by Kim Dragoner
Being the ever gracious knight that he was, Jofrit of Leeds answered Lady Nimueh’s questions with poise and grace.
“Milady, his name is Guerrero. I brought him from Spain as a young foal along with another stallion that resembles him exactly. They are somewhat of a matched pair; twins to be precise.”
Nimueh was intrigued. Twins which were both born alive and healthy and then continued to thrive and grow well was quite rare with horses and twins that were the same in appearance, even more so. They would have been a pair fit for a king and queen from the looks of the animal that stood before her.
“He has the nimble and delicate traits that go with the blood of the desert horses from the lands south of the Aegean Sea,” Nimueh said confidently as she grasped the knuckles and patted the flanks of Guerrero’s legs.
“You know much about horses and geography, Milady. That is quite impressive.”
Nimueh stopped her assessment of the horse for a moment and looked Sir Jofrit in the eye. She positioned herself attractively and exaggerated the movements of her arms and upper body. In a few moments, she saw what she thought she had heard in his voice. She had seen that look before. Many years ago, a sorcerer by the name of Merlin had looked at her like that.
Well, in the beginning, he had looked at her like that… then it had turned into an aggravating, incessant mooning that made her sick to her stomach and finally, it had become a look of complete shock and horror as she had used his own magic to imprison him inside a crystal alcove inside that very cave.
It was a look of intrigue, admiration, desire. She had used it against Merlin to get what she wanted from him and she would do the same to Sir Jofrit of Leeds.
“Dunmor! Is this any way to treat our distinguished guest? Why has he remained chained in my presence for so long?”
The Pict man sprang forward to undo the rope and manacles that had kept Sir Jofrit secured to the horse and helped the man down from the saddle. As he stepped back to where his brothers were, Dunmor wasn’t quite sure what was going on between Jofrit and Nimueh but he was sure that he didn’t like one bit of it.
“Come, Sir Jofrit,” Nimueh said. “Sit with me.”
When she said that, Nimueh waved her hand over the empty spot to the right of her crystal chair and a matching one rose from the platform for her guest.
“They were just about to serve some supper.”
***
“We must capture that imp,” Merlin ordered as they were approaching the earthen mound that stretched for as far as the eye could see in either direction. There, a creature, the nature of which John had never seen before, scurried off the mound and then ran into a trench.
“Thomas and I will ride ahead and try to cut him off; the rest of you stay behind him so he doesn’t double back!” John responded, putting the spurs to Ganador.
“I’ll cast a spell so he doesn’t take flight!” Merlin called after him.
In general, the imp behaved more like a game bird, running and dodging along the trench. It put Ganador and all of the other mounts to the test to run down the creature and close in around it. It screeched, hissed and wailed at them, beating its wings frantically, but unable to lift itself from the ground. As the circle closed in tighter, it finally stopped trying to escape, but circled warily; its wide eyes watching each of them in turn.
“We mean you no harm, imp,” Merlin said. “These aren’t the kind of men who eat your kind.”
“There are certainly none among you who smells of the kind who does,” the imp hissed, turning to watch Alpina closely.
“We’ll not be dining on your flesh this day,” Merlin responded. “Although you look to be fattened up and would certainly be savory on the tongue.”
“What do you want with me then, wizard?” His attention was upon Alpina, even as he spoke to Merlin.
“No names, no news,” the imp retorted.
“Yes, it is customary, but, as of yet, you haven’t introduced yourself. You’ve forgotten that protocol, no doubt?”
“One’s dinner isn’t often introduced before having its head hacked off.”
“You are to be no one’s dinner,” Merlin reassured. “Come on then, out with it, what is your name?”
“I am called Tiki Tok,” the imp finally responded. “I am not the watchman of the dyke.”
“To whom do you report?” Merlin asked. “To Gryme?”
“Of course, everyone reports directly to Gryme,” Tiki Tok replied. “I report to Tim Tam. Now, do me the honor of introducing yourselves or I will be forced to speak freely.”
