by Bob Nailor
"She pretty," Mersayn said, and smiled at Jewyl.
"Would you like me to help?" Jopab asked.
"Let me," Chardo said. "You know Percho's parents. Yes? It would be better to have somebody they know approach them."
Jopab nodded and silently headed toward the lone curling smoke in the distance.
"If Atchel is indeed my relative," Jewyl said. "I feel I should be there to see the rites."
"You're right," Percho said. He sighed heavily, grimaced, and turned to Chardo. "Please, Chardo, my friend, take Mersayn and Jopab to my parent's home and await us there."
Chardo frowned at the formality of the request. "Sure," he replied and then looked at Mersayn. "Is that okay?"
"Chardo funny," Mersayn said. "Go."
Jewyl watched the three of them saunter toward the distant smoke. Mersayn skipped between the two men. She finally turned to Percho.
"What haven't you told me," she said and glared at the man before her.
"First," Percho said, "let us attend to Atchel. If rites need to be performed I would prefer to be in the correct frame of mind." He headed off toward the woods which lay to the east of his parent's home.
"I see a hill," Jewyl said, having followed quietly behind the priest. "What do you hide?"
"Here," Percho said, and pointed at a faint trace of a path. "We must maintain silence until we arrive there. Keep your full attention to any possible intruders."
"Intruders?"
"Shh," Percho hissed and placed a finger to his lips. "Silence," he whispered.
He stepped gingerly and quietly through the woods, following the almost invisible path. The tree branches gathered closer above them and Jewyl could swear they were reaching out to snag her. It darkened with each small step.
"Here," Percho said and stepped into a shadowed opening within the trunk of a large tree.
Jewyl jerked back as Percho disappeared into the tree. "Percho?" she whispered.
"Hush," he replied. A hand reached out of the darkness, snagged her tunic, and tugged her into the shadows. "We wait here to be sure none have followed," Percho whispered into her ear. "Say nothing."
Jewyl's eyes slowly acclimated to the shadows and she could see Percho beside her as he watched for anything beyond the tree's trunk. She wondered how large the tree could be to harbor two people inside its trunk.
A twig snap caught her attention and she stiffened every muscle, holding her breath, waiting, and watching.
Percho leaned forward over Jewyl's shoulder. A sword sliced the air before him outside the tree's trunk.
"They were here, captain," a voice boomed. "I saw them."
"Where is the girl?" a distant voice replied. "Have you found her?"
"There was two people," the closer voice said. "The little girl disappeared over an hour ago."
The large man searched the shadows of the trunk before lunging his sword into the darkness. Jewyl and Percho moved, avoiding the blade.
"Bah," the man said then swatted an insect on his neck. He waved his sword before him. "Damned infestations," he murmured.
"I want that child," the distant voice yelled. "Azre wants her alive. Now find her."
Suddenly the woods burst with thrashing sounds as men searched the brush and tall grasses. Yelling and screaming among themselves, they chased small animals of the woods into the open to be slaughtered.
"We're safe here," Percho whispered. "Just remain on your guard."
Jewyl huddled in the darkness of the tree's trunk and watched Azre's men blunder about beyond her. She secretly smiled when she realized Azre also wanted her, and his men didn't even realize she was so close at hand.
She leaned back when one of the guards stomped by the opening.
She was alone. Percho was gone.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Atchel
Jewyl gingerly reached beyond into the darkness of the trunk. Somewhere in the darkness there had to be a way to escape. She touched wood.
"I'm down here," Percho whispered. "Slowly and very quietly stoop down."
Jewyl did as requested, all the while keeping a watch on the activity beyond their hiding place.
"Now stretch out your left arm and you will notice an opening," Percho whispered.
Jewyl moved her arm as requested and felt Percho grasp her hand. It startled her, but she held her control.
"There are steps here," he said and placed her hands down on them. "Follow me, and be very careful. These are extremely narrow steps."
The darkness engulfed her and Jewyl followed Percho, sometimes a shadowy figure before her, at other times nothing but utter pitch black. She could feel the steps curling to the right. There was a coolness from the spiraling tunnel, yet there was no light. She suddenly saw a glimmer, or glow, before Percho.
