Chapter
27
After four days at the Tanslynt Inn,
Brythia could no longer be persuaded to remain for any reason. No plea carried any weight with her. Findelbres’s arguments that she needed more
time for healing and rest were politely brushed aside. Just as soon as she was able to stand without
dizziness, she was determined to set off.
She could not get the image of Tolian’s tormented and beaten face from
her mind. Additional rest was a luxury
she could not afford when her love needed her.
They stocked up on provisions, paid their bill, said their farewells,
and went on their way. She noticed that
Kiliordes and Pagyrus looked back with evident regret as they turned and began
their new trek.
Brythia set her eyes on the
road. She was filled with cold
determination, yet tempered with optimism.
Somehow, she was going to find Tolian and rescue her. As she stared at the snow-covered pathway
ahead of her, she tried to nurture that feeling of hope that time would be on
her side and that she would find Tolian before it was too late. Take each step, one at a time and everything
else will fall into place, she told herself.
The landscape was still blanketed in
white; the bright sunshine played upon its lustrous surface and made the snow
crystals glow with gleaming brilliance.
She squinted. The wind had
cleared the tree branches of their white burdens, though a few icicles dangled
off the larger boughs here and there. A
blue jay landed on the limb of a black oak, just off the road and squawked a
harsh territorial protest. Brythia
chirped a greeting and an apology. The
jay returned her greeting and, satisfied that they were friends, took off once
again.
Findelbres pulled his horse up next
to the druidess. “Are you positive
you’re ready for traveling?” he inquired with genuine concern.
“I’m going to be fine,” she
replied. “Remember, I do know a thing or
two about healing, too. We just can’t
afford to wait. Tolian needs me.”
“I know, I know,” agreed the
faerie. “And her presence in Faerie
could cause the greatest havoc,” he added in an ominous whisper.
She cocked one eye quizzically, “How
would Tolian’s presence be a problem in Faerie?”
Findelbres glanced nervously back to
make certain that Kiliordes, Delorick, and Pagyrus were far enough behind to be
out of earshot, before speaking. “You
know that the Realm of Faerie is different than your mortal world in certain
fundamental aspects,” he began.
Brythia nodded. “Sure, in the Order they teach us that Faerie
lies in the Astral Plane, on the border with our own world, and the Land of
Dreams. Presumably many of the laws of
the Astral govern your world as well.”
“Yes, exactly,” Findelbres
concurred. “The problem with Tolian
visiting Faerie is a simple one. The
Astral Plane is the prototypical version of your world. It receives the influence from all of the
higher worlds, as well as from your world.
That is precisely its function.
But a creature of great mystical power, like a goddess, for example, can
exert undue influence upon Faerie itself if she stays too long. Short visits aren’t a problem, but a longer
stay could actually warp the fabric of Faerie’s reality. People nearest her would be influenced first,
with those with minimal contact least affected.”
Findelbres sighed. “I hope, Brythia, that the powers of the Moon
Goddess cannot be easily thwarted in the Astral Plane which is part of her
domain. I do not know, but I fear there
is danger here for all of Faerie as well as for Tolian. I wish I knew what Dowbreth was up to. It makes no sense.”
Brythia studied the elf
carefully. He had always been a good
friend; she needed to trust him. She had
to confide in someone about what she had learned at Hyge Bryth, about her
suspicions.
She leaned close to him as she
rode. “Findelbres,” she said almost
inaudibly, I’m not sure how to say this, but I looked at the original scrolls
of the Druidic Prophecy when I was at Hyge Bryth
Surprise registered on his
face. “And...”
“And, I don’t think the Demon’s
dead. Somehow, he is involved in this
business with Dowbreth and Tolian. I
don’t know how, but I know it. I’m
certain that your Warlord of the Sidhe is in league with the Demon. And, I’m not sure who else is. Clearly, there is some sort of Lormian
involvement. I just don’t know how
extensive this conspiracy is.”
She tilted her head vaguely back
toward the others and winked at the elf.
“So don’t mention this to the others until we can be sure. I hope I can trust you.”
He smiled. “My dear, if you can’t trust me, then you are
in deep trouble. I am your friend, and I
am Tolian’s friend. I would never betray
either of you. But, I agree. I smell a conspiracy. Best to be careful.”
