Confession

They all mowed to the closest group of trees, trying to be swift but not run. They didn’t want to startle the boar. She hadn’t moved yet, but was watching them closely.

“Let me help you up,” Jontak told Mary as they got to the tree. She nodded and saw Harman helping Procecsa.

As Mary sat on a branch in the tree, six feet above the ground, she took count of the situation. Jontak was sitting on a branch in the same tree as Mary. Procecsa and Hermen were in the next tree over and the two eldest brothers in another.

“Where is Kefli?” she called out.

Everyone looked around, but no one could find him.

“He was right behind us,” his oldest brother said, a slight panic in his voice.

They called for him, and finally, Hermen spotted him. He was in a clearing just to the side of where they had been.

“Kefli, stay where you are,” his oldest brother shouted to him.

Kefli looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.

“We are in the trees. There is a boar here with piglets. She hasn’t noticed you so calmly climb a tree, and we will wait for them to leave,” his brother said.

Kefli looked scared. Mary couldn’t blame him. She was a little scared herself. But he seemed to do as his brother had told him. He walked towards the closest tree. When he stepped into the bushes to get to the tree, there was a loud yelp as a noose trap triggered.

The noise got the boar’s attention and since she was already agitated; it made her home in on the sound and start running.

Mary acted without thinking. She was out of the tree and sprinting towards the boy before anyone else had reacted. She heard her friends calling her name as she came to a stop by Kefli. The boy was franticly trying to pull on the rope to make it slack enough so he could pull his foot through the noose.

Mary drew her knife and put it to the rope. As the rope snapped, she felt Jontak and Hermen reach them.

“What are you doing?” Hermen shouted.

“Get him into the tree,” Mary told them as she could hear the boar getting close.

Hermen more or less tossed Kefli into the tree while Jontak pushed Mary up. Just in time, the two riders scampered into the tree and the sow came charging through the bushes.

“Don’t ever do anything like that again,” Jontak told Marry.

“I couldn’t just let him be,” Mary objected.

“You let us handle situations like this. You stay in the tree, and we jump down,” Jontak scolded her.

“Do you realise what your father would have done to us if you got hurt? What Tenac would have done to me?” Jontak said, and both riders shivered at the thought.

“Sorry,” Mary said.

“How is your foot?” she then asked Kefli.

“It hurts,” he told her as the boar furiously were screeching on the ground.

“Let me see,” Mary said. The boy pulled his pants leg up and tried to swing his leg so Mary could look.

The noose, with the cut rope, was still hanging around his ankle. Mary took it off and looked at the ankle. He had a red mark from the rope burning his skin and the ankle was swelling. But she couldn’t feel any break in the bone.

“You will have a bruise for a couple of days, and you will need to stay off the leg until the swelling goes down,” she told him.

He nodded and looked close to tears.

“You are a very brave boy. You didn’t panic and tried to get free. When we get back to the village, your friends will be jealous of the adventure you have had,” she told him.

“You think so?” he asked.

“Definitely, or what do you say?” Mary asked the two riders.

“Yeah, they will be green,” Jontak nodded.

“Very brave indeed,” Hermen said.

Kefli seemed to perk up after hearing that.

For an hour, they sat in the trees. Mary had no idea that boars were so persistent. But the sow was staying put as if she had no plans to move.

When she finally gathered up the piglets, and they all strolled away, they all sighed in relief. They waited a while longer to make sure she wouldn’t double back, and then they climbed out of the trees. Mary’s muscles protested after being locked for so long.

“It’s almost dusk. We should try to get home as soon as possible. The boars are more active at dusk and dawn,” the eldest brother said.

As they started walking, everyone feeling like one boar would be enough for today, he walked up to Mary.

“Thank you for what you did for my brother,” he said.

“Don’t mention it,” she smiled at him.

The middle brother was carrying Kefli on his back and the boy had recovered from his scare enough to look at the experience as an adventure.

As they got to the village, there were two anxious riders pacing back and forth, waiting for them. After hearing what had happened, Mary got a two-hour lecture from Sinhera about taking unnecessary risks and the division of labour between the aari and the grey riders.

Mary didn’t mind. She realised she had acted without thinking. It was clear that she needed practise in trusting other people to do their job, just as she was expecting them to let her do hers.

Before they headed to bed, Mary visited Kefli’s family to make sure he was okay. She told them what herbs to use to make a poultice for his injured ankle.

The next morning, they said goodbye to the villagers and started the journey home. The journey was far better than the previous one. Although all four riders were looking out for Mary, they didn’t suffocate her.

Just after noon on the second day, they could spot the walls around Salmis, and Mary smiled. She had enjoyed her little adventure, but it felt nice to be home. After an aari had been in the field, they were always given a mandatory leave, that included trainees. Mary had a week of free time to look forward to.

When they reached the river field, Mary saw her parents waiting for her. She smiled and waved at them. Mary spent some time talking to the riders and Procecsa. She thought she would have to take care of Fizz and help bring the notes back inside the sanctum. But Procecsa took the notes, and the riders took Fizz. Mary walked to her parents and gave them a hug.

