March 18th Day One of the Festival – 3:00 pm
Sunny met Tully by the trail that led out to the pastures where various horse traders had their animals penned. There were a lot of men and women strolling up and down the fence lines examining the horses that were for sale. Tully was immediately recognized and had many traders greeting him and trying to urge him to come and examine their animals.
"If you're planning on staying, you're going to need a mount," Tully told her as he rejoined her on the trail.
"Does everyone know you're on the hunt for a horse for me?" Sunny asked as she linked arms with the blacksmith.
Tully patted her hand. "Fiona asked me to scout out a nice pony for you."
They paused for a moment and looked at a group of Vanner horses. Sunny spotted a grey-dappled horse and pointed it out to Tully. "She's nice looking."
"Burke Brothers," Tully answered. He waved to one of the men standing in a cluster nearby and he broke into a trot. He came over to the fence and draped his arms over the top of the rail.
"Tully, you in the market?"
"I am looking at all options, Caleb," Tully responded. "That snowflake mare over there, is she available?"
Caleb glanced over his shoulder to the mare in question. "Aye, she's been of keen interest to several of the boys from Badger and Thornfield clans."
"I understand," Tully commented neutrally. He nodded over to Sunny, "I'm scouting for an animal for Siobhan O'Neil. The Dannan wants her to have a mount."
Caleb smiled, nodding to Sunny. "Aye, I understand." He took a small notepad from his shirt pocket, touched the end of his stubby pencil to his tongue, and wrote something on it. Then with a deft jerk, pulled the paper free and handed it to Tully.
Tully didn't examine the note paper, he only smiled pleasantly and stuffed it into his shirt pocket. "I'll pass by a bit later."
Caleb nodded, raised his hand in a farewell salute, and rejoined his group under the oak tree.
Sunny and Tully turned and strolled away. "Was that a negotiation?"
"It was," Tully replied. "But he wants far more than what I think that mare is worth."
"So, now the dickering starts?" Sunny guessed.
"Of sorts," Tully replied. "But I won't dicker long with Caleb or the Burke's. They sell a lot of fine animals, but they also ask for high prices. They're used to dealing with outsiders. You will see quite a few outsiders here during the open sell."
"And the real haggle comes later," Sunny replied. "After the outsiders have gotten their horses."
"Aye," Tully replied. "The Burke Brothers haven't staked out their prime animals yet. Do not misunderstand, these are all fine animals, but the real treasures are still at the camp. They come in later."
"I see," Sunny said, "So there's already been some scouting at the camps to look at the real merchandise. Some haggling, some wheeling and dealing."
Tully chuckled softly, "Aye my girl!"
"When does Hugh come and pick up Orion from Nicodemus?" Sunny asked.
"Sometime soon, I expect," Tully said. "I hope things go well there. Trying to get that beastie into an enclosed space will be a feat in itself."
"You don't think Orion will submit?" Sunny asked. "It's for his safety as I understand. And it's been explained, hasn't it?"
Tully angled a look over at the young woman. "You do not exactly explain these things to a Pookah. They are not the most rational thinking creatures on either side of the arch."
Sunny chuckled softly. "A horse trailer probably looks a lot like a prison."
Tully sighed heavily. "I know Nico brought him over to be safe, but I do not think it was a good idea to send him to an outsider."
"Even Hugh?" Sunny asked. "Don't you like Hugh?"
"I do!" Tully declared, "Hugh is a wonderful young man. He has been through a lot. I admire him for what he is trying to do. But he does not know anything about our world. It is that way for our safety and his --more than anything, it is for his safety."
Sunny nodded sadly, "He could never know either,"
"No," Tully said. He turned and faced her with serious eyes that held a fierceness in their depths that she had only glimpsed a few times since she had met him. "He should never know. No matter how much you grow to care for him."
She nodded. "I understand, Tully."
They made their entire circuit through the pasture where the horses were staked out. Tully pulled all the many slips of paper he had collected and began sorting through them. He tucked four slips back into his shirt pocket, folded the others, and put them into his pants pocket. "Shall we go and watch the races?"
"Yes!" Sunny cheered. "Who are the favorites?"
"Well, the favorites are of course the boys from the Dannan clan and a few from the Badger clan. My money is on the Dannan boys."
"They've been tearing up the roads," There was a voice from behind them. "But my two are mighty good!"
It was Oran Bishop. He was in a jovial mood despite the Lightrock affair. Tully chuckled good-naturedly. "You sound in a betting mood, Oran!"
"And you sound like you're open to losing a few coins to my Badger boys?" Oran returned with a rumbling chortle.
