by Mark G Heath
“ What, in the name of all that is holy, is this abomination?” demanded Thaindire.
“ That is Carabia. He is a Homunculus,” replied Grimoult matter of factly.
“ A Homunculus?” repeated Thaindire, “ and the others, in the jars?”
“ Yes, they are all Homunculi, tiny creatures made in the image of man.”
“ What heresy is this?” exclaimed Thaindire, “ Do you think you are some kind of god?”
“ No, a father,” replied the alchemist coolly.
“ If you are the father, then where is the witch that has given birth to such demon spawn?”
“ There is no mother. I have created them. Their creation is but one of my many experiments.”
“ To what end?” asked Thaindire his face a mask of revulsion.
“ They are my helpers. As you can no doubt see, I am not a young man and the acquisition of many of the elements that I require in my experiments requires those who are far sprightlier than old Ilberd Grimoult. So I have created Homunculi to fetch, to bring, to seek and to help. Their tiny hands are adept at reaching into those nooks and crannies our lumbering mitts cannot. They bring forth the minerals, the metals and the gemstones that I require.”
“ What experiments?” demanded Thaindire gazing over at the benches full of apparatus.
“ To learn more of our world and how it is formed.” Grimoult leant back in his chair and paused, regarding Thaindire. He removed his spectacles revealing his eyes fully. The blue eyes flickered with intelligence and know-how. Thaindire waited as Grimoult rubbed the lenses of his glasses with his robe before perching them on his nose once more.
“ I came to Aftlain because it has a reputation for tolerance and understanding that would allow me and my helpers to investigate the many mysteries and complexities of our world without the ignorance and bile promulgated by you and your kind.” commented Grimoult, more matter of fact than with rancour.
“ My kind?”
“ Yes,” he continued, “ I have lived in several cities across Albion and soon the High Church comes knocking and decrying my work without even trying to understand it. Allegations and lies follow, until I am drummed out of where I have lived, threats of hanging echoing after me. The High Church fails to understand that I am merely trying to comprehend why things happen and in doing so perhaps better man’s existence.”
“ By dabbling in potions and elixirs?”
“ Chemicals, Master Thaindire, chemicals. They are at the heart of everything and by understanding them I understand the world.”
“ The One True God created his mysteries not for us to unfathom but as testament to his greatness,” answered Thaindire.” They are as they are. We are too weak to understand his ways.”
“ That is your belief and I respect that, even though it does not accord with my own. Yet, you see Master Thaindire, I do not arrive with the sound of splitting timber and breaking glass, wielding a mace with the supposed authority to destroy and obliterate. No, I have had my fill of such blind intolerance and thus I now reside in Aftlain.”
“ How long have you lived here then?”
“ Ten winters, this will be my eleventh and it is not far away,” Grimoult motioned to the window.
“ Presumably you know most of the village?” asked Thaindire.
“ Most of those who reside here yes. Many are like me, seeking to exercise their skills and abilities without the interference and hindrance of the ignorant. The tragedy of our world is that to be special is to be ostracised, to be marked as unnatural and therefore unsafe. Have you met the cousins?”
“ The seamstresses?” clarified Thaindire.
“ Yes that’s right.”
“ I have.”
“ Quite simply experts in the production of attire. Nobody in this kingdom can match them for their speed of output, the quality of their garments, the beauty and longevity of every fibre that they weave. Yet they were hounded from Tulford by a riotous mob believing them to be enchantresses creating clothing for the Fallen’s handmaidens.”
“ They came from Tulford?” remarked Thaindire.
“ Yes as far away as that.”
“ But one of them has a forefinger shaped like a needle and a thumb as if it were a thimble. Those are surely the mutations caused by cavorting with ungodly gifts,” protested Thaindire.
“ She was born with the affliction but turned it to her strength thus enabling her to sew and craft far faster than others. Of course, rather than rejoice in having two people who can create such masterpieces, their differences are seized upon as amounting to the work of the unholy,” countered Grimoult. He gazed at the blade resting across Carabia and jabbed a forefinger at the sword.
