The Dragon Horn

by Vaughn Heppner

  “Why tell me all this?” Ivan asked. “Why not just slay me out of hand?”

  Karlo chuckled again, shaking his head. “Yes, I’ve treated you roughly these past few days. I thought you were just a rough-necked yokel. You’ve proved yourself to be more than that. You’ve a bit of nerve in you. Twice you’ve come out in the dark with your hounds. I don’t think any of the other Belgorod Folk would have done that. Maybe that’s why you’ve the wherewithal to see that Nadia would do well by me. I appreciate your help, even if you didn’t do it for my good. I love the lady. She obviously likes you. So, for her sake, I’ve decided to tolerate your forays into my affairs.”

  Ivan couldn’t put these pictures of Karlo together. “What about the piper?” he asked.

  “You’ve a right to be suspicious about her. Did you see her hands, perchance?”

  Ivan nodded.

  “You saw that they were hairy then, deformed and animal-like.”

  “I did.”

  “She’s a strange one. The men call her the Imp. She’s a bit simple, but she has a knack for the pipes. She can charm animals with them. I’m supposing that you followed the calf.”

  Ivan nodded.

  “It’s an unnerving trick, but it’s the Imp’s only one. She’s ugly. Peasants like you usually beat her up because of that. Therefore, she wishes to stay out of sight. Perun has been bringing her food now and again. Would you like to meet her?”

  Ivan shook his head.

  “I thought not. No, country bumpkins are a suspicious lot. They think old women are witches. Have you ever noticed that?”

  Ivan admitted that he had.

  In the distance, the ghastly sounds of feeding changed. Karlo cocked his head. “Well, I must be getting back.” He eyed Ivan. “You have a decision to make. You can cause trouble… Well, I’ve told you what will happen then. I don’t want that. I want to convince Sir Volok and Magda to give me Nadia’s hand in marriage when I return. A scene from Perun’s men could rough things up for me.”

  Suddenly Ivan knew that Karlo would call him a liar if he told others about what he’d seen tonight. Karlo was trying to trick him with soft words. The knight didn’t want trouble, but he wanted his way even more. Perhaps the knight would be able to call more wolves. They’d devour whatever parts of the calf Perun and his men couldn’t. Maybe they’d even hide the carcass. Master Volok would have to hold an inquest before he could revoke the king’s writ. While the inquest took place, maybe Karlo and his men would simply draw their swords and start killing.

  “What about the farmers?” Ivan blurted. “Will they be safe in the Old Forest with men like Perun?”

  “I’ve already given my knightly word on that. Do you doubt that word?”

  Ivan studied his feet. His didn’t want to say no, but he didn’t want to say yes, either.

  “Don’t try my patience,” Karlo warned.

  Ivan wouldn’t tell Petor about this. He would tell Magda, though. She’d know what to do.

  “I love Nadia, lad. But I will not throw away my honor for her.”

  “Milord?” Ivan asked.

  “I will not be thwarted by a peasant.” Karlo dropped his voice, stepping closer.

  Stribog growled. Only Ivan’s restraining hand kept the dog from attacking.

  “You upset Perun earlier by hitting him. He’s a bloodthirsty man. For what you did, he wants vengeance. The Moon Lady is a harsh mistress and demands harshness from her followers. To appease Perun I had to give him blood, the calf’s blood. Now he won’t slay you and gut you like a deer. So you see, much of what you saw tonight was for your benefit.”

  Ivan couldn’t believe that, and yet…

  “So if you want to start the real bloodshed, it will be on your head. You’d better think about that before you run off at the mouth. Keep quiet, and everything will be fine. No one will get killed. Talk too much…”

  “I understand,” Ivan said. “I won’t tell Master Volok about this.”

  “You swear to that?”

  “I do,” Ivan said.

  Karlo studied him. At last, he smiled. “You were wise enough to try to help Nadia escape unnoticed. I’m going to trust that you’re wise enough in this, too. Of course, if you do speak I’ll deny that any of this happened.”

  Ivan nodded.

  “Tarry here a while then. We’ll walk back together, you and I. If you flee, Perun and his men will run you down.”

  “Yes, milord.”

  Karlo strode back to his men.

