Morrigone said, ‘On behalf of Council, Vega, I apologize. No Wug goes to Valhall who has not first been convicted.’ She added in a withering tone with a scathing look at Krone tacked on, ‘As my colleague well knows.’
Krone had said nothing this whole time. As I attacked my meal and drank down the water, I shot glances here and there at Council. I saw Krone looking down at his hands and no doubt wondering where his advantage had gone. I was thinking that I might even be let go in a sliver or two when I noticed the carafe had a slight crack in it. Water had dribbled out of it and on to my sleeve. A puddle of dark liquid was pooling on the table.
I stared at it for a long moment, wondering what its source was. I wasn’t that dirty.
I didn’t even know he was beside me until I looked up.
Krone was staring at the dark pool of water. Then he looked at my arm and then he looked at me. Before I could stop him, he had ripped up my shirtsleeve, exposing the marks I had made copying the map of the Quag that Quentin Herms had left me.
‘And what in the name of Steeples is this, I ask you?’ he roared. He twisted my arm and I cried out in pain.
Thansius stood. ‘Krone, stand down this instant.’
Morrigone was on her feet too and hurrying over to us. She stopped next to me and her gaze ran down my arm. I saw her attempt to say something but then it was like the words froze in her throat.
Krone said, ‘Unless I am much mistaken, fellow members of Council, what I perceive on this female’s arm is nothing less than a map of the Quag.’
I wanted to yell back at him and ask how he knew it was the Quag, but I was struck dumb by the looks on the faces of Council. Thansius alone held me spellbound. He slowly walked over to me and looked down my arm. He gently pulled up my other sleeve and looked there as well.
‘Are there any more marks on you, Vega, other than these?’ His voice was filled with disappointment and, even worse, betrayal.
My eyes clouding with tears, I found I could not lie. ‘On my belly and legs.’
‘And where did you come by them?’
I looked at Morrigone. She had not taken her eyes off the marks. Her expression of profound surprise was crushing to me.
‘Quentin Herms left them on parchment for me,’ I said. ‘Before he disappeared.’
‘And did he tell you it was a way through the Quag?’
‘In a way, yes.’
‘And where is this parchment now?’
‘I burned it.’
Krone broke in, ‘But not before copying the marks on her skin. And why do that if she were not planning to use it somehow, and no doubt against her fellow Wugmorts.’
‘I was not!’ I cried out. ‘I was never intending to use it at all.’
‘Then why keep it on your skin?’
This query was from Morrigone. She was now looking directly at me.
I forced myself to meet her gaze. And in holding that gaze, I decided to tell the truth. ‘Because it showed a way to a place other than here.’
‘A confession,’ shouted Krone. ‘The female has as good as told us she is working with the Outliers.’
Morrigone was still staring at me, great sadness in her eyes. She looked at Thansius and said, ‘I believe that we have heard all that is necessary. We shall deliberate and then render our judgement.’
I wanted to scream at her not to do this. That I was innocent. That they needed to hear more from me. But I said nothing. I knew beyond all doubt that I could say nothing else that would matter to them now.
She looked at Krone. ‘But she will not be taken back to Valhall. She will be taken to her lodgings and a guard placed over her.’
Krone looked mortified at the idea. ‘She is a traitor. She will attempt to escape and thus avoid justice on this most serious matter. She has the map of the Quag on her. She will use it to—’
‘To what, Krone?’ interrupted Morrigone. ‘To go through the Quag? A fourteen-session-old Wug? She will be dead in two slivers. We all know what lies in there, Vega as well.’ She looked at me when she said this. ‘And she has other reasons not to leave Wormwood. These she knows as well.’
Krone was about to say something, but Thansius forestalled another outburst.
‘I am in agreement with Madame Morrigone. Vega will be taken to her lodgings and a guard placed there. However, before this is done, a female assistant to Council will see to . . . to the washing away of the marks on her . . . self.’
Krone said, ‘I want a guard with her every step of the way.’
Thansius looked like he wanted to strangle his colleague. ‘I highly doubt Vega can escape from the Council building, Krone. But if you wish, you may go stand outside the door of the washroom.’
