"When we get to the village," I said to Chessina, blessing the fact of not getting out of breath while under the spell's influence, "Concentrate on the guards. If they try to support Pennover, do something to confuse and distract them. If I can deal with Pennover quickly, even if they had supported him they will lose heart."
"Will you be able to get the girl away from Pennover?" Chessina asked.
"I think so,” I said, more confidently than I felt. "I think he's run mad and hopefully will make mistakes."
"Crond, slow down, we're at the edge of the village," I said to the boy. "Where's Pennover?"
"He's in the village square, Master Wizard. Holding poor Norva next to him," Crond replied.
We walked quietly to the square. Pennover was holding a terrified little girl of about ten by the back of her dress. The sword in his other hand waving about as he harangued the crowd about how everyone would pay for the wrongs done to him. How the girl would die if he didn't get his parure back. The four bodyguards stood behind him with drawn swords, and they didn't look happy.
"Do your best, love," I spoke softly to Chessina and walked out into the square. "I believe you wanted to see me Lord Pennover?"
"You!" Pennover almost screamed at me. I just smiled at him. As this was going on I could feel Chessina casting a spell. "Get me back my parure, if you don't I'll gut this peasant brat, then I'll kill the rest of the ungrateful peasants!"
As he was speaking, the bodyguards behind Pennover sheathed their swords. As he heard the noise of swords sliding into scabbards he half turned to look behind him. I levelled my staff and using its power cast three minor spells simultaneously, the white glow brighter this time: a numbing spell on Pennover's sword hand, causing him to drop his sword, a pulling spell on Norva to pull her away from Pennover, leaving part of her dress behind, but we'd sort that later, and still person to freeze Pennover in place so he couldn't move any voluntary muscles.
With that I thought it was all over, but there was a sudden shout from the crowd., turning rapidly to a roar. They wanted Pennover, and it wasn't to buy him an ale.
"Stop!" I roared myself, using shout from the illusia name of the goddess. "I will see Lord Pennover does no more hurt, but I promised the Royal Wizard he would live." I walked over to Pennover, he was motionless save for his breathing.
"You were warned what would happen," I said in my normal voice, "I am now going to finish what I started when I gave you the ears."
After cutting away Pennover's clothing, I cast the spell that would change Pennover's shape, calling on transmogria to do so. The spell would last until it was reversed. He gradually took on the shape of an ass and I could see the terror in his eyes. To save him some mental agony and to make him easier to handle I clouded his mind somewhat. It was rather unethical but he had behaved like a madman. The crowd were quiet now, and I could hear the sobbing of Norva quite clearly. She was in her mother's arms with the rest of the family clustered round her.
"Master, you were magnificent," said Chessina grasping my arm.
"You did well with the bodyguards. How did you get them to sheathe their swords?" I asked.
"I used the spell you taught me, from the illusia name, that enabled me to throw my voice to the guards. I just reminded them of the orders of the Royal Wizard, and asked if they wanted to be on his bad side. They obviously didn't."
Together Chessina and I led the now docile ass, formerly known as Lord Pennover, to Mattile and her husband Garrzlan Catchpole.
"Take this hinny ass, call her . . . Renilla, and no Pennover won't get better, and make sure she is a useful part of the village," I said, and handed to Garrzlan Pennover's purse that I had picked up, "Buy Norva a dress to replace the one that's been torn, and use the rest to benefit the village."
We turned now to the now former bodyguards and I asked,
"Have you been paid to date, and the servants?"
"Yes, noble wizard," one said, looking warily at us, "We have been paid to the end of the month. We insisted on cash in advance."
"Wise," I remarked, "Then I want you out of the village by noon, the day after tomorrow. You have no further business here."
"We will be gone, noble wizard," said the one who had spoken previously.
Matille brought Norva and her parents across to me, while her husband Garrzlan led the ass away.
"Thank you, noble wizard for our daughter's life," said Norva's father Theer, the carpenter. Norva was still distressed and her mother was comforting her.
"I am glad to do so. I will do my best to protect you all," I said.
As they withdrew, I turned to smile and nod to the rest of the villagers but I sensed a degree of wariness, even fear. Of course, I realised, they have never seen the results of an angry wizard, even though it is only a fraction of what one is capable of, and they are afraid. I was saddened by this, but at least Norva was safe.
"Are we going home now master?" asked Chessina.
"Yes, my love we are," I replied as we walked home arm-in-arm.
Chapter 9
The servants were still hard at work on the cottage when we reached the tower. Being powered by the tower, not by a cast spell, they would continue working until they had finished their task or I ordered them to stop. They wouldn't be available for other jobs, but Chessina liked to cook and I was adequate at it. We wouldn't starve.
Chessina and I went to the library, we needed to let Dragovar know what I had done to Pennover. I'm afraid I was rather cowardly and was going to leave Dragovar the unenviable task of informing his brother, the Duke, Pennover's father.
Dragovar,
I'm afraid that Pennover took as much notice of what you said to him as he did of his father's letter. Pennover took a little village girl hostage and threatened to kill her and the rest of the villagers if the parure was not returned to him. I completed the transformation that both you and I threatened him with. I am pleased to report that his bodyguards accepted my authority and did not try to defend Pennover. They will be leaving by noon the day after tomorrow. I trust that you will ensure that the monies due to the dependants of the bodyguard who died will be paid.
