1.      Part Three / Chapter One

Refat slid off Blearan’s back and stayed back as the Runner went on ahead. 

 

::Who are you?:: Blearan questioned the young Runners.

 

The two Runners  were perplexed, only their dam and sire had ever spoken to them like this, and only they each to the other.  Finally, after much debate between them, Kaos responded.  ::Kaos be me and he be Inval.::

 

Blearan acknowledged Refat’s silent inquiry regarding the two boys.  ::and they who ride you?::

 

Inval responded. ::milk brothers::

 

White space

 

The Elders and Riders do their best to organize the wounded while keeping them under guard.  Not fully trusting them to not want to fight yet, the Wind Riders were keeping the prisoners under as best a guard they could manage while having the unwounded aid their bleeding compatriots up the bridge and to safety.  The Elders at first argue against this, but Refat swears he was told to do it by another Rider, but he does not know which one.

 

Once the wounded begin arriving in the Home Lands the healers take over.  There are only a few of them to begin with so they begin on the worst cases first, that is the worst that have a chance at survival.

 

Many refuse help, begging to be allowed to die.  The healers know these have scars in the mind that probably will not heal even with time and move on.    By the time the healers have each gotten a patient or three that they are tending to immediately, there are still more wounded coming.  They tell those who are bringing the wounded to put them ‘over there’.

 

When Refat arrives up the bridge with the boy he was going to question the minute he woke up, he noticed the wounded were segregated into the elements.  This did not set well with him.  Worse was the way the unwounded were snarling at each other while they protected their element’s wounded.

 

 

 

White Space 

 

Eventually the wounded from along the far edge of the battle are brought in.  Among these are several women who were not riding.  Their wounds were mostly superficial with one exception, and the other women were assisting her to the healers.

 

“My lord, this one, she blocked them from running when you began winning.”

 

“The mages they hit her with something.”

 

“I saw it.  More like a light than anything else.”  The other one nodded her agreement.

 

The healer looked at her, then gasped.  “Mercy sake.  Come, can you carry her over here?”  he indicated a place near the best healer, and near the two lads Refat insisted on watching closely as they brought the Mages to the bridge.

 

“Johan, I can not look at another this very second.”

 

“This one you will.”

 

“Only if it be the Lord or the Lady themselves.” The healer said as she turned around.  The pan of water slid from her hands and crashed to the floor waking one of the dark headed young man.  Refat is right there though and standing between him and their lost lady.

 

“Lady Parya, can you hear me?” the healer asks softly, whipping Parya’s brow with a fresh cloth.  “Come around Lady, we need you, your people needs you.”  

 

White Space

 

Erel sits up a bit groggily.  He’s not much hurt.

 

What ever they had given him to knock him out had given him a headache and now the room he was in was spinning as well.  He sat up to the side facing Aen, who was hurt a bit more than he should have been.  He’s been superficially cleaned of the blood that had covered him and now his hands are covered in bandages. 

 

“Whar be tha hawses we be ridden?” he asked the room.

 

Refat turned and looked at him.  “Horses?”

 

“Aye, ye know hairy runner beasts twenty hands high, stallions both.”

 

“Hairy runner beasts?” Refat repeated amused at this child.  Obviously he didn’t know what he rode, or that they were bonded brothers from birth. 

 

“Do you mean the two Runners you rode in on?  They are in the stables with the other Runners.  You may go see them when you have answered some questions. Do you have a name?”

 

“Erel be me.  He was hurt.”  Erel said, looking a bit perplexed.

 

Refat nodded at him, that he could tell the Runner had been hurt only confirmed his suspicions.  “One of them was hurt, which one is yours?”

 

“They look the same mostly, motley brownish, the color of sand.  But mine has twin streaks of white right between the eyes, and his,” he indicates Aen, “has none.”

 

 

 

Refat closes his eyes for a moment, then smiles.  “Yes, your Runner was injured, but the injury was simple and he was a well behaved patient.  The healers have already seen to him and he is resting comfortably.”

 

“I do not understand.”

 

“Today, when you ran from the mages, you and your friend there did something very few boys are able to do unsupervised.  You rode the winds, and that completed a bonding between you and your Runners that only death can break.  You are now a Rider.  A Wind Rider.” 

 

“But that makes no sense.”  Erel is a tad bit confused.  ((and so am I))

 

“Why is that, Erel?”

 

“Because our mam, she be a daft hawswoman for Laird Razzan.  We figured him to be our sire.  He had to be, he gave us his fire.”  And to prove the point Erel opened his hand and called the Eternal Flame.

 

“A Fire Laird bound to a Wind Runner.” Refat whispered under his breath.  “I was not imagining it.” Then louder, “and him?”

 

“My brother.”

 

“Which is eldest?”

 

Erel shrugged.  “Which ever of us climbed out first I reckon.  Mam carried the two of us together.”

 

Refat watched him for a few more minutes.  Then Parya groaned and drew his attention. 

 

Curious Erel turned and looked too.  “Mam?”  

