From his supine position next to the fire, the prisoner waited as his captor finished slicing meat from the haunch of the beast he had killed. For a few moments, the two men locked eyes. The fear in the eyes of the captive man could not be hidden. He blinked and slowly averted his gaze. He had been positioned between two trees. His outstretched hands were fastened by a short rope to the tree trunk above his head, while his ankles were tied to the tree at his feet.

"I am going to untie your hands," the tall young man said. "Lay your palms to the ground until I tell you to do otherwise. Do you understand?"

The prisoner nodded without enthusiasm and soon his hands were freed. He placed his palms to the ground as he had been told to do and watched as the other man set a large chunk of bark across his thighs and then laid several strips of brazed meat upon it.

"You may sit up and eat now."

The two men sat absorbed by the silence, save for the crackling of the fire and the sounds of their own hunger being satisfied. When the meal was ended, the men locked eyes once again. This time, the prisoner did not look away. He said, "What are you going to do with me?"

The tall young man threw his makeshift skewer into the fire. "For now, I only wish to speak with you."

"And then you will let me go?"

"First, we must have an understanding, but answer me truthfully and we shall see," the tall young man stood up and unsheathed his sword. He walked suddenly toward the other man and raised it with one arm and brought it quickly downward. As he did so his prisoner recoiled with his arms covering his face, breathing out a shriek. When he dropped his arms, he could see that the cords which had tethered his ankles had been cut. He watched the tall young man turn and walk to the other side of the fire to sit down. "Rub your hands and legs. Move closer to the fire," he said.

The prisoner began to rub his legs briskly. He rolled to his stomach and then worked his way to his feet. "What is this 'understanding' we must have?"

"Do not try to run away. I will overtake you. Answer everything I ask, and answer me truthfully, and I will let you go."

"Done."

"When I met you, you were heading south instead of north. Why?"

The prisoner seemed genuinely taken aback by the question. "I.... I was heading south because I... I wanted to head south."

"Why?"

"Why?" the prisoner asked as he sat close to the fire, "What do you mean, why?"

"You are Cormant, are you not?" asked the tall young man. "The Cormant people always head farther into the north during the winter months. So why were you heading south?"

"Cormant people 'head' where Cormant people will 'head'. It is something that separates us from the tribes," the Cormant man said, somewhat disdainfully.

"Be careful Cormant. You are not so free at present," the young man shot back.

"Ask your questions."

"You came from the north. How long ago did you break away from the caravan?"

"What caravan?" the Cormant man asked.

"You know Cormant, sometimes a question can be untruthful, as well as an answer."

The Cormant man lowered his eyes, no longer defiant or disdainful. He seemed to be thinking, and when he raised his eyes once more he said, "My name is Jechesh."

The tall young man stood, discerning that the man across from him was someone he could trust. He didn't know how he knew, but he knew it nonetheless. He extended his right arm and the other man stood slowly to grasp it. "My name is Rehn. I come from the Woodland Realm."

Jechesh took a step a half-step backward. "You are far from home, Woodland warrior. What...What brings you this far north in winter?"

"I am searching for someone," Rehn said. "He is somewhere farther north. I must find him, and take him home."

"Ah.." said Jechesh, understanding. "You search for a fugitive from justice."

"No," Rehn said quietly, "I am searching for a friend. He would have crossed your path at some point, or at least, you might have heard of him. At least, if you had seen him, you would know that he is not Cormant."

Jechesh's head seemed to relax on his shoulders, and he sat back down by the fire, knowing. "You speak of the dark-haired prince."

"Yes!" Rehn said, and moved to sit squarely across from Jeshesh, "He would have dark hair, like me! And he would be about my size. Do you know where he is?

Jechesh grew quiet. "I have seen him, and I think I know where he may be, but...."

"But what?" Now it was Rehn's turn to grow quiet. "Tell me what it is that you do not wish to say, Jechesh."

"What is his name, this friend of yours?"

