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-- DargonZine Volume 3, Issue 4 03/09/90 Cir 966 --
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-- Contents --
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Materia Medica II Max Khaytsus Yuli 19-21, 1013
Some Snatch of Honor M. Wendy Hennequin 13 Janis, 1014
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Materia Medica
Part 2
by Max Khaytsus
<b.c.k.a. khaytsus%tramp@boulder.colorado.edu>
Kera rolled out of bed with a long yawn and looked around the
room. Rien sat at the small table by the window, reading `The
Realities of Myths'.
"It's about time," he looked over. "It's almost noon."
"Being jailed isn't as harsh a reality when I'm sleeping," Kera
said. She walked over to the table and sat down on the second chair.
"How many times have you read that book now?"
"Thrice," Rien said. "And I learned something new every time."
"Doesn't look like any of it is of much use to us."
"It's not," Rien said. "Most of it is disputed facts disputed
once again."
"We've been locked up in this inn for two days now. Let's do
something."
"It's dangerous out there."
"I know," Kera said, "but I can't take much more of this. I need
to see different walls."
"All right," Rien said after a moment of thought. He wasn't used
to this much indoor living either. "I'll make you a deal. Instead of
eating here we'll go outside of Dargon, hunt and eat there."
Kera's eyes brightened. "Let's go!"
"Get dressed," Rien stopped her. "I don't think we need the
attention."
"I was going to anyway!" she stuck her tongue out at him.
"There's a rabbit," Kera pointed to a patch of dark grass off the
path.
Rien turned his horse to look. "Yes, it is," he said, spotting
the rabbit.
"Aren't you going to shoot it?" Kera asked.
"No. I got you a bow so you could do it."
"Rien!"
"It was your idea to become my apprentice. How do you expect me
to teach you if you don't do anything?"
Kera pulled out her bow, strung it and took aim at the rabbit.
"Loosen up your arm," Rien instructed, "and don't pull back so
far. It's only a rabbit. It won't take much to kill it."
Kera loosened up and reaimed. "It's moving around," she
complained.
"Should I ask it to hold still?"
"Please," Kera said.
"Just shoot it!"
The arrow passed well to the left of the rabbit and stuck in the
ground. The startled animal darted off into the bushes.
"It was too far anyway," Kera said. "Now what?"
"You retrieve the arrow and either track your prey or go find
another."
"There's a guy at the market who sells rabbits," Kera said.
"You find it in the forest and you kill it."
"Can I do it my way?" Kera asked.
"Go ahead," Rien answered, "but you'll have to learn the bow
anyway."
Kera jumped off her horse and started examining the bushes. Ten
minutes later she found what she was looking for and returned to Rien.
"If there's anything there, I'll have it in a minute."
Rien nodded in anticipation and loaded his crossbow. "Just in
1case," he smiled.
Kera got the flint and steel off her horse, scooped up some dry
moss and returned to the bush. She cut off some branches for easier
access, spread the moss at the entrance to the burrow and lit it. A
moment later thick smoke descended into the hole.
"What if there's more than one exit?" Rien asked.
"Then it will get away. It happens sometimes."
"Do you know why?"
Kera shrugged. "Just the way it is, I guess. Some rabbits are
smarter than others."
"Rabbits don't dig their own burrows," Rien said. "If they find
an abandoned one, they tend to move in and depending on what creature
built it, there may be multiple exits."
Kera brushed the smoldering moss aside and prepared for her
catch. "All I know is that when they live in burrows they leave
scratch marks in the ground, looking for roots."
"Good method," Rien said.
Kera proceeded to kneel by the hole a while longer and finally
swung her dagger, then triumphantly produced a rabbit.
"Very nice," Rien approved.
Kera was about to pick up her dagger as a second grey shape
appeared at the opening and darted for freedom. She lunged after it,
falling across the first rabbit, but managed to grab a leg of the
escaping animal. A high pitched squeak indicated the catch.
"Two," Kera stood up, holding a rabbit by its ears in each hand.
"You can cook them."
"I am sure I can, but I prefer mine raw and yours might get
burned in the fire."
"That's not fair."
"Is it fair to ask my apprentice to prepare the catch?" Rien
asked.
"I don't think I want to answer that question," Kera said. "I
suppose I'll do it. Are you sure you want yours raw?"
"I'll take it cooked this time," Rien said.
Kera placed her catch on the ground and started laying a fire pit
when Rien suddenly jerked his horse to the side and fired his crossbow
into a tree.
A small black creature fell to the ground.
Drawing his long knife and dismounting, Rien approached with Kera
behind him. On the ground lay what appeared to be a cross between a
bat and a man, no more than four inches tall. A large round hole gaped
in its wing and part of its side was torn open.
"I thought I saw something like this yesterday at the inn," he
said, scooping up the creature.
"Is it dead?" Kera asked.
"I imagine so," Rien said. "See why so much force shouldn't be
used?"
Kera nodded. "What is it?"
"I don't know. An enchanted creature, I'd imagine." He pulled
open a small pouch he got off the horse and placed the body inside,
securely drawing the strings closed. "Go make lunch," he reminded
Kera.
She looked back at the two rabbits by the fire. "I'm not sure I'm
all that hungry any more..."
"What happened?" Tsazia demanded of Mija.
"The imp was killed," he said in a low voice.
"How?"
"The elf," he feared to raise his eyes. "The elf shot it."
The old witch calmly turned to leave. "Get the book back tonight.
1I will personally see to the elf tomorrow."
* * *
Rien knocked on the door frame to Corambis' shop and a young
dark-haired girl hurried to meet him. "Master Corambis will not be
doing readings today," she said.
"I was told I might find Dyann Taishent here today," Rien
explained.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I was told to permit absolutely no
disturbances." She stepped directly in front of Rien to block his
path.
"I got the horses secured!" Kera's voice sounded outside and a
moment later she appeared behind Rien, wrapped in a cloak.
"Kera?" the brown haired girl asked, trying to look around Rien.
"Hi Thuna!" Kera answered and Rien used the distraction to step
aside. The two girls embraced as long lost friends and Rien used the
opportunity to sneak in through the second door.
"What happened to you?" Thuna asked Kera. "The whole town's
looking for you! Liriss' guards stopped by to ask about you three
times already! If Corambis knew, he'd throw me out on my rump!" She
turned to look around the room. "Where'd that man go?"
"He's inside," Kera said. "He needs to talk to Taishent badly."
"Who is he?" Thuna asked.
"My lord and master," Kera said sarcastically, because he did not
seem to be that at all times. "I got caught stealing from him and he
made me his apprentice instead of turning me in." That was pretty much
the whole story.
"Are you saying you got lucky or it would have been better in
jail?"
Kera smiled. "He's not all bad. A little demanding at times, but
has a better heart than Liriss."
"Did you know Liriss hired some guy to kill you?" Thuna asked.
"I heard," Kera admitted. "Hopefully we'll be leaving town soon."
"What are they doing in there anyway?" Thuna asked. "Corambis and
Taishent have been working on something for three days solid now."
