by Karen Myers
“Starting with the fae, as each family or neighborhood group identifies itself and begins asking for help, we’ve assigned temporary leaders to streamline the communications. Wherever there have been settlers nearby, we’ve recruited them to help their neighbors. The recovering people seem more bewildered than belligerent, and we’re emptying our stores to get them back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Ceridwen said, “The first thought, everywhere, has been to clean up. We’re already out of supplies for that purpose, and the first dispatches we sent this morning were requests for more from Gwyn. That should arrive tomorrow.”
Eluned said, “The next big request, after food—that’s well in hand—is for clothing or at least cloth. They’re all in rags, by and large, and cleaning will only go so far. That will take a little longer, we expect, but we’ve pressed Gwyn for that, too. Oh, and cobblers.”
Cadugan resumed. “We expect that they’ll soon begin asking about the empty buildings, their missing friends and family, and the new settlers.”
Edern said, “Have each village select three or four people, and the farm clusters and hamlets one each. We’ll organize true hundreds and tithings of ten but not right away. Send them here for Wednesday afternoon. If they need horses for travel, we’ll provide them. I’ll meet with that group and explain. Eluned, if you will help me prepare a statement, we can copy that and give each place a version to read, for those who couldn’t come.”
“Yes, my lord,” she said.
“Cadugan, we’re going to need good legal precedent for what to do about abandoned buildings and lands, beyond what we’ve done so far, and the process for claiming them. I want that included in my speech on Wednesday.”
Cadugan nodded
“Now, what have we heard about the korrigans and the lutins?”
Rhodri said, “Benitoe rode in just a little while ago and sought me out. He’s made contact with one group of lutins, and it’s just like the fae. They want to come out of hiding and need guidance.”
He handed Edern a note. “He asks you to send this to Ives, our kennel-master. It seems they’re both members of the lutins’ Kuzul in Greenway Court, and he’s seeking the approval of the Kuzul to represent the needs of the lutins, until the members of their own Kuzul can be found.”
That raised a few eyebrows around the table. Kuzul members were usually little known outside of lutin circles.
Rhodri continued. “He’s already had the lutins in this one group meet with the fae at their local farms and explained to both what’s been going on. They’ve agreed to resume mutual support and wait for further contact.”
Edern said, “That was well done of him. Cadugan, we should encourage all the others that came with Mistress Rozenn to help him with this organization. Please help coordinate that. And we shouldn’t be surprised if the Kuzul sends us a few more.”
Cadugan nodded and made some notes.
Lleision said, “My lord, the korrigans, in the persons of Tiernoc and Broch, make their apologies for staying away to tend to their people. I have notes here sent in from my guards requesting supplies, and a proposal for civic organization that is much like the one you propose for the fae.” He gave the notes to Edern who read them and passed them on to Cadugan.
“I approve of all of this,” Edern said, “with one exception. I want representatives from both the lutins and the korrigans to join the fae who will be here on Wednesday, to hear the state of affairs officially and to re-bond with the others here in Edgewood. No huddling into tribal groups for the recovery. We’ll all have to support each other and this court stands ready to help all of them. Lleision, you will have Tiernoc and Broch so informed. Rhodri, you are to tell Benitoe and Rozenn.”
He stood to dismiss the council. “My lady,” he called to Seething Magma, in her corner of the room. “Any further news from George?”
Two knocks.
That reminder sobered everyone, and several of them promised to return and resume the vigil with Edern, once their tasks were done.
CHAPTER 20
Gwyn never liked the feeling of being behind events. Edern had started sending dispatches twice daily since George left, but it wasn’t quick enough. Still, as he held the morning’s messages in his hand in the early afternoon, he was delighted for once to share them with his council.
Angharad joined the rest of them, for at least as long as George was on his mission. Gwyn didn’t have the heart to exclude her.
Their mood was hopeful, taking their cue from Gwyn.
“Yes, it’s good news today.” He watched them relax a bit. “Last night, George met the rock-wight’s child, with some companion. They had news of Rhys. He’s a captive, but unharmed.” He glossed over the uncertainties in Rhys’s well-being for now. “The young rock-wight took them to a hiding spot near Madog’s dungeon, and tonight, George will try to locate him.”
Rhian asked, “Who’s the other person?”
“Seems to be a boy. Their nickname for him is ‘wolf cub,’ something about the symbol the rock-wight chose for him. It’s hard getting detailed information from her, since George was the only one who could hear her directly. I understand that Eluned and Rhodri have some sort of translation workshop set up with her. There’s talk of drawings and bells and toys—I have trouble visualizing all this.”
“Excellent news that they’re both alive and unharmed,” Idris said. Gwyn could hear the unspoken “for now” in his voice.
“There’s more,” Gwyn said, “quite unexpected. George and Rhodri thought the barrier around Edgewood was a way, and they were right. George destroyed it last night, from miles away. The rock-wight thinks that Cernunnos helped.”
That created a stir. “The barrier’s gone?” Idris said. “For good?”
“Apparently so. And,” he said, raising a finger for emphasis, “this morning the resident population started sending delegates asking what had happened to them. The people are waking up again. It looks as if the blight’s been removed and they’ll recover.”