"His name is Kael," Rehn said, "and I must see him."

Jechesh crossed his arms and rested his chin on his chest. "Your friend may not wish to see you."

"Why do you say that?"

Jechesh paused, "Your friend leads the Cormant men of war now."

"Men of war?" Rehn asked, not understanding. "The Cormants do not have men of war."

"We do now," Jechesh said sadly, "since your friend came to live among us."

"That's...That's not possible," Rehn said. "I know him."

"He wears the skahreeb," Jechesh said, waving his hand above his head. "The princely crown."

"This could not be so," Rehn said, but with his gaze fixed somewhere far beyond Jechesh's head.

Jechesh waited patiently, watching Rehn consider the possibility. "I have seen it," he said finally. "It is why I journey southward."

"I don't understand," Rehn said.

"Ahh..," Jechesh said, grimly amused. "You will forgive me, but I would not expect you to. We Cormant folk are wanderers. We are the enemies of no man. For many lifetimes we have moved through the great plains and beyond. We do not.... we did not... take arms against others. We never have, until now. You see, your friend changed all of that. He came to us a stranger. As a people, we do not give our affections easily, but your friend managed to charm our leadership--convince them that they needed to prepare for conflict."

"How?" Rehn asked.

"At first," Jechesh expelled a long breath, "your friend spoke of peace, wanting only to be able to join the caravan. He carried no weapons, and he helped everyone who needed it. But as time marched along with the caravan, he began to speak of an evil that would befall the people if they were not made ready. He began to teach, to make 'games' of war. Before long, the people were speaking his name at the gatherings. He became so well-spoken of, that he was asked to go before the council, and to make known this coming conflict."

"What did he say?" Rehn said, leaning closer to the fire.

"He said that just as in the Day of Arrows, we would be preyed upon by men."

"The Day...of Arrows?" Rehn asked.

"Yes," Jechesh said. "Six months ago, several of my people were killed by great arrows which fell from the sky. They were sent by the hands of evil men."

Rehn hid the greater part of his reaction from Jechesh in spite of himself. "Why do you say that Kael may not wish to see me?"

"Your friend is confused," said Jechesh, "and as I said, the Cormant peoples do not give their affections easily. He considers himself to be Cormant, now. You are the enemy."

"He is a woodland warrior, and you said the Cormants have no enemies," Rehn said. "He will see me." Jechesh stood slowly and untied the outer layer of his cloak. He left the sash at his waste fastened but worked his arms out of the sleeves until his inner garments were exposed. The emblem that adorned his vesture was woven through with gold strands, and he suddenly appeared to Rehn as one with an ageless wisdom. "You were their king?"

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His Word is... sharper than any two-edged sword.

"Yes," Jechesh said, pushing his arms back through the sleeves of his cloak, "I was their king."

Rehn lowered himself to one knee, bowed his head and said, "Your majesty. I must beg your forgiveness."

A strange smile, mirthful yet curious caught Jechesh's lips. "Rise, young warrior. I am not your king, though it grieves me to say so."

"My king you may not be," countered Rehn, "but kings and kingdoms are established at the whim of the Most High One, and I must have your forgiveness."

Now, Jechesh looked with true wonder at the young man kneeling before him. He placed a hand on Rehn's shoulder. "You have my forgiveness my son. Stand up now," he said gently, "stand up."

Rehn stood slowly. "I would not have.... I would not have.."

Jechesh laughed, "You would not have pulled me off of my horse like schoolboy if you had known I was king?"

"Yes--well," Rehn smiled sheepishly, "something like that."

"Let your thoughts be here--now, for we have somewhat of a problem, you and I."

"What problem, your majesty?" Rehn asked.

"Jechesh. You may call me Jechesh. And we have a problem with direction."

"You are heading south, and I am heading north," Rehn nodded.

"I cannot dissuade you, I suppose?" Jechesh offered.

Resolute, Rehn said, "I must find my friend."

