without their
Way.
'The Way of the Horn is not lost to you,' he said.
'You need to remember, to learn its wisdom again.
Take your people and leave this place. Find Horned
Ones and ask them to take you into their herd.'
The old female glanced at him, then at Targesh.
His eyes were closed, and his hands moved, groping
at nothing. 'Can we redeem ourselves?' she said.
'That is up to you,' Adalon said.
The old female looked at the ranks of empty
benches around them.
'Go,' Adalon said. 'Your people still need a
leader.'
Without a word, the old female turned and
lumbered off.
Adalon stood. With Simangee's help, he lifted
their massive friend. They stood on either side of
him and draped his arms over their shoulders.
'I'll paddle the canoe,' Simangee said when they
reached the landing. 'You take care of Targesh.'
It was an effort, but they eased their stricken
Horned One friend into one of the few remaining
canoes. It was barely more than a wreck, with
water sloshing around inside. Adalon was glad that
Targesh was in no condition to see how dilapidated
it was.
Once on shore, they settled their friend on a
patch of dry grass. Adalon was torn. He wanted to
put some distance between them and the treacherous
villagers, but Targesh was in no condition to travel.
He strapped on his armour, wanting to be prepared
if the villagers came back. 'Can you do anything for
him?' Adalon asked Simangee.
'I brought some healing potion. It might help.'
She shook her head. 'Poor Targesh. He was so proud
of his horns.'
'If it weren't for him, we may have ended our
quest in this misbegotten place.'
Simangee rose and went to her saddlebags. She
took out a vial and one of the maps. 'Ah.'
'What is it?'
'This place is marked – it's another A'ak site.'
'Are you sure?' he asked. She pointed to the map.
Adalon peered and saw a faint blue mark.
Simangee turned her attention to Targesh, gently
tipping the contents of a small vial into his mouth.
Targesh groaned – a deep, rumbling sound – then
swallowed and opened his eyes. 'Adalon.'
Adalon dropped to one knee. 'How do you feel,
old friend?'
Targesh raised himself on one elbow. The bleeding
had definitely stopped; the stump was ragged and
crusted with drying blood.
Simangee grinned. She handed Targesh a cloth.
'Here. Clean yourself up.'
Targesh stood. He swayed a little and Adalon
moved to his side, ready to support him. 'Don't,'
Targesh grunted. 'I'm well enough.'
He went to the edge of the lake. While he washed
himself, Adalon joined Simangee. 'Is he?'
'Well enough? Who knows.' She tossed the empty
vial in the air and caught it. 'The potion worked.
The bleeding has stopped and he doesn't seem to be
in pain.'
He wouldn't admit he was, anyway , Adalon
thought. 'But he's not himself.'
Simangee shrugged. 'It must be a shock to lose a horn.
And to do it to yourself? I couldn't do such a thing.'
Another matter had been troubling Adalon.
'That creature, the stone giant. It was of A'ak origin,
wasn't it?'
'Most surely.'
'Like the one that was guarding the Foundation
Room at the Lost Castle.'
Simangee looked at him thoughtfully. 'Yes.'
'For a long-lost race, the A'ak are making their
presence felt, aren't they?'
'Ah. You've felt it too?'
'I thought I was being foolish.' Adalon shrugged.
'But we seem to be living in momentous times.'
'Weighty events are in train,' Simangee said,
'but while they are, we mustn't overlook what is
happening closer to us. I think Targesh may need to
talk.'
'Targesh? Talk?' Adalon smiled a little. 'I'll give
him a chance. It's the least I can do.'
Adalon went and crouched at Targesh's side on
the shore of the lake. The Horned One winced as he
wiped around his eyes.
'Are you fit to travel?' Adalon asked.
Targesh didn't look up from studying the muddy
water. 'Of course.'
Adalon sought for comforting words. 'We owe
you our lives. Thank you.'
Targesh nodded, but said nothing.
'Your horn. Will it grow back?'
'No.' Targesh's face was hard. 'Horns
Way.
