by P. G. Thomas
Lauren slowly shook her head, staring at the staff in silence.
*******
An hour later, Jedimac turned to the back door when he heard it open.
Corackas nodded, “Tiny is getting tired.” He then dropped a set of heavy saddlebags onto the floor, causing gold coins to spill out from both. “Raderic had these with him when he accepted your invitation. I think he may have been leaving town or going into hiding.”
“How would he know?”
“Follow a man all morning, let him see you a dozen times, he’ll get spooked.”
Jedimac walked over, picking up the heavy bags to estimate their value, “Why?”
“You never secured sanction to rob his residence, so once somebody figured out that he was missing, they would have stolen the gold he had been skimming. As you acquired the approval, it belongs to you.”
After Jedimac had followed him out to the stables, he saw Raderic’s head violently lurch backward from the impact.
There was a growing anger in the deep voice of Tiny, “DO YA WANTS ME TO STOP!”
“That is enough, Tiny. Go home to your wife and kids…after you get cleaned up.” Jedimac walked over, pulled the hood off, exposing the bloody face, and then he removed the gag and metal earmuffs. “Can you imagine what that would have been like for her? Well, I guess you can now, but then you raped her?”
Spitting out his broken teeth, Raderic’s face was so bruised he was unable to form words.
Corackas almost felt sorry for the bloated head, which bobbed from left to right. “I think he’s learned his lesson.”
Jedimac nodded, “If I wanted to teach him something, I would have gone to the Education Guild, but that office was on the far side of town.” Snapping his fingers, several horse handlers, who helped in the breeding of Jedimac’s prized animals, walked into the stall. “My friend mentioned his interest in animal husbandry, so I was hoping you could help make the introductions.”
As Corackas followed Jedimac back to the house, he spoke, “Since your neighbor is renovating part of his barn, I asked him if he wanted to store a few of his male oxen here for the night. I did not think you would mind.”
Jedimac smiled, “You are a good man with surprising talents. Now, let us go inside to discuss our other business.”
*******
Mirtza was waiting in the classroom across the hall from where they had been training the magic mirrors. When Gayne entered, he saw the disappointed look on Mirtza’s face. “It has only been a few days, so you really cannot expect success so quickly.”
“Wait here one moment,” replied Mirtza. Walking over to the other room, he opened the door, but quickly closing it, returned.
Staring at the mirrors, Gayne wore a stunned look, “The broom?”
“Thinking it was worth a try, I had our goldsmith craft the words that I attached to the broom. Knowing I had to spend many hours in there every day, I needed something to do. So, as I talked to the mirrors, I did the same with the broom.”
Gayne, shaking his head, looked at all of the images of the broom sweeping the floor by itself. “All we had to do was tell it what we wanted? All of those years wasted attaching amulets to animal hosts and such. The paper and time squandered on all of those experiments.”
Pulling out a bottle of wine and two glasses from a desk, Mirtza handed one to the School Master.
Toasting both Mirtza and the mirrors, Gayne’s hand was shaking. “Do you have any ideas on what we could do with these?”
Mirtza smiled, “While I have a few, what were you thinking of?”
“If we could put one in every house, we could charge a monthly fee for what they would see.”
“What would you show them?”
“How about current events? We could present stories about what is happening in the council, or stories like the fire on the docks, events like the opening of the pizzeria.”
“You would have to do something about sound, as not enough people here can read, so you just cannot hold up cards to explain what they are watching.”
Gayne smiled, “Maybe we need to ask Steve, seeing if he has any ideas.” After a short pause, he added, “You know what we could do. Make a mirror that could receive multiple images, so those who viewed can select which one they wanted to watch. Then hire actors to perform plays in front of the different ones, so that all could see.”
Mirtza took the glass of wine back, “I do not think you would ever get enough people to sit around, watching your magic mirrors all day to cover the costs. Seriously, people have more important things to do. Now let us go tell Steve.”
