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*The excessive drinking and sporadic fighting typical of a Juht feast lasted long into the night. Raeph's last memory of the Princess was seeing her carried away over Jak's shoulder. Remembering himself as a young colt and the morning after his first night of drinking the strong liquor, Raeph sympathized with how Airy must be feeling today. Being his guest, courtesy demanded he check on her and offer her what comforts and ministrations that he could, but he had become so fond of his new friends that he didn't need the pressure of social obligation to urge him to action. He was also driven by the imperative to prepare Jak for the battle with General Moordenaar. He would have met Jak at first light, but Raeph had only been able to catch a few hours' sleep between the feast and being called out on a surprise pre-dawn patrol. It was now several hours after the break of day that he was finally able to check on his guests. That was why he was rushing through the encampment dodging other pedestrians and taking the back passages between tents wherever possible to get to his friends as quickly as he could. It was in one such passage that he found his path to his tent blocked by the Juhtmare's sniveling slave dog, Mongrel. *

"Mistress Lithia demands your presence, Captain Raeph."

"Stand aside, Mongrel. I don't take orders from you or the Juhtmare. I answer solely to the Juht and his officers."

The ragged Wolf did not move. "You are predictably recalcitrant, Captain, so I brought some help to ensure your cooperation."

Raeph heard the tramp of heavy hooves behind him. He turned and met two of Lady Lithia's personal bodyguard, Kaerdan and Bolduohr, who were now blocking his retreat. The brothers were two of her most loyal henchmen and were notorious for their ruthless efficiency in executing her commands. Kaerdan, an all black stallion, was the older, taller brother and the better swordsman. His younger sibling with brown and white fur was shorter but obviously the stronger; he was all muscle and dangerous in unarmed combat. Alone, neither was particularly intimidating, but together, they were formidable. They both dressed in the Juhtmare's green and gold uniforms, but that was not what distinguished them as her minions. Rather, they were marked as hers by the perpetual scowls and dark, brooding expressions that so closely matched their mistress' demeanor.

"You going with us easy or do we have to make it hard on you, Raeph?" It was the older and less violent brother, Kaerdan, who spoke.

Raeph was not so easily intimidated. The dog behind him was no threat at all; Mongrel wouldn't dare touch an officer of the Juht's army. The penalty was death for slaves who inflicted harm upon a Horse. Raeph considered his chance against the two thugs. He was an excellent swordsman, but these two fought together like four and already had their weapons drawn; clearly they had been expecting trouble. Still, he could hold them off long enough for the din of combat to draw the attention of others. Raeph had no interest in the Great Lady's schemes and plots, and he held no respect for dregs such as these who did her dirty work. He had restrained himself from fighting during the feast last night. That pent up rage was threatening to break loose now. Brawling was beginning to seem like a pleasurable outlet.

*Like most Wolves, Mongrel had a knack for sensing what others were feeling. The Wolf must have perceived Raeph's intent, because he dared to lay his paw on the Captain's sword arm, which had slowly crept towards his weapon's grip. "My Lady only wishes to talk, Captain Raeph." The Wolf's tone was laced with respect and tinged with a measure of fear that this encounter might end in violence. *

"Unhand me, dog!" Realizing he may have gone too far, Mongrel hastily removed his paw as ordered and looked down at the Captain's boots as an obedient slave should. "It is her talk that I expressly wish to avoid. By the gods, we have enough problems conquering our enemies without scheming, sabotaging and poisoning ourselves. Be gone, and tell your Mistress that I have no interest in her plots."

*The Wolf's eyes met Raeph's again, and this time, open defiance was expressed there. "In the event you refused, my Mistress bade me tell you that her information concerns you specifically, and what she has to say is being provided as a courtesy. If you don't wish to return her kindness with equal courtesy, then she will have no reason not to pass the information on to others who may not be discrete with it. Negative consequences may follow for you." Finished delivering his threat, Mongrel smiled insolently to deliberately expose his sharp teeth. Though the dog couldn't bite his betters, his mistress could. *

*"Blackmail?" *

*The gleam of sadistic pleasure in Mongrel's eyes affirmed Raeph's suspicion. Then, feigning humble obedience, Mongrel shrugged his shoulders and affected humility. *

"I am but a humble messenger. I would not dare to question the motives of my betters."

*Bolduohr's patience was exhausted. "All this stupid fancy talk is wasting my time. Are you coming with us or not, soldier boy?" Raeph wanted badly to put the creep in his place, but a threat from the Juhtmare could not be ignored. She was powerful and could do him and his family harm if she so desired. *

Raeph purposefully ignored the hot tempered younger brother to irritate him further and spoke to Mongrel instead. "I will talk to her. I know the way. You can follow me or not. I don't need your escort service." The gallant Captain took off at a fast walk, pushing past the surprised Wolf, leaving him and the Horse brothers to hustle in his wake. Mongrel was barely able to catch up in time to put himself in front of Raeph before they reached the Lady's tent. The dog's efforts didn't matter, since Raeph would not have attempted to bully his way past the guards that protected access to the Juht's wife. He was neither disrespectful nor foolish enough to try to take on her personal guard in this official setting.

Mongrel dispensed a hateful glance at Raeph as he led him inside. The two panting and disgruntled Horse brothers trailed behind. In the center of the huge, partitioned tent, he was brought before the Juhtmare, who was sitting in an ornately carved wooden chair. No other furniture occupied the room; guests were obligated to stand or kneel according to their station. She neither smiled nor frowned but sat still as a statue carved in the likeness of some malevolent and brooding god.

"My Lady," said Mongrel as he went down on his knees before her with his ears flattened back on his head and his tail between his legs in complete submission. "Captain Raeph is here, as you commanded."

Though he mistrusted this mare, Raeph was not one to fail to express the proper courtesies. He bent his right knee, placed his open right palm over his heart in salute and said, "My Lady, how may I be of service?"

