The Eynan Read online

  "Oh, I think I might like Rhou. How many brothers do you have?"

  "Two, Rhou and Tiran, and two sisters, Kaylin and Andea. It didn't help being the youngest either. Whatever you do, there's always someone who knows better," Jhond replied ruefully. "I also think it didn't help I was so unlike my brothers, who were much more interested in sports, hunting and weapon play, while I kept mostly to my books. Oh, Father insisted I learn to use the sword and the crossbow, but he didn't push me the way he did the others."

  "There's nothing wrong with being different. How would it be if we were all the same?" Ninian raised an eyebrow. Surveying the small village, he added, "Well, let's hope there's someone here who knows where we can get a horse."

  There was only one rough street, rutted with cart tracks and baked hard with the sun. There were about twenty cottages running down both sides, each set in its own small plot of land, just enough to grow vegetables and herbs. A few of the plots even had a small flower garden, and one of the cottages had some sort of climbing plant growing up the side of the building. It was quite striking with large pale purple flowers set off against the dark green foliage.

  At the end of the street, set back a little from the cottages, was a slightly larger building, which looked as if it was probably the local inn. There was a weathered board swinging outside over the door, but whatever had once been there as a sign had long since worn away. There were a few remnants of color, a little blue and yellow, with a big splotch of red off center.

  But there was no sign of a stable or a smithy. It wasn't a farming area either. The only kind of land they had passed through all morning was forest. Things didn't look too promising.

  "Let's go ask at the inn," Ninian suggested.

  They approached the door and, just as Jhond was about to open it, Ninian said, "Let me do the talking. Some of these small villages are very clannish."

  "Clannish?"

  "Anybody who wasn't born within the village limits is a foreigner," Ninian said, with a grin.

  "Ah. I wonder what they'll make of you then."

  "You'd be surprised," he said cryptically. Ninian pushed open the door and entered, Jhond following obediently in his wake. Inside there were several men seated around a table, partaking of a meal of what looked like some sort of soft cheese and chunks of dark bread. There was also a bowl in the center of the table containing a dark brown sauce with some darker lumps in it. One man was in the process of dipping a chunk of bread into the bowl. They each had a drink of what appeared to be a golden ale. At that moment, the ale looked very appetizing to the weary travelers.

  As they entered, everything seemed to slow before coming to a stop. Everyone took a look at the newcomers. While Jhond and Ninian were being looked at, they were also observing. Along the back wall was a long counter behind which an old woman with her back to them was scrubbing away at something. Just to her left was a middle-aged man, who had stopped whatever he had been in the middle of saying to the group around the table. Instead he said, "Can I help you, strangers?" The tone wasn't as helpful as the question seemed to be.

  "I would hope so." Ninian smiled. "My friend and I are journeying toward the coast, and unfortunately my mount was scared by a Dichrou snake, bolted and broke his leg. I'm afraid I was forced to put him out of his misery. We need to obtain another mount and hope there may be one for sale in your environs."

  "Here? No, we have no spare horses here," the barkeep replied.

  "Is there no one around who might have one? We are willing to pay a very fair price. We understand you would have to replace such an animal and that you would have to travel to another village or town to get one. We would pay a price that would cover such costs."

  The men began to mutter among themselves, and the barkeep said nothing, continuing to dry some of pots the old lady had been scrubbing in the sink behind him. Ninian's offer had clearly piqued their interest.

  Jhond only wished he knew what sort of figure Ninian had in mind. Jhond had just realized he had no idea how much in the way of funds Ninian might have with him. Jhond himself did not have very much, certainly not any to spare. He hadn't liked to take any of the family money, though, of course, he knew where his mother kept the household funds, and where his father kept his emergency fund. He felt he hadn't the right to borrow any of that as he didn't know when, or if, he would return. He only took what funds he had in his room, which, as he did not often have need of money, wasn't very much. He had left in such a hurry he hadn't really given much thought to the question of money; he had merely supposed if it ran out, he would be able to earn some somehow.

