trips each summer to our distant cities. You will travel with my authority to extend goodwill and represent the Galloway empire. This should provide a good foundation for your political education.”

  Kai could not believe what he was hearing. How could his father lay this burden on him? Still, his father continued. “To satisfy Cazier, I will allow him to arrange one-on-one training as he sees fit. I do not want you training with the other youths. They are often too harsh on a royal. Believe me, I took my share of hammering at your age to gain respect.”

  “Why all this now?” Kai tried to stand at attention. He knew his father was not pleased with his recent antics, but why did those choices have consequences now?

  “I had hoped Smoke would teach you responsibility. I see now he is not enough. Because you are a prince, you have certain luxuries; however, in turn, you have obligations. It is time you felt the other side of your birthright.” Iver kept a stern face.

  “Will you not go with me?”