by J. Kirsch
But Bronwyn laughed off my outrage. "No, this is how I speak to my closest friend. I thought this is what you prefer?"
Her eyes were sparkling with mirth, and I was at my wit's end.
It was with relief that I spotted the lead knight in our escort signaling for us to stop near a stream ahead. It was time to give the horses a chance to rest and drink, and to stretch our aching limbs. I gave Bronwyn a look more menacing than a barrage of throwing knives as I dismounted and led my horse to the cool, glittering blue water. In all directions I could see the fringe of mountains that had sheltered the Black Kingdom for centuries, but to the north where the ogres lived the mountains looked a little more ominous. The sun's gleam on their snow-flanked tops reminded me of the glint of steel before a sword rammed into someone's chest.
It seemed far too quickly that we were waving goodbye to the last rolling green pastures. Hills poked up ahead and the suddenly uphill track was about as welcoming as a scolding matron. I tried to look at the bright side. Within a few leagues there would be some tree cover. I wouldn't have to bake in my armor. Sweat was pouring off my brow. Soon we would enter what my map informed me were the 'Eye-pecked Hills,' which came just before the Rotted Hills.
I turned to Bronwyn with a perplexed look. "Up ahead—the Eye-pecked Hills. Kind of an odd name, isn't it? Does it have some special meaning?"
"Special isn't the half of it, dear. Think 'lethal' and you're on the right track." I gaped at my mother-in-law. Lady Vaela had snuck up on me…again. For a woman of her years she had a mysterious knack for stealth. A shiver rattled my spine.
Up ahead, dark clouds hovered. Was there a storm coming? I squinted, trying to make my eyes like an eagle's.
"What are those over there?" I pointed to the distant clouds in the same instant that it dawned on me—those dark splotches weren't moving in the way clouds were supposed to move. They weren't clouds at all.
"Everyone, dismount! Shield formation!" The sergeant who served as leader of the 16 other knights escorting us waved his hands frantically.
"Come, ladies. No time to waste! You don't want your eyes and flesh pecked off your bones, do you? Come walk in the center here." Clearly no one had bothered to tell me about all the dangers of this journey, and I was starting to regret it. Now, as my eyes saw the hurricane of dark feathers and beaks rushing to meet us, I realized that I was seeing thousands and thousands of birds.
Their angry cawing filled the air like a howling wind, and I quickly dismounted, leaving my horse to one of the knights as I joined Lady Vaela and Bronwyn in the center of the hastily created formation. I saw the knights unstrap giant rectangular wooden shields from the sides of their mounts. Some were attached to poles which the men could use to extend the shield higher above their heads. They were long enough that for every man's shield, three or four bodies could huddle in safety underneath when it faced the sky. I was stunned to find myself at the center of something that reminded me of a well armored turtle snug in its shell.
In our little cocoon of protection, I felt safe. Of course that lasted only until the first crows reached us.
It was like a constant thundering. Like a thousand tiny clawed fists crashing all around us. I heard knights grunt with their exertions as the crows hammered us, one angry cloud after the next. Normally it took a great deal to scare me. This qualified as a great deal, and my ears were pounding with the sound of the blood pumping through my head and chest.
"What in the Kingdom's mercy are those things?" I asked, having to raise my voice above the angry cries to be heard.
Lady Vaela grimaced. "We call them suicide crows. The ogres think of them as guardians, and these hills are their natural habitat. Usually they're content to eat mice and worms, but when they see an intruder they immediately go berserk. They'll peck clean anything larger than a small dog. They don't like the idea of predators roaming in their territory."
I heard the rampaging crows slam into the shield wall. One slipped between a crack I could swear was too tiny for an insect to wiggle through, let alone a screeching crow. The creature lunged at my face, but my hand came up automatically, knife ready. I gutted the thing in one clean swipe. I kept my dagger out.
I planned to keep both my eyes intact, thank you very much.
"These ogres seem like such a friendly people. I can't wait to meet them," I said.
Lady Vaela graced me with another of her smiles, apparently enjoying my sarcasm.