"Rien, the guy I'm apprenticed to, hired them to translate an old
book," Kera said. "I'm not too clear on it. It's some magical work.
What about you? How did you come around to work for this old geezer?"
"He saved my life last year," Thuna said. "I was working the
corner of Thockmarr Street and Red Avenue, near the marketplace, when
this really disgusting geeb comes up to me wanting to roll. I said
fine, but then he wanted me to do some completely sickening things to
him, so I told him to scrazz off, but he got mad and pulled a blade.
He would've cut me bad if Corambis hadn't come by and torched him off.
After the man scrazzed, Corambis didn't want to just leave me on the
streets, so he offered to hire me as his assistant -- and here I am.
He also got me a job at Belisandra's in exchange for room and board.
It's really not all bad working here; the pay is good, even if there
is less excitement."
"Thuna!" Corambis looked up as Rien shut the door behind himself.
"Can I help you, sir?"
Taishent looked up as well. "Why do you make my life miserable?"
he complained.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Rien answered, ignoring Taishent's
remark. "I apologize for the intrusion, but I need a consultation with
you. I am under the impression that this creature has been following
me around..." and with those words, he dumped the contents of the
leather pouch onto the Wheel of Life.
The two old men stood up to look at the dead form on the table.
"Defenately a conjured thing," Taishent said.
1 "Probably someone's familiar," Corambis added.
They broke into an exchange of magical jargon which Rien did not
fully comprehend, then turned to face him. "It probably belongs to one
of the witches in Maari's coven," Taishent said.
"Could it be Maari's?" Rien asked.
"No, no," Corambis said. "Familiars are released upon the
conjurer's death. If it was actively watching you, it still belongs to
someone."
"That means the witches want the book," Rien said. It was half
statement and half question.
"Probably," the two men answered in tandem.
"Then I feel I should offer my services for your protection,"
Rien said.
"Most defenately not!" Taishent exclaimed. "You're far too
dangerous to have around!"
It was an insult, but it was also true. Trouble found Rien at
least as often as he found it. He thought for a moment, then placed
two gold coins on the table. "I want you to hire guards for
protection. Your success is very important to me. Good day."
The last was said very dryly and he left the room before the men
could respond.
"Kera," he called out. "Let's go."
Kera sat up on the bed with a loud scream. Next to her Rien
stirred at the noise.
"What?"
Kera sat with her hands covering her face, shaking and when Rien
touched her, he realized she was in cold sweat.
"What is it?" he asked again.
"I can see," Kera whispered. "Everything is red or black, but I
can see." She broke into quiet sobbing.
"It's all right," Rien said, pulling her close. "We'll go see
Taishent in the morning."
"No...let's go now...please."
Rien did not move. The development of night vision in Kera was an
indication that the disease was steadily progressing and there
wouldn't be much time. There were maybe a few more weeks until
physical transformations would become obvious to observers...maybe
even days. He thought that he himself had little time and a feeling of
helplessness began to set in.
"Rien?" Kera tried to break his embrace. "Can you see me as
clearly as I see you?"
He nodded. "I imagine so."
"And all the furniture in the room?"
He nodded again.
"I'm scared," Kera whispered and embraced him.
"My night vision is natural," Rien said, knowing all too well it
would make things worse. "I see things in darker shades of their
natural color." He released Kera and got up to light a candle.
Kera tried to follow him, but when the candle was lit, she gasped
and covered her eyes.
"I am sorry," Rien was startled. "I didn't realize light would
hurt you." He returned with her to the bed and sat down.
After a few seconds Kera removed her hands from her face and
looked around the room.
"How does it look?" Rien asked.
"It's normal," Kera sighed and turned to face him.
"Your eyes are grey," Rien said, looking her in the face.
Kera's eyes watered and she placed her head on his shoulder. "I'm
sorry," Rien stroked her hair, trying to stop her sobbing. After a
1while Kera relaxed.
"Can we see Taishent tonight?" she asked.
"Come on," Rien answered, getting up. "Get dressed."
Taishent grumbled loudly, going to unlock the door. He pulled his
robe tightly around himself before pulling open the bolt. What sane
man would disturb him at this hour of the night? To his surprise, he
was faced with a young couple as he opened the door. His angry
expression dissolved in confusion.
"We heard you have a shadow book in your possession," the young
man stated, not waiting for a greeting. "We are ready to offer you a
high price fo it."
"Do you realize what time of the night it is?" Taishent asked
gruffly.
"Yes, we do, but our business is urgent," Alicia responded.
A stiletto flashed in her companion's hand. "It's urgent enough
that we shall bypass payment," he finished for her.
"Let's have the book, old man," Alicia said producing a dagger of
her own. She didn't intend to use it, but it would be good for
appearances' sake.
As Mija stepped forward, an arrow hit him in his forearm, pinning
it to the door frame. Taishent used the distraction to disappear
inside. Mija, ignoring the pain of the puncture, with his free hand,
pulled out the pearl he intended to use the night before and flung it
into the darkness of the street. He had no way of knowing the location
the arrow came from, but in this darkness the archer could not be too
far away. Mija hoped that between his estimate and the radius of the
spell's effect the problem would be solved.
A bright blue globe quickly filled the middle of the street and
exploded, filling the air with crackling noise and an overabundance of
light. In the flash both Alicia and Mija saw Rien, with a bow,
standing by the wall of Taishent's house. The power of the explosion
threw him against the wall, the half readied arrow flying off,
harmlessly falling on the ground.
Alicia, forgetting that she did not intend to kill anyone ran
down to where she saw Rien stumble, to challenge him and perhaps, if
luck would have it, dispatch him before he had a chance to get up.
Mija attempted to remove his arm and arrow from the door frame,
but at that time Taishent stepped back out, drawing a heavy old sword
from its sheath, one that he probably used as a young man. Expertly
holding the heavy weapon, he warned the young warlock not to stir.
Alicia, in the meantime, stumbled down the street, realizing that
she had no way of identifying her target in this darkness and more
importantly, probably would not be able to kill him if she could find
him, stopped in mid-stride. A noise behind her warned her to turn, but
before she could, a sword dug into her side. Alicia grabbed for the
wall, to prevent herself from falling, crying out "Wait!" as she had
no intention to fight, but the sword struck her a second time, making
her drop her dagger and crumble to the ground.
Hearing the scream, Mija again struggled against the arrow
holding him, but was hit with the flat of Taishent's blade. It took
the old wizard some effort, but he again readied his weapon and Mija
relaxed. Footsteps could be heard in the alley and a moment later Rien
and Kera appeared in the light cast from Taishent's half open door.
Rien had his bow in hand and Kera was wiping blood off her sword with
a rag.
"Murderer!" Mija lashed out, startling Taishent and tearing his
arm off the arrow's shaft, as he charged at Kera.
Rien took the initiative of Mija's charge and stepping forward,
reduced the young man to an unconscious heap with two deft swings.
1 "Do you want to kill him?" Kera asked, pausing in the act of
putting the rag away.