'The Way of the Horn is not lost to you,' he said.
'You need to remember, to learn its wisdom again.
Take your people and leave this place. Find Horned
Ones and ask them to take you into their herd.'
The old female glanced at him, then at Targesh.
His eyes were closed, and his hands moved, groping
at nothing. 'Can we redeem ourselves?' she said.
'That is up to you,' Adalon said.
The old female looked at the ranks of empty
benches around them.
'Go,' Adalon said. 'Your people still need a
leader.'
Without a word, the old female turned and
lumbered off.
Adalon stood. With Simangee's help, he lifted
their massive friend. They stood on either side of
him and draped his arms over their shoulders.
'I'll paddle the canoe,' Simangee said when they
reached the landing. 'You take care of Targesh.'
It was an effort, but they eased their stricken
Horned One friend into one of the few remaining
canoes. It was barely more than a wreck, with
water sloshing around inside. Adalon was glad that
Targesh was in no condition to see how dilapidated
it was.
Once on shore, they settled their friend on a
patch of dry grass. Adalon was torn. He wanted to
put some distance between them and the treacherous
villagers, but Targesh was in no condition to travel.
He strapped on his armour, wanting to be prepared
if the villagers came back. 'Can you do anything for
him?' Adalon asked Simangee.
'I brought some healing potion. It might help.'
She shook her head. 'Poor Targesh. He was so proud
of his horns.'
'If it weren't for him, we may have ended our
quest in this misbegotten place.'
Simangee rose and went to her saddlebags. She
took out a vial and one of the maps. 'Ah.'
'What is it?'
'This place is marked – it's another A'ak site.'
'Are you sure?' he asked. She pointed to the map.
Adalon peered and saw a faint blue mark.
Simangee turned her attention to Targesh, gently
tipping the contents of a small vial into his mouth.
Targesh groaned – a deep, rumbling sound – then
swallowed and opened his eyes. 'Adalon.'
Adalon dropped to one knee. 'How do you feel,
old friend?'
Targesh raised himself on one elbow. The bleeding
had definitely stopped; the stump was ragged and
crusted with drying blood.
Simangee grinned. She handed Targesh a cloth.
'Here. Clean yourself up.'
Targesh stood. He swayed a little and Adalon
moved to his side, ready to support him. 'Don't,'
Targesh grunted. 'I'm well enough.'
He went to the edge of the lake. While he washed
himself, Adalon joined Simangee. 'Is he?'
'Well enough? Who knows.' She tossed the empty
vial in the air and caught it. 'The potion worked.
The bleeding has stopped and he doesn't seem to be
in pain.'
He wouldn't admit he was, anyway , Adalon
thought. 'But he's not himself.'
Simangee shrugged. 'It must be a shock to lose a horn.
And to do it to yourself? I couldn't do such a thing.'
Another matter had been troubling Adalon.
'That creature, the stone giant. It was of A'ak origin,
wasn't it?'
'Most surely.'
'Like the one that was guarding the Foundation
Room at the Lost Castle.'
Simangee looked at him thoughtfully. 'Yes.'
'For a long-lost race, the A'ak are making their
presence felt, aren't they?'
'Ah. You've felt it too?'
'I thought I was being foolish.' Adalon shrugged.
'But we seem to be living in momentous times.'
'Weighty events are in train,' Simangee said,
'but while they are, we mustn't overlook what is
happening closer to us. I think Targesh may need to
talk.'
'Targesh? Talk?' Adalon smiled a little. 'I'll give
him a chance. It's the least I can do.'
Adalon went and crouched at Targesh's side on
the shore of the lake. The Horned One winced as he
wiped around his eyes.
'Are you fit to travel?' Adalon asked.
Targesh didn't look up from studying the muddy
water. 'Of course.'
Adalon sought for comforting words. 'We owe
you our lives. Thank you.'
Targesh nodded, but said nothing.
'Your horn. Will it grow back?'
'No.' Targesh's face was hard. 'Horns
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