The Archer's Hollow

Chapter Five Siri's First Ride

Chapter Five

Pondering the urgent comment about the amulet, Siri considered the options bouncing around in her head. It wouldn't be right to pass on helping Master Kael for payment. She would fulfill her obligation first and then take up her quest northward.

Awaiting her response, Master Kael looked up. A smile dimpled his tanned cheeks as he hoisted the bags all at once onto his shoulder.

She returned his smile trying to ignore the fluttering in her chest, "What can I help you carry?"

"Grab that sack and hand it to me . . . thank you. If you do not mind, you could carry a couple of the quivers."

She lifted the remaining quivers and lined them up on one arm. Panic and disappointment wove around the edges of her senses but the meaning of it all escaped her.

"Do you ride?" he asked, distracting her.

"A horse?"

His flawless lips curved up, "Yes."

"Um, no, I've never ridden on a horse."

"Come, the corral is not far."

He pulled more cheese from the sack, broke off a piece, and gave it to her.

"Thank you. You're riding a horse?"

"We will be riding horses."

"But I said I don't ride."

"Don't worry, Faye is a gentle mare, you will be fine." He offered a pear.

"No, thank you." She said and immediately regretted it when her grumbling stomach gave her away.

His eyebrows rose and he put the golden fruit in her hand.

"Thank you." She trudged along too embarrassed to look at him.

Siri had just finished her pear when the pungent smell of the animals reached her and Master Kael whistled softly. They had reached the corral. Two horses came running to meet them. A thin cloud of dust enveloped Siri. She waved her arm in front of her face regretting it when she realized it gave her a better view of the lustrous, but fear-inspiring, creatures. Her stomach dropped to her toes as she froze in front of the wild things.

The two beasts eyed her, nickering to Master Kael. He fed a small apple to each one and put the bridles on after they finished chewing. Tying the reins to the fence he talked softly to them as he rubbed their noses.

"This is Faye," he introduced a pale horse the color of harvest-ready wheat. "Usually she carries my supplies, so after you climb on I will load them behind you."

"Are you sure I can't just walk?" Siri said and stepped backward.

"You could, but it is a long way by foot. Do not be troubled, we make this journey nearly every day. Come and I will help you."

"What about my dress?"

"You can sit sideways, and I promise we will go slow. You will be fine. Step on the fence and sit on her back."

"But, they're so big," Siri said. "I don't think I can do this."

"Signorina." His soft voice made her heart pound again. "You can do this, it is easy."

Instinct screamed at her to run, but she took a deep breath instead. Hadn't she made it through an infernally dark mountain? This was just a horse. Her hands shook as she ascended to the top post. Faye moved until they touched.

"Now, just turn your body and sit," Master Kael instructed.

Her heart thudded as he deftly scaled the fence and stood beside her.

"Give me your hands."

She put her hands in his. They were smooth and warm and held tightly to her. She hoped if he could hear her pounding heart he would just think it was fear of the horse. She twisted and sat on the deep-pocketed blanket strapped to Faye. Master Kael did not let go of her.

"Are you settled?"

She nodded.

"Let go with one hand and place it in her mane. I will take the reins, so you do not have to worry about that."

Siri moved her hand from Master Kael's and wrapped her fingers in the coarse mane then followed with the other. Faye startled her by shaking her head, causing the archer to laugh.

"Maybe not so tight."

The warmth of a blush flooded her cheeks and she loosened her grip.

"I will load the bags behind you."

"I'm sorry to be a burden."

"You are not at all." His eyes crinkled as his mouth spread into a wide grin and he dropped the bows into the compartments on both sides of the thick cover draped over the horse.

"We are ready," he said as he leaped onto the other horse. He backed his horse next to Faye and Siri twisted to follow his movements. She heard him click his tongue while watching Faye intently. When the horses heard the clicking they started forward away from the archery field and hopefully away from the invisible eyes Siri had sensed.

The gentle rhythm calmed Siri's frayed nerves and she relaxed her grip, flexing her stiff fingers first on one hand and then the other.

"Are you doing all right?"

"Yes, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's actually nice." She looked at him with a shy smile.

"Did I not tell you so?"

"Yes, but I didn't believe you." She hated the attention on her so she changed the topic. "These are both your horses?"

"Yes, I used to have more but I traded or sold them. My parents took a couple with them when they moved to Gehldona Valley to be closer to my sister."

Siri noticed his jaw tighten.

"You didn't want your parents to go?"

"They sold their property and the new owner let it go to ruins before I managed to buy it, but at that point, well, there was no value except sentimental. I guess I should be glad they sold it before the blight hit. Besides, it is good for my sister they are near."

"Why didn't you go with them?"

"My grandmother is still here and I felt I should stay until she has to go."

"Why would she have to go?"

He stopped the horses and pointed across the valley in front of them.

"See that house on the hill?"

"The huge white one?"

"Yes. That was my parents' home."

"You weren't exaggerating when you said they let it go to ruins."

He raised an eyebrow in her direction. Why did she always have to speak the thoughts that popped into her head?

"I'm sorry, that was ill-mannered. Sometimes my thoughts come out of my mouth when they should not."

She could have sworn he smirked before covering it with a cough and continuing, "It was actually refreshing. If you look around the valley, you will see lots of dead places. No one knows why, but our valley is dying. Each year it gets worse. Everyone is superstitious about the dead lands, so no one goes to those places anymore."

Siri looked around the valley noticing large pockets of skeletal trees standing as lifeless monuments of their once flourishing lives and wondered what had caused the blotchy ruin.