This is the ongoing sequel to Dark Wishes, both copyrighted under Nifty and International Common Law.
I would like to apologize to those who have been following the series for having taken so long to finish this latest chapter. I've been working on something which really doesn't fit into any of the Nifty categories and it's occupied my every waking moment for several weeks. I promise to spend the next three weeks concentrating entirely on this series.
Unspoken Wishes
M.C. Gordon
Part One: Markel
Chapter Thirteen
Autumn began. It crept silently upon Aolane and the growing population woke one morning to crisp air and the beauty of the distant trees ... a cacophony of colors spread across the mountains that surrounded the capital of Elanen.
The days started early for there was much to be done before winter's heavy hand covered the world with snow and ice. Masons and herders, tanners and blacksmiths, weavers and milkmaids pursued their occupations.
Four young men, cousins who had traveled with their families to Aolane, sat in the shade of a stand of oak trees. None were remarkable in appearance, of average height and weight with soft gray eyes and light brown hair. They performed the duties they were assigned and might spend a day working as harvesters in the grain fields or laborers working to build winter shelter.
Their fathers, three brothers, had made the decision to move their families to Aolane in the hope that their daughters would find husbands and their sons would find trades. They were from a small village at the extreme southwest border of Elanen, an area that had become swampland through the centuries. Illness from night-biters had decimated the population in recent years and the area was one of extreme poverty.
The cousins were taking advantage of a rare resting day granted by Iashain over Tynan's objection.
"Winter will soon be here," Tynan had told his brother Qell. "Aolane is not prepared to support the number now living here."
"One day will not cause that great a set back," Iashain had replied. "Everyone has worked long and hard. What harm can there be in one day of rest while the weather is still mild? Young couples can spend the day courting, children can run in play. Everyone will work all the harder the next day."
Tynan had argued that time was of the essence but Iashain won the argument and Aolane was granted a day of rest.
The cousins, free of labor for a day, were busy with a game they had created when they were still young, all arms and legs ... not that they were old now because they all hovered at being in their late teens.
"I say we move to the high ground, forcing the enemy to fight their way upward or retreat," Kolan whispered to Jerent. "Our bowmen will have the advantage."
Jerent agreed with his cousin, several months the elder and absolutely brilliant as far as Jerent was concerned.
Artus quickly realized what his twin had planned and huddled with Ashon, plotting counter moves.
They were all surprised when a voice boomed, "You will lose too many men on both sides," and Tynan joined them. "Artus, you must look at the high ground as if attacking a castle. The enemy bowmen will be able to put your men down in a heavy barrage. If the opposing commander has planned well, they will have sufficient arrows for many hours of battle, as I am sure Kolan has realized. Your fathers and sons will die and leave their women behind to fend for themselves."
Kolan basked under the praise until Tynan said, "Every fortress, every high ground, has a weak point. For a castle it might be a drainage ditch or passage. High ground can be flanked and attacked from the rear."
The four boys looked at the disposition of their hand-carved warriors and pondered the many changes they had made in their game through the years. "What might Trelaine have done?" Kolan asked.
"Trelaine would have sent his enemy a warning," Tynan replied. "Miralen would never have put his warriors in this position."
He considered the young men and what he knew would have to be an inevitable decision. "Have any of you decided on a trade?" When there was no reply he asked, "Would you consider training to be warriors?"
"Is there a threat of war?" Kolan asked.
"Not at the present time," Tynan replied, "but of what good would it be to send untrained men against a force which might be trained? The loss of life would be great and beyond forgiveness. And I have other things in mind for well skilled warriors. The roads of Elanen are in need of repair. We cannot control fire or flood but can assist those affected by these natural disasters. Distant mountains rumble and spew smoke. Many lives were lost in the distant past when mountains released the bowels of this world. I would save as many lives as possible."
The boys spoke among themselves and Jerent finally asked, "Will you speak with our fathers, Sire?
We would gladly be among the first to serve as your warriors."
"I will do so on the morrow," Tynan agreed and left the four in excited conversation. He needed to speak with his horse-master and determine the progress made training the war-horse colts to saddle and rider.
. . .
