Chapter 12

Revelations

Raven and Kingsfire dropped back to ride beside Alan and Stormy. "How did you know?" she asked quietly after a moment.

Alan shrugged. "Their clothing mostly. They all had thick leather jerkins dyed in brilliant crimson and such. That works in the city, but in the forest it spells disaster. Prickleback Boars hate red. They'll charge anything that's red, and out here in the forest they're very common. No, experienced highwaymen using the forest would know that wearing red is a very bad idea out here. Plus, they didn't seem to know how to use their spears or axes, but seemed to be able to handle their knives well."

Raven rode for a few minutes looking thoughtful. "You saw all that during battle? That's very good." She said slowly.

Alan flushed at the praise, although he tried to refute it. "Yes, well. Anyone would have noticed that! They should have overwhelmed us in the first few minutes with their numbers. Instead, despite their only being three of us, we defeated them."

Raven nodded. "You're right of course." She said.

"Indeed master." Stormy agreed.

Stormy's comment brought back what the brigand had said. "Raven, do you know why they called me a lord? I know I don't look like a lord at all, so I was wondering."

Raven gave a small cough and smiled sweetly at him. "Well you do have a…a regal bearing." She said.

Tobias choked while Alan's ears burned. She watched them for a moment before breaking out in laughter. The laughter swelled as Jerome joined in. Alan floundered like a beached swampfish. There was a joke there that he clearly wasn't getting. Tobias looked stumped too.

Raven gasped to a stop, although giggles still threatened to break out. "Oh, my ribs. Anyway, to answer your question. They thought you were the lord because you are riding a centaur. Those have gotten mighty rare lately, and expensive despite the breeding programs." Alan flushed in anger at the mention of breeding programs. Imagine Stormy being used as a soiled dove!  "So other than rare cases like yours, most of those that own centaurs are rich lords or merchants." She concluded. "In fact," she warned, "You had best keep a close eye on her while we are at Hell's Gate, lest someone either try to buy her or steal her."

Alan wasn't sure how to take this bit of news, although Stormy's shudder made his mind for him. He would die rather than allow Stormy to be sold or stolen. She was his friend, and that was all that mattered. He patted her horse shoulder to comfort her and she turned around to give him a quick smile before turning back. That quick glance showed the worry in her face, and he knew she was thinking about being stolen. That wasn't going to happen, but how on earth could he convince her of that fact?  

Alan puzzled over that as they set up camp that evening. Raven and Tobias had scouted it pretty thoroughly and had found nothing. A large deer carcass was testament to Tobias's hunting skills however, and the mighty hunter was digging a fire pit to cook the large buck over.

The wind whispered through the towering pines, shaking loose dead needles and giving an occasional shower of detritus to the unwary traveler. The soft sound of crickets filled the night air while night birds called to one another in a soft cacophony that was at once comforting and strange to hear. Occasionally, the scream of an animal abruptly cut off marked the end of a hunt for the forest's more predatory animals.  

The little clearing that they found themselves in was set a little off from the main road, hemmed in with the thick trunks of trees and dense bushes of huckleberries. The berries proved to be a welcome addition to the deer and when the group was sated, they leaned back and looked into the fire.

Jerome had been very quiet all evening, Alan noticed. It was mighty unusual for him, as when he was not busy he would regale them with tales of Anakin Stride the adventurer, or of his own travels, and other stories. Alan debated whether or not to confront him about his unusual melancholy, when he beat him to it.

Jerome looked up from the fire and stared straight at Alan. "Boys, I've been meaning to apologize again for what happened earlier today."

Alan was surprised. How could he have possibly known what was going to happen? "It was no big deal, Jerome." Alan said. Tobias nodded in agreement.

Jerome continued on stubbornly. "I should have anticipated that Jones would use others to do his dirty work for him. I mistakenly assumed that his hatred would force him to attack us directly, and I have been waiting for him to do so. I underestimated him, and I wanted to say I'm sorry."

Alan shrugged his massive shoulder. "There's nothing to forgive, my friend." He said honestly. "The chances of brigands was a real one, and it was only wishful thinking on my part that we wouldn't meet any. In fact," he continued, "Jones might have done us a favor. If the real brigands find out that we have defeated a much larger force, maybe they'll leave us alone."

Jerome snorted. "That's more examples of wishful thinking. If they find out, they'll more likely shoot us from afar and then rob us when we're dead than risk a duel. No. The best we can hope for is that the real robbers decide to take it out on Jones and his men for trespassing on their hunting grounds."

Alan gulped nervously. He hadn't thought of that. He'd have to be extra alert tomorrow, and scan those tree lines for archers!

Stormy came up beside him and laid on the ground. He'd taken the time earlier to scrub her coat as best he could. There were rough patches everywhere, but at least he had gotten the foam off her. She bent to whisper in his ear. "I still think you did the right thing."

Alan felt a warm glow in the pit of his stomach from his friend's praise. He placed his arm around her waist and together they watched the flames burn down.

Later, Alan unrolled his bedroll and layback under the stars. As he stared upwards into the night sky, the faintest star could be seen between the dark reaching branches. The silent shadow of Stormy next to him was comforting, as was the slowly moving shadow of Jerome on patrol. Relaxed, Alan soon dozed off into slumber.

Stormy felt Alan fall asleep beside her. He shifted a little and his breathing deepened, becoming smoother as he sank into the pillow of slumber. She could not help but smile fondly at him. He had been so brave that day! Despite never having fought before, he killed three by himself. That was more than the others. It was a testament to his battle prowess. She understood that he hated killing, she could tell by the tenseness in his shoulders and the way he had withdrawn from the others when the night was upon them. Still, there were going to be times when others needed killing and she hoped that he would not hesitate when that day came. Even now, she was unsure about leaving those two…brigands he had called them…brigands alive. They could be enemies to face later, and it made no sense to her why you would leave enemies alive. Still, she had to admit that the information they had provided had been useful. It was always good to learn about your enemy, she had learned that from her mother long before she was captured. Her people, in their continuous movements across their home plains, had found many enemies; the Drag-la, a fearsome lizard with poisonous fangs that could fell the mightiest centaur; the Kre-cor, a small furry rodent that could cover the plains in their multitudes and make once fertile ground barren, driving away larger prey animals; The High Watchers, an enemy clan of centaurs that was continuously raiding her people for food and slaves. Knowledge about these enemies had made the difference between life and death.

Sometimes it was not enough, she admitted ruefully. She had not expected a stallion from her own herd to betray her. She had been very young, and the loss of freedom had been devastating. Still, the Sun Warrior had been looking out for her in the end. She had ended up with the Eaglehearts and had become one of the family. It could have been worse. She could have ended up in the city, where there was no grass to run on and no room to live, or forced to work on a great farm. She was very glad that she had found a home.

Now sadness looms in my life again. She thought. I must do whatever I can to repay my family for their kindness. Determination welled up in her and set her jaw in a stubborn line. It was said that if a centaur grew stubborn, it would be easier to shove a mountain down with your bare hands than try to change her mind. Those words were often true, and she was thankful for it. She would need every scrap of courage and determination that she had. She would see Alan to the Gleed healer, even if she had to fight all the way to Hell's Gate.