Search the Forgotten - Chapter Nine      The next day went rather well.  The morning was sunny, the breeze was gentle and the bugs were few.  We rode out with Jae leading but with Skylar occasionally scouting ahead.  Orin tended to hang back now and then.  I presume he was watching our backtrail.  Sometimes those two seemed so untrusting of the world.      Come to think of it, considering what happened to me, I should be more untrusting of the world too.  It seemed difficult at the moment though.  A pleasant day like this.  I rode, enjoyed the scenery and tried not to think of anything in particular.  Not an easy thing to do when you're trying to avoid thoughts.  Thoughts that might trigger a memory.      Then we came to the afternoon.  I suspected we might be in trouble when Skylar was gone longer than usual.  It could have been anything.  Maybe he found a fruit tree of some kind and was having a snack.  Maybe he was sightseeing.      "I'm worried," Jae said.  He was riding beside me.  "Skylar hasn't returned yet and I'm sure he's been gone about twice as long as usual."      "I noticed that too," I replied.  I glanced back and saw that Orin was within sight now.  I waved to him and when he waved back, I motioned for him to come up to us.  It didn't take him long to catch up.      "What's the matter?" Orin asked.      "Skylar's overdue," I said.      "He can take care of himself," Orin said.  I looked back at him and so did Jae.  "Most of the time," he added.  "Want me to ride ahead?"      "No," I said.  "Stay with Jae, I'll ride ahead and see what's keeping him."      Orin looked at me, concern obvious in his dark eyes.  "Are you sure that's wise?"      I gave him a look of my own.  I even raised an eyebrow.      "Suit yourself," Orin said.      I rode along the faint game trail we'd been following and I let Red have bit of a run in the process.  He always seemed to like going fast.  We'd gone, maybe a mile before I urged Red to go slower.  The game trail sometimes paralleled a small river, sometimes veered away from it.  We were getting close to it again during this day's travel.  There were more trees and bushes here.  More places for ambush from concealment, I noticed.      The hoof prints of Skylar's Bruny along the narrow path were fresher now.  I must be getting close.  I slowed Red to an easy walk and he protested with a snort.  He looked back at me and glared.      "We'll go for a run later," I told him.  I can't believe I'm talking to this horse as if he can understand me, I thought to myself.      No more than a minute or so later, I thought I'd heard a yell.  I dismounted amidst many trees and shrubbery, the game trail meandering slightly through the area.  "Wait here," I whispered to Red.  I did it again. He seemed content to wait though.      I walked quietly along the path and there was a bend in it.  I peeked around a tall bush at the curve and didn't see anyone.  I cautiously walked around the bush and still didn't see anyone.  This was making me just a bit nervous.      There was a small clearing and the river was off to the right of the trail.  The ground had evidently been well trampled from many animals coming to this spot for water.  There were bushes and trees all around and several paths led to this clearing.  I saw Bruny on the other side of the clearing, grazing.  I took another step into the open and an arrow whizzed passed my head just as a voice called out.      "Arif!  Duck!"  It was Skylar.  Somewhere to the right.  The arrow came from the left.  I went back the way I'd just come from.  Rather quickly.      "What's going on, Skylar!" I called out.  I kept low.      "It's Finnas again," Skylar called back.  "He's got me pinned!"      I glanced around the bush.  Bruny was still grazing.  I saw movement to the right.  Skylar lifted his head from behind a bush and then ducked back down.  An arrow flew by over the bush where his head had been.  The arrow had come from the left, by some trees and bushes.      "What's the problem now, Finnas," I called out.      "What do you mean now!" Finnas answered.  "It's still Skylar!  He's my problem!"      I had to get to bottom of this and I took a chance.  I stepped from around the bush.  "Tell me what happened."      An arrow went passed me, but it was a couple of feet away.  I did my best to not flinch.  It wasn't easy.      "Finnas!  We won't get anywhere if you keep shooting at everybody!" I yelled.  I looked where each was hidden.  "Now, somebody, tell me what's going on?"      They both started talking at the same time.  I gathered an animal was involved for some reason.  I held up both hands and said, "One at a time.  Please!"  Each of them evidently thought that he should go first.  "Quiet!" I yelled.  I walked into the middle of the clearing, hoping I wouldn't get shot with an arrow.  "Both of you, show yourselves."      "Him first," Skylar said.  Understandable really.  Considering it was Finnas that was doing all the shooting.  If I was in Skylar's position, I'd want Finnas to show himself first too.      "Finnas, come out in the open," I said.  He peeked from around the wide tree he was hiding behind.  "All the way," I said.  He stepped into the clearing, holding his bow with an arrow ready to draw back.  "Skylar, I called.  Come on out."      "Not until he puts the bow down," Skylar said.      "Put the bow down," I said to Finnas.      "Then he'll shoot me," Finnas said.      "No he won't," I said.  I glanced toward where Skylar was hidden.  "You won't shoot him, will you Skylar?"      "Uh...no," Skylar said.      Not very convincing.  I looked at Finnas.  "See?  He won't shoot you."      "He didn't sound all that sincere to me," Finnas said.      I sighed.  "Just put the bow down."      