"I understand that he is your friend, and friendship is important. But may I ask why it is that you must find him?" Jechesh sat once again by the fire.

Joining him, Rehn spoke quietly. "He is a deserter."

"A deserter?" Jechesh burst out. "A deserter! Captain of the Revived--a deserter." He tilted his head back and laughed from deep within himself. He then grew sullen. "This is too much to be born. I lost my kingdom to a deserter?"

"You don't understand your majesty," Rehn said. "Kael left his encampment against orders. But when he left, we were not at war. He.. something happened, and he had to leave. He had to. Do you understand?"

"What do you intend to do when you find him?"

"I don't know--now." Rehn said. "I only know that he must come back with me."

"And why is that?"

"Because when I left," Rehn said, "When I deserted, war had begun. We must both go back, and we must both face our future together."

They sat quietly for a time before Jechesh said, "My son, I think you should sleep. You have had quite a day, and we will speak of this in the morning. Agreed?"

"Yes, your majesty," Rehn bowed slightly and said, "I will prepare a place for you to sleep as well."

Jechesh raised his hands in protest, but as Rehn was already about the task, he dropped them reluctantly once more to his sides.

***********************

Sleep had come and gone quickly for Rehn. He awoke to the smell of cakes and hot tea, and turned over to see Jechesh pushing dirt into the fire pit with his boot. The sun had broken over the mountains to the east and the long morning shadows from the tall trees reached well into the snow-covered plains. Jechesh set a cup and two cakes next to Rehn, who sat up to give thanks and eat.

"I thought perhaps you might enjoy eating something beside meat for a change," Jechesh said, "Drink the tea. It will warm you, and then have more before we leave."

"We are leaving?" Rehn asked, puzzled.

"Yes," Jechesh answered him, "You are going to see your friend, and I am going with you." He raised a hand to silence Rehn. "You have many questions. I will answer them as we journey. We will have ample time. It will take us a almost a month of riding to reach your friend. Drink the tea." Jechesh smiled, and Rehn smiled back.

The trek through the snows each day was daunting, but the time passed quickly as the two men grew to know one another. The first question out of Rehn's mouth each day as they began their journey would be about Kael, and each day Jechesh would set the question aside and talk about something else, always promising to revisit the question at another time. Their trek each day would end with a meal and more talk. Rehn expressed that he had learned much as Jechesh described his people and his kingship. But within his heart, Jechesh believed that he was learning much more from his young companion. He had known many men in his life, but few had impressed him as this young man had.

Jechesh had watched Rehn for several days, before allowing himself to be spotted at their first meeting. After permitting himself to be unhorsed and taken captive, he had played his part, and he had seen a young man act beyond his years. He had seldom seen among his own people, the kind of maturity and consideration Rehn possessed. A king's heart had been touched that day, and he knew that his journey with this young man would be a meaningful one. He only hoped that he and his young companion would be able to bear the consequences of the choices they were both making.

They were half-way through their journey north one afternoon when Jechesh spoke quietly to Rehn, "Move into the trees." Rehn had learned enough of his new friend to obey, and did so. In silence they moved gradually together, Rehn's horse trailing behind Jechesh's until their legs brushed through the dense undergrowth. Working their way deeper into the forest, the trees became closer and closer together, and it became more difficult with each passing yard to thread through in a straight line. Soon they were lifting their legs up to the top of their saddles in order to keep from getting them scraped against the bark on either side of them.

They made slow progress, riding only two miles in as many hours. When they finally came to a small clearing near a large group of fallen and rotting trees, Jechesh finally dismounted and signaled Rehn to do the same. "We will stay here for the night," he whispered, "provided we do not hear or see them again."

"See who?" Rehn asked without sound.

"Lookouts." Jechesh set the pack he had tied to his back to the ground and began to quietly unbuckle his saddle and set it over a log. He shook out a blanket and threw it over his horse. "I could see their position. I do not know if we were seen by them."