Chapter 12
Corackas nodded, “All will be done like you say.”
Hearing the back door open, one of the horse handlers entered the house. “Sir, stallion, bull, and ox have all been introduced to your guest. Some several times.”
Jedimac looked at the two empty bottles of wine. “That took longer than expected.”
“Sir, he is a tough one.”
“What?”
All three returned to the stable where the escort, tied to the hay bales, was sobbing.
Corackas pulled out the gag.
Taking several deep breaths, between sobs, Raderic uttered his broken apology, “Id…story. Lease…sto…stop. My…my lesson…I…I learned.”
Grabbing him by the back of his head, Jedimac violently yanked it back, “If Bellawa had made the same request to you, what would you have done? You thought you were a badass, oh, sorry, poor choice of words. A tough guy beating up on defenseless girls, and for fun from what I hear. Would you like some time to think about what you have done?”
Raderic’s head nodded—or bobbed up and down.
Walking over to the side of the stable, Jedimac knocked the boards from one of the posts, and then looked to the horse handlers. “Since there is a shortage of chairs here, make him comfortable on that.” Pointing to two large heavy counterweights on the main stable gate, he added, “After you tie those around his knees, make sure nobody disturbs his deep, penetrating thoughts.” He walked over to Raderic, pulled out a scented handkerchief from Bellawa that he carried, and wrapped it under the escort’s bloody nose.
Before Corackas follow Jedimac back to the house, he stuffed the blood and drool-soaked hood into the mouth of Raderic.
The older turned to the younger, “Your thoughts?”
“If you wanted his head on a post, there are faster ways to accomplish it.”
“I wanted him to suffer, so if he is going to be stubborn, then he deserves what he gets. Any other thoughts on this night?”
“No, he was an ass. Eventually, he was bound to piss somebody off. A few weeks ago when I heard of his promotion, I made a number of bets at that neutral guild bar. I told any accepting my wager that he would never last the month, so, in some ways, I also made a killing this night.”
“What are you going to do with your winnings?”
“I was hoping to invest them in your new finger food place, being a limited partner, if you will have me?”
“You amaze me at how well you have learned. It is done.”
Corackas nodded, “What about our friend?”
“In the morning take him to the horse butcher. Ask him to make sausages. I will give you the address of a lady, who is both going blind and has recently lost her sole provider. As she’s a drunk who used to beat her kids senseless, she might enjoy the fruits of her labor.” In this case, just her labor. “You should pick up a fruit spread to go with them, to kill the taste,” he added. “Also, he had a sister that he sold to one of the meaner brothel guilds, a real fighter from what I hear. Use his stolen gold to purchase her freedom.”
*******
Cradling the remaining staff, Lauren walked back out into the dining room, “What’s our plan?”
“John, how long before you think your fire rain will heal the forests?” asked Steve.
“I don’t have a quantifiable value since there are too many variables. It could be
a few weeks, maybe a month. I imagine Sister will be motivated to heal the forests, but I’m not sure how much real estate she has to cover or how quickly she can do it.”
Logan was shaking his head, “What language was that, Klingon?”
“Look, I don’t know!” replied John.
“Okay, then the ball is still in our court,” advised Steve, “Lauren, this root of plenty, what’s next with it?”
“I probably need a day or two with it, seeing how it is doing. Then I’ll tell the Earth Daughters about it. Since it’ll probably take them a few days to spread the word, I imagine within the week the suffering will be less.”
“Good, then we’ll all be able to focus on Zymse to find your daughters.”
“What about the Bastards?” asked Logan.
“Where are they?” Everybody turned to look at Panry, walking in the patio door.
Ryan turned to the Earth Guard captain, “There’s only one bastard that I care about.”
“Thanks, Ryan.”
“It’s not you, Logan,” replied Ryan. “It’s him.”
“Rage Heart, it is good that you trust me like I trust you to remain calm. When you can control your anger, I shall not seek a deceptive method to stop you from destroying your future.”
