The Legend of Huma

Chapter 14

It was to Buoron he first confided his secret.

“You were fortunate that no one else noticed,” said the bearded knight. “Your mouth fairly hung open when he was brought in.”

Huma shook his head. “I was stunned. The last I had seen of Kaz, he was riding north and I was riding south. We had a great number of pursuers following us. I was apparently the main prize, for they followed me.”

“And paid the price,” Buoron remarked quietly. Huma had told him of that incident, without any embellishment. It had not failed to impress the other knight.

“I am amazed that Kaz is here, and has been for at least a couple of days more than I have. He must have turned south almost immediately and just missed me. After we separated, I was forced to let loose my horse in the hope I might lead my pursuers farther astray. I was on foot for some time after that. Still, he must have been riding hard to have gotten all the way here. He must have lost his horse soon after.”

“Did he know where you were heading?”

Huma thought long. It seemed ages ago. “In general. Enough, at least, to bear southwest.”

Buoron stared out a window in the direction of the cage. Kaz was slumped in sullen anger. “There are many paths that an expert warrior could use to travel safely. He must have discovered our existence down here as well and assumed that you would stop here. Perhaps he even assumed this was your destination.”

That made some sense to Huma. “I did mention wanting to return to the knighthood. He may have assumed that I would go here if I could not make it back to Solamnia.”

“Or—” Buoron hesitated. “Or he really is a spy, and this was his intention all along.”

“No.” Huma was unsure about much lately, but the minotaur’s loyalty was not an issue.

“You may have trouble convincing the others of that. A minotaur is a minotaur. They will question him and, whether or not he speaks, will probably execute him.”

“For what? He’s done nothing but defend himself.”

Buoron grimaced. “Haven’t you heard what I was saying? He’s a minotaur. They do not need any other reason.”

Huma paced. “I must speak with Taggin.”

“Do it soon, then. They will start the questioning today, likely after morning vigils.”

“Will I find Taggin in his quarters now?”

“I think not. Being a Knight of the Rose, he will be at his daily prayers by now. It was only because of the hunt that he delayed at all this morning. Speaking of which, have you eased your mind of late?”

Huma stopped his pacing and whitened. “No. I’ve not. It would serve me right if Paladine turned his eye from me forever.”

Buoron shook his head. “I think Paladine is a little more forgiving than that. Come.”

Taggin was unable to see Huma after prayers. The commanding knight was conferring with his seconds and with the patrol leader. Huma knew better than to demand entrance; it would only hurt his chances of convincing them to free Kaz.

With the leadership busy, Huma decided to face the minotaur. It was not right that he pretend not to know the massive easterner. Kaz had always treated him honestly.

The minotaur’s place of confinement was a cage like those used by traveling shows to contain their exotic animals: a metal cage with bars, a single gate, and grass and straw piled on the floor. Kaz did not pace to and fro. Instead, he was sitting, staring sullenly at the meat and grain mixture his jailers had left him. It was hardly an appetizing dish, and Huma wondered if it tasted as horrible as it looked.

Two knights guarded the cage, and they quickly blocked Huma’s way.

“May I question the prisoner?”

“That is for the Lord Commander to do. Any who wish to watch may do so.”

“May I at least speak to him?”

The two knights looked at one another. They were no doubt wondering why one of their number would wish to speak with a minotaur prisoner. At last, the one who had spoken the first time replied, “Not without the Lord Commander’s permission.”

By this time, Kaz had heard the voices. He was slow in reacting, possibly because he was not sure whose voice he was hearing. Then, he suddenly turned and leaped up against the bars.

“Huma!”

The two sentries started, and the one apparently in charge turned and banged a mailed fist against the bars—far enough away that the minotaur could not grab it. “Be silent. Beast! You’ll have your chance to talk when the inquisition meets.”

Kaz snorted angrily. “I had thought the knights an honorable band, but I see that honor is something very few of them possess!” He raised a long, muscular arm through the bars, his hand open as if in supplication. “Huma! Free me from this cage!”