 

Refat and the healer both turned and looked at him.  Refat spoke.  “What did you say?”

 

Erel blushed.  “Mam.. she be me mam.”

 

“What’s her name, boy?”

 

“Pya of  XXXXXX.” 

 

Refat looked at the healer.   “That’s the name of the town where…” he looked sharply at Erel then at Aen.  “Did she have any ‘hairy runner beasts’ with her when you saw her last?”

 

“Aye.  The stud she had been using, and a mare.  Huet and Noni.”

 

Refat nodded.  “That be them.  Well seems like you and your brother have a few more surprises coming your way.” Refat begins to explain but Parya wakes up. 

 

She sees familiar people and most of all Erel.  Things get kind of teary.

 

White Space

 

The mage army passes near the village where they are living and Thuer can sense Aralin more clearly than he’s been able to since they were separated.  He fears that if he does not follow he will lose him and not find him again.  Parya knows what will happen to Thuer if he’s caught so she and Nonra decide to go with him to keep him out of trouble.  She has been preparing for this day for a long while, at least the separating part.  She had been planning to send the boys back to the Home Lands while she continued to look for Aralin alone.  This would work as well, even if she did not think they were old enough to make the journey all the way to the Home Lands on foot. 

 

Instead she would send them to Razzan for a few years then they could make the journey.

 

White Space 

 

Then she leaves riding Nonra letting Thuer take the lead.  Nonra and Thuer both gave their sons instructions on how to get their milk brothers to the Moon Bridge and when to take them.  Thuer also explained to Inval and Kaos that it was now their duty to protect Aen and Erel at the cost of their lives, but if it came down to a choice between the two, then they were to protect Aen or all the sacrifice would be for naught.  Neither young Runner understood, but both agreed.  They would do as their sire wished. 

 

White Space 

 

Several turns of the moon later Parya is found trailing the Mage’s army of mixed Riders and Runners.  There are also humans and horses.  She notices when they ride out, the humans ride the Runners with few exceptions and the Riders ride the horses, also with few exceptions.  There were no milk sibling pairs that she could see.  It shocked her to find out this was how the mages were keeping the Runners bound to the Below Lands.

 

White Space 

 

While she is contemplating what she is seeing she is caught.  Dressed as a commoner with work worn hands and a stained and tattered dress she might have passed had Thuer not tried to protect her so well. 

 

“What is this?  Runner Beasts?”

 

“Nay, My lord, hawses.  D’liver’n hawses.” Parya bobbed her head and bent her knees as she had learned to do so well among the village folk.

 

“No, I think these are Runner Beasts, and I think they are protecting you.”  The male stepped closer and Thuer pawed the ground again. 

 

“Found these un’s me did, sirrah, took to the leads.”  She held out her hand.  “See.”

 

He reached out and placed his hand over hers.  “Runner Beasts are such funny creatures.  They only like certain types of other creatures.  Like Riders, or Milk Siblings.”  He ran his hand up her arm.  “Now I know you can not be the Rider of the male, nor his milk sibling, however he may follow you if she were his mate or simply if you were a Rider, depending on how desperate he is.”  He makes some gesture and another person comes out from hiding.  This person slits Nonra’s throat while the Mage forces Parya to watch.  When Nonra is dead he tugs at Thuer’s lead.  He does not protest.  Parya does not protest either.  Together they go to the Mage’s camp.  Payra is Below bound.  Aralin is no longer in camp.  He had left in the middle of the night.

 

White Space

 

Since that time she has served the camp as a whore for her bread and cheese moldy that has been.  Or a punching bag, when the man needed one.  The presence of the mages brought out the worst in the men around them.  For the first few days she wept for Nonra’s death, then she discovered how the Runners who survived their Rider’s death were living and she was glad her milk sister had been the first to go.  Parya knew Nonra could handle much, but that would have been too much for any intelligent being.

2.    Chapter Break

Parya confirms some of his story.  However, she is very ill and the healers do not wish to over stress her.  Aen has yet to wake up good.  He’s been fading in and out.

 

Refat would like to have each boy tested.  Unlike the Fire test, this will not kill the boy if he fails.  Erel agrees to the test.  He is not afraid, and he is curious himself to know who his father is.  The Elder who comes to talk to him says this test can tell if he is an ‘Heir to the Wind’ and thus is able to sit the throne of the Wind Folk.  There have never been more than one at a time.  Which is why all the Wind Kings were young and only sat the throne until their sons mastered the wind.  Erel again agrees and Aen agrees too, both are willing to determine who is what.  Refat just wants someone to tell him what to do. 

 

White Space 

 

The Elders agree and each boy is tested. 

 

Erel agrees to be tested first.  The first thing he must do is call out to his Runner.  When the Elder is informed Erel just found out he just had a Runner he was allowed to be given verbal instruction only on how to do this. 

 

Erel manages to do it with some difficulty.  However it was not nearly as hard as calling the Eternal Flame the first few times he had to do that.

