The Ancient Enemy

by Christopher Rowley

  He came back from the despairing depths and pulled himself to his feet. He was still the Thru Gillo who had set the new all-time hitting record. That had to be worth something. He set his feet on the path down the dune toward the city walls. Mots and mors were at work in the vegetable gardens that lined the road, someone was singing a popular song, and others joined in on the verses. It helped to lift his spirits as he strode up to the south gate.

  By the time he got to the Laughing Fish, the early-evening rush was on. Thru put his question to the second barkeeper and was referred to an office at the back.

  "Thru Gillo, isn't it?" said the mot in the office. "I saw you hit very well that day. Took the championship away from us."

  "I think we had our best game ever that day."

  "And you want to know if we're interested in you as a paid player?" he guessed.

  "Yes."

  "Come with me over to the ball field, I'll introduce you to Rawli Perensa. He's the mot you want to talk to."

  They crossed the street and entered the long narrow clubhouse that stood in front of the ball field. From the shelter of the long gallery the view of the field was excellent. There sat the worthies of the city who shared the passion for the bat and ball game.

  The game that day was going well for the Laughing Fish, who were playing a village from up the valley. The village team were halfway out already and had scored only thirty runs. The Laughing Fish had the most prodigious young throwers, and they were taking a steady toll on the village batters.

  In short order Thru was talking to Rawli Perensa, the owner of the Laughing Fish Tavern itself.

  "So you'd like to play for the Laughing Fish?"

  "Well, I don't like to play for money, but I need to earn some."

  "I see." Rawli Perensa scratched his nose. "Well, we all remember what you did to us three summers back. Are you still a big mot with the bat?"

  "Last time I checked."

  "Then we'll try you. We'll pay two silver shillings for every run you score. How does that sound?"

  Thru shook hands with Perensa on the deal.

  As he left the clubhouse there was a sharp crack of bat on ball, along with scattered applause. The sounds made him feel stronger.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Two days later Thru Gillo turned out to bat for the Laughing Fish Tavern. The opponents that day were the much-respected team for Crown Gate Tavern, and this domestic derby game always drew a large crowd. The clubhouse gallery and the open-air benches were full. There were even folk standing all the way around the perimeter of the field. It had much the same atmosphere as his last stand there in that memorable championship match.

  Crown Gate had batted first and run up a score of 102. Thru had done his share of huffing and puffing in pursuit of well-struck balls. Crown Gate's leading hitter, Ledrun Paff, struck thirty-one runs on his own.

  Harli, the opening batter for the Laughing Fish, was also a famously strong striker, running up eighteen before being caught out the fourth time. The rest of the batting order followed, and succumbed to the trio of hard hurlers that Crown Gate had deployed. Leading them was a youngster named Ormo, who had a tremendous throw and great accuracy. Thru was the last mot up to bat and he needed to score twenty-seven runs to win the game.

  The lively little bat from Fivver's workshop that he'd selected swung lightly in his hands as he took the first few balls. Ormo did indeed have a powerful arm. His throws came in with a special zip that could overpower most batters. Thru deflected away the first couple of throws from Ormo, but missed the third and heard a sharp whuck as the ball struck the red pole behind him.

  No runs and already one of his outs was gone. He took a deep breath, settled into the kyo mindfulness, and waited. The next ball he caught cleanly with a tremendous stroke and sent it away with that ringing crack that always thrilled the crowd. It landed far past the four-hundred-foot line, giving him his first run of the innings.

  Ormo stepped back for a breather and another thrower took his place. The first ball was too high and wide and whizzed back into the netting behind Thru. The next ball was in reach, and Thru stepped out and met it with a crushing blow that sent it even farther than the first run.

  His eye was in. His kyo with the bat was a near-flawless system of movement that even Master Sassadzu would have found acceptable. The bat crushed ball after ball in an inning that soon had great outbursts of applause coming from the crowd. Thru Gillo was at bat, and the Laughing Fish were gaining fast.

