The Book of Ominiue: Starborn (8 page)

Morning brought with it an overcast day, but the clouds were high and the horizon showed that the cover was clearing. Many of the Earthmen woke up feeling sorry for themselves. The Brigadier staggered out and lowered himself to the steps, holding his head in one hand, he had taken an effective cure, but had to wait for it to take hold. Red Rocket trotted across and lay at his feet looking just as sad and miserable.

The town centre was bustling with busy lionmen. The warriors were back in full armour, with those of the original search party now wearing the same standard light dress and armour as the others. Warhorses were brought in from the stables that were situated at the northern gate. The horses, just like the lionmen were great masses of muscle with thick necks and strong broad hoofs. Their heads had an oddly shaped curved ridge on the upper-half of the nose; defining the unique genetic divergence for that planet. They were so tall that Shayne did not think he would be able to get up without help.

There were a couple of horses that were a finer and gentler breed; these proud creatures followed their lionmen companions around like loyal dogs. There were also a few creatures that were built like an Elk but with curved horns like an antelope, and they also followed their owners around. The smaller horses and elks were by far the finest creatures there; they were more agile than the warhorses, and walked with a level of pride that the fighting horses could not match.

‘Do they expect us to ride these elephant half bred freaks?’ Medical Officer Lieutenant Rae Wong stated rather than questioned as she looked up at the creatures with apprehension. She was from the planet Mir which was in the 82G. Eridani system. Mir was just as densely populated as Earth and recreational activities such as horseback riding on these worlds were mainly practiced by the wealthy.

‘Only until we can acquire human size horses,’ Shayne replied.

Just then Pan’arden and a couple of other lionmen came from another building. Following Pan’arden was a great feline that looked much like a tiger, whose eyes keenly observed the quickly retreating Earthmen as it neared them. Red Rocket growled fiercely, but she also shook violently, hiding behind her master. Even Shayne’s heart leaped as they came within metres of them. Pan’arden greeted Shayne with casual calm, but her face was knotted with confusion at the humans’ apprehension; none of the other lionmen were remotely phased by the presence of the predator. The tiger itself showed nothing but curiosity at the Earthmen who were backed up to the closest surfaces, ready for flight. The tiger’s yellow eyes focused on Shayne and he realised it was the same creature he saw in the house the day before.

Shayne was the first to recover, followed closely by the Brigadier who trusted Shayne’s assurance that the animal was harmless. The Tasmanian tiger on the other hand was still not impressed, with its long thin tail between its legs it continued to cower behind the Brigadier.

‘Afra’hama,’ Pan’arden greeted. The tiger sat at her side and looked up at Shayne. ‘This is my Maltat, Thyman. He has only recently recovered from a bout of over indulgence and is eager to be on the road, as we all are.’ The tiger’s eyes danced as if it was saying hello and it even looked like it was smiling in agreement.

Pan’arden reached out and stopped the closest lionman. ‘Are the horses prepared?’ Shayne looked across at several horses with the Earthmen backpacks tied onto the saddles, and their railgun-rifles carefully slung over them. The Bohanese basically knew what the rifles were, the Earthmen told them early on.  Madan’rah said they should carry them only while travelling, so they agreed leave them behind when requested. The Earthmen were happy to comply, the devices had a
signal identification lock
that required the correct signal from an implant in a soldier’s hand to be functional; so they did not fear a native accidently firing them. None of the native creatures knew of the handguns that were strapped to each soldier’s leg. When asked about them they were told they were multipurpose tools; they even had a couple of specially made props to fulfil the function in case a demonstration was requested.

‘Where is the journeyman?’ demanded Pan’arden after seeing that the horses were well tended and ready to depart.

‘The scholar is waiting at the stables,’ the same lionman soldier answered.

‘We are ready when you are, Afra’hama,’ Pan’arden said. Shayne looked back at his companions, most seemed to be recovering well from their nights drinking adventure. Pan’arden then went to a horse set aside for her, flicking her cloak as she effortlessly jumped up. The creature was a magnificent grey warhorse adorned with some metal plated armour. Other horses had the same arrangement, but they were not quite as impressive as the High Captain’s.

