Fields of Wrath

by Mickey Zucker Reichert

  On the other hand, Tae realized, if he got caught spying, they would lose any chance of rescuing the missing prince of Béarn. Or, probably, himself. He had never truly expected to survive this mission. He had only hoped to relay information to Imorelda who would then send it on to Matrinka. Now, he realized, more than his own life lay in the balance. The entirety of his strategy needed to change.

  Even if Tae never got caught, he had no way of knowing whether or not they would find Arturo later. Anything he left amiss might fall on Arturo, including the stolen knives and line from the warships. For the moment, the Kjempemagiska seemed to be tolerating the man, for whatever reason, but Tae knew from overhearing alsona that the Kjempemagiska temper was as horrible and deadly as any volcano. He had seen images of the giants tearing their mannish servants to pieces or using their heads like balls in children’s games.

  Tae knew the decision would ultimately fall to him. Matrinka would want to save Arturo while they could, as swiftly as possible. Nevertheless, even she would yield to his opinion on the matter. Unless directly questioned, Captain confined his advice to issues of sailing. Subikahn had a good head on his shoulders, but he still deferred to his father in matters of strategy and espionage. Tae sighed deeply.

  Imorelda’s suggestion went straight to the point. *If it is Arturo, or any human, you have to save him.* She pawed his hand with retracted claws.

  *Of course,* Tae reassured his friend and pet. *I’m just considering timing.* He glanced at Matrinka.

  The queen of Béarn stood in silence, but her fingers wound nervously through and around one another. She wanted to speak, almost certainly to convince him to turn his focus wholly on Arturo, but she allowed him the privacy of his thoughts.

  It was the final realization that made the decision for Tae. *You know, once we have Arturo, assuming it is Arturo, he can probably tell us far more about the Kjempemagiska than I would learn from one night of scouting.* Fully convinced, he did not wait for a response from the cat. “This is now a rescue mission.”

  Matrinka clamped her hands to her mouth but could not fully hide the grin. “Thank you, Tae. Please let me help.”

  Captain had, apparently, also been waiting for Tae’s decision before speaking. “This is as close as we can safely come.” He did not tend to modulate his voice much, but Tae had become accustomed enough to the elf to read beneath the spoken words. They had already drawn nearer than they should have.

  Subikahn handed Captain the Box of Farseeing. “I’m going with you.” It was not a request.

  Had they still focused on the initial mission, Tae would have argued. Now, he needed Subikahn’s sword arm. He hefted one of the huge, Kjempemagiska utility knives and shoved it through his belt. He indicated Subikahn should take one as well. “You’re going to need something that can cut magical beings.” For the first time, he wondered if elves might also count as creatures needing a skyggefrodleikr object to harm. If so, Captain had put himself, his entire race, in great danger in order to help them. Clearly, he had faith in Tae, Matrinka, and Subikahn; Tae intended to fully earn that trust.

  “I already have something.” Subikahn patted the hilt of his sword.

  That stopped Tae cold. “You do?” At the time of Kevral’s death, her swords had gone to the two sons present at the duel. Calistin received the one handed to her by Colbey and Saviar the one from Rache Kalmirsson, one of the Einherjar in Valhalla. There had been nothing left for Subikahn except advice.

  Subikahn froze, a hint of guilt flashing through his dark eyes.

  Tae’s gaze instinctively went to the sword at his son’s hip. His attention on his mission, he had not noticed the familiar hilt, usually with Saviar, now at his son’s hand. “That’s Motfrabelonning!”

  Subikahn didn’t reply, simply thrusting one of the utility blades through the right side of his belt. Many Renshai maneuvers required two weapons. “Let’s go.”

  Tae wanted to ask more. A Renshai sharing any sword was rare enough to warrant comment, and a sword this special all but impossible. Yet, now did not seem like the time to press Subikahn. If they both survived, he would demand his answers later. “Matrinka, you stay here.”

  She opened her mouth, as if to object, but she really could not have much to say. In a combat situation, she would more likely get in the way than assist.

  Tae turned his attention to the remaining companion aboard the Sea Skimmer. Tae had no authority to command an elf, particularly one so ancient. “Captain, do you have any idea what sort of magic we might be facing?”

