by R A Oakes
Very gently, Baelfire began to broach a sensitive topic with Aerylln. The young woman’s father was just a few feet from her, and she didn’t even know it. Baelfire thought, After so many years apart, how do I introduce them? Baelfire decided to try approaching the subject from an historical perspective.
“Aerylln, I didn’t mention it before, but I knew your grandmother,” Baelfire said.
“Really? What was she like?”
“She was a noble, courageous woman, and her name was Lyssa.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
“Yes, it is. Well, your grandmother only had one child, a boy. He grew up to be a man, and that man and your mother had you.”
“I remember my mother a little, but I can’t remember my father at all. I try hard to see his face, but I can’t.”
Pensgraft almost died inside when he heard that, and the giant felt like he needed to sit down. Chen put a hand against his back to steady him.
It’s amazing how a man this big can be cut down by a girl this small, Chen thought. That’s why I don’t trust love. All it ever does is cause pain.
As Aerylln was speaking, Baelfire kept a cautious eye on Pensgraft.
“I always wanted a father, but now I guess it doesn’t matter. I have you, Zorya, Corson and Eldwyn. And Marcheto,” Aerylln said looking at him and squeezing his hand.
Pensgraft took a real hard look at Marcheto. The young man wasn’t that much older than Aerylln, but he was still older, and old enough to know more than she did, a lot more. And like fathers down through the ages, Pensgraft wanted to ask him a few questions. Have you touched my daughter? was at the top of the list.
Clenching his fist, Pensgraft almost took a step towards the young warrior. Quickly using her energy, Baelfire gave Pensgraft a restraining push. Taking the hint, Pensgraft remained still.
“Aerylln, you are your father’s only child. I’m sure he misses you very much and would love to hold you in his arms again,” Baelfire said.
“If he misses me so much, why didn’t he ever visit me?”
“Because you are the sole heir, the only woman left in an unbroken matriarchal chain going back 500 years. And from the day you were born, you were always vulnerable to anyone who might want to kidnap or hurt you.”
“Who would want to do that?”
“Many people,” Baelfire said, and she thought, With Lord Daegal at the top of the list. “Aerylln, for your own protection, you had to stay at Mistress Xan’s castle. And your father couldn’t visit because I was in his care, and we dared not risk putting you and me together before you came of age. We’d have made too tempting a target.”
“But with you, my father could have defended me.”
“No, Aerylln, he couldn’t. What have I told you about men, women and me?”
“You said men are caretakers, and women are masters.”
“Yes, and as a caretaker, your father didn’t even have the power you have now. In a man’s hands, I’m not much better than an ordinary sword. He couldn’t have protected you.”
“So, I never really needed him at all,” Aerylln said pouting.
Sighing in frustration, Baelfire looked upward for guidance.
Pensgraft looked at Baelfire, and he shook his head. The sword read her former custodian’s mind as Pensgraft thought, For now, don’t pursue it further. It’s not the right time.
Feeling greatly saddened, Baelfire thought, Once again, the price of power is that, often times, a person’s all alone. In this case, it’s a teenage girl who’s trying to be very brave.
“If anyone’s interested, which I doubt, Glenitant said my father’s here. He abandoned me, the great Ambassador Ritalso, and I want to find him,” Chen said angrily.
Chen knew Aerylln was Pensgraft’s daughter, but the warrior woman wasn’t hoping for a tearful reunion with her own father. She just wanted to tell him off, and thought, He’d better be holding a sword when I meet him. If he’s not, someone should give him one real quick. If I don’t like what he has to say, he might need it.
At that moment, Gwendylln appeared at the top of the stairs, and Chen asked, “So what are you doing, Baelfire? Letting people up here one at a time?”
“Pretty much. I just thought you might need her for moral support.”
“Are you serious? Gwendylln doesn’t have any scruples, let alone morals,” Chen said laughing. “But what she can do is fight.”
“It’s just a phrase. I meant…”
“I know what you meant. You’re saying I can’t handle my own father.”
