The Stones of Earth and Air (Elemental Worlds Book 1)

by V. M. Sang

  With that, she left the hut, bowing as she departed.

  'Well, Cledo,' Pettic said to his dog, 'it looks like you're going to have to help me eat this. I'm sure you won't find that a difficult task though.'

  The dog looked up at his master and wagged his tail at the thought of eating some of the meat he could smell on the tray. Pettic picked up a couple of slices and tossed them down onto the ground where the wolfhound gobbled them up and then sat looking for more.

  After eating, Pettic and Cledo left the hut and crossed to the headman's hut. They found the headman sitting on the veranda that ran around the front and sides of the hut. He beckoned the pair over as he saw them crossing what Pettic had come to think of as the Square and they climbed the three steps onto the veranda. As he climbed the last step, Pettic stumbled and nearly fell. The big man laughed a hearty laugh.

  'Well, that's a bit clumsy for a god,' he said. 'I really don't think a god would fall in front of people. Perhaps you really aren't Jintor. I think you've convinced Waller. He told me you've magic on your world and we're only understanding each other because of a magic gem in the amulet you're wearing. He also said you came here by magic, but not why you came. At least not in any meaningful detail. You mentioned a “Crown Prince”. What's that?'

  Pettic went on to tell Borrin, for that was the headman's name, about how he and princess Lucenra became suspicious someone had kidnapped Prince Torren and put an imposter in his place. He told all that had happened and how the prince could be rescued.

  After listening intently, the headman thought for a moment and then he spoke.

  'There's another tribe across the other side of the lake,' he told Pettic. 'I believe their headman has a sword with an emerald in its pommel. He said he found it hidden in a cave. Perhaps this is the emerald and perhaps not, but I've a proposition to put to you. You get rid of this phantom boar and I'll help you to get the sword with the emerald.'

  Pettic thought he had no choice. Emeralds could not be common, even on this world, and so he agreed.

  'I'll need to know a lot more about this boar though, like where its lair is, how large it really is, why people think it's a phantom, how many people it's killed and how often, who has been to fight it and what weapons they used. Lots of questions like that.'

  They talked for quite some time until Rolinda came out with cold fruit juice for them to drink. By now it was beginning to get hot and Pettic was roasting in his leather armour. Rolinda spotted he was sweating and turned to whisper in her father's ear. He smiled at her and patted her cheek.

  'My Rolinda says she thinks you'd be cooler in some robes like the ones we wear. She's a good girl and observant. She's right. I'll have some robes sent over to you so you can be more comfortable.'

  Pettic was going to refuse at first but he decided it was the better option. He would certainly to roast in his leather.

  He and Borrin continued to talk about their various worlds until the sun was high in the sky, then Borrin told Pettic that at this time the people retired to their huts to rest during the hottest part of the day. Pettic had noticed the Square emptying and wondered why. He gratefully left Borrin's hut and returned to his own.

  On entering the hut he realised why there were no windows. It was comparatively cool inside and when he passed through the curtain to rest, he found white robes laid out on the bed.

  He gratefully removed his armour but decided he would wait until later to don the robes. He collapsed onto the bed. Cledo jumped up and snuggled up beside him. Pettic pushed the dog away as he was already hot and the proximity of the animal made him hotter. Cledo whined, but moved to the edge of the bed.

  Pettic did not intend to sleep. He had slept so long the previous night he thought he would be unable to do so. He resolved to think about everything he had learned about this world and the sword with the emerald but he soon found himself drifting off.

  When he woke up it was late afternoon. He dressed in the robe and, feeling much cooler, left his hut. The village was busy again with people coming out now the sun was lower in the sky.

  Many of the folk seemed to be going in the direction of the lake, and Pettic followed. Once there the people picked up a variety of tools and began to hoe the ground between rows of vegetables.

  The crops grew behind fences and the reason for this soon became evident when a small herd of pigs came out of the forest. They began to forage around the field and would undoubtedly have uprooted the crops if they could get in.

  He entered the field and picked up a hoe. This was something he understood. Working on a farm. He had been brought up on a farm until the age of thirteen when he became the friend and companion of Torren. After the proclamation had gone out inviting boys who were thirteen on the same day as the prince, his parents took him and his little brother, Derkil, to Glitton. They went to the palace along with a crowd of others, mainly nobility.

  Before their interview, Pettic went to visit the garderobe. On the way back he got lost in the corridors of the palace. where he met a young boy of about his age and asked him where he should go to get back to the Great Hall.

  The boy was very helpful. Pettic asked him if he worked at the palace.

  The boy replied, 'You could say that, I suppose.'

  They talked on their way back to the great hall. The boy was fascinated to hear about Pettic's life. He told Pettic he did not know anything about life on a farm because he had lived all his life in the palace. Pettic chatted on about his family and told the boy about some of his escapades, which made the boy laugh.

  Eventually they arrived back at the hall, and the boy rushed off saying he was late for an appointment.

  Imagine Pettic's surprise when he went into the King's office and found the boy sitting next to the king. It was Prince Torren himself who had escorted him back to the hall.

