“Broðor Clarke says—”
Magge dropped the spoon and turned to Philip. “Son, I’m glad you love learning. You’re intelligent, and diligent.” Her smile turned grim, telling him that there was a caveat coming. “However, I have noticed that you seem to have many ideas about what a ‘good Christian’ should think or do. Don’t forget your place. You’re almost a man, yes, but you’re not one yet.”
“I—” He tried to interject a protest, but his mother continued.
“Even the minister doesn’t preach every time he opens his mouth. You’re in danger of becoming prideful about your education. It’s supposed to help you become a better person, but if you let it, it’ll ruin you.”
Angry at her rebuke, Philip muttered that he’d be home soon, and hurried out the door. It was hard to avoid the mud and the puddles, but once onto the road through Wynnewood, it became easier. He turned onto the road that led east away from the village, but stopped. It had been tempting to ignore his mother’s warning. After all, she was an uneducated seaman’s wife, while he was being educated by the village minister at the request of the Earl of Wynnewood himself.
It was at that moment, when those thoughts filled his mind that he stopped in the middle of the road. There could be no greater support for his mother’s warning, than for him to feel superior to his own mother. He was full of pride, and he knew it. Furthermore, he knew much of it was the false pride that comes from feeling like a failure. His lessons with Broðor Clarke had not been wasted. He knew he’d been sullen and disrespectful. He also knew that if he didn’t apologize now, it would be even harder later.
The cottage door appeared much more swiftly than he’d expected. After taking a deep breath, Philip stepped inside and waited for his mother to look up from her task of cleaning their Adam’s food-covered face. “Did you forget something, Philip?”
“It seems I have.” It took a moment, but eventually Magge Ward raised her eyes to meet Philip’s.
“What?”
“Respect. What you said was true, Modor, pride…” He couldn’t say it. He wanted to confess how deeply it was rooted in his heart, but Philip saw the tears forming in his mother’s eyes, and couldn’t bring himself to say whatever would make her cry. He never knew if they were tears of joy, pride, shame… his father did, but he didn’t.
“I’m proud of you, Philip. That was hard to admit. You’re becoming such a fine man. If we lived where you could study with the right people, you’d be a clerk or even a minister yourself.”
Forcing himself not to share his opinions of the church as a profession, Philip smiled, waved, and retreated outside once more. He still had to talk to Dove. All the way to their cottage, he remembered his conversation with Letty and how he’d cringed as he realized how reluctant she was to visit the Heolstor forest at night. It took a great deal of persuasion, but as he ambled along the edge of the road, he was certain that Letty would keep her word. They’d capture the unicorn, the Mæte would take the tip for their medicine, and he could present Lord Morgan with the one thing he couldn’t purchase whenever he chose. Of course, he’d give Letty and Dove credit for their help, but neither girl seemed interested in presenting the animal to the lord of all of Wynnewood. Dove was only interested in the adventure of trying to succeed, while Letty seemed anxious to please everyone.
As he stepped into Bertha’s yard, Philip heard a frightful scream from inside the thick cob walls. “Do you want to die, you fool?”
Afraid that Dove might box Letty’s ears or chase her out with a broom again, Philip flung open the door and looked around for some sign of impending distress. Instead, he found the girls standing over several leather pouches, Dove gesticulating wildly. “Shut the door, Philip. You’ll blow the herbs everywhere.”
Amused at Dove’s haughty tone, Philip pushed the door closed and latched it. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to keep this girl from killing the modors of the village.”
Letty tossed her head, insulted, and retorted, “How am I supposed to know the difference between two identical leaves?”
Without a word, Dove put three leaves on her gloved palm and held them out to Philip. “Which one is different?”
Though he instantly saw the one he thought was different, Philip hesitated. Was it a trick question? And if it wasn’t, would he make things worse for Letty if he answered correctly? They didn’t want to lose her cooperation. Then again, he didn’t want to look foolish. With a twinge of guilt for so quickly succumbing to the demands of his pride, Philip pointed to the leaf he considered different.
“Why did you choose that one?”
