Clearing the Web

by Cary J Lenehan

  Once Hildric had been taken away by the patrol, the Mice then went out to the building that Christopher had indicated. The key fit the door and, as the locals watched, the door was opened. A light was held into the room and a pentagram could be seen on the floor. “It is time to get rid of this,” said Theodora. “Everyone, stand well back. Father, can you do your work please.” Father Christopher came forward and got out his chalk and went to work.

  He has to use stored mana for the whole of the spell this time, but again we have no magical backlash as the restrained mana becomes free, but there is a spectacular flash as something streaks into the sky from it. There was a gasp from the onlookers. Their fear of the unknown makes them fully realise that this is not an innocent room.

  The Mice searched the building, getting some items of magical virtue to be examined later and then decided to overnight at the house and sent the locals home, having invited them to travel to Greensin on the next day to see their neighbour tried and executed. We need to set a quiet watch in case the locals resent our interference. It was not needed.

  Theodora

  18th September

  In the morning, they fed Hildric’s animals and invited the neighbours to help themselves to anything they wanted, “It will be forfeit anyway due to his crimes.” Now we return to Greensin with the magic and the money, to hand it to Andronicus.

  The trial of Hildric was held that very afternoon. Two of his neighbours did in fact come along to witness it. “We wanted to see if what you said was true,” said one stubbornly to Theodora. “We didn’t want to touch his things if he was coming back, and I am still not sure that we believe what you have told us.”

  “To us, he has not been an evil man. He has done nothing of harm to us and he has been good at hiring people to re-build his house and to work for him so, even if people think it strange that he lives alone, we are used to him and…well…you are strangers, and we do not believe you as much as we believe a neighbour.”

  Hildric starts by denying everything under oath, despite the testimony of Tabitha and Danelis. I will need to enchant him with all watching.

  Now his tune changes. He gives us details of who he has met in the Brotherhood, when he has gone to trade there, and what he has been up to with the bandits. In the course of his confession, several local thefts are cleared up as well. As he speaks several people, ones who have lost relations or stock or even neighbours, cry out in anger.

  The crowd are growing very restless and are starting to look forward to his death. It seems that, just as some of his money, and that of Loudon, will go back to Maria in compensation, much of what he owns will need to be sold to cover the rest of his crimes. The two men from Northrode are left shaking their heads. It seems that they are genuine and really had not believed Hildric to be guilty.

  It turns out that the brothers Felders are his only agents locally, although there are some people along the coast whom he pays for information. Their names are noted for a later visit.

  Hildric died unrepentant, and his last sight before the hood was put over his head was, as promised, of Tabitha’s naked breasts, and the last thing that he heard were her taunts that rose into the otherwise shocked, but angry, silence that surrounded this third execution.

  I am sure that Father Christopher will have a word with her about forgiveness as a Christian virtue during her next confession. As for me, I wonder if the shocking of local sensibilities with the sight of her bare breasts will, in the long run, increase the appeal of Mousehole from single men, or whether the strength and obvious independence of our women will, in fact, scare men away despite their beauty and their wealth.

  Bianca

  19th September

  The rest of the visit to Greensin was uneventful, although the girls hoped that at least some of the men who had expressed interest in them and their plight would make the long journey to Mousehole.

  Those among the men who saw Tabitha’s breasts on display might be more interested in coming along to the village for them than those who have sympathy with her plight. At least the women have all decided to follow Hulagu’s plan. If someone will not come to Mousehole to court them, then they are not interested in the man.

  Few girls in the world are lucky enough to be either pretty or wealthy. The girls of Mousehole are both. They have paid a heavy price for the wealth that they now have. They have paid with the whole of their lives so far. They are not interested in leaving their valley to come somewhere that could be raided easily and, in doing so, to also have to leave all of their friends behind.

  They left early in the morning for the flight back. The cool of the day, and especially the wind of their passage, reminded them that winter is again not far off. The babies were wrapped in the magical cloak. The rest wished that they had more of them.

  Theodora agreed and promised to make them, or rather to get Rani to. “It is a spell of heat, after all. I am sure that I can easily make one that chills you though,” she added cheerfully. Everyone has declined that offer.

  Chapter XL

  Theodora

  20th September

  All has been quiet in Mousehole. The herds were brought down from what we are now calling the High Meadow, and provisions were laid in for the winter. We even have gifts from the Metropolitan, half a dozen rose plants.

  Lakshmi is very happy with those. “At last, we can think about making our own rose water. It will take a long time before we have enough, but this is, at least, a start for us.”

  Tabitha and Danelis had an audience of unpaired women as they told of the interest that had been shown in them, and speculated on whether men might actually come to the valley next spring. Hulagu and Bianca went straight into a session away from the rest of the village with Kãhina and Anahita.

