The Duchess and The Warlock

by Michael O'Gara

  Patrice asks, “Does Dunnel agree to this?”

  “He does.”

  Patrice sits back, “It took the two of you longer than I expected.”

  Angela says, “Pardon?” She is obviously stunned.

  Patrice says, “I have played matchmaker without forcing the issue.”

  Angela is still sitting silently.

  Patrice says, “I will arrange things as you requested. You may go give Dunnel the good news.”

  Tears are flowing down Angela’s cheeks as she rises, curtsies, and leaves.

  Patrice is smiling. She knows Angela’s tears are those of happiness.

  After eating, Patrice goes to her rooms and spends “special time” alone. It is clear what she must do. Patrice knows she will need the Master’s strength to steel her resolve.

  It is late morning when Patrice meets with Dunnel to receive reports on what is happening among the minor nobles.

  Patrice says to Dunnel, “Good morning.”

  Dunnel says, “It is, Your Grace.”

  Patrice thinks Dunnel is happy and that is a state she has never seen Dunnel in. She has seen his dour moods diminish little by little. Patrice smiles at him. She asks, “What do you have to report?”

  Dunnel says, “The unaligned nobles see their futures are tied to either you or Delmoz. They are resigned to accepting the rule of one of the other of you. Vizer has two agents trying to sow discontent and bring some to his way of thinking.”

  Patrice asks, “Are they having any success?”

  “Ma’am, they have been able to persuade but two minor barons to join Vizer. The two have left the castle.”

  Patrice says, “They are fools.”

  “Nobility is no assurance of wisdom.”

  Patrice can’t help but smile at the comment. She says, “That is true. Perhaps the two agents should disappear.”

  “It would cause no further problem if they did.”

  Patrice says, “Then arrange it.”

  Dunnel says, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Patrice says, “You had best see it is done before the meeting.”

  Dunnel gives a head bow and leaves.

  Patrice goes to the small dining room to have lunch with Delmoz. When she enters, he stands. Patrice stops and looks at him. She wonders why he stood; he is her equal. It hits her that he is showing courtesy as he is courting her. She smiles at him.

  Delmoz says, “Good morning, Patrice. You look lovely, as always.”

  She responds, “Thank you. You look handsome this morning.”

  Delmoz yawns.

  Patrice teases, “Am I boring you?”

  Delmoz says, “I did not sleep well. A beautiful woman haunted my thoughts.”

  Patrice asks, “Haunted?”

  “It is not a bad thing, just unexpected.”

  Patrice nods understanding and sits. Delmoz follows her lead and servants bring food. They have a pleasant midday meal and make small talk.

  After lunch, she and Delmoz enter the hall together. The unaligned lesser nobles are there and they give a head bow. Delmoz and Patrice take their places. Today it is Patrice’s turn to lead the discussion.

  She says, “How do you advise us?”

  A spokesman gives the report on behalf of those present. There are some small variations in the areas that would fall under either Patrice’s or Delmoz’s rule. The changes recommended take into account both geographic, family, and economic realities that the initial plan did not recognize. Five baronies would be affected. The changes would not substantially upset the balance of power between Patrice and Delmoz. Patrice thinks that in the long run that may not be a practical consideration. For the time being, it is.

  After the presentation, Patrice looks at Delmoz. She asks, “What do you think?”

  Delmoz says, “I see no problem.”

  Patrice says, “Then that is how it will be.”

  Patrice was glad that Vizer and his supporters would not be her problem. It is likely Delmoz would leave them to Maslak knowing that Patrice would soon be dealing with Maslak.

  Patrice continues, “Those who give fealty to me will align to the right and those who will give fealty to Duke Delmoz will align to the left. We will take your oaths here and now.”

  It takes a considerable time for the nobles to give their oaths which are witnessed by those present.

  After the oath giving, Patrice announces a banquet will be held that evening to celebrate the new arrangement.

  Two days later, all the other nobles have left and Delmoz is almost ready to leave. Patrice is in the courtyard to see him off.

  She says, “Have a safe journey home, Delmoz.”

  Delmoz smiles at Patrice. He says, “I will return soon as I have an unfinished matter here.”

  Patrice says, “Persistence is an admirable quality.”

  Delmoz laughs heartily and then mounts his horse and leads his men toward home.

  Chapter 17

  Patrice wakes and the dream-vision is clear in her mind. She hurriedly puts the image of what she needs to paper using the writing pen to sketch the item. Once she finishes, she sits looking at it. It will work; she knows it. She returns to bed to sleep until morning.

  The next morning, after preparing for the day, Patrice goes to the armorer. A male servant carries a heavy bag and four knights accompany her. As she enters, the armorer bows.

  Patrice says, “Good morning. You may rise. I have work for you.”

  He says, “As you command.”

  Patrice unrolls her sketch and says, “I want you to make this. Come look.”

  The armorer comes and looks at the sketch.