  The prince insisted Pettic was the boy he wanted to be his companion. King Horaic II tried to persuade his son that perhaps a noble boy would be a better choice, but Torren and Pettic hit it off so well that the prince insisted. The king told him he would have free choice in who to employ and so Pettic got the job of companion to the Crown Prince.

  In the intervening years, although he returned to the farm for visits and even took Torren on occasions, he missed working on the land. He joined in with the villagers with gusto, much to their surprise.

  They worked until the sun was setting. Pettic looked at his lovely, cool, white robe. It was no longer white but spattered with mud from the fields. One of the villagers assured him if he left it outside his hut someone would come to take it and wash it. Another would be provided in the meantime.

  Seeing the headman and his family working alongside the villagers also surprised him. The only people who were not helping were the small children and those women who were preparing the evening meal.

  As the sun sank below the horizon, everyone picked up the tools and wended their way back to the village where the women had prepared a meal.

  The people all sat on straw mats in the centre of the village and ate from carved wooden bowls. The food was delicious. The main meat was pork and it had been cooked long and slow with herbs and spices gathered from the forest.

  Pettic felt very hungry after his exertions in the fields and he ate heartily, chatting to various villagers, all of whom were interested in where he came from and how he got there. Magic, especially, interested them and they exclaimed at some of the things Pettic told them.

  After eating, Borrin came over and asked Pettic to come to his hut the next morning. Pettic helped the villagers to clear up after the meal and then they all repaired to their huts for the night.

  As they did not have much in the way of lighting, just a few oil-based lamps that did not give much light, the people went to bed and rose with the sun. Pettic and Cledo went to their hut, carrying a small lamp. Pettic felt a satisfaction he had not felt for a long time after his efforts in the fields, and he fell into his bed feeling a pleasant tiredness.

>   The next morning Pettic was awakened by the sounds of someone in his living area.

  He jumped out of bed and pulled on his robe. On entering the room he found Rolinda putting a tray of fruit on the low table and also a jug of hot water for him to wash in.

  He smiled at her and thanked her before she left through the curtain door. It was still dark, but the sun was coming up over the hills behind the village and already people were busy in the Square. Pettic remembered his promise to go to see Borrin, so he washed quickly and ate the fruit left for him before leaving for the headman's hut.

  By the time he arrived, the sun had risen above the hills and it was beginning to get hot in spite of the earliness of the day. Borrin was sitting on his veranda on the skin of some beast. He called to Pettic when he saw him emerge and beckoned him over.

  'I'm glad you aren't late,' he said. 'We must talk about making plans for you to go and rid us of this boar, although if it is a phantom, as many of my people believe, I don't know quite how it's to be done.'

  Pettic sat down on a rug next to the headman and said, 'It may not be a phantom, you know. The people think it is because of its colour and the fact that it only seems to be seen at night. Sometimes, very rarely, an all white creature is produced. We call it an albino. They have no pigment in their skin and are very susceptible to sunlight as a result. Perhaps the boar is one of these.

  Pettic rubbed his nose as a fly landed. 'This may be why it's only ever seen at night. As to its size, well, I've no ideas on that score except to say perhaps the descriptions have been exaggerated.'

  'Perhaps,' Borrin replied. 'It may be as you say, but time will tell.' He turned to the hut and called out a name. 'Klondor, come out here a moment, will you?'

  Someone pushed the bead curtain aside and a young man about the same age as Pettic came through. He was obviously a close relative of the headman by their likeness to each other.

  'This is my son, Klondor,' said the headman. 'Woller suggested he accompany you to help you find this creature. You don't know the country round here and he can help you find your way around and show you where the boar has been seen recently. He's also an expert tracker, despite his youth, and good with the bow.'

  'Thank you,' replied Pettic. 'I am sure he'll be helpful to me. And another person good with a bow is always useful.'

  'He's also accomplished in the use of a spear. A spear is good for hunting animals like the boar as you can stab him from a distance and not be in danger from his tusks.'

  'The spear is not a weapon I've had any experience with,' said Pettic. 'I'd be grateful for a partner who can use one.'

  The three men sat together on the veranda planning how they would tackle this large animal until they eventually had something of a plan. Borrin, of course was not going to go on the hunt with them, but he offered to send some more young men if the pair thought it would help.

  'I really don't think it would, father,' said Klondor. 'Sometimes fewer is better. A large number would probably spook the creature and the more people there are the more likely it is that someone will make a noise and warn the creature of our presence. That could be very dangerous if the boar thought he was under attack and decided to attack in his turn.'

  'You're right, of course,' sighed the headman. 'I just didn't want to lose another son and thought there maybe safety in numbers; but I know in some cases that isn't so. Now, tell me more about this Crown Prince you're so keen on rescuing that you're willing to sacrifice your life for him. First of all, what's a Crown Prince?

  Pettic began to explain.

  'First of all, in my world, the land is divided into countries. They're large areas of land, sometimes whole islands, that are governed together. We don't have villages that are governed autonomously. Each village or town has a mayor who sees to all the local things, but over everyone there's a king who has responsibility for the whole country.'

  'Very interesting,' said Borrin, frowning, 'but isn't it difficult for one man to govern so much land and so many people. Goodness, I've enough trouble with the people in my village without adding any more!'

