She smiled as she spoke, hoping it would be reflected in her voice.
The moon shifted from behind the clouds, causing the silver knife to glow as it slowly moved away from the gnome’s neck. Cautiously, Sawwse turned around. The smiling woman from the pub stood behind her, clasping her head with her right hand. The knife was still firmly held in her left. Sawwse could see the panic in the woman’s eyes.
‘What am I doing?’ the woman whispered.
The gnome carefully raised a hand to her own neck, feeling gently for any marks the knife had left behind.
‘My stability has deteriorated further. But there’s a clarity in my head for now,’ the woman said. She spoke as though she had forgotten Sawwse was there.
The gnome, however, was still very much concerned about the knife in the woman’s left hand. Sawwse interrupted the woman’s monologue.
‘I’m assuming this is about the meal. I don’t have any money yet, but I’m happy to work to pay it off. I’m a dab hand at the lute, and I can flaunt the flute like no one else.’
The woman lowered both her arms, and slowly sheathed her knife in the top of her boot.
‘You must forgive my bad manners.’
There was now a low, velvety texture to her voice. A tentative smile began to play on her lips as she spoke again.
‘One can never be too cautious while travelling at night,’ she added, by way of an excuse.
‘My name is Sawwse Bohge,’ the gnome replied. She crossed one leg behind the other and bowed deeply.
In response, the woman bowed her head and squatted, placing a hand flat on the ground in front of the gnome.
‘My name is Mirrah.’
‘Is that how they bow where you’re from?’ Sawwse asked.
‘Perhaps.’
Although a lucidity returned to Mirrah’s eyes, she spoke in a soft, sad tone.
‘Perhaps,’ she repeated.
When Mirrah stood back up, Sawwse saw her clearly for the first time. A human like the villagers, she was tall, with sharp, angular features. Her golden blonde hair had turned silvery in the low light. Sawwse looked into her eyes once again. They were charged with a magnetic force, drawing the gnome in closer. Beneath her cloak, Mirrah wore simple leather armour over the top of a green dress. Strapped around her waist was a conspicuously empty scabbard, decorated with a complex pattern of isometric triangles.
Mirrah reached over a gloved hand and gently wiped the tiny spot of blood which had appeared on Sawwse’s neck. Her hand lingered softly by Sawwse’s face. It was a tender moment that caught the gnome off guard. An ashamed look passed over Mirrah’s face.
‘I’m sorry, I am not myself,’ Mirrah said.
‘It’s just a nick. Honestly, nothing to worry about,’ Sawwse replied, attempting to set her at ease.
Although her knife had been sheathed, Sawwse felt the encounter to be pregnant with unpredictability. She guessed that it wasn’t cautiousness that had set this woman on edge.
‘Maybe any harm is too much harm for a noble gnome such as yourself.’
‘Noble? That’s- that’s hysterical,’ Sawwse just about managed to reply. She held onto her sides, heaving with laughter.
A smile returned to Mirrah’s lips.
‘Noble of spirit. Of character. You do yourself a disservice by laughing.’
‘Well, I’m not convinced, but I’ll take it.’
Managing to contain her laughter, Sawwse walked further into the ginnel and then turned out into the village path. She was vaguely aware of some kind of commotion happening nearer to the square, but she paid no attention to it. At first Mirrah hesitated in the shadows, but then followed Sawwse to the stream.
Had Sawwse known that a curse was spreading through Mirrah’s mind, eradicating memories and logic, perhaps she would have been more cautious in her approach. As it was, the oblivious gnome felt drawn to Mirrah and keen to befriend her.
For her part, Mirrah didn’t know why she decided to stay with the gnome. She knew she should use these moments of cogency to try and better understand her plight and what lay ahead of her, but instead she continued to stroll alongside Sawwse. There was something about her company that she liked. Mirrah knew that this very feeling was a reason to flee, in case the jolly gnome was to get caught in another of the rages. Yet a magnetic force worked from both directions, pulling her into this unusual centre.