"I didn't see them," Rehn said. "How did you?"

"Do not forget, my young friend. I have been through here before," Jechesh said, slightly troubled. "Although I must admit, I did not expect to see them this far out already." He untied the top of his pack and unrolled his bedding and wrapped it around himself. Tonight we should sleep without a fire."

Rehn grinned back and said, "I know a trick," and set off to select some rocks before darkness fell.

Jechesh looked after his young friend and shook his head in amazement. In a moment, a shiver racked his body. It was not from the cold, but from what he sensed was to come. From here onward, he knew that as King, he would be gambling not only with his own life, but with the life of his newfound friend. A small confidence, confidence in the character of this young man drew him onward with the hope that calmer heads would prevail, but it was only a hope nonetheless. His passion to rule was nothing, and he gave it no weight. He would rule again because that is what he was made for. But the Revived, if that's what they truly were, were not to be led by an outsider, and not by a young pup. He didn't care how qualified Kael appeared to be. How all of this had happened was still a bit of a mystery to him, but he would press on. He would press on until either Kael stepped aside, or one or both of them was dead. He only hoped that having Rehn by his side would help him to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. His thoughts were interrupted when Rehn had finally returned with a sack loaded with rocks so that he struggled to carry its weight.

"My young friend," Jechesh began, "sit with me. We have much to speak of. Let me start with your friend."

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seekHm1st
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His Word is... sharper than any two-edged sword.

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Jechesh leveled his eyes to Rehn's and said soberly, "Your friend betrayed me." His words washed over the young man before him and for the first time since they had met, he gained a sense of what Rehn must have looked like when he was bewildered as a small boy. He stretched out a hand and braced it on the young man's shoulder, "Do you believe I am speaking the truth, Rehn?"

Rehn withdrew almost imperceptibly from the gesture, but stared back at Jechesh. "What do you mean, he betrayed you?"

Jechesh drew in a deep breath, "You asked me when we first met, why I was heading south. It is because of your friend Kael that I left my people. He was the cause of that."

Rising slowly, Rehn turned away and fingered the leaves of a tall sapling. He attempted to laugh as he spoke, "I don't know how someone like Kael could do that." He turned quickly back to face Jechesh, "How could Kael have done something like that?"

Jechesh picked up a twig and seemed to be measuring his words. "Among the Cormant people, war has been a stranger for many centuries. Nations all around them have fought many battles, but they remain peaceful. For sixteen years, I have led them in the ways of the 'Ke' nei'."

"What is the kenay?" Rehn asked, "What is that?"

Jechesh rubbed the twig between his thumb and forefinger until the bark began to shred, "The Ke' nei is our Book of Teachings. They are the writings of things which we hold dear. When the Cormant people hold to those teachings, there is tranquility among them. When they do not, that is where my responsibility dwells. I administer justice according to the Ke' nei." He dropped the twig. Kael became a hindrance to that."

"Again I ask," Rehn said, "how? He only left our encampments half a year ago."

"Your friend came to us as a stranger about that long ago. It is said that he needed a place to live, a people to live with, as I was told. He lived among us and learned our ways. They are simple ways. He learned them well. He was well-liked and accepted readily among the people. He studied the Ke' nei. He was immersed in its teachings." Jechesh leaned forward with his arms resting on his knees, "And he studied the prophecy."

"Prophecy," Rehn seemed surprised, "In the Ke' nei?"

"Yes," said Jechesh. "The Ke' nei-ott is the prophecy of the Revived. He became obsessed with it."

"The revived?" Rehn asked, "You mentioned them once before. What about them? Who are they? What does the prophecy say?"

