by Chris Ward
Rema looked around and scanned the crowd. So many faces, so many weary faces he thought.
‘I can see them,’ he whispered mostly to himself. ‘When you know what to look for you can see the mark.’
Germayne nodded.
‘Gryfnor has done good business in Ramos, and has travelled widely throughout Revelyn, so I can imagine that throughout the land whenever he sets up his tent there will be many who enjoy the pleasures of the Diabules.’ Rema continued scanning the crowd, intrigued by his new knowledge and realised that indeed there were many who had partaken of Gryfnor’s magic. As he continued to look about he suddenly stopped in shock, his eyes fixed firmly upon a single man.
‘He is here Germayne, the one we look for. Over by the yellow tent, he leans against the pole.’ Rema indicated with a thrust of his chin. ‘Where the hares are hanging. He stands next to them.’ Germayne instantly saw the evil looking bald headed man with the dead eyes and the most ugly face in the crowd.
‘I see him Rema. He is indeed the one we have long tried to capture. He comes often to stand nearby the magician’s tent. The White Queen is desperate to take this man in, but we have never been able.’ She took a deep breath and then whispered. ‘I will bring your friend the lizard man who climbs walls without ropes. If his skill in tracking is as good as his climbing then we may succeed today should this one attempt to evade us once more.’
Rema nodded and smiled. ‘You bring Orcxyl and I will get Andes. With two Edenwhood and the great hunter Orcxyl, surely this man cannot elude us?’
‘I think it more creature than man,’ Germayne hissed and Rema was stunned by the strength of the loathing carried in these few words. Then suddenly Germayne paled, ‘Look Rema, can you see what his presence does. Look at the hares.’
Rema stared at the dead animals, strung up by their hind legs hanging next to their quarry. His skin crawled. The one nearest the man suddenly blinked its eye, and then two more close by did the same.
‘They are shaking Rema, they live…’
‘And yet they are dead, ‘Rema spoke in a hoarse voice which seemed to him to be not his own. ‘What sorcery can this be…?’
‘We must discover the answer to your question Rema,’ Germayne replied in a voice which could not hide her horror, ‘keep your eyes on this one. I will return quickly,’ and she was gone. Rema continued to look at the strange scene in deep shock. A few in the crowd jumped in startled response to the hares’ sudden quivering and with powerful oaths, walked away. Rema saw the evil looking man smile in a lewd and lopsided manner. At that very moment Gryfnor appeared and called the children to his magic act. This sudden change brought calm to the crowd for many now pushed forward to see the magician, and when Rema looked again the hares hung dead and unmoving as before, and the one they wanted was nowhere to be seen. Germayne returned soon after with Orcxyl. He was escorted by none other than Gravyn the archer whose weapon was ready for use, an arrow notched upon the string. Rema had called Andes over and the small group earnestly discussed their plan.
‘Lizard man,’ said Germayne somewhat dismissively to Orcxyl, ‘you will walk with Gravyn. He has orders to shoot you should you flee. You will show us your skills today and perhaps the Queen will be lenient in your sentence. Know this. If you deal falsely with us you will not live long.’ Orcxyl smiled but said nothing, and Rema had the distinct feeling that he held no fear of any, and should he wish to elude them he would have no trouble. Surely the crowd will prevent any use of weapons he thought.
‘Come,’ Germayne ordered, ‘we must follow quickly. Did you see which way he went Rema?’
‘No,’ said Rema, ‘but I think to the west is best, there seems to be two streets easily reached. Andes thought differently and suggested north toward the Palace which would be least expected. Gravyn looked about trying to think of some helpful suggestion. Germayne uttered a cry of frustration.
‘I cannot believe we are thwarted before we begin!’
‘Where was he standing?’ Orcxyl asked suddenly in a voice which carried more authority than any in the group would have expected. They looked at him in silence.
‘It is a simple question, can no one here give answer?’ Orcxyl persisted.
‘Over here Orcxyl, follow me.’ Rema took the lead and the group quickly assembled by the yellow tent where the dead hares hung still and lifeless. ‘He stood here, leaning against this pole, like so…’ Rema went to show how he remembered the man but Orcxyl cut him off.