  Captain shook his head, broad lips tightly pursed. “It depends on how the Kjempemagiska learned to shape chaos over the millennia and how much they vary individually.”

  Subikahn fidgeted with clear impatience, and Tae understood. It seemed unlikely the child would remain outside long after sundown. When she left, the others might go with her, including Arturo. That would render any rescue mission much more difficult, if not impossible.

  As usual, Captain seemed oblivious to the constraints of time. “Elves vary vastly in ability, but—”

  Tae raised a hand to stem the tide of words he had requested. In ideal circumstances, he would have considered every possibility; but they did not have the luxury of time. He and Captain had discussed the possibilities of Kjempemagiska magic many times on the voyage, and he doubted the elf could add anything significant now. “Sorry, Captain. I know I asked, but I just realized we need to move before it’s too late.” He gestured at Subikahn to head out.

  To his surprise, the Renshai clambered into the water immediately, without bothering to swaddle his swords to protect them from the sea. Tae realized it probably did not matter. Renshai always tended their swords meticulously, so they did not remain wet or salt-rimed for long. The Kjempemagiska ship knife probably had magical protection from the elements, and Tae doubted Motfrabelloning would fare any worse. He worried more for his own weapons, especially at a time when iron ore had become scarce and mostly came from the province of the North.

  “Wait, one thing.” Captain handed Tae the carefully coiled rope. “You may need this.”

  Tae doubted it but accepted the object without argument, avoiding the inevitable delay and discussion. He could not imagine a circumstance in which they would have the opportunity to bind the Kjempemagiska woman. Since she could broadcast a shout long distances in an instant, Subikahn would probably be forced to kill her as swiftly as possible. The child, Tae hoped, they could ignore.

  Imorelda leaped from the gunwale to Tae’s shoulders. *Unfortunately, you’re going to need me, too.*

  Tae had considered leaving Imorelda behind, had even planned to do so had she not volunteered so forcefully, but he knew she was right. *I’ll do my best to keep you dry if you do your best to stay on task. If one of the giants alerts the rest, we’ll need to know immediately.*

  Imorelda dug her claws through his tunic and lightly into flesh. *I know that. How stupid do you think I am?*

  *Smarter than me, my love.* Tae did not know if she got the message before switching to the level of the Kjempemagiska’s communication, but she did not reply. He followed his son into the ocean, and they swam toward shore, buoyed by a tide that seemed determined to drag them to the proper destination. He could not help wondering why the Kjempemagiska had chosen such an unlikely pair to travel with a prisoner, perhaps because one giant sorceress, even distracted by young offspring, was all it took to keep even a large and battle-trained man of the continent in line. And why there? He supposed they might check that particular shore regularly to see what presents the tide had brought them.

  Tae spoke softly to Subikahn, “I’d like you to keep the giantess busy while I explain the situation to Arturo. I don’t know if he’ll recognize me. I’ve only met him a few times, but he should realize anyone from his native land could lead him home. These giants aren’t known for treating their servants well.” It surpri
sed him they even kept Arturo alive. Perhaps, he had cooperatively supplied them with enough information, whether true or false, to convince them to spare his life.

  Subikahn only nodded. Hidden in the shadows of the cove, they both easily timed their movements to lose splashes and footfalls beneath the natural sounds of the tide. This close, Tae could make out more details. The adult Kjempemagiska was working with a piece of fabric, her attention fixed on the knotwork, though she glanced up at intervals to watch the child with Arturo.

  Definitely a girl, the little one was blonde and fair, with brilliant blue eyes. Based solely on proportions and movements, Tae judged her age between three and four years old. She was chattering at Arturo as if to a friend, waving around a rag doll at least twice the size of any similar toy Tae had seen in the hands of Eastern children. He whispered one last instruction to Subikahn, “Don’t hurt the child.”

  Subikahn rolled an eye toward his father, brow cocked. Clearly, he thought Tae was making a dangerous mistake.

  “She’s too young to master magic or the mental language.” Tae had no idea whether or not he spoke the truth, but Subikahn would not know that. Though inappropriately tenderhearted, and probably foolish, he did not want to bear the responsibility for murdering a helpless little girl, no matter her bloodline.

