Our hubris knew no bounds. We had worked horrors, but because they came from our hands, they were counted as wonders. We had committed atrocities. We had done every despicable thing, and we counted ourselves great.
***
Laidu sneezed. "Bloody hay," he said. For some reason, he was allergic to that. But horses loved hay, and, while Laidu was stronger than the average man -far stronger- he needed a horse to cover good ground. And horses loved hay.
He stood by the bench, grooming his skittish draft horse. It had cost fifty silver talents, but the animal looked strong and healthy. Just not intelligent. It was a look in the eye that betrayed it.
"There, there," Kyra said, patting her horse. "See, just because the big, scary dragon's in here doesn't mean he's going to eat you," she said with a smile. "Relax, Salahad," she said, patting her horse, "Laidu's not hungry." She wore dark green leggings, a good tunic, and a nice wool cloak. It was all second-hand, given to her by the people of Three Pines.
"Bah," Laidu said. His horse, Plow, was not terribly comfortable around him. The draft horse was skittish, and didn't seem like he was the brightest of animals. He probably didn't have the brightest of owners, either, with an incredibly, jaw-droppingly creative name like Plow. But he was strong, and he was obedient. "I've had horseflesh before. Too tough for my liking."
Kyra made a face. "Don't say those things in front of the horses!" she said. "They're smart!"
Laidu gave a laugh. "Really?" he said. "Mine's dumber than a doornail," he said loudly.
The horse swung it's head into Laidu's chest, knocking him onto the ground. He slammed into the stall, earning a chuckle from Kyra. "Doesn't seem too dumb," Kyra said. Laidu swore the horse had given him a disapproving glare. All skittishness was gone. That was good. But he sensed the horse didn't like him. Well, the feeling was mutual.
Kyra adjusted Salahad's bridle as Laidu got back up. "So, I'll be going home," she said. "Saefel Caeld is a long way away," she remarked. "Thanks for coming along. You, I know I can trust." she said.
"Well," Laidu said. "I figured that it would be safer with a King's Ranger along," he said, and adjusted his shirt. Anna, the tavern mistress, had insisted he take one, so he wasn't cold going north to Saefel Caeld. He had tried to tell her that he couldn't get cold, but no. She had practically ordered him to take the shirt. He did. Fortunately, it buttoned in the front, so that let him put it on easier, without getting it tangled up in his horns.
His hood, too, had been slit so he could put it on with little trouble. Of course, that was required dress for any Ranger. He slid, and noticed a large wet spot on his shirt sleeve. Ugh. Might as well dry it out.
He slipped out of it, turned, and pressed his hands on either side of the sleeve. He heated his body up slightly, and watched the stain steam out.
"Woah," Kyra said. "What happened to you?" she asked.
"My back?" Laidu asked. "I keep myself in shape."
"No, not that," Kyra said, her voice getting closer. Her fingers brushed one of the scars on Laidu's back, sending chills across it. "You've got a lot of scars."
"Spent some time in the Ajandi salt flats." He sighed. "I didn't agree with the authorities, you could say." Yep. And when you disagreed with the authorities, they took offense to that. A lot of offense.
Kyra nodded. "That must have been tough," she said after a while. Laidu had just nodded. Over half his scars came from Ajand. It wasn't a time he reflected fondly on.
Laidu shrugged. "It was what it was," he said simply. "I am not an average person," he said.
Kyra chuckled. "Yeah, I don't know what tipped me off. One moment, I'm captured, the next, you're sweeping me off my feet like some fair prince in the stories. Except barechested and all scaly," she said with a laugh. "You're nice."
You could take her right now, a voice in his head said. Laidu frowned. Take her, and no one would know. Duck behind the stalls, and crush her throat before she could scream, and then- Laidu forced the thoughts away, clearing his mind. The odd thing was, they weren't his thoughts. They were alien, savage, and monstrous. He would never do anything like that!
Hah, the voice said. That won't work. Laidu imagined the voice as just a mouth, and then he came in, and stitched it up with imaginary thread. Perfect. Now, it was quiet.
Kyra smiled at him, and then looked behind him. "Oh, there they are," she said.
Laidu turned, shrugging the shirt on. Skaria and Karik'ar were chatting, Karik'ar fidgeting with his large tunic. Indra was scribbling in her book. "Hey," Laidu said,
"Ah, the Fever Blood Ranger," Karik'ar said. He smiled at him. "It will be a fun journey to Caeld, no?" he asked.
"Um..."Laidu said, but Karik'ar shrugged.
