Chapter 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.

            Cade shrugged.  “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.

Links!

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=89376 Cade 1 and 2

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=89535 Cade 3 and 4

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=89658 Cade 5 and 6

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=90223 Cade 7 and 8

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=90834 Cade 9 and 10

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=90972 Cade 11 and 12

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=91694 Cade 13 and 14

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=92050 Cade 15

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=103511 Cade 16

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=103512 Cade 17 and 18

https://forums.joeuser.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=121&AID=117875 Cade 19 and 20

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=118635 Cade 21

https://forums.joeuser.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=121&AID=118633#922335 Cade 22 & 23

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=124383 Cade 24

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=124384 24 pt 2

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=124385 24 pt 3

http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=124406 25 pt 1

 http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=124407 25 pt 2