Dark Days, page 20
part #1 of The Albatar Chronicles Series
He’d asked – why hadn’t she thought to do that? Suddenly Kazari felt stupid. How had she been so wrapped up in her nightmares that she’d not thought to ask such a simple question? Maybe if she’d thought less about herself and more about the wider implications she’d have thought to ask the questions that were important.
“Do you think it’ll come to that?” Kazari asked eventually.
“I hope not.” Sender’s tones were measured, as if he was trying very hard to keep his tones level. “But I’m worried that it will. There have been so many signs.”
They rode on in silence after that, but Kazari’s mind continued to dwell on the day’s events, cycling Gweda’s and Dari’s words over and over, and repeating the moment when she’d frozen during battle. From a morning full of promise, it had become an evening of uncertainty tinged with shame. She also wished she was back in the Abbey, where she could burrow into the library, looking for information about previous incursions. She knew of them of course, but not a lot more than the dates and the heroes – mostly Hunters and Navigators – who had made their way into Albatar’s histories.
Lady, she whispered inside her mind, help me! But she didn’t really know what she meant when she thought those words.
Chapter Twenty-four: Places
The discussion about the suckers at Settler’s Run had continued late into the night. For some hours, Andiss and Javon had debated whether to leave, or to stay and investigate further, but eventually, the need to move on and explore using Kazari’s Gift of Sensing, won. As Javon had said towards midnight, if there was one crèche of suckers, then it was possible there might be more, but Kazari had sensed nothing else in Athos, and the need to discover what might lie behind the proliferation of problems in the surrounding areas outweighed the need to hunt out what would most likely turn out to be nothing.
Kazari had lain awake for hours, the conversation with Dari replaying in her mind. Her homecoming had been surprising, saddening, exhilarating and disappointing all at the same time.
What had changed within Dari? Normally the two of them talked about anything that bothered them, and Kazari wondered why her friend’s letters had mentioned nothing about her mother’s clothing crusade. She should have shared the whole thing as a joke with Kazari. Of course Kazari now knew that Dari had liked the clothes. Perhaps that was the problem. Maybe she thought Kazari might have disapproved, or perhaps she’d been too embarrassed to admit it.
Certainly, she herself had only discussed the things of the Order in general details – but that was different – or so she told herself at least. There were things about the Lady’s servants that were only for the Lady’s servants to hear, and there were valid reasons for that. Even if some of them seemed … troubling to her.
Perhaps Dari had decided that a Hunter wouldn’t be interested in Gweda and Farin’s plans for their daughter. But even as she thought about it, the justifications for her friend’s actions seemed hollow, and a touch of sadness followed her as they rode through sunlight the next morning towards their first village.
By her side, Sendar was yawning and looked tired. Perhaps she wasn’t the only one who’d had a sleepless night. She wondered what it was that might have kept Sendar up. It certainly hadn’t been nightmares, or if it had been, he hadn’t followed Alexando’s instructions and awoken her. Then she realised that she hadn’t had a nightmare, either. For a moment, her worry about Dari was eclipsed by relief, then she began to worry about the lack of nightmares. Eventually she sighed and shook her head as they paused at an intersection.
Javon motioned to Kazari to ride beside her.
“Something’s bothering you, Kaz.”
Kazari shook her head, uncertain whether to tell Javon of her fears. She felt stupid in the light of day. It had been one sentence, and it shouldn’t have rankled so much, even if it had felt like a betrayal of all she and Dari had seen and done together.
“It’s nothing, Javon, just…suckers again. And on my friends’ farm. It bothers me.” What she’d said was true, but it wasn’t all of the truth. She was worried about the suckers, and her hesitation, and the fact that the suckers were on Settler’s Run, but at the bottom of all her fears, were Dari’s words.
“You’re right to be concerned, Kaz, We’re all concerned about the suckers. The numbers we’ve seen in the last few years are unprecedented, and it’s been many, many decades since a gorgone has approached the Abbey. And the fire gorgone, and a viper gorgone – the last one was over twenty years ago, and near the northern border.” Kazari was surprised to see that Javon’s eyes were worried, full of concern, both for the situation in Albatar, and for Kazari herself.
