by A. C. Salter
Dylap clenched his teeth as he stood up. There wasn’t much he could do about the beating, but he would meet it head on and not like a coward.
The first strike hit him in the stomach, the cane making a thwacking sound as it cut through the air, followed a heartbeat later by pain. It emptied his lungs, driving the wind from him and doubling him over.
He forced himself straight as the second blow came. This time coming down on his shoulder, the force knocking him back a step and his spines flicked out as he swayed.
“Disgusting beast, Bambry told me what happened the other day and the way you spoke to him. I won’t have it,” Urlmince growled, spit flying from his reddening face.
“I…” the cane came down on his chest.
“Won’t…” pain exploded on the back of his thighs.
“Have…” his wrist snapped back, the bones in the back of his hand stinging.
“It!” Stars exploded in his vision as his head reeled back, his jaw once again taking the punishment.
A dizziness swept over him, his legs feeling as though they had no more substance than water, and he collapsed to the platform.
“Urlmince, enough darling,” the Princess said, her voice tinged with disgust.
When the world swam back into focus, Dylap saw that she had placed her manicured hand upon her betrothed’s arm. But the large fairy gently removed it and rolled up the sleeves of his tunic.
“No, my sweet child, I’m only warming up.”
One of his eyes was swelling shut, but through what remained, Dylap witnessed Urlmince take a step closer, fingers turning white as he throttled the life from the cane.
Spitting blood from his mouth, Dylap rose on unsteady legs, meeting the gaze of the Princess who had now covered her own as she looked away.
He hoped she was feeling guilt, but more than likely she was simply squeamish over the blood he was leaking.
“My father sometimes says that a creature that can’t fly, doesn’t deserve to live in the trees,” Urlmince said. His voice softening as he leaned closer, digging the tip of the cane into Dylap’s chest as he shoved him towards the edge of the platform. “He says that it would only be a matter of time before they would fall.” Dylap stumbled back, his heels scraping over the wood into nothing. “It’s inevitable really.”
“Urlmince, no,” The Princess squeaked.
Irritation flicked across Cramaris’s face as he ground his teeth, eyes alive with violence. He was pressed up so close that Dylap could see the individual pores on the bridge of his nose.
He glanced away in the hope of seeing somebody from the Master House. Anyone, but his only companions in the Taming Tree were the birds, the Princess and his attackers. Then his gaze fell on a lone fairy standing so still in the Aviary that he barely noticed him at first.
Spoffle watched on, glee spreading a smile across his face. He had been there the entire time, eagerly witnessing the punishment and doing nothing to raise the alarm.
“Urlmince,” the Princess persisted. “Enough, I order you to release it.”
Dylap watched the frustration twist Cramaris’s features. “As you wish, my love,” he said, not unable to completely banish the resentment in his tone.
His fingers curled into Dylap’s shirt and screwed the material into his fist. He yanked him closer, teeth pulled back in a rictus grin. “Lucky for you, the Princess doesn’t want your scrawny life on her conscience. If it were up to me, you would be already dead.”
Urlmince took a step back and brought his hand up to playfully slap Dylap’s bruised face. He couldn’t say whether it was born out of anger or simply instinct, but his spines came up at the same time and jabbed Cramaris in the thigh.
A jolt passed between them. A shock of intense energy which brought the larger fairy to his knees, a high-pitched yelp leaving his lips.
His friends rushed to his side and helped him to his feet. It was then that Dylap noticed a dark stain dampening Urlmince’s trousers where his bladder had emptied.
Shock was written across his face as he tried to hide the fact that he had wet himself from the Princess. But it was too late, her open-mouthed gaze showed that she had seen it all. Then his glower fell on Dylap, his entire body shaking with rage.
“You,” he roared as he shoved his friends aside and paced over, gripping the cane in both hands.
His thick arms moved in a blur, the crop connecting with Dylap’s head and snapping it back. Pain, tears and blood spewed into the air as his back struck the hard deck of the platform. His body bounced, coming up to meet the next blow and the next, each driving more pain into his battered flesh.
