by Thomas Rath
At first he felt panic rise in his chest almost choking off his air. How was he to get back to the tents in only two days without a horse, without food, and particularly without any water? His body was at its end now. Part of him wanted to just lie down where he was and die. There was no use going on anymore. He was beaten. They had beaten him. None of this was worth being a part of. His throat burned, screaming for moisture. His body lay weakly in the grass begging for sleep. He could easily just let it all go and drift away.
He shook himself. He had to get up. He had to start back. He had to find the strength to make it back. Jne’s voice taunted him in the back of his mind. “It does not matter. You will die.” He focused in on her mocking tone as he had heard it almost daily for the past week. “You will never make it to steel. You will die.”
“I will not fail!” he yelled out. “I will not die!”
Pushing himself to his feet he looked toward the empty plain where he had last seen Kardosh’s back as he galloped away. “I’ll have to run the whole way.” Again the despair closed in on him but he fought it back with all the strength he had left. “I have to find water first.”
Looking around he tried to spot any differences in the landscape that would reveal itself as a place where water might be found. But it was all the same. No variations in landscape. Not even changes in color. He had to do something fast. He had to have water but knew he had to get moving or no matter how much water he found he was never going to make it back in time. “Maybe something will present itself on the way.”
The tracks Kardosh and his horse left were easy enough to follow. Finding his way, at least, would not be a problem. He moved forward at a quick walk, wanting to run but knowing that to do so, without water, would quickly spell out his doom. He wanted to wait until dark to move but he couldn’t risk the time. As soon as he found something to drink his pace could speed up. He would have to trust in luck that there would be water deposits in the direction he was going.
After an hour of walking, his situation was becoming more desperate. At his current rate he would never make it in time and his body was starting to fail him. The sun was fast approaching the western horizon, which relieved him of much of its heat but his thirst still seemed to have increased twofold. He wasn’t going to make it.
Suddenly he felt a pull to his left. On its own his body had suddenly stepped to the left as if someone or something had pulled on his arm. He stopped and looked around. Nothing had changed. The landscape was still as it had been all along. If not for his own tracks following behind him this place looked identical to where Kardosh had dropped him. He looked at his arm. Could this be a stage of dehydration? Was he starting to hallucinate? He started walking again trying to ignore the pulling but it only increased. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, a strange scent suddenly played across his nose. It smelled like…like…. “Water? But water has no scent.” He took another deep breath, the same scent filling his nostrils. It did smell like water. He took a couple of steps to his left, following the pull he’d been feeling and then stopped. Looking back to the trail he was leaving behind, he hesitated. Something inside him screamed that water would be found to his left, but did he dare leave the trail? He had no idea how far away the water was; only that it was there. He tried to swallow but his throat was too dry. Looking to his left again he started walking. The trail meant nothing to him if he died on it in the next few hours. He had to have water.
He walked on, leaving the path to camp behind, his feet moving almost as if on their own. The sun, dropping in the west, shone brightly in his face making him squint against its rays. He took another deep breath, the scent of his quarry growing stronger now. He had to be close. Time was ticking away in his mind. No water. No time. He was losing. He would die of thirst or they would hunt him down and kill him. Jne’s voice laughed at him. You have failed, Renja. Give up. I told you that you would never make it to steel. You won’t even make it past water.
Suddenly the ground gave way beneath him and he found himself tumbling down the side of a steep hill. Feet, legs and arms flew about in all directions as he tried to catch himself before landing flat on his stomach with a great splash. He pushed himself up sputtering and coughing his hair dripping in his face. He sat stunned for a moment, his dried out mind not registering what was suddenly all around him. Then with a shout, he lunged forward, burying himself in a deep pool of lifesaving water.
Popping to the surface, he took a deep, long draught before again disappearing below the surface. He’d found it, life restoring water. It was easy to see why he was unable to spot anything from the plain. This was an old riverbed surrounded by the large grasses that were everywhere. Even from the top of a horse you would not be able to spot it from more than a quarter mile away. Renja broke the surface again and swam for the shore. Stopping at the river’s edge he took another long drink before pulling himself from the pool. Darkness was coming quickly and with it came the cool breezes that pushed across the plains. Where he lay he was protected from the sharp gusts but looking up the bank he could see the grass bending and waving back and forth in their evening dance.
He had to get moving. His time was getting shorter, but he needed time to regain some strength and let his body rehydrate. He took another quick drink from the river and then leaned back letting his stomach settle. He would have to run the whole way back to camp without any time for sleep. He was already out of time. He looked at the water. It would save him if he could take some along, otherwise, he would have to stop and find more during his trek back. He checked his belt and his clothing but already knew it was no use. He had no pouches to fill. He took another drink and then looked down at his boots. Quickly pulling them off he inspected the pads of his feet happily finding the skin quite tough. Dipping a boot into the river he pulled it out full of clear liquid and set it on the ground. It did not leak.
He climbed the bank to the grassy plain above and quickly set off, retracing the trail to the original path with two boots full of water tied around his neck. The sun was just making its last stand against the distant horizon as Renja turned back onto the trail headed for the Tjal camp. As the sun disappeared below the horizon, his eyes quickly adjusted to the dwindling light and lit up the landscape before him.
