by J Battle
‘I don’t think anyone makes the Trytor do anything he doesn’t want to, and the more fuss your father makes, the less he is likely to forget about you.’
‘You don’t know my father. People do what he says, and the Trytor will listen to him; he will.’
Garraldi shook his head and moved towards the far side of his cell.
‘We have a saying where I come from my dear, that if wishes were horses, we should all ride as kings.’
‘Do not mock me, sir, for I know what I’m saying. If my father knows, then I shall be free, and I’ll speak a good word for you also, and you shall join me and we’ll have a fine meal, cooked by my mother, of lamb and tatoes, and greens and gravy. And we’ll finish with apple sponge pudding and fresh cream.’
Garraldi closed his eyes and dropped his head, refusing to think on such nonsense.
Chapter 35 Alice
Alice sat back at the table, her tankard untouched, and rested her eyes on BobbyJ’s bag.
She’d felt its weight and knew what it contained. But the weight on her mind was even greater.
She had to give it back; she knew that she had no choice, for Misthaven without Magic would be diminished. The winds would come again and ravage the fields, the ice would flow unchecked into the valley, fit and healthy people would sicken and die before their time, and the poor would starve.
‘My lady,’ Loren’s words were hesitant, as if she feared the stern look on the Lady’s face, ‘can I ask you, if it don’t cause offence?’ She stopped then.
‘Fear not, you will not offend me.’ She smiled her encouragement.
‘Well, why do you let him; the Mage, do what he did to me, and to Clara, and to others I suppose?’
For a moment, there was no reply. Alice seemed lost in her thoughts.
‘Ay, now. You have a right to ask, and yes, I have made the attempt to stop his foul practices. I strode to his door, full of righteous anger when I first discovered what he was doing to the young girls of the valley. I banged on his door and demanded that he stop; that he find some other way to manage the Magic of the Wellstone; that he not prey any longer on defenseless girls.’
‘What happened?’
‘Oh, my words were clear and powerful, and my anger flashed in my eyes, and any other man or woman would have wilted before my onslaught. But not the Mage, not Anders the Ill-considered, not Anders the Terrible, not Anders the Slow.
‘No, he stood before me, unflinching, and, when the torrent of my words failed, he smiled at me and said, ’If you wish me to stop that which offends you, then I will. No more taking of young girls to please me and assist with the Wellstone? Well, of course, I’ll stop immediately, for how could I continue, knowing that I cause you such distress? What about the girl I have upstairs in my bedroom? She is well used but healthy, and she has not yet touched the Stone. Should I free her?’ he said, with that smile he has.’
‘’Yes,’ I said, for what else could I say, though I knew that he was playing one of his games.’
‘‘Then I will do as you wish, and free the girl; Hellain is her name. But you will allow her to help me pack my belongings first, will you not? I have so many things that are precious to me and that I would not like to leave behind.’ He began to stand, as if to support his threat.’
‘‘Leave behind?’ I said.’
‘‘Yes,’ he said, ’I will go somewhere that appreciates the value of my work and where the benefits are seen to overwhelmingly outweigh the, shall we call it the darker side of my process?’’
‘I held his gaze and I would not budge, though I knew what it would cost the valley. ‘Go, if you must,’ I said, ‘for the valley will be a better place without you.’ He smiled then, and gave a little foppish bow.
‘We both knew that my words held little truth, but he just nodded and he free’d the girl that day, and I thought, I hoped that that was the end of it.’
‘But he didn’t stop, did he?’ Loren’s eyes searched her face for understanding.
Alice looked away.
‘He became more secretive, I think. I could have… I should have done more to be sure that he really had stopped.’
‘But you didn’t.’ There was accusation on her tone.
‘I..., no. I did not.’
Loren stood up to leave, for she could say no more.
Alice grasped for her hand.
‘Please stay. If I had the chance, I would act differently. But it is over now, and we must be sure that it never happens again.’