Without waiting for a reply, Thansius walked back to the dais and used the hilt of an enormous jewel-encrusted sword lying there to smack the wood.
‘Council will take up the matter of Vega Jane immediately.’
As I was led out, I looked back first at Thansius and then at Morrigone. Neither one of them would look at me.
My heart and spirits in my boots, I was led from the chamber and taken to a loo, where all the marks were washed off me with such energy that my skin was reddened and painful. But I didn’t utter a sound as the marks I had kept hidden for so long disappeared from my skin. Afterwards, I was taken back to my lodgings, where a very happy Non stood guard outside my door.
Delph had brought Harry Two around to me, and my canine stayed right by my side.
It was quite dark now and I lay on my cot and wondered what my fate would be.
Would they take my life?
Would they place me back in Valhall? Perhaps forever?
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but it was impossible. Until I knew my fate, there would be no rest for me.
34
DO OR DIE
When the knock came at my door, Harry Two started growling.
The tendrils of first light were just beginning to leach into my window, dispelling the darkness. I staggered up, half asleep, waves of cold dread making me feel unbalanced and sick to my stomach for I had no idea who would be coming for me at this hour.
I opened the door.
It was Morrigone. She looked deadly pale and tired, her exhausted features neatly matching how I felt. Her cloak even had a few spots of dirt on the hem. I looked over her shoulder but did not see the carriage. She must have walked from the Council building to deliver the news.
‘May I come in, Vega?’
I nodded and moved out of the way to allow her entry.
She sat, or rather fell, into one of the chairs. She stifled a yawn and rubbed at one of her eyes.
‘You haven’t slept all night?’ I said.
She slowly shook her head but didn’t really seem to have heard my query. She looked at Harry Two and held out a hand to him. He cautiously approached and allowed her to rub his ears.
‘A fine canine,’ she said.
‘He would do anything for me,’ I replied, sitting on my cot across from her. ‘Will he be denied that opportunity?’ I asked cautiously.
She looked up. ‘You will not be executed, if that’s what you’re asking,’ she said bluntly. ‘Krone fought long and hard all night on that point, but Thansius and I used all our resources and support to make Council see reason.’
‘Why does Krone hate me so much? What have I ever done to him?’
‘It’s not about you,’ Morrigone said quietly. ‘Krone actually hated your grandfather.’
‘What?’ I gasped.
‘When Virgil was leaving Council, it was rumoured that Krone would take his spot. Virgil did not think much of Krone, and they had a terrific row in front of the entire Council. It was humiliating for Krone. Another Wug was appointed to replace Virgil based, I believe, solely on that verbal dust-up. And though Krone did eventually become a Council member, it did not happen for several sessions. I am certain he held your grandfather responsible for this delay in his career. And his hatred for your
grandfather seems to have been transferred to you.’
‘And to my brother?’ I said anxiously. ‘No. I think just to you.’
‘Why just me, then?’ I said, bewildered.
She looked at me with a bemused expression. ‘It is because you are so very much like your grandfather, Vega. So very much.’
‘You liked him?’ I thought back to Delph’s description of the pair arguing right before my grandfather had left Wormwood.
‘I respected him, which is even more powerful, Vega. Virgil was a great Wugmort. He has been . . . He has been sorely missed since his . . .’
She did not seem able to finish the thought.
‘I miss him too,’ I said. ‘I wish he were here right now, to be with me.’
Morrigone reached out and gripped my hand. ‘I see you have drawn the symbol he carried on your skin.’
I had not let the female at Council wash it off. I had told her it was not part of the map and she had relented.
I hesitated before asking, ‘What is my fate? If not execution, then it must be Valhall.’
‘It is not Valhall.’
I looked at her, puzzled. ‘Then what is my punishment?’
She gathered her own breath. ‘You must fight in the Duelum, Vega. You must fight your heart out. You cannot surrender or go down easily, for if you do, you will be put in Valhall for the rest of your sessions. That is the vote of Council and it is final.’
‘But I’ll be fighting against fully grown males.’