“No, that’s not it. However, Gwendylln might keep you from murdering him. You wouldn’t kill Gwendylln, would you?”
“No, I owe her too much, my life several times over, for example. But how did you know what I was thinking about my father? Are you a mind reader, on top of everything else?”
“Something like that, I suppose.”
“I can read minds, too,” Crystal said piping up.
“Keep quiet, no one asked for your opinion,” Baelfire told her half-sister.
“I am so under appreciated,” the dark sword laughed. “When I go see my father, can I take Crystal with me?” Chen asked Baelfire.
“Oh, how I love family reunions!” Crystal said laughing already knowing that Baelfire would never let her go along.
“Listen here, young lady, don’t ever touch that sword. Not ever!” Eldwyn said, all too aware of Crystal’s potential for treachery.
“Is that right, grandpa?” Chen sneered.
“Hey, I like the old guy,” Corson said.
“Oh, please, tell me there’s nothing going on between you and this old geezer,” Chen said looking at Corson in amazement.
“No, not yet,” Corson laughed. “But if he’s near Baelfire much longer, he might be a target. When I first met Eldwyn, he could barely walk and was blind as a bat. Now he’s an excellent horseman, and he took those steps coming up here two at a time.”
“Well, I’m glad you both get along so well,” Chen said cynically. And then, with a mischievous grin on her face, she added, “You know what I’d like to see you do with him?”
“Not in front of Aerylln,” Corson cautioned.
“Who is this girl?” Chen asked in frustration. “Why doesn’t someone send her out to play, or off to bed, or something?”
“Let’s go find your father,” Corson said changing the subject.
Catching Chen’s eye, Gwendylln smiled, and the three warrior women headed upstairs.
“If I were her father and knew she was coming, I would run,” Pensgraft said. And he meant it.
Chapter 19
Stopping for a moment and counting on the good sword’s telepathic ability to read minds, Chen wondered, Baelfire, does Crystal know exactly where my father is?
“Hold on there! Why are you asking my sister anything?” Crystal telepathically asked in a huff. “I know where your father is, but I should warn you, what Glenitant told you about him isn’t quite correct.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see. Your father’s room is two flights up, the first door on the left.”
Wearing a sword, the scabbard hanging from a belt around her waist, Chen headed upstairs with the tip bumping against each step. The warrior woman walked the whole way up with her sword going, “Clank, clank, clank!”
Chen’s father, Ritalso, locked in a room at the top of the stairs, heard the noise echoing throughout the stairwell. To him, it sounded like Glenitant was approaching. Whenever the old witch moved about, she had used Crystal like a walking stick and always made that same clanking sound.
Going over to the window and looking down on the courtyard below, Ritalso noticed that nothing was stirring in this incredible fortress, other than his sister it seemed. Feeling a sense of wonder once more, the elderly gentleman knew he’d never seen a castle as beautiful as this.
When Ritalso had first arrived, he was amazed. The white-haired gentleman, prison having aged him premature
ly, had marveled at the awesome beauty of Crystal Castle. He was so impressed by its sheer artistic elegance that he’d felt sure his sister must have changed while he was away.
But Ritalso had overestimated his sister’s capacity for self-healing. In fact, Glenitant seemed meaner and older than before, constant exposure to Crystal having aged her prematurely as well.
What Ritalso didn’t know was that Glenitant and Crystal had been having serious problems with their relationship. It was endlessly stressful and a serious emotional strain affecting Glenitant mentally and physically. The grating tension between herself and the evil sword wasn’t exactly good for her health.
Being at odds with a magic sword, and a dark one at that, had worn her out. Crystal, well aware of this, was intentionally driving Glenitant into an early grave. As it was, the dark sword had succeeded.
However, alone in his chambers, Ritalso knew nothing of Glenitant’s death and had no idea Chen was even at Crystal Castle.
When the clanking stopped outside his door, Ritalso listened for the sound of a key being inserted into the lock. What came instead was a knock.
“Come in,” the elderly gentleman said having no idea why his sister would be knocking on the door of his jail cell. Well, it wasn’t actually a jail cell, but he was being confined behind a locked door.