‘Unless he threatens to leave again.’ Each word was chipped from ice.
‘Then he will go, and we will survive. The valley will be…’
Alice stopped, for she could find no further words of justification or solace.
Just then, an old fellow with a long grey beard and a bright red cap groaned to his feet in the corner. He was dressed in a dark brown robe that had seen better days, and he supported himself on a sturdy, knobbly staff.
‘My Lady,’ he said, as he walked slowly closer, ‘how fares thee this cold night?’
‘Well enough, for all that, Mr Evens. Here, come take a seat with us, and you’ll have a fresh tankard, will you not?’
‘That’s fair kind of you, my Lady. For the ale and the company. I don’t get enough of either these days, if I tell the truth.’
‘Rest here beside Loren, if you will.’
As he worked himself into a position where he could lower his rear safely to the seat, he asked, ‘Have you had news of your father, my dear?’
‘No, Mr Evens, nothing since he left, just a year now.’ The confidence had disappeared from her voice, and she sounded nothing more than she was, a girl whose father was lost to her.
‘He’ll be fine enough, I think, and he was accompanied by a Giant.’
‘Ay, Mr Evens, I would have you be right.’
When he was seated, and a fresh tankard ordered, he glanced at the bag on the table before her.
‘You’ve had a bit of fun, I see, tonight, with that young fellow.’
‘Ay, and that’s no doubt.’
‘And, forgive me for asking, but you know what’s in that there bag, don’t you?’
For some reason she couldn’t fathom, she pulled the bag closer.
‘What do you think the bag contains, Mr Evens?’
‘Oh, I don’t have to think. I could feel it from right over there in the corner.’
‘Well, we’ll keep that to ourselves, shall we not, Mr Evens?’
‘Ay, if you say so, my Lady, but something must be done.’
Alice noticed the puzzled expression on Loren’s face.
‘Loren, you wouldn’t know, but this gentleman who shares our table did not always go by the name of Mr Evens, did you sir?’
He took a sip of his just arrived ale, and shook his head.
‘No,‘ continued the Lady, ‘for many years he went by the name of Mage Evens, and he was good for the land. At least until the Stone and the Mage wore themselves out, and the Magic weakened.’
‘And did you use stolen girls for your Magic?’ There was venom in her words.
‘No, my dear girl, I did not. I took the pain of the Stone upon mine own self, for that was the way I was taught it should be done. I suffered, and the land was sustained. I wished for no more.’
‘But you look well, Mr Evens, your years seem to weigh lighter on you than they once did.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that. I feel every summer, or at least every winter, in my bones, of a morning, when I try to get out of my bed. One of these fine days, I won’t succeed.’
‘Nonsense, Mr Evens. I believe you could still dance a fine jig, if there was room on the floor and musicians to play you on.’
‘You are too kind, my Lady, but what will you do, with the Stone?’
‘What can I do? I have no choice but to give it back to Anders, but mayhap I’ll keep it awhile, to give him a few sleepless nights.’
‘Can’t you take it, mister?’ Loren’s hand was firm on his ar
m. ‘You can take it and there’ll still be Magic in the valley, and there won’t be no more need for girls to be hurt, and all will be well.’
‘No, my dear.‘ He patted her hand gently as he spoke, ‘I can’t be doing that. No more Magic for me. I’m fair worn away with it, and I don’t have the strength any longer, nor the will to force myself to lay hands on the Stone. The Lady is right; there is no other course but to give it back to Anders.’
‘But…’
’No, my dear,’ said Alice, ’listen to those who know, there is nothing else to be done, and the cost must be carried, but not by those such as you, and for what has passed, I am filled with nothing but sorrow.’
‘Sorrow don’t make no difference; not to me, and not to Clara. And there must be another way. You can’t give it back to him. There must be another Mage, somewhere, we can ask to take his place.’
‘No, Loren, you don’t understand. For most of the world, Magic has passed from their knowledge. Only here, in this blessed land, do we still have Magic. So there are no other Mages; there is just Anders.’