  It seems that Fear has missed her mummy and she will not leave my side, even at night. I want to make love, but it is not going to happen. “We both go to Dwarvenholme and she comes with us,” said Rani after Fear was asleep between them. “I am not being left here alone with her next time. She did not stop asking when you would be back. I didn’t even have the bed to myself most nights…and she snores worse than you do.”

  “I do not…”

  “Yes, you do…and it is not new. I checked with Basil long ago. Although he was reluctant to admit it, he noted it before you even left Darkreach.”

  Christopher

  21st September

  Early in the morning, Bianca came to see Christopher and gave him a kiss. She has a very serious expression on her face. “I love you, my husband,” she said, “but there is something that I have to do. It is important to me, to Hulagu and to Anahita and Kãhina, and possibly also to our children, if they wish it to be.” She paused.

  “I will be away for today and tonight at least. Bryony and Verily will be feeding the children for me. Other women are taking care of Khãtun and Bũrãn. It is possible that I may not return, but I believe that I will. If I do not, the other three are not to blame. I am doing this by my own choice. I was given that choice while we were away and I could have said no.

  “It is very important for me to have a family, and it seems that this is what I must do to have one.” There is a look of pleading on her face. What do I say? She is holding up her hand to forestall me, so it had best be nothing. “Please, my love, do not make this harder for me. Just tell me that you love me and wish me well.”

  “I love you and wish you well. This is about you becoming Hulagu’s sister, isn’t it?” She nods. “In that case, I give you my blessing as well. Whatever they do, I am sure that you will pass. I am certain of it, and will pray on the matter as well.” He hugged her. “I love you and look forward to celebrating with you.”

  The four rode out, heading up to the chilly High Meadow with several bundles on their horses and leading a sheep on a rope, and with extra horses along with them. All of them were dresse
d as if they were riding off for war.

  Christopher

  22nd September

  After Mass the next day, Christopher went to wait anxiously on the village wall. Theodule and Ruth joined him. “I am sure that your Presbytera will be fine,” said Theodule.

  “I don’t know what they are doing,” said Ruth. There is a touch of frustration in her voice as she speaks. She really does want to find out as much about the world as she can. “I tried to find out from Anahita, so that I could teach the custom to the children, but she said that I would have to do it to find out, and then I would not be able to tell anyone about it afterwards anyway. However, I have confidence in Bianca. She is stronger for her size than the other two girls and she has proven herself to be able to survive when others would not do so.”

  They waited until lunch time, with the other two talking and Christopher silent most of the time and generally praying. Occasionally, others would join them in looking up at the path.

  The others left to eat and returned, bringing food for Christopher. I should eat something. He nibbled a bit in an absent-minded way. Will I become a widower today? I am not sure that I realised fully how much I love my wife until now when the possibility of her loss arises.

  I fully realise how Basil felt while Astrid was away on the first probe of Mousehole. I am at least sure that I can give an adequate answer if someone asks the same sort of questions as Basil asked before we attacked the bandit village.

  It was well after lunch before there was any movement to be seen on the trail. With his eyesight, Christopher could not make out how many horses were coming down the trail. Luckily Ayesha, who has also spent a lot of time on the wall, is there. “There are six horses,” she said. “Bianca’s three and three for the others. Allah is merciful, four of them have riders. They are all there.” There is relief in her voice.

  Christopher turned and hugged her. “Thank you. I pray that one day you feel as happy as I do now.” She looks surprised. I know that she was not sitting here worried about my wife. She is worried about Hulagu.

  After greeting Christopher, the four Khitan went to see the mages as soon as they had returned and cared for their horses. Christopher took his wife’s hand and went along.

  “The dragon is coming,” said Hulagu, with a concerned look on his face. The other Khitan nodded at his words. “Not now, not next week, but we now know that the dragon is coming here to attack, and try and kill us. It will probably be here at some time after mid-winter, but before summer is fully come.”

  “Have you become a seer?” asked Rani.

  “I cannot tell you how I know,” he replied, “but I do know. I also know that we cannot fight it with just bows and maces. It is too mighty. It is the strongest of its kind that exists anywhere in the world. It is stronger than the Dragon of the Rock. It is so large and so strong that we cannot even allow it to come into the valley of Mousehole. Our children and our herds will die if it does.”

  “We have told you of this threat, now it is up to you to find a way for us to kill it. The carpet is too large and too slow, and it will burn too easily, but there must be something that you can do to stop it. That is why you are our Princesses. We will fight it for you, and die for you if we must, but it is up to you to find a way for us to do this without us all dying needlessly.”

  The two Princesses looked at each other. They both look worried. They do not have an immediate answer. “Thank you for letting us know about this. We always considered that it was likely, but it is good to be sure. If we have that much time, I am sure that we will think of something,” said Rani. She may sound confident, but she does not look it. I can tell when a person is dissembling. “Please leave it with us, and we will think about it while we are away on our next trips.”

  Chapter XLI

  Rani

  28th September

  Waiting a little meant that I was able to enchant a new warm cloak for each traveller, and still leave one for the person who has the guard duty at the valley entrance.

