It had been a few years since he heard the sound of hooves of running horses. But this sound reminded him of someone... someone who was very close to him, closer than a brother.
Thunder.
He could never mistake the sound of those hooves. Much as Thunder could not mistake his voice having been with him since Thunder was a foal. There was a time when both horse and master were inseparable. But that was before Logan McPherson left all his worldly possessions to join the abbey.
The abbey was a quiet place – too quiet at times.
But this was the way Logan wanted to lead his life.
It had been three years since he had come here and not once had he looked back at his previous life.
When he had left Thunder behind under the care of young Goran, Thunder had let out wails that he could still hear in lonely nights. It had pierced his heart to leave Thunder behind, but then the abbey was a place where you came with no ties, even the love of a trusted friend. And Thunder was the only one he trusted in this life anymore.
Young Goran at the age of fourteen was his squire who idolized Logan and could see him never do any wrong. Logan had seen the makings of a great warrior in Goran and hopefully the lad now at seventeen would show one and all a glimpse of the warrior he could be. But Logan would not be there to train him or see him achieve the spurs of a warrior. It was one of Logan’s greatest regrets – not being able to guide Goran the way the lad wanted him to, the way the lad deserved.
Logan’s musings were cut short when those same hooves came to a standstill outside the heavy doors of the abbey and he could hear a very familiar neighing.
Thunder! Thunder is here! But how?
Logan stopped working at cleaning the floors of the abbey and looked up at the abbey doors.
Soon persistent knocking could be heard.
Brother Matthew who was in-charge of entry to the abbey opened the door and a scary looking black steed as dark as the night rushed in followed by a young man of twenty something years who was in warrior gear, a helmet covering his face.
Thunder is here!
The young warrior had a few words with Brother Matthew, but he looked directly at Logan with his deep grey eyes, filled with a seriousness much beyond his years.
Then the young warrior walked up to Logan and stopped before him. He took off his helmet and bent his head and said, “My laird.”
His voice was deep and quiet, filled with soothing tones but with a weariness Logan could not comprehend.
Thunder was trying to butt his head onto Logan’s shoulder in a show of recognition. Logan was afraid of looking at Thunder, for not wanting to fall weak because of his love for the animal. So Logan said instead, “I am not ‘your laird’, brother. What makes you come here, pray, tell me.”
He looked on curiously at the young warrior who had come on Thunder’s back.
The young warrior looked up at Logan a little hurt, but soon his features were composed as if nothing had bothered him. He said, “My laird, I am Goran, your squire from three years back. I am a warrior now at the keep of Remington.”
Logan was astonished and proud to see the young lad become into a fine warrior before him that too within the short time span of three years, a feat no doubt much commendable. But he could not agree to being ‘his laird’ for fear of falling prey to the strings of his past.
“You are mistaken, brother. I am no more a laird, if I ever was once. Do tell me, what you come here for, so that I may help you to be on your way,” said Logan with a sereneness he did not feel.
Goran was distressed at the way, Logan was denying his identity. But he expected as much since Logan had left to become a monk. He was told by the elders that he would face much resistance from Logan himself for the task that he had put upon himself. But he had to try, try and succeed for his clan.
“My laird, denying your self will not make this fact untrue. You are and will remain the laird of Remington Castle,” said Goran calmly, though his stormy grey eyes wanted to shout at his master.
“Nay. I am not denying myself. I am, but a simple man on way to becoming a monk in this abbey. I have no ties with the world you speak of and I am no man or castle’s laird,” insisted Logan.
Thunder neighed in denial at this as if he understood each word. But he did always understand what Logan wanted to say, didn’t he?
Momentarily distracted by Thunder, Logan failed to see Goran come closer to him and bend down on one knee in front of him.
“My laird, I know you have renounced the world and want to live your life in peace here. But the situation of the Castle and Keep you left behind as well as its people, demand that you come back,” entreated Goran with a plea in his voice which Logan could not refuse to hear.
Brother Matthew sensed Logan’s turmoil and came up to him and said, “Brother Logan, listen to what the lad has to say. I will in the meantime call Father James.” With that Brother Matthew moved on into the dark recesses of the abbey to look for the kind Father who had sheltered Logan when he knew not where to go or what to do.
Goran was saying something more and Logan tried to pay more attention to him leaving behind his conflicting thoughts.
