"Good luck on the hunt my friends, and pray that we get a few kills in before the rain begins again and drives the game to shelter. I surely don't wish to return empty handed. Queen Ekita may not take kindly to the fact that we have nothing to eat for tonight's fine feast," said King Jasper with a wide grin and the beginnings of a chuckle.
"Don't worry my King, we will return with plenty to eat, for we would not want you to suffer the lash of Queen Ekita's tongue," laughed Sir Ramon as he urged his horse forward into the forest. This spurred the rest of the party to make haste to catch up.
Sir Ramon reined in his horse and waited for the others to join him.
"Father, may I scout ahead?" questioned Kalen. "I promise that I won't go to far."
"Yes you may, but be careful. If you get the slightest scratch on you, your mother will decide that you are too young to be venturing out on these hunts. After all, it took me long enough to persuade her to give you her blessing and let you come with us," his father reminded him, yelling the last few words as his son raced off.
Sir Taz, a dark leathery skinned man from the far off desert region of Cardel, had a topknot and black raven hair trailing down his back and wore leggings, a vest and boots of thick leather. He rode up beside the King. "Sire, are you sure you should be so free with Kalen. Need I remind you that he is the heir to the throne," he stated as he rode along side the King.
"When I was his age my father let me go out hunting with a few friends and I think Kalen is more capable of handling himself than I was. He may yet be young, but he must learn to be independent and sure of himself if he is ever to rule as a strong leader," replied King Jasper, giving Sir Taz a reassuring look.
"Yes, of course you're right," conceded Sir Taz as he tried not to show his worry. Sir Taz was quite fond of Kalen and did not wish anything to happen to him.
They rode for another hour or so always keeping within sight of the prince.
"Look!" exclaimed Robert, the miller's son, a younger version of his father, who was almost hulky in build with skin darkened from long days in the sun working the fields and fair golden hair and dark brown eyes. "Fresh tracks. We can't be that far behind. They seem to be heading straight for the lake and if we range out around to the east we will be down wind of them when we arrive."
"Good job, Robert," beamed the miller, Felix. After all, it is not every day that he and his son were in such honorable company. In fact, anyone that wished to join the hunting party was more than welcomed.
"Sire, we've lost sight of the prince, I'll ride ahead and get him," stated Lord Damery in a matter of fact tone. "I guess Prince Kalen is more enthused about being out riding than actually looking for tracks. If you'll excuse me I'll be off," he finished in a tight voice as he galloped ahead.
"We should probably wait for their return so that we don't get separated, that way we will all have the opportunity to make the kill," said Lord Jeffrey as he reigned in his horse. "Would anyone care for a drink to warm our bones while we wait?" he questioned as he pulled a flask of whiskey out from underneath his cloak and proceeded to take a long swig. Lord Jeffrey lived in Pennington and Pennington was famous for its whiskey. It was unusual for the men from Pennington not to have a flask of whiskey on them at all times.
"Don't mind Lord Damery, my King. He feels responsible for teaching the prince the finer points of hunting and you know how he gets when Kalen wanders onto something else," reassured Lord Finch, a very stocky, muscular man with short, thick sandy brown hair and very dark brown eyes.
"Yes, yes I know Lord Finch, and I thank you for reminding me," sighed the King as Sir Taz passed the flask of whiskey to him.
Prince Kalen wandered further away from the group then he had meant to and when he turned Piper around he noticed that the forest didn't look like it did when he rode through. Somehow it seemed more foreboding. However, when he sighted a deer, a quite large one at that, he shrugged off the feeling. He got down from Piper and tethered him to a small sapling. He slid his cloak off and placed it over Piper's saddle. He then proceeded to quietly make his way closer to his prey. It was then that he lost his footing, slipped and started to slide down a hill that he was sure wasn't there just a few minutes ago. He tumbled over and over, losing his bow and quiver of arrows and landing in a pool of muck, which he realized soon enough wasn't an ordinary pool of muck but actually a sinkhole. Kalen immediately stopped struggling and swept his eyes over the terrain seeking to find anything that he would be able to use to get out of this mess. He knew that he would be pulled under within minutes and could already feel himself sinking. Some responsible prince, he thought to himself, I can't even stalk a deer without getting myself into a predicament. The sinkhole pulled Kalen down further and the mud was up to his chin.
Just then a very old man with long silver hair pulled back and tied with a leather strap, dressed in a long dark gray cloak and carrying a large thick staff came within sight.
"Hey, over here," yelled the prince. "Please help me, I've fallen into a sinkhole."
The old man looked over and slowly began to make his way to Kalen. "Well boy, what have you gotten yourself into," rasped the old man. "You mustn't be from around here or you'd know what dangers to watch for."
"No sir, I'm not. Now if you'll please help me get out of this mess," he trailed off in a slightly irritated voice as he tilted his head back to keep his mouth and nose above the mud. He could feel it seeping through his hair and starting to ooze over his face.
"Why certainly, here grab onto the end of my staff," said the old man as he passed one end to Kalen's outstretched hand. "Now hold tight and I'll pull you out."