  The shadows swallowed Subikahn. Burdened by the weight of cat and rope, in addition to his normal accouterments, Tae crept quietly toward Arturo. He watched the girl wedge the rag doll in front of a large, flat rock. “Heffy, sit.” She looked at Arturo, motioning to the opposite side of the makeshift table. “Bobbin, sit.”

  Tae did not know if “bobbin” was her name for Arturo or a word he had not yet encountered; but Arturo dutifully dropped to a crouch across from the rag doll.

  The girl frowned. “No, no, Bobbin! No . . .” Words apparently failed her, so she imitated his squatting position. “. . . like this.” She plopped her well-cushioned bottom onto the rocks. “Like this. Sit.”

  With exaggerated motions, Arturo flopped into his makeshift seat. “Like this?” He used the verbal tongue of the Heimstadr folks, with the same uncertain pidgin quality as his companion.

  The girl clapped her hands and laughed. “Good, Bobbin. Good, boy.”

  Startled by the interaction, Tae found himself staring. As he tried to process the situation, he missed Subikahn’s signal, cued only by the child’s sudden cry, “Nahna!” She ran up the cove, toward the position Tae had last seen the giant woman.

  Arturo sprang from his poorly defensible position, hurling his bulk in front of the girl. Unable to check her speed, she somersaulted over him, landing in a breathless heap in front of him, suddenly wailing. She sent a mind-call, filled with outrage, pain, and need. From the corner of his eye, Tae saw the grown giant’s crumpled form, Subikahn beside her, his sword striped scarlet.

  Arturo stepped in front of the girl, teeth bared, like an animal. Tae stepped from the shadows, using the Common Trading tongue of the continent. “Arturo, it’s me, Tae. Your mother’s with us on the ship. Come quickly.”

  Arturo did so, but not the way Tae expected. The Béarnide charged Tae with the ferocity of an angry bull, hands out, face protected. It was all Tae could do to scramble out of the way.

  “Arturo, stop! We’re trying to rescue you.” Sudden doubt rushed down upon him. Matrinka had to be wrong. This furious, manlike creature could not be a missing prince of Béarn.

  Arturo overran Tae, then whirled to face him again. Tae seized the moment to hurl himself bodily onto the larger man. “Stop fighting, Arturo. We’re friends. Friends.”

  Something slammed against Tae with enough force to knock him off of Arturo and send him sprawling. Pain lanced through his head, and nausea overtook him. A second hammering blow stole all tone from his limbs. Against his will, he collapsed to the ground, prone and helpless. Words crawled through his dizzied mind in the voice of a child, “No hurt Bobbin!” Unable to move his limbs, Tae rolled his eyes upward to see his attacker. The child had nearly brained him with a sand-filled rag doll. Her arm rose to strike him again. Tae felt control returning, but not fast enough. He could not dodge the blow.

  Suddenly, Subikahn was there. His sword sliced through the doll, showering Tae in a mixture of blood and released sand. His shoulder struck the child, who tumbled to the ground again. Tae rolled awkwardly to his feet, looking for Arturo. He still felt oddly disconnected from his body, out of control, head aching. He barely managed to huff out, “Don’t hurt the child.” Then, he remembered her mind-call. “Grab him and get out of here!”

  Arturo rushed Subikahn with a roar of fury. Shoving the child aside so hard she stumbled, Subikahn met the charge with a quicksilver weaving of steel and all but invisible footwork. Unscathed, at least by the blade, Arturo careened wildly. It required several stomping steps to keep his feet. The maneuver took him to the Kjempemagiska child. Already off-balanced, he swerved to avoid crushing her, forced to dive and roll over her instead. As he came up, Subikahn put his blade to the man’s throat. “No more trouble. Come with us, or you both die.”

  Just in case, Tae repeated the words in Heimstadr’s verbal language.

  Arturo clambered to his feet, and Subikahn’s sword followed his every movement. “Tie him up,” he instructed Tae.

  Tae cursed his weakness. He felt like a toddler, still regaining his coordination and wits. He could scarcely believe a child’s toy, even one owned by a giant child, could do so much damage. Carefully but swiftly, Tae bound Arturo’s wrists, then his ankles, mindful of the fact that they would have to drag him through the water without drowning him. The Kjempemagiska child rose, staring from the remaining tatters of her doll to the trussed Béarnide, tears streaming from her enormous eyes.

