***
Lannon found the boy to be miserable company. Taith complained about everything and constantly shifted about in the saddle. He kept poking Lannon in the ribs to get his attention and then had fits of anger when Lannon's response was not adequate--at one point punching Lannon in the spine hard enough to cause a flash of pain. Lannon tried to be kind and patient, bearing in mind that Taith had just been ruthlessly abandoned by his father, but it was difficult. Taith seemed to find ways to deliberately irritate Lannon.
"Can I hold that sword?" Taith asked, reaching for it. Lannon pushed his hand away. "Is it made of bones? Are those human bones?"
"Dragon bones," Lannon mumbled, then instantly regretted it.
"From a real Dragon?" Taith sounded skeptical. "I thought Divine Knights weren't liars, so why are you a liar?"
"I'm not a liar," Lannon replied. "They are Dragon bones."
"Sure," said Taith. "Probably the bones of someone you killed."
"Human bones wouldn't make a strong sword," said Lannon, though he knew it was pointless to argue.
"They would if cursed with evil," said Taith.
"Divine Knights aren't evil," said Lannon.
Taith again punched Lannon in the spine--hard enough to make Lannon wince. Lannon's face grew hot with anger. "Enough of that nonsense," he said, turning. "If you do that again, you won't be riding with me."
Taith balled up his fist, but Lannon froze him with Eye. When Lannon released him, Taith looked horrified. "What...what did you do to me?"
"Sorcery," said Lannon. "And I have more of it, so beware."
"I knew you were evil," Taith muttered.
"I'm not evil," said Lannon. "Just angry right now."
"Well stop being angry," said Taith. "I thought you were a wise Knight, not someone who gets angry at children." He shoved at Lannon's back. "You must be a sorry sort of Knight."
Lannon clenched his teeth and didn't respond.
"Taith, that's enough," said Aldreya, in a harsh tone. "If you continue to misbehave, you will eat only vegetables for dinner."
"Good," said Taith. "I hate meat anyways."
"Then you will only eat meat," said Aldreya.
"Good," said Taith. "I hate vegetables."
Aldreya's lips tightened. "You will learn to listen."
Taith made a rude gesture at her.
"Do that again," said Aldreya, "and you will eat nothing this evening. You will go to bed without supper. Is that understood?"
"Hey, I thought you were supposed to be nice," said Taith. "Why are you being mean to me when my father just abandoned me? Do you want to starve me? Lannon wouldn't starve me--right, Lannon?"
Lannon nodded. "But you will receive proper discipline."
Taith shoved Lannon again.
"I'm not being mean," said Aldreya. "I'm teaching you proper behavior. If you misbehave, there are consequences."
"Like beatings?" said Taith. "That's what my father used to do, with a plank of wood. But later I learned to pay him back for it--so he quit doing it. I told him I would cut his throat in his sleep."
"You won't receive any beatings," said Aldreya. "Not when you ride with us. But you will learn manners and respect. Trust me on that. I'm sorry about the things that have happened to you, but they are beyond my control and yours. We must focus on the here and now."
"Focus all you want," said Taith. "I could care less. Focus is a stupid waste of time. Right, Lannon?" He took to drumming his fingers on Lannon's back and humming loudly. "No focus! No Focus!"
Lannon suspected that getting Taith to behave was going to be a long and difficult process for whoever ultimately undertook the task. Lannon had no intention of being the one to do it and he pitied whoever opted to fill the role. In fact, the idea of facing Tenneth Bard again in a duel to the death seemed preferable to dealing with this young man. Lannon couldn't wait to get back to worrying about the dangers of strange lands and war with Bellis.