Sunny waited until the men had exchanged their wagers with one another. As she stood there, there was a rustle in the trees overhead. She glanced up and spotted the activity going on. There were Watchers and other doer Nemed gathering up to watch the races as well. Whatever their wagering going on, they all seemed to be more intent on what was going on the racing track. Tully rejoined her with a smug smile on his face, "The side bets are the best!" he cheered.
Sunny shook her head in dismay, "What would Aunt Fiona say?"
"She'll be laying a few coins on the race too, to be sure!" Tully declared. "It is tradition!"
Sunny found Fiona sitting up in the wooden stands near the starting line. There were many from the clans in the wooden stands as well as outsiders who were taking part in the public festival. There were several entries for various races with the winners of each race participating in the last race for best rider.
Tully scanned the area and waved to several men he knew and then as he spotted Hugh he whistled shrilly and shouted down to the man. Hugh raised his head and when he spotted Tully, Sunny, and Fiona he grinned and waved back. "He's wagering!" Tully remarked aside to Sunny.
"Did you bet today?" Fiona asked the blacksmith.
"You know I did!" Tully said good-naturedly.
"Should I go down to Hugh?" Sunny asked. "It might be difficult for Hugh on these bleachers."
"Let the man decide," Tully replied. "He must continue to exercise and stretch that leg. Besides, when he is in your company, he does not even need the cane."
Sunny nodded and looked around the area. She was looking for Sean or even the elusive Nicodemus Fury. She saw neither man. Hugh slowly and carefully made his way up to them. Tully rose and clapped the man's shoulder in greeting. "How are ye, Hugh? Did you wager on the Dannan boys?"
"Of course!" Hugh declared then looked over at Sunny and smiled. "You look stunning!"
Tully motioned to Sunny, "You two youngsters sit together while Fiona and I settle our wagering between ourselves!"
Sunny moved over and patted the bleacher seat next to her. "So, you prepared for Orion?"
Hugh sat down, stretched his injured leg out, and tucked the cane in close. He looked at her maiden wreath and sniffed. "Mint?"
She nodded, "Isn't it wonderful? Tully had them made for me and Aunt Fiona."
Hugh nodded, "Daisies I would guess are for innocence? But about the other flowers?" he wanted to know.
Sunny ticked the flowers off on her fingers, "Well daisies, innocence, peppermint, warmth; Shamrocks, lightheartedness; Hawthorn, hope, and Flax, fate."
Hugh frowned at the last flower she ticked off, "Flax represents fate? That's a bit out of the ordinary."
Sunny nodded, "Yes, it is."
The horses and riders were gathering at the starting line and Hugh continued to look at Sunny. She seemed different than the last time he had spoken to her. She was still incredibly beautiful, but now she seemed almost magical and other-worldly. He glanced up at the flowers in her wreath and smiled. "Well, I'm glad I'm riding Domino today I think I'll take a stab at your wreath if you aim to put it up."
She winked at him. "I'm not sure yet, but I will let you know if I do!"
Hugh chuckled softly and took her hand in his and squeezed it gently, "I hope you do," he murmured.
Sunny giggled and he felt something spread over him like an effervescent mist! It was a grand feeling! Tully also felt the power radiate from Sunny and saw that it was affecting those sitting in her proximity. Fiona felt it and put her hand to her heart and sighed. It was such a wonderful peaceful feeling.
Tully leaned and whispered, "Spreading the good feelings?"
Sunny nodded, and she leaned forward as the first set of men and horses moved to the starting line.
Each race was more exciting than the last – the competition between tribes was good-natured but fierce! The Badger clan boys won their races, but in the end, the Dannan tribe won three of the five races. In the end, it was between the Badger, Dannan, and Thorne clans. Seeing a Thorne tribe horse in the final race pleased Hugh, and he decided to make a final wager on the Thorne clan horse.
Fiona and Tully spread their bets among the Dannan and Thorne against the Badger boys. Oran Bishop was holding books on the three riders from his clan while Rainbow Wells held a book on his clan rider. It turned out that Tully was holding books on the Dannan riders and went down to settle wagers. Hugh laughed heartily, "Leave it to Tully to be the bookie for the biggest race of the year!"
To allow the horses to rest until the last race, there were other races between the younger boys and girls. Bets and books were closed, and it was good fun. Sunny cheered on her favorites and was having a wonderful time when she spotted Nicodemus standing at the edge of the forest. Hugh nudged Sunny, "You see Nicodemus anywhere?"
"I see him," Sunny replied.
"Who is that?" Hugh asked looking over at Fiona, who had also spotted Fury. "He must be a family member, from the looks of him."
"Yes," Fiona replied frowning. "I don't recognize him but from the looks of him he would have to be Gabriel's son." He stood out even from the other tribes and seemed to exude a power that set him naturally apart.
"Maybe they'll need more than one Fury to coax Orion into the trailer," Fiona remarked.
