The Staff of Sakatha (18 page)

Sorus nodded his head, “I see your point,” and then he stood and watched as the boy saddled up both of the horses.

“We keep a supply of grain and rations in saddle bags for emergencies,” said Junius looking at Sorus. “In case someone doesn’t have time to pack. I can get a couple if you like?”

“That’s a very good idea, Junius,” said the young knight and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go grab that while Jon and I finish prepping the horses?”

The boy nodded his head and ran off into the stable.

“I should have thought of that,” said Sorus to no one in particular. “I’m still getting the hang of being a knight, and now I’ve got to learn how to be a fugitive!”

The two riders moved slowly as their mounts walked towards the wide river that flowed in front of them. When they reached it Jon Gray dismounted, tied back the reins, and let the horse trot over to the water which it began to gulp down eagerly. Sorus sat on the back of his mount for a while longer and looked to his left and right before he also dismounted and allowed his own steed to drink.

“We’ve reached the point of decision,” said Jon as Sorus moved over to him. The two young men stood on a grassy knoll that looked out across the Frosty Run and towards the interior of the lands of Elekargul. “Tell me again what lies in which direction,” he went on, his gaze still towards the horizon.

“If we follow the Frosty downstream we’ll eventually get to Black Roost, the capital of Elekargul. It’s along the Southern Sea at the head of the Bay of Lights. I don’t think the First Rider will be there though. He’s almost always on patrol. If what they said in town is true, we’re more likely to find the men of Black Dale in that direction. The attacking reptile men are supposedly coming from the south.”

“I know the Mountains of the Orc are to our northeast,” said Jon and looked in that direction, “but I don’t think that’s our destination. What about that way,” he said and pointed straight across the river to a series of low hills.

“That’s mostly just farmland,” said Sorus with a shrug of his shoulders and a glance at Jon. “If you go far enough you get to a hilly region where the Dorian knights have a temple.”

“There are Dorian knights in Elekargul?” asked Jon with a look at the boy, his eyebrows raised, and his head tilted slightly to the side.

“That’s what they say,” said Sorus. “Don’t forget that I’ve never been much out of Black Dale. Anything I tell you is just what I’ve heard other people say.”

“Why is there a Dorian temple in the middle of Elekargul?” said Jon as he looked in that direction.

“I don’t know,” said Sorus with a shrug. “I think it’s called the Temple of Fear. I’ve seen traveling Dorian knights come through Black Dale a few times over the years but I’ve never really talked with them. You went through Doria to get here so you probably know more than me about it.”

“I didn’t spend much time in one place,” said Jon and now looked back over his shoulder and towards the town of Black Dale from whence they came. “The biggest order of knights is Mixcowatel or something like that. I can’t pronounce most of the names. They like to use a spear; that is their holiest weapon I think.”

“That sounds right,” said Sorus as he closed one eye and pursed his lips. “There was something about a spear; I remember that … I can’t remember. I don’t think it’s important anyway. Now, if we get past those hills then we arrive at the heartlands of Elekargul. Most of our major cities are there on the Old Water Lake: Black Home, Black Helm, Black Sword.”

“You people like naming things by color I can see,” said Jon.

“Don’t look at me,” said Sorus. “I’m just telling you what you asked. Now, if we head north then we get to Hollow Wood and west of there is the Wood of Waves. The First Rider is usually up that way patrolling because the insect men are so aggressive. He could be close to us or even all the way to the east on the border with Relm.”

“You don’t have a guess?”

Sorus shook his head, “There’s no telling, Jon. “The First Rider is on patrol for almost his entire twelve month. The only time he’s not is the first week when he makes all the civilian assignments for the knights coming off their year of military service.”

“So, there’s a new First Rider every year?” said Jon, his gaze still looking deep into the heart of Elekargul.

“That’s right,” said Sorus with a nod of his head. “Every year on the Day of the Black Horse the knights on civilian duty gather in the plains and anyone who wants sets out that morning to where the wild stallions roam. The knight who returns with the finest mount is the First Rider for the next season.”

“Who makes the decision on the finest mount?” said Jon. “Anything subjective like that might end up in a fist fight is how I find those things finish often enough.”