  Ivan almost bolted. He knew, though, that he’d have to play a smarter game than that. Karlo must be a sorcerer. Either that or he commanded the crone, who was a sorceress. How else could he explain the calf’s actions? A fight in the great house would end with many deaths. Maybe they could ride this out. When Karlo came courting Nadia again, Master Volok could have gathered fellow knights and give Karlo what he deserved.

  -18-

  Ivan didn’t go to the house that night. Karlo would know that he’d talked to Magda. That might start the bloodshed. No. If they were going to do something about Karlo, it had to be by surprise.

  Early the next morning, Ivan came in for breakfast. He was tired. He’d hardly slept. Every time he’d closed his eyes, he had seen in his mind’s eye Perun shove raw meat into his maw. It shocked him when Perun ambled into the kitchen. The man bade the housemaid good morning. Then he asked for a bowl of porridge.

  Ivan stared in slack-jawed wonder.

  “What are you looking at?” Perun growled.

  Ivan closed his mouth, shaking his head.

  “It’s like you seen a ghost.” Perun thereupon attacked his bowl of porridge.

  Ivan had to leave. He spiked Magda as she came downstairs. Karlo, with Nadia, followed behind.

  “Ah...Magda,” Ivan said. “Flay’s been acting up.”

  “Can it wait till after breakfast?” Magda asked.

  “Umm…” Ivan knew Karlo gauged his speech. “It can,” he admitted.

  “You’re on pins and needles it seems,” Magda said. “I’ll take a quick look.”

  “Don’t dawdle, Mother,” Nadia said. “Karlo is giving a breakfast speech.”

  “Here, here,” Karlo said. “It’s of small matter.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Nadia said.

  Ivan felt lightheaded. He’d seen the wicked smile last night. Now Karlo played the model guest. The deception sickened him, although a small part of him realized that to beat Karlo he’d have to play a similar game.

  “I’m not trying to interfere, milord,” Ivan fibbed to Karlo.

  The knight gestured his worries aside.

  Soon Magda walked arm-in-arm with Ivan. As they approached the kennel, she said, “You seem to be on better terms with the knight.”

  Ivan grimaced as he opened the kennel door and ushered her in. Then he shook his head as he said, “Flay’s fine.”

  “Then why—”

  “Listen!” he hissed. He told her about the calf, about the dancing and the one called the Imp. He also told her what Karlo had said about the Moon Lady.

  “Who is she?” Ivan asked.

  “An old deity, at least Folkwin has said so before. It makes sense Perun worships her.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  Magda’s brow furrowed. “The king’s writ makes this tricky. I think you’re right when you say that we won’t find the calf carcass. That means there’s nothing to prove your tale but you. If you accuse the Bavarian, Master Volok will have to hold an inquest. Your word against a knight’s…if it comes down to it, Sir Karlo can demand a trail by combat.”

  Ivan felt miserable. It was even worse than he’d thought. “We can’t let the farmers go into the Old Forest.”

  “How do we stop them?” Magda asked.

  “We go to each separately.”

  “That would break Master Volok’s word.”

  “We must do something!”

  Magda dug her fingers into his arm. “Listen to me. There are
things occurring that have more to do than just Belgorod Holding.”

  “The horde of coins?”

  Magda laughed. “The Bavarian doesn’t hunt for that.”

  “For what then?”

  “That’s right,” Magda said, her fingers tightening. “We need to know what he seeks.”

  “Who is we?” Ivan asked.

  Magda stared at him.

  “What’s going on?”

  “An old game,” she said, “one that began before my birth. We must wait for Folkwin now.”

  “The old monk? What does he have to do with any of this?”

  “Never mind. Have you told anyone else what happened?”

  Ivan shook his head.

  “Don’t. You did the right thing in coming to me first.”

  “Magda, you’re frightening me. I don’t understand you.”

  She released his arm. “I’m an old healer, Ivan. I know a little about the mystic arts. There is a mystery about Sir Karlo. Can he work magic as you and Lady Belgorod suspect? Such may be the case. Is that a crime? Not unless he does something wicked with it. Can we prove anything against Karlo? No again. Never forget that he has a royal writ. That means we must tread carefully. If we don’t, Lord Mikulas will be forced to side with him against us. Mikulas will do that, especially as Sir Karlo is an East Frank.”