"No," Rien said, stepping over the body. Kera remained watching
Mija while Rien went up to Taishent.
"For once I can't say I am disappointed to see you," the mage
uttered.
"What where they after?" Rien asked and then assuming the
obvious, quickly added, "the book?"
Taishent nodded.
"I asked you to hire protection," Rien said.
"Yes, yes," Taishent answered, "but what good is a mere guard
against magic? You were lucky not to get caught in that explosion."
"A mere guard is better than nothing," Rien pointed out.
"It's all beside the point now," Taishent said. "Why are you here
this late?"
"The disease is progressing. Kera can now see in the dark..."
"And you?"
"I haven't noticed any changes..." Rien said and paused. Perhaps
after all this time the old mage had a right to know the truth. "I am
half elven," Rien finally decided to go on. "No one knows how it will
effect me."
"Elven?" Taishent echoed. "Ljosalfar?"
Rien nodded. Very few people knew there were two races in the
species and even fewer cared, even though their individual members
were very different.
"Well, your case is certainly a special one," Taishent said, "but
you are still a carrier. Come back tomorrow at sunset. I may have news
for you then."
Rien nodded a silent thanks and turned to leave.
"And please take that young man to the guard house," Taishent
added. "I shall stop by there tomorrow morning and give my report."
"What could he tell us tomorrow that he has not come up with in
the last two months?" Kera asked.
"I don't know," Rien shrugged. "Apparently he believes he will be
able to help..."
The pair were walking down one of the streets of Dargon, not
bothering to cover themselves with their cloaks. The darkness and
absence of people permitted them a certain freedom they hadn't had for
almost a week and even with the hunting trip the day before, this was
a luxury that forced them to slow their pace a number of times.
"Let's go this way," Kera pointed to a street leading in the
direction away from the inn.
Rien stopped, looking down both streets, then nodded and took the
street Kera suggested. Although they were on their way from the guard
station to the inn, some freedom and fresh air could do no more than
good. At the guard house the guards hassled Rien somewhat over the
unconscious body he brought in and asked to be held until Taishent
would stop by in the morning, but just then one of the night patrols,
headed by Lieutenant Darklen, stopped by and after a discussion of the
events of the night, Darklen took down Rien's name and where he was
staying and said that he would visit Taishent personally in the
morning.
During all this time Kera nervously paced up and down the street
a block over, jumping at the slightest noise, fearing to encounter one
of Liriss' men or a city guard and for that matter, anyone else who
might, by chance take this particular street at this hour of the
night.
After what seemed like a half night of pacing, Kera finally
decided to sit down by the wall and wait. She knew that Rien would be
1questioned as to what he was doing with an unconscious, injured person
in the middle of the night and why exactly he would want his captive
held by the guards, but the amount of time it was taking was beginning
to worry her more and more.
She spent her time sitting there thinking about the girl she
killed. It struck Kera as the only thing to do at the time it was
happening, but on the way to the guard house Rien asked her why she
didn't stop when the girl she was attacking called out a yield. Kera
explained that she continued attacking because her opponent did not
drop her weapon and backing off could force her to lose the advantage.
Yet, in spite of this seemingly sound explanation, Kera now wondered
if there was something else. At the time of the attack, Kera thought
she felt something different. It was a feeling of great anger and
wanting to see her opponent crippled on the ground. She now wondered
if this has some relation to the disease and the change in her vision.
The whole thought of turning into a four legged beast forced her to
break into sobbing again. The development of night vision was the
factor that had finally made her realize just how real this was.
Just then something unexpectedly took hold of her shoulder and
Kera let out a yelp loud enough to have Rien jump back. Kera looked up
and recognizing her companion smiled through her tears. "Sorry. You
startled me."
"Are you all right?" Rien bent down in front of Kera. She tried
to pull herself together. "Don't say `yes'," Rien added. "I won't
believe you."
"I'm scared," Kera said. "It's stupid. I know I won't die, but
I'm scared. I don't want to go to the inn. I'm afraid that if I go to
sleep, I'll change..."
"You won't," Rien put his arm around her. "Nothing more will
happen. We'll go see Taishent tomorrow and I'm sure he'll give us a
good lead."
"You don't believe that any more than I do!" Kera insisted. "He's
a foolish old man. I bet you he hasn't cast anything in years. He even
had to get that old sword to fight with today."
"Perhaps," Rien said, "but if we don't have hope, what use is it
for us to fight?"
"Didn't you tell me a while back to always expect the worst and
leave the good things to be pleasant surprises?" Kera asked.
"Sort of makes me a hypocrite, doesn't it?" Rien asked with a
smile and Kera laughed. "And I'll do it more often if it provokes
reactions like this one."
He helped her up and they left in the direction of the inn, both
enjoying the night air.
"How could Taishent help us?" Kera asked again.
"I don't know," Rien said. "Your guess is probably as good as
mine. I've come to learn early on that those who understand magic are
usually more able than they appear and if a real need arises, they
will be able to do what needs to be done."
"You think he was holding out on us?" Kera asked.
"Could be," Rien answered. "Maybe he was. He should certainly
have a reason to be grateful now."
They turned off the street they had taken at the docks and walked
up onto an empty pier. Off to the east a red line was cracking along
the horizon and the couple stood watching it for a few minutes.
"Come," Rien finally said. "It will be light soon."
Kera stood frozen for a moment longer, then reluctantly followed
Rien. "Do we have a few more minutes?" she asked, catching up.
"Why?" Rien asked.
"I have something to show you."
"All right, but let's hurry."
1 Kera led Rien a few blocks down along the docks, then stopped at
an empty pier. "We need to go down," she said.
Together they made their way down a narrow, creaking set of
stairs that were in desperate need of repair. It was going to low tide
and the sand of the beach was still wet and swamp-like, making Rien
glad they had not worn their armor.
Kera guided him beneath the pier to a spot where large rocks
could be seen emerging from the water. Something was lying on one of
the further ones, just barely sticking out above the lowering water
level.
Rien and Kera waded into the cold water until it reached almost
to their waists. The shape on the rock was a human body, securely
chained down and gagged. The man was dead.
"What a way to die..." Rien sighed. "How did you know he would be
here? Who is he?"
"I never saw him before," Kera said. "I didn't even know he would
be here. This pier belongs to Liriss. These are the blocks. When
Liriss wants to dispose of someone slowly, he has them tied down here
at low tide and a few hours later they're dead. I just thought you'd
want to see it. Thuna told me something was happening and Liriss was
purging his staff. He must be very upset."
"Thanks for the warning," Rien nodded. "It's certainly something
to be aware of. Come, now. We need to get back to the inn."
Taishent opened the door almost immediately after the first knock
and stepped outside.
"I found someone who may be able to help you and is willing to
try," Taishent said to Rien and Kera. "Corambis used to be King
Haralan's personal astrologer and has worked with Marcellon Equiville,
the High Mage of Baranur..."
Rien begun to say something, but decided to keep his mouth shut.
"...we went to see him today," Taishent continued. "Marcellon's
daughter, Lauren, married the Duke two weeks ago, you see, so he is
currently in Dargon. Anyhow, he said he is willing to see what he can
do."
