by Dave Skinner
Cracker waited for an answer to present itself, but nothing came forth. Finally he remembered an incident from last year. “One-Eyed Tom and Red Nose went to a city last year. They was thrown into jail by the City Watch. Honest folk don’t be liken us.”
“Cities be more than honest folk. And besides, half of those honest folk were thieves b’fore they got respect. They’d accept us, especially if refusing meant losing something valuable, like their heads.”
“But the other half won’t, and they be who runs the cities. What kind of city would it be if it was run by people like us?”
Cracker waited for Vee to continue the conversation, but he seemed lost in thought. He decided to return to his own cave for a drink, but as he was leaving, Vee looked up. “Cracker, find Needles, and bring im here.”
Cracker didn’t like Needles. He considered him sneaky and two-faced, but he knew he would be in the ale cave, drinking, and playing knife games. Needles was always betting people that he could do something that sounded impossible with his knives. Cracker had lost money to him many times. He hoped Needles had been drinking and was his normal mouthy self, then Cracker could just pound his long, skinny, horse face and carry him to Vee. He was not that lucky.
Vee got right to the point when they arrived back at his cave. “I got a job for ye, Needles.”
“Who ye want dead?”
“It’s a different job this time. I want ye to take one or two men and go to Waysley. Check out what the city’s walls and gates are like, and how many guards they have.”
“Are you interested in any particular part of the city?”
“I am interested in the whole place. It is going to be our new home.”
Chapter 36
Ran was content to bypass the village until he saw the ale barrels being unloaded. They would be at the coast tomorrow evening if his calculations were correct. There was no need to stop here, except for the ale, but for Ran that was reason enough.
He led his companions straight to the ale house. It was low roofed with a dirt floor, but grasses had been fresh laid upon it, and the ale was cool. He was halfway through his first drink when the delegation arrived.
The spokesman approached their table cautiously. “Do you mind if I sit down?” he said. “I have an offer for you.”
“Help yourself.” Bray indicated the forth chair.
Ran had evaluated the man as he approached. There was no threat in him, or in the two other men he had been seated with, but he was cutting into Ran’s drinking time, so he spoke as soon as the man was seated. “What kind of offer?”
“We are looking for someone to kill a large bear that has been terrorizing our village. It killed two children the other day. Their father and two others went after it, but only one man returned. He said the bear got the other two. You look like capable hunters, so we wondered if you would consider it.”
“What do we get for our trouble?” Ran asked.
“Three gold coins, one for each of you.”
“Plus free lodgings, meals and drink for the night,” Ran added.
“Yes, of course, I was about to offer that.”
“Deal,” Ran exclaimed, slapping his hand flat on the table to indicate a close to negotiations. “We would like to talk to the man who returned.”
“I will have him here in a few moments,” the negotiator said as he rose from the table.
When they were alone, Ran turned to Bray. “That is a good deal, three golds should be more than enough to pay for our passage to Waysley, and you get to practise for your trueone challenge.”
“I get to kill the bear? How will you be occupying your time?”
“I will be protecting Mearisdeana, of course. The villagers are curious about her” Ran had noticed how almost everyone stared at their mysterious, cloaked companion. With her hood up barely an inch of her body could be seen, but the way she moved made it obvious she was female, and the mystery drew men’s attention and fired their imaginations. “You do not want to take her on a bear hunt, do you?”
Before Bray could answer, the negotiator came back with another man who was swathed in bandages around his head, neck, and one arm. The man eased into the offered chair with a grimace followed by a sigh.
“Tell us what happened, friend,” Ran prompted.
“We tracked the bear to the south, deeper into the island. It has a damaged paw; two claws are missing, so it was easy to follow. I was tracking; the others were following me, and suddenly the bear attacked from behind. It ran right through us. Gareth and Darren were down before I knew what was happening. I managed to get my spear up, but it rose on its back legs and knocked the spear out of my hands. It caught me with one paw as it dropped back down, knocked me into the bush. I thought I was dead, but it went after Darren who was trying to crawl away. I managed to drag myself up and run.”
“How far away?’ Bray asked.
“We left mid-morning and the sun was directly overhead when we were attacked.”
“If you want to be back for the evening meal, you should get going, Bray,” Ran stated.
***
Bray was less than ten bow shots from the village when the illness started. It was the same feeling he experienced the first time Waycan, Ran, and he had tried to go to the site of the wizard’s design: queasiness throughout his whole body, his breathing laboured, and his strength fleeing. He sat on a large boulder beside the trail hoping a rest would take the feeling away. Sitting helped, the illness did not grow less, but it felt manageable. He stood to proceed, but a few steps further saw him down on his knees, head spinning, and sweat oozing from every pore.
He had just started to feel slightly better when a breeze carried the stink of rotten flesh and wet fur to him. He raised his head. Down the trail an old, scarred, cave bear stood watching him.
***
“What is this liquid we are drinking,” Mearisdeana asked. “At first it was pleasant, but now—”
“It is ale, but half a glass shouldn’t be affecting you. Do they not have alcohol where you come from?”
