by Tora Moon
“Thanks. We’ll take care of it,” Rizelya promised Lehaas. “I’m sorry, I thought his horses were just bad-tempered and ill-mannered.”
“Nah, not them. Sweet things.” Lehaas smiled. “They’re staying here until they heal. The poor gelding must’ve been ridden the most because his belly is torn to shreds. It will be a long time before he can be ridden again.”
“So what is the imbecile going to ride now?” Aistrun set down the bit. “We have to take him with us.”
Lehaas grinned. “I’ll show you.” He led them to a horse tied outside his stall, ready to be saddled.
It was one of the largest horses Rizelya had ever seen. He was tall, almost twenty hands, and his back was broad. He had the look of a draft horse, except the wide black striping on a white hide marked him as a plains horse. His mane and tail were a deep gray. The mane was clipped short and stood up straight. The horse had pure black socks up to his knees.
“This laddie is Tejen; he’s one of my own stock,” Lehaas said proudly. “He’s full-blooded plains horse. He’s intelligent and won’t take any guff from that vile cur.” He motioned Rizelya over to stand in front of the horse.
When she did, intelligent blue eyes looked into hers. She couldn’t help but reach up and caress his muzzle. “Why, he’s soft,” she blurted. “His pelt feels more like a feline rather than a horse.” It was also longer than it appeared. Images of welcome filled her mind. “Oh! He’s very communicative.”
“He is,” Lehaas agreed, “especially to those he likes. He knows you’re an alpha.” Lehaas gave a sly grin and waggled his eyebrows. “And he knows you’re Kymaya’s rider. Better keep an eye on those two if you don’t want a pregnant mare.”
“Hey, he’s a stallion?” Aistrun asked, awe and wonder filling his voice. “It’ll take a strong rider to keep him under control with all the mares we have. Kymaya isn’t the only one.”
“She’s the only one he’s deemed worthy of his attention,” Lehaas laughed. He patted the horse’s neck. “Tejen here is sweet-tempered and has a beautiful, smooth gait.” He paused. “When he likes you and is being treated like the king he thinks he is. If not, well then”—Lehaas’s mouth tightened and his eyes narrowed—“the cur will have a rough ride and one mean stallion to deal with.”
“Hey, it will work.” Aistrun grinned. “Either Keandran will learn to behave and treat his horse right, or he will be one sore, grumpy person.”
“What about a remount?” Rizelya asked.
“Don’t need one,” Lehaas said. “Tejen is strong and has stamina to spare. Besides, I’m not letting that cur get hold of any other horse. Tejen can give back, but most horses wouldn’t be able to.”
“Thank you, Lehaas, for the great gift,” Rizelya said.
“I don’t want to let him go, but I know how important your mission is. Just take care of him for me”—he caressed the horse—“and bring him back when you get back home.” He grinned. “And maybe a foal will come back with him.”
“Maybe when this is over, we’ll see what kind of babies those two will make.”
“They would be stunning,” Lehaas said. “I’ve also chosen plains horses for your other riders. Bestrun said you’d be traveling hard and fast.” He looked up at a commotion at the stable entrance. “Ah, time for his penance to begin.” Lehaas moved in front of Tejen, blocking him from view. Tejen was broad enough that even Lehaas’s bulk didn’t quite hide him, so Rizelya and Aistrun stood next to Lehaas.
Rizelya’s squad-pack entered the stable and walked toward them. She could see the anger in Keandran’s face.
“So, do you think he’ll say something?”
Aistrun shook his head. “No, not with Lehaas here.” He looked at Keandran. “But then again he might be stupid enough to say something, then he’d have to travel the whole way in his wolf form.”
“Don’t think I wasn’t tempted,” Lehaas growled under his breath. “If we didn’t have so many troubles, he would be.”
“Greetings of the day,” Rizelya said to her pack. She smiled warmly at them, except for Keandran.
“Morning, Alpha,” Leistral greeted her. “It’s a beautiful day for riding.”
