Arwhon and Shiri strolled to the market and inspected what was on offer, wanting to try some of the exotic looking foodstuffs. The square was noisy but fairly orderly until a loud shout rent the air.
“Thief! Thief! Catch the little beggar. He’s stolen pies. Thief!”
Arwhon spotted a skinny lad around sixteen years of age dodging through the crowd. He stepped forward and quickly grabbed the thief by the arm, just below the shoulder, easily lifting him off the ground.
“Lemmego. Lemmego. Lemmego.” the boy screamed in anguish, trying to kick Arwhon and gain his freedom as the pieman lumbered up. Arwhon let the lad down but kept hold of him. The thief still had a firm grip on two steaming pies. Arwhon took a close look at the youth before the pieman arrived and was stunned to see a face like Chalc’s but with even narrower slitted eyes and a darker skin. Definitely not a local.
“Hand them pies back you little thief. You should get a thrashing for stealing.”
The gangly youth looked at the pieman for a second then quickly took a huge bite out of one of the pies. The incredulous pie man shut his mouth and dashed forward. The boy cowered and turned away, cramming yet more pie into his mouth.
“Hold pieman. I’ll pay for those two pies and half a dozen more besides. Shiri, I can’t let go of this rascal at the moment, would you take the coin out of my purse please and pay the man.”
The pieman looked pleased. He’d gone from a loss to a bit of profit, courtesy of this respectable young man before him. He led Shiri back up to his pie cart to collect the rest of the pies. Arwhon looked down on the youth, still eating.
“What’s your name?”
The cowering boy looked up slightly then sideways at Arwhon.
“Cringe.”
“Cringe?” with disbelief.
“On account of I do.”
“What’s your real name?”
“Dunno, never had another name me. Always bin Cringe. Thought I was a gonner when you grabbed me but yer okay.”
“Why steal.”
“Cos I ain’t et in three days. No one has work for pay and I only got me.”
“What, no parents?”
“Nuthin. Me carer took off with the money when I was five and I bin on me own since.”
Arwhon smiled.
“Well there are more pies coming so take your time eating or you’ll get indigestion.”
“Ain’t nuthin’ compared t’being real hungry, I’ll take indiangest…… Whatever you said, any day.”
Shiri returned and she and Arwhon managed to get at least one pie each while Cringe ate all the rest. He reminded Arwhon of Krissi devouring her food. Arwhon took his hand off Cringe for a moment to reflexively catch some gravy dripping down his chin and when he looked back Cringe had vanished. Arwhon shrugged; at least the boy was fed for the day.
There was not a lot to do in Crossroads. Arwhon searched in vain for the fortune teller so he could introduce Shiri but she was gone and no one could remember having seen her. It was relaxing doing little but soon the time to depart arrived and they set off again.
Two days south of Crossroads, just as they were about to enter the timbered section of the Great South Road, Krissi trotting along behind, seemingly even larger than before, they heard a commotion behind them. Looking back they beheld a very strange sight. A donkey was trotting along at a fast clip and bouncing all over its poor back was a long skinny youth who had neither saddle, pack or belongings of any kind. The donkey drew ever closer until they could hear the cry coming from the youth.
“Wait for me. Wait for me.”
They stopped, somewhat amused and tarried until the youth, now visible as Cringe caught up to them. Arwhon gazed down on Cringe from his viewpoint high astride Duran.
“Why are you following us?”
“It’s a free world now ain’t it?”
“Yes, but why are you following us?”
“Cos you look like you need a servant and you wus kind to me.”
Arwhon sighed.
“Look Cringe, you have no supplies, possessions or gear of any kind, not to mention food.”
“I et four days ago, could probably go a couple more without food If’n I hav’ ter. Anyway, isn’t a Master supposed to provide all that stuff?”
Arwhon looked over to Shiri, raising his eyes heavenward. She laughed and gave a slight nod. Arwhon audibly sighed. Another responsibility.
“All right Cringe, you’re hired. No pay until you’ve worked off six pies then it will be four coppers a week.”