 

The second thing he had to do was Call the Wind.  This one he applies the knowledge of the flame to a different element and the Winds respond.  Erel realizes he and Aen have been using this little trick for several years now, particularly when they hunt.  It always amazed everyone when they could find the ‘upwind’ position no matter how the wind started out blowing that day.

 

Pleased with his progress, the Elder declares Erel is nothing less than a Rider by birth.  Then he gives him the test that only one person can pass.  Only the ‘Heir to the Wind’ can call the Riders with a compulsion.  A King or Queen can give another the power temporarily, with a regency or the like, but once their first born masters the wind as Erel just demonstrated, then his days were numbered on the throne. 

 

Erel is nervous.  He has seen many of the Wind Folk by this point and has begun to realize that he looks nothing like them.  Aen however could mingle and no one would notice he was not born and raised here.  Maybe he was not a Wind Rider.  He begins to get more nervous and Refat gives him a friendly shoulder pat that almost knocks him down.

 

“You’re doing well, continue.”

 

Erel received his directions, then calls out to the Riders.  Those nearby come without hesitation, those further away can protest, but they still come.  Runners knicker in the stalls.  Kaos knickers back and they settle down.

 

Refat is pleased, the boy was telling the truth.  Then he sends Erel out and calls Aen in.  Aen stands in the center of the area and Calls first his Runner then the Winds.  When he is given the third task he looks to the Elder and nods.  He closes his eyes and Calls.  The Wind Riders nearby drop what they are doing and come, the injured try to get to their feet to come to his call.  Refat is amazed, so is the Elder.  Then Fire Riders ring the edges of the mass.  Erel is standing among them.  He smiles at his brother. 

 

However they test the same with differing intensity in two of the tests. 

 

“We have two ‘Heirs to the Wind’.”  The Elders proclaim.  “Both have passed.”

 

“Is that possible?” a healer asks.

 

“Only if they are Milk Brothers.” The Elder responded.  Refat nodded. 

 

“Their Runners claim it is so.”

 

“Then it is so.  Why do you question them?”

 

“Because they also are able to work Fire, Elder.  Both of them.”

 

Erel and Aen try to find out who (exactly) is causing the problems (the Mages) by asking the Out Riders. 

 

They know very little, but when all the pieces come together they begin to make sense to Erel who had actually been paying attention when Thrat had been giving them lessons in war, history, and the like.

 

White Space 

 

There are three mages.  Kanarg was the mage in charge of this particular portion of the of the army. The main army is under the direction of Torchar, the master mind behind the whole invasion and plan to rid the Middle Lands (as the Mages refer to the Below Lands) of the influences of the Elementals who live in the Upper Lands (a.k.a. Home Lands).   Kanarg was sent to once and for all retrieve all members of the royal house of the Wind Folk.  His scriers told him there would be two born on the sands today.  He came expecting infants, not half grown boys wielding swords and fire.  That was his mistake and his got his arse whooped — erm, killed, for it.

 

Darbazam shuttles human slaves to the Below Lands for Torchar.  These slaves are children and Elders.  They are at no time referred to as slaves, however, in the case of the Elders, many who were causing trouble did not wake in the mornings and children were promised all kinds of goodies to go quietly.  Many were severely traumatized and would have gone just out of fear of not getting hurt themselves.  He is the weakest of the three mages, so he surrounds himself with a bit more muscle. 

 

Torchar – the

 

It is mainly the children they are interested in.  Torchar believes that these children of the elementals, especially the more pure ones (the children of the nobles and most importantly the kings) hold magic, and he has been killing them and/ or  performing experiments on them to determine what makes them able to call the elements.  Mages must learn spells 

 

UNFINISHED

3.    Chapter Break

[Thuer] ::He fought bravely, but he was captured with the rest.  They believe him to be a Water Folk of that I am certain.  The beasts separated the male from the female, the young from the old, leaving only the sucklings with their mothers.  The young were taken first away from the battle, then while the others watched, the infirm and elders were slaughtered outright.  It was then I took to the wind, but I heard their screams.  Every injured Rider – they slaughtered, then the Runners of the Riders who were whole.  There was not a sworn nor bonded pair left whole.::  Thuer shook.  Not much frightened the battle scared veteran of the wind, but this had.  ::Yet, my milk brother lives.  He lives because I ran like a coward.  I might have been able to have gotten him out, but I ran.:: 

 

“You did the right thing, Thuer, it was a difficult decision.  You had to choose who to protect, your milk brother or his unborn.  Now, make the commitment to his unborn that you made to him, and swear to see it through.  Can you do that?”

 

[Thuer] ::That I can.::

 

“Then do it.”

 

::Yes, Parya. He lives.::

 

“So long as he lives then he will try to come home, and so long as he lives we must try to bring him home.  That is your duty, Thuer.”

 

::Yes, my Queen.::

 

White Space

 

“Did Aralin reach his destination?”

 

::Yes, my Queen.  He was to meet with King Kappan of the Fire Folk on the New Moon Next.  That would be this coming new moon, Lady Parya, and he was told to bring his heir.::

 

“His heir is in my belly.”