Their pace was swift, but with
nowhere near the level of urgency that marked their journey to the Tanslynt
Inn. Just about noon, they dismounted
for lunch. They let the horses wander in
a field just off the road where last year’s rye grass, dry and brittle, stuck
up from the snow like the spires of a palace.
Kiliordes and Delorick wanted something hot to combat the chill of the
day and Brythia saw no reason to deny them.
In fact, she leaned well over their small fire and inhaled the emerging
scent of the cooking stew (sent along with them by Mrs. Gelstrit from the
inn). Her mouth started to water.
They crouched along the roadside and
ate their stew. It was still delicious,
a sturdy, beefy broth and lots of potatoes, carrots and, of course, chunks of
tender beef. Brythia felt warmed with
the first spoonful. The winter’s chill
slowly receded within her as she ate.
“Someone’s coming,” announced
Findelbres. “Actually, a lot of people.”
A moment later Brythia felt the
vibration in the ground and the slightest sound, almost like distant thunder.
“Horsemen,” she said. “A troop.
Get the fire out and be ready,” she added.
Delorick protested, “Princess, we
are well within the borders of our kingdom.
These will surely be friends.”
“You’re probably right,” she
agreed. “But do what I say, just in
case.”
Kiliordes and Pagyrus quickly
removed their cooking gear and put out the fire. Brythia hastily swallowed the last bite of
stew in her bowl. She wiped her mouth
with her hand, and realized when she did so, that she would never have done
anything of the sort back at the palace, back home. Home.
Without Tolian, there it would never again be home for her. Wherever Tolian was, that was home. She felt tears begin to well up. She stifled them. She had to be in control.
They did not wait long before the
riders could be seen heading toward them from the direction that they
themselves were headed. From central
Lorm, the palace. At first, she was
tense. She had some unspecific feelings
of caution, and the shadow of potential trouble. She breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the
outriders’ banners, those of Lorm and the House of Hemris.
Delorick resheathed his sword and
waved a greeting. The others all
noticeably relaxed as well. The troop of
horsemen was a sizable contingent, perhaps fifty men. Brythia recognized Kelvris as their leader. She also raised an arm in greeting. The Lormian horsemen slowed their steeds as
they neared, but then did something completely unexpected. They immediately surrounded Brythia and her
companions. With the famed Lormian
military precision, they all pulled their swords in one motion and extended
them towards the smaller party.
Kelvris, smirking, said, “You are
all under arrest for conspiracy and treason.
We have reason to believe that you were involved in the kidnapping of
Princess Tolian, Heir to the Warrior Throne of Lorm, not to mention the Royal
Prince Relinder. You will come peaceably
with us.”
He dismounted and almost gleefully
held his sword up to Brythia’s throat.
“Attempt no tricks, sorceress.
Or, I will kill you where you stand.”
Brythia felt the cold steel against
her neck. She held still.
“Take their weapons,” commanded
Prince Kelvris.
“Wait,” shouted Brythia.
The men stopped and looked at
Kelvris for further instructions. They
were clearly uncomfortable in this situation.
“This is ridiculous,” stated
Delorick.
“What is the meaning of this?”
demanded Kiliordes.
Pagyrus said nothing; he simply
appeared confused and at a loss.
Findelbres regarded Kelvris with narrowed eyes and nodded quietly.
Kelvris addressed Kiliordes, ”Dear
Lord Kiliordes and Lord Delorick, you must forgive this inconvenience, but
until we know who was involved with this witch and her inhuman accomplice”
(with a nod towards the faerie) “we must take you all into custody.”
“Kelvris,” said Brythia, “I wasn’t
even there when Tolian was abducted, and she’s my wife. How can you even suggest such a thing?”
“Oh no,” retorted the prince, “you
were hundreds of miles away, weren’t you?
Yet you arrived at the palace only a few hours later, and then
immediately you and your faerie conspirator departed.”
“That’s circumstantial at best,
Kelvris,” stated Kiliordes. “I certainly
hope for your sake you have more proof than that.”
“You will hear my proof soon enough,
before the King,” the prince said. “But
in the meantime, do I need to remind you how badly Brythia wanted Tolian to
accompany her to the druids’ stronghold.
When the princess wouldn’t cooperate, she had no choice but to have her
abducted. It is a druid and faerie
conspiracy. Now, take their weapons.”
Brythia reached up and touched
Kelvris on the forehead. She
concentrated and visualized the prince suddenly turned to stone. It was an old druid technique of
self-defense. Kelvris immediately could
not move anything other than his lips.