“The First Rider from the previous season makes that decision,” said Sorus. “Then the new First Rider makes all the civilian assignments for the coming year and also sets up the groups for the military patrols. Maybe someday I’ll get to try for First Rider.”

“Didn’t you say that anyone can make the attempt,” said Jon turning to the boy. “Why couldn’t you just try every year?”

“Oh no,” said Sorus, his eyes wide and with a firm shake of his head. “Only the best knights try. If you tried when you weren’t one of the top knights … that’s bad. Everyone will laugh at you. Sometimes only two or three knights make the attempt but usually about a dozen go for it. I would never try for that until I get much more experienced.”

Jon nodded, “I can see why my father wants to be allied with Elekargul,” he said with a smile. “All right, so one direction is as good as any another? I’d like to see this Hollow Wood and the insect men.”

“North then,” said Sorus and looked to his right and upstream. “We’ll head up the Frosty Run and look for somewhere to ford. We can do some fishing and hunting and there will be plenty of farmers along the way. I won’t be surprised if we run into a patrol within a day or two. There is usually some activity along the eastern edge of the Mountains of the Orc.”

Jon walked over to the river, gave a whistle, and his horse lifted its head and came over at a trot. Sorus watched with a wry smile and tried the same whistle but his steed, borrowed from the stables just a few days before, did not react in the same way. “How long did it take you to train him?” said Sorus as he grabbed the reigns of his own horse.

“He’s Tarlton bred,” said Jon. “The finest horses in the world, the man who sold him taught me the whistle. Naturally, I didn’t get any of the palace stock but he’s a beautiful animal for long journeys and not as slow as he looks.”

“I’ve heard of Tarlton,” said Sorus, “it’s the desert city, right?”

“It’s an amazing place. Can you imagine a huge city on the edge of the desert and not a river in site? They get all their water from the oceans; their priests worship a sun god named Ras and they wade out into water every day with these huge containers and pray for the water to be drinkable. Then, everyone in the entire city comes and fills their personal and family containers from those. It’s a sight to see, let me tell you.”

“What if someday the water stayed salty?” asked Sorus a look of almost horror on his face.

“Everyone would die I guess,” said Jon with a shrug of his shoulders. “The city is from the Old Empire though and was re-founded almost 500 years ago according to what I was told. I guess if something like that were going to happen it probably already would have. It seems kind of crazy to me too, but it works for them. I saw a few nomads in town while I was there as well. Dark-skinned men with hard eyes and hard bodies. They say that is where they breed the best horses, out in The Sands where the nomads live. I don’t know, I only spent a couple of days there picking up a horse and then my ship headed south for Doria.”

The two mounted their horses and began the journey north up the river in the same direction they went just a few days before with Sir Germanius and Mikus. “It was only, what, five days ago we took this same route,” said Sorus, looking at Jon with a frown on his face and puttting his right hand on his chest above his heart. “It seems like a long time ago but sometimes it feels like it didn’t happen at all,” he continued with a look at the ground as the horses moved slowly forward. “I know what your father says, but those things are in my heart now.”

Jon didn’t say anything as they continued the journey north. About two hours later they came to a small sandy area where they crossed the river and headed northeast towards the center of Elekargul. “How many days until we get to Hollow Wood?” asked Jon, the first words spoken in some time.

Sorus shrugged, “I don’t know Jon; I’ve only been outside of Black Dale a few times in my life. I guess maybe a week? We should run across patrols sometime soon though, or at least a small farm where we can ask someone about the last time riders went through.” Even as the young knight said these words they came up over a small rise and spotted a group of houses in a small valley. “There you go,” said Sorus with a smile on his face. “It’s probably someone I know; the farmers come into town fairly frequently to sell their produce.”

The two spurred their horses towards the group of homes and as they approached made out more of the details of the place. A small grove of some sort of crop trees sat on the left side of the main house and beyond that a field with green plants gathered up the midday sunshine. The largest building turned out to be a sturdy wooden barn painted light yellow where an old horse nipped at the grass, and the last building was a large shed or possibly a small guest house. As they approached the buildings a young boy of nine or ten dashed out from the barn and waved a small wooden sword at them. He was immediately followed by an older boy who started to yell something but then spotted Jon and Sorus and stopped with his mouth open for a long moment. The smaller boy looked back and saw the older’s expression and quickly turned to face them. A broad smile came across his face and he waved at them and gave out a high pitched yell, “Hello!”