"We're almost there," Percho whispered. "These mosses are similar to those found in the tunnels of our temple."
Jewyl remembered the glow and instantly froze. Pliocas! She held her breath and listened and watched the shadows to see if they moved of their own.
"There is nothing to fear," Percho said guessing her worry. "There are no pliocas here, if that is what you fear. Come."
Jewyl relaxed, breathed, and continued to walk down the steps. Percho appeared as a strange apparition before her.
"Mersayn lives here?" Jewyl asked.
"As does Atchel," Percho added. "This has been their safe haven since the betrayal."
"How well did you know Resnold?" Jewyl asked.
"Very well," Percho replied. "I was... I was his best friend." Percho choked.
"Then you know who betrayed him?" Jewyl watched the man before her.
"Yes," Percho said flatly. There was a silence that hung in the air. "Yes, I know well who betrayed him."
Jewyl waited.
"Why?" Jewyl broke the silence. "Why did you do it?"
"It was necessary," Percho said. "My parents were poor. The sea was their only source of income, and my father's boat had been ruined in a storm."
"Sounds more like it was a convenience for you," Jewyl said.
"No, not really," Percho said. "Resnold fought with a veracity I envied. He fought for a return to a time I didn't know, but only had heard in tales. It was a dream."
"You had no faith?"
"I had a faith," Percho continued. "I believed he would overcome Azre, and return the kingdoms to their original glory. I thought he meant to sit on the throne of Shiyula. It was then I realized perhaps we were wrong."
"So you betrayed him?"
"Yes," Percho said. "I gave Resnold the information that would put him in a definite location and position so Azre's men could take him. It was while he was being flogged in public I learned his true path. He fought to regain the throne for the princess of Shiyula." Percho's voice choked. "Yes, Jewyl, he was giving his life so you could rule."
"You didn't take up the cause?" Jewyl asked.
"As part of the deal, for my life, I had vowed allegiance to Azre," Percho said. "I became a priest for Hagontha and was to reveal information about the priesthood's activity back to Lord Azre, especially anything his brother Ballec was involved with."
"You expect my trust now?" Jewyl asked sarcastically.
"Nothing has changed," Percho said. "I am the same today as I was yesterday. My betrayal was years ago. In the priesthood I learned the trueness of chaos, and what Hagontha really means. I realized the errors I made, but learned quickly what I could and couldn't do to correct the wrongs." Percho turned and faced Jewyl. A tear traced a path down his cheek. "I have wronged your family, and in this small gesture, I hoped to atone my wrongs."
"Small gesture?" Jewyl asked.
"When I learned of Resnold's father, Atchel, I secured him to a safe area where he could live out his life. He took with him Aryna, Resnold's wife. She bore a daughter, then departed this haven of safety because she couldn’t live in these conditions.” He waved his hands to encompass the dank room. “She was discovered, and executed. I learned
Azre's men tortured Aryna in an attempt to learn the whereabouts of her offspring. The fact Mersayn exists proves the secret died with Aryna."
"What are you trying to tell me?" Jewyl asked, watching the man before her shutter as he shed tear after tear.
"Mersayn has started to search areas beyond this safety," Percho said. "The fact Mersayn has wandered to the sea amazes me, but it also tells me that perhaps Atchel has died."
"Died?" Jewyl replied.
"Long sleep?" Percho asked. "Did you not hear her say Atchel has been sleeping a long time? I fear Mersayn may be in danger, and there is nothing I can do to protect her if there is none to watch over her."
"You expect me to care for her?" Jewyl asked. She stepped back at the thought of any planned motherhood.
"If not you, then someone who you trust very strongly," Percho said. "We must move on."
"I can't take a young girl like Mersayn with me," Jewyl said. "It just wouldn't be safe. To ask Chardo to watch her wouldn't be the best, either."
"No, Chardo, although a very dear person, wouldn't be the proper tutor for her," Percho agreed, a slight smile crossing his lips.
