Lute gave a sad grin. ‘I’ve met him on occasion.’
‘And what’s your position at the palace?’ Little Thom asked, much more direct now.
‘I’m one of the stablehands. But I particularly look after Master Pilo’s beasts.’
‘What are you doing here, then, creeping along the road out of Tarrow’s Landing?’
Lute sighed. ‘I was transferring a horse from Floris to an inn called The Shepherd’s Rest and I was set upon.’
‘They stole your horse?’
He nodded glumly. ‘Worse. They stole Master Pilo’s horse.’
‘And money?’ Mungo chimed in.
Lute shrugged. ‘I didn’t have much to steal,’ he lied…just in case, although perhaps to them it was plenty.
‘I presume the horse is no small loss to your master?’ Thom added.
‘Bruno is a fine stallion. Master Pilo’s going to use my guts for garters after this.’
Thom scratched at his beard. ‘Why he’d let a skinny runt like you be in charge of a palace horse without anyone to accompany you seems strange. Pilo is cautious to a fault.’
‘You know my master, then?’
‘Perhaps I do. I know you won’t be able to sit down for a week when he learns of what you’ve lost.’
‘I didn’t lose Bruno, Little Thom, I was ambushed and he was stolen. I was attacked, thrown to the ground and the horse was taken by a pair of thieves that I hope look over their shoulders for the rest of their lives.’
Both men laughed at his bravado. ‘Are you going to deal with them, young Peat?’
‘You can be sure of that,’ Lute said, sincerely. ‘And they can pay for the gold they stole from me with a hefty stint in the palace gaol.’
Thom grinned. ‘I wouldn’t want you for an enemy, Peat. Come on then.’
‘Where?’ Lute asked, fresh alarm spreading through his body.
‘With us.’
‘Look, it’s good of you to—’
‘I’m not being good, Peat. I’m telling you that you’re coming with us.’ Thom’s words were firm and if it hadn’t been for the kindly way they were said, Lute might have tried to make a dash for it, frightened by what they might mean.
Thom seemed to read his mind. ‘No point running. You won’t get far and looks to me like you need some attention to those ribs and perhaps a decent meal. I’ll see to both for you.’
‘Why?’
‘Well, because I don’t care for thugs who steal from helpless young people,’ Thom answered, although Lute believed it was more to do with the fact that Pilo’s name had come up. ‘Come on.’
There was no alternative. Lute had to follow the two giants of men, marvelling at their stealth as they moved silently through the trees and undergrowth that flanked the roadside. It occurred to him to try and learn precisely what they were doing there, too.
17
‘You’re sure about this?’ Tess asked, lips pursed.
Griff nodded. ‘Never been more sure about anything in my life. He is threatening me and my brothers…and you…if I don’t do exactly what he wants.’
‘Then do what Tyren wants!’
‘No. I refuse. And before you ask me why, it’s dangerous. Telling one person what another might be thinking about them sounds innocent enough, possibly even amusing. But it’s not, Tess. I could stumble across someone who’s going to rob another, or hear the thoughts of one who is planning to run away with someone’s daughter.’
‘So what? It’s not your business is it?’
‘But I’m making it my business by interfering. Can you imagine the consequences if people acted on what I share with them? And keep in mind that I’m only hearing people’s thoughts at that time. They could change their mind a day later and I don’t know. So suddenly you’ve got an angry father accusing some man of stealing away his daughter, when the fellow probably hasn’t said anything to the girl yet. No, it’s too ugly, too fraught with danger. Someone could get hurt, or killed.’
‘What about this boy?’
He shrugged. ‘I heard him again. He’s definitely hurt,’ he admitted, not yet ready to share what else he’d heard. It sounded too far-fetched, even to him.
‘But how can you help him?’ Tess persisted.
‘I don’t know but I have to try. There’s something about the Whisperer. If I allow it I am open to thoughts all day and all night long, but this is a voice. He doesn’t realise he’s talking to me but that’s exactly what’s happening.’