Dehali snorted and looked away. Rizelya suspected it was to hide her tears. During the training, Dehali and the twins had become heart sisters. Last night after the training with the alphas, the twins had come looking for Dehali. She had happily gone with them to their room. Looking at Dehali and how sad she was, Rizelya thought it might not have been the best idea to let her go. But she was Dehali’s alpha, not her pack-mother.
She heard a noise and looked toward the entrance. The twins strode toward Dehali, looking just as sad as she did.
They hugged Dehali and then tugged her between them into the stall with Dehali’s horse, Julay. They proceeded to start tacking her horse. Knowing Dehali would be cared for, Rizelya turned back to her pack.
Leistral and Eidstrun flanked Keandran and stood a pace behind him. They knew something was up.
“Keandran,” Rizelya said, “the horse-master informs me your horses are unfit to ride any farther.”
“They were flea-bitten nags anyway,” Keandran said and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rizelya placed a restraining hand on Lehaas, who was growling.
“So what sorry excuse for a horse is he going to give me?”
“Oh, I think you’ll like him,” Rizelya drawled.
“Hey, this one you won’t be able to bully,” Aistrun added.
They stepped aside to reveal his ride. Tejen reared and screamed a stallion’s challenge, then lunged toward Keandran. Keandran’s eyes went wide with fright and he stepped back. Tejen pranced to Keandran, staring him down and making him back up until he ran into Eidstrun. Keandran ducked his head, and Rizelya silently applauded. Tejen had proved which one of the two was more dominant.
“No, this one you’ll not bully or hurt,” Lehaas said quietly, suddenly standing next to Tejen’s head. “He’ll not tolerate such behavior. And, laddie, he is much bigger and stronger than you are.”
“You searched through my bags and took my things,” Keandran accused.
“I did, with Keep Alpha Bestrun,” Lehaas acknowledged. “You’ll not abuse another horse again.” Lehaas leaned toward Keandran until he was nose to nose. “If you do, you’ll never ride a horse again. I’ll see to it.”
“Is that a threat?” Keandran sneered.
“A promise, one I can keep.” They stared at each other for a long time. It was Keandran who finally looked away and dropped his head in submission.
“Where is his tack?” Keandran said, resignation in his voice and posture. “What I had won’t fit this beast.”
“In here.” Lehaas went into Tejen’s stall and stood over Keandran while he put on Tejen’s tack, criticizing him every step and making adjustments.
“Leistral, Eidstrun,” Rizelya said, turning away from Keandran. “Lehaas has been good enough to give you each a plains horse, so we won’t need to waste time with remounts.”
“Oh my! What an amazing gift,” Leistral said and bounced on the balls of her feet in anticipation.
Lehaas motioned to his stable boys. One of the boys brought out a beautiful black mare with silver stripes and a white mane and tail. She was handed to Leistral. The other boy led out a large horse that was dark, rich brown with pale red stripes. He had an unusual mane that started out as light gray near the body and melding into a pale red at the ends. This one was handed to Eidstrun.
“Finally, a horse that fits me,” Eidstrun said, grinning as he took the lead rope.
Rizelya and Aistrun brought out their horses and started tacking them with the rest. Rizelya was tightening Kymaya’s girth strap when she heard Tejen’s startled whinny followed by Keandran’s yelp. She stepped away from Kymaya in time to see Keandran’s head whip back from Lehaas’s blow.
“What do you think you’re doing? You idiotic imbecile!” Lehaas roared.
There was
blood dripping down Keandran’s arm. “He bit me!” Keandran yelled back, indignant.
“That he did. You tightened his girth strap too tight with too much force.” Lehaas’s voice was quiet with anger. “What did you expect him to do? Stand there and take it like the others did?”
Keandran glared back at Lehaas.
Lehaas shook a finger at him. “I told you, you couldn’t bully this horse. He won’t take it.”
Rizelya chuckled to herself and turned back to finish gearing up Kymaya. “I like Tejen,” she murmured to her horse. “He has spirit.”
Kymaya whinnied in agreement and sent Rizelya an image of Kymaya and Tejen rubbing necks.
“Na-uh, no getting cozy with him.” She gently tapped Kymaya’s nose. “We have a long journey.” She finished buckling on her saddlebags. “Time to go,” she said as she picked up the reins and led Kymaya out of the stable and into the courtyard.