“Did everything go okay?” her mother asked.

“It went fine. It was really interesting,” Mary told her.

“And Hermen and Loni took care of you?” her father wanted to know.

“They did. But you and I need to have a talk when we get home,” Mary told him.

Kopa looked surprised, and Bettina giggled.

“Come on, Mary, let’s get you home and you and your father can have that talk,” her mother smiled.

As all three of them walked home, Mary told her parents about the trip, avoiding certain topics. They got home and Mary helped her mother make tea and they all sat down around the table.

“What did you want to talk to me about, little one?” her father asked.

“I love you, dad, and I know you love me. But you need to dial it down on the protectiveness,” Mary said.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said. Both Mary and her mother looked at him with looks that said they didn’t buy it.

“You are my little girl, and I will make sure you are safe,” he said.

“And I appreciate that you care about me. But you had Hermen and Loni so scared that they didn’t even let me groom my horse or stir a pot,” Mary told him.

“That seems a bit excessive, I agree. They are supposed to use their judgment,” her father huffed.

“Don’t blame them. It’s difficult for them when you have threatened them. Because apparently you are the biggest and scariest person anyone knows,” Mary continued. Her father was about to say something when Mary held up her hand.

“Don’t even try to say that you didn’t threaten them. I know you did, either with training or death, most probably both,” she said, looking at him.

“Well, maybe,” he confessed.

“I have told you, love. You need to take a step back. Mary has got this,” her mother smiled at her husband.

“But when you go away to where I can’t be, you can get into situations that are dangerous. I need to make sure you are kept safe,” her father objected.

“About that,” Mary said.

She knew the riders would hand in reports to him. He would find out about the boar incident. It would be better if she told him when her mother was there to support her. She would probably have a fighting chance of not being locked away forever. She told him everything and watched as he got paler.

“But on the plus side. I’m fine. I did learn my lesson to never do something like that again. And I got to use your knife for the first time,” she rounded off.

Her father just looked at her for a long moment.

“That does it. I’m asking Tariana to put you on library duty only and you are not allowed to leave the city ever again,” he finally said.

“Mom,” Mary said.

“One moment honey, I’m fighting my maternal instinct that thinks your father is right,” Bettina said.

“Mom!”

“Sorry, sorry. Okay. Kopa, she is fine, and she has learned a lesson. She will never ever do something like that ever again,” her mother said. While she said the last part, she was looking Mary in the eyes.

“I promise,” Mary said.

“I don’t know,” Kopa huffed.

“It will feel better after we spend the week with her,” Bettina told him while patting his arm.

“Fine,” he agreed.

Mary knew better than to say anything. She just smiled and drank her tea.

The next day, she was heading for the stables. She hadn’t been able to visit Addon as she had been away, and she was going to give him, Fizz, and Buttercup some treats.

“Hey Addon. Did you miss me?” she said as she walked up to his box.

He stuck his head out and snorted. Mary smiled and stretched out her hand so he could smell her. As she was about to stroke his neck, she heard a loud shriek, and a prospect came running towards her.

“My lady, please step away from the horse. He is dangerous,” he shouted.

Mary looked at him and then at Addon. The horse shook his mane and snorted again. Mary scratched the spot on his jaw where he liked to be scratched.

“Please, my lady,” the prospect said. He had stopped about a few feet from where Mary was and eyed Addon with fear. He was clearly trying to decide if he would risk his own safety to pull her away.

“It’s okay. Addon is just a bit grumpy since Tenac isn’t around,” Mary said in a calm voice.

“My lady, you don’t know how that creature is. He is evil incarnated,” the prospect whispered. Mary had to laugh.

Addon stretched his neck and nibbled at Mary’s hand that held the basket.

“He’s trying to bite you. Come this way. Please,” the young man urged her.

“Hey, you need to calm down or you will spook him. He is just impatient to get to the apples and carrots in the basket,” Mary told the man.

“You are going to feed him?” the prospect asked. Looking like it was the worst idea he had ever heard.

“I am. And when I’m done giving him his treats, I’m going to head over to Fizz and Buttercup and do the same with them,” she told him.

He looked like he was about to object when Jontak came walking.

“Hey Mary, here to see the beast?” Jontak chuckled.

“Hi Jontak. Don’t call him that. Addon is a good boy,” she said, giving the horse and apple. He took it and ate it while watching the two males.

“You know that the only two people that horses like are you and Tenac,” Jontak said.

“You should give him treats, then he’ll like you too,” Mary smiled.

“I doubt it, but I’ll remember it if I ever need to get close to him,” Jontak laughed.

“Are you going to meet Firlea?” Mary asked.

“Yes, I’m a bit late or I would stay and walk you home,” he said.

“It’s okay, you tell her I said hi,” she smiled.

“Will do.”

As Jontak turned around, the prospect grabbed him.

“Are you just going to leave her?” the young man asked.

“I am. She knows what she’s doing,” Jontak said and walked away.

Mary smiled and watched as the prospect backed away, but he never stopped watching her as long as she talked to Addon.