“ I see you carry one of Redway’s blades. He was Chief Weaponsmith to the Earl of Toran. Other nobles’ families would send for him to craft their armour and swords. He is able to manipulate metal like a sculptor. His eye for detail enables metal to be strengthened beyond its understood limits, to create a blade so sharp that the air itself is cut apart by its movement. Such was the demand for his expertise he had a waiting list of years. Years. Yet his rivals concocted a plot that he had promised the souls of the Earl and his family to a demon in exchange for the secrets of forging from the netherworld and he had to take flight with his own family for fear of execution. What you would do well to understand Master Thaindire is that each artisan you will find in this village is not some deviant exercising dark powers but rather an extraordinarily skilled person with an ordinary life merely seeking sanctuary from the bigotry that stalks this kingdom. Intolerance has become a byword for righteousness. If it does not accord with your creed then it must be wrong, it must be the manifestation of evil and thus annihilated. Yet I will wager that even a proponent of such a doctrine as you has marvelled at the delicate robustness of the cloak the cousins made for you and that you have given thanks for the well-weighted blade that you now hold over my helper.”
Thaindire let Grimoult’s words hang in the air for the moment and then gathered himself. He had not come here to be subjected to the rhetoric of a charlatan who dabbled in coloured waters and brought forth miniature abominations. This was no debating society, he wanted information.
“ So what do these Homunculi seek on your behalf? This is the fourth such sighting I have had since my time here. The first collected a package from the tavern, the second plummeted down the well, the third lay in wait in the river by the mill house and this one, this one cut out the heart of a man at the mill house this very evening.”
“ They collect the various common and uncommon items that assist my investigations. You are a learned man, Master Thaindire; perhaps you would like to see?” offered the alchemist, “ The fruits of my labours are in the rear room.”
Thaindire hesitated looking towards the doorway. His interest was piqued and besides it would merely add to the weight of condemning material that he had identified about this spiritually bankrupt village.
“ Very well, but no mischief old man or this thing dies,” Thaindire asserted, rising and tucking the homunculus under his left arm, his blade still at the ready in his right hand.
“ By all means,” replied Grimoult. With a groan he got to his feet and led Thaindire towards the archway.
“ This is my apparatus which I use to distil, to combine and change through the states of the various materials I use,” Grimoult explained waving his arm at the two encumbered benches. He walked slowly forward, his boots shuffling across the floor as the rows of tiny faces all turned and looked at the three of them. The silver eyes blinked and tiny hands were raised to the jars that kept the homunculi captive.
“ Why keep them in jars?” queried Thaindire as he passed.
“ They were born, or formed if you would prefer, in jars, so they are a natural home to them. Besides they like to watch what is going on around them.”
“ They are very quiet,” remarked Thaindire as he peered at the inquisitive tiny faces.
“
That is because they are mute.”
“ Mute?” questioned Thaindire.
“ Yes mute, I don’t make them for the conversational ability you know.”
They entered the rear room and Grimoult took down a lantern, which had been hanging from a hook in the wall. He set off between two racks motioning for Thaindire to follow. The racks were surprisingly ordered, containing labelled packages, bottles, vials and pots.
“ Everything you see here has come from a consequence of the application of a process to the five elements,” declared Grimoult.
“ Everything I see here has come from you meddling with the One True God’s bounty,” retorted Thaindire.
“ Some might say it is the same thing,” shrugged the alchemist.
“ Created from fire, earth, water, air and ether. Along this shelf are the metals, copper, zinc, silver, gold, lead, cobalt, mercury and so on.” Thaindire observed the neat labels on the boxes. He noticed that there were multiple boxes of the substances.
“ Opposite are the gemstones and crystals,” continued Grimoult. Thaindire looked at yet more boxes bearing “ Sapphire, Ruby and Amethyst”. They rounded the end of the rack and headed down another row, this time it contained large bags, which were secured by rope at the top.