“The tip is narrower and the color is a little lighter than the other two.”
Nodding, Dove showed Letty. “Do you see now? You have to pay close attention. The wrong herb can kill someone.”
“Doesn’t Bertha check anyway? I thought she said you must always be sure of your herbs.” Letty’s petulant tone told Philip that she was tired of the lesson.
“She may check,” Dove explained, “but in a life and death situation, she’s in a hurry. She doesn’t have time to check each and every one. That’s our job.” Then, as if not changing the subject, she turned to Philip and said, “What brought you here? We can’t go tonight, it’s too wet.”
“Well, it seems my trip was for nothing. I came to tell you that.”
Letty rolled her eyes at him, and though he couldn’t see them, Philip was certain that Dove did too. The girl jerked her hood until it hung just how she liked it and stood with hands on her hips. “He thinks we girls know nothing, you know. We’re just helpless without his superior wisdom.”
Letty nodded, eyes flashing. “Why do you put up with it, Dove? I have to. Angus’d pound me if I offended the most popular boy in the village.”
Dove’s initial reminder that his problem with pride was well known was softened by Letty’s unintentional compliment. The most popular boy in town, she’d said. That was something to be proud— He sighed. “I’ll see you later then.”
“Philip—” Dove began, but the door shut softly behind him.
The girls looked at one another and shrugged. “Who knew he could be so touchy?” Letty muttered.
Philip heard the girls, but shuffled toward home. “Lord,” he whispered as he drew near to the village and saw the bell tower of the chapel. “I just don’t know if I’ll ever conquer pride.” A wry smile formed on his lips. “Then again, it’s one valid excuse to avoid choosing a profession in the church.”
Chapter 23
Letty and the Lair
Within days, the earth was as dry as Wynnewood ever could hope to be. On the first Saturday in January, Philip, Letty, and Dove crept over the bridge, across the open land, and into the Heolstor forest. With each step, Letty grew visibly more frightened until at last, Dove slipped her hand into the girl’s larger one and squeezed. “We’re safe. Even if Philip couldn’t protect us, which he can, remember, people fear me. They run from me.”
“Unicorns, though. Who will protect me from the unicorns! They’re said to gut a man in seconds with those horrible horns!”
“You’ll have the laurel wreath. They can’t move with that.” Philip’s voice sounded more confident than he felt.
He’d grown uneasy about the idea ever since he’d convinced Letty to do it. The closer they grew to the thicket near the cliffs, the more uncomfortable he became, until he nearly insisted that they turn back again. Before he could speak, Jakys and stepped out from behind a tree. Behind him, Grifon and a dwarf that Philip hardly recognized, Odo, waited behind the tree, stepping deeper into the shadows at Letty’s scream.
“Who have you brought, Philip? Why have you betrayed us?
“This is Letty. She works for the midwife— Dove’s midwife. She won’t share our secret. I’ve known her all my life. She won’t tell.”
“Has she never told a secret? She looks like the kind of girl who delights in looking important.” The terrible tone in Jakys voice
even frightened Dove.
“When she was little, of course. All children do. She won’t now.” Of this, Philip was certain.
“Philip, I want to go,” Letty whispered. Her surprise at the sight of child sized men with beards and gruff deep voices had grown into alarm.
“She knows our mission?”
“Yes.” Dove answered, her hood turned toward Jakys, but her eyes watched the others. Something about the way they watched her, the way they shifted— it seemed off.
The wind scraped tree branches together, making terrible sounds that made an awkward silence grow ominous. At last, Jakys pointed to Odo and Grifon. “Take Dove to the lookout. We’ll meet you there once we get the girl settled.”
Smiling her encouragement as if the girl could see it, Dove turned and followed Grifon and his friend through the trees, up an incline, and out of sight. Philip explained where they’d be, and listened closely as Jakys showed Letty the wreath and explained in great detail what to do. He suggested that she pretend to be asleep in order to help the unicorn trust her.
As they walked away, Letty started to cry out— to beg them not to leave her alone in the dark forest. Instead, she folded her hands, closed her eyes, and tried to remember the prayers that she recited every week in the chapel. She heard Philip and Jakys walk away, but still her eyes closed shut to the darkness around her.