 

::That is why he was coming back, to get thee and thy unborn, to take thee to the meeting.  Aralin did not like the thought of thee traveling, but if it meant thy people’s  continued safety he knew thy would be willing.::

 

“He knows me well, my Aralin.  How does Nonra feel about travel?”

 

::Nonra?  My Queen she is near her time.  She can not travel, think of the unborn.::

 

“I am thinking of the unborn.  Her unborn and mine.  They are to be milk siblings, Thuer.”

 

:If they are of the same gender.:: 

 

“Thuer, I think you do not want your unborn to share milk with my child.”

 

::It is not that, my Queen, but that thy child will be heir and will require of their milk sibling the same things my sire and dam required of me.  It is a difficult decision to make.::

 

Parya laughed.  “I don’t think it is a decision.  Fate often gives us just what we can handle and no more, it is Chance we have to watch, she likes to test our comfort zones.”

 

Thuer snorted.  ::Thank thee, my Queen.::

 

White Space 

 

“You have no need to thank me.  We are going to make that meeting, Aralin or none.  The heir and I will be there.  Can you chase the winds on that wound?”

 

::I can, but Nonra…::

 

“Will be coming with us.”

 

::MiLady! I protest!::

 

“Protest all you wish, I am Queen here and my word is law until Aralin returns.  We will leave tomorrow.”  She informed Gelary who also protested much, and had to be put in his place as well, then she informed him that while she was gone he was to hold in regency the Home Lands for Aralin, her, or their heir, whomever returned first.  She also informs him to have a full squadron of Out Riders ready to ride with her when the bridge opens the following day.

 

He thinks that if there are none ready then she can not go, but she fools him by ordering them herself and only giving them minutes to prepare as she rides down the bridge unescorted. 

 

White Space 

 

By the time she reaches the Below Lands she has a full squadron behind and above her.  They travel for several days at a reasonable pace as Parya rides Thuer most the time.  Nonra is just too heavy with foal herself to be ridden, it would not be fair. 

 

Several times late at night Parya has dreams that come unbidden, the name Razzan always stays with her after the dreams.  She knows the name of Kappan’s youngest son is Razzan and he has a keep in the general direction they are headed, but she knows nothing about him and nothing about what the dreams could possibly mean.

 

White Space

 

Parya had spread her blanket out next to Nonra and Thuer stood over them on guard as he did every night.  He would only truly rest when he delivered them safely to a stable and Aralin or back home and Aralin, until then, he was on duty.  It was his fault Aralin had been lost.  The moon was a mere sliver; the new moon would be soon, and with it, the council. 

 

The moon had been lost behind the treetops when Aralin finally dozed off.  Two other Runners swore to watch the pair of breeding females as they slept, although they teased Aralin for being over protective about his mare and his milk brother’s mate as well. 

 

The attack came just before dawn when dreams were their thickest and nothing stirred in the camp, even the sentries who should have been watching.  

 

Parya wakes up to screaming Runners and Riders fighting an unseen foe.  Immediately she calls up the winds and nothing happens.  Something is wrong here, very wrong that a Wind Rider and Queen would not be able to call up the winds. 

 

Then she seeks out the most basic of the majiks she knows.  The magic of a woman.  Thuer places himself bodily between them and their foes and Parya is forced to climb astride Nonra.  Nonra understands this need and bears the weight of her milk sister willingly. 

 

Riders are falling all around them, but none are able to take to the wind.  The mages, it must be the mages.

 

Parya calls to the moon goddess, sister of all to hide her and her protectors from their assailants.  Not having the proper gifts or sacrifices for the ritual, she uses her dagger and pricks her thumb offering the blood of her body to the goddess.

 

Her offering must have been accepted because the battle ends shortly.   She and Nonra are the only two unscathed and Thuer has only a few scratches.  Everyone else will need to stay and heal or seek medical attention.  She informs them of her intention to press onward. 

 

They protest.

 

She tells them she will go to the nearest Fire Laird’s Keep and seek help.  If her memory served her correctly it should be Laird Razzan’s Keep.

 

 

4.   Chapter break

It was dusk when they finally made it to the keep.  The serfs were heading in for the night so the gates could be shut.  Thuer moved to get at the end of the line, Nonra at his side.  On his back, Parya rocked, singing to herself not too loudly.  She did not want to appear dangerous, only daft.  People around her turned and stared, many warded themselves against whatever evil she might be bearing.  Parya smiled and sang just a tad louder. 

 

When it was their turn to pass the gate the guard stepped up close.  “Show your wares if ye be sellin’.”

 

Parya giggled a silly giggle and lifted her head.  “Wanna be seein’ me wares do ye?” One breast exposed itself from behind her hair as she moved.  She wrapped her arm around her belly, “This be what be wha’ me wares be getting’ me.  Still wanna be seein’?”

 

The guard shook his head.  “What are you doing with the horses?”