She debated with herself, but at last she decided to come clean about her failure during the fight. Besides, she wasn’t sure she could talk about Dari without bursting into tears.
“Javon, I froze yesterday,” she said, finally. “During the fight with the suckers – one almost got me.” She looked down. “Well, it would have, except for Sendar.”
The older woman looked at her, swaying gently in her saddle as her horse negotiated a rough bit of road. “Kaz, everyone freezes at some point. Do you really think that suckers don’t bother the rest of us?”
“B…but,” began Kazari.
“We all feel the draw of the sucker – and we feel it every time we fight one. At some point, nearly all of us hesitate. We’re human beings, not invulnerable super beings.” She smiled gently at Kazari. “If we’re alone, then it’s extraordinarily dangerous, which is why we try to work in pairs. Size is not the only indicator of a gorgone’s threat.” Javon’s eyes stared straight ahead, and Kazari had the feeling she was remembering something – and remembering whatever it was with sadness.
She was slightly reassured, although she couldn’t imagine someone like Andiss, or the Abbot, being pulled by a sucker. It just didn’t seem possible. Both seemed invulnerable, calm, and completely in control of themselves. Their sense of assurance was something Kazari craved. Perhaps if she survived to serve the Lady as long as they had, she might attain that kind of serenity. Maybe. If she survived. Surrounded by her gloomy thoughts, she rode on, trying not to notice the sidelong glances from Javon. Clearly, the talk hadn’t completely convinced Javon that she’d addressed all of her concerns.
Eventually, the brightness of the spring day elevated her spirit despite her worries. After the long winter, Kazari basked in the colours of spring as they bloomed around her, trying to let them soothe her fears.
Several hours later, they approached a tiny hamlet that Kazari had visited on more than one occasion. It was well known for its groves of apple trees and the cider it produced. Now, in the early spring, the apple trees were loaded with young fruit. Their orderly rows bordered both sides of the road, and here and there, people were visible, tending the trees.
“Ho, Hunters!” called a cheerful voice from one side.
An older man stood by the road, leaning on a shovel, one hand raised. It was dirt stained and calloused, and his clothes were smeared with mud. He was smiling.
“What brings you to Cidertown?”
“Roving, as always,” replied Andiss, cheerfully. “You’ll see we have two youngsters with us.” He waved a hand at Kazari and Sendar.
“Will you stop for a drink, then?” asked the man.
“We’d appreciate the stop to water our horses,” replied Javon.
“There’s a trough in the square. And if you pop into the inn, tell Adie that Sim sent you.”
“Many thanks, Sim,” Andiss told him.
The man smiled and shouldered his shovel, then vanished into the apple trees with a wave.
In the square, Sendar and Kazari watered the horses. It could barely be called a square, mused Kazari, looking around. She sniffed, but there was nothing but the faint smell of apples on the air. Andiss vanished into the inn as directed, and a few moments later, he returned with a woman carrying a tray. Four tankards sat upon it and Kazari’s mouth watered.
She remembered drinking the cider years ago. It was delicious, sweet, and refreshing.
“Thank you for your service, Hunters,” said the woman, proffering the tray, first to Andiss and Javon, and then to Sendar and Kazari.
“This Hunter thanks you for your thanks to the Lady,” replied Andiss gravely, and Kazari joined the others in repeating the traditional phrase. The cider was as satisfying as Kazari remembered, and she saw Javon raise her eyebrows in appreciation.
“Delicious, Adie,” said Andiss. “I must remember to tell our cooks – this is far superior to anything served at the Abbey.”
The woman blushed, and nodded. “It would be our privilege, Hunter.” She held the tray out for the empty tankards.
“Is there anything we might do for you, while we’re here?” asked Javon, placing her tankard on the tray.
Adie shook her head, but then paused.
“Nothing here, Hunters, but we’ve…heard rumours. Perhaps you might follow them?”
“Rumours?” queried Andiss.
