Free Broken World Book Three - A Land Without Law by T C Southwell

a silent tune, pointing and
flicking. Flashes of fire exploded amongst the Arrad, making them
leap and yell as they swatted scorched chests and legs. Some, who
were too proud to accept defeat at the hands of a hated Mujar, drew
knives with which to slay their erstwhile steeds. Chanter's hand
twitched and the knives became red hot, forcing the warriors to
drop them with startled yells. With parting kicks and curses at the
recumbent animals and the irritating Mujar, the Arrad abandoned
their horses and ran. Chanter speeded their retreat with flashes of
fire until they had vanished into the trees.
    Talsy turned
to him. "Thank you, Chanter."
    He cocked his
head, looking puzzled.
    "Gratitude,"
she explained.
    He smiled.
"Wish."
    Startled, she
nodded. "Wish."
    "Don't run off
and get into trouble when I can't keep up."
    Her eyes
dropped to his crippled arm, and she bit her lip in remorse.
"Regret."
    He inclined
his head. "Obedience."
    She nodded
again, bowed under a mountain of shame. He had every right to be
angry with her, but, in true Mujar fashion, he regarded her only
with sadness and disappointment.
    "You had to
run all the way here?" she asked.
    "Yes. A fair
distance it is, too. It seems that I only just made it in time. You
were about to be fried, I think."
    Talsy flung
her arms around him and pressed her cheek to the side of his neck
where sweat as pure as spring water ran down his skin.
    "What's
wrong?" He sounded confused.
    "Nothing." She
shook her head. "I'm just so glad that you're my friend, and I'm
sorry I keep disappointing you."
    "I'm not
disappointed. I don't understand you, but how can I be disappointed
in the First Chosen, who would lay down her life for mine, and
tried to? I haven't forgotten, my little clan, that you were
prepared to die for me. That is the greatest sacrifice a Trueman
can make, I think. In turn, I would go to a Pit for your life, if I
had to make that choice. But if you rush headlong into danger when
I'm not around to protect you, I do find it alarming."
    "Alarming,"
she echoed with a smile, leaning back to look up at him. "You have
an odd way of saying things, Mujar. Is this your way of trying to
tell me how you feel about me?"
    "Feel?" He
looked puzzled. "I care for you, nothing more."
    Her heart
swelled with joy. "Really?" She looked away as her cheeks grew
warm. "We must talk about that. Were you really afraid for me?"
    Chanter
smiled. "I could have controlled the wizard's fire from further
away, but he was using so little of it that I wasn't sure what was
going on. That's the only worry I had, with only the Dolana to tell
me how great your danger was. According to that, you weren't in
mortal danger, or I'd have stopped him sooner. There is a lesson to
be learnt today for you and Kieran."
    Talsy released
him to glance down at the Prince with a shudder. The holes in
Kieran's burnt clothes revealed areas of blistered skin, but he
remained asleep. She beckoned to the Aggapae who stood in the
gate.
    "Bring water,"
she called, and Jesher trotted towards them, pulling a water skin
from his belt.
    The Mujar
knelt beside Kieran, took the water skin she handed him and poured
water over the Prince. The manifestation of Shissar made the
Aggapae gasp in awe and surprise, and Chanter laid his hands on
Kieran. A minute later Kieran sat up, shook his head and blinked in
confusion at his unblemished skin. Chanter tended to Talsy's wound,
then Jorn's, who cringed from him and beat a hasty retreat when the
Mujar finished.
    Chanter turned
to the slumbering horses and bowed his head, closing his eyes. When
he opened them and looked up, the beasts woke and heaved themselves
to their feet. They came to greet the Mujar with soft wickers of
joy, and Chanter divested each of its saddle and bridle, sending it
through the gate with a silent command. The Aggapae stroked the
horses as they passed them on their way into the valley, murmuring
soft words of greeting and comfort. When the last horse entered the
valley,