She rose. ‘The fact is, Vega, they don’t care. If you fight valiantly, all will be forgiven, and you will owe nothing else. If you won’t fight, then you will be taken to Valhall immediately. And in truth, I cannot guarantee that Krone will not push again for your execution. And this time he might succeed.’
‘Then I give you my word that I will fight my hardest.’ I paused and then asked, ‘What happens to me until the Duelum starts?’
‘You are the only Finisher left at Stacks. You can return to your work next light.’ Morrigone held up a cautionary hand. ‘Krone and his allies are convinced you will attempt to flee Wormwood and use the map you had to lead you.’
‘The marks are gone from my skin,’ I said.
‘You could have memorized them. In any event, if you were to attempt to flee, Delph would take your place in Council’s eyes. And it would not simply be Valhall.’ She paused. ‘They will take his life.’ She paused once more and studied me intently. ‘And I would do nothing to block it.’
‘Why, Morrigone? What does Council care if a Wug goes into the Quag? If he makes the decision and dies, it’s his life.’
‘Council’s job is to ensure the survival of Wormwood. If Wugs started going into the Quag and dying, it would embolden the beasts there to perhaps once more take up battle against us. We might not survive a second war with them.’
‘And then of course there are the Outliers.’ I thought it enlightening that she had forgotten to mention them since we were building a gargantuan wall supposedly to keep them out.
Morrigone looked at me with a bittersweet expression. ‘I was very serious, Vega, when I said I admired you. I have no wish to see such a promising life snuffed out. But there are limits to even my feelings for you. Please do not forget that. I have my duty and I intend to carry it out. I cannot and will not play favourites.’
With that ominous statement, she left me.
35
PRACTICE MAKES IMPERFECT
Delph arrived at my digs right after he finished work on the Wall.
‘Wotcha, Vega Jane,’ he called out through the door.
I opened the door and looked up at him while Harry Two jumped around our ankles.
‘What is it, Delph?’ I asked.
‘I heard you got to fight in the Duelum.’
‘Yes.’
‘We need to practise, then.’
I looked at him, dumbfounded. ‘Practise what?’
‘Practise for you to win.’
‘Delph, I’m not going to win the Duelum.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I’m a female. And I’m only fourteen sessions old.’
‘Very nearly fifteen,’ he amended. ‘So, you’re not going to even try? Don’t sound like Vega Jane to me. Flying and throwing that spear thing so good-like.’
‘That’s different.’
‘Is it?’ he said, staring at me.
I considered this. ‘How would I practise?’
‘You showed me how to fly and throw. I can show you how to fight.’
‘But where do we do this?’
‘At my digs. Lots of privacy there.’
‘When?’
‘Now.’
It was dark as we approached the Delphias’ cottage. The usual sounds associated with a beast trainer’s home were no longer in evidence. There were no new beasts, as I was sure Duf had no slivers to train them. All his time was spent on the Wall.
But there were sounds, because the adar had seen us approach. ‘Hello,’ it said.
‘Hello,’ I said back.
‘And who might this be?’ the adar asked.
‘This might be Vega Jane,’ I answered.
It stood very tall and its great chest swelled. ‘Ooohhh, Ve-Vega Jane. So pr-pretty, Ve-Ve-Vega Jane. So be-be-be-beautiful, Ve-Ve-Vega Jane.’ It sounded exactly like Delph.
Delph roared, ‘Shut up, you great pile of feathers, before you end up in the pot for me sup!’
‘Be-be-beautiful, Ve-Ve-Vega Jane,’ the adar said one last time and then gave Delph a surly glance before tucking its head under a wing and going back to sleep.
I was stunned by this outburst. The thing was, adars only use words they’ve heard. I had no time to think about it really because as I looked over, Delph was charging straight at me full speed. I only had time to put my hands up before he collided with me. He lifted me off the ground, raised me over his head and was about to crush me against a tree when he stopped. He looked up. I looked down.
‘What are you doing, Delph?’ I gasped.
