A Piper's Song: The Pied Piper Tales

by C. K. Johnson

  I felt like I had at my uncle’s clan—like we had just stepped back to the medieval times. Here, I was a simple peasant, fittingly covered in mud. I wanted to wipe it off with a stick, but I didn’t have permission and didn’t want to know what punishment he would mete out if I broke the rules in front of the clan members who had started to gather around us.

  A heavy-set man stepped forward with a hawk-like nose and deep brown eyes so similar to Malcolm’s, there was no question this must be his father. “So my son has finally come back from wandering, with a lady friend, no less,” he said nodding in my direction. He wrapped Malcolm in his thick arms and gave him a crushing bear hug before stepping back and resting his hands on Malcolm’s arms.

  “What brings you home after all this time, my boy? I had hoped you’d cast your eyes on one of our own. We have a few truly comely ones that have been hoping for some attention. But I will welcome anyone that could bring you home. So do we have a celebration ahead of us?” he asked as he gave Malcolm a stout pat on the back. He raised his fist and turned toward the rest of the clan.

  My stomach dropped as I realized what Malcolm had hinted at but not said outright. His father was the Chieftain of this clan. My uncle had revealed that four clan chiefs had consumed Malcolm’s late wife. Could his own father have really been responsible for bringing Malcolm such sorrow? Maybe it had not been this clan. I could only hope so. The pity for myself shifted to sadness for Malcolm. I swallowed my rising emotion and stared at the ground, grateful my downcast eyes hid my rage.

  “No need to kill the fatted calf, Father. I have come on clan business. This is my apprentice, Little Bird,” he said, waving at me dismissively. I swallowed and let my head drop further.

  “Business it is, son. Would it be terribly imposing if I took her through the paces?” the Chieftain asked as he reached out. He paused just short of touching me until Malcolm gave his nod of approval.

  “So, you are the sorry Little Bird he picked up to fulfill his promise as a Master. He probably spoils you terribly, but be reassured we will break him of that habit while you are here. Now show your teeth, that’s a good Little Bird,” he said as his fingers clamped on my jaw, forcing me to open my mouth in pain.

  I felt like an animal being inspected for defects. If I failed would I be sent away—or worse—put down? I also realized that at this moment, whether his father had been a traitor to Malcolm or not, I hated him. He slapped me on the backs of my calves, causing them to sting, then jerked my head back by pulling on my hair so I had to look up at him.

  “Why don’t you sing for me, Little Bird, so I know what all the fuss is about?” he more ordered than asked. He grinned at the growing crowd. Several of those around him, egged on by his amusement, laughed as they waited.

  I tried desperately to look at Malcolm to get some direction on what to do, but I couldn’t see him with my head held back at such an angle. “Do not look to my son for direction, you little wretch. He has given me the right to see his goods. Now sing,” he barked as his other hand landed heavily on my shoulder, causing me to gasp.

  I let the song out then, using all my will to keep back the power I wanted to unleash on this brute of a man. You are just an apprentice. You are weak, I kept repeating in my head as the song continued to flow out of my mouth. In the back of my mind, the thought popped up, Bide your time; he will pay later. My power started to rise, trying to aid my cause. Nonetheless, I reined it in, hoping to finish with him none the wiser. I knew as soon as my song finished that I had failed.

  “I am surprised,” he said, letting go and heading back to his son. “You actually chose well. Come, let us eat and you can tell me more where you keep obtaining these women that hold the song so strongly in such a way it desires to do their bidding without the help of a pipe.”

  Malcolm laughed, but it sounded forced. “You would not believe me if I told you,” he said as he followed his father past a cluster of well-built wooden huts painted in an array of almost garishly bright colors. We headed toward a large stone meetinghouse that looked slightly smaller than the one at my uncle’s clan.

  “I am looking forward to the story,” he said as he climbed up the stairs.

  “Dog, show Little Bird the back entrance,” he barked to a thin boy with scraggly hair sticking out in all directions who had been standing off to the side of the meetinghouse. He almost blended into the shadows.

