Lakhoni crested the hill and looked around. The three dog-tenders were scattered, each of them running after one animal, then another. The dog Lakhoni had trained immediately dashed off to join his brothers in their playful abandon. Lakhoni descended the hill, trying to appear as normal and casual as possible. Then the dogs caught his scent, or they noticed his movement. Whichever it was didn’t matter, because all ten animals joined in loud barking and changed direction so that Lakhoni suddenly had ten dogs running directly at him. Lakhoni guessed that the dogs were all the same breed, although they each had different patterns of dark brown on their fur. The dogs loped up to him, barking and leaping all over each other, their tongues lolling out of panting mouths.
“No fear,” he murmured to himself, stopping and standing tall, his eyes moving from the pack of dogs to the three boys who had finally noticed him. He guessed that they were maybe a year or so younger than him. Looking back and forth between the two shorter ones, Lakhoni realized that they had to be brothers. Maybe even twins. They were the same height, had very wide noses, and both were sticking their chin out. They wore the same thing as the tall boy: breeches that were cut off mid-calf and nothing else. The brothers’ heads looked to have been scraped clean recently; they each had a very short layer of black hair growing in. The tall boy’s head was shaved on both sides and partly on top. What hair remained sprouted, dark brown, out of the back top of his head and flowed down just below his neck. It looked like he had a woodland creature on his head.
Lakhoni raised his stick and fixed the dog he had trained somewhat with a firm look. The dog barked and motioned as if to jump for the stick. When the boys were close enough, Lakhoni said, “Come.” He made sure his voice carried over the panting, whuffling, and barking dogs.
The dog he had worked with, a wide splotch of dark brown that started on its back but circled its stomach just behind its front legs setting it apart, huffed and loped to Lakhoni’s side. It stood on its back legs, trying for the stick.
“No,” Lakhoni said, keeping the stick away and pointing to the ground at his feet. “Come.” He glanced at the other milling dogs and the boys who had now stopped and were watching the spectacle.
The dog crouched slightly and eyed Lakhoni intently, waiting.
Lakhoni threw the stick to the left, arching it over the dogs and aiming so that it would fly near the three dog-tenders. The slightly trained dog burst into motion, leaping through and over the milling pack of dogs. They appeared to decide it was a game and they followed the first dog as it chased after the stick. In moments, the dog fighting to keep hold of the stick as the other dogs tried to wrest it from his mouth, the milling pack of energy had circled Lakhoni again, barks ascending into the sky and echoing off the hills. The stick fell wetly to the ground near his feet.
Lakhoni picked it up. “Come,” Lakhoni said, deliberately looking toward the three watching boys. He pointed to the ground again and looked toward the animal he was already thinking of as ‘his’ dog. It bounced over, panting loudly, eyes fixed on the stick again. Now Lakhoni looked at the other dogs, trying to catch their eyes. “Come,” he said louder, more firmly, pointing at the ground again and raising the stick. It took only a few seconds, although it felt like hours. Three of the dogs joined Lakhoni’s animal, all poised and ready to run for the stick, but otherwise still.
Keeping his movements deliberate, his eyes on his dog, Lakhoni bent his arm back and launched the stick. His dog bolted first, followed immediately by the other three that had been poised to play. The other dogs joined in, barking loudly and pelting after the stick. Seizing the moment, Lakhoni addressed the other boys, moving closer to them. “Hello.”
“Who are you?” This came from the tallest of the boys, who Lakhoni guessed was also the oldest.
“My name’s Lakhoni.”
The tall boy turned to the other two, who both shrugged. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m going to the city to look for work,” Lakhoni said. He had decided to keep things as simple as possible. He wouldn’t volunteer any information or insinuate his intentions at all. This had to be the dog-tenders’ idea.
“Where’d you come from?” This came from one of the shorter boys.
Lakhoni gestured vaguely behind him, glancing at the dogs who were returning noisily, each trying to get at the stick that his dog had retrieved. “My village. But I left.”
