Three days passed since he had received that key form Csík. During that time Kese had learnt more of the Magor people and their language too. He had walked the island's only street, got to know most of the artisans and their family, which meant he already knew half of the village. They sold what they made to the traders and other, neighbor islands; and bought materials and products from other craftsmen. The others were mostly farmers, with shepherds and fishermen amongst them. Beyond their differences, they had a few things in common. Every family had at least two children, these children felt and showed special respect towards their parents and the elderly. They remained close to the grandparents, and everyone practised their age-old traditions. Kese made some friends from around his age, too, but they were younger than him. He noticed an age gap: he couldn't find anyone who were older than fifteen and under twenty-five. He asked Rozi about this. – They've left the village. – she answered sadly, but didn't tell him more.
The same day Lehel invited him for a walk to the cliffs at the coastline. Kese did not know it but he had a reason behind this. The doctor was relieved, of course: they were able to understand each other almost with no problems. But he still couldn't comprehend or explain the blond's progress in learning their language, and it bugged him as hell. He decided to test his patient. He used words Kese could have never heard in the past two weeks from the Magors. And yet, he understood every one of them, and could even tell him what they meant. The doc immediately noticed this and told him about his observation.
- I don't know how I do this. – Kese said. He was both surprised and confused. – It feels like… it's not the first time I speak it. Maybe I learnt it before, but I can't remember. Do you think Magor is like the other languages I know?
Lehel was sure about this, and he came up with a theory. – Maybe you are one of those children whose parent was born and raised here, then left this island. In this case, you could have learnt it from your mother or father. I will ask the villagers about them. Maybe in this way we can find out your origins, but… honestly, I doubt this will lead us to your family, because you don't have Magor features.
- If I had a family at all…
- Do you think you don't have one out there?
- I don't know. I mean… if I had one, I would definitely feel their absence.
- Maybe you don't feel it because of your recent family.
- My recent? – he immediately thought about the blacksmith, his wife and daughter. In the past days he got closer to Rozi and Jolánta, but still couldn't speak a word with Tas. He didn't dare to disturb him in his workshop, and somehow they hadn't met in the past days, despite of living in the same house. – Do you think I should call them family? I only…
- They already see you as family. – Lehel interrupted him. – You fill in the gap their son's death caused. Maybe they fill in yours.
Kese fell in silence. In his visions – yes, he still had them, causing him some headache when they appeared – and dreams he saw men and women who he considered then and there family. But he knew they weren't his family. Another thought came across his mind. – And what if I really don't have a family? What should I do then?
Lehel shrugged. – You can still stay here. With us.
The boy stopped walking and stared at the horizon for a little. He then turned and took a look at the village, the fields and the mountain. Around its peek a lonely hawk or falcon sailed in the air, then flew down and landed somewhere. His gaze slowly went back to the village. – I don't know what to say, I've never thought about this. But… I will, I promise.
Kese growled as he slowly sat up in his bed and ruffled his hair. It was near dawn, and he couldn't sleep more: he was thinking of what Lehel had told him the previous day. He could stay on the island if he had no other options. And as far as he knew he had no other options...
This offer had calmed but excited him as well. What would his life be like here? How would he live here? These questions had made his thoughts and ideas race against each other.
But he had already made his decision.
He got up to his feet and changed the wide bandages on his waist. Although that large wound hadn't bled much in the past days, it was sensitive and he still needed to have something to cover it. Otherwise the red liquid occasionally leaking out of it would stain his shirt, and Rozi would'nt like it. After he finished, he grabbed the bucket at the main door and went to the island's stream. He filled it then washed his face in the roaming water, accompanied by some ghosts while drinking a little. When he first saw Rozi and Jolánta doing this action a few days before, he had found it strange but natural at the same time. Like part of him was used to this, but in the meantime he thought it was primitive. The same went on with the toilet. It was placed at the back of the house, in a little hut. In addition he wanted to flush it out of sheer habit; but there was no piped water or sewage system on the island.