‘Don’t!’ he ordered, ‘don’t rest where he last touched.’ Orcxyl then went to the pole and examined it from high up to ground level. He then knelt and smelt it like a dog might. At this Gravyn seemed to take offence and sneered quietly.
‘The man is more dog than lizard, he wastes our time Germayne.’ The fingers upon his bow and arrow seemed then to twitch in anticipation of imminent use. ‘We were not quick enough today, that is all, the man has once more escaped us,’ but Orcxyl continued to smell the pole, as the disheartened group could do nothing but watch on in wonder at his strange behaviour.
Orcxyl smelt his quarry. It was faint but so recent that his senses had little trouble in distinguishing the particular odour from others upon the pole. At shoulder height he had the strongest sense of it and so he decided upon this clue. He closed his eyes and thought upon this one smell and deep in his gifted brain a link was formed and manifested in a strange taste within his mouth. The sense of closeness to the trail grew stronger and stronger and so when he opened his eyes the track he needed was before him; invisible to any other, a luminous glow where a shoulder had rested on the pole and two on the ground where large feet had stood and scuffed about.
‘This way,’ Orcxyl said and started off, ‘I see where he walked, his trail is clear enough.’
‘Halt dog man!’ Gravyn was not convinced and thought Orcxyl to be planning some escape. His bow was drawn and the arrow pointed with deadly intent at Orcxyl’s chest. ‘You wait till you are given leave.’ He turned to Germayne and waited for her order. Germayne shrugged.
‘Be ready Gravyn but we have nothing to lose. Let us follow and see what comes of it. Ease your weapon.’ And so the archer obeyed, but with little grace, his suspicion of Orcxyl plain in his eyes despite his face of stone,
‘Lead on Lizard man,’ Germayne said evenly, ‘but take care you do not get too far ahead, you cannot outrun Gravyn’s arrow. Orcxyl smiled once more and led the way through the throng, the glowing footsteps plain enough to him, although fading in the strongest sunlight. In no time, the pursuers, with Orcxyl in the lead reached the edge of the market square and turned into one of the streets leading off to the west. Three houses along Orcxyl stopped in surprise for the tracks had suddenly disappeared. He searched in all directions but there was nothing.
‘I am not surprised at this,’ Gravyn growled, ‘he is playing with us.’
Orcxyl closed his eyes and found the place deep in his mind where he knew he held the clues. He looked about again and gave a whispered cry,
‘Clever, very clever but not enough to fool me.’ He spoke for himself alone and cared not a bit who listened. He walked to the wall of the tall stone house on his left. On a high sill was another glowing mark. He leapt up here, Orcxyl thought, and up higher some finger mark upon the wall. He climbed up, I see the marks all the way to the top. He looked at Gravyn. I wonder will he shoot me?
‘My lady,’ he said addressing Germayne. ‘I see the way he went. You must let me follow. I will return with news. Wait here awhile and you will see.’ And with that Orcxyl began to expertly scale the wall.
‘Stop!’ Gravyn called, his bow full drawn and the arrow once more aimed at Orcxyl on the wall; but the great hunter did not halt, and continued climbing, his mind was fully turned to seeing where the glowing tracks led, placing his fingers in the same spots, his feet matching the one whom he hunted.
‘Germayne I will shoot,’ Gravyn said angrily.
‘No,’ Germayne said looking up at the fast disa
ppearing climber, ‘No you will not Gravyn. I will not allow it. Something in me believes this lizard man, what think you Rema?’
‘I say we give the man the chance to prove himself,’ said Rema immediately, horrified that he might see Orcxyl killed for nothing more than a foolish alehouse wager which led to a simple trespass on the Palace. Andes too was about to spring upon the archer who quickly realised that he had perhaps overstepped himself. He eased the tension from his bow and took the arrow from the string. He shrugged.
‘I think he has you fooled,’ he said, although with less anger in his voice, ‘but you are right, I cannot slay a man for nothing, and he climbs more like a lizard than a dog.’ The group then watched in amazement as Orcxyl reached the rooftop and swung himself over the parapet three stories above the ground. He looked down upon them, and laughed quietly. Then with a quick wave he disappeared from sight.
