Lost Days by Mike Shepherd

Author:Mike Shepherd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KL&MM Books

Shokin watched the sunset, but his eyes were on the dust cloud turned golden by the setting sun. He had ridden into this last camp when the sun was high. It took him only moments to speak the words that sent everyone scrambling to break camp and move the herd to where he had called the Clan together.

One young warrior had held back.

"I have hunted with a warrior from one of the new clans. I would take your words of warning to him."

"Would he ride under our totem?"

"I cannot speak for him. Can I bring him to you?"

"We will ride out tomorrow."

"I can ride for him now."

Shokin had nodded, and the boy had raced out with three spare horses. Before he was out of sight, he had already leaped from the first to another.

Whoever was riding toward Shokin now rode just as hard. As the twilight deepened, Shokin waited. He could just make out the two riders that raced toward him. Their mounts and spares were flecked with sweat; they did not rein them in until the last moment. Yet, stop they did, only two armes lengths from Shokin.

"I am Mozyr, Strong Arm of the Sharp Claw band of the Swift Eagle Clan. I greet you, Mighty Man of the Stalwart Shield."

"I greet you, too, and invite you to meat beside the fires of my Clan. Boys, come quickly and care for these proud horses," Shokin hardly raised his voice, but four lads were there to take the mounts from their riders.

"Care for them well," Mozyr said. "They galloped without complaint. Any Clan will be proud of the ponies these get."

Shokin studied the man as he walked toward the fire and food.

The Strong Arm of the Sharp Claw band was little older than the youth who had ridden off to bring him. The wandering clans had suffered hard times. Many an old or wounded one must have gone aside so that the band could flee quickly before its enemies. The fire highlighted scars on the man's arms and shoulders. Although young, he was well tested in battle.

Was he old enough to have the wisdom to know how to avoid it needlessly?

"Your warrior tells me tales of demons who stalk the night. I had thought them old wives’ tales. I have ridden at night to escape those who would slaughter us. I saw no demon."

"Old wives’ tales they might once have been. They are not now." As they ate, Shokin told him what he had seen.

"You say farmers and wood runners could do such things to warriors?" Mozyr's voice was half disbelief, but only half.

"I have the jar with Arakk's head. If you had seen this Launa who named herself war leader, you would not doubt."

Mozyr wiped his hands on his arms. "I will bring these words to the Mighty Man of the Swift Eagle."

"Where does he camp?"

"To the west, on the other side of the river."

"Eeh, I promised Launa that my clan would stay to the east of the river."

"There was only enough grass for one camp here.

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