LIKE LIGHT Chapter 12. Below the Antler The Antler rose high above the valley of Kestrel Point, a gray and white outcrop of gnarled stone: gneiss and granite and glittering rotten ice and snow. Many had tried to climb its summit. Of these, within the memory of the living, only Mikaeyel dAvia had achieved its heights. Someday, Meria wanted to stand where her father once had stood. From atop the Antler could be seen all of the lands of this part of the Wide World: to the east, the Seven Ridings of Seven Oaks, to the south, the grasslands giving way to barren desert and the Red City, Skorpios. And to the north, wild forests and fjords along the coast: the domain of the Helmanders. But Meria was hardly thinking of that. She and Andres had hiked out far beyond the walls of Kestrel Point to a favorite glade of mountain oaks, through which flowed a snowmelt stream. Beside the stream was a double waterfall above a deep pool, freezing now as autumn approached, but in high summer, the very best place to swim. Ever since they were small, they had climbed the waterfall and jumped into the pool, shrieking with laughter. Andres followed Meria up the path to the top of the first fall. Beyond that, theyd have to climb. Do you want to go all the way? he asked. Sure, she said, thought she really wasnt. The stones were slippery with ice-cold water and moss and slime. Andres was not a strong climber. Hed spent most of his life in Nedd Berns forge as an apprentice. His arms and hands were strong and agile; his legs less-so. They hadnt even talked about her getting married. Andres was mad about it; she saw it in his face. But he hadnt said a thing. It was like it wasnt happening. They did the same things theyd always done in their free time. Now she wasnt getting married. Please, she thought as she was climbing. Please just let him want to kiss like always. She had a feeling hed ask – now that she wasnt marrying Kamron Ancaster. Now that Kamron was dead. She didnt know what to feel about the strangeness of thinking you were going to marry somebody youd only seen once when you were 12 years old, sort of falling in love with this image of him, then finding out it not only wasnt real, he was a dead young lord, rotting somewhere in the ground. And the way her mother had done it? Not even asked! Just told her like that – youre marrying Kamron Ancaster. Well, fine. What about her? What about what she wanted? Her – Meria. She was somewhat clear that she didnt want to marry Andres, not right away. Maybe someday. But she did have feelings for him. He had a gorgeous body and he liked the same things as she did, mostly. And Keile liked him, which made it even better that he was stone cold in love with Meria. Her – not Keile. She knew Andres was getting an excellent view of her rear climbing to the top of the waterfall and she knew he liked it. She was out of breath when she climbed over the last stones. Kneeling, she watched Andres struggle up, his dark eyebrows knit in concentration. As soon as he got close enough, she held out her hand and helped him up the final outcropping of wet stone. Then they stood and looked down on Kestrel Point. They had a good view of the Pass from their high perch. Immediately, he grabbed her and kissed her. It was so nice, feeling his strong arm around her waist. His hand moved up, lightly touching her firm breasts, and then he ran his fingers through her hair. That was one thing she had that Keile didnt – her long, thick red hair. Then he pulled away, smiling. I never thought wed be alone again, he said. Why? she asked. Why? His large blue eyes widened. He could make her do a lot of things with those eyes. They were the best part about him, she thought – well, almost the best. You mean because of Kamron? she asked. He nodded. No, she said. That wouldnt be like that. When its that type of marriage – usually he does what he wants. And I was going to do mine. Andres face showed puzzlement and shock. You cant just get married and do whatever you want, he said. Why not? Meria said, laughing. Well – people dont do that. Its vows and all. You have to be faithful. Oh, Great Mother, she said. He was so – so – she just loved him even though he could be so dense sometimes. Then she kissed him again. She could tell he was shocked. She didnt care and kissed him harder, thrusting her tongue in his mouth, the way she knew he liked. But after a minute, he pulled away. His eyes were clouded with doubt. Meria – I dont know, he said. Do you really think you could marry somebody – and then just go off with me like we do now? Hed – What would he do? she asked. My mothers the Guardian! Maybe he was Count or Duke, whatever they call themselves, but he wouldnt dare say anything. Andres shook his head. Meria, you have to think about your mother. Shes not all-powerful. His face grew dark, and Meria wondered why – she knew he liked her mother perfectly well. The Counselor said were headed for war, he said. That means things cant be the same. Counselor? Broos? Hes mothers hound. Meria could not stand the dark man. She hated the amount of time her mother spent with him. Detested his ugly face. Suspected he meant nothing good despite his apparent faithfulness. She knew there was something there, back in the long-ago times. Her mother always said that Broos was their best friend because her father had saved his life. But people fighting did that all the time. Every man whod fought with her father owed the same debt. Meria doubted there was any such bond and she was certain Broos was faithless – and wicked, besides. But her mother seemed blind to all that and wouldnt listen to a word she said about him. And now Andres was listening to him too? Yes, shed told him to get in with the Guard, but that was just because she knew Andres didnt want to work in Nedd Berns forge for the rest of his life. She knew what he really wanted, and it was something like Broos Zuris job. If that happened, it would suit Meria just fine and she was positive her mother would be happier. Much. She saw how she and Broos fought; why her mother couldnt see how miserable he made her and what a bastard he was, was beyond understanding. And then she and Andres really could get married. Be together all the time. Meria, said Andres. You know how I feel about you. His voice was low and soft. She loved the way he sounded when he was talking like this. She kissed him again, and this time he responded completely. His hand crept inside her vest and she was starting to enjoy things