by Spoor, Garry
“Don’t you think if there was anything out there, the dogs would have alerted you?”
Logan slowly lowered his pike and turned to the two hounds that were watching him with curiosity.
“Well, I thought I heard something.” He said with little conviction.
“On a morning like this?” Raf replied looking up at the darkening sky “I seriously doubt it. You would have to be insane…”
The older solider stopped in mid sentence as a young redheaded girl wearing a large floppy hat emerged silently from the mist. Logan dropped his pike back into the standard defensive position.
“Halt, who goes there? State your name and intentions.” He shouted again.
“Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time.” The young girl replied, holding her hands up before her. “I have a wounded man here as well as… how about we just deal with the wounded man first.” She said as she took a step forward.
“Halt… who goes there?”
“Didn’t we already go through this?” She asked. “I have a wounded man, the least you could do is send for a healer.”
“Logan, go fetch the captain.” Raf commanded as he grabbed his pike from inside the watch tower and lowered it toward the young girl. “I don’t know what you are child, but stay right there.”
“What I am is running late. Can we get this moving a bit?”
“When the captain gets here.”
“Fine.” She said, and sat down in the middle of the road “I’ll wait.”
Fortunately they didn’t have to wait for long, it took only five minutes before Captain Bartholomew Jax arrived at the western gate, he must have been rousted out of his bed, since he was fastening the belt around his tabard, over what was clearly not his uniform. He was a tall older man with black hair that had only just started graying at the temples.
“What is going on here sergeant?” He demanded with a note of urgency, but when he assessed the situation, that urgency quickly changed to one of confusion.
“We have an intruder sir.” Raf replied.
“And intruder?” Captain Jax asked as he came up along side Raf and placed his hand on the pike, forcing him to lower it to the ground. “I don’t really see an intruder, what I see is one of my guards holding a young girl at arm’s length.”
“But sir, she came out of the mist without so much as a sound, and not even the dogs reacted to her.” Raf stated, he was clearly unnerved by the events, and then turned to his Captain and whispered. “Sir, she may be a Wili.”
“What did you just call me?” The young girl asked, jumping to her feet. “My name is Kile, Kile… well, just… Kile for now.”
“Well just Kile. Why are you here scaring my guards, and in such a state?” Captain Jax asked. It was clear that he didn’t feel she was much of a threat.
“For starters I have a wounded man that needs some attention.” She replied.
“Is this true solider?” The Captain turned to ask Logan, who looked a little embarrassed.
“Um… well sir, she did mention something like that, but I though it was a wili trick.”
“Yeah, a wili bad one.” Kile replied. “Look, it's late, I’m tired, wet and hungry, I still have a delivery in Tobery to make, and all I want is to get this man some help.”
“What man? Show me this man.”
Captain Jax stepped forward, but was quickly stopped by Raf who was still not convinced that Kile wasn’t what she seemed to be.
“Sir, you can go out there, if she is a… a wili, you’re in mortal danger.”
“Oh for crying out loud.” She said, throwing her hands up in the air and turning to the rain. “Rose, will you come here.”
The silent sound of horse’s hoofs upon the wet road could be heard through the falling rain as a dappled gray mare stepped from the mist. A man, of considerable size, was strapped to her back. Captain Jax pushed Raf’s hand aside as he dashed out into the rain.
“Marcus? Marcus? Are you alright?” He asked, lifting the Hunter’s head. “Raf, get the healer now.”
“You know him?” Kile asked. She hadn’t expected this.
“Marcus Taylor is one of the greatest Hunters the Guild ever had, he defeated the Troll of Blackmore a few years back and the last I heard he was heading out for the Minotaur of Calder falls, that was about three days ago.”
“Yeah, about that.” Kile said. “I have that as well, if you can take it off my hands, I’d really appreciate it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Minotaur, if you have some place you could put him, I would greatly appreciate it.”
Captain Jax stared at Kile just as Raf came back with Logan, two other guards and three healers. Kile hoped that they all didn’t come just to see the wili, what ever that was. An older man, wearing a long coat and a large pointed black hat to keep out the rain, pushed past the guards and approached the unconscious Hunter. He made a quick examination in silence and eventually nodded to Captain Jax.
“He’s alive, but not in very good shape. How long has he been out?” The old man asked.
“I found him yesterday morning, as for how long he was there, I doubt if it was much longer than that.”
Otherwise the Minotaur would have gotten him she thought.
“Ja! Tim! Get this man inside, clean him up and put him in bed three, I’ll be up to check on him.” The old man ordered. Two younger men, wrapped in lite gray long cloaks dashed out into the rain. It didn’t take them long before they cut him free and carried him back to the Outpost. Where were they when she was trying to get him on the horse in the first place? A soldier led the horse in another direction.
“Now, what about you child?” The old man asked as he pulled Kile’s hat off and started to examine the small cuts on her face.
“I’m fine sir.” She replied pulling back.
“Well, we’ll see about that.” The healer said. “You’ll rest here today, and we’ll see how well you are by tomorrow.”
“You can’t sir.” Raf said from the safety of the gate.
“I can’t. Why can’t I?” The old man asked, clearly confused as he looked between the frightened guard and the Captain.