They walked alongside the stream together in silence for a while, before sitting down at its edge. The moon emerged from the clouds once more, illuminating the pale blue stream with a pink hue. The occasional carp troubled the water, causing lilacky reflections and refractions to dance upon their faces. On this side of the village, everything was still apart from the gently flowing stream. The pair sat like this for some time, bathing in the calm.
Mirrah turned to Sawwse and spoke with sincerity.
‘Thank you for this. This respite has undoubtedly done me some good. I don’t know how long it has been since...’ She fell silent, not entirely sure what she meant by her pronouncement.
Sawwse took off her ankle boots and slipped her feet into the water. She turned back to Mirrah in response and smiled.
‘You should try this. I saw one of the locals doing it earlier, it looks fun.’
A mildly interested carp swam towards her feet, but changed direction and continued up the stream instead. Sawwse glowered at the next carp to swim past until it reluctantly came over and nibbled at her toes.
Mirrah smiled as Sawwse began giggling from the carp-tickles. ‘What a curious little one,’ she thought.
‘So, where’s next for you?’ Sawwse asked suddenly.
‘Ah, yes. Now that is a good question.’
Sawwse wasn’t sure that it was, but she smiled politely and waited for Mirrah to continue.
‘Since arriving here, I have learnt that this is the Dorienne Kingdom. Doriana, the capital, lies farther to the north, alongside the mountain range. I wish I knew what that meant, but-’ she trailed off, gathering her thoughts up like so many loose threads. ‘Perhaps... I will start walking in that direction and see where I end up. No doubt I’ll arrive somewhere completely different. My body moves and I follow.’
The gnome looked at her with admiration.
‘That’s just like Emmeline Flowerdew. She set off without a clear direction and wandered the world, wherever her heart took her. I’m jealous. Although, my journey has only just begun. I plan to be the greatest musician in the world,’ Sawwse replied, between giggles. Two carp now cleaned, and tickled, her feet.
Mirrah looked down at Sawwse with curiosity. She found herself opening up to her, without knowing why.
‘An aimless, travelling life is nothing to be jealous of,’ she sighed.
Sawwse shrugged and nodded, cutting short her chuckles. After another while sat in a calm silence, the gnome spoke up animatedly.
‘I could give you a clear purpose, if you’d like?’
Mirrah raised her eyebrows, sceptically.
‘Did someone steal your biscuits? I think someone stole your biscuits. The very idea,’ the gnome began.
A slow smile crept over Mirrah’s face, dimpling each cheek.
‘They were your true favourites,’ Sawwse continued. ‘Crunchy on the outside, with a divine plum jam running right through the centre. Or... oh no, I’ve got it. Your neighbour borrowed a shovel and it’s coming to the end of onion planting season. The Miraculous Shovel of Mirrah must be avenged!’
Mirrah laughed. It was a hearty laugh, and Sawwse could tell it had been some time since she’d had one. Catching her breath with a hiccup, Mirrah wiped tears from her eyes.
‘There is something interesting about you.’
They gazed into each other’s eyes, and in that moment a connection was forged. It electrified Sawwse’s body. The excitement of this spark between them left both Sawwse and Mirrah momentarily breathless. But then, once the connection was established, M
irrah felt herself being pulled away from this special moment. She wanted to stay with Sawwse so dearly, but she could already feel her body dematerialising. Mirrah focused. It could be dangerous to phase out here.
‘Now, my gnome friend. I should really be going.’
Mirrah spoke through teeth clenched together. She stood and brushed some dust from her dress. Sawwse took her feet from the water and shook off the excess. Mirrah reached inside her cloak and pulled out a small spherical object. When she held it out, Sawwse recognised it as one of the curious items that Dannse kept on her shelves.
‘I want you to have this,’ Mirrah spoke earnestly.
Sawwse examined it. It was a glass sphere, full of red sand.
‘I think this is special in some way, but I’m afraid I no longer remember why,’ Mirrah said, sadly.
Sawwse was touched by this offering. She smiled.