  “So we let the farmers go with Karlo into the Old Forest?” Ivan asked in disbelief.

  Magda turned away.

  “Even after I’ve told you what happened last night?”

  “The farmers were warned, Ivan.”

  “Not against this.”

  She faced him again. “Royal politics have entered into this. The writ ensured that. You as a peasant cannot use your word, without evidence, against a knight. You have no evidence and therefore must keep quiet.”

  “Then why call in Folkwin?”

  “Because of whom Karlo might be.”

  “And that is?”

  Magda studied Ivan. “A servant of Darkness.”

  Ivan gave a tried laugh. That was obvious.

  “Or he could be a knight with a smattering of dark knowledge who yearns to dig up ancient relics that he hopes to sell. With the money he’ll buy his way back into power.”

  “Which do you believe to be true?”

  “It’s hard to tell.”

  “Does it really make any difference which?” asked Ivan.

  “It does. No, don’t frown at me like that. If Karlo were a servant of Darkness, then Nadia or the escort should have been able to tell. He has a mystery about him, but he doesn’t have the taint of Darkness.”

  “What about Perun?”

  “He’s a bad fellow, certainly.”

  “Could a servant of Darkness mask his…his taint?”

  “I don’t see how. The old legends say that healers can ferret out such matters better than most.” Magda sighed. “Ivan, a servant of Darkness wouldn’t need a royal writ. He would have slipped into the Old Forest and dug up what he wanted. That Karlo came here and asked for workers strongly points to the latter guess.”

  “What about Perun and his men worshiping the Moon Lady?”

  “That is troubling.”

  Magda is holding something back. Why, Ivan didn’t know. Maybe the old game answer had been the closest she’d been willing to come to the truth.

  “I don’t understand,” he said, “but I trust you.”

  Magda patted his cheek before hurrying out of the kennel.

  It was then that Ivan really began to think.

  -19-

  After breakfast, Karlo met the party of farmers. The retainers, led by Perun, filled the sleigh with provisions. Combined with the farmers’ packs and Sir Karlo’s own belongings, the sleigh only had room enough for the driver. Karlo rode a wild-eyed war-horse. Among the farmers and their sons, only Farmer Lech rode a horse. The others filed behind the sleigh and followed Karlo east toward the legendary Old Forest.

  Ivan felt both a vast sense of relief at Karlo’s going and a terrible sense of dread for the farmers. From the porch and while bundled warmly, Yury morosely watched the sleigh slid away.

  “I wish I were going with them,” Yury sighed.

  “You do?” Ivan asked. “Why?”

  “Adventure, my friend. Bold adventure into the Old Forest. Who knows what secrets Sir Karlo and his men will dig up?”

  Feodor said, “The only secret they’ll find is a lot of hard work.”

  “Why do you say that?” Yury asked.

  “Mining is hard work,” Feodor replied.

  Yury laughed. “So speaks the hardened miner, eh?”

  Ivan thought to see a ghost of a smile on Feodor’s face. He wanted to tell Yury about the Axe People and let him know that Feodor knew what he was talking about.

  “Sir Karlo is mighty warrior,” Yury said. “I wish he would have told us more battle-tales.”

  “I agree that he’s a mighty warrior,” said Ivan. “But he also seems, well…filled with doom.”

  “Don’t speak ill about the knight who stood above me while the white wolves hungered for my flesh,” Yury said.

  Feodor shuffled uneasily.

  Yury noticed. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a prickly tone.

  “Do you really know, beyond doubt, that Karlo guarded you?” Feodor asked.

  Yury looked puzzled.

  Feodor stared at his feet.

  “Because of what happened in the clearing,” Yury began. He glanced at Feodor, then back at the dwindling sleigh. “Because of what happened, Father has agreed to let me become a knight.”

  Which wasn’t exactly true, Ivan knew, but it was near enough to the mark.

  “You also acted bravely that day,” Yury solemnly told Feodor. “Maybe if you hadn’t arrived when you did, the white wolves would have overcome Sir Karlo and slain me.” He thumped Feodor on the back and held out his good hand. “I’ll never forget that.”

