by D. L. Kramer
Nahtan could see the surprise on both Michak's and Garren's faces when Brijade chuckled, then laughed at him.
"If you weren't so damn cute when you talk like that, I'd have to hit you," she said easily. Nahtan returned her smile. He had always enjoyed the camaraderie he felt with Brijade. Besides her friendship and loyalty, they fought well together; her speed and his strength complementing each other well with their shared brutality in battle. Once she had reached him in the Battle on Devayne Field, no church guard had stood long against them.
Michak studied Brijade for a moment. "And where did you learn to fight?"
Brijade turned her smile onto Michak. "I was raised by a nobleman with little respect for the typical woman and a hold full of Mo'ani Warriors," she explained. "I learned very quickly if I wanted to claim my title, I was going to have to fight for it." She paused for a moment. "And if I wanted to earn my cloak, I was going to have to be good enough to pound Lord Devayne into the dirt."
"You know, I still wish I could have seen that," Nahtan shook his head slightly. "I'll bet all the mothers of his children wish they could have, too."
"As I understand it from Rouvin, none of them dared mention it to him for a few weeks." Brijade's smile was almost vicious. It was obvious to Nahtan that she had enjoyed beating Lord Devayne, especially in front of a crowd consisting of her lieutenant and Mo'ani Warriors.
Michak studied Brijade for a moment, a considering look on his face. "So you fight, because no one ever taught you to be a lady," he said evenly.
Brijade turned to him for a moment, her eyes meeting his. "Basically," she nodded, then her eyes glinted and Nahtan found himself suddenly afraid of what she was going to say next. "But as your son can attest, there's no mistake I'm a woman."
Despite his best efforts, Nahtan couldn't help the flush that spread over his cheeks. The one time she had kissed him by the lake behind Takis Hold was obviously something she was going to enjoy using against him when opportunities such as these arose.
"I can't believe you just said that," Nahtan shook his head, glad the smithy was not well lit. "Don't you think it's Bear you should be making that reference to instead of me?"
"Oh, Sewati can give a more detailed account, certainly," Brijade answered, then smiled wider. "But you're more fun to tease."
Nahtan shook his head as Michak chuckled, then laughed. "Were you my daughter," he said easily. "I'd pity the church guards who came into our house."
Brijade smiled wider. "You don't know what I can do to church guards," she said.
"Nothing I haven't thought of doing to them myself, I'm sure," Michak returned. He picked up the horseshoe he had just finished, then a file, hammer and handful of nails. "Let's go see to these horses," he said, taking the lead out of the smithy.
Garren fell in step beside Nahtan as they left the dimly lit room.
"Could you talk to Papa for me?" Garren asked him.
"About what?" Nahtan asked in return.
Garren was quiet for a moment, as if not sure what to say. "I want to go to Edgewind with you, and I know he won't let me go on my word alone."
Nahtan shrugged. "You're old enough to go on your own."
"It's not--" Garren paused. "He's been so different just since last night," he tried to explain. "I always knew that he loved me, but I was always taking second place to you in his heart. If you ask him, he might consider it."
Nahtan stopped walking to look at his brother. "If you weren't the most important thing to him, he wouldn't have sheltered you so much," he said. "If anything, you became more important to him than Leisl or I ever did. He devoted his life to protecting you."
Garren shook his head, then brushed the hair from his eyes. "He used to always pause before he called me, like he was having to think about my name."
Nahtan smiled. "That just comes with being around people," he responded. "I only have Valry and have to stop and think about her name every so often."
Garren shook his head, obviously giving up. Nahtan wondered how Bear could see so many similarities between them. Garren was trying to break free from the authority he'd known all his life, and Nahtan had spent his youth trying to hide within it. Nahtan couldn't help but wonder suddenly if he had actually taken his freedom for granted from the day he met Kile. And now his brother wanted his help to find his own way. He considered the thought for a moment. Bear had always been the closest thing he had to a brother, but deep down he couldn't forget that he wasn't. Even though he'd only met Garren less than one day before, he already felt a bond with the young man.