Jechesh marveled at the young man's memory. He could not even remember having raised the subject. "The prophecy is two-fold. It says; 'Woe to the peaceful who do not listen to the words spoken. In the wanderings of the peaceful, the king will reign; leading the Revived, the men of valor.' This prophecy became Kael's passion. He seemed obsessed with it. I took notice of him when news came to me that men within the ranks of the peaceful were being trained in warfare. I learned that Kael had formed a small group of followers--about twenty-five, who were training in the art of weaponry and warfare tactics. A council was convened a month later. By that time, the number of Kael's followers had grown to hundreds. He no longer worked among the people. He devoted himself solely to training those who followed him. When their numbers grew to the thousands, I bade him to stop until such time as I declared otherwise. He gave me no answer, save to continue to pursue his chosen course."

"What happened?"

"The number of his followers grew into the tens of thousands."

Rehn was stunned by the vision of Kael leading tens of thousands of warriors in training. He had never before seen his friend surrounded by more than two-hundred men. "Tell me more," he said. "What of the revived?"

Jechesh held up a hand and nodded, "The prophecy. The Cormant were not always a people blessed with peace. I said that for many centuries, we have not had war. The prophecy points to a day unknown at which time a king shall lead the Revived, the men of valor. The Revived are those men who become warriors as in the days of old. Before I 'left' the pavilions of my people, the fifty-thousand warriors trained by your friend were declared by clear mandate to be the Revived of the Ke' nei-ott. I would not declare this to be, and that proved to be troublesome to many. Kael began to be met with cheers among the people. Sayings about him became commonplace. Soon they called him the 'Nei-ott-se', which means; 'the leader of the prophesied writings'. He is not the Nei-ott-se'. I am the Nei-ott-se."

"You are the leader that the prophecy speaks of?" Rehn asked respectfully, "How do you know this?"

"Because Kael is not the king. I am King." The tone of Jechesh's voice changed as he stood, letting the blanket fall from his shoulders. He seemed not to notice. He could have been standing in the heat of a desert as he spoke, but his eyes never left Rehn's. "If these trained men are the Revived, and I think they very well could be, I must lead them, not your friend. The Ke' nei speaks in its writings about kingship, and a king must be Cormant to lead the Cormant. That means the Revived as well, as they are Cormant. I will not yield my throne to your friend in this. I must not. "

"Haven't you?" Rehn asked, seeing the change in Jechesh's countenance, "I am trying to understand. You left your kingdom. You were leaving it when I--- when we met."

"You don't understand! I must lead the Revived! The blood of Cormant kings runs through my veins! Not through the body of this---boy." The ferocity of Jechesh's whisper made it sound as if he were yelling. "I was not leaving my kingdom. I was riding south to find warriors to help me take my kingdom back. Your friend is misleading the people. I cannot allow that to happen."

Rehn knew he should not believe what he was hearing, but his heart felt drawn to the words of the nomad King, and it made him angry. It made him angry with Jechesh for telling him, and it made him angry with himself for believing it. "You should not have told me this," he said, looking away from Jechesh.

"I know that you don't want to believe this of your friend," Jechesh stepped forward once again and placed a hand on Rehn's shoulder, "but I speak the truth. I always thought that I, or another king would train the Revived. However the prophecy does not say who will do so. Only that the sitting king shall lead them. As we speak, their ways are being corrupted. I must rule them again."

"You said that Rehn is misleading your people. Tell me of that."

Jechesh paused. He seemed to be searching for the right words to say. "Your friend---Kael---teaches the Revived, the warriors of the just cause, to use the weapon of dishonor."

Rehn shook his head, "Weapon of dishonor? What weapon?"

"You carry one yourself." Jechesh turned and marched to Rehn's saddle and loosed the object from its perch and held it in disgust as far from himself as he could. "This. This is a dishonorable weapon for men to use against one another. Our teachings make this clear, and my feelings forbid it in every sense."

"The bow?" Rehn asked, trying to comprehend. "This---your Majesty, please help me to understand."

"This is not the weapon of a man who has understood honor, and the value of a human life," Rehn began to object, but Jechesh spoke over him. "When true men of valor, men who understand the whole of honor, meet on a field of battle and they pit themselves against one another in a struggle for their lives. It must be an honest test of skills. An honest test of the heart. One will walk away. One will not. Neither man need be ashamed that he has striven in such a struggle and could lose. But with this thing, one may kill without even seeing another man's face, let alone his eyes. Where is the honor in that, my friend?"

