The Halfblood King: Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Gurlachday, Day 25, Sowing Moon. 8760 Sudean Calendar

“Are the horses saddled yet, Aleron?”

“Yes Grandfather,” Aleron replied.

“Did you remember to wait for them to exhale, before you tightened the girth straps?”

“Yes I did, Grandfather.”

“Good boy; now get the saddlebags while I finish this,” Hadaras instructed as he finished loading the packhorse with the sundries they would need to sustain them on the road.  It was just before dawn and there was enough chill in the air that the horses blew steam from their nostrils as they snorted at the indignities imposed on them by their handlers.

After finishing with the horses, they donned their mail hauberks and strapped on their sword belts.  Hanging their helms on the saddles, they were ready to depart the farmyard.  Jessamine came out to see them off.  She would stay behind to keep an eye on the homestead.  “Have a safe journey, and keep your grandfather out of trouble,” she said to Aleron.  Fare well my love and stay safe, she spoke in Hadaras’ mind.  I will miss you this season.

And I you, he replied in kind.  It will be as a blink of an eye to one such as you, my dear.

True, but my sense of time is skewed to that of the mortal realm as I reside with you.  Time is more precious when one knows it may be limited.

I understand my love.  We will return as swiftly as we are able, he spoke to her mind, as his voice said, “Take care of yourself Jessamine; we will be home before you know it.”

They mounted their horses and rode out at a light canter, with Aleron to Hadaras’ left and the packhorse trailing behind Hadaras’ mount.  Aleron asked, “Are you sure Jessie will be all right out here by herself Grandfather?  I’m worried that we being so far from the village might be dangerous for her all alone.”

“Jessamine is quite capable of taking care of herself, my boy.  You need not worry about her.”

“But I still do,” Aleron replied, as they turned onto the main track heading east.  “Will it be long before we reach the dwarves?”

“We should reach Arundell in three weeks, and we will stay a few days to rest the horses.  Then it will take us at least six weeks to reach the dwarf road in the Blue Mountains, and another four weeks until we reach Dhargul.

“We’re going to the capital too?” Aleron asked excitedly.  He had never been to the largest city in Sudea and the prospect of it had him quivering in anticipation.  Then it started to sink into Aleron’s brain, that they would be travelling three months to reach the seat of the dwarf kingdom.

“I thought we should visit, so you can see firsthand the things you have been reading about.  Plus, we would have been passing so close on our way, that it would have been a shame to pass it by.”

“How long will we stay in Dhargul?” Aleron inquired.  He was still in the dark in regards to many of the details of the trip.  It seemed as if every time he asked, more destinations appeared on their itinerary.

“We will stay for a week, and then make our way through the Blue Mountains, to Nhargul, in the Northern Kingdom.”

“Did my father do business with them as well?”  Aleron asked, already knowing the simple answer, but wondering what machinations his guardian was up to in dragging him around the world this summer.

“No, of course not, at least not directly, though some of his product could have been traded to the north from the south, since the north has few friendly borders with men,” he answered.  “No, I simply thought it would be good for you to see the two kingdoms for yourself.  Though they are adjacent to one another, they have developed quite differently.”

“So the circuitous route is entirely for my benefit?”

“Aleron, this entire trip is entirely for your benefit.  I thought you realized that.  I’ve been to these places, many times over, but I no longer have any business that takes me to them.  It is for you to see them and in turn, gain experience of the outside world.  That is why we are going.  So that you have more knowledge when it comes to making decisions that will affect the rest of your life.”

“Is this about me joining the military?  I can’t figure out if you want me to or not, Grandfather.  Sometimes you seem to encourage it, and then other times you do your best to discourage me.  What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to do what is right for you, not what you think I want you to do.  You could be a farmer, or the King of Sudea and I would be equally proud, as long as you were following your heart.  If that means the military, then so be it.  I just want you to realize that there are other ways to see the world, if that is the only draw it has for you,” his grandfather emphatically declared.

“Ha, King of Sudea, like that could ever happen.  That was funny Grandfather, but I do get your point,” Aleron assured him.  “Seeing the world is only one of the reasons I’m thinking of joining.  All those histories you’ve had me read Grandfather, they all speak of the sacrifices people have made to help make Sudea a great kingdom.  I just feel like I need to do my part too, to honor their memory.”

“That is the best sentiment I could have heard coming from you Aleron,” Hadaras replied to his grandson, a warm feeling filling him.  The words of a prince, once again reminding me of the man so many years ago.  “If that is truly how you feel, and you still feel that way next year, you have my blessing.”

“That is how I feel Grandfather, and I’m sure I will still feel that way when I turn sixteen.”

“We will see, my boy.  A year and a half is a long time out to make predictions,” Hadaras stated, chuckling to himself over how short a year and a half really was, in the grand scheme of things.  I can vaguely remember how slowly the years seemed to pass in my youth, but that was nine thousand years ago.  I’ve seen the glory of civilizations wax and wane in that time.  One day soon, I will have had enough of this life and return to the Allfather, but not yet, not with the Nameless One’s minions still moving in the world.  “Time to put your helm on now Aleron.  We’re far enough out in the countryside for bandits to lurking about.”

