Shadows in the Stone

by Diane Lynn McGyver

  Chapter 04

  Links of Chainmail

  The town of Maskil nestled south of the Pogwa Mountain Range on the Shulie River. Fertile fields and rich forest surrounded it and its Aruam Castle, a sprawling, ancient structure located in the northern part of town. When the castle clock gonged to mark the midnight hour, most of the inhabitants were sleeping.

  Inside the small dwelling on Horizon Lane, even breathing created a smooth rhythm. Both, human and hauflin lay in deep slumber. Neither heard the steel tinker with the lock on the back door or the three human fighters dressed in rugged Trail clothing and chainmail armour rush inside.

  A light from an unknown source lit up the room. Catriona didn’t have time to scream before one of the men dragged her from the bed and forced her against the wall. She blinked under the bright light and tried to regain her balance as a large man shook her and rammed his forearm under her chin. The glint of steel near her cheek made her gasp.

  “Whither is the child?” The man’s breath reeked of meat and onions.

  Catriona heard her belongings being thrown about but didn’t take her eyes off the dagger blade. She had no doubt this man would use it to extract information from her. “Wha…what child?” The force on her throat made speaking difficult. The cold, rough steel of the man’s forearm bracer pushed harder against her neck until she thought she might stop breathing.

  “Keiron’s,” he hissed, spraying spit in her face.

  “What’s this?” Another fighter approached the chair in the corner.

  Catriona stretched her neck to watch him rip the blanket from it. She blinked in disbelief. Isla had transformed into a marmoset? She must have drunk a potion.

  “I see the family resemblance.” The fighter chuckled and held up the small monkey. “But I always thought of Keiron more as a spineless snake than a primate.”

  “Stop foolin’ and bring it here,” said the fighter restraining Catriona. “Tell me where Keiron’s child is, or I’ll kill the monkey.”

  She swallowed hard. The grip on her neck tightened, bringing tears to her eyes. If he continued to apply pressure, she was certain she’d faint.

  “Where’s the child?” The man who had snatched Isla from the chair held her animal form by the scruff of the neck and shook it in Catriona’s face.

  She closed her eyes in an attempt to absorb the pressure on her neck and block the dizzying motion of the marmoset. “I sent her to Wandsworth,” she lied.

  “Wandsworth?” said the fighter.

  “Is that where Keiron’s headed?” asked the man restraining her.

  “I can’t breathe.” Catriona wheezed.

  The man relaxed his hold but didn’t free her. “Why did you send the child to Wandsworth?”

  “Time!” said the third fighter who had helped to search the dwelling but now watched at the back door.

  “Time’s up.” The fighter leant closer.

  She felt his meat and onion breath against her cheek as his eyes darted across her face and settled upon her bosom. In the scuffle, her nightdress had twisted leaving one breast fully exposed. Her nipple pricked when he brushed his cold armour against the tip. His face brightened as he watched the veins swell in the areola and the breast skin tighten. The arm which had once crushed her neck now pulled her near. She felt his large, rough hand caress her buttocks through the thin material of her gown. It reached for the gap between her legs. Her throat tightened, and she gulped for air. She tried to pull away, but he held her firm.

  “Maybe you’ll show us the way to Wandsworth.” He grinned, revealing sparkling white teeth. A short but deep scar cut into the corner of his mouth and ran into his beard.

  “We’re here for the child, not your pleasure,” said the other fighter.

  “One should always mix business with pleasure.” He slowly licked Catriona’s cheek from her jaw bone to eye lid.

  She almost fainted at the thought of what might come next. The woman recognised the raiment they wore as those associated with Lindrum’s henchmen. They were capable of nasty deeds. “Please,” she begged, “go. I’ll only slow you down. I…I’ll give you a map instead.”

  The three fighters chuckled as if she told the best joke they’d heard in years.

  “But we can’t leave empty handed,” said the fighter holding Isla in marmoset form. “We’ll take this as our reward. It’ll make a great playmate for my desert cat.”

  Catriona again tried to break free, but her assailant held her closer, pressing the links of his chainmail armour into her breast. “Please, leave my pet. He has done you no harm.”

  “Unfortunately,” the fighter breathed in her ear, “you could.” He nibbled her lobe as he lifted his hand holding the dagger.

  The fighter watching the door hollered. “Guards!”

  Half a dozen Aruam Castle guards burst through the open door with swords drawn.

  The fighter flung the sorceress to the floor, drew his sword and rushed at the castle security.

  Catriona rolled out of the way and crashed into a wall. She turned to watch the fight and saw Isla had also escaped her captor. The monkey scurried beneath the feet of the men, trying to find a safe place to hide.