"Not the nicest of pets, are they? If it makes you feel better, even the ogres have to be wary when they come through these hills. This may be a buffer zone which the ogres find to their liking, but suicide crows don’t discriminate. They'll peck an ogre to death with the same dedication. Believe me. I've seen it."
Her words caught me a little off guard. I guess I'd always assumed, in the way that younger people foolishly do, that somehow Lady Vaela had always lived a quiet, happy life in her stronghold in the Black Kingdom.
What adventures had she been thrust into? What horrors had she seen? I had to view my mother-in-law in a whole new light of respect thanks to the way she walked beside me, totally unruffled while the dark clouds of death buffeted the shield wall on all sides like water seeking the weak points of a sinking ship. Some of the crows wormed their way underneath the bottom edges of the shields, but the knights quickly dispatched them with the slash of a sword or the stomp of a steel-toed boot.
It took forever to travel through the worst of the 'bird storm,' as I called it in my head. The horses became skittish, and they had every right to be. My lungs were able to take in air again once the horrible rending sound of talons scratching wood and beaks pecking at our defenses faded…then stilled.
I held my breath, listening. I heard the sound of our feet trampling along the dirt track. The jostle of the shields as each knight held firmly to a unified pace. The horse in front of me flicked his tail and gave a snort which I imagined was a snort of relief.
"Is everyone okay? My ladies, are you all right?" The sergeant's voice rang out like a bell.
"Well enough, Sergeant. Your men were outstanding." At Lady Vaela's compliment every knight in the company seemed to march with a firmer step.
"We just do what we're trained for, Lady Vaela. You honor us with your compliment though." The sergeant turned now, his voice carrying easily to the middle of the column where we marched. "We will stay in this formation for the next hour or so. My mission is to get you to the edge of the ogre lands in one piece, and I aim to do just that."
Chapter 14
It was nightfall by the time I was able to eat anything besides cold meats and cheeses. My stomach was ready to start a war. I removed my chainmail shirt and leggings, stretching my legs to the tune of a loud groan. I probably made enough noise to waken a bear in hibernation, but no one threw me any dirty looks.
Everyone else was just as exhausted and just as eager for sleep. I felt sorry for the knights who had to stand guard. I made a mental note to ask the sergeant if I could help keep watch, although I knew what his answer would be.
I gratefully ladled some of the warm soup cooking over the fire after taking a bamboo bowl from the nearby stack. The hills spread below us in shadowy lumps in the fading light. Above me I could see an early moon, already full, and a cloudless sky which promised a glittering tapestry of stars for the rest of the night.
Bronwyn nudged me. "So? Are you going to ask her?" We'd talked about this while the knights had been making camp, but now I felt reluctant to bring it up. Lady Vaela sat across from me, quietly eating her dinner. She seemed lost in her own thoughts.
"Lady Vaela, my Queen has a question for you." I jabbed Bronwyn hard in the ribs and wished fervently that I had a better means to punish her.
"What is it, Najika?"
"It's nothing, really."
"Oh? The look on your face tells me otherwise. If the prospect of bringing up the topic puts that fearful pallor over you, then it can't just be nothing. Out with it. What do you want to know
?"
I sighed, giving Bronwyn a dark look. She seemed to be collecting those from me lately.
"Well, I wanted to ask about your husband, Drake's father. What was he like? Drake never speaks of him."
Vaela's eyes clouded over with sadness. "Ahhh. Yes. He was a good man. Stubborn, but good. It probably made us a good match." A wisp of fondness swept over the creases on Lady Vaela's face. Then she focused on me with her eyes, and it was impossible to look away.
"Drake's father was a man born to lead. Our alliances with most of the races who live in the mountain ranges encircling the Black Kingdom…we have him to thank for solidifying them. The trolls, the ogres, the ape-men…they had been tentative allies, friends of convenience really. Drake's father was such a diplomat. I went with him on many of his travels. He was always traipsing around his Kingdom, wandering here and there. The man had wanderlust in his blood. He couldn't stay put even if all the wealth in the world were laid at his feet."
Lady Vaela's eyes fluttered and refocused, as if she was travelling back from a faraway dream.