  Dog nodded, his bare feet slapped in the mud. He started at a trot toward the back of the house without looking back to see if I followed. I hobbled behind on my wrenched ankle, doing my best to keep up.

  Once inside, I saw that despite the caked mud on my jeans, my clothes were the least worn and shabby in the bunch. “The plates are there, the cups here, and fork and knives are in that drawer. The Chieftain gets served first, then your Master. Not sure how you do it in your clan—watch me and I’ll do my best by you,” he said as he set about grabbing the things he had pointed out. He dished food out of a grimy large iron pot hanging over the stove.

  I followed his example as best I could, still feeling like I had dropped into a different time a short drive from civilization. How did the younger pipers stand it? The more I thought on it, the more I understood the reason my father acted the way he did. He didn’t know how to act without a Chieftain and yet he had been banned. For a moment, I let myself feel pity for him, but had little time to dwell on it as I followed Dog out into the main room with Malcolm’s food.

  Dog stood eerily still beside the Chieftain. When the Chieftain gave a slight wave, Dog set the food down, arranged the silverware, and even placed the napkin on the Chief’s lap. I’d be damned if I did that last bit for Malcolm.

  After the Chief settled into his seat, I watched the rest of the apprentices bring the food forward and set it before their Masters. I did my best not to glare at Malcolm as I dropped his plate of food on the table. I’d almost rather go against my own clan than put up with this another day.

  “So, what is this fine story you were mentioning earlier?” his father asked as he glanced at his son.

  “Well Father, it was the strangest thing. Here I was wandering on my way and a piper older than time itself walked up and told me I was going the wrong way. I asked him what he meant but he just shook his head and pointed east. Well, I wasn’t going anywhere specific so decided to check it out and whom did I run into but two members of the Mallory clan. They had heard an open call on the wind and were arguing over who would get it. I couldn’t believe it was true, but became curious about what exactly they had heard. While they were still bickering, I heard it. An open call, just dangling out there for anyone to take,” Malcolm said, smirking so hard, it looked like it was all he could do to stop himself from laughing aloud.

  “You surely jest?” his father said, shaking his head in amazement.

  “He takes after you, Caelan,” yelled out a piper nearby. Several in the room chuckled at the comment.

  His father nodded at the piper before turning back to Malcolm. “Go on, boy! We are all waiting,” he ordered as he slammed the mug on the table. Several pipers laughed.

  “I do not jest. The Little Bird had just spoken to her uncle, and the moment he was out of immediate song distance sent her call into the wind,” Malcolm said, this time not holding back his laughter, a few tears escaping in his glee.

  “Little Bird, I’m not sure who was dumber: you or your uncle. You put your life out for any to take or your uncle for failing to lay claim to his clan member the instant he came for you,” Caelan said, still laughing himself. He shook his head at my folly.

  “So I came strolling up to her at school, grabbed her hand, and sealed the deal,” Malcolm said, this time a laugh escaped. My cheeks grew redder and redder by the moment. Even the other apprentices were looking at me as if I were the biggest dolt they had ever seen.

  “And you just sealed the deal like that? To think I was worried about you. Went and snatched her right up from under her uncle’s nose,” Caelan c
huckled. “And who was this uncle you cheated out of a clan member? I suppose you more than rubbed his nose in it. As the Chieftain, maybe I could offer their clan a little reparation for our well-meaning misstep.”

  “Magnus,” Malcolm said, sounding a bit more serious.

  “The Law for the Douglas Clan?” Caelan asked, bursting out in laughter again.

  “One and the same, Father. I find I cannot stop there, though, for the full tale will come out and I’d rather you hear it from me than from someone else.” Malcolm’s features turned grim.

  He had to wait for the laughter to die down and then for his father to give permission for him to speak again. When it came, he told them of Magnus’ original call on me and why I’d been so foolish with the open call—to be with anyone but him.

  “The man is a fool, of that I need no proof, but I find myself wary of what you are about to say next. Continue and I’ll pray I am wrong,” said Caelan gruffly as he glanced over at me then back to Malcolm.

