The Vixen Trials

A Nasty Surprise

Dakkoul

He averted his eyes from the bruises on Malek and strode off down the drafty hallway, only stopping when he saw Pipsqueak scrubbing the floor and whistling a cheerful tune. How mischievous he looked with his snub nose and twinkling light green eyes. Dakkoul maintained his serious expression. "Working hard?"

"Always, Hattavah," Pipsqueak said with a grin. "I've the whole hallway to finish."

He always did work hard. Dakkoul had a sudden desire to give him a break. "Give him a hand Malek."

With good grace Malek plonked down and divided up the hallway into sections. Dakkoul let himself unbend enough to say go and make it a race, openly betting on Pipsqueak. Malek went for speed over accuracy, sloshing water all over and generally splashing himself as he tried to beat the younger, more experienced Pipsqueak who seemed to polish and clean even faster than usual. It came down to the last section, a patch in the middle. Pipsqueak got the first half done and began the second when Malek just started his corner. In his haste to catch up, Malek went for the bucket just as his left foot slipped on a wet patch. He skated forward, knocking the bucket over as Dakkoul declared Pipsqueak the winner. Pipsqueak beamed all around as a sheepish Malek tried to wring the water from his tunic.

"And it's all done, except for that bit in the middle. I can help you Malek," Pipsqueak said, dropping to his knees. "The Tasker won't believe I finished so quickly."

Dakkoul clapped his hand on Pipsqueak's shoulder. "You tell the Tasker you're coming with me for the day."

"Yippee," said Pipsqueak, jumping around. "Really Hattavah? You mean it?"

"We must ride for Tunis. I want you with me."

"And Malek will come too?" Pipsqueak asked, his eyes glowing.

"Only because I have no choice."

Malek gave an exaggerated sigh. "He doesn't like me at all Pipsqueak and all I've done is serve him well and tell him the truth."

Pipsqueak giggled and bounced up and down. "He just takes a while to warm up to people. I had to be friendly to him for a whole year before he'd say anything back to me."

Dakkoul crossed his arms against his chest. They were having far too much fun at his expense and they had a serious task to perform for Lord Rustavan. He stopped their grins with his orders to Pipsqueak to meet him at the stables in ten minutes.

Pipsqueak arrived out of breath and with his help, Dakkoul chose a more suitable mount, avoiding the skinny mare from before. Malek took a much more wild horse that rolled his eyes and tried to pig-root on his way out of the stables. Malek calmed him down, and sat on him as erect and proud as a warrior prince. Dakkoul secretly groaned. He disliked riding and the horses always seemed to sense it. The last thing he needed was his so-called brother gloating over his ineptness.

Pipsqueak came beside him and stroked the neck of his hazelnut brown horse. "She'll be good for you. Just speak gently to her."

He tried, but already he was longing to be in Tunis talking to his contact from the palace.

"I can lead your horse if you wish, Hattavah," Malek said with a barely disguised smirk.

"I can ride perfectly well," he retorted. "I just don't like it."

And they were off, Malek taking the lead even though he didn't know the way and twice Dakkoul had to send Pipsqueak after him to redirect him. He never looked repentant. On the horse he seemed to come alive, his head flung back, his face full of fire and courage so different from the people-pleasing slave that Dakkoul hardly knew what to do with him and contented himself with listening to Pipsqueak's chatter instead. Once they hit the open road, Dakkoul ordered a canter, but Malek urged his horse on to a gallop kicking up the dust as he went streaking towards the hill that Tunis was on. Then he wheeled his horse back, beaming with joy to say to Dakkoul, "I've missed this. Thank you Hattavah," before taking off again at high speed.