by Bob Nailor
"I'll do it," Percho said. "I know where the pit is. Chardo, bring me some green palms, please."
Percho ambled off to the pit and moved things around. Chardo rushed about the area gathering palm branches.
"This should be enough," Chardo said between deep breaths. "He didn't say whether he wanted long ones, short ones, young or old; so I got a mixture." He smiled at the group then hustled over to Percho and deposited the collection near the pit.
Chardo stood there a few moments then placed his arm over Percho's shoulder. Percho brushed it aside. Jewyl and Jopab watched the two men. Some words were spoken. Finally, in exasperation, Chardo threw his hands into the air and stomped back to the hut.
"Problems in paradise?" Jewyl asked.
Chardo glared at his friend, shook his head, and entered the hut. He shut the door behind him.
"Okay," Jewyl said. "Not sure where this is going. I guess we'll wait it out."
"What's the story on Atchel," Jopab asked. "Long sleep?"
"I performed the rites," Percho said.
He surprised them since they hadn't heard him approach. His voice was dull and listless.
"He sleeps peacefully," Percho added.
"What is it?" Jopab asked.
Percho turned and looked at the distant sea. He rested an arm against the hut.
"Do you see the ocean?" Percho asked. "The waves crest, then wash upon the beach, rushing in and flooding here and there. Each wave is different, yet the same. There is water, a crest, spreading out to flood and deposit whatever it had upon the beach. Our days are like that, the same, yet different. Each morning we awake, it is the same, yet always different. We're waves rushing toward the land."
"What are you babbling about?" Chardo asked. He stood just inside the door of the hut. "What did you do to him, Jewyl?"
Percho shot Chardo a piercing glance. "She's done nothing," he spat and returned his gaze to the ocean. His voice became distant. "Every day. Nothing. The same. Different." He turned his attention to Jopab. "When will it all end?"
"What end?" Jopab asked. He walked up to Percho and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Percho shrugged it off and pulled his shoulder away. He narrowed his eyes and searched the beach. "They're returning," he said. "The same, but different."
"What do you want to end?" Jewyl asked with a quizzical look on her face.
"The killing," Percho whispered. "The killing."
"Oh," Jewyl said. "We're back to the guard, again."
"No," Percho retorted. He hesitated. "Perhaps." He shook his head. "No, it has nothing to do with the guard you killed. It has to do with my treachery, and the innocent people who were killed. It is about Klajany, Father Ballec, Vico, Mersayn, Atchel, Resnold, Father Borhars, and even Lord Azre. All of them." He hesitated. "Even my parents."
"Your parents are alive," Jopab said. "Like most of those you named. Why do you bring them into this conversation?"
"Because of me," Percho said. "Because of me, they'll die. It won't be old age, but some treachery curling up in some wave to crash down on them — drowning their very existence."
"We can leave," Jewyl said. "Now, or at least very soon. We'll not stay the night." She glanced at the two older figures tromping from the ocean. She could see a third person, Mersayn, bouncing about. "We'll take Mersayn and leave immediately."
"It's too late," Percho said. "We've already tainted them. No, I tainted it. Years ago." He hung his head, and his body moved slightly as he sobbed.
"Let me help you," Chardo said, and moved closer to the man. "Why do you insist on pushing me away."
"All you want is sex," Percho said. "Everything can't be fixed with a romp in the bed, or wherever."
"I'm not looking for sex!" Chardo exclaimed. "Did I say I wanted sex?" Chardo stomped out of the hut and toward the trio coming from the ocean.
"Please, Chardo," Percho called. "You'll only make it worse."
Chardo waved at the trio. He grabbed the stringer of fish from Percho's mother. He would have taken the larger stringer of fish from Percho's father, but didn't want to shame him in doing so. Having the lighter stringer Chardo asked the old man if he would like to trade. In this manner, no shame would be made. The old man shook his head negatively, and continued to huff under the stringer's weight.
"We'll have to add these to the boar," Chardo yelled. "Mmm. Fresh smoked fish."
"Give me," Percho said and reached out for the two stringers. "I'll add them."