The knights stared at Huma with narrowed eyes. “He seems to know you well. How is that?”

“We have met and traveled together. He is not the Dragonqueen’s slave. He is his own creature. He is a friend.”

“A friend?” The guards looked at Huma in amazement—and much disbelief. Other knights were beginning to gather, curious as to what the shouting was all about.

The other guard finally spoke. “Perhaps, Caleb, we should notify Taggin.”

“I will not interrupt him now.” Caleb, a tall, plump man with a carnivorous look, pointed at Huma. “If I did not know better, I might think you a spy for consorting with mages and minotaurs. As it is, I think you are just a fool. If you want to speak to this creature, ask Taggin. I would lock you up until the inquisition, if I had my way.”

There were murmurs of agreement, and Huma was startled. He had gone from favored visitor to seeming outcast in the space of a few seconds.

“What is going on here?”

Everyone, even Kaz, froze at the sound of that voice. It was Lord Taggin, clad in his formal dress armor. At least twenty years had slipped from his face. He was now the very image of authority.

“You men have become rabble of late. I can see that I am going to have to make some changes.” Taggin turned to Huma. “I’m told you have some knowledge of this minotaur.” Behind the commander, Buoron looked down. “We will begin the questioning in half an hour. I expect you to be present and to have your facts prepared. Understood?”

“Yes, milord.”

Taggin turned to the sentries. “As for you, there are tenets of the knighthood that you seem to be failing. I expect both of you to learn from this incident.”

The Knight of the Rose did not wait for them to answer. Instead, he walked past them and up to the cage. Kaz glared down at him. Taggin seemed unimpressed.

“Know this, minotaur. The basics of the knighthood stay the same. Your hearing will be impartial. You will be given every chance to prove yourself and to prove what this knight says of you. I will promise that.” Kaz did not reply, save for the mere ghost of a nod. Taggin spun around and headed toward his quarters.

“You never cease to amaze me with your ability to become the center of attention, Huma.”

Huma and Buoron looked up as they entered the knights’ living quarters. Magius, in full splendor in his robes of red, stared at them from across the room. Again, Huma wondered at the change. Had Magius really returned to the Order of Lunitari, or was this merely another of his whims?

“The mage returns to the land of the living,” Buoron remarked dryly.

The mage stirred. “Really, Huma, the only thing more foolish than you parading around in sheets of metal is the company you tend to keep. Myself excluded, of course.”

“If you have nothing worthwhile to say, Magius, then don’t say anything.” Huma surprised himself by his comment.

Magius ignored the barb. “I see the minotaur has succeeded in getting into trouble. We really do not have time for this. Had I not required the rest, we could have been gone by last night.”

Buoron smiled nastily. “You go nowhere without Lord Taggin’s permission.”

“Won’t I?”

“Not with me, Magius. Not unless Kaz is freed.” Huma added.

The mage sighed. “Very well. I do hope it won’t take long. I know how long and boring inquisitions can be.”

“Huma, is this filth really your friend?” Buoron interjected.

“If you can believe it. I still hope to find the old Magius underneath there.”

For once, the magic-user had no retort. He merely looked at Huma and then studied something interesting on his staff.

“Are you coming with me, Magius?”

His childhood friend looked up. “To an inquisition? Hardly. They might decide to put me on trial. I shall await the outcome here.”

Huma let out a sigh, although whether it was from relief or worry he could not say.

Unlike the formal inquisitions of Vingaard Keep, the sessions at the outpost were quick, straightforward, and to the point. Kaz was questioned about his whereabouts for the last half-year. His crime against his former masters and his subsequent meeting with Huma were gone over in minute detail as Lord Taggin looked for some slip that might prove the minotaur untrustworthy.

In the course of the questioning, many facets of the minotaur’s past came out. He had been one in a long line of champions in his clan. He had even been given the name of one of his more remote ancestors, a powerful fighter who had been ruler of the race for twenty-three years before finally falling to defeat.

