The Fragile Fall At Tallow Bridge (The White Blood Chronicles Book 1)

by Mark G Heath

  “ My blood?” repeated Thaindire.

  “ The very same. Those that want you to pledge your loyalty to the village require you very much alive for your white blood. Only once you have submitted to the will of the village, will they act.”

  “ To what end?”

  “That I cannot help you with.I know that they have plans for your white blood. I know not what those plans are. I do know that the longer you remain here, the stronger and more repeated the attempts would become to detain you. Thus, you must flee whilst you are still have a free mind.”

  “ So, that is why Kathryn has been trying to seduce me and Thorne has sought to enchant me and even this very evening Reznik wanted me to be at his side in protecting the village,” concluded Thaindire.

  “ It would appear so,” replied Priestcote. “ You should expect every villager to try and cause you to contract with the village to remain here.”

  “ But you have not tried to keep me here?”

  “ No, as I have explained, I would rather you leave and not return. That accords with Gualtian prescription. Your presence here will only bring further attention from your Order. You do not belong here and I have no wish to see you harmed. Do as I have done, turn your gaze away and look elsewhere.”

  “ I must leave this village and return to my Order at Lancester, I am duty bound in this endeavour.”

  “ You must leave but never return.”

  “ I cannot do that.”

  “ You must lest you be destroyed like your brethren who came here.”

  “ No, this is a hellish place that acts in defiance of the One True God’s word and is infested with sin at every turn.”

  “ Leave Aftlain and let Aftlain leave you. It is a village at the end of the world and has no business with the rest of the world. Let it be as it I,” urged Priestcote.

  “ You say for me to leave, but I see no way of doing so. The river borders the village on two sides and the forest is impenetrable all around it, save you and Thorne seem to have some ability to make it give way to you. The only way in and out is by the Widow’s Way and I have no steed. I cannot walk to Lancester, I would not survive the journey.”

  “ I can help you leave by horse but I must have your word by the Ordinances of your Order that you will not return to Aftlain,” declared Priestcote.

  “ You can, how?”

  “ There are several horses stabled at the inn.”

  “ Yes, I have seen them but they always seem to be in chains. This sword is sharp but it won’t cut through those chains,” commented Thaindire.

  “ Grimoult has a liquid that melts metals. That will break the chain so you can take a horse and flee the village,” whispered Priestcote leaning forward.

  “ Yes, yes he has, he made mention of it to me when I was talking with him, aqua fortis I believe.”

  “ Precisely. I have some woven fibres to deliver to him tomorrow; I could take the aqua fortis as part payment.”

  “ Won’t he raise a suspicion about your need for such a liquid?”

  “ No, if he does I will explain it is needed as part of my crafting of materials. I often purchase or barter some of his concoctions so he should not care,” responded Melissent.

  “ Excellent, shall I call on you tomorrow afternoon to collect the liquid?”

  “ No, my cousin will see you take it.”

  “ How will you get it to me then?”

  “ I will get it to your lodging and place it under your bed as soon as I am able. Don’t worry how, I will find a way to do so, but now I need you to swear on your Ordinances that you will leave and never return,” Priestcote said firmly standing up.

  Thaindire paused. He could try and purchase or steal the liquid himself from Grimoult, although gaining access voluntarily would be difficult given the hostility the alchemist showed earlier. A forced entry could be achieved but that would raise an alarm and he might be prevented from even reaching the stable with the aqua fortis. At this juncture he could see no other method available to him other than enlisting the help of the seamstress.

  “ Very well. I swear by the Ordinances of the Holy Order of Witch Finders, those Ordinances being the watchword to my heart, my guide, my belief and my being, that I shall leave Aftlain and never return.”

  “ Good. I must go now or my cousin will be wondering where I am.”

  “ But good lady, I have many more questions, about my brethren who came here before me, Grimoult’s homunculi and the tower to the south,” said Thaindire

  Priestcote shook her head.

  “ There is no time for those questions. Your departure is what must be secured. Follow me out of this glade through the trees otherwise you will become stuck and your departure will be halted before it has begun,” declared Melissent as she walked across the grass, her skirt swishing and swaying. Thaindire rose and walked across the clearing to catch up with Priestcote and follow her through the trees back out to the rear of the alchemist’s. Once they emerged from the foliage she looked about and seeing that they were unwatched she turned to him.

  “ Wait a while here so I can return unobserved and then await my delivery of the liquid. I cannot say with certainty when it will be, but I shall deliver it, on that you have my word Master Thaindire.”

  “ Thank you Mistress Priestcote,” replied Thaindire and he watched as she scurried away along the ginnel back to the square.