  “Come.” Catriona motioned Isla towards her, being careful not to call her by name. Dodging the many feet and swords, the small monkey finally leapt into her arms. She embraced the child as she cowered in the corner, hoping the castle guards would quickly dispose of Lindrum’s men.

  One guard was already sprawled across the floor, blood seeping from his side. His eyes stared at the ceiling as if studying the wood pattern. Another guard fell under the heavy sword of the fighter who had held her. The henchman brandished his sword with strength and skill. Another guard fell, clutching his side.

  The fighter who had seized Isla now fought an agile dwarf who wielded his sword as if it was an extension of his arm. Catriona watched, amazed by the shorter guard overtaking the larger fighter. Suddenly, the sword found its mark and the fighter stumbled backward into the table and crashed to the floor. Next, the dwarf focussed on the fighter who had guarded the door. He, too, soon met the same fate as his companion.

  The fighter with the meat and onion breath struck one guard across the chest and another in the shoulder, bringing both to their knees. Seeing his chance to escape, he dashed out the back door and into the dark alley.

  One of the fallen guards stood and ran to the door.

  “Farlan, no!” The agile dwarf who had killed two henchmen ordered the man to stop.

  “But he’s getting away, Bronwyn.” The human guard stood in front of the dwarf. Both wore the standard blue uniform of the lowest class, but a yellow triangular badge on the dwarf’s lapel signified he held a higher rank.

  “I know.” Bronwyn pushed his sword into the scabbard. “Return to the castle and inform Sanderson of what happened. Tell him to send a search party to find the henchman and eight men with stretchers to gather the fallen.”

  “Yes…sir.” The guard opened the front door and rushed from the dwelling.

  From the corner, Catriona watched the dwarf called Bronwyn check his men. It appeared two were dead and two others injured. She grimaced when he pulled a sheet from her bed and ripped it into strips to bandage the wounded. Within a few minutes, stretcher bearers arrived to remove the bodies and escort the injured men.

  Bronwyn’s attention settled on her. “Did they harm you?”

  Catriona shook her head.

  The dwarf put his index finger to his lips and cocked his head. “I know you,” he said, pointing his finger at her. “You’ve visited the Forest Bakery and Herb Shop.”

  Now she remembered him to be the shop owner’s son. “I’m Catriona, a regular customer.” She felt the knot loosen in her stomach and eased herself up onto shaky legs. When she stumbled, he reached out to balance her and guide her to a chair.

  About to speak, his eyes fell to her breast, and he looked away. “Perhaps you should…”

  Catriona gulped. Her bre
ast still lay exposed. She quickly pulled a blanket around her and Isla, shivering as she recalled the feeling of the henchman’s rough hands on her body. When the guard returned his attention to her, she noticed a deep shade of red colouring his neck.

  Bronwyn cleared his throat. “I have to ask you a few questions. You’re not accused of anything. This is procedure.” He grabbed a stool and sat in front of her. “Your name is Catriona. Correct?”

  “Yes, Catriona Wheatcroft. How did those men get inside the walls of Maskil?”

  He ignored her question. “What did the henchmen want?”

  She hesitated, not knowing if she should tell the truth.

  “I can’t help you if you don’t help me.” He waited, but she remained silent. “Whatever you say will be held in strict confidence. It’ll be shared with only the lords of the castle.” When she still didn’t answer, he added, “We both know they were Lindrum’s men. If they didn’t find what they came for, they’ll be back.”

  Catriona closed her eyes, resolving to share the secret. The guard spoke the truth. Lindrum’s men would be back for Isla and her. The evil wizard who wanted to capture Aruam Castle would never stop until he had terrified the Maskil citizens into submission and vanquished the lords. “You must promise to tell no one,” she said, looking him in the eyes for assurance.

  “Only the lords and the captain of the guard will hear. I promise.”

  She held Isla tighter. “They wanted a child.”

  “Whose child? Yours?”

  “Keiron Ruckle’s.”

  Bronwyn scratched his head. “Obviously, they didn’t find it.”

  “No, they didn’t.” Catriona looked away.

  “What do they want with the child?”

  “What does Lindrum want with any hauflin child?” Over the years dozens of hauflin children had fallen victim to Lindrum’s henchmen. She could use this history to protect Isla. Although the girl didn’t possess enough magic to make her the hauflin child of the prophecy, she deserved to be safe. Catriona sighed. Everything seemed to entangle itself in the foretelling of Lindrum’s doom. It either consumed her past or controlled her future.

  Memories seeped into her mind, and once again she remembered the series of dreams which had sparked her search for Isla’s mother. It felt as if a life time had passed, yet it had been only five years. Those nightly images had lost their intensity and she’d forgotten specific details completely. Why had she taken them so seriously?

