LEGENDS: Fifteen Tales of Sword and Sorcery

by Colt, K. J.

  ‘It’s all right, Jemely,’ Mother said. ‘No one is blaming you.’

  ‘I am,’ Varago said angrily.

  I am too, I thought.

  Varago added, ‘You gave up too early! You might have found her. She’s a blind girl in a forest. How hard could it have been, Jemely? She’s fortunate that Klawdia was out hunting.’

  ‘Uncle—’

  ‘No. All week, you’ve been complaining about helping these poor folks. Helping Capacia and Adenine will now be your full-time job until you learn your lesson.’ He put particular emphasis on the last two words.

  ‘That’s not necessary, Varago,’ Mother said.

  ‘What about the clinic?’ Jemely asked.

  ‘No. Until you learn the lesson, this is your job now.’

  ‘Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on Jemely?’ Mother said.

  ‘Listen to Capacia, Uncle,’ Jemely added. ‘Whatever you want, more hours, harder work, I don’t mind washin’ out the waste buckets too.’

  ‘Are you arguing? Perhaps you’d like to work for Capacia indefinitely.’

  ‘No! I mean, I stuck up for Adenine. I couldn’t stop those louts,’ Jemely cried.

  ‘Those are my terms, Jemely.’

  Part of me was happy that Jemely was being punished. She deserved it.

  ‘Yes, Uncle.’

  ‘We do appreciate it, Jemely,’ Mother added.

  Then, I realised Mother was behind me. She was out of bed; her legs were working. ‘Mama! Your legs!’

  She laughed. ‘Oh, my dear beautiful girl. Only you would think of me at a time like this. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my legs are not fixed. When you and Jemely went to the river, Varago delivered a gift. It’s a chair with wheels.’

  ‘Wheels?’ I tried to imagine the contraption.

  ‘Like a cart and chair mixed together. And even with my weak arms, I can get into it. Aren’t we lucky, Adenine?’

  I nodded. ‘Now you can run Mystoria, if you can get downstairs that is.’

  We would earn money, keep our home, and be happy. It was like the honey in tea, like the sweet preserves in pie. I would have easily given up all my fingers and all my toes to see Mother become the merchant she’d always been. She deserved happiness. She deserved to be able to move around again because she had eyes that could see and she tolerated a horrible daughter like me.

  ‘I should go,’ the witch said.

  ‘Yes, it’s late,’ Mother replied, and there was tension in her voice. Something about the woman who’d found me in the forest made her uncomfortable. ‘Thank you, Klawdia.’

  I didn’t hear the woman leave—why were her footsteps so light? And her smell. Campfires, pine, and…rotting earth. I couldn’t place her accent.

  More hot water was poured into the bath, and my feet and hands tingled. The burning was less intense, though, and I managed to bear it.

  ‘We alerted the village, but Klawdia had already found you,’ Varago said. ‘There’ll be lots of attention for you.’

  ‘Is Klawdia a witch?’ I asked.

  ‘No,’ Mother answered. ‘No more questions.’

  ‘But where is she from?’ I pressed.

  ‘Ruxdor,’ Mother said, confirming my suspicions. ‘And when the townsfolk question you about your parents, you must continue to lie and say you are Garrad’s daughter to avoid speculation and scandal.’

  ‘Why?’ I asked.

  Mother patted my arm. ‘It is illegal for a family to hide a child. We hid you from the council because of your… sickness. If it is discovered you are my daughter, they will investigate.’

  ‘But I don’t understand. I am your daughter. Why is that bad?’

  Mother sighed. ‘It isn’t bad. Please trust me and know that one day I will reveal all to you.’

  ‘But I want to know now.’

  ‘No,’ Varago said. ‘Now, take this.’

  Something pressed against my hand, but my distraction with his commanding words had frozen me. How dare he give me orders. He wasn’t my father, and had no right to act like him.

  ‘Take it,’ Varago said again, and reluctantly, I grasped the heavy metal object. ‘Tell me what it is?’

  I ran my fingertips along the long, round stem and found a square end with deep grooves. ‘A key?’ It was the key to the large door.

