Things Unseen: (An epic fantasy adventure series) (The Caris Chronicles Book 1)

by Melina Grace

  Crispin looked at the other young man who hadn’t yet spoken.

  He grinned cockily and gesturing at his friend with his thumb said, “What he said.”

  Crispin slowly looked away to the young woman.

  “I want to do my duty too, my mam always said it was no life for a woman, but she’s gone now and I be thinkin’ there’s other women what ride with you, so why not me?”

  Crispin nodded. “You’re all of age?”

  “Yes sir,” they replied unanimously.

  “I’m Crispin; I’m the commander of our small unit. There were a lot more of us. We have lost people and we have become separated from others. We are under constant threat and there is every chance that if you ride with us you may not even make it as far as The King. Now is your chance to reconsider.”

  “I’m not afraid,” the young woman answered defiantly.

  The young men had gone white, but hastened to agree with her. Crispin gave them a long hard stare.

  “If you ride with us, you obey my every order. There will be no second guessing my choices and no disobeying my commands, otherwise I’ll send you straight back here regardless of the dangers that lie behind.”

  “Yes sir,” the three replied quickly.

  “Your names?”

  “I’m Noley, this is Zeep and that’s Ontro,” he said, gesturing at the young woman with a smirk.

  “Syngar, make sure they have all the provisions they will need.”

  Crispin headed for the inn door. The fourth young man stood next to the steps. Caris noticed he had no sword and as far as she could tell no horse, just a small old pack on his back. He had been listening intently to the conversation between Crispin and the other three but as Crispin approached, he bowed his head and scuffed his bare feet in the dirt. Crispin made to pass him without looking at him.

  “Sir?” He spoke up quietly when Crispin was already past.

  Crispin turned and in a more inviting voice than the one he had used to address the others replied, “Yes?”

  “Sir, I’d like to come too, but I don’t got no ‘orse. Mayhap, you think it’d be better for me to stay and help protect the town here, and I’ll do that if’n you say so. But I aint got no place here and I would like to come. I don’t know how you’d have me though, I aint got no ‘orse. I thought if I could just get to The King I could be a foot soldier, I’m sure he’s got use for them too?”

  “Are you of age?”

  “Yes sir.” Crispin stared at him.

  “Well I will be in a moon, but I got no one to say me nay. I been answerin’ for meself these two years gone.”

  Crispin nodded. “Do you have a weapon?” he asked gently.

  “No sir,” the boy answered, red faced.

  “Is there one you prefer?”

  “I always thought I’d like to try the sword, like a real man.”

  “Your name?”

  “Son.”

  Crispin smiled, “A good name. May you discover its full meaning.”

  Son looked at Crispin in confusion.

  “Janen?”

  “Yes sir?” Janen asked, stepping around from where he had been standing behind Crispin.

  Crispin handed Janen a small purse. “You know your way around town now, take Son and buy him everything he needs.” He looked Janen straight in the eye. “I mean everything. Do not worry about saving pips. The mountains are cold; his life will depend on you providing generously for him. You know swords; get him the best one suited for a beginner. He will need to use it, so make sure it isn’t just a practice sword. You will be responsible for teaching him how to use it as well.”

  “Yes sir, but shouldn’t I take Syngar?”

  “We haven’t the time. Syngar has other duties. The money is of no consequence. Just pay what you need to pay to set him up well. Don’t bother haggling, you need to be quick. Meet us at the ferry.”

  Janen started to lead Son away but Crispin stopped them.

  “Son?”

  “Yes sir?”

  “I am commander of this band, you follow my orders, but you also answer to Janen until you are of age. He is your brother; he will take care of you.”

  “I aint never had a brother,” he said looking at Janen in awe.

  Caris looked at Janen to see how he received the news and was surprised to see him knuckle a tear from his eye as he turned away.

