On the other hand, he remembered the advice that Jaylocke had written in his first letter after finding out Keltin might be going to Malpin. “If someone in a uniform tries to stop you, smile and wave, then shoot them dead if they twitch. There are some scruples that are worth setting aside temporarily.” Keltin wasn’t sure whether he agreed with Jaylocke or not, but he knew that if he waited to make his decision until the moment came, it would likely be too late.
A soft voice called from the bottom of the stairs.
“Breakfast is ready.”
Keltin drew a deep breath and forced himself to his feet. Regardless of the conditions at the border, he hadn’t had any dinner the night before, and the smells coming from downstairs were enticing. He left his room and descended the stairs to find Ross telling Harper about the adventure with the armored leech as they sat in the parlor eating their breakfast.
“Good morning, Mr. Moore!” said Harper pleasantly. “We were worried when you didn’t come down for dinner last night. You’re not coming down with Ross’s sickness, are you?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“That’s good to hear. Just so you know, we’re on our own this morning.” He gave a playful wink. “In addition to being our newest resident beast hunter, it seems that Wendi has taken over the kitchen and dining room in preparation for tomorrow’s Harvest Celebration.”
“I thought the workers were still bringing the crops in,” said Keltin.
Ross cleared his throat, sounding much improved from the day before but still on the road to recovery.
“Yull came by this morning,” he croaked. “He said that he and his men worked by lantern light late into the night, so the last of the harvest is already done and we can have our Harvest Celebration tomorrow. It looks like our job here is officially done.”
Harper shook his head. “It all seems a bit anticlimactic, doesn’t it? Still, I suppose that’s the way with your sort of work. Mine too, for that matter. At least we get to enjoy a Harvest Celebration with the workers before returning home. Speaking of which, how do you feel about traveling back to Riltvin together, Mr. Moore? We could leave the day after tomorrow, just as long as you don’t want to leave too early, because I certainly plan to do my fair share of celebrating first.”
Harper grinned. Keltin shifted uncomfortably.
“I... may not head directly home. Perhaps you should go on without me.”
“Really?” Harper gave him a curious look. “Why? There’s no real reason to hang about with the job done, unless you have some other work you’re planning to take on.”
“Of a sort. Yes.”
Now it was Ross’ turn to be curious. “Is it the sort of work that could use another beast hunter? I wouldn’t want to drive you off of it, but perhaps Kuff and I might accompany you? I’ve missed working with another hunter, and wouldn’t mind doing it for a bit longer.”
Keltin hesitated. He was uncomfortable lying to his friends, but he wasn’t sure whether it was wise to tell them of his plans. After all, crossing the Krendarian/Malpin border would not only be dangerous, but highly criminal to at least one of the nations involved. Keltin didn’t feel right putting either Ross or Harper in a potentially awkward position by telling them too much of what he intended to do.
“This isn’t an opportunity for more than one hunter,” he said. “Sorry.”
Ross shrugged. “I suppose it’s just as well. Season’s coming to a close anyway. Which way are you bound?”
Keltin hesitated for what felt like far too long.
“North,” he finally said truthfully.
Ross’ brows furrowed. “North? There’s not much left of the Province beyond these farmlands except the Bent Knee River and the border with Malpin.”
“Which you should definitely be avoiding right now,” put in Harper. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you the news yet. Malpin has closed its borders.”
“I know.”
Harper’s eyebrows went up. “You do?”
“I received word in a letter.”
“Ah, I see. Well, I suppose all we can do is wait and see what happens. I know I don’t look forward to the prospect of being a war correspondent again.”
“Well, I’d better get my breakfast. Excuse me.”
Keltin escaped the curious looks of his friends and made his way to the kitchen to find Wendi sprinkling sugar on a row of small sweet loaves on the table. She looked up at him with a shy, friendly smile.
“Hello Mr. Moore. Are you feeling all right?”
“Yes, I’m not sick.”
“I’m glad. I was worried.”
Wendi picked up one of the sweet loaves with a padded kitchen cloth and placed it on a plate for him.
“I’m sorry that there isn’t more for breakfast this morning. But you can have this. Be careful, it’s still very hot.”
Keltin gave her a small smile of gratitude and sat at the kitchen table. He tore open the loaf and sat watching the steam pour out of the perfectly aerated bread. Wendi continued her work, laying down a fresh layer of flour before beginning to knead another large lump of dough. As Keltin watched her, he was suddenly reminded of the many times he’d sat in the kitchen while his mother was cooking. It had seemed like the only time that the two of them had been able to talk together.
“Is the loaf all right?”
Keltin gave a start and realized that he had been staring into space as he reminisced. He gave Wendi a reassuring smile.
“Yes, it’s very good. I’m sorry, I was just remembering sitting in my mother’s kitchen growing up.”
“Did she teach you to cook?”
“She tried, but I was never very good at it. What about you? Did your mother teach you to bake?”
Wendi paused her kneading.
“Yes,” she said quietly. “Momma loved to be in the kitchen. She always said that she was just a country cook, but I think she had studied in the city when she was young. Or maybe she knew someone who had. Either way, all of our neighbors said she was the best cook in the territory. She taught me everything I know.”
