All of them looked up to the highest pile of stone that still stood in the ruined gatehouse. There, still wearing his fawnskin cap, sat Tomkin. Calmly, he hopped down to the ground and bounded forward to join them at the fire.
Brand sat back down, breathing deeply. The axe on his back shifted and he patted the knapsack absently to quiet it. “To what do we owe this pleasure?” he asked.
The manling warmed his fingers over the fire. “Tomkin is here to claim the promised boon.”
Brand nodded. “Ah, the pouch!”
“Hast thou the craft to remove thy own curse, cheating witch?” asked Tomkin of Myrrdin in a conversational tone.
Myrrdin laughed off the insult. “For you, I would do so even without the bargain you made with Brand. For you have stolen that which Herla so greatly covets!”
Tomkin looked startled then suspicious at the idea of Myrrdin freely removing the pouch. He recovered quickly, however. “Wouldst thou then grant another boon?”
“Possibly,” said Myrrdin in a tone that indicated he already regretted his rash words. “As long as it involves not one drop of my precious blood.”
Tomkin shook his head. “No. Tomkin asks for something far more difficult to provide.”
“What?” asked Brand, interested now.
“Sanctuary,” said the manling. He nodded, indicating something beyond the twisted grille of the portcullis.
Brand turned and gazed out into the darkness.
“Music,” said Telyn. Her voice was not elated this time however, but fearful.
Then the sounds came to Brand, the sounds of wind in trees and water running over stones. The music of earth, sky and water.
“The dark bard has come,” said Telyn.
“Dost thou grant my boon?” demanded Tomkin.
Myrrdin appeared serious. “Yes. We will defend you to the best of our ability.”
Tomkin nodded, satisfied. Then he produced the pouch from beneath his tunic. There was no sign of Lavatis, but Brand suspected it was in his bag or stashed beneath his cap.
“Removing the enchantment will take some time,” said Myrrdin, tapping his bearded chin thoughtfully. “I’m not even sure I can find the required ingredients here on this damp ground. It will take an extensive search, at the very least.”
Tomkin scowled and opened his mouth to speak, but Brand cut him off. “There is no more time for that, or any more chatter,” said Brand, coming to his feet. “The dark bard can’t pass the walls by himself, of this we are sure. About the others, and Herla’s powers using Osang, I don’t know. What do you know, Myrrdin?”
“He will be stopped, but only for a time. I don’t know how long. There is no telling how the centuries might have eroded the charm that protects these walls. It was once quite strong, but now…” Myrrdin shrugged.
“Then we must assume we are about to be attacked,” said Brand. “Let’s man these old walls and get this grille back into place. This gatehouse and the main keep seem to be the most intact spots to defend. Telyn, would you be so good as to climb up that wall and keep watch for the enemy?”
Nodding and smiling, Telyn climbed nimbly up to the spot he indicated.
“Kills two merlings and fancies himself a captain,” muttered Modi, stumping off into the darkness.
“Modi?” Brand called. He frowned to himself. He needed the big warrior’s cooperation.
Brand and Corbin set to work on putting the grille back into place. They soon found they could barely move it.
“Look at the blast marks on this thing,” said Corbin as they grunted and heaved. The rusted metal creaked and grated against stone. “It appears as if the grille was blasted inward! I wonder what terrific force could have done such a thing.”
“The Rainbow could have done it,” said Brand.
Corbin looked at him. “You’re right. Think of it, Brand, centuries ago our ancestors fought for their very lives on this very ground.”
“Let’s hope that we fare better than they did,” replied Brand.
Chapter Five
Tomkin’s Freedom
They toiled at the grille, but at first it would not budge. Then abruptly, they made progress. The grille gave a grinding screech and moved with a lurch. Stumbling, they looked up to find that Modi was at their side. He had a huge branch in his hands and was using it for a lever. All straining and working together, they managed to get the grille back into the archway. Using levers, they tumbled stones up against it to hold it in place.
“There!” said Brand, “that’s something, anyway.”
