Varian reined in as he spotted the oak tree ahead. It was so huge, he doubted that Jevran and he together could get their arms around its girth. He dismounted, glanced around, and whistled part of a Highlander song that Kerrin had taught him. The words ran in his head as he waited for the answering whistle.

Varian reined in as he spotted the oak tree ahead. It was so huge, he doubted that Jevran and he together could get their arms around its girth. He dismounted, glanced around, and whistled part of a Highlander song that Kerrin had taught him. The words ran in his head as he waited for the answering whistle. His horse stamped. Varian turned after cautiously checking around him once more. “Ssh, boy. It’s all right. What are you nervous about?” The answering whistle came floating out of the thicket of trees to the left of the oak. Varian checked around again, his body tense. Nothing, not even wind in the trees. He darted forward, ducking his head as he plunged into the thicket. It was a short push of a minute through the heavy undergrowth and trees with barely a foot between them. He emerged in a small clearing. A man was sitting under the only tree for a space of ten feet, flipping through a book. Varian walked forward and crouched beside him. “Good day, Vari’n,” Kerrin said, his burr even thicker than Varian’s. He set the book down. “What brings you here two days in a row?” Varian picked it up, thumbing the dogeared pages. The gilded letters, almost worn off the front, merely read Verati Librin. Holy Book. How many times had he and Kerrin sat together like this while Kerrin read from this book of the promises to come? Varian sighed and put the book back down. “He found out.” “Who?” “Who else? My brother.” Kerrin groaned. “How did he find out?” Varian stood up and paced away, scrubbing his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know—he must’ve followed me or had someone follow me! I thought I’d been careful as I came here, but I guess I missed a tail once, maybe twice.” “Then this is extremely risky.” “I don’t care! It’s part of my heritage...people are just going to have to like it!” Varian spit angrily to the side. “I don’t take their heritage away from them...can’t they at least accord me the same favor?” “Ask them.” “If I ask them, what little trust the people had in me would be shattered. No...I can’t ask. I’d loose my life.” “Well, then.” Kerrin stood up. His toughened hand rubbed his wounded leg, then he limped to Varian’s side. “Did you watch as you came here?” “Yes...my guard was doubled this time. I think this may have to be the last time we meet.” Kerrin nodded. “My leg is well enough for travel. My thanks to you, Vari’n. You’ve been a good friend. I hope that some day the animosity between our people will cease, and you can visit us openly.” Varian blinked back tears. As a rule he wasn’t an emotional person. But this... “Good bye, Kerrin. Be careful.” “Aye.” Kerrin picked up his backpack and slung it over a broad shoulder. “Be careful of yourself, my friend.” Varian reached out and gave him a hug. Kerrin patted his back. “Aye, don’t make it so hard on yourself, laddie. We’ll see each other soon enough again.” “Aye.” Varian choked down the lump in his throat. “Godspeed.” “And I thank you for it.” Varian pulled away and took a deep breath. He walked out of the clearing slowly, unwilling to stay and make Kerrin be the first to leave. He took his anger out on the brush in his way, thrusting and shoving against it. He slid out in half the time it usually took him and started toward his horse. Before he had gone far, Varian heard leaves rustling on the ground behind him. “Kerrin...?” he started, beginning to turn. Someone grabbed his arms, pinning them behind his back. “Stay quiet.” “Jevran! What’re you...” “I said stay quiet, Varian!” Varian suddenly realized what had happened. “Kerrin!” he yelled, struggling to wrench free. “Run, Kerrin!” Before he knew what was happening, Jevran had him pinned to the ground, grinding his face into the loam. “Your stupid little friends just about had me fooled, I’ll admit that. But I showed them what happens to little traitors.” Varian thrashed, almost throwing Jevran off. “If you hurt Mel and Tikah I’ll…” He flipped onto his back. As he looked up, his vision filled with the blue pommel stone of Jevran’s knife smashing into his face. Varian slumped to the ground with a moan. Jevran got up and wiped dirt off his tunic. “Beno!” His captain appeared at his elbow. Jevran glanced at him, then spit at his unconscious brother’s body. “Hood and chain this man. Take him back to the castle along with that Highlander spy. A few days in the dungeon should teach him better.” Beno nodded and summoned one of his soldiers. They rolled Varian onto his stomach and chained his hands behind his back. “Make sure they’re tight. I don’t care if he’s hurt a little, if it teaches him a lesson,” Jevran ordered. Beno nodded. He glanced behind Jevran at the other two soldiers, holding a hooded and chained Kerrin. Jevran turned around. “You brought a wagon, Beno?” “Yes sir. Jule, take the Highlander to the wagon. I’ll be there shortly.” Beno looked down at Varian as the young man began moving and groaning. “You shouldn’t have hit him like that, Jevran. You might’ve seriously injured him.” Jevran stared impassively at Varian’s bloody face. “Small loss if I do.” He turned on his heel and stalked a few feet away to where another soldier was holding his horse. “Remember, Beno, your pledged loyalty is to me, not that young upstart. He’s half Highlander, remember that. Highlanders are liars, spies, and renegades.” Beno watched Jevran spur his horse and gallop away. Part of him wanted to forgo his oath of loyalty; the other, saner part told him if he did, Jevran wouldn’t rest until he was hunted down like a Highlander. Varian’s eyes flickered. “What…?” Beno grabbed the hood and threw it over Varian’s head and shoulders. “Don’t struggle or it’ll go worse for you,” he growled, tightening the drawstring. They pulled him to his feet. Varian flinched when the other soldier pressed a sword against his back. “Get moving.”

copyrighted 2008 by Magical Ink (magical-ink.blogspot.com)