  Caris climbed the stairs to her room, mulling over the difference in manner Crispin had shown to the new recruits. She had never seen him as severe with anyone as he’d been with the two cocky young men. She wondered what he saw in them that she didn’t.

  She felt emotionally exhausted by the sights and experiences of the morning. Her emotions had been pulled up and down as she watched Syngar bargaining. He’d walk away with a frown on his face and Caris would be reminding herself that The King could afford it and then they’d turn a corner and he would be all smiles and Caris would realise he was actually happy with the deal he’d struck. Crispin was complacent throughout the morning but Caris couldn’t help but get caught up in every transaction.

  Coupled with that, was the mixed emotions she had whenever she spent time with Janen. She was never so happy as when they were together; she loved the way he saw the world, his dry sense of humour and solidness through everything. She could always count on him to be Janen, to be good and considerate of everyone around him. Spending time with him, helped her forget about her gifts and the responsibilities that came with them, allowing her to relax and just enjoy herself.

  As soon as they parted though, the pain would threaten to engulf her, knowing that this time with him was only temporary. It is just another good thing about him that he never looks at me as if I’m ugly. When I’m with him I feel valued and special. I think, perhaps, it would be better for me if he didn’t always cause me to forget how different I am. As she thought back to when she was a girl, hunting with him at home, she remembered he had always treated her with that much kindness. She realised she had welcomed his company, even then, as a kind of balm for her soul. He will be good for Son. I like the boy already.

  Not long after, they all left the inn, Kilew disentangling himself from Darnon who was grasping his arms and begging him to stay free-of-charge for one more night. Crispin led the elves to collect their mounts, while the others took their horses and the new packhorse to collect the supplies they had purchased earlier. Three of the new recruits had brought most of what they would need with them, though the men had brought nothing to eat. Syngar purchased some more food and grain for the horses when he picked up their supplies.

  The process took longer than Caris expected. She had hoped to talk to Ontro, but found herself constantly reshuffling supplies on the packhorse as Syngar organised things in the shop and Kalen carried them out. The two young men stood to the side sniggering and enjoying the stares of the townspeople and Caris found herself already getting irritated with them.

  When they finally had all they needed, they mounted up and started to head out of town. Kalen stopped outside a shop and waving them on called, “I’ll catch up with you,” before dashing inside.

  The elves and Crispin waited for them by the river on a wide dusty expanse. Caris barely noticed them sitting elegantly on their new horses, she was so awestruck by the size of the river. At least three arrow shots wide, the dark green water flowed slowly by.

  “We have to cross that?” she asked.

  “That’s exactly what I asked,” Jeniel replied, pulling her horse alongside Caris. “No one bothered to answer me either.”

  “I’ve arranged passage with the ferryman,” Crispin said, as he rode over to Caris and Syngar. “He’ll take us in three groups. I’ll start over now with the first group and hopefully Janen will be here by the time the ferryman returns for the third group. Where’s Kalen?”

  “Buying pies,” Syngar replied with a smile.

  “Mmmm, shame mine will be cold by the time I get it. Caris, Jeniel, and Noley, you’ll cross with me.
” He signalled to Silver and Yeelent, and the two beautiful elven women rode their new mounts down toward the ferry. Zeep started to follow Noley but Crispin turned his horse and, speaking sternly, said, “Zeep, you’ll cross with Syngar. When I am not present, you will obey Syngar’s every command. In fact, look around you. Do you see everyone here? I’m speaking to you as well Noley.”

  “Yes sir,” the boys answered in subdued voices.

  “You will obey every person and elf here as your seniors in command. Kalen and Janen are included in that. Do you understand?”

  “Even her?” Noley asked, pointing at Ontro in disbelief.

  Crispin looked as if he was tempted to say yes, but after a short pause replied, “No, Ontro will also follow everyone else’s instructions until she proves she is more humble and wise than the two of you, then you will have to follow her instructions as well.”

  “What makes you so sure she will?”

  “See if you can prove me wrong.”

  “How do we do that?”