Rien remained speechless for a bit longer. "Where? When?" he
asked with great anticipation.
Taishent could not help but smile at the reaction. "He is
expecting you tomorrow morning at the Connall Keep east of here. Take
the River Road some five leagues along the Coldwell, then turn east
for a league or so more. The road will lead you directly there."
Rien and Kera remained silent and Taishent chuckled again.
"Marcellon is not only a wizard. He is also a physician and a good one
at that. If anyone can help you, I am sure he can."
"I'd like to thank you whether this works out or not," Rien said
finally.
Taishent nodded. "I expect to be done with the book by the end of
the week. You may pick up the translation then."
"Hopefully by then I shall not need it..."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Some Snatch of Honor
by M. Wendy Hennequin
<b.c.k.a. Hennequi_wem@CTStateU.BitNet>
For a moment, Luthias stared into the cup, wondering if his death
or his life lurked within. He glanced up at the High Mage's blank
face, and without further hesitation, Luthias quaffed the purplish
wine. Then, he and the High Mage waited.
Luthias had changed in the two weeks since he had returned to
Baranur. He had arrived in Pyridain haggard and ill; Marcellon cured
his winter sickness, and the good food that the Duke sent to him had
brought Luthias near to his normal weight. Practicing with heavy
wooden weapons, Luthias had regained much of his strength. Two signs
only remained to mark the Count's stay in the Beinison Empire: the
addiction to ardon, for which Marcellon hopefully had just given him a
curative, and the beard.
Luthias had not wanted to retain the straggly beard, grown in the
hectic, half-remembered days when he had been running. Soon after
Marcellon cured his winter sickness, Luthias began to shave it off,
but he found a long knife scar, running along the jawline, from
beneath his left ear to his chin. The Count, resigned, settled for
trimming the beard neatly, and later he was glad; it made him look
older.
After a minute or so, the Count of Connall wondered, "How soon
will I be affected, Marcellon?"
Luthias was discomforted by the stare that Marcellon gave him.
"It should work immediately."
"Then I'm cured of the ardon addiction?" Hope began to seep into
Luthias' heart after a hard fortnight. The young Count had found it
hard to hope when his body was irrevocably addicted to a magicked
drug. He would have stopped taking it alone, he would have even
allowed himself to be restrained, but the lack of ardon would kill
him. Now, at last, he would be free. Marcellon had promised him a cure
or death.
The High Mage found it necessary to swallow twice before
answering. "You should be dead by now," he muttered, shocked. "The
poison was immediate. I've never known a case where a man has drunk
ardonatus and lived!"
Ardonatus? Now Luthias stared. He had taken ardonatus, a lethal,
magical concoction derived from the same spice that he was addicted
to, and he lived? "Ardonatus?" the Count questioned indredulously.
"You're sure?"
"I'm certain," the High Mage answered, fascinated. "I made it.
There is can be no doubt. You are immune to ardonatus."
Fury flooded the world of the Count Connall, and he, enraged,
hurled the golden goblet against the stone wall of Pyridain Castle.
"Those bastards!" the young Count screamed. "They've robbed me of my
life, and now of my death as well!"
"You're immune to ardonatus," Marcellon repeated incredulously.
"You cannot be immune to ardonatus."
"I'm alive, aren't I?" Luthias yelled irrationally.
"Perhaps there is a cure to this," the High Mage was murmering.
"This should not be happening. No one is immune to ardonatus. Let me
have some time..."
"Time?" Luthias echoed furiously. "Marcellon, I thought you said
you didn't like your patients to live in Hell!"
The High Mage's eyes focused abruptly. "I don't," he snapped.
"But this is extrodinary, Luthias. If you are immune--if there are no
effects--how do you feel?" the physician finished unexpectedly.
The Count blinked. "I don't feel any different, if that's what
1you're asking."
"Never," Marcellon repeated, "has any man taken ardonatus and
lived to speak of it!"
"Well," Luthias quipped, "there's always a first."
"This is important!" the mage emphasized. "Immunity to
ardonatus...incredible!"
Luthias replied, "This is insane. It's never going to end, is it?
I'm living in Hell and I can't even die!"
"That's the definition of Hell," Marcellon told him, chuckling.
"This isn't funny," the Count snapped. "I can't die--"
"You can die any time you wish," the High Mage's voice dropped to
a deadly, quiet level as he corrected the young nobleman. "Take a
sword and put it through your heart. But I won't keep your death a
secret, not if it comes about in that way."
"You were willing to poison me," Luthias argued.
"That was before I thought you had a chance," Marcellon retorted.
"You have one now, perhaps."
"There's no cure," the Count reminded the mage hotly. "You told
me so yourself."
"I told you I did not know of one," the Royal Physician
corrected. "I didn't. I still know no cure. But you are immune to
ardonatus, Luthias. That means something." The High Mage's voice
became coldly calm. "Now, you may take the cowards' way and kill
yourself if you wish, but I am going back to my laboratories and find
out what is happening to you." Luthias' mouth twitched angrily. "Do
you really want death, Luthias, son?"
"I want this to stop," the Count spat thickly. "I want to be
freed. I won't be a slave, Marcellon! I won't!"
"Easy," the High Mage counseled. "Let me try."
"Do I have a choice?" Luthias rued rhetorically.
"I won't give you more poison, if that's what you're asking,"
Marcellon decided. "Take a knife to your heart."
The young Count smiled ruefully. "Sir Edward has suspected I
might harm myself. He hasn't let me near any edged weapons since I
arrived." Luthias came close to laughing. "He won't allow me near high
towers alone, either."
Marcellon smiled at the wisdom of his colleague. Edward was a
shrewd man. "Come with me, my boy. Let me see what I can do for this."
The older man held out his hand to the despairing younger one, who
would have taken it, had his attention not been stolen by the slamming
door.
The youngest of Sir Edward's squires rushed into the cold room
and slid to a stop. "Thanks be to God I have found you!" the boy
exclaimed with breathless drama. "Please, your Excellencies, come
quickly."
"What's wrong?" Luthias asked sternly, immediately on the alert.
"Oh, your Excellency, the Beinisonians are in Pyridain!"
Marcellon's eyebrows rose with appreciative curiosity. Luthias
expelled a word that the squire was too young to hear. Blushing, he
escaped the room with urgency which equaled his entrance.
"It seems we must attend the Knight Commander," Marcellon
observed mildly.
Luthias had already left the room. "Come on!" he urged as he sped
toward the Duke of Pyridain's office, which had been made into a war
room.
"What's happening?" Connall demanded as he opened the door.
Marcellon, serene but concerned, stood behind him. "They're here?"
"Twenty Beinisonians," the tall Knight Commander supplied.
"Perhaps more. The scout just returned."
"Through this storm?" asked the mage.
1 "How close?" the warrior inquired.
Sir Edward solemnly shook his head. "Very close." The Knight
Commander frowned. "I was not prepared for this," he admitted,
sitting. "Marcellon, you warned me to expect the unexpected."
