The Labyris Knight

by Adam Derbyshire

  A pitter-patter of small scrabbling claws closed in from behind her but Justina did not pause in her walk or show surprise as something horrific caught up with her long skirts and swiftly clambered up her slender frame to sit chattering on her shoulder in a language only the priestess could understand. She stared down at the horrific skeletal creature, its skull too big for its small painfully twisted body beneath. The creature continued to clack its teeth together, its bony tail clicking as it moved about.

  “Yes Hamnet, calm down!” she snapped, then, realising her impatience could cause offence, paused to stroke the exposed bony skull and raise a trill of pleasure from the ghoulish demon. “Vill is looking for me. He what? Where is he now?” The creature continued to impart the information its mistress required then sat back on her shoulder staring silently ahead, despite the fact its long dead eyes should have been unable to see anything.

  Justina lifted her arm and touched a small agate gemstone set into a bracelet on her wrist. The gem cracked and smoked as the magic contained within rose to her command, conjuring an elliptic gateway into the shadows. The priestess stepped through and came out of a shadowy alcove just as her novice priest ran past, his wild red hair and wispy beard making the tall lanky man appear much more energetic than he actually was.

  “You wanted to speak to me.” Justina stated, in a voice that made the priest jump in his tracks.

  “Yes high priestess.” Vill replied. “I have been looking for you everyw…”

  “Get on with it.” Justina snapped. “Time is precious to me. Just make sure it is something worth my while, something interesting.”

  “Sorry.” Vill stammered back, his eyes being drawn to the grinning monster sitting on her shoulder causing a shiver through his gaunt frame. “It’s just that you wanted to know immediately if it happened.” Justina’s eyes widened at the implication of what Vill was suggesting. Could it possibly be?

  “Is it the scrying bowl?” she asked eagerly, licking her lips in sweet anticipation. Vill nodded his head confirming her suspicions and making her heart beat faster.

  “It started flickering on and off a short while ago. It shows rapid indistinct images of what looks like melting gold pieces but little else. I know you wanted to be informed straight away.” Justina looked at Vill with her cold blue eyes and offered a smile that made the priest feel like he was staring into the face of a predator about to rip him limb from limb.

  “You are in luck. I find that information very interesting. Very interesting indeed.”

  * * * * * *

  The dingy was lifted clear of the sea, seawater dripping from her hull as it was swung up and over onto the deck, hoisted by a silent crew who realised their captain was not a happy man.

  Thomas viewed the possible conspirators with his eyebrow raised in ire, looking at the crew one at a time to see who would crack first and reveal who had decided it would be amusing for him and Rauph to row backwards and forwards like idiots. Archer, merchant, young knave, assassin, Thomas had his suspicions but deep inside had to admire the camaraderie this group of individuals had built up during their time together.

  He took his time, lingering on each crewman just enough to make his gaze uncomfortable then moved onto the next, using his training in interrogation skills to their limit, however none of the quartet owned up to anything. Maybe the fact that Thomas was covered in mud lessened his air of authority. He looked up above the four as if searching the heavens for inspiration, then looked down again with a strange smug look on his face.

  “One of you did it. One of you decided it would be fun to leave us out there.” Thomas snarled, in his best attempt at being stern. He walked slowly up and down in front of the group. “And mark my words, I shall find out who was responsible.” He stopped on the last word and spun back to face his crew, already knowing all four had a hand in his prolonged voyage.

  “Aradol slop and latrine duty for five days, Ives the dingy needs a new coat of paint. Mathius over the side, start scraping barnacles off the hull and use your blades for something useful for once. Weyn…”

  “I know, I know.” Weyn muttered. “Go high.”

  Thomas turned from them and walked away, smiling broadly. He knew he had the right ones because Abeline and Plano two acrobats from the Parisian circus that worked the rigging above had pointed them out when he had looked up into the sails. They had perched on the beam to the main sail, grinning like Cheshire cats from a Lewis Carroll story as they betrayed their companions with glee, probably because of their losses at cards a few nights ago. It was all good-natured fun and Thomas would never reveal the secret because he nurtured this good feeling aboard.

  The captain took in a deep breath and soaked in his surroundings. His ship was back beneath his feet, the slow rise and fall lulling him with a sense of security. This was his temporary home and the people around him were his extended family that he cared for deeply. However, he also recognised that he was about to lead them back into danger. He retrieved the large gemstone from his pocket and hefted it in his hand. A heavy weight settling in the pit of his stomach. It was time to move on, time to gamble once again with the lives of everyone on board.

  It was time to enter the ships graveyard!

  * * * * * *

  Kerian finally located the buxom figure of the Lusty Mermaid as the last light leached from the darkening sky above Wellruff. The building was taller than he expected having at least three floors, with wide balconies running around the upper floors to allow guests to sit out in the sultry evening air and take in the sights and sounds of the night around them.

  The interior of the inn was boisterous, filled with smoke and a riot of sound and smell. Live music played on the stage, service staff weaved expertly through the dancing and swaying figures moving to the music. Several patrons leaned up against the bar sharing stories of their day and laughing at each other’s shortcomings or amusing anecdotes. A card game occupied one corner, a palpable tension hanging over the table and its huddled occupants as they bet their income on a twist of fate and their ability to bluff what they held in their hands. Another man sat in the corner playing dice with some guards, an infectious smile on his face as he took the men for everything they had.

