by J P Nelson
Everyone was curious. Jha’Ley asked Dessi, “Did you not tell me you could read Elvish?”
“A bit, sir.”
“Fhascully?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Is not the study of Ancient Longish required for scientists?”
“Uhm, yes sir. All the old science and medical research is written in the language, but no one speaks it, as far as I know.”
Jha’Ley smiled, “Mister Sealer, did you not just mention these natives have tried hard to preserve the language?”
Toagun grinned, “Uh, yeah.”
Jha’Ley added, “It is worth a try, just for curiosity’s sake.”
Carlson asked, “May I pose a question?”
Toagun replied, “Sure.”
“You mentioned a barn?”
“Yes, it’s where he keeps his dogs and sled gear.”
Seedle remarked, “Do-o-ogs?!” He looked to his snowshoes. “I thought you had to hike to get here.”
Laughing, Toagun replied, “From Tormandia, yeah, unless you want to go the long way around. It would take almost three times as long by sled. Naw, he does a lot of travel by dogsled, and he has the best dogs anywhere … the best in the Bay, actually. They use deersleigh, as well.”
Seedle chuckled, “Really? Is he able to still get out? I presumed he was an older man.”
“Well, he is. His son, Klaus does most of the wandering, these days,” Toagun winked, “Klaus is strong as a bull and uses a composite bow tuned to his strength. One of those heavy arrows will knock a man hard. But the old man is still tough and spry. I would put coin on him outlasting anyone behind a sled.”
Jha’Ley was curious, “You said they use a deersleigh?”
“Oh yeah. There are several caribou he has tamed and trained that live about in the forest. They come at the sound of his whistle.”
“So he does not have them in a pen?”
“Naw, they run free. They each have a collar so anyone hunting will know the difference between the wild and tame ones. A fella shot one of Hahry’s caribou once.” Toagun shook his head, “You don’t want me to tell you what he did to him. That’s a well mannered man, but he’s forgotten more about torture than any so-called savage will ever know.”
Dessi asked, “With all due respect, is there a reason why we are still standing here?”
Toagun hesitated, then gave a sly grin, “Yeah, my friend, we’re giving them time to recognize me and realize we are friendly.”
“Oh?” The Marine took a moment to appreciate the remark.
Suddenly a long arrow sunk deep into a tree to the left of the party, as another immediately sunk into the tree directly to their right.
Everyone was instantly startled, Jha’Ley included … everyone, that is, but Toagun.
The man called Sealer chuckled and said, “Otherwise, we would all be dead.”
He glanced to his five companions, and to Jha’Ley who was giving him the dirty eye. “Com’mon mates, let’s go meet Whortleson O’Hahry. He’s waiting for us.”
Chapter 24
THE CARIBOU STEW was exceptional, tea perfect, and the atmosphere within Hahry’s cabin was warm, comfortable, and filled with pleasant hospitality. The first thing the men saw when walking through the front door, was a large circular piece of art hanging on the opposite wall.
Toagun said, “It’s called a Dream Catcher. Elvin lore says it helps to entrap evil spirits. This one is said to have been woven by a Dorhune. It doesn’t just trap them, it sends them to another realm where they become lost.”
Seedle elbowed Dessi and whispered, “This is a warning for you not to get too close.”
Fhascully was behind them and remarked, “Is this why you have been holding his hand, Mister Seedle?”
“Ah, we must be of awares, my good sergeant,” Seedle passed glance to Fhascully, “this makes two jokes in as many months. Have you been sliding him some of your grog?”
Klaus was the man who greeted them at the door. He was a slender, wiry man of perhaps six feet in height. His cheekbones were high, skin of deep burnished bronze, with raven black hair worn long down his back. His clothing was of deer hide and a leather band adorned his head. The wide, braided leather belt around his waist supported a curved knife sheath with a-foot long blade.
He greeted Toagun with a broad smile and the two spoke a language the others did not understand.
Dessi muttered to Seedle, “Do you suppose we will have difficulty making conversation?”
Klaus remarked in a dry tone, “Not unless you possess difficulty speaking Vedoic.”
Toagun added, “He went to school in Merceil for seven years.”