"You should have expected it," Luthias said without blame or
rebuke. "The Beinison Empire is trained to attack at any time of the
year; they've staged winter invasions before."
"Have they?" Edward smiled. "My history is not the finest."
"When are we repelling them?"
"As soon as I can assemble the army," Edward answered the younger
warrior. "As soon as possible."
"That will take a day and a half," Luthias surmised.
The Knight Commander considered the problem. Finally, he nodded.
"At least that," he confirmed Luthias' guess. "A day and a half--after
the snow storm stops and if the snow is shallow enough to mobilize
without blazing trails."
"Where are they?" young Connall demanded, pulling the map toward
him. "Show me, Sir Edward." Silently, the Knight Commander indicated a
nearby area. "That's damn close," the Count concluded. The young man
gave the Knight Commander of the Royal Armies a serious look. "You
don't have a day and a half. After the storm, they'll be here at the
castle within a half a day."
"As usual," Sir Edward admitted after a moment's thought, "you're
right, Luthias."
"Can you delay them somehow?" Marcellon suggested. "If nothing
else, I can--"
"Not unless it's absolutely necessary," Sir Edward cut him off.
"Using magic is unchivalrous, and I won't allow you to do so unless
there is no other solution."
"In this case, there is another way," Luthias assured the High
Mage. "Send a distraction. Send a single fighter there."
"It won't delay them much, not one fighter," the Knight
protested.
"It will be enough," Luthias argued, "if the fighter is any
good."
"A squad perhaps--"
"Perhaps nothing," the Count of Connall interjected. "One man
will be enough. You can't risk an entire squad, Sir Edward. You're
here in Pyridain. You won't receive any reinforcements until spring.
One man is all you can risk."
Omninously, the Knight Commander rose to face the younger man. "I
will not order a lone man to his death, Luthias. And I will not--nay,
cannot--ask any fighter to--"
"You needn't ask anyone," Luthias told him, his stance and his
voice becoming serious and firm. "I'll go."
"I won't allow it!" Sir Edward declared violently. "No, Luthias.
I need you too much."
"You don't need me," the Count opposed him. "I'm an addict, Sir
Edward. I'm of no use to you. Let me go."
Edward took Connall by the shoulders. "You'll die," Edward
predicted, fear in his voice. "I won't be made to tell Lady Sable that
I allowed you--"
"Don't tell her anything," Luthias commanded. "Let Sable think I
died quickly in Beinison. I will die; that's fine, Sir Edward, but
this way, at least, I'll die with some snatch of honor, like a man,
not a beast. Let me go."
"Let him go," Marcellon pleaded softly. "You cannot win, Edward."
"The ardon will have you in fits by the time you fight," Sothos
made one more effort to deter him.
"All the better," Luthias, with bitter joy, assured him. "I'll be
1fiercer. Let me go, Edward."
With regrets, the Knight Commander agreed, "As soon as the storm
ends."
Tired by the short ride (how his father the great horseman would
be ashamed of him!), Luthias neared the end of the woods. Soon, he
would reach his destination and fight, he hoped. Fight? Luthias
smiled; it was almost a joke. How could he fight, wearing old armor,
and bearing a battered shield and bent sword? Knowing that he would
soon die and that the Beinisonians would loot his body, Luthias would
accept nothing else. Yet he would fight, and fight his best, before he
died, old armor or no.
Through the trunks of the bare trees, he could see a farmstead
with a weathered barn and an old house. Near the barn were at least a
score of horses. Unless there was some sort of meeting, this was the
place. These were the men that he would have to delay.
Luthias was suprised by how easily he could remember what Sir
Edward had told him about the force. Usually the ardon had him in fits
by now. Well, maybe Marcellon had slipped some in his food, to keep
him going during the past few days.
"There will be about twenty or twenty-five men," the Knight
Commander had told him. "They are led by a personage of some
importance; he has an elaborate device on his shield."
Luthias didn't see the man or his shield. He didn't see anyone,
anything, except the horses. How odd, the Count of Connall thought.
They must be hiding. Carefully, Luthias edged his horse forward.
Like a strike of lightning, a girl's scream split the dawn.
Luthias reined the horse, listened frantically as another scream
issued, then spurred his horse toward the barn.
With old grace, Luthias leapt from the horse, and with old
strength, he threw open the door to the barn. Oh, yes, indeed, this
was the place! Inside, twenty men were abusing a girl of perhaps ten
years (an old voice called within him, Sable!), and one was
threatening an older boy with a pitchfork.
Luthias evaluated instantly and acted. He plucked the pitchfork
from the brute threatening the boy, swung it, and contacted. The man
fell. Luthias set the pitchfork on the floor, leaned it toward the
boy, and let it fall. The boy caught it, and Luthias instinctively
turned his attention toward the screaming girl.
There was a crash behind him. Although Luthias looked, he had his
sword out and flashing by instinct. He kicked a man in leather armor,
wounded another, and saw a man in a blue tabbard enter the barn.
Luthias paid him no attention, and continued his defense of the girl.
"Get back, you animals!" the man shouted in strong Beinisonian.
"What sort of men are you, attacking children? Have you no honor? Get
back!"
Amazingly, the men went back.
The armored man turned to him. Luthias could see him clearly now:
he was a dark-haired man, with blue eyes and a moustache, about thirty
years of age. Over his mail, he wore a sky-blue tabbard of silk belted
with leather. On the belt hung a jeweled sword of fine quality and a
silver drinking horn. Draped over his shoulders, the man wore a silver
chain, the universal symbol of Knighthood, from which hung a silver
star--the symbol of the Beinisonian order of Knights. "Well done," the
man began in Beinisonian. "I see you have taken my lessons--" He
paused, reached out and raised Luthias' face shield. "You are not my
squire," the Knight concluded. He peered at Luthias' face. "Who are
you?" he demanded sternly. "Why are you here?"
"I am not important, sir," Luthias answered carefully but
respectfully. "The girl--" Luthias stopped, kicked the brute he had
1killed off her, and bent to examine her.
No! The head was bent in an impossible direction. Her legs were
covered with blood. Luthias pounded the floor in frustration.
"We were too late," concluded the Knight behind him.
The boy rushed over, sobbing, toward the girl. Luthias reached
out and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, kid," Luthias breathed. "I
tried."
The Knight was boxing a man's ears as Luthias stood. "You
bastards! Can't you barbarians leave even children alone?"
"We were sent here to get information. The general didn't say--"
"I command!" the Knight reminded him harshly, delivering another
blow. "You are under my orders, and while you remain under my command,
you will comport yourselves with some honor. Do you understand?"
The man looked away sullenly. "Yes, your lordship."
"Go back to your business," the Knight ordered, then he turned
back to Luthias. "Now, you, sir, answer my questions. Who are you, and
why are you here?"
At a loss for a moment, Luthias found himself staring at the
man's silver chain. Suddenly, he smiled. "I challenge you, Sir Knight.
I am here to stop you. You are invading my homeland. I challenge you
to a duel."
