They stood with open mouths, in turn staring from what now appeared to be one dead body instead of three, to their bleeding, stuttering sergeant and on to the cracked and blackened castle wall.
“The priests are alive! They came back to life!” he screamed at them, pointing wildly. “You! Get Captain Renold! The rest of you... get going and find those priests! Move – move – move!”
The soldiers scattered, one running back to the castle, the others spreading out fast in a hunt for the two priests that had disappeared. Scouring the nearby orchards, pastures, and tree lines was much more appealing than digging graves.
The sergeant staggered around in a circle, his hand to his bloody, bruised face, wondering just how he was going to find the words to explain to Captain Renold what had happened... when he didn’t even know.
***
Another pair of eyes had seen it all, unbeknownst to anyone else. Halfway up in one of her favorite trees, at the edge of the horse pasture, the watcher peered idly through the leaves. Even though River hadn’t seen Queen Scylla since her triumphant return to the castle, she still kept watch. The best view was from the old willow tree by the river, where she could catch a glimpse of the flowers and foliage in the garden boxes, and sometimes even the gray cat. But even this tree, if she climbed high enough, offered a good view of the wall. But Queen Scylla had not watched the sunrise or the sunset since the morning she left for the hunting lodge.
River saw the cart trundle its way over to the gravesite. She watched as the dead bodies were hauled off the cart, but they meant nothing to her. She listened without interest to the soldiers’ banter and watched them traipse down to the river to cool off. Then she saw the burlap cover move, which seemed very odd... almost as if something was alive beneath it.
Her small and dirty bare feet had been swinging idly from her perch, but now her legs hung still. She leaned forward for a better view, keeping a tight grip on the branches around her.
The burlap flipped back and two of the dead men came back to life, which was very surprising. They had difficulty getting up, but once they were up, the bigger one had no trouble smashing his fist into the guard’s face. He dropped like a rag doll. River flinched in sympathy and her mouth made a round O.
The other one, dressed in a filthy priest robe, was swaying as if he was dizzy. Then he spat out a few echoing words and appeared to throw something at the castle wall. There was a loud snap along with a flash of light. The watcher clung to her branches, her eyes widening in shock as stones tumbled to the ground.
“Oh my! Princess Scylla’s wall!” she murmured in consternation under cover of the rustling leaves around her.
The top corner of the wall had scorched and fractured. One of the garden boxes was smashed open, exposing the dark earth, with the plants withering as she watched.
The soldier on the ground gave a hoarse scream. As he threw his hands over his face, the two men who had seemed dead – but apparently were not! – staggered away as fast as they could. They crossed to the tree line very close to River’s tree. She pressed up tight to the tree trunk to make herself small and still. But they didn’t look upward. Most people didn’t, which is why she had made perches in various trees. It was where she felt the safest.
She didn’t see where they headed. They crashed quickly through the shrubbery in the hedgerow like wild animals on the run. From there she thought they went into a small patch of woods, and then across the road and into the next tree line.
But River was no longer watching. She was staring at nothing, trying to make sense of what she had seen. Dead bodies returning to life, and throwing lightning – or something – at the castle wall... What were they able to do that could break stones right out of a wall as high and thick as the castle ramparts?
“I never saw nothing that before! I wonder how he did that?” she whispered to herself.
The guard soldier was screaming at his men as they came back up from the river. “Where did they go? Where did they go?”
She thought of pointing the way, but it was safer not to draw attention to herself. She just stayed small and silent in the tree as the soldier went on yelling. The rest of the men scattered in all directions.
She went on wondering. How? How had the dead ones done that?
***
Meanwhile, inside the castle, it was late morning before a knock sounded at the door of the queen’s quarters. Minda opened it to admit the healer, a tall bony woman of middle age. She carried a large bag at her hip, with a leather strap crossing over the opposite shoulder.
