Birthright
"Out of the way, clumsy peasant!" The noblewoman shouted, her
riding beast rearing. The young lion in question stumbled backwards out
of the street.
"Your pardon, M'lady." He mumbled, his breath a wisp of vapor in
the winter cold. He turned to hurry inside, but the woman, a proud-looking
white cat, called him back as she dismounted.
"Come here, boy. Take my steed and stable him."
"Yes, M'lady." The lion bowed, and did as he was told, then went
back into the inn that was both his home and his livlihood.
"There you are, Kamar!" Lilith, the serpentine mistress of the inn
exclaimed when she saw him, "There's work to be done. Go and prepare our
best room, then see if Marylyn needs help in the kitchen. We have important
guests!" When Kamar was done preparing the room, he reported dutifully to
the kitchen, where Marylyn was seeing to dinner.
"Ah, young Kamar." Marylyn said. The grey-haired vixen never failed
to refer to him that way... he'd stop taking offense long ago. Really, he
got on well with her... since his parents had abandoned him, she'd been like
a foster mother to him. "Would you care to assist in preparing this night's
repast?" He nodded. She always talked like that... you got used to it,
after a while.
"Sure."
"Then hand me the second jar from the right, on the third shelf."
He handed her the jar, and she sprinkled some of the spice into the bubbling
pot.
"What is it?" He asked, as he almost always did. It seemed sometimes
that Marylyn never used the same spice twice.
"It is called 'pontan', and it comes from the distant lands to the
West. It makes the stew slightly sweet." She tasted a bit of the stew, and
nodded. "It needs but to simmer until dinner." She smiled at the adolescent
lion, "Why don't you go sit in the common room until then?"
"Oh, you know Lilith doesn't let me go there unless I have work to
do!"
"Here's a rag... I'll wager that working quickly wasn't one of her
stipulations?" The young lion grinned.
"Marylyn, you're the best!" He gave her a quick hug, then ran off to
the common room with the rag.
"The barbarians to the South are gathering their forces." The feline
he'd run into--or rather, who had nearly run into him--before was saying to
the men gathered around her table. "And to the West, we are menaced by the
Kingdom of Artax."
"Artax has been gathering mercenaries from neigboring lands. Their
intentions are clear." A battle-scarred lord said. A young squirrel, clad
all in green, spoke up.
"But King Ribald to the North and Grand Duchess Arith to the East
have been our allies from days of old. Surely they will come to our aid?"
"Bah! Why should they?" A grey-nosed wolf asked, "Look at us! We
have been nothing but a bunch of petty, squabling fiefdoms since Ra..." He
looked fearfully around, "Are you sure we are safe here?" The feline nodded.
"The Eyes and Hands of Valkor have no interest in this remote
village. That is why I dragged us all to the middle of nowhere to meet."
"Ha!" The wolf retorted, "For all you know, that boy-" he gestured
at Kamar, "Could be an Eye of Valkor! But I'll be blunt, and if they hang
me, then so be it. Since King Rand died, there has been no true leadership
in Fursia, and there won't be, so long as the priests of Valkor have their
way."
"That's exactly why I've called you here." The feline said.
"Ha! None of us are fit to sieze power... and let's be honest, we've
all thought about it. I'll be the first to admit that I'm too old."
"As am I." The old badger reluctantly added.
"I don't wanna be King." The squirrel said, "I like my freedom too
much."
"And as for you..." The wolf looked at the Lady. "Well, let's face
it. You're a woman." He saw the look on her face, and hastily ammended.
"It is no detriment to your skills as a ruler of your fief, my dear, but the
people would NEVER follow you."
"I know. And they would never follow any of you, even if we all
decided to allow one of us to claim the throne, because none of us CAN claim
the throne. Not without the royal crest." The wolf laughed.
"Legends and fairy-tales. We need leadership, not fancy baubles!"
"It doesn't matter what you or I believe, Marius! The people will
follow anyone who can claim the royal crest."
"And what good does that do us? Do you think you can claim it? Do
you even know where it is?" The badger asked.
"I know a way to find it." The feline said, "And I can't claim it...
only the rightful King can do that." A tall, slender young fox stepped into
the room, as if summoned. "I'd like you to meet Dillys. The rightful King."
The others looked at each other for a moment, then burst out
laughing.
"You expect us to believe that this young slip is the King?"
"I have convincing reason to believe that it is so. Mergon, would
you please show yourself?" A cloaked figure melted out of the shadows.
In the kitchen, Marylyn was siezed with a sudden spasm, causing her
to drop the dish she was washing.
"Eye of Valkor!" The squirrel shouted, drawing his bow and firing off
an arrow. The shadow-wrapped form caught the arrow in mid-flight. It stepped
forward, and tossed the arrow on the table. She threw back her hood to
reveal the haggard features of an old otter.
"For the record, cub, I am a Hand of Valkor. When Dillys lays
claim to the royal crest, then shall the true King be found, as it was
written long ago."
"Then why are you telling us this?" the badger asked, "Do you not
serve Valkor? Did not your priesthood destroy the royal blood-line?"
"We all must serve Valkor as we see best. It is to the advantage of
none for our land to be over-run by savages and cut-throats."
"How can we trust you?" The squirrel asked.
"What makes you think I care?" Mergon retorted. "I will take Dillys
to the Forgotten Place alone, if needs be. But even the rightful King will
need the support of his thanes, to defend our land."
