by Pedro Urvi
“You take it,” Viggo told Lasgol after Milton had pecked his hand.
Lasgol smiled and approached the bird slowly. He whispered words of affection, and Milton allowed him to retrieve the message without any trouble. He stroked the beautiful feathers, and Milton appreciated the petting with a soft chuckle.
“He’s just plain twisted,” Viggo complained.
“It’s because you don’t treat him properly,” said Lasgol.
“Oh yeah? Well, if you think I’m going to start whispering sweet words to all the plants and animals I come across...”
“… You’d find things a lot easier,” Ingrid pointed out.
“Rubbish,” said Viggo, and folded his arms in a huff.
“Who’s it from?” Ingrid asked.
“It’s from Egil. I can’t read it, it’s in the language of the Frozen Continent.”
“Can you use your ring?”
“Yes, of course,” Lasgol said, and put it on.
“I don’t much care for this enchanted ring of your mother’s,” Viggo complained.
“But it’s really fascinating, it allows me to understand and speak the language of the Frozen Continent when I have it on.”
“Yeah, fascinating, you just wait and see when it does something else we don’t expect and it turns out to be a problem. You and Egil and everything that’s fascinating have me dancing with joy...”
“Nothing needs to happen. It’s never done anything else.”
“You just wait and see.”
“Don’t jinx it,” said Ingrid.
“What does the wise guy say?”
Lasgol began to read, and as he did so his mind translated the language through the magic of the ring. “Dear friends, greetings from the Camp. I trust this missive finds you all in perfect condition, physical as well as mental.”
“How pompous the bookworm is. Can’t he say things in a normal way?”
“This is his normal way,” Ingrid said.
Viggo grunted. “Go on.”
“My responsibilities as camp librarian have increased unexpectedly during these past few weeks. This is because Librarian Bolmason has fallen ill and Dolbarar has asked me to substitute for him in his tasks, which are many.”
“The strange thing is that he’s still alive,” said Viggo. “He must be over a hundred and twenty-five.”
Ingrid arched one eyebrow. “Don’t exaggerate. Bolmason was old, but not that old.”
“He’ll soon be replacing him permanently.”
“Don’t be a bird of ill omen. He’ll get better and go back to his post.”
“Oh yeah, sure...”
Lasgol went on reading: “My new responsibilities have allowed me access to the forbidden hall in the basement, the one the other Rangers have no access to. I’ve found that this hall is used by Dolbarar, the Four Master Rangers and some guests with special privileges. I’ve established that these guests with special privileges are scholars of the magical arts, and even Magi, who pass through the Camp from time to time. I’ve also found out that Dolbarar, Eyra and Haakon spend quite a lot of time in it, studying forbidden books of magic. Hence I’ve deduced that our leaders are studying the arcane arts, and you may wonder what their aim may be, seeing that they don’t possess the Gift. My deductions suggest the understanding and enlightening of their minds so that when the time comes, they may be able to confront a range of situations of a magical nature.”
“He’s a real enlightened one,” Viggo muttered.
“It makes sense for them to study magic so that they can confront it, or situations where it’s involved,” Lasgol said thoughtfully.
“Yeah, I agree,” Ingrid said. “My aunt always said that to defeat a dangerous enemy, you have to get to know them well first. Find out their weak spot and then attack it, fast and furiously.”
“I’d have liked your aunt,” said Viggo.
“She wouldn’t have liked you,”
Viggo gave her a huge winning smile and batted his eyelashes repeatedly. “How can you say that? I’m a real charmer.”
“You’re a pain in the neck.”
“You always remind me about that,” he replied, still batting his eyelashes and smiling.
“Go on reading, Lasgol, before I lose my patience.”
“My relationship with Dolbarar has progressed favorably. He now places a great deal of trust in me and involves me in tasks that require responsibility. It appears that his sight isn’t what it used to be and he needs help with some jobs, although he denies it. He’s put me in charge of organizing the mail which is sent all over the realm from the Camp, which has put me in a very advantageous position. I now have access to all the mail that comes into and leaves the Camp.”