  “By proving yourselves more humble and wise than her.”

  For the first time Noley looked unsure of himself, “I’m not even sure I know what you mean,” he mumbled as he dismounted.

  Caris saw Jeniel’s grin and bit her tongue to stop herself from laughing.

  Caris was the last onto the ferry when Kalen rode down and quickly handed her a bag full of hot pies. The ferry pulled away from the bank and Caris handed the pies around. A cool wind blew across the river making the hot spicy meal even more welcome. Caris ate hers with delight, wondering that such a common day food had become so great a luxury.

  She stared over the railing at the deep water, grateful to be on a ferry and not trying to swim the river beside Indira. Caris looked around at her companions, thankful to have their friendship. She hoped she was never again lost in the wild with only an unconscious wounded man and Indira for company.

  The sun was only half way across the sky when the full group mounted up and rode into the trees. Son sat a placid brown mare that moved calmly, without complaint, under her excited but inexperienced rider. Crispin had given Caris the job of teaching him to ride and Janen had ridden ahead with one of the elves to scout. She hoped Son would learn quickly, as now that Crispin was healed and the elves were mounted, they had hoped to push the horses as hard as was good for them.

  The afternoon passed quickly. Caris was thrilled to be riding Indira again, not just for the enjoyment riding always afforded her, but also because of the deep affection she held for her horse. She had spent time grooming her every day but when she rode, she felt somehow connected to her beautiful mare.

  Son showed a quick aptitude for riding. He listened attentively to Caris’ corrections on his seat and adjusted his position accordingly. She was pleased to see he didn’t bunch up the reins in his hand to get better purchase but worked at gripping the horse with his knees, only grabbing a fist full of mane the first few times he tried cantering.

  On dusk, they reined in by the side of the trail. Caris had been surprised to discover that The King’s road didn’t continue on this side of the river. She had never really considered that the road wouldn’t continue forever. Its ending brought home to her more than anything else did that they really were heading towards the frontier of The King’s settled lands.

  Janen returned, as they were setting up camp, and the elves disappeared into the trees on foot. Son had been collecting firewood but Janen took him aside with his sword and began to teach him how to use it. Caris thought the boy must have been exhausted after his first afternoon on a horse but he threw himself into the lesson with energy, listening intently to Janen’s every word.

  That night while they sat around the fire after eating, Kilew began to tell a story as usual. The new recruits sat spell bound as the elf wove his tale. It was a simple story of a rich young man who thought he was better than everyone else. Through his foolishness and arrogance, he ended up coming to a humiliating death.

  Caris thought it one of the poorer attempts at story telling she had heard from him but was pleased to see Noley, Zeep, and even Ontro climbing into their expensive unused bedrolls with thoughtful expressions on their faces. Contentedly, Caris climbed into her new roll beside Jeniel and fell asleep.

  Crispin pushed them hard the next day, with little concern for the new recruits or elves who were unused to spending such long hours in the saddle.

  At midday, he encouraged them with the news that they would reach the foothills by night and so would be walking the horses from then on, as they made the climb. Caris felt most sorry for Son whose tired legs could barely grip, leaving him to bounce around on his saddle mercilessly while he grasped his mare’s mane to keep balance. She was a good horse and Caris was impressed that Crispin had chosen so well on such short notice.

  By the end of the day, Son was barely keeping his seat and Caris was exhausted just from watching him. She sighed with relief when they finally reined in beside a cold rocky creek at the bottom of the first steep hill. She smiled in amusement to see the usual graceful elves stumble out of their saddles, but immediately felt guilty when she saw the pain Jeniel was in.

  They all saw to their horses before the elves stumbled toward the brush. Caris didn’t know how much of a watch the elves were keeping while they slept amidst the trees, but Jeniel had told her they watched in shifts and even as they slept, their senses were so in tune with their surrounds, they would wake if anything out of the usual came into the vicinity.