  'The king has many people, called “councillors”, to advise him. Also, most minor problems and disputes are sorted out by the local mayor, much as I assume you do here.'

  'Hmm,' said the headman. 'Now what about this Crown Prince?'

  'The king's children are princes and princesses. They'll all have influence in some way. They'll be given titles and places to govern, if only a large castle with land. The eldest child of the king or queen, because a woman can take the throne too, is called the Crown Prince or Princess. He, or she, will become the next king or queen on the death of the current monarch.'

  'How very odd,' Borrin responded. 'What if he or she isn't suitable? Perhaps is of feeble mind or of a violent temperament or some such. I find it odd that you give equal credence to the women—that a woman can become, what did you call it? A queen? Here only men can stand for the head of a village and the people choose the most likely candidate. It may be the son of the current headman (I had hopes of my elder son becoming headman after me, but that can't be now, thanks to that boar) or it might be another person. So it's your next ruler you're intent on rescuing. I begin to understand.'

  'He's not just my next king, but my best friend, too.'

  'Go now with Klondor and get to know each other a bit better before you go on your boar hunt.'

  Pettic introduced Klondor to Cledo. The dog seemed to like the other young man and that pleased Pettic. It would have been very difficult if the dog had not liked his companion. The pair strode off across the village square to where a hut stood alone.

  'This hut is where we keep our weapons. There are all sorts in there. Many of the arrows have metal tips, and some of the spears, but many are just sharpened and hardened wood. We've a tree that's good for making bows and there are many long bows from this tree. They have a much better range than the short bows, but you know that already.'

  The pair entered the hut and looked round. There were windows in this hut although on the north side, as it did not need to be kept cool for living in. Klondor picked a bow and selected some arrows and a long spear. Then the pair left the hut and went to the guest hut where Pettic showed the other young man his own weapons and also his leather armour.

  They found they got on very well. They both had a similar sense of humour and by the time the evening meal came around they were firm friends. They sat next to each other and laughed throughout the meal. Their laughter was so infectious that the other villagers found themselves laughing along with the pair. The sun set all too soon and everyone went to their huts and bed.

  Borrin decided there should be a feast before the two hunters set off and the next evening was set aside for that. Fewer people went to the fields this day, and some of those who did were collecting vegetables for the feast.

  Nearly all the village women were doing something towards the preparations so it was mainly men and children who worked in the fields. Pettic and Klondor went down to work even though they were told there was no need as the feast was in their honour.

  The meal began earlier than usual because it was going to be a large meal. Before they began, Woller stood up and praised the gods for the bounty before them, then they began to eat.

  A great variety of vegetables, all cooked in different ways, covered the table. Some were familiar to Pettic, but some were not. He enjoyed them all. They had killed a calf for the event and wasted nothing of it.

  Borrin carved the meat up as a particular delicacy, but they also served the liver, kidneys and other offal.

  There was a kind of spicy sausage in the intestines and the stomach had been stuffed with a mixture of grains and herbs. The head of the calf was boiled and put on a plate and served first to Borrin and his guest. Borrin cut some of the meat from the cheek and then spooned some of the brains onto it. Pettic was not sure about this, but thought he had better overcome his squeamishness in order not to seem rude. To his surprise he
actually enjoyed it.

  During the meal, instead of the fruit juices and water that had been served with the other meals he had eaten on Terra, or the hot beverage he had at breakfast time, a fermented drink was served. This was quite potent, and soon everyone was in excellent spirits.

  As the drink was being served, Woller stood again.

  'Before we are all incapable,' he intoned, 'We should pray for these two brave young men who are going out to try to rid us of this menace, the phantom boar. Many other young men have been before, but none have returned. We all know the names of those. I believe that the same goes for other villages as well.' He then raised his hands and began to pray.

  'Holy Jintor,' he prayed, 'you who are the greatest huntsman of all, watch over these two young men in their hunt for our nemesis. We pray for the soul of this beast that we call the Phantom Boar. We pray that it is truly a mortal beast and not a phantom as we have named it. We also thank you for sending us Pettic as your emissary. Guide his arrows truly that he may kill this creature. Also for Klondor, our headman's son. May his spear be true and may he come back alive. You saw fit to take the souls of others through this beast, now, we beg of you, let these brave young men succeed where others have failed. We ask this in the name of your father, Golind, and your mother Jani, but not our will be done, but yours.'

  He lowered his hands and sat down. Everyone, including Woller, then picked up their bowls and the drinking began.

  Chapter 5

  The next morning Pettic woke feeling terrible. His head thumped and his stomach recoiled when he thought about food. He was glad the huts had no windows. He knew he would not be able to stand the light. He remembered drinking rather a lot at the feast the previous evening, and he remembered the drumming and then the flutes.

  He vaguely remembered dancing, although what kind of dance he did not know. He remembered everyone laughing at him stumbling over the steps. He remembered kissing several of the girls there too, and he thought Rolinda might have been one of them, but was unsure. He hoped his memory of that was wrong. He did not know how her father would take it. Beyond that his memory failed him, and even some of the memories he did have seemed to belong to someone else.