  His second out came at sixteen, another venomous ball from Ormo that nicked the bat on its way to striking the red pole behind him. The next out came on the twenty, when he skyed a ball, and it was caught. He had one out remaining.

  There were still seven runs to strike to win, six to force a tie. Ormo came up for the fourth time. The first ball was very fast and Thru's stroke was a fraction too slow and the ball flew high. The crowd went silent. Crown Gate fielders scrambled to get below it for the catch, but it went so high it started to drift toward the run line. The fielders ran on in pursuit, two of them ran into each other and a third was too far away when the ball came down and bounced over the run line.

  The Laughing Fish crowd breathed a giant sigh of relief.

  The next ball from Ormo was straight down the line, Thru knew from the moment he stepped into his swing there was no room for error and was rewarded with that fat crack that spoke wonders in terms of runs.

  The ball flew away and soared over the run line, still going up.

  The crowd roared. People were standing all along the clubhouse gallery shouting and waving their fists.

  Another ball flew, this time too high and wide to bother with. More inaccurate balls followed. Ormo had lost his grip for the moment. He stepped out and another thrower came up to the line.

  Thru concentrated, let the flow run through him. The ball seemed to float for that crucial moment and his body went into motion and the bat connected again and drove the ball straight out at a terrific speed, slowly rising as it went. The fielders didn't even move, they all just watched in awe as it flew into the distance. The crowd let loose another roar, but they too were awed and the noise subsided more quickly this time.

  Five more runs followed, against throwers who were rapidly losing confidence. As the last one lofted into the air, a huge roar went up as the game was won. Thru turned around and raised his cap to the crowd, then walked back to the clubhouse with the rest of the team rising to applaud.

  Thru Gillo had stepped up and delivered. His reputation was secure. And afterward Rawli Perensa handed him a fat purse, stuffed with fifty-four silver pieces.

  "I must say, on behalf of the entire Laughing Fish bat and ball club, how glad we are to have you on the team. That was a great performance."

  Thru took the purse with the thought that despite his earlier disinclinations, hitting the white ball for money was not such a bad way to earn some silver crowns.

  Afterward he celebrated with Nuza. They drank a bottle of Ulschadein wine, the most expensive in the house, and dined at the Laughing Fish.

  At some point in the proceedings he noticed Toshak in the room, giving him a hard look. The great sword-fighter had been Nuza's lover until a few moons before and clearly still harbored strong feelings for her.

  According to Nuza, Toshak had grown increasingly remote during their love affair. To her he would always be a great mot, head and shoulders above the rest, but she knew he could never give himself fully to another. She did not think that Great Toshak would ever be wed.

  Thru did his best to ignore the hostility from Toshak. The other members of the troupe were pleasant company. Big Hob, the brilby who caught Nuza, was a cheerful fellow, who had been especially friendly.

  While Nuza and Hob talked about her latest routine, Thru mused on the workings of fate. If he could keep on like this for the rest of the summer he'd earn enough to stay in Dronned for the winter at Kussha's place. He'd find a workroom outside the walls where he could weave
a few high-end mats for next year's market.

  He felt a grim chuckle go off inside him. Maybe he'd weave a mat for the Grys Norvory, a new take on "Mussels and Rakes," or "Brilbies at the Gate." Let him see that it was Thru's style in the "Chooks and Beetles" and nothing to do with Iallia Treevi. He had some ideas for "Mussels and Rakes" that were almost revolutionary, but right in line with what he'd done for "Chooks and Beetles."

  Thru told himself that he hadn't completely failed in the market for mats. Merchant Ortenod had been very decent. When he heard the story about Thru Gillo's "Chooks and Beetles," Ortenod wrote a note to Thru explaining that he had given the affidavit of Thru's "Leaf" pattern mat to Pern Treevi quite innocently, with no ill will toward Thru. When Thru went to drop off the last three "Leaf" mats, Ortenod confessed that he'd been shocked by the Grys Norvory's behavior, but warned that no one would stand up against the Grys, who was very powerful in the Dronned guilds.

