* * * * *
Tahir hadn’t been training long when they received word that men from the north were attacking a small village to the west. He immediately stopped what he was doing and jumped on Oraden’s back with his bow and arrows.
“Halt!” Gavin shouted, chasing after them. But the drink in his belly sloshed heavily and quickly winded him. “You don’t have any armour, you bloody fool!”
Tahir heard his warning, but didn’t want to waste time going back; he didn’t own any armor anyway. The soldiers and knights armored themselves and gathered their weapons, but Tahir was already long gone. They bolted through the forest under the shroud of invisibility; the only sign of their presence was the sound of sticks being crushed under Oraden’s cloven hooves and the rapid breath through his flaring nostrils. Within minutes they arrived at the small farming community that provided much of the food for the castle and the nearby towns with which they bartered. There were some soldiers stationed there, but not enough to defeat an invading army.
Remaining unseen, Tahir let go of Oraden’s mane and squeezed his legs as he readied his bow. As soon as he was within range, he fired. The foreign soldier dropped. Of course, no one knew where the arrow came from, or the arrows that followed. One by one, the men from the north fell. As they galloped closer, Tahir abandoned his bow for his sword. He gripped Oraden’s mane when the unicorn reared and stomped and kicked the attackers; Tahir slashed, snatching weapons from their hands as he rode by.
The Norsemen panicked, fearing spirits protected the village. They stumbled over each other to escape the invisible attackers. The battle lasted but a few minutes before the Norsemen retreated, fearing they must have angered the gods. The townspeople cheered; the saints had intervened and protected them from the heathens of the north. They threw stones as the terrified Norsemen ran for their lives.
The cavalry showed up just in time to see Tahir and Oraden become visible again. No one knew how to react to such magic. He saved their lives, but from where did his power come? Magic was supposedly the work of the devil, but he fought for the king’s people. He must be good, they thought. After a moment’s hesitation, they swarmed him, cheering and asking hundreds of questions, and admiring Oraden. Tahir beamed and stuck out his chest.
His first victory was most certainly not to be his last. Life in England was hard; they were constantly under attack from competing kingdoms and countries. He accompanied the knights into battle, typically lending his arm to the longbow men, but also helping the knight’s suit up and preparing their horses. He occasionally got caught up in melee, fighting with cheap or worn armor and weapons; the high quality weaponry reserved only for knights. Not that he needed it: most found it difficult to attack someone who couldn’t be seen.
In time, Tahir and Oraden became as battle-hardened as the others. Despite the violence, he kept his sense of adventure and child-like interest in the world. He enjoyed talking to the townspeople, eager to learn about them and fit into their society. Unlike his brothers-in-arms, who spent their free time in taverns or brothels, Tahir studied. He absorbed the knowledge preserved in books, and that which could be gleaned from exploring the natural world. He learned about the common animals of England. When he and Meelix studied the plants, they were able to modify gnome dishes by substituting ingredients native to England. They unsuccessfully searched for magical forests like Elysi.
His favorite pastime though, was finding excuses to be with Destiny. He often volunteered to guard the castle so he could watch as she oversaw food preparations, or studied in the library, or walked to the chapel. Whenever possible, he positioned himself in a location she would frequent. For her part, she found excuses to walk past his post often. She would smile and hold his gaze until she could do so no longer without walking backwards. Whenever she needed the assistance of a strong arm, and sometimes even if she didn’t, Tahir was her arm of choice, even if she had to pass dozens of other guards and servants on her way to find him. Every task given to him, no matter how difficult or trivial; he treated with the utmost importance.
He smiled as he remembered the time she walked halfway around the castle to ask him to retrieve a kettle that was just barely out of her reach. She smiled up at him as he shook his head and handed her the kettle. There was always something just a little too high, or a little too heavy.
The guard scheduled to relieve him of his post startled Tahir from his daydreaming. He left the castle and headed toward his home in the forest. It was not yet dark, but the sun hung low in the sky. He sang to himself as he walked through the courtyard.
Gavin was in the tavern, as usual, when he spotted Tahir passing by. He grabbed his drink and staggered outside, yelling, “Tahir!” He steadied himself against the door frame and called, “Come have a talk with me.”
