by Tora Moon
He ran to the brecha, his powerful claws sinking into its hindquarters. It turned and snapped at him, baring its three rows of teeth at him. He leaped to the side, sucking in his belly and felt a tug as the brecha caught a tuft of fur. Growling, he swung at the brecha’s head, venom dripping from his claws. He ripped a chunk of its flesh away, and green ichor flowed from the wound in its head. The grass hissed as the acidic ichor landed on it. With another swipe, he ripped a hole in the brecha’s side. It shuddered and collapsed.
In the background, he could hear Zehala’s mind-speech saying, *Steady … steady. Control. Lorstriel, back off a bit.*
He looked in Zehala’s direction to see her, Naila, Lorstriel, and Kehali forming a fire-ring around the fighting. The fire flared as another brecha’s spines flew toward them. The spines sizzled as they hit the barrier, flaring briefly before being burning to ash. His eyes widened to see the fire-ring floating a few inches above the ground. I didn’t think that could be done! He sensed movement and twisted around in time to block one of the janack’s tentacles. He turned all his concentration to fighting the janack.
Nearly an octar later, the monsters were finally killed. Monster debris littered the battlefield. Histrun groaned at the sight of three blood-spattered men sprawled on the ground, but rejoiced when two of them moaned. The third one remained still. A Haaslair Red ran to him, kneeled beside him, then slowly shook her head. Although he didn’t know the man, Histrun hung his head in sorrow. Someday, he vowed, no more people would be killed by the damnable Malvers monsters. He hoped he’d live to see such a day, but his people had been fighting the monsters for a thousand years, and he didn’t think it probable.
He turned back to where he’d last seen Zehala. She sat crumpled on the ground. He ran over to her, and crouched down. “You hurt?” he asked, his warrior jaws mangling the words.
She shook her head. “Forming the fire-ring above the earth just drained me—us.”
The other women were also on the ground. Naila lay on her back, arms flung wide, taking deep breaths.
“I thought that would be a solution,” Zehala continued. “But it just takes too much energy to maintain.”
The clopping of horse hooves interrupted them. Histrun looked up at the golden centaur looming over them. A Red stood beside him, her apple-red hair coming out of its braid, and wisps curling around her face. She wiped away the smudge of blood on her cheek.
“I be Raelhaas,” the centaur said, “and this be Vyolah. We be from Haasneh Keep. The barding I glimpsed as we ran past says you be Strunlair Clan. What be you doing in our territory?”
Zehala pushed to her feet. Histrun put out a paw to steady her. She straightened her shoulders, and met the centaur’s gaze. “We’re from Strunland Keep, heading to Dehanlair Province to teach them the Zehis method. I’m Zehala, this is Histrun.” She grinned at Vyolah. “That was pretty amazing to see. I haven’t seen anyone fight the monsters from horseback before, or use arrows.”
“It’d be more effective if we could use fire arrows, but …” she shrugged, then her eyes narrowed. She looked back and forth at them. “Zehala … Histrun … Oh! Sweet Mother, you be them!”
Zehala nodded.
“The keep be not far,” Raelhaas said. “As soon as the monster debris be disposed of, we can go there. Our keep alphas will want to talk to you, and have you spend the night with us.”
Histrun wished he could wash up so he could shift back to his natural form and talk to Raelhaas. He couldn’t use mind-speech as they didn’t know each other well enough. Besides, Histrun couldn’t hold his warrior form for as long as he once had. He noticed several Haaslair men grab handfuls of grass, and scrub the monster ichor from their fur before shifting. He followed their example, and let out a gust of relief when he could shift.
Back in his natural form, he gripped Raelhaas’s wrist in greeting. “I’ll happily take your guidance. I’m not sure we are heading in the right direction. The grasslands lack the type of landmarks I’m used to seeing.” He shrugged. “One clump of grass looks the same as the next to me.”
Raelhaas laughed. “I be sure if I went to your forest land, I’d think one tree or rock looked just like all the others.”
Shortly after, Maheli, Andriel, and the others trotted up the ravine, leading the fighter’s horses. Maheli handed Telen’s reins to Histrun. “Here. Take the stupid beast.”
