Civilizing Influences

Civilizing Influences Continued

by Kathy Pulver
Email: kathepulver@hotmail.com

"Father, we have to talk." Elliana walked into her father's study, riding boots clopping on the hardwood floor.

"What is it, Ellie?" Lord Gedensbrook set his ledger aside and looked at his daughter. She appeared to be in a state of moral outrage.

Gods, not again...

Elliana proceeded to tell him, in no uncertain detail about her trip into town. She has her mother's passion. Lord Gedesbrook thought. A pity her mother can't be here to see it. Perhaps at Year's End, when Parliament closes for the winter.

"And if I hadn't intervened, he'd have arrested her or killed her right there in the street! For no damned reason at all!" Elliana punctuated her sentence by slamming both hands down on his desk. It was a gesture her mother favored in court cases. Lord Gedensbrook did his level best not to smile.

"The Rangers have a duty to protect our town, Ellie," he said.

"From a broken-down slave?" Elliana shook her head. "No, Father, you didn't see her; I did. She was no threat. She looked more frightened than anything else."

Lord Gedensbrook sighed. "I'll have a talk with the head of the garrison, Ellie, but don't expect miracles. Relations between our world and Faerie are becoming more and more strained. The Queen of Air and Darkness has become quite insistent lately about the demarcation of the Borders. She's trying to move them in another four miles."

"Which of course gives our Guardsmen the right to harass a helpless slave." Elliana's sarcasm was razor-sharp.

"No, but it is a symptom of a larger trouble, my dear. Tensions are mounting; our men know they could be called to war at any moment so, regrettably, they take it out on those who seem a likely scapegoat. Redcaps are far from innocents, Ellie, you know that."

"I know, Father, but this one was helpless. She looked so tired and sad. Bad enough she'd been enslaved but to be threatened for doing nothing more than her menial duties. . .that's just not right!"

No wonder your mother sent you home, Lord Gedensbrook stared at his daughter with mingled pride and pity. You've got the fire but none of the thick hide needed for politics.

"I know, dear," he said finally. "As I said, I'll talk to the garrison leader. Until then, be patient."

"I'll try Father."

"Good! Now, perhaps you'll help me plan tonight's dinner?"

"Are we having guests?"

"Yes; tonight's the night Tobias's tutor dines with us," Lord Gedensbrook said. "What do you think of him?"

Elliana thought a moment. "He seems a nice enough young man, but rather aloof."

"He seems like a prigg to me," Lord Gedensbrook said. "But Toby rather likes him as well. You'll help me keep him entertained, won't you?"

"Of course," Elliana said. "You won't have to say a word."

#

Back at Hummold's house, Gecki served Hummold the stew she'd prepared.

"You're quiet," Hummold said. "Not that I'm complaining, mind."

"Yeah," Gecki said. "Had some trouble in town."

"Master," Hummold said. "'Had some trouble in town, Master.'"

"Yeah," Gecki said absently. "Saw that lady you're sniffing after."

Hummold dropped his spoon. "You did? Where? How?"

Gecki told the story of her encounter with the Ranger. "She kept him off me," Gecki said. "Wasn't for her, I'd be in the jail by now. Or dead."

"She saw you?" Hummold turned to face her. "Does she know you're my slave?"

"Don't know," Gecki said. "She might. Ranger asked me whose I was. She might have heard."

"Damn!" Hummold stood up so fast it threw his chair back. "This ruins everything!"

Gecki picked Hummold's spoon off the floor and wiped it on the least filthy edge of her shirt when he wasn't looking. "How, Master?"

"I'm hoping to impress her father with what a fierce slave I have," Hummold said. "How can I do that if she's seen you like that?" Gecki looked down at herself. "Like what?"

"You look like a kitchen drudge!"

"I am a kitchen drudge," Gecki said. "And all other kinds of drudge! What you want me to do? Tromp through town in plaids and cap? Almost got run through today as a drudge as it was!"

