He wondered what Queen Scylla was up to. He also wondered how the War Council would react when he reported that the Goddess’s spring in the lonely hills of northwest Rellant had had no young maidens tending it for some years. And this neglect had carved a foothold for the priests to gain ground along their dark path to sorcery.
Curses! he thought, and ate the hand pie. At the very least, he would have to go up the hill and inspect the spring. And he had noted, although Sergeant Brit had originally claimed his pa and granny would know what to do, the older man had said nothing much at all.
| Chapter 18 |
Queen Scylla, although Mako had no way of knowing it, was about as far to the east of the castle as he was to the north-west. She was also regretting having ever set out on her current journey.
“Do you know where you’re going, trellet?” she whispered. “I certainly hope so, because I do not!”
“Go, go!”
Scylla felt like bursting into tears. She blinked rapidly, walking as quickly as she could down the forest path, basket on one arm, and the swordstick in her other hand. Soon the village sounds were fading behind her, and the smithy and the buildings were out of sight.
There were some faint cries from the direction of the village.
“Keep walking! Go that way!” Scylla followed the trellet’s quivering finger, which was drawn back under the towel. She stumbled on through the trees, wishing she had never left the castle. A cold shiver was running up and down her spine, and her scalp prickled under the hat.
“That way... that way... that way... Take this path!” the trellet shrilled.
“I do hope,” she said acidly because she was close to tears. “I do hope I can find my way back.”
The trellet chittered from the basket but said nothing more. Scylla limped down the path as fast as she could go. She cast a glance up at the sky, which was still light. But for how long?
“Is this far enough?”
“You promised! You promised! Keep going! Eeeeee...”
“Now why are you screeching?”
A moment later she realized why. There were running footsteps behind her, and Jay’s voice called out.
“Queen Scylla, where are you going?”
Scylla stopped and turned to meet the boy. “I have some unfinished business in the forest. I will reward you if you will allow me to have the finishing of it.”
“No, no, no!” he argued. “The forest is a dangerous place and night is coming!”
“Leave me!” she ordered. “Am I not the queen? I order you to go back to the smithy and wait for me.”
“I will wait for Captain Coltic! He and the soldiers are looking for you.”
“I am your queen! I will reward you if you do as I say.”
“Reward! What does a reward matter if the captain slices my throat and hangs my bones from the nearest tree?”
“Nonsense! I will make it very clear that I would not listen to you. Go back and wait for me.”
His face set in a stubborn pout. “No! I won’t!”
Scylla turned and started onward, using the swordstick as a cane, with the basket on her other arm. Under the cloth, Keet was chittering quietly.
Jay ran to catch up and danced around in front of her. “Go back! Are you mad?”
“Think what you like. I have an errand,” she snapped at him. She pulled the sword out of its casing and pointed it at him. The leather that had wrapped it fell to the ground. Jay eyed the sharp tip in consternation.
“Queen!” he begged. “You... you wouldn’t kill me, would you?”
“I do hope not. Get out of my way.”
She advanced. He backed up, just out of reach. The path they were on was narrow and winding, a barely identifiable forest way – a deer runway.
“Stay on the path,” hissed the trellet from under the cloth.
“Hey!” yelled Jay. “Guards! This way!” His voice was high and loud.
“Be quiet!” Scylla snapped at him. She took a quick look behind her. No one was coming down the path after them. The leaves muffled sounds and obscured vision, and the thick forest was closing in around them. “It doesn’t matter. They are too far away and cannot hear you. Get out of my way.” She pointed the sword at him again and kept walking. So far her ankle was not protesting excessively in the supportive binding, but she had no doubts she would feel the effects later.
Jay dashed into the woods and pushed through the branches until he was back on the path behind her. For a moment she thought he was obeying her and going back.
“You dropped the sword sheath!” he called, searching the ground until he found it. He picked it up and began to follow her along the path.
“Leave me!” she ordered again, but his youthful face was set in stubborn lines.
He followed her along the barely discernible path. She kept walking. She could hear him muttering. “Are you saying something?” she asked crisply.
“I am praying to the Goddess to save us both!”
“What an excellent idea! Keep at it!” she directed. They walked on in silence on the rough ground. She began to hear Keet’s tiny shrill voice from under the cloth.
“Queen,” said Jay after some distance had been covered.
“Yes?”
“Something is chirping from within your basket!”
“Yes, there is,” she agreed but offered nothing more.
A few moments later he asked doubtfully, “Is there a bird in the basket?”
She stopped, more because her ankle needed a rest than anything else. “It is not a bird. But this is my errand. I am returning a creature to the deep forest.”
“Oh.”
“Because I owe my life to him.”
“Oh.”
She resumed walking, increasing the pace. Truthfully, she had no more interest in continuing than Jay did. The forest was thick with undergrowth, with the leaves on the trees rustling overhead, obscuring the sky and what remained of the day’s light.
“Oh, dear Goddess!” he exclaimed suddenly from behind her, with a horrified gasp that made her scalp tingle.
“What?!” she demanded, stopping and turning to look at him.
He was pointing at the basket. “What... what is that in the basket?”