He slowly lowered me to the ground. ‘At Duelum, there’s no stopping. No rules really, neither fair nor foul. Blokes come at you right from the first clang of the bell, Vega Jane. Charge, pin your arms to your sides, lift you up and smash you against the hardest thing they can find. Then you won’t be getting back up. Trust me. I did it to Non last Duelum. He got careless-like, the big oaf.’
I looked at the tree and then back at Delph and shivered.
‘OK,’ I said. ‘I get the point. So what now?’
‘So we fight.’ He backed up a few paces and went into a crouch. ‘Now, with Ladon-Tosh—’ Delph began.
‘Ladon-Tosh!’ I exclaimed. ‘He’s older than twenty-four sessions. He won’t be in the Duelum.’
‘Well, he says he’s twenty-three, so he’s in the Duelum, Vega. Just the way ’tis.’
I was fuming. ‘That is the biggest load of tripe. Fine, who else?’
‘Non. Ran Digby. Cletus Loon. Lots of blokes.’
‘But none so big as you.’
‘Most ain’t. But it’s not only the big ones you have to look out for, Vega Jane. The little blokes are quick and cagey and they pack a wallop. My last Duelum, I almost got knocked out by a bloke half me size.’
‘How?’
‘Threw dirt in me eyes and then hit me with a board he had hidden on the pitch.’
My eyes bulged. ‘They can do that?’
He straightened up and looked at me in exasperation. ‘Don’t you watch the Duelums, Vega Jane?’
‘Well, just the championship bout. Sometimes.’ The truth was I could not stand to see Wugs trying to kill one another. The last time I had watched Delph win, I was violently sick as blood flowed from him and the other Wug.
He nodded. ‘Aye, they don’t let you fight as dirty in the last round, to be sure, because the full Council is watching. But to get there, you got to expect anything.’
He went into a crouch again, keeping his hands up
and his arms tight to his sides. ‘Protect your body, Vega Jane. A blow to the belly or your side is right painful.’ He held his fists up higher. ‘And watch your head. Hard to fight with a cracked skull.’
I began to feel sick to my stomach. ‘A cracked skull?’
‘Got one two Duelums ago. Had a headache for half a session.’
My mouth had gone totally dry. ‘How can I protect my body and my head at the same time?’ I croaked.
‘Just got to keep moving.’ He danced around a bit on nimble feet, showing more agility than I would have allowed him credit for, given his size.
He said, ‘You can hit a bloke with anything. Fists, head, legs, knees.’
‘And boards,’ I reminded him.
‘Now, when you get hit—’
‘So you’re presuming I’m going to get hit?’ I interrupted.
He said matter-of-factly, ‘Every bloke gets hit in a Duelum. Count on about a dozen times a bout. Meaning the hard shots. ’Bout fifty times total, but I don’t count the little shots that just make ya wonky for a bit.’
I wanted to turn and run screaming.
‘When you get hit, no matter how light or hard, I would recommend you going down.’
At first I rejoiced at this proposition, but then I recalled Morrigone’s words. If I did not fight to my fullest, I would be going to Valhall for the rest of my sessions. But Delph’s next words showed he was not planning for me to surrender.
‘Going down dinnae mean you’ve lost the bout, Vega Jane. The bloke will just jump on you and pound you till ya can’t see or hear nothing no more. It hurts,’ he added unnecessarily. ‘Now, ’tis true if ya put both your hands up in surrender, the bout is over and no Wug can hit you without getting a foul called.’
‘I can’t surrender, Delph,’ I said. And I thought, No matter how much I may want to.
‘You’re nae surrendering, Vega Jane. What you do is go down in a special way. Like this.’
He fell on to his back, his knees tucked up to his chest. He continued. ‘He’ll charge head-on at you. Now, you wait till he’s just a wee bit away and then you do this.’
Delph kicked out with both feet with such force that I jumped back even though I was in no danger of being hit. In the next instant, he was on his feet. He leaped into the air and came down with both feet on top of his imaginary opponent. Then he jumped up again and came down with his right arm in the shape of a V and his elbow pointed downward. He sprawled on the ground with his elbow poised a quarter-inch above the dirt.
Vega Jane and the Secrets of Sorcery Page 17