“ Ground bone, sand, saltpetre, alum, ammonia,” muttered Thaindire as he read the labels. He crossed the aisle between the racks and saw the opposite side contained many bottles all gleaming in the lantern light. The first set of bottles contained a yellowy-red liquid and the label read “ Aqua Regia”
“ What’s Aqua Regia?” asked Thaindire halting by about a dozen bottles of the liquid.
“ King’s Water. It is used for corroding the noble metals.”
“ Noble metals?”
“ Gold and platinum and such like.”
The next set of bottles bore the label, “ Aqua Ardens” and the collection thereafter.” Aqua Tofani”. Thereafter came Aqua Vitae and Horn Quicksilver. More labels followed on the array of containers, Flowers of Antimony, Glauber’s Salt, King’s Yellow, Lunar Caustic, Powder of Algaroth and Aqua Fortis. The variety of unusual names extended along the racks, both high and low and Thaindire could only wonder at what effect arose from these materials.
“ And what is Aqua Fortis?” asked Thaindire.
“ That is Strong Water, it is used for dissolving the base metals,” explained Grimoult.
“ Is it now?” commented Thandire making a note in his head of the liquid. The alchemist reached the end of the second row and turned to face Thaindire.
“ All of these substances have to be acquired and created, the accumulation of years of searching and experimentation.”
“ And the cutting out of a man’s heart?” accused Thaindire.
“ He no longer had a use for it,” answered Grimoult with a slight shrug. “Where is it by the way?”
“ Down by the miller’s,” answered Thaindire.
“ No matter, it can be collected later.”
“ Tell me old man, do you have a horse?”
“ Not I. I fear I could not get in the saddle. The smith and the farrier are the best places to try if you are seeking a mount. Intending to leave the village are we?”
“ I will have to return to Lancester in the fullness of time, when my work has been completed. In fact, you can help me with that; there is a tower to the south of here, further into the woods. Who lives there?”
“ I don’t know,” replied the alchemist, “ I rarely leave this house and of course, the homunculi can't tell me anything.” He gave a short laugh.
“ How do I get to it then?” pressed Thaindire.
“ Is there no road or path from the village?”
“ None that I have been able to find.”
“ Hmm. Can’t help you with that. Now if you are interested in the uses for sulphur I can tell you plenty,” remarked Grimoult as he continued walking. Thaindire followed the alchemist stepping out of the aisle. He felt a twisting movement under his arm and was taken by surprise as the revived homunculus squirmed out of his grasp, alighted on the floor and darted away from him.
“ Come here,” growled Thaindire as he lurched forward seeking to re-capture it.
A bright white light filled his vision along with a sharp smell of burning. Blinded he raised his arms instinctively in case he came under attack. Something shoved into him and he stumbled backwards banging into a wall. He flailed his sword before him, his vision reducing to a series of flashing colours.
“ Fiend, you’ve blinded me!” yelled Thaindire.” What devilment is this? “ he demanded. He remained with his back pressed to the wall, cutting the space in front of him with a backwards and forwards motion of his sword.
“ It will pass,” called the alchemist from somewhere to his right.
Gradually the lights receded to be replaced by darkness and then the room slowly came into focus again. Grimoult was stood in the doorway to the front room, the homunculus stood besides him regarding him carefully. The alchemist held some kind of pot in his hand and a fizzing, sparkling white light danced about the top of the pot.
“ No further,” warned the alchemist. “ I wish you no harm but if you advance I will throw this and you will burn as if a dragon had unleashed its flames against you. Understand?”
Thaindire nodded.
“ You may leave by the back door. Do not threaten my helpers or me otherwise you will not be met with the tolerance that I have shown towards you this night.”
Thaindire stared at the fizzing light and having already been on the receiving end of one of the alchemist’s tricks, which had temporarily blinded him, he did not doubt the efficacy of the alchemist’s words.