  “Magnus came back and asked me to release the deal, which I told him I could not, as it had already been sealed. He threatened to mention it to the Chieftains, but I took it as blustering. I started to train her, as is my duty. She came into her full powers while I was indisposed and followed the call to him. As soon as I realized what had transpired, I demanded back what was mine. He directly attacked me and I gave her leave to retaliate. I am worried about the ramification this might have on my property, regardless of the apprentice law,” Malcolm finished.

  He kept firm eye contact with Caelan as if he were trying to keep his father’s attention from straying to me. If I was considered little better than an animal, how easy would it be for him to put me down without a second thought?

  “You gave a newly sealed apprentice a pipe? Does Magnus still live? Am I to be negotiating a death contract because of my son’s folly?” Caelan growled.

  “No, he is still alive. He has only been relieved of Avalyn’s power,” Malcolm said, his tone so filled with anger, even his father leaned back.

  “I must think on this, son. You might have gone too far, stepped on too many toes. Let your new apprentice use a pipe against her own clan. Yes, I must think on this, talk to my court. For now, you may stay in your old room, spend the night, and in the morning, we’ll discuss this again,” his father said as he shook his head and stood up, shoving Dog out of the way and heading out the front door without a further word.

  “Little Bird, food,” Malcolm said pointing to his plate. “I’ll finish it in my room. Now hurry up.” He turned to Dog. “Dog, by your leave, I will need some assistance when you have finished clearing up.” He exited to his left and started up a set of stairs I hadn’t seen before. As I followed him, I stumbled several times because of my ankle. Despite the fact I knew he was only acting a part, I wanted to hit him every time I put weight on it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Dog

  MALCOLM POINTED TOWARD A CHEST BY the end of the bed. I sighed as I sat down, grateful to take the pressure off my ankle. But more than that, I was relieved to be out of the presence of his father. He stared out the window, lips pressed together, jaw clenched, and only stirred when we heard a tentative knock on the door.

  He opened it a crack and smiled, “Dog, bring up a large plate of food, a pitcher of hot water, and some linen.”

  Dog nodded and scurried off. He returned a few minutes later with the food. “Sorry, sir. Couldn’t balance the food and the water,” he said, his shoulders hunched forward, eyes down cast. “I’ll be right back.”

  This time, I listened for Dog’s footsteps, but I did not hear him descending the stairs, nor his return. It was only because I was watching the door that I knew he had returned. He set the pitcher of water on the dresser and placed the linen beside it.

  As Dog went to slip out as silently as he had come, Malcolm said, “Stay.”

  Dog’s eyes widened and he froze in place, his shoulders slumping even further forward. The act stirred my anger again. I’m sure he didn’t know what to expect from Malcolm. I had been here for less than one day and I hated it. How long had Dog been living it?

  “Little Bird, eat what you want of the food. Dog, I have plenty of choice bits of meat left on my plate. You are welcome to eat what you will and anything Little Bird doesn’t,” he said as he grabbed a basin on the dresser and brought it over by my foot, pouring the hot water from the pitcher in it. He lifted my foot gingerly and gently set it in the basin to soak.

  Dog watched, slightly shaking his head as he watched the display of tenderness. Without looking at him, Malcolm grabbed the barely eaten plate of food and held it out. Dog grabbed the plate instinctively. When Malcolm did not take it back, he scurried to a corner and wolfed it down.

  Malcolm brought me the other plate of food. I took a couple of bites, looked at Dog’s thin, knobby body, and held the plate out. Dog eyed the food intently, licked his lips, and then looked away. I glanced at Malcolm and shrugged.

  “You have my permission,” Malcolm said, taking the plate from my hands and handing it to Dog. “I remember being an apprentice. I don’t believe I had it as bad as some. I was the Chieftain’s son, and my Master didn’t quite dare offend him. After you have eaten, I’ll need you to stay and help me cut the linen,” he added as he went to pat Dog’s shoulder.

  Dog cringed, throwing both hands in front of his face as he waited for a blow. He stood still, shuddering. When all that followed was a pat on the head from Malcolm, Dog’s brows knit in confusion.

  After Dog scarfed the second plate of food down, he came over to help with the linen.