The men around the Knight laughed wickedly as the boy sobbed
behind Luthias. Poor boy. Luthias knew what it was to loose a sibling.
The laughter continued. Luthias stood straight and proud.
"Let us kill him, Lordship," the leader of the rabble chuckled.
"He's only a boy, little older than your squire. By the Masked God,
we'll teach him to interefere with his Imperial Majesty's troops!"
"Silence!" the Knight commanded angrily. "He has challenged me as
a Knight; as a Knight, I alone will answer. Do not interefere with
me!" Calmly, the man turned back to Luthias. "To the death?"
Luthias nodded. "As you wish, sir. I only ask that your men leave
my country, should I win."
"That is fair," the Knight agreed. "I accept. Call Rience," he
commanded. One of the men ducked out of the barn. "Rience is my
squire. He will ensure that my word is kept." The Knight stepped
forward and offered Luthias his hand. "It is unchivalrous to fight one
who is unknown. I am Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn."
Luthias took his hand and bowed slightly. "I am Luthias Connall."
"I noticed that you do not wear the badge of Knighthood."
"I am not yet Knighted," Luthias informed him, "but I give you my
word to behave as one."
"I will accept that," Sir Lawrence said. "Now, sir, break your
fast with me. I do not fight well on an empty stomach."
"Thank you, Sir Lawrence," Luthias replied graciously, "but no.
You know as well as I that eating right before combat enhances the
injuries and makes them harder to cure."
"You are right, Luthias Connall," Lawrence admitted. "Come out to
the yard. If you are agreeable, we shall begin immediately."
"Very well, sir." Luthias moved to sheath his sword. Lawrence's
hand suddenly stopped him.
"You will fight me with that?" he asked disdainfully.
Luthias again looked at the pitiful sword. It was bent, rusted,
almost dull. "It is what I have, sir."
"Rience!" Sir Lawrence bellowed. A young man with dark, curly
hair entered the barn. He looked enough like Sir Lawrence to be a
brother. "Fetch my silver sword." Lawrence smiled at Connall. "If we
are to fight as equals, you will, at least, have a decent weapon. Come
now, Lord Connall."
Luthias followed Sir Lawrence silently to the field before the
house. Rience, whom Luthias supposed was one of Sir Lawrence's
1brothers, rushed forward with a well-made sword. With a brief, polite
bow, the boy offered the weapon to Luthias. Luthias granted the boy a
brief smile and inspected the weapon.
Warily, the Count of Connall swung the sword and tested its
balance. It cut the air smoothly, and it balanced perfectly. The
sharp, steel blade, beautiful in the cloudly winter light, gleamed
with care. The workmanship, Luthias judged, was excellent, and the
taste of the artisan was superb, for the only ornamentation on the
weapon was delicate etching in the silver hilt.
"It is a fine weapon," Luthias declared his admiration.
"I thank you." The Beinisonian Knight paused. "Are you ready
then?"
Luthias nodded and pulled down his face shield. "I am, sir.
Begin."
With graceful ferocity, Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn leapt
toward Luthias, his long, jeweled sword flashing with death. For a
wild moment, Luthias' mind panicked; it had been so long since he had
fought against an actual person of his own calibur...since Sy, since
he fought Michiya. This time, Luthias thought, he would not be allowed
to win. But despite his doubts, Sir Lucan's training was still in his
arm and in his heart, and Luthias, without thought, blocked Sir
Lawrence's blow and struck his own. The Knight of the Star jerked
backwards as Luthias' attack struck.
For a moment, Sir Lawrence paused, staring at the drop of blood
on the muddy, slushy snow. "First blood to you, Lord Connall," the
Knight of the Star said with surprise. "I had not expected a man not
yet a Knighted to strike so well."
"Have at you," Luthias replied, and struck again.
But Sir Lawrence knew this time whom he was fighting, and the
jeweled long sword raced to meet Luthias' wrapped blow. The Knight of
the Star twisted and struck over the old, battered shield.
Luthias retreated as his shield dropped with the force of the
blow. His shoulder, just at the joint of the arm, stung. Luthias
spared it a glance. The plate protecting the shoulder was shattered,
and his flesh was cut, not deeply.
"Recover your armor," Sir Lawrence allowed politely, but he stood
ready to fight.
"I have nothing to repair it with," Luthias confessed. Within his
helm, the Count of Connall smiled. "I simply shall have to prevent you
from hitting me again, Sir Lawrence. Lay on."
Lawrence raised his sword to strike. Luthias readied himself to
block with sword and shield. They moved toward each other--
A crashing sound, like wooden thunder, shattered Luthias'
concentration. Instinctively, he stepped back, as did Lawrence. The
dull boom sounded again, and Luthias' head jerked toward the sound.
The boy from the barn was beating the structure with a pitchfork.
Luthias stared a moment, then saw a man in the loft above the
sorrowful boy.
"What in the name of Gow--" Sir Lawrence started.
And then Luthias understood. The man-at-arms in the
loft--crossbow--And even as Luthias' shield was instinctively rising,
he thought, my God, Roi, we'll even die the same way.
And the bolt impaled itself in the shield and halted. Unable to
think, Luthias stared at it.
"That dishonorable whoreson!" Sir Lawrence was cursing.
"Followers of Amante in my own--" He whirled. "Rience! Bring him here!
By Gow, I'll teach him to interfere with a Knight's combat!"
"He shot me," Luthias, stunned and staring, stated. "He shot me."
"Aye, that son of Erida," Sir Lawrence muttered. "Dishonorable
whoreson. Interefering--I apologize, Luthias Connall. I did not order
1or condone this."
"He shot me," Luthias said again. They shot Roisart, too. Roisart
died. How did he escape?
"You are white as the Moon-Jewel," Sir Lawrence noted. "Are you
all right?"
"Fine," Luthias assured his opponent quickly. The Count of
Connall shook his head to clear it of the memories. He took a deep
breath and explained, "My twin brother was murdered by crossbowmen--"
Anger crept into his voice. "Assasins hired by your Emperor's spies!"
"I am vowed to say nothing against the Emperor," Sir Lawrence
replied, but he was scowling. "Let me say that the Knights of the Star
have no truck with activities of that sort."
Luthias calmed. "I know." And he did; Luthias was well acquainted
with the honorable reputation of the Knights of the Star.
Rience, the young squire, the boy from the barn, and several of
the men at arms then came forward, dragging the struggling crossbow
man. They threw him into the slushy snow in front of his lord. The
archer looked at the knight defiantly.
Sir Lawrence was not a man to be defied, however. "How dare you,"
the Beinisonian Knight began ominously. "How dare you interfere with
my combat? This is my fight, mine alone!"
"The Masked God teaches us to win by any means," the crossbow man
reminded his lord.
"Fortunately," Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn answered loftily,
"I am a follower of Gow." Without warning, the Knight swung his sword
hand and hit his man-at-arms with the hilt of his weapon. The man's
temple began to erupt blood. "Take him away," Sir Lawrence ordered
angrily. "I'll deal with him later, and be warned: the next of you to
try something of this nature shall pay with his life!"