  Perhaps Ninian sensed Jhond's disquiet for he turned toward him and winked. Jhond raised an eyebrow questioningly and Ninian winked again and nodded happily. Jhond hoped that meant he had everything under control. For all he knew, Ninian had a private fortune!

  The discussion ended as quickly as it had begun. One of the men turned to Ninian and said hesitantly, "There just might be a mount. The village sergeant has a mount, but he doesn't really need it." There was a snigger from the barkeep, which was soon shushed by one of the other men. "Yes, well he doesn't need to patrol any farther than the village environs and he can walk that."

  "Except after he's spent the evening in here, then he can't walk a straight line!" interjected the barkeep.

  "Mondus, keep quiet, would you! As I was saying, he has the horse, a good horse, too, but he don't often make good use of him. Perhaps he would sell you the animal if you gave him enough to replace it and to cover his trouble in doing so."

  "Thanks for the suggestion," Ninian said with a smile. "Could you point us in the right direction, or better still, introduce us to your sergeant." The speaker raised an eyebrow. "I would, naturally, pay you a commission for your assistance."

  "Not just for Parsimus...we all had the same idea," another spoke up irritably.

  "Of course. How about if we pay for a round of drinks for all here? That's fair, isn't it?"

  "Yeah," piped up the barkeep. "Especially as Parsimus is the sergeant."

  At that, everyone in the inn burst out laughing, including Ninian. Jhond looked around for just a second before he realized they had been well and truly had and joined in the laughter, as Ninian pulled a purse out of an inside pocket of his tabard.

  A short time later they were riding out of the village, Ninian now riding an excellent animal. They had joined the men in the inn for a bite to eat and a drink of the local brew. They had agreed on a fair price with Parsimus for the horse with a little on top for his trouble. Everyone had parted on good terms, Parsimus calling after them pleasantly as they rode away. "Any time you want to call in for a drink and to do a deal, you'll be welcome."

  "I bet," remarked Ninian sarcastically.

  "I was getting a little worried in there at one point. Didn't know how much you might be carrying. I don't have too much, you see," Jhond said, as they made their way slowly up the hill out of the village.

  "Oh, I have enough. Learned quite a way back to carry a reasonable amount on me. Never know when you might need it. You have to know where to draw the line, though. Can't have too much, but can't have too little either. Must say it took a while to find the happy medium."

  "I was rather constrained by how much I could bring. I suppose you could say I left in a hurry and could only bring what I had available."

  "What did you plan to do if it wasn't enough?"

  Jhond looked a bit sheepish. "Planned to get some work if I needed to."

  Ninian laughed. "Don't mean to insult you, but what did you think you'd be able to do?"

  "Why is it so funny? There's plenty I could do."

  "Yes? Correct me if I am wrong, but you had a sheltered upbringing, didn't you? Look at the cut of your clothes. The way you talk. Even the way you sit on that horse. It all speaks of a good upbringing and a noble one, I would guess. The books alone must be worth a pretty penny."

  * * * *

  "My books? You're not suggesting I sell my b
ooks. I could never do that. Even if I didn't need them, I couldn't do that. They aren't really mine. I mean I look after them, like a trust, you know. They have to be passed down in my family."

  "Your family. That puzzles me a little, you know; a family that has a history of magistry, an archive of books about the old days, a responsibility to keep the information alive. A family that is clearly noble."

  Jhond listened with a rising disquiet as Ninian reeled off the clues he had unknowingly given to his family.

  "Have you purposely not mentioned your family name, or was it a simple oversight on your part?" He hesitated a moment, obviously weighing what he was saying. Then with a shrug, he continued. "No matter, either way it doesn't bother me. I like you; you interest me. If you want to tell me, you will one day. If you don't want to, well, never mind."

  Jhond didn't answer; he decided it was easier just to let the comments pass. They continued to ride in companionable silence and soon they were making good progress.

