Shadow Hunted Read online

  “You’re not the hero because the only thing you can do is wave a spear around,” Hulagu said with a grin.

  “And eat. He’s good at that too,” Karliss said.

  “We’re not here to talk about my eating,” Batu said. “We’re here for a story. Tell us what happened next.”

  Karliss recounted his battle with Kasai. They both followed with awe on their faces. He got to the part where Kasai had him trapped in the rock, unable to speak, and said, “I thought I was dead for sure. Then I remembered the crystal.”

  “Which was lying on the ground right there!” Batu said excitedly.

  “It turns out those crystals explode,” Karliss said.

  “Good thing you didn’t touch it,” Hulagu said.

  “There wasn’t much left of Kasai after that. If I hadn’t made it into the cave, I’d be dead too.”

  “Incredible,” Batu said. “You know, I was never worried at all. Not the littlest bit. I knew you’d take care of Kasai. He never had a chance against the greatest tlacti ever.”

  Hulagu held up his hands. “Don’t include me. I was worried the whole time.”

  “Only because you worry about everything. Don’t feel bad, though. That’s kind of your place in this little team. Karliss is the hero. I’m the plucky sidekick who keeps things light. And you’re the big worrier.”

  “You should be worried that I’m going to throw you down and sit on you.”

  “I’ll poke you with my spear.”

  “You’ll try.”

  Batu turned back to Karliss. “He does have a little reason to be worried. He knows how you get when you don’t have someone along to make sure you don’t do anything foolish.”

  “Is that so?”

  Before Batu could say anything else, Ganzorig, Karliss’ father, came walking up.

  “We’ll talk to you later,” Hulagu said. “Come on, Batu.”

  “Yeah, we don’t want to miss the meal.”

  The two left. Ganzorig stopped a few paces away and looked at his son.

  “You’re not going to tell me not to go, are you?” Karliss asked.

  Ganzorig chuckled. “The terl wants me to. But I know once you make up your mind about something, there’s no stopping you.”

  “I’m not that bad.”

  “Yes, you are.” Ganzorig came closer and put his hand on Karliss’ shoulder. “I don’t know what to say. I think I have used up all my fatherly wisdom already.” He chuckled softly. “My son, I always knew you were destined for great things in your life. I knew you would be a tlacti who was spoken of for generations to come. But I must confess, I never expected anything like this.”

  “Me either.”

  “You’ve proven yourself over and over.” Karliss started to object, but he held up his hand to stop him. “I don’t want to hear it. I know you’ve made mistakes. We all do. It happens. The important thing is that you didn’t give up. You kept fighting, and finally you defeated the enemy you weren’t sure could be beaten. You saved your clan from the greatest danger it has ever faced.”

  Karliss shifted uncomfortably. “A lot of it was luck.”

  “I know. Luck always plays a part. Don’t distract me from what I was saying.”

  “Sorry.”

  “If you want to go away, then go. You’ve earned it. No one can say you haven’t done your duty by your clan.”

  “You’re not worried that I’m leaving you without a tlacti?”

  “If you say we don’t need to fear the gods, then I believe you.”

  Karliss took a deep breath. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I don’t know if anyone else believes it though.”

  Ganzorig shrugged. “So? That’s their problem. You know, I think I always knew the day would come when you would fly away from us.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I didn’t think you’d actually fly like a bird. But you’re different. You’ve always been different. Even when you were here among us, you weren’t really here. You were off somewhere up there.” He gestured toward the sky. “I knew there would come a day when you’d go.”

  “I have to.”

  Ganzorig nodded. “Birds leave the nest, do they not?” He squeezed Karliss’ shoulder, then let him go. “One thing I need you to promise me. Come back and see your mother. This is hard for her.”

  “I promise.”

  “Come on. Your sister wants to see you. I’ll warn you, she’s going to be a problem. She doesn’t want her big brother to leave.”

