Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03

by Toby Neighbors

  “How long do you think?” Branock asked, tapping his finger on the small dot that represented Tranaugh Shire on the map.

  “At least two weeks,” Wytlethane said, “maybe more. We’ll have to go slowly at first to let the soldiers keep up with us.”

  “If they don’t get lost trying,” Branock remarked.

  “They are fighters, not trackers.”

  “And all together they don’t have as much wit as one bright child.”

  Wytlethane did not argue. He merely nodded.

  “Well, let Cassis lead them to us,” Branock said. “That way we won’t have to worry about them.”

  “I’ll make a list of supplies and ensure that we have all that we need,” said Wytlethane.

  “Good, I’m ready to end this wild pig hunt.”

  Branock rose and left the room. He acted exasperated, but in fact he was excited. He was glad to finally be on the move again. He didn’t mind spending long periods of time in contemplation and study, but the Inn, although the nicest in town, was not to his standards. Besides, he had planned his moves, and he hoped to soon be rid of the brat Cassis and perhaps Wytlethane as well.

  ***

  When Todrek's new house was nearly finished, on a night when the wind was howling through the hills and trees, as Zollin lay sleeping under warm quilts, the feeling began. It was a strange sensation, much like the feeling he had had before the Harvest Festival, but this time it was different. It was stronger and more distinct. There was more than one person with magic power approaching, and it made Zollin nervous. The feeling was dark and ominous, the people, if that’s what really was approaching, felt malevolent, as if their errand or purpose was not a cheerful one. Zollin worked hard in those days, always wearing his willow belt and carrying his staff. He stocked his pack in the willow tree and made sure he had plenty of supplies to get him started on his journey.

  When the first snows fell, there was three days’ work left on the small house, and then it would need to be decorated and the cupboards stocked. The people of Tranaugh Shire were in a mood to celebrate, and plans were made. The wedding would take place in one week, with a pounding and feast the day before to prepare and supply the young couple’s home. It was traditional for gifts to be given to the young couple, and as the feeling of the approaching figures grew stronger Zollin decided to give them the ring he had gotten at the Harvest Festival. He had nothing more valuable to share and if the ring really did offer protection, he wanted Todrek to have it.

  When the house was finished, Zollin was sent to fetch Brianna so she could inspect it. Todrek was paying for the house, but a home was a woman’s domain and Quinn wanted to insure that the young bride would be happy. Girls normally made Zollin uncomfortable, especially beautiful ones, but he was too preoccupied with the sense of approaching power to be nervous about Brianna. He could almost make out figures in his mind, and it felt as if three distinct magical presences were approaching, en masse with a larger group. It occurred to Zollin that it could be another troupe of entertainers, but somehow he doubted it. These figures weren’t traveling showmen – they had real power.

  “So, it’s finally complete?” Brianna asked.

  “Yes,” Zollin said.

  “You know, you’ve changed,” she said, and the look on her face as Zollin glanced at her made a lump form in his throat. “You seem older,” she continued, “more like an elder than a boy.”

  “Is that right,” he murmured. I feel like a child now, he thought to himself.

  “I guess we’re all growing up. I can’t believe I’m getting married.”

  “Scared?” Zollin suggested. He knew he would be.

  “Excited, silly. I’ll finally be out of my mother’s house and that will be so wonderful.”

  “Oh,” Zollin said, unsure what to say. The remark had seared like a red-hot poker to a boy who had never known his mother. He couldn’t imagine having one and wanting to leave. He loved his father and didn’t want to leave him, even though he knew they were worlds apart.

  “To have my own home and do as I please,” she said, almost talking to herself. “It will be wonderful. And then of course babies. I plan to have a house full of them.”

  She struck Zollin as incredibly naïve although he knew nothing of marriage or children, but she sounded much more like she would be playing house, rather than starting a family. He wondered what would happen to his best friend and this beautiful but young girl when they realized life was not what they expected.

  They arrived at the home and Zollin stood with Quinn just outside while Brianna inspected every inch of it. She made several suggestions, which Quinn praised her for noticing and promised to fix. And when she was done, she declared herself overjoyed, before asking if Zollin would escort her home. Mansel was there and he shot Zollin a jealous look, which he took to be utterly foolish since the girl was betrothed. Still, he did feel a small bit of satisfaction that she had asked for him to walk her home rather than the strong and older Tanner’s son who apparently had no trouble catching the interest of most girls.

  “You and Todrek are good friends?” she asked, as if she didn’t already know the answer.

  “Yes, best friends.”

  “What is he really like?”

  “What do you mean?” Zollin asked.

  “Well, you know, he’s incredibly polite but that’s just to woo me. He seems sweet enough, strong and handsome in a way, but I want to know the real man before I marry him.”

