"Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before, advanced a stage or two upon that road which you must travel in the steps they trod."― Unknown
Through the winter, Adrian spent more and more time resting, gradually becoming frailer. By the middle of the second moon, he could do little more than greet the arriving Heralds and join them at their meals; rarely did he rise in time to see them leave in the morning. The village healer, Zascha Austrebon, began making regular visits to 'look in'.
Ragnar took on more and more of the keeping of the waystation and resupply depot, seeing to the needs of the visiting Heralds and Companions. He noted the sad looks they exchanged when Adrian dozed off in the middle of conversations. When a blizzard trapped Heralds Tyler and Keva at the waystation in the first sennight of the second moon, the two of them took Ragnar aside.
"You know he is dying, don't you?" Tyler said softly. Ragnar closed his eyes and nodded, acknowledging the blunt fact.
"If we get warning," Tyler said, "some of us will come a few days before to keep him company at the end."
"It may come suddenly, though." Keva said. "You must be prepared for either possibility and know what to do."
Gently but factually, the two Heralds explained what Ragnar needed to do. They explained he would need to maintain the waystation alone until a new, permanent caretaker could be found.
Ragnar slept poorly that night, dreading the impending loss and wondering what would become of him. Should he ask to be the permanent keeper of the waystation? It was a comfortable, secure place. He loved meeting the Companions and the Heralds and being around them. He tried to examine it as a shaman would. No, he decided regretfully. He liked it here, but there was more for him to do. When his sentence was done and Adrian was gone, he would leave.
By the beginning of the third moon, Adrian needed Ragnar's help to rise from his bed. The next day, the Healer Zascha arranged for a day and night watch over the failing Herald. Ragnar devoted as much time as he could to caring for Adrian. Ragnar did all he could for Werra: Getting to her feet was now so difficult for the Companion that she no longer lay down to rest.
Two days later, a trio of Heralds arrived: Mirilin, Teren and Rebecca. Rebecca Gill was Adrian's sister; the two men had interned with Adrian. They helped the elderly Rebecca make the journey from Haven in gentle stages. Several more Heralds arrived over the next few days.
###
Ragnar bit his lip as he picked up the tray from Adrian's bedside. Adrian had eaten only a few bites of bread and the preserved fruit. He opened the door to take the tray back to the kitchen.
"Ragnar, please come here." Adrian's voice was a raspy whisper. Ragnar put down the tray and sat by the bed. Adrian pulled his withered hand from beneath the sheets; in his palm there was a braided white cord with a pendant attached.
"Something to remember us by." Adrian said. "The hair is Werra's. Rebecca braided it for me. I'm afraid my fingers aren't nimble enough anymore."
With trembling fingers, Ragnar took the cord and pendant. He glanced at the pendant, which was a silver eagle, wings outstretched. Its eyes were tiny blue gemstones. In the middle of the eagle's breast, there was a tiny white lozenge bearing the Windrider sigil.
Fighting back tears, Ragnar closed his eyes and kissed the old man on the forehead. "Thank you." He said. He sat with Adrian, who stories of his life on circuit until he drifted off to sleep once more. When Ragnar looked around, Rebecca and several other Heralds were standing in the room. Ragnar quickly gave Rebecca his seat and took the tray back to the kitchen.
Adrian slept the rest of the day. In the evening, his breathing became more ragged and irregular. The Heralds took turns keeping watch over him and Ragnar looked in regularly. Ragnar noticed that Werra was not in her stall. Going out into the field, he found her laying down with the other Companions keeping watch over her. He fetched a blanket and put it over her. She lifted her head and nodded her thanks.
Ragnar could not eat breakfast the next morning. He stood at the back in Adrian's room, behind the Heralds who gathered round his bed. At midmorning, Adrian opened his eyes. "Take me to Werra." He gasped out. Half a dozen Heralds gently lifted the mattress under Adrian and carried him out to the field, laying him down beside the Companion.
Werra whickered softly as her Chosen stroked her cheek.
Adrian opened his eyes wide. "Ragnar!" He whispered. The gathered Heralds looked around. Spotting Ragnar, they let him through to kneel beside Adrian. "I see … I see … Eagle for you."
Ragnar stared at him, not understanding.
The old man smiled and closed his eyes. He stroked Werra's neck once more and kissed her nose. Their breathing stopped. A moment later, Ragnar sensed something. It felt like the tolling of a great bell.