Hugh chuckled. "I spotted the beastie earlier, he wasn't much in the mood for anyone getting too close."
"Are you sure you want to have Orion at Thornfield?" Fiona asked, "Even Nicodemus said he could be a brute!"
"Oh yes," Hugh declared, "I want Orion at Thornfield!"
As Hugh and Fiona continued to talk about Orion, Sunny watched Fury. He wore similar garments of the Dannan tribe but still looked like and carried himself like Nicodemus. He turned to leave and stopped to look up directly at Sunny. After a moment, he turned and continued on his way toward the pastures. Hugh sighed and flexed his leg, "I think I'd better get up and stretch this bum leg of mine."
"I'll go with you," Sunny said, "if you don't mind me tagging along."
Hugh grinned over at her, "Mind? Of course, I don't mind!"
Sunny looked over at Fiona who smiled and waved them on and fell into a deep conversation with several women that were sitting one level below.
Hugh made his way down to the bottom of the bleachers and turned and extended a hand to Sunny, who took his hand and dropped to the ground next to him. The throbbing pain in his leg evaporated as she tucked her arm through his and they headed toward the vendors' row. Enticing smells and sounds were coming from ahead of them. Sunny caught the aroma of roasting meats and yeasty loaves of bread. The children were already running for the concession booths that were churning out tufts of pink and blue cotton candy on paper cones and shiny candied apples with fluted white collars. Vendors were strolling about with bags of popcorn and roasted peanuts and many of the adults were already snacking on the roasted corn and fried funnel cakes. Sunny spotted Shannon and his friends with massive poufs of blue cotton candy. "Hey Sunny!" Shannon called as he collected a second cone of swirly pink and blue cotton candy.
"Hi Shannon," Sunny returned.
Shannon handed her the cotton candy. "Gotta have some, it's grand!"
Sunny laughed and took the cone, "Shannon, you know Hugh McConnell?"
Shannon smiled pleasantly, "Aye, I know the Captain."
Hugh clapped the teen's shoulder good-naturedly, "Not anymore Shannon, just a rancher these days."
"You gonna ride for Sunny's wreath?" Shannon asked, "Your Domino should beat out any of the other nags out there."
Hugh chuckled and shrugged his shoulders, "Well, if Miss O'Neil decides to put her wreath up; I'll have a go at it."
Shannon looked stricken. "You ain't putting your wreath out?"
Sunny pulled a tuft of cotton candy and put it in her mouth and smiled sweetly. She did not answer, and Shannon threw his hands up. His friends were hooting for him, and he trotted off with his cotton candy held high in victory. Shannon was swallowed up by a group of boisterous boys.
Sunny and Hugh did a tour of the vendors and stopped finally at Cassie and Piper's ale booth. They were doing brisk business with both the locals, the tribes, and the visitors. Hugh paid for the two pints and handed one to Sunny and they went over to sit at one of the many tables and folding chairs placed for drinking.
Sunny sipped her dark ale and Hugh quaffed his thirstily. "Magical brew!" he declared.
"It is delicious!" Sunny agreed and took another sip.
Cassie came around and set a basket of bread and honey butter for them to eat. Sunny smiled her thanks. Cassie eyed her maiden's wreath for a moment then turned to Hugh, "So Hugh are you going to have a go at Sunny's maiden wreath?"
Hugh nodded, then spoke around a mouthful of bread, "I will if she puts the thing up!"
"Well, dear that's the whole point," Cassie told Sunny, "Sometimes it's a complete surprise who wins your wreath."
Sunny nodded. "That's true, Tully told me he's won Aunt Fiona's wreath a few times and sometimes lost out to a faster rival."
Cassie giggled, "Aye, I remember Piper tried several years to win my wreath only to lose out to some of the other boys."
Piper heard his name and waved from behind the temporary bar. "Don't believe a word of it! Whatever the woman tells ye, don't believe it!"
Hugh chuckled, and Cassie went on to another table. "Well now you have Shannon and Cassie's endorsement – put your wreath up!"
"All right, I will!" Sunny cheered and held her glass up to Hugh, "May the best man win!"
Hugh laughed, "I do believe you're tipsy!"
Sunny did feel a little giddy, but she wasn't sure if it was the ale or the fact that she felt normal and free!
There was a shout from down in the vendor's row about the final race. Hugh rose, and he held out his hand to Sunny, "Come on then lass, let's get back for the final race."
Sunny took hold of his hand and the dull ache in Hugh's leg faded once again. It was curious to him how his body responded to the young woman. Yes, he responded in the way a man does to a pretty woman, but this was quite different; like a shot of morphine but better – there was no muddled thinking or drowsiness – just relief!