  True to what she said, Rani insisted that she and Fear would be on the trip. “After all, this is a friendly visit. There should be no danger to us, and having a child with us emphasises our friendship. What is more, she has to start learning these diplomatic things at some time. You grew up in a palace, as did Ayesha. I am still making mistakes learning to be a Princess, and she has even more to learn. What better way can there be than to visit the neighbours in a friendly way?”

  Ayesha was taken with them. As Princesses we do not get a lot of obedience sometimes. Ayesha and Basil gave Theo-dear a choice of which one would go, and Ayesha is coming in a servant role. They were not happy that they were left out of the last trip and insisted that one of them has to be with her at all times. I don’t matter apparently.

  We leave Basil in charge of the kitchen and bring Lãdi with us. She has spent over sixteen years, most of her life, in the valley. I meant it as a holiday for her, but she is insisting on bringing supplies of her own. “You don’t know what cooks they have and remember what Thord said about their supplies. I am not seeing you starve, just because the Dwarves are more interested in re-building their city than in feeding visitors.”

  We have Christopher to cast the needed miracles to rid us of these patterns, and then we have Harald. Having been brought up among Dwarves, he is eager to see the lost city and, seeing we need a visible guard, we may as well have one who thinks like a Dwarf anyway.

  Rani stood looking at the very fully loaded carpet before they left. We are close to the limit of lift, and there is no space left on it. “We need you to make us a second and larger one.”

  Theodora thought for a bit. “I would have to be seriously overdrawn to do it. Over winter I will see if there is a way I can, but it is not as easy as the spell that I used to hide the valley.” Obviously, my wife has already thought about such a spell. “That is why the Caliphate does not use them all of the time,” continued Theodora, by way of explanation.

  “Flying carpets are rare. I don’t know where the bandits got this one from, but I am sure that the Caliphate is missing it. Besides which, I don’t think that Bilqĩs is able to weave one well enough yet. Did you see her last attempt? It will work on a floor for a few years as long as it does not get much traffic on it, but I wouldn’t want to trust my life to it. It may be many years before she is ready, but at least she is starting to show the little girls how to do it. She says that, at seventeen, her fingers are far too old to do a really good job.”

  Ayesha leant over their shoulders. “What is more,” she said, “I have not seen many, but this is the fastest carpet I have ever seen. Usually a carpet can either carry a load and move slowly, or carry very little and move fast. This does both. I may not be any good with magic, but I am willing to say that no-one in the Caliphate could make it today. If you know carpets you can see, just by looking at it, that it is woven in a very old pattern.”

  Theodora nodded and added: “What you need to hope is that Bilqĩs can repair it when it gets a hole. I hope that it survives the dragon, and that we can think of something to do about it.”

  “It seems to me that, the more powerful I get as a mage, the more that is demanded of me. It makes me wonder how, if that is the case for me, if the Granther ever gets time to even rule, let alone relax.”

  I am glad of these new cloaks. The air is rapidly getting colder as we travel. Winter is just around the corner and we still have one trip to make after this one, and it is a long one. After having left the valley by the gate, they flew around its southern outskirts and then directly up into the mountains.

  I can see the trees around the valley, often deciduous, being replaced by the towering mountain gums and hardier upland conifers. Looking north they stared into the bowl of the Upper Meadow. It shows little sign of being grazed all summer. Only in a few small patches, mainly near the stream, does the grass look any shorter at
all. There is, however, a small hut. “No-one mentioned that,” said Theodora. “What else have they been doing over summer that no-one talked about?”

  “Do you realise that we didn’t do anything about Aziz’s old tribe all summer?”

  “Next year,” said Theodora. “Somehow I think that visit would not have counted as resting.”

  As we move closer to Dwarvenholme and look further up into the mountains, I can see that the permanent snow on the peaks is already edging further down the slopes, and some of the valleys are starting to fill with their winter blanket. Above us the gums are shrinking and becoming more twisted and the plants of heath and the upper slopes are starting to dominate. As they went, Rani was holding Fear tightly on her lap and pointing all of these things out to her.

  They came up their river to the Dwarvenholme road and turned right. The road that had been almost non-existent, the track that we struggled over with the cart breaking a wheel, is almost a proper road again, at least as far south as Dwarvenholme.

  All of the trees have been cleared off it, all of the centuries of dirt have been cleaned away, and even some of the stone paving has been replaced. All it needs is traffic. I can see a Dwarven gang hard at work on it where a landslide has taken a section away. We almost lost a wheel getting around that slip; soon it is going to be as if the rock fall never existed, and now I can hear the faint noise of a large horn being blown in a call from ahead.

  They arrived near lunchtime. I nearly didn’t recognise the entrance. The skeletons of past Dwarves that attacked us and all of the trees that were outside have disappeared. The pathways up from the road have been restored completely. The rocks are gone off the paths. Some have been used and others now lie in piles waiting to be.