He was reluctant to set the bow down, but he crouched low, and with his eyes still on the area where Skylar was hidden, he let go of the weapon.  Almost as reluctantly, he stood up.      "Alright," I said, "Skylar, come on out."      Skylar came into the clearing holding his arrowless bow in one hand and three rabbits in the other.  "Hey, Arif," he said with subdued cheer.      "Those rabbits are mine," Finnas said, pointing at the furry load in Skylar's hand.      "I shot them," Skylar said.  "That makes them mine."      "This is my hunting ground," Finnas said.  "That means those rabbits are mine."      "How long have you been hunting in this area, Finnas," I asked.  Now were getting somewhere, I thought.      "Years," he said.  "I've been coming here for years."      "We're practically in Arthester Jalivay's back yard," Skylar said.  "He always lets me hunt around here."      "That old wizard doesn't own this land," Finnas said heatedly.      Skylar pointed at Finnas with his bow tip.  "Neither do you," he said.      "Put the bow down, Skylar," I said.  He dropped it.  "Okay, neither one of you guys owns this land, right?" I asked.      "Right," Skylar said eagerly.      "So," Finnas said.  "I hunt here all the time."      "Skylar, tell me why you shot the rabbits," I asked.  It can't be because we needed food. We've only been traveling a couple of days.      "Well, I stopped here to get a drink and let Bruny have some water and browse, and saw the rabbits not too far away.  So, I thought, if I bagged the rabbits, we could have rabbit stew tonight instead of dipping into our supplies.  We should supplement as we travel, you know," Skylar said.  "So, I shot them.  I'd just removed my arrows from the rabbits when he shot at me."  He gestured toward Finnas.  "I ducked behind these bushes and shot an arrow in his direction to keep him back.  At the time I didn't know it was Finnas though.  I found that out when he started yelling at me to give him my rabbits."      "The rabbits are mine," Finnas insisted.      "Why?" I asked.      "I told you.  These are my hunting grounds," Finnas said.      I took a few steps further into the clearing.  Now I was almost between the two.  I thought for a moment.  We really didn't need all the rabbits.  We had plenty of food.  A small stew with some of our other supplies would be fine.  "What if Skylar gives you one of the rabbits?"      "What?" they both said.  Skylar said, "Why?" at the same time that Finnas said, "Only one?"      "Why?" I said facing Skylar, "because we don't really need it."  I looked at Finnas.  "Only one?  I think that's fair since you didn't kill any of them."  I looked at each of them.  "Now, do we have a deal?  Skylar gives up one rabbit and you, Finnas leave us alone?"      "Well," Finnas said.  He looked at each of us.      "We've got four mouths, you've got one," I said.      "Limus has to eat too," Finnas said.      "He's out here?" Skylar asked.      "We were hunting our supper," Finnas said.      "Finnas, one rabbit and you leave us alone," I said.  "Deal?"      "Two rabbits," Finnas said, holding up two fingers on one hand.  He stood there with his chin up.      "I'll agree to one," Skylar said indignantly.      "Two," Finnas said.      I sighed again.  Just then, who should enter the clearing but Finnas' brother.  Held in his right hand, by the ears, was a rabbit.      "I got mine," Limus said.      I grabbed a rabbit from Skylar while everyone was looking at Limus.  "Hey!" Skylar protested.      I then shoved it into Finnas' hands.  "And Finnas has his!" I said.  "Right, Finnas?" I asked him, staring into his eyes.  I was hoping my look was intense and serious.  I don't know if it was, but it worked.      "Uh, yeah," he said quietly.  "I have mine."      "And I have mine," Skylar said, holding up the rabbits.  He quickly picked up his bow and slung it over one shoulder.  Then he climbed into Bruny's saddle.      "Great," Limus said.  "Let's get back to camp, Finnas.  I'm hungry."  He gave Skylar and me a nod, then turned and left the clearing.      Finnas gave me a curious look and said, "Right behind you, Limus."  Then he followed his brother.      "That was close," Skylar said lightheartedly.  He brushed a lock of hair back over his head.      I gave a brief whistled command and Red walked into the clearing.  I went over to him and gave him a pat.  "Skylar.  How do you get into these situations?"      "Just talented I guess," he said and chuckled.      I had to laugh a little.  I also sighed a little too.  I walked Red over to the river's edge and we both took a drink.  I stood up and looked at Skylar.  "I don't suppose you know where they're camp is?" I asked, nodding in the direction Limus and Finnas had gone.      "Not too far," Skylar said.  "They're not even a quarter mile away.  Well within walking distance of this spot.  It looks like they've been there for at least a few nights."      "We'll wait here for the others," I said.  "Then we'd better get as far away from here as we can before nightfall."      "I really don't understand it," Skylar said.  "I know no one followed me into the clearing. No one was at their camp when I saw it.  I made my way here and there were the rabbits.  Clean, quick shots.  All of them.  One arrow broke though.  Then he showed up."      "Maybe Finnas saw you looking at their camp and followed you here," I said.  "They look like they know their way around the wilderness."      "They're passable," Skylar said offhandedly.  I grinned to myself as he dismounted.  "I suppose there's a slight chance that Finnas could have followed me from their camp."      It was only a few minutes later that Orin and Jae arrived.  Everyone got a drink of water and we also took the opportunity to relieve ourselves among some bushes, then we mounted up and resumed our journey.      