Histrun raised an eyebrow at her.
“He kept trying to run after that herd, and when I wouldn’t let him, he tried to bite me!”
Histrun rubbed Telen’s nose. “Feeling a bit frisky, are we, old boy?”
“He be back on his home turf,” Raelhaas said, coming to stand next to the big horse. He ran a hand along Telen’s withers, soothing the horse. “Telen be foaled not too far from here. The stallion he be wanting to chase be his sire. We be ready to leave.”
Histrun swung into the saddle, grimacing at the sudden pain in his thigh. He glanced down to see a shallow cut where the brecha’s claws had penetrated his fur. He was getting too old to fight the monsters. After this training trip, he’d think about retiring. Zehala could be the keep alpha, and he could sit back and relax. He snorted at his fantasy.
As they rode, he kept glancing at the centaur. He couldn’t imagine being stuck in such a shape for the rest of his life. He’d never wanted to stay in his warrior form longer than necessary, although he had known a few men who preferred to stay in it as long as possible. But even they had limits and needs. The one piece of anatomy that didn’t work in warrior form was the one used to make love.
“So what’s it like, being a centaur?” he finally asked.
“We be stronger, have more stamina for running, and be able to communicate better with the horses.”
“How does one become a centaur? I know your clan tends to shift more into horses than wolves, like the rest of us. Is that part of it?”
Raelhaas nodded. “To some extent. We come to love our horse brothers and sisters deeply, and this be a way to be part of the herds and still be part of the clan. It takes great discipline and long practice before being able to manage the difficult shift to split your form. Not many of us can accomplish it. You will not see any young centaurs. It also takes dedication, because it be a great change in lifestyle, too.” Raelhaas glanced over at Vyolah and sighed. “The biggest downside be never making love to a woman again.” He sighed again.
Histrun glanced at Zehala, fingering his bond-mate torque. He never removed the symbol of his bond with Zehala. He couldn’t imagine never making love to her again. He rejoiced he hadn’t ever had to make that choice.
A short while later, the walls of Haasneh Keep rose above the grasslands like a beacon of light. The setting sun shone from the temple’s dome. A young chestnut horse sped from the gates, and gamboled to their side. He had dark blue-gray stripes, and his tail and the feathering on his legs were the same chestnut color.
“Jaehaas, settle down,” Raelhaas admonished. “Be that the proper way to greet guests?”
The horse’s head drooped. A shiver started at his tail and worked toward his head. When it finished, a young boy about twelve with rich chestnut-brown hair and slate-blue eyes stood where the horse had been.
“Sorry, sir,” the boy said. He looked up and grinned. His eyes widened as he stared at Telen. The big stallion, who at 17.2 hands towered over the boy, pawed the ground with a forefoot. “Be he from Jaelen’s line? He has the look about him.”
“You have a good eye,” Raelhaas said.
“Did you see him? Did you see Jaelen? How many mares did he have this time?”
“Yes, we saw the old, wily stallion. He be running from a horde of monsters.”
“But they didn’t catch him, did they?”
“No, young scamp, they didn’t.” Raelhaas ruffled the boy’s hair. “Jaehaas loves that old stallion. He keeps sneaking out of the keep to try and find him. One of these days he’s going to be caught by monsters.”
“No, I w
on’t!” Jaehaas grinned. “I run too fast.” With a shiver, he returned to his horse form and galloped away, showing them just how fast he could run.
Raelhaas shook his head at the retreating form. “If there be one destined to become a centaur, it be that boy. Even I didn’t shift to my horse form as often as he does.”
They rode into the courtyard and to the keep-house, where the alphas, Maehaas and Armelya, waited on the porch.
“Be welcome, Histrun and Zehala,” Maehaas said, his voice booming across the empty space. The big man leaned over the railing to grasp Histrun’s wrist in greeting. “It be an honor to have you two stay with us.”
“Yes, come in and be welcome,” Armelya said with a friendly smile. Her bright-red hair was coiled in a bun on top of her head, and she wore a daffodil-yellow gown. “Let the youngsters care for your horses.”
She indicated the group of adolescents running to a stop by the porch. Histrun smiled when the boy, Jaehaas, skidded to a stop in front of Telen’s nose.
