Seed

He was too excited, as he loaded his belongings on to Night Shadow, to notice the lone dark figure that slipped into the barn behind him. The hair stood on his neck, as he was suddenly aware that someone stood directly behind him. In a move that revealed his inexperience, but showed he paid attention to his training, Pel drew his sword from its scabbard and wheeled about, planting his feet, prepared to strike. Somehow he knew, before even drawing his sword, who it was that stood behind him. “Whoa!” Shane exclaimed, stepping back briskly. “Easy with that thing. You could hurt somebody.” “Shane,” Pel complained, lowering his sword, “what are you doing here?” “Me?” Shane said, innocently. “What are you doing here? It’s a little dark to be taking your horse for a ride, wouldn’t you say? And what’s with that thing,” he said, pointing to Pel’s broadsword. Pel sighed, turning and sheathing his sword, sending it home with a loud click. “I don’t have time to explain,” he said, as though it was all he needed to say. “Explain what?” Shane appeared completely confused. Pel sighed. He wanted to explain to his friend what he must do. But he wasn’t entirely certain himself what that was. How could he explain something he himself did not understand? Without turning to face his friend, he said, “I’m leaving, Shane.” “Leaving?” Shane was all innocence and surprise. “Leaving for where? Does Oredel know?” Oh, he was just full of questions. “When will you be back?” “Yes, leaving. I don’t know where.” Pel answered his friend’s questions patiently and in order. They had been friends for as long as Pel could remember. He owed him that much regard. Listening to his own answers, he realized how ludicrous this must sound in Shane’s hearing, but he went on. “Somehow, I think Oredel does know. I think he’s been trying to tell me,” he said thoughtfully, reflecting now on all of Oredel’s actions for the past several days. And I don’t know when or even if I’ll be back, ever.” It seemed important to stress that last. Pel braced himself for Shane’s response. He was prepared for any argument. He hadn’t considered, until now, that Shane might sound the alarm and wake Oredel with the rest of the farm, though even this would not deter him. He was prepared for any resistance, any answer… accept what Shane offered. “We’ll need supplies,” he said simply. “We?” Pel’s reaction was one of complete surprise. “Of course. You don’t expect me to let you go alone, do you?” Shane said, darting out of the barn. “But…” It was too late. Shane was gone. Pel stood, perplexed. That he would need supplies and had taken no thought for them was true. But me, he thought, not us. Pel considered leaving hastily, before Shane could return. But any such thought was dismissed when Shane appeared in the door again with everything he could pilfer from Cookie’s kitchen. To Pel it looked like he must have raided all of Cookie’s stores. There was enough for an army. Pel wondered how he could have found so much in such a short time, especially since Cookie kept the kitchen locked at night. He decided not to ask. There were too many questions whirling in his head now. Shane came to Pel and deposited a few packages at his feet. “Here, put these on Night Shadow,” he said, without so much as a glance, and went to Fleet. Absently, Pel stooped and picked up the packages and began loading them on his horse. Presently, he shook off his surprise at Shane’s presumptuousness. “You can’t go,” Pel almost whispered. “Huh?” Shane continued to load his provisions. Pel noticed that Shane’s sword was already fastened to his saddle. He had not seen him wearing it before this. Had he known of this beforehand? He decided this wasn’t possible. Shane must have had it all along. Pel cleared his throat, “I said, you can’t go.” He spoke louder, but his voice lacked conviction. He was excited, but uncertain, and he wanted Shane’s company. “Don’t be silly,” Shane replied, unchallenging and giving Pel a look that suggested he questioned his friends’ ability to employ own his mind. “Of course I can go.” He lifted himself in the stirrup and swung around into the saddle. “But… Shane… I…” “Very good, Pel. You said that very well. And all in one sentence,” Shane jested. He leaned forward in his saddle. “Now, do you think you could get the door?” “But…” “You already said that, Pel. Now if you’ll just get the door.” “The door?” “Yes, Pel, the door. You know the thing that hangs on a wall. You open it, and you can go in and out.” “I know what a door is, Shane.” “Very good. Now if you’ll go and open it, we can be on our way.” Grumbling, Pel led Night Shadow to the door. This was not how he pictured venturing out into the world. When he reached the door, he gave it a shove. It opened with a creak so loud that Pel thought it would alert everyone within five leagues that someone was in Oredel’s barn. He turned again to face Shane, to tell him once more that he could not go. But before he could speak, Shane was out of the barn. “Well, don’t just stand there, Pel.” Fleet pranced about impatiently, the cool morning breeze exciting his senses. “The world is waiting, boy.” Without waiting for an answer, Shane shook the reigns and Fleet was off in the direction of the waiting rider, leaving Pel no choice but to follow. Knowing he must go anyway, he swung up into the saddle. Taking what he knew could be his last look at the farm he’d known his whole life, he shook his reigns and rode after Shane.