Earth Called, page 17
“These are my people! They already honor and respect me!” roared Clayton.
“I only came to bring you this news and give you and your people this choice, Stallion Rider,” Dawn said formally. “Should you decide not to join Herd Magenti then you must leave the Wind Rider Plains immediately, for if you do not as soon as we have defeated Death and His army the Warriors of Herd Magenti will hunt you down and kill you, each and every one.” Clayton’s face blazed scarlet as he opened his mouth to shout again, but Dawn cut him off. “No! I will not argue with you. I will not allow you to bluster and bully and berate me for something that is solely your responsibility.” The Lead Mare Rider’s voice rang throughout the clearing with righteous anger. “You attempted to murder my daughter. I have shown you all the compassion of which I am capable. Be a true leader. Think before you speak and again act foolishly and needlessly sentence all of these Riders and their Companions to death.”
Silence.
The only the sounds were Clayton’s heavy breathing and the crackle of the campfire.
Dawn could have insisted Clayton give his answer that moment, but she was too wise and compassionate to do that. Instead, as the silence lengthened, she met the gazes of the gathered Herd.
“What are you doing?” Clayton’s voice shook. “Why are you just staring and not speaking?”
Dawn turned to him. “I am putting to memory each Rider’s face—and that of his or her Companion.”
“So you can tell the Magenti Warriors who they need to kill!” Clayton shouted.
Dawn continued to meet his heated gaze. She responded slowly, in a voice that was kind and motherly, “No, Little Clay. That is not who I am. That is never who I have been, as you well know. I put each face to memory so that I may recount to their families and loved ones that I found them well and whole. Whether they remain that way or not depends upon their leader, as each Herd depends upon its leader’s wisdom. Will you keep them safe, Stallion Rider, or will you continue to lead them to doom?”
“No one here is doomed!” Clayton snarled the words.
“That makes me exceedingly happy.” Dawn smiled. “Now Echo and Scout need hot mash and hay—and to be wiped down. We have neglected our mares for too long. Then we will gladly join you for dinner.”
Rand stepped from the gathered group and fisted his hand over his heart respectfully, bowing to Dawn and Skye. “Mare Riders, if you allow I will see to your Companions.”
“Yes, do that,” Clayton clipped.
Dawn smiled slowly when Rand did not move to obey Clayton. Instead, he continued to meet Dawn’s gaze. “Thank you, Stallion Rider. Skye and I appreciate your hospitality. Echo has a fondness for your Merlin.”
Just behind Rand, Merlin snorted and tossed his head happily, which caused Dawn to laugh. Then she turned to Echo and kissed her muzzle. “Rand and Merlin will care for you, my beautiful girl.”
And I shall remain ready to ride hard and fast, my Dawn.
CHAPTER 14
Dinner was a mostly silent affair, though that didn’t surprise Dawn. As thick venison steaks and hearty braised greens were doled out Dawn reiterated that she would honestly and truthfully answer any questions, but as the wise Lead Mare Rider had already ascertained, few members of Clayton’s Herd Ebony had the confidence to speak out in front of him.
Dawn finished the last bite of venison and spoke with a lightness she did not feel. “That was delicious and much needed. Scout and I thank you, but now we must retire. We leave at first light.”
“You may sleep in the main tent.” Clayton seemed to have recovered his composure and managed to speak to her with close to the respect a guest deserved. “We’ve piled our extra pelts in the rear. They make comfortable sleeping pallets.”
“The hunting here seems excellent,” Dawn said.
“Yes, that is something Herd Magenti would know if they hadn’t made these ruins off-limits,” Clayton said.
Dawn shook her head. “It seems you lack the ability to learn, Little Clay. I already said we would have welcomed the news that these ruins were no longer toxic, but to have that discussion now is pointless. I was simply making polite conversation with my host. You do remember politeness and conversation, do you not?”
“I remember talk talk talk is about all the Mare Council is good for.” Clayton spit into the ground beside him.