He ran as fast as he could all through the night never deviating from the trail. He couldn’t be sure how good his time was but felt confident that even if he had been behind he was making up for it now. Luckily, the wind blew at his back giving him a boost as it pushed against him as if trying to help him on his way. Midway through the night his throat started to burn but he resisted the urge to take any water from his boots. He knew that daylight would bring the heat and he would need to conserve his ration if he expected to make it back in time. Twice more during the night he felt the pulling and caught the scent of water on the wind telling him that more was close by but he ignored the feelings not willing to waste anymore time by leaving the trail. He was catching up, he knew he was, but he couldn’t risk the time to chase after another creek. He pulled the memory of Jne’s mocking voice back into his mind. “You will never make it to steel. You will die.”
He laughed at it. “I will not fail.”
It wasn’t until just before dawn that he finally took a drink from each boot keeping their weight even on his neck. Surprisingly, he did not feel much fatigue from his all night run save for the growing ache in his stomach for food. He was grateful now for his previous choice to eat what Jne brought him the day before. Had he not eaten, his body would have been too weak to run very far.
After drinking a little more, he allowed himself a short rest. The rising sun sent the rushing wind skipping through the long grass and the morning dance that Renja had come to love. He watched the grass as if hypnotized by its rhythm, allowing himself a brief moment of pleasure as he let the urgency of his task slip away. After taking another quick drink, he forced himself forward. It was going to be a hard day. The sun was already warming him and the g
round, bringing out the water he had just drank in big drops of sweat that rolled off his body. The daylight was his enemy but he knew that he couldn’t risk letting any time pass by resting. He still had a long way to go in a short time.
The trail he had followed the day before was quickly fading now as the bent grass raised itself to meet the warming sun. Soon, he knew, the trail would be gone and he would be left in a sea of grass with no obvious signs of direction. If he got off course by just a fraction he could end up missing the tent city by miles. The thought suddenly crossed his mind that maybe he had been running in the wrong direction all along. Maybe he should have accepted the head start he’d been given the day before and tried to make a run for it. Jne’s face suddenly appeared in his mind, the sneer of disgust obvious. Why don’t you just give up? You will die anyway.
Renja forced the words and her face from his mind concentrating his thoughts on the trail ahead. Looking up ahead he fixed his eyes on a spot on the distant horizon in direct line with the dwindling trail and raced for it. Once there he could check for the horse’s tracks that would still be evident in the dirt and find his way. He would not fail.
He continued through the day forcing the growing ache for food out of his mind as best he could. He was tiring, he knew it, but he still had many miles to go. The water in his boots was more than half gone now. He could not drink anymore; knowing a full day of sun faced him the next day before his test was through—one way or another. As the sun dropped and darkness covered the land, he quickened his pace. Nighttime was his best friend right now. The more distance he covered in the cool evening hours the better.
* * *
His tongue felt larger than normal as the sun started its assent in the east. He had made good time during the night but he had no idea how much farther he had to go before reaching his goal. He stopped and searched the ground for tracks left by Kardosh’s horse. He had done the same through the night and was pleased to find himself still on the right path. Looking up he fixed his eyes on a spot on the horizon and raced forward. He would not drink again from his boots until midday.
At midday Renja stopped again to check the ground and to his surprise he found a myriad of tracks going in all directions. His heart sank. How was he to confirm his direction now? Looking in his boots he decided that he might as well drink his fill. He was in the final hours of the test. If he did not make it to the tented city by dusk, he would be killed.
Draining the last of the water he scanned the horizon. Nothing presented itself as evidence that he was anywhere near the Tjal camp. Looking at the tracks again he sighed. Then a thought came that brightened his spirits considerably. With so many tracks he had to be close. Though enjoying the feel of the earth against his feet, he reluctantly slipped his boots back onto his feet not willing to leave them behind and having no desire to leave them flopping against his chest. He pressed forward, a new feeling of exhilaration suddenly filling him. He had to be close. He would make it.
He had an hour to spare when he finally caught a glimpse of movement just to his left. He turned toward it and ran faster, finally making out what must be horses moving about on the horizon. He was going to pass the first test. He’d done it. A brief yell of excitement escaped his lips as he sped on towards his goal. He yearned to see the smug look on Jne’s face disappear when he strolled into camp.
He still had a good quarter hour to spare when he finally stopped in front of his tent where Jne was waiting with her horse as if anticipating the opportunity to ride out and kill him for his failure. He had caught sight of her not long after discovering the camp and had kept his aim right at her; relishing the meeting they would have.
But he was disappointed. She regarded him with even more disdain than before. “You have been lucky, Renja. But no matter, you will fail at the horse or die at steel. You have only prolonged the inevitable.” Renja’s smile and excitement faded quickly. Would a tiny wish of congratulations kill her? “There is food and water in your tent. I suggest you enjoy it for it will, in all likeliness, be the last meal you eat. You have one hour until the next test.” With that said, she turned her horse away and walked back toward the center of the camp.