"So be it, then." Marcus said, downing his mug, "If the lad comes
back with the crest, we'll follow him. Hells Bells, if it'll bring the
people together, I'd follow Trantor of the Eight Legs into his own web!"
"The other Eyes and Hands aren't going to like this." The badger
warned, "The journey will be very dangerous."
"I'd love to go with you, really I would," Marius said, "But the cold
does terrible things to my joints these days..."
"I'll go." The squirrel said, "My people don't need much seeing to
anyway... my advisors will be glad to have me out of the way for a while."
"I'm going." The feline said. No one argued.
"Eh... My people need me, I fear, and I am too old besides. I will
send one of my men in my place. I know just the fellow."
"That is five. There must be at least six of us, to make this
journey." Mergon warned. Marius nodded.
"You needn't twist my arm. I'll send one of my trackers with you.
If nothing else, you'll need his help finding food."
"It is settled then. We will leave on the morrow. Boy!" Kamar
jumped. "Stop daydreaming and go bring our dinner!" Kamar hurried off to
obey. "Lazy peasant boy... if I were the innkeeper, I'd have sent him off to
the fields by now."
Kamar entered the kitchen to find Marylyn silent by the fire.
"Aunt Marylyn?" He only called her that on rare occasions, "Are you
alright?" The old vixen nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine. If it's supper your after, it is in the bowls
already. Take it to them, then please come back here." Kamar nodded,
still worried for her. When he deposited the dishes, the talk had turned to
more innocent topics. He returned to the kitchen.
"Well." Marylyn began, "Did you have fun eavesdroping on noblemen?"
"I.." Kamar stammered, "I mean, I wasn't.. spying or anything,
really.. I.. uh..." Marylyn laughed.
"Don't get flustered. Just sit down beside old Marylyn and tell me
all about it." Kamar sat next to her and repeated what he'd overheard while
he ate his supper. "I see." Marylyn resettled her drape about her, and her
eyes glittered in a way that suddenly made her seem strange and mysterious.
"So the time has come for the rightful King to return."
"Isn't it exciting?" Kamar exclaimed, "It's like one of those stories
you used to tell me when I was little!" Marylyn smiled at his enthusiasm.
"You want to go with them, don't you?" Kamar laughed.
"Ha! Me, the little orphan boy, with them?"
"Nobles like to have errand boys." Marylyn noted sagely.
"Yeah, but they have all the thanes' armies to choose from. Why
would they want me?"
"Do you really want to go with them?" Kamar thought about it.
"Well... it would be fun to get out and see the world. But they'd
never have me, would they?"
"I don't know about that... why don't I put in a good word for you?"
"You?" Marylyn smiled, suddenly looking mysterious again.
"I can be very persuasive, Kamar. Wait for them in the stables in
the morning, and have your pack ready. You may take Nightshade with you.
He'd never forgive you if you went off on an adventure without him." She
glanced at the clock on the wall. "And if you're going to get up that early,
you'd best get to bed now. They'll want to go with the dawn."
Kamar was in the stable when the sun was just a splash of blue behind
the trees. As he saddled Nightshade, a black riding beast with vivid green
stripes across the back, he noticed an unusual bulge in the saddlebags.
Inside, he found a large, padded bundle, and a note from Marylyn. It read:
Dear Kamar,
You have been accepted into the group as a herbalist.
These are all the herbs you will need, and instructions for
their use. Study them well, for they may save your life.
Good luck.
Love,
Marylyn
Herbs? He looked into the bundle, and saw that it was packed full of
small jars, just like the ones Marylyn used to cook with. He was supposed to
learn the medicinal properties of cooking herbs? He started to pull out the
roll of instructional papers, but shoved them back in when he heard the
others coming.
"So you are the young herbalist?" The lady enquired. Kamar nodded.
"Your matron recommended you highly. Let us hope you are as talented as she
says. Let me introduce you to the others." She turned to a muscular badger.
"This is Reldner, from the River Fief." A sharp-eyed wolf came forward.
"The wolf is Marius's nephew, Kent, from the Mountain Fiefdom." The squirrel
from the night before stepped forward.
"I am Sherwin, from the Forest Fief." Kamar bowed.
"M'lord."
"This is Dyllis, the.." Kamar bowed again, more deeply.
"Your Majesty." The lady and the would-be king looked at each other.
"Do not call me that again until I have the crest in my hands." The
fox warned. "Whether or not I am the rightful king has yet to be proven."
"Yes.. uh.. M'lord." Kamar amended.
"And the shrouded one is..."
"He knows who I am!" Mergon snapped impatiently, "Let us leave this
place!" They saddled up and trooped out of the village. Kamar brought his
horse up near the lady's.
"Um... M'lady never told me her own name." He respectfully observed.
The feline eyed him cooly for a moment.
"You may call me Lady Kalith. Now get back where you belong."
Kamar obediently fell behind, trailed only by Reldner, who was guarding
their rear.
II
They made camp that night, the others setting up their tents and
seeing to the needs of their steeds. Kamar had no tent, of course, but he
made a bedroll for himself, and fed and groomed Nightshade. Kent snared a
couple of rabbits, and presented them, skinned and cleaned, to Kamar for
cooking.
"Let's see if I learned anything from Marylyn's notes." He thought,
as he dressed and roasted the rabbits, making a light baste with a few of the
herbs Marylyn had given him. Soon the smell of roasting coney drew the
others around the fire. Kamar proudly served up his first meal, dividing the
meat equally around the fire and suplementing it with some dried fruit. He
recieved high praise from Sherwin, and even the seldom speaking Kent and
Reldner agreed it was well prepared.