“It’s probably nothing, but these last few months, several trader caravans have been through.” Kazari didn’t think that was particularly unusual. Caravans passed through Athos regularly. The woman hurried on. “We have caravans, of course, but not at this time of year.” At their obvious confusion, she hastened to explain. “It’s too early for the apples, and too late for new cider. What we’ve left we sell locally, or drink ourselves. And these caravans have been…different.”
Kazari looked curiously at the woman. Her face was flushed, and she seemed uncomfortable.
“What do you mean by different?” asked Javon.
“We didn’t think much of the first one. They wanted the hard cider – the stuff we distill down over winter, and sell on for other use – cleaning, mostly, or as a base for perfumes. But the price they offered was too much. It’s not fit to drink, that stuff. It gives us something to do when it’s cold, and it makes a tidy profit at the end of winter.” She shrugged. “That happens sometimes, and we just say no, even at this time of year, because it’s likely they’re out to sell under the table, so to speak, and we don’t hold with that. But the second caravan stayed in the paddock there,” she pointed, “for two days. They met with Sim, and with Zenda, and the price offered was twice what the previous caravan had offered. And there were sounds in the night.” She shivered, and Kazari had the feeling she hadn’t realised she’d done so. “Sim says that maybe I was imagining things, but I’m sure I wasn’t.”
“What type of sounds?” asked Javon, taking the woman by the arm, and gently leading her over to the wooden seat by the horse trough. Adie put the tray down on one end of the seat and sat down, heaving a sigh.
“It sounded like something crying. Or moaning, perhaps. And rattling. Like there was something trapped in a cage somewhere. And that wasn’t the end of it. That caravan left and I began to think that Sim was right – that I had imagined it. But then the third caravan came.”
“Did they offer more than the cider was worth?” asked Sendar curiously.
“No, young Hunter, they didn’t. They offered only the normal price, but they demanded the cider. And only the hardest of the hard. When we wouldn’t sell, they resorted to threats. Still, my Sim doesn’t bow to threats, and after three days they left empty handed. But when they left, we found they’d fouled one of the wells, and a litter of pups had gone missing – and old Aron’s cow.”
“Three caravans? When did the last one leave?” Andiss asked, frowning.
“Only three days ago,” said Adie. “We sent a message to Seraph. But it’s too soon to hear back – I thought perhaps you might catch up with the last group? They were pulling heavy wagons, so they’re slow. Only, old Aron needs his cow, and Sim had plans for those pups.” She looked suddenly embarrassed. “And there are rumours, you see, coming out of Seraph, that the Lord has forgotten his duties, and I’m fearful we might never hear back. I mean, you’re Hunters and all.”
Javon’s face was grave as she patted the woman’s arm again.
“It would be our pleasure, and our duty, to see what we might find for you. The Lady’s servants are honour bound to help her people, and gorgones are not the only threats to Her peace. Thank you for telling us, Adie.”
The woman looked relieved that the Hunters had taken her fears seriously.
“Many thanks,” she said. “You’ll send word if you see or hear anything?”
Andiss nodded. “Word will come via Jenex and Zarchess at Athos most likely, or perhaps Alexando in Chator. Or perhaps we’ll drop through again ourselves. We’ll be making several trips for these two to find their feet. We’ll keep our eyes out, and perhaps we’ll catch up with the last caravan.” He indicated Sendar and Kazari. “And now we must be off.”
The Hunters followed the deep wheel ruts left by the caravan. The road wound through more apple orchards until at last they gave way to the normal bushland. Once again, the spring weather was perfect. Vegetation grew lushly on either side of the road, and the sounds of bellbirds echoed through the trees, their pure tones sweet and piercing. If they hadn’t been searching for gorgones and caravans that stole livestock, it would have been one of the nicest rides Kazari had ever had. As it was, she was on edge again.
Javon had cautioned them about the caravan. “We can’t automatically assume that there’s anything sinister about the caravan. Sinister in the context of gorgones, I mean. They could simply be normal people who don’t baulk at thievery.” Then she’d shown Kazari and Sendar how to determine how long ago the wheel ruts had been made, explaining about weather, depth of tracks, how much the ground had dried out, and whether anything else had crossed the tracks since the wagons had rolled through.