We finally made camp and Orin said that no one had followed us.  I was certainly relieved.  Skylar prepped the rabbits but Jae cooked them.  The stew he made was delicious.  The young man should open up his own inn.      I had no second thoughts about keeping watch tonight.  I was worried for a while that Finnas might come along.  I was too wide awake and I took first watch.      Our night was rather uneventful, however.      I had a dream at one point.  I was riding Red and I had to get somewhere.  I was in a hurry but Red would only walk, which should have told me I was dreaming since he prefers to run when given the chance.  That's all there was.  Well, if there was more to that dream, I don't remember it.      Jae made a rather delicious breakfast.  We had tea for our morning beverage and we ate something that Jae had called a trail roll.  It looked like a fair sized biscuit with nuts and berries in it.  The berries he'd picked yesterday, but I'm not sure where he got those nuts he'd put in it.  Unless he brought some with him.      We cleaned up our camp, readied our horses and mounted up.  We started out and . . . .      "Arif," Skylar called.      I stopped Red and turned to look back at the others.  "Yes?" I asked.  They were all facing towards just east of north.  No longer on the game trail.      "This way," Skylar said.  I looked at them.  They had worried looks on their faces.  I was facing east, to follow another branch of the game trail that we'd been riding along.      I smiled at them to try to reassure them that nothing was wrong.  "I must have gotten turned around," I said.  I rode over to them.  I remembered that Jae had mentioned the night before about going this way.  Why was I going to go east?      "You all right?" Orin asked.      "Of course," I replied.  "What could be wrong?"  Could it be that the drawing to the east I'd felt back in Arthester's cave had something to do with this?      After giving me another curious glance, Skylar and Jae headed out and Orin and I followed.  Jae said that we would have to head north northeast for some few days.  When we reached the foot of the mountains again, we'd have to follow along until we came to a gap leading into them.  Jae went on about dangers such as falling rocks and possible unexpected flash floods in the gully we'd be passing through.      The day was pleasant, though when we passed through an area with more trees than grass, the shade did make the air seem cooler.  It was like a forest patch that someone had laid on the mostly grassy plain of the area.  It wasn't large and we were out of it within the hour.  We weren't rushed and we had taken our time to enjoy the change in scenery from the relatively open plain we'd been on.  Once on the other side of the wooded area we noticed that there were more trees scattered around on this side of the patch forest than there were on the other side.      Way off to the east and southeast we could see the river as a blue line in the distance.  Jae mentioned that the river came from somewhere in the mountains and we would be getting close to it again.  But that was days away.      Skylar and Orin rode along our backtrail and made sure we weren't being followed by Finnas and Limus.  They caught up to us when Jae and I were having lunch.  We were sitting under an apple tree, our backs against the trunk and our legs stretched out.  Red and Oba, Jae's creme colored horse with three brown stockings, only the right front leg being "bare", grazed nearby.      "Comfy, are we?" Skylar teased as he and Orin dismounted.      "Yes," I answered, "we are."  I smiled and took a bite of the apple I was eating.      He grabbed an apple off a low hanging branch and came over and made himself comfortable.  Orin followed suit.  So there we were, four grown men all sitting around and resting our backs against an apple tree.      "You know," Jae said after a while.  "Master Jalivay planted this tree."      "Really?" I asked.  I finished my apple, and grabbed another one that I just happened to have picked right around the time I picked the first one.  Well, I knew I wanted two of them so I picked two before I sat down.  I bit into my second apple and the juice was as sweet as the first.      "Master Jalivay planted apple seeds while we traveled to where the egootsirt plants are," Jae said around a bite of apple.      I looked up at the tree.  It didn't look like it was only a few years old.  It looked like it had been here for ages!  "Didn't you say you'd only been this way a few years ago?"      "Yes," Jae said.  "Why?"      "This tree is more than a few years old, Jae," I said.  "More like ten or twenty years old, I'd guess."      "Master Arthester did something to the seeds before he planted them," Jae commented.  I munched more of my apple as I listened.  "When we were on our way back home, there were already sapling trees growing all along our path."      "Good!" Orin said.  "I like apples.  So, did he plant these trees every day or every other day or what?"      "Uhm, sometimes he skipped a day, I think," Jae replied.  "I'm not really sure.  I wasn't watching him all the time."  He finished his apple and sighed.      I ran my hand over the bark of the tree's trunk.  I don't know what I was expecting.  Some difference maybe?  It felt like a tree.      We sat there for maybe another ten or fifteen minutes, then Skylar urged us to resume our journey.  Our horses had stayed near the tree, enjoying the apples as much as we did.  So, it wasn't long before we were riding again.  Heading toward the mountains. - = - = - Return to top of page. Chapter Ten     I...uhm...don't think I'm ready for email yet.    ;-) But that doesn't mean you can't try and send me a note! Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2004 B. J. Miller Jr. All Rights Reserved