The Heartstone (16 page)

“I raised him from a foal. He has known no other hand on the reins no other weight on his back.” He paused and looked blindly at the walls of the Inn.

“He was promised to me by my father, on my naming day when I was fourteen seasons old. I became a man that day. I received my sword, my name and my horse, a weanling colt with long dancing legs and a great heart. I raised him, trained him, and three years later we rode out on our first raid.”

Ariana said nothing. There was nothing to say. Firebrand was Jarod’s last link to his father and happier times. “I wish it could be different,” she said gently.

“We need to hurry. Follow me.” Rua said.

Rua started out across the yard to a small door hidden by ivy. They slipped through the door into a cramped alley behind the Inn. It was narrow and dark. No horse could have gotten through here. The walls were closing in around them. It was gray and wet here. No sunlight penetrated the gloom between the buildings. The alley was filthy and Ariana had no idea what she was stepping in. She pulled her cloak close around her face, to filter out the stench. Rua stopped and lifted her hand. They gathered around her.

“Let me do the talking.” She said knocking at a small door. Ariana hadn’t seen it. The door creaked open. A pale face peered out at them. She was almost painfully thin and pale with huge dark eyes and lank black hair.

“Ya?”

“I’ve come for Melior.”

“Da, someone here forenenst ya.” She yelled before turning back into the depths of the building. Rua slipped in after her and the others followed. The room was sparse and dirty. At one end a rusting cook stove emitted feeble heat. Opposite the stove a straw pallet contained three sleeping children ranging from a year to three years. The girl had vanished. A large man with a mane of red hair and a bushy beard came into the room wiping dirty hands on his leggings.

“Ya?”

“Ser Melior, I am the bard Rua. My friends are in need of passage west.”

“Honored I’m sure. Not many vessels goin west tho. That’ll cost.” He said. His voice was rough and deep more suited to the sea than inside. “When do ye need the sailing?”

“Tonight.”

“Tha’s tricky.”

“We’ll pay.” Rua said. “We can trade you three horses for part of the fee. The rest in coin.”

“What good are horses to me? I’m a man of the waves.”

“You can sell them for honest coin.”

“You’d have me bankrupt.”

“I’d have passage, but not robbery.” Rua returned.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Melian spat and held out his hand. Rua copied the gesture and gestured for the others to sit. Melian grunted and left the room.

A few minutes later there was a noise in the hallway and a young man walked into the room. He was dressed in the colors of the city guard. He stopped short in surprise. Ariana leapt to her feet. Jarod put his hand to his sword and Cerynus braced himself.

Rua remained calm and still. “Cein, I wasn’t expecting you here.”

“Oh Lady Rua,” Cein said turning bright red. He recovered himself, “And why should I not visit my father?”

“In that case I’m glad to see you.” Rua said.

“What are you doing here? You know Rhysin’s men search for you?”

“That’s why we’re here.”

“I see.” Cein said. He sighed. “I should just arrest you. It would be so much simpler.”

Ariana tensed. Why was Rua so calm? Beside her Jarod sat ready to leap into action. Cerynus on the other hand had calmed.

“But you won’t” said Rua confidently.

“No.”

“So how long have you been in the brotherhood?” Rua asked.

“Since my naming day.” Cein said proudly.

Jarod relaxed. Ariana looked at him. Realization dawned. Cein was on their side. Rua was still talking to Cein. “What are our chances of getting a boat out of here tonight?”

“If you can find a willing captain, they look good. The bastard’s forces are still combing the city for you. They won’t close the ports and search the boats yet. But you had best leave now and not wait for nightfall.”

“Thank you for the counsel.” Rua smiled warmly at the young guard. He blushed. “My pleasure, Lady,” He said with a worshipping look.

Ariana caught Cerynus’ eye. He looked down at the cuff of his tunic and studied the embroidered stags. Jarod nudged her in the ribs. She smirked over at him. Melian entered.

“The Riverblossom is underway within the hour. She will take you.”