"Diplomacy is a fragile achievement though, isn't it? The ogres have proven that. Ahhh, inquisitive girl. Look what you've done. You've gotten me blathering on like an old woman. Shame on you!" She smiled, and I smiled back. Suddenly I was glad she was here. I'd started this journey deeply uncomfortable about her joining me. The longer I spent time with her, though, the more time seemed to eat away at that discomfort.
"I didn't mean to pry."
"Nonsense. And even if you did, it's okay. I'm a mother-in-law. Prying is my duty. I might as well take it as well as I dish it out, don't you think?"
I had to laugh at that, thinking how unreal this whole situation had become. Tomorrow at sunset we would be among ogres, if all went as planned. Just then booted footsteps intruded.
"Ladies, forgive the interruption. A few words about tomorrow." The sergeant looked over us gravely, his beard dotted with food crumbs. Apparently we hadn't been the only hungry ones.
"Today was easy compared to what we face tomorrow." He focused his attention on me. "My Queen, I should tell you that—"
"Please, call me Naji or Najika. Every time you say 'Queen' it makes me feel like I've aged three decades." Abruptly realizing the insensitivity of my words, I glanced over at Lady Vaela. If she took offense, she had the grace to hide it.
The sergeant cleared his throat, noticeably uncomfortable. "Very well. Lady Najika, we have passed through the first border between the Black Kingdom and the ogre lands. Tomorrow we have one more barrier to cross."
He took a deep breath, as if fortifying himself for a leap. "The Rotted Wood lies ahead. It's an enchanted place, and the vines which grow there are all parts of one intelligent mind. We call it the Dreamgiver. As we walk along the path it will dull your wits even as it shows you images—the most alluring or compelling or downright fascinating things you've ever seen in your life. It will beckon to you. It will tell you 'Come, come' and show you promises which will make your heart pound. Don't listen to it. Keep your gaze firmly ahead. Put one foot in front of the other. That's the only way you'll survive."
A chill had spread over our little campfire. I reached my hands out, trying to find reassurance in the crackling flames.
"What happens if we step off the path?" I had a feeling I didn't want to know the answer. Then again, Father always said I had more curiosity than good sense.
"You'll be eaten. Very slowly. The vines wrap around you and secrete a digestive juice that very, very slowly turns you into mush."
"How slowly?" Bronwyn seemed more fascinated than horrified by the strange creature. It made me want to jab her again.
The sergeant ignored her question and hurried on. "Now, luckily we do have a backup plan…in case the creature does charm any of you." He patted the thick bundles of rope over his shoulder. "We have plenty of rope, and we're going to use it. We'll tie this around everyone's waists and to our mounts. If one of us gets carried away, the others can serve as his or her anchor. I've never lost a man on a mission, and I don't intend to start now."
"Have you ever lost a woman?" I asked. The sergeant's face turned cherry red as he realized his mistake.
"No, my Lady, I have never lost a woman either. I misspoke. Forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive, Sergeant. I can see that before this journey ends we will owe you our lives many times over. I am eternally grateful." I nodded respectfully and it seemed to make him blush. Apparently the sergeant didn't handle flattery too well.
"You are too kind, my Qu— …Lady Najika. I will do my utmost to keep all of you unharmed." With a proper bow, the sergeant turned and left.
Yet I was left wondering. Just what kind of images would this creature put in my head? What kind of monster could invade your very sense of reality? And, on top of that, what kind of monster could literally control an entire landscape? Although I tried to convince myself that it was the rocky ground which made it hard for me to fall asleep as night deepened, a quiet voice in my head said differently.
What if the Dreamgiver mesmerizes everyone? Are you sure you're strong enough?
Chapter 15
We got an early start, which was fine by me. I'd finally given up on the chainmail. My poor horse didn't seem pleased by the redistributed weight, but staying conscious in the saddle took precedent. I wore a black tunic and dark leggings with a leather breastplate. It was uncomfortably hot, but that was a far cry better than scorching. Bronwyn rode up ahead to talk with the sergeant. I imagined she was peppering him with questions about the Dreamgiver. What fascination she found in a creature of horror which lured and ate people, I couldn't guess.
