CHAPTER 2 In a short time the rescuers and the man called Hawk reached other horses. With no sign of pursuit they started on the trail that would lead to a larger road to Aubon. Their progress remained slow due to Hawk's condition, which became steadily worse. By the time they had reached the larger road noon had passed and Hawk slouched down in his saddle. Hawk's instability forced the brothers to ride on either side to keep him from falling. Several times he slipped off the saddle caught by Derek or Pahl, who struggled to steady him. Derek had gone back more than once to leave false tracks and cover their own hoof prints. It was a difficult task and the hours it took to get to Aubon were troublesome. Even so, Derek insisted on making their trail difficult to follow for the safety of the residents of their town. The warriors they saw could easily have comrades and his town did not have a militia to defend itself. A small town, Aubon prospered mainly as a trading depot. It had one inn that served as a stay over for hunters and travelers to Gahlen, and a small tavern where hunters could share news of the current events. Lying on the Eastern side of the Kingdom, Elves and Dwarves frequently stayed in town. Prejudice against other races never developed this far East. Much different than its existence in the larger, mid-regional cities. The three rode into the small village like a ragged band of peddlers. All were shirtless and dirty. Hawk by far the worse looking, lay over the neck of the stallion as if he were dead. A few of the locals stared at the them. Familiarity at the sight of the brothers turned quickly to suspicion of the wounded man. Derek and Pahl paid them no heed and rode directly to the Aubon Fur Trade. They arrived as a little girl came through the front door carrying a small white rabbit in her arms. She looked up as the two climbed down off their mounts. "You're home early, aren't ya?" Asked the little girl, her big brown eyes looking up at them. Then she saw the wounded man on the stallion and dropped the rabbit, bringing both of her tiny hands to her mouth. "Oh!" She squeaked. "Listen Tania," began Pahl, "go and fetch Bardoff. Tell him we have a very sick man and he needs help. Can you do that for your brother?" "Yes, but I have to catch Stannered first," replied Tania. "We'll catch Stannered," Offered Derek, "but you must be quick." "I will," she promised, skipping off toward the Healer's residence. Derek tied the two smaller horses next to a water trough outside the Fur Trade, while Pahl secured the stallion to a poll. Together they pulled Hawk down from the large horse, and haphazardly carried him through the front door. "Father!" Shouted Pahl as they entered the trade. A young woman walked into the room carrying a knife in one hand and a rolled deerskin in the other. She brushed back her long brown hair with the forearm that held the knife. She had lovely facial features; blue eyes, a dainty nose, and thin red lips creased in a smile. "Pahl," said the woman and then saw the wounded man he and Derek carried. "Who is that man? And what happened to your clothes?" "His name is Hawk, Mother, and he is very ill," replied Pahl. "And where is Father?" "Your Father is down at the river with Bojax Freed. They're cleaning some new skins." "We sent Tania to fetch Bardoff," said Pahl. "But until he gets here, maybe you can help Hawk." "I'll do what I can." She set the knife on a counter. "Bring him to the guest room, and I'll get some clean cloths and healing salves." Carrying the unconscious, wounded man to the guest room, the two brothers carefully lay him on the bed. He had been sliding in and out of consciousness since the ride back, but now he lay deep in sleep. They adjusted a pillow under his head and waited for their mother. Returning with a bucket of water, clean cloths, and salve, the woman knelt next to the bed. She placed the bucket next to her feet and dipped one of the cloths into it. With the wet cloth she gently wiped the dirt from the man's face and from around the wounds; carefully taking off the makeshift bandages to keep the wounds from reopening. She worked quietly applying salve to the leg and shoulder wounds. Derek and Pahl stood by watching sheepishly as their mother replaced their poorly constructed bandages with clean well-positioned cloth. Pahl turned as he heard a deep voice in the front room and the sound of the door opening. "What's all this gibberish about a man half dead?" The comment resembled that of a grumpy old man. "Go tell Bardoff we're in here," said Pahl's mother as she continued in her work. Both Pahl and Derek went into the front room to get the Healer. They came through the hallway and saw him