“You do that again,” replied Ryan, “and you’ll join Alron.”
“When you hold your daughters, we shall discuss what has been.”
“SHUT UP!” Logan screamed, “Sam and Hope found Bastards in a prison somewhere here, so what’re we going to do about them?”
“Then they are safe and can wait until we rescue my Earth Mothers.”
“Prison, safe? You can’t be serious,” replied Logan.
Panry shook his head, “We need to focus on the Earth Mothers, so distractions we cannot afford. Zymse has two and the third will also be with him. Since he hires many with sword to protect his foul snake pit, I imagine he does not consider it a coincidence that the wolves were gone from the structure we burnt.”
“First,” Steve began, “Can we use your cloaks to stage an offensive against Zymse? Second, what did you see?”
“The cloak is gone. Once used, Mother’s gift is spent.” Then Panry lied, “More I do not have. Last night, we borrowed mounts that fly and watched from rooftop high. The structure did not burn to ground like I planned, and many line up outside of the fortress, having their abilities tested once inside.”
“The Bastards probably put it out,” advised Logan.
“That’s what I was afraid of,” replied Steve, “the cat is out of the bag.”
Jasmine started to look around the room, “There is no—”
“Ironwood, he expresses a fear that Zymse will burrow deep like a rabbit.”
“What?”
“Legend Absent, you are back. How are your pups?” asked Panry.
“They’re out of the woods, but I’m in the doghouse.”
“The Bastards prison cannot distract us.”
Panry looked at Jaykil Ironhouse, “He speaks now?”
“It’s a long story,” replied Lauren.
Her old protector reached for a small bottle of wine.
Then Lauren scanned the room, “Where’s Oxron?”
“She knows?” asked Panry.
When John nodded, Panry reached for a larger bottle.
“Oxron is in the stable,” replied Jasmine.
“Get him in here,” and then she glared at Panry, “and give him back his damn belt. Logan, I’m sorry, but we’ll free them once my daughters are safe.”
Before he could protest, they all heard the front door open, and the grunts from Gayne and Mirtza. When Eric saw them struggling with the large metal object, he walked down the hall. Picking it up without effort, he carried it into the dining room, leaning it against the table. In the highly polished surface, they all saw the broom sweeping the floor, being absent of an operator.
“Sons of a bitch,” Steve exclaimed. “You did it!” He walked over, giving each a bear hug.
“I do not understand the picture that moves?” stated Jasmine.
Gayne was beaming, “Steve told us how he needed a way to watch the various properties owned by Zymse, giving us a few ideas. Steve, we have some questions. Do you have a free minute?”
The out of place detective followed Mirtza with Gayne into the study.
John, walking over for a refill, was followed by Zack. “Guess you’ve a new title. Dethroned, but I’ll call you D for short.”
Looking at the doorway, Lauren, seeing Oxron, walked over to him, “We need to talk,” and then led him upstairs for privacy.
Jaykil and Breax Ironhouse both walked over to Panry, glasses outstretched. After a quick drink, Breax looked up to the Earth Guard, “Ironhouse shamed the Guardians of Granite. Small fractures in mountains are beginning to grow larger.”
“It is legend, an old story.”
Jaykil nodded, “Forests die. Mother goes quiet. We could say the same.”
“Mother is real.”
“You have spent much time with dwarf and heard many stories. Would dwarf waste granite so much to record a untrue story?”
Panry looked down at the dwarf who still held the bejeweled, unconventional weapon, “It is a fable.”
“Dwarf height and imagination are both short,” stated Breax. “A story that tall is beyond our reach.”
Jaykil became more serious, “In the long time you spent with dwarf, I imagine you heard the story unfinished.”
Panry sat down.
“Morning King, Granite Peace.” Then Breax looked to the ground, “Battle of Nevermore.”
Panry was visibly shaken, “I have.”
“Moonshadow? Does dwarf ever so drunk get that the story first they did tell?” asked Jaykil.