Ignoring the boy, Armelya continued. “I’ve cleared the bathing room for you and your people. Dinner will be ready by the time you finish.”
“That is kind of you, Alpha Armelya,” Zehala said.
“A hot bath is very welcome,” Histrun said as he slid out of his saddle. “We’ve been on the road for days.” He handed the reins to the boy. “Take good care of him.”
“Oh, I will, sir. He be gorgeous! Come on, Telen, let’s get that saddle off you, and then I’ll give you some hot mash. How does that sound?”
The horse snorted and started toward the stables, with the boy stepping quickly to catch up. Histrun grinned and followed the others inside, looking forward to the hot bath and a dinner that wasn’t camp stew.
Chapter 3
The next morning, when Histrun and his people reached the keeps’ gates, Raelhaas and Vyolah were waiting for them.
“We’ll guide you to Haasnelyn Keep,” Raelhaas said as he stepped into line next to Histrun. “We’ll also help arrange a barge for your travel down the Storengher River.”
Histrun nodded. Maehaas had told him last night that he’d arrange things.
They had only ridden a short way when a familiar chestnut-brown horse raced to join them.
“Jaehaas, you shouldn’t be here,” Vyolah admonished. “Don’t you have duties to attend?”
The horse shook his head and pranced next to Telen.
“Oh, fine,” Vyolah huffed. “But stay close. Don’t go wandering off.”
He nodded in agreement. Jaehaas walked with them for a while, then his youthful energy overtook him, and he raced ahead of them, kicking his heels into the air.
“Oh, to be that young again,” Raelhaas said with a sigh. Before the young horse could get too far ahead of them, Raelhaas gave a sharp whistle. The horse reared, spun on his heels, then raced back.
Ahead of them, Histrun could hear Zehala and Vyolah discussing the differences in their fighting methods.
“If we could use your fire-ring method,” Vyolah said, “it would be a big help in corralling the monsters while we fight them.”
“It’s a matter of not burning up the grass and causing a wildfire. Belhaas is asking his earth Talents to look into creating a fire-resistant strain of grass.”
“Oh, that be a wonderful idea. If we had that, then we could use fire arrows, too. You’ve given us much to think about, Zehala. Sometimes we don’t see the solution to a problem because it be too close to us for us to see it.”
“The problem seems to be the hottest part of a flame is at the base,” Zehala let out a loud sigh. “We’ve tried creating a cold fire, but when it combines with the hot, it explodes.”
“Have you thought about turning the flame upside down? If you inverted your fire-shield, the cooler part of the flame would be at ground level and the hotter part at the top, where it would be even more effective against the monsters.”
Zehala stopped her horse so suddenly that Histrun’s horse ran into its rump. She slapped her forehead, then grinned at Vyolah. “That is genius! I think it could work. We’re so used to building the fire-shield from the ground up, I didn’t even think of doing it a different way.” She turned in her saddle and shrugged at Histrun. “So much for me having all the great ideas. I can’t wait to try this out!” She kicked her horse back into motion, urging it into a trot.
Histrun and the others followed her lead. After another octar of riding, Histrun caught sight of the great Storengher River cutting across the plains. The river started far north in the Deep Mountains, and traversed the length of Lairheim until it disappeared at the edge of the Barrens. Rumors said it resurfaced beyond the Barrens to form the great southern swamp. But no one alive had entered the swamp and returned to tell about it.
The spires and temple dome of a small keep on the river’s edge glistened in the sunlight. Like all keeps, the walls were made from sheadash stone, most likely imported from Ledonlair Province or even Histrun’s home province of Strunlair. Fields of grain and plots of vegetables surrounded the keep, giving the area a boost of green color amid the prairie golds. Docks jutted into the placid river. Boats with bright sails and flat-bottomed barges floated on the wide expanse of water.
Raelhaas led them through the keep gates and directly to the docks, where several barges were tied up. The sailors had various shades of blue or yellow hair. Their water and air Talents made them well suited for their work.