Percho's father silently offered his string of fish and Percho accepted it. He flung it over his shoulder and looked at Chardo.
"I'll help," Chardo said. "There is more to me than what you say." His eyes flared at Percho.
"I'm sorry," Percho mumbled, and headed for the pit.
"That's more like it," Chardo said. He slapped Percho on the back and the two headed for the pit. One could hear Chardo laughing from time to time.
"Did I hear your friend say there was a boar?" Percho's father asked.
"That's right," Jewyl replied. "Jopab cleaned it and Percho has it in the pit."
"There will be plenty to eat," Percho's mother said. "The fish will be done shortly. I'll go to the garden and collect a few vegetables for us."
"May I help?" Jewyl asked, and received a warm smile in response.
"Me help?" Mersayn scampered around the old woman. "Me help?"
"Of course you can," the older woman replied. "Call me Tenja, please. Anything you want to do to help an old woman is appreciated." She reached out and cupped the small girl's chin. "You are more questions than answers, child." Tenja smiled and watched as Mersayn danced about them. She cocked her head and cast an eye at Jewyl. "Now what is your name?" She looked directly at Jewyl, dark eyes piercing into Jewyl.
"My friends call me Jewyl."
The old woman frowned, the shadow of question lingering just a moment. She let it go and was once again smiling. "Jewyl," she repeated. "My, what a lovely name. I knew somebody with that name, but that was a long time ago. I’m sure before you were ever born."
"Red balls, good," Mersayn yelled and grabbed at the globes of tomatoes. "Me like red balls." She paused and gazed at Jewyl. “Did you get the shiny?”
"Those are tomatoes, dear," Tenja said. "Oh, my, we'll need lettuce, some carrots, small onions and I think we can swipe a few new potatoes, too. Mmm, I can already taste the onions and new potatoes in the sauce." She smacked her lips. Mersayn giggled.
“The shiny?” Jewyl glanced at Mersayn with concern but quickly eased the frown to a smile at the waif.
“Atchel’s shiny. He show me. Long. Shiny. Pretty.” Mersayn smiled at Jewyl. “Oh, sharp, too.”
Jewyl frowned, trying to figure out what she meant.
“We left it with Atchel,” Jewyl said. “Is that okay?”
Mersayn nodded.
"Somebody's coming," Jopab yelled. "It looks like guards. Probably from Lord Azre himself."
"Quick," the old woman said. "Lay down and I'll cover you."
"Me hide, too?" Mersayn asked.
"Yes, yes," Tenja said and pushed the waif in with Jewyl. "Keep quiet."
Jewyl raised her head to see what was going on and where Chardo and Percho might be.
"Get down," the old woman hissed. "They'll see you."
Jewyl frowned. What gave this old woman the idea she needed protection from a few guards?
"We hide, yes?" Mersayn asked. "Now we run away?"
Jewyl could feel her companions body start to tense in preparation of leaping up to run away.
"No!" Jewyl yelled and grabbed Mersayn. "We stay hidden. Let them find us, if they can. That's more fun. Now, be very still and quiet so we can hear them."
Jewyl strained to hear, but felt the horse's hooves first. They were very close.
"Old lady," the guard's voice boomed. "We seek strangers. Have you seen any?"
"My wife's eyes fail her," Percho's father said. "Can I assist you?"
The guard's horse strutted
to meet the old man part way.
"One of our companions was slain not too long ago," the guard bellowed. "We seek any knowledge of this deed and offer a reward for the proper information of the culprit."
"We are but humble peasants," Percho's father said. "We get a little food from the garden and a few fish from the sea. We are old." He raised his hands. "We don't travel far from our hut."
"I care little about that," the guard replied. "Who is that stranger?"
The old man carefully turned around to see Jopab still standing there.
"That is but a cleric of Hagontha," he said. "He has been with us four days now, and will soon return to the temple."
"Why is here?"
"I'm here to serve my penance," Jopab said. "I am Holy Priest Second Hand to Lord Ballec and have committed an improper act. Lord Ballec sent me on a journey of penance to understand the truth within the chaos of my action. Praise Hagontha."