"I will train them with sword, lance, and bow," Tynan told his companions that evening. "The colts are not yet yearlings and cannot be trained for war for at least another year. I will need to rely on the Lippize to train the young warriors to ride."
"Ask Yashidra to teach them how to treat wounds and fevers," Iashain suggested. "It may be that some will be injured with no healer near to hand."
"And teach them to read and write," Markel added.
"Any account of the difficulties they endure may be of use to others at another time."
"Lord Trelaine had his archivists keep accurate records of his years as High King, including accounts of his battles against both man and nature," Efren said. "I have seen the scrolls and can read parts of them."
"An excellent idea," Iashain agreed. "I will form special studies for those who choose to train as warriors."
. . .
The four boys, along with a dozen others Tynan spoke with about training as warriors, stayed at their assigned duties until the first freeze of the winter. Thereafter their days were rigidly controlled. They were moved into a barrack area just completed and encouraged to become close friends. They spent their mornings with Iashain, deep in study of written language. As their learning increased Iashain drew forth the scrolls of Trelaine's battles and set the young men to learning the theoretical strategies of war. The afternoons were warm enough, at first, for basic training on riding and controlling a horse. After an hour each day on horseback the boys were set to work with the instruments of battle. Iashain and Yashidra had agreed to concentrate on basic healing skills when the ground became too frozen for Tynan's training.
"This will not work," Tynan announced one afternoon. "The Lippize are too light and graceful for the boys to learn how best to sit a saddle during battle. I fear I must wait until the war-horse colts have reached their second year."
"Can you do nothing?" Efren asked, shivering at the cold.
"Would that I could, beloved," Tynan said and threw another log on the fireplace. "The Lippize cannot hold them with full armor and weaponry."
"You could wish the colts to mature more quickly," Efren offered.
"And that I will not do," Tynan responded. "None, least of all a Lord of Magic, has the right to wish against nature. Miralen did and it caused the death of the first three Qell. Trelain also tried and it nearly cost him his life. Fret not, my love, for I will learn patience."
Efren lay awake that night, long after Tynan had caused his mind and body to sing, and wished that there were horses his lord could use to train the new warriors. He was very careful to frame his thoughts so that he did not wish against the natural order of the world.
The residents of Aolane were just beginning to rise from their beds the next morning when a deep rumbling sent them hurrying to their doorways to see what was amiss. The very ground they stood on reverberated and a great sound built that was almost unbearable. Fearing the earth would open and swallow them, the people huddled together in fear.
They entered Aolane in a blur of strength and beauty. Their leader held his head high as he brought them to a halt in front of the small cottage where the Qell lived until the castle was rebuilt. Rearing high, he pawed the air and whistled.
The Qell, along with Markel and Efren, opened their door and were surprised at the sight of an entire herd, numbering close to one hundred, of small war-horses. Smaller than Perinel's breed they were still several times larger than the Lippize. All were a deep chestnut with black manes, tails, and legs. The heavy hair covering their hooves was deep black.
"Where did they come from?" Markel asked and Iashain looked at Tynan.
"This is not my doing," Tynan said, knowing full well his brother thought he had summoned them. "I swear," he added when Iashain raised one eyebrow in disbelief.
Efren cautiously cleared his throat several times and quietly said, "I wished that there were already suitable horses. I did not think I did a wrong thing for I know that it is evil to go against nature."
The Qell said nothing and Efren was afraid he had indeed done something very wrong. "I am sorry, my lord," he said to Tynan as tears began to form in his eyes.
Fearing that his friend would once again try to disappear for imagined disgrace, Markel put his right arm across Efren's shoulders. After a moment of deep concentration he said, "The memories of my grandmother tell me that these are the descendants of the war-horses High King Trelaine bred for Fanna. They heard Efren's wish and knew the time had come for them to return to Aolane.
The lead stallion approached Markel, pawing grooves in the ground with his huge hooves and snorting in the cold air. He stopped in front of the young man and reached forward with his great head, pushing against Markel.
"His name is Eglan," Markel said, surprised that the horse would reveal his name to any but a Qell. "And he asks if the Qell forgot that his kind was bred by an ancient lord to serve man in peace and war."
To be continued.
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