It's a chilly late afternoon as you all ride to the Refuge's temporary camp at the edge of the Hardstone Hills. A light snow has begun to fall.
Khom-Bei leads a chain of roped-together mounts.
Gareth's body is covered in a horse blanket, slung over the back of Kane's Angharan charger.
Thragga trots alongside Kane's steed, tirelessly in the Urag manner.
Ronan and Tyrin, on a white Nobilis horse, have not said a word since you began the journey. As you approach the Refuge, you can see the camp has just begun to pack for their next journey.
A pair of Bailent's archers step out from their hiding place and draw bows at you, but relent when they see who you are. One gives a bird whistle and Bailent hurries towards you.
"You found them!" Bailent, a stout, dark-bearded man cheers, seeing the boys. "Thank the Warrior!"
Kane looks grimly ahead and only gives a shake of his head.
Bailent does a quick head count. "Captain Gareth..." he trails off.
Kane somberly rides on into camp.
Khom-Bei frowns at Bailent, "Let's save the conversation until the boys are settled."
Thragga helps the boys down from their horse, and then watches over them dutifully as he leads them towards the camp.
Kane rides into the center of camp and then gingerly takes the body of Gareth down from his horse.
Others soon spot the newcomers, and Hobb and Llurgan, the two gaffers, hurry forward at the sight of the boys. Hobb looks like he doesn't know whether to wallop or hug his son. As they approach, Thragga scowls at them both, warding them off.
Cradling Gareth's body like a baby, Kane carries it towards Elianel's tent.
Khom-Bei dismounts and hands the line of horses to a guard, "Be careful with these, they might try to get loose and run home."
The guard accepts the horses, taking their reins and leading them away.
Elianel is just emerging from her tent. She is about to greet Kane merrily and then sees what is in his arms. She goes very still, her pale face going stony.
Thragga watches over the boys like a big green hawk. As Gareth's brother Bran runs up happily, Thragga shoves him away with a grunt.
Khom-Bei stands in the center of the camp, watching as Kane carries Gareth's body to Elianel.
Kane looks into Elianel's eyes, shakes his head, then murmurs softly, "I am so sorry, so sorry..."
Elianel peels the blanket back from Gareth's face, looking into it a long moment. She brushes back a lock of dark hair from his brow, and reaches into the blanket for something.
Colyn hobbles up beside Khom-Bei, watching Kane and Elianel alongside him.
Khom-Bei murmurs softly to the old man, "We were too late for him."
Her eyes moist, Elianel slips a ring off his finger and clutches it, then tenderly closes the blanket over him. "Thank you for bringing him back, Raen..."
Kane bows his head then says, "He was a good man."
Colyn sighs. "The best of us are always taken first."
Elianel swallows. "The boys?" she asks.
Kane says, "They are here, safe but shaken."
Bran asks Khom-Bei, "When is Gareth coming back?"
Khom-Bei looks to Colyn and back to Bran, "I'm sorry, Bran, there was a great battle and Gareth fought very bravely, but he was killed."
Bran blinks. "Yes, but when is he coming back? He always comes back."
Khom-Bei shakes his head, "You should go and be with Elianel, she will need your help, Bran."
Word spreads quickly among the folk of the Refuge. Elianel numbly pushes past Kane and embraces Ronan and then Tyrin.
Thragga rumbles, "We have returned the thieves, my lady."
Some of Gareth's men come to take the body from Kane, handling it with care and respect. Before he hands over the body Kane says, "He was a warrior and died a warrior. We must prepare a warrior's farewell."
Elianel says, "There is no time for farewell. He was slain by Vorghol, Kane, and we must take no chances. Colyn knows what to do with his body. Now tell me why my man is slain."
Tyrin trembles, but Ronan stands calmly.
Kane finally awakes to the words spoken, "He died defending the boys. It happened before we reached them. The only reason the children were alive was that they thought to use them as bait."
"And the boys were away from camp in defiance of orders to stay close..." Elianel says. She's coldly furious right now.
Thragga puts in, "And they stole Kane's sword."
Kane says, "The boys are home safe after a horrible ordeal. Do not do this Elianel, they already blame themselves...can't you see it in their eyes? The young make mistakes. I remember a young girl who almost brought down the Refuge for the sake of saving a stranger.""