 

“Ah.” Parya gave him a wide-eyed look, “me be thinkin’ of breedin’ them, but me thinks they beat me to it.”  She cackled.  “Ye be thinkin’ his Lairdship might be interested in that wenches git?”

 

The guard stepped out and gave Nonra a good look over.  “He might, if it be by the pair.”

 

Parya cackled again.  “Well then, tha’ we won’ be a know’en ‘til the wee one makes a personal appearance.  Maybe me and they should come in, to wait her out.”  She lifted one breast and rubbed its aching underside, knowing where this man’s thoughts were centered.  “Maybe we can discuss other — transactions.”  He nodded.  And with the subtlest of movements, she signaled Thuer.  As Thuer moved off, she heard the other guard ask who she was. 

 

“A wisp of a girl, been well planted by someone though.  Trying to sell horses.  Riding in here nude like that she must be daft.”

 

Parya smiled, this was going well.  [Nonra]::What now, Milk Sister?::

 

“Now we find the stables.” Parya whispered then started singing nursery songs mixed with bawdy songs both slightly off key.

 

White Space 

 

The Fire-Laird’s keep was set up like many others with cleared farmlands surrounding a stone outer wall tall as two men.  It was well fortified, and this pleased Thuer.  Not that keeping the unborn safe would be easy for a Runner anywhere but Above, being inside fortified walls did make him a little more at ease.  It also told him much about the kind of man Prince Razzan was.  The guard did not molest Parya, so her defunct status as moon-struck would keep her safe until Razzan could be found and place her under his protection, then no one would harm her.

 

Passing through the gate, and past the lust stirred guard, Thuer entered the barbican and slowly plodded toward the next gate.  This guard only glanced over them and sent them inward.  The outer ward was bustling with activity, but the stables were not difficult to locate.  Thuer was pleased to see another Runner and a Rider, maybe this mission had hope after all. 

 

“My lord, Queen Parya is now missing.  The Wind Folk fear her dead along with the child she carries.  The riders and runners she rode with are all harmed or dead, but neither she nor her runner is among the fallen.  Thuer is also among the missing.  The most of my men are helping them back to their bridge.  I know I would want the help back if I were stuck in the Below Lands.”

 

“Do not worry about how I can handle things.”  Thuer recognized his voice and headed toward it.  Prince Razzan would help them. 

 

“The Laird went’a wenching one bonny night in Tzusor.  Woke up a’wedded to an alluring whore.  He tried to run and he tried to hide, but her seven brothers saw that he kept his bride.”  Parya sang loudly at Nonra’s request so that the Laird did not leave before they had their audience. 

 

White Space 

 

Prince Razzan turned slowly.  He had not heard that particular tune since the night he brought his wife home to his parents.  His cousin wrote it, and only a few people knew it.  As far as he knew, Tzaskela had never heard it.

 

“Who are you?” Razzan demanded of the woman on horseback.

 

“I be bringin’ ye a bairn, My lord.”  Parya remained seated on Thuer’s back regally. “Horseflesh for ye stable.  Ifen ye be buyin.  Or do ye fear she be me, the lassie whom ye seek but canna’ find?”

 

“She’s nude, Razzan.” Tzaskela whispered, “and pregnant.”

 

“Always one for stating the obvious my dear,” he kissed her cheek and touched the swell of her abdomen.  Then he turned to the moon-struck women on the Runner’s back.  “Bringing me a bairn, says you?  Where did you steal the horses?”

 

“Ach, me no steal these beasties.  This whelp’s sire handed ‘em over all nice like.  Wanted the wee one raised proper he said an’ he didna be trusten me to do it.”

 

“And if I say they are stolen?”

 

“I be sayen ye be daft.  The wench followed without lead, ye call that stolen?”

 

Razzan listened to her speech and nodded.  “Well then, if you stole them some one will be coming to claim them.  You can stay until they are claimed or until you are able to move on.”

 

Tzaskela gasped.  “I do not want that – mad woman in my home.  She may try to harm me or the lads when they are born.”  Razzan looked torn between pleasing his wife and doing the right thing.

 

“The wench be foaling soon.  Methinks a place in the stables would suffice.”

 

Razzan nodded in agreement.  It was fair, and both would be happy.

 

White Space  

 

Laird Razzan told Capitan Thrat to give the woman the largest stall at the end for her and her mare, and the smaller stall next to it for the stallion, but Parya leads both Runners into the large stall with her.  That night a maid from the main keep brought down clothing for Parya, sack dresses they were as she was so far gone in her pregnancy nothing much else would fit properly, but she scorned them, preferring to go nude even though she knew it caused the Riders no end of trouble.

 

Ten days later, on the first night of the full moon after their missed appointment with the Fire King, Nonra went into labor.   When the moon was at it’s apex a single wet foal lay resting in the straw next to Parya.  However instead of laying down next to her foal and cleaning it, Nonra remains standing her head hanging low.  Thinking something wrong Parya examines Nonra and discovers there is another foal.  She encourages Nonra to deliver the second foal and after much coaxing she does.  This time she cleans both foals and lays with them until they are ready to stand.  Parya however is cramping badly. 