even more when something small and hard hit her in the middle of the back. Startled, she pulled away. It happened again, this time higher up. Hey! she shouted, turning. Ow! Andres shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. They separated quickly, looking around for the source of the small stones that were pelting them. Giggling emerged from a large boulder a few paces away. It sounded like a young girl, but Meria knew better. Harald! she screamed. You little pest – well get you! Not him again, Andres said. Who else? she asked, grabbing an oak branch about as thick as her thumb that lay by her feet. It had been torn from one of the windswept trees that clung to the rocks above the waterfall. One of them stood perhaps twenty paces from the boulder. Harald Bjornssons small, thin form emerged from his cover. His skinny boy legs carried him toward the oak. He could climb fast – but so could they. Andres took one side and Meria the other. The boys escape route was cut off in either direction now: he had no choice but to climb the tree. His infuriating giggles continued as he scrambled up the gnarled trunk and into a thicket of branches. Acorns fell into their heads and shoulders as they surrounded the trunk and looked up at Harald, who was uttering childish taunts and oaths in both of his languages: Helmand and normal speech. You or me first? asked Andres. Meria was better at climbing. Andres knelt and laced his fingers together to boost her into the lower branches of the twisted oak. The trunk was strong and had many foot and handholds, but the branches soon weakened. Harald was well-aware he had climbed onto a branch too slim for anyone much bigger than a skinny 10 year old and continued his taunts, plucking acorns from the branch and hurling them at her face with alarming accuracy. She had to duck several times to avoid the sharp, small missiles. Thats enough! Andres called. He picked up a medium-sized stone and showed it to the boy. Harald Bjornsson had a look few saw around Kestrel Point. His hair was so blonde it looked white in mid-day, yet his brows were black, and his chin narrow and pointed. This made him seem more like a small demon than a young boy. His nature was good, however, if a bit puckish – and he never knew when to give up on a prank. He threw a handful of acorns down at Andres head. One hit below Andres eye and he swore under his breath. Thats it! Andres said. He launched the stone at Harald, meaning to hit the boys leg, which would sting and bruise. Harald shifted to avoid the blow, but instead of avoiding it, the stone struck him straight in the stomach. Ow! Ow! he cried, and he started to fall back. Meria, grunting, reached the branch just in time to grab his shirt. Monkeylike, Harald put his legs around the oak trunk and allowed Meria to hold him steady. No longer giggling, his face was red and he had started to cry. Harald, she said, completely irritated. Just climb down. Im going to let go of you. Even though he was small and thin, he was too heavy to hold for much longer. Harald, sniffling, made his way down the tree to meet an exasperated Andres. Shaking his head, Andres cuffed the boy on his head, right behind his ear. Ow! Harald said again, rubbing his head. I was just having fun. No doubt, said Andres. But youve got to stop pestering us! We cant play games with you all day long. The truth was, they hardly ever spent time with Harald – which was why he pestered them. Meria understood this vicious cycle, but she couldnt think of the way to fix it, as neither she nor Andres nor Keile or anyone else wanted to spend all day paying attention to poor lonely Harald who demanded constant attention. Harald, who was in truth, though he seemed like a little brother from day-to-day, a ten year-old hostage. I wish I had a throwing machine like my uncle makes! said Harald. Meria was still climbing down the tree. Whats a throwing machine? she asked. He seldom talked about any of his family – except his uncle. He seemed particularly fond of him, though Meria couldnt remember his name just then. Harald was crying more now, rubbing his eyes. Theyd hurt his feelings. She wondered if hed bolt, and got her answer when with one quick look at Andres and a shrug, he took off running. Get him! she said. Andres was on him in a few steps and grabbed the back of his shirt. The boy started to struggle and the shirt soon tore between the arm and shoulder seam. Harald was off again, in a one-sleeved shirt. Andres looked at the off-white fabric for a moment, then threw it to the ground. Brat, he said, shaking his head. Meria ran after him, but Harald was too fast, already scrambling down to the first waterfall, which had nothing but an easy, winding path down into the glade, and from there, it was all downhill back to Kestrel Point. The hair stood up on the back of Merias neck, and all along her arms. A cold feeling rushed through her. Shed never felt anything like it. And she did not like it one bit. Do you feel that? she asked Andres. Feel what? Its cold, I want to whack that little pests rear, he said. Theres something there, she said. Something – big. What? he said. He looked as if he was ready to laugh, but his expression changed. A chill ran all through her body, deep into her stomach. She went to the outcrop beside the waterfall and scrambled up. Whatever it was, was – She saw immediately. Andres, she said. He looked up. Get up here. Tell me what you think. He climbed up beside her and lay atop the rock. They watched together for a few moments, and Andres put his hand in the small of her back. If things had been like any ordinary day, this would have started another round of kissing and touching. Maybe more. But right now, it barely calmed her galloping heart. Andres eyes told her what he thought. He thought it was as bad as she. We have to get back, Andres said. He slapped her rear, but there wasnt much in it – more bravado than anything else. They stood, brushing leaves and dirt and stones from their clothing. Both were shaking. All the way down the pass, like a big trail of ants, came riders. With blue and gold flags. Horses and riders and carts drawn by bigger animals. Meria didnt know the name to them, but shed heard of them, and the big horns on their heads were unmistakeable. The great oxen of the north. Weve got to tell mother, she said. The Helmanders were coming. #
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 18:45:29 +0000
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