by D. L. Kramer
Nahtan shook his own head, not being pulled into the distorted world of Rial's thoughts.
"You question my beliefs because you doubt your own," he responded. "I have seen what they can do, and I have heard Jensina's voice through her chosen priests. There are reasons they do not manifest themselves among the people, reasons I can't begin to understand for the simple reason that I am not a god."
"And your friends would answer the same as you?" Rial pressed, his eyes never leaving Nahtan's.
"They have their own answers and beliefs," Nahtan told him. "No doubt Brijade's are more literal and harsh than Bear's, but I can't question that she is the way she is for a reason, and I'm sure one of the gods has something to do with that."
"Charming lady," Rial rolled his eyes. "I ran into her again in the stable the other night. I'm quite impressed with the extent of her vocabulary. No doubt she learned most of it from the time she spends in the taverns and barracks."
"The fact that you're still alive should tell you something about her," Nahtan pointed out.
Rial shrugged. "Yes, it tells me that if she wasn't afraid of your anger, she would have tried finishing what she started that night in the study."
Nahtan shook his head. "Brijade isn't afraid of my anger," he pointed out. "If she didn't try killing you again, then it's because she had a reason of her own." He paused for a moment. "And maybe you should try thanking one of the gods for that--unless you really want her to kill you." With a slight nod, he left the room, leaving Rial alone with his thoughts.
His next stop was at the door of the room provided to Mehlis for her stay in Herridon. She had disappeared after their fight in the training yard and hadn't been seen outside of her room since. Nahtan knew she had secluded herself here since the cook had sent dinner up the night before and breakfast this morning. He knocked sharply on the door, hoping it would convince her to open it. After several seconds, he knocked again.
"Mehlis?" he called her name and leaned against the wall beside the door. "I promised you we'd talk and that's what I'm here for."
Several more seconds passed before he heard the bolt turn and the latch open. Mehlis turned away from the door after opening it, leaving Nahtan to close it behind himself.
Her blonde hair was loose, draping over her shoulders and down her back. She wore simple breeches and short boots, with no sign of her sash or sword. A quick glance around the room found both items discarded in a corner. Without saying a word, Nahtan walked over and picked them up. When he turned to face her, she turned her eyes in obvious guilt.
"I know your parents taught you how to take care of this," he said, wrapping the sash around the sheathed sword and holding both out to her.
"I haven't earned them," she said, leaving her hands at her sides and refusing to take them. Her dark brown eyes refused to meet his.
"Yes, you have," Nahtan assured her. He reached over and took her sword hand, then pressed the sheath into it. "There is no doubt in my mind that you have earned your sash and the right to carry this sword."
"You don't understand," Mehlis pulled her hand from his, then tossed the sheath onto a nearby table. "I can't stand for Gahrit, so I can't stand for myself."
"Gahrit doesn't need anyone to stand for him," Nahtan told her. He stepped over to the table and picked up the sword again, then turned and once more pressed it into her hand. "You are the daughter of a nobleman," he said, closing her fingers over the engraved sheath. "It's your place to stand for Corydon and the kingdom--and not for anyone else."
"How can I face them again, though?" she asked, finally meeting his gaze. "They all saw you defeat me. None of them will take me seriously now."
Nahtan couldn't help but smile, then finally chuckle. "Janec beat me a week ago," he said. "I misjudged how far back he was moving and stepped right into the 'trap' he'd set. The patrols were just changing, so the guards leaving the castle made sure to tell the ones coming in. I won't go into the training yard against Lady Takis when there's a chance of anyone watching because I don't want to be that humiliated."
"I've heard she's very good," Mehlis said after a moment.
"Well," Nahtan shrugged. "She saved my life in the Battle on Devayne Field, and won't ever let me forget it. She also feels she has to get even with me for cheating the first time Kile faced us off against each other."
"You cheated?" Mehlis' voice was surprised. "Is that what they were referring to while we were in the yard?"
