Behemoth (The Jharro Grove Saga Book 6)

by Trevor H. Cooley

  “I do,” he admitted.

  “Then come on. Let’s try it. Maybe we’ll remember something. Like how we used to know each other,” she suggested.

  Djeri’s immediate inclination was to get out of there, but he pushed back against that inclination. If he turned away now it would just hurt her feelings again. She would probably go right back to Mellinda again and who knew what further changes she’d undergo.

  “Okay,” he said. “But I want to see how you used to be first.”

  The setting sun came out from under the clouds for the first time that day, lighting Murtha’s mixture of excitement and disappointment. “Good! But why?”

  “I never tried it on you,” he replied. “My head always hurt too much by the time we were alone together. If I knew you before, maybe that would help.”

  She gave him a cautious nod. He focused his talent on her and saw a lady dwarf. She was four feet tall, wearing clothes covered with dirt from the field. Her hair was red like it was now, but her face was quite different. She had a wide nose, ruddy cheeks and eyes wrinkled by time in the sun.

  There was nothing familiar about this face, but then why would there be? He had no memories to attach the face to. The only truth that he could see was that Murtha had been a handsome female with a respectable beard.

  “Well, what do you see?” she asked.

  “A pretty dwarf,” he said and as the vision faded replaced by her new and prettier face, an odd sadness overcame him. He leaned in and kissed her.

  The moment that his lips met her softer and fuller lips, he was struck with an odd revulsion. This was wrong. Those lips were wrong. The salty taste of her saliva, the sharpness of her teeth . . . The face of the bent-nosed woman from his dreams surged to the forefront of his mind. Her expression was one of hurt.

  Djeri pulled back, feeling a surge of guilt.

  Murtha smiled at him and let out a throaty chuckle. “I liked that. We should do it some more.”

  “Maybe another time,” Djeri said, resisting the urge to wipe his lips on the back of his arm. “I got a . . . that headache came back. It’s fierce.”

  She reached up to his temples. “I can rub that away.”

  He grabbed her hands. “I just gotta get some sleep. I think that whatever happened earlier is catching up to me.”

  “O-okay,” she said, crestfallen.

  “Don’t worry. It was a good kiss,” he assured her and patted her cheek, then walked out of the trees. “Gray!”

  The part-dog, who had been sitting where Murtha had told it, had one leg lifted in the air and was trying unsuccessfully to bend its kobald torso enough to lick between its legs. Upon hearing its name, Gray ran over to him on all fours, its kobald face smiling at him while its long tongue lolled.

  “Let’s go, boy.” Djeri didn’t look back at Murtha, not wanting the further guilt of seeing the pain he knew was on her face.

  He fled towards the Old Hospital under a dusky sky further darkening with a new set of storm clouds. Gray was disappointed when he didn’t stop by the Feeding Area, but food was the last thing on his mind at that moment. He just wanted to escape and the only way to do that was to sleep.

  He headed right past the alleyway where Stolz often called out to him. If the odd bespectacled trollkin had been waiting this time, Djeri might have stopped to talk with him. But no one was there and he kept going.

  There was a milling crowd outside the Old Hospital. Mellinda had only just returned from her work in New-Kin and was busy using her powers to fix the deformed newborns birthed that day. She stood among them, her arms and fingers moving bonelessly as she labored, multicolored streams of elemental magic leaving her fingers and entering the bodies she manipulated.

  Mellinda was in her element, ready with kind words to each trollkin that she fixed. She was planting seeds here, Djeri knew. Every move she made was towards a future day she foresaw where the people would have to choose between her or their king. From what Djeri had seen, it wasn’t going to be much of a challenge. If something was to happen to the king today, Mellinda would easily be able to step in and assume leadership.

  He was relieved that she was busy. He really did not want to have to explain what had happened with Murtha. He waited until her back was turned before he moved towards the building’s entrance.

  “Djeri?” she said, her voice reaching his ears even though she hadn’t turned around. He could see tiny golden threads in the air carrying her words to him.