When Ritalso had arrived at Crystal Castle, Glenitant openly admitted she intended on using him to influence Chen. He figured his sister had some wild scheme, but Ritalso wasn’t sure what to do. After being imprisoned, he was a broken man both emotionally and physically. Swamped with despair, Ritalso knew he no longer had the strength to resist Glenitant.
In his weakened condition, Ritalso was frightened that he would sell out his daughter rather than go back to jail. He loved Chen and would gladly die for her, but he could no longer stand imprisonment.
As he waited for Glenitant to enter the room, Ritalso dreaded what was coming next. But instead of the door swinging wide open, he heard an angry, unfamiliar voice making threats.
“Open this door, or we’ll kick it in!” the woman shouted.
“It’s locked,” Ritalso said in a weak, raspy voice.
“We know it’s locked, you fool. Unlock it now!” the woman shouted.
“I can’t.”
“You can’t or you won’t?” Chen asked. Impatient to get her hands around her father’s throat, she didn’t wait for an answer. Turning to Gwendylln, she told the captain of her personal guard to kick in the door.
The sound of splintering wood echoed down the hallway while Chen, Gwendylln and Corson unsheathed their swords and rushed into the room. Feelings of anger, confusion and sadness over having been abandoned for years welled up inside of Chen, and she gripped her sword tightly. She was about to meet a man she once loved, but who was now, to her, nothing more than a stranger. Yes, her father helped bring her into this world, but now she was tempted to give him death in return.
Stepping from behind Gwendylln, who’d entered the room first, Chen saw a sickly, half-starved man in front of her. Ignoring him, she strode over to a door and ripped it open ready to confront the man who’d ruined her life, but she didn’t find anyone. It was just a closet.
Undaunted, Chen returned to the frail, old man and shouted, “Where’s Ambassador Ritalso?”
“I’ve never heard of an Ambassador Ritalso,” the sickly man said.
Chen was in no mood to argue. The black leather panther wanted to find the ambassador, and she wanted to find him now! Shoving the old man up against a wall, Chen put a hand on his throat.
“I was told Ambassador Ritalso was in this room! Are you one of his personal retainers? Where is he?”
The warrior woman put her face up against his. Ritalso felt like his head was in the mouth of a hungry lion, except Chen was far more dangerous. A lion killed for food and to protect its turf, but Chen sometimes killed for no reason at all. And the frail old man was getting mighty close to finding that out.
“I’m Ritalso,” the frightened man squeaked as Chen tightened her grip on his throat.
“Ambassador Ritalso?” Chen asked in surprise.
“No, just Ritalso.”
“Are you the man who traveled about representing Lord Daegal throughout the furthest reaches of his realm?” she asked glaring at him.
Ritalso felt like he was ready to black out.
“No, I’ve been in one of Lord Daegal’s dungeons, at least until recently,” he said before collapsing. That is, he would have fallen down if Chen weren’t holding him firmly against the wall by his throat. As it was, his legs just went limp.
“Let him go,” Corson whispered in Chen’s ear.
Gwendylln looked at Corson as if she’d lost her mind.
“Wow, you really have been away for a long time,
haven’t you?” Gwendylln said unable to think of another reason to explain Corson’s suicidal behavior. When Chen was in a foul mood, to interfere was virtually a death wish.
Whirling around, Chen punched Corson in the chest with a rock hard fist knocking her completely off balance. Without hesitation, Chen unsheathed her sword and spun around whipping the blade at the surprised warrior woman.
In a flash, Corson’s own sword was out, and she parried the blow. Gaining momentum, Chen swung her sword over her head, but the blade struck the black crystal ceiling above her. The warrior woman realized they shouldn’t be fighting with swords in a confined space, so she threw it aside and drew her knife. Problem solved.
Blinded by rage, Chen had no idea who she was fighting. To her, Corson was a faceless, nameless opponent, a stranger to attack and kill.
Most warriors, men or women, would have been terrified by the sheer savagery of Chen’s assault, but this was Corson she was fighting.
