Cade 26

“Silence!” Baran Wardex’s roar reverberated off the stone walls of the clan house effectively eliminating the current infighting. A large meal sat before the Wardex long forgotten in light of the argument.

Cade stood behind his father’s chair, a sharp frown marring his handsome features. It was unlike his disciplined and stoic kinsmen to give way to such displays of temper. In the three days since their return to Clan Wardex, he broke up no less than five fights and countless arguments.

All of it, from the minor disagreements to the full scale assaults, centered around the best course of action in the upcoming battle. That there would be a battle no one doubted. The details of when, how and where were decided by the Alai. But the Alai were taking an unusual amount of time making the decision which was causing no fair amount of tension. Men of action did not do well in situations of inaction.

All the Wardex patrols except those in the Gray Mountains, were on their way or already back at the settlement. It was crowded. Cade couldn’t remember a time in his life when so many warriors gathered together.

Most of the young Wardex were sent for training in the Gray Mountains by their sixteenth winter. There, they practiced and honed their fighting skills. Once training was over they could return to the settlement and start families, join the equally large settlement of men in the Gray Mountains helping to patrol and train, or be chosen by the Alai as Wardex of the human race. Only four in ten Wardex returned to the clan settlement, married and produced children.

“There will be no more fighting!” Baran roared. He stood quickly knocking his chair over. His meaty fist slammed against the rough wooden planks of the table overturning his chalice. “Save your wrath for the enemy. We will be at war soon enough!”

“We must meet this enemy at the Gray!” A voice from the back of the room boomed.

“We must draw them to our side of the Gray and destroy them!” Another voice tinged with anger answered.

“That is enough!” Baran yelled. “It is the same argument over and over again. Do you think I have not heard it? It will be decided soon.”

Baran scowled at the Wardex. “Eat the fine meal the women have prepared. Soon enough we will be longing for such as this.”

A man stepped from the diners as the others went back to their meal or began leaving the hall. He gave Baran a curt nod. He wore a weathered white fur cape draped over large shoulders. As with most Wardex, his hair was black as midnight and cut close to the scalp. His scarred visage made him instantly recognizable to Cade though it was at least five years since they last met.

Cade stepped to his father’s side.

“Dirk Wardex,” Baran said smiling and grabbed Dirk’s forearm in a warrior embrace. “It is good to see you son! When did you arrive?”

Dirk did not return the smile but gave Cade a slight nod. “I arrived a few hours ago. I have just come from giving my report to the Alai.”

Baran raised an eyebrow. “You reported to the Alai before reporting to your Captain?”

Dirk did not flinch at Baran’s censor. “My report was less of a judicial nature Captain and more of a,” Dirk paused as if the words were stuck in his throat then finished haltingly. “More of a, a, magical nature.”

Baran and Cade grimaced in unison. Magic. The dreaded word which seemed to resurface time and time again the last three days. It seemed every returning Wardex carried a story of magic to the Alai.

Wardex, for the most part, believed magic a thing of the past, and better left alone. There were still some residual pockets of power left over from the last wars when those who wielded magic died or were driven south of the Gray Mountains. Cade’s sword, Magus, and the family emerald were such relics. Each held a small amount of power on its own and when combined gave Cade an edge in battle. But by and large magic was no longer associated with the human race north of the Gray, unless one looked to pranks and tricksters.

“Then well you went to the Alai first” Baran bit. “I’ve a belly full of magic tales and not needing another one.” He sighed looking at the untouched food sitting in abandoned trenchers. “You eat?”

Dirk nodded. “While waiting to see the Alai.” His eyes rested on Cade. “You are well?”

Cade smiled and stepped forward grasping Dirk’s forearm. “I am. It is good to see you.”

Dirk returned the smile showing a slightly chipped front tooth. “And you.” He dropped his arm. “I must see to my horse. I bought her three days ago to speed my journey. I fear the stable master considered a mare less than worthy of his attention in a stable full of stallions. But she bore me well. I want to supply an extra ration of oats.”

“I will join you,” Cade said and looked to his father. Baran gave a curt nod of dismissal and the two men left the hall.

The settlement was not changed since Cade’s childhood. The clan house with its large vaulting cedar roof and wide courtyard set in the middle of many smaller stone cottages. The smaller cottages housed such essentials as the smithy, tanner, candle maker, clothier, and cobbler. Further out, the family cottages were larger, some with two floors. The cottages went on for a long way before the outer perimeter.

Cade nodded to a woman standing in a doorway holding a baby. She turned long enough to give Cade a sweet smile.

Dirk laughed. “The women always liked you Cade.”

Cade shrugged.

“I was sure to find you married and growing fat when I returned,” Dirk ribbed.

“The Alai named me Wardex to the humans as they did you. It is not the life for a woman.”

Dirk nodded. “Indeed, though marriage is not forbidden.”

The two men entered a low roofed narrow building with stalls lining the walls. Lanterns were placed on every post and illuminated the too crowded stable. The smell of hay, smoke from the oil lamps, and manure accosted their nostrils. At Cade’s appearance a deep chested black stallion twenty hands high nickered loudly.

Cade stopped to stroke the black’s velvet nose. “Your home is invaded Mammoth.”

Dirk’s black brows rose. “Mammoth? That huge monster is Mammoth?”

Cade nodded and ran his hands down the stallion’s neck.

Dirk laughed. “I remember when you picked the horse Cade. It was born sickly and small. His mother refused him suck. It was a great joke when you named him Mammoth. I can not believe that sickly colt grew into this monster.”

Cade shrugged. “He is trained well. And in battle his height and breadth will benefit.”

Though no war was fought in over 2000 years, the Wardex carried on the tradition of training horses to be deadly in battle. It was their birthright to protect the human race from the dark races should the need ever arise. A reliable war horse was an effective weapon.