"Oh, hush," Hummold said. "Go tend the animals, I need to think."

Fat lot of good that'll do you. Gecki thought. "Yes, Master."

#

Hummold sighed heavily and rubbed at his eyes.

"Damn her stupidity!" he said. "Just when it looked like everything was going to work out! Oh, Elliana! Why must the fates strive to keep us apart?"

He'd been in love with Elliana since the first time he'd seen her picture. Lord Gedensbrook had hired him two months ago as a tutor for his son Tobias. The boy showed signs of magical talents and the old man wanted his son trained right.

"But, until he's old enough to go to the Concealed College, you'll have to do, Hummold," Lord Gedensbrook had said. "Try not to do too much damage. Stick to the classics."

Tobias was a good enough boy, but restless and impatient with his studies. It was an attitude Hummold had never understood. The only thing that made the bad times bearable was looking at Elliana's picture in the main hall. She was beautiful: brown hair brushing her shoulders; wide, intelligent blue eyes staring out at him, a faint smile holding a hidden promise.

Elliana had returned to Gedensbrook from the capitol only two weeks before. They'd spoken face to face a few times; usually when she'd come to collect her younger brother from the family schoolroom. It was all he needed to cement his love for her.

She was everything he wanted in a woman: intelligent, witty, and beautiful. The fact her father was lord and mayor of one of the richer trading towns between the human Realm and the Land of Faerie meant little to him. Coming from a merchant family, he was used to money. Being a traveling scholar he was even more used to doing without it.

And now, when it looked like he stood a chance of finally proving his worth to her father, Gecki had gone and ruined everything.

"I should have left her in the woods when I had the chance!"

#

The only animals Hummold had worth tending were Verity, his tired old horse and half a dozen chickens. Gecki fed and watered Verity, then threw corn to, or more accurately at, the chickens.

Not for the first time, she thought of leaving Hummold. He wouldn't come out of his sulk for a while. She could easily be long gone before he thought to look for her. Once she was in the woods, no one short of an elven Tracker could find her.

She dropped the thought. Escape was no use; there was no place for her to go. With her clan gone, her only hope would be to join another clan. The odds of finding a Tower this side of the Border willing to take her in were slim. She and Hummold had looked and as far as they could tell, the Kneesnappers had been the last Redcap clan this side of the Border. All the others had been wiped out or dispersed back into Faerie.

Besides, finding another clan wasn't any kind of guarantee of safety either. She'd been getting old even before Hummold had found her. Escaping Hummold just to die fighting for a new place in a new clan wasn't what she wanted.

Gecki sat down on an upturned barrel and stared out at the small stretch of woods behind Hummold's house. Can't get much worse, can it?

#

When I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Gecki watched Hummold dance about the room. He'd ordered her into the house a few moments before and was downright manic.

"I have a plan, Gecki!" he said. "A wonderful plan that's going to solve all my problems!"

"What is is, Master?"

"I'm going to revitalize you!"

"But you not a wizard," Gecki said.

"It doesn't matter, I won't need much magic for this spell! It's purely cosmetic." Hummold grinned. "But it'll make you look like the perfect picture of a Redcap warrior again!"

"Oh." Gecki considered this. "Will it hurt?"

"There will be some minor discomfort." Hummold waved his words away like pesky flies. "But the results will be well worth it! Elliana will be mine!"

"Yah-boo," Gecki said, softly.

"Come Gecki! We must prepare!"

#

"Next time, instead of 'prepare' just say 'bath!'" Gecki sat in the old washtub out in the shed, scrubbing between her toes.

"This is part of the preparations, I've already explained that," Hummold said through the door. "Be sure and wash thoroughly! Any dirt or other inorganic impurities could cause disastrous results."

"Yes Master," Gecki said.

"I mean it! Don't make me come in there to check!"

"No, Master," Gecki said.

"Good! When you're done; dry yourself and put on that robe I gave you. I'll be waiting in my study."

