Riders of Tethra Chapter 2
Chapter Two
The boat skimmed along the surface of the water and Hunter noticed that they were being moved by some sort of dolphin-like creatures. The ride was incredibly smooth and swift.
"It will take about an hour to reach the other side," Sayer announced. The boy reached into a small locker and brought out some sandwiches and two bottles of something to drink.
Hunter hadn't realized how hungry he was until he tucked into the hearty bread with some delicious meat inside. He hadn't eaten since yesterday now that he thought about it. The drink was a sparkly juice unrecognizable to his taste but nonetheless wonderful. After all of the serious conversation during the previous hour, both boys were content to admire the tree covered shoreline and velvet smooth water upon which they rode. Neither felt the need to speak. They simply allowed their bodies to soak up the warmth of what Hunter assumed was their sun and their thoughts to float wildly. Sayer had said he would not ride Hunter ever again without his permission.
At last the boat began a turn to the left, slowly maneuvering up to a thick growth of brush along the shore. Oddly, when they reached it, the foliage seemed to slip along the side of the craft allowing it to disappear from the lake and enter a long narrow channel. Ten minutes later, they came to rest along a small wooden pier that seemed not to be connected to anything but a vacant wooded shoreline.
"We'll have to sit here for about thirty minutes," Sayer stated. "The woods have eyes, which may be friends or foe. If the path is not safe, a master will meet us here to escort us. If we don't see a master in the next half hour, we can head for Lorenwood. They gave me the directions before I came to get you for today's path."
"Can't they just send you mental messages?" Hunter asked.
"Maybe they can, I mean to each other, but I'm not trained. Even though I can ride, I don't think they want me running around in their heads for path directions. Who knows what else I might find out?" Sayer laughed.
"I'm glad you're not reading my mind now," Hunter sighed.
"Why?" Sayer asked keeping his promise.
"The last three hours have been like years, Sayer. I feel like I have known you forever. I feel like you are my best friend -- no secrets. And after our playing grab-ass back there, I feel other things too."
"Um, well so do I, Hunter. But then I have known you for six months. Whether I wanted you to or not, you became a part of me in my head. I guess I am a little jealous."
"Of what?"
"Not of what, of who -- I know how you felt about David. And David has noticed you. He is just as scared to approach you as you are to go to him."
Hunter thought for a few moments. "I guess that's nice to know especially when I go back. But I haven't thought about him since we met except when you brought him up." Another pause then, "Sayer, do I have to go back? I mean if I like it here?"
"I don't know. It is something I will ask my master when I get one. As far as I know, you are only the second Earth person who has ever crossed over -- or at least crossed over and been allowed to remember."
"Please don't tell me they'll take this away from me if I have to go back," Hunter exclaimed somewhat alarmed.
"You thought it was a dream in the beginning. I suppose they could make you believe that. It might be better that way, not remembering or suffering with knowing there is someplace you would rather be."
"Tell them I want to remember, Sayer. Tell them unless they promise that, I'll just go back now. You said you needed me. I think that means they need me too. If they need me, then I get to make some rules too."
"Hehehe," Sayer giggled. "Maybe you're already a master! We can go in now."
Sayer pushed through a small gap in the trees. Once on the other side of the gap, a narrow leaf-strewn path wended its way through beautiful lush forest. The path split at least a dozen times during the forty minutes they walked and rose quickly in altitude. At each fork, Sayer made a decision which trail to follow. Hunter put his jacket back on.
"How do you know which one to pick?" Hunter asked.
"They gave me the key directions." he answered. "It changes all the time. Only one person has the key each day. That person is called the pathminder. I guess a trained rider can be sent out of the village because he can ride the pathminder to find his way back. They told me I was the youngest person to be allowed out alone. But I can't ride the pathminder so they had to make it easy for me. That's why I think meeting you was so important. It was risky for them to send me with memorized directions."
Hunter didn't ask any more questions. His mind, all his senses, were now focused on soaking up this beautiful place, so alien to the desert environment from which he had come. The shade was deep, the smells lush and sweet and the birds sang a melody like none other he had ever heard. A large bird with an impressive wingspan flew over. Its golden feathers sparkled in the sunlight. It made no sound.
"What's that bird?" Hunter asked pointing at the creature floating effortlessly on the currents.
"That's a hathor. Strange we should see one actually. They're very rare. Villagers say they can fly the whole Tethran world in a day. I don't think so, but it's a legend."
At last they came to a high wooden wall seemingly gate-less.
"Follow me exactly," Sayer warned. "This is the entrance to Lorenwood. If you don't know where to approach you could be shot."
"How do you kn... - never mind -- the pathminder. I guess I can never leave here without you then," Hunter said, thinking to himself at this moment, he never wanted to go anywhere without Sayer anyway.
Abruptly, a door swung open, a door that when closed looked simply like part of the wall. The two boys passed through. At first, there seemed to be very few buildings and they reminded Hunter of pictures he had seen of old Norse compounds. People stood in the doorways, nodding politely as they walked by. It appeared that the villagers were expecting them. Children stood in the yards, staring then waving. Sayer waved back and soon Hunter was doing the same. More and more buildings began to crowd the main street or whatever one called the earthen road. Other smaller roads crossed the one on which they were walking. Sayer chose one and turned to the right. About halfway to the next crossroad, a pleasant house with planter boxes of flowers under the windows came into view and next, a very comely woman ran to Sayer and embraced him.