"Enough," the guard said. "We seek a killer, not a spewer of holies." He motioned his men forward before looking directly down at Percho's father. "If you were to see a stranger or two, you would let me know. Yes?"
"Of course," the old man said, and held his head down to avoid eye contact, but hoped it would be seen as respect.
"And you, priest," the guard said as he rode away. "You should hurry to finalize your penance so you can find if you truly have a temple and reason for penance. Rumor says Ballec has fled and Hagontha has created her doom within her chaos."
"I shall," Jopab said. "Safe journey." He watched the remaining guards trample through the garden, plucking fresh vegetables ready for the harvest.
"Stop! Please," Percho's father pleaded. "Don't ruin our garden. It is all we have to make it through the long winter."
One guard pushed the old man away, forcing him to fall to the ground.
Jewyl tightened in preparation to take that guard's life when she felt another guard tromp down on her foot, twisting her small ankle.
Mersayn jumped up and out of the pile that had covered them. The old woman grabbed Mersayn and held her close; all the while inconspicuously pushing debris to cover Jewyl.
"Please," the old woman said, cowering from the guard's pointed spear. "She is my granddaughter. I hid her to protect her. She is all we have left of our son and his wife – they were lost at sea."
"Tenja!" the old man yelled.
"That's close enough, old man," the guard shouted, noting the rest of his companions were well ahead of him.. "I kill neither children, nor the aged." The guard made a gesture in the air before turning to look at the garden. "Nice. Very nice. You could hide a body in there, and most would be none the wiser.
"Go in Hagontha's chaos and the peace it offers," Jopab said. He pulled the old man against him, and smiled at the old woman and Mersayn.
The guard hastened off to join the rest of his contingent. They quickly followed their leader and disappeared beyond the trees.
"Stay where you are," Jopab said. "The guard on the horse didn't believe us and he is only beyond the trees and will be watching us. Tenja and Mersayn, continue to work in the garden. Inform Jewyl to stay hidden."
"I think Jewyl is hurt," Tenja whispered.
"She is a warrior," Jopab said. "She will nurse her wounds as best she can. Now where is Percho and Chardo?"
"They are inside the hut, probably hidden under the floor," the old man said.
"Oh, fine," Jewyl said. "They are probably – oh, never mind. I hope my ankle isn't broken. Don't worry about me, I'm a warrior. Right?"
"Fine," Jopab said. "Go inside and tell those two to remain hidden until needed. Bring out a platter or something so we can appear to be working on the boar. All of us need to act as nothing has happened and we're returning to a normal day."
"How do you know all this?" the old man asked.
"That guard gave me a hidden signal," Jopab replied. "Remember him? The one you were going to attack? He is a hidden follower of Hagontha and informed me to be very careful and watch."
"How ironic," Jewyl said. "The guard who hurt me also protected me." She shifted around in the debris. "Not the most comfortable, you know."
"We play hide game again?" Mersayn asked and grabbed some leaves to put on her head. "I like hide game. Atchel played game with Mersayn. We hide many times." The leaves cascaded down over her face and back.
"Yes," Tenja replied. "The hide game is a good game, and you played it well, but you don't have to play it now. Only Jewyl gets to play." Tenja brushed a few crumbled leaves from the girl's hair and softly pushed back the loose locks.
"Me play," Mersayn said and pouted. "Me play."
"How about a red ball?" Jewyl whispered.
"Me like red balls," Mersayn squealed and grabbed a few from the plants. She bit into one, juices flowing down her chin. The game forgotten.
Tenja pulled a couple of stray weeds and kept an eye on the men. "I don't know how long you're going to be in there," she whispered. "I'll have Mersayn help me with a few more vegetables before she eats all the red balls."
"Oh, I think I'll just linger here," Jewyl replied. "It's not really all that uncomfortable. Just be sure Jopab remembers me."
"Mersayn?" Tenja called. "Do you like carrots, too?" She ambled over to Mersayn and continued her mundane garden actions for the hidden audience. She wanted to glance over at the edge of trees, to shade her eyes and see if she could find the guards, but she held back.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Back On Track
"I certainly hope there is still some food left," Chardo said as he slipped into the house. "I didn’t think the guards were ever going to leave." He glanced about the room. "Has anyone let Jewyl know?"