“It shows.”
Wendi looked up, her pale blue eyes tinged with vulnerability.
“Do you think so?”
“I do.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
For a few moments, they kept their silence, Keltin quietly eating and Wendi continuing her work. Keltin finished his loaf, noticed that the wood box next to the stove was running low, and went outside to retrieve another armful from the stack against the leeside wall. Returning inside to the welcome warmth of the kitchen, he refilled the box, then fed several sticks into the stove as Wendi stood next to him stirring a pot of thickening, golden syrup.
“Wendi, I’m leaving today.”
She looked up in surprise.
“Already? Can’t you at least stay for the Harvest Celebration?”
“I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
“But why?”
Keltin hesitated. For some reason, it felt all right if he talked with Wendi... at least a little.
“There’s someone that I met last year here in Dhalma Province. We were trapped together for weeks in a farmhouse surrounded by beasts and became very close. After that, she went back to her family in Kerrtow.”
Wendi’s eyes widened in understanding.
“But the border with Malpin has been closed,” she said.
Keltin nodded.
“You’re going north to your girl, aren’t you?”
Keltin didn’t answer. Wendi stepped closer to him.
“You’re going to try to get her out of Malpin.”
Keltin let out a heavy breath.
“Her and her family. Her father sent me a letter, asking me to try. So I need to leave as soon as I can. Would you set aside some of that bread for me?”
“Yes. Yes, of course. I’ve also got plenty of potatoes and a tin of lard you can take.”
“Thank you.”
Keltin left the kitchen and went u
p the stairs to his room. Placing his pack on his bed, he began to pull together his few belongings. He was in the process of rolling and stowing away his change of clothes when he heard his bedroom door open behind him.
“We’re butchering a hog tomorrow for the Celebration,” said Ross in a conservative whisper to preserve his voice. “If you wait, you’ll have fresh meat for the road.”
“I really should be leaving as soon as I’m able,” Keltin said as he continued to pack.
“Game is scarce along the Bent Knee this time of year, and you won’t find many places to buy more supplies very close to either side of the Malpin border.”
Keltin turned.
“Wendi told you.”
“She did.”
Keltin was silent. Ross stepped into the room and drew closer so that his soft voice could be heard clearly.
“Listen, Keltin. I’ll not fault you for not sharing this with Harper and I right away. It’s your business after all. But if you’re worried about either of us trying to discourage you from going, don’t. If you want to try to help someone on the other side of the border, good for you. But you shouldn’t let your heart do your thinking. You’re a good hunter, better than good, so treat this like a hunt. Take the time to plan it out. Gather all the resources you have available so you have the best chance for success, and that includes talking with people who may know more about a region than you do.”
Keltin sighed as he realized that in his haste to go to Elaine’s aid he had forgotten the words of Jaylocke, Bor’ve’tai, and Mr. Destov as each of them had encouraged him to seek help from anyone that he felt he could trust.
“All right,” he said. “I see your point. Is Harper still downstairs?”
“He is.”
“Good. Let’s go join him. I might as well lay my cards out for everyone to see.”
They found Harper still sitting by the fire waiting for them with a curious expression. Keltin sat down across from him and proceeded to explain his situation. Ross and Harper listened quietly as Wendi drifted into the room stirring a bowl of batter on her hip. Keltin finished by describing Mr. Destov’s most recent letter and reading all of the pertinent details to the group. Harper sat back and stroked his mustache.
“Hmm...” he said. “I won’t lie to you, Mr. Moore. This is dangerous, and not the sort of danger that you’re used to.”
“I’ve dealt with dangerous people before.”
“Perhaps, but think of their caliber. Bullies, belligerent hunters, perhaps a crooked businessman now and then. But this is an entire nation with a strong militant arm curling around its people and borders. You can’t bluff your way past all of them, and even a beast hunter as fierce as yourself can’t stand against a whole squad of border guards.”
“That depends on the terrain,” said Ross. “We saw the worth of soldiers against a good handful of beast hunters in last year’s campaign.”
“And are you planning on shooting each one of them?” countered Harper. “As you said, you’re not soldiers. It takes a certain kind of man to look at another breathing person with hopes, dreams, perhaps a family, and put a bullet in his brain. Could either of you do that?”
Ross looked away uncomfortably. Harper turned to Keltin.
“What about you?”
Keltin took a long breath before answering. “I was considering that this morning. It turns my stomach to think about, but if it meant the safety of Elaine and her family... yes. I would live with the guilt and pain that came with it, if I had to. But only if I knew that I had done everything I could to avoid it first.”
Harper nodded slowly. “All right. In that case, I’m going with you.”
Keltin blinked. “You’re what?”
“I’ll finish my last piece for this assignment and send it to my editor along with a note explaining that I have a rare opportunity to examine conditions on the Krendaria/Malpin border. I won’t be able to wait to hear back from him, but I know him, and he would jump at the chance to get a man across the border to report on conditions inside Malpin right now.”
