Akira Rises (13 page)

Suddenly the dark dappled grey horse's ears turned back attentively. Within seconds, Akira heard the distant thundering of hooves behind her. Her heart lurched. She tried to calm herself. There was no need to assume the thundering hooves were chasing or following her. She counselled herself to hold Pegasus at a steady canter for a few minutes longer, then casually turn to see who was coming up behind her. If she recognized one face, she would need to bolt and hope Pegasus was fresher than the horses galloping up behind them. She had not pushed him hard and he had the heart to run fast and long.

 Her thoughts raced.
Do not act afraid. Do not project fear. Do not be afraid.
Pegasus tensed in response to his rider.
Do not let them get too close. Keep moving.
Akira felt trapped by the forest road. No easy escape was visible. She reminded herself that if she had to speak to strangers she would need to identify herself as a messenger and hoped they feared the consequences of interfering with a messenger on route to the White Robes. A deep calming breath helped clear her jitters, as did reaching to make sure her knife was still in its sheath inside her waistband. She wished the knife was a sword. She wished being brave was as easy as it had been when a twig was a magic wand.

A horse whinnied and Pegasus knowing no better, just being a normal horse responded in kind. Her heart beat faster. Now whomever was behind her knew there was a rider ahead of them.
Just smile and nod.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A
s the riders appeared through the trees and bend of the conifer lined road, Akira turned and faced them. Adrenaline pumped through her veins and threatened to make her want to bolt. No familiar faces. They were not her father’s hunters and trackers. A small measure of relief was granted, one fear eased. They had a flag. Thieves wouldn’t carry a flag. There were six riders, riding two by two, slowing their galloping mounts as they approached. Akira tugged Pegasus's reins pulling him to the side of the road to let the riders pass. Akira noted it was an orderly flag bearing column. She did not recognize the flag. With no wind to unfurl it, she knew not what it represented. She hoped they would pass quickly. She watched their approach trying to appear more confident than she felt. As their horse slowed, it became apparent they were in no hurry to pass. A shiver of fear ran down Akira’s spine.

“Good afternoon, boy.” The rider closest to her spoke with a deep gravelly voice. “You look like you got too close to that damnable wild fire too. Just a tad blackened around the edges.”

Akira nodded.
Oh my! Were these the riders I set the blaze towards?
Her heart skipped a beat. They were huge men. Wondering if they suspected she had set the prairie brush fire, she tried not to panic. “No worse for wear.” she answered huskily.

“Curious how that started. Never saw any lightning.”

“Very curious,” Akira agreed solemnly. She nudged Pegasus to walk, a subtle signal she wished to be on her way. “Perhaps a hunter's campfire got away from him.” She wished the men would just pass on by. She pulled to the right with her reins hoping the men would pass on the left. Her nerves stretched tighter when the scar faced man rode alongside of her. He was too close. He was in reaching distance. He carried on talking.

“Could have been camp fire rekindled by the wind.” He paused. “You headed for Foothills Village?”

Akira nodded affirmatively. The men behind her made her nervous. She knew she was being sized up. She felt eyes staring at her back.

“Same here. You are welcome to ride with us. We were riding fast to catch up to a lone rider on the prairie to warn there were thieves working the road when the fire cut us off.”

Akira felt a small pang of guilt.

“Have you come far?” interjected the rider beside the first man to start conversation.

“Yes.” She offered him a one-word reply deliberately. The less information she gave them, the better. “Don't let me slow you down. I'm just giving my mount a rest.”

“Not a problem, we need to walk our horses for a while too,” said the rider now riding beside Akira. His partner dropped back in behind her. “Have you come across a young girl travelling on her own?”

Akira groaned inwardly. Why couldn't they have just galloped past leaving her in their dust?

“No. Why do you ask?” Her heart was in her throat. Her stomach knotted.

“Just looking for a worried mother.” The deep voice sounded matter of fact.