‘I’ll wager that will be the last we see of him,’ Gravyn said, a broad accusation in his voice, and no one spoke to deny it, but all looked to Germayne who shrugged again.
‘He can have no less luck than we have had in time past,’ she sighed, ‘and who knows, he may yet surprise us.’ The group then resigned themselves to a long wait and found what comfortable seats they could, although their surrounds were all stone and brick or cobble, so none expected much.
Orcxyl meanwhile looked about and saw that the tracks glowed well enough across the tiled rooftops. He had no intention of fleeing his situation although he knew it would be a simple thing. I am close to her now, he thought. I will not get another chance. I will stay and do their bidding, and strike when the time is right.
He followed the tracks easily and marveled at where he was. I have only ever tracked in the grasslands and the forests, this in new indeed, he thought. Over slate and tiles. He paused when once more the tracks seemed to disappear some distance on, but quickly realised his quarry had returned to the ground, jumping from one high roof to a lower and then to a wall and a sill before reaching the cobbled street below. Orcxyl had no trouble in getting down and then once more he followed the tracks before him. In places there were faint scratch marks upon the walls and in one place in a sunken doorway, a larger smudge indicated that his quarry had hidden from view for a time. The tracks led ever west, and in places were so faint that Orcxyl spent time smelling the best he could find and rebuilding the picture in his mind. The houses now were older and the part of the city in which he travelled seemed less kind. Some dwellings were boarded up and one was a burnt ruin. Orcxyl saw few other folk and those he did hurried about their business and gave no willing indication that he was observed. He almost lost the track where it doubled back, perhaps in some attempt to confuse any follower, but within a short time Orcxyl worked out the ruse and once more followed the marks. After a time he came upon the old western wall of the city, where the houses were built hard up against the stonework and in places it seemed were even a part of the wall itself, a mighty rampart which rose some many cubits above the rooftops. The tracks came finally to a house which bore all the signs of being abandoned. The windows were mostly shuttered and weeds grew in the brickwork. The solid door was open a crack and did not fit well in the frame. A cat ran out as Orcxyl entered carefully and it gave such a howl that even the great hunter jumped in fright. He felt the air inside was cold to his face, and his quick eyes saw dead creatures lying in the shadows, three rats, a cat and many large spiders, all dead and stiff, their sightless eyes seeming to glow strangely in the dark.
Orcxyl suddenly knew he was in a place where he did not belong, where fell things were said and done and powers ruled beyond his understanding. The deep instinct which drove him on the hunt was now suddenly no longer strong enough to override his growing dread.
‘I am not called to go beyond this point,’ he whispered, surprised at the hollowness of his voice. ‘I will let others better armed go further. I have found its lair, this is enough.’ He stood and looked once more about him before leaving quickly by the way he had come. Unseen above, up a stair and through an open door a creature watched. It had no human feelings. It was unmoved by the world of man. It waited and when its pursuer departed it showed no emotion, it uttered no sound, but turned and disappeared deeper into the darkness.
Orcxyl halted across the deeply shadowed street. It seemed to him the sun was unable to penetrate far enough to reach the ground, and he realised the quiet which engulfed him was no ordinary silence. He marked the house in his mind as any hunter might a water hole or a place to set a good ambush. It was built into the old city wall but at the front it stood proud for three levels where finally an ancient tiled roof ran sloping back up into the stonework which rose above. A solitary chimney which was missing half its height served to accentuate the decay which all about seemed to cry out...
A devil’s lair thought Orcxyl surprised at the shiver of dread which ran down his spine, I would not easily enter this place again.
He retraced his path slowly. He was in no hurry to be reunited with his captors and he had much to think on. How best to use this knowledge? he thought continually as he went. I am so close I must make the right move, the right move… but he was disturbed by the presence of Rema Bowman and the giant in his quest.
