DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [24]
He saw the farm worker and strode over to the fence.
“We already have one in the barn,” he said.
Ilex nodded. “I saw that. I didn’t even expect to see you until late in the morning. You’re moving kinda free for someone who broke a kindia yesterday.”
“I used the liniment Hoddack gave me, and my friends have a tea that’s helpful.” Bardon rubbed his hand across his chin. “What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’ve been stepped on by one of these kindias?”
Ilex jerked his chin in the direction of the young woman who now stood face to face with a reddish-brown kindia. “She’s an emerlindian, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“Not sure how the master is going to react.” Ilex clicked his tongue and shook his head. “This ain’t the way he’s used to breaking his stock.”
Bardon studied the man sitting on the fence. “Why would Hoddack care as long as the animals are fit to be ridden?”
“I think I’ve mentioned before that Hoddack is a tricky one to get along with.”
“I don’t see your point.”
“Just expect him to be ornery, and you’ll be better off. She’s leading that kindia over here. What do you two do next?”
“I’ll saddle and ride him, then put him in the barn.”
“Well, I’ll go back to coddling the two that are in there. They like to hear me sing, you know.” He slipped off the fence and meandered into the barn.
By late afternoon, the barn held six contented kindias. N’Rae moved from one to the next, stroking their soft fur and looking deep into their eyes.
Hoddack marched through the open doors with Ilex following.
“I want to see this!” he shouted. “This is some kind of trick.”
Instinctively, Bardon moved so that he stood between the blustering man and N’Rae. “I assure you, it isn’t.”
The huge doors at both ends of the barn opened to the cool wind and the fading sun. Enough light poured in for the owner of the farm to inspect his stock. Hoddack stomped up and down the breezeway between the two rows of stalls. The animals watched him curiously. He slowed and came to a halt in the middle of his barn. The kindia trader removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. He put the hat back down on his head with a thump and pointed a stubby finger at Bardon.
“I hired you to sit on these animals until they broke. You haven’t done what I hired you for.”
“You offered five hundred grood for each kindia broken. Six are broken. You owe us for five. That’s twenty-five hundred grood.”
“I can do the arithmetic. But this isn’t right! How do I know this breaking is going to take? I give you the money, and tomorrow they’re all as wild as the day before yesterday.”
Bardon shook his head. “I’ve never heard of that happening. A tame kindia gone wild? Never.”
Ilex spoke up. “I haven’t either, Master Hoddack.”
The older man spun around and shook the same stubby finger at his hired help. “You keep your nose out of this.”
Ilex squinted, spat out of the side of his mouth, and jerked a nod.
Hoddack put his hands on his hips and glared at Bardon. “I’m not giving you the money tonight. If these beasts are still broke tomorrow, I’ll pay you. I’m a fair man, but I won’t take the chance that you’re not.”
With long, angry strides he reached the door and turned. “And another thing! How do I know these beasts will still run? How do I know that girl didn’t zap all the vitality out of them that makes them good stock? If they’re as meek as lambs, I’m not going to get a good price for them, and my reputation as a supplier will be shot, to boot. Come back tomorrow. We’ll see if you earned the money.”
Ilex waited until his master was out of hearing. “Come back at the crack of dawn. He’s planning a trip, and it would be convenient for him if you didn’t get here before he left.”
“Thanks, Ilex.”
“It’s nothing. I enjoyed working with you.” He tipped his hat to N’Rae. “Nice to have met you, Mistress. You have a mighty fine talent with the animals.”
“Thank you,” N’Rae answered, with a pleased smile brightening her face.
As they walked back