Nahtan nodded. "It didn't take me very long to realize she was going to exploit any weakness she could find, so I decided to end the fight as soon as I could." He smiled again. "So I tripped her and pinned her, using the fact that I weigh quite a bit more than her to keep her down."
"If everything I've heard about her is true," Mehlis said. "You're probably very lucky she didn't stab you in the back after you let her up."
"I know I am," Nahtan agreed. "You've got a chance to learn from some of the best from every hold while you're here," he pointed out. "There is no reason why you couldn't have your cloak before we get back. Just don't let every defeat decide your future."
"I don't know if I can," Mehlis shook her head slightly. "My parents don't accept failure well--especially from their children."
"Every time someone beats you," Nahtan said. "It's because either you made a mistake or they know something you don't know how to react to. You have to decide which it is, and then learn how to correct it." He paused for a moment. "I now know to pay more attention to which foot Janec has his weight on when he turns his sword a certain way and--subsequently--anyone I go up against that might have had an opportunity to learn the same trick."
Mehlis was quiet for a minute before looking back up at him. "Thank you," she said simply. "For still having some faith in me."
"I never lost any faith in you," Nahtan responded. "And neither has your brother."
"I wish you'd ride in one of the wagons," Bear said, adjusting one of Valry's stirrups to fit her shorter legs. Nahtan smiled as he double checked Renato's packs, not interrupting his friend's comments. Valry was insisting on riding Ayita out of Herridon, and he wasn't going to deny her that place. Bear, however, was once again thinking of the easiest way to protect her--not stopping to realize she wouldn't be able to ride for more than a few hours anyway.
"The supplies ride in the wagons," Valry responded, her tone serious as she slipped her small foot into the stirrup when Bear finished with it. Nahtan smiled again when he saw her wrap the reins around her off hand, just like she'd undoubtedly seen any of the Mo'ani do every time they rode.
"So do the spoiled children," Bear responded, walking around the Dweller's mare to shorten the other stirrup.
"I can see this is going to be a wonderful trip," Adie said from Nahtan's side. Nicho stood behind her, shifting his weight in anticipation. For the first time since Kile's death, Nahtan saw some of the rebellious pride glinting in his black eyes. He was once again a warhorse, willing to carry his rider into battle.
"She'll be in the wagon before we get halfway through the mountains," Nahtan responded, turning his attention to Adie. "But if Bear gives into her that easily, she won't think she's won anything." Around him, the others made final checks of their own horses and supplies. Three supply wagons were accompanying them, one carrying food for the horses and the other two provisions for Nahtan's party. Each of the Mo'ani carried enough in their packs that they could survive well over a week's time should they become separated from the group and have no other resources.
Nahtan shifted his gaze from Adie to the whereabouts of the other members of his central group. Rial already sat on his horse--a surprisingly even-tempered and well trained gelding with a stark white coat, while Brijade stood talking with Calan and Yenene. Nahtan was somewhat surprised to see Mallin and Tosia talking, both of them seemed to be lost in their conversation. Aralt and two other Mo'ani were making final checks of the wagons, while Leisl arranged a place for Tion and the two girls to sit down among the bags and
crates of supplies. Despite efforts to help them, the girls had kept to themselves, not telling even Yenene their names. Nahtan had finally made the decision to have them left alone and just made sure they had plenty to eat and were kept safe.
"What was that he said about spoiled children?" Adie asked deliberately.
"You're just as guilty as the rest of us," Nahtan reminded her, buckling the last of Renato's packs. The tall horse snorted in anticipation of his own, anxious to go.
"Probably even more so," Mo'ani added, leading his horse over. Unlike the warriors who wore his name as their title, he did not ride a Dweller's horse. Instead, his mounts were chosen and bought from the small herds kept by the people in the village below his Stronghold. He had never offered an explanation, and Nahtan had never asked. Nahtan did know that the deaths of those Mo'ani had outlived weighed heavily on him, and he suspected Mo'ani didn't want to feel the loss so deeply within himself of when a bonded horse died. Having experienced it twice himself, Nahtan could fully understand.