  Narantse was outside the family yurt. She saw them coming, and with a cry she charged Karliss. “Ana says you’re leaving! Don’t leave, don’t leave!” she wailed, wrapping her little arms around his waist.

  Somehow her grief was harder for him than his mother’s was. Karliss had to fight back his own tears. “I have to,” he managed to say, trying to disentangle her enough that he could give her a hug. Munkhe stood nearby, her arms crossed, watching them with sad eyes.

  “No, you don’t,” Narantse said. “We should exile stupid old Henta instead. She’s the worst, and I hate her.”

  “Don’t hate her,” Karliss said. “She’s doing what she thinks is best.” The words kind of surprised him. He hadn’t known they were in there. But his anger toward the old woman had gone cold, the flames blown out by the wind. What she’d done seemed far away.

  “I’m going to miss you,” Narantse said, her words muffled because her face was pressed into his shirt.

  “I’m going to miss you too. All of you.” His gaze took in his parents. Ganzorig had his arms around Munkhe. She had her head on his shoulder. “I’ll come back and see you.”

  ╬ ╬ ╬

  It was well after dark. Karliss had everything ready for his departure. Not that there had been much to it. The words of power. A pouch of food, enough for a few days. His belt knife, his janu, a water skin, his coat and blanket. While getting ready, he’d been interrupted quite a few times by people coming by the yurt. None of them said much. Mostly they touched their foreheads in respect and thanked him for all he’d done. It was touching, and there were a few times he’d found himself doubting his decision. Somehow he’d gotten to thinking that nearly everyone in the clan was against him. Finding out they weren’t made his departure a lot harder. When they finally quit coming by, he was relieved.

  He was about to lie down when he heard hoofbeats, and there came yet another scratching at the door flap. Karliss opened it and stepped out. It was Ganbold, his brother, his horse standing behind him.

  “I came as soon as I could,” Ganbold said. “I was on duty, guarding the goats.”

  “I wondered where you were. I thought maybe you were asleep. I know how you like to sleep.” It was an old joke between them. Ganbold loved his sleep, and he could sleep through almost anything.

  “You’re really leaving?”

  “I am.”

  “That’s…” Ganbold scratched the back of his neck, thinking. “That stinks.” His voice was thick.

  “Not you too,” Karliss groaned.

  “What do you mean, not me too?”

  “Everyone is so sad. It’s not like I’m dying, you know. Why is everyone acting like I am?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because we don’t want you to leave?”

  “Uh…I’m exiled. Remember?”

  “I’ve heard some things. I think they would vote to not exile you this time,” Ganbold said.

  “You think?”

  “I do.”

  “It would be nice not to be exiled,” Karliss said. He was surprised to find he meant it.

  “Then we’ll call for another vote in the morning. Our father is on the council. He can call for a new vote.”

  “No. Not while I’m here, anyway. I don’t want to see the vote. I can’t…I don’t want to go through that again.”

  “I guess it would be hard.”

  “Harder than you know.” Karliss felt the pain of that moment—when he saw all those hands go up against him—all over again.
He didn’t like it. It made the desire to fly away, to be free, so strong he wanted to leave right that moment.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.”

  They stood there in silence for a time. What was there to say? They’d grown up together, as close as any brothers, but their lives were leading them down far different paths now.

  Ganbold’s horse nickered and pushed her nose into his back. “I think she’s ready to have her saddle off,” Ganbold said. “And I need to get some sleep. I’m leaving on a hunt first thing tomorrow.”

  “Go.”

  “I wanted to make sure I got to say goodbye.”

  “I’m glad you did.” Ganbold gathered his little brother up in a quick hug, then hurried away.

  ╬ ╬ ╬

  Karliss went to bed, but he was restless and had trouble sleeping. The aranti called to him the whole time. Finally, he gave up and got up. Dawn had to be getting close, and he wanted to leave before that. He’d said goodbye to everyone last night. He wasn’t going through that again. He wasn’t strong enough for it.