  He stopped. There was no use trying to avoid her. That would just make her suspicious and when Mellinda was suspicious she wouldn’t let anything go. “Yes, Mellinda?”

  She made the finishing touches on a trollkin in front of her, a part-elf with dark brown skin and a vicious toothy mouth. It’s right eye socket had been malformed, its eye bulging unnaturally. Mellinda re-formed the socket so that both of its eyes matched, then said a few kind words to it before turning to approach Djeri.

  Gray saw the wizardess coming and hid behind Djeri, his head down. He had learned very quickly that she did not like him. The fiery lashes she had given the dog had been quite an effective teacher.

  One of Mellinda’s fingers writhed and a golden halo formed in the air surrounding hers and Djeri’s heads. He had seen this from her before. It meant that no one would be able to hear what they said to each other. “How did things go this day?”

  Surely, Welven would have told her. “Just over four hundred births. Twenty eight new prospects that I delivered to New-Kin and-.”

  “You know what I mean, Djeri,” she interrupted sharply. “With Murtha.”

  “We kissed,” he said, trying to put a positive spin on what had happened.

  That put a smile on her face. “Good! Then why are you not still with her now?”

  He hesitated before speaking. “Murtha likes you more now. Like you wanted. Why is it so important to you that she and I be together?”

  “I promised her results,” Mellinda said, her smile growing cold. “She will have them. I see no need to explain myself further.”

  Swallowing, he nodded. He had seen firsthand what happened when Mellinda felt she was being questioned. “Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not complaining. It’s just . . . If I give in right away, won’t her reasons for needing you be gone?”

  “An excuse,” she said thoughtfully. “Your reasoning is sound, though. I suppose it could be advantageous to drag this out a little longer, let the hook set deeper. Tell me, what is it that you don’t like about her? Is she still too small in the bust? I could make further adjustments when she sees me next.”

  “She is beautiful,” he admitted. In fact, perhaps too beautiful. After seeing Murtha’s former self, he had decided that there was something wrong about the sheer number of changes that had been made.

  Mellinda sighed. “It’s her personality, isn’t it? There is nothing that can be done about that. Not without taking more time than I care to and I have already spent too much time on Murtha.”

  “It’s not-.”

  “Listen to me Djeri!” Mellinda commanded and one of her fingers moved, sending a shock through his body. “I don’t care what the problem is. I will let this go a bit longer, but when I next tell you to give in to her, you will give in!”

  His visceral reaction was to punch her directly in the face, but he knew that would only lead to his death. He had no choice but to obey. “Yes, Mellinda.”

  She drew back. “Say it.”

  “My queen,” he said with a bow. It was something said only by her closest followers and only when they would not be overheard. He hated the sound of the words coming from his mouth. It felt a sacrilege after the time he had spent with the true king.

  “Good boy,” she said and turned away, the spell that hid their words dissipating.

  Djeri turned and headed into the Old Hospital. As he made his way up the long flights of stairs to his room, his mind churned. When he had first been birthed, Mellinda had seemed such a kind person. She was a na
tural leader and he had felt no loyalty to his absent king. Now he knew better, but it was too late to change sides.

  From the shadows outside of the building Murtha watched Mellinda’s exchange with Djeri. Though she heard nothing of what was said, she was pretty certain that they had been talking about her.

  Mellinda had certainly been trying her hardest to help Murtha woo the part-dwarf. Maybe she had learned something from him. Maybe there was a further change needed.

  Lightning flashed through the clouds in the dark sky above, followed a few seconds later by a loud peal of thunder. Rain came down in a rush. Mellinda did something with magic, keeping the water away while she worked, but Murtha was drenched by it.

  Murtha waited in the heavy downpour until Mellinda had finished fixing the deformed newborns and then followed the wizardess inside.

  Djeri lay on the floor of his room for a long while unable to sleep. He played his options over and over in his mind, but it seemed that his choices were slim. He would have to obey Mellinda and allow Murtha to take him as her mate.

