Misthaven: The Complete Trilogy

by J Battle

  ‘No, sir,’ laughed Lancer, ‘I’m as awake as ever I am, or this is a strange dream. Come along to yonder tavern and I’ll buy you a drink, if you can get through the door, that is.’

  ‘Well now, that’s a fine offer, and the door ain’t no problem, but I’ve been told to stay here to guard that ship and stop any silly little men jumping into the water.’

  ‘Well that’s fair enough, and a thirsty job it must be, but don’t you worry about that. Captain H’Ardrigann and his men can take your place. They are very well trained for this sort of task, so come along, my friend.’

  ‘Thank you, kindly sir, but you know I don’t drink those little tankards, so don’t be buying me any of them.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of such an insult, it will be hogsheads all the way. I knew a Giant and a fine fellow he was, and he knew how to drink. Ferrooll was his name.’

  ‘Ferrooll? A clever sort of Giant, was he?’

  ‘Ay, you would say that.’

  ‘And with no eyes?’

  ‘So, you know him then?’

  ‘You’ll probably see him as well then.’

  ‘Well, that would be an unexpected pleasure.’

  ‘Just watch he don’t sit on you, ‘cause that would be unexpected.’

  Chapter 69 Ellaine

  Barely an hour later, the tavern was so packed, you’d think it was Saturday night and the landlord was selling three tankards for the price of one, with a tatoe pie thrown in for good measure.

  There were three Giants, and they were enough to fill the barroom all on their own. There were also three tall men; Richard and Torn, and Frenk had arrived to see what use he could be.

  They were matched by three women; Ellaine of course, and Alice, with Loren to keep her company. And finally, the two boys; Sam and Tom.

  And just to fill in the gaps they’d all left, there was Lancer, H’Ardrigann, and a pair of especially well-dressed and languid officers.

  ‘So, dear Ellaine Woewearer, and what a fine change there has been in you since last we met, my dear.’

  Ellaine allowed him a half-smile, but she was tense about the coming trial, and she was both eager to be off and get the task completed, and equally keen to find an excuse to put off the pain she knew was coming their way.

  ‘It is good to see you once more, Lancer, looking well and healthy. How have you been?’

  ‘I’ve been mostly myself, except for the times when I am someone else.’

  ‘And do you have any pie for me?’

  Lancer laughed. ‘You mock me, my dear. Of course I have no pie for you. The pie is only for the king.’

  ‘And how is the king?’

  ‘Well enough for a Tuesday, I’d say.’ He frowned then. ‘Except on a Thursday. Then he is mayhap not so well.’

  ‘But better than he was?’

  ‘I’d say so. Having me to play the fool beside him steadies him somewhat; a balance, if you like. Well, that was the case until he heard about the marauding Giants. That sent him spinning, it did, for he has true concern for his people.’

  ‘But, what marauding are you talking about?’ said Richard.

  ‘We had reports of them swarming south and causing all sorts of trouble on the way. The king would have come himself, with sword in hand and not a care for himself, to rid his land of this menace. But I swayed his mind and came in his place, and Aarvarn there is the first Giant we’ve see in all our travels.’

  ‘You haven’t heard then?’ said Ellaine, placing a gentle hand on his arm, ‘These three fine Giants you see here may be the last of a great race.’

  ‘We’re off to change that,’ said Ferrooll, ‘and, well it ain’t an easy task to think on, or to talk about.’

  ‘Ay,’ agreed Aarvarn, ‘and I don’t see a need to talk about it now.’

  ‘Don’t you worry none, Aarvarn.’ Rarvarn’s broad face split into a grin as he spoke. ‘I’m sure we’ll find someone gentle for you, to start with.’

  ‘Ain’t no such thing as a gentle female Giant, and you know that for sure,’ grumbled Aarvarn.

  ‘So, it seems that we have no task to do, and all these fine soldiers, and more camped along the road, and they’ve come all this way for naught,’ said Lancer, with a shake of his head.

  ‘It is a shame we have so little time, Lancer, but we have to be up and about our business. We have the world to save, and that is no exaggeration on my part at all.’