Shayne approached the Brigadier who was now alert after meeting a pet tiger. ‘They’re ready when we are.’

Hanniver nodded, he still had a slight headache and winced a little at the pain. ‘Ok, men, pick a horse.’ As they stepped across to the waiting line a lionman signalled him. The best spare horses were for him and Shayne. ‘You better be right about the other horses, Forrester.’

‘Sir!’ Dominic’s worried face lingered on the giant beasts, ‘I’ve never ridden before.’

‘You think you’re the only one?’ he glared at the Corporal. ‘Show these balls of fluff that you’ve some guts!’ With that he stood at the side of his horse, a lionman offered his hands to give the Brigadier a lift, but he rejected the offer. He took the stirrup in one hand and with a fluid motion he jumped and grabbed the saddle, easily lifting himself up and into position, the lionmen present showed their approval. 

Shayne went to his selected horse and tried to jump-up by himself, but the creature was wider and higher than he expected. He was forced to suddenly grip onto the saddle with all his might in a very awkward position. He lost his footing on the stirrup and groped blindly but failed to relocate it. He hugged the horse as he tried to lift himself up but all he managed to do was slip further down, threatening to fall off. The lionman who offered Hanniver a hand then took his stray foot and pushed him up on to the saddle. The Earthmen had a bit of a laugh before they went to their own horses and tried to mount: with a mixture of success. Rae was the only sensible one who accepted a lionman’s initial help. The medical officer was lifted by the waist by a tall male soldier, she blushed as he easily placed her on the saddle and he smiled kindly at her.

When they had all mounted they moved off; very unsteadily. The remaining warriors mounted their horses and guided them out the northern gate. Shayne felt very uncomfortable. He was always sliding from the wide saddle and had to constantly readjust himself.

Pan’arden came up beside them on her magnificent warhorse. ‘Anyone would think you and the sky Ta’Orians have never ridden!’ she said. Shayne tried to say they had not but he began to slip again. He stiffened his hands on the reins, causing the horse to falter. ‘No, no, hold the reins like this,’ she said, easily leaning over and readjusting his hand position. ‘And grip with your legs if you must.’

‘How?’ protested Shayne, ‘when the beast stretches my legs in ways that no male should have to stretch them, anyone would think I was riding an
elephant
.’

Pan’arden could not help but let out a little laugh even though she did not know what an elephant was. The tiger on the other side of her horse also looked across with an amused expression. ‘I did warn you. Do not worry, we will get Ta’Orian horses as soon as we can, then you will ride much easier.’

They made it to the gate with the other Earthmen copying how the lionmen rode, quickly gaining some level of basic competency.  Kíe was waiting for them upon his horse, with his tail wrapped lightly around his waist. His guitar was once again slung across his back, resting in a leather and fur case designed for easy access so he could play and ride through the journey. The stringed guqin, which they called a flayman, was in its box strapped to the creature’s rump along with his travelling items. He also had two bows, an old rough looking longbow, that was unstrung and packed with the flayman-guitar, and a smaller horse bow hanging from the saddle along with a quiver of arrows. With a simple flick of his arm he could lift the weapon from its holster, ready to draw. He sat upon a beautiful light-bay horse with a white streak down its nose; it was a different breed to the great warhorses; a smaller and sure footed creature that could ride steadily all day without effort. Journeymen were not rich people but many were rewarded on their graduation with a horse to travel to their destinations. They needed a good breed to travel the long distances most of them endured throughout their journeymanship.

There were a few other lionmen waiting with him and they fell into line as the train passed. Kíe greeted them with his usual wide grin; beaming as he sat upon his mare. Shayne was at the head of the group with Hanniver and the Bohaníde Captains. Kíe broke from the front of the stables and his horse fell into the slow and lazy stride next to Hanniver.

‘You are handling that horse like a master, Kristof,’ Kíe said trying to pronounce his name correctly, Shayne had to translate as the robots were travelling on foot at the back of the train. ‘You on the other hand Afra’hama,’ Kíe said shaking his head, his mischievous grin growing. As they made their way along the road their skill improved at oversized horse riding. 

‘How long to Taríth?’ Shayne asked.

