Dragons and Destiny (26 page)

It didn’t leave
many days for relaxation and for those Lind whose rtathlians were
in the far west it meant that there was not enough time to
visit.

Because of
this, not long after the Vada had been formed, the then Susa,
Francis and his Lind Asya had decided that every third leave period
should be four months long instead of two. It had been acclaimed
with delight by those early vadeln and it had continued to be so
ever since.

This was the
beginning of the First Ryzck’s ‘Long Leave’ and the sooner they got
to Vada the sooner they could get away.

Niaill and
Taraya were intending to visit Taraya’s rtath.

Half way to
Vada, Hansel asked a question.

“What exactly
is telepathy?

Now, the
telepathic abilities of the Lind were still not fully understood by
their human partners. Once life-bonded the minds of the human and
the Lind were linked. They could ‘talk’ to each other, knew what
each other was thinking and felt each others joys and pains. They
could ‘see’ through each others eyes and ‘hear’ through each others
ears. Niaill had suspicions that his Taraya’s mental abilities were
greater than this. He declined to answer the question telling Hans
that he would learn about it at Vada when he was in the
classroom..

This was only
one of Hans’s questions. He had, as Taraya complained, found his
voice although he had been as silent as a vuz until the day the
guardianship papers had been signed by the magistrate.

In that instant
Hans had relaxed, his face had cleared of worry. His green eyes
were no longer troubled. The habitual droop of his mouth
disappeared to be replaced with the now habitual smile.

He had begun to
ask his new guardian questions immediately and he hadn’t stopped
asking since.

Much to the
inner amusement of the other vadeln, Niaill and Taraya suffered
this for two days. Then Deby and Alfei spelled Niaill and Taraya
for a time. Niaill and Taraya were suitably grateful and following
Deby and Alfei’s example others offered the same service. By then
Hans was fired with one ambition, to pair with a Lind and to become
a member of the First Ryzck.

* * * * *

AL607 - First
Month of Winter (Dunthed)

Rilla

“I almost can’t
believe it’s happened,” announced Rilla to Zawlei as she sewed the
third year cadet stripes on to the sleeve of her uniform
jacket.

“We deserve
it,” he said, getting himself comfy on his divan bed.

“We’ve worked
hard,” Rilla agreed. “I just hope that we can merit Weaponsmaster
Jilmis’s faith in us.”

“We will be no
better and no worse than the others and he told us we were ready. I
believe him and so must you.”

“And in just
another two months and we should get leave; that’s the icing on the
cake as far as I am concerned. I can’t wait to visit your
rtathlians. You sure I’ll be made welcome?”

“Yes,” Zawlei
answered with an impatient sigh. “You do keep asking and I keep
telling you. We will be
very
welcome.”

Rilla bestowed
on Zawlei a grin that said sorry.

“Now,” she
said, finishing her thread and scrabbling round her bedclothes for
the bobbin. She broke off another length with her teeth and
threaded the needle again. “Just one more stripe to go then I’m
ready.” She glanced up at the new timetable that adorned the wall
above her desk.

“What class was
it again that Jilmis said we were to start with? I can’t see, the
writing’s too small.”

“It is mounted
practice,” Zawlei informed her, he had memorised the timetable. “I
look forward very much to it. It will be most exciting to be in
amongst so many.”

“A bit too
exciting if you ask me,” Rilla replied, cutting off the unused
thread and holding up the jacket to inspect her handiwork.

“But you like
it here my Rilla?” asked Zawlei. “You are glad I came for you?”

“Absolutely,
and you know it,” said Rilla, dropping her jacket and leaning over
to give Zawlei a hug, “it’s just a little hard sometimes, that’s
all.”

“It is the
Vada,” he said as if that explained all.

* * * * *

Elliot and
Robain

The same
afternoon that Rilla proudly sewed on her three stripes, Elliot and
the other three arrived at the border between Argyll and
Vadath.

“This is the
ford,” Robain announced, “the border.”

“There aren’t
any border posts or anything,” observed Elliot, reining in
Nibbles.

“I thought
there’d be a wall or something too,” added James, coming to a halt
beside Elliot.