#

Hummold's study had been the spare bedroom. When they'd first rented the house, Gecki had spent two days hauling out furnishings and cleaning the room so Hummold could have a place to do his studies and magics. Ordinarily, she didn't give the room much thought. Hummold didn't rarely talked about his work and when he did his words went right over her head. To her, it wasn't another room but another world. Now she stood in the doorway, Hummold's spare robe wrapped around her and wondered if running might not be a good idea after all. "Get in here," Hummold said, wrecking any half-formed plans she might have had. "Lie down on the table."

"Yes Master." Gecki was embarrassed to hear her voice crack.

"Will it hurt?"

"No, you might feel some discomfort but it won't hurt," Hummold said gently. "Now hold still."

"Yes Master," Gecki said.

Hummold began chanting. Gecki had heard the language of magic before but she couldn't understand it. The secrets of the language were closely guarded by mages since anyone trying to command power without training would be dangerous.

At first, she felt warm as though Hummold were using another healing spell on her. She relaxed buoyed up by feelings of contentment and well being.

Then the pain hit, like a fist to the belly. Her flesh crawled and her bones twisted as if they wanted to break free. It wasn't the worst pain she'd ever felt but it came damned close. To her credit, she didn't scream or move. Instead she lay there wishing it would end.

Then, it stopped. She fell back against the table, whimpering.

"Just lie still, Gecki. Sit up when you can."

When she could breathe again, she sat up. Oddly enough, the normal stiffness in her joints was gone; the room seemed brighter, more vivid, scents hit her with almost physical blows.

"Master, what happened?" she asked, her voice rougher than it had been.

Hummold grinned and handed her a mirror. "Here, see for yourself."

Gecki looked and nearly dropped the mirror. The face looking back at her was hers, but it was a good ten years younger. This was the girl who'd fought and won her man Nast during a raid on the Eyegougers. This was the girl who'd never seen a human or an elf closer than twenty yards.

"Mother's Web...Master, is it permanent?" she asked.

"No," Hummold said. "It won't last the night. The duration of the spell is inversely proportionate to its power."

"Good," Gecki said. "Don't want to look like this forever."

"Enough, we must prepare for tonight's dinner," Hummold said.

"Yes Master." Gecki hopped off the table and followed Hummold back into the house. "Shall I get my clothes from the shed?"

"No, you'll wear your old clothes," Hummold said.

"My old ones?" Gecki stared at Hummold's back, torn between surprise and anger. "You kept them?"

"Yes, I thought perhaps I could write something about them, a treatise for some scholarly journal. Inspiration for the article hasn't struck me yet, but fortunately the clothing can still serve a more important purpose."

"Getting you a woman?"

The back of Hummold's neck flushed bright red. "Gecki, go dress now."

#

Hummold forced himself to relax as he dressed in his best clothes. They were three years out of fashion and threadbare in places, but four years as a traveling scholar had taught him much about the art of needlecraft. Oh please Gods, let this work, that's all I ask. Hummold said. I only want Elliana to be mine, anything else you could give me would be nothing if I didn't have her.

Characteristically, the gods didn't answer but Hummold still felt good about his plans. After all, this close to the Border and with the winds of politics blowing as they were who wouldn't be impressed by a skinny young scholar who managed to snare such a fierce-looking creature as Gecki. Not that they ever need to know the truth of how you found her, hmmm Hummold? The thought came unbidden.

"What matters is Lord Gedensbrook is impressed enough he will allow me to court Elliana, after that the truth can be told at a later date. Perhaps on our fiftieth anniversary," Hummold told his reflection as he finished tying his cravat.

"I'm ready Master." He turned to see a perfect Redcap warrior standing in the doorway to his room. Gecki's voice, while younger and more vibrant sounded subdued, almost defeated.

"Gods, I can't believe it," he said. "You look terrifying!"

"I feel stupid. Do we have to do this?" Gecki said.

