For Whom the Bell Trolls: Hands of the Highmage, Book 1

by D. H. Aire

  “Fled.”

  “You saved me?”

  “We saved each other.”

  She felt the breeze on her skin, blinked, then opened her mouth to scream. He tucked her close, muffling the sound. She pounded a fist against his shoulder. Please, no marriage customs, he thought, half-fearing there might not be.

  She quieted and glared at him, “How are we going to explain this?”

  Lawson replied, “Explain what?”

  “I’m…” Yel’ane pulled at the cloth, felt a breeze. “Oh!”

  He moved her arm to compensate for her discomfort, which only made her eyes widen.

  “You lost your small clothes to the raking he gave you.”

  “Greth! Do you have something I can…?”

  “If his jerkin was too big, imagine mine,” he replied as the hound in his arms stirred, turned her head and licked him. “Ah, almost all better now.”

  Yel’ane looked about, suddenly remembered, going pale, “His claws…”

  “You’re healed and we’ve used up the rest of that vial, so don’t get yourself hurt like that again.”

  “Goblins must think I’m delicious,” she muttered, then sighed and through her arm across his shoulder. “You really saved my life, again.”

  “Um.”

  “You planning to carry me like this long?” she said.

  “Want me to stop running? I’m sure we’ve a minute or two before the goblins might try to attack again.”

  “No, I’m fine right here,” in your arms, pressed up against... She closed her eyes, telling herself, I am not in love with a troll. I am not.

  #

  Many of the hounds slept exhausted that night, while others roamed free hunting their latest meal. Nessa stood watch under the moonlight, bow in hand, arrow at the ready and stared at Yel’ane, who turned fitfully, apparently having a difficult time sleeping. Their drying clothes hung from nearly every long hanging branch, the cool breeze doing its work.

  Lawson and Casber were talking quietly across their makeshift encampment, the hounds sleeping, the girls huddled up next to them for warmth. Greth was snoring off to the left by himself as the unicorn knelt on the ground, horn faintly glowing, looking from Casber and Lawson, then at her.

  Yel’ane sat up.

  “Can’t sleep?” Nessa said, too sweetly.

  Yel’ane rose wearing her still damp small clothes and went over to her and whispered, “It’s not my fault.”

  “You’re as good as bonded to him,” Nessa muttered as softly as she could.

  “Am not,” she whispered back.

  “Admit it.”

  “He’s a troll.”

  “He’s hairy and… unpleasant to the eye, but he’s male and he keeps saving your life.”

  “He’s very hairy –– though, it’s really soft.”

  “Yel’ane,” she gasped. “He’s seen you naked.”

  “I, well, kinda peeked when…”

  “Yel’ane.”

  “He’s really hairy, but there’s a lot of muscle under there.”

  “Muscle? Is that what you call it?”

  It was too dark to see Yel’ane’s cheeks go red.

  “I know it’s impossible, Nessa.”

  “Damn right it is. What’s… never mind. My worry is the girls. I’ve seen Ani’ya eyeing him.”

  “She’s just eight years old!”

  “Too young to be married off, but she’s going to demand a reward on not just his behalf, but Casber’s and Greth’s.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Yel’ane protested.

  “Make it clear to her then that Casber’s too young to bond and Greth, well, thankfully, no one will offer to bond with him.”

  “But you think that… I mean… no one would agree to gift Lawson…” but her eyes blurred with sudden tears.

  “You and I are barely old enough to be bonded, Yel’ane. You know Sire Ryff would never countenance it, but things have likely changed.”

  “You think the House has Shattered, don’t you?” Yel’ane said in an even more hushed tone.

  “And you don’t?”

  “I guess I was hoping this was just some trial gone wrong.”

  “The girls here with us are proof it never was. Their mothers and sestors must be frantic with worry.”

  Yel’ane glanced at Lawson as Casber’s jewel seemed to twinkle. “Nessa, what I am to do?”

  “Do?” Nessa rasped, sighing, “first you’ll see to his every need.”

  Yel’ane blinked.