“Five.”
“Agreed, five.”
Cringe looked at Shiri, then at Arwhon, as if considering a particularly important disclosure.
“I got a skill.”
Arwhon looked at the lad closely, wondering what sort of skill someone like Cringe could have. Cringe’s slit eyes narrowed slightly as he held Arwhon’s gaze before Arwhon felt a tiny nudge in the back of his head.
“Yous mine now.” Cringe stated as though Arwhon knew what he meant. The puzzlement apparent on Arwhon’s face made him continue.
“I got this knack see. When I really want to. I can mark you then wherever you is in the world, I can find you. You bin marked and I’ll always know where you is.”
The serious look left Cringes face to be replaced with a cheeky one.
“Right useful for a servant, knowing where his Master is at any time. Should be worth an extra silver or two.”
Arwhon said nothing, merely turned Duran around and trotted off with Shiri. Cringe followed, bouncing all over his donkey’s back.
Cringe was surprisingly able as a servant. He could cook and often found the small game Krissi’s hunting had brought to the camp, adroitly seasoning it with wild herbs he knew of. His smiling face was there in the morning when they got up and also at night when he tucked himself up in a blanket Arwhon provided. Before he wrapped himself in the blanket on the first night, Arwhon ordered Cringe to bathe in a stream they came across and rub himself down with sand. The colour of Cringe’s skin stayed but the dirt went.
Above all else, Cringe was unobtrusive despite his quick tongue. In a way he reminded Arwhon of Chalc. One thing, which Arwhon found disconcerting, was how quickly the youth cringed when Arwhon approached without warning. Cringe’s head withdrew into raised shoulders and he shrank down with his face averted. It was something they would have to work on in the future.
Cringe couldn’t figure out why Arwhon and Shiri had a small pony trotting around after them. So on their fifth day travelling together he asked why.
While Cringe waited, Arwhon and Shiri discussed how to respond and agreed on what they should do. The glamour was lifted and Cringe saw Arwhon, Shiri and Krissi in all their glory for the first time. He fell to his knees, bowing and mumbling, keeping his head lowered and refusing to look at any of them.
“Get up Cringe, we’re still the same people you’ve been serving for the last few days only this is what we really look like. We have to hide ourselves or we’d never travel easily, nor witness everyday people as they live their lives. Krissi is a gryffon. She bonded me and goes everywhere I go. Duran my horse and I can converse with each other. He’ll let me know if you play up when we’re not looking. Shiri and Rancid are also bonded. There is no harm here for you. You are our Servant so you have to know what we look like. We can’t go glamoured all the time.”
Arwhon waited. Eventually Cringe got to his feet and walked around them both, keeping well away from Krissi.
“Ta thinks I was cheeky to yer and talked meself into a job. It must ha been the luckiest day of me life.”
Inspection over, both Arwhon and Shiri were accepted for who they really were and life continued.
Except Cringe never went near the ‘pony’.
At a leisurely pace it wasn’t long before the three of them reached the gate at the border of Southland. It was still guarded, lessons had been learned. The guards, on spotting Arwhon and Shiri unglamoured, threw open the gate and cheered them unres
trainedly. Cringe looked on in amazement at the reception his Master was getting and once more reassessed just what he had got himself into.
Arwhon dismounted from Duran and went among the guards congratulating them on their bravery in the war for Belvedere. Word of Martine’s death was common knowledge now but Arwhon told them how the Dark Mage and Martine had met their end as the guards listened avidly to his tale. It took some time to disengage themselves from the guards and mount up to continue on their way and for the rest of the afternoon Cringe, riding at the rear, just gazed at the backs of his Master and Shiri, pinching himself now and again to make sure he was awake.
In another few days, Arwhon and Shiri rode into a changed and rejuvenated Belvedere unglamoured. They were instantly recognised and a cry went up, passing from mouth to mouth along the wide avenue. By the time they arrived at the gates to Cristal’s mansion, a sizable crowd of well wishers had gathered. Arwhon turned Duran around and addressed the crowd before entering Cristal’s gate.