“Sorry.” Akira felt sorry for the mother. Relief flooded through her.
They are not looking for me.
“The girl is lucky to have a mother.” The comment slipped out. She wished she had kept her mouth shut. Her relief had loosened her lips.

“Nice horse you have. Looks a bit like a war horse.”

“Yup,” a shot of fear ran through Akira's veins. Would his next words be “I want it?” She was mentally preparing to start a quick dig into her mount's sides and make a run for it.

“What business takes you to the Foothill village?”

“Nothing, it is just a stop before the mountain. I’ve a message to deliver to the mountain monastery.” Akira was abrupt.

“You brave the mountain rather late.”

“Yes.” Akira wished he would take the hint she was not eager for conversation. What part of messenger did he not comprehend? What more did he really need to know?

“How fortunate. That too, is our destination. You would be wise to travel with us to make sure you deliver your messages safely as there are bandits not far behind us and they would love your horse and to leave you gutted beside the road. We already found one body.”

Akira instantly remembered the circling black scavengers in the sky, and was glad she had chosen to give wide berth to whatever sinister scene they found, evidence of a fate that could befall her if she was not wary.

“You can travel with us if you aren't the chatty sort like my scout beside you.” A voice behind her affirmed the invitation.” The mature voice sounded younger, with a more assertive timbre.

Akira turned to look at the man behind her. He was younger than the man riding beside her. He had a few days’ worth of beard covering a strong face.
A strong face that is handsome for a man
, she thought, and qualified her thoughts with,
if you like handsome men
. She turned and faced forwards. He was keeping a distance that made her less fearful. He was probably no different than all the other handsome men she had met. Handsome young men were the worst for thinking they could have any woman they wanted. Vain creatures were more often than not handsome men. Like peacocks and roosters, they strutted and postured and preened. Like the peacocks and roosters, they needed to be reminded feathers could be plucked and a soup pot did not care how handsome a cocky proud bird once was. The handsome warrior behind her was most likely as vain as all the handsome men she had observed. Experience made her very wary and cautious of handsome men. Her brothers' handsome friends were as free with their hands as her brothers and she had spent much time watching the maid servants trying to avoid all of them, at least most of the maids tried to stay out of reach. Thankfully she never caught their eyes or attention. Her mother's diligent protection had kept her safe from her brother’s friends. Suffice to say she did not trust a handsome face. The scar faced man riding beside her, making her nervous was probably safer to be around than a handsome. One would not be tricked to let down one’s guard.

“My name is Crow,” said the man beside her.

“Crow?”
What kind of name is Crow?
Akira raised her eyebrows. He looked more like a wolf type or a bear.

“That's because he is always squawking and talking,” said a deep timbered voice. The voice sounded amused. A few chuckles came from farther behind. “and his heart is as black as crow’s wings.”

The man named Crow protested. “Eh! don't be mean you sods! You wound my maligned heart. You were laughing at my jokes earlier about the wench with the teats as big as mountains! Did you ever see...?”

“Enough, enough Crow, you'll have the men all goatish before we get to the village. They'll scare the wenches. They’ll look like porcupines…. all prickly!”

There was more laughter. Akira smiled dryly. All prickly? Men are all the same. Thinking between their legs! What is the big deal with breasts? What is it about them that makes men act like idiots? Akira gave up thinking about the peculiarities of men and assessed her situation. She thought about the bandits reportedly behind them. She considered the men with her. If these men were going to harm me they would have made a move by now, she thought. She quickly decided perhaps she would be safer travelling with them than continuing on her own. Each man was heavily armed. Daring another perusal of the men behind her she was glad they were not bandits for they were an intimidating looking bunch.

Akira had deliberately declined to respond to Crow’s self-introduction with her own name. She had not thought of a male name to go with her disguise. It would be wise to use a name she would remember and think to respond to without hesitation.
Suraj.
Suraj was the name of her mother's father. It would do if she had need to produce an identity.