They strolled back to the bleachers and rather than climb back up they took up position just down the way from where everyone was clustered, under a small cluster of oak trees. Several other men and women were standing at the roped-off area. The winners from the other races were at the starting line and then after some jostling and a false start, there was a shout, and the racers were thundering down the track. They flashed by Sunny and Hugh, but they could not tell who was ahead.
"You enjoying yourselves?"
Slightly startled, Hugh turned toward the voice and recognized Nicodemus. "You have a light foot Rom Baro!"
Fury smiled and shook Hugh's hand in greeting. He nodded toward Sunny, "Siobhan, are you enjoying your first festival?"
"I am!" Sunny exclaimed.
"After the last of the races, we'll get Orion over to you," Nicodemus said. "I have to warn you; if he fights going into the trailer we will have to herd him over."
"Maybe we should blindfold him," Hugh suggested, "That may settle him a bit."
"I don't advise trying to get a halter or a blindfold on the fellow," Fury said, "He has never had any lead or saddle on him."
"Well, whatever you think best," Hugh replied, "I'll let my men know to follow your lead."
Nicodemus nodded then pointed to the track, "Looks like they're coming back in."
"Do you have wagers on anyone?" Hugh asked Fury.
"Of course," Nicodemus answered with a sly smile.
Sunny leaned forward toward the rope fence, "I still can't see who is in front!"
Both Hugh and Fury turned their attention to the race. The racers came thundering back the way they had gone, one rider and horse were well in front, and for a moment it looked like it was one of the racers from the Badger clan. Then from seemingly out of nowhere, a blur of blue-grey slashed past and crossed the finish line! It was a rider from the Thorne clan!
Cheers and groans of defeat rose into the air and Nicodemus smiled in triumph. "Looks like I'll be collecting from a great many betting men – and women today!"
"That was one of your animals," Hugh said, "the sire?"
"Indeed, it was. One of Orion's foals." Fury replied then lifted a hand, "Enjoy your day."
Hugh sighed heavily. "Oh, I do hope this arrangement works out!"
"Do you think Orion's offspring will improve the line that much?" Sunny asked.
"I sure hope so," Hugh answered. "You see, the stallion the Burke brothers sold me two years ago, was a real boost to the bloodlines, but Orion will give my brood mares offspring that will be ten times what Payne's Grey gave."
The announcements went out for several skills events, archery, foot races, and tug of war both team and individuals. The young men headed toward the pasture at the end of the vendor's row, for the foot races and relay races. Sunny spotted Shannon and several of his friends trotting off toward the field. Sunny was interested in the archery event and led Hugh to the smaller clearing for that event.
There was a quick discussion of the rules, and several non-competing men took the thick reed targets out mid-field. There was an entry fee and the one who scored highest would take the purse. Judging by the looks of determination on many of the competitors, the purse was quite hefty. "Look there's a team of women, competing."
Hugh took his wallet from inside his breast pocket, pulled out a few notes, and held them aloft. The bookmaker came over, "Who do you like Master O'Donnell?"
"The ladies team," Hugh replied.
"Aye," the bookmaker replied, he took the money and jotted down something in his notepad. He handed Hugh a slip of paper. "Good luck!"
Hugh handed the paper to Sunny, "You hold onto that for good luck, Sunny."
They moved closer and found seats on a bench. The archers drew lots to determine the order of shooting. The first rounds went quickly with the women advancing to the final volley. They paced the target back ten more yards with a pair of archers from the Thorne tribe. The ladies were from the Wolfe tribe and were advancing on the archers from Thorne.
At the final volley from the ladies of Thorne, they missed the center of the target by a finger's width. The Wolf archers won and walked off with a hefty purse, treating the ladies to a round of ale. Sunny laughed as she watched them all heading to Cassie and Piper's ale booth. "Looks like they'll enjoy drowning their sorrows!"
Hugh chuckled and nodded toward the men assembling for another round. "These look like professional archers." He murmured. "Some serious business about to happen."
"Wagers?" Sunny asked.
"It doesn't look like it," Hugh replied and pointed. "Look there, a Fury man. It looks like he's going to compete against several of the other fellows."
"Should be interesting," Hugh turned to look over his shoulder and smiled up at Tully as he walked up beside him. "If my guess is right that will be Gabriel's son, Michael Fury."
"Given the reputations of the Fury men," Hugh said watching the group of men as they checked over their equipment and strung their long bows, "the other men will have to be marksmen of the highest caliber."
"They are the best of the best," Tully told Hugh. "A Fury would not be competing if they were not some of the best marksmen in the area."
The men drew lots to determine their order of shooting. Sunny studied the man Tully identified as Michael Fury. Something was too familiar about his stance, and even the way he moved was familiar!