"It is... edible." The Lady Kalith allowed.
"M'lady is no doubt used to finer." Kamar said. Kent and Reldner
shared a smile, out of Kalith's sight. Kalith just ate in frosty silence.
Mergon took her dish and left to eat alone.
A few days later, they were riding through a light woods when Kent
pulled them up short with a wave of his hand. He dismounted, and examined
the ground.
"Several men came through here... I'd say, two days before. One was
mounted, the others on foot. They were either wearing armor or weighed
down with burdens." He bent down closer to the ground, and sniffed. "One is
a mystic... or wishes to be. His scent bears traces of nepthe and he has
neither armor nor burden."
"That causes visions." Kamar noted, then added, "It can also destroy
your mind." He had some in his own bundle of herbs, though Marylyn's notes
bore strongly worded cautions about its use.
"They could be bandits." Reldner grunted. "They may have an ambush
on one of the roads ahead."
"Then it is fortunate that we are avoiding the roads, isn't it?"
Kalith said. "Let's keep moving."
"Aye." Kent said, but he set a more cautious pace. Reldner's hand
rested at his side, idly stroking the hilt of his sword. There would be no
surprising those two.
"Could they be working for the priests of Valkor?" Sherwin asked,
"A mystic traveling in such mixed company strikes me as strange."
"The mystic is neither Hand nor Eye, that uses nepthe to excite the
mind." Mergon sneered, "We have no need of such stimulation."
"More likely he is a herbalist like Kamar, pretending to be a wizard
or a seer." Kalith said, "The one who rides while the others walk would be
the leader. A leader of bandits might seek such council." They continued
on in silence thereafter.
Another day's journey behind them, and they were approaching a small
village, little more than a cluster of huts and a tavern. Kent paused to
consult with the Lady.
"The village provides an opportunity to replenish our provisions." He
said, "An opportunity we may not find again soon, M'lady."
"We cannot enter the village." She informed him, "I have passed
through on several occasions, and I will likely be recognized. I do not want
the Eyes to learn of our mission."
"Still, M'lady, we need the provisions." Kent persisted.
"Very well... let us send Kamar." She turned and called for him.
"Yes, M'lady?" He trotted his beast up next to hers.
"Take this," She handed the young lion a sack with more coin than
he'd ever seen before, "And secure provisions for us in the village. Kent
will tell you what we need." She pulled ahead, leaving Kamar with the
hunter, who caught his look, and shrugged.
"I have known many women." He observed, scratching his chin, "And she
is like all of them, only more so. Here is what we need..."
Kamar nervously rode into the village, painfully aware that he was
carrying enough money to buy the whole village twice over. He tied his mount
to the hitching post, and went into the tavern, to inquire after the goods
he sought.
There'd been a lot of commotion inside, just before he entered, but
the second he stepped through the door, silence descended. Kamar had half
a mind to just excuse himself, and go back to Kalith empty-handed, but he
steeled himself and nervously waded through the unabashed stares of the
villagers.
"Um... did I interupt something?" He asked when her reached the bar.
"Oh, no, goodly sir... we just don't get many visitors these days."
The bartender assured him, "And, well... you never know who's who and what's
what anymore."
"Uh, yeah. Look, I was wondering if I could buy some provisions
here?" The bartender wiped his hands on a rag, and nodded.
"Sure thing. Just step back here..." He motioned for Kamar to follow
him into a back room. Kamar stepped into the back and fell soundlessly as
something heavy crashed against the base of his skull.
"Sorry about that." The bartender was saying when Kamar's eyes could
open again. "But what with the Eyes and Hands taking so much of our crops,
we can't afford to let you take any more. Winter is hard, you know."
The bartender hefted Kamar's coin-pouch in his hand. "Besides, a rich kid
like you won't miss this, and you should know better than to wear such a
heavy purse into a tavern. You're only getting what you deserve."
"Guess I've learned my lesson, then," Kamar said, "So what say you
untie me and let me go?"
"So you can go running back to Daddy and have the whole village
burned? I don't think so. No, if big rich noble Dad wants you back, he'll
have to pay. We've all got to eat, you know." Kamar said nothing, looking
at a point over his captor's shoulder. The bartender tossed the weighty sack
into the air again, grinning. His mirth turned to puzzlement when the bag
didn't come back down. He looked up, and his head intersected the path of
Reldner's fist. The bartender fell and didn't bother getting back up.
"Hi, Kamar." THe badger said, untying him, then "Sorry it took us so
long."
"That's OK. I needed the rest." Kamar rubbed the sore lump on his
neck. "Guess I blew it, huh?"
"Nah, I don't think it was your fault." Kamar gave the badger a wry
look.
"Yeah, but what does Lady Kalith think?" The badger shrugged.
"Only the Lady knows. Come on, we got the supplies we needed."
Reldner tossed the bag of coins onto the limp form of the bartender in way
of payment.
Outside, they mounted up and joined the others who were waiting a
small space away. As they rode off, Reldner and Sherwin joked about the
incident with him, but the Lady was coldly silent. Kamar couldn't tell if
she was upset, or if it was just her normal aloof frigidity, but he felt
somehow as though he'd failed her. He wanted to apologize, but he couldn't
find the words or the courage, so he just stayed back and rode in silence.
III
Another day of riding passed uneventfully. Kamar judged that, even
if Lady Kalith had blamed him for the village incident, she wasn't planning
on mentioning it. About midday the following day, Mergon pulled up along-
side the Lady.