“This really is fascinating,” Viggo said. “Now he can find out everything that happens.”
“A strategic advantage that’s very important for Egil,” said Ingrid.
“And for us,” Viggo added.
Lasgol went on reading: “I need to be very careful when I’m dealing with the letters and messages. If I’m found intercepting them, I’ll hang from a tree. But the opportunity is too important to be allowed to pass, even with the danger it entails. I must take this opportunity while I can. Don’t worry, I’ll be very cautious.”
“I’m a bit worried about this,” Lasgol commented. “If he gets caught...”
“He’ll hang and he knows it,” Viggo said.
“It’s a risk he’s ready to take,” Ingrid pointed out. “We need to accept it.”
Lasgol shook his head. “I’m not happy about it... he’s taking more and more risks.”
“He knows how to look after himself, he’s very smart,” Ingrid reassured him. “Don’t worry.”
“What else does he say?”
“The reason for this message is to warn you that from what I’ve been able to decipher of the messages between the Camp and the Capital, King Thoran is preparing an offensive against my brother’s troops in the West. He wants to do it now, before the Zangrians decide to attack him from the rear. Neither is he at all at ease about the situation in the north of the realm, where the Rangers have reported movement from the Wild Ones of the Ice. It appears that they’re returning to their old settlements in our realm. Dolbarar has sent several Rangers to the other side of the great northern mountains to keep them under surveillance. Also, more Rangers have been sent to the border with Zangria. Gerd will soon have company. My brother Arnold and the Western League are getting ready to fight and will be prepared when the time comes. I’m helping him as much as I can with information and advice. Nilsa told me about the conversation she overheard at the Royal Library. Very bad business, I’m afraid. It troubles me. If I find any clue as to who might be behind this, I’ll let you know at once. So far I haven’t been able to find anything out, but I’ll be on the alert. Lasgol, be very, very careful. All of you, look after yourselves. Difficult times are on their way again for all of us. Say hello to Camu for me. You have no idea how much I miss him; he’s an amazing creature. I love you all. Take care. Danger is on the prowl once again. Your friend and loyal partner. Egil.”
“I miss him a lot too,” Lasgol said sadly.
“Me too,” said Ingrid.
“So do I, but don’t you dare tell the bookworm that.”
“The situation’s getting more complicated,” Lasgol murmured.
“We knew it’d happen,” Ingrid pointed out. “The kingdom’s divided, and neither part will stop until the whole realm is under its control.”
“That’s the thing about festering conflicts,” Viggo said, “they don’t sort themselves out by themselves.”
“I wish we could stop the war,” said Lasgol. “Just thinking about all the bloodshed and loss of lives to come turns my stomach.”
“I don’t think we could stop any war,” Ingrid said. “This one included.”
“Thoran or Arnold will reign over the whole of Norghana,” Viggo said, “and for that to happen, bloodshed is inevitable.”
“Couldn’t they come to an agreement?” Lasgol asked. And no sooner had he said it than he knew it was a childish wish that could never come true.
Viggo shook his head. “There’s no possible agreement when the crown of a kingdom’s in dispute.”
“There must be a winner and a loser,” Ingrid said, “or the kingdom will go on being divided and at war until that happens. Neither of them will yield his right to the throne. Not when it’s so close for both, and there’s already been bloodshed. Arnold is the heir by blood, and now, with the kingdom divided, he has a chance he’ll never get again. Thoran found himself with the crown when his cousin died – or when he killed him – and he won’t let the opportunity slip for anything in the world. No, they’ll both seize the chance, and only one’ll come out alive.”
Lasgol nodded, saddened. He knew she was right, even though he would have given anything for it not to be so and for Norghana to be at peace again, with no more death and suffering for its people.
