Hand of Fire (The Master of the Tane) (68 page)

              “But how did you know it was Tam?”

             
This was getting more difficult than he thought and he knew that sooner or later he was going to slip and get caught in his lies. “Well, I, uh...well it was simple really. He described her and I knew it must have been Tam. It was more a guess than anything.”

             
“Good guess,” Dor said, but his look betrayed his thoughts as if he expected there was more to it.

             
Thane just smiled weakly and then quickly changed the subject. “Why do you think the trolls are massing? Did you find anything out while you were with them? It must have been terrible.”

             
“Not as terrible as being caged by the HuMans,” he retorted, the anger he still harbored clearly evident. Those wounds would be a long time healing. “But to answer your first question, I have no idea and no, I didn’t find anything out. I was concentrating more on getting away than the why and the where of what they were doing.”

             
“I guess so,” Thane said. “It’s just so strange that they would gather like this. I didn’t even know they existed in such a large number.”

             
“You wouldn’t believe it,” Dor said, suddenly fully interested in their discussion. “They were everywhere. Every night we stopped at a larger cave than the one before and it still filled to overflowing with trolls. They just kept coming and coming. It was almost too much to see. Can you imagine if they had gathered like that to strike our village?”

             
Thane looked at his friend, having been down this path of thought already, finding comfort only in the realization that the trolls were moving away from their home. Before he could answer, Jack stopped his horse and turned around.

             
“This is as good a place to rest as any. Take advantage of it because we’ll be leaving again at first light.”

Thane quickly translated for his friend and then helped him down off the horse. Dor thanked him and then cursed the horse for ever having been born when the pain in his legs and rear came in a great, cramping surge. Jack tethered the horses close by and Thane helped him remove the gear and place it under a tree where Dor now rested. They ate a meager meal in muted silence each pondering their situation and what the future might bring.

The rain continued on through the night making sleep hard to find and restless when it was finally caught. The next day was the same as they rode on through the woods pushing their mounts along as fast as they dared trying to reach the forest’s edge and hopefully faster riding. Jack had fallen deep within himself and barely spoke when Thane tried to make conversation. After repeated attempts were unsuccessful, he finally gave up. Dor, on the other hand, continued his vigilant watch on the brooding HuMan still not willing to give over his full trust. And while Erl had shown himself friendly enough, similar sharp teeth that had almost torn him to shreds when they were attacked in their village were still a clear enough memory to make him to avoid the wolg as best he could.

             
By the end of the second day, the rains finally ceased allowing the sun to web its way warmly through the trees sending up tiny pockets of steam as it dried the ground in the small patches. By nightfall, they finally reached the end of the Dedrik forest and set up their camp just within the tree line. Thankfully, Jack allowed them a fire, feeling they were far enough from Wess and his troops to not call unwanted attention upon themselves. Thane and Dor happily gathered wood while Jack tended to the horses. In no time, all sat comfortably around the warm blaze sipping hot, wild mushroom soup while drying themselves as best they could.

With the change in the weather, and a warm cup in his hands, Jack’s mood seemed to change from deep darkness to one of mirth and interest in his two foreign companions. At first he tried to speak in the Chufa tongue giving them all a good laugh until he gave it up and allowed Thane to translate.

              Turning to Dor, he said, “Since you’ll be traveling with us now, and you know first hand how a Chufa caught in this country might be treated, we better start in on your lessons of common and sword play.” Winking at Thane he continued. “Thane’s pretty well got the common down, although his accent is a little harsh, but his sword arm could still use a bit more instruction.”

             
Thane translated but protested the last point. “Now, wait a minute there Jack. I have been doing quite well with the sword. I’ve been able to block most of your strikes.”

             
Jack laughed, sending his belly into great gyrations.

             
Thane objected. “What’s so funny?”

             
“Well, you are right about blocking my passes, but there is something I probably should tell you. I’ve been using my weak hand.”

             
“So.”

             
“So? Well it just so happens, my cocky friend, that I am right handed.”

             
Thane’s eyes widened slightly suddenly feeling a bit foolish at thinking himself such an expert with the long daggers. His face flushed.

             
Dor watched the interchange with interest but having no idea what was being said. The thought of having to learn such an ugly sounding tongue was not a pleasant one but he also realized the importance of it if he wanted to stay alive and out of a cage. He was still apprehensive of their traveling companions but knew that if he wanted to get Tam back, then this was their best chance. He nudged Thane asking what they were talking about but his friend just shrugged him off saying it was nothing. He started to insist, feeling left out, when Jack quickly cut in.

             
“In fact, while we have the time, we best practice some more of the moves I’ve shown you. If either of you expect to survive the attack at Haykon we’ve got a lot of work to do. Every night when we camp we’ll work at swords.”

             
Thane started to protest, feeling the soreness in his muscles already, but Jack held up his hand. “Now, now, it will work the soreness out of you from riding all day and most important, it will keep you alive. So, no more arguments. Get your swords and let’s begin. Dor has a bit of catching up to do.”

             
Dor squinted at Thane in confusion as he explained what they were going to do and then pulled out the two swords Jack made him take from Hell’s End. Dor couldn’t believe the size of the large daggers and tried unsuccessfully to push down the smirk that broke across his face. He knew there was no way a person could effectively use a dagger of such magnitude. But Thane only grinned at him and then handed him a sword before breaking into a surprise attack that almost caught Jack off guard.

