PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Richard murmured an expletive beneath his breath as the horse he was riding deliberately jolted him. Again. He wasn't in the mood for this. He scowled down at the horse, squinting still against the dawn light. They'd left the inn barely half an hour ago, after Jalindal had negotiated a price for the horses that had made Richard wince. He'd never paid for a horse in his life, but surely even the meagre store of gold Jalindal had spent on these nags had been too much. He looked over enviously at Jalindal's horse, the dappled grey mare fairly placid as they strolled down the path. His own horse was a pie-bald gelding with a yellowed mane and tail, of a distinctly less gentle nature. He sighed, the noise turning to a grunt as the horse stumbled slightly, jolting him. He dug his heels viciously into the horses sides, at which, with a startled shriek, it darted forward, straight into a gallop, with Richard hanging on for dear life. Jalindal sat back with a satisfied grin,

“I think we found a name for Richard's horse at least... Now, what shall we call you?” He addressed the question to the horse, before laughing, starting his own horse into a trot, following after Richard's horse, which was busy trying to buck him off in the middle of the deserted road. It succeeded, Richard sailing off its back into the bushes that lined the road. Jalindal dismounted, leaving his own horse grazing placidly, catching the reins of Richard's startled horse, he looked up into it's eyes,

“Woah, Buck.”





~ ~ ~ ~ ~



Richard gently rubbed his lacerated arms, a frown on his lips, as he looked around the make-shift camp he and Jalindal had managed to erect at fairly short notice. Jalindal leant back from the fire, the rabbit skewered on a stick steaming, a rough, but mouth-watering scent rising from it. He looked over at Richard, one eyebrow raised in polite inquiry.

“Hungry?” Richard looked at the rabbit in mild distaste for a while, before nodding.

“I suppose.” Jalindal smiled slightly, handing him a portion.

“We'll be in the next village by the time the sun touches the land tomorrow; real food, warm beds.” Jalindal grinned, finding perverse amusement in Richard's reaction to the camp food. He thought he'd been camping, 'roughing it' before, only he'd taken a compliment of chefs with him, as well as grooms, servants, even slaves that had the care of his wardrobe... he didn't know what roughing it was like. Well, he did now, had a beginning idea, anyway. With that cheering thought, he started eating, taking immense satisfaction in the delicate taste of game, in the roughly cooked flesh. He loved rabbit, it combined the taste that he loved, and the satisfaction of bringing down a hard shot. Richard began picking at his portion when he saw Jalindal so obviously enjoying his. After a couple of mouthfuls, he looked up at Jalindal, surprise clear-etched on his face.

“This is good!” Jalindal gave a faintly exasperated sigh, for all his noble birth and cultivated manners he was hopelessly untactful about what he said and how he said it.

“You were expecting otherwise?” He grinned, teasing Richard, who had the good grace to blush. “I'm not a half-bad cook you know.” He smiled over at Richard again, showing he wasn't insulted, and Richard relaxed.

“I know, it's just... it doesn't have any herbs or flavouring, and it wasn't boiled.. I was expecting it to be as touch as old boots and just as flavoured.”

Jalindal nodded, grabbing a stick for a poker, and shifting a few of the thicker sticks on the fire.

“That's the way you're used to having it... and your meat has to be boiled, most of it is days since fresh, and old rabbits besides. This one,” He pointed to their meal, “Was a coney. And most meats have a nice flavour to them if you don't smother them with herbs.” His tone was faintly reproving, but he shrugged it off, returning to his contemplation of the flames. Richard merely nodded, and licked the juices off of his fingers with a guilty smile. Jalindal looked over at Richard from the corner of his eye, noting the obvious enjoyment he was gaining from this informal meal, then, he laughed again. He might actually enjoy the time they spent getting that God-forsaken sword. With that cheery thought, he helped Richard and himself to another serve of rabbit.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~



Jalindal looked down at Richard, sleeping, curled up among the blankets, and sighed, already stiff and cold from packing up, sleepy from waking up the hour before the sun's rays first kissed the sleeping land, while leaving his 'lordship' to sleep another hour. With that resentment sharp in his mind, he had no qualms about pouring the bucket of icy water over the sleeping man. Richard woke with a satisfying yell, and Jalindal beamed at him, suddenly in a better mood.

“Good morning.” He handed him the pail, and walked out, a metal clang resounding around the clearing as the bucket was thrown out after Jalindal, missing him, hitting a rock instead. Jalindal's steps didn't even falter, but his grin grew wider as he listened to the cursing. He would pay for it later with one of Richard's moody silences, but, for now, it was worth every mutter and muted curse.