"We must detour here, to the Standing Stones." She announced, "I
must pay my respects, and consult with them before we continue."
"Is that really necessary?" Kent asked.
"If you wish to reach the Forgotten Place, I must ask the Old Gods
for assistance." The wolf eyed her curiosly.
"I thought you knew where the Forgotten Place was?"
"If I knew that," Mergon said, "It wouldn't be a "forgotten" place,
dunce." Then she wheeled her beast around, and set a course straight for
the Stones. The rest followed, wordlessly.
They made camp a considerable distance from the Stones. Kent and
Reldner both acted strangely nervous, looking over their shoulders at the
forbidding Stones that loomed in the distance.
"Superstitious men." Mergon spat at them, "You'd face down a giant,
but you cower at shadows and noises in the night." She turned to Kamar.
"Would you care to join me, young herbalist?"
"Me?" Kamar asked, taken by surprise.
"All who seek Knowledge are welcomed by the Old ones." She turned
away, but continued to speak, "I am... required to invite any who walk the
path." Kamar was wary, but his curiosity finally got the better of him.
"I will acompany you to the Stones." He said. Kent and Reldner
shared one of those private looks they'd become prone to, and he wondered
what he'd gotten himself into. It was too late to turn back, however, so
he followed her as she walked to the shrine of the Old Gods.
"This, young herbalist, is the last stronghold of the Old Gods."
Mergon explained as they walked, "Since Valkor took this land, the Old Gods
are trapped here." When they entered the circle of Stones, Kamar saw what
she meant. Statues of men and women stood out in relief from the stones
within the circle, frozen forever into rock. "This is where they held their
last council, and here will the Gods remain forevermore." Mergon went around
the circle once, then knelt before the statue of a robed vixen, bearing a
tablet in one arm and a spear in the other. Unsure of what to do, Kamar
walked around the circle himself, inspected each statue in turn. One in
particular caught his attention, that of a coyote, with an owl perched over
one shoulder and a curious staff, with two twinned serpents about the top.
Next to it was a statue of a warrior badger. "Looks like Reldner." Kamar
thought to himself. He stole a glance over his shoulder at Mergon, who was
still kneeling before her statue. Shrugging, Kamar knelt similarly before
the coyote. The day's journey had been long, and the hour was late... and
in short order, nature had taken it's course. Kamar slept... and dreamed.
He still knelt in the circle of Stones, but now, the Gods were moving.
He looked up, and the coyote smiled down at him. Kamar sat up and looked
around. Mergon was nowhere to be seen.
"Greetings, young scholar." The coyote said. He raised his voice,
"My fellow gods! A mortal has joined our council!" Kamar stood as the
other gods approached.
"A mortal? I thought that upstart Valkor had tainted all who could
seek us." The vixen goddess Mergon had been praying to said.
"But.." Kamar was puzzled, "Wasn't Mergon speaking to you?"
"Is she?" the vixen asked, sounding bored, "She used to be a follower
of mine... but she has sold her soul to Valkor. And HE will never let her
go. But enough of her. You are much more interesting!" She came closer,
leaning forward and examining him seductively. The coyote stepped between
them.
"Now, Athixa, do not try to tempt him... he came to me. I will guide
him." The goddess turned away and stalked off, in the manner of a denied cat.
The coyote turned back to Kamar. "You have chosen wisely, for I am Melkor,
the god of Healing and Art. You have learned well from Marylyn's
instructions. Follow them, and you'll not go wrong." The owl screeched, and
flew from his shoulder. "Beware of Mergon. She serves Valkor above all
else." The scene wobbled, and Kamar knew that he was waking up. Distantly,
he heard Melkor say, "Tell no one what you have seen."
"Wake up, fool!" Mergon was shaking him awake. Kamar stood up,
wincing at the crick in his back. "Well, did the Gods grant you visions of
the future?" Kamar shook his head.
"No. How about you?"
"My questions were answered to my satisfaction." She answered, and
stalked out. Kamar lingered a moment more. He noticed that the owl was gone
from the statue of Melkor... and the badger, who had been snarling, bore an
encouraging smile. Kamar felt a sense of awe and wonder as he hurried back
to camp.
"So, how was it?" The squirrel asked after they'd returned.
"It's nothing to be scared of." Kamar said before he thought better
of it. Reldner and Kent both favored him with looks that could have taught
Kalith a thing or two about cold. "Oh, no, I didn't mean it like that!"
"So, did the great and mysterious herbalist have a vision he'd like
to share with we mere mortals?" Reldner asked sarcastically.
"Um, no, I..." Kamar paused, "There's no way I can win this one, is
there?" The badger and wolf shook their heads. "Then I'll just go saddle
my mount."
"We ride to the North, to the town of Fountainhead." Mergon announced.
"There, we will find one who will guide us to the Crest."
"I thought you were going to guide us to the Crest?" Dyllis asked,
the first he'd spoken since they'd left Lilith's Inn.
"Don't be insolent, boy, even if you may be a King. I said I would
get us there, and I will." With that, she left to mount her beast, not waiting
for the rest to follow.
"Looks like we go North." Kent said. He turned to Kamar, "If the
wise and magnificent one wills?" Kamar pelted him with a snow-ball.
"Forgiven?" He asked.
"Aye, forgiven." Reldner said. "Come on, we'd better hurry, or Mergon
will leave us behind."
"Wouldn't put it past her."