I ask as a personal favour, that whoever the Duke sends to take care of his property here be someone who will not cause the villagers distress.
I am sorry that things turned out the way they did, but I think the circumstances of Pennover's upbringing are partly to blame, particularly the way he was indulged by his mother Renilla. I am sure that she will petition the Duke, and anyone else she can bend the ear of, to have Pennover restored.
I urge you most strongly not to accede to any such request. In my opinion that would be an unmitigated dis-ass-ter.
Castamir
By the way I have just had a most unpleasant thought, which I thought I'd share with you. Why should I do all the worrying? I get the impression that Renilla was behind Pennover getting the parure. Was this merely the action of an overly doting mother, or given her, shall we say contacts, was there something more sinister behind this?
C
oOo
"I'd like to see the cottage finished and Elizelle and her carers installed before we go to court," I said to Chessina.
We were sitting in the kitchen eating lunch. Why bother to carry the food up to the sitting room, just for the pleasure of carrying down the plates afterward. Besides, I couldn't keep the food warm like the servants can.
"This is a lovely meal by the way," I continued, "Thank you Chessina."
"I'm glad you like it, master," she said, "It's interesting, cooking in your world, master. The ingredients are different, but the techniques are much the same."
I wondered what ingredients Chessina was accustomed to use, and on reflection, decided not to ask. Not at mealtime, anyway.
"Do you mind, having to go to court?" I asked.
"No master, I think it might be interesting, comparing it with the court of the demon prince," Chessina replied. "I went a few times, but I was only on the peripher
y, both figuratively and literally. I don't think you would approve of what went on there, master."
"I doubt it," I said, "I ought to go and see the Priestess, before we go. I want to ask her to look after things. Do you want to come with me?"
"Honestly master, no," Chessina answered, "But do you think I ought to, and will that horrid owl bite me?"
"I don't know," I replied, "It might. Some animals can sense creatures from the upper or lower planes, and familiars are much brighter and more perceptive than normal animals. Animals seem to fear creatures from the lower planes."
"Have you ever had a familiar, master?" Chessina asked.
"No, I've never wanted to," I answered, "I've seen what happens to a wizard if their familiar dies. Physically, they get ill but the real problem is the terrific grief they suffer. Mind you, that works both ways. Harmon's squirrel familiar just pined away and died despite what I tried to do for it. I buried it in the garden."
"We have a garden, master?" Chessina seemed quite excited. "May I see it?"
"Of course," I said, "It's planted with some of the herbs and plants that we use in magic. A dedicated gardener servant looks after it. Although I could have ordered it to help with the cottage, I'd rather have it taking care of the garden. I don't want to risk the plants dying. I'm not a farmer, but I suppose I am, in some sense a gardener."
oOo
Chessina liked the garden and walking around it made her so cheerful that she decided to accompany me to see the Priestess. To "look after me." she said.
We set off through the forest towards the Priestess' cottage.
"Master?" asked Chessina, "Everybody calls her the Priestess, but of whom is she Priestess?"
"Of the goddess Silvana," I replied. "She is the goddess of wild nature but has some responsibility for all growing and living things including domestic animals. Priestess Oakheart is the only druidic priestess around and so takes responsibility for things that, technically, aren't in her priestly sphere."
The closer we got to the priestess' cottage, the more in profusion the plants and flowers grew. More creatures were visible, and they were less bothered by our presence. And the trees, the trees were getting . . . huge, and old, very old.
"Harmon once told me that if you approached the priestess' cottage with no ill intent, the animals wouldn't harm you," I said in a soft voice, I didn't want to disturb the forest. "Yes, I'm nervous too."
We came abruptly out of the forest into a roughly circular clearing, passing under an arch formed by intertwined tree branches. A cottage stood there, built of stone with a thatched roof. Close-cropped turf surrounded the cottage, broken here and there with neat plots of earth filled with plants and flowers. Footpaths made of irregular stone slabs led to the cottage and the plots. A small stream of water flowed out of the ground and fell gently over a small waterfall into a pool. A rivulet led from the pool into the forest. The entire clearing was surrounded by the largest trees I had ever seen. And each tree was of a different species, but all were gigantic. I was certain that this clearing existed because the trees wanted it to be here, not because it had ever been cleared. As we neared the cottage I could see that the stones were not squared off and placed in regular layers like the one being built for Elizelle, but were irregular stones shaped into an exact fit with each other and no mortar between them. The oak door of the cottage opened and out stepped Priestess Oakheart.
"Castamir, Chessina, welcome to my home," she said, gesturing us to enter.
Two wooden stools and a high-backed carved wood chair surrounded a low table. On it were three wooden trenchers laden with bread and cheese, and three turned wooden goblets. The priestess indicated the stools.
"Please, be seated," she said, "I have prepared refreshment for us."