Rehn waited for a long time before he responded. "If all this is true, then why would you wish to return? Surely the numbers are against you, and if as you say Kael has trained archers, they will be more than able to stop you."

"There are ways around that," Jechesh said. He tossed the bow to Rehn and then turned and retrieved some arrows from the quiver and tossed them one-by-one to stab into the ground in front of the younger man's feet. "Impale me."

"What?" Rehn asked, incredulous."You want me to do what?"

"Do your worst. Impale me with a shaft."

"I can't do that!" Rehn said, exasperated.

"Keep your voice down, lad!" Jechesh said, and walked to the other side of the clearing, forty feet away. "Impale me if you can."

Rehn dropped the bow at his feet. "I won't."

"You will!" Jechesh challenged. "Do it!"

Rehn picked up the bow and nocked an arrow. He raised it slowly and aimed slightly to Jechesh's left.

"Let it go, boy."

Rehn pulled half-heartedly on the bowstring and let the arrow loose. It lugged forward at the same moment that Jechesh stepped into its path and grabbed it from the air in front of his chest. "Is that all the strength you have, my son? I have heard fearsome stories of the skill with which the warriors of the Woodland Realm wield the bow. If this is all the better they can do..." He tossed the arrow to the ground. "Try again."

Rehn felt a slight surge of pride as he nocked a second arrow and drew the bowstring back further and let another arrow loose. This time, the arrow found its mark, or would have, had not Jechesh suddenly twisted his body to one side. Rehn drew another arrow back leveled the bow, only to discover that his target had disappeared from sight. His eyes searched back and forth in front of him, but revealed nothing to him. He lowered the bow and walked forward, crossing the clearing. He reached the other side and stood staring, slowly turning a circle in search of the other man.

Suddenly, he felt a cold sensation on the bottom of his chin. He tilted his chin upward, away from the blade. Jechesh held it to his skin for only a moment longer before stepping completely from his hiding place behind a tree. Rehn twisted suddenly away and reached for the blade hand. Jechesh twisted with him, and quickly, Rehn felt his priorities change. He desperately felt a need to stay upright. It was at that point that Jechesh applied a firm hand to his chest and sent him to the ground. He looked up at the older man. He saw something in the eyes that he had not seen before. There was a coolness there, and he felt the need to retreat from it. He scrambled to his feet and tried to move to a safer distance, but he was set upon again. Once more his priority changed. Jechesh was holding his wrist and elbow, twisting them in a circular motion toward the ground. A growing pain in his arm made it clear that he must either fall to his face on the ground or have his arm broken. He chose the ground, and met it with a resounding impact. Jechesh stepped back and let his arms rest at his side. His face remained passive.

After a few moments, Jechesh stepped toward a very surprised Rehn, gave him a hand up and brushed the dirt from his cloak. "There are ways around many things."

"Is this what you would do to Kael?" Rehn asked.

"I won't lie to you my son," Jechesh stated plainly, "If I have to I will kill your friend, rather than see my people dishonor themselves with him as their leader, but I hope it will not come to that."

"You would kill him?" Rehn asked, incredulous. "You would take his life, and you tell me this?"

"It is not what I want Rehn," Jechesh said grimly, "I wish to appeal to his sense of reason. You can help me do that."

"I don't understand," Rehn said.

"Before, I thought there would be only one way to regain my kingdom," Jechesh said. "I would hire warriors on promise, to engage the Revived and defeat and kill Kael. I could see no other way. But you have come to me as a gift, Rehn. Do you not see? Before we met, my hope was slight. Now, I hope again. You can get me close to Kael. You are the only one who can help me do that. Will you do it?"

Rehn....considered.

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His Word is... sharper than any two-edged sword.