“My laird, the Fuellers have joined hands with McArthurs and declared attack on Cullen Castle as Laird McCullen has no male heir. Old Man McCullen was too frail to fight off that attack. He died in the first attack. Your brother, Ian went to their aid in view of our alliance with them for the past so many years, but he has fallen too,” said Goran with a sad voice.
Logan was shocked to hear that his brother was no more. True that he did not get along so well with his brother, but after all Ian was his blood. There was love between them even if it was mixed with fights and disagreements. When Logan had left the lairdship of Castle Remington to Ian, he had thought that it would make Ian happy and end the jealousy Ian felt for Logan. Logan had never imagined that he would hear of Ian’s death so soon. But his death also brought some problems of their own. Last that Logan knew Ian was not married and had no legal heirs of his loins, so that would mean Castle Remington had no heir to take the place of laird, unless…
Thunder neighed once more as if demanding attention and Logan tried to concentrate on what Goran was saying, “The keep of Cullen is about to fall to the hands of the Fuellers unless we overtake the castle for our own. But the morale of our soldiers is at an all time low in absence of a commander. I come here to find that commander.” Goran looked with beseeching eyes at Logan.
Logan thoughts were in complete chaos. On one hand he had left that world and its ties behind and on the other he had promised his old man that he would take care of the McPherson clan. He had hoped that despite their differences, Ian would take care of his promise. But now Ian was no more. And Logan knew that if Castle Cullen was to fall, the next target for the Fuellers would be Castle Remington, especially now when there was no clear leader of the McPhersons.
Logan was lost in his thoughts when Father James appeared with Brother Matthew at his side. Only another of Thunder’s neighs apprised Logan of the arrival of the head of his family inside the abbey doors.
“Son, I can understand your pain. Your work in that world is not over. Return there,” said the good Father.
“But Father…” interrupted Logan.
The Father raised his hand to stop Logan’s arguments and said, “No buts, son. You have been a good son,” with that Father James pointed at the abbey doors, “ – beyond those doors and inside them.” Father James laid a hand on Logan’s shoulder in a gesture to comfort and continued, “Go, they need you more than this abbey. Once your work is done there, then come back. I promise the doors of this place will forever remain open for you.”
Logan was still not comfortable with going back to the world he had left behind. But with Father James words as an edict and the promise he had given to his dying father, he was bound in word and duty to go back and take the reins of Remington Castle.
Logan went upto Thunder and raised his hand to touch him for the first time in three years. Thunder once more butted his head on Logan’s hand as if he was thirsting for the touch of his master these many years.
“Thunder, I wonder how will Goran return to Castle Remington since you will be carrying me on your back now on,” said Logan with a smile.
Goran face burst into a grin and he said, “Do not worry, my laird. I got Ray along for the ride. She is waiting outside and will carry me home, if Thunder permits.”
Thunder snorted and tried to butt Goran’s back, but Goran was fast and out of the abbey in a trice.
“Should I know Ray?” asked Logan to no one in particular as he patted Thunder on his head.
Thunder neighed once more as if trying to tell Logan something. Logan looked askance at him and then climbed his back and saying a farewell to Father James and Brother Matthew left the abbey walls with a promise to himself to return to the abbey as soon was possible for him.
Outside Goran was already mounted on a grey thoroughbred beautiful mare. She neighed in anticipation of continuing on the journey. But it seemed as if she was neighing at Thunder and not at the man on her back.
Thunder neighed in reply as if trying to pacify her as well as trying to tell her something. Thunder tried to turn his neck and look at Logan and then looked back at Ray.
“He is trying to introduce two of his favourite people in the world, my laird,” said Goran to a confused looking Logan, “This is Ray, Thunder’s mate, my laird.”
And then with a pat on Ray’s neck, Goran said, “Ray, this is Thunder’s and mine master, Logan – the laird of Castle Remington.”
Ray seemed to understand and bowed her head as if greeting Logan.
Logan was pleased to see that his friend, Thunder had found a mate. He tread Thunder towards Ray and patted on her head, “Pleased to meet you, Ray.” Ray in turn butted her head on Logan’s hands.
“Come, Goran, the day rushes on. We should be on our way, if we have to reach Castle Remington by sun down,” said Logan and galloped on Thunder towards Castle Remington feeling the rushing wind on his face and in his hair for the first time in three years.
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