Chessina quickly glanced at me and I gave a slight nod. Judging by the smell in the cottage the bread had not long come out of the oven. We ate the bread and the cheese which was quite strong, goat's milk cheese I thought. The goblets contained a golden mead which was the best I have ever tasted. We ate and drank in silence, the food plain and simple though it was, seemed to deserve our full attention.
"Thank you for your welcome and hospitality, Priestess Oakheart," I said.
"Yes, thank you," echoed Chessina, "That was delicious."
"Thank you," said the priestess. "What may I do for you?"
"Chessina and I need to go to the Royal Court," I answered, "It is the return of a favour to the Royal Wizard. I wanted to ask you to keep an eye on things while we are away. I know that you would do so anyway, but I felt it rude to take you for granted. You didn't deal with Pennover's minor, but still annoying peccadilloes because, I imagine, you don't have the political clout to take on the nobility without very good reason."
"Yes, that's right Castamir," the priestess agreed.
"I, however, particularly now, do have the clout to take on the nobility," I said. "I know that Harmon worked together with you to look after the villagers and the forest. I wish to follow in his footsteps."
"The Priestess of the Forest and the Wizard of the Tower have usually worked together," said Priestess Oakheart, "Sometimes they have even been hand-fasted, although that seems unlikely in our case."
She smiled at Chessina and I as she said this. Chessina and I smiled at each other.
"I am hoping to be able to forestall any desire on the part of the Duke, or indeed others, to resume hunting here." I turned to Chessina, "The house that Pennover was living in, used to be the Ducal hunting lodge. I seem to remember Harmon telling me that the hunting was very poor on the last few hunting parties, and there were several hunting accidents also, although fortunately none were fatal."
"How interesting," said Chessina, then looked pointedly at the priestess and added, "And how convenient."
Priestess Oakheart smiled enigmatically. Yes, it's a very useful expression.
Chessina suddenly looked around somewhat anxiously.
"Ah, Priestess Oakheart, where is your familiar?" Asked Chessina, "We didn't get on last time we met."
"Ulula is roosting at the moment. It is almost time for her to hunt," the priestess replied.
"I think we had better be returning home," I said, glancing out of the window at the sky, "It's getting late."
"Yes," said the priestess, "Remember, if you are going to or coming from my cottage, providing you have no ill intent, you are safe. If you enter the forest in any other direction you must be on your guard, as must all creatures."
"We understand, priestess," I said, as we rose and took our leave.
As we walked along the path out of the forest I lit our way with a lux spell emanating from the head of my staff. Many eyes reflected the light from either side of the path.
"Yes," I said looking meaningfully at Chessina, "We are only here on sufferance. Don't leave the path."
"Master, I felt magic connected with the meal we had," Chessina said.
"It is the custom of hospitality among humans," I said, "That when one eats and drinks with one's host, particularly if there is salt in the food, that any attempt to harm the host causes the guest to be cursed. As indeed the host to be cursed if they harm the guest. Among most humans it is a custom only. I suspect however, that any curse involving the priestess would be very real and extremely powerful."
oOo
It was a relief to get out of the forest and into the more open country near the tower. I had mentioned to Harmon that it was strange that the forest didn't encroach the lands around the tower. He told me that the Forest and the Tower were different but gave each other a kind of respect and ideally, so should the Priestess and the Wizard.
"Master," said Chessina, "Does Priestess Oakheart use different words for different kinds of magic as wizards do?"
"Yes," I replied, "The priestess of a god of nature is concerned with different aspects of magic, than a priest or priestess of the god of war for example."
"I used a demonic word when I was changing things and I now
know to use transmogria to do so," said Chessina, "I used other demonic words when I cast spells of pleasure and pain too. Are there proper words for those aspects of magic too?"
"There are proper words for all the kinds of magic," I answered her, "And I would rather only discuss the demonic words you've been using inside the tower."
oOo
"I've changed my mind Chessina," I said, while we were drinking tea in the kitchen. "I'm not going to wait until the cottage is finished to go to court. I want to get there quickly. I'll ask Dragovar to send all the materials to build the cottage. I was going to ask craftsfolk in the village to build the rest of the cottage after the servants had finished the walls. However, I doubt they would want to work too close to the tower, particularly after my display of magic this morning. I'll ask Theer the carpenter to make the furniture and buy from the village anything they can provide for the cottage. After all, Dragovar is paying for it all, I'd like the village to get at least some benefit."
"Now, Chessina," I went on, "Please tell me what demonic words you use for pleasure and pain spells?"
"For pleasure I use schedraza and for pain schedriza, demons see the two concepts as being close together. I use sarza for charming or controlling people and now I know to use maestra," Chessina paused. "Master?"
"Yes?" I replied.
"I can cast changing spells more easily using transmogria than the word I used to," said Chessina, "Is that just me, or are the demonic words not as powerful as the proper words?"
"I'm sorry Chessina," I sighed, "I just don't know. Our magic power comes from Arcana herself, but I don't know where the magical power of demons, or devils comes from. There are lots of theories about it. It might depend on what plane you are on or what beings you are using them on. I know some of the secret dwarven names that they use for their magics, and those magics seem to work better underground. The dwarves call Arcana 'khuzur den krozor' Our Lady of the Deeps, so maybe that's part of it."
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