“ Very well Grimoult, but know this, despite your protestations of innocent enquiry and experimentation you are straying from the One True God’s path and you shall account for your action,” he said..
“ Leave,” growled the alchemist. Thaindire turned and made promptly for the back door, slipping the bolt and turning the key as he had done previously and away he went out into the cold of the night.
He rounded the corner of the alchemist’s home noting that the ground now bore the glistening after effect of the frost’s caress. His breath clouded before him as he slowly walked around to the front of the house and the start of the strip of trees, which led to the east and the road out of the village. Thaindire could see across the square the well-lit tavern and the sound of revelry drifted across the still air towards him. He had no desire to return there, having to fend off the amorous attentions of Kathryn and who knew whom else and he feared given his mood that violence would ensue. He looked westwards and pondered attending on the Captain who had extended an invitation earlier but he had had his fill of the sanctimonious speech of the alchemist and therefore was loath to endure a similar lecture from the condescending soldier.
Instead he looked towards the four sturdy constructions, which amounted to the first four properties on the southern side on entrance to the village. They had their own lane in front of them, then a strip of trees and the square beyond. He could see that the two-storey houses were made from timber and stone and amounted to a quality on a par with the house where he had seen his doppelganger. Each house had a lantern hanging from a small porch, which overhung the front door, the yellow light forming a pool of welcoming light. He could not, however, see any other light about the homes for their shutters were closed. Thaindire approached the first property and bounded up the stone steps to the door. There was a polished plaque beside the door, which read,
“ Ariel Ignis.” He rapped on the door and waited. Nothing. He tried again, banging more loudly this time. Only silence greeted him. Puzzled he headed to the second house, which also bore a plaque that announced,
“ Barachiel Impes.”
This time Thaindire used the pommel of his sword to batter on the firm timber of the door, the sound echoing beyond, yet it failed to rouse anyone to answer the door.
The third pr
operty declared
“ Cassiel Mulciber,” on its plaque. Yet despite the presence of a well-lit lantern there was nobody in attendance. With neither hope nor expectation, Thaindire made his way up the steps of the last property. This was a little smaller than the previous three and marked the edge of the village before the dark of the forest beyond. Its plaque read,
“ Dumah Incednium.” He hammered three times but Dumah Incendium did not appear. Disappointed, Thaindire traipsed down the steps and stood back regarding the properties. Was he being watched and the inhabitants were choosing to ignore him or were they cavorting in the tavern along with the majority of the village? Either way he was no closer to learning who resided in these fine dwellings and he walked along the short lane, back to the square. Thaindire meandered over to the well and leant on the stone wall staring down into the darkness below. Why would the homunculus go down into the well? He had not got a straight answer from the alchemist and was now unlikely to do so. He queried whether anything the alchemist had told him was true or merely a ruse to keep Thaindire occupied until the tiny man awoke and gave Grimoult a chance to blind Thaindire and thus bring about his ejection from the house. The square glimmered, the moonlight glinting off the frost, which was growing thicker, and Thaindire shivered. He was unlikely to learn anything this eventful day and with a sigh he walked towards the tavern, determined to head to his bed and after his prayers seek sleep and the rest of the just.
Chapter Fourteen
“ Samael, wake up,” urged a soft voice.
“ What, what is it?” groaned Thaindire feeling a hand shaking him.
“ Time to get up,” entreated the voice. He opened his eyes and saw Kathryn peering over him. By the Order, had she come to pester him again to couple with her? He shrank back from her wincing as he bumped his back against the far wall of the room.
“ Come now my love, time to rise,” she encouraged. He lay there, eyes blinking awake as he realised it was not the middle of the night but by the brighter light that filled the room it was the following day. He had had another fitful night, the lump on his lower back interrupting his sleep every time that he turned over. He had sworn that it was getting larger. He rubbed a hand across his face and then hauled himself up into a sitting position. Thaindire became aware of the incessant chiming of the church bell, faster than usual.
