Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #14 May 2015 | Page 58

ignore the itch between my shoulder blades that tells me that the castle is watching. Waiting. planation. “Tor, at twelve summers, slew a wolf that was carrying off his father’s sheep. And has always worn its pelt, as trophy.” “The man in red eats his share and looks disappointed,” I start. *** “That much I know,” Phelan nods. “Is there any more sausage?” The man says. The Ferryman shakes his head. The boy, looks at the rump of the sausage in his hand and shrugs then holds it out to the man in red. The Ferryman frowns and is about to say something but the man in red shakes his head at the boy. “No I couldn’t possibly, you have it.” “Well when he came into his majority and Rufus died—” Alun continued. “Yes, bad business that,” Phelan interrupted. Padraig wondered why. He’d known of Rufus of course, the Righ of the Black Boar, dead three or four summers ago, a hunting accident, he’d heard. “Where was I? Oh yes, Phelan and Alun’s impromptu feast.” *** They ate their fill and, whilst lying back and reflecting on the day, the conversation lulled. Alun and Phelan had spoken of many things, the state of the ways and the waystations upon them. Gossip from the court of the White Hart. Stories of people who Padraig didn’t know. He grew bored and found his eyes drifting more and more to Andarta. Who in turn, seemed to not be paying attention to the conversation, instead alertly scanning the hills around them. “…and that’s when she said –‘That’s not a pig, that’s my husband!’” Alun finished the ribald story he was telling and chuckled as Phelan guffawed. “So, what’s your story?” Alun asked, and Phelan spoke of the forthcoming new Ard Righ. “Cai is weak; his brother Tor has the ear of Columbarius, the true power in the Black Boar,” Alun opined. “Columbarius is a powerful druid to be sure, but he will bend his knee to the Ard Righ, just like the rest of us,” Phelan said, unruffled. “Anyway Cai is no warrior, Tor was given charge of the fighting men. They have taken the wolf as a banner. It is said that Tor has an elite unit, the Wolf Brethren. To enter it, you must hunt and kill a wolf with your bare hands.” Alun said. “I have heard tell that the Wolf Brothers are formidable foes, dressed in wolf pelts, scornful of hurts, rabid in a fight,” Andarta said. Padraig, surprised, turned to look at her; she was facing away from them, still alert to any approaching danger. On guard. “Quite so,” Alun replied grimly. “So Cai will bring his brother and their lupine friends to Malvin’s holding. We’ll just have to make sure they don’t grow bored and cause trouble,” Phelan said. “Tor i