Chapter 4: Stopping a Foul Plan

                                    

                                              
        
                          
"By the stars!" Perth said.  "I didn't expect my uncle to walk away without a fight."
                          
He sprawled on the ground and drank from the wineskin that Leeze had dropped when Perth's uncle Cresin am Sorca and his two retainers appeared with drawn swords.

                          
Leeze accepted the offered wineskin, drank, and handed it back to Perth before joining him on the ground.
                          
"Does this change our route so we don't cross paths with him again?" she said.
                          
Perth shook his head.  "We need to get to Machal quickly in case my uncle decides to attack it.  Any other routes would take much longer."
                          
He gestured to their horses and they both mounted.
                          
The rest of the sun cycle they rode as if chased by an avenging army, galloping miles before taking brief stops for their horses and themselves to catch their breaths.   The pace at which they rode prevented any conversation, and during the stops they were too rushed with seeking toilet facilities and tending the horses.
                          
As the sun dipped to the horizon, Perth motioned toward a large cairn rising off to their right.  "We can hobble the horses behind it and they'll be hidden from the road, which is too hazardous for the horses at night."
                          
Leeze followed Perth, grateful for being released from the saddle.  She walked with a slight limp after she had slid down from her horse and grabbed her saddlebag.
                          
"No fire," Perth said when Leeze returned from finding an appropriate toilet spot.
                          
Leeze unrolled her hooded cloak that she had removed during the warm part of the sun cycle.  Now she spread it on the ground next to her saddlebag.
                          
Perth handed her another hunk of cheese and bread.
                          
"I see the cook knows only one meal," she said.
                          
He laughed and passed her the wineskin.  "Tell me about Holden," he said.     
                          
"It's small and we don't have the coin necessary to produce as much sustenance as we need.  It would probably serve best as a hunting lodge for some aristo."
                          
"Have you thought of selling?"
                          
"And do what?  I have not the training to earn enough coin to support my mother, myself, and our two helpers, whose life's support I pledged my father."
                          
Perth tapped his fingers against the wineskin.  "Would you consider a trade?  Land for land?"
                          
"Whatever can you mean?"
                          
More tapping before he answered.  "Is Holden special to you?  Has it been in your family for hundreds of star cycles?"
                          
"If you mean is it hereditary land that I hold dear – no."
                          
"There is an area of Machal that has been uncultivated for many star cycles and yet it is good land.  What if I, as Lord am Machal, deeded you the same allotment that Holden now has.  In return, you deeded Holden to me."
                          
"For what purpose?"
                          
"That I may deed Holden as a hunting lodge to my uncle."
                          
"As a boon?"
                          
"Something like that."
                          
Leeze searched Perth's face, trying to puzzle out this offer.
                          
"Surely you don't want me hanging around Machal.  One Dowager, whether old or young, must be enough."
                          
"You don't have to hang around Machal.  I'll help build living quarters on the land deeded to you.  But we can both benefit from this arrangement."