“Not if they jump the walls,” said Modi, stumping away into the darkness again.
Brand and Corbin looked at one another, deflated. They had forgotten the way the huntsmen had so easily passed over the walls of the merling town.
“Perhaps we should consider a retreat to the river,” said Corbin. “We could use Myrrdin’s craft again to escape them.”
“But where would we go?” asked Brand.
“Back to the Haven?” suggested Corbin.
“It would be like the flight of the Rainbow all over again,” said Brand, shaking his head, “they would eventually run us down and slay us all. At least here there is a charm and walls that might help us.”
“Besides,” said Corbin, eyeing him carefully, “you rather like making a stand here, in the ruins of our ancestral homeland.”
Brand looked back at him and smiled. “You always know me best, Corbin. What better place is there for two river-boys of Clan Rabing to die?”
Still the music of the dark bard played in the distance. It made them want to sit and listen to it, to be lost in the beautiful sounds of the world around them, but they resisted the temptation.
“Hard physical work seems to help keep your mind clear,” Brand told Corbin. “Let’s shore up the walls where we can.”
Tomkin perched atop the broken walls and watched them work. “We need more than stone and steel to hold out the huntsmen,” he said.
“What do you suggest?” asked Corbin, leaning on a branch he’d been using as a lever.
“I could go for help.”
Brand and Corbin looked at one another. “But if we lose the Jewel you bear, our whole purpose is lost.”
Tomkin shrugged. “If we sit here and wait, all is lost anyway.”
Brand discussed the matter with Myrrdin, who had just come up with more wood for the fire.
“My, but that infernal music is persistent, isn’t it?” he asked the others. “Usually, it is quite compelling and all who hear it are soon dancing until their hearts burst. The charm on this place must be working still. Any sign of the other huntsmen, Telyn?”
“None, I can’t even make out the dark bard. I wonder how long it will take him to realize we aren’t being affected by his spell.”
“Hopefully, a great while,” said Myrrdin.
“What do you think of Tomkin’s idea? He wishes to go for help.”
“I will alert both the River Folk of North End and Riverton about our situation,” said Tomkin.
“You would be willing to endanger yourself to save us?” asked Corbin in a somewhat incredulous voice.
“Certainly!” said Tomkin. “Thou hast no cause to call me a coward.
Brand and Corbin exchanged glances and pursed their lips, but said nothing.
“Well,” sighed Myrrdin, “There’s little else we can do, unless we try to flee. We can’t last long in a siege, there is little food or water here. I agree, it is best that you go get help, Tomkin. None of the rest of us could slip past the Wild Hunt…but I would require that you leave the Jewel here with us.”
“Mistrustful witch!” declared Tomkin.
Myrrdin held up his hand. “We need to be sure that the enemy doesn’t get his hands on that which he has sought for so very long. You must leave the Jewel with us while you go to get help.”
Tomkin pursed his lips. “That could be managed,” he said with the air of one making a great concession. “I can promise that
the Jewel won’t leave these walls. If…”
Brand rolled his eyes. “Another boon?”
“Not a new one, but the fulfillment of an old one,” said Tomkin. He produce the pouch again and waggled it at them.
“Right, go ahead and remove it, Myrrdin,” said Brand.
Nodding in agreement, Myrrdin sat down and reached out with the tip of his staff. He lifted the burden from Tomkin’s neck. With a deft flip of his wrist, he tossed the pouch into the fire. It snapped and crackled. A brief gout of green flame shot up in response.
“Done!” said Myrrdin, getting back to his feet.
“That’s it?” sputtered Tomkin.
“You said it would take a great while,” said Brand.
“Yes, I wanted to maintain our leash over this little gentleman for as long as possible…” said Myrrdin with a reluctant shrug.
Tomkin nodded slowly and narrowed his eyes. This bit of trickery was something that he understood. “Finally, thy behavior appears rational.”
“And now,” said Brand, holding out his hand. “Let us relieve you of Lavatis that you may complete your quest.”