Tahir sighed. Although he appreciated everything Gavin was doing for him, he still loathed these conversations with him. He reeked of ale, was loud and obnoxious, and made a habit of hitting or pushing him. He just didn’t understand Gavin. There were many knights just like him, but Gavin seemed more annoying than the rest. Perhaps it was because he was the one Tahir was bound to. He watched the drunkard stagger to a wooden bench and plop down, motioning for Tahir to join him. He prepared himself for the punches he would assuredly receive and obeyed.
“That’s a good lad,” he began slapping Tahir’s leg. “You’ve done quite well for yourself. No doubt thanks to my training!” he laughed and shook Tahir by the shoulder.
“Thank you,” Tahir said, trying to straighten up.
“Aye.” he took a swig from his mug. “And King Robert is pleased with your hard work. Earning yourself quite the name, aren’t you? And Lady Destiny, she certainly seems to fancy you. Beautiful, isn’t she?”
Tahir shifted in his seat.
“No need to be embarrassed, lad. I would think there was something wrong with you if you didn’t agree!”
“Yes, she is,” he agreed, unable to hide his grin.
“Good! So you do have eyes! Then why don’t you see that King Robert is searching for a suitable husband for her? Remember what happened to me with Grace? Learn from the mistakes of others, lad. Don’t be such a bloody fool.” Gavin slapped him hard on the back of the head.
“But you said she fancies me. I haven’t done anything inappropriate.”
“It doesn’t matter who she fancies. England is in turmoil; enemies surround us. With the right marriage, we could gain the favour of other kingdoms. We need all the allies we can get!”
“The King would marry off his own daughter for martial gain?”
“Of course! What better offering than a beautiful wife?”
“In Elysi, the female unicorns choose their mates after the males prove their strength. And the sprites and gnomes marry for happiness, love and companionship.”
“Then marry an elf!” He burst into laughter and punched Tahir in his arm, practically knocking him off the bench. “You are a funny one! You don’t live in fairyland anymore, lad! Gnomes and unicorns…no wonder she likes you!”
Tahir stared at the ground and rubbed his throbbing shoulder.
“Bah! Don’t be melancholy. Your looks and courage have caught the eye of many a fair damsel. Forget Destiny, I’ll introduce you to women who have been asking about you. Come with me!”
“No thanks Gavin. I need to be going. Oraden is expecting me.” He rose from the bench.
“Come now, it’ll be fun!” Gavin chugged the last of his ale. Even through his bloodshot eyes he could see that Tahir was troubled. “Never mind me. Have hope, lad. It’s not impossible for a man of lower class to win the arm of royalty. It’s uncommon, but it has happened. I’m afraid time is against you. Grace had been married for years by the time she was Destiny’s age. I do not understand why His Majesty delays, but maybe his hesitancy will be to your benefit.”
Tahir nodded and lifted a hand in farewell. He remained lost in his somber thoughts all the way home. He found Oraden grazing and Meelix
practicing his swordsmanship. They quickly picked up on his foul mood and let him be.
The woods were so quiet in England. In Elysi, there was always singing or laughing or storytelling. Here there was nothing but the sounds of insects and the occasional shout from the castle. Tahir grew tired of the silence and sang to himself as he heated water and filled his wooden barrel for a bath. Oraden grazed nearby, enjoying the song while Meelix filled in with harmony.
“Do you ever miss Elysi, Tahir?” Oraden asked when they finished their song.
“Sometimes, but I haven’t really thought much about it. I’ve been so busy here.”
“I definitely miss having people the same size as me,” Meelix said as he swung his stick-sword, trying to perfect his form. “I think one day my head is going to get stuck looking up.”
Tahir chuckled as he picked up a large bowl and filled it with water.
“There you go, Meelix. Maybe a hot bath will relax your neck.”
“I hope we meet some real giants someday, and then you’ll see how you like it,” he snapped, throwing down his stick and stripping off his clothes.
Tahir undressed and got in his tub. He inhaled the rising steam, hoping to clear his mind. He knew Gavin was right, but he didn’t want to worry about it right now. Right now, life was good. He’d figure out what to do about Destiny later.
