The Gauntlet Thrown

by Cheryl Dyson

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  KANEELIS

  Toryn’s search for Redwing led him in a large circle around the camp. If he had only waited with the horses a bit longer, he probably would have seen Redwing mount Darkling and ride off. He cursed and caught Fang, who was not at all happy at the idea of being ridden. He allowed her a few cursory bucks and then followed Redwing’s faint trail. It led west and Toryn rode on, glad that it was not raining. He was sick of rain and tired of not being able to see where they were going because of the ever-present trees. It rained often in Redol, but usually in spectacular downpours that quickly spent themselves. Not like the ever-present misty dampness of Terris. Redol was mostly rolling hills and highlands and one could see for miles by climbing to the top of a hill. He was surprised at how strongly he missed his homeland.

  It took him nearly twenty minutes to catch up to Redwing. His mare swung her ears forward and Toryn rested his hand on his sword, just in case an enemy approached instead of Redwing.

  //Brydon?// he called with his mind. It had worked once before, when he had gotten an impression of direction. He was shocked this time when it worked even better.

  //Toryn?// an odd voice in his head answered. It was definitely Redwing and Toryn shoved down a moment of panic when he realized that the voice was inside his head.

  //How are you doing this?// Toryn asked. He wanted to find out about Redwing’s strange power once and for all. //Can you hear me?//

  //Come ahead.// There came a sense of direction.

  Toryn rode on and caught sight of Redwing. The Falaran knelt near the black stallion with his sword planted in the ground and both hands clasped about the hilt as if praying. Knowing Redwing, he probably was. Hopefully he prayed for the strength to resist the redheaded temptress, Sellaris. Toryn reined in beside him and dismounted.

  "What are you doing way out here?" Toryn asked aloud and hoped that Redwing was not still lurking in his head.

  "I needed to get away and clear my mind. Besides, it was fruitful. Come and see." Redwing dropped Darkling’s reins and strode through the foliage. Toryn swore mildly as he tied Fang securely to a tree—she would not stay put unless she was tied.

  He hurried after Redwing. After a few minutes the ground become firmer and the trees thinned. Toryn almost ran into the Falaran when he stopped.

  "Look." Redwing gestured. Toryn passed him and walked ahead. The trees ended abruptly in sand, which stretched away for a goodly length and terminated at the water’s edge. The water extended forever, sparkling in the afternoon sun, and rushed at them in white-capped waves.

  "The sea!" Toryn yelled excitedly. "We’ve reached the sea!" He exuberantly ran out and kicked up the sand, suddenly so happy to be free of the cloying trees that he could hardly contain himself. He breathed deeply of the salty air, amazed that he hadn’t noticed the scent before. He yelped and cavorted and ran all the way to the water’s edge while Redwing trailed him more slowly.

  Toryn kicked off his boots in a childlike manner and let the surf splash over his bare feet. It was marvelously cold.

  "The sea, Falaran! The wonderful sea!" He laughed when Redwing was near enough to hear him, but Redwing's gaze was focused far out on the water. Toryn followed his stare and saw, barely visible, a tiny sail on the horizon.

  "A ship!" Toryn yelled. "Wahoo! A ship!"

  "If we can see a ship from here," Redwing said, "Kaneelis cannot be far."

  Toryn sobered, recalling his reason for seeking out Redwing. "What happens when we get there?" he asked.

  Redwing looked at him and his eyes were colored like the sea. "We dump our unwanted passengers and continue on the quest, of course," Redwing replied. "Will you stay with Alyn or come with me?"

  Toryn snorted to cover his relief. "Leave the chance at real adventure for a female? I think not."

  Redwing laughed. "How could I even think such a thing?"

  "I don’t know," Toryn said pointedly. "How could you?"

  "It was a brief moment of weakness," Redwing replied. "I know what I have to do. You should know that for a Falaran duty always comes first." He sounded almost bitter. For a moment, Toryn could see the depth of his emotion where Sellaris was concerned. He was glad they would be leaving her far behind; she would have been nothing but trouble.

  "Good." Toryn clapped Redwing on the shoulder and then grabbed him and dragged him into the surf. Redwing yelped and struggled, but he was off-balance and fell to his hands and knees just as the wave rolled in. He came up spluttering, completely drenched. Toryn laughed in delight until Redwing’s hand caught him around the ankle and toppled him into the water. He gulped water, unable to keep from laughing. They both crawled out of the sea and sat on the wet sand looking at the sky. They stared up at the clouds moving high overhead, floating slowly inland where they would dump more rain on the waterlogged swamps of Terris.

  "Where do we go after Kaneelis?" Toryn asked.

  "South. Into Penkangum," Redwing answered.

  "And from there to Ven-Kerrick?" Toryn ventured slyly.

  Redwing sat up. "How did you know that?"

  Toryn smiled triumphantly. "I guessed," he admitted.

  Redwing looked thoughtful. "Yet, you still intend to accompany me?"

  Toryn laughed. "Of course. I can’t wait to see how you plan to get the most prized possession in the entire South away from Ven-Kerrick."

  "Well, I thought of—"

  "No! Don’t tell me!" Toryn yelled. "I want to find out when it happens. I want to be there for every minute of swordplay and torture."

  "I was not counting on either swordplay or torture," Redwing said dryly.

  "I didn’t think so. But I can always hope, right?"

  Redwing punched him on the shoulder and Toryn laughed. He sobered after a moment.

  "You are getting better at your..." Toryn said and tapped a forefinger against his own forehead.

  Redwing nodded. "You could hear words when I called you this time, right?"

  "Clearly," Toryn admitted. "I knew where you were, too, suddenly. I just... knew."

  "This ability could come in handy. If I fell down a hole, you would be able to find me."

  "Unless I was the one that pushed you in there." Toryn laughed.

  "I wonder if I can mindspeak to anyone else?" Redwing mused. "I have never tried it with anyone but you. My attempt to read Lavan’s mind did not go very well. It was like tapping into his memories—everything that had ever happened to him in one barrage. I could make little sense of it. There must be some way I can learn to use this ability—other than just blundering around in peoples' minds. Reed must have learned from someone."

  "When your quest is over, maybe we can track down Reed and get some answers," Toryn suggested, refusing to accept the possibility that Redwing would become the next Falaran king.

  "I think I would prefer to have the answers before I encounter Reed again."

  Toryn nodded. "He would probably be no help, anyway. And we’ll most likely have to kill him."