Slowly, the sounds of night pressed around her until at last, she buried her head in her knees and covered her head with her hands and arms. Each moment that passed seemed an eternity. Once she thought she heard the crack of a twig under a foot or a hoof, but nothing came. The mists rolled slowly in from the sea, engulfing the entire realm of Wynnewood in their blinding fog.
She wanted to run. Twice she stood, looking around her for direction out of the forest and back to Wynnewood, but she could barely see the next tree through the stifling mists. This is what the villagers meant when they said the mists were the thoughts of wandering spirits. Legend said that they would overtake a person’s mind if she wasn’t careful. Letty prayed that she would be careful. She did not want to lose her mind.
Once, something, a shadow of something large obscured the little light from the moon that made it through the mists and the trees. Letty held her breath expectantly, but nothing came. Her fingers twisted the leaves of the laurel wreath until a small pile of them grew in her lap. She was surprisingly warm, wrapped in the blankets Dove brought her and, with the padding of the leaves and pine needles beneath her, comfortable.
Jakys led Philip to the lookout without a word. Philip felt the little man’s displeasure, but not knowing if the Mæte had tempers, he wisely kept his mouth shut and waited for the tongue-lashing that was sure to come. However, the wait was torture. Each moment passed, one minute after another, until at last, Philip was ready to provoke the scolding just to end the suspense.
Before he could say a word, Jakys jumped back and scrambled to Philip’s side. “Follow me and don’t say a word,” the little man whispered.
Obedient, but mad with curiosity, Philip retraced their steps, trying not to step on the older, smaller man’s heels. At the base of the cliff, Jakys stood, waiting— listening. Philip wondered if he was allowed to talk yet, but kept silent, waiting for Jakys to speak first. Several moments passed before the dwarf pulled Philip close and asked, “Could you find your way back to the village through this?”
“I think so. The mists are getting so thick that I might get turned a bit, but once I hit the castle wall, I’d be fine.”
“Stay here then. If she doesn’t call out for you in two hours, get her home, and then return. Can you find the cave where I found Dove?”
Philip shrugged and said, “I don’t see why not.”
“The dragon will use the mists to visit his mate tonight. Meet me in the cave.” Jakys turned to leave, but Philip stopped him.
“Why? I thought we were going to the lookout. What—”
Jakys’ voice turned terrible. “Dove isn’t there. I heard a few of Maulore’s lackeys waiting for us. I saw Fulke’s stained boots. No one else has purple boots. I have to see if I can find her.”
“Is she safe?”
Silence echoed around them until Philip nearly screamed with frustration. The disgust in Jakys’ tone told him he’d disappointed the little man— again. “Just when I think you might be intelligent, you ask a foolish question like that.” He sighed. “Just give the girl time to lure the unicorn, get her home, and get back to the cave. I may need you.”
“For what?”
Turning away, he barely whispered an answer that Philip could hear. “Maybe I’ll have that decided by then.”
While Philip digested what the dwarf said, Jakys disappeared into the fog. Dove was in danger. Fury ripped through him without warning. He couldn’t believe he’d just been left here to wait for Letty to capture a unicorn while his friend might be in trouble. He took several steps toward Letty, ready to ignore his instructions, and stopped. Jakys knew best. As much as it galled him to admit it to himself, he needed to do as he was told.
While he waited for Letty to call for him, Philip tried not to imagine the worst. Unaware that a few hundred yards away, Letty was also praying, he sank against the rocks of the cliffs, wrapped his cloak around him tighter, and poured out his fears to the Lord. Trying not to think about the time he needed to pass, Philip prayed for wisdom, safety, and success in their quest for the unicorn and its legendary horn.
He wondered how Letty was surviving alone in the foggy darkness. Was she frightened? He didn’t know how she could not be, but the girl had surprised him. For someone he’d always seen as a timid pest, she’d shown more courage and desire to help than he’d ever imagined possible.