Fhascully’s face lightened, “Yes? Which school?”
Klaus replied, “Adele’s School of the Arts.”
“I know the institution. Many fine musicians and painters have come from there. Muldoon is a good friend, albeit we scarce have made company in the past years.”
Klaus was giving Fhascully deep appraisal, “Master Muldoon was my principle instructor. I also apprenticed with him.”
Fhascully’s eyebrows raised, “His hobby was the making of toys.”
Seedle was looking at the rugged man before him, “Do you make toys, sir?”
The piercing black eyes bore hint of a challenge, “I do.”
Seedle gave a wry grin and raised his brow, “Splendid.”
Fhascully offered, “And he plays a soulful violin, if Muldoon took him to apprentice.” With a respectful nod to Klaus, he added, “I would be honored to hear your rendition of Tres Amonyo Incorda.”
Klaus gave a formal nod as Jha’Ley commented to Seedle, “You see, even in the most remote places, elegance may be found.”
They were introduced to Hahry, a lean man with long white hair, medium height, the look of ages in his eyes, but still straight of carriage and with a grip equal to an eagle’s talon. He spoke enough of the Vedoic tongue, but obviously preferred his own language and Klaus did most of his speaking for him.
Not only was the home immaculate, but an unexpected feature was the indoor water pump. The lever and spout was right there in the corner, who would have ever thought … Of course, it was understandable to have it away from the freezing cold, but usually such might be found in a shed or barn.
A good meal was of first priority, as it was house custom to provide food and drink before talk of business. Klaus remarked, “No man has ever been turned away with an empty belly.”
Jha’Ley was particularly impressed with the stew, it reminded him of home. It was rich with good meat, just the right amount of barley, full of carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, celery, and beans he did not recognize. The spices were excellent as well. It had a wholesome, hearty flavor with just enough peppery bite, but not too much so.
And the bread, the bread had a crispy crust with a pleasing texture and nutty taste. There was plenty of honey and butter which accented the steaming individual loaves perfectly. All washed down with a unique tea … Jann Raul was in boyish heaven.
At the table sat Serm, Hahry’s wife and matron of the home. Fhascully figured her to be mid-sixties to Hahry’s eighty something years. The younger wife, Leona, he figured to be in her thirties, was in charge of serving. Another young man, Jeno, assisted her. Jeno, they learned, was a ward of the house and assisted with whatever chores needed doing, in exchange for learning the craft of dog-sledding.
In between bites, Fhascully asked, “This is splendid. Do you, do you raise your own meat?”
Klaus replied with an affirmative, but polite, “No. We hunt far afield and make care what we hunt.” It sounded as if he were emphasizing a point as he continued, “We take only what we need, and we use all. No part is wasted. If we do not, they will grow to be too much and starve themselves. It is part of the old law begun by Captain Billy, the Law of Harmony and Balance with nature.”
“Was Captain Billy an elf? The name sounds human, but the philosophy sounds elvin.”
It was Hahry who spok
e next, his words slow and methodical, but well pronounced, taking time to articulate each syllable correctly, “Elf say, ‘Elf come first.’ Old time say, ‘Human come first, other world.”
He pointed to an ancient carving on the wall, a carving of two men locked in a wrestling clench, “Captain Billy teach elf, Nature Way.”
Hahry took a bite, chewed, then added, “Teach hunt, make bow, build lodge, sail boat.”
The men glanced at each other and no comment was made. There was no hostility of any kind, but something about the tone in Hahry’s speech and the power of his brief delivery, made a person want to not argue his point.
After the meal, Jha’Ley offered his gift of Avalon Brandy, which was well received.
At the fire, all were made comfortable as Hahry addressed Jha’Ley, “Toagun say, you want talk about Greybeard.”
“Yes, sir, I would.”
“Why he important you?”
“Captain Ruben is my mother’s father, which makes Captain Liam my uncle, and both Captain Greybeard and Captain Gallagher my great-grandfathers.”
Jha’Ley paused to see if there was any reaction. Hahry gave a slight nod of his head, then said, “You no have eye like Greybeard, like Shuella, like J’Hene, like Liam. They have Greybeard crazy eye.”
