Chapter 18 - Animus

Animus held his horse’s reins as he followed Nalo, his thoughts only the beautiful woman. Who was she? Why hadn’t he ever known about her before? Had she ever been in Haver?

Kas cuffed him on his shoulder, “Pay attention! You’re about to run off the trail.”

Animus looked down and gasped. A few more feet and I’d have been over the cliff.

Nalo, who had been leading them, motioned upward towards an outcropping of rocks. “There is a small cave around this bluff. That would be a suitable place to stop.”

“Good. Animus is about to start slobbering,” Kas said.

Animus didn’t hear his father said. He stared at Nalo. She’s gorgeous.

As they rounded a rocky overhang, the ground flattened, widening into a flat, rocky surface that dug back into the mountain to form a shallow cave. Rocks craned twenty feet over them as they entered the entrance of the cave.

Nalo moved toward the back of the shelter. She waited for Animus and Kas to get their horses settled. Then she spread her arms and whispered, “shapsolom.”

The air crackled around her. Sparkled light filled the cave, forcing Animus to turn away.

As it faded, Nalo’s voice said, “It is done.”

Animus looked at her and couldn’t believe what he saw. She was slight and small, hair still black as night. She was still pretty, yet Animus was no longer enthralled. Until her eyes locked onto his. Once more, he started feeling lightheaded.

Kas covered Animus’s eyes. “Enough, priest.”

“Very well, blacksmith. I’ll adjust my appearance so I no longer beguile him.”

Kas kept his hands over Animus’s eyes. “Listen to me son. Be wary of priests. They are masters of trickery. Most prey on people’s feelings, their power fed by others’ uncertainties. They see people as wet clay that they can mold to do their wishes.”

“Not all of us are like that. My father served the army and their cause because he knew they tread the righteous path. That—”

Kas shook his head “I’ll hear no more talk of the past.”

“Then let your son look upon me.”

Kas released his eyes, and Animus once more couldn’t believe it. This time Nalo stood as tall as him. She appeared to be a curvier woman with red curly hair with bangs short above her neck. Wearing a gleaming chain shirt that looked freshly oiled, she held small carvings of black bears in each of her hands.

“I don’t understand,” Animus said.

“You’re not supposed to,” Kas said. “Describe her to me.”

“A woman in a chain shirt holder bear carvings.”

Kas grunted. “Aye.”

Nalo bowed to them. “This is not really me, merely a guise I will use when we approach our adversaries. My glamour will be completely hidden from them.”

Glamour? I will have to ask mother about priests. Animus no longer felt attracted to this woman. Though her appearance was still kind to the eyes, he felt nothing for her. Animus found that very odd, for of late every attractive move made him very uncomfortable.

Animus cast a sidelong glance toward his father. “Is that really her?”

“See what I mean? Never trust a priest.”

Animus had been around priests, but they had all been men. Not even the men at the inn ever spoke about a female priest. Yet Animus knew better than to argue. “I won’t, papa.”

Father nodded, then looked at Nalo. “Tell me what we’re doing here.”

Again, she bowed. “On the other side of this mountain are a dozen men and women that have set up a small market along the river. They’ve even set up a small dock.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Kas asked.

“They’re slavers.”

Kas stood taller, his hand seizing the pommel of his sword. “This far South?”

“Yes.”

“You’re certain?”

“I know slavers’ marks when I see them.”

“How long have they been there?” Kas asked.

“Two weeks. A few of them have come to our village seeking trade. We turned them away.”

“You should have drove them into the river,” Kas said.

“We would have. But their leader concerned me. She branded with black skulls, dozens of them on her arms and chest.”

“No!” Kas said. “Impossible.”

“I’m quite certain. Her and about a dozen of her men came to our village a week ago. She told us we would do trade with them. Or face the consequences.”

“Papa, I thought slavers were banned from these mountains?”

“They are. The Queen has banned slavery.”

“She’s a powerless fool that has cast all her resources south toward the Border War. When’s the last time you’ve seen her troops in these mountains?”

Talking about the queen like that could have you hanged. At least that’s what the men said when they whispered their complaints between their tankards.