  ‘Good, seems you have feeling in your fingers.’ He grabbed my foot and stretched it upwards. The air outside was uncomfortably cold compared to the warm bathwater. I tried to pull my leg back, but Varago was strong. ‘Oh dear. There’s a touch of damage to the tissue in your tiny toes, but it should heal over time. So lucky. Ten years ago, a boy got lost in the forest; when we found him, I had to cut off his foot. You reminded me of him because he too tried to dig into the dirt to escape the cold. When a person is too cold for too long, they become like a rabbit and burrow into the ground.’

  I choked back tears. ‘It was cold.’

  ‘You must have been freezing, my sweet daughter.’ Mother rubbed a warm hand across my shoulder blade.

  ‘She’s soaked long enough,’ Varago said. ‘Let’s dry her and get her dressed and sitting by the fire, eh?’

  Mother dabbed at my wet skin while Jemely soaked up the excess water from my hair. I realised then that I hadn’t been wearing a blindfold, and I covered my eyes with my hands.

  ‘Here,’ Jemely said, pressing my blindfold against my hands.

  ‘Oh, don’t give her that dirty, tattered thing. Today, I made her this,’ Mother said.

  Mother pushed another scrap into my hands, but the material felt so soft I thought it would melt under my touch. Remembering my exposed eyes, I fastened the silky fabric to my head and felt to make sure my eyes were completely covered.

  ‘It’s not for my knowing, but wasn’t the procedure done on her eyes dangerous?’ Jemely asked.

  ‘Jemely,’ Varago snapped. ‘It is absolutely an inappropriate time to be asking those kinds of questions.’

  ‘But it ain’t right. It’s obvious there’s—’

  ‘Be silent,’ Varago yelled, and his outburst frightened me.

  I didn’t understand. Why was Jemely so interested in my life? Was she trying to upset me? Jemely tried to hold my arm as I shuffled to the fireplace, but I yanked it away. I didn’t need her help. I knew exactly how many steps to take and in what direction the hearth was.

  A long, thick gown was placed across my shoulders. It smelled of Mother and was far too much material for my skinny body. A sash was tied at my waist, and a blanket was added over my lap after they sat me down on a comfortable wooden chair.

  ‘Now, food. First, apple pie with sugared cream,’ Varago said with a touch of delight in his voice. He handed me a plate and a spoon, and the aroma of the sweet, hot apples filled my nostrils.

  My mouth watered. I pushed my index finger into soft cream, then wiped the crusted sugar against my lips. I licked it away and my tongue tingled, causing my stomach to growl. It was agonisingly delicious. In three spoonfuls, my mouth was a little burnt, but the first serving was gone. ‘More?’ I asked.

  ‘May I please have some more?’ Mother corrected, and I repeated the question.

  ‘Certainly.’

  After two more platefuls of the sweet apple pie, I felt as if my stomach would burst.

  ‘Someone’s gone quiet.’ Mother chuckled.

  ‘We should go, Jemely. Gather your things and apologise again,’ Varago said.

  ‘I’m very sorry,’ Jemely mumbled insincerely.

  There was no forgiveness in me, only anger. ‘Those boys aren’t your friends. I wouldn’t play with them if I were you.’

  Varago laughed. ‘My fondness for this girl grows every day. Off we go.’

  When they were gone, Mother helped me to her bed. I took off my new blindfold and put it on the floor before snuggling down into the soft, warm sheets. They were a welcome change from the dirt and sticks of the forest floor. Mother tucked me in, and something touched the side of my head.
I touched it and found rope.

  ‘Here.’ Mother pulled down the sheets, put a loop of rope over my head, and fastened it under my arms. ‘Now, pull this down towards you.’

  I did, and my body drifted upwards towards the ceiling. I giggled. ‘This is fun, Mama. Is this so you can get in and out of your chair by yourself?’

  ‘Yes.’ Her chair squeaked as she leaned forward to kiss my forehead. She took the rope off me and said, ‘Sleep now. Tomorrow awaits.’

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  MAMA WASN’T IN THE BED the next morning. I wiggled my fingers and toes, making sure they were properly healed, and felt no pain. I called out into the silent house. ‘Mama?’

  No reply. That reminded me of the loneliness I’d felt in the forest the night before. I’d imagined the Klawdia woman as a witch trying to burn me alive and use my body in potions. It all seemed so silly now. I threw off the blankets, found my boots, and pulled them on.

  The blindfold was on the ground under the bed, and before tying it on I stroked the buttery silk. The material bewitched me until I rubbed the smoothness against my cheek.