standing next to Tania. He was nibbling without interest on a piece of dried meat. Bardoff was a plump, old man dressed in a brown cloak tied by a knotted rope around his large belly. His gray hair was thinning around the crown of his head beginning the makings of a bald spot. He held a cloth satchel in his hand and leather pouches hung at his waist, connected to the rope. Presumably, nuts and dried meat filled the pouches, for the man was not one to go long distances in search of nourishment. Upon seeing the two brothers, the portly Healer patted Tania on the head and said, "Sweet Tania here has told me that you are in need of my services." When he mentioned of the young girl's name, the grumpy Healer's voice had turned soft and gentle. Eyeing the two young men a frown returned to his face. He had obviously been pulled away from some important business, probably his lunch. "Show me where he is," commanded Bardoff in a deeper, stronger tone. "And Pahl, fetch me some bread and cheese. A man can't work on an empty stomach, you know." "Yes, sir," was Pahl's only reply, though a hidden smile lay beneath his dormant lips. Pahl left the front room of the trade and went into a back kitchen area with little Tania in tow. Derek showed Bardoff where the wounded man lay unconscious. The young woman greeted Bardoff with a smile and stepped back to give him some room. "Hello, Maggie, it looks as though you have a bad one here." "Yes. He's definitely in poor shape," agreed the woman. "What do you think of that arrow? I didn't want to touch it until you arrived." The large Healer moved in closer to the wounded man's leg. "Well, let me have a look," he said. Kneeling next to the bed, Bardoff carefully inspected the arrow that protruded from the unconscious man's leg. He touched it lightly and a groan broke from Hawk's lips, though his eyes remained closed and his breathing soft. Reaching into his satchel, the Healer pulled out a wooden bowl and spoon, two large, green leaves, and a small yellow root. He placed the two leaves cross ways into the bowl and put the yellow root on top of them. With the spoon, he crushed the root into a paste; folding the leaves over and mixing them. After thoroughly mixing the root and leaves the Healer opened two of the small leather pouches connected to the rope at his waist. Using both hands he withdrew a small amount of powder from each one. One powder was shiny black and the other looked to be nothing more than sand. He mixed the two powders into the paste and added a few drops of ale from a bottle in the larger satchel. "Now, when I apply this mixture to his leg he'll come awake. I want you to let him drink from this bottle," instructed Bardoff. He handed the bottle of ale to Maggie. "The mixture will deaden the pain and keep infection out," he continued. "The ale will help him sleep once we are finished. Derek hold his leg steady." Derek moved in next to Bardoff to get a good grip on the leg. Pahl returned with the requested food, but Maggie had sent him out to help Tania find her rabbit. Pahl did so without objection. He knew that someone needed to occupy Tania's time to keep her from disturbing the Healer. He felt a little dejected, however. After all, he was the one who devised the plan to save the man called Hawk. He knew Hawk better than anyone else. The Dwarf Podez had told him about the loner from the Westland. Yes, he should be the one to help with the healing, not baby-sit his younger sister. Tania was searching behind some large wooden barrels in front of the blacksmith shop, when Pahl saw the rabbit. "Over there, Tania!" He yelled. "He's by the stables!" Tania looked up. Pahl and she ran down the street to where the rabbit was hopping into the Horse Keep. The Keep had a fenced off yard for horses to roam and a dozen stables. It was into the stables that Stannered decided to go. "Wait here while I go in and fetch him," said Pahl. "You might get hurt amongst all those horses." "I'm not afraid," said Tania defiantly. "Wait here," repeated Pahl and he walked into the stables. Two young men, about the same age as Pahl, were working with the horses. One was cleaning a hoof and the other was feeding the horse a carrot. The one with the carrot looked down and noticed the rabbit nibbling on his soft, leather boot. He picked it up by the ears, showing it to the his brother. "Well, looked what we `ave `ere," the one with the rabbit said. "Looks like supper to me, Erik," said the other. Pahl saw the two and stopped. "That's my rabbit, Erik," he said. "Oh, is it now?" Replied Erik. "looks like its takin' kindly to me. Ain't that right, Peck?" Dropping the horses hoof, Peck stood up next to Erik. Both of them were larger than Pahl. They