As she entered the room, there was a loud snap that faded away in a long rumble from outside the walls. Its vibrations shook the floor of the queen’s quarters for a moment. Crockery rattled.
“What was that?” Scylla exclaimed, clutching at the arms of her chair.
“What was that?” echoed Minda. She looked out through the window at the roof garden, where the soldiers and Axit appeared startled. One of the guards came to the door.
“Is everything all right in here?”
Prince Leon looked in through the door, his eyes wide. He gave a searching look around the room, saw nothing unusual, and trotted back outside to where Axit had already turned back to tending the flowers in their containers on the roof garden.
“Well,” said Minda. “Perhaps we will find out later...” She greeted the healer, who gave a nod with an intimidating reserve. “This is Queen Scylla, and her handmaid, Lady Sorrell. The healer, sent from the religious house of medicine.”
The healer cast her eyes upon Sorrell, lying flat on the bed, and then upon Scylla. She said, “I am Corobit. I will see whether I may have anything to offer.” She did not sound hopeful.
Scylla met Corobit’s large grey eyes. They were as clear and cold as spring water. Within herself, Scylla shrank from the chilling gaze.
“I myself am improving,” she said hastily. “My headache is gone. Please see if there is anything you can do for Lady Sorrell, who has broken ribs and a broken arm, as well as a gash. Then there is one other needing your attention.”
Corobit’s hard eyes studied Scylla’s hair with an openly critical stare. The short side was swinging free, while the long side was in a braid hanging down her right shoulder. Scylla sat up taller and tried not to feel intimidated.
Silently Corobit turned to Sorrell. She placed her bag on the bed and began to examine her. She murmured a few questions, which Sorrell answered. After a few moments, she straightened up. She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a handful of dry leaves, placing them on the table. “Here is some dried comfrey. You may take it as a tea for two or three days only. You may also make a compress to place on your ribs and arm. I will send some fresh leaves for you later today for that.”
Then she turned back to Minda and the queen, with her arched brows raised questioningly. “Is that all?”
“Oh!” said Queen Scylla, startled. “Mmmm... we also have a creature that needs... can you bring out the basket, Minda?”
Corobit waited in silence until Minda reappeared with Keet’s basket. She placed it gently on the table.
The healer cast her cold grey gaze upon the basket. Her brows drew down in an even colder frown. “What is this?”
“It is a creature from the deep woods, we are told,” Minda answered. She gave a quick quelling glance toward Scylla, warning her not to offer anything more.
“Is it... !” Corobit responded. She took a step closer.
“The arm is broken. We ask that you remove the part that is dying.”
Corobit’s brows went up and the corners of her thin lips went down. “Do you?”
There was silence in the room.
“I believe it is dead. It cannot be helped.”
“We have been told it... they... go dormant,” Minda said. “We ask that you remove the useless part of its arm. As you see, the bone is snapped, and only dying tissue remains to connect that part of the arm.”
“I have seen a drawing in a very ancie
nt book,” said the healer. “These creatures do not exist. I believe it is what is known – or used to be known – as a treelet. The book warns that it is a nasty creature best left alone... if it is ever encountered at all. This one is dead. I don’t know where you found it, but as you see it is shriveled up like sticks... Petrified, I would say, although one can smell the rot, oddly enough. See how dried out it is! Put it back where you found it.” She stepped back and reached out to pick up her bag. “Or our house would be pleased to take it to study. We are interested in oddities of nature,” she added as if as an afterthought.
Over my dead body, thought Scylla.
Minda gave her a pair of coins. “I thank you for your attention to Lady Sorrell, and for the herbs.” She held up another, a gold coin of the type that had made the eyes of Jay the pony boy gleam. “We offer you a gold coin as well if you attend to the trellet... er... the treelet’s arm.”