  Outside his yurt, he found his friends waiting. The faintest bit of light was appearing on the eastern horizon.

  “I told you,” Batu said. “I told you he’d try to sneak out.”

  “No, you didn’t. I knew it too,” Hulagu said.

  Karliss sighed. “What are you doing here?” He knew the answer.

  “We’re coming with you.” Their packs were lying on the ground by their feet, unstrung bows sticking out of them. The hilt of Hulagu’s tulwar—the big weapon Ganbold gave him before they left to search for the words of power—was sticking up over his shoulder, and Batu was gripping a spear.

  “No,” Karliss said, stepping back. “No way.”

  Batu looked at Hulagu. “Does he really think that will work?”

  “I want to say he can’t be that dumb, but…” Hulagu crossed his arms.

  “We’re not talking about this,” Karliss whispered, looking around to make sure no one else was up yet. “You’re not coming with me.”

  They continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “How long do you think it will be before he realizes he can’t win and gives up?” Batu asked Hulagu.

  “It depends on how stubborn he’s feeling. You know how he gets,” Hulagu replied.

  “Hey, I’m not that stubborn,” Karliss said.

  Again, they ignored him. “Remember that time he was so determined to prank Otgon that he wouldn’t give up even though it turned out he was lying on an anthill?” Batu said.

  Hulagu chuckled. “He got a lot of bites that day.”

  “And there was that time when he wanted the last bowl of birsch so bad that he snuck into the food wagon after dark, only Henta caught him.”

  “No. That was you,” Hulagu said. “You get that way about food.”

  Batu paused, blinking. “Oh. You’re right. How did I forget that?”

  “We were talking about Karliss, and how long it will take him to realize that we’re going along with him, remember?”

  “I thought we’d moved on from that. Hasn’t he realized it yet?”

  “I’m right here, you know,” Karliss said. “I can hear you.”

  Hulagu looked at him. “Do you have something to say?”

  “I’m going alone.”

  “No, he doesn’t,” Batu said. “I thought he would. It’s sad.”

  “He can’t help it,” Hulagu said. “He’s touched by the wind.”

  “I’m not changing my mind on this,” Karliss said. “It’s too dangerous. I’m going alone.”

  “He’s been getting us to follow him our whole lives,” Batu said. “I think I’m just in the habit now. I can’t help myself. Do you have the same problem?”

  “I do,” Hulagu said somberly. “It’s a bad problem to have.”

  “This whole thing you’re doing, where you talk like I’m not here, it’s not going to work,” Karliss said. “It’s not funny either.”

  Batu shook his head sadly. “Nothing but gibberish from him.”

  “I’m done talking about this. I’m leaving now.” Karliss started to say the first word of power. As soon as he did, both of his friends clamped onto an arm. Karliss tried to shake them off, but he couldn’t.

  “When did you two get so strong?” he grumbled.

  “Since we started training, while you sit around and stare at scrolls all day,” Batu said proudly.

  “Let go of me.”

  “We’re going with you,” Hulagu said. “Get that through your thick head.”

  “You don’t know what you’re getting into.”

  “Neither do you.”

  “I don’t need you.”

  “But you do,” Batu said. “Without us you get into all sorts of trouble.”

  Karliss gave up trying to get free. Dawn was coming fast. He needed to get out of here soon. He could always take them along and then ditch them somewhere. That would solve the problem.

  “Okay. But you have to do what I say.”

  “As long as we agree with it,” Hulagu said calmly.

  “I kind of hate you guys,” Karliss said.

  “That’s all right,” Batu said. “What are friends for?”

  “You have a strange idea of what friendship is.”

  “I have lots of strange ideas. Tonight, when we’re camping, I’ll tell you some of them,” Batu said. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  “You’re going to hate this,” Karliss said with a wicked smile. “I’m going to take you higher than I’ve ever gone before.”

  Batu’s smile faded, and his face went pale. “You’re going to…higher?” he said weakly.