Kazari had touched the tracks, looked at the paw prints and bird feet impressions, and tried to embed into her mind exactly what it all meant, eventually leaning back and regarding Javon with something akin to awe. The woman seemed to be able to read the ground like a book.
“It’ll come Kaz,” she said, smiling. “It took me a fair few years to get to this point, and even now, my skills pale into insignificance next to those of a Navigator.” Sometimes Kazari’s mind boggled at all the things she needed to know as a Hunter. Every time she turned around there was something new to add to the list. Her book learning seemed easy in comparison – her memory was excellent, and she generally picked things up quickly, but the acquisition of new physical skills was a never-ending activity. Even now, when she was fitter than she’d ever been, she stood in awe of Javon and Andiss and their easy athleticism.
At least she wasn’t having to walk everywhere. Stumpy’s sturdy legs carried her and her gear much more easily over the damp ground than her own legs would have. And from what Javon had said, they’d probably be travelling about twice as fast as the caravan they were following.
She did the calculations in her head. They should catch up within a couple of days, assuming they didn’t need to deviate from following the caravan. Kazari sniffed, inhaling deeply, reminding herself that their primary task was seeking gorgones, not necessarily following caravans.
And then that took Kazari on a whole new train of thought. She still didn’t know how close she needed to be to sense different gorgones, or even whether the distance changed with the type of gorgone. She’d found the viper gorgone from quite a distance, when she thought about it, while for suckers it seemed she needed to be closer. But then she found herself wondering about the one at the Abbey. It was a greater gorgone, and she had no idea how far away it had been when she’d first detected it.
Of course, she hadn’t known she was detecting a gorgone at the time, so perhaps that one didn’t count. As they rode along, Kazari resolved to try to take more notice of things like distance, smell intensity, numbers, and type of gorgone.
Chapter Twenty-five: Caravan
The following day wore on slowly. Towards midday, Javon began to check the caravan tracks more often. Even Kazari, with her rudimentary ability to understand what the tracks in the soft earth meant, could tell that they looked fresher. Finally, two hours after their midday stop, Javon signalled a halt and dropped to her haunches by a particularly deep rut. “They’re ahead by only a few hours now,” she said.
Andiss dismounted and joined her, peering at the soft earth. A pile of droppings had been partially mushed into the rut, but from Stumpy’s back, Kazari could smell that the dung was fresh, and from a large horse. Possibly one of the wagon horses, she mused. She drew in another breath, questing for gorgone, but apart from the fresh manure, there was nothing but the warm scents of spring on the breeze.
Andiss squinted at the horizon. “The question is, do we want to catch that caravan today? Kaz, no sign of gorgones?”
Even though she’d just done it, Kazari took another deep breath through her nose before replying. “Nothing.”
Javon rose from her crouch. “We’ve only about three hours until twilight.” She pulled her map from her saddle bag and spread it open on a convenient rock. “We’re about…here. There’s another town about two hours down the road. I’d say they’ve stopped there for the night. It’s what any caravan would do. In fact, there’s a major crossroads there – the caravan has the option of continuing towards Scinde, or turning off and heading for Seraph.” She tapped it thoughtfully. “I’d suggest that we take to the trees in about an hour, and approach the town without being seen. It’s a pity we don’t know where Elliam and Abel are. It’d be good to have a Navigator’s skills beside us.”
Andiss nodded his agreement, and an hour later, Javon took them off the road into the trees. She dismounted, and from then on, they led their horses. Kazari could sense nothing sinister on the air, but the thought of walking into the unknown chilled her, so she was hard pressed to stop herself sniffing with every step. ‘Spiky wattle’ clawed at her legs as she pushed her way through it behind Andiss, dropping golden pollen onto her black Hunter’s clothing. Sometimes being short really annoyed her. His longer legs seemed to have no trouble dealing with the bushes. Fortunately, her Hunter garb offered some protection or she’d have been scratched to bits.