The Knight of the Star turned back to his enemy. "Remind me never
to cross you," Luthias breathed, but he smiled.
Sir Lawrence returned the gesture and hefted his swords. "May
Sanar help you if you do," laughed the Knight. "Lay on."
Luthias delivered a quick blow to the head. Sir Lawrence blocked
with speed bordering on panic. Without pause, Luthias swung his sword
again, this time at the Knight's arm. Sir Lawrence dodged and moved to
strike, but found himself blocking Luthias' next attack instead, a
blow aimed at the left leg.
Connall couldn't stop, wouldn't stop. He was in the rhythm again,
the heartbeat of fighting that Sir Lucan and his uncle Clifton had
instilled in him since he could walk. Luthias was blind to everything,
except the focus of the battle, except the rhythm of the combat. It
had been so long since he had fought, since he had so naturally
delivered blow after blow after blow, as if it were a graceful,
well-remembered dance.
For the first time in months, Luthias felt good. With energy and
skill, he contined the blows.
Sir Lawrence was slowing, and it was no wonder; the Knight of the
Star had had a longer ride than Luthias and he hadn't yet eaten.
Lawrence stepped back and paused a moment, resting. Luthias waited,
refusing to fight a tired opponent. When Lawrence nodded, the Count of
Connall attacked again. Lawrence blocked the blow, but it was too
strong. The Knight fell in the snow, his sword flying away. Luthias
nodded to the squire Rience, who ran and fetched the blade and brought
it to his master.
"Are you ready?" Luthias asked courteously.
"Begin," Sir Lawrence answered.
Luthias struck again, furiously, like the god of war. Lawrence
parried brilliantly, but again, the blow was too strong. Luthias
quickly followed with a wrap to the head, which rang on Sir Lawrence's
1strong helm, but did not cut it. Lawrence wavered, then collapsed to
his knees.
Luthias quickly held the sword in front of Sir Lawrence's eyes.
He could rise any moment. Sir Lawrence did not move. Luthias relaxed
slightly. "Do you yield, Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn?"
Mutely, Lawrence held out his sword in defeat. Luthias looked at
the heirloom incredulously. "I will not take your sword, sir. Stand."
Confused, Sir Lawrence rose. "My life is forfeit to you, Lord
Connall. That was the term of our combat."
"I don't want your life," Luthias told him. "I want your men out
of my country. You promised me that, should I conquer. I have. You are
an honorable man, and you will keep your word. I have what I want."
Luthias smiled and raised his face shield. "I won't kill an honorable
enemy without need, sir. Return to your home."
Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn doffed his helm and stared at the
Count of Connall. "Whoever your teacher was, he trained you well in
the ways of fighting--and in the Knightly Code." Sir Lawrence offered
Luthias his hand. "Would to Gow we weren't enemies, Luthias Connall;
this day, you would have your Knighthood from me."
Luthias smile grew, and content calm flooded his eyes. "I have
never been so honored, Sir Lawrence," he said, and he shook the
Knight's hand.
"I believe, Sir Lawrence, that I can fufill that office." Luthias
whirled to see Sir Edward and the High Mage, surrounded by troops, on
the edge of the woods. When had they arrived? Luthias wondered. Still
suprised, Luthias watched as the Knight Commander, who had spoken,
dismounted and approached the Knight and Luthias. Marcellon followed
him. "Honor given by an enemy is a high complement, one that Luthias
has well earned. Count Connall, kneel."
Confused, Luthias knelt in the snow. Edward unsheathed his sword.
"I, Edward Sothos--"
Panic struck Luthias hard when he realized what Sir Edward was
intending, and he instantly reached out and snatched Edward's wrist.
"Sir Edward," he protested desperately, "you can't! You know what I
need!" How could the Knight Commander make a drug addict a Knight? He
would be weak, unpredicatable...
"You no longer need it," the High Mage announced, smiling. At
Luthias' confused stare, he explained, "The drink I gave you...I cured
you. By accident, I cured you."
"I don't believe it." Luthias scorned the very idea. Ardonatus,
curing addiction? The Mage was mad.
"How long since the last time, then?" Marcellon inquired.
Luthias thought about it. Too long. He released Edward's hand. He
was cured. Good God. Oh, Sable, I'm going to be a Knight. I'm coming
home.
"I, Edward Sothos," continued the Knight Commander, "Knight of
Baranur, have been called upon to convey upon Luthias of Connall the
office of Knighthood. Who asks this charge for him?" Edward inquired
in the ritual, then stopped uncertainly. It was tradition for the
master of the candidate to answer, or the father, or the noble.
Luthias saw Marcellon open his mouth, but behind him, Sir
Lawrence answered, "I so ask."
"You know him worthy?" Edward continued.
"I so know."
"So be it. I, Edward Sothos, Knight of Baranur, charge you,
Luthias of Connall, to take up the office of Knighthood. Do you accept
the charge, with all its honors and obligations?"
"I so accept," Luthias replied, his voice strong and confident.
He had known the ceremony by heart for years.
"Do you vow to protect and serve your homeland, your lady, and
1your King?"
"I so vow," Luthias replied steadily, but his body began to
shake. He was tired, and his knees were cold from kneeling in the
snow.
"Do you vow to be in and above all things, a Knight, a follower
of Chivalry and Honor?"
"I so vow."
"How do you so vow?"
"Upon my honor, my sword, and my life."
"Then I, Edward Sothos, Knight of Baranur, with this silver chain
do convey upon you, Luthias of Connall, that office." Again, the
Knight Commander paused, for he did not have the symbol of Knighthood
to give to Luthias. Marcellon smiled, held out his hands, and murmered
something. A fine silver chain appeared on his wrists. The Knight
Commander smiled, took it, and placed it on the Count's broad
shoulders. Then Sir Edward lightly struck Luthias' cheek with the flat
of his blade. "Let that be your last unrequited blow." Edward sheathed
his sword. "Rise, Sir Luthias, Count Connall."
Sir Luthias did so, laughing. "I am proud of you," the Knight
Commander said, and that was all.
The Count of Connall turned to his opponent and held out his
hand. "Return now, Sir Lawrence. You will have safe passage out of the
country. You have my word, as a Knight."
Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn grinned. "Thank you, Sir Luthias.
May you and I live to laugh about this someday."
"I'll treat you to a drink," Luthias promised.
"I drink to you now," Lawrence announced, taking his silver
drinking horn from his belt. He put it to his lips, drained it, then
offered it to Luthias. The Count Connall took it uncertainly and
drank. He found the horn full of sweet, hot liquid that made him feel
better immediately.
"Thank you," Luthias said, returning the silver horn. He suddenly
remembered the fine, etched sword he had been allowed to use. He
offered it. "Again, thank you."
Sir Lawrence took it from him, but did not sheathe it or hand it
to his squire. "This sword was given to me by my master when I was
made a Knight," he told Luthias. "Today I took the place of your
master; today you became a Knight." He held out the sword to Luthias.
"I have had no student more worthy than you."