  ‘Mama?’ I said again, cheerily. I tied on the blindfold and thought, She must be in the attic, or downstairs. At the barricade door, I listened and noted the group of voices, intent with discussion, rising up from Mystoria.

  ‘Is she all right?’

  ‘Yes, she’s recovering well.’

  ‘… bread… some other bits, and…’

  ‘You’re very kind.’

  When that conversation finished, the front door closed and Mother went back to her other guests. Slowly, I stepped down the stairs and called out, ‘Capacia?’

  ‘Adenine, I’m down here.’ Mother’s tone was cheerful as a sparrow’s chirp.

  When I reached the bottom stair, the conversations became clearer, and I moved towards the group of strangers.

  ‘Yes, exactly,’ one of them said. ‘The board sits like this, and then it slides up and down… oh, who do we have here?’

  ‘This is Adenine, my niece,’ Mother said. ‘Greet our guests.’

  ‘Well met,’ I said, and wondered how she’d made it down the stairs.

  ‘Well met, Adenine. I’m Krejald,’ the man said. ‘I hear you caused quite a stir in the town last night.’

  Embarrassed, I lowered my head.

  ‘Oh, Krejald, you’ve such a way with the ladies,’ a woman said. ‘Ignore him, Adenine. He’s an oaf. I’m Fara.’

  ‘Fara is a metal smithy,’ Mother informed me.

  ‘And a striking one at that,’ Varago said, surprising me. I hadn’t noticed him there. His knees cracked, and I felt a slight breeze as he drew near. ‘Put your hands out,’ he instructed.

  I did, and he wiggled each of my fingers.

  ‘Pain?’

  I shook my head.

  ‘Astonishing. You’re by far the luckiest girl around. Most people die from being cold for too long.’

  Mother wheeled her chair over and put her arm around my waist. ‘She’s special. That’s all there is to it.’

  ‘She is lovely,’ Krejald said. He walked over and tried to shake my hand.

  I yanked my hand back, forgetting that I was no longer infectious.

  ‘Adenine!’ Mother scolded. ‘She’s a little shy of strangers.’

  ‘Oh, I do sincerely apologise. How thoughtless of me. Do you forgive me, Adenine?’ Krejald said in a jesting tone, and I couldn’t help smiling. ‘Oh, lucky me, a smile. I would not want to offend such a pretty lady as yourself.’

  I giggled, and the sound of it was strange to my own ears, like happiness. I realised how easy it would be to fake feelings, to fake everything. ‘I’m only thirteen,’ I said.

  ‘Ahh, thirteen. Not quite a lady, but you’re not a little girl, either, are you?’

  I shook my head.

  ‘So, you are both a lady and a girl,’ he mused.

  ‘Oh, stop it, Krej. You have no shame,’ Mother said, exasperated.

  ‘I defer to your limitless wisdom, Capacia,’ he said.

  Fara snorted. ‘Can we get on with this? I’ve things to do.’

  ‘Indeed,’ Varago said. ‘As I was saying, all you need to do is make these round rings here, Krejald. You make these bits of wood here and here. And we’ll fit it all tonight.’

  They were planning to make something for the shop, that much seemed obvious.

  ‘Capacia, how did you get down here?’ I asked, feeling weird for calling Mother by her name.

  ‘These three carried me down. And I have another chair now, thanks to Krejald and Fara, so I wheel myself about down here, too. I think we should open the shop tomorrow.’

  My heart skipped a beat. It was going to happen; Mystoria was saved and so were we.

  ‘Well, nothing will be open if we don’t get this finished,’ Varago said.

  ‘Get what finished?’ I asked.

  ‘Well, your aunt can wheel herself around on flat surfaces, but she can’t climb stairs, can she? And you’re not strong enough to help her,’ Varago said. ‘So we’re conceiving a way to go up and down the stairs with a similar system to the pulley one above Capacia’s bed.’

  ‘It’s a good idea. Isn’t it, Adenine?’ Mother asked.

  I nodded. The town crier’s voice came then, as he always did at midday, and I realised I’d slept the morning away.

  ‘Hear ye! Hear ye! Adenine, Capacia of Mystoria’s new adopted child, the child of Garrad who was murdered by Capacia’s husband, was found frozen almost to death in the forest. She’s making a full recovery.’

