Secrets and Guardians: Devious Intentions by H. Chambers (summer beach reads txt) 📖

Aberrling couldn't remember a time when he had felt so miserable. His butt hurt, his body wasn't designed for horse riding. He had tried walking but his short plump body wasn't designed for that either. Sleeping out under the stars might sound idyllic but the reality was much different. Hard ground, spiders, beetles, cold, rain, misery. Nearly as bad as having a riding companion who loved this outdoor life; no sympathy and a lot of whistling. He had told Tosha to take this much longer route, safety had been Aberrling’s thinking. Tosha knew this area well and as they travelled through valleys and over hills, he kept pointing out various wildlife and spectacular views. In Aberrling's mind he pictured the various wildlife, slow roasted with garlic and herbs. Rather than looking at yet another view he imagined a soft bed, hot bath and glass of something to ease his joints.

Aberrling was sitting on a flat rock, in front of a fire which Tosha had made, eating food Tosha had caught, skinned and cooked, feeling very sorry for himself. He wished he was sitting on his creaky old chair in his room. It had seemed not so much a good idea to kill Tremlin, but more an easy option to get him out of the way. Had he realised just what he was going to have to endure on this journey he probably would have waited, a lot longer. There were also other questions he would have to think about. What effect killing Tremlin would have on Kerdred and Hawke? Aberrling knew it would probably unite them and Kerdred would end up with a much larger army. That didn't really matter though, even if King Hylaw had been able to defeat Kerdred, Hawke and Tremlin would have been there to finish him off. No, all of these thoughts were not what was worrying him; by killing Tremlin, Aberrling had put his own life in greater danger. If he came out of this alive Aberrling decided he would live in Riftdale. This journey had made him realise for a man like him, all that was needed in life was good food, good drink and a soft bed. Forget power, power meant risk, danger, peril, excitement, status, OK maybe he would consider his options when he had more options to consider.

He didn't know what was worse, the long painful days or the long painful, sleepless nights. He always seemed to fall into a sound sleep just as it was time to get up. Tonight he was exhausted, he hoped just to crash out. Where is Tosha? He thought. Aberrling looked around, it was getting dark. Tosha had disappeared shortly after eating, offering no explanation as to where he was going and Aberrling had been too tired and too consumed by his own thoughts to question it. Hunkering down under his cloak, Aberrling lay still. First he heard the horses, then the footsteps getting gradually nearer. He remained motionless under his cloak. A not too delicate kick in his ribs made him slowly pull the cloak down from over his face. A sword was inches away from his nose.

The man holding the sword smiled down at Aberrling. Aberrling didn't know whether to be pleased at what he saw or not. At least he wouldn’t be dragged all the way back to Landra.

'Kesh!' it was Tosha's voice.

Kesh lifted his sword, 'Hunter wants to speak to both of you,' Kesh said.

'We haven't done anything wrong. Why does Hunter need to speak to us?' asked Tosha.

'He'll tell you when we get there,' replied Kesh, walking back to his horse.

'Now wait a minute, we need to reach the King; we came this way to avoid being followed by Tremlin's soldiers. If we go to your village it will delay us even more,' pleaded Tosha.

The clansman mounted his horse.

'Hunter wants to talk to you, so you will come with us.'

By this time Aberrling had sat up and was looking at the six clansmen surrounding him.

'You’re not expecting me to ride through the night?' asked Aberrling horrified at the idea of getting back on his horse so soon after he had just got off the thing. Kesh just sat there waiting.

By the time they reached the village the following morning Aberrling was beyond caring. He had covered about every negative emotion there was and now just wanted to curl up somewhere and die. That's if he could manage to get off this darn horse. It took both Tosha and Kesh to help him, his legs seemed to have stopped working. Once down, he used Tosha for support to reach a nearby seat, covered in furs. A woman brought him over a warm sweet drink and some food. At that moment he felt as if he had never sat in a more comfortable chair or tasted better food. He closed his eyes not wanting this feeling of pleasure to stop. He could hear people talking around him, any moment now they would come and disturb him. Couldn't they just leave him alone, in peace, just for a while?

He woke up, he must have slept for a couple of hours. Now to add to his aches and pains, his neck was stiff. Looking around he wondered how people could possibly love this outdoor rugged life. He had never met the mountain people before, but the accounts he had been told fitted exactly with what he was seeing now. Primitive, rough, unwashed and smelly. They wore the skins of animals, in places, not that many places. From what he could see they all had dark hair, brown eyes and the men, hairy chests. It was like going back in time, some supposedly still lived in caves. No King had ever successfully ruled over them and in recent times they didn't even bother trying. There were reported to be six main clans in these mountains, all interrelated. Tosha had told him his great grandfather had been a clansman which is why, he believed, he loved this area so much. Aberrling wondered why Hunter wanted to speak with him. Usually they kept themselves to themselves and as long as you left them alone they left you alone.

'Ah, Aberrling I see you’re finally awake,' it was Tosha being his usual annoyingly happy self.

'Hunter better have a very good reason for dragging me, through the night, to this place miles away from anywhere,' scowled Aberrling.

'He wants to see us now, so you'll find out soon,' replied Tosha walking over to help Aberrling out of his seat.

'No, no, I can manage,' said Aberrling slowly rising. He hobbled around a bit, back bent, trying to loosen up. When he was at least standing straight, they headed off to meet Hunter.

In a circle of stone slabs sat Hunter and four other Clansmen. Aberrling and Tosha took a seat to the left of Hunter. For some reason, probably his name, Aberrling expected to be sitting next to a strong powerful man, who led the clan because of his physical prowess and daring deeds. Instead Hunter was a small desperately thin old man. His eyes looked glazed and Aberrling realised he was blind.

'Yes Aberrling, I am blind,' said Hunter in a thin rasping voice. 'But then maybe not so blind, tell me what is going on in Daranel.'

Aberrling didn't know where to start and how much of his own involvement to include.

'Start anywhere you like, we have all day. I have arranged for food to be brought later, please take your time,' said Hunter.

Aberrling sat quietly thinking, how much should he tell Hunter? How much did he already know? Was he a seer, if so how much could he see?

'Do not worry Aberrling, only tell me what you are comfortable with. My mind is not normally drawn away from these mountains, but over the last few months I have had glimpses which have been greatly disturbing. I would usually pay no heed to such things, all I really need to know is how they may affect us here in the mountains.'

'I do not know the answer to that question,' said Aberrling.

'That question is for me to answer. Which is why I need you to tell me everything you can,'