  Ellaine stood up on her feet and considered the company.

  ‘It is time, my friends, for those of us who will go to bid farewell and make our way to the boat.’

  Sam, Tom, Torn and Rootheart joined her at the foot of the table.

  Lancer also rose to his feet.

  ‘Is this all you are taking, Woewearer?’ he asked, with a tilt of his head.

  ‘If they do not suffice, then a dozen more would make little difference.’

  ‘But, surely…two boys, a man and a half-giant. How can that be enough?’

  ‘I’ll come,’ said Frenk, leaping to his feet. ‘I’m big and strong, and I am not afraid.’

  ‘Frenk,’ said Alice, pulling on his arm, ‘we need you here. The valley needs you. Your son needs you.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘Fear not Frenk, young Alice is correct,’ said Lancer. ‘I will take your place and call myself proud to be Frenk’s replacement, though I be not big and I be not strong, still I am mad, and that will carry me through, I’d say.’

  Ellaine found room for a smile.

  ‘Mad, Lancer? You were never mad. Mayhap you saw the world through different eyes than less extraordinary men, but there is no madness there. We’d be fortunate to have your company, but you have no knowledge of Magic as far as I know.’

  ‘Only the Magic that is in all of us, my dear. If naught else, I can keep the important members of the company fed and watered, and mayhap I’d have a jolly story to tell to while away the tiresome sea voyage.’

  Ellaine took only a moment to agree, for there are times when having an unpredictable person in your company might win the day for you.

  ‘Good, good, good. Now, how about one of these fine soldiers? Very useful for cutting down things with their sharp swords, and they look so good in those uniforms, don’t you agree?’

  The captain screwed his refined face into something approaching a smile.

  ‘We are here to guard you, Prince. Naturally we shall accompany you.’

  ‘See there, Ellaine, I am already of use to you. If they are good for nothing else, at least they provide ballast. A boat needs ballast, I have heard.’

  ‘Then it must be an even number, Lancer, for balance. Mayhap four would suffice?’

  As she spoke, Ellaine closed her eyes, almost overwhelmed by a vision of wailing, bloodied soldiers.

  She steadied herself against a chair.

  Lancer reached for her. ‘Are you ill, my dear?’

  ‘No. I’m as fine as sunshine on a spring day, I am.’

  ‘Of course you are, my dear. Of course you are.’ Lancer looked as if he didn’t believe her.

  ‘We’ll leave the soldiers behind, I think, and…’ She was about to say, ‘and I rather not have their poor deaths on my mind,’ but she stopped herself. She did not want to speak of harm that would come to these people. She could hardly bring herself to think of it.

  She’d grown fond of the lads, and Rootheart of course, and she’d have nothing bad happen to Lancer, if she had a choice. How many of them would survive the encounter with the evil being she sensed on Fairisle? Would anyone survive?

  ‘Time to go, I think,’ she said, making a vain attempt at a confident tone.

  ‘Forgive me, young lady, but it is I who will decide who will accompany the prince, not you.’ Captain H’Ardrigann lounged in his chair as if there could be no doubt in his authority.

  ‘Indeed, captain, but you are subject to the prince’s wishes, are you not?’

  The captain bristled, but made no comment.

  ‘The
young lady is the commander of this expedition, I’d say,’ said Lancer, with some firmness, ‘and if she says you are to sit here on your head, I’d expect to see you flip immediately.’

  ‘But…’ H’Ardrigann began to bluster.

  ‘But, but, but, pah!’ Was Lancer’s response.

  Seeking to retain a little dignity, H’Ardrigann bowed. ‘If that is your wish, my prince.’

  ‘I’ve told you before, call me Lancer the Dancer.’

  ‘Indeed, sir. I shall send a messenger to the king immediately to get his final say on the matter.’

  Lancer smiled at the captain.

  ‘You should send three, because you’ll get three answers, and not one will match.’