“This is Sir John of Leeds, Sir Thomas of Manchester, Lady Alpina of Auchavan and…” He waved a hand toward each of them in turn as he made the introductions, but was cut off when he got to Alpina.
“Auchavan,” Tiki Tok responded. “It’s certain that none of my kin have fattened the bellies of those at Auchavan.”
“I’ve no interest in dining upon your flesh today,” Alpina responded with a wicked smile. She was enjoying the moment a little too much.
The statement satisfied Tiki Tok, but he still kept one eye upon her as Merlin continued with the introductions.
“We also have Chatburn, the squire of Sir John and Dufton, the squire of Sir Thomas,” Merlin finished. “And I am the wizard known as Merlin.”
“Merlin?” he gasped. “Your power is unknown in these parts and untried, but it would be an honor to have you do me harm.”
“I’ve done all the harm I intend to do by preventing you from taking wing,” Merlin answered. “If you will lie to us honestly, then no further harm will come.”
John was a little bit confused about Merlin’s last statement. He wasn’t sure how one lied honestly.
“So, Tim Tam,” Merlin began.
“I believe that he said his name is Tiki Tok,” John said, interrupting the wizard.
“Of course he did,” Merlin responded. “It was an honest lie. His real name is Tim Tam.”
John shrugged and decided to stay out of the way.
“What do you think of this day?” Merlin asked.
“It was a miserable day up until the likes of you came along, but it’s gotten brighter,” Tim Tam responded. “It would be a delight to be eaten.”
“Very good,” Merlin responded. “Have you any news from the north, near Inverness and the like?”
“I never have news from the north,” Tim Tam answered. “South, east and west, but never from the north.”
“No doubt that news was happy news to the likes of you,” Merlin continued.
“It was the gravest news,” Tim Tam smiled.
“Was it of Sir Jofrit of Camelot?”
“Never heard of Sir Jofrit nor of Camelot, but it was the gravest news, indeed.” Tim Tam held back a laugh that threatened to burst from him.
John wrinkled his brow as he tried to understand the conversation that was taking place between the imp and Merlin. None of it made sense to him.
“Did he enter into the Cairngorms?” Merlin asked.
“He never entered the Cairngorms and was never frozen in a block of ice,” the imp responded, still smiling, though better able to control himself.
“It is a friend of yours who has him, then?”
“Nimueh is no friend of mine,” Tim Tam replied.
“It is Nimueh who has sealed Sir Jofrit in a block of ice, then?” Merlin asked.
“I know nothing of this Nimueh, nor of your Sir Jofrit. She would never have put him in a block of ice,” the imp answered.
“Do you know where Nimueh is keeping Sir Jofrit in his frozen state?” Merlin asked.
“I know exactly the place,” the imp answered, scratching his sparsely haired head.
“You will report none of this to Tiki Tok,” Merlin warned. “If you do, I’ll make certain to send Alpina’s family here to find their next Sunday’s dinner.”
“I’ll tell Tiki Tok every word of our conversation. It would be an honor to be dinner for such a fine family.”
&n
bsp; “Shouldn’t we press him further?” John asked. “He says that he knows the exact location.”
“It would do no good,” Merlin answered. “He doesn’t know where your father is being held.”
“But he just…” John stopped when Merlin raised his hand to stop him.
“Very well, then,” Merlin said. “You have use of your wings, if you wish to fly away.”
“I’ve no wish to fly away. I’d rather be eaten,” Tim Tam responded before flapping his wings frantically and disappearing into a treetop nearby. From above, he called out to them. “It was certainly a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“We’ll be on our way, then,” Merlin said, turning his horse to follow the trench back to the road they’d been following before pursuing the imp.
John and the others followed along behind Merlin until they reached the road. Silent confusion registered on all of their faces. It wasn’t until they were a mile or so north of the wall that Merlin began to bring relief to their confusion.