Corobit hesitated. Then she picked up her bag with an air of finality. “You do not tempt me, lady!” she said scathingly. “I am a healer of people, and occasionally animals. I am not called to attend to... things that do not exist! This court would do well to look to its spiritual healing, not dabble in ancient magics!” She put the strap over her head and settled it upon her shoulder, straightened her back and started towards the door.
At that moment, a heavy knock sounded, and a voice announced, “Chancellor Mako and Captain Coltic!”
“Come in!”
The door opened. The two men filled the doorway, and the healer was forced to stop.
Mako looked at the healer sharply.
“I am Chancellor Mako,” he said. “And you are... ?”
“This is Corobit, a healer from the religious house with a medical calling,” said Minda.
Mako stiffened. “A healer from the religious house,” he repeated. “Do you belong to the same faction as the court priests?”
The bony woman was as tall as he was. Her icy gaze met his. “I do not! However, I will offer you, Chancellor Mako, and Queen Scylla as well, this – a strong warning against the evil brought to this land by these so-called priests! The Kingdom of Rellant through foolishness and inattention has allowed these priests to abandon their worship unnoticed. I recommend a return to spiritual wisdom and true worship of our Goddess, or this shameful court will find itself struck down once more!” She took two long strides towards the door and was gone, the heavy door thumping shut in her wake.
“Good Goddess!” said Mako, startled. “How came this zealot here?”
“I called for a healer to come. She attended to Lady Sorrell but refused the trellet. I apologize... I thought...”
“Never mind, Minda. She holds judgment on the foolishness and excesses of my father King Tobin’s reign. I cannot blame her. He did not give the religious houses their due. Nor did he realize the path his court priests were taking, or how Queen Maris hung upon their words and rewarded them.”
“Did she attend to you, Queen Scylla?” asked Mako.
“I refused. Meeting her eyes was like looking into the eyes of death.”
“Speaking of death... and the priests...” Mako hesitated. “There is some news. The two priests that we thought were dead by suicide were only feigning death by way of some trickery. They were laid out ready for burial while their graves were dug, but have risen up and struck down the guard that stood over them. He was not killed and was able to describe their escape... at least partly.”
Scylla shuddered involuntarily. Sorrell gasped and then groaned in pain. “Next time... Next time... slit their throats!”
“Next time we will,” said Coltic with feeling. “That is not the whole of it. Did you hear a rumble some short time ago?”
They all nodded. Scylla forced herself to ask, “What was it?”
“It is difficult to describe. The soldier said in privacy to us that Soler, the High Priest, cast some sort of power towards the castle wall.” He shared a look of disbelief with Mako. “ ‘Some sort of power’,” he repeated as if to himself. “It is difficult to believe this... but the northeast corner has been damaged. How... we are not exactly sure! It will need to be rebuilt as soon as possible.”
There was an air of consternation as Scylla and Minda considered his words. Sorrell’s eyes were closed. She was shaking her head slowly from side to side.
“I hope it is only the corner and not my garden! Someone will have to go up and check on the beehives and the cat!” Scylla fumed. “Curse this ankle!”
Minda said, “I will go and see – if someone can show me the way.”
“No, there is damage to the wall and it may be unsafe. I will send a soldier up from the other side to place food and water for your cat.” Mako added heavily, “I would not have believed it possible, but it seems it is magic of some kind. It’s very strange. We don’t even know what... or who... we are fighting against.” He met Scylla’s gaze.
“No, we do not, Chancellor,” she said sharply. “What do you plan to do about it?”
“We have met with Rellant’s lords this morning, most of whom have now left for their home districts. They have agreed the army must be increased with men, horses, and weapons, and are willing to assemble and begin training. Ready for what... now... I cannot prepare them. Are they going to believe that a priest threw some kind of power at the castle wall and cracked it? That a mythical creature saved our queen from death – not once but at least three times? How long before they conclude I am as cracked as the castle wall?”
“We will learn what we can from the remaining priests,” Coltic said grimly.