“Shiri and I will be in the Plaza tomorrow at noon. I hope to talk with some of you then about your adventures. Please respect our privacy for today, we would appreciate it. Thank you everyone.”
Amazingly, after a few minutes, the crowd quietly melted away.
Cristal was on the steps to the front doors waiting, a huge smile playing over her face. Beside her stood Raleen with one arm part way around Kuiran’s waist while Mendle stood on Cristal’s other side. Lareeta, as usual, was in the background. They all dismounted and grooms came to lead the horse, mule and donkey away. Cringe thought his donkey was being taken from him and fought the groom for the reins until Arwhon assured him it was fine.
There were embraces all round while Cringe stood and watched, unsure of what to do or say in the midst of all the commotion. Kuiran was interested in meeting the unannounced scrawny youth accompanying his sister and Arwhon and headed toward him. The skinny fellow immediately went into major cringe mode and this time curled up on the ground, hiding his face. Kuiran hesitated and stepped back. Arwhon noticed.
“It’s a good story which I’ll relate later. Don’t worry Kuiran, the young lad is Cringe, our new Servant. The last Servant I had is particularly busy at the moment.”
There were some pretty odd reactions floating around at Cringe’s antics and Arwhon didn’t miss the wistful look which flitted across Lareeta’s face at the mention of Chalc.
Cristal took Arwhon’s arm and dragged him toward the house.
“We’ll talk about him later but for the moment, come in and have some refreshments.”
At the mention of refreshments, Cringe immediately uncurled and stood up to dust himself off before he ran to follow Arwhon, tucking himself in close to his Master. Arwhon indicated Cringe could join them for refreshments in the dining room so his Servant found a quiet spot at the end of the table. While the talk went around and over the lad’s head, he stuffed himself with as much food as he could fit in. Refreshments were good.
Later, after the evening meal, Cringe was given the night off with instructions to stay inside the mansion. Cristal led Arwhon, Shiri, Raleen and Kuiran into the study and closed the door after Lareeta, who slid through at the rear.
“Right. Arwhon, tell us all firsthand of what has happened since you set out to rescue Shiri. If you forget something I’m sure Shiri will remember.”
Arwhon’s first piece of news delighted his Grandmother, who was overjoyed at her Grandson’s betrothal to Shiri. Arwhon waited until the excitement had died down and began his tale. Part way through his narrative Mendle bought tea and cake, a lovely, heavy fruity one, surely signifying abundance was returning to Belvedere. They stopped for a break and after the cake was finished, Arwhon continued.
There were times when those who remained in Belvedere were agog at the story of Shiri’s rescue then saddened for Shiri when they heard of the torture then amazed at Ch’ron’s abilities. Arwhon ended with the start of their journey to Belvedere.
“So where does……Cringe come into the story?” Cristal asked.
Arwhon smiled gently.
“I’m trusting in Fate. Have to sometimes. Fate has been kind to me, as well as trialling.”
Arwhon quickly recounted the tale of their meeting with the unlikely lad and how he followed them from Crossroads on a donkey with no saddle, equipment or provisions.
“Cringe felt good and my Ring gave no indication he was other than truthful. Everyday he fits in better and better. I’m sure he is starting to fill out too. As a Servant, well he’s taken to it like a duck to water. If only he would stop cringing. It may help to give him some book learning and exercise him in self defence now and again. Time or Fate will tell. Now, it’s time for Shiri and I to learn of your adventures in Belvedere.”
Cristal took up the tale first with the news Jorgen de Frie had married Trelin and the harbour was once more filling with ships as Trade picked up again. The King of Barsoom had been and gone during the time Shiri was inside Ch’ron and the grain he’d ordered brought over from Graswyn had arrived and helped the city through a hard pinch. It seemed there was a renewed vigour in the populace. It was almost as if acting together for the common good left everyone with a glow of satisfaction which was maintained by continuing to do good works. There were still burnt out houses here and there but the city would pay for them to be rebuilt and there was plenty of wood left in the siege tower. The poorer elements of society which Cristal and Chalc had armed were feted for their timely defence of the Plaza. They had since refused to give up their arms but so far there was no problem with the City Guard, who were now veterans and could cross swords with anyone.