  By this time, the light was fading and it would soon be time to stop and make camp. They had left the forest behind and were riding through low, rolling hills. Jhond thought he could smell the sharp tang of salt in the air, but he wasn't sure if that was just wishful thinking. He knew the rough lay of the land from the maps, but without studying them, he couldn't get a clear picture in his head of how far from the edge of the forest the coast was.

  "Look!" Ninian said. "There's a copse over to the left, on the rise. That should be a fair place to camp for the night."

  "Fine. Is it my imagination or can I smell the sea?"

  "Bit of both I would say."

  "Huh?" Jhond remarked, puzzled. "Either I can or I can't."

  Ninian laughed. "I meant that you can probably just about, almost smell it. Your imagination is filling in the gaps. We should reach the coast by mid-morning if we get an early start, I would say. To reach the Tandera ruins? Probably this time tomorrow."

  "Really? I didn't know you knew the area that well. I was going to study my maps to see exactly how to get there, and try to gauge how long it would take. You sound so sure, though. Have you visited them before? I don't remember you saying so." Jhond had a strange mixture of feelings. He felt as if he should trust Ninian, yet still something unsettled him.

  "I don't remember. Perhaps I didn't say so. I have been here before, a long time ago. But it's one of those places you don't forget in a hurry."

  "What do you mean?"

  "It's not something I can put into words," Ninian replied slowly, a confused expression on his face, as if he was trying to find a way to do precisely that. "It's a feeling, a sensation when you're there, inside what's left of the walls. At least that's what I felt. Almost as if I could hear words whispering on the wind.

  "Wind is blowing through there all the time; it comes up the cliff from the shore below. The waves break against the cliff, as if there was a permanent storm. That's odd, too, because there was no storm the day I was there, yet the winds roared and rushed through the ruins." His voice had taken on a kind of hushed awe as he was speaking. As if he became aware of it, he laughed to break the spell. "Listen to me. If you didn't believe in magic before, I imagine you would now!"

  Jhond smiled in reply, but the words had affected him all the same.

  Chapter 8

  Each day seemed far too long, far too lonely for Gallia. No matter how she tried to fill them, whatever she tried to do, she couldn't escape the encompassing loneliness. She missed Jhond more than she could ever have imagined. It didn't matter she wasn't supposed to love him. How do you stop loving someone who meant the world to you? It was even more difficult when she couldn't discuss it with anyone, or when members of her family tried to draw her out and she had to either ignore them or lie. She'd never been good at lying, yet now it had become a way of life. She hated it. It was becoming harder and harder to stay at the duke's house.

  When she'd first moved back in with her family, citing her break up with Jhond and the resultant split with his family as an excuse, Duke Vikor had tried to get her to tell him what had gone wrong. However, she'd refused to give him any reason beyond, "Things will not work between us." What had really seemed to perplexe the duke was he seemed to see just how very unhappy she was and he obviously sensed she still loved Jhond. She would neither confirm nor deny it. It hadn't been very long since the split, but Gallia was adamant the relationship was over.

  Along with the rest of her family, the duke asked interminable questions about why, and all she could say was she had discovered something about Jhond that was unpardonable.

  "But, my dear," Vikor said, "it's clear what you feel is more sorrow than anger." She didn't answer and he went on, "If that young man was still here, I would challenge him for his actions, but he fled without a word, not even explaining to his own family apparently. I almost questioned his father, but fortunately my dignity reminded me I shouldn't stoop to prying."

  Gallia almost bit her tongue in her attempt to keep her mouth shut before she said something unforgiveable to him.

  Duke Vikor sighed, perhaps sensing her mood. "Remember, my dear, I am always here whenever you wish to talk."

  Even more distressing were the incessant rumors, hints and curious questions from members of the court, which Gallia dreaded attending. Gallia had managed to persuade the duke that, for a little while, she could stop attending with the family on the varied visits to the royal court, which were part of everyday life for the duke and the Talchel family. However, it was much more difficult to avoid visits to the house by members of the court. Eventually, she approached Duke Vikor and asked if, for a period at least, she could go into seclusion in her own rooms when visitors came.