“Hey there,” shouted Jon back as he rode over to the boy, reached down with one massive paw, hauled him up the horse, and sat him down in the front. “What’s your name?”

“You talk funny,” said the boy as he craned his head around to see Jon.

Jon nodded his, “I’m not from around here, my name is Jon Gray, what’s yours?”

“That’s a funny name,” said the boy his face screwed up in a puzzled expression. “Aren’t you a knight?”

“I’m not from around here,” replied Jon and put his hand on top of the boy’s head and turned it around to face the front as they approached the house. “What’s your name?”

The boy squirmed around again to face Jon and looked up him with squinting eyes, “You’re taller than my dad?” he said with wide eyes.

“I believe you,” said Jon and smiled down at the boy once again. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Danus,” said the boy as he still tried to squirm around to look at Jon, although the gray knight’s huge hand kept the boy turned around to face the front. “Let me go!”

Jon put his arm around the boy, with a swing of his leg dismounted, and then set him down on the ground. “Go get your father, Danus,” he said and released his hold around the young fellow’s waist.

Meanwhile Sorus rode over to the older boy who looked to be in his early teens and dismounted from his steed. “Hi there, do I know you?”

The boy shook his head and gazed back with wide eyes.

“I’m Sorus Nightwalker but I used to be Sorus Brewer from Black Dale down the river. I bet you’ve been to town a few times, right?”

The boy nodded his head his eyes still wide.

“Have you seen any patrols come by lately? Any dragon children?” said Sorus as he led his horse over to a nearby post and tied off the reins. “Is your mom or dad home?”

The boy shook his head at the first question but then nodded it at the follow-up.

Sorus looked at him for a second, “Was that no to seeing any patrols and yes to the dragon child or yes to your mom and dad?” The young knight then laughed out loud as the boy stared at him for a moment. “Never mind, we’ll figure it out. Come on, let’s go to the house with Jon and your brother. That is your brother isn’t it?”

The boy nodded his head and smiled.

“What’s his name?” said Sorus as he motioned with his head to the younger boy who walked with Jon Gray towards the house.

“He’s Danus,” said the older boy, “and I’m Olneus.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Olneus,” said Sorus and he suddenly realized he mimicked the behavior many of the powerful knights of Elekargul used when the spoke to him back in Black Dale. “Have you seen any children of the dragons around here at all?”

The boy shook his head no again as they got to Jon and Danus. “What have you managed to get out of this one,” said Sorus to the knight of gray, just as a tall man came out of the house, a sword buckled to his side and a square jaw that looked a bit orcish, although his blonde hair and features were mostly human. “Proteus,” said Sorus with a smile. “I thought I might know who lived here. It’s me, Sorus Brewer, except I’m a knight now, Sorus Nightwalk.”

The man’s frown suddenly broke and he smiled at Sorus, “Sorus Nightwalk, it suits you, and who’s your big friend?”

“I’m Jon Gray,” said Jon and moved forward to grasp the man by the hand. “Sorus and I are looking for the First Rider. Has he been by on patrol anytime recently?”

Proteus looked to Soras for a moment and then at Jon with a glance of narrowed eyes.

“He’s ok, Proteus,” said Sorus. “He’s an ambassador from a place called Tanelorn. We were up in the Mountains of the Orc with Sir Germanius a few days back. Jon, show him that sketch you made of Sir Germanius.”

“That old man,” said Proteus with a smile. “He served with my grandfather if you can believe that and I’m old enough to be your father, Sorus. How is he?”

Jon handed over the sketch and the square-jawed man looked at it for a moment and said, “Oh, well, that puts a new light on the subject then doesn’t it? Why don’t you boys come on in and the lads and me will make up some dinner. You’re welcome to stay in the barn tonight. We can talk about the First Rider in a bit. So how did you end up with a sketch like this of Sir Germanius, Jon?”