Scylla raised it and looked at it in irritation. Keet’s sharp little face was looking over the edge, the cloth pushed back.
“Eeeee!” gasped Jay. He staggered back along the path, tripped and sat down suddenly. He clutched the sword sheath with both hands and held it defensively in front of him.
“Oh, stop it!” To Keet, she said, “Now look what you’ve done!”
“Your boy is frightened. Tell him to return to the smithy. You do not need him!”
“He won’t. Why didn’t you stay covered up?” She looked at Keet. He had a different look – brighter, fuzzier, more alive. “Are you feeling better?”
He did not deign to respond. “Continue along this path,” he commanded sharply. Scylla turned and started walking again.
Behind her, Jay got up and sounds indicated he was still following along.
After some moments of travel, he called out, “Queen!”
She cocked her head to indicate she was listening.
“Queen Scylla... what is that?”
Before she could answer, Keet’s head popped up and he screeched, “I am Keet, a creature of the deep forest! Now be silent, you stupid peasant!”
“I am glad you seem to be feeling better, Keet,” said Scylla sharply. “However, there is no need to insult the boy, when he’s merely doing what he perceives to be his duty.”
“Gaaaaaah!”
“How much further are we to go?” she asked. “Remember I’m traveling on an injured ankle.”
“Keep going!” hissed the trellet.
Scylla kept on doggedly. She was using the sword itself as a cane now. She hoped the sword tip would not be dulled, in case she needed it later.
As if reading her thoughts, Jay said, “Here is the
sword sheath, Queen Scylla.” She stopped gratefully. Jay came up and slid the sword back into its casing, handing it back to her. “I will accompany you. Where are we going?”
Scylla shrugged and resumed walking.
“I am taking the trellet back to the area where I first saw him,” she said. “Are we near there yet, Keet?”
“Not yet! Not yet! Keep walking.”
“Queen,” said Jay, some time later. “I believe... I am hearing footfalls off to our right.”
“Oh? I don’t hear anything.” Or at least I hope I am not hearing anything, she said to herself calmly.
Keet shrieked loudly from the basket. Both Scylla and Jay jumped nervously. There was an answering sound from nearby.
“Stop, you stupid giant!” said Keet angrily. “Stop!”
Jay was finally getting a good look at him. “Queen,” he whispered loudly. “You haven’t yet told me... What is that?”
“This is a trellet, I am told,” said Scylla firmly. She had stopped walking. She peered through the trees but could see nothing moving around them. She took a deep breath, one that almost betrayed her fear. She exhaled. “Hmmm... Jay, this is a trellet. It may be difficult to believe that there are creatures such as this in our forests...”
“I am not from this forest!” hissed Keet angrily. “Fie upon this cursed land! I hope to return to my own forests soon... very soon!” He was standing up in the basket, hanging on with his hand and both feet. He seemed to have recovered his strength and was staring eagerly in all directions.
“Queen – the creature has only one forearm,” whispered Jay.
“Yes, I know, he broke his arm while he was protecting me in the forest. In fact, Keet has saved the life of your queen more than once, even though he was injured. I am returning him to the forest so he may return home. At least I hope...”
“Eeeeeee!”
“What?... Oh!”
In front of her on the path, a dark shape was advancing toward her. Jay, who had seen it first, clutched at her sleeve. Keet screamed again.
Scylla shook the sword free from its sheath and raised the tip. The creature in front of her stopped and sat down lazily, out of reach. It yawned, showing a pink curling tongue and sharp white teeth.
“Is that a cat?” asked Jay, fearfully. “Isn’t it a big one?”
“It is... rather large,” said Scylla, nerves making her breath catch in her throat. Keet was leaning out of the basket, chittering at the cat. The cat was the largest one Scylla had ever seen, almost knee-high. It had tabby stripes, with dark olive coloring and a beautiful sheen on its coat.
“A green cat!” Jay was staring at it, fascinated.
“Greenish,” Scylla agreed. “It must be a forest cat of some sort. I didn’t know there are wild cats in our forests. But it blends in rather well. I wonder if it will let us pass.”
“Rowwwr,” said the cat.
“Did it just say hello?” asked Scylla doubtfully.
“Rerrowwr.” The cat worked its mouth for a moment, then emitted something that did indeed sound like the word hello.
Then he did speak, in a soft, growling tone. “I beg your pardon, I am not used to speaking the language of humans.”
Scylla inclined her head politely. The trellet was jigging in the basket, looking frenetic. “What... what do you want?”
“Is that cat talking?” Jay whispered. He was pressed close to her side, quivering, although she wasn’t much larger than he was.
Scylla ignored him.
“Shut up, you peasant child!” screamed Keet. His fierce eyes glared at the cat. A stream of his own language flowed out of his mouth. The cat responded with another low growl, one with a questioning lilt at the end. It stood up and stretched, turning sideways to them. Keet leaped from the basket, crossed the distance to the cat and alighted on its back, just behind the neck.
Scylla gasped. But neither Keet nor the cat snapped or scratched at each other. The cat took a few graceful strides in a circle, while Keet clung to his fur with both feet and his remaining hand.