“Perfect. I get left out again,” Oraden snorted. “What’s so great about these baths anyway?” he trotted over to Tahir’s tub and reared up, trying to get his legs in.
“Stop it, Oraden!” Tahir shouted, trying to push Oraden away.
The unicorn rammed the barrel, trying to tip it over. Meelix screamed with laughter.
“Dump him out, Oraden!” the gnome cheered from the safety of his own bath. Tahir swatted at Oraden and gripped the sides of the barrel as the water splashed his face.
“You want to know about baths?” he grabbed Oraden by the horn and dunked his face into the hot water.
The unicorn choked and gagged. He jerked free and kicked the barrel before stomping away. When he turned back to face Tahir, his wet bangs were plastered over his eyes. He snorted and shook them loose. Then he galloped toward the barrel and leapt, intentionally clearing it just enough to force Tahir to duck his head under the water.
“That’s it!” Tahir scrambled out of the barrel and chased after Oraden. Meelix laughed hysterically at the sight of the naked human running through the woods trying to tackle a unicorn.
Destiny’s giggle stopped them dead in their tracks. She smiled mischievously as she approached them.
“Destiny!” Tahir jumped behind Oraden, who laughed and repeatedly faked running off as Tahir darted in unison, trying to keep his nakedness hidden. Meelix squealed and grabbed the closest article of clothing and pulled it into the bowl to cover himself.
“You can’t…how long have you been watching?” Tahir stammered.
Destiny continued her approach, never taking her eyes off him. He danced around Oraden as she tried to peek over the unicorn’s back.
“Inappropriate! This is not your place! Go back to the castle!”
“Who are you to tell me where I can and cannot go? This is my kingdom, my forest. I was just on a leisurely walk and happened upon you.”
“I’m serious!” he yelled, desperately trying to conceal his dignity.
“Alright, alright. Get dressed. I promise not to look.” she turned her back to them but positioned herself to be able to peek a little as he and Meelix quickly put their clothes on.
“Destiny, you have to stop doing things like that,” he scolded, grabbing her arm and turning her to face him. Her eyes traveled down his partially covered chest. His robe was haphazardly thrown about him, revealing an unusual amulet or talisman hanging from a long cord around his neck. It was tarnished and had an antiquated appearance; it may have been forged from some sort of precious metal. Her brow furrowed as she tried to make out the markings. It was not English, nor Latin, but a script she did not recognize. Yet, it seemed familiar somehow. Tahir led her farther away for privacy, oblivious to her fascination with the talisman.
“I mean it, Destiny, you have to stop this.”
“Stop what?” she responded, faking innocence. “I told you I was just out for a stroll. You shouldn’t be running through the woods if you aren’t decent,” she reached into his robe, the back of her hand grazed his chest causing his muscles to quiver as she lifted the talisman to examine it. Her fingertips traced the intricate engravings. “Tell me, where did you get this talisman?”
“Are you even paying attention to me?” he asked, taking it from her hand and wrapping his robe tighter. “I’ve had it my whole life. My father gave it to me, but that’s not important right now. What are you doing here? You know, as well as I, that your father would not approve of you spending so much time out here with me.”
“You were not so concerned with gaining my father’s approval yesterday. Is pleasing him more important than pleasing me? What has changed you? Is it that wench, the seamstress’ daughter?” her eyes narrowed into slits. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you. I should have her eyes cut out.”
“What? Cut out her eyes? No! What is wrong with you? I swore loyalty to your father, to abide by his laws. I cannot jeopardize my honor.”
“Your honour?” she turned away from him in disgust. “Ugh, you are turning into one of them. I thought you were different; I should have known. Is that all that matters to you? Your rank in my father’s army? A sword is more important than I am?”
“What would you have me do?” his tone softened, but when he touched her she still pulled away. “When your father decides, you will be forced to marry. What matters to me is irrelevant. Go back to the castle; find yourself a suitable husband.”
She glared at him and then stormed toward the castle without so much as a glance back. Tahir watched until she was out of sight. He sighed and kicked at the leaves and twigs before climbing up to his tree house for the night.