‘I am not sure if we will go to Taríth, it would make the journey longer than required,’ admitted Kíe. ‘The province capital is further ahead, they house Ta’Orian horses and from there it is a straight road to Kérith-Árim.’

‘But would not the Bohaníde Varda like to meet with us first?’ Shayne inquired. It might be taken poorly if they ignored the king of the nation they were travelling through. 

Kíe shook his head, ‘An exception, I believe will be made. The Kérith-Árim UeVarda is very ill. We do not know how long he will last. We should get there and talk with him as soon as we can.’

‘Do not worry about our Varda, Afra’hama,’ Madan’rah replied. ‘We have sent messengers ahead, she will understand.’

‘Provided you promise to visit afterwards,’ added Pan’arden.

‘Is there no successor for the UeVarda?’ Shayne asked looking at Kíe whose expression grew distant.

‘There is a successor but she is still very young and untested. She has not earned her title and no other candidate stands to be assessed, a very unusual affair if I have ever seen one.’ Kíe looked out at the mountains before them. ‘The UeVarda too is still a very young man, though a prime candidate had been selected, none had expected she would be tested so soon, and I am afraid she has not achieved enough to ascend the throne.’

‘I don’t understand,’ said Hanniver. ‘sounds like you elect your successor?’

‘Kérith-Árim is not like other nations. She is the cornerstone in which all Dífrun remains at peace. As such we cannot afford to allow just any leader to sit upon her throne. There is no inheritance in her halls. The UeVarda is selected, by the counsellors, the nations, the people. Candidates are chosen over the years from across the lands. One does not aspire to rule, often those selected do not want it, as such those worthy for it and accept their selection are rarely chosen. Their feats as scholars, generals, artisans, humanitarians are greatly valued and few possess these traits. As it stands the one candidate we have has only passed a single attribute, as such she cannot ascend to successor-in-waiting let alone to the throne itself. As many have said the UeVarda is still very young, and all previous are either too old now or no longer with us.’

‘The UeVarda is the same age as me,’ replied Madan’rah. ‘It is sad how sickness can grip those who are not ready for death.’

‘It is not our place to question the will of the Kéaran,’ Pan’arden reminded. They silently continued on, a sombre mood falling upon the front of the company.

Many hours had passed and as the Earthmen’s skill increased so did their pace. Shayne’s legs ached immensely with pain throbbing between the joints in the front of his pelvis and his thigh bones: accompanying his growing saddle sores. He was not the only one. Other Earthmen occasionally lifted themselves in the saddle and stretched as they went along, the longer they travelled the more frequently they squirmed.

A scout ahead of them sounded a horn as two horsemen travelled rapidly towards them; a trail of dust kicked up from their racing beasts. Once the riders were near enough they turned their horses to follow the leading pack. One of the messengers talked rapidly to Pan’arden in the Bohaníde speech. Afterwards the two messengers dismounted their horses and lead them on foot, giving the exhausted creatures a well needed break. 

‘I have good news, Sky Ta’Orians,’ Pan’arden said, looking pleased. ‘First we head to Keemaíth and from there straight to Kérith-Árim, and I shall accompany you as Bohaníde’s representative.’

‘This is great news,’ Kíe said. His mood instantly brightened as a wide grin spread across his face once more, ‘I am glad Afra’hama, for now you shall see my country. You will love Karmoníth; it is one of the greatest cities this side of the mountains.’ Shayne studied Kíe as he said this: he observed the lionman’s eyes glaze over as his mind drifted to some pleasing memory.

‘Our city too would be great if we had the rule of the three races over the ages!’ Pan’arden light heartedly added.

Kíe’s attention shifted to Shayne as the Earthman translated everything for Hanniver. The lionman took a deep breath before addressing the human, ‘Afra’hama?’ Shayne turned his head slightly to look at the scholar, being on the warhorse meant that he was almost level with him. ‘Could you teach me your language?’ One of Shayne’s eyebrows rose slightly, he did not expect such a question. Kíe appeared a little nervous, he was afraid that Shayne would say no, but Shayne saw the eagerness in the young creature’s eyes. Kíe truly was a child of knowledge: always eager to learn. He was a pleasing companion, when he was not suffocating Shayne with questions.