00 - Always a stranger, 1/2
„Ma, look at this! Look!“ The boy was holding a snake by the tail.
Black-haired, suntanned woman looked up from milking the cow and her mouth cracked into smile.
„Nice, Korh.“ It would sound not very heartily to any foreigner, but her answer was a big compliment. The boy sat down and started to skin the animal.
Sun was blazing down on the cartrev. Day began pleasantly and the nice weather seemed to stay until the evening.
Suddenly Kor realized, that he hears some very quiet, distant noise. He stopped skinning his prey.
It was a bit like drums, but the rhythm was not regular, it was slightly changing. The dun woman stopped milking, she heard it now too.
The beating rhythm slowed a bit and then they saw it. From under the hill, a man was approaching them, riding a beast. It looked like ox, but it had no horns and was much slimmer. It cannot be… thought Kor. But yes… it is a horse… Fair-haired rider was from Rohan. The enemy.
„Who is it, ma?” asked with worry in voice. Then turned his eyes to mother, trying to find out what means that expression in her face.
The woman was watching the rider as he was approaching, staring at him, estimating. Finally she has spoken, short on words as usual. But the situation didn’t need wide explaining.
„Father.”
*
Kor felt mixed feelings, but pleasant surprise was outweighing. Father was a mighty officer in the army of horsemen. He wielded a sharp spear and a heavy sword. Kor couldn’t even lift it, in spite of that he was already ten years old.
Finally he understood why he and his mother Cranna were shunned by their own, dunnish kin. Sometimes those of his age group even addressed him with the word. Duvodiad.
“Would you like to become a soldier too?”, asked Teanred, smiling. But he could read the answer from his son’s widened eyes before he spoke.
Of course, this option looked far better than to stay here, although he loved his mother and their tiny piece of land.
“Will I have one of these animals?” asked enthusiastic Kor, stroking the horse’s mane.
Father nodded, but he was looking on his woman’s expression.
“I knew you would disagree, Cranna, but it’s his decision.”
“Teanred …” didn’t finish Cranna with bitterness in her voice. She began to see, that this was already given, destined.
And I will not be treated like an inferior anymore, thought Kor.
He was wrong.
*
Next two years, father came to visit more often, once every moon. After that time, Kor said goodbye to mother and their cartrev and departed with his father to train with the horsemen.
Life in the rohirric army taught him much. About horses, about fighting… and about humiliating. He was only lucky, that he inherited tall and strong figure and calm temperament. After a while, other recruits started to accept him. But there was always a slight aftertaste. Yes, he was a stranger. In spite of the fact his father was a rohirrim. He began to realize he will always be.
A duvodiad.