Chapter 27
The weeks went by with agonizing slowness for Lasgol. He tried to keep busy learning everything he could, to keep his mind occupied and avoid thinking about Astrid all the time. She was still asleep while her body fought against the poison, with the help of Annika’s medicines. He went to visit her every day, before and after training. Annika let him spend a short while with her, and he would tell her what his day had been like, how things were at the Shelter and other trivial details, such as the weather and the temperature, which were beginning to worsen with giant steps. He did this in a positive voice, cheerfully, in the hope that she could hear him and that his words would comfort her. Unfortunately, he had no way of knowing whether they had any effect on her or not. He wanted to think they did and went on visiting her every day.
Annika had decided to extend the healing process for another whole week to avoid running any risk, and he found the waiting an agony. The group tried to cheer him up, assuring him that everything was going to be all right, that Astrid would be well soon and that there would be no after-effects. He was grateful for their words; he knew they meant well, but he was not so sure that everything would come out well. He was afraid, as if an icy fear had got in between the bones of his spine and he could not get rid of it. He had shivering fits and was unable to sleep. He had terrible nightmares in which he always ended by losing Astrid in some horrible way. He woke up in terror, with anxiety clutching at his heart so tightly that he thought it might burst.
Viggo woke him up one morning. “Easy... wake up...” he whispered.
“What is it?” Lasgol called out. His eyes were like saucers and he felt as though he had been stabbed in the heart with an icy knife.
“Easy, man, nothing’s wrong. You were having another nightmare. You were screaming. I had to wake you.”
“Oh... is it time to get up already?”
Viggo nodded. “The sun’s just come out. But I think you ought to get dressed.”
“Why?” Lasgol felt rather fuddled and lost.
Viggo nodded toward the cave entrance, where Annika was watching them from above. The Elder made a signal to Lasgol to follow her.
“Don’t tell me it’s Astrid...”
“I think so... it’s been weeks since Annika came here. She just gives her lessons and comes back to look after Astrid, according to what the Nature pupils tell me.”
Lasgol was suddenly nervous. What did this mean? Was something wrong with Astrid? Fearing the worst, he dressed as fast as he could and ran to meet Annika. Everyone in the cave looked at him in surprise as he crossed the hall at a run.
“What’s the matter, Ma’am?”
“Come with me,” Annika said, and turned to go back into the Cave of Autumn. Lasgol went after her with his heart in his mouth.
Once in the cave, Annika led him to the Nature quadrant, where she had been treating Astrid. Lasgol no longer doubted this was about her. He hoped with all his heart that it would not be bad news.
“You have a visitor,” Annika said. Lasgol could not see who she was talking to because she was blocking his view.
Then she moved to one side and he saw Astrid, propped up in the bed where she had been lying for weeks. She turned her head toward him and winked at him.
“Did you miss me?” she asked with a mischievous smile.
“Astrid!” he cried and ran to hug her.
“Be gentle with her,” Annika warned him, “she’s weak.”
Lasgol held back his joys and worries as best he could. “Astrid! You’re awake!”
“I seem to have been taking a long nap,” she said without breaking Lasgol’s hug.
“Are you all right?” he asked and drew his head back to look into her eyes.
She looked back into his own. “I think so...”
“You know who I am, don’t you?”
“Of course, I know who you are.”
“Say my name.”
“Idiot?”
“Seriously, Astrid. What’s my name?”
Astrid looked at him blankly. “Lasgol Eklund, son of Dakon and Mayra, of the village of Skad.”
He nodded. “And you know where we are?”
“In the Lair, at the Shelter. Why these questions, Lasgol?”
“I need to know whether your mind is okay,” he replied, and glanced aside at Annika.
“I have to do some more tests, but it looks as though body and mind have both healed without harmful side-effects.”
“That’s awesome!” he cried, and hugged Astrid again joyfully.
“Gently... don’t shake her, or I’ll send you out.”
“Oh, sorry, it’s the excitement.”
“Why are you behaving so weirdly?”
“D’you know what happened to you?”
“Well... no... I just woke up here...”
Lasgol looked at Annika again.