"I'll talk to him," Nahtan finally said. "But one of the most important things I learned when I found out who I was, is that there comes a time when you have to take charge of your own life and stand by your own decisions. I wouldn't be king now if I hadn't stood up to anyone who challenged who I was."
"The gods decided a long time ago who you would be, though," Garren said. "I'm not anybody."
Nahtan couldn't help but chuckle. "I was more of a nobody than you until the day an angry horse trampled my master to death," he said. "You don't know who you are, or who you'll become, so don't think there isn't anything about you that isn't important."
"He wants me to be a smith," Garren motioned to where Michak was talking with Brijade as he replaced the shoe on Essian's front hoof. "I just never felt--" he paused, struggling for a moment. "--like I belonged in the smithy, I guess. But I don't know where else I belong. I just don't feel like I fit in anywhere here."
"I know the feeling, trust me," Nahtan assured him.
"Are you two coming to help, or just going to stand there like you don't have any sense?" Brijade called, reaching for Ayita's reins as she held Essian's head.
Nahtan looked over at her. "I think you're managing pretty well on your own," he shrugged.
"Nahtan, get your arse over here before I come drag it over," Brijade returned.
"I think this is the point where we go help," Nahtan said to Garren.
"You don't argue with her when she uses that tone then?" Garren asked, falling in step beside Nahtan.
Nahtan smiled at him. "Just as a point to remember," he responded. "When Brijade is armed and you're not, don't make her too mad. She isn't liable to care who you are or what you're doing."
"I'll consider that lesson number one," Garren nodded.
Eighteen - " You only have one other son"
"Garren is not old enough to go with you," Michak said to Nahtan, his tone serious. "He knows nothing about armies or battles."
"He's more than old enough," Nahtan returned. "You said yourself that when you were his age, you already had children running around your house."
"Yes," Michak nodded, filing down Renato's hoof to fit the new shoe. "And I was too young."
"I can understand wanting to protect him," Nahtan said after a moment. He had discovered it was easier for him to approach Michak as an equal and an elder than as his father. He had simply been taken from them when too young, so there was no history of having to defer to Michak as his father to intimidate him into standing down. "But he doesn't feel like he fits in here. Wouldn't it be better to let him go now with your blessing and with a group of highly trained warriors who can protect him, than to wake up one morning and find he's run off on his own?" When Michak only looked up at him and didn't respond, he continued. "If he insists on learning to fight, there are more than enough people with me who can teach him the right way--and in whatever discipline he excels at."
"You don't understand this family," Michak shook his head. "All you know now is war and battle."
Nahtan narrowed his eyes. He realized Michak was trying to push him away now, trying to protect himself from further pain and loss.
"Father," he said, using the name deliberately. "I spent twenty years believing you and mother had sold me because you didn't want me." He knew the statement would cut through the wall Michak was erecting, and it worked immediately when his father looked back at him sharply. "I was three summers
old when I was taken from you. I never had the chance to leave you with your support. You only have one other son, don't let Garren feel he has to leave you the same way. I've seen the look in his eyes before. He doesn't want to hurt you, but someday soon he's going to look for his own way, whether you want him to or not."
Michak finished with Renato's hoof and let his foot drop, then studied Nahtan for a moment. When he spoke this time, his tone was subdued. "And what could you teach him besides fighting?" he asked. "Who among you is not a warrior and could teach him there is more to life than swords and armor?"
Nahtan decided Meda would be proud of him winning this debate. "Yenene who you met last night is a healer and priestess of Jensina," he began. "There is another boy at the camp that we picked up on the way here named Gaurel--he's about the same age as Garren and I don't think I've even seem him touch a weapon. There is Valry and a mute boy named Tion. There is also a merchant named Calan with us." He shook his head slowly. "This group of mine is only to attract attention, we're not here to start any fights. I only have the Mo'ani with us that I do in case someone starts a fight with us. I am here because I want the people here to know that I am their ruler, not the church guards and their slave trade.
