The Exodus Sagas: Book IV - Of Moons and Myth (7 page)

“No finer truths have been spoken this day!” Gruff yet noble, Sir Naghen of Nestrim concurred.

“I shall drink to any words of praise for these five bearers of deed and companionship!” Handsome and clean shaven, Sir Valonne of Cailoc raised his glass with the others as his blonde locks blew around.

Sir Codaius and Knight General Jardayne each drew their blades over the breakfast table, followed by the other three, and raised them high toward the five companions they thought were heading to Freemoore under their escort.

“
Yay! Yay! Yay!”
The knights, their squires, and the little minstrels all stomped, clapped, and shouted.

Saberrak stood during all the cheers and walked past Zen, patting him hard on the shoulder which spilled his wine a bit into his lap. Gwenneth did the same, yet not as hard. She leaned over to Azenairk and whispered.

“
Had you worried for a moment there
?”

“Aye.”

“Saberrak and I handled it, just as you asked.
The escort was unavoidable without drawing suspicion though.
Stop doubting, my bearded friend.” Gwenne smiled as the wind took her long black hair around them both.

“Yer right, yer right. I get it, got it, sorry and all.” Zen smiled up to his arcane wielding friend.

“We leave in two hours, are you ready?”

“As ready as I will ever be I s’pose then. You?”

“You know the answer to that, Zen. We
are
always
ready.” Her confidence shone through her sincere smile. She noticed James staring up at her, a dumbfound look upon his face. She smiled back to him and then kissed Zen on the cheek. “See you down at the north bridge.”

Azenairk turned as red as the strawberries in front of him. He looked to Shinayne who shrugged and continued to eat and drink in peace. Then to James, who was staring back at him, straightfaced and serious.

“What was
that
for then?” James asked direct, very demanding in fact. He turned his head away and took his glass of water.

“Luck I s’pose, why? Ye be needin’ one? I can ask her, hey Gwenneth---“

James spit his water all over his food, choking, coughing, drawing stares fro
m
a few gathered pygmy singers and two squires. “
No, no…don’t---“

“Yes Zen?” Gwenneth smiled.

“James here was wonderin’ bout’ a kiss for luck too, ye’ know.” Zen smiled, his flush face returning to normal.

“
No, I was….no…not---“
His coughing took over.

“Is that so?” Gwenneth walked back and leaned toward James Andellis. She looked at his trim brown beard, short waves of hair, then his deep blue eyes that turned right into hers, not inches away. The room quieted.

He could not speak, her green eyes captivated him, her wry smile, her fair skin and dark contrasting hair on the breeze. His throat tightened, water trapped still, he held his cough lest he would likely shower her
face
with what remained of his refreshing drink.

“Maybe if he asked a lady
himself
,
nicely
.” Gwenne stared, his face was red, his eyes were tearing she thought. She waited.

James could not speak, his cough stifled barely. If he moved his mouth the moment would be
surely
destroyed. Silently, he closed his eyes and leaned in toward her.
He thought of her lips, her skin, he felt it inside without question.

Gwenneth’s lips were an inch away from his, then she looked around, everyone was staring. Her face went flush and she stood
back straight
.

“I do apologize for interrupting your meal, please,
continue
.” She waved her hand
, curtsied,
and turned away despite the groans of disappointment from the little folk.

James opened his eyes and coughed into his hand. She was gone, already walking out the balcony tow
ard
the bridge. He hung his head as everyone went back to their conversations and meal.

“Nice work James, nicely done there. She done froze ye’ then, and ye’ had yer chance.” Z
en chuckled and bit into the egg
s and pork
on his plate, cold
but still delicious
.

“I was choking,
not afraid
. Why would you think I wanted to kiss her---“

“Ahhh, James, knight o’ the falcon
o
’
Chazzrynn
, don’t be tryin’ to scuddle yer way past me then. Hah! Remember
, son
, I be twice yer’ age nearly, and me eyes be workin’ just fine at sixty three years o’ life. Vundren, bless this boy to have the courage to take the woman he---“
His
humorous prayer was cut short
.

“You are intolerable
at the moment, my stocky priest
. I think I need to get ready.” James smiled, tried to hide it with wiping his mouth, and left the table.

“Hah! What a family I have then, eh elf?”

“Indeed.” Shinayne smiled.

“Ye’ know he wanted to kiss her, right?” Zen looked to the elven beauty beside him.

“
Yes, I have known for some time actually. I am over twice
your age
, remember? An elf does not need eyes to see such things, my bearded friend.” Shinayne patted Zen on the shoulder.

“Now yer’ just tryin’ to be all competitive.”

“No, but I knew back before Deadman’s Pass, I felt it.”

“Aye?”

“Yes.”

“Well I knew before that, in uhhh…in Bailey with the dragons.” Zen bluffed.

“No you didn’t, it wasn’t there yet.” Shinayne smiled.

“No?”

“No.”

“You elves is too connected
to all that love stuff
, how is a dwarf s’posed to compete with all that then?” Zen went back to his meal.

“You cannot. See you at the north bridge?” Shinayne smiled and got up to leave the table.

