[Envinyatar]

The farewells between father and son were brief. Rhûnnaro stepped back from the verandah as the son embraced his father for the last time, and spoke low to him. The father nodded his head slowly, as Tenzin made his promises, then kissed him on each cheek and stepped back. Both their eyes were dry. The time for tears would be later, for each alone when time did not press in on them and privacy was afforded by more fortunate occasion.

Chokyi bid his son pack his bag and bedroll and make ready to go. ‘Leave us for a little while, son of my heart. There are things I need to speak of with Rhûnnaro.’ Tenzin bowed and withdrew, leaving the older men to their words.

‘I have no brother left in Rhûn. Only two sisters.’ He spoke their names to Rhûnnaro and the description of where they lived. Rhûnnaro in turn repeated the instructions word for word, until he had gotten them firmly set in his mind. ‘I will name you my spirit-brother,’ continued Chokyi. ‘You will be Tenzin’s father-uncle and look after him. I will look to you to represent him to your daughter.’

He sighed and winced a little as a brief spasm of pain gripped him. It eased as he readjusted himself in his chair. ‘He is an honorable young man, with many fine qualities. But then you will come to find that out as he travels with you.’ He reached across the table, to where Rhûnnaro sat once again, and clasped his wrist. ‘Bring him safe to the land of the wind-horses, my friend. Let him grow up a man of Rhûn, and not some stunted, half-man, such as these we find ourselves among.’ Rhûnnaro nodded his head ‘yes’, and clasped the other man’s hand tightly.

Tenzin returned, his bedroll secured to his bulging pack. At his belt hung a long-knife and a large pouch. He bent to kiss his father good-bye one last time. From round his neck, Chokyi took the slender cord that held the small, carved green stone pony. ‘Look for me in the Spring, my little falcon – when the wind ripples through the green tipped grasses on the high plains.’ He placed the necklace over his son’s head and tucked it beneath his shirt. Just over his heart it hung. ‘Listen closely, then, and I will whisper to you what I have learned since you left.’

He placed his hand over Tenzin’s heart then thrust up his chin, pointing to where Rhûnnaro now stood by the gate. ‘Leave, Tenzin. The serving girl will look after me.’ He waved his son on, murmuring under his breath. ‘Go now. Do not look back. I will be there before you.’

Rhûnnaro and Tenzin made their way quickly down the alleyway and back to the older man’s quarters. They loaded up Rhûnnaro’s horse and one he found for Tenzin’s use. The two large rolls of merchandise from Chokyi, wrapped in soft hides and tied with cords, were secured to Rhûnnaro’s horse, just behind the saddle.

‘I will call you simply, Boy, as we travel together. There is no need for anyone to know your true name. And you will call me only Rhûnnaro, and make no mention of your father.’ He mounted up, and bade Tenzin do so also. ‘You will be my servant. Keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouth shut, unless there is need to speak with me, and then only in private if you can. Act simple Let them jeer at you for your dull mind, if need be.’

He led the two of them out to where the Hunters were to gather. ‘They are nothing but ghosts, pass through them like a swift wind.’

Tenzin slumped in his saddle, head bowed down. He loosed his hair, and shook it round his head, so that it fell in unkempt tangles before his eyes. His mouth went slack, his expression dull. His gaze seemed fixed stupidly on the ground over which his horse trod. Yet from beneath the seeming riot of his hair, his sharp eyes took in all as they passed.