  He understood, perhaps more than she had realized, just how difficult it was for her, and he gave his permission gladly.

  "However, my sweet," he concluded, "there is one visitor who I'm afraid you will have to welcome, though he is not due for about two weeks."

  "Please...Father." She always found it hard to call the duke that nowadays. "Surely that isn't necessary."

  "On this occasion, it is. King Corianus is due to visit me for a short stay. He is only bringing a small retinue with him. I will try to keep you out of the way as much as I can, but there is no way I can allow you to keep to your room all the time."

  "Yes, I understand. I will trust you to do what you can."

  "Gallia, I know we have trod this road before, but remember, I am here for you always."

  Gallia felt the tears prick behind her eyes and she had to swallow to hold them back. She could never remember him being so kind before, and she couldn't help the guilt that swelled in her breast. He was the one person she could never tell. "Thank you. I will remember your kindness always." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek before hurrying from the room.

  She managed to escape the everyday pressure from others, but only managed to increase her own personal hells. How could she escape from such thoughts without distraction?

  She had to do something. She so longed to talk to Jhond, as illogical as that was. She felt a need to discuss the present situation with him, look to him to help her decide what to do. It was driving her crazy. She even considered going to talk to Lord Girau. She'd found it in herself to forgive him now. She'd had time, more than enough time, to go over the story Marianna had told her and to think about Girau's own admission of his feelings. Having experienced love and its seductive hold, she felt she could understand what a trap it could be and how her mother could have sought solace in Girau's arms when her own marriage wasn't happy. But still she couldn't bring herself to talk to him about her own feelings, her own loss, at least not yet.

  Would she ever begin to live again?

  She tried not to think about the life Jhond might be living. Without her.

  In the end, she turned to the one thing in her life at which she truly excelled and the one activity which could, perhaps, loosen some of the tension threatening to tear her apart. She hadn't
visited the Talchel practice field in quite a few years. Lord Girau had taught all the Reeve children the use of weapons, and Gallia had happily joined the Reeve children as they learned the use of sword, bow and staff. Gallia had proved to have an affinity for the sword and as the years passed, she proved to be the most skilled of the Reeve family with the blade.

  Lord Girau was considered an expert swordsman and even trained the royal children and other court children as requested. He had spent many hours practicing with Gallia, and by the time she reached her maturity, he admitted he had never trained anyone who could match her skill. She remembered how proud she'd been that day and shook away the uncomfortable pang she felt at the memory now.

  Two of her siblings were there practicing their skill with the staff under the watchful eye of the weapons master.

  Master Sepnar saw her approaching and, with a word to be careful, he left the brothers fighting and went to meet Gallia. "It's a surprise to see you her, My Lady. Did you wish to practice your swordplay?"

  "Yes, I feel the need to exorcise some demons," she said honestly.

  Sepnar nodded his understanding and led her to the rack of weapons from which he took two swords. "Does this suit, My Lady?" he asked, passing one to her.

  She hefted it, testing its balance and weight, giving a couple of practice moves. "It's a good weapon," she said.

  She took up her stance, and Sepnar raised his own weapon. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her brothers had stopped their practice fight and were now looking in her direction. She gave a grim smile as she decided to give them something worth watching.

  * * * *

  King Corianus arrived at the duke's residence as expected, and, thankfully, he had brought what was, for him, a small all-male retinue. Gallia had been forced to come down to greet him with the rest of the family. She kept to the back of the group as the duke welcomed the king. He hadn't brought Queen Paria or any of the royal children with him, for which most of the duke's family was more than grateful. The children were spoilt dreadfully and the queen tended to stand on ceremony more than did the king. The king had come to his brother's estate, as he did about twice a year, for the hunting for which it was famous.