“Rellant has lived in peace for decades. We have no experience of wars and royal upheaval. Nor do I recall rumors of magic and mythical creatures, except in folklore.”
“At least this mythical creature is on our side.” Minda was looking into the basket. “The healer, however, presumed that he is dead. I wonder if he is?”
“Do not allow that healer back in,” said Scylla. “I wonder if we can... ah... tidy up his arm? What would it entail?”
Minda, Mako, and Coltic peered into the basket. At that moment Axit came back into the room with Prince Leon wailing in her arms.
“Time for a nap,” she explained over the wails. But Leon caught sight of Coltic and brightened up. Coltic took him from the girl and sat down, putting him on his knee.
Axit came over to look into the basket. “Did the healer fix his arm? Oh, no, I see it is still the same.”
“No, she doesn’t attend to forest creatures,” said Scylla. “She presumed he is long dead... petrified.” Keet was still folded up, his sticklike arms and legs looking as dried-up as the healer had indicated. He did not appear to breathe at all, and only because she had seen him bright-eyed and agile could she believe he might be yet alive. Or was he? She sighed. “As everyone in this room except Prince Leon has heard Keet’s wails and seen him gobbling nettles, we must disregard the healer’s opinion.”
“That should be cut off while he is dormant,” said Axit, pointing at the damaged forearm. “I don’t know how long they stay dormant.”
“Bring him here,” Scylla directed. Axit brought over the basket and placed it on Scylla’s lap. She reached into the basket and touched the trellet’s good arm, snatching her hand back quickly.
Keet did not respond. Axit reached in and gingerly picked up the broken part of his arm between two fingers. It was stiff and blackening. “Give me a sharp knife and I’ll cut it off now.”
Mako pulled a knife from his belt and handed it to her. She cut the connecting tissue and the dead hand and forearm came free. Minda held out a piece of cloth to take the remains.
“Truly... since he is dead to the world, I may as well cut off the rotting part. And those broken ends.” Axit pointed at his elbow.
“Could you?” asked Scylla, fascinated by the tiny bones. “Will he bleed, do you think?”
Axit shrugged. “It’d be like disjointing a chicken leg,” she said. “There is only an inch or so of heal
thy skin here. If the broken bits are sticking out, I doubt it will heal.”
The others looked at it. “Not likely,” said Mako. “But I am only guessing.”
“Well, I can take out these broken pieces. Then off with the dead bits and I’ll sew up the healthy skin. I have sewed wounds on lambs before.”
“How can you tell what’s healthy?” asked Scylla. “On him, I mean, as he is so dried up and grey... Minda, we had no need to call in a healer with Axit here.”
“I see that now. Well, go ahead then. I will get you a small needle and some thread.”
Scylla watched as Axit deftly split the tiny bone fragments out of their socket and cut off the dead tissue. There was red blood beneath the crusty grey skin, although the wound did not bleed much. Minda had threaded a needle, and Axit sewed up the trellet’s arm stub with a few small stitches. When she was done, Minda held out a small cup. “Here, dip the end in spirits. It may help to avoid infection. And then you go wash up with soap and water over there.”
Keet had not so much as twitched throughout the surgery.
“What do we do with this?” asked Mako, who was studying the tiny bones of the amputated forearm.
“I’ll put it all in the fire,” said Minda firmly. She did so, including the cloth that held them.
“A good job,” Scylla concluded when it was all over. “I hope the trellet will be grateful when he wakes up.”
Axit smirked. “I doubt it! But he is better off for it. I wonder how long he will stay dormant?”
They put the basket back in the alcove where it was quiet and darkened by the curtain. “I expect he’ll start screaming when he wakes up,” said Scylla.
Mako’s mind had already moved on to more important things.
“Well, I will return later... when I have learned more from the priests. I will also send out some suitable men to the religious house to make further inquiries about King Tobin’s court priests. And others out and about in general, to find out what rumors are flying about the countryside.”
A Princess of Sorts Page 18