She smiled at his question, but there was no love, warmth or friendship in it. "We shall see," she replied cryptically. To Mongrel she commanded, "Send the servants out, and have the musicians play a fitting tune for this handsome hero of the herd."

"Yes, Mistress." The Wolf left the room and could be heard barking orders. As Mongrel relayed her commands, the Juhtmare said nothing until the music began. Satisfied that their conversation could not be overheard, she spoke again.

"The noble Captain Raeph graces my presence at last. Why has it been so long?"

"My Lady, I have no business to bring me hither. As you are well aware, I am a loyal soldier who answers to the chain of command, which begins with your husband, the great and mighty Juht. From there, it comes through the officers above me. That succession does not include you. It is only because of your threats, delivered by your dog that I am here at all." Mongrel chose this moment to reenter the room. Protected by the power and position of his mistress, he dared glare openly and malevolently at Raeph for his use of the racial slur.

The intimidating mare clapped her hands together in a slow, mocking applause. "How nobly spoken; you portray yourself expertly as the noble, loyal and devoted soldier and as one who is above reproach in all things."

"It is not an act, Madame."

"Isn't it?" Raeph's ears cocked forward in response to her question. "I will give you the loyal and devoted soldier part, but your nobility is a recent affectation. Up until your herd was conquered and absorbed into Storfay, you were a nobody in a poor family bereft of able bodied males. You volunteered to join the Juht's army, quickly distinguished yourself in battle, earned a commission and through outstanding service climbed rapidly to your current post of Captain. Well done," she added with no sincerity.

"Thank you," he replied with stiff formality.

"According to my sources, your family is doing very well now thanks to your status and the salary you earn. It seems you are very important to their well-being and survival, and they would fall on difficult times if something were to endanger your standing in the Juht's army. I mention this because I do not believe that you are above reproach in all things."

"So then, have we finished with the compliments and moved onto the intimidation phase of this meeting?"

"Interpret what I say as you wish, Captain. I am presenting you with facts, warnings of dangers and shall we say, with opportunities."

*She paused inviting Raeph to respond, but the Captain remained impassive, revealing nothing. His ears and tail stood still as if he were at attention on the parade ground. She decided it was time to destroy his smug composure. *

"Very well. First the facts, then. You play the part of a stud well, but are in fact a lover of studs yourself, Raeph." That statement broke his poise, and her victim became suddenly animated. The Captain opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. "Do not bother to object. I have all the proof that I need. One of your lovers is willing to testify to your relationship. I would not waste your time or mine bringing you here if I didn't have an absolutely certain case against you."

Kaerdan and Bolduohr snickered behind Raeph's back at the revelation of his sexual leanings. There was great stigma attached to homosexuality in the Juht's army. Such soldiers were considered too effeminate to fight effectively and unworthy of the status of warrior, let alone a leader of other warriors.

"Secondly I come to the warning of danger. If word of this were to reach the Juht, you will lose your commission as an officer and be forever forbidden to fight as a warrior. What will happen then to your family, Raeph; they, who are so dependent upon your current success?"

Raeph did worry about his family. His father was too old and crippled to work. His family owned barely enough land to meet their basic survival needs, his brothers were all dead and his sisters were either too young to marry, or because of being without dowries, he could not arrange an advantageous marriage to bring new wealth to the family. Raeph's Captain's pay and the promise of more land at the end of his commission would be his family's only lasating salvation. Yet despite his concern and earlier near outburst, his expression became neutral again as he waited for the Juhtmare to explain the real reason he was here. She would ask him to become part of her network of spies, thieves and assassins; he was certain of that. The knowledge made him wonder how many in her employ were there willingly and how many by coercion.

"No reaction, Captain? You are stoic and composed under pressure. I like that. You will be a very useful minion to me. Now that we understand the facts and the dangers, let's discuss opportunities to avoid unpleasant consequences."

"Discuss rather what crimes I must commit for you to hold your tongue."

Though seemingly impossible, her demeanor darkened and became more terrible and frightening. "Careful, Captain, and remember your place." Her voice was almost a hiss, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. "You are not so valuable to me that I cannot destroy you out of petty spite. Keep a civil tongue in my presence!"

Standing straight, and executing a quick salute, Raeph hastily said, "My apologies, my Lady."

Her mood softened noticeably but remained dark and foreboding like a looming storm on the horizon. "Better, but since you insist on bluntness, I shall dispense with courtly speech. Here is the deal I am offering you. In recompense for me burying the evidence against you and thus allowing you to keep your commission, you will lead the expedition taking the bunny princess, her dog lover and the inventor to the north."

She paused, and Raeph wondered if that could really be all she wanted. "Only to lead? Nothing more?"

Lithia laughed so cruelly that Raeph felt more afraid than any terror he had ever experienced in battle. "Much more. When you reach the ice wall and are beyond the limits of our settled lands, you will kill them all."

Captain Raeph was distressed and confused. "Kill them? Why? They are no danger to us."

Lithia waved her hand in dismissal of his ignorance. "Are you a simpleton who only sees danger in military might? Can you not see the social and political dangers that I foresee?"

"And what do you foresee the threat from these three to be...my Lady?"

"If you want answers from me, Raeph, you must give me your answer first. Do you accept my deal or not?"

Raeph's dilemma was agonizing. His honor bade him protect his guests, especially since they had been declared friends of the Juht. Tradition dictated that he was to ensure the safety of Storfay's new friends until the day they met formally in battle; killing them would be a dishonorable action. Worse, though, would be his enslavement to this evil mare. He was not so naive as to think she would not gain even more leverage over him if he performed this unpleasant task. Agreement would doom him to being her servant for the rest of his life, but how could he refuse? His own family, his own flesh and blood, would suffer terribly if he didn't. Their survival and continued prosperity was dependent on him. Which was the lesser evil? To whom did he owe his honor and allegiance, strangers or his family? The choice was obvious to him but no easier to bear because of it.