“Bor does, but I thought it was the bottle that spoke.”
Breax held out his empty glass goblet, “Imagine this granite.”
Then Jaykil did the same, “Its purpose peace.”
Then both dwarves crushed their goblets, sending glass shards flying in all directions. Turning before walking away, Panry was unsure who spoke the words he heard, “How did the story end?”
Panry went over to the study, banged on the door before opening it, “Steve, you shall come with me.”
“Sort of busy.”
“You have heard the story of the final battle where the Champion devastated the Darkpaye army.” Steve nodded. “Good. While your language is strange to my ears, could you say a word that describes the story you heard of the legend in dwarf armor.”
“Armageddon?”
“We need to discuss that.”
He turned to Mirtza and Gayne, “Charlie Foxtrot, I have to go.”
Panry walked out to the main room, “Earth Guard, secure this house.” They all moved outside, even those that did not call him captain.
“Bastard, they are my men to command.”
“Ironwood…” Panry paused.
Reaching for her flask, Jasmine took a quick drink before gazing upon the solemn face of the elf that both tormented and pleasured her.
“Jasmine, the funeral of suns three, this night the prophecy has been spoken.”
“Born in dwarf ales it does be.”
“No, the Granite Peace shatters, so dwarf goes to war.”
Jasmine sat down, “Words I have heard, but I did not believe.”
“What the hell are you two talking about?” asked Eric.
Panry, taking a seat beside Jasmine, waited for Eric, Steve, Logan, Ryan, John, and Zack to find seats. “I feel like Earth Mother, as my story is not short, but time to tell all I have not.”
“Funeral of the three sons, who are they?” asked Eric.
*******
Sitting down on the bed, Lauren looked at Oxron, “What do you know?”
“Only what Panry has told myself, Earth Mother.”
Should have grabbed a bottle of wine. “What was that?”
Oxron quickly condensed the stories he had
committed to memory about his father: meeting the strange group by the forest well, the events at Ironhouse, and the surrounding lands. “My favorite was the sword naming ceremony and what happened the next day.”
“What about in Alron?”
“It pleased me that you renamed the town to honor my father. Panry told me about the spies, traitors, Korg, and the last battle, but time for those we do not have right now.”
Lauren took a deep breath, as the image of Alron’s bloody corpse lying lifeless on the floor appeared in her mind. “Did he tell you about Hoyle…” She then wiped away the tears that were forming.
“He told tell me of the foul man. Of how he planned the assassination of you, but when you interrupted him, of what happens.” Oxron let out a long sigh, “Of how my father fulfilled his oath to Mother to protect you, and the price he pays.”
Lauren took a couple of quick breaths, “Did he tell you anything else about that night?”
“No, but we need to return to the others.”
“Not right now, just tell me of your father, your mother. Just tell me happy stories of your childhood.”
“My father does not know of myself, as I was birthed while he was away.”
Lauren patted the bed beside her, “Then let me tell you about the greatest elf I’ve ever met.” Then she smiled, “just don’t tell Panry that I said that.”
*******
Panry looked at the group that surrounded him, “I will try to keep my story short, like dwarf, but much I need to skip.”
“Where are the Guardians?” asked John.
“They know my words I shall speak.” Then he went on to explain the feud between Mother and Father; how the dwarves were the greatest warriors of the land, who could have ruled all were it not for Mother. How she had desired peace and Father did not. Of her promise for one dwarf to rule all and of his anger. “While I have heard the story told by several, Bor tells it best.” He explained that Mother had the dwarves agree to her terms, but first, she had them carve their words of peace in granite, much like a peace bond, and should one be shattered, all dwarves would know. Then of Father’s anger, as he had desired a great battle, vowing that one-day it would happen. Of Mothers final promise, that should he bathe the lands in red, she would consume them in darkness, as never would the suns see the horror he had unleashed. “Even though it is the greatest story never completed, several versions I have heard.”