“Yes Grandfather,” Aleron answered, as he grabbed the helm hanging from his saddle horn.  The fields had given way to forest, as the land was too rocky to farm, the realm of the woodsman and the outlaw.  At times, the two were one and the same, and wealthy looking travelers must be always on their guard.

Later, as they rode on along the trail, Hadaras could feel eyes upon them from the dark forest.  He sensed ill intent, but unease at the same time.  No, we don’t look like easy marks, but if there are enough of them, they will muster up the courage to attack.  “Stay alert Aleron.  I do not think we are alone.  Fortunately, bandits are usually cowards, but we should put some distance between us and them.”  They continued uneventfully for several more hours, the bandits evidently deciding to wait for easier pickings.  Soon, the forest gave way to open fields again, and the road widened, as smaller paths joined the flow, like streams joining the greater river.  It was mid afternoon by this time.

The road they were following began to veer east, and they could see a large village in the distance.  Hadaras chose a smaller path that headed more northeast, in the direction of Arundell.  They were far from needing a resupply and he had no desire to slow their progress with a visit to the town.  They would camp outside tonight.  The leagues flowed by beneath the horses hooves, and as dusk drew near, they found a place to camp by a small stream.  They unloaded the horses, and rubbed them down well to avoid stiff muscles.  Then Aleron baited a couple hooks and set the lines in a calm pool he found just downstream.  When he came back up to help Hadaras with the fire, he said, “Maybe we’ll get some fresh fish for supper tonight.”

“That would be nice,” the old man answered.  “The more we forage, the less we drain our supplies.  Once we set up, you can go back to tending your lines, and I will see to feeding the horses.  They should be cooled down enough for some food and water now.”

Later in the evening, as they enjoyed grilled trout and bannock, cooked over their modest fire, Aleron asked, “Should we gather more wood for the night, to stay warm?”

“We have enough,” Hadaras replied.  “There is a saying among the Chebek.  They say, ‘The plainsman keeps warm with a small fire and staying close to it.  The villager keeps warm with a big fire and running for more wood.’  Now go to sleep.  I’ll take the first watch and we will rotate every two hours.”

Aleron settled into his bedroll, tired and stiff from riding all day, and quickly drifted off to sleep.  Hadaras sat with his back to the fire.  He could have kept watch all night, from his bed, setting out mental feelers that would wake him to the slightest hint of danger.  Instead, we must do this the hard way.  The boy needs to learn the basic ways first.  Simply having the mental discipline to stay awake when you need to is a necessary step on the way to self-mastery.  Hadaras often wondered just when Aleron’s sorcerous abilities would emerge, or if they would at all.  All Elves had at least some degree of ability, and the majority of Half-blood’s did as well.  Usually, with Halfbloods, the ability manifested between sixteen and eighteen years of age.  He hoped that it would happen before the lad went off to the military.

Dusk found Jessamine was busy finishing the last few chores around the homestead.  With only one horse left in the stable, there wasn’t much to do.  She left the lonely animal with warm thoughts of companionship to comfort it through the night, and puttered around the yard, making sure everything was in its place.  As she bent over the trough fishing out debris to keep the water fresh, she could sense the man moving out from the concealment of the hedgerow.  What the miscreant could not sense, was the vines reaching out from the hedge behind him.  She turned to him, after hearing his yelp of surprise, and witnessed, the vines rapidly entwine him into a green cocoon.  She heard the muffled wheeze, as the vines constricted, crushing the life out of her would-be assailant.  The vines recoiled to the base of the hedge and began dragging the twitching cocoon into the earth.  That section of hedgerow will be exceptionally green next year, she thought.  Not a nice way to go, but it serves him right, having rape and murder on his mind.  I gave him the benefit of the doubt, in case he only wanted to look but not act.  As darkness fell, she went back inside the cottage and settled in for the night.

Hadaras sat in a trancelike state, as Aleron dozed beside him, keenly aware of everything within a half mile of the camp.  Jessamine spoke to him in his mind as he sat there.  They would communicate in this manner throughout their time apart.  You did the right thing my love, he said to ease her conscience.  If not you, he would have gone on to victimize some other innocent.

I know, but I hate to make any living thing suffer and I fear I let my anger get the best of me.  I didn’t end it as cleanly as I should have.

It sounds to me, like it was expedient and quick, even if a little creative, my dear.

I suppose so.  I just feel guilty when I am forced to take a life, she replied.  That’s why I always make you kill the livestock.

I know, my darling.  Now get some rest.  Not that you need it, but I need to shut down this part of my mind, if I intend to be on top of my game tomorrow.

Very well, good night my love.

Good night darling.

Read Chapter 5 at:                               https://julianbenoit.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/the-halfblood-king-chapter-5/