"Not yet," Percho replied. "Since you didn't return immediately we thought there was a problem."
"Well, there is and there isn't," Chardo said, grabbed another dark blanket and bent down to the floor. "They've left but there is still one out there watching, when he thinks of it. I'll sneak out there, get her, and we'll soon have to be on our way. I heard what the leader had to say." He smiled proudly. "I could have petted his horse," Chardo said and swelled with pride. "You don't get into the Thieves Guild with just a pretty face and cute smile."
"You have to leave?" Tenja asked, ignoring Chardo's last words and glancing over to Mersayn.
"Me go, too?" the small girl asked.
"Not yet, dear," Tenja replied and stroked the girl's long locks. "You can stay with us a few days – help me in the garden to collect the red balls."
"Two... may... toes," Mersayn said slowly and deliberately. "Red balls called tomatoes."
"That's right," the old woman answered and hugged the girl close to her.
"Here," Jopab said, and handed the old man a sheet of parchment.
Percho's father glanced at the scribblings then rolled the parchment and stuck it on a shelf.
"Did you understand what you read, father?" Percho asked.
The old man shook his head negatively. "Should I?" He shrugged. "If somebody comes looking for Jopab, I figure this will answer any questions." He glanced over at Jopab for assurance.
"Very astute," Jopab said. "It states I had to leave, and that the sign necessary for me was obviously the arrival of the guards reminding me of my station within the chaos of Hagontha."
"Oh?" the old man said quietly. "I thought it said something like these people didn't know me and only gave me a place to sleep and eat. They are not responsible for any of my actions."
Everyone snickered.
"If you would prefer," Jopab said.
"No," answered the old man. "This should suffice." He patted the parchment on the shelf. "Sometimes being a simple fisherman makes for a full life." He placed an arm around Tenja.
The door opened and a dark shape crawled into the room.
"Jewyl!" Percho said when the shape stood up and dropped the blanket.
"I'm famished," Jewyl said and headed for the table.
"Eat quickly," Chardo said.
"I just noticed two torches where there should only be one. We've got more company than we want."
"Torches? The idiot has torches?" Jopab asked.
"I saw the one torch when I headed out for Jewyl," Chardo said. "A second torch just arrived."
"These guards are truly imbeciles," Jewyl mumbled between large bites of boar's meat. "It's a wonder they ever caught me the first time."
Jopab glanced out the window. "We'd best get this group down to the correct size," he said. "A long line of torches approach."
Percho, Chardo and Jewyl squeezed into the small hole.
"Seemed a lot larger earlier," Chardo whispered. "Just how much did you eat, Jewyl?"
Jewyl elbowed him and he let out a small grunt just as the knocking rattled the door.
"This is Lord Azre’s guard. Open up in the name of Lord Azre."
"Good evening," the old man said, profusely bowing and stepping back out of the way to allow the visitor entrance.
"Hagontha's blessings on you," Jopab said and bowed.
Tenja moved swiftly to the obligatory head down and then noticed Mersayn still watched. She pushed Mersayn's head so she was looking at the floor.
"Something tells me that what I see isn't really what I see," the guard said. "Tell me, priest, what is wrong?"
"Wrong?" Jopab echoed. "You have come to right the wrong," he said. "I have spent too much time here in thought. I return to the temple tomorrow. You are Hagontha's messenger to me."
"Perhaps," the guard said and strode around the room. "Still, something nags at me. What could it be?" He stomped on the floor and cocked an ear to listen then stared down at the small crack in the floor where Jewyl gazed upward.
"Stomp game. Stomp game," Mersayn yelled grabbing everyone's attention. "Me play." She proceeded to stomp around the room, including the trap door. "This is fun."
"Yes, child," the guard said, and waved his hand for her to stop.
Tenja grabbed Mersayn and put a finger to her lips. "Quiet now."
"There is so much dust here," the guard said and clapped his hands together to create a small cloud of dust billowing from his fingers. "That's better," he said, rubbed his hands together then turned and faced Jopab again.