Kaz, though, had grown up in a time in which no true ruler commanded the minotaurs. As Huma had learned, those who controlled the race now were, in turn, puppets of the Dragonqueen’s commanders. Each minotaur, male or female, was conscripted into the swelling ranks of the Dark Queen’s armies upon reaching fighting age. There were never enough of the race in any one unit to create an atmosphere of rebellion. Kaz’s people were severely punished for even the smallest infractions.

The tall warrior admitted he had done his share of fighting. It was part of his nature. Yet he had slowly become sickened by the senseless slaughter around him. There was no honor in much of what he was forced to do. The ogres cared not whether they faced an army or village. All who stood in their path were to be destroyed.

Kaz then went into detail about that final incident, when he had come across the butchering ogre captain. For a brief time, the knights in attendance were solely on his side.

The news of the collapse of the Solamnic lines and the chaos that followed brought renewed anger from those knights. From there, Kaz described the attack on the citadel of Magius and the flight that had resulted in the separation of Huma and Kaz.

Perhaps the highlight of the questioning occurred when Kaz described Huma’s brief but bloody encounter with the warlord. The tide of feeling again flowed toward Huma. Those who had frowned on his odd friendship began to look at him with renewed respect.

After Kaz, Huma spoke. He did not plead with the knights, only spoke to them of the minotaur’s acts of bravery and justice. He also pointed out that honor was just as important to Kaz as it was to the knighthood.

Lord Taggin looked extremely tired when all was said and done. Standing and facing the minotaur, who was bound and under guard. Lord Taggin took a deep breath and said, “The minotaur Kaz has cooperated in all ways. He has given us a good look at the workings of the Dragonqueen’s forces, and his words are confirmed by Huma, Knight of the Crown. By rights, he has earned an honorable death.”

Kaz snorted angrily and began to struggle with his bonds. Huma started to rise, but Buoron pushed him back down. Taggin continued.

“There is, however, another possibility. Paladine is the god of justice and wisdom. To execute the minotaur would be as great a travesty as we could commit. Therefore, I am placing him in the capable custody of Knight Huma, whom I believe we can trust to keep him under control.”

A cheer arose. Opinions of Huma had swayed so much again that he was now nearly as great a hero to his fellows as he had been to the Ergothians.

“Remove the minotaur’s bonds.”

Knight Caleb reluctantly obeyed. Kaz gave him a toothy grin as the knight removed the last of the bonds; an instant later, the minotaur was bursting through the crowd. Kaz took hold of his former companion and lifted him high with a cry of pleasure.

“I thought never to see you again, friend Huma! You should know that out of respect to you I held my temper while I searched! Glad I am that I chose to turn south immediately. It did occur to me that you might have gone north in search of me.”

Huma flushed. “I could only hope you were safe. My path led me southward even when I did not wish it to. Magius—”

Kaz misunderstood. “Yes, I saw that dragon-spawned mage friend of yours peering at me. He seemed quite willing to sacrifice me for the sake of expediency. I was so enraged by his satisfied expression that I began contemplating a suicidal escape attempt.” The minotaur bellowed in laughter, although Huma could not see why.

Taggin cleared his throat. Huma quickly steered the minotaur over to him. “Lord Taggin, Knight of the Rose. I present to you Kaz, minotaur.”

“Of a lineage that has produced more than a dozen champions of my race.” Blood did not count as much in the land of the minotaurs as it did among the aristocratically minded Knights of Solamnia, but a lineage that produced champions was highly admired by other minotaurs. To the knights, it was as if Kaz called himself a noble of his people.

Taggin greeted the minotaur and then turned serious. “When the others are gone, we will speak. I’ve summoned the mage, too.”

It did not take long for the room to empty. One look from the commander sent Buoron out the doorway. Kaz looked puzzled, but Lord Taggin refused to talk until Magius had arrived.

With obvious reluctance, the mage entered. Kaz stiffened, and his eyes reddened in anger. Huma feared an attack, but Kaz stood his ground. Magius pretended the massive figure was not even there.

“I have decided to come as you requested. Lord Taggin.”