‘I will keep it for you until you have retrieved your biscuits. Once I’ve become the greatest musician in the world, and you’ve got that shovel back, perhaps we could travel together somewhere?’
The little gnome couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. This is the woman that had begun their meeting with a knife to her throat. And yet, beyond the fear, the caution, the confusion, Sawwse could see a goodness in her.
‘Yes, let’s do that,’ Mirrah answered, without hesitation. ‘Oh. And you might find this useful.’
She dropped a small, heavy bag down next to the gnome. A few shiny coins fell out as it hit the ground. Mirrah turned and began walking away.
‘Wait,’ Sawwse called after her. ‘I have something for you too. A song.’
‘It’s no use,’ Mirrah thought. ‘No matter how beautiful her song, it will soon evaporate like so many of my memory particles before it. Nevertheless, while my civility remains, I should accept this special gift.’ She nodded her assent.
Sawwse breathed in deeply, and then began singing. It was one of Flowerdew’s songs that she’d picked up from Walken Musike. A slow, melancholy song about a transient connection the bard had made with a dwarven cobbler.
After the song had finished, Mirrah wiped a tear from her eye. She unsheathed her knife and raised it into the air.
‘Thank you. Until we meet again.’
Sawwse raised her clenched fist.
‘Good luck out there.’
She paused, before bowing in her traditional way. When she looked back up, Mirrah had already gone. Unbeknownst to the gnome, she had already been ripped into particles, and reassembled elsewhere.
Sawwse took the ball of red sand out of her pocket and gazed at it. It was beautiful in the bright moonlight. Looking at the glass sphere closely, Sawwse caught the reflection of her own sapphire-green eyes staring back at her. She was startled when Ruby appeared next to her, completely out of breath.
‘Where’ve you been?’ Ruby asked.
‘I was just... making new friends.’
‘Come on, we’ve got to go right now,’ Ruby said, panicked.
‘Why, what’s going on?’
‘I don’t know, but it’s serious. Come on.’
Ruby took Sawwse’s hand and led her back through the network of ginnels until they reappeared at the other side of the main square. Sawwse could see that there was panic running through the village: raised voices, people running around, carriage horses bucking and whinnying. There seemed to be a crowd gathered around The Chalice. A group of guards had appeared and were pushing through the crowd. Ruby finally came to a halt in front of one of the carriages.
‘Here’s my friend. Tell her what you told me just before.’
Sawwse turned to see Ruby addressing a short, stout man. He spoke slowly, completely at odds with the situation arising in the village.
‘I can take you to Rhyddinas.’
The gnome’s eyes lit up.
‘It’s in the next realm over so it’ll cost you dearly.’
Sawwse jumped into the back of the wagon, swiftly followed by Ruby. She took out a glinting gold coin from the bag Mirrah left with her.
‘Will this do for now?’
The driver took the gold coin and bit it. He grinned.
‘Right you are. We’re heading east. Hup!’
Moving faster than he spoke, he gave the signal to his horses and they began to gallop off into the night, leaving the chaos of the village behind them.
--
As Sawwse and Ruby’s carriage sped into the night, two Dorienne soldiers approached the scene they had just departed. They had been sent to the village by Eugenie in the hopes of casting a net wide enough to catch her father’s killer.
‘I’m not convinced, personally,’ said Bentham.
‘You’re never convinced about anything,’ Aleese retorted.
‘I just don’t see how she could do as good a job. Personally speaking.’
‘Give her time, stop being so quick to judge.’
Aleese stopped and pasted one of her, much reduced, stack of posters onto a nearby wall.
‘I must admit the story is a little strange.’
‘It’s very strange, Aleese. Eight of the king’s guard slaughtered at a stroke, just like that? I don’t think so. We’d know if anyone that powerful was in Esh’areth.’ Bentham took one of the posters and studied it. ‘Doesn’t even look like a bandit.’
‘Look, if Princess Eugenie can keep the kingdom in one piece then I’ll not complain.’ Aleese posted up another notice on the side of a house. Then looking ahead, she said, ‘Strange. Something’s up.’