When he found the strength to open the one eye that hadn’t swollen shut, he saw Urlmince rest a foot against his chest, pinning him in place.
“Now to finish it,” he said, cane held high, sweat sticking his hair to his forehead.
In the background, Dylap heard the faint voice of the Princess saying no. Yet it was too weak, a frail word cast against an ocean of wrath - a pathetic whimper that went unheard.
Dylap watched the cane come down. The willow shaft flexing as it descended, arcing towards his throat.
Impossibly fast, a meaty hand caught it before it touched his windpipe. It held suspended above his throat before it was wrenched from Urlmince’s grasp. He watched anger dissolve to fear as Cramaris recognised the newcomer.
Master Sabesto’s wide frame filled Dylap’s sight as an arm, knotted with muscle and sinew, hammered into Urlmince’s chest, sending him reeling back into his friends.
If he thought he saw menace written on his attacker’s grimace, it wasn’t a pinch compared to what was emitting from the master of the Aviary.
Straightening up, Urlmince held his hand before him in defence, his wings flicking wide as he summoned his strength to stand against Sabesto.
It was a challenge.
Dylap raised himself onto elbows as he watched the pale wings of Cramaris stretch out, shimmering in the daylight. They were not as bright as those of the Princess but they were purer than all of the fairies in Farro, bar the royal family.
Dylap knew that Sabesto couldn’t match those wings in a simple challenge, but that wasn’t his intent.
The cane seemed small held in the master’s fist. It whistled a high note as it sliced between them, only stopping as it snapped painfully down on Urlmince’s shoulder, the top half spinning away as it fractured.
The white hummer chirped in fear as Sabesto hauled the general’s son to his feet, thick fingers wrapping around his throat as he lifted him clear off the ground.
“Begging your pardon Princess, but I won’t tolerate this behaviour towards my staff,” Sabesto said, driving a fist into Cramaris’s stomach and doubling him over.
“Sabesto, I order you as a Princess of the monarchy, to release him this instant.”
The unshaven face of the master regarded the Princess, anger grinding his teeth together as he mulled over her words.
Dylap thought he would carry on the beating, but he watched the large fairy take a deep breath and roughly shove Urlmince away.
“You will regret that,” Cramaris said as he struggled onto his bird with the help of his friends, a hand held over his belly where Sabesto had struck him. “My father will have you stripped of your title and thrown out of the city. You’re nothing but a drunken mess, a has-been. Nothing remains of the legend which the old generation sing about.”
Sabesto took a step towards him and Urlmince kicked his hummer into flight, only pausing once he was clear of the platform.
“Tell your father that if he’s got the stones, he can come down here and challenge me himself. Otherwise stay away from the Aviary and my staff.”
He hurled what remained of the cane at Urlmince, the splinter of willow missing him by a hair’s breadth.
“Sabesto, I demand you…” began the Princess as she mounted her hummer, but her words were cut short by the master’s angry, irritated stare.
“You won’t d
emand anything of me Terina. If my bird-soother has angered or disrespected you in any way, then come to me. Do not take it upon yourself to have him beaten.”
Her cheeks flushing red, the Princess opened her mouth to speak, but clearly unused to being spoken to in such a manner was left short of words.
“My father will have you punished,” she eventually said, eyes brimming with tears as she set off after Urlmince who had been waiting for her at the edge of the tree.
When they had gone, Sabesto turned to Dylap, deep wrinkles forming troughs upon his brow.
“That’s the second time in a week I’ve needed to break somebody’s cane for you,” he said, his tone soft although Dylap still sensed a well of anger rippling just beneath the surface.
Dylap struggled to his knees and then to his feet.
“Sorry Master,” he said, smelling the alcohol that was leeching off Sabesto. Yet if the master was drunk, he didn’t show it.
“Frog snot, boy, it felt good to give that Cramaris whelp a hiding. Like his father, he likes to bully his way in life. Are you hurt?” he asked, placing a strong thumb on Dylap’s chin and turning his head to inspect his blackening eye.