  “To where people look like dots.”

  “That’s mean.”

  “You can change your mind,” Karliss said.

  Batu took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. “Not a chance. I’m plucky, remember?”

  Hulagu picked up both packs and handed Batu his. Karliss spoke the second word of power.

  “Akuy-ken-shai.”

  He focused the power on three aranti. They came willingly, and in moments the three friends were rising into the air.

  “I’m glad I didn’t eat yet,” Batu said. He was gripping his spear so tightly his knuckles were white. “I feel sick already.”

  “Don’t put me below him,” Hulagu said. “I didn’t bring any clean clothes to change into.”

  “You forgot to bring another shirt?” Batu asked in disbelief.

  “I didn’t forget. I don’t have another one that fits me. I outgrew all of them.”

  “If you keep growing, we’re going to have to go north and hunt mammoths to make your clothes,” Batu said. Then, to Karliss, “Hey, slow down, would you? This is too fast.”

  Karliss laughed. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  “Karliss,” Hulagu said, pointing. “Look.”

  Hulagu was pointing at the yurt belonging to Karliss’ family. His parents, brother and sister were standing outside, looking up at him. All of them had their fists in the air. Ganbold yelled something.

  “We weren’t the only ones who knew you were going to try and sneak away,” Batu said.

  “Everyone knew,” Hulagu added.

  All over the camp people were spilling out of their yurts. They were thrusting their fists into the air, and from their throats came what might have been a roar and might have been a cheer.

  Karliss got a sudden lump in his throat.

  Chapter 3

  They rose into the air. Soon they were high enough that it was hard to pick out individuals in the clan.

  “Okay, I think this is high enough,” Batu said. “You can stop now.”

  Karliss gave him a grin and kept going higher.

  “Stop! What are you doing?” Batu wailed, squeezing his eyes shut. “You know how I am about heights.”

  “You have trouble with heights?” Karliss asked, fake surprise on his face. “I didn’t know that.” Which wasn’t true. Batu had complaine
d about it when they’d climbed into the mountains looking for the words of power.

  “This isn’t funny anymore. Take me down!” Batu cried.

  “You want down? Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure, I’m sure!”

  “All you had to do was ask.”

  At a thought from Karliss, the aranti carrying Batu went into a steep dive. Batu howled as he plummeted, flailing his arms wildly.

  “Karliss!” Hulagu yelled.

  Karliss stopped Batu’s aranti and flew them down so they were alongside him. Batu was moaning softly, his arms wrapped around his head. “Did you change your mind?” Karliss asked.

  “That wasn’t funny!” Batu yelled. “That wasn’t funny at all. I think I peed myself.”

  “You peed yourself?” Hulagu asked, trying not to smile.

  “You’d pee yourself too, if you thought you were falling to your death.”

  “I thought you said you trusted me,” Karliss said.

  “Not anymore,” Batu grumbled. “You’re a terrible person, you know that?”

  “Nobody made you come along,” Karliss said. “I remember trying to get you to stay behind. I told you it was going to be dangerous.”

  “The danger isn’t supposed to come from your own friend.”

  “You never know where danger can come from.”

  “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.” Batu frowned and turned his face away.

  Karliss looked at Hulagu. “Do you think he’ll be angry for long?”

  Hulagu shook his head. “He likes to talk too much.” Overall, he seemed pretty calm about the height, which surprised Karliss.

  “Being way up here doesn’t bother you?” he asked Hulagu.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t realize we were high up.” Hulagu had his gaze fixed on the horizon.

  Karliss understood then. “You haven’t looked down yet, have you?”

  “And I’m not going to,” Hulagu said. “As far as I know, the ground is right there. That was kind of mean, you know.”

  “Dropping Batu? It was an accident.”

  Batu muttered a curse that would have gotten him an ear pull from his mother.

  “You’re very tense, Batu. You need to learn to relax,” Karliss said.