His shoulders slumped and his proud bearing was diminished like the sun hidden by a dense, malevolent fog. His voice was low, but audible in the silent room. "You have me, my Lady. I am yours to command."

Lithia smiled in victory and steepled her fingers under her chin. Leaning back in her chair, she evaluated her newest tool. This Horse would be a valuable asset to her network of servants, but he could be worth so much more as a willing talent rather than as a beaten slave. Convincing him that she was right required that she be careful with how much of her schemes she revealed. She never told her subordinates more than a fraction of her plans and goals.

Standing, she approached Raeph. "You asked to know why these strangers must die. To demonstrate my fairness in dealings with those who serve me, I will satisfy your curiosity." Turning to Kaerdan and Bolduohr, she raised her arm and pointed to the exit. "You are dismissed. I will send Mongrel if I have need of you. Do not go far."

"But, my Lady, we can't leave you unprotected..."

Her contemptuous laugh silenced their protestations. "Raeph would no sooner bring harm to me than he would to the Juht himself." Moving again so that she was behind Raeph, she placed one hand on his shoulder and idly twirled a lock of his mane with the other. "His honor would not allow him to commit such a crime. Now go!" Reluctantly, but with haste, the brothers left. Mongrel remained.

The Lady continued to tease the Captain with her false affection as she explained her motives. "Honor is important, but even more important is tradition. We are a great race and always have been a great race. We have been the masters of this land for centuries. Our greatness is derived from the strength of our horses and the bravery of our sons who fight from their mounts. It has been our tradition to fight this way since the beginning of time. The gods willed it so and blessed us to keep and uphold these traditions.

*"My husband, great as he and his accomplishments are, is a fool who is tearing our traditions down before our eyes. I concede he has united our herds under one banner and one leader. It is a thing never before accomplished. But at what cost, Raeph? These new weapons of bronze are already changing how we fight and rule. Based on the advice of that cursed inventor, he is forming units of Horse infantry to fight with no horses beneath them. It is sacrilege. If the inventor is to be believed, these units, bristling with spears and supported by archers will be able to defeat our own mounted units." *

Her anger was rising, and she unconsciously pulled painfully on Raeph's mane. He grimaced from the sting, but gave no other outward sign of his discomfort.

"He says they are needed to conquer the wooded realms to the south where cavalry is less effective. Moordenaar agrees, but don't you see how a thing like this could be turned against us? Why would others not use these same weapons and tactics to counter our army? How will our glorious cavalry triumph then?"

"I suppose it is inevitable my lady. With progress, things must change."

"Must they? I think not and so will you when you consider how far this may go. It gets worse. I have heard Jorveth discussing with my mate the possible uses of the burning powder to make weapons that kill at great distance and require little skill and training to use. Where is the honor in fighting like that? Are we to become a race of land crawlers fighting from afar and never engaging the enemy hoof to paw? Are we to never again know the glory of riding our sacred mounts into battle?"

"I would think that even with the weapons and changes that you have described, there would be a place for the horse and rider."

"A place," she sneered mockingly. "Is that good enough for you, Captain, to have a place? Do not disappoint me by accepting that fate. We belong in the center as the only troops that matter - the only species who matter. It has been our tradition, and it has served us well. My sons and their sons must inherit and carry on this custom so that they can be leaders among Horses and not be relegated to a 'place' in an army.

"That is why the inventor must die. He is at the root of this madness."

"But our bronze weapons are what allow us to conquer our enemies. There would be no Storfay without them."

"It is true that we have profited from these changes thus far. I would not give that up and cannot in any case undo the creation of an idea that is already born into this world. We can, however, stop other less favorable ideas before they take root and tear down what remains of our proud heritage. This is a good place to stop and hold on to what we still have."

"Why then kill the Princess and Sir Jak? I see no point in that."

Releasing her hold on his mane, she walked back to her chair and sat. "You disappoint me, Captain. I would have thought that a leader with your reputation for strategic thought would see how thinly we are stretched already. Our empire grows larger every day. Combine that with wanton changes and the destruction of tradition and we become rife for revolution and civil war. Without solid traditions, what is to stop local populations from questioning the authority of the Juht?

*"I want an empire that is going to last so my sons and their sons have something solid to inherit. That won't happen if every day brings new lands and new ideas into the empire. Taking in these backwards Wolves and Deer is bad enough. Can you imagine what the conquest of a land like Rikifur would do to us? They may already have technology beyond ours and traditions that conflict with ours. *

"As long as the Princess and Jak are alive, the Juht will not rest until he meets them in battle. He will destroy his army trying to cross the Earth Spine. When his army is gone, Storfay will dissolve into chaos. Surely you agree that we must save our traditions to save our empire."

Raeph was a strong believer in tradition and honor. Her reasons were not without merit, but that did not help ease the churning pain in his guts from being forced to commit such a dishonorable deed as murdering his own kind and guests. Sighing, he decided to let her think that he agreed fully with her in hopes that his servitude to her would be less onerous as a result.

*"You are, of course, correct, My Lady; I see the danger clearly now. You know that I am a staunch defender of both tradition and honor. It is obvious I must lay aside the latter for a while to save the former." *

His response satisfied the Juhtmare. "You have an excellent attitude, Captain Raeph. It will serve you well while you are in my employ. Serve me well, and you and your family will be rewarded."

"And how is that possible, My Lady? The Juht will be angry and want my head when I return with the news that his Rikifur friends and his inventor are dead."

"Do not worry about that. I have arranged for others who are in my way to take the blame for this nefarious plot. You will come out of this as the hero who managed to uncover a nest of traitors far more dangerous to Storfay than the loss of one inventor and a pair of hapless travelers."

Inwardly, Raeph shuddered realizing who wielded the true power behind the throne. For a moment, he wondered why he was so eager to defend an empire run with such villainy and deceit. He pushed that rebellious idea down deep and locked it away. His family needed him, and he would become less of a stallion to save them.