Leistral and Eidstrun were already mounted. Dehali was in a tight embrace with Kami and Tami. If they weren’t the only ones who knew how to form the cold-air shields and work with the strike force, she’d have talked to Keshanal about letting them come with them at least to the borders of Strunell Territory. There were a number of other people and horses milling around. It looked like a platoon was headed out on patrol.
Rizelya crossed the stable’s courtyard to take a better look at the multa tied to the paddock’s railing. Multas were sturdy pack beasts able to carry a load larger than their own weight. Under the large pack of supplies, Rizelya could see its long winter pelt of pale cream and warm gray was mixed with small patches of short, curly pale green and ivory.
“We brought her down from the higher pastures so she’d still have some of her winter coat,” Keshanal said, walking across the courtyard to join Rizelya. “Her name is Kressy.”
The multa nosed Rizelya’s outstretched hand and then turned her attention to Kymaya. The two animals nosed each other, then the multa gave a happy chirrup. “Looks like she’s found her herd,” Rizelya chuckled.
Keshanal gave her an indulgent smile. “You have winter supplies to get you through the mountain passes to Strunheim. I gave you a tent in case you can’t get to a safe house or it storms. This is a more difficult route to the two northern Keeps than coming from the east would have been, but the passes should be open by the time you reach them.”
Rizelya bent her head in gratitude. On impulse, she hugged the old woman. “Thank you for everything.”
Keshanal patted her back. “There is much good in you, girl.” She pushed away from Rizelya to look her in the eye. “You have given me tools to keep more of my people alive. I can’t thank you enough.” She looked over Rizelya’s shoulder and grinned. “Oh ho, Lehaas is getting his revenge on that caitiff.”
Rizelya turned to see Keandran mounted on Tejen, who walked stiff legged and came to an abrupt stop. There was no sitting comfortably in the saddle with such a gait. Lehaas stood next to Tejen’s halter, whispering to the horse. Aistrun rode beside him and Jezhan looked almost delicate next to the large stallion. When Tejen saw Kymaya, he whickered at her. Kymaya looked at Rizelya then coyly neighed back. “Brazen,” Rizelya fondly chided her horse.
“Tejen will teach him a lesson on proper horse care,” Keshanal commented. “I heard what he did to those poor horses.” She turned back to Rizelya and lowered her voice. “You could have left him here with me.”
Rizelya shook her head. “You don’t need his trouble. He’s my responsibility. Aistrun has the torture devices and we’ll give them to Nestrun when we get to Strunlair Keep. He can decide what to do with the coward.” She dropped her voice and said confidentially, “Unless we kill him first.”
Keshanal chuckled evilly. “You could, and no one who has met him would blame you.” She glanced up at the sky. “Time for you to go. An escort will go with you through our territory.” She indicated the fighters mounting up.
Rizelya recognized Shaydan and her alpha partner, Drustrun. She was surprised to see Kami mounted with her horse next to Dehali’s. She opened her mouth to protest.
Keshanal lifted a hand to forestall her refusal of an escort. “They will also be scouting the area for unusual nest activity. We need to give our new strike force experience. I’d much prefer it if you were there to guide them.”
“But what about your plan for them to teach your major keeps?”
“There is time. They’ll be with you for less than a chedan and meet me at Strunville Keep. I suspect you’ll get a fight or two before they leave you.”
Aistrun had ridden up to them while they talked. “Hey, thanks for the company! We’ll keep them safe.” He looked down at Rizelya. “That is, if Little Red will get her butt up into the saddle so we can leave.”
Rizelya glowered at him as she mounted Kymaya while Keshanal laughed.
“Go with the blessings of the Goddess,” Keshanal told them.
“And you as well,” Rizelya said. Then she kicked Kymaya into a prancing trot. The clatter of fifty horses followed her out of Strunell Keep. The sound made her realize she was the alpha of a platoon. She grimaced. If Naila and Histrun could see me now, I’d never be a simple fighter ever again. With the thought dogging her heels, she urged Kymaya into a canter. She looked to her right to see Aistrun, who was keeping pace with her, with a grim look on his face. He’d had the same thought. At least she would have company in her misery.