‘Griff, he could be around the corner or he could be on the other side of the realm for all you know. Where do you begin to look for him?’
‘Well, I’m going to take your advice.’
‘Which is?’
‘Next time he speaks I’m going to reply.’
Tess stared at him, momentarily speechless. ‘Alright, that’s a good plan but, Griff, I can’t come with you.’
‘Ssh,’ he warned.
‘What?’ Tess mouthed.
‘Chauncey and Jasper are coming.’
‘How do you know?’
‘I can hear their thoughts from quite a distance. Listen, they’ll be here in a moment. Be sure about this decision because I’m leaving tonight. I don’t want to leave without you but,’ he shrugged, ‘I can’t force you.’
Tess looked dumbstruck at the news. ‘I’m sure,’ she said and he could hear her devastated thoughts contemplating how lonely it was going to be without his friendship.
The two hulking figures ambled into the clearing, carrying torches and thick ropes.
‘Hello, Jasper, Chauncey,’ Griff began brightly. ‘What’s happening?’ He eyed the ropes uncertainly.
‘We’ve come to collect the creatures.’
‘The creatures,’ Tess stammered. ‘Whatever for? They’re safe and tethered for the night.’
‘Sorry, Miss Tess,’ Chauncey said. ‘Tyren’s orders. He wants them safer still.’
Griff frowned. Jasper’s mouth hung open in surprise. He’d obviously not clapped eyes on Tess’s companions prior to this. Griff looked back at Chauncey. ‘What does that mean?’ But he could hear the thought rattling around the man’s mind. Chauncey obviously didn’t want to say it so Griff said it for him. ‘You’re going to cage them?’
Chauncey gave a sheepish grin. ‘That’s clever, Griff, real clever. I thought you were faking it but that’s good.’
‘You are not going to cage my friends,’ Tess challenged.
‘Tyren’s orders,’ Jasper echoed, finally able to tear his gaze from a scowling Davren.
And without further discussion the men set to securing the ropes around the necks of the squirming creatures, who couldn’t escape their attention due to the thin lines that bound them to their trees.
Griff looked anxiously at Davren and shook his head briefly, telling the centaur not to struggle. Tess must have been doing the same thing because Davren, Elph and Helys gave in and meekly permitted the men to lead them away. Griff could see that Tess was only just holding onto her tears of despair to see Davren, in particular, with a rope around his neck and wrists, being led away like a dumb beast.
‘You’d best bring that veercat yourself, Miss Tess,’ Chauncey suggested and walked past her, Elph and Helys in tow.
‘He lied to me!’ Tess raged once the two men were out of earshot. ‘He promised me, no cages.’
‘Now you know what you’re dealing with. Tyren is two-faced. I’ve learned that the hard way myself.’
‘Why can’t people just leave us alone? All my life I’ve only wanted to be left in peace.’
‘You never will be, as long as you’re part of this show.’
‘What can I do?’ she begged. ‘Rix won’t survive being caged and Davren will pine until his heart breaks.’
‘We’re going to get them out, Tess, I promise you, and then we’re going to leave here tonight.’
‘How?’
‘Leave that to me,’ he said. ‘Tess, you said before you wouldn’t come. Do you st
ill feel the same way?’
‘I got frightened. But now it’s different. Now he’s made me really angry. Yes, I’ll go with you, Griff.’
‘Good. You’re allowed to be angry. Let Tyren see that you are but don’t let him get an inkling of our plan.’
Little Thom and Mungo had horses tethered about a mile across country. Lute had never been so glad to see a horse in his life. With the men’s help he had been placed on the back of one with Little Thom up front, travelling in a westerly direction, the pain in his ribs screaming loudly with each bump and grind of the huge horse that took them further from Tarrow’s Landing.
‘Where are we going, Thom?’ Lute asked. They had been leading the horses for an hour or so.
‘Somewhere safe, I promise. No-one will hurt you.’
That didn’t answer his question. He tried a different approach. ‘I’m actually looking for someone. I promised I would get a message to him.’
