Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #19 October 2015 | Page 43
“The brothers squabble over their father’s
lands.” Donnal doesn’t seem inclined to order an attack, but Andarta doesn’t relax.
Padraig looked like he expected more. Andarta sighed. “They looked like they were up to no good.
I have information for your father.” She turned on
her heels and marched towards the holding, Padraig
rushed to catch up.
“What’s that got to do with you?”
Donnal shrugged. “Nothing. Just that the lands
round here are dangerous.”
***
The man in red stopped. When it was obvious
that it wasn’t a dramatic pause the boy piped up, “Then
what happened?”
There was a pause. No-one seemed to know
what to say. The two sides eyed each other.
“So what’s your suggestion? My father wants
me to bring our friend here back to the Holding. Will
you join us?” Padraig moved to stand next to Andarta;
she didn’t drop her ready stance.
“We are almost there,” he said to the Ferryman.
The Ferryman nodded.
“I won’t be able to finish my tale.”
“Well, we were thinking of just quietly leaving.”
Donnal said, making no move to leave.
The Ferryman shrugged. The boy looked from
one to the other with a hangdog expression.
“Let’s just back off?” Padraig whispered out of
the side of his mouth.
“I can give him an apprenticeship.” The man
turned and squinted at the boy. “If you’re of a mind.”
The Ferryman stopped rowing and also looked
at the boy.
Andarta shrugged and narrowed her eyes.
When Padraig started to edge backwards, she
followed. The men from the north didn’t seem inclined
to follow.
“Tell your father that we will see him at Malvin’s Holding.” Donnal called.
They backed away further. When they had
reached a certain distance Donnal barked an order,
and the northmen turned and headed off.
“I don’t understand what just happened.” Andarta said once they were out of earshot.
“Why were they chasing you?” Padraig asked.
“He is dear to me,” he said.
“But also a burden?”
The boy’s head followed the conversation, nodding in one direction, then the next.
“But one I gladly carry.”
“He’s of an age. When do Ferrymen apprentice?” The man in red asked.
The Ferryman shrugged again. “After puberty.”
“Because I was spying on them, and they saw
me.”
“Spying?”
“I could take him now. You could earn a lot
more without him. I need to teach someone the stories,
and, besides… ” The man in red trailed off. He was
staring at the castle.
“Spying.”
43
“The boy would not help you with Him,” the