"Are we about ready then?" Mo'ani asked as Bear finished with the second stirrup.
"About as ready as we're going to get," Bear said, leaving Ayita's reins in Valry's control. He paused to tie his fine hair in front of one shoulder with a strip of leather. He then slipped his longbow over his head and arm, securing it across his chest and back before reaching for Chase's reins. "Is everything set with Gahrit?" he asked Nahtan.
Nahtan nodded, smiling. "He's already had three innkeeps here this morning wanting to petition him for everything I turned down."
"And you're sure he's not going to have problems?" Adie asked.
Nahtan's smile grew. "Didn't you hear the first one get tossed outside the gates?" he asked her. "Bredyn wasn't too quiet about it."
"Oh, so is that what that yelling was?" Mo'ani asked.
Nahtan nodded. "There will be notices placed around the city today reminding people I'm still in charge and Gahrit is just here to enforce my laws." He paused for a moment. "And there's three innkeeps who can verify it now."
"You asked for this, sir."
Nahtan turned at the porter who approached them, the falcon Jerai, Jaron and Tosia had brought with them held carefully in his hands. He seemed unsure about carrying such a large bird, and Nahtan noticed he kept his fingers well away from the bird's sharp beak.
"Thank you," Nahtan said, gently taking the bird from the porter. The man nodded his head and hurried back to the castle's door.
"Do I even want to know what you're doing with that?" Mo'ani asked, pulling himself up onto his horse's back.
Nahtan handed the bird to Bear while he swung up into Renato's saddle, then took the bird again to settle on the saddle horn. It took a moment, but the falcon gained his balance and stilled.
"You told me once that no matter how much you avoided things, if one of the gods wanted you to do something, it would keep coming back to you," he replied. "Last night while getting the packs ready, all I could think about was the falcon." He lightly stroked the dulled red feathers on its neck and head. "I have to trust there was a reason for it."
Mo'ani nodded his head a single time, telling Nahtan he understood. What part the falcon was to play in this endeavor, Nahtan could only guess, but he felt deep within himself that the bird was meant to accompany them.
The remainder of their group quickly assembled when Bear played several sharp notes on his Dweller's flute. Brijade, Tosia and Rial all fell in towards the front, just behind Nahtan, Bear and Valry. Nahtan had specifically asked Tosia to keep herself between Brijade and Rial so if either one made a move towards the other, she could easily intervene or at least redirect their horses to avert any confrontation.
Mo'ani and Adie fell back and to the sides while the others took positions around and behind the wagons. Nahtan gently touched Ayita's mind with a suggestion, and the mare moved between Renato and Chase, placing Valry in the safest place for the trip out of Herridon.
Their progression through the city was slower than Nahtan would have liked, but he didn't complain. It wasn't very often the citizens got to see a formation of Mo'ani moving down the streets, and many stopped to watch. Once clear of the city's east gates, they were able to assume a steady pace towards the mountains where Mo'ani's Stronghold had sheltered and trained three generations of Mo'ani Warriors.
They were barely four leagues past Mo'ani's Stronghold when one of the scouts came riding back to them.
"There's someone about a league ahead," the Mo'ani announced, pulling in his horse ahead of Nahtan.
"Who?" Nahtan asked, signaling for the procession to stop.
"It looks like a single person, on foot," the Mo'ani replied. "I thought you'd want to know since the mountain roads aren't usually traveled."
Nahtan looked at Bear and Mo'ani. When both shrugged, he looked over his shoulder to Brijade. "Give us a half league head start," he told her, motioning her forward then turning to Valry. "You do whatever Bear tells you," he instructed her. Valry nodded silently as Bear offered her his hand. She clasped both of hers over it and he lifted her from Ayita's back and onto the saddle in front of him. Chase then fell back between the wagons as Nahtan and Mo'ani continued forward.
"If you want to try circling ahead of him," Mo'ani told him. "The ravine is almost dry. I'm sure we'd have heard about it if my sentries saw any groups heading through here, so he should be alone."