“Yes we do, and usually it does not affect me this way.”
“Dizzy?”
“Yes, and weak. I felt this way the second day I was on your world. I thought it was an aftereffect of being pulled through the rift.”
“When was that?”
“The first time you, Bray and Waycan went to look at the design.”
Ran thought about what she was saying for a few moments, and then surged to his feet. “Come on, we have to hurry.”
Mearisdeana tried to stand but fell back into her chair. In a moment Ran had picked her up, thrown her over his shoulder, and charged out the door.
“Tell me if you start to feel better,” he said as he raced towards the path to the south.
At the edge of the village he found the trail without having to stop. The path was relatively flat and easy to follow, so he put all his energy into running. The only other time he had run this hard was when he had raced against Bray in The Games. Now he could be racing to save him.
“I feel better,” Mearisdeana huffed from her position on his shoulder.
“Can you run on your own?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Then follow me as fast as you can,” Ran said as he flipped her off his shoulder without slowing. She sprawled in the dirt, but he could hear her running behind him after a few more strides.
He was wondering how far he would have to go to catch up to Bray when he heard the sounds of something just ahead. He pulled his sword. In a moment he burst onto the scene. The bear was up on its hind legs with Bray crushed to its chest. He saw the flash of Bray’s knives as they plunged into the bear’s sides. Bray’s jerkin was slashed across the back, and his blood was running freely.
Screaming his war cry, Ran sprang high, bringing his blade down in a two-handed blow that cleaved the beast’s skull. The force of his stroke knocked the bear and Bray over. Ran rol
led free and came up sword ready for a second blow, but the bear had stopped moving, forever.
Chapter 37
“It has to be the spell the wizard used. Nothing else would cause us to be linked. Can you think of a different reason? Does this happen on your world?” Bray asked.
“No, I have never heard of something like this, and there is no mention of anything similar in the texts I have read.” Mearisdeana looked as disturbed about it as he was.
Bray was lying face down on a table in the home of the village healer. The old woman had washed the slashes the bear’s claws had torn. She drenched the wounds in a concoction that stung mightily when applied. Now she was stitching the wounds closed. Ran was accompanying some villagers out to the bear’s carcass. Mearisdeana was seated somewhere behind him and seemed to have gotten over her anger at Ran for dumping her in the dirt, as she called it. They had been discussing what had happened to both of them.
At first, when Ran explained what he thought had happened, Bray refused to believe him. Ran had lied and tricked Bray too many times in the past for him to accept such an uncomfortable idea easily, but with Mearisdeana backing up what Ran was saying, and his own body’s reaction he had finally accepted that there was some type of link between Mearisdeana and himself.
“Do you feel anything else?” he asked.
“Like what?”
“Like my back. Can you feel the pain?”
“No, I do not feel anything else. It only happens when we are separated.”
“Well, if it is caused by the spell that brought you here hopefully the other wizard in Waysley will be able to undo it.”
“And to send me back to my home,” Mearisdeana added.
Yes. Send you home and allow me to return to my true home in Nadia.
“I have finished,” the healer announced. “Try not to put any strain on the stitches for a few days. You may experience some discomfort, but I was able to clean the wounds well. They should not get infected; however I do not perform magic. The claws and teeth of bears are as bad as those of the large cats for causing infection.”
“Thank you,” Bray offered as he stood. He moved to his pack and retrieved a cloth shirt from it. He had a second leather shirt, but the cloth would be less irritating.
As they stepped outside, Ran came strolling up. “You all patched up?” Bray just nodded. “Good, the villagers are roasting a pig. There is a celebration to honour what we did. I understand the maidens will dance. As the honoured guests we should have our pick.”
“I believe I will have to forgo that pleasure tonight,” Bray admitted.
“More for me then,” Ran grinned.
“You are disgusting,” Mearisdeana observed. “A woman is more than just something you bed.”
“Take it easy, Scales. These small villages need infusions of new blood in order to survive. I am simply following the Mother’s dictates. You might not have noticed it—buried in your cloak as you are, but we have been getting, pick-me-looks since we arrived.”
“But what about the maiden you leave all alone with a child in her belly? What is she supposed to do? How does she survive?”
“She is not alone. She is part of the village. The girl and her child are cared for by the village or by her parents until she mates, and usually once she has proven she can bear a child she is chosen for marriage quickly.”
“Oh, sorry, I did not understand.”
Bray could see that Mearisdeana was uncomfortable having to apologize to Ran. He could be and had been abrasive with her. She was not as thick skinned as her hide suggested.
“Not everywhere is like that,” added Bray. “I understand the larger cities shun single women who become pregnant, although I imagine Nadia is not that way. I am sure it takes care of any of its citizens who are in need.” Ran snorted at Bray’s comment.
They reached the village centre where a number of tables, benches, and blankets had been pulled out and spread about. The smell of roasted pig made Bray’s mouth water. They were directed to a bench in a central location and presented with plates of food and mugs of ale.