  “You’re bonded to him by honor at the very least… and it’s not like he hasn’t seen you naked. And, you’re going to tell Ani’ya you are, and that our honor’s been met in full. You’re our gift, satisfying all the demands on our House. Just like you want.”

  Swallowing, Yel’ane muttered, “Um, Nessa, I—”

  “You’ve killed two goblins, Yel’ane. You’re woman enough to bond him, at least, provisionally.”

  “Provisionally?”

  “I’m senior to you, after all.”

  “No, you’re—” Nessa leaned close and met her gaze. “Yeah, you’re senior.”

  “So, you know what you have to do.”

  Yel’ane gulped. “Yeah.”

  “Oh, look, Lawson and Casber are going to bed.”

  “Um, yeah…”

  #

  Lawson laid out his blanket and lay down, glad the girls were bedding down with the hounds and not using him as pillow anymore. There was a rustling sound, then Yel’ane drew over to him and laid down. “Hey,” he whispered, “what do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m, uh, a bit chill. You’re warmer than just about anyone else.” Next thing he knew she was nestling close.

  “Uh, Yel’ane, I think the hounds are plenty—”

  She leaned up on her elbow, leaned over and said, “Milord, you’ve seen me naked and saved my life, which is yours now.”

  “Wha—?”

  He couldn’t say more because she startled him with a kiss. She laid back down, “Don’t worry, we’re only provisionally bonded.”

  He blinked, “What does that mean?”

  Her hand pushed on his chest. “It means,” she whispered, “you’re not to take advantage of our relationship.”

  Frowning, he muttered, “What are you talking about?”

  She sighed, bent close and whispered exactly what she meant in his ear.

  His eyes widened, “Argh.”

  She nodded, “As long as we understand each other.” She grabbed his arm, to pillow her head then turned on her side and set her left arm across his chest.

  He stared at her as she stared at him. He swallowed and drew her closer, feeling her trembling realizing she apparently had not been lying about being cold. She fell asleep, smiling crookedly.

  #

  The goblin mage had his back pressed up against a tree, his head still aching, though the ringing in his ears had faded. “Milord,” he tried to explain yet again, a piece of bloody cloth in his hands.

  “You can track them with easy with that, yes?”

  “Yes, but with it being just the two of us…”

  “Cast another augury? Use his blood,” he demanded, pointing to the dead body of their companion, he had dragged back her. “We will kill the unicorn and those two trolls and I shall eat the hearts of each and every one of those girls… Or will I be doing this alone?”

  The goblin mage winced, knowing what that meant.

  “I am as ever at your service.”

  “Good. The augur! I must know how we can bring about my vengeance.”

  The mage nodded and rose, drawing his dagger as he approached the body. “This will take some time.”

  He sniffed at the blood on the cloth, “They cannot escape me now.”

  Chapter 26 – Thorns

  “Sir Gwilliam, wake up.”

  “What’s wrong?” he muttered, sitting up on his cot, hand on the dagger he slept with, realizing it was not yet dawn.

 
Kusins frowned, “My Mistress said to tell you, the unicorn is near.”

  “Wonderful, go wake, Truthsayer. Tell him I want all our people pulled back out of the Thorns.”

  The boy frowned, “I already have, Milord.”

  “Don’t call me that, lad…” he said, “So, I take it Agwin is waking all the archers?”

  “Yes, Sir Gwilliam.”

  “Is there anything else I should be doing that I’m not?”

  “Mistress said to remind you to bathe quickly.”

  “I hate bathing in cold –– is a hot tub prepared, lad?”

  “No, Mil— Mistress said a cold bath after all you drank last night was most fitting.”

  Shaking his throbbing head, Gwilliam gestured, “Out.”

  Two of his men rolled in the tub of cold water, “Sir Gwilliam.”

  “Get out!”

  #

  With the sunrise, Ani’ya woke, her heart pounding. The hounds pressed on her gently as she sat up, there was enough light that she could stare at Yel’ane and Lawson sleeping nestled close. “Huh,” she muttered.

  ‘Don’t be getting any similar ideas, child,’ the unicorn whispered in her mind.