  Janen had given the sore and exhausted Son the night off sword practice, promising to renew his lessons the following evening. While Janen and Syngar prepared a meal, Caris went to talk with Kalen.

  “Kalen, you remember that ointment you gave me and Janen for our saddle pains?”

  “I regret I don’t have that anymore.”

  “Well I was wondering what it was made of. Jeniel and I have full packs of dried plants of all kinds. Perhaps we have what you need to make some more.”

  “Can I see?” she asked eagerly.

  “Of course,” Caris answered, as she lowered her bag from her shoulder.

  Kalen examined the contents of Caris’ bag, exclaiming with delight over some of the rarer roots and dried petals.

  “You have ointments and herbs in here I know nothing of. It seems your knowledge has quickly outpaced my own.”

  “The elves taught me so much; I have a great deal to be grateful to them for.”

  “This is what I need,” she said, removing some dried orange berries from Caris’ bag. “I usually make it into an ointment while the berries are fresh, but I think it will still work. Come, we can get the rest of what we need by the creek. I will show you how to make it while you tell me of any impressions or pictures you had today that might bear examination.”

  Caris blushed. She found it so hard to be mindful of her fleeting thoughts. She knew Kalen would be uninterested in her reflections about Son, their other companions, Indira, or the trees and animals around them. It was the unexpected thoughts, Kalen wanted her to train herself to pay attention to.

  “Perhaps, after you’ve shown me how to make the ointment I can go spend some time in quiet?” she suggested, embarrassed.

  “Okay, we will talk after that if anything comes to mind.”

  “Thank you.”

  Kalen smiled at her. “You are doing well Caris.”

  Caris’ blush deepened, at what she felt to be an undeserved compliment.

  After their meal, Kilew helped them all, including himself, to forget their pain with a short story that once again seemed to be directly aimed at teaching the new recruits.

  As Jeniel and Caris quickly washed their feet and necks in the cold creek water before bed, Caris asked,

  “Was I so oblivious that Kilew was intentionally telling stories to teach me lessons, before he gained his new audience?”

  Jeniel laughed. “Only if I was part of his target audience, because I certainly didn’t notice him doing anyth
ing other than telling stories and stirring our emotions. Though come to think of it, that is part of it isn’t it? When he stirs our emotions, we often are learning something. I think he’s usually a lot more subtle and his audience is more general. Maybe he doesn’t think his new audience will get the message if he’s subtle. I don’t think they have been trained very effectively in how to think things through.”

  “No, they do seem to be more focused on outward shows of success than on true merit.”

  “Crispin seemed to size them up pretty quickly.”

  “You weren’t there when we first met them. He was harsh. If he had talked to me the way he talked to them, I probably would have thrown something at him.”

  “Lucky for me, I didn’t then, wasn’t it?” Crispin said as he approached them from behind.

  The young women jumped in surprise, blushing at being caught out talking about him.

  “I was harsh; they will need a firm hand if they’re to become reliable King’s Horse.” He filled his skin with water. Before he left he said quietly, “But I try to always keep my harsh comments to those times when someone can gain something from hearing them.”

  “Oh,” Jeniel said.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Jeniel sat back and wrapped her feet in her cloth to dry and warm them.

  “I think that last comment was for our benefit.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We shouldn’t be speaking about the new recruits behind their backs. It doesn’t benefit anyone and if they were to overhear us, it could cause strife that we can ill afford in such a small group.”

  “Oh,” said Caris, feeling her cheeks burning in shame from Crispin’s gentle rebuke.

  Caris and Jeniel headed back to the fire and Caris helped Kalen hand out the ointment on large leaves to everyone who needed it. She made a point of taking Zeep and Noley’s to them first; taking the time to sit beside them and tell them to spread it all over before bed and not in the morning before riding. She also showed them how to wrap it up so that they could use it the following nights. As she rose, she complimented them on how well they were doing considering how hard Crispin had pushed them that day.