wore knee high boots covered with horse dung and their dirty breeches were more horse hair than anything else. Pahl knew this wouldn't be easy. These two were mischiefs, pranksters, and bullies. If they weren't harassing him, it would be someone else. They had moved into Aubon with their Father who rarely came around. He spent most of his time in Gahlen trading horses leaving his son's as basic independents. Taking a deep breath Pahl tried again, "its my rabbit. Just give it back, okay?" "We'll give it back when we're good and ready, bunny boy," taunted Peck taking a step forward. He felt confident knowing that Pahl's Father and Bojax Freed weren't around. "Maybe we'll feel inclined to give you the rabbit if you tell us who that man was," said Erik. "The one you and Derek were helpin'." "That's none of your business," said Pahl. "Besides, I don't know who he is, anyway." "I think you're lying, bunny boy!" Growled Peck. "I think that you're the fool who put that arrow in his leg." "I was not!" Said Pahl, trying to keep his voice from going high. It was useless to argue with the two. This was getting nowhere. They were much too big for him to fight and if he didn't leave now the choice would not be his. Peck slammed the sharp point of the hoof cleaner into a stable board, and stepped closer to Pahl, raising a fist. Pahl shoved him back, but Erik walked up next to him, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Let go," said Pahl, pushing Erik. Erik dropped the rabbit and it hopped out of the stables. "You made me lose my dinner," he sneered. "I'm gonna have to teach you some manners!" Without another word Erik slugged Pahl in the stomach, doubling him over. Pahl stumbled back, coughing at the quick loss of air. The two larger men laughed and leaped on him, pulling him to his feet. Erik grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head around to face him. "You got somethin' to say, bunny boy?" Erik asked with a wry smile. "Apologize for disturbin' us, runt!" He shook Pahl hard. "Apologize, I said!" "I'm...I'm sorry," Pahl gasped. "Not good enough!" Shouted Peck with glee, hitting him hard in the face. Pain lanced through Pahl's head. He fell onto his back. Tears came to his eyes, blurring his vision, and blood ran from his nose. He tried to sit up, but a foot landed a kicking blow to his shoulder, sending him into a pile of hay. "If you want to act like a horse," said Peck, "you might as well smell like one." Picking Pahl up by both arms, the two dragged him over to a pile of horse manure. Together they tossed him headlong into it. The manure was wet and oozed about his head and arms, fully soiling his tunic and breeches. Erik and Peck brought him to his feet and threw him out of the stables and onto the street. "Better go home and wash up," was the last thing that Pahl heard. Pahl lay in the dirt street for a moment before sitting up. He wiped what he could of the manure from his face, chest, and arms. He wondered where Tania had gone and then reasoned that she must have gotten the rabbit and gone back home. A horse and rider came by. The man on the horse commented, "Better quit playin' in the horse dung, boy. It's not the best way to catch a girl." Real funny, thought Pahl. Then he thought about how he must look. Like, well...like crap. He managed a small smile. What had he gotten into over that stupid rabbit? And the man in black? What did Erik and Peck care about who he was? He had never gotten along with them, but it had never come to blows. The pounding in Pahl's face and nose broke his thoughts. His stomach didn't feel too well either. The stench wasn't helping. It didn't take him long to get on his feet and head down toward the river. Perhaps he would see his Father and tell him what happened. He quickly discarded that thought. It was humiliating enough being beat up by Erik and Peck, and ridiculed by the townspeople, without letting his Father know what a fool he was. Only a few people noticed Pahl and probably none recognized him as he made his way down to the river. He decided to go further downstream than normal, so he wouldn't chance meeting his father. Taking off his boots and trousers, Pahl waded into the cold water. He quickly washed the horse droppings from his face, hair, and chest. Even though the water was cold, the breeze and the afternoon sun dried him soon enough. When he was completely dry, he dressed and headed back to the Fur Trade. Most of the people in Aubon lived in a cabin next to a stable, or a shop connected to a house. Pahl's family was no different. He had lived in Aubon all of his life. When he was a small boy the family had started the Fur Trade directly from his house. Together with Derek's