He was effectively paralyzed.
Brythia stepped away from his sword, but kept her hand upon his
forehead.
“Stop,” the druidess commanded.
“What have you done to me,
witch? I can’t move,” asked the prince
in horror. More horsemen pointed swords
at her.
“This spell is only temporary, but
my next one won’t be. Tell them to back
off, Kelvris, or else,” she said.
Kelvris was not giving up control of
the situation that easily.
“Or else what, my cousin’s
treacherous wife?” he asked, his voice still full of swagger and fire.
“If you don’t let us go right now,”
she said with a dawning smile, “I’ll use the druid spell to transform you into
a woman. Just like I did to Tolian. How would that be?”
“No, you wouldn’t,” he pleaded. The change in attitude was astounding. “Back off men,” he added nervously. “Get back.”
She was, of course, bluffing. She hadn’t participated in the ritual of
transformation for Tolian. Only the High
Druidess knew the actual magickal formula employed, and to accomplish the
ritual took thirteen days, a special chamber, potions, and virtually the entire
female population of the druidic order.
“You’d make a lovely girl, Kelvris,”
she added. “Shall I transform you,
then?”
“Please, no, no,” pleaded the
paralyzed prince in terror.
“Of course,” Brythia continued, “you
won’t have Tolian’s powers, and you’ll just be a woman. Oh, and I can work the spell from a half a
mile away.”
She traced a pentagram on Kelvris’
forehead. She turned to her companions,
“Gentlemen, I suggest you get on your horses.”
“But,” asked Delorick, “wouldn’t it
be better to simply go with them and sort this out back at the palace? We all know you and Findelbres had nothing to
do with Tolian’s abduction. We can
resolve this and get back on the trail.”
“Delorick,” replied Brythia, “you
are welcome to do that, but I don’t have time right now. Anyone coming with me, get on your horse
immediately.”
Findelbres, Kiliordes, and Pagyrus
went without hesitation to their horses.
Delorick delayed but a moment, an expression of conflict on his face,
then did the same. Brythia slowly made
her way through the brandished swords towards Whisper.
“You know,” she told the surrounding
Lormian troops, “I can just as easily turn all of you boys into girls if you
give me any trouble. It’s a quick spell,
too. Think your wives, mistresses, and
girlfriends will be as understanding as Tolian’s?”
Brythia held back her smile as more
and more space opened up around her. She
got to Whisper’s side and mounted.
“No takers then?” she asked. “You might like it, you never know. No?
Then, gentlemen, we shall see you back at the palace, when we return
with Tolian. Then we shall properly
address this issue of treason and conspiracy.”
She leveled that last remark at the still paralyzed Kelvris.
She glanced over at her
comrades. “My friends, I think we should
be going.”
And finally, to Kelvris, “If we even
hear you behind us, I will cast that spell.
Think long and hard about pursuing us.
In the meantime, I recommend the hospitality of the Tanslynt Inn, a few
miles down the road. Farewell, Kelvris,
my wife’s cousin. The paralysis should
wear off in a few minutes.”
They were off, galloping into the
heart of Lorm. Brythia did venture a
look behind to make certain that the Lormian troops weren’t moving. They hadn’t budged. She exhaled vigorously. Thank goodness for male pride, she
thought.
They rode too hard and too fast for
any sort of conversation, and the rest were hard-pressed to keep pace with the
druidess. Brythia was lost in her own
thoughts of Tolian, of course, when she heard Delorick’s voice calling behind
her.
“Princess. Hold.”
She reined Whisper to a slow pace
and waited for him to catch up.
“Yes, Delorick, what is it?”
“Unless it is your plan to transform
the entire Lormian army into women,” he said with a wink, “we should get off
this road as soon as possible.”
“I would tend to agree, but I do not
know another way across Lorm” she stated plainly.
“I know another way, a hunters’ road
that cuts across this road just ahead and follows a track through the King’s
Forest and provides a direct route southwest to the Pine Barrens,” he said with
earnestness. Evidently, he had resolved
his conflict and was prepared to be as helpful as possible. She was encouraged by his suggestion. That was exactly what they needed. She did not think her bluff would work
indefinitely, and they were certain to meet more Lormian forces if they stayed
on the main road.
“Lead the way,” she said.
Copyright 2004, 2015 Diana Hignutt
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