“I can carry on my duties, Master,” Dylap winced, his swelling lip catching against his teeth as he spoke.
“Good man, don’t let the bastards grind you down,” he said nodding approvingly, then cast a glance around. “But I wouldn’t go telling many fae about what happened today. Cramaris has a lot of friends and with his marriage to the Princess next year, he’ll have a lot of supporters. I’m afraid you’ve gotten yourself one nasty enemy there. Stay clear in the future.”
“I will Master, thank you.”
Sabesto slowly nodded, sucking his teeth as his gaze fell across to the Aviary and his office where most probably he had a bottle of wine waiting for him.
Giving a final nod to end the matter, Sabesto extended his wings and flew back to the Aviary, leaving Dylap alone with his thoughts and the pain which sang through his body.
“It attacked my son,” General Cramaris grunted, the large crease above his nose swelling with his anger. “Did you know that? Not only did it sting my son with those hideous spines on its back, but it spoke disrespectfully to the Princess.”
Dilbus’s heart skipped several beats as the paperweights bounced from the impact of Cramaris’s fist hammering the desk, the scrolls they held instantly rolling up.
“Tell me Fenwick, why is the Dylap still in Farro? Why has it been promoted to bird-soother and why in the Blessed Mother’s name is it still breathing?” The last word wrangled for all it was worth, the ‘g’ turning the general’s face several shades of red.
Dilbus doubted Dylap had attacked Cramaris’s bull-headed son, no more than he intentionally disrespected the Princess. It was more likely that he didn’t recognise the spoilt daughter of the King and only acted to defend himself against Urlmince.
“Sir, I have searched along the banks of the Twine, and apart from the splinter of glass we found, I have nothing to report.”
“The god-created glass, yes I’ve read your report. They are linked, I know it. Where is the splinter now? We may need it to build a case against him.”
“It’s safe, Sir,” Dilbus replied, his memory replaying the strange crystal disappearing inside the master spell-caster’s beard. Good luck getting that back.
General Cramaris leaned back in his leather chair, his hands briefly sweeping over his bald pate before settling his thumb on his chin in contemplation.
“I think you’ve wasted enough time searching for clues in the city. It’s clear that if the Dylap had anything to hide, it would have appeared long ago.”
“My thoughts exactly, Sir,” Dilbus said, feeling relief and somewhat surprise, at Cramaris’s change of heart, yet he sensed something dark looming.
“I want you to pick a man from the night watch, take what provisions you need and continue your search up river.”
“Sir?”
“You heard me, Fenwick. You’re going up the Twine and you will turn every stone, lift every leaf and twig. There are answers out there and you will find them. Do I make myself clear?”
“But, Sir, the night watch?”
“The night watch will take care of itself. This,” the general said, stabbing a chubby finger into his desk with each word, “is of the highest importance. Find me that reason to be rid of the Dylap. I want it out of Farro by this summer’s end.”
“Sir.”
“And Fenwick, listen very carefully, be under no illusion. If you fail to find significant clues, then don’t bother coming back, I will not tolerate failure.”
Clearing his throat, Dilbus sucked on his teeth. “And if there are no clues, what if, say Dylap is telling the truth and he is simply a fairy, lost of his place and memories?”
Cramaris rose from his chair, fat hands splaying across the desk as he leaned closer.
“You’re an intuitive fairy, Fenwick. I’m sure you will find…something.”
Dilbus could only stare at his superior as the swelling twin slugs on his brows breathed in. There was nothing he could say or do. This was a win-win situation for Cramaris. He would be rid of me either way, he thought, and if I do return it must be with a means in which to be rid of Dylap. If not, I don’t return at all and he can simply have Dylap killed either by accident or set up for blame.
“My orderly will see you out,” Cramaris said, ending the conversation as he turned his attention to the scrolls on his desk.
Dilbus’s gaze fell on the orderly and the smirk that spread over thin lips. It appeared that even his secretary was in on the joke. Did you hear the one about the one-winged fairy of the night watch? He can only fly in circles.