When he got back to the house he was surprised to see Tas in the kitchen. He was looking for something the boy had in his hand. – Good morning. – Kese greeted, then handed him the filled bucket.
- Morning. – he replied, pouring some water into a jug and a basin, then washed his face and neck in the latter. Tas didn't have his shirt on him yet; his wide hairy chest was visible, along with his muscular shoulders and arms. He needed strength for his work and he sure wasn't weak. Kese could imagine him bending the steel he was working on with his bare hands. – Is something wrong? – the man asked seeing him staring into the distance.
- I was just thinking about something.
- Do not think, boy.
- Why?
- Thinking hasn't changed the world yet. – he wiped his dark beard with a towel.
- Alone, yes. But we must think before we act.
Tas frowned at him. He found his reply brave. – And what do you want to act?
- I want to learn how to forge. Could you teach me?
His answer stunned the man. – ... So, you want to stay.
- Yes. And I don't want to be a lazy bum.
Tas folded the towel, while thinking about what to do with the boy. He was silent for a minute, contemplating his answer. Meanwhile Jolánta came out of their room, her little mouth let out a big yawn. Kese could hear Rozi making their beds in the background. He smiled at the girl and greeted her. – Morning, sleepyhead!
Jolánta rubbed her eyes. – Tomorrow I will get up first.
Kese smiled again, then his eyes went back to Tas. The blacksmith crossed his arms and frowned at the tiled stove before looking at the blond.
- All right. I will teach you.
- Really? – Kese asked dumbfounded. He thought he would need more time to convince the man. He had even prepared some very good arguments why he should teach him. Well, he had not. But it seemed he wouldn't need any.
Tas nodded. – However, I have two conditions. First, you have to get healed completely. You can't forge anything with a wounded or weak body. – the boy understood this. – Second, you will go to Dombi and learn everything he can teach you.
- What would it be? – he raised an eyebrow about this. He found the man's name strange for it meant 'of hill' in Magor.
- Archery and horse ride. – he saw Kese's confused look on his face. – Let me explain it. Many years ago our fathers, the ancient Magors, were well-known if not infamous for these abilities and their unique usage. We only know this from our myths and traditions, but we still carry on their blood and some of their knowledge, too. And that's why I want you to learn these. If you stay you would inevitably become one of us, and these will not only help you, but prove itself useful in other cases as well.
Kese couldn't imagine how riding and archery would help him outside of their territory, but he agreed. He found it interesting, and he was eager to learn. In his dream when he had ridden, he felt comfort and safety on horseback (well, excluding when he had been injured and fallen off his horse). In addition in one of his visions he had seen a strange man with bow and arrows on his side. He had recognized the patterns from his clothes and sabretache here and there in the village. 'Might he be related to the Magors or to this Dombi?' he wondered.
- Everyone learns these at us. I will, too. – he heard Jolánta, then saw her pouting and crossing her little arms. – But I still have to wait. I have to be seven. But when I learn how to ride I will beat you in a race, okay?
The adults and Kese laughed at this, and she didn't know why. She was dead serious about this. – Okay. – the boy chuckled. – But only if I let you! - after this he turned back to Tas. – I accept your conditions. I'll try my best not to delay my recovery, and I'll visit this Dombi when you want.
Tas gave him a nod, and the four sat down to eat their breakfast, together.
Kese hadn't thought Tas would send him to Dombi almost right away. At the moment he was climbing a small hill with Jolánta who had volunteered to lead him to the man's place. Dombi was one of those few villagers whose house was a little far away from the others'.
While they were walking, the girl was continuously talking and didn't take a break or a breath. Kese was amazed but annoyed by this as well. He got to know about her friends and the hill's flowers, but not about Dombi as he wanted. He was sure he hadn't met him in the past days when he had been wandering around; and now he had to face a complete stranger and in addition ask the man to teach him. He was a "little" nervous.
They reached the top and he gaped, looking around and taking in the beauty of the sight. He saw a little valley with a big house and two enclosures, a small pen and a vast paddock. More than half of the house was a large stable, around it there were a few animals and three people: two children and an adult. 'That man must be him' Kese thought as they walked towards them, and he was right.