  Ortenod had paid in full, as he'd promised. Thru, reassured, had left him the remaining three mats to sell at the next market, which would be held during the Harvest Moon.

  Now, sipping ale in the Laughing Fish Tavern, he calculated that he had about two hundred shillings in his account. It was more than he'd ever had before, but by his calculations it was just enough to get him through the winter in Dronned. He just needed somewhere secure, where he could set up a couple of looms and start weaving. He'd also need some money for good materials. Golden grass and red tash were never cheap, and he already had an idea for using them heavily on his new "Mussels and Rakes." Next spring he would show the Grys Norvory how wrong he'd been.

  Feeling satisfied that despite everything he was still progressing toward his goal, Thru treated himself to a dish of sweet bewbie pie to finish his meal.

  Later he went back with Nuza to her lodgings for the night. The house owner had not objected, used as she was to Nuza's unusual ways. Not many mors of the Land were so free with themselves, and most preferred to be married young, but Nuza was an adult, and free to make love to whomever she wanted. Certainly there was no law to prohibit her from doing so. She was also free to bear the consequences in terms of difficulty in obtaining marriage back in her home village.

  And for all the intensity of their new love, both knew that it was about to be interrupted. In a day or so Nuza would be gone, until the following year. Their communication would be a matter of letters until he could leave Dronned and go to visit her in Tamf, after the harvest was in.

  Thru faced the thought of lonely weeks ahead with a new dread. It had been so long since he'd felt this happy... to be without her was going to be torture. He wished he could just travel with her and the troupe. But how could he do that if he was going to play for the Laughing Fish team?

  As always since Highnoth, he woke at dawn and entered the morning kyo. Nuza was still asleep as he pulled on his boots and did up his jerkin. For a moment he studied the slim form under the covers. She was so beautiful in her sleep. He felt immensely fortunate to have found her.

  He let himself out of the house and made his way through the empty streets to his own lodgings outside the wall on Garth Road. The city was absolutely silent, except for a cock crowing in the south ward.

  He felt very blessed at that moment. That was something that he remembered clearly, later. Right before it happened, he'd been feeling wonderful.

  He crossed the bridge, and started up Gate Street. A moment later he heard a step, then something hard and heavy struck him on the back of the neck and shoulder. He staggered, and everything went dim for a moment. A second blow drove him to the ground, but paradoxically the impact cleared his vision.

  He rolled over and saw the dim shape of Pern's thug Ulghrum, wielding an ax handle. Instinctively he squirmed aside, and the ax handle hit the paving stone where his head had rested.

  Ulghrum tried again and missed a second time, and then Thru rolled sideways and scrambled to his feet. Ulghrum was swinging, but Thru dodged out of the way, felt a wall at his back, and slipped to the side. The ax handle struck dust off the wall a moment later.

  Thru pivoted and swung his right foot hard into Ulghrum's side, producing a gasp of pain. Ulghrum fell back a step. Suddenly another thug loomed out of the alley behind him, also holding an ax handle. This time Ulghrum had brought backup.

  "Master Pern said your account needed to be closed," said Ulghrum with a sneer.

  Thru was still shaking his head, trying to clear it, but not succeeding too well. He didn't think he could run, but he had to.

  Ulghrum swung high at him, but he ducked the ax handle and staggered off down the street. The other one was coming. He was running out of time.

  And then another figure suddenly came running up with a shout. There came the unmistakable sound of a sword being drawn.

  "Hold or die," said a cold voice. It was Toshak.

  The mot snarled and flailed at the swordsmot with the ax handle. Toshak dodged the blow with a liquid movement and brought the sword point up and under the mot's chin. A drop of blood ran down the fur on his throat.

  "Drop it," snapped Toshak.

  The ax handle bounced on the pavement.

  "Back off both of you, or I'll be forced to spill more of your blood."

  Ulghrum was already retreating, fading back up the alley. The other thug followed him at a clumsy run.

  Thru sagged back against the wall of the nearest building. The back of his head was hurting.

  "Thank you, they were going to kill me."