‘Oh, yes, who would that be?’
He had nothing to lose. ‘He goes by the name of Bitter Olof.’
The horse was brought to a stop and Thom swung around in the saddle. ‘Bitter Olof? Where did you hear that name?’
‘From Master Pilo,’ he said, glad it won the reaction he needed. ‘Do you know where I can find him?’
‘Are you sure you want to?’
‘What does that mean?’
‘He’s a scary sort. Doesn’t suffer fools gladly and suffers children only under great despair.’
‘I’m not that young and I have to see him.’
‘Why?’
‘To tell him something important.’
‘Fair enough. See that torchlight in the distance?’
Lute squinted. He could see it, just. ‘Yes.’
‘I suppose you could call that home. We’ll be there soon.’
As they drew closer Mungo began making a series of noises that sounded like a vallica beetle, loud and rasping. The sound carried effortlessly over the meadow they were crossing. It was met with the haunting call of the carun bird—not quite the hoot of an owl, more like a groan but just as spooky.
‘Righto, they know it’s us,’ Thom said. ‘Now they won’t shoot us full of arrows.’
‘That’s reassuring,’ Lute said and Thom chuckled in front of him.
‘What are you going to do?’ Tess asked, shock still shaking her body. She had watched with distress as her precious friends were herded into two cages. If they hadn’t let her take Rix in herself—and spend time in the cage soothing him through their mindlink—she was sure he would have attacked Chauncey or Jasper. He had threatened to but she begged him in their silent manner of communication to trust her and to trust Griff.
Griff had promised her the creatures would be released by tonight but she honestly couldn’t see how, given that they were now locked up, and the key was attached to Chauncey’s belt. She looked towards Davren, whose face reflected the despair she was feeling. She felt so responsible for him, having persuaded him to trust her and to come with her to Master Tyren’s Marvels of Nature Travelling Show. She had sworn he would never be tethered and she’d already broken that promise and now the firm oath that he would definitely not be imprisoned by a cage was shattered. He had said little, refusing to communicate with her now, but he didn’t have to say anything for her to know just how much Davren was hurting. For a creature of the forest, particularly with his sharp mind and almost human traits, the bars of the cage were pure torture. She had to get him out of there. Had to rescue them all.
Gaston? She called through her mind.
Again? Already?
I’m sorry.
Don’t be, the gryphon said across the miles from the Mountains of Marrh, where he preferred to live. You sound sad.
He’s caged our friends.
There was a silence. Then Gaston growled. How’s Davren?
Not speaking to me.
I’m not surprised. I’ll talk to him.
Thank you.
But it’s temporary, I hope?
Yes. We’re leaving tonight.
All of you?
All of us. Plus our friend, Griff.
Can you trust him?
Without any doubt.
Where are you going?
I don’t know, Tess sighed as she watched Griff stroke Helys through the bars. She refused to change colour. But I’ll let you know.
Then I shall not go hunting until I hear from you.
She knew how remote Gaston could become when hunting. He could lose himself in his own pursuits and not even hear her.
Alright. Either way I’ll speak to you in the next couple of days. You won’t go hungry, will you?
She heard a rumbly laugh. No, Tess. Be safe.
‘Helys has turned grey, Tess,’ Griff mumbled.
‘I expected as much,’ she replied, feeling Gaston’s mind pull away from hers.
Griff held up the lamp. Even by its poor light the califa looked to be sickening. ‘You have to talk to her, reassure her and calm down Rix somehow. He’s going to hurt himself and the others with those sharp claws.’
‘But what am I supposed to say?’
‘Tell them they’ll be freed during the night. I’m working on something.’
‘Where are you going?’ she asked, watching him with deepening anxiety as he walked away.
He turned briefly. ‘I’m going to speak with my brothers. Stay with the creatures and be sure you’re polite to Tyren. Give him no clue that this does any more than disappoint you. He’ll be suspicious if you don’t look a little distressed but don’t overdo it, Tess. He mustn’t think you’re ready to take silly risks.’