  To Zollin, this seemed the wisest thing he had heard from either of the happy couple and was glad for it. Apparently there was more to Brianna than good looks and dreams of the perfect life.

  “He’s smart,” Zollin said. “He is strong but he doesn’t feel that he must prove it to anyone. He loves to laugh, is very opinionated, works hard and never complains. Well, almost never.”

  “Do you think he’ll be a good husband and a good father?”

  “I think you must be careful,” Zollin said, stopping to look at her. “I think he is overwhelmed by your beauty and would do anything to make you happy. For his sake, please treat him fairly.”

  “Zollin, you speak as if I’m a selfish and cruel girl,” she said, pouting.

  “I just want my friend to be happy.”

  “And you think I would make him unhappy?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just that life can be hard. I’m really happy for him, but I hope that you will love him.”

  “What do you know of love,” she said, turning and beginning to walk back toward her father’s house.

  “Nothing. All I mean is that he will need a good friend and I hope that you will be one for him.”

  “Why does he need a friend? Doesn’t he have you?”

  “No,” said Zollin softly. “I’m… I’m leaving after the wedding.”

  “Why?” asked Brianna, her voice rising. Zollin knew she would be surprised. People rarely left Tranaugh Shire.

  “I will tell you if you promise not to share it with anyone until after I’m gone.”

  She looked at him sternly for a moment, and Zollin felt his heart flutter and his hands begin to sweat. Until that moment he had been able to see her only as Todrek’s betrothed, but now he saw the beautiful girl before him. She was thin, with long arms and fingers. Her dark hair fell on her shoulders and her brown eyes looked deeply into his. She had a long graceful neck and a noble demeanor that gave her an elegant presence that was hard to resist.

  “You may not believe me, but you can ask Todrek when I’m gone. I have power, magic power, and I’m going to learn how to use it.”

  She eyed him critically for a moment and then burst out laughing. Zollin felt his face grow red with embarrassment, and his fury blossomed inside him. He felt like he was a small boy again being teased by the other children. He grabbed her arm and pulled her from the street between two houses. He looked around to see that no one was looking and then pulled a coin from his small pouch.

  “Hold out your hand!” h
e ordered her.

  “Why, are you going to make a rabbit appear?” she mocked.

  “Just hold out your hand!” he said, emphasizing each word.

  She did, and he placed the coin in it. She was starting to say something when the coin flew up and began to dance in front of her eyes. Zollin felt the crackle of power from the staff but held it in check. He didn’t want his anger causing things to go flying around the town.

  Brianna’s eyes widened in wonder and she waved her hands around the coin, looking for a string or some other trick.

  “How are you doing that?” she asked him, and there was wonder in her voice.

  “It doesn’t matter, but that’s why I’m leaving. And let me warn you about something else – there are people coming here and I don’t think they’ve got good intentions.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean there are powerful magicians coming here, to Tranaugh Shire. I can feel them approaching.”

  “Will they be here before the wedding?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, but I want you to take this.” He held out the ring.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s my wedding gift. It isn’t much, but it might protect you.”

  “Protect me from what?”

  “From magic. In fact, let me try something.”

  He slid the ring on her finger and ignored the strange look in her eyes as she watched him. He snatched the coin from the air and set it on her palm again, ignoring the tingle of excitement he felt as he touched her skin. He stepped back and tried to make the coin rise, but it did not move.

  “Rise!” he commanded, but again the coin remained motionless. He decided to try and lift Brianna herself. “Rise!” he commanded again, picturing the girl rising several inches into the air. He was ready to lower her back to the ground and reassure her that all was well if she panicked, but she didn’t move. He concentrated all his strength and felt the crackle of power from his staff racing through him, but he could do nothing to her. The ring offered its wearer some form of protection from his power at least.

  “Don’t take the ring off,” he told her, “not until the strangers leave. Do you understand?”

  She nodded and Zollin ignored the beautiful brown eyes that stared up into his with wonder. He motioned for her to go ahead of him back out toward the street.

  “I knew you had changed,” she said quietly.

  “You were right.”

  “When did you…” she asked, not wanting to speak of magic out loud.

  “At the first of summer,” he said.

  She nodded and was silent until they reached her father’s home.

  “Thank you, Zollin son of Quinn, for your fine work on Todrek’s home and for the wedding gift. I shall think of you whenever I see it.”

  He smiled and felt his knees go weak under him. He decided to beat a hasty retreat and said goodbye.

  Chapter 6

  The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear. The first snows had melted, but the temperature was cold, and Zollin threw too many logs into the fireplace and then set them ablaze with a thought. The heat from the fire soon filled the little kitchen, and Quinn rose from his bunk with a quilt about his shoulders and went to stand next to it.