Elianel shakes her head. "And on that day, my father told you, Kane, the Refuge is like a lifeboat at sea. We must all cooperate or we must all sink." Her voice catches and she calms herself. "Night comes on. We must travel.." She seems frantic, burdened with too many decisions at once. "What would my father do?"
Khom-Bei steps forward and lays his hand on Elianel's shoulder, "Your father would let the people here do what they do best. You should see to your son and to your husband's brother. They will need your strength in this dark hour. The rest? We will take care of everything."
Elianel nods at Khom-Bei and Kane in gratitude. She gives orders. "We travel along the planned route," she commands. "By sunrise, I want us far from these hills and into the valleys beyond!"
The Refuge moves into action, as Hobb gives commands to the other wagon drivers, Bailent and his men take up escort positions, and others make ready for the journey south. Elianel gives Bran and Ronan, and then Tyrin, an embrace and speaks quietly to them a moment, then heads off to see to business.
Khom-Bei turns and walks toward Colyn, "Come with me, elder one, there is work to be done."
Colyn raises a brow. "Work, my friend?"
Khom-Bei walks with Colyn, "Yes, my friend, we must plan for the hour when Elianel has seen to her son and his uncle, the hour when her labors are laid down and she has a moment to grieve."
Colyn nods. "She's like a daughter to me, my friend...how I wish we could find some balm for her."
Khom-Bei says, "The people of the Refuge must be watchful and you must make sure that they are ready to lend what support she needs. Her strength will be given as she has always given it, but the one who gave her his strength is gone.""
Colyn says, "She is a strong woman...as all her line is. Her father was the same way."
Kane calls Thragga over to him then says, "We must burn the body, do you think it is safe to do it here?"
Thragga says, "When the wagons are away, we can light the fire."
Kane replies to Thragga, "I will stay behind to make sure the job is done correctly."
Thragga says, looking after the boys as Elianel speaks to them across the camp, "Kane, those little thieves have to be punished. Do you know what would happen to two Urag braves who stole the blade of their warleader?"
Kane says, "Look at them. Do you really think there is a punishment we could give that would match how they already feel? They grieve for Gareth and blame themselves for his death. Besides, if there is a punishment, I will leave it up to Elianel."
Colyn asks Khom-Bei, "What do your people do when death overtakes one of them?
Khom-Bei says, "If we reach the end of our road peacefully, the clan gathers together for the burial and the shaman will walk the Circle of Death, casting the dust of this world to the four winds so that it may carry the spirit to the world of our ancestors. If the end is not peaceful, there can be...other rites."
Colyn says, "We of the old ways have rites as well. Gareth was raised in the church of the Vorghol, but he later took the vows to serve the Sun-and-Stars...but I do not think he would mind you walking the Circle for him."
Khom-Bei bows his head, "I would be proud to walk the Circle for Gareth."
A scant hour later, the Refuge is packed and begins making its way from its current camp. Elianel is mounted on one of the Nobilis horses, out front. She doesn't even look back as she leads the caravan. There are a dozen wagons, mounted escorts, and warriors on foot trailing behind. The snow falls more heavily now. As the last wagon rolls out, Aryse, the blind sorceress girl, casts a dweomer on the trail, and the deep ruts from the wagon waver and appear to heal, hiding the traces of their passage.
Kane stands near Gareth's body in the woods, watching the wagons stream off to the south. Beside him are Colyn, Thragga and Khom-Bei. Kane has a torch of blue flame in his hand, kindled from the EverFlame of the Refuge. "We will give them time to make some distance then we will light the pyre. I suggest if you have rites, you perform them now."
Colyn speaks the rite of Renewal, an ancient pagan ritual. The words consign Gareth's body to the earth and end with a prayer that his substance sustain a new generation of trees and other life. With a little help from Thragga, he stoops and daubs Gareth's forehead with some snowy mud in a circle pattern.
Khom-Bei stoops and scrapes together a handful of the soil. He begins the chant taught to him by his father and starts to walk the Circle. As Khom-bei walks the Circle, he tosses dust to the wind at each of the compass points.
Thragga bows his head, respectfully as the holy men work their godly ways.
Finishing the Circle, Khom-bei stands next to Kane, "Ancestors, guide this spirit to his place in the home of warriors."