  Gray wasn’t much help with his heavy breathing and pacing. The part-dog was still unsettled after Djeri’s conversation with Mellinda. Djeri ignored him as best he could, but it wasn’t until Gray settled down next to him and began to snore that his own thoughts began to wander, fading into dreamlike thoughts.

  Djeri . . ?

  The voice sounded out from somewhere in the corners of his mind. It was a female voice and hesitant. Probably part of his dream.

  Djeri, it’s me, Tarah. Can you hear me?

  The image of the woman in his dreams came to the forefront of his mind. She was tall, perhaps a foot taller than him, and human. She had broad shoulders and a muscled physique and wore a ragged set of gray leather armor that hid her more womanly attributes. She held a blood red staff in one hand and a bow and quiver sat in a case on her back.

  Her hair was brown and shoulder length and partially hid her strong jawline. She had fierce eyes and soft lips and her nose had been bent by some past accident and never repaired. He wasn’t sure why, but he liked that feature. He felt it gave her face character. She looked like a woman that had seen battles and from her proud posture and intense expression he was willing to bet that she had won those battles more often than not.

  Djeri? Please respond. Please.

  Her voice paused and for a moment it seemed to Djeri as if she were talking to someone else, perhaps receiving instruction. Then her voice was focused on him again.

  Djeri, this is Tarah. Tarah Woodblade. You might not remember me right now, but we are . . . close. We travelled together for a long time.

  The image of the woman moved her lips as the voice spoke and there was something incredibly familiar about it. He felt an ache inside himself. So this woman in his dreams was named Tarah?

  Yes. Yes! I heard that. The woman with the bent nose smiled. Yes, I’m Tarah!

  Djeri felt a smile appearing on his own face. He liked this girl. He didn’t know her, but he liked her. Perhaps this would be a good dream this time. Tarah, he thought. What happened to your nose?

  I . . . Her voice faded for a moment and when it returned, he was certain he had hurt her feelings. It was an accident. Got it while I was mauling a bear.

  He laughed. While you were mauling it? I like that. I don’t doubt you neither. You look like you could handle a bear.

  Djeri, she said again, her voice pained. I know you don’t remember me so I’m gonna try something. I’m gonna send you some of my memories of you. Maybe that will help.

  What kind of-.

  A series of thoughts flew through his mind. He saw a dwarf in full platemail standing next to some human soldiers, berating them. He saw that same dwarf carrying a huge ugly mace and pulling on the reins of a stubborn mule. He saw the dwarf fall into a stream of icy water, then sit by a fire and modify the armor.

  In the thoughts he was receiving, his feelings for this dwarf were at first curious, then irritated, but then a fondness was mixed with the memories. It was all quite confusing.

  That’s you, Djeri, she said and he realized that she was trying to show him himself, but from her perspective. The memories rolled forward again. This dwarf helped her fight goblins and an ogre. The dwarf was there for her when she was forced to burn down her childhood home.

  These moments were oddly surreal to him. That dwarf was nothing like him. That dwarf was brave and strong and his face . . . the way she saw his face . . .

  Then they were captured by rough dwarves. Smugglers. They were strung up. Tortured. A pivotal moment rose in her thoughts when the dwarf, bruised and bloodied was standing before her and it was her chance to save him. It came down to a kiss. She had to kiss him and it had to be convincing or their captors were going to kill him. She had never kissed anyone before, but she leaned in and-.

  Stop! He said, pushing the memories away. That’s not me. That’s not! I don’t look like him!

  It is you, Djeri, she insisted. Please let me show you more.

  No! His heart was beating loudly in his chest. I don’t want this!

  He shoved her intrusive thoughts away and opened his eyes, sitting up. He heard a soft cry and her voice was gone. He sat there for a moment, breathing heavily. Then he jumped to his feet, startling Gray awake.

  Djeri pulled on the still damp clothing he had worn the day before and left his room. Yawning, the part-dog followed after him. Djeri moved quickly down the corridor towards the stairs and was in such a rush that when he passed Recks next to the stairs that led to Mellinda’s room, he didn’t notice Murtha coming down the stairs from above.