***
The platoon traveled on the well-groomed roads leading east from Strunell Keep. The road passed quickly under their horses’ hoofs as they rode through hills where the keep’s fields and pastures were nestled. It turned out Shaydan and Drustrun were the alphas of the platoon. When the pace allowed talking, the four alphas soon became friends. Rizelya enjoyed their conversations, which made the journey more pleasurable. She looked back to see the rest of her squad-pack talking with the fighters from Shaydan’s platoon.
Except Keandran. He bounced in his saddle from Tejen’s rough gait, riding in a little island of isolation. No one talked to him, and it was obvious from his glower he didn’t want to talk to anyone else. When she looked again a few octars later, she couldn’t see him.
It was late afternoon before they left the well-tended plots and entered the wilds of Strunell Territory. They rode through long valleys dotted with spring flowers. In one valley, ancient orchards could be seen behind crumbling old stone fences. None of the fences had sheadash stone in them; they had been built in the Before Time.
The next afternoon, the platoon slowed to a walk, resting the horses. The alphas were in the lead and rode to the top of a hill and stopped. Rizelya gasped at the beauty. Below her lay a wide valley with sprigs of bright green grass dotted with thousands of small flowers. A herd of billocks grazed on the lush spring growth. The large animals had huge curving horns, shaggy fur, and a hump over their shoulders. They foraged in areas with tall grass and on the edge of swamps where their large platter-like feet kept them from sinking on the marshy ground. One of their favorite foods was cattails. Billocks were good eating but resisted domestication. The immense herd beasts stampeded easily and were fast. It kept them alive in the wilds with the roaming monsters.
A large bull lifted his head, snuffing the air. The breeze had shifted, carrying their scent down the hill. The bull bellowed and the herd thundered out of the valley.
Rizelya put up a hand to shield her eyes from the lowering sun and scanned the valley. On the eastern edge, tall cypress trees draped with moss smudged the sky. A wide expanse of marshy grasslands and waterways fronted the trees. This was the type of area the Malvers monsters favored.
“So what do you think?” Rizelya asked the other two alphas who were more familiar with the region.
Shaydan pointed to the last of the receding billocks. “Those tell us there aren’t any monsters in the marshlands.”
“It doesn’t mean there isn’t a nest forming,” Drustrun continued. “This is one of the nest sites, after all. We should check it befo
re moving on.”
“Hey, with the way the nests have been forming, we can’t move on without making sure,” Aistrun agreed.
Rizelya looked around the valley. The air was cooling as the sun slid closer to the horizon. “If there is a nest and the larvae are close to maturity, we should stay and let them mature.”
“What?” the other three alphas exclaimed. It went against everything they were taught to allow a nest to mature. Covering a nest of larvae with fire was much easier than fighting the mature monsters.
“We need a control janack for you to practice killing. This is a good spot.” She gestured at the valley for emphasis. “The valley is small enough we can contain the monsters.”
“Is there enough daylight to go to the nest site and get to the safe house before dark?” Aistrun asked.
Shaydan nodded.
As they rode to the edge of the marshland, Rizelya noted the plants were all healthy. None showed signs of the toxic slime the monsters excreted as they moved. Ahead she could see an area without any plant life. It was about fifty feet wide with a depression in the center.
The nest site.
Shaydan signaled the party to stop. Rizelya and the other alphas stepped off their horses. Behind them were the sounds of men changing into their warrior forms. It wasn’t long before a scout-pack of two Reds and four warriors saluted them. As they stood waiting, the breeze shifted, carrying with it the stench of Malvers monsters. At the smell, Rizelya wasn’t the only Red reaching for her helbraught. There was a nest forming.
The four warriors took off with the two women jogging behind them. As the scouts approached the site, they slowed and the women fed fire into their helbraughts. Rizelya could tell by the blue-white color of the blades that they were using cold-fire. It burned like acid to eat into the hide of the monsters. And more importantly, it didn’t produce any heat for the monsters to detect their presence. The scouts crept to the edge of the grass and looked down into the depression. They turned and raced back to the waiting platoon.