By this time, Lakhoni and the others were surrounded by the dogs and Lakhoni’s dog had dropped the stick to the ground. Lakhoni grabbed the stick and did the same as before, waiting for more dogs to settle. He flung the stick again and off the dogs ran.
“How’d you do that?” The other brother, the one who hadn’t spoken before, watched the dogs running as he spoke.
“Do what?” Lakhoni asked.
“That,” the boy pointed at the pack of dogs with his chin. “Make ‘em heedja.”
Lakhoni wondered if the boy was speaking a different language. He tried to keep the confusion off his face, but was sure he failed somewhat. “Make them what?”
“Heedja. Do what’cha want.”
Understanding dawned. “Oh.” He chose his words carefully. “Came across that one,” he pointed at his dog, who now held the stick and was loping toward the group of boys again, “back that way. He looked like he wanted to play.” He kept his eyes averted from the taller boy, not wanting to reveal his hope and intentions.
“Well these are the king’s dogs,” the tall boy said. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that,” Lakhoni said, knowing the lie was necessary. The noisy, chaotic pack swarmed around the boys, the stick dropped at Lakhoni’s feet again. He picked it up and held it toward the three boys. “Sorry.”
The first brother who had spoken took the stick and, glancing quickly at the taller boy then meeting his brother’s look for a long moment, shrugged. He held the stick up and said, “Come.” The dogs ignored the command and barked, leaping for the stick. Lakhoni’s dog came over to rub his head against Lakhoni’s thigh. “Come!” the boy tried again.
Nothing changed.
The boy grimaced and threw the stick. The dogs shot after it.
Lakhoni hid his elation. Nobody had taught these boys how to show a dog that you were in charge.
“What’m I doing different?” the brother who had thrown the stick asked.
“I don’t know,” Lakhoni said. He had to be careful to not push too hard or fast.
The boy hadn’t thrown the stick very far, so the dogs were already back. A different dog held the stick this time, but it dropped the stick at Lakhoni’s feet, just like Lakhoni’s dog had done. Lakhoni picked up the stick, thinking fast. Should I teach them or just make it look like I have some kind of magic?
He raised the stick, pointed to the ground and said, “Come,” firmly. He stayed in that position, trying to seize the attention of each dog. “Come,” he repeated. This time his dog and five others obeyed, settling near him in expectant postures. Lakhoni looked at the boys. “I grew up with a dog.” He threw the stick, this time as hard as he could, wanting more time to talk.
The tall boy looked at him, suspicion evident on his face. “Well, you shouldn’t be here. These are the king’s dogs.”
The brothers exchanged a look. “Cho,” the first brother said, tapping the taller boy on his arm. “He’s looking for work.” He raised his brows pointedly.
As hope flooded him, Lakhoni carefully kept his face free of emotion, turning to wait for the dogs to return.
“We don’t even know him,” Cho said.
The other brother joined in. “Falon’s right.” He exchanged a meaningful look with his brother. “Kid’s already got half the dogs doin’ what he says.”
Lakhoni took note of the name of the brother on Cho’s left. Falon.
“And you,” Cho said, scowling at Falon’s brother, “are too trusting. Both of you are. What are you saying? That we should just adopt this stranger and take him back to t
he compound? Tell Master Kalu to give him a job?”
The other boy kicked at some grass. “I didn’t say that.”
“He didn’t say that,” Falon cut in. “We don’t have to tell the master to give him a job. But wouldn’t it be nice to have help with these stupid dogs? Aren’t you tired of having to chase them so much?”
As the dogs made it back to the boys, Cho chewed on Falon’s words. With the stick on the ground and the dogs milling around, panting loudly, Cho fixed Lakhoni with a hard look. “Show us.”
Lakhoni nodded. This time, when he raised the stick, he glanced over his shoulder at the three boys. “You have to show them that you’re not just one of them. You’re the master.” He held the stick high and pointed at the ground again. Can’t tell them everything or they won’t need me. “Come,” he said.
The First Fathers must have wanted him to succeed. This time all ten dogs stopped leaping around and focused on Lakhoni, tongues lolling. “Come,” he said again. The dog he had met first settled at Lakhoni’s feet. Lakhoni stroked the dog’s powerful head. “Simple.” He threw the stick hard.