  The captain bowed once more and left the tavern, followed by his officers, each of whom attempted to leave the unsavoury drinking establishment with a touch of elegant style and an air of ‘oh, what’s next?’

  Chapter 70 Sleurth

  The sea was absolutely still, with barely a ripple to disturb its placid surface.

  Sleurth’s head and shoulders were visible, pale and round, as he bobbed in the centre of the group.

  He was surrounded by mayhap 30 more Loosis, in a loose circle around him. There were massive males, and even larger females, and some raised themselves up out of the water to facilitate looking down on the youngster.

  ‘I am pleased that you answered my call,’ said Sleurth, ever so slowly, as he chewed on each word. The world turned as he spoke.

  ‘Why did you call us?’ asked a towering male, water streaming from his smooth chest.

  ‘There is need,’ replied Sleurth, urgently. His words, spoken so quickly, took less than a minute to say.

  Stunned by the speed of his conversation, the male turned to his mate. If anyone could keep up with the young male, it would be her.

  ‘Need? You speak of need. Whose need?’ She was settled low in the water, with just her head visible.

  ‘There is evil on the island.’

  ‘Need; whose need?’

  ‘The evil must be…’

  ‘Need; whose need?’

  ‘I…’

  ‘Need; whose need?’

  Sleurth looked from one to another, for some sign of support.

  ‘The world needs this.’

  ‘What care we for the world? We are Loosis, and we will endure, whatever happens to ‘the world.’’

  ‘With no water to swim in, how will we endure?’

  There were gasps from the attending Loosis at the effrontery of the young male, when the meaning of his words had been grasped.

  ‘The sea will always carry us, child. The sea is always and forever, as are we.’

  ‘Come to the island. See what I have seen. Then you will understand.’

  ‘What would you have us do?’ This from a male of majestic dimensions, floating on his back with his great white belly exposed.

  There was a sudden hush at the words of the much-respected male.

  ‘We should swim to the island and rid the world of this evil menace.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘If not us, then who else will do this? The Elvenfolk are gone. The Giants are drowned. Would you leave such a task to humans? There is no-one else but us.’

  An age passed as the great male digested his words.

  With a groan, he rolled on to his stomach.

  ‘He makes a strong case. Do we have any other opinions?’

  There was no response from the gathering. They knew their leader well, and his mind was already set.

  ‘Then less of this too fast talk and let us be off. Lead the way, Sleurth.’

  In a loose formation, with Sleurth at the front, followed by the leader, they set off for Fairisle.

  **********

  The Giants and their friends met outside the tavern for the last time. Ferrooll smiled blindly as he nodded at voices he recognised, and laughed from time to time when a little human said something he found entertaining.

  Raarvan looked impatient, keen to be off on the road, hard though it may be.

  Aarvarn just looked worried at the prospect of their journey’s end. If anyone had suggested a quick drink and a bite before they set off, he would have planted himself on the ground land and not moved before wintertime. But no such offer was made.

  ‘I’ll miss you little people, with your quick little minds,’ said Ferrooll, expansively. ‘Just look who I’ll be stuck with on the road.’

  ‘Mayhap, with just us, you’ll be able to keep up with the conversation, like,’ said Raarvan, and very pleased he was with himself for his razor-sharp wit.

  ‘On behalf of the people of Hesselton and Misthaven,’ said Lord Richard, keen to avoid an argument, ‘I would like to thank all three of you for the aid you have given to us humans. Lancer has assured me that he will ask the king to knight each of you for your valour and support and endeavour.’

  ‘He speaks nice, don’t he, Raarvan? But I don’t catch much of what he says.’

  ‘You should call me Sir Raarvan, because the king is going to make me a knight.’

  ‘If he’s making you a Knight, he better make me one too, or I’ll have something to say to him.’

  ‘He’s making you a Knight too. Didn’t you hear what the little lord said?’

  ‘Hold on there a minute. I’s already a knight. The Giant king made me a knight, didn’t he? I’m sure he did, for telling where all the food was.’

  ‘I reckon he changed his mind when he found there weren’t no food.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a shame. What’s a knight anyways? Is it something like a day?’