###
The funeral for Adrian and Werra took place two days later. They were buried together in a special section of the village graveyard reserved for Heralds and Companions. Most of the village turned out for the service. Duke Marduk from Three Rivers attended as well as most of the officers of the guard stationed in Three Rivers.
After the funeral, the Heralds returned to the waystation for their own private memorial. Ragnar was the only non-Herald present and felt somewhat out of place. Even though the Heralds made a point of speaking to him, their solicitousness felt forced and awkward.
Just before dinner, Heralds Teren and Rebecca drew Ragnar aside. "What was it that Adrian said to you, just before he died? What did he say he saw for you? I heard something like 'mixika.'"
Ragnar looked at Teren in surprize. "He said he saw an eagle – or maybe 'the Eagle' – for me."
"Oh." Teren looked uncertain. "I didn't hear 'eagle'. I heard 'mixika', or something like that."
Ragnar stared at Teren for a moment. He recalled Adrian's last words. His eyes went wide. Adrian had not said 'eagle'. At least not in Valdemaran. He had said "mikizi"*, which was 'eagle' in the language of the Clans. He explained to the two Heralds.
Teren and Rebecca raised their eyebrows. "My brother had one very odd minor gift." Rebecca said. "We call it 'kenning', which means he knew something without any explanation of how he knew. His mindspeech was minor and he didn't have farsight or foresight, so there was nothing to tell him of what he knew to be. Simply, he often knew something that no one told him or knew what had to be done. There was no explanation for it, but his kennings were invariably correct."
She looked Ragnar in the eye. "So what did he mean about seeing an Eagle?" She asked.
Ragnar had no idea. "It could mean that I return to my Clan, but I don't see how that is possible." He explained how he was salach to his own people and would not be welcomed back.
Rebecca looked at him curiously. "Would you go back if you could?"
Ragnar opened his mouth to answer 'Of course' but he stopped before he spoke. He wanted to see his people again. He wanted to feel the longboat surging over the waves. He remembered the joys of his boyhood in the Clan. However, Adrian's teachings had made him think about the dark side of clan life. He remembered the weeping of the newly enslaved. He remembered the casual indifference to the women. He remembered the brutal beatings of the thralls for minor offenses; some had died of those beatings. There was no justice for the weak and defenseless.
"I'm not sure." He said at last.
###
The Heralds left over the next two days and Ragnar remained alone in the waystation. They promised a new caretaker would arrive within a few sennights. "It probably won't be a Herald." Teren warned. "More likely, it will be a former guardsman who really likes Companions."
To escape the loneliness, Ragnar spent most of his days practicing with the guardsmen or reading. He no longer had Werra to warn him when Heralds or Trainees would arrive, but each Herald or group of Heralds could usually tell him if any of their fellows would come through within the next few days. Some Heralds did arrive without warning, so Ragnar always made sure that several of the rooms were ready at all times.
He was unaware that the Companions always let their Chosen know how he missed Adrian and Werra. The Heralds made a point of including Ragnar in their conversations and continuing to practice mindspeech with him. Ragnar enjoyed the Heralds' company and especially looked forward to meeting their Companions. If the Herald was alone, Ragnar would ask if he could help groom the Companion. Invariably, the Companion would whicker happily and the Herald would let him know that his offer was welcome. Grooming the Companions would lift Ragnar's spirits and allow him to hold his feelings of loss at bay.
It was a newly Chosen trainee that finally brought Ragnar out of his malaise. Niki Laver and her Companion Ullok arrived at the waystation without warning two sennights after the funeral.
Ragnar heard the chiming of Ullok's hooves on the cobbles of the yard and hurried out to see who it was. The sight of a girl in ordinary clothes on a Companion's back surprised him. It took him a moment to realize she must be newly Chosen. The Heralds had told him of the possibility of a new-Chosen arriving at the waystation; that the new-Chosen would not be in uniform and that they would be uncertain. They had also told him what to say and, more importantly, what not to say.
Niki looked around from her perch on Ullok's back. She looked perplexed. "Is this a waystation? The guard told me Ullok would take me to waystations every night."
"This is the waystation at Gillhold." Ragnar assured her. "I am Ragnar and I am keeping the waystation until a new permanent keeper arrives."
"Oh, I see." Niki said. She moved to dismount and moaned slightly. "I am so stiff. Can you help me down?"
Ragnar moved to Ullok's side and gently supported her as she dismounted. When her feet were on the ground, he noticed she was barely chest-high to him. She looked very young.
Supporting herself on Ullok's side. Niki stretched her legs. "I think I can walk now."