“No, I do not. I was adopted by Albri as a boy, but raised as their son. I call them mother and father and am proud of it.”
Hahry nodded his head in appreciation. “Albri, much good man.” Leona brought him a steaming mug of apple brandy. He took a sip, savored it, closed his eyes and asked, “What you want know?”
“Right now I am exploring in name of Vedoa and her queen, but when my service is accomplished, I wish to complete the quest set forth by Captain Greybeard.”
“You want find Dorian Purse?”
“I want to find the Purse, and learn why he wanted it. In my possession are Captain Ruben’s logs, the Kelshinua Ship Maps,” Seedle, Dessi and Carlson all looked to Jha’Ley, “and a sheaf of notes called Liam’s Ledger. We called him Old Uncle. He told wonderful stories, but I fear he wrote with a lacking deficiency.”
The old man grinned, his white teeth in perfect condition, “Liam good sail master, not good think. Like womans and gold. Greybeard good think, not good sail man. Not chase womans. Not care gold.”
Jha’Ley continued, “Old Uncle, Captain Liam, he said Greybeard never talked much about his plans, but you were his friend. Grandfather Ruben wrote something about a Kohrmynthian Key, but did not believe he was interested in, well, trying to become like a god.
“What can you tell me about any of it, and the sinking of the Kelshinua? Old Uncle said he tried to find her sinking location, but could not do it.”
Hahry took another long drink and listened to the crackle of the fire. Everyone was quiet, and the burning wood was pleasant. By now, everyone had a mug of the brandy and was sitting back in hopes of a good tale of tidings long past.
“Greybeard good man, bad man fight. I see first time Billy Tavern. He stand bar, have mug. Young man say, ‘You old man. Move, my place.’
“Greybeard no say words. Young man say, ‘You no hear, old man? I say move.’
“Greybeard no say words. Young man say, ‘We fight.’
“Greybeard no say words. Young man say, ‘I think you coward.’
“Greybeard say, ‘You think what like.’
“Tavern mans laugh, young man go outside.”
Hahry took another sip and smiled in memory, “Greybeard go outside. Young man wait. Young man have sword and say, ‘You me fight, old man.’
“Greybeard look young man and have crazy eye. Young man begin white face and show afraid. Greybeard say, ‘Drop you sword. Next time I kill.’
“Young man drop sword, run. Run very fast. Fall down.” Hahry held up two fingers.
He took another sip and held the mug up in salute to Jha’Ley.
“Greybeard leave Avalon five oh nine three Elf Year, go Tanzhi, dark land. Go dark land when young man, other name. Woman with eyes no blink say go find blade. Greybeard find blade, much things more. Now go back, kill …” He paused, “… I know no words … very old, no dead magic man …”
Fhascully asked, “A litch? A wizard who has found a way to become an undead, in exchange for greater power and longer life … sort of …”
Hahry creased his forehead in thought. Klaus went into a long explanation in their own tongue as Hahry slowly came to a realization, “Yes, yes …” he rolled his tongue around the word, “… li-itch-ch, litch. Greybeard kill litch, take long jar with much paper. Paper say find Dorian Purse. Stay dark land long time. Come back Avalon these many years,” he held up four fingers, “come Johnstone.
“Greybeard make young man go run. He see me, say, ‘You know Whort Hahry?’
“I say, ‘Why you want know?’
“He say, ‘Woman with eyes no blink say find man here, say Whort Hahry show way.’
“I say, ‘Show way where?’
“He say, ‘I not know.’
“I make big laugh long time. I like Greybeard. We friend, long friend, be brother. My house his house. Greybeard sit you chair, eat much caribou, drink much tea, much dog sled mushy, learn good.” He wrinkled his nose, “Liam no like, Ruben no like. Say talk much. Want find gold, find purse. Say much gold in purse. Greybeard want story, much story. Talk great ice.”
Hahry pointed to a beautiful painting on the wall of an old man with feathers in his hair. “He my pa-pa. He like Greybeard, talk much story. Talk much Belmond, talk much Itahro Mountains, talk much Blue Medicine Rose.