Once the order was settled, the first man took his shots. Three arrows were clustered at the lower edge of the center of the target. Applause and calls of encouragement went up and followed each archer. Fury stepped up to the line and loaded his first arrow. The tips of the long bow arched back, and he took careful aim. The first followed quickly by the second and third arrows smacked into the center of the target.
Cheers sounded, and he stepped back. Quickly it narrowed down to Fury and an archer from the Badger tribe. Sunny recognized him from the hunting party the day she and Shanley had been in the woods.
The targets were moved twenty yards back. Placed on each target were four white discs the size of poker chips in a diamond pattern.
The archers were to place their arrows in each of the discs. Fury deferred the first shots to the Badger clan archer. The man stepped up to the line and placed each of his four arrows into the four white discs. The crowds cheered, and the archer waved, his smile triumphant.
Silence fell over the field as Fury stepped up. The targets were replaced with four yellow discs set in a diamond pattern. Once again, he launched the four arrows, quickly hitting each disc near the center. Hugh clapped and whistled with Tully, "He is a sharpshooter!"
With no winner, the judges conferred and then brought out two discs about the size of dessert plates that were painted red with a single white dot at the center.
"The best of five shots!" The judge declared. "We will launch the disc into the air; the archer will take a total of five shots. The arrows closest to the center win!"
"That's impossible!" Hugh exclaimed. "How can they shoot that fast?"
"Let's hope they've done some quail hunting recently," Tully remarked.
Hugh looked incredulously at Tully, "You mean they can make that kind of shot?"
"Aye," Tully answered. "Easily."
Sunny watched raptly as the Badger archer selected his five arrows. He examined them carefully and when he had made his selections he stepped up to the line. A man trotted out into the field with the red disc. Once he was in position he looked back to the front line and the archer called out when he was ready. "Go!"
The man crouched down low and heaved the disc as hard and as high as he could into the air. Quickly the archer fired three arrows into the disc before it fell to the ground. Cheers went up and Hugh hooted his appreciation as did many of the others watching.
Fury congratulated the Badger archer and they spoke for a moment congenially. Tully chuckled softly, "A possible recruit, I'd wager!"
Sunny smiled and watched as Fury took his five selected arrows to the line and notched the first arrow onto the bow string. He pulled back and called to the man in the field, "Go!"
The man once again heaved the disc high into the air. Fury dropped to one knee and fired one, two, three, four, and five arrows into the rapidly falling disc. Shouts of disbelief and astonishment sounded in the crowd. Hugh was on his feet, cheering as loudly as any of the others in attendance.
Sunny realized she had been holding her breath the whole time and breathed a sigh of relief. The judges had a clear winner and handed Fury a quiver of arrows with grey fletching and a red guide. He shook the Badger archer's hand, and they moved off together talking low, heads bent close together. Hugh turned to Tully, "That was bloody amazing!"
Tully laughed, "You know the Fury's – they do everything well."
"Incredible," Hugh murmured, "just incredible!"
"We should go and see how Shannon and his brothers are faring at the races," Sunny said getting to her feet.
"I'd like to borrow Hugh for a moment," Tully said. "Get his advice on a horse I'm looking at."
Sunny nodded, "I'll catch up with you later," she said to Hugh.
Hugh waved to her. He could already feel the dull ache in his leg begin as Sunny hurried off. Tully saw Hugh's jaw tighten and he realized that Sunny's proximity had a lot to do with Hugh's level of pain. "You know, it's the strangest thing -- this leg of mine hardly even hurts when I'm around Sunny – and when she leaves --."
Tully nodded, "It's their magic!"
Hugh glanced over at the blacksmith and laughed, "Aye, that's a good explanation!"
Tully grinned. Often the truth when spoken out was the safest way of obscuring what you needed to protect. "Come on, I want you to see a horse I'm looking at for Sunny."
Hugh grabbed Tully's muscular arm, "Hold on there! Are you saying Sunny's staying in Ballencoo?"
"I hope so!" Tully remarked.
"That's wonderful news," Hugh cheered, "but she's not said a word about it."
"Well, I think Sunny will need to break it gentle-like to her parents," Tully told him. "And Fiona's not gone into the particulars with how long Sunny will stay."
Hugh was quiet for a moment as they walked toward the pasture. "It sounds like a tribal thing, yes?"
"Aye, a tribal thing – one that I cannot discuss," Tully said gently.
Hugh nodded and smiled. "I get it," he said. "I mean I don't, but I do understand."
"As the young people say: It's complicated," Tully said.
Hugh roared with laughter, and they let the subject go to talk about the horse the Burke brothers had for sale.