"I have the person," Jewyl said. "A perfect match and I don't think anyone would question Mersayn's sudden appearance."
Percho turned to face Jewyl, his face alight with a possible answer.
"Who?" he asked.
"It would be– " She looked at Percho, and held back. Could she trust him? He was right, nothing had really changed over the last few days; it was only her new knowledge of an old mistake. "I will take her to my friends when the current job is finished. Can she stay with your parents?"
Percho frowned at Jewyl's sudden shortness and hesitation. "I see no reason why she couldn't stay with them until this is all resolved," he said. "It may make my parents feel young again."
Jewyl wrinkled her nose at the odor.
"It would appear Atchel has been sleeping too many days," Percho said. "If you wish, I can attend to his remains, and you go back up. I'm sure Azre's men have given up their search by now."
"No," Jewyl said. "This is family, so I will assist in any way I can. Lead on."
The stench was stronger with each step, but Jewyl kept up with Percho.
"Here," Percho said and offered a ragged piece of cloth to her.
She grabbed it and quickly tied it about her head to cover her nose. It helped somewhat, and she was now acclimating to the scents.
"Mersayn has lived down here all her life?" Jewyl asked as they entered the small chamber.
Moss covered the walls, ceiling, and most of the furnishings. She looked at the small chair and could see where Mersayn had sat and kept the moss at bay. Atchel lay on a small bed which glowed eerily.
"It almost appears the moss has covered his face," Jewyl said looking at the old man. "How old was he?"
"I have no idea," Percho said. "This is Mersayn's grandfather so he has seen many winters."
Jewyl scrutinized the face trying to see any family resemblance. Could this truly be a relative? she thought.
"Your grandmother's brother’s son," Percho said. "Do you see any family resemblance?"
"Strangely," Jewyl said, "his ears are similar to my mother's, and perhaps somewhat like mind." She pushed back her hair to let Percho see the resemblance.
"Yes," Percho said. "I see the similarities." Percho smiled. "Also his eyes were a deep green, like yours."
Percho moved about the crowded room, placing items from one location to another.
"I can perform the rites of passage here," he said. "If you would like."
"This was his home," Jewyl said. "It would only be proper." She looked about then noticed what appeared to be a chest lid. "Perhaps we can let him rest in there?" She pointed at the chest.
"I thought perhaps we could leave him on the bed," Percho said. "I fear moving his body might be too much for us." He covered his mouth and nose with his hand.
Jewyl glanced at Atchel and agreed he should continue to rest on the bed.
"Really won't be using this for quite some time," Percho said. "I stumbled upon this safe haven by accident when I was still a young boy. I was hiding from some guards when I ducked into the trunk of this tree and my foot slipped down into the tunnel. Other than me, only Mersayn and Atchel know of it. Even my parents don't know of this place. Atchel should have a very quiet rest here."
"Who do you think made it?" Jewyl asked, seating herself on the chest.
"No idea," Percho replied. "It had a lot of dust so it hadn't been used in a very long time. Even the tree hasn't rotted over the years. It probably belonged to some wizard and has a lot of magic. Atchel will be safe. Shall I begin?"
Jewyl nodded and Percho began the rites of passage.
"Spearmint to greet the goddess," Percho said and placed a sprig of greens between Atchel's lips. "Silk to shield your eyes of her beauty," he said and placed a cloth over Atchel's eyes.
"Silk?" Jewyl asked in a hushed voice and nodded at the heavy cloth.
"We use what is available," he replied. "A rinse to hide your footsteps." He removed Atchel's sandals and poured a small amount of water on the bare feet. "Now, none may see your path as you walk with Hagontha."
Percho kneeled beside the bed and fumbled with his fingers. "A ring," he whispered in a choked voice. "A ring of friendship from me to you." He placed the ring on Atchel's finger. "If you can find it in your spirit to forgive me, return it upon our next meeting." He stood up.
"Go with the goddess," Percho said and stood there quietly for a few moments. "Enjoy the rewards of chaos," he whispered. He wiped the welled up tears from his eyes.
