Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (2 page)

Cap stood just inside the entrance
, giving orders to the Stable Master.  Katar knew his childhood friend well enough not to question his readiness for the excursion.  Katar often wondered if he had become too dependent on Cap's penchant for details. Yet that one aspect, combined with Cap's unending humor, and high intelligence made him the perfect companion for Katar.  Glancing up at Katar's approach, Cap's dark head disappeared quickly in the darkness of the stables.

The tall
, lanky Commander emerged, tossing Katar a small laser rifle.  "If we’re going as far as the Western Chasm, we'll need to take a couple of these along.  The compound bows are great when you are prepared, but I do not want to have my arms torn off in the middle of the night, trying to knock the arrow.  Sraeb don't give any warning before they declare dinner is served." His charcoal eyes glimmered, as he flashed a quick smile, and he disappeared back inside.

"We'll need a couple of pistols too
. Lord Wills has decided to join us, and he doesn't use the bow anymore." Katar added, following him into the stables.  Katar surveyed the large pile of supplies recently deposited on the floor, just inside the doors.

"
Can’t be trusted, eh?" Cap called over his shoulder.

"I'll check with the Stable Master and see if they can find a horse t
o put up with Hanlin's constant chatter." Katar answered, ignoring Cap's remark.

"Too bad Dizzy is about to foal, after she was hit by that muzzle blast, she's as deaf as a rock. “  Cap turned and knocked on the only occupied stall.  The chestnut mare snorted in response.

"I'll get the groomsmen to put an extra blanket in his saddle bag.  Those old bones will get brittle if the weather turns cold." Cap winked at Katar.  His smile quickly turned into a frown, as he reconsidered the idea of a sixty plus year old man, trekking through the wilderness, for such an extended period of time.  "Are you sure he's up to this?  I can't remember the last time Lord Wills traveled any further than the distance between Borel and the harbor. That is only a day’s ride, and we are going deep into the mountains.  There won't be any Hostels to rest in overnight."

"He's tougher than you think, Cap" Katar answered,
sure the elderly advisor would not take on more than he could handle.

"Who am I to argue with my future Sovereign?”  Cap shrugged
, surrendering, "I grabbed your bow. Bosen and I have the gear ready to go."

"
Bosen's coming along?”  Katar glanced across at him, grinning, "What a surprise.”

"Eades too, he says those three weeks in the mountains with
Commander Connor, means you will need his services.”  The expression on Cap's face changed from amusement to warning.

"What
is it I don’t know?" Katar turned his full attention on his friend, intrigued.

"There's been a lot of
talk about Connor's reputation." Cap answered, soberly. 

“He's the
Commander of King William's National Defensive Forces. Someone in control of the King's Elite Guard isn't going to have any mysterious past.  William is paranoid. I’m sure he had the man checked inside, and out before giving him the position. No one, not even William, is stupid enough to hire a mercenary to Command his land forces.” Katar had heard the ridiculous rumors, and dismissed them; surprised Cap hadn't done the same.

"I admit those stories are all very interesting, but that wasn't what I was talking about. “  Cap stood his ground, determined to make Katar listen.  "Connor was up here last fall.  He took a group of
Bantorians on a hunt in the Northern Mountains.  There were ten men in the party. Only eight returned.

"That's not so unusual, if you're hard
-headed enough to take an inexperienced group of hunters deep into the dense wilderness during
Frenzy
.  I'm surprised any of them made it out alive."  Shaking his head at the waste of life, Katar looked at Cap’s dark expression, seeing there was more, and asked, "Why didn't someone warn them?"

"You'd think the mere fact every
guide in Treborel refused the substantial fee he offered, would have been enough to caution him. Not only did he go in without a guide, they were all carrying Laser Rifles, except Connor, who had a crossbow. "

"I guess he wasn't aware of
our customary hunting guidelines. I can see I'm going to have to educate Commander Connor on the proper use of weapons in Treborel. Laser Rifles are strictly for emergencies, and crossbows are used by children."

"I'd be careful how you approach the subject with the
Commander. Thomas Rung's father reported Connor for using snares to capture young sraeb, and taking his time, using a 40 pound draw weight bow to kill the poor creatures." Cap continued, disgusted at the thought of torturing the large beasts.

"A
forty pound draw is little more than a child’s toy. It would barely penetrate the thick muscle of a sraeb." Katar began to understand what it was that Cap was trying to say. "It would slowly bleed to death . . ."

"Lord Rung intervened before that happened. The next day Connor let a
sraeb get a little too close. That's why Lord Rung lost his arm. Connor claimed his cable broke on the bow, so he couldn’t draw." Cap's black eyes darkened.

In the shadows of the
stable, the two friends faced each other wondering what was in store for the hunting party. Finally, Katar spoke with a determined voice, "Alright, he's got a mean temper. I'll keep an eye on him. Just remember who he is, if he gets out of line, I'll manage him."

"Are you trying to tell me something?" Cap's dark mood broke
, as a suspicious smile appeared.

"Since I have known you Cap, you have become an excellent pilot
, and a trusted friend. Not to mention the best Air Force Commander I have ever known. But as a diplomat, you stink." Katar smiled back at him.

"So I'm not
a good public speaker. . ."

"Public speaking has nothing to do with this.
Commander Connor has the ear of King William. I don't want anything to interfere with the new relationship we have achieved with Bantor. Let’s not blow it because the Forces’ Commander is a little sadistic."

"A little sadistic?"

"When we separate into small groups, I'll take Commander Connor with me." Katar ordered, tossing the rifle back to Cap, he turned to head back to the palace. "You can have Hanlin."

"Hey!" Cap put the rifle down
, and pursued him, "He's the dangerous one!"

