Everything Begins

Chapter 17

“Fine,” Frank said with a huff, “but they had better understand that this is my responsibility, and they will do as I say.”

“It will be so, I promise. They already understand that.”

“Come in, Mother,” Frank said as he stood, just before a knock sounded on the door.

“I will never get used to that,” Jarda mumbled as he joined his son.

“What?”

“You knowing who is there before you can see them.”

“I am still getting used to it,” Frank said with a smile.

The door opened, and Elise stepped into the room. Her gaze fell on the half-filled saddlebags, and her eyes filled with tears.

“You are really going?”

“Yes, Mother. I have to; you know that.”

“No, you do not have to, Ga’briyel. You want to. You could stay here, study with Ma’ikel, and—”

“And the Asabya would be free to terrorize people,” Frank interrupted her. “They will be free to raid and to destroy and to kill. I cannot allow them to do so any longer.”

Elise shook her head sadly. “I am sorry that is your choice, my son. Just remember that revenge often hurts the one who takes it more than the one on whom it is taken.”

Frank said nothing as he turned his back on his mother and carefully placed four small, leather-bound books in the saddlebags on top of his clothes and the traveling rations he had procured from the palace kitchens. He stiffened slightly when he felt her hand on his shoulder.

“Just promise me you will be careful.”

He barely controlled himself enough not to laugh at her. Instead, he turned to her slowly. “Careful of what, Mother? Dying? Getting hurt? What?”

“Losing yourself. Becoming someone I know you are not.”

Frank frowned. He knew she meant well, but he did not see how he could ever do that. He was Sainika, an immortal warrior, and nearly his entire life had been spent training to fulfill that role. Now, at twenty-one, he was the finest fighter anyone in Torkeln had ever seen, Ma’ikel included. He had mastered hand-to-hand combat by the time he was eight, and it was at that time that his father had introduced him to the sword and the bow. He was twelve when the only thing that would challenge him was multiple opponents and at fifteen, only Ma’ikel and Jarda would fight him in any capacity, weapons or not. Everyone else was afraid of getting hurt and with good reason. It had been almost five years since anyone had managed to breach his defenses, and more than once in that time, Jarda had come home bruised or bloodied or both. If Ma’ikel had not been Anmah, he would have been dead many times over.

“I am Sainika, Mother. How could I become something else?”

“Someone else, Ga’briyel, not something.” Jarda spoke softly. “No matter what happens in your travels, remember who you are.”

“I do not understand.”

“Do you remember the day Ricard and the others were flogged?”

“Of course.”

“Do you remember what I asked you?”

“You asked if wanting revenge made me a cruel person.”

“And what was your response?”

“That I did not want to be cruel.”

“Is that still the case?”

“Of course it is. But you told me that wanting revenge was not the same thing as being cruel.”

“The wanting of it is not. Even the taking of it does not have to be, but you have to be very careful not to cross the line between justice and cruelty, my son.” Jarda clasped his son’s arm. “I understand your need for vengeance, I do. But make your vengeance quick and painless. Anything else would be cruel.”

Frank nodded, but he could not keep out the thought that the Asabya had not had any hesitation about being cruel to his people. He looked at his father when he felt him squeeze his arm.

“You are not them, my son. You are Anmah, not Asabya. Do not become like them.”

“Are you reading my thoughts now?” Frank tried to jest, but Jarda’s eyes were stern, and the young man sighed. “I know what you are saying, Father, and I will do my best.”

“Good. Dinton and Tero are waiting for you in the stables. If you are going, now is the time." Ga’briyel’s eyebrows rose, and Jarda smiled. “I was never going to let you go alone, my son. Surely you realize that.”

Frank returned the smile. “I should have, yes?”

“Indeed you should have. Come on, I will escort you there just to make sure you do not try to run off without them.”

If it had not been for the levity in his father’s voice, Frank might have been offended by his words. As it was, he buckled his sword belt and quiver around his waist, whipped his black cloak around his shoulders, slung his great ash bow across his back, and picked up his saddlebags and bedroll. Then he turned to his mother.

She was crying silently, and he reached out his free hand and pulled her into a hug. “Do not cry, Mother. I will be fine, and I will come back to you soon; I promise.”

Her arms wrapped around him, and she whispered. “What is soon to you, my son? A year? Two? Ten?” She stepped back, pulled his head down, and placed a kiss on his forehead. “No matter how long it is until I see you again, I know you will make me proud.”