“Spring, we sail Belmond. Go find stone wheel, no find. Fight mans-who-eat-mans. Much fight. Ruben die. Greybeard hold Ruben head, Ruben say, ‘I die good, like warrior, say Shuella much miss.’ He die.” The old man drank the rest of his mug and waited for a refill.
In the fireplace, the wood shifted and a shower of sparks rose up. Seedle got up to add a couple of pieces and Klaus made an adjustment to the vent.
With his fresh mug of brandy, the old man continued, “These many years,” he held up fingers and thumb, then closed for a moment, then opened his middle, ring, and little finger, “I sail Greybeard. Go find things, find some, no find many.
“Liam sail ship, Greybeard look much. Want find door, much very big door. No find.” Hahry slowly waved his free hand toward the northern window and across, “See much Meinkutt, much Torsham …”
He looked about the faces of his listeners with a cautionary expression, “Torsham much bad. Much evil spirit live Torsham. Sea spirit, Pk’Nahrul Shin Houkey!”
Jha’Ley shook his head, not understanding. Toagun explained, “He’s saying the water around Torsham’s Vault is one with an ancient sea devil. He made me swear never to go there hunting seal.”
Dessi remarked, “A sea devil that lives in the water, damn!”
Klaus said, “No. Not in the water, it is one with the water.”
Seedle emitted a low whistle.
Fhascully intertwined his fingers and brought them to his chin, he was completely fascinated.
Hahry continued, “Kelshinua small crew, sleep here,” he pointed overhead, “no sun season. Albri, J’Hene go season. Albri good sail, J’Hene much good shoot. Find very big seal this year. Albri, J’Hene, go home.
“Five one oh five, Greybeard say me, ‘Go this more Torsham, go island find door, use dog with sled. Son-of-my-friend captain other boat, bring these many team,” he held up four fingers, “many dogs, big sled, these many mans,” still holding his mug, he held up four fingers of his free hand twice. “Go Torsham, find camp mans use other times, go find big door.
“Find much old places, find mountains and big forest. Find trees made cold, hard, stone. Find many big rock in circle. No find door.
“Yeti kill mans,” he held up three fingers, “Liam want eat dogs. Greybeard say no. Liam no like.” Hahry laughed with an almost cruel humor, “Greybeard say, ‘No like, walk home.’
“Greybeard say me, ‘N
o find. Me fool, Hahry. Me look no good place. We go back house, think much. What you think?’
“I say, ‘You no fool, we go back house, think much.”
The old man took a breather and drank his brandy.
“Very big storm, son-of-my-friend boat catch on ice rock under sea. Sea very angry. Greybeard tie lines on boat, make all mans use oar, pull back. Very bad, many mans go water.
“Boat free, Kelshinua hit big ice rock, make hole. I think see water like finger make squeeze.
“Greybeard say, ‘Hahry, you get dingy.’
“I say, ‘You, me, friend, brother, no leave.’
“He say, ‘Good.’
“I go help mans get in dingy, Greybeard hit head.” A resigned, but irritated look crossed Hahry’s face, “Son of bitch. I wake, Liam, me,” he held up two fingers, “these many more, dingy. Son-of-my-friend make boat, go home. No see Kelshinua.
“Story finish.”
Jha’Ley rubbed his mouth and chin in thoughts as Hahry first took a sip, then reconsidered and downed the rest of his brandy. Fhascully smiled and thought to himself, ‘The two gallons of Avalon Brandy is not going to go very far.’
Seedle got up and said, “If you will excuse me, I must make rendezvous with nature.”
Klaus pointed and offered, “Journey house is in barn, the stall in corner. Pull the string when finished.”
Fhascully was amazed at how efficient everything was. What he wanted to know, one thing he wanted to know, was where did they get the fresh vegetables for the stew? Perhaps it would be best to ask the question later.
Leona offered Jha’Ley a refill of the brandy, but he said, “No thank you, ma’am. There is more upon our ships. This is for you.”
Hahry, on the other hand, was pleased for one more mug.
Jha’Ley was full of questions, but did not want to overload their host. He did ask, “Mister Hahry … did Captain Greybeard keep his own logs, records, something which might have survived or been passed down. The maps are invaluable, but there must be more. The logs and ledger I have are good, but much in the way of insight and forethought is missing …”