"If any church guards decide to pick a fight, then we will defend ourselves and retaliate, and I will admit, we won't be very nice about it. But that is not my purpose here right now. If Thorvald and the slavers want to push towards a war, then I will willingly meet them on another battlefield, but not here and not now."
Michak studied him for a moment more. "You must be a very good king," he said finally. "You know how to get what you want."
Nahtan nodded. "I'd like to think I'm learning to," he responded.
"You've learned very well," Michak nodded. "If you wield your sword with half the ability you wield your words, I do not think any man could stand against you for long."
Nahtan only nodded Yes, Meda would be proud of him this time.
They set out for Edgewind the following morning. Leisl chose to stay behind with Michak, telling Nahtan this was her true home. In a way Nahtan was glad, hoping having her there would ease some of the loneliness Michak would feel with Garren's absence.
Garren was more than excited to be going with them, and thanked both Nahtan and Michak several times for letting him. Michak had been somewhat withdrawn when Nahtan brought Valry to tell him goodbye, and Nahtan was certain it was because he didn't want to show the emotions in his heart. Valry had run up to him in the smithy, jumping into his arms and giving him a fierce hug and several kisses on his cheek. She bid her "grandpapa" goodbye and made him promise he would come to Herridon one day. Nahtan didn't know if her actions were prompted by Rena or just by her own nature, but he knew it helped Michak understand he was important to them.
With the horses well rested and re-shod, they made good time through the first day towards Edgewind. That evening after camp was set up, Garren came looking for Nahtan as he put Valry to bed in her tent.
"I suppose Papa told you not to teach me anything," he said when Nahtan emerged from the tent and closed the flap.
Nahtan looked at him. "He didn't mention it directly," he responded. "But he was concerned I wouldn't be a very good influence and the only thing you would learn is how to fight."
"How could he think you wouldn't be a good influence?" Garren asked. "You're the king."
"Well," Nahtan said. "That title isn't all it's made out to be," he explained. "Before I was a king, I was a Mo'ani Warrior, and the only position I hold that I put before that is my place as Valry's father. 'King' comes towards the end of what I am."
"But," Garren looked confused. "You wouldn't be here if you weren't the king."
"No," Nahtan shook his head. "I would not be here if I weren't a Mo'ani Warrior. I wouldn't be king, I wouldn't be Valry's father, I would be nothing more than an ex-slave. What makes me what I am is what Mo'ani taught me; the honor and values of Mo'ani's Way."
"Mo'ani's Way?" Garren asked. Nahtan could see his interest and realized Garren was closer to seeking his own way than he'd thought.
"Yes," Nahtan nodded. "If you want to learn that Way, then you have to be willing to make sacrifices--whether they're physical, mental, or even your very soul. What we are trained to fight and defeat is the corruption and evil Zared spreads through Zakris' mortals. And the only way we win is with honor and strength." His eyes searched his brother's, looking for any sign of weakness. He had seen many students drop from the training at the Stronghold simply because they were not willing to devote their entire selves to learning Mo'ani's Way. He also knew that was why Rial would never wear a red cloak.
"The only thing I was ever completely devoted to was my family," Garren answered slowly, his gaze holding Nahtan's. "But even that was tested when Shira's daughters were taken and Linah disappeared. I couldn't help but question why the gods would let that happen."
Nahtan nodded, understanding. "I ask the gods 'why' a lot," he said. "We all do, but the one thing we never have to question is our Way. Each one of us who wears one of these cloaks," he motioned to the red wool cloak tossed over his shoulder. "Knows that the others who also wear them sacrificed as much as we ourselves did, and that binds us together. Our honor and our loyalty to that is what enables us to defeat the forces we face."
"So you were listening when I gave that speech," Mo'ani said, appearing suddenly beside Nahtan.
Nahtan gave him a sideways look, but wasn't really surprised to see him. Mo'ani had a way of knowing when people were talking about him.
"Well," he said. "You didn't expect me to actually let you know I was paying attention, did you?"