"Yes. The spell will end at dawn, then you'll be back to normal. By then, Lord Gedensbrook will have come to his senses and realize I'm perfectly suitable for his daughter's hand."

"Still feel stupid," Gecki said. "Feels wrong."

"Trust me, Gecki, this will work," Hummold said. "Go saddle Verity and we'll be off."

Gecki mumbled something.

"What did you say?"

"I said, 'You're already off,'" Gecki said, nearly spitting the words at him. "Master."

#

The ride to the Gedensbrook manor house was uneventful, if slower than Hummold would have liked. Gecki seemed to be purposely dragging her feet. Any attempts to get her to speed up were met with a promise to move faster she immediately ignored or forgot. Still, Hummold wasn't about to let a sulky Redcap spoil what was going to be the most perfect night of his life.

#

The Gedensbrook manor house was not, at first glance, a very impressive place. Built during the first human occupation of the area, it had served as a fortress for the settlers in case of elven attack. Over the years additions had been made, but the overall impression of the building was one of solid readiness.

Hummold rode up to the front of the house, where a footman was waiting for him. Gecki trudged up behind him and took her usual position along Verity's left side. Hummold was gratified to see the footman draw back in alarm at the sight of Gecki.

"Step back, girl," he said. "I can dismount on my own."

"Yes, Master," Gecki said, stepping away from Verity.

With a silent prayer to the gods of luck, Hummold carefully swung his leg around Verity's neck and slid from the saddle. The gesture had gone off without a hitch.

That has to be a good sign! I've never managed to do that without falling or kicking Verity before!

He handed the reins to the footman. "You may take my mount to the stables now."

"Yes sir," the footman said, his eyes still on Gecki.

"Come girl," Hummold motioned for Gecki to follow him up to the front door. Gecki fell in behind him, her heavy boots thudding on the stone steps.

Lord Gedensbrook was waiting at the door. "Welcome, Hummold," he said.

"Would you care for a drink?" "Yes sir, a glass of wine would be pleasant," Hummold said, fighting hard to keep the nervousness out of his voice.

"Anything for your companion . . .Hummold, is that a Redcap?"

"Yes sir," Hummold said. "She's my slave."

"Ah, yes," Lord Gedensbrook looked at him, hard. "Come right in, then. Elliana's waiting for us in the study. We can have a drink before dinner. She'll be most interested to see your�slave."

"Very good," Hummold said. "After you, sir."

#

Inside, the house made up for its outwardly drab appearance. The hallway Lord Gedensbrook led them down was richly decorated with tapestries and artworks. In the lounging room a roaring fire blazed in a fireplace big enough for a man to stand upright in. Gecki recognized Elliana as the young woman who'd rescued her in town. She sat on a couch near the fire with a young boy. Gecki stared at it all in wonder. The room was bigger than her clan's Tower. It was all so terribly foreign, she felt even more homesick because of all the things it didn't remind her of. There was no one cooking food, no babies crying to be fed, no ever-present scent of smoke and unwashed bodies that came from a group living in the same place. Hummold looked ready to burst with happiness. He walked into the room in a near-rush, leaving Gecki standing in the open with no easy cover in sight. She shrank in on herself, trying to become invisible. Nervously, Gecki sped up until she was nearly stepping on Hummold's heels in an effort to stay hidden behind him.

"Miss Elliana," Hummold took her hand and kissed it gently. "A delight to see you, as always. I hope this evening finds you well."

"Yes, yes it does," Elliana said. Gecki saw Elliana was staring at her. Nervously, she fidgeted with the buttons on her overshirt. Hummold noticed Elliana's distraction and looked back over his shoulder at Gecki. He grinned and Gecki felt her stomach turn over in the same sickly feeling she'd always gotten when a raid was going badly.

"There's nothing to be worried about, Miss Elliana," Hummold said. "Gecki may look fierce, but she's perfectly harmless. I tamed her myself."