“Why would
there be?” asked Robain. “Vadath and Argyll are friends. It’s like,
it’s like,” he continued, reaching in his memory for a comparison,
“like between your duchies.”

It was an
erroneous comparison.

James and
Elliot laughed and even Philip smiled.

“Unfortunately,” he said, “there are walls between some of the
duchies. Dukes are very protective of what is theirs.”

“North and
South Baker are the worst,” confided Elliot to Robain. “I’ve heard
Father complain.”

“Why is that?”
asked an interested Robain.

“My tutors
explained,” Elliot began with a dig at James. “My friend here was
asleep and if not he was looking out of the window?”

“Bit of both,”
replied James, “I was never much of a lesson lover, that’s why I’m
such an ignoramus today.”

“Ignorance can
be corrected by diligence and perseverance,” intoned Robain.

“What?” both
boys asked in unison.

“Just something
the priests used to say when I was a boy. Tell me about the
duchies.”

“I can’t
remember the dates but it began when Baker was split into two; two
brothers who hated each other and their father split up the duchy
to prevent war when he died or perhaps it was before. I might have
been looking out of the window during that part of the lecture
myself.”

“Always best to
fall asleep at the start of something boring,” quipped James.

“Let him
finish,” ordered Philip.

“I don’t know
much else,” admitted Elliot, “the border stones have early dates on
them, that’s all.”

“I’ll look it
up when we get home,” said Philip. “I’m most interested and I would
like to know.” He grinned at Elliot who grinned back, completely at
ease with the man who knew when to tease and when to take what
Elliot was saying in all seriousness. Elliot suspected this was one
of the aspects of Philip’s character his father liked; totally
loyal, incorruptible and with a good deal of sense and humour
merged in. Of course, Philip, although always polite was in charge
of the expedition and was not slow to order Elliot about if need be
but Elliot’s gut feeling was that once they were home the Baron
would not behave any different than he was now, at least in
private.

“Are we
definitely going into Vadath?” asked James.

“I’m not sure
we should,” announced a suddenly nervous Elliot. “Perhaps we should
go north to Stewarton instead.”

“Seems a pity
to be so close and not to see it,” answered Robain, “I’ve got the
necessary documents, the Major gave them to me when we left. Not
that anyone will ask.”

“Even when four
armed people enter their land?” queried Elliot, not sure he wanted
to take the chance. The talk about his homeland had unsettled
him.

“This is the
home of the Vada. Remember Stasya? There are hundreds of Stasyas
here. We’ve been seeing more than a few Lind around these last
days. They know we’re here. See these reeds over there?”

“Yes,” answered
Elliot in a short voice.

“Wondering
what’s hidden in them?”

Elliot
shrugged. “Should I?”

“I’m a
soldier,” said Robain, explaining, “Philip here and I are pledged
to protect the two of you. Both of us have noticed the reeds, not
that we think it is full of assassins but because it is our job.
The entire journey we have kept out eyes open for the unexpected.
You might just be riding along, enjoying the trip, relaxing, but we
cannot. I would like to go to Vada, for there Philip and I can have
a rest.”

“A rest?” asked
Elliot.

“Perhaps it is
time you thought about us,” suggested Robain.

“It’s your job
to protect me,” Elliot replied, all prince, “and if I want to go
somewhere you have to go with me.”

Robain
bristled. “This is the real world out here son, Philip won’t say
it, he’s your father’s subject.”

“And friend,”
interrupted Philip.

“Grandfather’s
subject,” corrected Elliot.

“Don’t argue
with me young man. Here, you and James are a pair of adolescent
boys here to finish your education. Your father said so and you
agreed to it. You will act the part. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir,”
James said.

“You?” Robain
struck a belligerent chin out at Elliot.

“I’m
trying.”

“Not nearly
hard enough,” was Robain’s riposte. “I’m not your servant. Here I
was thinking that I had been wrong in thinking the Kings of Murdoch
were all tyrants and then you come over all uppity like this.”