Ragnar led her to Companions' Hall. She raised her eyebrows when he held the door for Ullok. "It is alright. Come in and you will see." He took her to one of the rooms on the 'girls' side. Niki was delighted that Ullok's stall was right beside her room and she could see him over the half-door between the room and the stall.
He helped her untack and groom Ullok. "I've never ridden anything before." She said. "Until he came to the school this morning, I've never been this close to a horse." Ullok pinned his ears and snorted.
With a superior smile, Ragnar said "One of the few things I've learned about Companions is that they don't like to be called horses."
"Oh, I am so sorry Ullok." She hugged the Companion's neck. Ullok nuzzled her affectionately.
Niki paid careful attention as they cared for the Companion. She noted how each piece of tack fit on Ullok, holding it in place to fix the placement and attachments in her mind before carefully putting it away. As they curried and brushed his coat, her strokes became firmer and more confident. Ragnar stood back and let her finish the grooming herself, smiling at Ullok's grunts of pleasure.
Done, she stretched and winced. "I am so sore. I need a bath, too."
Ragnar showed her where the soap and towels were kept and pointed down the hall to the bathing room. He handed her a bottle of liniment. He watched her go down the hall and nodded at Ullok before going to prepare dinner. As he turned to go, Ullok winked at him.
At dinner, Niki told Ragnar how Ullok had Chosen her in the town of Loningen that morning. "I was in my class at the Temple of the Twain when Ullok came to the school door on the side. He just stood there, waiting. Father Quires realized Ullok must be on Search, so he brought all of the boys out of their classes. When Ullok didn't Choose any of them, Mother Suttel brought all the girls out. Ullok just pushed through the other girls and Chose me." Her smile as she remembered the moment was beatific.
Until Ullok came, Niki had never been more than a mile from the town wall and had never ridden anything. Her father was a cobbler and prosperous enough that he'd allowed his daughter to stay in school past the mandatory age of twelve. "I'm only thirteen," Niki said "and papa promised he wouldn't find a husband for me until I was sixteen."
She sighed. "I really don't know why Ullok Chose me and not my brother. Clay is so much smarter and stronger than I am."
Ullok snorted emphatically. Ragnar grinned. "Why don't you ask Ullok how he feels about it?"
Niki looked around at the Companion lying on the mattress behind her. She slipped off her chair and hugged Ullok's neck. She closed her eyes and concentrated. After a few moments, she kissed the Companion's head and said "You are so sweet!"
Returning to her chair, she looked at Ragnar with a smile. "Ullok said I was the only one for him." With a sheepish look, she added. "I have to touch him and concentrate to hear what he is saying to me. He says my mindspeech will get better with practice."
Ragnar thought of telling her that he could mindspeak, but Ullok caught his eye and shook his head vigorously. Instead, he told her about the waystation and what he did here, explaining that most waystations were little more than snug huts in the woods.
They continued to speak well into the evening. Her eyes widened when she learned that he was a warrior of the Clans and had been taken prisoner after a failed raid.
"If the Heralds decided you were a good person, you are a good person." Niki said firmly. "They wouldn't have spared you otherwise." Her simple faith and confidence brought a smile to Ragnar's face. Ullok winked at him over her shoulder.
Ullok called an end to the evening by getting to his feet and nodding in the direction of her room. With a yawn, Niki put her hand on the Companion's shoulder and left the table.
Niki and Ullok left a candlemark after sunrise. She and Ragnar waved cheerfully at each other until the Companion disappeared around the bend. Ragnar felt very happy for her.
###
Five days later, Shanis Rains arrived as the new caretaker for the waystation. Herald Quenton, the duty Herald at the Three Rivers guard division, brought Shanis and introduced her to Ragnar.
As soon as Quenton and Onial disappeared around the bend. Shanis turned to Ragnar and said "Quenton told me you were a pirate. I spent thirty years in the guard fighting pirates and other scum. I've not got much use for that kind, but Quenton told me that the Companions spoke for you. Companions are better people than anybody else I know, so you must be alright. Do as I say and we'll have no problems."
Ragnar soon learned that the blunt-spoken former sergeant was efficient and smart. She was fair and always asked the reasons for the routines. Once she learned the operation, she made a few changes that Ragnar found logical.
For her part, Shanis watched Ragnar closely and soon decided the young man was decent and honorable.