The old man slowly pulled Kalen over to the edge and out of the sinkhole. He stood there leaning on his staff as he watched Kalen try unsuccessfully to wipe the muck off of himself.
"Sir, I do not know your name but I am indebted to you for saving my life. Ask anything and I will make sure it is provided to you," he promised as he flung yet another clump of mud from his tunic.
"A boy would give me anything that I wish? How very interesting. My name is Airic, and you are?" he questioned as he leaned against his staff eyeing the young man.
"I am Prince Kalen, Son of King Jasper and Queen Ekita D'Alamber who rule fair and just over the people of Talenvar," he pronounced in a very regal voice as he bowed his head toward the old man.
"Since you are someone who could provide me with anything that I might possibly wish for, I shall take your promise now and someday visit you in Talenvar and let you know what it is that I desire. Do you find this to be to your satisfaction, Prince Kalen?" he asked.
"You have my word, ask anything of me and I shall be glad to provide it to you for if you had not come along, I would not be alive," pledged the Prince. "Thank you."
"Kalen!" shouted Lord Damery, "where are you?"
Kalen turned in the direction of the distant voice, "I'm over here!" he shouted in reply.
After a few seconds, Lord Damery on his tan and white mare, came galloping over top of the hill that Kalen had tumbled down. Kalen watched as Lord Damery carefully maneuvered his mare down the hill and around the sinkhole.
"What happened to you!?" demanded Lord Damery in a concerned but tight voice as he rode close enough to see just what a true mess Kalen was.
"Well, I sort of took a wrong step and ended up in this sinkhole and this kind sir," Kalen turned to Airic, who was no where to be found. "Huh? he was here just a minute ago, where could he have disappeared to?"
"Your highness, I'm sure that this was quite an experience for you and you may still be dazed from the fall. If you'll stay here one minute, I'll return with Piper," instructed Lord Damery as he dismounted.
Kalen was still looking around confused as Lord Damery took him by the shoulders and sat him on a nearby rock. "I'll be right back, don't move," commanded Lord Damery and Kalen nodded in response.
Within a few minutes Lord Damery came back leading Piper.
"I swear that there was a
n old man and he pulled me out of the sinkhole," he explained with a determined look on his muddy face.
"If you say that there was an old man here, my prince, then I'm sure there was, but he isn't here now. Stand up a minute and let me see if I can get any more of this mud off of you," he directed even as he pulled Kalen to his feet and began to use the edge of his hunting knife to scrap the mud from Kalen's tunic and leggings. Kalen ran his hands through his hair to get out the clumps of mud. "We had better get you cleaned up as best as we can. If your mother sees you like this and hears about what happened, I don't think that she'll be allowing you on another hunting trip in the near future. I was planning to begin teaching you the finer arts of hunting after we returned home," he informed the prince.
"Really," breathed Kalen excitedly, "then I certainly must get cleaned up. Thank you Lord Damery, you really are a true friend."
He looked at Kalen and smiled, "Just don't be telling everyone about how nice I am, I wouldn't want it to ruin my reputation."
Kalen smiled back.
Lord Damery stopped wiping the mud from Kalen. "That's the best that I can do, we better be getting back to the rest of the party before they really start to worry about where we've been." He wiped the excess mud from his knife and replaced it. He then helped Kalen onto his horse and mounted his own steed.
Kalen pulled his cloak around him to get rid of the chill. "My arrows and bow, shouldn't we try to retrieve them?" he asked as he reigned in Piper as they were passing the sinkhole.
"I think that they are both too close to the sinkhole and I don't feel that they are worth the risk," explained Lord Damery as he turned his horse to begin the trip back to the others. He was also thinking about this old man that Kalen had mentioned.
Kalen glanced at his bow and arrows scattered on the hillside and beside the sinkhole and sighed as he turned his horse to follow Lord Damery.
"Don't worry Kalen," he responded as he heard Kalen's sigh. "I'm sure that we will be able to round up another bow and some arrows for you."
They reached the hunting party in no time.
"What happened to you!" exclaimed King Jasper as he rushed over to his son.
"He had an unfortunate mishap with a hill and a sinkhole, he is quite all right now your highness," explained Lord Damery.
"I'm fine father," he reassured his father. "I did lose my bow and quiver of arrows though."
"Are you sure that you're okay?" his father questioned with concern.
"Yes father, I'm fine. I would like to clean up a little before going back and seeing mother," he said as he opened his cloak to show his father how muddy he was.
King Jasper and the rest of the hunting party broke into laughter at his remark and seeing the mud on him.
"Well, if you're okay then I suggest we get on with this hunt. Robert suggests we circle east and come out at the lake," stated King Jasper as the party mounted their horses and he took the lead with his son at his side. "You can clean yourself up when we reach the lake." Concern for his son's safety made him think twice about letting him out of his sight any time soon.
The hunting party circled east, slowly advancing toward the lake. It took almost two hours.