At last, Philip couldn’t stand it any longer. If the unicorn hadn’t come yet, it wasn’t coming. Maybe the animal was there, but he hadn’t heard her. It was awkward to walk through the thick mists to where Letty waited, but at last, he arrived. “Letty?”
“It didn’t come. I think I saw a shadow that might have been it— the shadow was so huge— but it never came close. I think it was frightened, because it disappeared quickly.” She hesitated. “Where is Dove?”
“I don’t know. Jakys told me to take you home and then go back to the cave. He’s worried about her.”
“You don’t know or Jakys doesn’t know? Is Jakys the one who told me how to capture the unicorn?”
“Yes. Neither one of us know what happened.” Philip helped Letty to her feet and started leading her through the forest. They’d find the castle walls and then follow them to the gate and down the road toward town. It was out of the way, but would ensure that they didn’t spend the night wandering the forests in circles.
“Can’t we go find her? Isn’t it wasting time to take me home? If Dove is lost—”
He hesitated. Philip didn’t want to frighten the girl, but he knew Dove wasn’t lost. Dove knew the forests better than anyone in Wynnewood. “Jakys thinks that one of the Mæte has taken her. I can’t take you in there if that’s true. It’ll be dangerous.”
“But Dove—”
“Wouldn’t want you at risk. Let’s get you home.”
The trek through the trees was slow, and they didn’t talk. Letty had many questions but knew Philip didn’t feel like discussing things. At the corner of the castle wall, she stopped. “Go back, Philip. I can get home from here. As long as I follow the wall to the gate and then stay on the road, I’ll make it home. I can do that much.”
Torn, Philip stood, arms crossed, feet planted wide apart, lost in thought. She wouldn’t get lost now. He knew that. However, after the disappearance of Dove, was he willing to risk— “No. I know you can get home by yourself, Letty. I just don’t know what is happening. If anything happened to you because I didn’t follow Jakys orders, I—” He grabbed her elbow and led her along the side of the castle wall. “No. I need to do what Jakys said.”
“I could run away. That way, it wouldn’t be your fault. J
akys couldn’t blame you for something I did.”
It was time for blunt speaking. “Letty, there were men waiting for Jakys and me. They were going to ambush us. Whoever has Dove is frightened of her. They think she’s a demon, and when she couldn’t capture the unicorn…”
“But I didn’t capture it either. Am I a demon?”
Her argument, while logical to his ears, might not mean much to frightened and bitter Mæte. “I’m hoping that’ll be a good argument. It’s just that Jakys knows what is happening. If he said to get you home safe, I need to do it.”
“You don’t think they’d hurt me too?” Fear filled Letty’s voice once again.
“I don’t know, Letty. I just don’t know.” Philip rounded the corner of the castle and listened for the whoosh of dragon wings before he tried to cut across the green to the road. “If we walk at a diagonal, we should reach the road.”
All across the fields, past the hemlock tree, and down the road to the village, Philip led his charge as if doing the king’s work. As they passed the mill, he suddenly realized that he might be doing a king’s work. Was Waleron behind the night’s activities, or was Jakys on his way to recruit help from their king?
At the Woods’ door, Philip turned to leave, but Letty laid her hand on his arm. “I’ll pray for you, Philip. I will pray for both of you— for Dove’s safety and for success in finding her.”
He nodded, and jogged back toward the castle road. Something had nagged at his conscience all the way to Letty’s home, and now with her safe inside, it slammed into his mind with a force that felt almost physical. This was his fault. His desire to impress Lord Morgan— to prove he was almost a man— it was the reason that Dove might be in danger. Dove would never have gone out in that blizzard, never have met the Mæte… “Lord, what have I done?” he groaned as he started back up the hill toward the castle gate.
Chapter 24
War
Dove knew the mists had an eerie way of making things seem closer or farther than they really were. It was easy to lose your sense of space when surrounded by the damp clouds that obscured your path. However, after walking what seemed ten times farther than the incline to the lookout, Dove finally spoke. “Have we made a wrong move? It seems to be so much farther than I remember.”
The Annals of Wynnewood Complete Series Page 37