Ran downed his ale in one gulp. Bray was not far behind in finishing his. Mearisdeana sipped at her mug as if expecting an unpleasant taste.
“Do you not have ale on your world?” Bray asked.
“We do, but earlier today I thought it was making me ill. I was being cautious, but it tastes quite good.” She finished the mug with two large gulps.
“Caution is advisable,” Bray advised. “This is strong drink.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Mearisdeana said as she was handed another mug.
Plates of roast pork, fresh bread, and field greens kept coming until Bray was stuffed. Every plate was accompanied by two or three mugs of ale. The effects of the ale were apparent by the time the bonfire was blazing and the maidens came out to dance. Ran and Bray were both clapping along with the drum beat as the girls gyrated around the fire.
The music had a deep pulsing beat that seemed to vibrate through Bray’s body. The girls stomped and wheeled before him. He could feel the arousal despite the pain from his wounds. He had just decided that he could use some pleasuring this night after all when Mearisdeana arose beside him and started to sway to the music. With a sudden movement she cast off her cloak and joined the dancers.
Bray almost choked as he tried to drink and gasp at the same time. He had seen Mearisdeana’s face, hands, and parts of her arms. They had always been coated with gray rock like scales, but now her skin was as white as new snow. She wore a short leather skirt and a tiny linen shirt which exposed a lot of her upper body as she danced. She was breathtaking, and the sexuality that radiated from her reminded him of what he had felt when he had watched the sirens a few days before. She was having the same effect on the men of the village.
A villager tried to grab her as she spun by, but was knocked aside by another man. By the time she had circled the bonfire and returned to Bray and Ran there were two fights going on behind her. She stopped in front of them.
“I love to dance,” she slurred as she continued to sway before them. Bray saw five or six men making their way towards her. He grabbed up her cloak, swirled it around her body, threw her over his shoulder and moved quickly towards the inn and their room. Behind him he heard Ran’s deep voice, “Easy men. She has been claimed by my friend.”
***
Consciousness came back slowly to Mearisdeana. Someone was calling her name, but she did not want to wake up yet. She curled into a ball under her blanket, but instead of making her feel better the movement brought a wave of nausea and a sharp pain above her eyes.
“Mearisdeana, wake up,” a voice commanded.
“Let me help,” another voice offered as her blanket was ripped away.
“You did that just to get another look at her. Did you not satisfy your lust last night? You were at it for hours,” the first voice said.
She felt the tingle of cold air on her skin as she tried to understand what was being said. Lust … another look, what was—it all came flooding back, the ale, the celebration, the dancing, being flung over Bray’s shoulder. Her eyes popped open. Bray and Ran were both standing beside her bed. Bray was holding a mug out to her.
“Drink this,” he offered. “It should help.”
She took the drink to cover her confusion. She was only going to take a sip, but one taste and her head screamed for more. As she drank she felt coolness spread through her body, a coolness that matched the cool air on her skin—her nightskin.
“What happened?” she asked timidly.
“You danced with the maidens,” Bray answered.
“You got drunk and performed the maiden’s dance,” Ran added.
“Did I make a fool of myself?”
“No, you were quite good. So good that you caused three fights and one stabbing,” Ran answered with a smirk. “I will have to come up with a different nickname for you.”
“Wh
y were the men fighting?” Mearisdeana asked.
“Because you excited every man there. I saw an old cripple holding his pecker and trying to stand up to get to you.”
“I do not understand. Why were they after me?”
“To bed you, woman,” Ran told her.
“To bed me? Why would they think I would allow them to bed me?”
“Because you were dancing, of course.” Ran was sounding exasperated.
“Women who perform in the maiden’s dance are saying that they are available for bedding,” Bray explained. “Your beauty made all the men wild.”
Mearisdeana was beginning to remember. “You threw a cloak over me and carried me here,” she announced. “I cannot remember anything after that.”
Ran gave her a wicked grin. “Too bad, that was when the fun started.”
“You—no, how could …”
“He did not,” Bray told her.
She looked at him. “You?”
“No. No one touched you. You were drunk. You passed out.”
“And after you threw up, you lost some of your appeal,” Ran added.
“Now, if you can drag yourself out of bed, we have a journey to continue. The woman I was with last night gave me the name of her brother. He is a fisherman in the village we are headed for. She thinks we may be able to catch a ride on his boat to Swanrock,” Ran informed them.
Mearisdeana grumbled, “Oh wonderful, another boat ride.” Bray hid his smile. Ran did not.
Chapter 38
“Nailmoe, wake up,” Adamtay insisted as he kicked his friend’s foot where it stuck out from under the blanket.
“Not yet. I see no daylight.”
“It is dark because we are in a cave, remember?”
“Barely, the last few days have been a whirlwind, my Prince. Did you at least make breakfast? I would love some bread fried in bacon fat and topped with cheese. I went to a lot of trouble to pack all that food you know, and for the past days you have insisted on boiled grain for the sake of expediency. We have to slow down and eat something more substantial, or we will be useless when we reach our destination.”