This had been coming for a while.
14
Revenge in a Storm
Dylap squeezed the last drops of dimrot juice from the rag and placed it back to his swollen eye. The pungent mixture smelled like bog water but felt cool and its mild soothing qualities, eased the throbbing pain.
“And he wet himself?” Ebbin chuckled as he dabbed willow sap along the open laceration on Dylap’s shoulder. He winced as it formed a seal over the cut.
“But Master Sabesto said not to tell anybody. Urlmince has too many friends and admirers.”
“That makes sense, so what are you going to tell people? It’s not like that they won’t notice that eye. It looks like it belongs on a glob fish.”
“Thanks,” Dylap replied, trying not to laugh as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain along his jaw. “I fell off the platform, face first onto the branch below.”
“That would work. I’ll tell anyone who asks.”
Dylap had explained the entire story earlier when Ebbin found him curled up in the nook. His friend had listened before rushing away to the healer’s tree to procure ointments and bandages, telling them that Sabesto had ordered the supply.
“I wish I could have seen Sabesto punch Urlmince,” Ebbin continued as he thrust his fist into the air. “That must have been one heavy blow.”
“It was. Do you think the Princess will tell the King?”
Ebbin shrugged as he finished off applying the willow sap, then sat back against the wall. “Maybe, but the King won’t do anything. He and Sabesto have been friends for a long time, they used to hunt together. Apparently, he saved the King’s life on a number of occasions. King Leobold has a passion for hunting forest vipers: a rare but deadly snake that would decimate an area of small mammals several hundred spans across - including fairies. They’re hunted to keep their numbers under control. Anyway, on this one hunt, a particularly nasty viper had succeeded in reducing the hunting party, killing several fairies. It had pretended to be dead and when the group came close enough, it struck with its tail. Well, the end piece, snakes are only tail and head really. But whatever it had at the end, it hit them hard, killing the gentry before coiling around the King. He was this close to being swallowed whole,” Ebbin explained, holding thumb
and forefinger a nip apart. “But as the remaining hunting party watched on in horror, Sabesto swooped down on his thrush and ripped an eye out with the bird’s talons. As the viper thrashed around, wringing the King to death, Sabesto leapt from his bird and landed on the snake’s head and with nothing more than his axe, hacked through the skull and finished the beast. There’s even a song about it my father sometimes sings when he’s been to the tavern.”
“Incredible,” Dylap said, now understanding why Urlmince had proclaimed that Sabesto had once been a legend. It was a shame he was now always drunk.
“That’s not all, during the war with the split-wings, Sabesto had single-handedly held back a band of them when they had found a breach in the barrier and prevented them from entering the city. He held the breach for most of a day while riders flew to a neighbouring city for reinforcements. When they returned they found that Sabesto had killed the band by himself, his axe was red from steel beard to shaft with their blood. There’s a song about that too, and a hundred other deeds during the war. Afterwards, when they had won the war and the fighting was over, Sabesto was a changed man.”
“Jambilee told me, he lost his son.”
Ebbin nodded, his gaze downcast as he stared into the dimming gem lantern. “He has never gotten over it. His wife died giving birth to his son, so with him also gone, he has nobody. His only solace is the bottle, having said that, I wouldn’t work for anybody else. He is fair, if not angry all the time.”
They both stared at the gem light, the lantern only producing enough glow to create an amber haze, barely enough to cast shadows on the nook’s walls.
“I better be heading to my bed,” Ebbin said as he shuffled towards the entrance. “Merrybone warned me there’s a storm coming. At this time of year as the summer heat clashes with the fresh winds from the north, there could well be lightning. And that means that they’ll be no going outside. In fact, it might be best if you were to come with me. I don’t know how well the nook will do in such a storm.”
“I’ll be fine here,” Dylap said, patting the basket of food which Ebbin had brought him when he collected the healing ointments. “Besides, I don’t fancy watching Spoffle gloat over the state of my face.”