“Thank you, Ser Melian.” Rua said, rising and opening her purse. They went into another room and Ariana could hear the clank of coins. Shortly Rua came back the business concluded. Melian followed her dressed in a cloak.

“Thanks for your courtesy, Ser Cein.” Rua kissed his cheek. Speechless he raised one hand to his cheek nodding to the travelers. They left slipping out the same door and stepping into the alley. They hurried down the gloomy back street.

Ariana smelled it before she saw it. The tang of tar, creosote and fish wafted through the now lightening mist. She also heard the waves lapping against the wooden sides of the boats as the river flowed west. They reached the shipyard and passed many ships, all of them elegant and swift.

At the far end of the shipyard they found her. She was canary yellow with a tiny blue cabin and a bright yellow and blue striped sail. The name Riverblossom was painted in swirling curlicues on her side. She was tiny, barely large enough to hold the crew and travelers. They put their gear into a pile on the wharf. The crew immediately began stowing it aboard the ship. Melian stood talking to the captain, a dour bearded man glaring impatiently at them.

Ariana turned to Rua. “What am I going to do without you?” Her voice quivered.

“Hush child, there is little I can do out there in the wilderness anyway. I am better here in the city where I can foil Rhysin with every breath I take. We each have our task.” Rua said.

“I’ll miss you.” Ariana said.

“I shall miss you too, dearest child.” The bard gripped her tight. When they separated tears filled her eyes.

“Stay safe, darling girl. I expect to hear the entire tale.”

“I promise.” Ariana’s throat was tight.

“Now go. Rivers wait for no one.” Rua said briskly, but with a little quaver in her voice. Ariana ran over to her bundles and found the yellow silk. Rua hugged Cerynus and Jarod, speaking briefly to each of them.

“This is for you, Rua.” Ariana thrust the silk into Rua’s hands. “When you wear it think of me.”

“Always my dearest, Thank you.” They hugged again. Ariana clung for a moment to the bard’s frail frame then turned away face averted.

Jarod and Cerynus were waiting. Ariana hurried over to them. It was time. They skirted the puddles in the warped slick boards of the dock. The next leg of their journey was ahead, embodied by the vessel bobbing against the pier. Jarod climbed aboard and held out his hand to help her. It was a long step from the dock to the ship moving in the current and she wasn’t sure about her sea legs. She’d never been in a boat like this before. She looked down at the oily water between the pier and the deck and shivered. She hoped she wouldn’t get seasick. The Riverblossom felt very frail and at the mercy of the river as she stepped onto it. She held Jarod’s hand tightly as she put her foot on the railing and swung onto the deck.

They stood together watching as the crew slipped the ropes free of the piling. The ship slowly pushed away from the pier. Ariana looked up to see Rua receding into the distance. Rua raised a hand in farewell and waved the yellow silk. “Goodbye my dears, Be safe.” The travelers waved back until Rua was out of sight. The crew raised the sail and the boat sped down the river.

“Well that’s it; our last glimpse of civilization. I hope Rua will be alright.” Ariana sighed.

“She will fare well.” Jarod reassured her.

The captain walked over. “Will ye be pleased to go below?”

“Certainly sir.” Jarod said courteously. They followed the captain down the small stairway to the tiny cabins. “This be fer the Lady,” The captain grunted gesturing to the left. “This be yours.” He pointed across the tiny hall. He pointed down the tiny hall. “That way be the galley, the crew and the cargo hold. Stay inside. There be patrols on the river.”

“We have to stay inside all the time?”

“I’ll let you up when it be safe lady.” The captain sighed. “Good journey to ye.” He left muttering about passengers and bad luck. Cerynus and Jarod went into their cabin and she went into hers. It was tiny, with a small bunk covered in a tattered yellow blanket. But there was a porthole so she could at least see the shore. She opened the porthole to get some air, sat down on the bed and looked out at the scenery.