Dirk laughed again and started toward the back of the stable.

Cade followed and stopped beside his friend at the last stall on the right. A sturdy brown mare with liquid brown eyes greeted them with a small whinny of recognition.

“Here you go girl,” Dirk said removing a sack from beneath his cloak and pouring the contents into a small trough on the stall door. The mare nudged his hand and lowered her head to eat.

"It looks as though the stable master groomed her,” Cade said looking around for sign of the elderly Wardex.

“Pray she doesn’t appeal too well or that great beast of yours might consider mounting her.” Dirk laughed. “I don’t think she’d live through it.”

Cade smiled.

Dirk sighed and stroked her head watching the brown ears twitch as she ate. “I will not have you mocking her gender. She bore me well. She is to be my primary in battle. I named her Sarsus.”

“There will be a certain amount of jesting among the others,” Cade said.

Dirk smiled. “I am always happy to provide entertainment.” Which was exactly how he lost the corner of his front right tooth.

Cade soaked in the companionship. He never regretted taking the road over family life. But there were times when he wondered about his childhood friends. They were rarely in the settlement at the same time. Occasionally, he missed the camaraderie he took for granted in youth.

Cade studied his friend. A thin white scar ran from Dirk’s left temple down to his chin, just narrowly missing the eye. He remembered watching the phants long claw dig the furrow believing at that moment his life forfeit. And afterward despite the pain and loss of blood, Dirk would not be left behind while the others climbed down to gut the phant. Like Cade, he still wore his fur cape made from the carcass of the dead beast.

Yes it was good to see him, good to laugh, good to belong again.

Dirk propped a boot on the lowest rung of the stall gate, crossed his arms and watched the mare eat. His face became pensive. “Kane is in the Gray Mountains. I have done my duty and given my reports. I leave tomorrow.”

Cade watched the man’s scarred profile. “What of the Alai?”

Dirk sighed. “I will not wait for the counsel to decide my brother’s fate. Our people in the Gray Mountains may be over run any day and the counsel sits here undecided. Do you not worry for Loghan?”

“I do.” Cade said looking at the black mare in the stall next to Dirk’s. “It is vexing. I brought a shifter into camp thinking the Alai would not hold her counsel. But they have not let her out of their sight for three days.”

“I saw her,” Dirk’s eyes lingered on the beautiful black mare in the stall next to his. “She listens to all their reports and debates.” He looked at Cade. “I do not understand the wisdom of that.”

Cade shook his head. “Nor do I. Though she saved my life I can not come to trust her. Razar would attack her did I not forbid it.”

Dirk’s eyes lit up at the mention of the hound. “Razar! Where is he?”

Cade scowled. “He is with the shifter. He will not leave her side.”

Dirk smiled. “He keeps his enemies close.”

“It seems.” Cade said. “I would the counsel make their decisions so I might accompany you to the Gray. Loghan is young yet and I wish to be there.”

"I knew as much,” Dirk said. “Though in truth, I am unsure our steel will be enough. It seems the world is becoming a shadow of our night as boys with the phant.”

Cade’s shoulder muscles tensed reflexively. It was the first time the incident was ever spoken aloud. “Aye,” Cade said. “But the phant could be killed.”

“Twice,” Dirk said dryly cocking a black eyebrow.

Cade nodded grimly. “Aye, twice.”

The men stood in silence and watched Sarsus take petite bites of the oats Dirk provided.

“There is something else,” Dirk said glancing again at the black mare in the stall beside Sarsus. “Something that nags at me yet was not specific enough to bring to the counsel’s attention.”

“Speak it” Cade said knowing Dirk’s wardex sense was stronger than most.

“There is an innuendo in the air. Every time I attempted to find its source it was like grasping the wind. Yet it persists, and that alone begs attention.” Dirk rubbed his scar. “Whispers on the wind, in the back room of dark hasmas, about the rebirth of the wizards. And how they will be led by the Woetress herself born as one of them into their blood line. How she seeks even now to escape her prison. That the god child she is to be, is already conceived.”

Cade clenched his jaw.

“Have you not heard any of this in your travels?” Dirk asked.

“Aye,” Cade bit. “Though before this past fortnight I would not give any credence to it. Today I am of changed opinion. Whatever is coming is bent on destroying or enslaving every human north of the Gray.”

Dirk’s eyes widened. “You dream this?”

Cade gave a curt nod. “I do.”

"And what of a defense? Do you dream of how to defeat this aggression?” Dirk asked.

Cade looked down at his clenched fists. “I do not.”

Dirk sighed. “Then we are blind. All the more reason I reach Kane swiftly. He will not meet this enemy alone.”

Cade nodded. “Once the counsel orders a battle plan I will join you in the Gray.”

“The counsel may have use for you elsewhere,” Dirk said softly once again looking at the beautiful black mare in the adjoining stall.

Cade’s blue eyes narrowed. “If they have use for me at all they will do well to remember I am brother to Loghan before head to their plans. My father is not dead yet and still heads this clan. He will be the point of any action taken.”

Dirk stroked Sarsus.

“You should not travel alone tomorrow,” Cade said. “Creatures are making it across the Gray now. Creatures our kind hasn’t seen in two thousand years. Every Wardex is valuable.” He smiled. “We can’t afford to lose even one as weak as you.”

Dirk laughed though his scar allowed only one side of his mouth to lift completely. His large hand landed on Cade’s right shoulder in a crushing grip. “It is good to see you again my friend. Good to be among our people. I must find my rest. I depart early.”

“Travel well Dirk Wardex,” Cade said and slapped his friend’s broad shoulders a little harder than necessary.

Dirk nodded and strode from the stable still smiling.

Cade watched until the stable door closed and let the smile slide from his face.