Exile to the Stars (The Alarai Chronicles) (54 page)

Heideth
left Balthazar and approached Jeff. Ears down, her mind boiled with such
turmoil that she felt she could not tolerate the agony. Picking up on that
thought, Jeff realized Heideth’s pain was at least as bad as his. She had been
trapped and blown away by the simultaneous advent of spring, estrus and meeting
Balthazar.

“You
are deeply troubled, even as I am.”

“What
has happened was destined to be, yet my heart is torn asunder. Now I must leave
your side. I have broken the One. I have done this thing!”

There
were no words, no thoughts that could make it right. He knelt and placed a hand
on either side of her head. Looking into golden-green eyes, he relished the
clarity of her thoughts and total absence of hypocrisy. He wrapped his arms
around Heideth and held her while both cried in a way that did not require
liquid tears.

Heideth
pulled back and stared into his eyes. Memories of the past and thoughts of a
future without Jeff fueled anguish that was more human than lupine.

“Now
you must judge this one’s oath-breaking.”

Thinking,
I judge that I love you, Jeff forced some order into his mind. He knew beyond
emotion that he must let her go.

“The
gods have given their judgment—our wolf-sister must be one with the pack she
has won her place to run in, and follow the ways of the brethren. Ever has its
leader been my brother. You and I are one but now we must part, for your path
in the forest cannot be mine. Go in peace, go with my love. May our destinies
remain intertwined.”

Crystal
tears glimmering in her mind, Heideth mentally bowed. “Your judgment speaks to
the wisdom and strength of resolve that I have come to so cherish. It shall be
done.”

Heideth
nuzzled Jeff’s cheek and trotted over to Balthazar’s pack. Watching her move
into the pack and take charge, Jeff thought, And what of you, Balko? Will you
leave me too?

The
young wolf wasn’t long in making his position clear.
“Has this one bitten
any ‘Salchek’ necks? We are one.”

“Then
let us continue our journey to that destiny.”
Turning to
leave, Jeff bumped into Balthazar.

“Will
you hear me, wolf-brother? Forgive my lack of comprehension?”

“We
are one. There is nothing to forgive.”

“Yet
I now perceive the quality of your pain.”

“Understanding
will be granted over time.”

After
a period of mental communion, Balthazar accepted Jeff’s statements as fact.
Through his association with the Alarai and in a way analogous to Heideth’s
experience, he had come to understand the wide-ranging and often fragile extent
of human emotion. But this was his brother. They shared a long period of mental
silence before Balthazar felt comfortable with moving on to pressing business.

“The
one named ‘Gaereth’ has arrived, but has many forests to cross. Here he will
await your return from the great city. Food has been provided for the yellow-hairs
and is protected by two-legs. Our presence has lead to a certain unease, and I
believe it were wise for you to soothe their spirits. May I conclude their
leader has engaged resolve?”

“This
is so, wolf-brother. I believe the two-leg pack leader, ‘Imogo’, will prove a
worthy ally in what is to come.”

“Let
us rely on that belief. It is also in my mind that the brethren cannot be found
wanting in this conflict. We must join battle with the invaders. What is your
thinking on this matter?”

“On
the open plains and in the face of ‘Salchek’ weapons I would fear for the lives
of my wolf-brethren while the sun gives light. During darkness and amidst the
forests of this land, there is no more fearsome enemy. Such allies would be
welcome.”

“We
will pursue this matter. This pack at least will come.”

Jeff
spent a good deal of time talking with the men Rengeld had sent north with the
promised supplies. While badly spooked by the wolves, they were committed to
seeing things through. It was still early in the afternoon when the final
points were settled. Now it was time to go, to physically part ways. Balthazar
planned to trek northwest toward their summer hunting grounds. With Heideth.
She stopped for a moment at the forest verge and looked back.

“Never
until this day have I wished to be other than what I am, Jeffrey. Know that at
this moment my heart cries out that I were a human female. Always will my
thoughts be with you.”

Casting
a last benediction of love, she vanished into the forest. It was some time
before Jeff turned his gaze from where she had disappeared. Heideth had called
him by name. No wolf had ever done that before.

Hardly
taking note of his surroundings, Jeff forded the Vekka and rode south. Sensing
his state of mind, Cynic and Balko increased their vigilance to take up the
slack. Days passed, many of them, and the impact of Heideth’s loss slowly
abated to a dull ache. Having found a kindred spirit and credulous mind in
Balko, Cynic helped pass the time by gossiping shamelessly about Rugen.

Moving
rapidly, they ghosted through the deciduous forest. On the way north the timing
had not been right for Cynic and Jeff to camp in their special glen. That was
not the case heading south. Man and horse had many fond memories of the glen.

When
they broke out of the trees, Balko understood his friend’s excitement. Upon
viewing the glen he immediately loped off to explore every nook. The glowing
report he had received from Cynic was, if anything, an understatement.

 
The weather was perfectly warm and settled,
the water in the brook just the right temperature to splash around in. Besides
those factors, every sense at his command indicated that Cynic was right.
Something resided in the glen that went far beyond the mundane. What it was Balko
could not say, nor did he worry about saying it. It was simply there to be
appreciated. Although he could have used a bite to eat, Balko never considered
hunting the glen or surrounding forest.

Once
free of saddle and baggage, Cynic joined Balko. The two friends poked around
here and there while Cynic related what had occurred when he and Jeff had first
camped in the glen. Balko decided it was an astounding tale. It never occurred
to either of them that Cynic’s memory of events was much more complete than
Jeff’s.