Deeming enough time has passed, and now that the rites have been completed, Kane hands the torch of blue flame back to Colyn and then draws Light Bringer. "t is time." he says.
Colyn nods to Kane. At Colyn's signal Kane thrusts Light Bringer in to the well oiled wood of the pyre, as Colyn places the torch upon it.
The yellow dragonfire from Light Bringer licks at the blanket, and then it catches fire. The blue flame torch adds its own light to the fire, shining blue over all of you. Soon the pyre of sticks catches and the body blazes with multicolored tendrils, crackling heat and light.
Kane kneels down before burning pyre, places his head against the pommel of Light Bringer, and says goodbye to the man who picked up the pieces Kane left scattered so many years ago.
The Refuge wends its slow secret way south, and far from the hills where tragedy overtook them. A day later, the light snowfall continuing, you three are jostled awake when the wain you sleep in suddenly shudders and then jars to the left. Outside, the skies begin to darken.
Thragga clutches at his axe and rolls to his feet. He throws open the back door of the wain and leaps out, ready for anything.
Kane quickly joins his friend and immediately looks to see if the darkening is natural or not.
Khom-Bei sticks his head out of the wain and looks around cautiously.
The sun has begun to set, and the twin moons are just peering over the hills to the west. The wain you're in has lost a wheel on the left side, thanks to an enormous rut, and is slumped precariously in the middle of the road.
Hobb leaps down from the buckboard and kicks the shattered wheel, cursing.
Thragga looks to his companions.
Khom-Bei jumps down to join the others, "I've told you that you eat too much, Thragga. Now look what's happened."
Thragga has slept fitfully on the long bumpy wagon ride, and he favors Khom-Bei with a bleary-eyed look that could squash a Tobon flat.
Hobb tells Khom-Bei, "Lad, if you wouldn't mind, there's another of these in the back there, by the barrels of salt beef."
Kane walks over to inspect the damage.
Khom-Bei crawls back into the wagon and searches for the replacement wheel.
Bailent's voice rings out. "We camp here!" he calls from horseback. The Refuge moves into action, making camp nearby, in a deep hollow crowded with sturdy oak trees.
Thragga lends a hand by lifting the wagon with his bare hands, as Hobb coaches Kane into removing the old wheel. "Gentle now, don't let it drop, Thragga, stout lad..."
Balancing carefully while Thragga heaves the wagon around, Khom-bei hands the new wheel down to Tyrin, "Careful with that."
Thragga grunts. "If that Northerling would find the other damned wheel, I wouldn't drop it on Kane!"
Tyrin takes the wheel and rolls it up to Kane. "Want me to do it, Kane?" he asks, brightly.
Thragga snaps, "Hurry, damn you!" He's straining under the load.
Kane says to Thragga with a grin, "What load? You're holding most of it." He gently removes the old wheel then calls to Tyrin, "Here boy, bring that over here."
Tyrin says, "I can do it if you want." The wheel is nearly as tall as he is, and as heavy.
Khom-Bei jumps down from the wagon and moves over to assist Hobb with supervising the job.
Kane says, "Well how about we do it together. Here roll it under here."
Thragga looks about to drop the wain and strangle Kane with his suddenly free hands, but he manages to support the massive wain.
Tyrin rolls the wheel unsteadily into Kane's grasp.
Kane lets Tyrin help him move the wheel into place. Then he sets the pin and indicates that Thragga may put it down now.
Tyrin watches, pleased to help.
Thragga lets the weight settle onto the wheel. "Took your time about it!" he huffs.
Kane says, "Well, Hobb wanted me to make sure it was done right."
As Khom-Bei watches, he's joined by little Tammet, the mother he helped three nights past. She has her tiny son in her arms and seems well.
Hobb tells Thragga, "I wish I had ten Urag workin' alongside me in the old days. The freight we could have moved, eh?"
Khom-Bei tickles the infant's chin, "And how is our little man today?"
The tiny baby giggles and clutches at Khom-Bei's finger. "He's hale and eating hearty!" Tammet says. "Thanks to you and your skills. Khom-Bei, I have decided to name him Gareth. Do you think that's a good idea?
Khom-Bei pauses a second, "I think it's a fine idea, Tammet."
