Broken World Book Three - A Land Without Law by T C Southwell

thought of the
monstrosity that grew in the blasted forest. A Mujar child would
probably kill her, his gestation being so different from a
Lowman's.
    Remembering
his offspring, he stopped to gaze in the direction of the distant,
abandoned continent where the Mujar child would no doubt perish in
the chaos. He shrugged and walked on. Mujar young could be killed
before they were born, a fact that made their whereabouts a
carefully kept secret. It took a Mujar two years to emerge from the
flower that nurtured him, and then he did so fully formed, a little
smaller than an adult. Young Mujar needed no parents to raise them,
the world was their cradle and teacher.
    Chanter found
Kieran helping two farmers to cut a pile of wood, and wandered over
to the Prince. "Kieran, I must speak to you."
    Kieran
straightened in surprise, and the farmers doffed their caps as he
nodded and picked up the tunic he had removed to work, approaching
Chanter.
    The Mujar
turned away. "Bring the sword."
     
    Jesher looked
around at the expectant faces of the group of senior warriors he
had assembled. The old headman, Larik, had silver hair that set him
apart as the oldest man in the tribe. His elderly stallion, Odel,
had ruled the herd for ten years before Nort had challenged and
beaten him. Now Odel ruled the bachelor herd, and would until he
died. The old headman still had standing in the tribe, commanded
respect and gave counsel to the young. Jesher glanced at his
family, who sat behind the warriors, and dropped his bombshell.
    "The strange
man is Mujar."
    Everyone
gasped except Larik, who nodded. "I thought so."
    "I didn't
believe it, for he's a cripple. No Mujar would remain a
cripple."
    "Perhaps he
has his reasons," Brin stated.
    "He must. From
now on, he'll be treated with the respect that he deserves, and any
who don't respect him will be cast out."
    Heads nodded
around the crowded tent.
    "To think,"
Jesher muttered, "I almost attacked him when he took the Stone.
I'll make reparation for my temerity, be assured. He's brought more
than four hundred horses for us to tend and bring back to health. I
doubt any of them will choose from amongst us, but that does not
matter. The mares will breed with Nort, and the... geldings will
run with the bachelor herd. They have earned a quiet life after all
they have suffered."
    "How will you
make reparation to the Mujar?" Larik enquired.
    "They plan to
go on a quest." Jesher glanced at Shan. "The stone Shan found is
part of a sacred staff, and they're going to find the rest of it.
We will offer them horses to ride, and our steeds will find those
willing to bear unchosen riders. This is a new situation, and the
presence of the Mujar will make them willing. The girl, Talsy,
bears the Stone mark, yet she has not been chosen by a horse. I
will choose four warriors from amongst you to go with them, to help
and guard them."
    "I'll go,"
Brin volunteered.
    Jesher nodded.
"I agree. You will be in charge, as a senior warrior. The others
will be Taff, Mita, and Tron."
    "Papa, let me
go too!" Shan burst out, earning a cuff from his mother and a glare
from the headman.
    "You're too
young, boy. It will be dangerous, and you're not yet a
warrior."
    "I am! I have
a horse, I have the mark!"
    "A horse you
didn't want," Jesher reminded him.
    "I want him
now," Shan protested.
    "He's also too
young."
    Shan's eyes
shimmered with tears. "I found the stone! I carried it here! I have
earned the right!"
    Jesher frowned
at the boy, unable to refute the truth of this, and Larik murmured,
"Let the boy go, Jesher. What harm can come to him in the company
of a Mujar?"
    "He's too
young. The Mujar will be concerned only with protecting the girl,
no one else. Kieran has the magical sword, and my warriors have
their skills, which he lacks."
    "I'll look
after him," Brin offered.
    The headman
turned his glare on the warrior. "You may not survive yourself.
From what they said, this world is falling into chaos. It will be
more dangerous out there than