Phoenix Gift

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I guess we have to take the horses back,” Dale said, eyeing the now calm beasts with distrust.

“No,” Evan patted his equine’s neck. “We’ll leave them out here. They are fast enough to outrun any other horse and clever enough to hide. They’ll do well on their own. In fact, they will probably do better out here than on the ship.”

“Won’t they run away?” the boy asked.

“You’re not thinking. They are Milagrian stock. They will come when we call. Besides, it will be safer for them. Take care, my friend.”

With a snort, the two destriers moved off. Their masters remained for several moments before they headed back to the village. Alone, they enjoyed the warmth of the triple suns and the sweet grass of the rich earth. Though their masters would return daily to check on them, the equine pair spent much of their time alone.

Once rumors spread about the horses being turned loose, plans were made to capture them. Whether singly or in groups, it was almost a daily occurrence for the two equines to be disturbed by those eager to claim them. However, they easily outpaced any mount sent against them, and they proved their intelligence time and time again by avoiding traps set for them. Regardless of these distractions, both horses seemed to enjoy their time at liberty.

Often, they would simply stand, heads raised, and ears perked forward when a southeast wind blew. Whether they sensed how the others faired on the No Man’s Land no one would know for sure. After nearly a sennight on their own, the pair began drifting north along the coastline and were soon out of sight or calling distance.

* * *

For several days, Xavier and the others camped on the beach. Animals and man were drained, lacking their usual vitality, as if the No Man’s Land sapped their strength like a feeding moth. Only Alexis seemed unaffected and ran around the camp with the dragons in her shadow.

Xavier spent much of the day watching Alexis run up and down the shore, splashing in the surf. Pegasus Wind often joined her and the reptiles, prancing back and forth while they chased his flowing tail. At night, when Alexis slept, Xavier continued to gaze across the sea, remembering.

Eventually, he organized the return to Keldon. The dragons played in the surf, scampering alongside the horses. Alexis laughed as she rode with her father. Though the others were unsure of their exact location, Xavier knew from experience that they were less than a day’s ride from the harbor village. As they traveled, they saw two horses quietly grazing alone. The equines raised their heads as the group approached and whinnied.

“Look abu! It’s Zion and Indra!” Alexis exclaimed.

Xavier watched the destriers trot up to meet them, muttering, “I hope their freedom does not foretell trouble.”

The horses trotted around the company. Their hides gleamed of health, marred only by lack of daily attention. They had suffered no wounds and seemed untroubled.

As the troop crested a shallow rise, the village came into view and the free horses fell into step with the rest. The streets were deserted as they entered. Shop windows were closed and the usual sound of children playing was noticeably absent from the air. It was as if the entire populace had vanished.

Xavier’s grip on the reins tightened and his golden-colored mount shook its head. Its ears nervously flicked back and forth, echoing its rider’s growing unease. Xavier wished he had made Alexis ride in the wagon. Cadmus abandoned his play to perch on the stallion’s neck. Nostrils quivering, the dragon hissed at varied intervals, eyeing shuttered windows as if able to see through them.

At the docks, Xavier carried Alexis aboard while the sailors quickly unloaded the wagon. They were eager to be off. Ebony took possession of her box, bringing it below decks before perching on the rail. What was in her box remained a mystery. Park supervised the return of the wagon and carthorse before boarding. When he returned, he looked troubled and hurriedly joined Xavier.

“Everything all right?” Xavier asked, sensing his friend’s uneasiness.

“The innkeeper was nervous when we returned the wagon,” Park whispered. “He said we should hurry and be on our way before trouble arrives.”

“Magic is not the evil thing he believes.”

“It has nothing to do with magic,” Park’s gaze hardened, and Xavier understood. “It was a warning.”

“I know,” Xavier nodded. He had been on edge since entering the village.

The horses willingly walked up the gangplank. It was unknown if their haste was because they sensed they were returning home, or if they were just as eager to escape the hostile land. As the last of the horses were loaded, a company of knights rode to the docks. Dismounting, they approached Monroe with their swords prominently displayed.

“We’re here to inspect your ship.” One soldier stepped up to the old captain.

“Inspect it for what?” he answered and eyed them as he crossed his arms across his chest.

“Villagers have reported a number of thefts.”

“I assure you that there is nothing stolen aboard my ship.”

“Reports indicate your crew as the thieves.”

“You won’t find the missing items here,” Xavier said.

“I stand by my crew’s integrity,” Monroe added with a stern nod, muttering, “I doubt anything was stolen.”

“Are you implying that our countrymen lie?” the knight asked.

“Leave them be,” a commanding voice ordered.

The knights turned and stepped aside as Harrod marched down the dock. He wore a long, violet robe that trailed behind him. A heavy ceremonial crown sparkled on his head to ensure no one would mistake his identity. The knights bowed, glancing at one another for assurance. They seemed surprised that the king was there at all.

Xavier glanced at the ship to see M’zuzi and Aldous overlooking the scene. Though the owl seemed unperturbed, there was an unmistakable glint of amusement in the old wizard’s eyes. Xavier turned back to the approaching king.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Harrod asked, acknowledging Xavier.

Xavier glanced at Ebony perched on the ship’s rail and said, “That is the familiar of the sorceress we searched for. A familiar never travels far from their master. You can be assured that they are both aboard the ship.”

“Good, good.” Harrod smiled. “And the promised fee?”

Xavier sharply whistled. Four men, each pair carrying a large chest between them, marched down the gangplank. They set the chests between the kings, bowing before they retreated to the ship. Another man led a gray roan stallion with a black mane, tail and legs to the group.

“One chest for docking, one for crossing your land, as agreed,” Xavier presented the chests and opened each to prove the extent of its contents. “Paid in full.”

With a greedy gleam, Harrod ordered the chests carried to his waiting wagon. He turned back to Xavier and said, “This is a great day indeed. It calls for a feast.”

His voice echoed through the deserted village. Xavier doubted the announcement brought them any comfort.

“I have one last gift,” Xavier said, accepting the waiting stallion’s lead from its handler.

The stallion had served as Tavel’s horse. Unlike the other horses on the journey, it did not have a master. Xavier knew what he was about to do was unprecedented in Milagrian history. But Milagrian horses had their own intelligence and after spending the night among them, he felt the stallion was prepared for its destiny.

“I present Argyll,” Xavier handed the lead to Harrod. “May he serve you well.”

“A Milagrian horse?” Harrod asked, accepting the equine’s lead with a hesitant grasp. He half-expected it to panic the moment he had control, but the horse did not move except to twitch an ear.

“Yes, he is yours until death,” Xavier nodded.

The stallion snorted, bobbing its head in acceptance of the task. Stepping forward, the horse nudged Harrod and stood as the king patted its neck. A spark of intuition seemed to gleam in its deep gaze. Its ears flicked back and forth as if catching a far-off voice, perhaps even instructions.

“May the winds breathe fairly upon you, my friend,” Xavier nodded.

“And to you.”

Xavier led the others onto the ship. The gangplank was drawn aboard and the Reen Dorema moved away from the dock. Harrod and his men watched as the ship set sail and departed Keldon, perhaps for the last time. Argyll whinnied, bidding it farewell. The stallion stood beside its new master, the first of its kind to be left behind. The stallion would never again set foot on its native soil.