With the dogs pelting away, Lakhoni grinned at the three dog-tenders. This is going to work. He imagined forcing his will into Cho’s head, feeling like he already had the brothers on his side. Nothing more I can do. This has to work.
“Not even the master can do that,” Falon said.
“It’s true!” Falon’s brother said.
Cho nodded. “But we can’t just show up with this kid.”
Lakhoni tried not to laugh. He was at least a year older than Cho, who had to be older than the round-faced brothers. He wished he had a suggestion for how to convince this Master Kalu to let him work with the dog tenders.
Then he realized what had just happened. Cho wasn’t protesting Lakhoni’s joining the dog tenders anymore. Finally, something is going right.
The dogs had already brought the stick back, but the boys paid no attention to them.
“Why not?” Falon asked.
Lakhoni found himself really liking Falon. He scratched a dog’s head, waiting as patiently as he could.
After a beat, Falon’s brother burst out laughing. “Right! Why not?”
Once again, Cho chewed on the idea, his mouth working for a few moments. Lakhoni clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to say something. Not that he knew what to say, all things considered.
“Where’d you say you came from?” Cho asked.
Lakhoni pointed to the rolling land behind him. “A village a few days away.” He considered saying more, maybe explaining why he left, but decided that the less he said, the less he would have to remember.
“Why’d you leave?” Cho asked.
He thought fast. “There was nothing for me there. The city was the best place to go.”
“And you just happen to know how to work with dogs?” Cho’s voice, while not exactly dripping with suspicion, held a note of skepticism.
“I grew up with a dog. My father taught me,” Lakhoni said. He spread his hands, fighting back the memories. “I’m sure I could teach you, too.”
“Well you better have some use before you go to the city,” Falon’s brother said. “You don’t want to wake up gone someday.”
“Shut up, idiot!” Cho said.
“What?” The boy widened his eyes innocently. “It’s true.”
“What’s true?” Lakhoni asked.
“Nothing,” Cho said, making a chopping motion with his right hand.
“Come on, Cho,” Falon called out. “Kids disappear. It’s not a secret.”
“No,” his brother said. “Boys disappear. Guys like us.”
“Just forget it!” Cho kicked a thick bunch of grass. “The point is, why don’t you teach us now?” Cho asked.
“Cho!” Falon smacked the taller boy’s shoulder. “The kid’s got no home. Let’s just go.”
Cho glared at Falon, then his brother. “Okay. If you can get the dogs to follow you back toward the city,” he tipped his head backward toward the walls of Zyronilxa, “and do it fast, we’ll take you to Master Kalu.”
“Great!” Lakhoni didn’t bother trying to hide his eagerness. These boys had no way of knowing his true motivation.
Falon handed Lakhoni the stick, now chewed and messy with dog spit. “Do you need this?” The dogs, having flopped to the ground when the boys ignored them, sat up tall—some of them leaping to their feet.
“Maybe.”
“Hey,” Cho said, “I’m not promising anything here.”
“I know,” Lakhoni said. He started toward the city, holding the stick tight to his side. “Come,” he ordered the dogs. First his dog followed him. After a moment, two more dogs joined in and then the entire pack was trotting after Lakhoni. Not wanting to betray any nervousness, Lakhoni listened as the sound of ten panting dogs surrounded him.
“See that Balon?” Falon shouted, keeping pace with Lakhoni. “He’s magic! How’d you do that?” This last was addressed to Lakhoni.
“Shut up, Falon,” came his twin’s voice from behind them. “He’s not magic. Just maybe part dog.”
Cho snorted and, after a beat, the twins burst out laughing.
“No,” Falon said between laughs, “you’re part dog.”
His brother, apparently named Balon, just barked loudly and laughed again.
Not how I thought I would get close to the king, Lakhoni thought. The circumstances were strange, but as long as the plan worked, it didn’t matter. Two crazy twins, one angry Cho, and ten smelly dogs. Fine by me.