Dombi had short dark hair, slightly tanned skin and wore black pants and boots with a white shirt and a vest. He was grooming one of his horses with the children. One of the boys was around thirteen or fourteen and looked just like him, but his gaze was more eager and, strangely, smarter. The other boy was younger, about eight, his hair and skin were lighter than the other two, and he had only minor similarity to the man.
When Dombi noticed the approaching girl with the blond beside her, he went to meet them. – Good morning, Jolánta, what news? How is your father? I haven't seen him in ages! – he didn't wait to get answers, the opposite: he asked more. – And who is this young man? Is he your boyfriend?
His teasing made the girl blush. – No! He is my new brother! – she answered, her hands on her hip, making the other two gasp in surprise. She was outraged because the man hadn't known this, though it was so obvious. At least for her. – Boti promised he won't leave me alone, and he sent Kese from the sea. I know he did it, he asked the angels to help him. You didn't know it, did you? – she didn't let the others speak. – Daddy agreed to teach him how to blacksmith but wants you to teach him, too. What do you say? Will you teach him? Can you teach us both at the same time? I know, I'm not old enough, but I'll turn six soon, so I'm almost seven. I want to ride so much, Dombi, pleeaaase!
The man's eyes had grown wide with her one-breath story-telling. He blinked at the begging girl, thinking of what to say and which question to answer first. He decided to speak with her later and turned to the blond. He eyed him a little, thinking about whether to talk to him in Magor or in Elemental. He chose the second. – So, you are the boy Csík found.
- Yes. My name is Kese. Nice to meet you. – he introduced himself in Magor, slightly bowing his head, then shook hands with the man.
- Wow, you speak our language? – he was surprised, he even forgot to tell him his name.
- A little. – Kese replied, then glanced down to Jolánta. – You already know why we are here.
They both chuckled and the girl scowled at them. Dombi sent her home with his greeting to the family, then led Kese around introducing the other boys and the horses to him.
As he assumed the older child was the man's son; he got his father's original name, Karcsa*. They explained to Kese that his other name, 'Dombi' was a nickname, given to him by his childhood friends. He had got it because he had always lived amongst those hills and had appeared at the top of one when they had called him out. The younger boy was his nephew, his name was Ákos*.
Dombi told Kese about his horses, their names, breeds, abilities, about their bows and archery style, but the blond couldn't memorize all of these information. He managed to learn that he would ride on a draft horse at first, then on a warmblood. His new teacher explained how his lessons would built up, what he would learn and when, and other things that he couldn't understand because Dombi gabbled too fast.
When they were finished for the day they agreed on appointments and while Kese was walking back to Tas' house, he realized it was near sunset. Although he ate lunch at the stables, his stomach growled loudly and a lot. After a good dinner, which were the left-overs from their lunch at home, he fell into his bed, exhausted.
His head pounded from the things he had learnt that day. It was a little too much for him in a row. In addition his visions didn't want to cease, like his environment triggered them. He had almost constantly seen the ghosts around the horses, even the ghosts of other horses. Poor Dombi, he hadn't known what to do with his musings: he thought Kese had been admiring his animals, but he had been examining the phantoms.
He had seen the man with the sabretache and bow at his side, leading his horse; besides him different men and women riding theirs. Some wore expensive clothes, others dark capes or plain white hoods; and to his greatest awe, some were armored and were fighting on or next to their horses. He realized that all of these graceful animals had connected the ghosts to each other – and now, through the present ones, to him.
Of course, he hadn't told Dombi about his other "experiences". He didn't want him to look at him in a strange way in their future lessons. 'It's better for me that only Lehel knows this', he thought while falling asleep, not feeling the blood from his wound drenching his bandages.
*Pronounciation:
Dombi: [ 'dombɪ ]
Karcsa: [ 'kɒrtʃɒ ]
Ákos: [ a:koʃ ]
Chapter updated: 29. 09. 2014.