Free 17878265 by David

discuss his overnight foray later, while he listened. He was looking forward to that about as eagerly as he was his coming workday. His head was throbbing, and he was stiff from cold. In-between the pounding beats inside his skull, images of the previous night played themselves out. He saw the trapdoor and the secret beneath it....
    Taggert announcing the betrothal of Belinda and Barag.... his decision to leave Taeglin.... the stranger.... Loric sat up with his head in his hands, wondering, Did I dream the stranger into being?
    Loric checked his pocket for coins. He had not spent one. The stranger was real, he decided.
    That meant his father had much to explain to him, and yet, this was not the day to question him.
    Barag and Belinda danced through his head, just as they had bounded across the floor of Taggert’s Pub last night, smiling and laughing. I will suffer through this day to have my answers on the morrow, Loric thought. He shook his head. I must leave here. I cannot stay another day.
    My dear father can keep his secrets hidden behind his oath to mother. I will find my answers on my own, as I have thus far. Loric rose and began moving at a breathless pace that nearly caused him to topple over, with his spinning head leading the way down. He tossed a saddle across Sunset’s back and clumsily worked the straps, whispering, “I know where I must go to learn the truth. I have wanted to go there all along.”
    Sunset let off a low rumble in reply.
    “Wait here, boy,” Loric commanded him.
    He received another light whicker in return.
    Loric went to the stall with the trapdoor and swept the hay aside. He poked his hand into the hole and wrenched the panel wide. He was down the ladder before the door slapped the planks above him.
    Loric paused before the chest and murmured, “I pray your pardon, father, but I must borrow your tools of war. Forgive my wrongdoing.”
    Loric’s mind was a blur as he withdrew the decorative sword from the chest and set it aside, having no recollection of opening the lid to the ironbound box. Loric laid the red-lacquered shield and the red-plumed helmet on the floor beside the diamond-pommel sword. When he came to the shirt of chain rings, he slipped it on. It hung loose about him until he pulled the red surcoat over it and belted the sword about his waist. That felt good. Loric thumped the silhouette of the knight on his chest two times and wished, “Keep me safe on the road ahead.” He slung the shield across his back and plucked the silver helmet from the floor. Afterwards, he sprang up the ladder, eager to be gone.
    Loric was pleased to find a plate with half-dozen apples, a large wedge of cheese and a loaf of bread resting on a shelf. There was a water skin hanging next to it. That was probably breakfast for him and lunch for him and his father to share. Loric tossed the lot into one saddlebag and rolled a spare cloak from its peg to stuff into the other. He hung the bags over Sunset’s flanks and murmured, “We’re in for an exciting trip, my friend. It will be good to have you as company.”
    The horse snorted and tossed its head, playfully nuzzling Loric’s hand.
    “Well, we need to leave before Da comes to stop us,” Loric said quietly, to nudge his stationary limbs to action. “What do you say we get going?” he asked.
    Sunset brayed nervously.
    “Com’n, boy,” Loric urged the red stallion.
    Loric looked at the lower field, where his father was hard about his labor. He hated leaving without saying goodbye, but his Da would talk him out of his decision, otherwise. He would not risk another argument, especially one that was sure to lead him to bitterness and resentment. A pang of guilt stabbed at him, but he hardened his heart against his father’s wishes. It was past time for him to go.
    He stepped into the early morning sun, pulling the fiery red stallion along behind him. Its hooves gently tapped its lazy gait against the hard-packed earthen path. Loric made his