However, Corson wasn’t smiling or amused, and the warrior woman knew she was fighting for her life. But there was something Chen didn’t know. Corson had made peace with death a long time ago and didn’t care if she lived or died. Thus, Corson could take greater risks and counterattack more fiercely.
But Corson was unaware of an important part of Chen’s psychological makeup. The black leather panther didn’t care whether she lived or died either. This allowed Chen to take enormous risks and to continue the ferocity of her attack.
In short, they were evenly matched.
And so, the ever-resourceful Corson, seeking the quickest and simplest solution to the problem, kicked her former boss in her wounded thigh, the wound Chen had earlier received from Glenitant’s lance.
When Chen didn’t seem to notice the pain, Corson was impressed. And, almost as a compliment, she kicked Chen’s wounded thigh again. This time, Corson saw Chen blink, but the pain didn’t slow the black leather panther’s arm when she swung a knife at Corson’s throat.
Swelling with pride over Chen’s prowess as a warrior, Corson decided that she owed the black leather panther the best she could throw at her.
However, Chen had felt both blows to her thigh, the kicks causing enough pain to clear her mind. And so now, the black leather panther was fully aware of whom she was fighting, and she was impressed with Corson’s willingness to exploit her wounded thigh. Chen was proud of Corson and felt she owed this tough warrior woman the best she could throw at her.
Squaring off, they went at each other like wild animals.
Knives flew through the air with blinding speed, and they were both starting to enjoy themselves. After one particularly wicked thrust, Chen looked into Corson’s eyes, and the women smiled at each other.
Wanting to end the fight, but not willing to yield, Chen kicked Corson in the chest sending the warrior woman flying. Bouncing off the opposite wall and making a good, solid thud, it sounded like Corson was in excellent condition. That made Chen want to kick her again, but the black leather panther fell down laughing instead. Having ended up sitting on the floor, Corson leaned back and joined in the laughter.
“Was it good for you?” Chen asked laughing so hard she wa
s almost in tears.
“I’d have brought you some flowers, or something, if I knew you were going to be that good,” Corson said smiling.
“But will you respect me in the morning?” Chen asked continuing to laugh.
“I don’t see why. I never respected you before, why should I start now?” Corson chuckled.
After they caught their breath, Chen pointed at the crumpled figure on the other side of the room. “Who do you think that is?”
“Well, I hate to say it, but I think that’s what’s left of your father.”
After getting to her feet, Chen glared down scornfully at the elderly-looking man on the floor. “No doubt he wasted himself away on women, booze, and whatever while traveling for years.”
Corson looked at her friend compassionately, but this time remained silent.
Smiling grimly at Corson, Gwendylln thought, Good, you’ve learned the most important rule. When Chen’s upset, keep quiet.
“All through my teenage years, my father wasn’t there for me, and now he’s still no use to me. I hate him,” the black leather panther said scowling.
That’s the end of Chen and her father, Gwendylln thought. He could be dying of starvation or freezing to death, and Chen wouldn’t toss him a crust of bread or a blanket. So much for family.
Corson and Gwendylln followed Chen back downstairs leaving Ritalso to his own devices, which mainly included lying on the floor unconscious and moaning occasionally.
A few doors down the hallway, Baelfire, Aerylln and Marcheto observed the warrior women leaving. Baelfire had wanted to be in the vicinity in case things got out of hand, but she decided not to intervene when Chen and Corson were fighting. At the time, Baelfire had thought, After all, that’s what warriors do, isn’t it?
Creeping along the hallway, Baelfire, Aerylln and Marcheto looked down the stairwell wanting to make sure the warrior women were gone. After watching them entering the great hall, the rescue team rushed into Ritalso’s room.
Taking one look at the emaciated man on the floor, Aerylln’s heart went out to him. The teenage girl’s helpful, innocent nature surfaced and fortunately being openly vulnerable was safe, up to a point. In the guise of Baelfire, Aerylln had a guardian angel watching over her. Hurting this teenager would not go unpunished.