Dawn narrowed her eyes and her voice hardened. “We will agree to disagree on that, Stallion Rider.” Dawn stood and Skye shot to her feet beside her. The Lead Mare Rider let her gaze travel around the campfire at the Riders who were staring at her over plates of food that were mostly uneaten. Good, she thought. They understand the gravity of their choice to leave their Herds. Perhaps it is not too late for them to redeem their honor. Oh, Mother Mare, please give them wisdom. When she spoke, Dawn filled her voice with the honest care and love she had always felt for her people. “Riders, I know my words have shocked and upset you. It is not pleasant for me to bring you such news. It is not pleasant for me to pass along to you what my daughter and the Mare Council decided is the consequence of your decision to follow Clayton.”
“Herd Ebony does not need your pity,” said Clayton.
Dawn didn’t bother to look at him but spoke to the Riders who stared at her instead. “Does it not? You call yourself a Herd, yet you have no Lead Mare and Rider and except for Rand you have not shown me the respect I have earned through a lifetime of service to Herd Magenti. You call yourself a Herd, yet you hide away here when you are needed by your true Herds. You call yourself a Herd, yet you follow a Rider who broke our most sacred law.” Dawn sighed and brushed a hand across her face. “But what is done cannot be undone. You have lost standing in your Herds, but you may still regain your honor. When I leave at first light, I will not ask for your answer. I will simply give you three days after I arrive at the Valley of Vapors to join us there. If none of you do, that will be my answer. Magenti Warriors will take it from there. I thank you for this warm meal and a dry place to rest my head tonight. May the Great Mother Mare bless those of you who are honest and true. Good night.”
Without so much as a glance in Clayton’s direction, Dawn walked into the large, treasure-filled tent with Skye close behind her. She closed the flaps, though she did not tie them as Dawn knew Echo and Scout would join them when they were finished with their meal.
Dawn was already moving to the rear of the tent to unroll the thick pelts Clayton had bragged about when she heard muffled sobs and turned to see that Skye had crumpled to the ground, buried her face in her hands, and was crying so hard that her shoulders shook.
Scout is worried about her Skye. Echo’s voice was inside her mind. She knows something about her Rider she will not share with me.
Do you think it’s that Skye intends to remain here with Clayton?
No, my Dawn. Scout has told me that Skye will not remain here with Clayton.
Well, then all I can hope is that Skye trusts me enough to take me into her confidence. Tell Scout I will comfort her Rider. Finish your meal and let Rand groom you, my beautiful girl. Then join us in the large tent with the mirrors. We leave at first light.
Except for Rand and his Merlin, they have not shown us proper respect. I will be glad to see the last of this place and these Riders, said Echo.
As will I.
Dawn smoothed out two pelts and placed their bedrolls on top of them before she went to Skye. The girl looked up and the Lead Mare Rider felt a tug of sympathy for this child whose heart was so clearly shattered.
“I will be right back,” Dawn said. She stepped outside the tent and the whispers that filled the clearing abruptly stopped. “Might I have some water?”
“Water?” Clayton barked a sarcastic laugh. “We can do better than that. Bring the Lead Mare Rider a flagon of summer beer and our best chalice.”
“Two of your best chalices,” Dawn corrected. “You may have forgotten Skye, but I have not.”
Clayton shrugged. “Two, then. And of course you have not forgotten her. Skye gave you her loyalty. I would remember her, too, had she been loyal to me.”
A Rider Dawn recognized as Cali, a young friend of Skye’s and Mare Rider of Vixen, hurried to her with a chipped pitcher filled with fragrant beer and two battered, but intact, mugs.
“Thank you, Cali,” Dawn said.
Cali dipped her head and did not meet her gaze.
Then Dawn turned to Clayton. “Skye was loyal to you—to her detriment. She remained your lover and your supporter until you broke our laws and her heart. It is a true shame that you, Clayton, Rider of Bard, have proven unworthy of such loyalty.” She didn’t wait for his response. There was very little Clayton could say that was of interest to Dawn. Instead, she ducked back through the tent flap.
Skye stared up at her with wide, tear-filled eyes. “T-thank you for saying that.”
“I spoke only the truth. Come. Have a drink with me.” Dawn moved to the table in the center of the room, where she sat and filled both of the mugs with what was very good beer. As Skye sat across from her Dawn said, “This is delicious. For a group that has made many very poor choices they certainly have an excellent supply network.”