"It doesn't matter, but you must teach me your technique!" Karik'ar said. Skaria sighed. Indra carried on regardless.
Laidu frowned. "Hey, I have a question for you, Karik'ar," he said.
Karik'ar led his large warhorse out of it's space. "Yes?" he asked, while brushing the horse down.
"What caste are you in?"
Karik'ar looked back at him. "I'd rather not say," he said.
"Caste?" Kyra asked.
"You know how you have nobles, tradesmen, and peasants?" Laidu asked. "Those are your classes in society. Kai'Draen are different though," he said.
Karik'ar nodded. "We're born with different traits. Is that the right word?" he asked Laidu. Laidu nodded. "Our laborers are hardy and tough, but not too bright. Our warriors are strong, but hot-tempered and not too smart. Our shamans and chiefs are smart, but weak." His voice was deep, but then again, he was huge.
Kyra nodded. "I see."
" Karik'ar said, without any malice. "I didn't fit in with that, as much," he said. "Castes are supposed to be pure, do certain jobs. I, well... am a rebel, you could say." He sighed. "My tribe considers me dead to them." He sighed. "But, I have friends outside of the Kai'Draen. Or, rather," he said, looking at Skaria, "a friend."
She smiled. "I picked him up and he helped me with a job." She shrugged. "He needed a job. I could tell."
Karik'ar nodded. "We work for ourselves," he said. "We were supposed to come and get you, Kyra." He looked at her. "I thought we'd have to babysit you. I guess I had the wrong person in mind," he said, looking pointedly at Indra. She was staring at her horse, confused-looking.
Skaria sighed and moved over to Indra. "Let me do it," she said, before putting the gear on Indra's horse. Indra nodded absentmindedly and sat down. She pulled out a small book and began to read.
"Hey! Get your nose out of that book!" Skaria said irritably. "I'm trying to teach you how to saddle a horse!" Indra gave her a glare. "Dumb scholar," Skaria muttered under her breath. She saddled the horse anyway.
Plow butted his head into Laidu again. "Stop it," he warned the horse. And, amazingly, the horse did. Hm. Maybe Plow wasn't so dumb after all. Mostly dumb, but not too dumb.
"Hey!" Laidu heard someone say. "Laidu! Wait up!" Laidu turned and saw Kerras rushing up to him. "I wanted to thank you for what you did," Kerras said. Laidu nodded. "I mean, we were a bit understaffed, and we couldn't have survived that long without you. Or them," he said, indicating Skaria and Karik'ar. "Though that one looks like she's a handful," Kerras noted, pointing to Indra. She had done something to earn Skaria's ire. And that wasn't going well.
Skaria was going ballistic. She had grabbed Indra's book and tossed it aside. "Stop reading that bloody book and pay attention!" she ordered. Indra rolled her eyes
Kyra and Karik'ar tried to ignore the countless oaths emanating from Skaria. "Well, it wasn't a problem," Laidu said. "They might be." Skaria whacked Indra with the tack.
"Watch what I'm doing! Alright?" Skaria said angrily.
Indra mumbled something, and then moved over to the tack. "Fine. I'll watch." She put her book down and studied Skaria. "Get it over with."
"Spoiled brat," Skaria muttered," before showing Indra again how to put the tack on the horse. Laidu and Kerras watched. As her deft hands fitted the straps on the horse's flank, Indra studied the movements. Then, as she fitted the last of the straps on, she stepped back. "There." She glared at Indra, who was pulling her headscarf up. "What are you doing? You're don't look like you're from that weird Ajandi cult."
"It's special cloth," Indra explained, before bringing the cowl of it up over her nose. She fumbled with a pouch, and pulled out a pair of large goggles. "Alchemic neutralizing cloth. All the principles inside it are perfectly balanced. Protects me from acid spills and stuff." Indra put on the goggles, stepped up onto a stool and mounted the horse, arranged her dress so it fell over either side it, and went to move out. "I'll meet you at the gates," she said, her voice muffled by the cloth. With that, she flicked the reins and her horse trotted out the stable.
"Well, I guess we're parting ways," Kerras said. Laidu nodded. "Stay safe out there." Laidu gave him a smile, before he saw Karik'ar, Skaria, and Kyra mount their horses. "Go!"
Laidu rushed to his horse, climbing up Plow, making sure that he didn't accidentally scratch it. "Good to see you're joining us, finally," Karik'ar said. "You're going to teach me that technique you used."
"Maybe," Laidu said with a smile. "Some of it's Ranger secrets. That I can't show you."
"Bah. I will convince you!" Karik'ar said. Laidu chuckled. It would be one interesting trip.