‘I cannot see how all this will work,’ he muttered, ‘This is not hunting as I know it.’ A small thought of indecision suddenly crossed his angry mind. Am I right in my path? It grew larger and distracted him but this only made him angrier, so he pushed it away, refusing to allow it any room to weaken his resolve. ‘I have made my choice, my path is simple, I will kill the White Queen. I will kill her for you Freya.’ The words were uttered, each like arrows loosed with the furious desperation of a man consumed with hate. However, at the articulation of his beloved twin he became calmer. He nodded with a dark smile in affirmation. The cause was true. He would not deviate. She was reason enough. Freya was reason enough.
Orcxyl had no trouble finding his path back to the market square. Without any indecision he made allowance for the route he had followed over the rooves, and walking around by other streets, he was soon enough standing not far from where he spied the frustrated group he had so easily escaped some short time before. The giant was asleep; Rema rested against a wall and looked away down the street. The tall woman who spoke with such authority stood as though in a lonely vigil, but she looked ahead and not at him. The archer he did not like. After the Queen my friend I would like to see you suffer for your insults. Orcxyl was again surprised by the violence of his thoughts. He shook his head and pushed that thought away as well.
‘I am returned,’ he said, and the group turned to him in amazement. The archer most of all.
‘You lost him then?’ Germayne spoke, but in a pleasant tone for she was relieved that he had not fled and left them embarrassed. Orcxyl did not reply immediately, for he enjoyed the fact that he knew what he knew, and this meant some power in his quest. When all were waiting for his reply and at the point of frustration with his silence he spoke.
‘No.’
‘No!’ Gravyn responded immediately with some contempt. ‘No… you lost him or no, you have not?’
Orcxyl’s words then took them all by surprise but Gravyn felt them most for they lacerated the archer in a single withering moment.
‘Stand quiet archer,’ Orcxyl hissed with great strength. ‘You may well shoot like none in this land, but you have no skill with words or with the understanding of other men. You do not know me, yet you call me a dog and a lizard man. Stand quiet I say and I will speak to one who deserves an answer.’ He turned and faced Germayne dismissing him. Gravyn was greatly stunned and taken back although it was hard to see for his face bore no response. However he did not speak, for in truth he could think of nothing which would be right. Orcxyl noticed that the giant one was smiling and Rema too did not look unhappy with his words.
‘You have found where the man went?’ Germayne asked quietly, her eyes hard upon the hunter.
‘I have
,’ Orcxyl replied evenly.
‘You will show us,’ Germayne ordered.
‘I will show no one but the Queen my lady,’ Orcxyl replied firmly, and once more the group was stunned by the transformation in their prisoner.
He has some deeper plan thought Rema watching closely, he is truly an even greater hunter than I thought, but I must watch him closely for he is full of deep emotion which might cause some hurt to others.
His thoughts were interrupted by Germayne’s curt command.
‘Then we will return to the palace.’
The White Queen looked up from her reading when Germayne entered her private chambers. Her smile reflected a deep affection for the tall women with the Edenwhood blood.
‘My Lady.’ Germayne bowed slightly and waited for an invitation to be seated. This was offered as a matter of course and she was soon comfortable upon a well cushioned couch opposite Sylvion who sat in a marvelously ornate chair with her feet upon a simple stool. For a moment Germayne was struck by the contrast in the two pieces of furniture, but the Queen’s voice interrupted her.
‘I trust you bear better news than has been the case in past attempts to capture the creature?’ Sylvion’s somewhat resigned tone indicated that she was not greatly hopeful in this regard. Germayne smiled.
‘Well indeed My Lady, it is better, but not yet proven.’
‘Tell me Germayne, this is a change. Previously all I have ever heard is complete failure.’
Germayne proceeded to inform the Queen what had transpired in the market square and then the strange disappearance of Orcxyl over the rooftops, and his story upon his return. Sylvion listened intently, but without interruption, her mind taking in every fact and detail. She only spoke when Germayne finished her short account.
‘Do you believe him Germayne, do you think he has found this creature’s lair?’
Germayne shook her head and shrugged. ‘I cannot easily read the man My Lady. He is like no other I have met. I thought him first somewhat dull and simple but in the end he surprised us all, not least the hapless Gravyn.’ At this Sylvion chuckled.