“I’m afraid Raf has got the notion that this girl is actually a wili.”
“Nonsense.” The old man replied, but the way he looked at Kile, she was sure that he had his doubts. “It is clearly past the break of dawn, surely you know the rules solider.”
“Well, yes sir.” Raf replied. “But the rain sir, the storm.”
“Yes sir, I’m a wili, and I wili got to get out of here.” Kile shouted. “As soon as you take this… thing off my hands.” She said as she turned back to the rain. “Grim!”
“You see, sir. She has called for her kelpie, the Grim. She is a wili.” Raf shouted as he lifted his pike. “She has come to take us all.”
“What is he on about?” She asked Captain Jax who was now pinching the bridge of his nose, and shaking his head. Her father use to do that when he was upset or had a headache, or after Kile tried to help him on the farm.
The sound of something heavy was approaching through the rain, dragging something even heavier behind it. As it came into view the guards raised their pikes and stepped back, even Captain Jax was not taking any chances as he retreated a few steps. If they were reacting that way about her horse, what would they think about what he was dragging behind him?
“It’s a horse, a mountain pony.” She shouted at the men as they backed away.
-Kelpie!-
Grim replied, obviously annoyed at the term. She would have to ask him to explain, once they got out of here and back on the road.
“Captain, you better come see this.”
The voice came from behind her and Kile realized that the guards had maneuvered to surround her, even if they were keeping their distance. Captain Jax kept an eye on Kile as he moved around the mountain pony.
“Raf. Get a squad down here immediately, and have them bring the chains.” The Captain
shouted as he came back around the horse. “Open the lower prison gates. Get me a cart… the big one.”
The front gate was suddenly thrown into a fury of activity as torches were lit and soldiers were shouting to one another. Kile could only pick up a few words, but most of it was about the wili that brought in the Minotaur of Calder falls.
“Come child, we have much to discuss.” Captain Jax said as he placed a hand upon her shoulder and directed her to the watch tower. She looked around to see the other pikemen standing ready, and she had a feeling that it wasn’t a suggestion but a command.
The Captain led her through a door out of the rain, into a small round room were the only furnishing was a couple of chairs and a table. Torches mounted on both walls provided the light and the warmth, if nothing else, at least it was dry. Two guards and the two wire-haired hounds followed them in as the door was closed. This was not going to be a simple discussion.
She took off her hat and shook it out before placing it on the table beside her. She was going to be here for a while.
“So, exactly who are you and where did you come from?” Captain Jax asked as he took the chair opposite her.
“I’m a wili, remember.” She replied.
If it ever got out that she was responsible for brining in the Minotaur, the Guild would expel her for rash behavior. As Tree had warned them, the Guild invested a lot of money into the training of Hunters, the last thing they need is a risk taker, it didn’t matter that she never intended to bring in the open script.
“I no more believe that you’re a wili as I believe your horse out there is a kelpie, all I want is the truth.”
“Look the truth is, I found them both in the field about a days ride from here, I don’t know what happen. They probably butted heads and knocked each other out.”
“I know Marcus, he’s good, and he’s not the kind of man that goes down easily, not unless there is more to this story than what you’re telling me.”
“Wait, you think I did something to the Hunter?”
“I have no doubt that he defeated the Minotaur, what I want to know is what did you do to him.”
Kile jumped to her feet. “Me. Why do you think I did anything to him?” She shouted, the two guards at the door reached for their swords, she slowly sat back down. These people were not her enemies, and she had no intention of fighting them, not to mention the fact that there were three of them and only one of her.
“Look, you can lie to me all you want, I’ll keep you here until Marcus wakes up, then he’ll tell me what happen, and I assure you that my decision from that point will be based upon your cooperation here, or, you can just tell me what happen and things may go easier on you.”
“I don’t believe this.” She said leaning back in her chair and staring up at the ceiling. “You go out of your way to do something good and this is the reward you get.”
“Then tell me what good you did?”
The door opened and a young soldier stepped in, he was wet and out of breath. It might have been Logan, but Kile couldn’t tell under the helmet, all the guards looked the same.
“Sir, the Minotaur has been bound and is now being carted off to the prison gates.”
“Did he wake?”
“No sir, he’s still out cold, mores the better.”
“Good, keep me informed.”
“Yes sir.” The guard replied as his eyes slowly looked over to where Kile was sitting and watching him closely. If he dared call her a wili, she was going to hit him.
“You’re dismissed soldier.” Captain Jax commanded.
“Well sir, it’s the kelpie sir.”
“Soldier, it is not a kelpie, it is a mountain pony.”
“Yes sir, well… anyway sir, what are we suppose to do with it.”
“Take it to the stables, see that it’s fed.”
“That's just it sir, he won’t go.” The solider replied a little nervously.
“He won’t go?” Captain Jax repeated. “Solider, it’s a horse, you do not debate with it. You take it to the stables.”
“Well sir, that’s just it sir. We tried, but he’s already broken Sergeant Truff’s leg and kicked private Yolan across the road, nobody wants to get anywhere near him after that.”
“Is your private Yolan okay?” Kile asked.