‘But…’
‘Words can change nothing; that is how the world is today.’
If she had had anywhere to go, Loren would have rushed off, and probably slammed the door behind her, but she didn’t, so she sank within herself, and said not another word that night.
‘Forgive me, Mr Evens, but I have further business with the young man, and his companion.’ Alice stood up as she spoke, with a firm grip on the bag, ‘so, I will leave you here to finish your ale and bid you goodnight.’
Chapter 36 Dryan
'So, there you are, my Lord. I've left the bags outside, so as not to offend you, but they're all there, bundled up and bloody. Not one firstborn child survives in the land.'
As he spoke, Dryan allowed a few drops of blood to drip from his fingers onto the floor before the Trytor, by way of emphasis.
'Have them taken away and burned. Make a good show of it, to display the consequences of disrespecting their Lord and Master.'
'Ay, my Lord, I'll do just that. Will you attend? It would make the point with more effect.'
'No, Dryan, there is no need for me to be there; you can be quite eloquent when you need to be. The message will be received.'
'As you wish, my Lord. Now, there is the matter of my daughter. It is time she was home.' He held up his head and met Lydorth's eyes.
'Your daughter? Yes, something comes to mind. I have use for her.'
'But…my Lord, we had an…'
'I have need of her at the moment, and that is the end of it.' Lydorth sat back on his throne.
'My Lord Lydorth, the Last of The Trytors, you gave me your word; your bond. I did not think that you would betray your line in this manner.' Dryan found he'd taken a half step closer.
'Word? Bond? Between Trytor and a lowly man? These words have no meaning. I will keep the girl, and have no more said about it.'
Dryan's hand fell onto the hilt of his blade.
'A father cannot stand aside and let his daughter be used in this manner.'
Lydorth sat forward until Dryan could feel his hot, fetid breath on his head.
'Will you fight me for her, Dryan? Will you draw your sword and pierce my flesh with its sharp little blade? Is that what you see? You will leave my bleeding body behind you and find your daughter, and carry her poor abused body into the light of day. Wipe away her tears and heal her wounds, and all will be well with the world. Mayhap they'll write songs of your bravery and her beauty and courage, and of how evil and puny the Trytor had become.'
Dryan dropped his hand, and bowed his head.
'My Lord, ' he said, so softly that the Trytor could barely hear, 'I beseech you; please release my daughter and allow her back into the warmth and comfort of her family, to be healed and restored. If my service over these many years means anything to you, my Lord.'
'Pah! I thought we'd have a little fun. You with your little blade, and me with this.' From the side of the throne, he drew his great sword; long and gleaming, sharp-edged and bejeweled. 'It is so long since it has tasted flesh and blood.'
He stood upright and tall, swinging the blade one-handed above Dryan's bent head.
After a moment or so of this display, he slumped back onto his throne.
'Have no fear, loyal Dryan. Your precious daughter has not been used in the manner you fear; she does not please me that way. But I will keep her, for now, for I have use of her. When that no longer pertains, then believe me, she will be released, and she will be mostly unharmed. How does that sound, dear fellow?'
Through gritted teeth, Dryan answered. 'Most generous of you, my Lord. If you please, could I ask one small favor? I would like to see her face, to put my poor lady wife's heart at ease, for she worries so.'
'If she worries so much, have her come before me, and I shall put her heart and mind at rest.'
'My Lord, I fear that your countenance would terrify her, and stop her heart in her breast.'
'Am I that terrible, Dryan? Be honest, are you afeared of me?'
'My Lord. If there be anyone who walks this earth and not be afraid of you, then I call him a fool.'
Lydorth nodded. 'Good answer, Dryan. I shall think on your request for a while, and let you know what decision comes to me.'
'Yes, my Lord.' Dryan bowed again and turned. He strode from the hall as if he could no longer bear to be in the Trytor's presence.
**********
Alice closed the door behind her, and threw the bolt.