The light banter continued until they reached the palace.
Commander Allen Connor had arrived by the small helijet transport, used only when the winds were sufficiently calm enough to permit the smallest of crafts to traverse the mountains. This allowed him the luxury of avoiding the long trek on horseback through the Borel Ravine from the harbor.

Queen Sari ordered a lavish dinner to be prepared in honor of their guest.

"I was eager to return to Treborel." The dark haired Commander began, as the palace chef brought in a huge platter of steaming meat surrounded by vegetables. "I feel I've been transported back to another time. Your tall silver palace, its high walls covered in Solar gems. These silver gems that glisten when the sun chooses to bless its light upon the city.  All this, sitting high upon a stone bluff, overlooking the dense forest below. All conveniently surrounded and protected, by the majestic mountains. Completed only by the forests that encompass it, prowled by large beasts of world renowned ferocity."

"We do have an abundance of wildlife
, Commander," Queen Sari smiled, her pale features becoming lovelier. "All of this is due to the strict enforcement of our ecological beliefs. Although, I'd hardly label them as placid. Sraeb are no longer considered a threat to our existence, due to my son's efforts with   controlling the population."

"Prince Katar and I spoke of that last evening.” The
Commander said, “He explained the difficulty you've been having for so long." The Commander turned his gaze on Katar, seated across from him. "You've been personally hunting these creatures for over 10 years now. Why haven't you been able to eliminate them?"

"Our goal is not the extinction of the species,
Commander. The sraeb have as much right to exist as we do. We are only trying to control the population.” Katar answered, as Cap began to fidget beside him. The mention of hunting caused Cap great difficulty, he struggled to keep his opinions to himself, not wanting to offend their guest his first night in the city.

Katar continued, “As you
said, it has been more than 15 years since the elk population became diseased. Almost the entire herd perished. The Sraebs being carnivorous only during
Frenzy
, a period of crazed feeding for the beasts, found their main food source gone. The extra layers of fat the animals acquire during this time, are necessary for their winter hibernation and survival. They had no choice, but to come down from the mountains in search of food. We lost hundreds of civilians before we were able to push them back into the mountains."  Katar glanced at his mother, as the memory of his father’s death flared in his mind. He pushed it aside, and continued, "Since then the elk population has grown, very slowly. We've had to compensate with the hunting parties."

"I
, for one, am looking forward to the next three weeks." Connor answered, "I realize you're an exceptional woodsman, Your Highness.”

"I suppose I should be. I've been hunting since I was 1
0 years old.”  Katar replied, undaunted by the Commander's disinterest in the background of the hunts. He began to wonder what kind of a man Connor truly was.

"I understand you had quite an experience on your last trip to the Northern Mountains,
Commander." Cap challenged, fighting his growing dislike for the Bantorian. "You lost two of your men, and almost got yourself killed."

Turning to study the Air Forces
Commander, a menacing smile appeared on Commander Connor's face, and his brown eyes grew darker, as he explained. "It was my mistake, going into the mountains during
frenzy
. Although I assure you, my life was never at risk. My companions were not as skilled at self-preservation as I.  Unfortunately I was only able to save one of them when the sraeb attacked." His smile grew as their eyes locked.

Amused by the instant dislike between the two large men, Katar decided it could prove to be an
exciting journey to the Summit. "Well Commander, you don't have to worry about this time of the year." Katar interrupted, drawing his attention away from Cap. "We will be lucky to find one large male. Most are still in hibernation. The third week of the hunt should bring larger game, as we near the Western Chasm."

The conversation turned to the upcoming Summit
and continued until the end of the meal. Shortly afterward, Cap took his leave claiming the need for further preparation. Katar knew he was lying. He figured his friend had reached his fill of the Bantorian Commander, and bid him goodnight.  As the Queen took Commander Connor on a twilight tour of her garden, the pale gray sky turned into a palette of pink and purple hues, until it grew dark, allowing an occasional star twinkle through its thickness. 

Returning to his suite
, Katar placed a call to Enda's attorney's, and advanced them enough money to cover her current debts. As he retired for the night, his thoughts went to Cap's warning of the Bantorian. It was strange for Cap to take an instant dislike to someone. Still, Katar had to admit there was a presence about the Commander. He emanated a sense of supremacy, and his answer to Cap's inquiry had been unusual. No one who had experienced a sraeb hunt would ever consider themselves completely exempt from death.

The dawn found the small party leaving the city on horseback.
Bosen May, the plump blacksmith, and Eades Long, the tall, stout Captain of the Queen's Guard brought up the rear of the procession. As the sun rose behind the clouds, they headed deep into the mountains. The first few days they concentrated on reaching the lodge, deep within the mountains. They were encouraged by the sightings of several females and their cubs, searching for berries. Cap was the first to take a large male. In the days following, Katar and Commander Connor also killed, and butchered a large sraeb.

The butchered
meat was sprayed with an ultra-coolant, instantly freezing it solid. Then it was loaded onto the pack animals for storage at the Lodge, still days away. The early spring weather had continued, and with it the animals began to emerge. Making the journey a joy for Katar, who had missed the quiet calm of the mountains, especially at night.

The beginning of the second week found them at the lodge
, unloading their supplies. Hanlin expressed great pleasure at reaching their half-way point to the Chasm. He was thoroughly intent on spending every available moment in one of the cabin's soft beds. The large, log cabin lodge was nestled in a dense grove of evergreens. Directly behind the lodge, nestled between two large evergreen trees, a small bathhouse sat over a hot spring. The rest of the week was to have been spent on daily excursions, returning to the warmth and comfort of the lodge at night. Instead, due to Commander Connor's wish to find larger game, they left the lodge and continued on into the more dense areas of the mountains.