Author:
Kaleadora, Thorongil
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Date Posted: 07:52:28 05/26/05 Thu
Kalea came over the crest of the hill once more and startled at the sight of the man holding Dante, until she saw the eyes and recognized the unicorn. She smiled weakly and took Dante herself, and his head was heavy on her shoulder. The little horse and the unicorn - who smiled his quiet, eerie smile - waited for her to speak.
"The Silent Paw is called Trebor," she said, forgetting the creature's surname and so skipping it. "He offers us fire and food and protection. He is a great hunter, and his fires need no fuel, and he is very strong...we would be fools to pass up his offer. But there is something." She shifted uncomfortably. "My lord," she said at length, addressing the unicorn (who smiled again at the formality), "he says that the place you are leading us is dangerous. He implied a threat to our lives if we go there. Sir, I do not wish to put Dante in any danger."
The unicorn said nothing. He simply looked at her. Kaleadora had heard little about the dreams of unicorns - if she had heard anything about them in the tales she would never have questioned their guide's judgment. But she knew nothing, and so had to endure his gaze, and saw in the liquid black eyes a depth beyond nothing she had ever imagined, stars wheeling in distant galaxies and sluggish currents along ocean floors and secret whispers in the ferns as the breeze moves them. And in that moment, without being told, Kaleadora knew that she would never mistrust a unicorn.
"I am sorry," she whispered. "I will follow you. But you must convince my lord Trebor, he's fairly put out by the idea."
Thorongil would have smiled if his equine lips had permitted it. He walked forward and nuzzled the girl's hand and with a smile both surprised and pleased she stroked his velvet nose and the smooth muscles of his neck. "Alright," she said. "Dante needs to eat. Come sit by the fire."
The four of them went up over the hill and met Trebor lounging by his fire watching them with keen bright eyes. "My lord Trebor," Kalea said. "This is Dante, whom I have been charged to protect. And this is Thorongil of the...the Many-Color" (she was relieved to remember the name) "and the unicorn our guide, who has yet to give us a name. We will go where he takes us."
Thorongil stepped forward and bowed. Silent Paw fire-master, he signed. You honor us with your hospitality.
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