When she finally dropped back, I couldn't resist. "So, are you an expert on the Dreamgiver now?
Bronwyn gave me a look of mock disdain. "Make fun of my curiosity if you want, Naji. To be honest I find it ironic."
"Find what ironic?" I turned in the saddle and squinted under the glaring sun.
"You, of all people, should understand that kind of curiosity. If the Dreamgiver is our enemy, then the more we know about it the better. It just so happens that it thrills my sense of curiosity too. I always thought of you as fearless, Naji. You certainly proved that in our escape to the Black Kingdom. But I always thought that your fearlessness meant you were always thirsting for knowledge too. I've always equated courage with curiosity. I see in your case that's not quite true."
I balked as her words sank in. "Are you calling me narrow-minded?"
Bronwyn was rebinding her hair, trying to keep the tendrils from becoming unruly as the wind whistled through the hills. "Did I say that? No, I think a better word for it would be…boring."
She laughed as I swatted her in the shoulder. "I could demote you to a scullion's assistant, you know. Have you cleaning dishes in the royal kitchens the rest of your life. How would you like that?"
"What's to keep me from simply breaking them all? No dishware, nothing to clean. Problem solved," Bronwyn replied merrily.
I rolled my eyes at her. This was certainly not a proper relationship between a Queen and her servant, but I didn't want a proper relationship. I wanted a friend, and in Bronwyn I had that. Royal titles would never mean anything compared to the bond we'd formed during the frightening days as fellow prisoners.
The horses climbed as the world tipped upward and upward. Soon I noticed that the knights looked as edgy as a cat in heat. Even the sergeant had a twitchy air about him, and he began pausing frequently, raising his hand for the column to halt. The sun was nearing its apex in the sky, and the hills on either side of us were crowned with vine-covered trees. Although I could tell the trees were there, I couldn't see even the speck of a single trunk, so thick were the crawling vines and the leaves that seemed to cover everything far from the path.
"Dismount! We make our preparations here. Gentlemen, ropes! I want everyone anchored. And be quick about it."
I took some coils of rope from the sergeant, deciding to make my
self useful. My knot-tying skills were serviceable, and pretty soon we had ropes interlocking each person's waist. We started to look like a column of people who'd been tangled on purpose in a fishing net. We moved just about as awkwardly too. It's hard to appreciate the freedom to adjust your pace until you become hyper-connected to everyone around you so that even a slight change seems to inconvenience your neighbor and vice versa. It felt a little like walking through ankle deep mud.
I watched with fascination as the hills on either side got swallowed up by the vine-encircled trees. It looked like some type of ivy, though its ten-pointed leaves, each about the size of my palm, had a purplish hue that gave it an exotic appearance…certainly none I'd ever seen.
"This is it! We're in the Dreamgiver's territory now. Stay sharp!" the sergeant bellowed.
"Is there any reason the Dreamgiver hasn't swallowed up the road too?" I called out to the sergeant.
He gave me an irritated look. "The ogres keep the road tended. They're not affected by the Dreamgiver. We are."
Bronwyn whispered, "You could have asked me. The sergeant told me about a fascinating book on the topic. Something about how the ogres evolved living near the thing, and over time they developed an immunity to the Dreamgiver's ability. It sounds like an exciting read. Perhaps we could check the Royal Library for it once we get back?"
I was all for a good read, but this did not sound like one. What it sounded, more like, was that Bronwyn was eager to distract me from the fear steadily beating its drum in my chest. I looked up and saw trees groping ever higher, their branches strangled in ropes of ivy. The more I considered it, the more this entire forest felt more like a graveyard of trees than an actual forest. It looked as if the trees were withered, as if each was domineered by some awful parasite sucking away all the best nutrients.
I shuddered, though the shade from the branches hadn't made it that cold. And that's when it began.
One of the knights to my left suddenly screamed a name. A woman's name. He bolted toward the left, straining with all his might. I felt a sudden tug as his body's inertia pulled mine. We held fast, though. The sergeant patiently kept shouting at the man, and the men next to him shook him to try to wake him from his trance.