The remainder of his depressing conversation with the Juhtmare concerned the details of the journey. Twenty of her personal bodyguard would be placed under his command. Unfortunately, Kaerdan and Bolduohr were among them. He had no illusions that they were there for any other purpose than to ensure he did the evil deed. No doubt they had instructions to kill him if he didn't. The other eighteen were scum of varying levels of depravity and vileness. He would have to discover how many of them were being forced to serve as reluctant accomplices to Lithia's crimes and schemes like himself and how many like Kaerdan and Bolduohr were willingly partaking of Lithia's company to satisfy their own depraved desires and ambitions. The former might be of use in a pinch, while the latter would need to be kept a safe distance away at all times.

He had managed to win one concession from his new mistress. Kes, his most trusted lieutenant would be allowed to accompany him on this mission. Why she allowed him to come along was beyond his understanding. Was it her plan all along to have Raeph killed after the foul feat was done and didn't care if one more had to die, or did she have information to use as extortion against Kes also? Neither possibility was beyond the queen, and both were equally unpleasant. This was the worst of day of Raeph's life, and he saw no end to the misery.

---

When he returned to his tent, he inhaled deeply to compose himself before greeting his guests. Acting natural around them was essential to maintain the deception. He hoped that his honest sympathy for their plight would show through and maintain their trust in him.

One of the lesser servants was in Janyff's usual spot in the entry. That was a good sign. It meant the leader of his household slaves was giving her full attention to their guests. Sure enough, he found Princess Airiphryone and Captain Jak eating a late breakfast with Janyff attentively ensuring that their every need was satisfied.

Jak stood when he saw Raeph. Airy remained seated, appearing to be ill, with her eyes firmly closed as she rubbed her temples with her paws. Jak kept his single eye fixed on her with an expression of grave concern. "Please stay seated, Jak. What is wrong with the Princess?"

Janyff spoke as she offered Airy a cup full of a pungent, smelly liquid. "Too much drink last night." Airy gratefully accepted the draft and drank it in one long swallow. After grimacing at the bitter taste, she put her head down on the table and groaned. "I am giving her another dose of the cure for it now. She is already much better than she was an hour ago."

Raeph felt sorry for the Princess, but needed to begin preparing Jak for the Aarosht. His guilty conscience was driving him hard to find some way to help his guests even if it would all come to naught in the end. "I offer my apologies for any discomfort that our beverages have caused you, Princess. Janyff will have you well again in no time. Come with me, Jak."

Raeph grabbed Jak's left paw and led him out of the room. "The Princess is getting the best care possible. You have my assurances on that. Her headache can't be scared away with your one eyed scowl. You and I need to plan your strategy for the Aarosht. We have only a few hours and much to practice and discuss."

Jak let himself be dragged behind the Horse somewhat reluctantly. "Why are you helping me, Raeph? I am fighting against your herd."

The Horse stopped abruptly and turned, facing Jak so that their snouts nearly touched. He hesitated before he spoke as if there was something that pained him that he could not bring himself to say. "You are my guests...and my friends. At least I hope you are my friends. There is more than duty and hospitality in my actions. I have grown very fond of you two in the short time that we have been together. Your devotion to each other through great adversity is an inspiration to me. I want to help you in any way that I can before we are parted."

Something was amiss with Raeph. Jak could smell a host of conflicting emotions. There were too many to sort out, but something that was unsaid was bothering the Horse captain. "Is there something wrong, Raeph?"

The Horse hesitated as if struggling inside to decide how to respond. "Everything is wrong, Jak, but I intend to try to make some things right. Helping you through the Aarosht is my first goal. After that...we shall see." He said no more as he continued to lead Jak by his paw.

A room within Raeph's tent had been cleared of all furniture by his servants for Jak and Raeph to use as a training area. A male slave brought them each a practice sword with a blunted tip and dulled edges. The swords were shorter, wider and heavier than Airy's superior steel blade. Jak performed some practice moves using the new weapon and was disappointed in its quality. It was designed for brutal chopping and stabbing by mounted troops. It lacked the quickness and finesse he had come to rely on with Rikifur steel. He wished he could use Airy's sword or at least a practice version of it. He was certain he could defeat even Moordenaar if the Deer was armed with this inferior bronze weapon.

*Raeph observed the Wolf's quick and precise practice movements. "I see that you have some skill with using a blade already. That is good. It will make this training session more productive. I am not bragging when I state that I am one of the best swordstuds in Storfay. I have won many competitions such as this. *

"Though I have never done battle with Moordenaar, I have watched him fight and observed his style. If you pay attention and learn from me how to use your sword and shield, and listen to what I have learned of Moordenaar's strengths and weaknesses, you will survive this contest. You might even have a remote chance of winning."

"Shield?" Jak's ears twitched quizzically.

The slave returned carrying two small, round bucklers and gave one to Jak to hold awkwardly in his crippled left paw. Before taking his own shield, Raeph helped Jak with his. "With your paw nearly useless, I think we shall have to bind this to your paw and wrist with the strap." The Horse reworked the bands so the shield stayed in place despite Jak not being able to grip the leather handles. " The shield is for defense primarily, but a cunning fighter knows how to use it for attack as well. I will teach you both ways. To begin, let me walk you through a series of basic moves. Once you master them, we will progress as far as time allows."

It transpired that they had ample time to review even the most advanced fighting techniques known to Raeph. Jak demonstrated his innate knack for fencing and brawling by rapidly mastering everything Raeph taught him including the use of the shield. At first Jak suffered from his inexperience, taking many blows from the flat of the Horse's blade or a strike from his shield. As he became accustomed to the practice sword and the shield, he steadily improved. Soon, he began to score hits of his own and to land a few painful blows on Raeph. Surprised at first, and then with desperation to defend himself, the Horse gradually ceased holding back to make things easier on Jak. All of his own formidable skill became necessary to keep the Wolf at bay. Eventually, even Raeph's martial prowess was not enough. The Horse found himself growing tired while Jak showed no indication of fatigue.