  Patrice says, “You will build it to the dimensions in the sketch. It has three oil lamps in compartments joined together so as there is a space in the center of the three tubes to allow air in. The top will be covered. In the top you will make seven small holes evenly spaced. You will fasten a handle to the top so that the bottom can be made to spin. The bottom will have a hole in the middle into the open space and will be the same size as the ones in the sides. You will make it out of bronze and you will line the inside of the cylinders with silver. On the upper half of the sides of each of the tubes you will make seven holes the size of the end of your thumb.”

  The armorer examines the sketch. He says, “I will obey, but I am used to making weapons.”

  Patrice looks at the armorer and says, “It is a spiritual weapon.”

  Patrice notices that the armorer wears a look of alarm and fear.

  She says, “Do not fear. It is a weapon of light and good, not of dark and evil.”

  The armorer says, “White magic then?”

  Patrice answers gently, “No. All magic comes from evil.”

  The armorer seems confused, but he says, “I will obey.” He gives a head bow.

  Patrice says, “Follow the pattern exactly with no variations. When the bronze work is done, I will inspect it.”

  The armorer says, “Yes, Highness.”

  Patrice hands him a bag of silver and says, “Do not skimp on the silver coating of the interior. It must be smooth and polished to reflect the light well. It must be your best work. Two of my knights will stand guard to protect you and the silver you will be working with. You will work on nothing else but this until it is finished. As before, you will be rewarded according to your workmanship.”

  The armorer bows and Patrice leaves. Her next stop is at the oil merchants where she commissions oil for the three lamps she needs for her “weapon”. Patrice provides the incense that she knows will give the oil the odor that is pleasing to the Master. Having made the initial arrangements, Patrice returns to her apartment where she retires to have “special time” alone to prepare for the coming confrontation.

  The following day, Patrice, according to her vision, chooses the seven knights who will go into the deepest darkness with her. She swears them to secrecy and tells them what their task will be. Having seen her deal with demons and warlocks before, they w
ill follow her instructions to the letter. Patrice spends time each day practicing with the seven knights who she has chosen. They practice in the darkest part of the castle dungeon.

  When her special weapon is finished, she sets the armorer to highly polishing seven bronze shields. When they are completed, she calls the seven knights to meet her at midnight in the darkest room she can find. Inside it is pitch-dark. There, under Patrice’s instruction, they practice more of what will be required.

  Two weeks later, Patrice meets with the forty nine knights and fully armored men who will go with her. They are waiting when Patrice arrives. They all give a head bow.

  Patrice says, “We go to drive Maslak from this realm or kill him. If you follow my instructions, no one will die on the mission though you will fight in the dark. You will be divided into seven groups of seven and each group will have a specific task. The first group will accompany me. The second group will guard the horses. The third will kill those guarding the entrance to the bridge over the chasm and hold that side of the bridge. The fourth group will hold the other end of the bridge. The fifth group will clear and hold the pathway to the cave. The sixth will guard the entrance to the cave and the seventh will enter the cave and be rear guard to keep the tunnel open.”

  Patrice pauses for effect, before continuing, “Do only as instructed. Each group is sufficient to do what will be required. Do not leave your assigned post to reinforce another group no matter what your fears or eyes tell you. The plan is to drive Maslak from the realm or kill him. He will know this and will try to trick you. No group of seven will be overcome.”

  Patrice assigns men to each group of seven and repeats her instructions. She makes each man repeat the orders.

  The next day, Patrice leaves the castle with her fully armored mounted men, twenty men afoot, two wagons of supplies and four servants. It is several days journey to their destination. Each evening Patrice can be heard chanting in a strange language.

  It is close to evening and on the fifth day. Everyone knows that they have arrived at their final campsite; Patrice tells them so. The company pitches camp and a guard is set. This night Patrice spends much longer at her evening ritual.

  The men with her have become accustomed to it. They no longer fear Patrice’s strange ways.

  Early the next morning as the sun is rising, the forty nine set out. Most think they will be there until night. Patrice has said they will fight in the dark. They arrive at the gorge just after the sun is fully up over the horizon. The horses are tethered and seven knights stay to guard them. The rest go to the bridge.

  Seven men fall out to guard the bridge entrance. The rest continue, following Patrice. They meet no resistance at the bridge. Seven men stay to guard the end of the bridge. Still, there is no attack. The cave can be seen from the bridge. Halfway to it, Patrice leaves seven more to guard the path. The rest proceed to the cave entrance where another group of seven peel-off to guard the cave entrance.

  Dark is falling over the land. Patrice’s men know it is magic. Though they are afraid, they do not break faith. They are men of courage and do as they have been instructed. Patrice knows that making the darkness is sapping her opponent’s strength.

  The men going into the cave light the torches or lamps they carry. Each of the torches or lamps is on a pole with a metal pointed end toward the ground.