  A simple task, something Malcolm could have easily done himself, touched me as I again saw how tenderly he worked with poor Dog to show him how to first measure the linen strips and cut them afterward. When they finished, Malcolm knelt down on one knee, lifted my ankle out of the water, and set it lightly on the knee he propped up.

  I resisted the urge to giggle as he leaned close to my ankle and started singing to it. Yet the song cooled the throbbing ache, and before my eyes, I saw the swelling start to drop. He paused as I watched him and smiled. “Don’t worry, Little Bird; you will get to try this. Listen closely; the notes to this song matter.”

  When he finished, the swelling had gone down considerably. It still throbbed, but the pain had subsided into something more manageable. I could ignore it.

  He wrapped the linen around it. “Dog, come here and sit down,” he said, pointing toward the bed.

  Dog’s eyes widened as he looked at Malcolm. As if he thought Malcolm had lost his mind. I’m guessing it was weird to have a Master Piper allow an apprentice to sit, much less on his own bed. However, Dog had been ordered and he obeyed as he nervously sat on the bed, looking like a scared rabbit that would bound away the moment Malcolm released him.

  In the meantime, Malcolm searched the room until he found a pipe in the nightstand drawer and handed it to me. “Now Little Bird, I want you to close your eyes and play Dog the healing song I just used. You must go deep, for I believe Dog has some broken bones he needs mended properly,” he said as he sat beside Dog.

  Dog’s eyes grew wide again and his face ashen. I think he was now certain Malcolm had completely lost his mind. Not only had he provided food and attended to his apprentice’s wounds, but he was now allowing me to play a song I had only heard once.

  I gave Dog what I hoped looked like a reassuring smile as he sat there shaking. His breath rose and fell so shallowly, I feared he’d pass out. I set the song in my mind and placed the pipe to my lips. It didn’t behave as well as my own beautiful pipe, currently stuck in the car at the edge of this backward village, but I soon bullied it into submission. After we had come to terms with each other through a series of scales, I released the song on Dog, trying not to be amused when I told it to sic him. I didn’t want the healing to go to Malcolm; it would do him no good.

  As time passed, Dog’s thin limbs gradually stopped shaking and his breath became less
labored. I let the song sink into him in stages, like drizzling honey leisurely into a warm cup of tea. I needed to be careful and not slosh the cup—or, in this case, Dog—as he was already jittery enough. The song bounced back to me in places, which I took to mean it had finished there. As I continued, I saw what Malcolm had implied, for it continued to sink into other spots as if a deep, dark hole lay under the surface.

  My heart hurt to think of the pain that must have caused such hollow and empty spaces in Dog. I looked at Malcolm, my eyes brimming with unshed tears. He returned my look with a nod. I had to concentrate all the harder to not let the sorrow running through me taint the song. This was not right; this couldn’t be good in any way, shape, or form. Had it been this horrible to apprentice in the old world? Had this brutality been carried over with those coming here, or had the clans here taken a continued and time-honored and tried tradition and cruelly twisted it to their own amusements?

  I made a promise to myself as I hovered over this poor broken boy that once I became a Master any who apprenticed under me would never know this kind of treatment.

  I could see his eyes grow heavy, followed by several large yawns. Malcolm moved so the boy could lie down. When Dog protested, Malcolm shushed him and told him he would wake him up in an hour. It worked. Dog laid down and slept. I wanted to yawn myself, but knew I had to finish my work. It was near done, I could feel it, and I found I was quite pleased with myself. Malcolm nodded as I ended. He picked me up and laid me beside Dog on the bed.

  A knock on our door came so soft, I almost dismissed it as being meant for someone else. I wanted to say, Go away, it’s the middle of the night, but all that actually came out was, “Urg.” I figured that sufficiently covered my thoughts and rolled over to go back to sleep. Malcolm answered it and in seconds, he was by the bed.

  “Get up, silly child. Dog snuck out as we slept and overheard my father speaking of our plight. He has been kind enough to warn us of Caelan’s decision. We must be gone tonight. Your uncle is expected at first light,” he said as he shook me awake.