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Authors: Jon F. Merz
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bite into his skin, but the falk only tightened its grip without piercing Ran’s skin.
“They’re something, aren’t they?” Tanka smiled. “This one is called Ryu.”
Ran smiled. “I’m sure we’ll make quite a team.”
“They look after themselves. Once a day, let him hunt in the early evening. Otherwise, he will follow you everywhere, even when he’s not resting on your arm.”
Ran looked down at the falk, and the bird stared back with unblinking eyes. “I guess I’m as ready as I ever will be.”
Tanka clasped his right hand. “Be careful out there. The way north is a dangerous one. And there’s no guarantee the people in Kalang-yao will be receptive.”
“I’ll just have to win them over with my charm,” said Ran. “Take care of yourself, Tanka. And thank you for the hospitality.”
Tanka showed him to the door. “Good luck.”
C HAPTER E IGHT
“Where in the world did you get that?”
Ran climbed up in the saddle of the horse and waited for Ryu to perch on his arm again before answering. “I bought him in town. I used to have one when I was a boy. They’re excellent scouts.”
Yasseh shrugged from his own steed. “As long as he doesn’t become troublesome I see nothing wrong with it. Make sure he doesn’t spook your horse, though.”
Ran glanced down at Ryu, but the falk sat unmoving on his arm. His eyes continued to rove over the vast convoy of horses and wagons, however. Ran looked back at Yasseh who was busy calling out commands, and wondered what he’d just gotten himself into. His orders were to go north and perform reconnaissance in the event of an invasion. Instead, he had disregarded those orders and was heading out of the city of Chulal with a trade caravan heading east.
What would the clan do to him if they found out? Would they track him down and kill him? Would he simply be punished? Ran sighed as his horse shifted its feet. He wasn’t sure why he’d done what he’d done. The lure of Cassandra was certainly strong. But Ran sensed there was something else inside of him that was now directing him. All of his life had been spent following the orders of the clan. They’d taken him in after he’d wandered for months. They had trained him to become a formidable warrior and spy. And then they had loosed him upon the world with only the stipulation that he be there for the clan if they needed him.
The first time they came to him, Ran had turned his back on them.
So much for loyalty, he thought with a wry grin. He was thankful to the clan, obviously. Indebted to them, even. Yet something else drove him now. Deep down his instincts told him that journeying west with the caravan was the right thing to do instead of heading north. Ran had no way of verbalizing what the instinct felt like, only that it was stronger than anything he’d known before.
But it was an uncomfortable position to be in. Ran kept turning in his saddle, wondering if Tanka had come down to see him off and even then was watching Ran from the shadows or some disguise. Would he send word back to Gakur immediately, informing them of Ran’s betrayal? Or would he remember their talk and keep quiet about it?
Was Tanka even there at all? Ran had lied to him, of course, but if Tanka thought he’d already left town for the Shard Mountains, there was no reason to see if Ran had truly gone off that way.
Yasseh finally lifted his hand, and then entire caravan started off down the quay toward the rear gate of Chulal. Gunj rode one of the wagons, steering the horse team that pulled it. Ran spotted other members of the security detachment riding back and forth among the other merchants and pack mules. The caravan was comprised of ten wagons, numerous other pack mule teams, and roughly twenty riders of lesser stature. Two of the wagons held supplies for the long trip, but the remaining eight all held expensive goods for trading along the route west.
Yasseh led the caravan down the widest street in Chulal and
“They’re something, aren’t they?” Tanka smiled. “This one is called Ryu.”
Ran smiled. “I’m sure we’ll make quite a team.”
“They look after themselves. Once a day, let him hunt in the early evening. Otherwise, he will follow you everywhere, even when he’s not resting on your arm.”
Ran looked down at the falk, and the bird stared back with unblinking eyes. “I guess I’m as ready as I ever will be.”
Tanka clasped his right hand. “Be careful out there. The way north is a dangerous one. And there’s no guarantee the people in Kalang-yao will be receptive.”
“I’ll just have to win them over with my charm,” said Ran. “Take care of yourself, Tanka. And thank you for the hospitality.”
Tanka showed him to the door. “Good luck.”
C HAPTER E IGHT
“Where in the world did you get that?”
Ran climbed up in the saddle of the horse and waited for Ryu to perch on his arm again before answering. “I bought him in town. I used to have one when I was a boy. They’re excellent scouts.”
Yasseh shrugged from his own steed. “As long as he doesn’t become troublesome I see nothing wrong with it. Make sure he doesn’t spook your horse, though.”
Ran glanced down at Ryu, but the falk sat unmoving on his arm. His eyes continued to rove over the vast convoy of horses and wagons, however. Ran looked back at Yasseh who was busy calling out commands, and wondered what he’d just gotten himself into. His orders were to go north and perform reconnaissance in the event of an invasion. Instead, he had disregarded those orders and was heading out of the city of Chulal with a trade caravan heading east.
What would the clan do to him if they found out? Would they track him down and kill him? Would he simply be punished? Ran sighed as his horse shifted its feet. He wasn’t sure why he’d done what he’d done. The lure of Cassandra was certainly strong. But Ran sensed there was something else inside of him that was now directing him. All of his life had been spent following the orders of the clan. They’d taken him in after he’d wandered for months. They had trained him to become a formidable warrior and spy. And then they had loosed him upon the world with only the stipulation that he be there for the clan if they needed him.
The first time they came to him, Ran had turned his back on them.
So much for loyalty, he thought with a wry grin. He was thankful to the clan, obviously. Indebted to them, even. Yet something else drove him now. Deep down his instincts told him that journeying west with the caravan was the right thing to do instead of heading north. Ran had no way of verbalizing what the instinct felt like, only that it was stronger than anything he’d known before.
But it was an uncomfortable position to be in. Ran kept turning in his saddle, wondering if Tanka had come down to see him off and even then was watching Ran from the shadows or some disguise. Would he send word back to Gakur immediately, informing them of Ran’s betrayal? Or would he remember their talk and keep quiet about it?
Was Tanka even there at all? Ran had lied to him, of course, but if Tanka thought he’d already left town for the Shard Mountains, there was no reason to see if Ran had truly gone off that way.
Yasseh finally lifted his hand, and then entire caravan started off down the quay toward the rear gate of Chulal. Gunj rode one of the wagons, steering the horse team that pulled it. Ran spotted other members of the security detachment riding back and forth among the other merchants and pack mules. The caravan was comprised of ten wagons, numerous other pack mule teams, and roughly twenty riders of lesser stature. Two of the wagons held supplies for the long trip, but the remaining eight all held expensive goods for trading along the route west.
Yasseh led the caravan down the widest street in Chulal and
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