Page 9 of Koha'vek
“I miss who I was there,” he said. “Before the war.”
I could almost sense the pain behind that admission.
“You said you were a historian. Did you enjoy it?” I swallowed.
“I did,” he said in a wistful tone. “I loved studying ancient ruins and recording stories. My people used to sing their history.
“You were a storyteller?”
“It was part of my job.”
“I was in the middle of a major project when the Emperor’s space force conscripted me. Now, I will never finish it.” He said the last wistfully.
“You loved your work.”
“It was all I had. My parents and siblings died in the war while I was still a youngling.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said and meant it. “At least I was grown when my father died. Jenkins had already taken over the town for several years. I don’t know why I thought he would spare me after Dad died. But there he was three days later, demanding I become his woman or vacate my property. So here we are.”
I glanced at Koha’vek, but he didn’t say anything. He just gave a slight nod. As I looked back out the window at my horse, I had a sudden longing to ride her. It was still early inthe beautiful spring day, and I’d not been out of the house since Koha’vek had brought me there.
“I want to ride Dotty.” I turned to Koha’vek.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said suspiciously.
“Oh, you needn’t worry. I don’t want to run away. I just want to ride her. We don’t even have to put a saddle on her, and you can lead her. I just want to go outside and spend some time with her.”
Again, Koha’vek nodded. First, he went back into his room and came back wearing his weapons belt. “Wait here, and I will bring her to you.”
“Thank you.” I gave him a bright smile to show my appreciation, and I would have sworn I saw the corners of his wide mouth lift just a little.
Koha’vek
I smiled to myself as I walked to the paddock to get Ava’s horse. At first, I was a little suspicious that she might be planning to run, but then I remembered how affectionate she had been when I brought the horse to see her before she couldget on her feet. Something changed inside me, and she gave me that beautiful smile when I agreed to indulge her.
The horse greeted me with a soft nicker as I reached the paddock fence. I went inside the barn and got her bridle so I could use the reins to lead her. She had not come with a lead or a halter. Recalling how I had removed the bridle, I had little trouble putting it back on her. She neighed loudly when she saw Ava standing on the porch waiting.
The horse pressed her head against Ava’s chest, allowing her to hug it. “I missed you, too, sweetie,” Ava said and kissed the horse’s forehead.
Even if I had saddled the horse, Ava was in no condition to mount her. Wrapping the reins over the porch railing, I went to her side. “Will you allow me to lift you onto the horse’s back?”
“Yes, please.” Ava raised her arms, pressing her hands on the withers.
I gently gripped her small waist and lifted her with little effort onto the animal’s back. She looked so happy sitting on her animal that I was glad I’d agreed to do this for her. “Where would you like to go?”
“Wherever you’d like. I’m just here for the ride,” she laughed happily.
So, I started walking along the dirt trail through the woods where I usually hunted. Ava’s horse was content to follow, and it seemed happy to carry her owner.
I found peace in this forest as the wind softly whispered through the conifers, and birds flittered among them. Still, I always carried weapons when I left the cabin because a few miles away, there was a forced labor camp at an old mine. I had stumbled on it one day in my wandering and made a point to stay away from it since.
Knowing they were even that close made me arm myself whenever I left my home.
I glanced back frequently to make sure that Ava was comfortable as she swayed to the rhythm of Dotty’s steps. The air was comfortably cool, so Ava looked warm in her light jacket. I had been fortunate enough to find her other pack one day while I was hunting. It had rolled down the hill quite a way from where she had landed when I found her.
It pleased me to see Ava looking serene atop her horse. When I turned back to look at the trail ahead, a flicker of motion caught my attention. A flutter of wings near the edge of a low thicket, and I instinctively pulled my throwing knife from its sheath. I saw slate gray feathers, a fan-shapedtail, and the distinctive bounce of a dusky grouse working its way along a conifer branch.
“Wait here,” I said in a low whisper, dropping the reins and moving silently ahead.