  Kerian noticed with some sadness, that the guard he had tipped at the dock was standing there trying his luck and losing the gift Kerian had bestowed upon him. It was so sad that some people never recognised what they already had and always strove to get more, inevitably ending up with less.

  He approached the bar and discussed his needs for a room whilst his boat received repairs. The innkeeper was only too happy to oblige and even managed to meet the extra request of having a balcony with a view of the rising sun. The innkeeper’s joke about whether Kerian needed a stable for his horse, whilst gesturing to the worn saddlebags slung over his shoulder, drew a strained smile from his weary guest. It appeared the tale of Kerian Denaris and his arrival to this place had reached the man’s ears faster than Kerian’s lost footfalls had.

  A gemstone retrieved from the saddlebag flashed in the candle light, securing the deal and trading itself for a worn key, hot food and a sanctuary for the rest of the week. Kerian asked if he could have his meal brought to his room. The inn was too loud, the colours and happiness too jarring after the harrowing experiences that had brought him here.

  Eager to please his new tenant, the innkeeper poked his head through the serving doors to the kitchen, shouted a few orders before indicating that Kerian follow him up a sweeping staircase to the rooms leading off the balcony. He wandered along mumbling conversation that Kerian was too tired to listen to and finally halted before a door.

  “This is it.” He indicated. “If you want a bath, they are out the back in the bath house. Just talk to the girls and they will arrange hot water for you. Your meal will be up shortly.” Kerian nodded his head and tried to smile but a wave of exhaustion was sweeping over him.

  He entered the room alone and too
k in his surroundings, pleasantly surprised at how clean and light the room was. The bed was clean, the linen tight. The headboard not stained from previous occupants and the air in the room pleasantly scented with lavender. Kerian dropped his saddlebags on the bed and moved to the window, noticing that it opened wide as a door, allowing access onto the balcony and the night air, where a weather worn table and chair awaited him. He leaned on the balcony and looked out over the rooftops to the harbour and the sea, then turned back inside as a low knock came from the door.

  His meal had arrived. He tipped the young serving maid with a tiny sapphire that matched the colour of her eyes and left her outside as he took the tray into the room. Tomorrow, he promised himself, he would seek a gem merchant who could exchange some of his small fortune into more suitable denominations. The stew was as inspiring as the room. Kerian could not believe how hungry he was; the gravy was rich and had a tingling spice that lingered on the tongue. The meat was so soft it could have been made from butter and even the vegetables had a taste and crunch to them that invigorated his weary frame.

  Now that his stomach was full and warm, tiredness swept over him once again. He retrieved the chair from the balcony and wedged it fully under the door; a habit Kerian had utilised widely in his travels. No matter how civilised a place appeared he knew that sometimes the night came complete with nocturnal visitors that you did not want to catch you with your guard down.

  He crashed down onto the bed, his head sinking into a pillow and closed his eyes, his hand holding tightly to the golden necklace that meant so much to him. Kerian knew he would see his love in the morning. He would check she was well, then make his plans for finding her and getting back to her side.

  Chapter Two

  As night inevitably gave way to the twilight period of dawn, Kerian found himself anxiously pacing on the balcony overlooking the city of Wellruff. His stomach churned nervously, turning somersaults, his pulse racing, waiting for the moment when the first rays of the sun would creep over the horizon and gently kiss the pendant he held in his hand, activating the magic deep within the pearl at its centre.

  He completed another circuit of the small balcony, his brow creased in frustration, his mind willing the sun to rise into the sky and allow his few precious moments of time with Colette. Kerian knew this feeling of anticipation was childish but he could not deny his need to see her again, make sure she was safe and well. He had even brushed his hair and cleaned himself up, despite knowing that the amulet would not permit the young woman of his affections to know he was observing her from afar or hear the words he desperately wanted to tell her.

  “I’m still alive. I am searching for you.”

  The sky brightened further, encouraged by a chorus of shrieking gulls and terns wheeling about the roof of the inn, fighting for food and scraps left over from the revelries of the night before. A golden line of light made the horizon glow, before the sun gently materialized, spilling light across the surface of the sea, its rays reaching towards the pendant Kerian held breathlessly before him.

  The grey surface of the pearl shimmered, its luminescence increased by exposure to the brightness of the dawn. Then Kerian started to see a delicate shape form in the depths of the pearl, threatening to steal away what little remaining breath he had in his body.

  She was beautiful.

  Long blond hair, tumbled in loose tresses, violet ribbons attempting to tame the wildness of her loose style and draw the hair back from her face. Porcelain smooth skin, eyes of deepest blue. A delicate frame hiding a warrior’s heart, she was reading a book of some kind and leaning against the wall behind her was… his sword.

  Kerian’s heart soared at the sight. This vision of Colette gave him purpose, the motivation to continue with his quest. He yearned to scream into the pendant, shout his love for her but he had tried this, many dawns before and knew it was a futile exercise, ultimately leading to dismay. He turned about, trying to improve the image and give an indication in what direction Colette lay but her profile remained the same no matter which way he faced, confirming in his heart that she was no longer on this world but had passed through the ship’s graveyard and onto somewhere new.