Sunny arrived at the field where the foot races were going on. The second relay race was about to begin. She spotted Shannon and his brothers staggered out along the racetrack. They were among three other groups, representing each of the four clans. Sunny spotted Shannon at the last leg, he was shaking out his long lanky legs and stretching his arms high over his head. There were similar gestures among the other runners.
"The Wolf clan nearly always takes home the purse in these competitions."
Sunny turned and looked up at Nicodemus Fury. As always, she felt very strange in his company, not in a bad way, but very off-balance. She took a deep steadying breath before she answered. "I hope Shannon does well. Your skill with a longbow was impressive – congratulations on your win."
Nicodemus froze. He leaned on the fence and gazed out on the field, not seeing anything. "It takes years of practice for a man to get that good,"
"Tully mentioned that the man from the Badger clan will likely be a recruit," Sunny remarked. She took the opportunity to study him while he was gazing out at the field. She could draw him from memory but seeing him up close allowed her artistic eye to capture the subtleties, the set of his jaw, the cording of muscles in his forearm as it lay on the fence railing. She realized she was standing with a grown man, not a boy. She thought of Jason again, he was a child when she compared him to Fury. Hugh had lived and seen battle, but even he didn't seem to have the presence that Fury did. She felt guilty for making the comparisons, but it didn't change the way she felt.
"Oliver Proud will make a fine warrior," Fury replied. "But Oran Bishop will likely hold onto him for a while yet."
"May I ask you a question?" Sunny suddenly asked.
"What do you want to know?" Fury asked her. He kept his eyes on a distant point.
"Why are you hiding your true identity?"
"I do not know what you mean." He said, finally looking at her. The effect of his gaze made her heart flutter, and she hurriedly placed her attention on the relay race that was underway. She clapped and cheered the runners but as the baton was passed to Shannon, she gripped the top of the fence. The boy surged ahead and as he moved past a Badger runner, he tripped. Sunny cried out, "That's not fair!" But Shannon was back up on his feet and after the Badger runner.
Sunny looked at him and this time she held his gaze. "Most of the time when I look at you - I see two of you. I see you as I drew you in my sketches and then there is an older image of you superimposed. It's the you that everyone sees. But earlier, when you were competing on the archery range – and now I am seeing you. Tully and Aunt Fiona think the way you look now, is your nephew."
Nicodemus felt somewhere deep inside an odd sense of relief. But now was not the time to try to explain. He leaned in toward her. "I can only tell you that it is necessary. I do promise I will explain everything to you - at the right time."
"Am I to call you Michael then when you appear as you are now?" Sunny wanted to know.
Nicodemus studied her. "For now, yes," he told her. The way her green eyes flashed in outrage was intriguing to him. He was immune to her special powers – it was part of the Fury brand of magic, but it did not prevent him from being charmed by the young woman naturally. She had a power she was unaware of and that was heady enough to any man. He had seen the way the captain looked at her.
Shannon easily won the relay race and was immediately in a brawl with the Badger racers. Sunny watched in dismay as the boys piled in on top of one another while no one was immediately jumping in to end the fracas. Nicodemus leaned over her shoulder, "Don't worry, that's all part of the race."
She looked up at him. "Really?"
He smiled faintly. "Aye, every year." He lifted his chin in the direction of the starting line, "See, they've already made peace and are ready for another race."
Sunny saw that already a new relay race was forming with Shannon and the boy he had just been wrestling with arm and arm and heading off to the nearby food vendor. As she stood there, she looked over her shoulder and saw Hugh approaching them. He looked like he had been punched in the stomach.
Nicodemus turned and when he saw Hugh. "Something has gone wrong." He told her and scanned the area, then whistled shrilly calling up several men who quickly headed to the pasture.
"What's wrong?" Sunny asked Hugh as he came up to where she stood at the fence.
Hugh looked relieved suddenly. "I've been looking everywhere for you, Rom."
Sunny looked at Fury and saw he once again wore the disguise of an older Nicodemus Fury. "What happened?"
"We can't get Orion into the trailer," Hugh said, raking his hands through his hair anxiously. "The brute's already charged three of the men hired to transport him."
"Anyone hurt?" Sunny asked.
"Not yet," Hugh answered agitatedly, "I'm starting to rethink this ---,"
"Don't worry," Nicodemus said clapping a hand on Hugh's shoulder, "We will walk him over. Orion has not been inside a transport trailer."
"It looks like a tin-can prison," Sunny replied. "And with everyone pushing and shoving him he probably is scared."
Hugh scoffed at her description," He's hardly scared! He's just plain pissed!"
Sunny laid a hand on Hugh's forearm. "That too!"
There was a commotion and then several shrill whistles alerted the men that were not engaged in a competition to stop and head toward the pasture where the horses were being held for sale. Hugh groaned, "That doesn't sound good at all!"
