The Chief nodded. “I owe you my life. You’re a good man, and an honorable one. Whether we’re on the same sides or opposite ones, I’ll always respect you, and you’ll always have my friendship.”
“Thank you, Chief. The feeling’s mutual.”
“The war is over,” Limus said. “Let’s leave the past behind and focus on the future. What we need to do is rebuild the country and get it going again, and bury our dead along with our resentments.”
“We’ll get this realm going, starting with the West,” the Chief said more plainly.
Limus nodded. “Of course.”
“We all agree on that,” Lasgol said.
“Beautiful panther,” Gondar commented.
“She’s my familiar.”
“Then our Ranger Hero must have become a Specialist,” Limus said with a gleam in his eye.
Lasgol nodded. “That’s right. I had no idea that the Chief’s assistant knew so much about Rangers.”
Limus gave a slight shrug. “I like to know a little about everything. They say knowledge takes up no space, although it does take up time.” He smiled.
“I have the best and wisest of assistants,” the Chief said, “and he knows a lot more than he lets on, particularly about this kind of thing.” He patted him on the back.
Limus, who had not expected the physical acknowledgment, lost his balance and tripped forward toward Lasgol. At once Ona glared at him and gave him a warning growl. No coming close to Lasgol.
With a lightning skip, Limus retreated. “Pretty panther, yes, she’ll be well-trained if she’s a Ranger’s familiar,” he commented, more as a wish than a fact.
“So she is. Besides, she’s good and obedient.”
“I’m truly glad to know that,” Limus said with a look of relief.
“Have you just come for a visit, or to stay for a while?” Gondar asked.
Lasgol knew the Chief asked this of every foreigner who came to the village, so that he would be sure to have everything under control. But in his case he knew that the question arose from genuine personal interest.
“I’d love to stay for a while, but I can’t. Duty calls. I’ll just be here for today, then I leave tomorrow at dawn.”
“The Rangers always have a lot to do,” the Chief said, nodding. He gave Lasgol a regretful look.
“Even more so in these times of rebuilding,” Limus pointed out. “Their presence, protecting the lands of the realm, is more necessary than ever.”
“We’re really busy, that’s quite right. To serve Norghana is our duty and our honor. How’s the situation in the village?”
“As far as the law’s concerned, quite good. Things have improved since we came back from the war, and lately we’ve barely had any trouble. A skirmish now and then with deserters or outlaws, but nothing I wasn’t able to deal with.” Gondar put his hand on his war-axe.
“Nice weapon.”
“Count Malason gave it to me for services rendered. And I’ve got a lot better with it during the time I’ve spent with his troops. He has some good instructors who’ve taught me to use it properly.”
“There’s nothing like a good instructor, that’s something I do know,” Lasgol said. He was remembering everything he had learnt at the Camp and in the Shelter.
The Chief’s assistant shook his head gloomily. “As for the administrative and financial side of things, the village is beginning to recover, but it’ll take quite a while to get out of the hole the war has left us in.”
“I’m sure this village will come through,” Lasgol said.
“That’s what we all hope,” said the Chief confidently. “Everyone will do their part, that I’m sure of, and with Limus’ skill at managing resources, we’ll come through.”
“I’ll do everything I can.”
The two men gave Lasgol that sense of belonging and safety he always felt in their company. He embraced the Chief again, shook hands with Limus and said goodbye. He was reassured that the village was in very good hands with these two at the helm. He had been afraid that the Chief might not have come back alive from the war, or have been badly wounded, and he was delighted that it was not so.
“If you need anything, you know where my house is,” Gondar said with a wave toward it. “It’s always open to everyone in the village, but in your case it’s not only open, but you’re also more than welcome. It’ll be a pleasure and an honor to entertain you.”
The invitation touched Lasgol’s heart, and he touched his hand to his chest. “Thank you very much, Chief. My bow is at the service of the Chief of the village of Skad, if he should need it.”
Gondar bowed his head in a gesture of respect, and Lasgol mounted Trotter, who was waiting patiently. Let’s go, he transmitted to the pony and to Ona and Camu, whom he hoped would not be too far away, involved in some mischief. Instead of going to the village square, they turned aside in the direction of Lasgol’s estate in the northern part. The faces of surprise and then recognition of the peasants were a poem. Lasgol smiled to himself, especially when children saw Ona. Their reactions were priceless. Several asked their parents to let them take her home with them, and a little girl who looked very quick-witted asked them for ‘one like that’ for her birthday. Lasgol almost choked with laughter and had to cover his mouth to muffle the sound.
At the gate in the outer wall of the estate, he dismounted and opened the gate. With me, he transmitted as he went up along the path to the great house. Halfway there, the door opened and a woman came out