The camp has begun to settle down when Bailent appears, with Ronan in tow. "The Lady Elianel summons you all," he says, seriously. He indicates a small circle of tents in the center of the new camp.
Tyrin gulps.
Kane gets up and walks towards the tents. He feels this is a good time to discuss exactly where the Refuge is headed.
Khom-Bei follows Kane.
Standing tall, amongst her gathered folk, Elianel seems every inch the Tol Nedran noblewoman that her ancestors were. She looks almost queenly as she addresses her people, who crowd about.
Bailent brings Ronan and Tyrin to the center of the circle.
Elianel speaks: "In the old days, the justice of Tol Nedra was renowned through all the other Kingdoms. My son stands accused of defying the will of his liege lady, and so does the boy named Tyrin. They also stole a weapon belonging to a warrior who you all know, Raen, who stayed with us before." She pauses. "Justice must be done."
Thragga mutters to Khom-Bei, "In Uraga, we'd cut off their hands."
Khom-Bei nods, somber, "Among my people, they could be banished from the clans forever."
Kane looks on with a concerned expression.
Elianel says, "This Refuge is my realm, no less than any baron of Ress or Anghara with soil to claim as his. Justice is my prerogative. But in this, I will hear the words of the offended party." She looks to Kane. "It was your Selandri weapon they took, and this led...to the death of my beloved. Speak to us all."
Kane stands and speaks, "As I was once young, I fault the boys only for their foolishness, of which once upon a time I was also guilty of. I do not think they meant to steal the sword, but only to borrow it. As for the death of Gareth I can only say, I do not think there is any punishment that you could mete out that would compete with the pain and anguish already from the fruit of their actions."
Bailent demands of Kane, angrily, "So we're to let them get away with it? Gareth was a good man, Kane, he deserved better!"
Kane says, "What punishment do you think Gareth would suggest? Banishment? Disfigurement? Some how I doubt that. Let them find some way to honor his life and memory. They owe a debt to Elianel for her loss. Let them serve her and take up the labor Gareth will not be here to do."
Many of the Refugees nod at Kane's words. They like the boys and don't want them to come to harm. But Gareth's former soldiers seem unmoved.
Khom-Bei steps forward and clears his throat, "Many men die who deserve life. Many men who live deserve death. Can we give it to them, Bailent?"
Bailent says, "No. There has been too much killing...But something must be done." He shoots an angry glare at the two boys.
Colyn speaks up. "Tol Nedran justice in former times was also renowned for mercy. For my part, I think me Kane is right."
Kane says, "Gareth died trying to save the boys. To harm them now would be a tarnish on his sacrifice. Let them swear fealty to their lady and swear to serve her as she sees fit. Let them give give a life for a life."
Elianel is silent, listening to the arguments. Then she says, "Gareth told me once that punishment is not for revenge. Revenge only leads to hatred. Punishment is for correction. And justice is so the community can heal. The Refuge is a place of healing...haven't we all suffered enough?" There is general agreement at this. She stands before the boys and gestures that they kneel. "They are already sworn to me. So my judgement is that you serve Kane instead. Swear it, by the sun-and-stars. At his will, serve your penance and atone."
Ronan blinks, kneeling. Tyrin joins him.
A look comes to Kane's face that says he did not mean for this to happen, but sees no way to stop it.
Thragga mutters to Khom-Bei, "She should let me cut off their hands or something. Just a little bit."
Ronan says, steadily, "By the sun-and-stars, I swear service and fealty to you, Lord Kane. Yours to command." Tyrin repeats the words, unsteadily, pausing in the middle to recall them.
Somehow the old words come to Kane's lips, "By the sun-and-stars I receive you to my service, and swear to protect you till the fire of my heart burn no longer."
The boys rise, not knowing what to do next. But perhaps they seem less boyish when they do so.
Bailent accepts the judgement of Elianel, silently. His men also seem to accept their lady's justice.
Colyn tells Khom-Bei, "As an outsider, surely service to Kane is a form of banishment. Perhaps there is some way to serve Kane in the wide world."
Thragga fingers his Angharan pendant on its silver chain.
The crowd, dismissed, set to their tasks of setting up and guarding the new camp. The boys, too, have assigned chores.
Kane stays quiet for a moment then turns to Elianel and says, "Now that that is done with, there is another matter I wish to discuss."