Nicodemus scowled and headed back to the pasture with a half dozen men and young boys with leather lassoes. Sunny looked up at Hugh, "I think we'd better see what's going on."
"Aye!" Hugh responded. Together they hurried back to the pasture. When they arrived, it was a terrible scene of men with lassoes and a white terror at the center of the storm.
Orion was effectively keeping at least a dozen men at bay with hooves and teeth! Those who had dropped lassoes over his head were being dragged around like puppets. One young man got close enough to loop a lasso around one of Orion's back legs. This only enraged the stallion more. He was growling and snarling like a lion!
Sunny felt the panic and outrage as acutely as if it were own! She broke into a run toward Orion. Hugh broke into a run after her. Calling out for her to stop.
"Sunny wait! No!"
The men surrounding Orion were intent on bringing him under control, but the stallion was having no part in their mistreatment. He kicked and snapped at them. One man got too close, and Orion lashed out grabbing the lasso in his teeth and sending the man sprawling in the dirt. Rolling out of the way of hooves he managed to escape serious harm.
Sunny arrived at the edge of the scene and Nicodemus grabbed her around the waist and held her back. She cried out in protest, but Fury held on. Hugh caught up with them. "What are you thinking!" he demanded.
She watched as Orion continued to war against the barrage of ropes. There were dozens of men now, all attempting to throw lassoes and ropes over Orion. Many were hanging on for dear life, slowly bringing the stallion to his knees.
"I cannot go! I must protect the Daj!"
Sunny sensed the panic in Orion and turned to Nicodemus "You can stop this!"
Orion growled and continued to struggle against his bonds and the two dozen men and boys were fighting to keep him down.
"I've never seen a horse fight like this!" Hugh shouted over at Nicodemus, "I can't risk someone getting hurt!"
Nicodemus grasped Sunny's wrist, "What is he saying!"
"I'm not sure," Sunny told him, "Something about protecting the Daj!"
Nicodemus, who was hardly ever caught off guard, was at a loss for words and he looked from Orion to Hugh then down at Sunny. "Go!" He said and released Sunny.
She ran straight into the center of the ropes. Even the men struggling to bring the horse under control were momentarily confused by this action.
The instant Orion spotted Sunny at the edge of the circle of men, he suddenly stumbled toward her catching the men off guard and they stumbled forward, with some falling backward. Sunny quickly sloughed all the ropes and lassoes, caught a handful of his mane, and climbed to Orion's back!
Orion sprang to his feet sending up a cloud of dust! Finding himself free he began to snarl and snap at the men closest to his escape route.
Nicodemus felt his heart stop. "No!"
Orion was free! He swiveled on his haunches and sprinted across the field at full gallop within the space of several heartbeats.
Nicodemus watched in horror as Orion galloped off, he sank to one knee and Hugh forgot the knifing pain in his leg to turn his attention to Fury. He bent toward Nicodemus and watched in horror as he watched Sunny being transported across the field by a horse that was reported to be too wild to ride.
Then something extraordinary happened! Orion slowed and stopped at the edge of the field, turned around, and looked back at the men. He pawed the ground defiantly and tossed his head.
Nicodemus looked at the impossible! No one had ever ridden a Pookah and lived! Tully and Fiona arrived, and they were completely astounded. Tully grasped Nicodemus' arm. "What the devil is happening!"
"He is protecting the Daj!" Nicodemus hissed back.
"The bloody bastard!" Tully growled at Nicodemus. "Who has done this?"
Hugh looked incredulously at Tully. "What the hell are you two talking about!"
Both Nicodemus and Tully had forgotten about Hugh. Nicodemus forgot about explaining anything to Hugh. He started toward Orion and Sunny. "You are not ever going to have Orion unless you let him be with Sunny," Tully told Hugh.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Hugh said.
"Well, there it is before ye lad!" Tully told him. "You could not get him under control with a dozen men or more – it took one lass to turn him into a lamb. I would say that was kinda obvious!"
Hugh watched as Orion began to plod back toward them. Where before the stallion had been a vicious white devil, he was now docile and pliant as a lapdog!
Nicodemus saw his men coming toward Orion and he waved them off. The men stopped and gladly returned to the shade of the oak trees to wait for orders. All of them were staring in disbelief at the scene. Nicodemus walked up slowly to Orion and Sunny. He looked up at her. "This isn't the first time, is it?"
"No," Sunny replied. "Orion brought me home last night."
"What are you doing?" Fury asked Orion. "You have just made this arrangement very complicated!"
Orion rumbled low, his ears flattening on his head. Sunny listened and frowned. "I don't know what he means, but he says he has given his oath to protect the Daj Sultana."
Nicodemus folded his arms over his chest and looked up at Sunny with a mixture of agitation and confusion. "The mother queen?"