Initial caution turned to respect and blossomed into friendship when they discovered their mutual love for Companions. Shanis' frosty exterior melted into a glowing smile whenever a Companion appeared in the courtyard. She addressed them like highborn nobles come to visit. When she learned that Ragnar thought of them as 'Spirit Horses', she began to tell him of her experiences with Heralds and Companions in the guard. When no Heralds and Companions visited the waystation, Ragnar enjoyed evenings listening to her tales, which she told while teaching him chess.
In one respect, Shanis Rains was every bit the tough soldier that Ragnar feared: She took over weapons training for Ragnar and the guardsmen stationed at the breeding facility. She came to watch Ragnar and Corporal Tilton's men drilling in the practice yard. None of them were paying attention to her, so they were unprepared when she exploded after a few sunwidths. "What in the nine hells are you doing?" She raged. "You're dropping your shields and poking at each other like you were knitting." Grabbing a practice sword and shield, she demonstrated her point against a hapless Wen Clegg, driving the private relentlessly across the practice yard until he tripped over the edge of the ring.
Corporal Tilton, recognizing her superior knowledge and skill, happily turned the training over to her. Ragnar, initially taken aback by her ferocious drills, soon rose to her demands; his skills rapidly improved under her instruction. Corporal Tilton's men were less impressed and complained to division headquarters in Three Rivers.
Captain Eloi Chretien, who was the nominal superior to Corporal Tilton, arrived a sennight later to observe. Within a sunwidth, Captain Chretien was smiling; by the time the training session was over, he was grinning ear to ear. "She's the best thing that ever happened to you lazy buggers." He proclaimed. "From now on, former Sergeant Rains is in full control of your weapons practice. Any deviation from her orders during practice will be treated as insubordination." He laughed at the looks of dismay on the faces of the complainers.
He turned to Shanis. "Sergeant, I would love to hear of your experiences. Will you join me for lunch at the village inn?"
Herald Quenton had briefed Shanis Rains on Ragnar teaching tracking to the guardsmen at Gillhold. Even some of the guardsmen at Three Rivers had come to Ragnar for instruction. From her own experience, Shanis knew of the desperate need for scouts and trackers in the guard. She had seen the letter from Captain Tewkes-Felthan asking Adrian to let Ragnar know of the need and requesting he enlist as an auxiliary.
Planning a cautious approach, Shanis tried to 'casually' raise the subject during one of their evening conversation-and-chess sessions. She moved her king back to the home row, between her priest and her castle. "Corporal Tilton tells me you are an expert tracker." She said.
Ragnar studied the position. "He wants me to become a scout for the guard." He said. He moved his pawn from King's Priest six to seven. "Check"
The pawn was defended. Shanis could not take it with her king. Reluctantly, she moved her king one row forward. "So what do you want?" She asked.
Ragnar knew his move already. "I've thought about it. I can't go back to my Clan. There is barely enough work here for one of us, so I'm not really needed. I have no trade and no property. I don't really have any other option." He moved his priest from Queen four to Queen's Priest five. "Checkmate."
Shanis Rains raised her eyebrows. She hadn't seen either coming. The boy continued to impress her.
###
A few nights after midsummer, Ayawin showed her full face again. Tomorrow, Corporal Tilton would take him to Three Rivers, where he would join a supply convoy heading south to Redruth. He had said his goodbyes to Shanis Rains and the guardsmen that evening. They had gifted him with a fine steel dagger. The hilt had a blue-eyed eagle on one side and the Windrider sigil on the other.
The dagger was on his hip as he walked to the spot where he had attempted to cast the stones with Adrian and Werra two years before. There were no questions he needed answers to; he felt no doubts about his decision. But he was at a cusp in his life. It was only proper to consult the Eagle.
He reached the place of power. As he took his position, he felt a surge from the pendant on his chest and the cord of Werra's braided hair around his neck. It was as if Adrian and Werra were smiling. He smiled and touched the pendant.
He picked up the pouch and cupped the stones in his hands. He closed his eyes and breathed a prayer. This time, he did feel an otherworldly wind. He did not open his eyes, sure that the Eagle was present. He cast the stones.
He opened his eyes. The Eagle's blue eyes looked into his before it vanished. Did it flicker into a horse-shape before it disappeared?
Ragnar looked down at the stones. There was nothing unexpected. In the south, the black stone still menaced the two glittering stones, though the tension between them had eased. There was still menace from behind. The winged stone could only observe, but now it had a sense of purpose. There was also a white stone approaching it.
Ragnar smiled. He was on the right path.
*[Author's note. 'Mikizi' (Pronounced Mĭ - kĭz – ĭ) is the Algonquin word for eagle.]