  He couldn’t get down the stairs fast enough. He would have taken them two at a time if they hadn’t been so steep. Gray scampered down the stairs happily beside him thinking it was a race.

  The part-dog nearly tripped him up a couple times and Djeri was tempted to kick the stupid thing until it surged ahead of him and got out of his way. Just before they reached the bottom the part-kobald stumbled and rolled down the final flight of stairs. It let out a brief yelp but shrugged it off and kept going, running outside into the pouring rain on all fours.

  Djeri walked out and past the triumphant Gray, barely noticing the rain as he switched to troll sight to help him see through the darkness. The rain distorted the heat-based vision quite a bit, but he was able to make his way to the wooden buildings and the alleyway between them.

  “Stolz!” he called out. “Stolz, I’m here. Where are you!”

  There was no immediate answer and Djeri paced, calling out the name repeatedly until a hulking form came to stand at the front of the alleyway. It was that odd trollkin that sometimes accompanied Stolz. Djeri switched away from his troll sight and used his talent to get a better picture of the trollkin and what it used to be.

  Oddly, the image that came to him was no different than the way it usually looked. It was tall, sexless, and, vaguely troll-like, but muscular with eyes more expressive and intelligent than any troll. Was there something wrong with his talent? He didn’t think so. His head barely ached.

  “What are you?” he wondered.

  “I’m Bluth,” it reminded him, its voice a raspy bass. “Come this way.”

  It turned and led Djeri down the alley.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Bluth led Djeri between the two buildings to a short rope bridge that crossed a narrow channel of water. They came upon a thick copse of trees that grew alongside the pyramidal structure of the Old Hospital. Djeri looked up at the tall building and could just make out the soft light that streamed out of Mellinda’s bedroom at the top of it.

  The trees were thickly leafed and kept most of the rain off of the trail that led up to a small log cabin. It stuck out as odd to Djeri. He hadn’t seen many homes of this style among the trollkin and certainly none that were secluded from the rest. The trollkin preferred to live side-by-side with each other.

  As Bluth led him up to the door Djeri could hear voices.

  �
�I’ll keep the doggy out here with me,” the tall trollkin said as he opened the door and motioned him inside.

  A soft light issued from inside. Djeri ducked his head, and switched back to normal sight as he entered. Gray made to follow him, but Bluth held the part-dog back and shut the door.

  The interior of the home was small and sparsely decorated as most trollkin homes were, but beyond the two grass mat beds on the floor was a flat-topped wooden chest banded with metal. Sitting on top of it was Stolz and he was paying close attention to a pair of trollkin that were cross-legged on the floor in front of him. The light in the room was coming from a glowing orb on a shelf behind Stolz.

  “But this woman’s eyes were so dark. Beautiful like onyx,” one trollkin was saying. “And she danced with me, over and over. And I could smell her hair and it was so clean and I didn’t even want to eat her. And I want to eat everybody!”

  “Ah, so you didn’t have the hunger in your dream?” Stolz asked and the trollkin shook his head.

  “Me neither!” said the other trollkin, a massive part human with a huge belly and a rat-like tail.

  Djeri recognized him as Julal, one of the people that lived on the lowest floor of the hospital. He stood out in Djeri’s mind because his wife had recently become pregnant. It was one of only a handful of pregnancies among the trollkin. Everyone was watching her closely to see what the child would be like.

  Julal continued, “In mine I see my wife, Melane. Only she’s not like she is now. She has that same dark skin but her hair is yellow like a flower.”

  “You already told about your dream, Julal. I’m tellin’ mine!” growled the first trollkin.

  “I just thought of something else Stolz might wanna know,” Julal replied.

  “Calm yourselves,” Stolz told them and Djeri realized that he had a notebook in one hand. He was using the claw of one finger to write in it, occasionally dipping his claw into a small inkwell on the chest next to him. “But do hold your thoughts, Julal. I was talking to Furning here. Now go on, Furning. What else do you remember?”