Partway through their lesson, Airy entered and sat in a chair that Janyff provided. The slave girl stood attentively behind the Princess, massaging her shoulders and neck. The hangover that had made her so miserable all morning was fading away quickly thanks to whatever was in the bitter drink Airy had been consuming for the last hour. Even the clash of shields and the ringing of swords were no longer making her head pound.

Watching Jak spar with the Horse captain was worth the small discomfort the noise induced. Last night she had been rendered unconscious and immobile by Storfay's strong liquor. In the morning, she was too hung-over to even think about making love with Jak. She ached to be with him now but had to content herself with watching him practice. It was not as satisfying, but his swift, exact movements and excellent muscle tone pleased her. Despite the looming danger posed by the Aarosht with that boorish general Moordenaar, Airy found herself distracted by amorous thoughts of her and Jak together. Her sole desire was to take him back to her bed, where her aching for his touch could be satisfied. This practice was too important, though, so she watched and was partially content.

*Raeph was surprised by Jak's rapid increase in skill level with the unfamiliar weapons; Airy was not. She had previously observed his accelerated development of fencing mastery with her sword as she healed from her injuries in the wake of their ordeal with Winter Pack. That was a sweet, peaceful memory. She tried not to grow melancholy reminiscing about that brief period of calm they had shared before venturing into Asearth, where truly unpleasant memories had been born. She shivered at the recollection of the Cats. The task of burying those thoughts was always made easier when she was with Jak, especially as she found delight in watching her Wolf steadily force Raeph onto the defense until it was obvious who was now the better swordsman. *

Frustrated by his pupil's rapid success, the Horse fought back with all of his skill and power, momentarily compelling Jak to retreat. Jak gave ground with the illusion of awkwardness and let Raeph score several light hits designed to deceive his tutor into thinking he was tiring. Deliberately exposing his left side to attack, he shuffled back an extra half step so the Horse had to overextend himself in the attempt to try to land this deceptively easy blow. When Raeph fell for the temptation, Jak dodged it easily then swung back with startling speed hard at Raeph's face forcing him to raise his shield in defense. The sound as Jak's sword struck against the small, metal shield was like a gong; the force of the blow staggered the Horse. Without pause, Jak drove his shield into Raeph's exposed stomach pushing the air from his lungs. Jak's sword arm continued its sweep past Raeph's shield by swinging in an arc over his head and landing hard with the flat of his blade on Raeph's right wrist. The Horse's sword fell from his hand. Then, dropping low to the ground and spinning his legs, Jak swept his stunned opponent up off the floor, and Raeph hit the ground on his back with a gasp.

Though battered and momentarily struggling for breath, Raeph recovered rapidly and smiled as Jak helped him back up to his feet. "By the gods, Wolf! You are without exaggeration the best student I have ever instructed in the martial arts. I fear if I spar with you any longer, I will find myself displaced as the master swordsman, if I haven't been already."

Jak bowed at the compliment. "I thank you, Captain Raeph, for your tutelage and kind words of praise. I owe you much. Airy and I owe you much. Any chance that I have for victory today is a result of your generosity. Our future is in your hands."

Raeph cringed inwardly with the knowledge of his own future betrayal on his mind. His expression darkened as a result. "Do not thank me until after the fight. Besides, I have more to give. Moordenaar knows nothing of your abilities and weaknesses other than your impaired vision and crippled paw, though he will try to use those against you. To balance the scales, I will divulge what I know of his weaknesses to you."

It was true that Raeph's tutelage was invaluable, but Jak sensed that there were things that Raeph was not telling him. Jak vowed to keep alert to possible plots and betrayals, though he had no idea what form they might take or if Raeph was involved in them. He sincerely felt that Raeph was his friend and wanted to help. He hoped his trust was not misplaced.

Hoping to hide his unease, Raeph proceeded directly into his analysis of the Deer's fighting style. "Moordenaar has stamina like you. Do not think that that you can tire and wear him down as you did to me. That last bit of deception you used on me...very clever. You played me, knowing I was tired. That won't work on the General. You will have to beat him down by force. He can take a lot of punishment, so that will not be easy either. I think that you are both well matched. It is likely to be a long fight.

"He will try to use his antlers against you if he can. I have seen him gore and toss grown males with them. I don't know how to protect against them other than to know when he is about to use them."

"How do I know that?"

"Ah. Here is where I can help you in a truly meaningful way. I have observed that his ears droop just before he strikes with his antlers. Both ears simultaneously lay down against his head. That is your signal to prepare for a horn attack." Raeph placed his hand on Jak's shoulder and stared solemnly into his eyes.

"Do not underestimate him. You are an excellent swordsman and brawler, my friend, but so is Moordenaar. He has never lost a combat match. I suspect he may be better than me. Whether he is better than you...we shall see soon. There is no disgrace in retiring from the fight when it is clear you will lose. It does not have to be a fight to the death."

"Does Moordenaar share that philosophy?"

Raeph sighed in resignation. "I sincerely doubt it. He will fight to the death before surrendering."

"Do not despair, Raeph. I have fought many opponents in my life. All unique in some way. This Deer is just another in a long succession. I will approach this fight as I have with all others; I will learn how he fights and adapt to defeat him. Your advice has made that much easier."

Jak's calm confidence had Raeph giddy and smiling again. "Oh, my friend, you give me great hope. This will be an Aarosht to remember for generations. Come. It is time. We must make our way to the fight circle."