The city had disappeared around the first bend in the river. Both current and wind drew them inexorably west. The landscape here was different, flat grassland with small rolling hills verged on the river. Tall grasses dotted with wild flowers crept up to the very edge of the water.

Periodically Ariana glimpsed animal trails through the brambles that hedged the riverbank. Clumps of willows, their long thin tendrils sweeping into the current dotted the banks. Little pools of stagnant water formed from the tyranny of trees and grasses made marshy lands holding bulrushes and waterfowl, quacking, bobbing and unconcerned by the boat’s passing. It was restful watching the shore slide by; she could relax for a few minutes. The fresh morning breeze, the sunshine reflecting off the water and the slight flapping of the sails was like a lullaby.

Hot. She gasped. She was within a forest fire. Sparks hit her singeing her dappled flanks. She bounded away. It was behind her. She heard the enemy panting through the flaming night. She stumbled through ashes, legs trembling, Gasping and coughing through the burning forest. She had to keep going.

This was fire without any regeneration. No fresh young shoots would grow after this blaze. It was death and it was after her. She leapt over a rotten tree. Snap! Her foreleg twisted in a hole. Rising she limped slowly toward sanctuary, a small pool scummy with floating ash. Her head reached forward to the pond and cool relief. Molten claws pulled her back toward the deadly fireworm. Beating her hooves against the flames she threw herself into the water.

The water hissed as scorched brown flanks became scaled silver as she entered the water. She flashed through the water, streamlined muscles pushing her on. It cooled her for a moment, and then she was overwhelmed by the foul stench. She knew the enemy still pursued her. Large yellow eyes blinked open and an electric eel shot forth to swallow her.

She sped away, through the water and hid under a rock. She was trapped. The eel kept coming, huge neon eyes peering at her. She burrowed deep under the stone until there was almost no water left just some damp mud which had her gasping and flapping until the hole opened and she fell down into a cave.

She couldn’t see. Her eyes were closed, but she knew the enemy was still coming after her. Her small scaly feet skittered wildly on the dry rocks as she fled. It was quiet here and dark. She sniffed out her path by flicking her tongue, feeling vibrations chasing her. A huge serpent slithered after her. It would crush and swallow her whole. Closer and closer it came, ready to strike.

She felt air above her, hissing back at the snake she scurried up the small rocks up to the surface. She reached the end of the tunnel and felt jaws close on her small scaly tail. With a great wrench she was free. Her tail flexed wildly in the jaws of the snake. It distracted him for a second and she was free.

Dusty scaled armor turned to sleek feathers as she flew. She screamed in triumph, shooting up into the sky, banking to watch the opponent down below. A raven burst up from the small cave like a black tornado. She dodged and flew away. The larger bird was no match for her agility. Looking below her she realized he was gaining. Her wings beat frantically, but the larger wingspan of her pursuer was telling on her. Its red eyes blazing, the great black beak pierced through her beating wings and stabbed at her left side. A burning pain bloomed between her ribs. Feathers flew as she lost the rhythm and started to plummet. She spied a small yellow boat. Diving through the clouds, the wind screaming through her pinions, she claimed sanctuary.

Ariana bolted upright, fists clenched, heart thundering in her ears. She looked out the porthole expecting black wings and malevolent red eyes. Nothing… She sighed. The sun was almost directly overhead. She’d slept the entire morning. Pulling her sweaty hair back into a loose braid she rose. She looked out into the hall, empty. She automatically checked the stone. It was still resting quiescent between her breasts. She left the room feeling confined and overheated. Cerynus opened his door and saw smiled when he saw her.

“Ariana, I was just coming to get you… What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just woke up is all”

“Oh, yes of course. Until you wake up you’re a badger.”

They went down the hall into the small galley. Jarod was already there, sitting at the table studying the map. He looked up and smiled at her. She sat across the table next to Cerynus.

“Hey sleepy-eyes, I hope it helped.” Jarod said.

“Yes it did.” She smiled at him, reaching for a piece of cheese. She winced as a pain shot up her left side.