“The lutins, too?” Rhian asked.
“As of the time they sent this, there was no news about the effect on the lutins or the korrigans. But I expect it’ll be the same for them. Why not?”
“Now,” he turned to Ifor, “This last gives us something active we can do. Cadugan and Ceridwen say the first thing they wanted to do when they came to themselves was to clean up, and they need clothing and cloth, too. She speaks of a ‘great scrubbing’ going on.”
That raised smiles all around.
“We are urgently requested for as much material as we can spare. I want a first shipment to go out today while there’s still daylight, even if it arrives at night, followed by a larger one tomorrow.”
He handed the lists to Ifor and stood up to close the meeting. “Let’s get to it.”
Only Angharad lingered behind. “George is going to search the dungeon tonight?”
Gwyn nodded. “That’s what the rock-wight said was his plan.”
“I have a very bad feeling about this,” she told him.
He saw the distress on her face, instead of the usual calm. “It’s natural to worry,” he said, soothingly.
“No, it’s not that. I don’t know what it is,” she said. “I wish, more than I can say, I wish that I could stop him.”
“Is she nice?” Maelgwn asked.
“Is who nice?” George said.
They were waiting for Cloudie to return. She’d been summoned by Madog this morning and had been gone for hours. George was trying to explore outside the garden walls without being seen, and Maelgwn had come along to show him around. So far they hadn’t seen any patrols outside the manor walls.
“You’re married, aren’t you?”
“Oh,” George said, understanding. “Yes, I am. She’s wonderful.” He smiled fondly. He recalled himself and looked down at Maelgwn. “She’s about this tall,” he said, putting his hand to his mouth, “and she has long, chestnut hair.”
“Do you hav
e any kids?”
“Not yet. Soon, I hope,” he said. “She’s been married before and has several children, but they’re all a good deal older than you are, all grown up.” Older than me, too, he thought, but he didn’t want to get into all that with the boy.
“She gave me something to find her with, if I’m ever lost. Want to see?”
Maelgwn nodded.
George opened the top of his shirt and pulled out the arrow pendant. When it lost contact with his skin, it became visible, and Maelgwn’s eyes widened. “It’s magic,” he said.
“She’s very clever,” George told him. He suspended it, and the arrow swung to the southeast and pointed there steadily. “That’s where she is, miles and miles away.” He tucked it back in and refastened his shirt collar.
They were sitting in a little woods looking down on Madog’s buildings and grounds. George used his beast sense and confirmed no one was nearby.
He’d felt oddly bereft in the morning when he saw that Maelgwn had left the nest of blankets George had made for him the night before, but his heart lightened when his hand felt the body heat within and realized he’d slept there all night long.
He cleared his throat. “Maelgwn,” he said, “I have something serious I want to discuss with you.”
The boy looked at him.
“You know, if I’m able to free Cloudie, she’s going to go back to her mom, and you won’t be able to go with her.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said. “Besides, she’s gonna be a little kid all my life, won’t she? She doesn’t understand about that.”
“Yes, that’s right.” He paused. “Would you like to come live with me, afterward? For keeps?”
“Aw, what good is that kind of talk? We’re not family.”
“We can choose to be family. Sometimes those families are the best kind.”
There was no answer from the boy.
“I’d really like it,” George said. “You know, I’m a huntsman. I have lots of hounds. Horses, too.”
“What would your wife think?”
“She’d be happy to have you. Truly.”
George waited for a response.
“Could I visit Cloudie?”
George thought at Mag, well can he?
*Picture of Granite Cloud, picture of Maelgwn. Picture of Granite Cloud, picture of Maelgwn, adult size.*
“I think that means yes, forever, whatever age you are.”
*Agreement.*
That silenced Maelgwn.
*Picture of Seething Magma, picture of George. Picture of Seething Magma, picture of George bigger.*
Well, let’s hope I don’t actually get any bigger, he thought to her, but I understand. Me, too, eh?
*Agreement.*
I appreciate it, he thought. I’m getting rather fond of you, too.
“When do you think Cloudie will come back?” George said eventually.
“Sometimes he keeps her all day long.” Maelgwn looked grateful for the change in topic.
“Too bad. Alright, what can you tell me about these buildings? What do they hold and how often and where do you see any guards?”
After they exhausted Maelgwn’s knowledge on this subject, George spent the rest of the daylight telling Maelgwn about the hounds, about his new Christmas tree, about how he came to Gwyn’s world, and what he discovered about Cernunnos when he got here.
Cloudie finally returned, just after sunset. She exuded crankiness. George thought, if she were a little girl, she’d be kicking the rocks out of her path.
“Where have you been?” Maelgwn said.
*He made me do the long, long loop. I hate it. It goes on forever.*
“Is there a barrier way around this place, sweetheart?” George asked.
She showed him a map like her mother’s but this one covered more territory. A narrow line surrounded the upper third of the Shenandoah Valley, abutting against the western edge of the Blue Ridge.
“That must be two hundred miles. No wonder you’re tired,” he said, sympathetically.
If she’d had a nose, she’d have sniffed.