  ‘Lord Richard,’ said Ferrooll, quietly for a Giant. ‘Thank Lancer and the king, for their generosity. But now we must be off. Spare a thought for me on the road with this pair.’

  ‘Mayhap you’ll teach them a thing or two on the road,’ said Richard, with a laugh.

  ‘Ay, mayhap you’re right, but where is a Giant to start?’ replied Ferrooll, with a grunt.

  With all farewells made, the Giants left the world of men and went to beget a new generation of Giants, no matter what the cost to themselves.

  Chapter 71 Woewearer

  Captain Harrb scowled at them as they boarded his ship, though it could just as easily have been a smile. Even sailors who had sailed with him for years struggled to see the difference.

  ‘I’m not happy about this, I ain’t,’ he grumbled as Ellaine passed him. ‘I said I wouldn’t take you; not for all the ale in the world.’

  ‘I believe negotiations have been extensive and agreement was achieved?’ She touched his arm as she spoke, and she gave him the benefit of one of her smiles.

  He shrugged off her hand, but her smile had a firmer grip on him and he couldn’t look away.

  ‘Don’t mean I’m happy about it,’ he said, stubbornly.

  ‘Happiness is something to be sought, my friend, but it is never easy to find, or keep, once found.’

  He looked away. ‘Don’t care for fancy words, miss. It’s hardly worth the effort to catch the meaning.’

  Ellaine nodded. ‘You’re right enough. How does this go? The world depends on you, man, so you must take us to Fairisle, and you must be quick about it. How does that sound? Is it simple and clear enough for you?’

  ‘I get your meaning, but I don’t understand the why’s.’

  ‘Do you need to?’

  ‘Ah...well, if you put it like that, I suppose not.’

  ‘Good man. So, be off and cast anchor, or whatever else you might do before you set sail.’

  ‘l’ll do that when I’m good and ready, if it don’t offend.’

  ‘I reckon you don’t worry too much about giving offence.’

  ‘Can’t say I do, miss. Can’t say I do.’

  ‘Then Captain, whenever it suits you, we can leave.’

  ‘That’s the way it usually works, I reckon. Even with them Elvenfolk, I made them wait until I was good and ready, and I wouldn’t take them ashore.’


  ‘You carried the Elvenfolk to Fairisle?’ Ellaine had been about to carry on below deck.

  ‘Ay, I did, and I charged them a pretty coin for it, I did, which reminds me. Your man, he came with a stern face and threatening words, but he never offered anything in coin, if you know what I means.’ He rubbed his finger and thumb together.

  ‘We’ll pay whatever is reasonable, when we return.’

  ‘And if you don’t return?’

  ‘Then speak to Lord Richard. He will see you straight.’

  ‘Well, he’d better, I reckon. You can forget about your nice smile and your soft voice; they won’t pay for a ship they won’t, and I’ll say that to your face.’

  ‘I believe you have.’

  He blushed and looked away. ‘You knows what I mean.’

  ‘Did you see what happened to the Elvenfolk? On the island.’

  He pursed his lips and sighed.

  ‘I did too, or some at least. You can see part of the road from the foc’sle, if you care to look. I caught the tail end of them, mayhap five or six I could see, before that evil plant fell on them.’

  ‘Evil plant?’

  ‘They call it tangleweed, and it’s always been on the island, for as long as I can remember, anyways. But it were just a nuisance plant, it was, until these past few weeks. Now...well, it’s more, and it’s everywhere and growing to such heights, you wouldn’t believe.’

  He turned to her and took her hand in his, suddenly gentle.

  ‘You shouldn’t go, you know. It won’t end well, I reckon.’

  ‘Yet still, it must end, and who else is there?’

  ‘What about them soldiers? What use are they if not for something like this?’

  ‘It will take more than strong arm, I’d say, to rid the island of such evil.’

  ‘It’s a fool’s errand, if you don’t mind me saying.’

  Ellaine chuckled as she turned away.

  ‘I’ve been called a fool before,’ she said, with a sigh.