“Sir Jofrit, I’m afraid to tell you,” Merlin began, “has been frozen in a block of ice by a very powerful sorceress by the name of Nimueh. However, our imp had no idea of the exact place that he is being held, though we can be assured that it is to the north in the Cairngorms.”
“Please excuse my contradiction, Merlin,” John replied. “But how were you able to deduce that from the conversation that we just witnessed? For instance, didn’t he say that he knew exactly where my father was being held?”
“He’s an imp, my dear Sir John,” Merlin chuckled. “He must always lie.”
“So, how can you believe anything that he said?” John asked.
“You can believe him by asking questions in a certain way that will make him give you the answers in reverse,” Merlin grinned. “If the imp lies honestly, then you can count on anything that he says being the opposite of what really is.”
John had no response. He tried to sort through the conversation once more inside his mind. All it did was confuse him.
“That was a wicked joke that you played on him, Lady Alpina,” Merlin laughed.
“Do you think that he believed me?” Alpina laughed.
“I don’t know, but he sure kept a close eye on you.” Merlin continued laughing and then tried to explain to his confused companions what Alpina had done.
Finally catching on to the joke, John turned to look back at Alpina. “Would you actually eat such a creature?”
“Of course I would,” she burst out. “They are delicious. Consider chicken in a rich pear sauce.”
“Only twice as sweet,” Merlin added with a chuckle.
If the others had been paying the magician’s expression any attention, they would have seen the wide grin of mirth on his face slowly melt away into a look of dread. Shivers had gone down his spine at the mention of Nimueh’s name.
How was this even possible? Mab had banished her for what she had done to Merlin many years before, so how was it that she was back on Earth? As he rode along with a myriad of thoughts clouding his mind, Merlin couldn’t help but remember everything that had happened between Nimueh and him.
***
After the war, Morgana le Fae, Queen Mab and Merlin the sorcerer had warned Arthur, his men and their Sons of the Round Table that there was still too much unfettered magic loose in the kingdom. Many of the skirmishes had seen deserters and after the Battle of Camlann, there had been wounded soldiers, both human and elven, who had taken refuge in the dark places and forests of Cumbria.
Eventually, with persistent patrols, these threats had been eradicated but what none of them had anticipated was that several magical entities who had been banished at one time or another to the realm of Arcadia had found the breach Oberon had created and slipped through to Earth. The majority of these refugees had returned by choice to Arcadia, being unfamiliar with Earth and having no desire to stay. However, some had been exiled to Arcadia from Earth and took the opportunity to sneak back home, escaping their prison sentence.
One such prisoner was Nimueh. A long time ago, she had been a revered and beloved being in the realm. That was before Arthur had become king and united the fractured clans and people to form one country, under one king; the Kingdom of Britain. Before Lancelot had become one of the Knight of Arthur’s Round Table, he had been orphaned and it was Nimueh who has fostered him and raised him into adulthood. She had served as protector to many magical objects under the guidance of the Glastenning Sisterhood and for Queen Mab, she had been a source of justice to wrongdoers.
It had been Nimueh who had presented Arthur with the enchanted sword, Excalibur. She appeared to him with the sword on three different occasions before finally allowing Arthur to keep it. By doing so, she had announced her approval of his kingship.
All that had been long before Nimueh had earned the wrath of Avalon and Eon and been banished to Arcadia for her wrongdoings against Arthur’s favorite; Merlin, the magician.
In the entire kingdom of Britain, only one creature had ever been able to catch Merlin's eye and that had been Nimueh, the Lady of the Lake. She was incredibly beautiful and young, but most importantly, Nimueh was a creature of magic, just like Merlin was.
It wasn’t long before Merlin, the greatest wizard in the kingdom, was completely in love with her. More and more, Merlin sought out opportunities to be with Nimueh and the more saw of her, the greater his desire grew, until he became completely obsessed.