“This isn’t the time for explanations. Her mind is still fragile. There’ll be time for that later on.”
“I understand.”
“It’s weird... the last thing I remember... is the evening of the bonfire, when we were learning the Ode to the Legendary Rangers... and then waking up here. Didn’t I go to sleep? Did something happen to me at the bonfire? How did I get here?”
“The night of the bonfire...” Lasgol was thoughtful. That was the night before she had been poisoned. He looked at Annika, who shook her head.
“Don’t worry, it’ll all come back,” he told her, making light of it, and smiled at her.
Sigrid came into the hall and smiled at Astrid in her turn. “How are you, my dear? Do you feel well?”
“Yes, Mother Specialist. A little fuzzy and my memory... I don’t remember things... there are gaps...”
“Before the night of the bonfire?” Lasgol asked her.
“Yeah... I remember certain afternoons, but... I can’t seem to remember the mornings... What’s the matter with me?”
“Don’t worry about that now,” Sigrid told her. “What’s important is that you’re well. Annika will make sure you recover completely.”
“But... what happened to me?”
“Everything in good time,” Sigrid reassured her.
“How long have I been here?” she asked, beginning to look frightened. “I’ve been here for quite a while, haven’t I?”
“We’ll explain everything. But this isn’t the moment.”
“You need to rest and let your mind recover,” Annika told her.
“Lasgol, say goodbye,” Sigrid ordered.
Lasgol sighed. He longed to stay with Astrid. She was awake at last, and she seemed to be fine. He was afraid that if he left her, he would lose her again.
“She’ll be well, I promise,” Annika reassured him.
He had to give in. “All right...” He looked into Astrid’s eyes. “I’ll be back as soon as they let me. Get well.”
She nodded and seemed to relax. They hugged, and he left her with Annika and Sigrid.
When he went back to the C
ave of Spring, Ingrid, Viggo, Molak, Erika and Luca ran to ask him for the news.
“How is she?” Ingrid asked without wasting a moment.
“She seems to be okay…”
“That’s wonderful!” Erika cried.
“Fully recovered?” Viggo asked.
“Almost... she has memory gaps.”
“She doesn’t remember what happened?” asked Ingrid.
“I’m afraid not...”
“Wow, that’s going to make it harder to be clear about the facts,” said Molak.
“But, she’s fine, right?” Luca asked.
“To me she seemed to be. They’re going to keep treating her, just in case.”
“And the dementia?” Viggo asked.
“Don’t be insensitive,” Ingrid snapped at him.
“I’m being me.”
“Well, exactly.”
“I didn’t notice anything.”
“She’ll be all right,” Erika said. “Astrid has a strong mind.”
“And body,” said Luca.
“I hope so...”
“When will they let us see her?” Ingrid asked, and Lasgol shrugged.
“They won’t allow visitors until they’re sure she’s completely well,” Molak pointed out.”
“All we can do is wait,” said Luca.
Lasgol nodded.
“She’ll soon be back with us, don’t worry,” said Ingrid.
A moment later the Nature pupils came to hear what was going on, and they all began to comment on the situation. Even those of the ‘best’ group joined in the conversation: all except Isgord, who by now never even came near the ‘weirdos’.
Lasgol moved away and unobtrusively left the Lair. He needed to breathe fresh air. He went to the river and bent down, put his hands in the water and then rubbed his face. He felt the coolness of it and took a deep breath to fill his lungs. He gasped and threw water on his face again, and the coolness comforted him, reminding him how wonderful it was to be alive, how unbelievable to have someone like Astrid in his life. He felt joyful. He had gotten her back, after all his fears. He gave thanks to the Ice Gods.
“She’s all right...” he told himself and breathed deeply. “Thank goodness she’s all right...” He felt he could breathe again, and that all the anxiety which had been clutching at his heart like an iron claw had vanished. He filled his lungs with the cool air, and at the same time his heart was filled with joy and hope. She was all right. They were together again.