---

Though Raeph led them through the encampment as he had when Airy and Jak had first come to the Juht's mobile capitol, he was quiet and solemn this time leaving Jak and Airy to walk arm in arm a few paces behind. Left alone to talk, they continued a conversation they had begun earlier in the day - the political implications of this combat. Despite the lingering, but rapidly fading, fog of her hangover, she listened to all of Jak's reasons for needing to win this fight. She agreed with those reasons, but did not want Jak to risk his life to achieve them.

"Take Raeph's advice and promise me that you will yield before you are killed."

Frustrated by her attitude, Jak growled deep in his throat. "Airy, stop. You are not helping me prepare for this fight by asking that. I must enter into this prepared to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means risking my life. I have to have that focus or I will be at a disadvantage from the start."

"When you were chief of Blackrock Pack you didn't fight to the death to stay chief."

"That was different. My opponents were my kind, my blood. We fought for the good of the pack. Today, I am fighting an enemy who seeks to conquer and enslave us - to enslave Rikifur. They seem to believe wholeheartedly in the predictive power of this fight. A victory here by me could forestall them and buy us the time we need to prepare."

"But I can't live without you, Jak."

"Yes. You can. It is I who cannot live without you. Rikifur is my pack now and the only hope available to me. These Horses would only take me as a slave like Moordenaar or that ragged Wolf who serves the Juhtmare. I cannot exist like that. I live or die now in the service of Rikifur. I am pledged to do everything in my power to restore you as the future queen and keep Rikifur safe. Please do not ask me to do anything less."

Tears formed in Airy's eyes. She loved Jak deeply for his devotion to her and her nation. He was right and she knew it, but that knowledge did not diminish her feelings towards him. Being rational where he was concerned was becoming impossible for her.

"I don't care about being a queen Jak. I care about you more than I want to rule Rikifur."

Jak put his arm around her and pulled her against his side as they walked. "I suspect that may be true, and I love you for it, but we both have duties that are too important to throw away for our own happiness. We shall have to trust in our own skill, the grace of your Maker and the spirits that watch over all Wolves. Now, no more talk of death and defeat. I need you to be cheering for me when everyone else is yelling for Moordenaar."

Airy wiped her tears way with her paw. "I will drown them out with my screams, love. If I have to, I will jump in and kill Moordenaar myself."

"You shall not, but that is the spirit that will keep me going."

Raeph listened to his guest's conversation, and the shame of what he had agreed to do for the Juhtmare tore at his heart and soul. Why should such brave and caring people have to die? Surely, the gods did not favor empire over compassion and honor. The evil deed he had agreed to commit was an abomination. If the gods were worth worshiping, they would not only condone him defying Lithia, but also help him find a solution to avert this senseless slaughter. If they were truly merciful, they would provide him a way to save his friends and protect his family. Raeph had no idea how to do that on his own, but he was determined now to try. He silently prayed that the gods were on his side and would provide an answer.

---

*When they reached the tournament field, Airy was led to a canopied pavilion where the Juht and Juhtmare were seated. As the highest ranking representative of Rikifur present, she was seated in a chair identical to the Juht's. In contrast to the huge Horse lord, she looked like a child. Her bearing, though, was regal, and she held her chin high. Jak was taken to a tent behind the rows of bleachers that surrounded a circular arena. An aisle led from his tent between the seating to the compacted earth floor of the fighting circle. A similar tent with an identical aisle between the audience's seats stood on the opposite side of the field of combat. Jak had no doubt that Moordenaar was there. *

His suspicions were confirmed when, after being handed a sword and shield, he was directed to walk out to the center of the ring. Moordenaar entered the ring from the opposite side at the same time to thunderous applause and cheering. Jak wondered if the crowd was shouting its exuberance for Moordenaar or if they were screaming just because this promised to be an unprecedented spectacle.

Jak observed that the best seats were all occupied by Horses. Cattle people were forced to stand in the higher reaches of the vertically staggered seating. The only non-Horse and Cattle present were the old, Skunk mystic lady, Tigan and the Wolf, Mongrel, who stood behind the Juht and Juhtmare, respectively.

Before being pushed into the ring, Jak had been instructed to face his opponent and stand there until after the introductory speeches were over. The rules from then on were simple. They would fight until one of them yielded to the other, was rendered unconscious, or died. Jak did not intend to yield. Whether he could force Moordenaar to capitulate was something he would soon discover.

*The two foreign born fighters stood face to face as trumpets blared to silence the raucous crowd. They were both naked except for a tight loincloth and kilt. While Jak and Moordenaar studied each other in cold silence, a short, black furred Horse with a surprisingly loud voice introduced the combatants to the spectators. Highlighting the unusual pairing of Deer and Wolf in the Aarosht, while extolling the sacred and political importance of the event, he succeeded through clever wordplay in enticing the audience into deafening roars of excitement. *

The trumpets were necessary to quiet their exuberance so that the Juht, who rose from his chair, could speak before officially beginning the contest. In front of him, standing vertically, was a long bronze pole about Jak's height on which hung the Juht's banner, a black horse rampant on a field of gold. The pole holding the banner was attached to a hinge. When the Juht lowered that pole so that it hung out over the arena, the fight would start.

A hush swept through the crowd as their leader spoke in a voice that easily carried to every member of the audience. "My subjects, the gods have blessed us in many ways. They gave us horses to ride and abundant open prairie to settle. They gave us the strength to conquer and the wisdom to rule. Their mightiest gift, though has been the Aarosht, where the future is decided. I have fought in many an Aarosht and have been victorious in battle every time. The gods are wise in foretelling victory!"

An even more exuberant din erupted from the spectators. The Juht let them shout and scream, letting their excitement build. He enjoyed their enthusiasm and adulation. When they showed no sign of calming down, he called for the trumpets to silence them. "Today will be no different. The gods will decide and guide our future as they always have. I dedicate this fight to the gods!"

With a tap from his mighty arm, the flag pole fell so that the black and gold banner unfurled to within a foot of the ground. No longer restrained by formality and pompous preliminaries, the crowd leapt to their hooves screaming their lust for the much anticipated bloody sport.