“But …”

“No buts young
man. This is Argyll; we’ll soon be in Vadath. There are no kings
here. If you don’t like it you know what you can do.”

“What?” asked a
chastened Elliot.

“Port Vada is
only a few miles that way. Ride down there and get on a boat. No
one’s stopping you.”

“I don’t, I
don’t want to go home. I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”

Robain’s eyes
softened. “Glad you are man enough to say it. Shall we cross the
ford?”

At that moment
some vadeln appeared from behind them, Elliot thought they looked a
fine sight as they drew closer, the rider’s maroon jackets with
their silver badges and the kepi’s with silver piping on the
rim.

“Good day to
you all,” said the leading rider. He had, Elliot noticed a single
chevron stripe on his sleeve. Elliot knew by now what that meant,
the man was a Vadryzka and commanded the other seven vadeln. He
noticed also the badge on his right breast, it was a harp.

“Vadryzka
Markion and Danya,” the man introduced himself and his Lind.
“Thirty-First Ryzck. Going to Vada? Not sure where to cross? See
these white stones? Take the way between them, aim for the middle.
You’re lucky, even with the rain we’ve been having the river’s not
high. It’ll be different soon. Now the water will barely overtide
your horse’s fetlocks.”

“Thank you for
your advice,” Robain answered.

“Good,” Markion
said as he waved the other seven vadeln-pairs on. He dallied beside
Robain looking at them with interest. His eye’s lingered over the
southern swords but he did not say anything.

“Come far?”

“Settlement,”
answered Robain.

“A fair way,”
Markion replied. “Got somewhere to stay in Vada?”

“Not yet, can
you recommend a good Inn?” asked Philip. He had an odd feeling that
this meeting was not a chance one.

“You could try
the
Silver Star
or the
Black Cat
but your best bet is
the
Raging Jezdic
. Bug free, comfortable and the food’s
good. Chef’s my brother. We go there a lot when we’re off
duty.”

“We’ll go
there,” decided Philip, “directions?”

“Main street
that leads to the Stronghold gate. You can’t miss it. Picture of a
jedzic out front. Perhaps I’ll see you there later,” he called back
as Danya began to trot over the ford.

“That settles
it,” Robain pronounced. “We go to Vada and to the
Raging
Jezdic
. Don’t know about you three but I got the distinct
impression that our arrival here isn’t unexpected.”

“I agree,” said
Philip.

“You think they
were waiting for us?” asked Elliot.

“Your guess is
as good as mine but I wouldn’t be surprised if we were to learn it
is so. Did you notice that he didn’t ask our names though he
introduced himself?”

Philip was
looking worried, he didn’t like the unexplainable and Robain was
quick to ease his fears.

“Trust the
Vada, Philip,” he said. “Nothing can harm ‘Walter’ in Vada.”

“I’ll just
worry in private then.”

“If that makes
you feel better, now let’s go. Markion’s talk of food had made me
more than eager to see what the kitchens of the
Raging
Jezdic
have to offer.”

Markion, as
predicted by Robain,
did
arrive that evening as the four
were finishing a meal of gigantic proportions.

“I needed
that,” Elliot was saying, “trail rations are all very good but they
don’t fill growing boys like me and James. Landlord told me people
come from miles around to eat here and now I know why.” He beamed
at Robain. He and the Captain had had a long chat when they had
arrived and Elliot felt comfortable with him again now that both
knew where the other stood.

Robain was fast
becoming one of the people Elliot felt he could trust.

Philip,
watching them, was glad of it. Robain was ten years younger than he
was, only nine older that Elliot and with a wealth of experience of
life. He was pleased to see signs of the blossoming friendship.

He looked at
James, solidly munching his way through his dessert but the boy
looked unperturbed. James was little given to introspection. He was
a friend of Elliot’s but was not a jealous person. Hunting,
fishing, laughing, wenching and telling jokes was what James was
good at. There was a place for that too in Elliot’s life.

Markion spotted
them as he entered and made his way over. He didn’t appear
surprised to seen them.

“Good meal?” he
enquired.

“It was good of
you to suggest it sir,” said Elliot, “best I’ve eaten in simply
ages.”