“How very decent of you.” The elder knight was no more willing to hide his animosity toward the mage than Buoron had been. “I’ve decided to allow you to continue your journey and will even provide an escort.”

Magius sniffed. “How very decent of you, Lord Taggin, but we do not need an escort. Huma and I can make it on our own.”

“But you won’t be alone, wolf-spawn,” Kaz hissed. “I will be going with you whether an escort does or not.”

Taggin held up a hand for silence. “You have no choice. I will send an escort, anyway. It is not a politeness; it is a requirement if you intend going on with this—quest.”

Magius glared openly at Huma. “Would that you had taken an oath of silence. Your tongue flaps well, it seems.”

Huma bristled but would not satisfy his companion with a childish retort.

The outpost commander stepped up to Magius until less than a hand’s span separated their faces. “You will be leaving tomorrow morning at dawn. No sooner, no later. If you think to sneak away, do not bother. We will find you, and then I will lock you up. We can hold a magic-user. Trust me on that.”

It was quite satisfying to Huma when Magius was the first to back down. “Very well. Since we apparently have no choice.”

“You do not.”

Turning to Huma, Magius pointed to the minotaur and asked, “That must go with us as well?”

“Absolutely.” Kaz added to Huma’s answer with a menacing snarl that revealed his teeth.

“The morning, then.” Magius turned back to Lord Taggin. “Is that all?”

“No. Do I understand that this is all based on a dream?”

The mage smiled, sadly it seemed. “The Test was no dream. A nightmare is appropriate. A nightmare I hope to change.”

Taggin stared into his eyes. “You have not told him everything, have you, Magius?”

Huma’s eyes widened, then grew wider still, as the magic-user continued to delay his response.

Magius glanced at the others, then abruptly turned toward the door. “No. When the time is right, I will.”

They watched him depart.

“Watch him, Huma,” Taggin finally whispered. “Not just for your sakes, but for his.”

The younger knight could only nod. Again, he wondered how he could ever still believe in Magius.

A knight stood waiting on the top of the tallest peak. His visor was down, so it was impossible to identify him. He wore the sign of the Knights of the Rose, and in his left hand he held a magnificent sword. He appeared to offer the weapon to Huma.

Huma crawled over crag and ravine. He lost his grip more than a dozen times, but each time he regained it before he had a chance to fall. Although Huma was near the top, the other knight did not help him. Instead, the strange figure continued to hold out the sword.

Huma stumbled over and accepted the proffered weapon. It was a beautiful sword—an antique. Huma sliced the air three times. The other knight looked on.

The young knight thanked him for the weapon and asked him his name. The visored knight did not speak. Suddenly growing angry, Huma reached forward and lifted the visor.

He was never sure what he saw, for something howled and Huma bolted upright in his cot, the dream shattered.

Taggin was there to see that nothing went awry. He paid particular attention to the activities of Magius, but the spell-caster was behaving himself this morning.

The escort arrived. Ten men had volunteered. Huma was relieved that Buoron was one of them.

When the entire troop was ready and mounted, Buoron signaled for the gates to be opened. As they rode out, each man, with the exception of Magius and Kaz, saluted the outpost commander. Lord Taggin had said nothing to Huma that morning, but he returned the salute with a slight wave of assurance.

Their route was to take them through open field for the entire journey, giving them an ever-expanding view of the chain of mountains. They were at least several days’ journey from their goal. Huma wondered which peak Magius was seeking and what he expected to find. The mage was being very quiet. As a matter of fact, his eyes had been fixed on the mountain peaks from the moment they had left the outpost. Magius stared at the great rocky leviathans as if his life depended on them—which it quite possibly did.

Had Huma looked back at that moment, he might have noticed the swift form that darted into and out of whatever shelter it could find. It did not care for the day, which was harmful to its kind—not that it really thought of itself as other than an extension of its master. Nevertheless, it had made the long journey to act as the eyes and ears of the one who held its existence in his hands. For him, it would suffer the burning pain of daylight, daylight that seared it even through the ever-present cloud cover.

Wherever the knight and the mage traveled, the dreadwolf would follow.