Despite the nearly deafening clamor, Jak heard none of it. He had learned at an early age how to focus his attention on the only thing that mattered, his opponent. Jak decided before the fight to let Moordenaar make the first move. It had long been his habit to gain the measure of his opponent before committing to a strategy of his own. It meant yielding the initiative, but it forced the other to give up information that was often critical to ensuring victory.

*However, Moordenaar was no fool. Perhaps sensing the reason for Jak's hesitation, the General made a bold and unusual attack meant to end the fight quickly; he simultaneously swung his sword and shield wide to force Jak's arms apart. When Jak responded to defend himself, the Deer dropped his head to gore at Jak's face with his antlers. *

The attack might have succeeded except for Raeph's advice. The tell tale drooping of the General's ears gave Jak the warning he needed to duck in time. As Moordenaar's rack grazed Jak's ears, the Wolf delivered a kick to the Deer's side. Though forceful, the blow had little visible effect. Instead, Moordenaar retreated slightly to distance himself from Jak before recovering and attacking again.

The crowd was not disappointed by a quick and uneven fight. As Raeph had predicted, the Wolf and Deer were well matched. Either one could win this battle. The uncertainty of the outcome fueled the spectator's enthusiastic frenzy to a new height. Airy cheered for Jak as the Juht yelled his encouragement for Moordenaar. The Juhtmare, in contrast, silently watched the fight. The crowd seemed split with most of the Horses cheering for the General and the Cattle bellowing their favor for Jak.

Thus the fight raged on with no apparent end in sight until Jak's missing eye blinded him to the ear droop that signaled Moordenaar was attacking with his horns. Too late to duck, Jak was forced to drop his sword as he used his paws to prevent himself from being gored. Nevertheless, the Deer was strong enough to lift Jak off the ground and throw him over his head. Jak's shield caught on the General's antlers and was torn from his crippled left paw nearly dislocating his shoulder with the wrenching force.

Jak was nimble enough to land on his hindpaws relatively free of injury, but now he had no weapon. Moordenaar stood between Jak and his sword. The Deer smiled. "Yield, Wolf. You cannot win now. The fight is over."

A silence enveloped the arena. The crowd strained to hear the Deer's words and the Wolf's reply. Jak's back was to the Juht's box, so he could not see Airy or the sadness mixed with concern on her face. However, he did not need to turn to remember that another weapon was waiting there for him. It was his turn to smile.

"Not yet," was Jak's reply as he turned and ran as fast as he could sprint towards the Juht's box. Stunned by Jak's surprising action, Moordenaar lost several crucial seconds before he began his pursuit. Thus, Jak reached his goal and jumped to grab the flag pole that had been used to signal the start of the Aarosht. As he had hoped, the hinge that supported the hollow metal pole was not able to bear his weight combined with the momentum of his running jump. The pole broke away from its mount, and he landed holding on to the shaft and ripped the banner from the end. There was gasp of disbelief from the Horses over his desecration of their banner. The Cattle cheered enthusiastically. Jak didn't care. He now had a serviceable quarter staff strong enough ,he hoped, to survive a strike by a sword, which was all that mattered. He had fought with such weapons made of wood many times before. It felt comfortable in his paws.

Moordenaar was not far behind, but Jak was ready. Whipping the banner in the Deer's face distracted the Deer and slowed his charge allowing Jak to strike Moordenaar with the pole in the chest. The General grunted in pain from a bruised rib. Following up with a series of attacks with both ends of the pole, Jak' staff alternated between being blocked by Moordenaar's sword and shield.

Jak gave the Deer no time to adapt to his new weapon. He now had longer reach than his opponent and he used that advantage to deliver rapid strikes at his head and lower legs, occasionally landing a painful blow. Moordenaar had no experience fighting against a metal staff in the paws of an expert like Jak, and Jak was not going to give him time to learn. He used every style of attack he knew to keep the Deer off balance until he found an opening to thrust the butt of his staff into the General's solar plexus, then brought the same end up against his elbow making him drop his sword. The shield went next with an upward sweep of the staff. Jak delivered a rapid series of blows with the center of the staff to the General's face hoping to render him unconscious, but his opponent dropped his head suddenly and caught the staff in his antlers. With a shake of his head, the pole was wrenched from Jak's paws and tossed many yards away.

Refusing to yield the initiative, Jak tackled Moordenaar to the ground, and delivered several punches to the General's stomach before they grappled and wrestled with each other rolling across the dirt floor of the arena.

The volume of the crowd rose to its peak as the fight took this exciting turn. Without weapons, brute strength would determine the day. The Wolf and Deer fought to pin or disable the other until they were locked in place straining to break their opponent's hold.

It was at this apex of tension, when the fight appeared to be nearly over with no obvious winner, that the ground began to shake violently. The bloodthirsty shouts of the crowd subsided to an anxious and confused murmur with isolated cries of alarm. Shouts and pointing by some of the audience to the southwest silenced everyone as they collectively turned and beheld a sight beyond anything they thought possible in this world.

An enormous column of fiery smoke and ash was rising from the crest of the Earth Spine. Its true size and scope was difficult to comprehend because it was so out of proportion with every other feature of their world. The mountain range that divided their continent and dwarfed every other thing they knew was now just the base of something far larger. Like a giant fungus growing on a fallen tree, the mushroom shaped pillar of death climbed higher than any moisture born cloud ever had. Only the high altitude winds were able to sheer its top and bend it down from reaching the heavens. The base was vast and growing as roiling clouds of fire and ash slid down the slopes of the mountains.

As everyone stared in wonder, a roaring cacophony rose until it was louder than all the voices in the crowd had been at the pinnacle of fight. The sound of the blast at the site of the eruption must have been truly deafening to be heard so many hundreds of miles away. It was the noise of that distant eruption that caused the two still struggling warriors to momentarily cease their battle, though neither loosened his grip on the other.