  “Why not?” she asked, glancing back at the kneeling mare.

  ‘Because fate does not intend one so young as you to bond him as a wife would.’

  “Not that I’m looking to…”

  ‘You just want to see him given his due.’

  “Yel’ane and Nessa… they think him ugly. But he’s not. He’s beautiful in his way as is Greth over there.”

  ‘You are wise for one so young.’

  “Well, he could do worse than have Yel’ane in bond.” She glanced toward the sleeping boy.

  ‘He is not for you and your Sisters. I promise you, he shall be rewarded for all his sacrifices.’

  Ani’ya frowned, “That doesn’t sound…”

  ‘The life a Hand is often one of many trials.’

  “You’re certain?”

  She felt the unicorn’s humor. ‘You shouldn’t have peeked.’

  She blushed and carefully thought back, ‘He’s a cute arse.’

  The unicorn blinked, canted her head, ‘Fate touches you more strongly than I had realized.’

  Ani’ya grinned, “And everyone says I’m almost as much trouble as Yel’ane…”

  #

  Greth had been less than pleased to wake for his vigil that night to find Yel’ane and Lawson sleeping in each other arms. Worse, Nessa had said, “She bonded him or he her, I’m not certain which.”

  “You know this cannot be.”

  “Actually, I think it can… But there’s a good chance that it will end before it’s ever officially recognized.”

  “Huh?”

  “Just make it clear to Lawson, he’s not to take advantage of the situation… our Mother Shaman consider the bonding firm at that point.”

  “He knows that?”

  “Yel’ane would have made that clear.” Nessa then went to bed.

  Greth had much to think on before waking Casber for the watch. None of them had considered Lawson for the watch, which Greth now regretted. He kept listening for the slightest sound. Hours later, he woke Casber, who nodded as the healed hound raised her head and soon padded over to the boy, keeping watch with him.

  At dawn, the unicorn took up the vigil, urging the boy to an hour’s more sleep as Nessa rose and gathered her things, then woke Yel’ane. “What?”

  “Everything’s cold, but dry, get dressed.”

  Yel’ane nodded and soon they woke all the girls. The hounds rose, bounding off on their own affairs. They soon could be seen in the distance hunting small game. The girls scurried off with their clothes and were told to stay close as they sought to find spots to create privies.

  Lawson sat up, then reached over to the damaged straps, which he doubted he could repair… He blinked. They were whole and undamaged. He glanced at the unicorn, “This your doing?”

  ‘Not mine.’

  “Whose then?”

  ‘It is Faeryn-wrought.’

  “What’s that mean?”

  ‘Elvin magery of a kind you have not yet come across before,’ she replied.

  Yel’ane returned fully clothed and looked up at him, “What are you waiting for? Do your absolutions, Milord. We can’t dawdle.”

  He shook his head. She gently pushed at him and he took a step back. “Oh, you fixed that, excellent. Now, move, Milord, or must I stand guard and watch you.”

  “Uh, no!” he hastily went off into the woods as Greth rose, shaking his head.

  #

  The goblin mage swayed as he finished preparing the augur. The goblin lord leaned close and watched as the mage cast the bones and blood. The grass shriveled at their touch and the goblin lord muttered, “What does it say? What does it say?”

  The goblin mage blinked, leaned closer and gaped, “Milord, it is impossible!”

  “What!”

  Glancing up, “The dragon! The dragon lays enthralled!”

  “The black dragon?”

  “Yes, Milord… He who our dread lord has called for in vain for centuries. He lays trapped, warded from the ‘Sight.’ But we are within those wards!”

  “You can free it? Loose it upon them?”

  The mage swallowed. “I –– believe I can.”

  The goblin lord grabbed him about the throat, “Believe! Can you or can’t you, fool!”

  “I can! I can, Milord!”

  His clan lord shoved him aside, “Then, do what you must. I would see them all roast under in the dragon’s fire.” He grinned, “Such vengeance and our Lord of Demons will be so pleased to have his pet back at last.”

  The mage crawled away, thinking furiously, wondering how exactly he might free the dark creature –– and how he might survive his mad lord as he tried.