He busied himself with readying the horses, packing the saddlebags, and readying everything else. When Richard finally emerged, only to give him a flithy look before going down to the stream to wash properly, hair wet and limp, tendrils hanging in his face. Jalindal grinned, ducking his head and hiding his amusement as he walked over to the 'tent',  starting to unsling the rough, sailcloth material from between the two trees, removing the stick, he secured that with the strap of Buck's saddlebag, before folding up the tent, and shoving it in his own mare's bags. He paused as he passed the mare, watching her for a moment, he tried a hesitant suggestion for a name,

“Shadow?” The horse gave a snort, shaking it's head, ostensibly to shake away the flies, but Jalindal, long acquainted with the intelligence of animals, merely sighed, stroked the horses nose, and went on with his other chores.



Richard emerged a while later, still grumpy, but not so wet. He gave barely a look to Jalindal, instead mounting the horse, sitting heavy in the saddle, he looked over, challengingly at Jalindal.

“Ready?” Jalindal nodded,

“Of course.” He beamed, and mounted his own, nameless, horse. Richard nodded, looking ahead, he kicked his horse into a trot, while Richard did the same, sitting easy in the saddle.

“Remember,” He said, as he came up beside Richard, “Today we need to look for the  Z'haanin T'puuli river...” Richard gave a curt nod, cutting him off, and giving no other answer. Richard had to work hard to suppress his laughter at the expression on his face, and the memory of the deed, falling back so he could grin without giving any more offence to Richard.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~



They rode for a few hours at least, in dull silence. Neither of them was prepared for the sight laid out at their feet as they mounted the crest of the hill. A sweeping expanse of silver shined in the mid morning sun, the ripples of light reflected from the top of the water like a myriad of shining jewels moving, and playing in the depths of the water. It was a stunning sight, with the trees that rose on either side of the river bank offering a stunning frame to the faceted water, vivid green beside crystal clear blue water. Even from the distance they were from it, it looked inviting.



Jalindal let the silence lengthen, before grinning, and looking over at Richard for a split second. “That would be the Z'haanin T'puuli River.” With that, he nudged his horse forward again, whistling a jaunty tune to himself. Richard didn't even glance at Jalindal as he urged Buck after him, too captivated by the ethereal landscape in front of him.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~



“Believe me, if there were another way, that's where we'd be going, but there's not enough room along the bank to walk, and we can't  follow along with the path because we don't know what the path does.” Jalindal sounded impatient, he'd explained this before. The trees that had seemed so gorgeous from the top of the hill, now were blocking the path, and seemed a whole lot less scenic. They'd have to wade through the river to get anywhere. A pain.

“No.” Richard's tone was fervently stubborn, and Jalindal closed his eyes, rubbing them with a wearied sigh. “I still think we can go around!”

“That could take days! We don't have that time!” Jelindal almost yelled, exasperated. Richard didn't flinch. “Fine.” Jalindal muttered eventually, sighing as he and his horse, as yet nameless, waded into the icy water. It was... refreshing. He gasped slightly, as they slipped, and he was plunged up to his knees in the cold water. But, he kept going, determination never wavering, and, with a little bit of hesitation, Richard followed.



Jalindal knew he was following, but didn't acknowledge his prescence, pressing on. They had a long way to go.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~



As the sun died over the horizon, Richard finally spotted a spot they could camp. He rode up to Richard's side.

“What about there?” He asked, gesturing to the section of forest where the trees retreated a little way from the river bank. Richard was too tired to do anything more then nod. Thank the gods... he'd just been about to fall off the saddle in weariness. They'd spent the entire day forcing ways through the trees that occasionally had grown so thick on either side of the river that their branches met and twined over the water, and they had to cut through wood and leaves just to forve a way through. It was tough. Wet, tired, cold, and just started to appreciate what a huge deal this journey really was, they both needed to sleep.



They made their way to the clearing, covered in twigs and nuts, they both knew they'd regret their laziness in the morning, but didn't even hesitate before setting up the tents on top of the obstructions. Normally, they would clear them out, of course. Oh well... Jalindal thought to himself. It wouldn't be that bad.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~



Richard looked over at Jalindal, his face's shadows emphasized by the firelight. His features were already downcast, but with the fire's exagerating light... Richard sighed slightly, licking the grease from their dinner off his fingers, as he noticed Jalindal's almost untouched meal.

“What's wrong?” He asked. Jalindal looked up, started from his thoughts.

“Nothing.” He mutted, before looking back at his hands. Richard frowned again. He had been fine during the day. Maybe it was something he'd done... Or maybe it wasn't.

“We'll get her back, you know.” He said, his eyes keen on his friend's face. He really did care. Sometimes, he supposed, he didn't show it so much, but Jalindal was his friend... Always had been, always would be. Jalindal looked up, and gave a weary smile.

“Yeah..” He didn't sound convinced. “I'm going to go to bed, now, ok?” He stood, as Richard nodded.

“Sure.” He watched after him, concerned, before his friend disappeared into his own tent. Then, he sat back on his heels, and, in an impulsive movement, reached over to grab Jalindal's unfinished dinner. Might as well not go to waste.