Madog’s shoring up his defenses, George thought. I wonder what he thinks of losing the Edgewood barrier.
He gave her a chance to settle down, then he explained his plan to the two youngsters.
“I’m going to go inside and see what I can find. If I’m very careful, I can try and cast a glamour on myself. I don’t do that very well, but I think I can aim for ‘stone wall’ and keep it simple.”
He smiled at them, to keep them from worrying. “If I’m not back by morning, I want Cloudie to tell her mom, alright?”
Maelgwn put his hands on his hips. “We’re coming along.”
“No, not happening,” George said.
“And how do you plan to stop it? Cloudie can just make a way in for us.”
George tried to appeal to his sense of responsibility. “Maelgwn, I can’t fight if I have to protect you, too. I’d be worried about you the whole time. And you can’t let Madog see Cloudie make a way for someone else.”
“No, you’re wrong. Here’s how it would work. Cloudie gets us in. You kill the way so there’s nothing for Madog to find. Then you find your friend and she makes us a way out of there, and you can kill that one, too.”
George opened his mouth and stopped. That might actually work. “I can do that without you, just me and Cloudie.”
“No. Me, too, or it’s no deal. She’ll do what I ask her to.”
He was probably right about that, George thought.
Maelgwn saw his hesitation and reduced his belligerence. “It’s my fight, too. You have to let me help.”
George admitted the justice of the argument, but his stomach crawled at the thought of letting a child do this. But this child had had years to stiffen his resolve, and just where did one draw the line that made this boy a man?
“If we do this—I say ‘if’—then it will be like a military patrol, and I’m the commander. When I give an order, I don’t want there to be any debate about it. If I tell the two of you to go, then it will be your duty to get yourself and Cloudie out of there, no matter what. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” Maelgwn said, resolved.
“Do you agree?”
“Yes.” George saw that he took it seriously, not with the bravado of a child playing.
He made one more attempt. “I could die. You could die. This is no game.”
Maelgwn nodded.
“Alright. I’ll second-guess myself later, but something tells me I should let you have your way in this.”
Maelgwn grinned.
“I already think it’s a bad idea,” George growled. “Don’t make me change my mind.”
It was late enough that everyone except guards should be asleep, and they’d be getting sleepy, too. Or so George hoped.
What sort of man builds a dungeon, he wondered, not for the first time. The sort of man who kills entire families that might rival him for power, he answered himself. He hoped this was where the ways he’d killed were anchored, that he might have done some softening up damage a couple of days ago.
There was no need to get close to the building, not with Cloudie providing an entrance. The three of them stood just inside the garden wall, in one of the rare unoccupied spots. George didn’t want to risk detection by closing ways unnecessarily, or he might have cleaned up a bit in here while he was waiting for night.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, for the tenth time. Maelgwn was determined and just nodded his head. “Alright, we want a spot inside a corridor, as far from the center as possible. Can you do that, Cloudie?”
*I’ll show you.*
She created a way and George entered it cautiously, in the lead, with Cloudie bringing up the rear. When he reached the end, he held up his hand for silence, It was dark, but Cloudie seemed to have successfully brought them out in a corridor and not, for example, in one of the cells.
He stepped out and discovered there was a little b
it of ambient light, just enough to avoid the walls, if you were careful. He pulled Maelgwn out by the hand and told Cloudie silently to follow. When they were both next to him, he collapsed the way, very gently. Don’t run into Maelgwn, he told Cloudie, he’ll have trouble seeing you in the dark.
He cast his senses out as he stood there. Several way ends were scattered throughout the building. He suspected many of them were old. He was glad to find them, since it reduced the likelihood of Madog sensing a new one. He then used his beast sense to feel for man, not his most accurate skill.
The results appalled him. About half these cells were occupied, and there were at least ten people rotting in the dark, dying. From the smell, others had died but not been removed. He had no way to sense Rhys. He wasn’t in the habit of looking for his friends that way and didn’t know what to look for. A few of the people he could sense seemed in better health—fresher, as it were—and Rhys must be one of those, he reasoned. He wanted to free them all but it just wouldn’t work.
He took Maelgwn’s hand and put it on his belt. The boy got the idea and let him lead him through the darkness, one reluctant hand keeping in touch with the slimy wall. He headed in the direction of the nearest of the newer prisoners.
To get there, he had to turn a corner in the dark. He walked cautiously, afraid of stairs or other obstacles. He led them down the new corridor, trying to concentrate on just the cells occupied by the living. The corridor bent away from his target and he looked for another branching that would bring him closer to the newer captives.
When he found one, he followed it as long as it stayed straight. At each choice of corridors, he selected the more likely, as best as he could judge. It was a relief not to have to keep track of their route in the dark, since they would make a new way to get out again.
At his latest turn, he paused after he’d gone more than ten yards down to his left. He heard a noise, up ahead, a clang of a door being unlocked and a glimpse of torches, the people holding them coming down steps.
“Get out of here,” he whispered urgently to Maelgwn. “Make a way and get in it. I’ll be right behind you.”
Cloudie and Maelgwn ducked back around the corner again. George turned to join them but was caught in the light.