Chapter 41
The King
“You will collect your pay in food.” The stout man spat noisily into the dust at Lakhoni’s food. “And a place to sleep.”
Lakhoni nodded, having trouble tearing his eyes from the growth sprouting from the right corner of Master Kalu’s mouth. Was it a mole? It looked like a grayish brown beetle had burrowed into the man’s lip and died there.
“Fathers know that these idiots need as much help as they can get.” At this, Master Kalu spat again, a slimy, brown glob kicking up a small cloud of dust. The man appeared to be chewing something, but he’d been chewing on it the entire time Falon talked about how they had met Lakhoni.
“Right,” Master Kalu grunted. “Cho, get him settled then get to work.” Master Kalu snorted long and loud, cleared his throat with a deep grunt and spat again. This was the biggest yet. Then he turned and entered one of the nearby buildings.
Falon and Balon immediately set to calling the dogs, prodding them toward a fenced-in area that was attached to the building Master Kalu had just entered. Cho sniffed loudly and indicated with his head that Lakhoni should follow him into the building, the heavy wood door swinging shut behind him. “This’s the servants’ quarters. There’s more in the temple itself, but we ‘special’ servants get to sleep out here, near the animals.”
Lakhoni followed Cho through a rectangular room. A sturdy wood table filled much of the room. Just to the left of the door stood a heavy-looking stone basin with a small puddle of brown water and bits of food stuck to its sides.
On the far end of the room, which had to be a kitchen, a banked fire gave off residual heat. Around twenty wooden shelves lined most of the long walls, with stone and wood boxes taking up much of the floor space against the walls.
Before Lakhoni could see any more, Cho led him through another door and turned right. A few steps later, they crossed into a tiny room filled with leather bags and boxes of all shapes and sizes, lit only by the light coming from a window. Hundreds of wood hooks jutted from stone walls.
“Find a hook,” Cho grunted.
Lakhoni looked around for a moment in confusion. Then understanding dawned. He stepped between some boxes and reached up to hang his spare tunic from an empty wood hook.
“Time to work,” Cho said. He turned and Lakhoni followed him back outside. As they approached the enclosed space, Falon and Balon closed a gate that hung from a thick post.
He found hi
mself biting his tongue throughout the remainder of the day. Whether he was helping collect and dispose of dog dung, feeding the dogs, cleaning out the dog pen, or even cleaning the dogs’ teeth, Lakhoni learned that the other boys spent little time actually working and most of their time making it look like they were working. Apparently the technique was to never meet the gaze of anyone who might be in authority, and always be looking down at what you were supposed to be doing. Balon and Falon kept up a steady stream of laughing conversation, with Cho intermittently breaking in with his own thoughts or loudly commanding them to keep working.
The long day and dreary work were interrupted first by a stout man with a soft leather pouch hanging from his thick belt. He never introduced himself by name, simply grunted at Lakhoni and pointed to the inside of his left wrist.
Lakhoni understood after a moment of impatience on the other man’s part. He turned his wrist and the stout man pulled out a bone needle and some ink. Getting the servant tattoo hurt, but it was nothing like having his head stitched up by Corzon. The man didn’t even say one word throughout the entire process. Inside, Lakhoni gloried in his success. He was close now.
Soon after the tattoo man departed, leaving a soft cloth wrapped around Lakhoni’s wrist, it was time for a lunch of hard cheese, dark flat bread, and gristly meat. He wanted to ask why servants in the house of the king would eat so poorly, but again kept his silence. Just blend in. Learn how things work, find Alronna, and then get close to the king.
As he returned to work, a young woman with bright red hair rode a large, dark horse past the dog corral. Servants and soldiers gave way to her, making a wide lane for her horse. She had to be someone important. Several hours after lunch, it came time to take the dogs outside the city for exercise. This was the more interesting part. He instructed Balon and Falon in how to make a dog accept you as its master without anger, while Cho acted busy with some long leather straps hanging from the outside wall of the servants’ quarters. By the tilt of the tall boy’s head, Lakhoni could tell Cho was listening.
Lakhoni Page 24