He spent an outrageous amount of time courting her and seeking her attention. As could be expected, Nimueh soon became annoyed with his constant advances. Seeing as she shared no such feelings for Merlin, his attentions were overbearing and irritating and she wanted only to rid herself of him. However, quite aware of Merlin’s outbursts of unfettered rage, Nimueh feared what might happen if she turned him down openly.
As benevolent as she could be in her role as the Lady of the Lake, so also could Nimueh be conniving and selfish. So, instead of being forthright with Merlin, she decided to pretend she shared his love and proceeded to use him to teach her his magic and all of his secrets. Nimueh’s hope was that one day, she might be more powerful than Merlin and never have to fear him again.
When Nimueh thought that she had learned all there was to learn from Merlin, the magician, she invited the wizard on a leisurely stroll through the forest together. She pretended that there were still many things she wished to learn from him and that was the tip off to Merlin. He knew that she had mastered everything he knew and was sure that Nimueh had a plan up her sleeve, but he was so in love with her that he could not resist.
Nimueh wasted no time on their walk. She carried with her an enchanted book and quill and asked Merlin to review some of the most powerful spells he had taught her. As Merlin spoke, the pen wrote down every word that he said onto the blank pages of the book. Soon, they came to a cave which Merlin had previously told her was a place of great power. Though he was surprised that they had happened upon the place so suddenly, Merlin was glad of the opportunity to show it to Nimueh, if she wished to explore it. Nimueh agreed, delighted at the chance to see the magical place. Merlin entered the cave first and as soon as he stepped through the opening, Nimueh cast a spell that immediately sealed the mouth of the cave shut.
Merlin was trapped and even though he tried many spells to open the cave and set himself free, none were successful. Nimueh had used was one of his own spells against him and so not even his great magic could not break it.
When Merlin had tried everything, he fell into a deep sleep and while he was in that dream state, he reached out to Arthur and told him everything that had happened. Morgana le Fae and Arthur went to free Merlin while Queen Mad arrested Nimueh and exacted the punishment of exile on her.
No one had heard from her since. Until now…
Merlin the magician said nothing to his travel companions about any of this, but he knew well enough how important it was that they proceed on their quest to locate and rescue Sir Jofrit of Leeds wit
h extreme caution.
Chapter Ten
It wasn’t until the meal was served that Jofrit realized how hungry he was. He’d been fairly well fed while he was with the Pict men but their idea of food was far from what he was used to finding on his table in Leeds and even on the barracks table in the Shetlands during his years there.
Nimueh, it was certain, knew how to entertain her guests well. There had been no trouble that was spared in the preparation of the meal brought before them. Roasted fowl and boar basted in delicious sauces and seasonings. Stewed rabbit rich with root vegetables and sage. The bread was fresh, soft and hearty and served with a huge bowl of yellow, creamy butter; the kind that the highlands was known for.
Then there was the ale. It was sweet with honey and strong from the grain; a bad combination if one wished to keep their wits about them. It was soon evident that that was not Nimueh’s plan for Jofrit. As they reclined by the fireplace, she kept his goblet full of ale and his ear full of her fantastical stories. They laughed and talked until the late hours of the night.
When she was sure that he was quite incapacitated with drink, Nimueh spoke in a soft, hypnotizing voice. “So, Jofrit,” she started, “would you give up your handsome steed to secure your freedom from here and free passage through the Cairngorms to the south and on to your home in Yorkshire?”
His answer surprised her.
“If I were to leave my horse behind, my lady, tell me how would I get home?”
His answer was a little too sober for her liking. She was getting angry with Jofrit.
“I am not that inhospitable, sir. Surely, I would provide you with another.”
“I meant no offense. But I would much rather to keep my own.”
“I think you have misunderstood me. I was not asking what you preferred. I was giving you the opportunity to procure your freedom from me at the price of the horse.”
“Am I to understand that I am your prisoner here?’