The only furniture in the room was a narrow bed, and no-one was making use of its comforts.
Cavour was slumped in one corner, with Brawn standing over him. Across the room stood BobbyJ, glaring at Brawn's brothers, who each had a firm grip on his arms.
'Now, listen to me,' said Alice, softly,' I would know who you truly are, and I will have no more lies.'
There was no response to her words, apart from a drooping head and angry eyes.
'In that case, we shall see what we can discover for ourselves. Dorm, unravel that dirty bandage and let us see what is hidden.' She stayed by the door as she spoke.
BobbyJ jerked away from Dorm's grasping hands, but the other brother wrapped his arms around his shoulders and held him still.
Soon BobbyJ's hand was revealed for the first time to four pairs of eyes.
'Hold him still, whilst I examine his hand.'
She stepped closer and touched his broad, dark, scaly hand with her own slim pale fingers.
'Seven fingers, and cold as death,' she whispered. She could see disgust in the eyes of the brothers.
'What manner of beast do we have here?' She stepped back until she was up against the door; horror in her eyes. For she remembered that day, barely a year ago, when she had last seen such a hand.
'Strip him naked,' she snapped, 'let us reveal what other obscenities he hides.'
'My lady, if you wished to see me in my naked splendor, you only needed to ask.' The anger was gone from his face, replaced by a licentious grin.
The brothers released his bonds and tore off his tunic, along with his graying, holey vest. His torso was thin but muscular, and bore no trace of monstrosity.
'And the rest,' said the Lady, coldly.
The brothers hesitated for a second, then they set to work on his pants.
Within seconds he was standing before her, proud and fearless. With a slight sneer, he allowed himself to come to attention.
'Shall we send these good fellows away, my Lady? Then we'll have a little privacy to ourselves.'
The brothers pulled back a little, reluctant to touch his cool naked skin.
The Lady ignored the bobbing penis and took in the swollen curved thigh, the scaly hooked foot, the other foot on its way to being the same.
'What are you?' she said, at last.
'I am my father's son, my Lady, and that very fact should fill you with fear. So, bow before the son of Lydorth, thought to be the last of the Trytor, altho
ugh now you can see that is not the truth. For it is I who am the last, and that is the truth.'
He took a step closer, and smiled.
'Forgive me, my Lady, if I offend.'
Before anyone could act, he was on her. His great seven fingered hand grabbed her by the throat and spun her away from the door. His other hand grabbed his bag from her unfeeling hands.
Brawn was the first to move, but he was too slow. BobbyJ already had her body between them.
'Stop there, good man, if you please, or I'll crush the life from her before your eyes.'
Brawn moved a little nearer before he stopped, just out of reach.
'Now, we can all leave this room hale and hearty if no-one thinks to do anything foolish. Just settle the three of you on that there bed, and take yourselves a little rest. There you go.'
The three brothers sat down on the bed, and there was little enough room for them, and it wouldn't hold their weight for very long.
With a grunt, BobbyJ threw the Lady at them and quickly slid back the bolt on the door.
In a second he was gone.
Chapter 37 Alice
Alice extricated herself from the tangle of bodies, a storm of anger flashing across her delicate face.
‘Be off after him!’ she snapped, ‘and do not let him get away. You should be able to spot his skinny white bottom from a distance.’
The younger brothers did as they were told, but Brawn remained.
‘We should find out what this fellow knows, my Lady. He might know where the boy is off to. I expect he intends to meet him further down the road.’
For the first time, Cavour raised his head. ‘No, My Lady, he has betrayed me as he deceived you. We did not plan such trickery together.’
‘But you know where he is going.’ It was a statement.
‘Ay, my Lady. At least, I know where he will end up in a few weeks, but not where he is now.’
‘A few weeks is no use to us now, my Lady. Let me have a few words with him, on my own like, and I’ll find out the truth.’ Brawn grabbed Cavour by the shoulders and lifted him to his feet.