Keltin shook his head. “I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“You wouldn’t be. I would. Besides, we’ll both have a better chance of success if we go together. I’ve seen enough of your skills in the countryside to bet that you will be able to sneak us both across the border without being seen. And I’ve got experience working undercover and talking fast when things get tight. If I’m with you, there’s a better chance that we’ll be able to talk our way out of sticky situations, rather than resorting to violence. What do you say?”
Keltin was silent. After weeks of waiting and inactivity, things were suddenly moving very fast. He worried that he might already be losing control of the situation. Still, there was little time to doubt or hesitate. Elaine needed him now. He had to act. He had to trust.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll follow your lead when it comes to dealing with people.”
Harper nodded. “And I’ll follow your lead in all else. Just give me until tomorrow to finish my last article, and I’ll be ready to leave after the Harvest Celebration.”
“Agreed.”
“Good. In that case, I’d better go get to work.”
Harper rose and went upstairs to his room. Ross turned to Keltin.
“Well, it sounds like you’ll be staying for the Celebration after all.”
“I suppose so. Thank you for helping me to see reason.”
Ross nodded silently as Keltin turned and looked into the guttering fire. The thought of taking Harper with him was new and a little worrisome, but he also felt a stirring of hope. Perhaps with the newspaperman along, he truly would have a better chance for success. While he would have preferred Bor’ve’tai or Jaylocke at his side, any sort of ally would be most welcome in what could become his most dangerous endeavor yet.
Chapter 12 – Loose Ends
Keltin kept himself busy the rest of the day and into the next helping prepare the farmhouse to entertain all of Yull’s workers. He focused all of his attention on every menial task, from weaving together decorations of maize stalks to setting out cutlery and finding additional chairs for everyone. Of course, his mind remained firmly on the task ahead of him come the morning, but with nothing more to do to prepare, he did his best to lose himself in the spirit of the special holiday.
Wendi had truly outdone herself. Keltin was amazed as she laid out platters of fried potatoes, buttered maize, spiced sausages, and stewed squash. Loaves, rolls, and biscuits were in abundance, with sugar crumble pies and apple cake waiting in the wings along with pitchers of milk, cold cider, and mulled wine . Yull and a few of his men had butchered an impressive hog, spending the better part of the day slowly roasting the meat until it was nearly sliding off the bone. When the time came to begin the carving, even Keltin had to admit that he was driven to distraction by the intoxicating smell of roasted pork.
Ross was at his side for the majority of the day in their preparations, with Kuff following along behind and eyeing the growing feast with the sad longing of an animal too well-trained to steal food, but not above a little begging. Harper remained cloistered in his room for the majority of the day, only emerging late in the afternoon to sit down with an exhausted sigh. Keltin looked at the man sucking deep breaths of air as if he’d been running a league, and wondered just how hard writing truly was. Harper appeared too humble to talk about it, and only made a single announcement with tired pride.
“Well, I finished the piece. It will go with the courier when he leaves in the morning. Do you want to read it?”
“I’ll see it in the paper when we get back.”
Harper nodded, and Keltin saw in his eyes the same unspoken statement that he had thought to himself.
If we get back.
“I’ll make sure the Gazette saves you a copy.”
The workers began arriving as daylight started to fade outside. There were more than twenty men all together, but somehow they all found places to
sit either around the dining room table or in various chairs scattered throughout the parlor. The farmhouse was soon filled with the din of talking and raucous laughter, though they refrained from touching the tempting food spread out before them. Once the last man had found a chair and Wendi had brought out the last pitcher of cider, Yull stood up at the head of the table and called for silence, which he almost immediately got. The foreman cleared his throat, showing perhaps more familiarity with barking orders than giving speeches.
“Well, the season’s officially done. You’ve all done a hexed good job out in those fields. The food we brought in will feed a lot of hungry people. I figure that makes us heroes in a way, even if we’re the only ones who know it. Well done all.” This was met with hearty applause until he signaled for silence again. “I also think we should acknowledge Mr. Moore and Mr. Ross. These men risked their lives every day they were here to keep us and our fellows safe from the boils that stalk the woods in these parts. If not for them, you can be sure that some of us would not be sitting here among friends right now. So thanks to both of you.”
There was more applause, and Keltin felt a warm stirring within him. It was rare to ever receive such adulation for an otherwise lonely life, and he allowed himself to console his worried heart in the warmth of the smiling faces of the men gathered around him. Yull then praised Wendi’s impressive efforts laid out before them, which received the loudest acclaim of all. He then offered a simple farmer’s grace, and the feast began.
While Keltin had spent much of his life eating lonely meals by campfires, he could remember several times when he had enjoyed a well-cooked meal with good company. He recalled family dinners as a child presided over by his father and attended by most –if not all— of the members of the Moore and Milner families. Later, he’d enjoyed a measure of comradery with his fellow hunters while on campaign a year ago, and there had also been a number of pleasant dinners spent at the Golden Home restaurant and inn in Lost Trap with his close friends the previous winter. Thinking back to those times, he felt a little homesick even as he enjoyed the good food and listened to the cheerful conversations of those around him. He missed his friends and family, and wished that any of them could share this festive time with him.
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