"We are almost there," Sir Taz quietly informed the party. "I think that we should tie our horses here and proceed on foot."
Everyone dismounted and tied their horse to the nearest tree branch or downed tree and proceeded quietly on foot. The lake was within sight.
When they reached the edge of the forest, not more than 30 feet or so from the lake's edge, everyone sighted the herd of deer. Possibly thirty or forty were standing around almost a stone's throw from the hunters' position. Arrows were drawn and fitted into the bows. At the King's signal, the hunters who were in a crouching position, stood, aimed and shot at the startled deer. Sixteen deer fell before the herd could turn and run.
"Father, I got one!" exclaimed Kalen excitedly as he along with the others headed over to the fallen deer to prepare them for the journey back to Wayferd.
King Jasper beamed with pride at his son. "A job well done, to all of you," he stated as his gaze swept over the entire hunting party.
A chorus of thank yous and pats on the back to the younger fellows followed.
Verin came up beside Kalen. It was the first time he had a chance to talk with Kalen in private. "Hey, good shot. I got one too. Probably a little bigger than your deer," he said teasingly. "You'll have to tell me the whole story about what happened when we get back to the tents. And you better get cleaned up." Verin and Cody were the only two that went with Kalen. The rest of his friends had chosen to go with the other two hunting parties.
"If you'll excuse me," replied Kalen, "I think that I will take a few minutes to wash off what mud I can." He headed over to the water's edge where he was joined shortly by Verin, Cody and the other hunters who had just finished preparing the deer. Most of the mud that was still left on him had dried. Kalen took off his tunic and shook it out the best he could and did the same with his leggings. He then rinsed his hair clean and scrubbed his and face hoping that he now looked as presentable as any of the others.
"I think we can refrain from telling your mother about your fall. I just hope she doesn't look too closely at your clothes," his father informed him as he clasped his son on the shoulder, giving him a smile.
The hunters tied the deer down behind their saddles and prepared to return to the festival grounds.
"We made good time. We'll be back just in time for lunch," informed Cody who was beginning to get hungry.
When their hunting party arrived back at camp they were greeted by the hunters of the rabbits and kotas. Some of the women were already skinning the rabbits and plucking the feathers from the kotas.
There was much commotion as everyone told their story of the hunt and tried to get a bite to eat and something to drink.
"Welcome back my husband," greeted Queen Ekita as she embraced King Jasper. "And you my son," as she turned to also embrace Kalen. The Queen did notice that Kalen's clothes were rather soiled but decided not to mention it since it was Kalen's first hunt and he was quite excited about getting a deer. Queen Ekita was a tall woman with bright green eyes and long deep red hair which fell in waves down her back.
"It seems that everyone has done very well on the hunt so far. I do hope that the last group will fare as well as you have," the Queen said as she smiled at the hunters. "Please help yourself to something to eat and drink," she invited as she swept her arm in the direction of the nearest fire where freshly baked bread was being pulled from the baking stones and the spits of meat were being removed so that the men could take their fill. Wine and ale was also being poured into tankards and passed around.
The men sat around the fires eating, drinking and talking of various things until the last hunting party arrived which stirred up the activity all over again. After everyone was finished with their mid-day meal, they began to retire to their tents for quick naps or out to the open spaces between the tents where they could play horse shoes and test their throwing abilities with knives, or participate in one of the other activities that were offered.
Kalen retired to his tent so that he could change and wash off the dirt and dust from that morning. When he had finished washing with the cool water that was in the basin, he put on a pair of soft leggings and a blue tunic with the royal insignia embroidered in gold thread. He decided that he would lie down for a few minutes to reflect on the incident with the sinkhole. He was positive that there was an old man, even though that man mysteriously disappeared when Lord Damery showed up. How else could he have gotten out of the sinkhole and he certainly didn't bump his head falling down that hill hard enough for him to have imagined it. Yet, why would Airic, as he had named himself, leave when Lord Damery appeared and how could he have disappeared so quickly? Was he a magician or even a sorcerer? But no, not a sorcerer for if he was, he would sooner have stood and watched me slowly sink to my death. I guess a wizard could be possible.
... On this thought, Kalen's eyes slid shut and he drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 2
Birth of a Princess
Talenvar was an impressive sight. The bordering walls that enclosed the city were fifteen feet wide and twenty-five feet high and were joined to the steep rocky slope of Mount Alayer which sat as a sentinel that looked down at the city. This was designed as a deterrent to invading armies who would wish harm to the royal family. Many hundreds of years ago a tremendous battle was fought over the lands and Talenvar was the only city left untouched after all was said and done. It was the place that the enemy could not defeat and it was made even more impenetrable after the battle by adding a fifty foot wide and twenty foot deep moat not far from the walls. However, the bridge spanning this gap had been lowered for the past hundred years and had almost become part of the road to Talenvar for not having been raised for so long. The bridge had settled nicely on both sides of the moat and it would take some doing to uncover the edge, if one were able to even tell where to begin digging.
The Uzan Crystal Page 2