“This cat will take me back home,” Keet hissed at Scylla. “You go back to your kingdom and crush the priests!”
“How can it take you back?” asked Scylla. “There are miles of forest and foothills, and then the mountains. How will you get over the mountains? There is already snow at the peaks... you will freeze!”
“I have come to take the trellet back home,” purred the cat in its soft tones. “Do not worry. There is a passageway through the mountains.”
“A portal! Caves!” shrieked the trellet nervously. “Darkness! Cold! Dripping water! I would not travel there myself. But he knows the way!”
“We bid you a good day. Go back along the path. It will soon be dark and it is not safe to be in the forest at night.”
“Oh no! Thank you, Keet... goodbye!”
But the cat had leaped into motion, silently and quickly, as cats do. The grey sticklike creature astride his shoulders was barely visible, and within seconds they were gone.
Scylla pushed the cloth down into the basket. Jay was sliding the sword back into its sheath.
“Can we go now?” he asked, handing it back to her.
She nodded and they turned and started back along the path as the cat had suggested in its gentle growl.
Jay was muttering to himself.
“Did you say something?”
“I said no one would believe this. A green talking cat and that... that stick man... I ain’t sayin’ nothin’ to nobody!”
“A wise decision,” said Scylla. “Let us return as quickly as we can. How long have we been out here? Dusk is not far off, curse it!”
| Chapter 19 |
“Which way is the smithy and the village?” Jay’s voice held a hint of a whine.
“Down this path,” Scylla pointed. They followed the narrow path, Jay trotting ahead and Scylla doing her best to keep up. Her ankle had begun to throb, even with its supportive wrap.
“This is not the path we came out on,” Jay said nervously after some time had passed.
“Of course it is,” Scylla assured him. “Keep walking. We should be almost there.”
But soon she had to admit that he was right.
“I wonder if it is in that direction.” She pointed. “The sun is going down in the west... there.”
They left the path and cut through the trees. It was easier going because the trees were further apart, the green canopy of leaves higher and with less undergrowth to obscure the sightlines.
“Pick a point and walk toward it,” said Scylla. “That crooked oak up ahead. That’s what I did when I was lost in the forest.”
“Is that how you found your way out?” Jay started toward the crooked old tree ahead.
“Yes... well, sort of. Actually, the trellet found me and sent me in the right direction.”
Jay turned and gave her a look that indicated he was rapidly losing faith in her.
“I was almost there!” she said indignantly. “I was only a short distance away. I came upon a forest road that led me to the village.” She did not tell him that Keet had shooed her in the opposite direction from the one she had first followed.
“Queen Scylla.” He now sounded desperate. “Where is this forest road?”
“I don’t know – keep walking.”
“Keep walking?”
“Well, what else?”
“Oh, dear Goddess!” Jay wailed. “Help! Soldiers!”
There was no answer.
“Coltic! Coltic!” Scylla joined her voice with the boy’s. They stopped and listened.
“Can you hear anything?”
“Only the wind in the trees, and birds.” A jay was shrieking, and further away a crow cawed intermittently.
They reached the crooked oak with its wide trunk and gnarled ancient bark. Beyond it was more forest. In all directions, the forest surrounded them... gloomy, unwelcoming and showing no familiar signs. Scylla’s throat tightened in borderline panic. Not a
gain! She took a deep breath.
“Which way now?” Jay’s voice was hopeless.
“Well, there is the lighter part of the sky, where the sun is going down. Keep your eyes on that evergreen up ahead. If you see anything that looks like a path...”
“Don’t you worry,” Jay muttered. “We left the path and there hasn’t been another one yet.”
They walked on. Scylla began to limp, favoring her injured ankle.
“The captain will skin me alive for this... it’s getting dark and we’re lost.”
He was right about that. The sky showed a pretty peach and lavender combination as the sun settled towards the horizon. Or at least it showed in a few spots through the canopy of leaves overhead.
“Jay,” said Scylla after a while. “I apologize for losing the way.”
He gave her a hopeless glance. “Queen or no queen... you ain’t the luckiest girl I ever met.”
An involuntary laugh escaped her. “You’re absolutely right!”
He grunted and kept walking.
“We will have to stop,” she said a few minutes later. “My ankle needs a rest.” They stopped and she leaned against a tree trunk. Jay turned in a circle, peering in all directions. An owl hooted from some distance away.
“It’s getting dark,” he pointed out again, unnecessarily. “What will we do?”
“Well, there’s the moon beginning to rise. It’s not quite full, but there will be some light. We will keep walking.”
He groaned.
“Stop whining, Jay. I was lost in the forest for three days and survived.”
“Doesn’t make me feel any better,” he muttered. “Considering what they said at the time. ... I hope someone’s looking after the pony!”
“Be quiet... can you hear anything?”
They both held their breath and listened.
“Dear Goddess,” Jay said in a pious monotone. “Thank you for saving our souls, but our earthly bodies need help now.”
“Never mind the Goddess... is that a path?”
He took a few steps, looked around and nodded. “It goes that way, and also back this other way. Which way should we go?”
A Princess of Sorts Page 28