Tomkin hopped up and grinned at each of them in turn. Brand frowned and the axe twitched suggestively upon his back.
With a tremendous bound, the most amazing Brand had yet to see performed by one of the Wee Folk, Tomkin leapt up to the top of the damaged walls of the gatehouse. Taking great, springing leaps he commenced running along the walltops.
“Free! Free! At long last Tomkin knows freedom once again!”
The others watched him bemusedly. When he came to Telyn, sitting at her watchpost, he gave another great bound and cleared her head. She ducked reflexively, smiling. Brand noted that she was working at something up there, fashioning it with her hands. He was too distracted to be feel anything but a flash of curiosity about it.
“What treachery do you plot? Don’t try to leave with the Jewel, Tomkin!” called Brand.
“There is no fear of that, river-boy!” Tomkin shouted back, laughing.
“Enough celebrating, Tomkin!” called Gudrin. “Time now to go get the help you promised.”
Tomkin stopped his bounding and came back to the fireside with two startling hops. He sat near the blaze, once again warming his fingers.
“Well?” demanded Brand, increasingly impatient.
“It is done,” said the manling.
“What do you mean?” demanded Gudrin.
Modi snorted, shook his head, and went back to work on shoring up the grille.
“It is done, the task is already complete,” said Tomkin. He gave Brand a leering grin.
“Tell us how then!” demanded Brand.
“For another boon, perhaps,” said Tomkin.
Brand stepped forward. The axe moved with excitement upon his back. “For the boon of not being sliced in twain, you—”
Corbin stopped Brand with a gentle hand laid on his shoulder. “Indeed, Tomkin, you surprised us all with your speedy execution. Forgive us if we are at a loss concerning how your task was completed. But before more boons will be forthcoming, including that of your protection, we must feel that you have been honest in your dealings with us.”
“Right,” said Brand, “tell us what you’re talking about or Herla can have you right now.”
Gudrin smiled at Brand’s vehemence. “There is some of your brother Jak in you after all, Brand,” she said.
Tomkin took it all quite well. Hopping up, he set his cap to a more rakish angle on his head and eyed them all. Clearly, he relished their lack of understanding. “Quite simply, I located the wisps that fled Old Hob’s lantern several nights earlier. Distant cousins of mine are the wisps, as thee might not be aware.”
Brand felt it unlikely that Tomkin was related to anything as delicate and beautiful as the flittering wisps, but said nothing.
“I told them of the situation here, and asked that they return your favor by flittering off to Riverton and North End to summon help,” finished Tomkin.
“But they can’t use our speech!” objected Brand, pacing now. “How will they communicate the message? Why would the Riverton council believe a creature such as a wisp in any regard?”
Tomkin shrugged. “This is none of my affair. My part of the bargain is already complete. Word has gone out.”
Brand felt his anger rising, but Myrrdin tried to calm him. “It is no matter, Brand. There could be no faster way to get to your relations. A wisp could fly there in a single night. It might not work, but then again, it may.”
Shaking his head, not trusting Tomkin an inch, Brand walked away to talk to Telyn. She still sat upon the wall top, fashioning something up there in the darkness.
“It looks like Tomkin has had the last laugh on us again,” he called up to her. “What are you working on, Telyn?”
She made no reply for a moment, and then she lifted something white up in her hand. He frowned up at her, but before he could ask about it, she tossed it down to him. He fumbled with it for a moment, and then lifted it up into the light cast by the distant fire to examine the object. It was a candle, a rolled taper of white wax. It had an odd smell to it…then he knew.
“More witchery?” he hissed up at her. “Is this what you’ve been up to all this time?”
Her soft laughter came down from the darkness. “Oh Brand, you really must drop some of your prejudices. After all, you do bear a living axe on your back!”
Brand frowned at the thing and held it pinched between his thumb and forefinger as one might a dead rat. “What’s it for?”
“It’s a beacon,” said Telyn. “The same as before. It’s to guide the army of the Haven to us.”