IV
A week later, the group was crossing the southern hills. Kamar
looked up from the plodding pace of his mount and gasped. On the horizon,
a sharp, dark finger of stone jutted out of the landscape, its top shrouded
in cloud.
"That's Wreath Mountain." Kent explained. "We'll pass right next to
it on our way to Fountainhead. It marks the edge of my lord's Fief."
"It looks so... forbidding, doesn't it?" Sherwin commented.
"Rightly so. The Standing Stones aren't the only places where old
powers still dwell." Kent said, "The mountain is supposed to be a place where
the dead walk."
"Supposed to be?" Kamar asked. Kent shrugged.
"Some find the idea of the dead walking to be amusing. I don't like
being laughted at."
"My aunt was from the mountain Fief," Reldner said, "She used to say
AWK!" He fell suddenly from his horse.
"Odd thing for her to say, don't you think?" Sherwin asked, before an
arrow sailed past him. "Shit, we're under attack!"
"Nice of you to notice!" Kent said, drawing his bow. Sherwin did
likewise. Kamar had neither bow nor sword, and was at a loss as to what
he could do. He dug through his notes hastily, trying to find something to
help. Mergon pulled her mount back into the shadow of a pine... and vanished.
At the moment, Kamar rather wished he could do the same. Arrows continued
to rain down on them in flights of four and five. Kent and Sherwin sighted
on the source of the arrows, and returned fire. "Damn it boy, don't just sit
there!" Kent snarled, "Help Reldner!"
Kamar leapt off his beast, grabbed his pack of herbs, and ran to
where the badger had fallen. The badger's wound was superficial, but he'd
knocked his head on a stump when he'd fallen, and the snow was tinged red
with his blood. Kamar felt anxiously for a pulse, and found it strong and
steady.
"All right, Reldner, let's see what I've got in here for you..." He
nervously began talking to the badger, finding that it kept him from going
into hysterics. "First, let's see about that head wound... the arrow can
wait."
Meanwhile, Sherwin and Kent were trying to defend against the
near-constant rain of arrows. Dyllis had a different idea, however. Drawing
his sword, he turned his riding beast and galloped straight toward the trees
that were sheltering their attackers. With a fierce cry, he plunged in,
disregarding the arrows that whizzed by. In moments, the hidden archers ran
forth from cover, to meet death from the bows of Kent and Sherwin. He
emerged again a moment later, locked in combat with an armored Knight. The
fight lasted for a few minutes, but Dyllis won when he ran his sword between
the overlapping plates of the Knight's armor, impaling him on the blade. He
grimly wiped his blade on a rag, and retrieved his mount from the woods.
"I think you got all the archers," He said as he approached, "But I
believe the mystic with them got away."
"That was the most idiotic thing I've ever seen anyone do!" Lady
Kalith shouted. "You cannot take chances like that! Too many lives depend
on you!" Dyllis raised an eyebrow.
"Actually, I was completely safe."
"How so?" Kent asked.
"Simple. If I am destined to be King, then I can hardly afford to
die before I reach the Royal Crest, yes?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"And if I'm not destined to be the King, then my life doesn't really
matter, and I am the most expendible person here. Either way, my decision
was sound." And without another word, he turned and trotted his mount away.
"Hi guys." Reldner said, his head and shoulder bandaged, "Sorry I
wimped out on you."
"You hush." Kamar said behind him, "You're lucky to be alive."
"You wouldn't say that if you had my head." He groused. "And what was
that stuff you poured into me? Tastes like skunkweed and garlic!" Kamar
just raised an eyebrow. "You mean...? It wasn't, was it?"
"No, skunkweed is for repelling insects." Kamar said, "But there was
a little garlic in there. Just be careful, so I don't have to give you a
second dose." Reldner made a face. Meanwhile, more serious business was at
hand.
"These men match too well the tracks we passed before to be a
coincidence. They were hunting for us." Lady Kalith said.
"I should think that was obvious." Mergon said, having mysteriously
reappeared. "But with their leader slain, they should pose no further
threat."
"The mystic did escape." Kent noted.
"Bah! A fool, meddling with forces beyond his understanding. He will
not bother us again."
"If you say so." The wolf deferred. "All the same, I think we should
pick up our pace."
"Agreed." Lady Kalith said, "Let us put as much distance between us
and this place as possible. Leave the bodies for carrion."
As they rode on, Sherwin turned to his comrades and asked, rather
rhetorically, "Did you see that? I've never seen anything like that before."
"Nor have I," Kent said, "It was foolish, but brave nonetheless."
"My people used to use such tactics, being without fear, as we are."
Reldner said, not bragging.
"Why'd you stop?"
"We learned better." He shrugged. "You can't win a war with dead
soldiers." He looked at Mergon, where she rode ahead with Lady Kalith, "At
least, most of us can't. Don't know about HER."
"I think he really IS the King." Kamar said, his voice full of awe.
Kent nodded, looking thoughtful.
"Aye, lad. I begin to think so too."
V
They stopped and made camp after a hard day of riding. Kamar started
to prepare dinner, but Sherwin came up and offered to take over.
"B-but you're a Lord... I couldn't..."
"OK, then, since I'm a Lord and you're a peasant, I ORDER you to let
me make dinner. Why don't you go see to Reldner."
"Um, ok, I'll do that." Kamar started to walk off.
"Oh, and kid?"
"Sir?"
"I had enough trouble with Kent and Reldner without you stirring it
up again. Don't remind me that I'm a Lord. Where I come from, that
doesn't mean shit." The squirrel went back to stirring his stew.