  The group enters the cave and marches forward. They come to a branch.

  Patrice says, “This place is to be held.”

  Seven men plant their torch stakes in the ground of the cave floor and form a circle as they have practiced. Patrice goes on with the remaining seven. They arrive at a large cavern. A single figure is standing in the middle of the cavern, waiting.

  Patrice says, “Hold here.” The men place the lamps they carry as they had practiced.

  Patrice lights her lamps and goes forward. The figure standing waiting is clad in a cloak with the hood up. He has a long grey beard and long grey hair is escaping from his hood and falling down his chest. His skin is wrinkled and he holds a knurled staff with long thick fingers on which are dirty long fingernails. A rock burns before him, giving off light. Patrice knows this display of magic weakens the man’s power.

  The man says, “Maslak is not here.”

  Patrice smiles, “It is wise on his part.”

  “You toy with powerful forces, Duchess.”

  “I am not here to toy with anyone but to kill or drive out.”

  The man declares in a booming voice that reverberates in the cavern, “I am Mortimer, chief apprentice to the great warlock Maslak. Be gone or suffer the consequences.”

  Patrice replies in a quiet voice, “Do not threaten me. My Master is greater than your master. His power is beyond even that of your master’s master. It is you who toys with destruction.”

  Though spoken quietly every word of what Patrice says is a whisper echoing throughout the cavern and tunnel system. It is eerie and more powerful in effect than Mortimer’s booming warning.

  Mortimer raises his hand and points at Patrice and commands, “Die!”

  Patrice stands quietly staring at Mortimer. Mortimer stands with open mouth. He is powerless against Patrice.

  Patrice says, “I have a message for Maslak,” and she takes a letter from a pocket in her cloak. She holds it out.

  Mortimer comes closer and reaches out to take it.

  Patrice moves with a speed that defies Mortimer’s perception. Her blade flashes before he realizes what is happening. His head falls from his body which collapses in a pile. Patrice throws the message on the flame from the burning rock. The letter is consumed before the flame can expire.

  The shrieks of hundreds of voices fill the cavern. Patrice lifts her lantern and opens the ports and spins the lamp. Lances of light fill the cavern and the shrieks turn to screams of pain. Patrice keeps spinning the lamp.

  Dark shadowy demons fill the cavern running, crawling, slithering, and flying.

  The knights guarding the cavern entrance see the unimaginable. They fight back their fear. Dark monstrous figures are trying to attack Patrice and are being dissolved by the spears of light piercing out and above. One knight moves to go to Patrice’s aid. Sir Kresmer grabs his arm and says, “Stand fast!”

  The knight obeys. He has almost been tricked by his own sense of duty and broken the ring of seven.

  Suddenly, some of the monsters are now shrieking and coming toward the seven. Kresmer yells, “Now!”

  The knights move behind the lamps and face their polished shields toward the attack. The light is reflected off the shields and the tunnel and cavern entrance are lit brightly. The shrieks turn to screams as the monsters dissolve in the light.

  A loud voice booms, “Be gone, Patrice, Duchess of no account.”

  Patrice says, “Leave this land, Maslak. The time of magic is coming to an end. Leave or it will be hastened. I bring this message on behalf of the Master.” Patrice says something in a language foreign to the knights. She repeats it.

  Maslak says, “Trials will come upon you.”

  Patrice says, “They always do and always will, but they will not be of your doing.”

  Suddenly there is quiet in the cavern and tunnel.

  Patrice walks to the seven and says, “You will not tell of this other than to say Maslak has been driven away permanently and his minions destroyed.”

  The men all bow their heads. Patrice leads them up the tunnel. They come to another seven. Around them are the bodies of distorted and ugly human like creatures. The bodies are already starting to rot and give off a stench. They join Patrice’s group as she marches toward the cave entrance.

  At the cave entrance the seven guarding it stand among slain animals of all sorts. They are night predators that normally roam the land but stay away from men. The evil dark has given way to the light of day. Patrice things it is appropriate. She puts out her lamp and the knights put out their torches and lamps.

  On the path they encounter another seven.
They stand among the carcasses of large flying birds of prey. At the bridge they find six bodies among the remains of all sorts of animal predators.

  Patrice says, “Someone broke the ring of seven. Bring the bodies of the six heroes.”

  On the bridge they encounter the remains of the seventh man who was torn apart trying to flee.

  Patrice says, “Strip the armor and throw the body into the gorge.”

  She waits while it is quickly done. The march starts again. Patrice is happy to find that the other sevens have stood their ground and fought off their attackers. The group rides back to camp in silence. Six knights are tied across their horses’ saddles.

  Patrice dismounts and gives her lamp to a servant. She orders, “Prepare graves for the brave and honorable knights who gave their lives. Salvage their armor. It will be needed.”

  Patrice looks up and says, “The dark will eventually yield entirely to the light, but it will be a long struggle.”