“Always, Mother. I love you.” Frank hugged her again and then walked out of the room. He heard his father follow after giving Elise a few comforting words. In his mind, he saw Jarda kiss his mother once and turn toward the door.

Without turning around, Frank spoke. “Do you think I will ever have that, Father?”

“Have what?” Jarda lengthened his stride until he was walking side by side with his son.

“What you and Mother have. That kind of love.”

Jarda placed his hand on Ga’briyel’s shoulder. “I sincerely hope so, son. To live life without love would be awful, especially for a life as long as yours will be.”

No more was said until the two reached the stables. Captains Dinton Sekara and Tero Rabina were standing beside their horses, waiting for them. Dinton’s animal was a blue roan mare named Shala, and Tero’s was a chestnut stallion named Klynn. Between them was Ga’briyel’s stallion, Kumar, saddled and ready to ride. Kumar’s sire was Gorshan, Jarda’s horse, and the two horses could not have looked more alike—midnight black giants who held themselves as stiffly and as proudly as their owners.

The two captains snapped to attention and saluted when Jarda entered, and he returned the salutes. Frank glanced at Dinton as the latter dropped his salute and fought back a grin. Frank dropped his head to hide his own smile. As much as he had wanted to be alone on this journey, he was glad that his father had chosen his best friend to accompany him. Captain Rabina was another story. The man had a decidedly forbidding look on his face as Frank passed him to place his bags and bedroll on Kumar. When he had done so, he turned back to his father.

“Thank you, sir, for allowing me to do this. I know it is not what you would have chosen for me, but it is what I must do.” He placed his fist on his heart and bowed his head respectfully.

“Oh, for Yisu’s sake, Ga’briyel, come here,” his father said softly as he held his hands out. Frank stepped forward, and Jarda clasped his shoulders. Frank returned the gesture. “I will miss you, my son. Remember what I told you, and take care of yourself.”

“I will, Father. And I will return soon, I promise.”

Jarda shrugged. “It will be as it will be. No one can predict the future; not even you.”

Frank nodded once and then mounted Kumar, attaching his quiver and bow to his saddle and adjusting his sword so that it was easily accessible. Dinton and Tero swung into their saddles, and all three saluted Jarda, fists on hearts and hands on swords.

“May Yisu go with you and bring you back home,” Jarda said, returning the salutes, and then he stood and watched his son ride away.

The three rode through Torkeln’s streets in silence until they reached the south gate. Dinton and Tero were about to pass through when Frank stopped.

“Stop skulking in the shadows, Ma’ikel, and come and say what you have to say.”

The Anmah stepped forward with a smile. “I never skulk. I simply wanted to see if you knew I was here.”

“Of course I did. Why would you doubt it?”

Ma’ikel shrugged. “No doubt, just a test.”

“You and your tests. Yes, I knew you were there, before we left the stables. Just as I know that you are not as relaxed as you seem. I can feel your worry, and it is not necessary.”

“I am not worried about you, Anmah. I am worried about them.” Ma’ikel gestured to the other two men as he stepped close to Kumar and held his bridle. He dropped his voice so that only Frank was able to hear him. “Never forget that when they die it is permanent. Never take unnecessary risks with their lives.”

“You never know, they may be Anmah as well.”

“Are you willing to gamble that they are not?”

“No, of course not.” Frank dropped his eyes and bowed his head respectfully. “I did not mean to jest, Siskaska. I will remember what you say.”

“Good.” He held out his hand and Frank leaned down and clasped his forearm. “Yisu be with you, my friend.”

“Thank you, Ma’ikel. I will see you soon.”

Ma’ikel chuckled. “Soon. Relative term for us, is it not?”

Frank smiled as he sat up straight in his saddle. “It is at that.” With that, he heeled Kumar and led the others out of the gate.

“What was that all about?” Dinton asked him as they passed the line of people already waiting for the gates to open for the day. It was barely first light, but Frank had wanted to get an early start.

“He was reminding me that you can die while I cannot.”

Dinton laughed. “Did he think you had forgotten?”

“No, he was just reminding me.”

“It is a good reminder,” Tero said solemnly, the first words he had spoken that morning. “For all of us.”

“Yes, it is,” Frank said, frowning, and then his violet eyes gleamed. “It is good to have you with us, Tero.”

“I suppose that depends on why I am here,” the older man said. “Is it to help you or to keep you out of trouble?”

“My father probably thought it is a little of both,” Frank said, “but I want you two to know that I do not expect you to help me take revenge on the Asabya. They are my problem, not yours.”