"Um, I guess so."
Reldner and Kent were together tending to the horses, Reldner's head
and shoulder still wrapped tight in bandages. Kent nudged his companion.
"Here comes trouble for you." Reldner watched Kamar advance, and
groaned.
"Wonder what he wants me to drink now?"
"Hi, guys. How are you feeling, Reldner?"
"Fine, just fine..."
"Well, let me know if you're in too much pain... I have a powder that
can help."
"No, I think I'll manage."
"Not a bad job, kid." Kent admitted, "You'd've made a good field
medic."
"I just wish I could've helped in the fight." Reldner shook his head.
"You're not a warrior. You can serve better by keeping the rest of
us healthy." Kamar sighed.
"I guess so, it just seems kinda, I dunno, cowardly."
"Especially compared to Dyllis, eh?" Kamar nodded. "If it makes you
feel better, Sherwin said the same thing about being an archer. Listen,
there are times when there are better ways to fight. Sometimes you need to
attack an enemy from a distance, sometimes you need to be up close and
personal... and sometimes, you just have to stay alive, and find a better
time to fight."
"Speaking of staying alive... I think I have an idea." Kamar said,
looking inspired, "I'll see you guys later."
Reldner looked at Kent, who looked back and shrugged.
Kamar dug his notes, now dog-eared and worn from much persual over
the course of the journey. He'd memorized most of the herbs, but there were
a few he hadn't found a use for... until now. He dug out a few herbs, and
his mortal and pestle, and began grinding away. When he was done, he had
three pouches of dried powder, which he carefully marked with colored twine.
"Now, let's see.." He consulted Marylyn's notes. "Ah, here it is...
the recipie for those snap-crackers. All I need is.." He looked closely at
the list. "OH, that's GROSS!"
Kamar crept around to where the riding beasts were hitched. He saw
what he needed, and, holding his nose, he scooped some into a bag.
"Hey, Kamar," Reldner said from nearby, making him jump, "Whatcha
gonna to do with that?" Kamar grinned.
"You SURE you want to know what was in that potion?"
"You'd BETTER be kidding!" Reldner exclaimed menacingly.
"Of course I am... this is for an experiment."
"Hey, whatever. Listen, kid, I wanted to thank you for patching me
up. I'd hate to have died and missed the rest of the trip. Gotta admit,
though, I'm a little disappointed."
"Why's that?"
"I've always wondered what death was like..." The badger walked off,
leaving Kamar with his bag of manure.
"Always wondered..." Kamar shook his head, "I guess badgers really
ARE without fear." Kamar went back about his business.
They continued on their journey. Wreath Mountain loomed larger and
larger above them, and it was making Kamar and Kent both just a little
nervous.
"That damn mountain gives me the creeps." Sherwin said, adding his
voice to their discontent. "It's a shame we couldn't go through MY Fief."
"I think Mergon and Lady Kalith took the infamous forest bandits into
account when they planned this course." Kent said, grinning.
"Huh. _I_'ve never had a problem with bandits." Sherwin said.
"I don't doubt THAT." Lady Kalith said wryly, proving that she was
listening.
"Well, I..." He paused as a vast winged shadow washed over them.
"What..?" They looked up, to see a huge, winged reptile between them and the
sun. "Shit, it's a dragon!" The dragon wheeled about and came toward them,
gouting flame. Everyone threw themselves off their mounts, and used them to
shield, much good as it did them.
"Hey, Kid, got any DragonBane in those jars?" Kent asked.
"Yeah... why, you got a stomach-ache?" Kamar retorted. "He won't
like the taste... but by that time, I doubt you'd really care."
"Mergon, do you..." He looked around. "She's gone again. Figures."
"We have a second problem." Reldner said.
"Well, one at a time, dammit!" Kent said, sending an arrow futily
toward the dragon, "If it isn't bigger than the dragon, I think it can wait!"
The badger shrugged.
"Suit yourself." Kamar crouch-walked to where Sherwin was pinned
down. The squirrel sent an arrow after Kent's, just as uselessly.
"Hey, Sherwin, I've got an idea. You're a good shot, right?"
"The best." Sherwin answered, sounding slightly offended that he'd
needed to ask.
"Think you can shoot an arrow with a pouch on it near the dragon's
mouth?" Kamar asked, pulling his "experiment" off of his belt.
"Yeah, probably. What's in there?"
"Hopefully, a dragon-repellant."
"Hey, I'll give anything a shot. Hand it here." The squirrel tied
the bag flat against the arrow, then hefted it to get a feel for the weight.
"I'm not sure how well it'll fly... it's not very well balanced."
"All we can do is try." Sherwin nodded, and knocked the arrow. "OK,
wait for him to open his mouth... try to catch him before he lets off any
flame." Sherwin waited... waited... then let fly. The arrow sailed in a
high arc toward the approaching dragon, straight toward his gaping maw. The
dragon responded in the logical fashion, by trying to incinerate the arrow.
"Get down!" Kamar shouted, doing his best to duck-and-cover. There
was a huge boom, as the arrow exploded into a huge ball of flame. The dragon
emerged from the blast alive, but dazed and wobbly. It flew around in a
circle a few times, then flapped away, deciding they weren't worth the
apparent risk.
"Ready from problem number two?" Reldner asked.
"Uh, sure." Kent turned to Kamar, wide-eyed. "What the hell was
THAT?"
