Seven
The sun was climbing the eastern sky, and the dew glittered like gems on a jeweler's cloth. Errig sat on a flat stone, eating porridge out of a wooden bowl. Autumn Thunder stood nearby, grazing.
Horgar approached, leading Midnight Justice. "The prisoners are being branded as ordered, sir."
Errig nodded. "When that's done, set them loose and get the men ready to ride. I'd like to be back at the main camp as soon as we can."
Horgar nodded and turned back towards the main force. He stopped and swore. Errig looked over and saw Davon coming up the hill.
"When do we go after the slaves?"
Hrogar rolled his eyes. "We don't."
"But... we have to go after them!"
Hrogar stepped forward and looked down at him arms crossed over his chest. "No, farm boy. We don't. They were loaded onto an airship -- no doubt bound for the slave markets in Vivane. That's weeks of hard riding. They would be sold off and shipped Passions know where long before we got there."
Davon glared up at Hrogar. Hrogar returned the expression without flinching. Davon took a half step to the side and shifted his gaze to Errig. "You gave your word."
Errig shook his head. "I said I would do all I could. Our orders were to deal with the raiders. We've done that. I'm sorry we didn't catch up with them before they sold off their captives."
Davon looked back and forth between the two orks. The muscles in his jaw flexed as he ground his teeth. His fists clenched, and Hrogar tensed, expecting an assault. Errig watched the pair, impressed at the boy's spirit.
Davon gave a frustrated sigh, then turned and stormed away.
"He's going to get himself killed," said Hrogar.
"Maybe." Errig watched as Davon walked down the hill, where Winter Cloud stood waiting. The boy stopped when he reached the horse and absently scratched her shoulder. He glanced back toward Errig and Hrogar, and when he saw them watching, turned and started walking again. Winter Cloud followed close behind.
Errig looked over at Autumn Thunder. The mare sensed his gaze and looked up from her grazing. She walked over and lipped his ear. He smiled, and scratched Autumn Thunder's chin. "Then again... maybe not," he said, half under his breath.
"What was that sir?" asked Hrogar.
"Nothing," said Errig. He finished off the last of his breakfast and stood. "See to the prisoners, and get the men ready to ride."
Hrogar saluted. "Yes, sir." He turned and led Midnight Justice down the hill toward the camp.
Errig watched him go, and then looked for Davon. The boy hadn't gone far -- he was about a hundred and fifty yards away, standing on the crest of another hill, looking off to the south.
Errig rubbed Autumn Thunder's shoulder. "Come on, girl. Let's go have a talk with the lad."
The mare followed him along the ridgeline. Davon heard them approaching, and looked back over his shoulder. He swore under his breath, and turned away. Errig stopped and stood quietly beside him.
After a few minutes of starting into the distance, Errig broke the silence. "It's hard, fighting for those you love and feeling like you've failed them."
Davon glanced at Errig, his eyes narrow and his mouth set in a tight, thin line. Errig ignored the look and continued. "You didn't fail them, Davon. You may not have rescued them, but you struck back at their captors, and fought well. That is something to be proud of."
Davon looked down and scuffed his foot through the dirt. "There's nothing left for me back home. My mother is dead, and my sister is on that airship."
"I'm sorry," said Errig. "I didn't know."
"No reason that you should," said Davon.
Silence fell between them. Errig stood quietly, watching Davon out of the corner of his eye. Davon's gaze never rested in one place for very long, and his hands and feet were restless. Once or twice he looked like he was about to say something, but he would close his mouth and turn away, resuming his fidgeting.
After a few minutes, Errig broke the silence. "There's something else on your mind, lad -- something more than the loss of your mother and sister."
Davon took a deep breath and held it for a moment, steadying himself. "During the fight, I saw the troll that killed my mother. I went after him... and something happened." He paused, and bit his lower lip as he thought.
"For a moment, as I closed on the troll... I'm not sure how to describe it."
"Take your time, lad. There's no rush."
Davon spoke haltingly as he tried to put words to the experience. "It was strange... I was riding Winter Cloud, but I also was Winter Cloud, being ridden. Her hooves were tearing up the ground... but they were my hooves, too. It was like she could read my thoughts -- she would turn without a pull on the reins. We were one mind... one body. It was..."
"Magical?" said Errig.
"Yes." Davon looked at the ork, his eyes wide. "How did you...?"
Errig laughed. "How did I know? I'm an adept, Davon. A Cavalryman. All of the Falcons have felt that oneness at one time or another, and many of us draw power from the special bond that exists between horse and rider. What you felt last night was a taste of that magic."
"Magic," whispered Davon. He was silent for a few moments as this sank in. "But my mother said I didn't have the aptitude for magic."
"She knows magic now, does she?"
"Yes. She is... was," a pained look passed over Davon's face as he corrected himself. "She was an Elementalist." He looked down, turning red.
"Ah," said Errig, looking into the distance to let the boy deal with his grief with some privacy.
After a moment of silence he continued. "I don't know much about Elementalists, but I know horses." He nodded towards Winter Cloud. "She's telling me you're a rider born."
"Really?" said Davon, looking up. "You can talk to her?"
"Not exactly, no," said Errig, chuckling. "But she tells me just the same." He saw Davon's puzzled expression and elaborated. "I read the body language -- the same way you can tell if somebody is excited, or angry, or upset."
Davon nodded, understanding, and Errig continued. "She bonded to you last night -- that's why she's been following you around all morning."
Davon blushed, and the corner of his mouth turned up in the distant echo of a smile. "I was wondering about that," he said, looking down at his feet.
Errig smiled. "It happens from time to time, but the effects will fade after a day or two." He fell silent for a moment, seeing Davon's expression darken at the thought of the bond fading. This lad really is a rider born, he thought. I wonder...
He glanced over at Autumn Thunder. She looked up from her grazing with an expression that said, Why are you asking me? You've already made up your mind.
You're right, thought Errig.
He turned back to Davon. "We'll have to find you another mount."
"But I'm fine with Winter Cloud," protested Davon.
"I know," said Errig. "But that's the effect of the magic from last night. Spending time with Winter Cloud will just make it more difficult to form a proper bond later."
"A proper bond?" said Davon. His eyes widened in surprise. "You mean..."
"Yes, lad. I'm offering to take you with us and see that you're trained as a proper Cavalryman. I won't lie to you -- it will be hard work, and you'll likely face more than a bit of trouble from the other recruits. But I think you've got potential, and it would give you the skills you need to go out there after other bands of slavers."
"How did you know...?"
"I can read people as well as horses, lad," said Errig, chuckling. "So, what do you say? Do you accept?"
Davon chewed his lower lip, his gaze traveling from Errig, to Autumn Thunder, to Winter Cloud, and back to Errig again.
For the first time since Errig had met him, Davon smiled. "I accept," he said.
"Wonderful," said Errig. "Come along, Davon. Hrogar is waiting for us at the bottom of the hill -- and not very patiently."
"He's not going to be happy about this," said Davon, his face clouding with worry.
"Maybe not," said Errig. "But I'll handle it." He took Autumn Thunder and Winter Cloud by the reins, and led them down the hill. Davon watched him for a few moments, a doubtful expression on his face. Finally he sighed and started after them.