"You did, did you?" Elliana's voice was neutral. Hummold continued on, blissfully unaware of Elliana's displeasure.

"Oh yes," Hummold said with a laugh. "It was two years ago. I was traveling between Heddensburg and Wellsbridge when a Redcap raiding party attacked me. My magic served me well, I dispatched half a dozen of them without injury. This one surrendered after one of my spells knocked her back twenty feet. At first, I wasn't sure if I should trust her but . . ."

Elliana's face changed during Hummold's story. Anger turned rapidly into disgust and fury as Hummold added more and more details in his effort to impress. Elliana looked to her father who shook his head slowly as if to say, "I told you so." Only Tobias appeared the least bit delighted with anything Hummold said.

Gecki stepped up and tugged at the tails of Hummold's suitcoat.

"Master," she said. "Could I speak with you a moment? It's important."

"Not now, girl," Hummold said.

"Master...I need to speak to you now."

Hummold turned on her. "Do as you're told and shut up."

"Don't you dare speak to her like that!" Elliana was on her feet and in Hummold's face almost before he turned back around.

Oh hell, here we go. Gecki stepped back to avoid being trampled by the rapidly retreating Hummold.

"How dare you think you could impress me with some oafish story about how you enslaved her!" Elliana's voice was shrill, there was none of the careful control she'd had earlier in the day. "Do you think I'm the kind of vapid, spoiled twit who's impressed by ham-fisted idiots who think they've got the right to run roughshod over anyone they come across? Do you?"

Hummold stammered, trying to come up with an answer but Elliana didn't give him the chance. "Because if you do, Hummold Jackson, you can take your slave and take your pin-headed, overdeveloped sense of self and get out!".

"I think you heard my daughter, Scholar Hummold," Lord Gedensbrook said. "We can discuss the future of your employment here tomorrow. Good night."

"Yes sir. Good night to you all as well," Hummold said. "Come Gecki."

"Yes Master." Gecki looked back at Elliana. The young woman had turned away from them, her posture radiating righteous indignation and some other emotion Gecki couldn't quite read.

Gecki followed Hummold out of the house, retrieved Verity from the stable and helped Hummold mount up. The journey home was quiet. Hummold didn't speak and she couldn't think of anything to say to him.

Back at the house, Gecki helped Hummold dismount.

"Master, do you want me to fix some supper?" Gecki said. "Could make some egg and cheese pie; it wouldn't take long."

"No, no need," Hummold said. "I'm going to bed. Feed and water the animals, then feed yourself if you like. I'll see you in the morning."

"Yes Master," Gecki said.

#

Finishing her chores took no time at all. She gave Verity a good brushing before feeding him and tossed fresh grain to the chickens. The thought of egg and cheese pie still sounded good. Cooking was one of the few things she liked about her new life. She'd never known what she was missing in the Tower; ten years ago the thought of eating a cooked egg would have seemed disgusting. As she fixed the pie, she hummed one of the old songs to herself. It was one of her favorites: the story of how the Mother Spider had created the world and all the peoples. Well, all the Redcaps at any rate.

Where the humans and elves and other races had come from she didn't know. She'd put the pie in the oven to bake when it dawned on her there was a noise coming from Hummold's room. She cocked her head to listen. The sound was too faint to be an order or a spell. Slowly, she crept over to his door, pushed it open a crack and listened. Hummold was inside, staring out the window. His back was to her.

"Though this day brings no joy, I would suffer it again for one last glimpse of you," he said. "Oh Elliana what did I do wrong? I thought to impress you, instead I've made a huge shameful mess of it all." His words ended in a sob. Suddenly uncomfortable, Gecki stepped back and let the door shut softly behind her. Walking back to the kitchen, she thought back over the night. Shame was not an emotion she was familiar with. Redcaps didn't bother much with worrying over failures since to Redcap thinking, 'that which doesn't kill me isn't a problem.'

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