“Did you send word to her in Dunfrang?”

“There’s not time for that. This must be handled here. Now.”

Kas worried at his beard with one of his thick hands. “What did this slaver leader ask for?”

“Food, drink. Whores, both men and women, all to be delivered to their camp. Several of her thugs wandered around the cottages with weapons drawn. She also said she wouldn’t ask again.”

“They didn’t shed any blood?” Kas asked.

“Couple of them came back the next night and threw a couple of horse heads into the clearing.”

“What’s you do?”

“Caught them. Jailed them.”

So that’s who was in the cages.

“That was stupid,” Kas said.

“Letting them go back empty-handed would have been worse,” Nalo said.

“So you think I can just run them off?” Kas asked.

“With my help.”

“How many trained men and women do you have?” Kas asked.

“None. I have other allies on which to call.”

“Hogs balls. You’ve nothing but priest trickery.”

“You’re wrong. I’ve been granted powers by Karhu. He has blessed me with his power.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I can prove it to you.”

“So what if you can? Just you and me going to take them all on? That the plan?”

Nalo nodded. “I can’t ask my people to get involved. Not yet. Karhu’s powers have not coalesced within them.”

Karhu? Who is that? Having missed the earlier conversation between Kas and Nalo, Animus was confused. Of slavers, Animus knew they were dangerous. That they raided villages, that they captured people as if they were cows or horses. That they would sell men, women, and children of all ages to the highest bidder.

“I find it difficult to believe Dalpa sent me to do this,” Kas said.

“He didn’t. I asked he send you. He knows nothing of this trouble. You are much or capable to drive them off than Dalpa.”

“A fool’s agreement. What can you offer me?”

“More than you can fathom.”

Kas growled. “I don’t need you in my debt.”

“You don’t.” Nalo looked at Animus. “He does.”

Kas shrugged. “He’s but a boy?”

Nalo approached Kas and leaned close to the ear farthest from Animus. She whispered in his ear.

His father’s eyes widened. Quickly he looked at Animus. The back to Nalo. After a few moments, he took a deep breath. “Make the binding, priest.”

The binding?

Nalo stepped a few feet backward then extended her hands to the sky, yet her eyes never left Kas. “Karhu, grant me your power and strength. I swear to Kas and Animus my allegiance in exchange for driving the Skull-Sworn away from your village of cubs. Great Karhu, make my will your own.”

Animus felt a tingling in the air. Magic.

Nalo approached them.

Why is my skin tingling? Suddenly, Animus saw thin green tendrils floating between himself and Nalo. Animus tried to touch one of the lines. His hand passed through it. Am I imagining this?

Animus blinked, and they were gone. He looked at father and Nalo. Both were breathing hard. Sweat etched his father’s face.

Nalo staggered and dropped to a knee. Perspiration dribbled from her nose. She asked, “Do you believe me now, blacksmith?”

From his father’s eyes, Animus swore he saw tears pouring from them. Father never cries. He walked over to his father. “Papa?”

His father tussled his hair. Then he walked toward Nalo and helped her stand. “I believe you an ally, priest.”

Nalo clasped his hands between both of hers. “I swear myself to you and your son, Kas of Haver. As the Steel-Maker’s anvil is unbreakable, so is my services to you and your son.”

Kas nodded. “As agreed, I shall drive these slaves from your land, be it by peace or blood.”

Once more Animus saw those green lines between them. They grew in brightness and thickness until a solid chartreuse anvil formed between them. What just happened?

The image disappeared. Kas leaned his forehead gently against Nalo’s.

A sense of dread filled Animus. His leg shook, and he felt suddenly exhausted.

The feeling eased after a few moments. His father’s hand squeezed his shoulder. “Son, what just happened must be our secret. Not even you mother should be told. You understand?”

How could I possibly? First he tells me not to trust priest than they form some magic bond? Yet, Animus nodded, hoping sometime later father would explain things to him.

“Good. Can you stand?”

“Yes, father.”

“We’ll rest here. Eat. I’ll explain what’s getting ready to happen,” Kas said.

Animus thought he already had a pretty good idea.