Elianel nods to Kane and seats herself next to a kettle over a fire where water has already been set to boil for tea. She invites Kane, Khom-Bei, Thragga and Colyn to sit as well.
Khom-Bei sits and smiles at Elianel, "Your justice was most appropriate, m'lady."
Elianel looks away. "I know they did not mean to do it. And for my part, I do not mean to saddle you with two lads. But something must be done. And surely in your travels, there is somewhere their energy can be harnessed. Then perhaps, wiser for their efforts, they can return to me."
Kane says, "There is much the boys can do in my service as well. Also, it would warm my heart to know you are all safe. But I wish to discuss your destination. As you know I have made offer of my Tower as a wintering place."
Elianel nods to Kane. "Gareth was not sure, Kane, but if your offer still stands, I accept it. The times are difficult. With winter coming on,and our strength diminished, I think we must take the Secret Road. It is the most rapid way to the border."
Kane says, "There is more danger that way, but perhaps you are right."
Elianel says, "Then you've walked that Road? I should have guessed you had, in your travels with all sorts of people. But I'm sure you know many secrets."
Kane says, "We will get you there safely, this I vow."
Elianel nods. "In my father's maps, there is shown an ancient Selandri standing circle. And there is one just north of the Angharan border, which we can travel to." She pulls a small yellow stone from her pocket, oblong, reflective, joined to a carved ivory handle. The ivory is carved with a Selander rune. "No one will pursue us on the Secret Road, and we will save weeks of travel time."
Thragga scratches his head.
Khom-Bei looks from Elianel to Kane and back again, confusion plain on his face.
Kane says, "I have only traveled that road once and then with a guide, but I will walk it again for the sake of your people."
Elianel looks to Khom-Bei. "This was given to my father by a Selandri warrior, long ago. He said that it would help my father and his people walk the secret roads that only the Selandri knew. It has come in handy over the years as we have had to hide from this foe or that."
Thragga says. "This is some Selandri hiding place? And how are we going to fit all the wagons in some little hidey hole?"
Khom-Bei continues to look confused, "It is some Selandri magic that guides you on a secret road?"
Colyn pours tea for you all from the boiling kettle. He explains, "In the old days, my friends, the Selandri had secrets we cannot imagine. One of them was a web of secret roads between places on Aerryt. These roads are not like the ones we can walk by day, but like the roads we walk in a dream. You can enter the road from their old standing stones, with a proper key like Elianel holds...I believe that they mark the intersection of ley lines. You travel but a short distance, then emerge at the end of the road, far from where you began. The warrior who told Elianel's father about it...he seemed to know more than he told, but of course, Selandri are like that, aren't they?"
Khom-Bei's eyes open wide, "My father has told me of powerful magic which allowed some of the greatest shamans to travel in this way, but all of the people?"
Colyn smiles, sipping his tea. "All of those wagons and people you see over there. A magic from the Long Summer, that still can be awakened to those who know how."
Thragga looks skeptical. "Selandri..." he rumbles, gulping his tea.
Khom-Bei shakes his head, "Truly, it is a wonder which I would like to see."
Colyn nods, "For my part, I surely would like to sit and talk with that warrior some more. He hinted he had seen wonders that beggar imagination. But he hasn't been here in what...five summers, Eli?"
Elianel seems distracted, looking into the fire sadly.
Kane says, "Did he give a name?"
Khom-Bei laughs and holds out his hands with fingers spread, "Would it matter if he did, Kane? Every Selandri I ever met had more names than I have fingers."
Colyn pours more tea to ward off the chill. "He called himself Thorn, but somehow I doubt that was his real name."
Kane looks away, then says, "Aye, many names do the fair folk give, and many roads do they travel."
Thragga grunts, emphatically. "Selandri!" he says, as if that explains it all.
Elianel bundles her cloak about her and looks away. "I must rest, I'm afraid." The wear and tear and sheer terror of the last days has taken its toll and she looks about ready to weep.
Colyn clumsily gets to his one foot as she rises, but she beckons him to remain seated.
Kane says to Elianel, "If you need anything please ask."
Elianel nods and sweeps away into the night, barely containing her grief.
Khom-Bei looks at Kane with a raised eyebrow, "She needs a friend, Kane."
Kane says, "That she has, Khom-Bei. I assure you."