"I am deeply honored," Luthias accepted.
Sir Lawrence bowed. "Let us ride!" he ordered his men. They
grumbled, but mounted. Rience brought his master his steed. Sir
Lawrence mounted and rode around his men to organize them. He paused
when he faced the south, then turned and drew his jeweled sword.
Quickly, he saluted Sir Edward and Sir Luthias. Both returned the
salute, and the invaders charged back into Beinison.
Epilogue
Luthias watched the Beinisonians leave with satisfaction. "Well,"
he said, "that's settled."
"Indeed," Sir Edward answered, smiling. "Welcome back to life,
Luthias. Well done."
"Thank you."
"No more talk about abandoning your wife," ordered the Knight
Commander. "No more talk about abandoning the country and the King. We
all need you, as you have so aptly proven."
"Yes, Sir Edward," Luthias agreed, chuckling at Edward's
mock-scolding. "I'm back to--" Luthias felt a tap on his upper arm
where his armor had shattered. He turned to see the boy from the barn,
1the boy who had warned him about the crossbowman.
With an earnest look that Luthias didn't understand, the lad put
his hand over his heart, touched his lips, then extended the hand.
Confused, Luthias frowned. The boy made an abrupt, frustrated face,
then pointed toward the barn and began to swing his arms and point to
his legs.
Luthias didn't understand the pantomime, but the boy was
obviously not playing a game. Unwilling to hurt the lad's feelings,
Luthias nodded.
The boy's expression became anguished. Once again, he placed his
hands over his heart and then offered them to the Count Connall.
His voice wry, the High Mage interrupted gently, "He is trying to
thank you, Luthias."
Luthias sent the mage an angry look; it always annoyed Luthias
that Marcellon pointed out mysteries as if they should be obvious.
Then the Knight turned to the boy and remembered the ugly scene in the
barn. The boy had a familiar grief in his eyes.
"You are welcome," Luthias replied to the gestures as if the lad
had spoken. "I am truly sorry about your sister...she was your
sister?" The boy nodded. "Had I arrived a few moments sooner, I might
have been able to save her..." Luthias looked down, ashamed for a
moment, and caught sight of the ugly crossbow bolt protruding nastily
from his battered shield. His heart wrenched. "But I couldn't save
Roisart, either."
The boy withdrew, as if sensing the Count's sorrow, but after a
moment, he approached the Knight again. Luthias watched him curiously.
Abruptly, the boy touched the Count's chain of Knighthood, then laid
his hand on his own chest where a similar chain might fall.
For once, Luthias needed no interpretation, and he smiled.
Turning to Sir Edward, the Count of Connall wondered, "Since I am now
a Knight, I will have need of a squire, won't I, Sir Edward?"
"At least one," the Knight Commander confirmed.
Sir Luthias returned his attention to the eager lad. "Will you
become my squire?" the Count wondered, his eyes certain of the answer.
In reply, the boy nodded violently enough to decapitate himself.
Marcellon had never seen Edward so suprised. "You can't make this
boy your squire! He isn't of noble descent; he isn't even close! He's
a farmer's son, Luthias!"
The Count of Connall gave the Knight Commander an astonished
look. "What difference does that make?" Sir Luthias argued. "I know
'noble" sons who are dishonorable cowards. This 'farmer's son' was
brave enough to try to rescue his sister from twenty armed men--alone!
That in itself shows this boy's worthiness. Social class has nothing
to do with it!"
The Knight Commander frowned mightily. "I understand your point,
Sir Luthias, but it is still unheard of to make a peasant a Knight. He
will have to be Knighted someday if you allow him to become your
squire."
"That is the general idea," Marcellon agreed with a dry smile.
"Look, Sir Edward, he's already displayed knightly qualities,
"
Luthias reminded the Knight Commander. "He tried to rescue and defend
a lady. He faced the danger with bravery." Edward still maintained the
awful frown. "Look, Sir Edward, I'd rather Knight a peasant with a
noble heart than a coward with a noble name."
"Again," Sir Edward admitted with resignation, "you have a point.
I'm not certain I approve, but I can't stop you. To a degree, I even
agree with you."
"So," Luthias began, returning his attention to the boy, "would
you like to squire to me?" The boy grinned joyously and nodded
enthusiastically. "Good. We'll have the ceremony later this week."
1Count Connall grimaced. "But I can't keep calling you 'boy,' though."
Not even in my head. "What is your name?"
With a sudden feeling of stupidity, Luthias winced at his own
question. The boy couldn't talk, or else he would have warned of the
crossbowman verbally. And he probably couldn't write, either; he was,
after all, a peasant.
Well, he would be a gentleman, a Knight, someday, and he would
have to be literate. And he would have to have a name.
The announcement, "His name is Derrio," saved Luthias from
further embarassment. Behind the dumb lad stood the farmer, whom
Luthias presumed was the boy's father. "Is it true?" the man asked the
Count and the Knight Commander. "Is there a war coming?"
"It is already here," Sir Edward answered with a grim nod. "The
Beinison men that were here were an advance scouting force sent to
find the locations of our forces. As it appears, they will invade
through this area. Your farm is no longer safe."
"Let us leave this place," a pale woman at his side suggested.
Tears flooded her eyes. "I no longer have a desire to stay."
The farmer paused. "Could your armies use another archer, my lord
Knight? I may not be as good as your regulars, but I have won the
region's archery contests for the last two years. My wife could cook
or care for the wounded."
Kindly, the Knight Commander smiled. "We can always use archers."
Sir Edward glanced at the woman who lowered her eyes.
Luthias laughed. "And a cook, a real cook, would probably boost
moral more than anything else!"
With unusual nervousness, Marcellon glanced over his shoulder at
rising, dark clouds. "Come. We should be getting back to Pyridain.
Another storm is coming." The High Mage approached Derrio slowly and
looked at him oddly. "And I find myself curious as to why this boy is
unable to talk."
"Let's go," Sir Luthias began, but his new squire dashed away.
"What--"
"Be patient," Marcellon advised, mounting his steed. "He will
return."
Luthias shrugged his large shoulders, a feat and a half in rusted
armor. "My horse," he suddenly muttered, and quickly, he recovered the
beast from behind the barn.
By the time he returned, Sir Edward and Marcellon had remounted,
and the boy, holding a miniature harp, had reappeared. The boy looked
around. "Your parents will join us later," the High Mage assured him,
and Derrio nodded. Marcellon reached out and gently touched the harp's
tiny strings. "A goodly instrument," Marcellon muttered. "Your sister
would approve."
Derrio smiled, then proferred the intrument for Luthias'
approval. Lacking Marcellon's insight, the Knight could only nod and
smile. "Is there anything else you want to bring?" Derrio considered
briefly, then shook his head. "Let's go then, squire. We have work to
do."
The boy smiled; Luthias swung him onto the horse; and with the
Baranurian army, they rode back to Pyridain.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(C) Copyright March, 1989, DargonZine, Editor Dafydd
<White@DUVM.BitNet>. All rights revert to the authors. These stories may
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