Brand snorted. “The army of the Haven? It doesn’t exist.”
“Well, I know of one of its best soldiers.”
Brand smiled and tossed the candle back up to her. She caught it deftly. It felt good to be free of the thing. “But the last one called more than we bargained for. Might that not be the case here, too?”
“Possibly,” admitted Telyn. “But Myrrdin and I have been working together on it. He’s been teaching me things about the craft that should greatly improve the results.”
Brand nodded, not liking the sound of it. He sighed. “I should go back to the others.”
“Yes,” she said. There was an awkward silence, and Brand felt the fool. He wanted to tell her all sorts of silly, emotional things, but he didn’t.
“Take care,” he said, turning to leave.
“Brand?”
“What?”
“I think of your kiss all the time.”
“And I think of yours,” he said, smiling in the dark. Then he left her and rejoined the others who argued over the best way to mount a defense of the ruins.
Chapter Six
Oberon’s Daughter
“Let us assume that help is coming,” said Corbin. “That means that we are under siege. The charm may or may not hold until our reinforcements arrive, so it makes sense to continue preparing for an assault.”
“Exactly,” said Myrrdin. “There are a few things I can do to aid us, but I need help.”
“Name your needs, wizard,” said Gudrin.
“I require many fresh shoots of hardy plants,” said Myrrdin. “Sapling trees, young ferns and vines would do the best. I need all that we can gather.”
“You plan to wield Vaul,” said Brand. “We will gather all that we can, but it is dark and this land isn’t terribly lush.”
“Yes, you must carry torches and go in pairs,” said Myrrdin. “Please don’t stray far from our defensive position, such as it is, and come back at the first sign of trouble.”
“I’ll go with you, Brand,” said Corbin. Brand nodded and smiled, it would be good to work alongside his favorite cousin once again.
“Hold, Brand,” said Myrrdin, lightly touching his arm. “I have another task for you. One of greater import.”
“What is it?” asked Brand.
Myrrdin waited for a moment as
the others broke up and headed out into the darkness. Gudrin and Modi formed one team, while Corbin and Telyn formed the second. Tomkin remained to tend the fire. He cast occasional glances at them. The firelight reflected from his glass-like eyes.
“Even if I wield Vaul and our band stands together, I don’t think we can face the Wild Hunt. In the coming hours you will have to wield the axe, Brand,” Myrrdin told him. “You will go feral as surely as did Dando if you aren’t properly attuned by then. Therefore, there is no greater need for us than that you gain mastery of the axe.”
“How do I do this?”
“Unfortunately, it is the Faerie that will decide that.”
“What!” said Brand loudly. He glanced toward Tomkin and found that he was staring back at him. He lowered his voice. “I’m lost then!”
“Not necessarily,” said Myrrdin. “In any case, you must try.”
“What do I do?”
“There is a Faerie mound within the walls of Castle Rabing. It is an ancient place, Cairn Browyyd, it is called. You must locate it, out to the west of the fallen keep. It is said that four great human kings lay dead beneath the earth there, and in their noble death they have opened a path for the Faerie. Like all the mounds, it is a spot they can gather when called and ignore the normal rules of movement—and the magic of wards.”
“I must go there?”
“Yes,” said Myrrdin. “You must walk nine times widdershins around the mound, following the path of the Faerie.”
Brand blinked at Myrrdin. Part of him could not believe he was even contemplating such an act. To summon the Faerie, to invite them to join him at one of their mounds—this was a mad thing, sorcery. Only witches and short-lived fools attempted such nonsense.
“Am I to dance with them?” he asked, his voice querulous. “I—I am not like you, Myrrdin. I couldn’t dance with the Faerie and survive.”
“I don’t know what will be required of you. It is never the same thing twice with the Shining Folk.”
“Shouldn’t I take a second? Isn’t that what you said I should always do with the axe?” asked Brand.
Haven 3 Shadow Magic (Haven Series 3) Page 3