“Aye, need a few moments. Keep the others quiet, for me and all.”

“Of course, what is
family for
?”

“Vundren bless ye’ Shinayne,
may he bless
all of us
, especially now
.”

“And Siril bless you, my devout priest.
See you there
.” Shinayne bowed to the knights, the minstrels, and headed out the doors.

“A song before our travels, Lord Thalanaxe?” Tubrey o’ Tarnobb piped up over the ever quieting room.

“Sure little man, go ahead then. Know any
dwarven
songs?” Zen smiled as he ate, receiving puzzled looks from the little band gathered around the room.
The
y
all looked to each other, shrugging, trying to think of any ballads from the men of the mountains they had heard. They hung their little heads, realizing they knew none.

“Tell ya’ what then, I’ll sing one out, ye’ and yours put the music to it. Ready?”

“
Yay!
”

Central Plains, Shanador

The sun stroked down, hour after hour, unrelenting on his black clothing, atop a stolen black steed, in layers of chain and leather armor
, black as pitch
. The breeze, if there was one in the barren plains of grass and brush, did not assist
in the slightest. Only the strong gallop of the stallion
, reaching top speed and gracing under the occasional grove of trees, gave any relief to the
cursed
Nadderi elf.
His white pale skin burned in the harvest sun, his bl
ack swirls and hair soaked in the heat
, only the young deer
that ran alongside
seemed content with the journey.

Kendari had passed through the Gimmori Mountains in Kivanis, taken a horse in the night from a small stables, saddle and all. He left a handful of platinum and gold in a p
o
uch where the saddle was hung, as he was no petty thief. The deer would not leave his sight, never more than a few hundred feet ahead or behin
d, its small horns bounding up from the tall grasses
as it ran along. The cities of Pellan and Fort
Shad
yre
had passed by, far to his north. Yesterday, Acelinne was to his south.
He kept his westward charge through the lonely plains, stopping only for water, rest, and the avoidance of sporadic packs of nomadic
hunting
lewirja and
suspicious centaur tribes
. The elven swordmaster would buy his food from traveling merchants on the
central Shanador
tradeways, at night, in the cover of hood and shadow only.

Passing the lonely bridge of stone and oak in early evening, Kendari of Stillwood slowed his pace. The Garalan River was rushing south toward the Misathi, tents dotted the landscape of small hills and sparse fir trees, and he felt the need to rest himself and the horse.
For the deer, he could not have cared less.

“So, you are indeed reincarnated from the bowels of Seirena, we have attained that much.” He looked to the deer that waited a few feet away.

The deer nodded, growled, then looked to the river. Its brown fur and small white tail seemed to tremble when Kendari spoke to him.

“Laedury, the river elf of the Hedim Anah I killed back over three centuries ago?
Is that you then?
” Kendari tied the reins to a browning fir branch and walked toward the river behind his
divinely
insisted
upon
companion.

The deer shook its head and grow
led twice, which meant no
.

“
Jurloe, elven captain in Stillwood I slew back when I was yet to be cursed. I did not see him among the specters when---“ Kendari saw the small horned head shake, meaning he had guessed wrong again.

The deer drank from the riverbed, sidestepping away from the Nadderi elf if he got within ten feet or so.

“How about
you
? Did I kill
you
to eat, your parent
s
perhaps? I hate venison actually, nevermind.”

Growling mixed with water dripping from the raised face of the deer hinted at its displeasure and understanding of every word this
cursed
elf spoke.

“Irramas! The priest in Shalokahn, it must be.
I cut your
he
ad off right in your own temple after you
paid three assasins to kill me and I brought you their ears. About a century and a half past?
”

Face still in the water now, the deer shook its head and growled bubbles
, twice
.

“I have killed thousands, you realize. This may well take years to piece together. If your goddess is so merciful, then why can’t you speak?
Stupid animal
.” Kendari knelt next to the river, cupped his hands, and drank
of the refreshing water
.

Hi
s whole body fell into the river
, drenched, knocked over by the quick rush of the deer that slammed its head into his shoulder.

Sploosh!

Kendari stood, blades out,
Shiver
popping and crackling as its heat turned the moisture into steam. His
blessed
off hand sword from Cristoff held in reverse, his stance knee deep in the Garalan was perfect. The deer stared at him, head cocked to the side, ten feet awa
y and taunting him
with just a
look
. They had incurred
a few chases recently, and the deer had shown how much faster it was
on foot
than the cursed elven swordsman each time.

“You
are dinner
, I assure you
now
.
I will find a taste for venison.
Perhaps not tonight, but you will
have to
sleep eventually. I will sell your parts to merchants, I will keep a hoof
as a reminder
, but I will cook you over an open flame
and enjoy
every bite
.” Kendari stewed, dripping wet, staring at the deer that rebelled against his every comment
and
command
.
He paused, hoping to feint the animal with words and stillness.

He ran, diving out of the river, onto land
, and sprinting a sword pointed
lunge toward the four legged animal. When he reached the spot the deer had been, it had leapt off and was now twenty feet to the west, near the horse. It growled again, staring at the frustrated elf that had been trying to kill it for nearly two weeks.