"Of course not," Mo'ani answered. "You'd been friends with Bear for a few years by then and had perfected his art of looking like you weren't listening." Mo'ani turned to Garren and seemed to study him for a moment. "And are you willing to give up everything to learn this?"
Garren returned Mo'ani's gaze. "I will give up what I have," he answered. "Although it isn't much."
Mo'ani studied him for a long moment. "You may have more than you think," he said, then turned to Nahtan. "Have Adie start him with a quarterstaff," he advised. "Then you can see where to take him from there."
"Adie?" Nahtan responded, surprised. "You won't train him?"
Mo'ani shook his head. "I retired after training you," he replied. "It's someone else's responsibility now."
Nahtan nodded. He hadn't really thought Mo'ani would take a personal hand in Garren's training. He turned back to his brother. "Then let's go introduce you to the Lady Adiella," he invited, turning towards the center of camp and motioning for Garren to come with him.
Garren's training began that night with Adie teaching him the basic holds and swings of the quarterstaff, as well as maintaining his balance while wielding it. Garren proved to be a quick learner and rarely needed to be told something twice. By the time they reached the outskirts of Edgewind, he was able to block many of Adie's swings in the mock fights and his number of new bruises from the hits he missed slowly decreased in number. As Nahtan had promised Michak, he made sure Yenene spoke with Garren some every night about Jensina and that they were all there to play a certain role in Zakris' plan. She stressed to him that some, like Nahtan, had an ongoing fate that started the day they were born and would continue until the day they died, then pass on to another; while others were born simply to help one particular individual achieve their place, then support them there. Gaurel also took time to talk with Garren, showing him how to handle and care for the huge falcon as well as other things he had learned as he traveled from town to town each season change.
They reached Edgewind five days after leaving the small village where Michak had moved his family. As the Mo'ani set up their camp in a clearing about a league from the town, Nahtan sent out scouts to make sure the area was safe. Rial was able to provide Nahtan with the whereabouts of the church guards' barracks within the city, as well as the location of several of the auctions
. Not intending to make any moves against them just yet, he also sent Brijade to make sure Arlend and his army had arrived at the point where they would hide until Nahtan needed them. Almost as an afterthought, he included orders for Arlend to move the army to within half a day's march of Edgewind.
Word of their approach had reached the town ahead of them, and more than once before dark Nahtan caught site of several children sneaking by the camp trying to get a closer look. As soon as night fell, however, there were no children to be seen anywhere near their camp.
With the information from Rial, Nahtan went to look for Mallin, finding him taking an inventory of their remaining supplies. Mallin had stayed quiet through their trip, doing what he needed, but never truly joining in with the group as they moved. Nahtan knew it was because Mallin felt he was not truly a part of them, regardless of how much Nahtan depended on him for information about the church guards. The only other person who could have helped him more was Janec, but he had chosen to stay behind and help Gahrit run Herridon.
"Rial says there are at least seven hundred church guards left in the barracks here," Nahtan said, coming up beside the big man. Mallin's brown hair was pulled back and tied with a strip of leather and his beard still as scraggly as the day Nahtan had met him.
"That sounds about right," Mallin nodded. "I never heard how many they dispatched down here, but I know it was a fair number."
"Did you know any names?" Nahtan asked. Mallin had been instrumental in negotiating the surrender of several of the Archbishop's waystations and Nahtan was still hoping he could accomplish the same thing here. He didn't want to have to pull the villages of the south into a war, but if Thorvald left him no choice, then he would oblige him.
"No," Mallin shook his head. "It was usually seen as a sort of punishment to be assigned here," he explained. "You left immediately and were not allowed to take family or personal belongings with you."
"So not only are we dealing with church guards, we're talking about spiteful church guards," Nahtan surmised. He started to get a sick feeling in his stomach as he realized that the Archbishop could have very well used him as someone to direct his guards' anger towards. All it would have taken is a few well-crafted statements and time for those statements to fester in the church guards' minds. The guards here would blame their "exile" on him, not the Archbishop. He would have to move very carefully until Brijade reached Arlend and gave him his order to move the army closer to Edgewind.