“Time to make haste.” The authoritative voice did not give Akira time to change her mind. Pegasus was happy to follow suit. It seemed as if Pegasus approved of their company. The rugged and heavily armed horsemen urged their mounts into a gallop. Leather squeaked, and metal jangled. The men rode in silence at a ground eating pace. Their hooves sounded like low thunder. The forest seemed darker as they rode, the shadowy forest almost menacing. Daylight was drawing to a close.

Akira was curious about the men she rode with, but to ask questions of them would surely invite questions about herself. That they had talked of bandits behind them one might assume they themselves were not bandits. She would not trust them however, for after all, they were men. Perhaps they were mercenaries. Perhaps they were guards to protect travelers or scouts. Honest men? She hoped so. For she was riding with them. A part of her was afraid but another part of her enjoyed riding with a group of men that emanated power and strength.
Is this what it feels like to be man in a man’s world?
She let herself imagine being a part of their group.

The ground beneath the thundering hooves eventually ceased to climb. It levelled out and the road they travelled started descending. The handsome rider jockeyed his horse and joined the man named Crow at the front of the procession. Akira got a view of wide shoulders, and piercing brown eyes as he rode past her. He looked like a warrior. A scar on his cheek did not distract from his rugged good looks.

He held up his hand. “Walk.” The order was a relief. With the light fading Akira was worried for Pegasus. The road was narrowing and rocky, barely a wagon width. She could not afford for Pegasus to come up lame. Loving him as she did, she would not willingly put him in harm's way. A treacherous journey up the mountains was still ahead. Apparently the leader had the same concerns for their mounts. He couldn’t be all bad she reasoned. At least he did not abuse horses. She had seen all too much of that from whence she came. Very early in life she made an observation that those who abused animals more often than not abused people too.

The order to walk gave Akira time to think about the home she left behind. It was a place she and her mother had endured. Would she find a home, someplace beyond the mountains, toward the coastline where her mother's people dwelled? Would Suraj, who’s name she borrowed still be alive? Would he welcome a granddaughter?

“Halt!” the leader's voice ordered.

Akira came to attention. She pulled on her reins, responding as quickly as the men did. As the order to stop brought the riders to a halt she noticed ahead through the trees, in the fading light, what appeared to be the start of a meadow. She smelled smoke. Someone ahead had a campfire. A cooking fire if her nose was not mistaken. Another man behind her urged his horse ahead as the rest of the men and Akira waited. He had his hood pulled up as he passed her by and rode ahead to the edge of the trees. His expression was unreadable.

A nervous tension filled Akira. What or who was ahead of them? Friend or foe?

He turned and smiled. “Supper's ready boys!”

Akira let out her breath.

The silence was broken and the men started conversing and laughing again. The leader urged his horse into a fast trot and the orderly advance upon the campsite was no longer orderly, with the man named Crow making comments about venison stew, and he who ate the fastest got the most as he galloped past. It seemed obvious the men ahead were part of the leader's group. She hesitated. Not sure what to do. Was it time to part company?

“Come on boy, I'm sure we have enough to share. You are kind of puny so you can't eat that much.” The leader noticed her holding back when he had looked back over his shoulder.

The invitation was welcome. Her stomach growled in agreement. A venison stew would taste so very good after her meager rationing. Perhaps it was not time to part company yet. The disguise was still working for her, and no one suspected she had set a fire against them. Her mouth watered and she realized how hungry she was.

“What's your name young man?” The man dropped off his horse and even though darkness was descending rapidly it was obvious by the sound of splashing he was relieving himself almost in front of her. His back was not turned totally away. Obviously men pissed in front of each other with no inhibitions. Akira averted her eyes.

Almost forgetting to deepen her voice Akira blushed and stammered, “Suraj.” She looked away as if eager to examine her surroundings. The last thing she needed to see was a penis. Fortunately, his horse moved and spared her from getting an unwanted viewing, sparing her further embarrassment. Her hood and the darkness covered her flustered blush. It seemed like he would never stop draining himself. She heard his sigh of relief. Lucky him. Her own bladder had been complaining for quite some time.