  My cheeks flushed.

  Varago laughed. ‘Tell her, Capacia. We’ve had lots of callers this morning, Adenine, all of them inquiring how you are. They brought gifts for you, too.’

  Gifts? Why did anyone care whether I lived or died? Now the whole town knew about me and my stupidity.

  And just when I thought the midday news was over, there was more. ‘Also, today a Meligna healer visits. Fifty gold for a healing.’

  There were angry shouts from outside. ‘Send ‘er home again, we don’t want ‘er here.’

  Another person shouted, ‘Witch! She got no right comin’ to our town!’

  The commotion continued for some time. A healer from Meligna in Borrelia was unusual. The healers weren’t liked by the Borrelian people because of the post-war dispute.

  ‘A Meligna healer,’ Krejald said in a faraway manner. ‘Been half a decade since one of those stopped here.’

  Fifty gold was a hefty sum of coin; why even bother offering the service if it cost so much?

  ‘Scandalous!’ Varago shouted. ‘Filthy golden whores. They can take their special powers and spear themselves, for all I care. They are vermin. Dogs!’

  ‘Shh, Varago,’ Mother said. ‘Young ears do not need your language. Maybe you should go upstairs, Adenine.’ She sounded nervous.

  ‘My judgment in this matter is unwavering, Capacia,’ Varago continued. ‘My father died because he could not afford their outrageous prices.’

  ‘Your opinion might be set, Varago, but you do not have to force it on the rest of us.’

  Varago snorted. ‘What’s fifty large to us poor people? Thirty, forty, fifty years of wages? No one can meet the expense of that. Maybe you could have, Capacia, if you’d saved your money instead of spending it on every pretty thing your eyes touched. But I bet even you’d twitch at spending fifty gold coins.’

  Mother’s chair creaked. ‘You’re hardly poor, Varago. But it seems they only want to sell healings to the rich. I believe it is a political statement. It’s a demonstration of power. They have a priceless resource that we do not.’

  ‘I’ve never believed the rumours,’ Fara said. ‘What people claim the healers do seems like witches tricks to me, and witches do more harm than good.’

  ‘It’s real magic,’ Mother said. ‘Perhaps one of the few true examples of it.’

  Magic. Magic was in books that Mother would read to me very rarely when I was a girl. I of
ten wished magic was real and, in my playtimes, imagined myself to be a witch or sorceress.

  ‘How do you know?’ Fara challenged.

  ‘I’ve seen it for myself,’ Mother said. ‘You’ve lived in this town your whole life, you’re not yet nineteen and so you are too young to remember the time of healers.’

  ‘To believe things, I got to see them with my own eyes, Capacia. I never trust hearsay.’

  Everyone fell silent, so I decided to go upstairs, light the fire, and try my hand at making some chicken soup for supper. Soon, Jemely arrived with clean sheets and clothes, more food supplies, apple juice, and sweets.

  She put one of the sugary-coated candies in my hand. ‘I’m really sorry about yesterday, Adenine.’

  Yesterday’s anger had softened after a good night’s sleep, and I was ready to make peace. ‘It’s all right.’

  ‘It ain’t all right. I’ll find a way to make it up to you.’

  I began to feel bad for thinking so poorly of her. Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe she didn’t harbour wicked intentions. Carelessness didn’t make a person evil. I continued to carefully cut vegetables and chicken, stopping to check the pieces with my fingertips to ensure they were the right size.

  ‘It smells delicious,’ Jemely said. ‘I can’t believe you’re cutting vegetables with a sharp knife. You’re provin’ none of us really needs our eyes.’

  Being useful made me swell with pride. Mother could depend on me to help out in our house, and even in Mystoria. We would be mother and daughter merchants working together.

  Later that afternoon, everyone had gathered at the bottom of the staircase in order to watch Varago’s new contraption work. Basically, Mother had to lie on her back on a flat piece of wood on the stairs. She would then have to pull on a piece of rope that would allow the wood to slide up the steps. I wished I could watch it in action. Varago explained that at the top of the stairs was another pulley system, and she had to hook the rope under her arms and pull herself up. She would then get into her chair with wheels.

  It was a lot of bother, but Mother only needed to use it twice a day. I could bring her food and water at lunch, along with anything else she might need. For all other requirements, we’d employ street roamers in need of a quick coin.