"Who's that?" Sunny asked.
Fury stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment then looked up at the young woman. "I am guessing that would be you, Siobhan."
Sunny frowned. "I don't think I understand,"
"That makes two of us," Nicodemus returned, "Who has invoked this?"
Hugh was limping badly now, with all the running and walking on uneven ground it was shortening his temper with every step! He trudged up behind Nicodemus with Tully following close behind. "Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"
Nicodemus half turned toward Hugh. He was just as agitated and confused as Hugh was with this turn of events.
Orion snorted at both men, his ears flat against his head and eyes blazing in defiance. Hugh stepped back a pace warily regarding the horse. "What's to be done?"
Sunny patted Orion's neck and smoothed the mane down where it had been bunched up by the ropes.
"Well," Nicodemus said with a sigh, "I am at a loss."
Hugh glanced up at Sunny where she perched astride an animal everyone said could not be ridden. "Well, I can't just let the animal roam at will!"
Orion sidestepped away from the three men standing around him. He bared his teeth at Hugh then Nicodemus threatening to gallop off if pressed too far.
"Why can't Orion stay at Laurel Cottage?" Sunny suggested.
"There's not enough room," Hugh began but stopped when Orion snarled at him and began pawing the ground.
"For a short time, he can," Sunny told them. "Once the festival is over, Orion can stay where Rainbow and his tribe are camped," Sunny replied. "It's certainly big enough to give Orion the freedom he needs."
Hugh thought for a moment then shrugged his shoulders, "I suppose that would be fine -- after today's exhibition, no one is going to be foolish enough to try to steal him."
Nicodemus watched the interaction between Sunny and Pookah. They had bonded and nothing was going to come between Orion and the girl.
Hugh sighed heavily, "What will Fiona say?"
"I say yes, for a few days it will be fine," Fiona had joined them out in the field.
Hugh heaved a great sigh of relief and tucked his cane close at his side. "Well good, I'll just go let the men and the trailer go and Orion goes to Laurel Cottage with Fiona and Sunny."
Tully examined Orion and began taking notes on his small notepad. "Then you will need a proper saddle and tack."
Everyone turned to stare at Tully including Orion. Nicodemus shook his head in the negative, "I don't think that is wise,"
"I don't either!" Fiona declared. Although she was seeing Orion standing very calmly with Sunny astride his back – a Pookah was an extremely unpredictable and dangerous creature!
Orion began tossing his head and stomping the ground impatiently. Everyone's head came up. Hugh looked confused by their reaction. "Sunny can't ride bareback, Rainbow I'm sure can work up something,"
"Aye," Tully replied, still writing on the small notepad in his hand. He glanced up at Orion who snorted disdainfully at them all. Tully frowned at the animal, "You cannot be gamboling about the countryside without your mistress seated comfortably and safely!"
Orion's head lifted in shock then groaned and lowered his head in submission. Nicodemus continued to frown at the animal then glanced up at Sunny curiously. "Perhaps a bareback saddle? Lightweight with stirrups."
Tully nodded in agreement. Hugh turned and looked pointedly at Fury, "And the arrangement with my mares?"
"That arrangement stands," Nicodemus replied and glared at Orion then turned to Hugh with a pleasant smile. "Let us talk further over a pint, shall we?"
Hugh nodded and allowed himself to be led away but threw a confused look over his shoulder at Orion, Sunny, and the group of individuals still standing in a semi-circle.
Tully put his notebook away and drew a deep breath, "Well, Orion is here to protect the Daj."
"What?" Fiona took Tully's arm and stared incredulously at the blacksmith.
"Orion was sent to protect the mother queen," Sunny said, "And he thinks that I am the Daj; but what does that mean exactly?"
Tully looked up at Sunny, "You need to be finding out who sent Orion." He came up beside Orion and raised his hands. "Come down my girl where it is safe!"
Sunny brought her leg over and slid from Orion's back and Tully caught her and safely set her on the ground. Sunny laid a hand on Orion's shoulder. "All I sense is it is someone powerful."
Orion sidestepped away from the group and bowed his head toward Sunny who soothed a hand over his long silky white mane that spilled over his neck. "Natsia."
Tully snorted and Sunny looked over at him, "What does it mean?"
"The tribe," Tully answered. "He is saying his tribe sent him."
"We should go back to the fairgrounds," Fiona said. "We're here to enjoy the day."
"The beastie will be fine left to his own devices," Tully said when Sunny stepped back a pace and Orion started to follow. "You cannot be prowling about the fairgrounds after your recent performance!"
Sunny gave the white stallion a pat on his well-muscled shoulder and went to Fiona's side. "Everyone will leave him alone, now."
Orion tossed his head and watched as they began walking back to the fairgrounds.