“The Stallion Riders that joined Clayton from Herd Jonquil are amazing Hunters, and they also brew beer.” Skye took a long drink of the amber liquid, sighed, and wiped her face with the back of her sleeve. “It is really good.”
“Are you better now?” Dawn asked as they drank and examined the pile of precious pots and pans on the table.
“Yes. No.” Skye hiccupped a little sob before she shook herself and wiped her face again. “Dawn, I have loved Clayton since we were children and he did nothing but stare after River. When he finally understood River would never love him the way he wanted her to and he turned his attention to me, I thought we would be mated for life. I gave myself completely to him, and now he hates me. I—I have made so many bad choices.” She wiped more tears from her cheeks.
“Skye, I ask that you listen to me closely, as I will not repeat myself. Your feelings for Clayton were honest. You loved him openly and completely, but he used you. He preyed on your emotions and naïveté. Clayton is a prime example of why our Herds must remain matriarchal. He is driven by his need for status, power, and greed. I look here at these riches and think how such things could benefit our Herd, but Clayton only sees them as a way to increase his status and prove that he is worthy to command the loyalty of others. Just look at what he has done. He has withheld these much-needed, precious things under the guise of pretending he would be admonished for their discovery.” Dawn shook her head as her hand traced the lip of an iron skillet. “We would have welcomed the knowledge that these ruins were no longer poisoned. Think of the good just this cookware alone could do for the Herd. Yet Clayton hoarded all of this for an entire year and then bragged and blustered about it to me.
“He has done the same with your love. He hoarded it and cared only for how it could serve him. Skye, Clayton is a user. He is filled with anger for no reason other than the fact that he believes he is entitled to a status he has not and will never earn. Child, he is not simply unworthy of your love—he is unable to reciprocate it. If you do not let him go and learn from this experience, he will taint the rest of your life with sadness and disappointment.”
Skye had been staring into her beer, but she raised her gaze to meet Dawn’s. “He said no one would ever love me like he does. What if he is right?”
Dawn laughed softly. “Oh, Skye, pray to the Great Mother Mare that he is right. Why would you want more of the empty, hurtful love he has shown you?”
Skye blinked several times and sat up a little straighter. “You mean, it’s him, not me?”
“Oh, not fully. You were foolish enough to continue to be his lover even after you knew he was cruel and arrogant.”
“But I didn’t—”
“Stop that lie now,” Dawn cut her off. “Think, Mare Rider! Except for very early in your relationship, when did he treat you with respect and kindness and care?”
Skye’s gaze fell again. “But when it was good, it was so good.”
“If you think an instant of kindness and lust is so good, you will be delighted when you discover what it is like to take a lover who truly respects and cares for you. Look at me.”
Skye raised her gaze to Dawn’s.
“I do not believe Clayton will advise his Herd to join us against Death. So, if there are words you need to say to him you must speak now—or you will probably never have the chance again.”
“But River told you not to allow me to be alone with Clayton.”
“I will keep my word to Herd Magenti’s Lead Mare Rider. I will be close by, but I will give you privacy,” said Dawn.
“You don’t trust me, either,” Skye said miserably.
“Trusting you is not the issue. River’s trust in me is. I gave her my word and I will not break it,” explained Dawn.
“Oh. I—I didn’t think of it that way.” Skye took a long drink from her mug and then wiped her mouth. “There is something I need to say to Clayton. It is the reason I asked to come with you. Will you help me talk to him tonight? I don’t want to wait until morning. When the sun rises, I just want to leave.”
“Yes, of course I will help you.” Dawn stood and went to her saddle pack. She returned with a wooden comb, with which she gently began to work through the travel tangles that snarled Skye’s long hair. As she combed through her tresses Skye’s shoulders relaxed and her eyes stopped leaking tears. When Dawn began to speak, her voice was as calming as the long, gentle strokes of the comb. “You are Skye, Mare Rider of Scout, a member of the mighty Herd Magenti. In your veins runs the blood of countless generations of powerful Crystal Seers. Our Mare Matriarch has ruled in peace and prosperity for centuries. We choose our lovers; men do not claim us—we have autonomy over ourselves. We do not tolerate disrespect. We are wise and strong and constant. We bring forth life. Remember that when you speak to Clayton.”