"Dragon-repellant." Sherwin answered, giggling.
"There's a guy in robes up on the ridge, watching us." Reldner said.
"What?" They looked, and, sure enough, there was a robed figure
staring down at them. They looked back, and he was gone.
"You know," Kent said, "I'll just bet you that he and Mergon went to
the same school."
VI
"We will make camp here." Mergon declared, reigning in her riding
beast. Kent looked up at the sun setting behind the looming mountain and
shook his head.
"We'll push on till dawn, if we've any sense at all. No one sleeps
in the shadow of Wreath Mountain who wants to see another day."
"Superstitious fool, you dare to challenge me?"
"Given a choice between you and the mountain, yes." Kent answered.
"This is my homeland. I know where it is safe to sleep and where it is not."
"Wives tales and children's nightmares. This place is as safe as
any."
"Not while there's a dragon about, it isn't." Kent said, "Though I'm
not surprised that doesn't concern you. After all, you can just vanish when
trouble shows up."
"I'll rip your heart out." Mergon warned, her voice not rising in the
slightest above her normal whisper.
"You'll do no such thing." Kalith intervened, "Kent, unless you want
to go on without us, I suggest you dismount and make camp."
"But.."
"I think Kamar could use a break from his kitchen duties, in light of
his assistance in saving us from the dragon. I'm sure you can manage, can't
you, Kent?" The wolf dismounted, and stalked off to make camp.
"Are you sure that was wise, m'Lady?" Reldner asked her, aside, "Kent
is our guide, after all, and, as he said, this is his country."
"I'm aware of that, Sir Reldner, but I cannot afford to allow him
to antagonize Mergon." She looked up at the mountain, and her face betrayed
just a hint of aprehension. "In all honesty, I agree with him. I know the
legends. But there is nothing I can do."
Dinner was not a terrible success. Kamar watched Sherwin fanning
his tounge, and cautiously took a sip of his own soup. He was grateful that
he hadn't taken a whole mouthful, even a sip made his eyes water. He drew
out one of his jars of herbs, and sprinkled a little into his dish. He
waited for it to work, then took another sip. The taste almost turned him
green, but it was at least mildly edible. Kent and Reldner, old soldiers
both, didn't seem bothered in the least, and Lady Kalith and Mergon seemed
similarly unaffected, though Kamar noted that Kalith frequently refilled her
cup. They ate in silence, and when dinner was done, Kent took the first
watch, while everyone else went to sleep.
Kent sat, staring at the mountain distrustfully. Thus it was that
he didn't notice when a fine white mist slowly spread around him, its fumes
dragging him quickly into a dark and sightless place. Large, shaggy shapes
passed through the mist, pausing for a few moments before continuing on their
way toward the mountain.
Meanwhile, Kamar's sleep was disturbed by strange visions.
"Your sword, sir." Reldner was saying, handing him a blade. "May the
gods favor us." Kamar looked over his shoulder, and saw his army, a vast
tide of armored furs from all the Fiefdoms. He faced front again, and saw
the black, terrifying shape of Castle Quagmire ahead of him. Instead of
running away, which is what any sane person would have done, he raised his
sword and gave a fierce cry, which echoed through the bog, and was
immediately joined by a thousand voices, eager for justice.
He stood in the awesome chamber of Valkor, a vast cavern of
unspeakable evil. Before him was a great Chair, carved of ebony. He looked
at his sword, and found it bloodied.
The piercing cry of an owl woke him, and he sat up to find himself
alone in a pile of snow.
"What the..?" Kamar sat there, confused beyond words. "Did they
leave me behind?" He wondered, then decided against it. "No, I would have
waked when I heard them leaving. Then what.." Kamar shivered, and stood up,
dusting the snow off of himself as best he could. "Where is everyone?" He
asked alound.
"Out there." Kent said, coming up next to him and surprising the
hell out of him. "I didn't see you before... where were you?"
"In a pile of snow." Kent looked at the tree, which bore a few limbs
denuded of snow, then at Kamar's obscured bedroll. Near the trunk, almost
completely concealed by the evergreen's needles, an white owl preened itself.
"You're lucky that snow dropped on you. You would have been taken
like the others."
"Taken?"
"By the Horunds. I recognize the tracks." Kent pointed out the
large prints in the snow.
"Horunds?"
"They live on Mount Wreath. I'll bet that's where the others were
taken."
"Why didn't they take you?" Kamar wondered.
"I was sitting watch, a little away from the camp. I fell asleep."
"YOU?" Kent nodded, shamefully.
"I can't explain it, but it's the only answer." Kamar saw that the
wolf was troubled by his apparent failure of duty.
"Hey, we can worry about fault later." He admonished, "We have to
find the others." Kent nodded.
"Quite right. The tracks lead toward the mountain."
"Big surprise."
"Really. Got any more of that dragon-repellant?" Kent asked
hopefully.
"Nope. Used it all on the dragon. I do have a few other surprises,
though."
"Good. We'll need them." He looked at the mountain. "We'd better
get going. No telling how much of a head start they have."
The two mounted up and rode off, Kent picking out the trail. They
were expecting the trail to lead to the mountain, and they were not
disappointed. Kent pulled up, watching the tracks lead up to the tree-line,
and onward up the mountain slope.
"Kent?" Kamar asked, seeing the wolf's fascinated stare, "Kent, are
you ok?" The wolf nodded, slowly.
"You know, my friends and I spent the night on that mountain, when I
was about your age." He commented, a haunted look on his face.