They respected each other and trouble was minimal.
Raleen added snippets about her abilities and how they helped with moving freight down at the docks while Kuiran told of the Sealies’ helping to clear the harbour mouth. He kept looking shyly at Arwhon and Shiri then couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Now that it’s peaceful, you’ll have to do without me for a while. Were going to Wyalon. Raleen and me. Captain Belmar came calling here after the harbour opened. Said you’d told him to. Cristal decided it could be a smart business move to try to open Trade with Wyalon. Belmar’s already asked his crew if they want a shot at a new venture and Cristal has agreed to send a message and money to Belmar’s agent in Encarill so the crew’s family know they will be away for quite a while. The agent will administer the money to provide for them while Jalwynd is away.”
Is Captain Belmar still in port?” Arwhon asked excitedly.
Raleen answered.
“Yes. He’s here until we leave in a few days time.”
Arwhon’s brows shot up.
“A few days. We only get a few days with you?”
Raleen seemed embarrassed.
“Sorry we didn’t tell you earlier but it didn’t seem right.”
Arwhon shook his head.
“Time. Never seem to have enough of it. If we’d known earlier we could have come here more quickly.”
Kuiran was visibly amused.
“Stop, stop. If you had travelled rapidly, Cringe would not be with you. Fate Arwhon. We like short goodbyes. Don’t we?”
The talk eventually wore down and everyone retired for the night.
Cringe had gone to bed early and slept like a log all night but he was on the job early in the morning, taking over from the house staff to prepare breakfast for Arwhon and Shiri. He took his position of Servant seriously. Who else got to look after a hero and a M’Herindar princess? Krissi was lying down over in the corner snoozing but it seemed as if those in Cristal’s house were quite accepting of odd things. It relaxed Cringe to find things so.
Krissi! Arwhon and Shiri weren’t glamoured. Everyone would see them as they were. Cringe hoped it would bring no trouble.
Arwhon called him over later, as Cringe was serving breakfast and spoke in a low voice so the others wouldn’t hear.
“Cringe, what do you say to learning about wri
ting and reading plus a little self defence now and again?”
The youth’s jaw worked silently as tears sprang to his eyes.
“I alus wanted words, to know about em and such. As for self defence, it would make me all the better able to look after you and Shiri in case you got into trouble.”
Arwhon was touched and promised to try to teach Cringe that very day, after he and Shiri had presented themselves in the Plaza. Arwhon owed the citizens of Belvedere a big debt and they seemed to value seeing him and Shiri walk among them. Cristal said some were even talking of adopting them both as Heroes of the City.
The square was almost filled at midday when Arwhon and Shiri arrived. A resounding cheer went up when they were recognised and Arwhon decided to spend a few hours strolling around and talking to as broad a range of citizens as he could manage. Cringe was hard pressed keeping an eye on Arwhon and Shiri as the pair split up. The praise heaped upon them became almost embarrassing as time after time they were thanked for the unceasing effort put in by them both in Belvedere’s defence. It was rewarding to receive the approbation of the city’s populace but eventually it became too much. Arwhon took Sihron’del’s hand and they stepped into an alley so Shiri could throw a glamour over them both before Arwhon led her down to the docks. Cringe had kept his eye on them and hurried along behind, keeping close.
With all the ships tied up and the usual business of the port in full swing, it took Arwhon a little while to find Jalwynd. He asked permission to board and after leaving Cringe on deck, he and Shiri were shown to the Master’s cabin where Shiri dropped the glamour. They found the Captain, feet up on his table having a drink and a pipe of tabac. The air was wreathed with aromatic smoke. A broad smile creased Belmar’s face as his searching eyes looked over what Arwhon had become in the relatively short time since he had last seen the young man. They then swung to Shiri and even Belmar was moved by her beauty. He rose to his feet and bowed to them both.
The Fall of Belvedere Page 37