"Go with the goddess," Jewyl echoed. She didn't normally follow any particular belief of one god or goddess over another, but she felt a comfort in the small ceremony Percho had performed. There seemed a hint of closure. She had never met Atchel, yet she felt a bond existed between them. He would lay here until the green mold engulfed him; eternal peace.
“I feel a… a… There is something.” Jewyl stood and gazed about the room. “It is all so strange, and yet, I feel a pull – a tugging. I know not what it is.” She shrugged. “Strange.”
"Shall we go?" Percho asked and headed for the steps that led up and out.
Jewyl nodded and followed him to the stairs with only a small glimpse back before beginning the climb. She was amazed how quickly they came to the open space within the trunk. It had taken so long to go down the winding steps, and now, the exit seemed no more than twenty steps.
Percho placed a cautionary finger to his lips and stretched toward the opening trying to hear. He was greeted by the sounds of birds and woodland insects. A soft wind rustled the leaves and grasses.
"It's safe," he hissed and stepped into the light.
Jewyl followed and inhaled deeply the fresh air. The woods which had seemed so ominous coming in, was now light and airy.
"First we'll need to meet up with Chardo, Jopab and Mersayn," Jewyl said. She stepped out and around the trunk and started down the path.
"A pleasant day for a walk," Percho said and followed.
"What magic is this?" a voice bellowed. "Halt in the name of Lord Azre."
Jewyl turned and faced the owner of the voice.
"How could you appear in the middle of the woods," the guard asked, his sword at the ready. "What wizardry is this?"
"No wizardry at all," Jewyl replied. She pulled her sword and let it arc in front of her as she swung it toward the guard.
Metal clanged loudly in the hushed silence of the woods. Jewyl raised her sword above her head then danced quickly to the left to avoid the attacking rush of the guard. She twisted and brought the sword down to connect with the guard's unprotected back. The sound of blade hitting spine and rib bones echoed loudly. The guard fell, his sword dropping away from him.
"Now I see why Jopab has such a high opinion of your swordsmanship," Percho said. "You are a dangerous opponent and one who knows how to use it to her own advantage
."
The guard groaned and moved in a feeble attempt to grasp his dropped sword.
Jewyl kicked him with her foot and rolled him so she could face him.
"Know your adversary," she said. "I am Jewyl, Princess of Shiyula."
The guard's eyes widened in recognition of the name, and then his whole body winced when her sword plunged through his body.
"Was that totally necessary?" Percho asked with a sneer of disdain.
"Ah, so you are a priest of chaos, after all," Jewyl replied. She wiped the blood from the sword on the body. "You attend to death, but avoid death otherwise."
"We could have tied him up," Percho said. "He was innocent."
"Innocent?" Jewyl asked. "He was a guard of Lord Azre. Tie him up? To allow him freedom when discovered so he could reveal our plans? What of Mersayn? We've too much to lose if he were to waggle his tongue."
Percho hung his head and slowly nodded agreement. "Perhaps you've done the right thing. Our whereabouts must be kept secret."
"I'm sure he's not the only guard left here," Jewyl said. "We'd best keep a low profile on our way to your parents."
"Follow me," Percho said, swelling with renewed vigor. "There is the secret path I had when a child. It may be overgrown somewhat, but I'm sure we can use it. It is well away from the eyes that would watch the path."
"You continue to confuse me," Jewyl said.
"That is the way of Hagontha," the priest said with a smile. "Come."
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Plots
"Jewyl! Percho!" Chardo exclaimed. "Glad to see you." Chardo stood and waved.
"Lower your voice, you idiot," Jewyl yelled. "Do you want all of Azre's guards on us?" She pulled her sword, turned to keep a watchful eye on the woods and stepped carefully toward Chardo and the small house.
"Don't worry," Chardo replied. "They left earlier — about thirty of them. We're all alone."
"Where's Mersayn?" Percho asked.
"Fishing with your parents," Chardo said.
"They asked us along," Jopab added, coming from inside the hut. "I just couldn't see myself out on the waters so soon." He dried his hands on a towel. "The boar has been gutted and cleaned. Who wants the honors of roasting him?"