Skye turned and grasped Dawn’s hand. “Thank you. I will remember. Always.”
“Good. This is what we will do.” Dawn quickly explained her plan to Skye. The girl stood and brushed at her travel-stained tunic and pants. Dawn smiled. “You are perfect as you are. You look like a Mare Rider who has traveled far on an important mission for her Herd. Every wrinkle, every smudge of dirt and sweat, has been earned. Wear them with pride.”
Skye’s spine straightened and her chin lifted. “I am Skye, Mare Rider of Scout, daughter of the mighty Herd Magenti.”
Dawn nodded. “You absolutely are. Now go say what you must to him and may a mare’s luck be with you.”
Skye left the tent with a stride that was confident and firm. Dawn went to the tent flap and peeked carefully out. Clayton’s back was to the tent. He still sat on the large stump he’d claimed at dinner. Stallion Riders surrounded him. They sat on the ground, nodding as Clayton talked quietly to them. Dawn could see that they were so deep in their discussion that none of the Riders noticed Skye until she spoke.
“Clayton, I would speak with you,” Skye said.
Clayton glanced over his shoulder at her and scoffed, “I’m busy.”
“Stallion Rider! I did not ask!” Skye’s voice crackled with anger.
Dawn smiled as she watched Clayton turn all the way around in surprise. He stood. “Fine. Then speak.”
“Thank you. Follow me.” Skye walked away from the men and around to the shadowy side of the large, treasure-filled tent.
Dawn was pleased to see that the girl didn’t once look back at Clayton, who said something under his breath to his men. They chuckled as he shrugged and sauntered after Skye. Dawn mirrored his path on the inside of the tent. She walked slowly around, picking her way between mounds of weapons and other unimaginable treasures, until she came to the spot where she could easily hear Skye’s muffled voice.
“I won’t take much of your time. You’ll be able to return to your men in a moment,” Skye said.
“Well, it’s never taken long with us.” Clayton’s voice had deepened, become charming and intimate.
Dawn wanted nothing more than to grab one of the many knives at her feet, slit the tanned skin of the tent, and press the weapon against the boy’s throat, but she remained still and silent. This was a battle Skye must fight if she was to spend the rest of her life free of this arrogant Rider.
“No.” The side of the tent rustled as Skye stepped away from Clayton. “I said I need to speak with you, and that is all I need from you—just a moment of your attention.”
The charm drained from his voice like sand through a sieve. “Then speak. As I said, I’m busy.”
“I carry your child.”
Dawn felt a jolt of shock at Skye’s words.
Without giving Clayton a chance to respond, Skye continued. “That is why I asked River to allow me to join Dawn on this trip. It wasn’t because I wanted to be with you. That has been impossible since the moment you tried to kill Tulpar and River. I came because I wanted you to know—thought you had a right to know.”
“I’m not sure what to say.” Clayton’s voice had lost its arrogance and he sounded young and sad.
“You don’t need to say anything,” said Skye. “There is only one thing I ask of you.” Again, she didn’t wait for his response. “I want you to choose life for yourself and your Herd. Accept Dawn’s offer. Fight with us. Redeem your honor. If you won’t do it for Herd Ebony, then do it for your child, so that I can tell her or him stories of their father’s bravery and decency.”
There was a long silence and then Clayton asked, “And if I do not? If I choose not to join Herd Magenti and simply ride away from the only homelands I have ever known?”
“Clayton, you chose to leave your homelands the moment you raised your hand against a stallion and his Rider. If you do not join Herd Magenti against Death’s army, I will tell our child nothing of you—nothing at all except that you are dead.”
“You wouldn’t really do that,” Clayton said.
“I will do what is best for my child and for me—and that is not to be shackled to the memory of a Rider who betrayed his Herd.” Skye’s voice shook, but her words were as sharp as arrows. “I—I haven’t been strong. I’ve behaved foolishly. I would say I forgot who I was, a Mare Rider and daughter of Crystal Seers, but I don’t believe until now I truly thought of myself as anything but a girl who has been in love with the same boy for as long as she could remember.