“Well, it’s nice to see you again, too,” he yelled after her, his anger kindled. “And thanks for your good wishes.”
After watching Jne’s back for a brief moment, he rushed into his tent and devoured the food and drink that had been laid out. It wasn’t all that much but he was grateful for what was there. An hour was not a long time to rest. Now that he was safely in camp, the exhaustion he felt rushed over him. All he wanted to do was lie down and sleep. He had been awake for more than two days now and the fatigue from his constant run was overwhelming. He dropped to his blankets. How was he going to master the next test, whatever it was, feeling like this? Horse, Jne had called it. He could ride a horse, though not well.
Jne’s voice came out of the night like a distant bell. “It is time.” Renja opened his eyes and looked at her expressionless face peaking through the tent flap. “You will come now or forfeit the test and thus your life.” Renja blinked and then jumped up. He must have fallen asleep. His body felt like mush. How was he going to make it through like this? He needed rest. Stumbling towards the tent flap he followed Jne out into the cool night air. The slight wind woke him somewhat but he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open and looking straight. Tents passed them in a blur as he stumbled along behind the vague outline of Jne’s body as it led him through the dark camp. His muddled brain did register that no one else was about but it made no impression on him as he concentrated more on keeping his eyes open and his feet under him.
Soon, a bright light broke through the unruly cluster of tents he’d been forced to navigate blinding him for a moment as he brought up his hand to shadow the glare. It was a large bonfire surrounded by the whole Rena’ja Tja. They were all silent, the only noise filling the night air being that of the crackling fire that roared toward the dark sky. Jne led him through a small break in the seated bodies right to the center, close to the fire. The flame was hot against his back as he turned to face the crowd. Sleep still crowded in on him but he was finally starting to shake free the exhaustion and wake up enough to know what was happening around him. Jne stood to his side, her face a mask, not showing the slightest bit of emotion. All remained silent and waited. Renja was starting to feel the eyes blanketing him and the disdain they held. He was not welcome here.
Time passed in silence. He wanted to ask Jne what was happening but quickly shook it off. He had already learned that lesson all too well. Then, as if by some unseen signal, everyone stood up and walked away; disappearing into the blankness. Only Renja and Jne remained.
“You have been witnessed,” Jne said, her voice bland. He opened his mouth but Jne anticipated him and held up her hand, cutting him off. “You will now face the test of horse. Fail and you will be killed.” Looking quickly to either side, she turned on him. “You will not get by so easily with this test,” she hissed. “The test of water is child’s play. Do not think you will live to see the morning sun.”
Renja opened his mouth but Jne turned her back and stalked away. Why did she hate him so much? With each day her loathing seemed to double. He shook his head. Child’s play did she say? He suddenly felt very unsure of himself. What could the next test entail that was worse than the last? As if in answer, Kardosh suddenly materialized out of the night and walked towards him.
“Come with me,” he said passing to the opposite side of the fire and into the darkness. Renja followed, the exhaustion and fatigue he had been feeling now washed away before the nervous onslaught of adrenalin that suddenly unleashed itself in anticipation of his second test.
They walked silently into the night, leaving the fire’s light far behind, and covered a great distance before the outline of a small corral suddenly materialized. The great bonfire was just a speck on the horizon now and only Renja’s night eyes and the millions of stars that dotted the sky
lit the area.
The corral was constructed of large timbers that were lashed to thick posts jutting out of the ground at four corners. There were four timbers on each side rising to just above Renja’s head but leaving a big enough gap in between each for a man to easily pass through. The corral itself was not very large. Judging from the front side it was no more than the length of three horses standing head to tail on any side. Inside it stood a lone horse. It was as black as midnight, just like the horse Kardosh had carried him on two days previous but it was smaller. Though not a great horseman, Renja could tell that this horse was not much to look at. Though well fed, it was obvious that it was not cared for by anyone like the other horses he had seen. Was he to clean it and make it presentable?
Kardosh’s deep voice rumbled through the night air. “You will ride this horse back to camp by sunrise or you will be killed.” Not surprisingly, that is all he said before turning his back and stalking off.
Renja watched him go and then sighed. Was that all? “You mean I don’t have to ride in on my head or anything?” he said sarcastically to the night.
Turning back to the horse he shrugged and then moved to step between two logs and into the corral. But as his foot touched the ground the horse suddenly bolted toward him and bit at his leg. He pulled it back just barely feeling the pinch of teeth on the side of his calf as he did so.
“Ouch!” he cried rubbing at his leg, trying to wipe away the sting. The horse turned its tail to him and trotted back to the center of the corral as if daring him to try it again.
Renja turned to where Kardosh had walked away and spit. He understood now. The trial for water would have been welcome compared to what he was up against now. For two hours he tried everything he could think of to get inside the corral. He tried going through, over, under, he even tried to sneak up from behind, but every time the horse was there; its teeth snapping at his flesh. He knew he was not going to be able to control the horse but figured if he could just get on, and hang on, he might be able to point it to camp and get it and him there before falling off and breaking his neck. That’s all Kardosh had said, ride it to camp. Not trot in nice and pretty.