Moordenaar and Jak stared dumbfounded at the rising black column in the distance. "I think this fight is over, Jak. You and I are well matched and neither will yield. We are two mighty warriors. Perhaps the gods have decided that we both still have too much to accomplish and do not want one of us to destroy the other, eh?"

Jak sniffed the air to determine if the Deer was sincere. He detected no lie from him, but could not believe that the General would voluntarily halt the fight unfinished.

"I entered this arena confident that I could best a one-eyed Wolf with a crippled paw. Now, I am unsure who will win if we keep fighting." As Moordenaar spoke, he slowly released his hold on Jak, and Jak did the same. They rose to their hooves and hindpaws, facing the volcano, staring in awe. "I wish to part as friends and meet again on the field of battle with armies behind us. Will you agree to call this fight a draw?"

Jak welcomed a truce, but was less certain than the Deer concerning his ever leading an army. "You have placed too much importance on me if you think that I will lead the armies of Rikifur. I am just a lowly foot soldier and newly adopted to the Princess' service. Why would an army of Rabbits follow me?"

"For the same reason an army of Horses follows me. I am a leader, Jak, and so are you. You were born and honed by time and experience to be a leader. If you don't lead the armies of Rikifur, then it will either be because they are a sincerely stupid race or because you are dead. I truly hope against the latter, Jak. You are a worthy opponent and an impressive warrior. It will be my greatest honor and challenge to meet you in battle one day. Do you agree to end this fight with a truce?"

Jak welcomed this outcome. "I agree. This sort of thing is a younger Wolf's game." Jak rubbed the sore muscles on his arms that were starting to ache. "I was actually starting to get a bit tired there near the end."

*Moordenaar threw his head back and roared with laughter. He was loud enough and the act was incongruous enough that the spectator's attention was drawn away from the volcano and back onto the Aarosht. Moordenaar took advantage of their renewed focus on him to announce the fight was over. He placed his arm around Jak's shoulder to demonstrate clearly that they were no longer fighting. Though Jak was uncomfortable with the Deer's easy familiarity, he did not resist his embrace. What an odd culture this was to confuse friendship with fighting, he thought. *

"People of Storfay, the gods have made it clear that they do not wish for this fight to continue.´ With his other arm, he pointed toward the volcano. "Do you need more proof than that? Madame Tigan's divination has turned out to be true after all. She could not predict the winner of this Aarosht because there was not to be one. Do you agree, Madame Skunk?"

The Skunk cackled with glee and leapt from the Juht's box to be caught in Moordenaar's arms. Using his sturdy body as a perch, she climbed to stand upon his shoulders, using his antlers for support.

"Behold! We are witnessin' t'e hands of t'e gods at work. T'ey break t'e Eart' Spine. A barrier mightier t'an any other is bein' torn asunder before our eyes. A pat' is being' cleared for Storfay and Rikifur to meet. 'Tis clear t'at destiny brought Princess Airiphryone to meet us so t'at we can one day meet in battle. T'e volcano that drove her here is clearin' a pat' for us. T'e onus is now upon us to see her safely home so t'at she can ready her Rabbits to join us in t'e glory of battle.

"T'is Aarosht is moot. T'e gods do not want us to know t'e end result of t'is titanic clash of empires in advance, but know t'is to be true: in battle, Rikifur and Storfay shall surely meet."

*The Horses in the audience jumped to their hooves and shouted their approval of her interpretation. The Cattle were less enthusiastic, but still, nearly a quarter of them joined the Horses. Being a slave on the winning side must have seemed better than to be a slave of a losing empire. *

The Juht took pleasure in the jubilation of the crowd and smiled broadly as he stood and motioned for silence. Without need of the trumpeters, they quieted.

The Juht nodded to Tigan. "Our keeper of prophesy has spoken wisely as usual. I declare a first among our people. The Aarosht is a draw! We have met our greatest opponents, and shall part with them soon knowing that we will be reunited in battle. People of Storfay, I beg you to show your love and affection for our good friend, Princess Airiphryone of Rikifur!"

At the Juht's bidding, Airy rose from her seat to stand beside him. All of the Horses and Cattle present cheered enthusiastically for her.

"And also her champion, Jak." The spectator's response for Jak was even louder. This Aarosht had been a unique and rare event. It was destined to be remembered, discussed for generations and become legend in Storfay.

Neither Airy nor Jak heeded the crowd. Their eyes were fixed on the volcano, and their minds were grappling with the implications of this disaster for their own kind. Blackrock Pack would no longer have access to its namesake, but worse was the likelihood that many Wolves were dying in this cataclysm. Jak wondered if any would survive the firestorm that was sweeping down the flanks of the Earth Spine. Airy was mortified by both the terrible destruction being caused by the volcano and the possibility that it might allow their ancient enemies and their new "friends" access over the previously nearly insurmountable barrier. Now that Jak was safe, all of her fears and trepidations were focused on the effects of the calamity on her homeland.

The Rabbit and Wolf lovers were like an island of despair in a sea of elation. Raeph was so overjoyed that Jak had survived that he climbed down from the bleachers to run out onto the arena floor to embrace the Wolf. Then he and Moordenaar hoisted Jak up onto their shoulders and carried him towards the Juht's stand. The volcano was momentarily forgotten by all but Jak and Airy as Jak climbed off the shoulders of his hosts to join Airy, where they embraced to the approval of the crowd.

There was one who was not distracted by the tender reuniting of the pair from Rikifur. The Juhtmare also gazed upon the titanic eruption on the horizon with disfavor. The importance of the task she had assigned to Raeph now had a new urgency that made his success and compliance to her will essential. She would have to make certain adjustments to ensure other assets of hers were ready to play their parts to overturn this supposed will of the gods. Airy, Jak and Jorveth would die. She would see to that.

---

[End of Chapter]