parents, they had eventually remodeled the Trade into a custom Fur shop; delivering furs as far as Gahlen and to all the towns round about. Because the roads had become so infested with bandits, it was nearly impossible to deliver or receive goods. If it hadn't been for the Eastern Brigade all travel and trade would be virtually non-existent without a company of armed guards for protection. Pahl took a different way than normal to the Trade. No sense in having another run in with Erik and Peck, and getting pole whacked twice in one day. He approached the Fur Trade and took a second look at the big stallion that had saved their lives. Awestruck by the size and power of the horse, Pahl ran his hand along its neck. He had never seen a horse so muscular and well defined. He laughed at the thought of going riding down to Erik's stable and riding right over him. He slapped the horse lightly on the neck and walked to the front door. He heard voices inside and moved closer, but did not go in. "...all I know is what Derek has told me," came a voice Pahl quickly recognized as his mother's. "Well, there's no possible way those were outlaws, Maggie. Did you see the stallion? That is a war horse." Pahl decided the second voice must be Bojax Freed. It had a deep resin tone to it that only Bojax could own. "And no band of outlaws would chance riding around on a warriors stallion for all to see," finished Pahl's Father. "I just don't understand what a group of skilled fighters would want with the wanderer." "Unless he stole something from them," offered Bojax. "From the way Derek described them, they are definitely from the South. And if that's true, you must be housing a crown thief." "When he's well, he'll be moving..." the pounding of hoofs muffled the voices and Pahl casually turned to see who was coming. It was Derek riding bareback on one of the mares. The horse slowed to a trot and Derek leaped off. "Where have you been?" He asked. "Tania's been back for over an hour and I got to fearing those armed men." "Nothing to worry about," replied Pahl nonchalantly. "I found Stannered and then went down to the river to get father." "Well he's back," stated Derek flatly. "And he's not too happy about the wanderer being under our roof. It's not that he's mad about what we did, just more concerned about his condition and what the other's might mean. Who knows Pahl? I mean, what if they follow our trail here and find the stallion in front of the Trade?" "I don't know," answered Pahl, "but they're talking about it right now so we might as well go in and see what we're going to do." Together Derek and Pahl entered the Fur Trade. The discussion between the adults stopped as they came in, but resumed when Pahl inquired on the status of the wanderer. Maggie informed him that Hawk was asleep and would remain so for a day or two. The Healer was not at all sure he would survive, but conveyed that he showed an unusual inner strength that would most likely pull him through. Again they examined questions and answers on a possible solution with the stallion and the wanderer. The four adults, including Bardoff the Healer, questioned Pahl and Derek in detail of the mornings encounter with the warriors. It became readily evident and accepted by all that the armed men were not thieves or soldiers, but mercenaries--soldiers for hire-- most likely from the South. That posed an awesome threat since it was rare that southerners were ever seen this deep in the Kingdom of Nordenland- especially fully armed ones. Bardoff suggested it would be wise to notify the Duke of Gahlen and the Eastern Brigade. He volunteered to inform them. Since he was already on the town council it wouldn't be difficult and the council could send a message to the Duke with the next caravan to Gahlen. Someone could inform the Brigade when they made their monthly visit to Aubon. They were due in six days. A major problem arose when discussing the stallion. Obviously, they could not keep it out front. If the owner happened to come into Aubon, all questions would be quickly answered upon seeing the stallion. Bojax suggested selling it to someone heading to Gahlen or just an ordinary traveler, but Pahl's father did not want to put such danger on an unwary buyer. It would not be a pleasant surprise if he were to chance upon the southerners. Other recommendations were made about the horse and the points were argued until they finally decided to keep the stallion behind the Trade. The main reason being the wanderer's need for transportation when he was ready to go. Everyone seemed eager for him to leave, except Pahl. The man called Hawk intrigued him. He wanted nothing more than to learn about him and why he was now here.