“Well, yes ma’am, he was wearing his breastplate, but that kelpie… I mean pony, put a good sized dent in it.”
“I’ll just have to have a talk to him.” She said as she pushed herself away from the table and got up.
“Sit down.” Captain Jax ordered, and then turned to the young soldier. “Put a watch around the horse for now, if he won’t move, leave him there.”
“Yes sir.” The young solider replied as he exited the room.
Captain Jax turned to Kile, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his chair. “You still mean no harm?” He asked her. “It would seem your horse has other ideas. Shall we start from the beginning Kile? That is your real name isn’t it… Kile?”
She turned to the two wire-haired hounds that were watching her very carefully, but not the way guards dogs were supposed to. They appeared to be more fascinated with the girl rather the actually guarding her.
“I don’t suppose you two could help?” She asked them.
-We’re not supposed to.-
One of them said.
So far, out of all the creatures Kile had spoken with, dogs were by far the easiest. It was probably because they were so close to the Vir, in that they are always by their side, that they picked up so much of the speech. It was a shame they couldn’t communicate with just any vir, they so wanted to, but it was as Kaza had said, vir just don’t listen to the natural world.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to get out of here.”
-What do you want us to do?-
“Creating a diversion would be helpful.”
The two guards that stood on the door looked at one another with uncertainty. It was clear that they thought the wili was talking to them. Captain Jax looked between the guards and Kile, and clearly thought the same thing.
“My men will not respond to you.” He told her.
“Yeah, well I wasn’t talking to them anyway.” She replied when it looked as if the dogs weren’t going to help. She couldn’t blame them, and she wouldn’t have asked them if she thought they would get into a lot of trouble.
“Look I really have to get out of here.”
“I know. A delivery to Tobery. What is it that you deliver?”
“Oh, what ever needs delivering, mail, food, Minotaur, fallen hunters, we do it all.” She replied.
“You can’t really expect to just drop the Minotaur of Calder falls on my doorstep and disappear, can you?”
“Well, that was my intention.” She replied, and then leaned over to speak to the dogs again. “How about if I help you, give you something that you can use as a diversion, that way you won’t get into trouble.”
-Like what?-
Captain Jax looked at Kile, then at the dogs. He was starting to catch on. The guards weren’t as bright. That’s probably why he was the captain and the guards were still just privates.
Kile opened the flap to the courier bag.
“Ready?”
-Ready-
Vesper replied and suddenly leapt up onto the table. At the sight of the yarrow the captain jumped back, knocking his chair over onto the floor. Who would have thought that a man of that size was scared of mice? The two wire-haired hounds took the bait and as one jumped up on the table in a bogus attempt to grab the yarrow, the other shot between the Captain’s legs, knocking the man to the floor. The guards instinctively went to help their captain as Kile made a run for the door. One of the guards tried to block her escape but Vesper charged between his legs, followed by one of the guard dogs. The soldier went flying, knocking over the other solider and landing on top of Captain Jax who was struggling to get to his feet. The room was already too small for three men t
o try to get up at the same time and with the two guard dogs charging between them, it was nearly impossible. Kile pulled the door open and stepped back out into the rain catching the attention of the two guards that stood just outside the door.
“I’m a wili, remember.” She shouted.
The guards paused, unsure of what to do next. Being a wili had some advantages, now all she had to do is figure out what a wili was.
She heard the shouting of even more guards, or it might have been close to screaming as they ran in all directions when Grim charged through the mist toward her. Vesper made his escape out the small window and Kile scooped the yarrow up before grabbing Grim’s mane as he passed.
The solider quickly jumped aside. No one was willing to stand in her way. It was surprising what a little superstition and a rainy morning could accomplish as she escaped the Moran outpost.
When she was sure that no one was following her, and she doubted the captain could get any volunteers, she slowed Grim down to a nice slow easy pace.
“That was wili close.” She said.
-You use that joke one more time and I’m taking you back there.-
“What’s wrong, is my trusted kelpie in a bad mood.” She laughed.
-I am not a kelpie.-
“Wow, you wili don’t like being called a kelpie, do you?”
-That is, we’re going back.-
“Okay, I’ll stop, I’ll stop… wili I will.”
-So, did you tell them you were the one that defeated the Minotaur?-
“No.”
-Figures.-
“They wouldn’t have believed me anyway. Besides, they were more concerned about who laid out the Great Marcus Taylor than who defeated the Minotaur. Captain Jax already has his little scenario all figured out. The great Hunter Marcus Taylor defeats the Minotaur in single combat, probably hand to hand, and then I come along and conk him on the head or something like that.”
-And for what reason would you have done that?-
“I don’t know, maybe I was… wili mad at him.”
They traveled for most of the day and stopped in the early afternoon when she spotted a safe place to spend the night. It was a small outcrop of rock that provided shelter from the rain, large enough that even Grim could fit under. It was also back in the Denal province, and she figured that even Captain Jax wouldn’t dare pursue her across the board, especially when he had no proof that she had done anything wrong. She set up camp and tried to dry out some of her clothing over an open fire. They ate a simple meal from what supplies they had left and then got some sleep before heading out early the next morning.