The panic in Pettibeck had somewhat quietened down. The guards had done their bit to send people home, but there were still some groups of people in hysterics. The authority of Aleese and Bentham’s central Dorienne armour was enough to attract instantaneous attention.
‘Tell us what is going on in this village,’ Aleese demanded.
A local guard spoke up.
‘Something’s happened in The Chalice.’
Bentham reprimanded the young guard.
‘Be more specific, boy.’
‘I think it’d be best if you looked yourselves,’ the young guard said, bowing his head.
Aleese passed the posters and glue to the guard.
‘Make yourself useful and put these up around town.’
The two soldiers walked to the entrance of the pub, where a guard stood on either side of the door. They paused on the threshold, stupefied at what they saw inside. Bentham immediately ran back outside and violently threw up against the wall.
‘This is-’
Aleese was at a loss for words. The nightmare image of blood and limbs inside The Chalice had shocked them to their core. She heard a woman shouting from outside.
‘That’s her. That’s the one.’
Aleese left the blood-soaked pub and saw that the woman was pointing at one of her posters.
‘I asked her if she wanted to travel and then she wandered off into The Chalice. That’s when she must’ve done those terrible things.’
Aleese and Bentham stood staring at the poster, the colour rapidly draining from their faces.
‘Bentham, how convinced are you that the Princess will allow us to live after she finds out that we let this monster slaughter a pub full of people and then escape?’
‘I’m not convinced at all. Personally.’
They looked at the gnome depicted on the poster. Aleese read the words aloud.
‘“Wanted as a matter of urgency across the kingdom. Dead or Alive.”’
She paused.
‘I think you might be right about that, Bentham.
Chapter 7: Arriving in Rhyddinas
The carriage trundled along uneven roads all throughout the night. Darkness masked the terrain, so the driver navigated via a lantern extended in front of the vehicle. Sawwse pored over the Gnomeopedia by candlelight in the back. She’d been reading it on and off for days, but the vastness of the tome meant that there was alwa
ys more to learn. Scanning yet another fascinating page, Sawwse’s eye caught the word ‘Dorienne’ and she read the entry aloud:
‘“Ambitious, fair and welcoming. The Dorienne Kingdom has the most generous of hosts, and that rarest of leaders, a humble king. Despite fighting battles on two of their borders, they still found time to dine with us, and not a sniff of interest in claiming our forest. We wish them and the Ring of Dorienne well.”’
‘Haven’t heard that term for a long while now,’ the driver said, turning to look at the gnome.
‘What is the Ring of Dorienne?’ Sawwse asked.
‘It’s history,’ he scoffed. ‘An aborted attempt at peace. Still, King Poht managed an uneasy alliance instead. Perhaps that’s the best we can hope for- stop that.’
The driver shot Ruby a hostile glance. She had been leaning forward and chatting with the horses pulling their carriage, using high pitched neighing noises to communicate. Ruby had only been concerned that they were being worked too hard. Fortunately, they seemed fine. As a bonus, she’d found out some gossip: they’d recently been given a new mulch solution for feed.
‘Try to keep the noise down,’ the driver said. ‘And you, snuff that candle.’
Sawwse blew out her light. As she put the Gnomeopedia away, her hand brushed the globe Mirrah had given her. She smiled a little sadly as she recalled their encounter, which had left behind a trace of something she couldn’t quite name. She had been sad at how her time with Marius ended, of course, but with Mirrah there had been a spark, and a whole head full of new emotions. Sawwse’s ponderings were interrupted when Ruby suddenly asked her a question.
‘What was it like growing up in a forest?’
Despite the driver’s ban on candlelight, there was still just about enough moonlight for the passengers to see a vague impression of one another.
‘Dreadful,’ Sawwse replied, instantly. ‘Well, no. Not dreadful. It was peaceful. Calm, mostly.’
‘Sounds idyllic,’ said Ruby, dreamily.
‘No, it really wasn’t idyllic. I mean, I imagine we had it better than other places, in certain ways, sure. But it wasn’t perfect. It’s hard to-’
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