Return to Kinthaldith

Return to Kinthaldith: Chapter 28

Jesh stared back at him. He had no intention of doing it in front of Lord Darrish.

Risser watched them. "Release his hands, and let him go behind a bush." He looked annoyed and turned back to the cooking. Darrish looked disappointed but came over and unlocked him.

"I don't trust him," said Darrish.

Ferrell came and pulled Jesh's cloak off. "There, he won't run off now." He grinned.

Jesh shivered as he followed Darrish just a little ways down the hill toward the river. "There's some bushes." Darrish gestured to some nearby bushes, which were not terribly private but better than nothing. Jesh went down there. Darrish turned and left him alone for a minute.

When Jesh was finished, he looked back toward camp. No one was looking at him. The wind chilled him, but Jesh took a deep breath and ran.

He had no idea what he planned to do; he just wanted to escape. A moment later, a gunshot rang out. Jesh dived to the ground for cover, not hit.

Jesh heard cursing and a brief, unintelligible argument. He jumped up and began running again with all his might toward the stream.

He could hear the sounds of pursuit. It was crazy, but Jesh felt desperate. Someone was gaining on Jesh quickly, so he tried to run faster but tripped and fell. He got up and kept running but lost even more of his advantage. The sounds of running feet got closer and closer. There was no escape. Again, Jesh had made a mistake for which he'd be punished.

Ahead, he saw a sturdy branch as long as his arm, and he stopped and picked it up. He whirled to face his pursuer—it was Risser, who came up on him quickly and stopped.

"Why won't you listen to me?" shouted Jesh. "If you kill me, the Prenth will invade! There won't be a Hasson anymore! You won't be a lord."

Risser stared at him stubbornly. His face was unreadable.

Despair overcame Jesh, followed by anger. "What do I care? Go to hell, then! The Prenth can have you. I'm through trying to save you--you're not worth it! The Prenth were right--you're nothing but barbarians! Your father was a great man; he understood the future. But you are nothing! You aren't fit to rule the Hasson. Your friends are idiots, and so are you!" yelled Jesh.

Risser's eyes burned with rage, and he drew his sword. Terrified, Jesh held up the stick, ready to defend himself as Risser had taught. Risser lunged at Jesh, and he managed to parry it. Unlike in their practice, Risser recovered quickly and attacked again. This time, it was harder to deflect, and the force of it knocked Jesh off balance, and he nearly fell.

Risser attacked again before Jesh recovered his balance. When he saw it was too late, he fell down and rolled, just missing the blow. Before Jesh could get up, Risser stood towering over him. Jesh scrambled to rise, but Risser kicked the branch from his hand. Jesh was halfway to his feet when Risser grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against a tree. Jesh tried to break the stranglehold but couldn't.

"How dare you?" breathed Risser.

Jesh realized that Risser's groin was unprotected and brought his knee up hard into it. It wasn't a trick Risser had taught him--he'd learned that on Prent. Immediately, Risser let go of him and doubled over on the ground. Jesh kicked him hard in the face. "I can't let you kill me!" said Jesh and ran.

Soon, Jesh reached the river and splashed into the cold water, following it downstream. Jesh remembered that this was how Risser had traveled when trying to lose their trail from pursuers. He hoped it would work now.

This time, he wouldn't head back for the Hasson--he would head for the island of Fallonhaiven, where the Council of Lords met. In five weeks, Llatt would return there, and Jesh would meet him, leave this godforsaken planet, and never return. He had no money or food, so he'd steal--do whatever he had to.