  “Father,” Zollin said. “Can we talk?”

  “I figured we would need to sooner or later,” Quinn said wearily, and for the first time Zollin realized that his father was not anxious to have his son leave, even the son who always seemed a disappointment. So much had changed so fast – Zollin had changed, Brianna was right. He could see things from his father’s point of view now, and it filled him with sadness. He wanted to tell Quinn everything, the magic, the willow tree, his staff, even the ring he had given to Brianna. But he felt like it was too much and he honestly didn’t think he could handle it if his father reacted the way Todrek had.

  “I’m leaving Tranaugh Shire,” Zollin said sadly.

  “I expected something like that,” his father said. “What's your plan?”

  “Head south, perhaps visit Orrock. Maybe even go as far as Osla.”

  “How do you expect to make a living?” Quinn asked skeptically.

  Zollin wanted to say that he could do a few magic tricks to make ends meet, but he knew his father wouldn't understand. In so many ways, Zollin knew his father would never understand him, and the realization of that fact felt like a deep, dark pit in his soul. “I'll manage,” he said quietly.

  “That's just like you,” Quinn said sharply. “You think you'll be fine. You've probably got a little money saved and you think it'll last forever. It won't. You don't know a trade, Zollin. You've no friends, no family to lean on. You'll be destitute in a month, if not robbed and left for dead before then.”

  “I can take care of myself, Dad,” Zollin said, his anger rising.

  “There's no doubt you're a resourceful lad, but you need a trade. Stay here a few more years. Then you'll be an adult with a trade. You can go anywhere and find work. I know it seems like your world is ending. I've seen the way you look at Brianna-”

  “This has nothing to do with her,” Zollin shouted. The magic inside him swirled angrily.

  “I know your best friend is marrying a beautiful young girl, but when the time is right you'll marry too. That's why you need a trade.”

  “Dad, I don't care about getting married.”

  “It's normal, son, all young boys your age feel that way.”

  “This has nothing to do with Todrek or girls, I just need to leave. And I'm not waiting. I'm taking Lilly, unless you need her.”

  The horse, which Zollin had named Lilly, had taken new life with plenty of rest and good oats each night. She regained her strength and had a cheerful demeanor. She didn’t look nearly as old and would be a good horse.

  “We'll talk about it tomorrow.”

  “There's nothing to talk about,” Zollin said, turning away.

  “We'll see, son, we'll see.” Quinn moved away from the fire. “Well, it’s a big day, lots to do. I guess we better get moving.”

  “Sure,” Zollin said, turning back to the fireplace. He began to fix breakfast for the two of them, and the task seemed somehow bittersweet.

  Quinn paused for a moment before going to get dressed. “This is your home, Zollin,” he said softly.

  Zollin had his back to his father and could not turn around. Tears were springing to his eyes and he couldn’t stop them. Most of his life, he had felt that he wasn’t welcome, that his father somehow blamed him for his mother’s death. He never felt quite at home in the house Quinn had built for Zollin’s mother, had never felt like he measured up or made his dad proud.

  “Thanks, Dad,” he managed to say.

  Quinn went to his small bedroom to change, and Zollin wiped the tears away from his cheeks and finished preparing the oatmeal for breakfast.

  ***

  The wedding was a beautiful ceremony. Todrek was so excited he was shaking. Brianna looked beautiful in a long gown of green that matched the winter decorations. They were married in the town square, and then everyone moved into the Inn to celebrate. There was dancing and singing, lots of ale and wine, and congratulating. Zollin noticed that Brianna wore the ring and occasionally glanced at him. Todrek was in the midst of his happiest moment, the center of attention. Soon the happy couple left to spend their first night together in the new house Quinn had build for them. As Todrek’s best man, it was Zollin’s job to make sure they had everything they needed before he left them for the night. He stood outside in the cold as night fell, moving constantly to try and stay warm. His apprehension about the approaching figures was stronger than ever, and his jealousy of Todrek was also rearing its ugly head. It was a long thirty minutes before Todrek stuck his head out of the door to say everything was fine.

  Zollin ran back up to the Inn and announced the good news, and there was cheering and toasting, the ale and wine flowing like a swollen river in springtime. Zollin found a warm spot by the fire and dra
nk mulled wine until he could feel his fingers and toes again. He thought about waiting till spring to begin his journey, but the dread of the approaching figures drove that thought from his mind. He realized some time during that night of revelry that he would have to toughen up physically if he were to survive on his own. Long, cold nights awaited him, nights without a warm bed and perhaps not even enough food. But he would make it. He determined in his mind that no matter what happened in the days ahead, he would endure, he would survive. He had no idea at the time he made that decision that it would mean the difference between life and death.