“Ho, Daelena,” Raelhaas said, as he stopped in front of a large, dark-green barge that had a tall mast with pale red sails wrapped tightly around it. A small cabin squatted in the center of the deck. A middle-aged woman with azure-blue hair looked up from the rope she was coiling. She took in the platoon behind him, and grinned.
“Be these people here for my barge, Raelhaas?”
“Aye,” Raelhaas nodded. “They be heading downriver to Dehanlair Keep. Taking the river down be much faster, and safer, than riding through the plains.”
“So it is.” She finished coiling her rope and laid it neatly at her feet, then put her hands on her hips, staring at Histrun and Zehala. “Who might you be, then? And what do you have to barter for my services?”
“Daelena!” Raelhaas’s eyes widened and his tail swished. “These be the great Histrun and Zehala. Their gift of the Zehis method is payment enough. Maehaas authorized it.”
Daelena bowed her head. “My apologies. How many be in your party, including the horses and multas?”
Histrun swung off his horse. “We have forty people, the same number of horses, and two multas. And we have items to trade.” He gestured for Maheli to come forward and bring the pack of trade goods.
“No!” Raelhaas made a chopping gesture and frowned at Maheli, who stopped in her tracks. “No, those not be needed. Go put them back, girl. You have done enough for our world.”
“But it doesn’t work here,” Zehala said. She slid from her saddle, and beckoned Maheli forward. “We can pay—”
Maheli held out the pack.
“Nonsense,” Raelhaas scowled, flicking his tail in agitation, the tips hitting the pack.
Maheli quickly pulled the pack away, and gave Histrun a what-do-I-do-now look. He motioned her back.
Raelhaas nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. “You be working on a way for it to work here, too. That be enough. Now, Daelena, be your barge big enough for this pack?”
Histrun and Zehala exchanged a look. When they left the barge, they would leave behind suitable trade items.
“You know it be, Raelhaas.” She turned to Histrun and Zehala. “Sleeping quarters might be a bit tight, but we can accommodate all your people and gear. Give my pack an octar to ready the boat and bring on supplies. You can leave the animals here while you go visit the keep.” She turned her back to them and gave a loud whistle. “All right, mates, look lively! We have a fare.”
The deck suddenly crawled with people. A wide plank clattered onto the stone pier, and four young people scampered across it
, stopping in front of Raelhaas.
“Give them your horses,” he said. “They’ll take them over to the barge and get them settled. Come on and leave them to it. It be chaos on the barge until she be ready for you.” He glanced up at the sun. “It be time for the mid-day meal, anyway.”
Histrun and his group trailed behind Raelhaas and Vyolah into Haasnelyn Keep. The boy, Jaehaas, remained behind, helping load the horses. He had a way with them. They instantly calmed in his presence.
An octar later, they returned after having a pleasant meal with the keep alphas. Supplies were piled on the barge’s bow end, while the stern held their packs. Not a single horse or multa could be seen. Daelena met them on the dock.
“Where are our horses?” Zehala asked, shocked.
“They be in the cargo hold,” Daelena said, running a hand through her hair. “It be safer and more pleasant for them if they can’t see the river floating by. You’ll have to sort out your belongings.” She pointed to their packs. “That be where you’ll stay and sleep. We be expecting fine weather the next chedan or so. The only sleeping quarters be in the crew cabin. We usually only haul cargo, not passengers.”
“We’ll be fine,” Histrun said.
“Well, come aboard.” Daelena made a wide, welcoming gesture. “Daylight’s a-wasting.”
Histrun walked carefully across the plank that bounced with each step, threatening to toss him into the water several feet below. Once aboard, he went to the pile of packs and dug through them. He quickly found his and Zehala’s belongings. As the others joined him, he pulled Zehala to the side and let the younger ones stoop and bend as they went through the pile.
“Let’s find a place near the captain’s cabin,” Zehala said. “I think it will be the best sheltered in case a storm or wind comes up.”
Histrun grunted in agreement. They found a spot facing the bow where they could watch the activity on the barge.
Sailors scurried on the deck and climbed up the mast. A loud pop sounded as the sails unfurled. As soon as the last person stepped off the plank, a sailor dragged it onto the deck. Several deckhands used long poles to push the barge away from the dock and into the deeper water.
