Part 2

{This backtracks, starting well before Part 1 (March) ends, in order to make some changes.

I hope tolls may be sort of considered taxes.}

Shortly thereafter, he left the building. Alone, for he traveled fastest that way. He rode, for neither of his destinations was nearby, though he’d have to find a safe place to leave his horse when he went after the feline. The day was fine, and he was glad to be back in his proper surroundings.

He didn’t immediately realize there was someone following him—whoever it was must be riding faster than he, who had been taking it easy to preserve Graygirl on a long trip. He dismounted and gave the mare a light tap. Well trained and remarkably intelligent, she understood perfectly she was supposed to continue without him, sounding as if he were still riding. It was only a short distance to a major crossroads with a tollgate. He knew the gatekeeper, knew he could be trusted to keep Graygirl for his arrival. And the huntsman waited, somewhat concealed.

He was not surprised to see it was the princess, on a pony, following him. He considered letting her continue trailing his horse until she realized she’d been deceived, but sighed, thinking it was best to get this over with now. So he stepped out of the forest’s edge and stood in front of her.

She pulled up and stared at him. “Well, I’m here. What are you going to do about it.”

One way or another, she had to go back to her father. Now! He hadn’t yet decided how to manage this. And then he did. “Well, you can go after the bear. Kill it while I’m looking for the big cat.. Here . . “ He pulled one of the spears out of the leather loop on his back. “That should do it.”

She stared at it, making no move to take it. “What’s that for?”

“To kill the bear, of course.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Then what are you doing out here?”

“I’m following you. Until you lead me to a light spirit.”

“That is a remarkable piece of ignorance. One doesn’t find light spirits. They find you. when you are worthy of it.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s true.”

“What made my great aunt so worthy, then. She was just a silly old woman.”

“She was old and weary when you knew her. But she was never silly.

The princess glowered at him. He shook his head, “More ignorance. You don’t know about her saving us all?”

“That’s just a story.”

They had continued while they spoke and now a bend in the road brought the tollgate into view.

“What’s that!”

“Tollgate.”

“What’s a tollgate?”

“You pay toll to continue.”

She was abruptly silent. Did she have any money with her? In any event, he had choices now. If she had no money, she wouldn’t be allowed to pass. Of course, it would be a very bad idea to send a princess back to her father on her own. He could pay for her, or if she had some money herself, they could pass the tollgate and take the direction on the crossroad which would start returning her to her home. He sighed again. He didn’t dislike children, but they had not been part of his life since the death of his wife and sons in an epidemic many years ago. He wasn’t prepared for this.

When they arrived at the tollhouse, he pulled out the little bronze disk that was his pass. Timmy, the gatekeeper, nodded and looked at the princess. She looked innocent and said, “I’m with my father, here.”

The hunter gasped, horrified. The gatekeeper looked at him, and he fumbled for words. Should he try explaining the whole thing? Should he reveal who she was? His instincts said no. He started grasping for an account of why he had no money for her—maybe an emergency took them on the road too abruptly to be properly prepared?

While he fumbled, she seemed to be sidling over to the doorway of the little hut. He thought he saw her arm reach out, inside. Then she eased back to them. “My father was too upset to manage properly, I guess. But I have money. How much?”

Just enough, it seemed. And he thought they’d better get out of there fast. She had stolen from the toll house. People were hung for this. Best deal with this later, with the help of her father, hopefully. As they hurried away, he was forcibly put in mind of some of the stories he’d heard about her father—conniving and ruthless.