The Touch of Astoroth

Chapter Two

On the dawn of their departure, Coyra woke up and went through her supplies: Two knives, a dagger, a bottle of scorpion venom, and one of rattlesnake poison, and of course, her bow and eleven arrows. Not a bad selection, she reflected, and none of it was very heavy, which was good.

Kyte woke up just as Coyra was strapping on her boots. She sat up and retrieved her small pack, then, tuning to Coyra said, "I guess we should leave then."

She didn't sound at all enthusiastic, in fact she sounded more like she was dreading what came next, and Coyra wondered for the millionth time why the masters had chosen Kyte. Still, she just nodded, and said, "Come on, Master Sudra said she'd meet us in the stables."

Master Sudra was in fact waiting at the stables, and she didn't appear to be in a good mood. She merely handed Coyra the map, nodded to the pair of them, and headed back to her sleeping room. Coyra shrugged, unsurprised by her lack of enthusiasm. The masters rarely showed pleasure at the completion of missions, much less at the setting out. Coyra understood this though, and it didn't bother her; the students had to feel that they were on their own, that no one was rooting for them, or hoping for their safe return. When they left on a mission, they knew that no one would grieve if they never came back.

But, Coyra knew someone would mourn. If she didn't come back from this mission, Fyn and Lem wouldn't let it pass. She knew from the relived looks on their faces every time she got back from a mission, she knew from the terrible worry that she had experienced both times Lem had been gone on his missions, and the way Fyn stayed up every night, watching the window until their friend had returned. The masters didn't want that kind of friendship, but it didn't change things, and it was good to think there was a home to return to.

Coyra turned her mind away from these insubordinate thoughts, and began to saddle her pony. Jeggin nickered softly and allowed Coyra to strap his saddle on. Named after the demon of festivals, Jeggin was a jolly little pony, and just the right mount for the steep rocky hills around the academy.

Kyte was having trouble with her pony, Fintil, who was new at the academy and skittish. Every time the girl tried to approach him, he tensed and whinnied, pinning his ears, and rolling his eyes.

"Kyros," Coyra muttered with a groan. She marched over and held the pony still while Kyte carefully fastened his saddle on; then she turned to Kyte with a sigh, "I'm sure I'll regret this, but you ride Jeggin, I can handle Fintil, and it'll be quicker this way."

Without a word, Kyte hoisted herself onto Jeggin's back. Coyra rolled her eyes and sprang up onto Fintil; almost everyone else at the academy would have taken it as an insult, that Coyra had claimed they couldn't ride well, but not Kyte. Together, the two of the turned and rode out into the misty morning.

They rode all day. Once beyond the hidden valley, the land flattened out somewhat, but they still had to travel almost thirty miles. Coyra had no idea how to pass time with Kyte – she certainly wasn't very talkative – so she settled for trying to learn more about the girl. If you were trying to break into a house, the more you knew about it, the easier it would be; Coyra figured it was similar with people.

"So," Coyra asked her as they rode, "You come from a farm right?"

She vaguely remembered when Kyte had arrived at the academy two years ago. The girl had told some story of being the middle child in a family of thirteen, and that her parents just couldn't support them all. Apparently she had been sent to serve at court, and one of the nobles had sent her to the academy instead.

"Yes," Kyte nodded, not meeting Coyra's eyes.

Coyra wished the girl had more to talk about. She particularly missed Lem's playful banter, or Trikk's cheerful conversation at times like these. She had absolutely no idea what to say.