 

White Space  

Thuer worried. Parya’s time was very near.  Nonra delivered twin colts on the first night of the full moon when it was at it’s apex.  The foal’s milk-siblings would be born within a day or two at the most, before the end of the full mooned nights.  Parya was showing all the early signs of labor, but did not recognize what her own body was trying to tell her.  Nonra told him to leave her be.  The more she moved the better it would be for the delivery. 

 

They had been at the keep for ten days and Razzan had not been out to see her.  If he did not come soon she would have to find a way to get in to see him.  Soon.  There were other Runners in the stables, quite a few actually, but Thuer did not want to expose himself as being who he was and ask them for help unless it were absolutely necessary.  Doing so could cause Parya more harm than good in the long run and his primary objective was to guard and protect them all.

 

White Space 

 

On his way to the chapel one of the stable boys came running from the stables yelling for the midwife.  Knowing the only person who could possibly be delivering in the stables, Razzan goes to investigate.  He finds Thuer blocking the entrance of the stall with his body, Nonra standing between him and two foals who were laying in the straw, and Parya bent over double in the corner clutching her heaving stomach.  There was a wild look in her eye and he knew she was too far gone to move her, but he had to get past the two horses before he could help her.  Still clutching his son to his chest he opened the stall door, although Thrat yelled at him not to do it.  Thuer moved aside as Razzan entered and snorted in his face.  Nonra kept her body between him and her foals until Thuer pulled the stall door shut again with Razzan inside, then she thrust her nose in the bundle in his arm. 

 

The baby cried.

 

Thrat asked what was going on and Razzan tried to explain that Tzaskela had given birth and he was on his way to the chapel with the sacrifice when this commotion broke loose. 

 

The midwife shows up, but Thuer will not let her in.

 

The midwife must talk Razzan through the delivery, but he must put his son somewhere.  He knows he must not let the sacrifice out of his sight, so he lays the child on the straw still wrapped in the blanket.  Nonra pulls the infant over to her and the foals when Razzan is not looking, the next he looks, she is licking him clean.  This is when Razzan knows Nonra is a Runner and so, possibly, are her foals. 

 

Note: C 

 

Parya is delivered of first one infant boy then a second.  When the work is done she holds them out to Nonra, who licks first one then the other.  The first squalls at her touch, the second quiets.  Parya took the boy that squalled at the mare’s touch and held him out to the Laird.

 

“This is your sacrifice.  These two are mine to be raised proper like.  That’s what their father wanted.”

 

Razzan heard her words, and he nodded.  He saw how the Runner rejected her babe and accepted his.  He did not know which element she rode, but it was not fire.  “Yes, I think that is what their father wanted.  Do your best by them.”

 

“I’ll do my duty.  You do yours.”  She held the squalling baby out again.  Razzan picked up the cloth and wrapped the squalling sacrifice.  Thuer let him pass, then stood protecting his charges, all of them.

 

Note: D 

 

“The other child, mam, what ever happened to it?” Aen asked his mother.

 

“I do not know, Aen, Laird Razzan took the child and I never hear of it again.”

5.    Chapter break

Parya tells Aen and Erel that their fathers wanted them to grow up together and learn from one another.  She makes them understand they have a job to do and they alone can do it because they alone can understand the mages.  They were raised as human children, they think that way.

 

Then she tells them about the seven ways to command the elements: the sacrifice; demonstration of love; prayer; shout; music; dance; and the way of the mystery: it is a combination of all the others and should never be done alone, yet it is the most personal of all.

 

Each element responds differently to each type of command.  Aen realizes Laird Razzan was trying to tell them something similar but was unable to for some unknown reason.

 

As Parya keeps talking the two boys begin to have a hope that their mother will be well.  But the healers know she will die, it is only a matter of time and a very short one at that.  They alert the elders to the dilemma so that they might try to urge her to confess which boy she birthed.

 

Parya keeps telling Aen and Erel that she is proud of them.  They made it home, and they did it alone.  That alone was a test of their readiness for the test they would have ahead. 

 

This is when she tells them Aralin is still out there.  He was alive a couple ten days ago, she saw him with her own eyes.  “Go find him, and bring him home.” She tells them. 

 

They agree they will, but neither go, they are unwilling to leave her side as they can see her fading before their eyes.

 

White Space 

 

Slowly Parya slips away.  Her life blood seeping from a wound the healers can not control.  She whispers in her last breaths that both boys were her sons, but Aralin fathered Aen only.  With that dying declaration and Aen having passed the testing already, the Elders were ready to proclaim him king, but Aen refuses to take the throne so long as his father may still be alive.

 

Refat however refused to take over the Out Riders so Aen and Erel decide between them that Erel might be a better choice as the new Capitan.  The other Riders had felt his Call and they agreed to follow his command. 

 

 

 

6.   Chapter Break

“Honored ones, what do you know of this war?”  Erel asked of the nearest Elder after their mother died.  “We have heard rumors, but not much else.”