  The sun inched ever higher in the sky. Kerian noticed it out of the corner of his eye and now sent all of his will towards it to try to check its relentless motion, knowing that this was as much an impossibility as his love hearing him declare his feelings for her. He tried to angle the necklace and gain an inkling as to where she was, but it just looked like her cabin in the background and he was no clearer as to where he should venture next.

  Colette’s image started to fade as rapidly as it appeared. Kerian dared not blink in case he missed even one second of her face, trying to etch her features into his memory to sustain him through the coming day. Then she was gone, the pearl going back to its plain nondescript grey. Kerian sank to the floor of the balcony, his legs suddenly unable to hold his weight, his mouth dry, his heart breaking, clutching the pendant tightly in his hand as he quietly whispered that he missed her, over and over again.

  * * * * * *

  There it was again!

  Colette paused in her studying, her finger hovering over the arcane script as a strange sensation of being watched made the hairs on her neck stand up. What was it? Her hand dropped to her belt, delving rapidly into a drawstring pouch to bring out a pinch of finely crushed gemstone, which she threw into the air, her fingers whipping through intricate gestures her long dead mentor had taught her.

  “Veritat!” she shouted, watching the dust glisten and twinkle around her like a field of bright stars. There was definitely magic at work! Someone was watching her! Her hand moved towards the pouch for a replenishment of ground gemstone but already the sparkling air around her was fading and the dust slowly dropped to the floor. Whoever or whatever was watching her had stopped.

  Colette took a deep breath and tried to calm her thoughts. Who could be doing this? Well whoever it was, she would be ready for them next time. A knock at her cabin door surprised her, jolting her from her thoughts.

  “Come in.” The door opened and Thomas stood in the doorway coated from head to foot in mud.

  “On second thoughts…” Colette swiftly reconsidered. “Why don’t you stay out in the gangway!” She walked over, trying to smooth the worried wrinkles from her face and smiled as bravely as she could.

  “Is everything alright?” Thomas asked, his acute perception instantly picking up that something was wrong.

  “I’m fine,” Colette replied trying to hide her disquiet with a radiant smile, before turning to carefully place the book she was holding down on her bed. “Just losing my mind…” she whispered under her breath.

  Thomas looked at her with his head tilted on one side, unconvinced with the reply but recognising that pushing the matter further could result in no information at all and risk alienating his mage.

  “How did you get on?” Colette asked. “Did you get some?”

  “Well Miguel was not quite as generous as I would have liked.” Thomas confessed, frowning and shedding flakes of mud towards the floor. “I could only get one.” He reached into his jacket and offered the flawless amethyst over.

  “It’s such a shame we have to destroy these gems each time we use the power within them.” Colette stated, turning the beautiful stone over and over, staring into its depths. She looked up into Thomas’s eyes and paused. “Did you say just the one? That is only enough for one gateway. What about the other one?”

  Thomas shrugged his shoulders.

  “It’s the best I could do at the time.” He confessed. “What about using some more of the smaller gems like we did to get here?” Colette’s soft features transformed into a stern icy frown.

  “We nearly lost the stern of the El Defensor when we came here to Maraket.” She snapped. “It’s too dangerous relying on several power sources at once. The spell can falter at an inopportune moment.”

  “We have no
choice.” Thomas shot back. “We cannot stay here. Miguel will set out in pursuit to get this gemstone back. We need to go through the gateway and the sooner the better.” Colette felt a heaviness fall onto her small shoulders.

  “What about the danger to the crew?” she asked. “I am not happy risking their lives in this way.”

  “That’s not your decision to make.” Thomas replied. “If this all goes pear shaped the blame lies squarely with me.” He cracked a tired smile, trying to make light of the seriousness of the situation, sending a further shower of muddy flecks to the floor.

  “Come on. I am about to summon the crew to their stations. The sooner we do this the sooner we can get to a safe new world and you can use all the leisure time we have there studying a way to solve our magical deficit.”

  Colette shrugged her shoulders and tried to smile back but the effort was forced as she considered the apparent danger to those she cared for. She had lost one man close to her and had no intention of losing others. She stared into space, her mind thinking back to the magically aged features that had always held a warm smile for her. Kerian’s long white hair tied back from his face like a lost Viking warrior but hiding a gentle heart. Thomas’s arm came down around her shoulder.

  “I miss him too you know?” he confessed quietly. “Come on, let’s get this show on the road.”

  Colette carefully lifted his arm from her shoulder and brushed the muddy debris from her clothes.

  “Really Thomas. Those mudpacks are only supposed to go on your face. Didn’t you know that?”

  Thomas laughed and bowed to the young sorceress, gesturing that she stepped out into the corridor ahead of him in an exaggerated and humorous attempt at gallantry.

  “You never used to be like this.” She commented back over her shoulder. “I think Rowan is quite happy with the rugged captain we all know. You do not need beauty treatments to win her over. She is yours already and you don’t know how lucky you are.”