  Nadia stepped outside. Her face looked puffy, from crying no doubt. “Hey, you three,” she said with what sounded like forced gaiety, “come inside. Mary just baked a pie and she wants more testers to try it.”

  Feodor marched in. Ivan turned to follow. He stopped, seeing that Yury still watched the sleigh.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” Ivan asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Let’s try the pie.”

  Yury nodded.

  The pie was good, but not as tasty as Lady Belgorod’s always were. None of them said that, but endlessly extolled Mary’s skill. Feodor soon had to leave to help his father pack. Dimitri wished to hunt in for more kindling. The winter-work wasn’t finished yet. Now that Karlo had gone, Dimitri could go home.

  Yury became sleepy and went to his room. Ivan helped Mary clean up the kitchen and wash dishes.

  “I’m sorry about the other night,” he said after a while.

  She put a soapy hand on his arm. “Nadia told me you came to help her. I didn’t realize you were so noble and romantic.”

  “Romantic?” he asked.

  “To help someone you love leave with someone else. That was a very noble. I don’t like being pushed, but how else were you going to see Nadia? I understand now. But thank you for the apology.”

  Ivan’s thoughts drifted to his new preoccupation. He was determined to understand Sir Karlo. Ever since he picked up a tuft of white fur, he also wanted to know more about storm wolves. He’d like to ask Mary. She’d first told him about them, but he felt now was the wrong time to ask.

  Instead, he said, “How is Nadia taking the parting?”

  Mary first looked around and then lowered her voice. “He climbed up to see her late last night. They spoke, thinking I was asleep. I wasn’t, and I didn’t want to be an eavesdropper, but I couldn’t help overhearing a few things.”

  “You’re supposed to protect her,” Ivan said. “So you had to know if his intentions were honest. Therefore, you were honor-bound to listen in.”

  “I knew you’d understand
,” she said with a smile. “You’ve a heart of gold about these sorts of thing.”

  Ivan wished she hadn’t said that. It made him feel dirty, like a fake, but the prize was huge. He had to stop Nadia from making the worst mistake of her life.

  “Anyway,” Mary whispered, handing him another dish to dry, “he told her to cheer up. He said he’d be back for her. If that wasn’t soon enough, he told her to come out to his camp. If not right away, then with whomever Sir Volok sent later.”

  Ivan forced himself to keep smiling.

  “He thinks highly of you, Ivan. Sir Karlo said that you understood the situation. He said that if there were any problems that she should come to you for help. He doesn’t believe you’ll do anything to stop them from achieving happiness together.”

  “We’re real friends,” Ivan muttered.

  Mary nodded. “You have that way about you. People just seem to take a liking to you.”

  Her smile made him uneasy. “As long as Nadia’s happy,” he said. He dried his hands and said he’d better start on his own chores.

  -20-

  Ivan hurried after Dimitri and Feodor. He walked with them as they started home, and soon found himself telling them about last night. Both father and son listened in silence. Ivan also told them what Magda had said.

  “I heard the uproar in the barn,” Feodor said. “Master Volok bawled out Belsky about the missing calf.”

  “You did well to keep silent,” Dimitri told Ivan. “Magda was right. You have no evidence to show others.”

  “Yes, but—” Ivan tried to say.

  Dimitri held up a hand. “Karlo has a royal writ. Therefore, he has the king’s protection.” Dimitri smiled grimly. “I believe you. But my belief is not enough.”

  “I understand,” Ivan said. “What I was wondering: could you tell me more about clawmen?”

  Dimitri nodded somberly. “You’re shrewd, for there is much about Perun and his men that reminds me of clawmen. When I battled them,” Dimitri said slowly, “I found myself detesting the enemy. They were savage. I saw several fall upon a downed Axe Man. They gnawed on the fighter like wolves.” Dimitri shook his head. “All clawmen are hairy, with fangs and talons. Only a few of them use weapons. Even less, use armor. They attack with abandon, but their battle stamina wearies if their initial charge doesn’t sweep all before them. For their size, clawmen are incredibly strong.” Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. “In size, they equal this Imp you speak of.”