‘But I am!’ she groaned softly.
‘I know,’ he said and his eyes begged her to call on all her courage to act her part now.
She still had no idea what Griff had in mind but she had to trust him now. He was her only hope and his handsome face looked grim with worry.
She sat quietly with the creatures, Davren still refusing to talk with her; Elph deeply unhappy and anxious. Rix allowed her to stroke him but she could feel his muscles were tensed, bunched up at his shoulders as though he were ready to pounce at any moment. Helys she worried about most of all. Her greyness was worsening and the shy creature moaned softly in the corner of the cage she shared with Rix.
She’s going to die, Rix told her, his voice bitter in her mind.
I think you’re right, she said, her own voice heavy with sorrow. I can’t do anything yet, Rix. We have to pretend that we’re going along with this for now.
Why? It was Davren. His voice was filled with anger.
She felt a flutter of relief that he was at least speaking again but she didn’t show it. Perhaps Gaston had already spoken with him. Griff’s planning something. He won’t tell me what yet. He just wants us all to play along with Tyren’s new cage idea. We don’t have to be happy about it but we have to give the impression that we’re a bit helpless, I think, she explained. We have to look as though we have no choice.
Before more could be said, Tyren appeared and strode towards them.
She cast a glance that begged Davren to help her. Please talk to Helys. Keep her occupied. Don’t let her slip further from us. And Elph, I promise you won’t be in here much longer.
You gave that same promise to me before we came to this wretched Travelling Show, Davren said, shooting a look of fury at her.
Not now, Davren, please.
‘Oh dear, I see the scowl on your centaur’s face, which probably means all is not well in your camp, young Tess,’ Tyren said, looking smug.
‘Did you expect caging the creatures would please them or me, Master Tyren?’ she asked, not looking at him.
‘Er, no. I didn’t think it would make any of you especially happy, but I do have to protect my investment.’
‘What did you think we might do?’
He gave a snort. ‘Flee, I imagine. It’s obvious to all of us that you don’t mix easily with people, Tess. And your c
reatures are timid; they obviously prefer solitude over performing and are only doing this to keep you from the orphanage.’
‘It was their choice too, Master Tyren,’ she said, more for Davren’s benefit than the showmaster’s. ‘You would never have so much as seen them had they not agreed.’
‘But then you would never have come had they not agreed to be with you.’
She shrugged, showing Tyren she didn’t care what he thought.
‘I thought you’d be happy that they’ve been housed on the fringe of all the public areas. They can see the copse and are roped off from all prying eyes.
‘I’m not happy at all that they’re behind bars, Master Tyren. That was not our agreement and I don’t know what I’ve done wrong for you to go back on what we settled.’
‘Ah, well in this you’re right, young Tess. It actually has nothing to do with you or the creatures.’
‘Then why?’
‘Griff is very angry about his new role as a performer and, unlike you, he can’t see beyond his nose, for all the fame and fortune it could bring him.’
‘I’m not interested in fame or fortune either, Master Tyren,’ she said firmly.
‘Oh, I know that. But you are interested in freedom and that’s what fame and fortune can bring you. Now Griff is fighting me on this and I sense he may be prepared to do something reckless.’
‘Like what?’ she asked, deliberately creasing her face into a frown.
‘Like running away. It would be a most unwise act.’
‘Why’s that, Master Tyren?’
‘Oh, he already knows why. But the consequences of that sort of unwise decision on his part would ultimately involve you.’
‘Me? Why?’
‘Because you’re his friend. You’ve not known each other long but I can see he’s fond of you and your companions. And you see, Tess, the best way to get anyone to cooperate is to focus one’s attention on those they like most. I doubt that Griff will risk any more limitation of your pets because he doesn’t want to upset you any further.’
‘They are not my pets, Master Tyren.’
‘However you choose to describe them, young lady, is entirely up to you. But I know they’re hurting and so are you. I imagine this is causing Griff concern and the best way for him to solve this is to get on with pleasing me and performing to the best of his abilities.’
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