  Each dream had drawn her further into the darkness of a thick, lush forest. Along the way, emotionless faces stared at her from the shadows. The faces changed each night except for one: Maura’s. The young hauflin followed Catriona on her journey through tangled weeds and long branches which obscured the view of what lay ahead. When fear threatened to overwhelm her, she looked to Maura for guidance. Maura’s determined eyes willed the human to continue the journey.

  After more than a week of dreams, she broke free of the dark forest and entered a meadow with wildflowers bursting with blooms. In the centre of the clearing sat a large green orb. Two silver necklaces embedded with blue stones were draped over the top. Colourful butterflies fluttered about. A faint yellow glow shimmered around the orb. Inside, an image of two small figures took shape. The small creatures curled together in sleep. Stepping closer, she saw them to be hauflins, one very much like the other.

  An overpowering peace flowed through Catriona. She became part of the tranquil state that consumed the meadow. When she regained awareness in the dream, she didn’t know how long the peacefulness of her surroundings had enchanted her. She looked to the woman who had followed her in the dreams and found her gazing upon the pair within the orb. A single tear slid down her cheek.

  Catriona realised the pair may not have slept after all. Perhaps, they rested in the Plane of Peace. She recognised the emotions a mother had for her children. Her babies lay inside. The woman closed her eyes and faded from Catriona’s view, disappearing in the breeze as if smoke from a smouldering fire.

  Catriona watched over the hauflin pair within the orb until morning arrived. When it did, she woke and gazed around her room, looking at things as if with new eyes. She felt compelled to act, but didn’t know what to do.

  That night marked the end of the dreams. In the days immediately following, she felt compelled to replicate the necklaces with the blue stones which had hung around the orb in the meadow. During her outings she looked for the woman whose face she saw in the dreams. Although ridiculous to believe she existed, Catriona couldn’t shake the feeling she had to find her. Discovering Maura at the market astounded her, and she followed the pregnant hauflin. Catriona returned the next day to spy on Maura.

  But what significance did the dreams hold if Isla did not possess magic? She couldn’t be the hauflin Lindrum sought, so why had his henchmen come looking for her? It had to be because of Keiron. They wanted Isla’s life because of the misdeeds he had committed. They wouldn’t stop until they accomplished their deadly task.

  Although dangerous to suggest to the guard the child played a role in the prophecy, it had to be done for her protection. Keiron should pay for his own debts, not Isla.

  “The prophecy?” asked Bronwyn.

  Catriona nodded.

  He cursed under his breath. “Always the prophecy.” He rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands. “Do you know where the child is located?”

  “I told them I had sent her to Wandsworth.”

  “Was it the truth?” He watched the woman cling to the monkey. “We can’t protect her if we don’t know where she is.”

  “She’s a helpless child. I can’t understand why they’d want to hurt her.”

  Bronwyn released a sigh and rubbed his eyes. He placed a strong hand on the back of the monkey. “Is this the child? Did you disguise her as a marmoset?”

  Catriona nodded reluctantly.

  “How long will she remain like this?”

  She glanced at an empty bottle on the counter. “About three days.” Isla wriggled in her arms and leant closer to the guard. “Lindrum feels threatened by her, so he sent his henchmen to capture her.”

  Bronwyn stood. “The prophecy speaks of a pair of hauflins. Does this child have a sibling?”

  Catriona shook her head. She couldn’t reveal that fact.

  “Then Lindrum has nothing to fear. She’s not part of the infamous prophecy.” Sarcasm laced his voice. “If you’d dress and gather a few things, you can stay in the castle ‘til morning. Tomorrow, a crew will help clean up this mess.” Blood from the skirmish stained the floor, and broken furniture and dishes littered the dwelling.

  She rose and looked for a place to set Isla while she dressed.

  “I’ll hold it—her.” Bronwyn held out a hand for the monkey.

  Catriona hesitated, but Isla peered closer at the dwarf.

  “She’ll be fine.” He eased the marmoset into his arms and looked down at the large brown eyes staring up at him. “How old is she?”

  “Almost five.” Catriona sifted through her closet, pulled out a dress and went to the water closet to change.

  Bronwyn studied the small fingers wrapped around his thumb. Though thin they appeared to be strong. Her touch felt warm and made his skin tingle.

  “Alaura?”

  He leant closer. “What did you say?”

  Catriona stepped from the water closet, pulled a few items from a drawer and stuffed them in a sack. She reached for Isla, but the child clung to the guard.

  Bronwyn removed the monkey’s clawed fingers from his dark blue vest and placed the creature in her arms. He stepped outside and led the way to the castle.