"Thank the Creator you're home safely," she cooed while trying to hug the breath out of the boy. Sayer returned the hug warmly then turned to Hunter.
"This is Hunter," he said introducing his companion to his mother.
"I'm Jayner," she smiled and hugged Hunter as well.
"Nice to meet you," Hunter said politely sort of wallowing in the feeling of love that emanated from this mother, so different from his own.
She motioned for them to come into the house where she placed steaming bowls of stew in front of each of them with heavy rustic bread. The strange drink was also provided. Although they had already eaten a sandwich, they were still teenage boys, predictably always hungry. Finally full, both boys pushed back from the table and moved into the living area where a warm wood fire crackled. Plush chairs faced it and Hunter was surprised to notice only books lined the shelves along with nick-knacks. There was no sign of anything electronic, TV, phones, Playstations, nothing like that. There was some sort of game board on the low table between the chairs. A couch also provided seating. They each took a chair and Jayner sat smiling on the couch.
"I am so glad you are here," she said with a sigh of relief.
"What's the big deal Mom?" Sayer asked listlessly after his big meal.
"Torin raided the outer villages last night. Twelve boys were taken. Fourteen adults were killed but no children this time."
"Fuck!" Sayer exclaimed then covered his mouth. It seemed that this word was, as on Earth, was not acceptable in polite conversation. "Sorry, Mom," he said blushing.
"I didn't know which way you were coming back home, son," Jayner sighed, ignoring Sayers expletive. "They wouldn't tell me. All they said was that you were safe and that you had reached Hunter."
"We're here now, Mom," Sayer said. "It's ok. But we're tired and it's getting late. Do you know what's happening tomorrow?"
"Only a little, my boy," she responded. "You two will be allowed to stay here tonight and they said this would be your last night at home."
"What!?" Sayer exclaimed.
"You are to meet your master tomorrow. They said it was the first time a boy as young as you ever started with a master. From what I understand, Hunter is to go with you, as your companion I guess. They told me that you will always be able to visit me but that you will be very busy depending on how you do with training."
Sayer sighed deeply. It was what he had always wished and hoped for. It was where he expected to be, somewhere between his fourteenth and fifteenth year. He wasn't sure he was ready to leave the comfortable love of his mother but he knew he must. He was glad Hunter would be with him but he didn't understand how a boy who could not ride would be included. He got up and gave his mother a hug and a kiss. "You will always be with me, Mom, even when I am riding far away."
She smiled and petted his soft blond hair, weeping quietly so he would not notice. Hunter felt tears welling up too, wondering what it must be like to have a mother who loved and cared so deeply.
"It's time for you two to sleep now," she finally said getting up from the couch. "Hunter can sleep in your room. Let him use your brother's bed."
"Brother?" Hunter said to himself but kept his mouth shut. He knew this was not the time to ask more questions. He thought about his mother back home and realized that if what Sayer had told him was true, she was still sleeping off her booze-filled previous night. His beautiful morning in the hills was still there, waiting for him to return if he ever did. He knew that it wasn't as simple as just announcing he wanted to go back. There was so much more than that, so much more he did not know.
He followed Sayer up the narrow stairs to a lofted bedroom; high windows circled the junction between wall and ceiling allowing moonlight to filter through them. There was a silver glow as Jayner closed the door wishing them peaceful sleep. Sayer removed all but his underwear and crawled into his bed. Hunter did the same, burrowing between the covers of the second bed in the room, Sayer's brother's.
"Should I ask about your brother?" he said to the darkness.
"He's dead. Killed in a raid from Ildipur. He was seventeen, an accomplished rider. Like I said, you can't ride everyone. He missed a clue and an arrow passed through his heart. For some reason, he always seemed jealous of me but I still miss him. He was a hero."
"Oh shit man, I am so sorry," Hunter said softly.
"It's okay Hunter. It was over four years ago, about the time I started to ride accidentally. I couldn't ride him though. He'd been taught to block. But I think he loved me. I know I loved him."
The silence and moonlight took over the room once more. Hunter looked back over his day. Was it just a day, only one? It seemed like much longer, as if he belonged here with Sayer. He felt the rush of sleep overcoming him. "Sayer?" he called.
"Yeah?"
"I think I like it better when you read my mind. How about you read it when you want to and if I want you to not do it, I'll tell you?
"Why?" Sayer said to the darkness.
"Because you know all my secrets. You share them with me. And you know the one I haven't told anyone."
"I do know it, Hunter," the voice across the room said. "There is more to be told but now is not the time. Just relax and feel you belong, because it seems you do."
Hunter felt tears beginning to fill his eyes. His breath was quick and a dizziness came over him, the dizziness that comes with being struck by overwhelming emotion. He stared into the darkness but his mind only saw Sayer. There was no need to speak. If Sayer was riding him then he knew. And if not, well, he knew anyway. Nothing else needed to be said. Hunter closed his eyes and began drifting off into sleep. He prayed that when he awoke, this would not be a dream.