  Suddenly, Subikahn’s head jerked up, and he looked inland. An instant later, Tae heard what had caught his son’s attention: shouts and heavy footfalls heading their way.

  “Go, go, go!” Tae shouted, waving for Subikahn to take the lead.

  The Renshai ignored him. “Papa, get Arturo safe. I’ll handle what’s coming.”

  There was no time for argument. Tae grabbed the end of the rope, dragging Arturo down the beach, cringing at every pause, every need to tug harder. Not only did it probably indicate a rock in the prince’s back, but they could not afford to let the Kjempemagiska catch them. He tried to empty his mind of the images the alsona had put there: limbs ripped from screaming bodies, torsos torn in half or baked alive, organs tossed around like playthings. If the Kjempemagiska could do these things to their servants, an enemy stood little chance. He shouted to Subikahn as he moved. “Just get me the time to haul Arturo. Don’t stay and fight. You’re Renshai, not stupid.”

  With Subikahn behind her, the child turned her wrath back on Tae. She pounded him with her enormous fists, screaming into his mind and ears. “Let go! Give back Bobbin. No hurt Bobbin.”

  Tae did not have the wherewithal to handle her and the weight of a struggling Arturo. So, he ignored her, hauling the Béarnide to the water with a singularity of purpose. He found himself panting, unable to speak. Water sloshed under his feet. Then, the burden eased as water swelled beneath Arturo’s body, floating it. “No!” Tae finally managed in the Island tongue. “We’re not going to hurt him. Stay back!” As the bottom fell away beneath his feet, Tae managed to plant one hand in the girl’s chest and shove her toward the land. She fell on her bottom on the sand, still clutching half of the tattered, empty rag doll.

  Tae heard Subikahn splash up beside him, to his relief. With the Renshai’s help, he managed to buoy Arturo quite easily, keeping him face upward so he would not drown as they rushed him toward the Sea Skimmer. Then, something heavy slammed onto Tae’s shoulders, submerging him. Sharp objects slashed his face in a frenzy; then, as he clawed his way back to the surface, the bulk settled across his shoulders. Tiny lines of blood trickled across the water, and the salt stung fresh gou
ges in his face. Imorelda’s voice filled his mind, *Quit trying to drown me!*

  Tae could have made the same demand, but he found himself too desperate to converse. *Stay on their level,* he commanded, needing to know what the Kjempemagiska were doing. He could hear them shouting to one another but could not make out individual words. A cluster of their metal bolts struck the water all around him, and pain sliced through his upper back to lodge near his spine. Tae bit his lip to keep from screaming, losing his hold on Arturo.

  “I got him,” Subikahn shouted.

  Tae took the younger man at his word, his own will to swim subsuming him. Scarlet stained the water all around him. Then, something enormous churned the ocean with an all-too-familiar violence. Not a shark. Please all the gods, not another shark. Tae had grappled with one the last time a spying mission had gone sour, and it had all but killed him. He did not have the stamina to face another one, even to save the beloved animal clinging to his back.

  The frenzied object bumped him, feeling sleek and soft, trailing hair, nothing like the rough and cutting scales of the shark. A desperate voice slashed into his mind, *Can’t breathe. Help me! HELP!* That mental communication was replaced by a more familiar one, Imorelda again. *Grab her. She’s really drowning.*

  Her? Tae lunged for the flailing object as it went limp in his arms. Imorelda disappeared from his shoulders as he dragged the drowning creature to the surface, dead weight buoyed by ocean. The Kjempemagiska child. Fear gave way to abject panic. Tae did not want a toddler to die, but he doubted the giant sorcerers would let her go without a fight. He clung to her, treading water viciously with his injured arm, every movement spearing him with agony. The pain battered at his consciousness, and he knew loss of blood was not helping. He doubted he could keep his grip much longer.

  Then, massive hands seized his arms, drawing him upward. Nearer, Subikahn once again relieved him of his burden. He suddenly realized the voices in his head had gone silent. “Imorelda!” Tae cast about wildly for the cat. He could not bear to lose her. “Imorelda!”