 

“Years ago, many years before your births, there was a war in Under World.” The Elder began but was interrupted by another Elder.

 

“Now that’s not right, Belmar, there have always been wars in the Under World, this was a new war.”

 

“Ah, yes, a new war, well a new kind of war.  There was a prophet who spoke of that war was there not?”

 

“Yes I believe there was.  Bwbuninsichthe was her name.  Prattled on and on about love and sacrifice and some such nonsense, but most prophets do.”

 

“Yes and a marriage of some kind – anyway you were asking about the war.”

 

Erel nodded.  Aen sat quietly and listened with rapt attention.

 

“The history tell us the Under World harbors a certain type of magic of it’s own, much like we do here, and the Fire Folk do,” he nodded to Erel.  “Except that the Lairds of the Under World misused the power they were given thousands of years ago, and it was lost to them.”

 

“How was it lost?”  Aen asked quietly.

 

“It was taken.” Orgea replied just as quietly.

 

“By whom?”

 

“By the Four Kings.” 

 

“So they are here for revenge?  Seeking power they lost?” Aen’s brows furrowed as his face scrunched up in a frown.  “Why not just let them have it.”

 

“They already have it back, Aen.  Now they want revenge on those who took it in the first place.”  Erel told his brother.

 

“No, they don’t have the power they lost.  Not yet.”  Belmar looked at Aen.  “Not so long as you are alive to Call the Winds.” Then he looked at Erel, “I would suspect you could pass the Test of Fire.”

 

Erel nodded. 

 

“Then we have two of the elements right here, two heirs.  They can not regain their powers until there are no guardians.”

 

“But if they need the guardians dead then why do they allow my father to live?”  Aen asked.

 

“Perhaps they do not know they have the Wind King in their midst.  Aralin was always very resourceful and he was taken on horseback, not Runner back.  They may just think him human.”

 

“Or perhaps there is something they must do?” Erel suggested. 

 

The Elders looked at him perplexed.  Finally Orgea spoke.  “What do you mean?”

 

“You said there was a prophecy concerning a marriage.  What if one of the Kings or their heirs must be alive to marry a demon princess or something?”

 

Aen blushed.  “And you call me daft, Erel.” He giggled, suddenly sounding younger than his sixteen years.

 

“I’m serious, and you should be too.”  Erel’s temper flared. “Staring into fires and listening to winds, ye be daft, a’right Aen, ye and mam.”  He turned away from Aen. 

 

“Erel, sit down.” Belmar told him.  “Aen is not daft as you fondly like to refer to him.  He carries with him a very special gift.” 

 

Erel came back over and sat, but only because the Elder had told him to.  “Mam, taught us both to listen to the wind and use it to hunt, and for safe riding.  I don’t think we ever got caught in the rain, even riding out to here, there was always warning on the wind.  But I never heard voices like Aen claims to.”

 

“Did you notice the winds were at our back almost the whole time from the time we left Laird Razzan’s keep?  And that night, with the fire? There was no wind at all or that could have been a major problem.”

 

“Yes, I noticed, I thought it strange too, but then again nothing was right with our world so why should the wind behave?”  Erel shrugged.

 

“The wind was guiding you home.” Orgea said.  “We needed you here.  The Elders spent much of their day and night Calling for help, for Parya, for Aralin, for the babe.  We did not know you, but the Winds knew you and they brought you to us.”

 

“I guess they did that.”

 

Belmar had been sitting back watching the two boys with interest, trying to understand why Parya would do what she did.  He understood that Nonra had rejected one child and accepted the other, and that one had to be sacrificed, but he didn’t understand why. 

 

“Erel, of the two of you, which would you say could win in hand to hand combat?”

 

“I would say we were fairly evenly matched.” He looked to Aen, then back to Belmar, “But I think I would win if the contest were for life.”

 

“Why is that?”  Aen asked.  “Thrat taught us both equally.”

 

“Yes, he did, but you didn’t pay attention half the time.  You would be there but your mind was somewhere else half the time, and that’s why I would win, you get too easily distracted.”

 

“But, Erel, I can’t help it when the Winds talk.  I can be doing anything you know that.  Most things I can continue to do, even fight, but I have to listen.”

 

“Aen’s right, Erel, he has no choice.  He was reacting like the Heir long before he came here.  It is why you are his Milk Brother.  You were chosen to protect him.” 

 

Erel looked at Aen.  “And if I don’t?”

 

“Then most likely he will die young like your brother did.”

 

“My brother?”  This confused Erel.

 

“Your twin, Kaben.” 

 

“Kaben was alive and well when we left the keep.” Erel said.

 

“Then after you left, it was his duty as the eldest to stand next to your father’s funeral pyre and light it, calling forth the flame.  He could not do it.  To save him the embarrassment, another Rider called it for him thinking him immune to the touch of fire as all Fire Lairds should be.” Belmar paused for a breath.  “Your brother perished in your father’s funeral pyre.”  