"Really?" Kamar asked, "Then you're familiar with the area?" The wolf
turned and stared at Kamar's nievete.
"I was the only one who came back... whole. Yes, I'd say I know the
mountain as well as anyone can who still breaths."
Lady Kalith opened her eyes and gazed around the torchlit room,
feeling groggy as the sedative mist wore off. She lifted her head..
And stared straight into eight multi-faceted eyes.
VII
"Awake?" the creature asked in a sillibent voice, "Good."
"Wh.. Where am I?" Kalith found her hands bound and her body
fairly well plastered against the wall, effectively immobilizing her.
"In my parlor, of course." The spider-thing answered. It had six
legs attached to its spider's abdomen, and two slightly different appendages
on its more anthro torso, which ended in three articulate claws. The face
was a bizaare cross between antho and spider, with multi-faceted eyes
and a mouth from which tusk-like mandibles protruded. "I do apologize for
kidnapping you, but I didn't think sending an engraved invitation would
be quite appropriate. I trust the Horunds didn't shake you up too badly?"
"Horunds?" Kalith asked.
"Oh, yes, you would have missed them, being asleep and all. Oh,
just as well, I suppose. They make lousy conversationalists, you know."
"What do you want from me?" Kalith demanded.
"All in good time, my dear, all in good time. If you'll excuse me,
I do have other dignitaries I must attend to." He scuttled off, then turned
back for a moment. "Oh, do stick around, won't you?" With that, he vanished,
leaving only his mocking laughter behind him.
"So this is the King?" The spider pondered, when Dyllis recovered
from the sedative. "You don't look like much, do you?"
"Look who's talking." Dyllis retorted. The spider-thing shrugged.
"True, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder."
"Who are you?" Dyllis asked.
"Ah, now that's a very good question!" the spider answered, "I don't
suppose you've heard of Trantor, have you?"
"Trantor of the Eight Legs?"
"I think the description fits, don't you?" Trantor asked. "How does
it feel to be in the presence of a god?"
"Rather disappointed, I'm afraid." Dyllis answered. Trantor took the
fox's face in his claws.
"You should keep a civil tounge in your head, boy, if you wish to
keep your tounge in your head at all. Actually, you should be quite honored.
You're going to help me usher in a glorious new age."
"Not if I have anything to say about it."
"Oh, but that's just it, my boy... you don't. You see, your kind
did some fairly nasty things to me and mine historically." The spider-taur
considered for a moment, "Well, in fairness, I do have to admit we didn't
react very well to you settling the area. And I do suppose it was only
logical for you to retaliate... but that's all in the past. We were talking
about the future. You see, only one thing stops me from taking my minions
and sweeping out of these caves to wreak a very undignified havok on your
kind."
"And that would be...?" The spider-god gave a hiss of eternal
frustration.
"The fact that your gods have sealed me in here. I've talked to
Valkor about letting me out as part of a strategic alliance, but I'm afraid
he never was too keen on the concept of sharing, the spoiled upstart."
"And how do you expect that I'll be able to help you?"
"Well you see, my boy, there are many levels of power in this vast
and wonderful universe of ours, and a force right at the top set into motion
events that will eliminate Valkor."
"Sounds like a good thing for you."
"Well, yes, it would be, wouldn't it? Except that, the way things
are going now, YOU are the one who will kill Valkor. And when you get done
with that, you'll restore the Old Gods to power... and that is most certainly
NOT to my advantage."
"So you're going to kill me." Dyllis concluded, "I still don't see
how this improves your situation."
"Oh, no, there's more to it than that, I assure you. You see, when
the Highest of Powers set events into motion, they do it through indirect
means... it has to do with balance of power and Maciavellian principles and
Supply and Demand and... well, I could go on forever, but suffice it to say,
they have their reasons."
"I still don't see..."
"There is... a Prophecy. It runs something like this: The rightful
King will appear, and then, after a lot of other things that are fairly
irrelevant to our discussion, the one who possesses the blood of the Royal
line will slay the god Valkor."
"You're going to use me to get to Valkor, then?"
"In a manner of speaking. You see, if _I_ were the focus of the
Prophesy, then the higher powers would have to revoke the seal on the
mountain, so that the Prophesy could be fulfilled."
"But you CAN'T be! You can't possibly be the King!"
"Quite right, and if the Prophesy said that I had to be, I'd be in
a bit of a bind on that one. But it doesn't. It specifically says that all
one needs to kill Valkor is to possess the blood of the Royal Line."
"But how could you..." Dyllis finally caught on.
"I see you've caught on. I must say, it was awfully nice of you to
make things SO easy for me." He grabbed the fox's chin again, and lifted it
up, exposing the neck. "I do hope you will forgive me for rushing things,
but I do have a rather busy week ahead of me, what with killing a god and
commiting atrocities and genocide and all. Oh, and you may feel a sharp pain
and experience dizzyness, light-headedness, and a gradual descent into a
numbed, unfeeling blackness, followed almost immediately by the cessation of
all bodily functions. Don't worry, it's perfectly natural, and nothing to
be alarmed about... it's just Death." The creature leaned in, his mandibles
salivating.
Fortunately for Dyllis, Trantor was distracted by the sounds of
meyhem nearby.
"Oh, damn. Can't I have just one meal without something interupting
me?" He started to scuttle away, but threw his head back over his shoulder
to address Dyllis once more. "I apologize for making you wait, but these
things just can't be avoided. Don't worry.. I'll be back momentarily."
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