After
sunset the larger moon crept above the trees. While Jeff bathed in the creek,
horse and wolf settled in on top of a little hillock. The flowers were in full
bloom and fragrance, the breeze gentle. Lighted by the moon, every color took on
a luminous shade that created a world of the spirit. It was not a night given
to extraordinary events, rather one of extraordinary beauty.

Once
bathed, Jeff joined them with recorder in hand. Although he had played on
several occasions since meeting Balko, the young wolf had never heard such
compelling music as now flowed from the recorder in gentle progression. It
seemed that his spirit lifted free to hover over the meadow.

After
a period, Cynic resettled himself in a more comfortable position.
“Now, wolf-brother,
I shall relate the story of Middle Earth; a story of great love, great courage,
and great evil.”

Once
across Mirkwood Creek and onto the road, the trio blew along at a famous pace
scattering fellow travelers right and left. Jeff was impressed by the amount of
traffic they encountered as the days passed. It seemed to be much heavier than
he recalled from the first trip south. They passed load after load of cordwood,
carts piled high with game, and herds of domestic animals plodding along.

When
they topped the hill that overlooked Rugen, Jeff pulled Cynic well off the road
and stopped. Balko’s presence had caused a stampede earlier in the day and
threatened to do so again. Jeff wearily climbed down, looked out over the
valley, and did an amazed double take.

“Now,
that is some sight.”

Every
square inch of land was under cultivation. Scores of farmers, ant-like in the
distance, swarmed over the fields. Jeff turned his gaze toward Rugen.

“Holy
shit. Will you look at that.” The causeway was jammed side to side and backed
up to the hill with people and livestock. “Imogo has really put this city on a
war footing!”

The
sight of Rugen strengthened memories that had been growing stronger by the day
since crossing Mirkwood Creek. Zimma and Carl were down there somewhere.
Belstan and Rogelf were probably pulling off some business deal at the very
moment. It had been over nine months since he left Rugen.

“I
have got to see them!” He jumped into the saddle, only to dismount at once.
“Damn it! No way can I take Balko down there.” Jeff viewed the causeway scene
again and shook his head decisively. “It would be a disaster. We’ll have to
wait.”
 

They
found a spot on the hillside that afforded a good view. It was better than a
three-ring circus. There were several mini-stampedes, it looked like two bulls
were fighting over a female in heat, and, in a side event, a solid fistfight.

In
addition to the action, Cynic’s steady stream of pithy comments threatened to
undo Jeff from moment to moment. Balko was not immune from Cynic’s two-leg
jokes, either. On one occasion he let go with a howl, creating further problems
at the foot of the hill.

Jeff
mounted shortly after sunset in a cheerful frame of mind. The crowd had melted
away as the afternoon drew on, and the road was nearly empty. Guards formed up
as they neared the gate. There seemed to be some pushing and shoving to see who
got to stand in the rear. The senior man, an elderly sergeant, wound up doing,
or as the case might be, stuck with, his duty.

“State
yer business.”

“I
am Jeffrey Friedrick. We are expected.”

Having
said all he intended to, Jeff calmly stared at the man. Tongue lolling out,
Balko stood nearby laughing his wolf laugh.

The
sergeant was in a tough spot. He had seen some strange sights in his day, but
never a great wolf at such close quarters. He was dumbfounded and not a little
frightened by the creature’s size. Still, he was duty bound not to let
dangerous elements into the city. The wolf was, he concluded, likely very
dangerous. Recalling information announced at reveille several weeks ago, he
suddenly brightened and heaved a vast sigh of relief.

“Well
now, ya done returned! I mean, yessir, we heerd ya was maybe on the way ta
town. Pass on, but if ya don’t mind ah’d ‘preciate it if ya sorta kept a good
eye on that there wolf. Might set folks in the city on a real tear.”

A
belly laugh tried to form, but Jeff stopped it. He didn’t think he could stand
one more. “He might at that. I’ll speak with him about it.”

Tuned
in to Jeff, Balko did a little jig to keep from howling. This had been a day
unlike any in his young memory.

Upon
entering Rugen, Jeff’s thoughts immediately centered on Zimma. He didn’t know
where she might be staying, but decided to stop at Ethbar’s place first.
Someone would know. It was hard to believe she was only a couple of miles away.
It had been so long. That fact was emphasized when Jeff took note of the
changes that had occurred in his absence. They were startling.

Although
it was getting dark, streets he remembered as being merely busy in full
daylight were still thronged with noisy people. Makeshift standards had been
erected along the streets to support crude oil lanterns that shed little light
but a lot of smoke. Businesses they passed were still open and crowded with
shoppers. Loaded carts jousted for room to pass where there was none. Jeff
could hardly believe that so much had changed in nine months.

Farther
into Rugen, a company of soldiers marched by on their way to the barracks or
duties somewhere in the city. Instead of the disorderly mob Jeff remembered,
they seemed well disciplined. Rengeld had been busy.

Something
was also different about the streets themselves. They passed several
intersections before he figured out what it was. The streets were free of
garbage. Jeff rumbled laughter in spite of the pain.

“Carl,
old friend, how did even you manage to get this mess cleaned up?”

The
unmistakable evidence of his friend’s activities fueled Jeff’s excitement, and
he urged Cynic to a careful trot. City life was so strange to Balko that he
stayed close without being told to. However, he did mark a number of
interesting activities for later investigation. First on his list were the food
stalls they passed.

Entering
the courtyard that served Ethbar’s home, Jeff felt so charged with energy that
he felt like leaping off Cynic and running into the house. Instead, his eyes
were drawn to a lanky figure strolling along in the shadows. Head bent as if to
examine the cobblestones, his hands were clasped behind his back.

“Damn,
it’s good to be back,” Jeff exclaimed, “and this is too good an opportunity to
miss.”