  #

  The hounds moved through the woods around them, then suddenly stopped. The unicorn halted as Casber glanced about. The girls looked up from their mounts as Nessa began to reach for an arrow.

  “Don’t move!” shouted a voice from the woods.

  Greth’s hand inched toward his dagger. An arrow whistled past, thudding into the tree on his left.

  “I said, don’t move! The next one will be far less friendly.”

  “Agwin! Stop that!” a man yelled.

  “But, Milord!”

  “Will everyone stop calling me that?” the man demanded coming into view through the trees. The nearest hounds padded over to him, sniffed, then sat down, tongues lolling.

  “Uh, that’s different,” Lawson said as Yel’ane peered over his shoulder and stopped slowly reaching for Lawson’s dagger.

  “Welcome to the Thorns, my friends.”

  Greth looked down at the man, “Friends.”

  “I am Sir Gwilliam and we’ve been waiting for you.”

  “Waiting for us?” Nessa muttered as the girls glanced at each other.

  “I know it sounds strange, then again…” Gwilliam muttered, “these are rather strange times. Why shouldn’t trolls with archers on their backs just saunter up to my army’s rear lines with a battle in the offings?”

  They followed.

  Yel’ane whispered, “Did he say ‘battle?’”

  “That he did,” Lawson replied.

  “That goblin cursed us right and proper, didn’t he?”

  “Someone certainly has,” he muttered as archers a few years older than Nessa and Yel’ane peered down from the branches above or rose from behind brush. Those the hounds walked over to and brushed up against, seeking to be petted.

  “That’s a good sign at least,” Casber half-whispered.

  The unicorn made no answer, just plodded on like any horse might as the adolescent girls eyed him. Nessa frowned as they followed the tall man, who was nearly as tall as Lawson. The archer, Agwin, moved up to them and had to jog to keep up with Greth’s pace. “I take it shooting mounted like that is not harder than from horseback?”
>
  “I wouldn’t know,” Nessa replied, coolly. “I’ve never killed goblins from horseback.”

  Archers descended from their perches and began pacing them. They laughed.

  Yel’ane cleared her throat, “Uh, I suggest some one keep watch behind us. The two goblins who escaped our arrows are likely still pursuing us.”

  Agwin stopped, muttered a curse, “That what she meant! I want to double the number of scouts we set out there! Third teams, go!”

  Archers they had not seen ran out from behind more trees and brush and raced south, fanning out through the forest.

  Greth smiled, “Well trained. Very good hunters.”

  Nessa frowned.

  The trees began to look more twisted and brambles grew thicker. Agwin stopped jogging and fell back to look at the girl riding the shorter troll. “He’s, uh, rather ugly. But looks real strong.”

  “He can run as fast as a horse,” Yel’ane answered, her right hand on his shoulder, feeling the anger building. She rubbed it, whispered in his ear.

  He blinked, shook his head.

  “I told him you’d make a lovely pet, but nothing more.”

  “What?” she replied in anger.

  “He’s not some brute –– and he’s saved my life time and again.”

  “You’ve held your own,” he replied.

  “I wasn’t much help when I was practically staked down at the goblin’s dinner table.”

  “You would have given him indigestion.”

  “Hah!” Yel’ane laughed and as Agwin and her archers stared, the girls riding the large hounds all giggled.

  Res’yr said, smiling thinly, “Lawson there took the goblin’s head right off.”

  “Teach him to think of us as dinner.”

  Lawson shook his head, “It was nothing.”

  Yel’ane turned and smiled back at Agwin, “Believe me, goblins –– they’re ugly. Trolls, well, they may take some getting used to—”

  “But they’re our trolls,” the girl ride averred, her friends chorusing, “Yeah!”

  Agwin blinked, uncertain.

  Sir Gwilliam glanced back, chuckling. “Ladies, that is today’s lesson: people and things may not be as they appear.” He glanced at the boy and his white horse.

  The horse plodded on as they came out of the thinning forest to the grassy valley beyond and faced the walled keep mid-way across it. “Welcome to Dragonmount.”