 

“Kaben’s dead?” Erel asked. 

 

Aen nodded.  “I saw it in the fire that night the blankets burned.”  He blushed.  “The flame passed from Laird Razzan to me and through me to you.  You are his heir.  That’s what he was trying to tell us on his death bed.  I just could not figure it out before now.”

 

Erel shook his head.  “I’m not his heir.  You are.”

 

“He was not my father, how can I be his heir?  I just held it in regent for you.”

 

“Well I do not want it.”

 

“And neither do I, I have my own to deal with.”  Aen paled.  He knew Erel had a bit of a temper but he typically didn’t loose it so often.

 

“Well now you have two.”  And with that he left them. 

 

White Space 

 

Now that he is Capitan of the Out Riders and has some of the answers he needs to begin his plan of attack and defense before the next opening of the bridge which will be in a good couple hours. 

 

On the way to inspect the stables and to look in on Kaos, a few of the younger, untried Riders approach him.  They were at most a few years older then him, at least a year or two younger. 

 

“We want to Ride.” Their spoke’s person said.

 

“Oh you do?” Erel asked.  “Do you have a name?”

 

“Yes, we do.  My name is Glil, do you need everyone’s name to allow us to ride?”

 

“What makes you think I’ll have any say in who gets to ride where?  I just arrived.”

 

“You passed the test, you are the heir.”  Glil told him.

 

“Yes, I passed the test, and so did my brother, he is the heir, go talk to him.”  Erel stomped off. 

 

Glil stood and watched him for a minute then she yelled after him. “What are you scared of?”

 

Erel spun around on his heel and marched back to where they stood.  “Scared?  I’m not scared of anything you have to offer.  It just so happens I was trying to figure out how to break the news to the Out Riders that we are going to be Riding to war and the thought of war scares the flames out of me.”

 

“But we just won the war.”

 

“You call that a war? That was one battle.  One little battle that your people were barely equipped to handle and now we have prisoners or allies, I’m not sure which – and well there are just a lot of things we have had to consider.”

 

“If there is going to be more fighting you can count me in.”  One of the older males spoke up.  “My father rode out of here and never rode back, he could be out there.”

 

“Aye, my mother did, too.”

 

“My older brothers and my father all went.”  Glil told him.  “My mother died of a broken heart when the last one went and did not come back.  I am going with you.”

 

Erel listened to them and heard them.  They had good reasons as far as he was concerned to fight a battle, but were they able? “Can any of you use a weapon?”

 

“We all can.  Gelary insisted.  On foot and Runner back as well.”  There were several nods.  “Some of us have nearly perfected the bow from Runner back while riding the winds.” 

 

“Well then, I guess we could use all the able bodies as we can get.  Come along.”  He turned and walked off.  They looked from one to the other, then they followed him as well.

 

At the stables the Riders were assembled as the word that he was coming arrived well ahead of him.  Refat was there, and he had already told the Riders that Erel was their new Capitan.  Quite a few had protested at the change.  Gelary had not been well liked, but with his passing then Refat should have been the next in line until Aralin returned to appoint another or someone was declared King.  There were two eligible for the throne, the Riders did not understand why it was still unfilled.

 

“Aen asked me to be your Capitan.” Erel informed them.

 

“Does that mean he agreed to be our King?” Refat asked.

 

“It means I’m your Capitan nothing more, nothing less.  Now, lets get busy.”

 

White space

 

When they are done, Erel is fairly confident that they can hold the bridge against any attack that arises.  He has also determined which of the people will be left behind to protect the children and elders when they ride out to war.  The only thing that had not been decided was what to do with the prisoners. 

 

Erel begins to take the time to questions a few and discovers that most were enthralled somehow to not remember who they were.  With that information they discover they have a much larger force than they thought they did.

 

White Space 

 

The bridge opens and the Out Riders ride forth as planned.  Nothing awaits below.  Runners take to the sky and scout out the area, no mages no mage army.  Aen thinks maybe they are safe and do not need to go looking for a war, except that Aralin is out there somewhere and he would like to meet his father.  Aen spends the day talking to various guests trying to determine who was truly who when he comes across a middle aged water folk named Zindur. 

 

Turned out Zindur was the Water King his father had communicated with just before his capture.  Zindur had held off getting captured himself until just recently as well, but he knew Aralin, and had seen him only a few days ago, alive and well.

 

This gave Aen hope and sealed the fate of the mages. 

 

He spends the rest of the day and until the healers make him lay down rallying the troops readying the able bodied Riders and pairing them up with the rescued Runners as closely as possible, taking into consideration everyone’s feelings unlike how the Mage’s did it.  When all is said and done he has a small army of a about two hundred men and women.  They pack food and water that can be carried, then when the bridge opens on the third night, they run the watch in short shifts with most of their forces on the ground, as the bridge dissolves at dawn they head out. 

 

Aen leaves the Elders in charge and a few nearly healed Riders and Runners to protect them and promises they will return when the bridge opens again.