  "I know. I was following them. They were watching our lodgings last night. You, of course, were too busy to have noticed them."

  Thru said nothing.

  "But I saw them, and I followed them to their lair. They slept in a cellar behind the House Norvory. I watched again at dawn, and they woke early and came out at once." The question in Toshak's voice was unavoidable.

  "I have an enemy from my village. He is wealthy and ambitious, and my family thwarted him in court. I thought that I was safe from him here in Dronned."

  "I detest this use of hired assassins. What is this mot's name?"

  "Pern Treevi."

  "I have heard the name before. A rake they say. Drinks too much, well-known among the gamers."

  "As to that I don't know, but he hates me."

  Thru found that his head had been laid open by one of Ulghrum's blows and that blood was seeping through his fur and pooling on the shoulder of his jacket. Toshak had noticed, too.

  "I think you should get those wounds seen to."

  "Where shall I go? I don't know the healers in Dronned."

  "Try Nuza. She's the healer for the troupe, and damned good, too."

  "Nuza? You'd encourage me to go to her?"

  Toshak gave him a grim smile.

  "After saving your life I want to be sure you survive. Nuza loves you, and anyone she loves becomes important to me. Go to her, she is very good at healing and sewing up cuts."

  Thru groped for words.

  "I thought you hated me."

  "Hate? No, young Thru, I may be jealous, but I will not descend to hatred."

  "I am very grateful for that. Once again, thank you."

  Thru had some colorful bruising by the time of the next game for the Laughing Fish, but he still played. The game was held in Yupay Village, up the valley from Dronned. The Yupay team had beaten the Laughing Fish in three previous games that season.

  Thru played well, making four catches and striking nineteen runs to help run up the Laughing Fish score to 112. Rawli Perensa and the others in the inner group of the club were delighted.

  Nuza and the troupe had all come to Yupay to watch the game and support Thru. Afterward they traveled back to Dronned in a lighthearted group. Even Toshak was there, although he generally showed little interest in such outings.

  Thru added thirty-eight shillings to his account with Kussha, who had a personal vault at the big Merchants Bank in the city. Keeping back a small purse, he went out with Nuza to visit the empori
a and trade shops on the market square. He was feeling flush enough to be able to afford a few gifts for his family to take back for Harvest festival. At the House of Fanor he bought some cloth for his sister Snejet. For young Gil he bought a fine knife, sheathed with lacquered withe.

  Nuza and the troupe stopped off at their lodging house while Thru went to the Laughing Fish clubhouse to see Gurb about a new bat. Old Gurb took care of the club's equipment. Thru found the main floor was empty, but he heard voices upstairs in the room where Rawli Perensa did the club's business. Gurb was in the big equipment room below, in the process of making up an order for new bats.

  Thru wanted his new bat to be fractionally heavier than the one he'd been using. Gurb wrote some notes as he spoke about the bat he wanted, and then Thru's business was done. He headed up the stairs to the main gallery and the front door.

  As he stepped into the exit hall he saw Pern Treevi standing with Rawli Perensa in the doorway. The surprise was complete. For a moment Thru struggled to draw a breath.

  Rawli had spotted him and now waved him over with a big smile.

  "Thru, I want you to meet our latest benefactor. He's from your home village I believe. He's going to join our club committee."

  Pern had the most evil little smile on his face.

  "I know him," said Thru quietly.

  "Pern has a couple of good young throwers he's discovered in your valley. Gurb will give them a tryout in the morning."

  The gloating in Pern's eyes was dreadful to behold.

  "This is a great day for our village," said Pern in a tone just short of outright mockery. "Just think, Thru, you'll be hitting the ball for me."

  Thru calmed himself by closing his eyes a moment and reaching for the peace of the kyo. Then he turned to Rawli Perensa.

  "May I speak with you alone?"

  "Well, yes, of course." Perensa's brow wrinkled. "I was just stepping over to the tavern for a spot of dinner. Are you sure you wouldn't like to accompany us?"

  "Quite sure."