"If he's a full league ahead, we'd be cutting it close to making it out of the ravine before he passed it," Nahtan noted. "Probably be just as easy to come up right behind him."
Mo'ani nodded as they spurred their horses into a quick trot.
As soon as they passed the path to the archers' training range, Nahtan could see the lone traveler ahead of them. He recognized the blonde haired young man immediately and slowed Renato to a walk, muttering things he'd like to say to Jensina and Halona if they were there in front of him.
"I beg your pardon?" Mo'ani said, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Nothing I'm going to repeat," Nahtan returned, sighing. "So is there any way to tell who might have been sent by the gods?"
"I take it you know him?" Mo'ani asked.
"He seems to have this strange ability to show up right in my path," Nahtan explained. "He also seems to know an awful lot about Valry and myself."
Mo'ani paused, looking ahead at the young man's back. "Sorry, but I met Halona face to face and didn't know it without being told. I only knew about Isak, Meda and Rena because Isak told me."
"You knew me the first time you saw me," Nahtan pointed out.
"I can't explain that," Mo'ani replied. "When the sentries reported back that Kile was coming back with a boy, that passage in the prophecy about your arrival made complete sense all of a sudden."
"I don't suppose the prophecy said anything about self assured young men who won't stay out of the way," Nahtan grumbled, letting Renato pick up his pace again.
"Actually," Mo'ani said, his horse keeping pace with Nahtan's Dwellers' horse. "I believe it was referring to Bear a time or two, that's why I gave him that nickname."
Nahtan gave him a deliberate look before slowing Renato again as they came up behind the young man.
"A little far from the orchards, Gaurel," Nahtan said, nudging Renato up to walk beside him.
Gaurel turned, giving Nahtan a cheerful smile, and not seeming to be the slightest bit surprised to see him.
"The heavy harvesting is done," he said easily. "I thought it was time to move on since I didn't want to outstay my welcome or become a burden to the family that let me stay with them."
Nahtan sighed, something about the young man nagged at him again, but he still couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"What a magnificent bird," Gaurel said, stopping suddenly as his eyes locked on the falcon still sitting on Nahtan's saddle horn. "I didn't know you were a falconer, Majesty." His eyes stayed pinned on the falcon as Nahtan looked to Mo'ani again. Mo'ani responded with a shrug, then nodded for Nahtan t
o direct his attention back to Gaurel. Nahtan did, just as Gaurel held out a hand to the bird and made several faint clicks deep in his throat. The falcon responded by immediately hopping from the saddle horn to Gaurel's outstretched hand.
"Quite possibly the most beautiful bird I've ever seen," Gaurel continued, barely loud enough for Nahtan to hear.
"I don't see any sense in falconing," Nahtan commented, watching Gaurel's handling of the bird closely. The falcon lowered his head and rubbed his beak against Gaurel's forearm.
"I doubt such a fine bird would lower himself to being someone's pet anyhow," Gaurel continued, gently stroking the bird's chest feathers.
The falcon responded by stretching his neck and puffing out his chest. Nahtan looked at Mo'ani and answered his shrug with a silent sigh.
"Where are you heading?" Nahtan asked Gaurel, turning back to him. The young man seemed almost entranced by the falcon. It took a moment for Gaurel to turn his attention back to Nahtan.
"South," he shrugged. "No particular place. I've heard it doesn't snow much south of Valin Hold and I'm not very fond of winter, so I thought I'd see how it looked there."
Nahtan nodded his head and sighed again. "The rest of our group should be here shortly. We have spare horses, or you can ride in one of the wagons."
Thirteen - "Just like your son"
Jensina walked slowly through the ruined walls of her mansion. Ivy nearly covered what few broken walls still stood, and undergrowth and fallen leaves hid the tumbled pillars. Overhead, not a single bird sang or chirped in the still air. Jensina could feel the steady ebbing of the lives of the ancient creatures. With the Wardsman no longer here to protect them, age was taking its toll.
