Rebirth and Second Chances

Chapter 65: The Journey Begins

"We appreciate the sentiment. And we are grateful and willing to accept your aid and escort. But it would be best if you allowed the challenge to the Herd Lord to be made by a Kelpie," Blayney explained.

"When we return to Herd Lands, we will demand Herd right and issue a challenge. This will give us an opportunity to inform the others, all the Kelpie of the Herd, of the Lord's actions."

"Challenge will be made, but it is best if that challenge comes from someone that was directly harmed and betrayed by the Lord."

"Your healing has restored my family and I to our full strengths," he assured me. "I will call challenge and let the Gods decide between the two of us.

"I promise. He will not retain his position as Herd Lord long. Even if I fail in my challenge, once his actions are known, he will have to face challenge after challenge until he is dead from others. Unless the entire herd has been corrupted by his influence and schemes."

"There will be a new Herd Lord," he declared, "I offer brotherhood to you and yours," putting the action to words, he used his teeth to open a wound on his arm. Extending that now bleeding arm for me to clasp.

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[Cut your arm and clasp his,] Caraid quickly directed me. [Very few people gain Brother status amongst the Kelpie. He is offering you a rare reward for freeing him and his family.]

I knew what blood brothers were and had already chosen to complete the ceremony, I was happy to act as Caraid directed, it was nice to have someone approve my actions before they were made.

Withdrawing a dagger from my spatial ring, I quickly slashed my forearm and clasped Blayney's arm. His grip was almost painful, squeezing hard enough to force the blood between us to flow. Once he started to release the grip, I pulsed a quick blast of Belenos Aura to heal our wounds. I saw no reason to allow the bloodletting to continue.

[System Notice You and Knight Blayney are linked by ties of blood. Do you wish to allow Knight Blayney and his direct descendants access to the Ring of Hidden Depths? Yes/No]

Uncertain and unwilling to allow egress to people I had just met, I refused to expand and allow him and his family permission. Perhaps I would re-visit the decision in the future, but for now, it was too early to trust.

I did have to agree, reluctantly, with Blayney about the methodology of challenge. He was right. Until I had established my own lands with rules and laws that were equitable for every species, I would have to adhere to the weight of precedence for these lands.

Plus, it made sense and better served my sense of fairness, he deserved the opportunity to expose and right the evils done to him and his family. He and his people were those that had been wronged. They didn't need me to swoop in like an avenging angel and solve their problems.

My role in this drama was to be one of support. Make sure they were well-rested, healed, and arrived safely at their destination. Help them with the opportunity to get justice and right their own wrongs, but if. If they failed, I would act. Herd Lord Haygan would pay for his transgressions.

Fego eventually found new mounts for us to use. Nothing like horses, I think he felt our reaction to the Kelpies may have biased us against that type of mount. The new animals had a striking resemblance to honey badgers.

They had fearsome claws and teeth and were obviously built for combat and protection. Standing seventeen hands, they were larger and broader than the horses. Because they didn't have hoofs, accouterments such as horseshoes were not needed. Bands of leather bracers did exist and encased and protected each of the six limbs.

Their size was intimidating enough, but it was the six limbs with those deadly claws that elevated the danger from slight to deadly. They came in colors of tans and browns. And seemed to delight in mischief. Snuffling and head-butting grooms and riders alike.

Once mounted, I discovered just how magic could influence function. The saddles grew backrests and leg supports once a rider was seated. A heads-up display was projected that included a mapping function and speed displays.

The saddlebags were enchanted and capable of storing a month's supply of feed and water, as well as the tools required to repair, groom, and replace items damaged during transit. A series of gems were embedded into the saddle horn that allowed the rider to access communication arrays and entertainment channels.

Bracers were strapped on that encased their limbs and were enchanted with speed runes. Runes that allowed these animals to double their already formidable abilities, allowing them to run faster and last longer. Finally, a force bubble was projected that filtered out wind and bugs while regulating a constant temperature.

I'd once ridden in a limousine for a nieces wedding, that luxurious vehicle had fewer amenities.

After a quick lesson to explain commands, verbal commands for the most part, not rein or leg pressure, Fego eventually was satisfied and assured us we were good to go. Opening the gate, he allowed us to exit the paddock and begin our journey.

The ride was surprisingly smooth. The enchantments must have included some form of shock absorption because I was unable to feel changes in the gait or speed. I thought about opening the communication array to access information services but decided to wait until I grew bored with the landscape and wildlife.

Talahm was beautiful. The wildlife adapted to support and showcase that beauty. And because magic allowed the impossible to be possible, man-made constructs simply did not exist. There was no need for roads because Skimmers hovered above the ground and mounts were adept at using the terrain. So, the unspoiled glimpses of virgin forests and fields were the only scenery we encountered. No small towns or villages. And no isolated farmsteads, poverty-stricken families, or displaced farmers irking out a living.

The only disturbance to the serenity of nature we encountered occurred when we left Kel lands. A shimmering energy field that we road through unmolested was the demarcation between what he controlled and what was unsettled and unclaimed lands. The field was barely felt, and if its existence hadn't been pointed out by the guards riding forward, I doubt I would have noticed it.