Dor’s face suddenly changed to a look of amazement at the lethalness of such a weapon. Jack was thrust off balance for a mere second or two before reversing Thane’s attack into a vicious one of his own. Thane was quickly pressed into the defensive trying desperately to fend off Jack’s quick and precise cuts. In no time, Thane’s sword was stripped from his hands and he was forced to the ground with the sword point pressed dangerously against his throat.

              Dor reacted. Believing his friend was in real danger, he dropped his sword and threw himself into Jack, knocking the large man over. Erl watched passively, feeling that the large human was in no actual peril but alert enough to pounce if the need should arise. Thane yelled for him to stop but Jack told him not to interfere figuring he had to win the boys trust one way or another. Rolling naturally with the impact, Jack also released his sword, whirling quickly to the side and back to his feet. Thane watched in awe, not thinking the older man could move with such agility. Dor also rolled and came back to his feet pulling the dagger Thane gave him the night he escaped. Jack eyes scanned his opponent, sizing him up, before pulling his own dagger. Thane again tried to interfere but was silenced immediately by Jack.

             
“He’s got to learn that I’m not going to hurt either of you. Even if that means I have to cut his throat to do it!”

             
Dor lunged with lightning speed bringing his dagger straight in at Jack’s chest and then slicing up suddenly trying to catch him in the throat. He only cut air as Jack deftly sidestepped the attack twisting around and bringing his own blade down in a move designed to hamstring his opponent. Dor dropped to the ground into a roll catching Jack’s blade in a loud clang while kicking the older man in the stomach. Jack stepped back at the blow giving Dor enough time to regain his feet. Both stood eyeing each other, having a little more respect for one another’s abilities. This time Jack came in with a myriad of strikes at a speed to make his blade a flashing blur of deadly steel. Loud clanging sounds filled the area as Dor deflected each slash and then added some strikes of his own.

For a long time, Thane watched as the two matched each other in speed and skill. He could see the sweat coming off of Dor’s forehead now as he worked to find an opening that would end this fight and Jack’s life. At first, he had worried for Jack knowing how skilled Dor was with a dagger, but his fears were soon abated and he now watched with renewed interest at the almost beautiful dance of blades the two performed.

              Jack showed amazing stamina for someone his size and age, which ultimately ended up being Dor’s downfall. Having been locked in a cage for so long and suffering from malnutrition, the young, Chufa boy was tiring quickly. Jack recognized this fact and turned his vicious attacks into guarded assaults designed to protect himself and wear on his opponent more than actually score a hit. Dor kept to his normal routine of a quick strike designed to kill or incapacitate but only managed to make himself more fatigued.

Soon, his strikes came with less speed and power and that is when Jack struck. Standing back for a second, he faced the boy who was now gasping for air before he thrust in like an arrow shot reaching for Dor’s mid section. Dor brought his blade down to meet Jack’s while throwing his body back, which forced his head forward. A large fist suddenly broke through his line of vision and he knew that impact was imminent. A loud ringing filled his ears as his head was knocked to the side throwing his balance with it. He tried to compensate with a quick turn of his body but found his feet tangled as Jack swept his legs from underneath him. Dor crashed to the ground and tried to roll to the side but was instantly met with resistance as Jack’s knee rested on his chest, briefly robbing him of breath as the cold touch of steel pressed against the skin on his neck.

              Dor stared calmly into Jack’s eyes still struggling for breath but remaining completely still as he waited for his life to end. Jack smiled down at the boy pausing for a short moment before he called out to Thane. “I want you to translate this so there is no misunderstanding.”

Thane appeared at his side and looked down at his friend who didn’t take his eyes off of Jack.

“Now,” Jack started, “before we go any further, you have to come to trust me and Erl.”

Thane repeated the words in the Chufa tongue.

“You’ve got a lot of good moves and I’m sure if you had not been treated so badly by my ignorant friends the outcome of our little interlude may have been different. But that doesn’t matter right now.” Jack paused while Thane caught up before he continued on. “If I wanted you dead I could end it right now. If I had wanted Thane dead, I could have left him in the snow. Now, if we are expected to travel together and live through what will be waiting for us at Haykon, it’s time we started trusting one another, don’t you think?”

Thane continued his translation, but Dor didn’t react.

Jack sighed heavily. “If you want to keep traveling with us you’re going to have to get it through that thick skull of yours that I’m your friend, got it? If not, then you are welcome to leave and try making it on your own.” Jack got to his feet in one fluid motion and put his dagger away. Still looking at Dor he finished with, “The choice is yours.” Then, smiling weakly at Thane, he went back to the fire and sat down, the joy he showed earlier at dinner, now replaced with the former gloom of the past couple days.

             
Thane sat by Dor who just silently stared at the sky above. “What did you think you were doing?” he finally asked.

             
Dor turned his head and looked at him. “I thought I was saving your life. Thanks for your help.”

             
Thane’s heart felt a twinge of pain that visibly moved to his face. “Dor, he wasn’t going to hurt me, just like he didn’t hurt you.”

             
Dor reached up to the bruise that was forming on the side of his face and winced as he touched the tender area.

             
Thane sighed, understanding the gesture. “You know what I mean, Dor. You deserved that.”

             
Dor looked back at him incredulously. “I can’t believe this, Thane. Are you still so angry at me for what I did to you that you want revenge?”

             
Thane’s face dropped. “Please, don’t do this Dor. You know you are the only friend I have ever had until now.”

             
“Until now. That is what is so difficult for me to understand, Thane. He’s a HuMan. His kind almost killed off our kind, not to mention me. How can you trust him so completely and turn away from your own people?”