  As instructed, Thaindire delayed his own entrance into the square; instead, he leant against the wall of Ilberd Grimoult’s property mulling over what Priestcote had told him. He was troubled at learning of the village having some requirement for him, albeit its purpose unknown and he knew that he needed to depart Aftlain as soon as he was able and escape its unholy influence. A few moments elapsed and Thaindire estimated that Priestcote would by now have returned to her home and thus it was safe for him to emerge into the square. He slowly walked along the alleyway until he was level with the shop front of the carpenter’s store and then halted. A few paces ahead of him was a homunculus, alone in the square.

  Chapter Twenty

  The homunculus walked briskly, arms swinging as the tiny figure marched towards the wall of the well. Demonstrating the agility with which he had now become accustomed, the homunculus clambered promptly up the wall and stood atop it. Briefly it hesitated, casting a swift look around, before it dove into the well. Thaindire rushed forward and grasped the wall, staring into the darkness below. He could see nothing and no sound echoed back up the shaft of the well.

  “ What does it want with whatever is down there?” wondered Thaindire aloud, frustrated that he was too big to follow the miniature man into the depths of the well. Thaindire patted the top of the well wall in contemplation and then set off for the Last One Inn striding across the frost-covered cobbles.

  He pushed open the door to the inn and felt the wave of warmth wash over him in a most welcome way. The earlier noise had subsided to a more general murmur with the occasional shout or laugh punctuating the atmosphere. The bar was fairly full, awash with the villagers still drinking to the death of Coffyn. He approached the bar and climbed onto a spare stool, hoping to ease the nagging ache that throbbed in his back. Benjamin Dromgoole attended on him within the instant.

  “ Good evening Master Thaindire, what will it be?” asked the beaming landlord.

  “ Wine please,” answered Thaindire. Dromgoole nodded and placed a goblet before Thaindire, almost filling it with red wine. He took a sip and replaced the goblet on the bar before handing over a mark to the landlord.

  “ Quite the carry on up at Tallow Bridge,” commented Dromgoole handing Thaindire his change.

  “ Well, they all seemed to enjoy it,” remarked Thaindire jerking his head in the direction of the villagers.

  “ The detection of a witch is always cause for celebration. Means the village is a safer place,”

  Thaindire snorted, unable to conceal his derision at the irony of the landlord’s observation. Dromgoole frowned at Thai
ndire’s reaction.

  “ Don’t you agree Master Thaindire?”

  “ If she was a witch.”

  “ Well, I am not an expert in such matters, that is the calling of Father Campion, but the judgement waters claimed her and they never lie.”

  Thaindire drank again, letting the richness of the wine swill about his mouth, as he looked Dromgoole in his round eyes. He detected no wavering in the man’s belief that Coffyn was indeed a witch. He swallowed and gave a sigh.

  “ Yes, they never lie,” he muttered quietly in resignation. This affirmation of Dromgoole’s remark caused the landlord’s face to light up, a wide grin breaking across his circular face.

  “ Indeed and we are blessed to have the River Centopani and its holy waters run through our village.

  “ Tell me Master Dromgoole, are you familiar with Ilberd Grimoult’s helpers?” asked Thaindire changing topic.

  “ The tiny men?” Thaindire nodded. “ Yes, I know about them, why do you ask?”

  “ The other night I witnessed one attend upon the tavern, collect some parcel from its interior and then make its way back to the house of the alchemist. Following this, I saw another enter the tavern, drink your ale and then make for the well, its thirst quenched,” admitted Thaindire.

  Dromgoole laughed. “ Yes, they do like a flagon of Harris’ Old Gibberer, fair warms them up if they have to go down into the coldness of the well,” he explained.

  “ What in the One True God’s name do they do down there?”

  “ Fetch things for Ilberd I should imagine,” Dromgoole shrugged indicating that he was not entirely certain of the purpose of the homunculi’s excursion.

  “ And do you not find these creatures ungodly?” pressed Thaindire.

  “ My no, they are merely little men, harmless enough and purely to do the beck and call of old Ilberd. I could do with a few to help me, truth be told, especially when our Thomas has one of his sulks on.”

  “ What do they take from your tavern?”

  “ It varies.”

  “ How so?”

  “ I collect items from Lancester which Ilberd needs for his experiments. He is too old to travel and his helpers cannot speak, so I am often headed to the town, so I collect the things he needs.”

  “ What things?”

  “ Oh I don’t pay attention. He gives me the list and the money and I fetch back what he needs. Bits of metal sometimes, tubs of powder; heaven knows what he does with it all?” explained Dromgoole.

  “ Don’t you ask him?”

  “ No, no. He doesn’t ask me what goes in a barrel of Raging Fury so why should I ask him about what he is doing. He just potters away inside his house.” Dromgoole laughed again.

  Thaindire carefully regarded Dromgoole and was unable to ascertain whether the landlord genuinely did not know or was just maintaining a sheen of ignorance as part of his attempt to mask the village’s clandestine activity.

  “ Anyway, how fares your back?” questioned Dromgoole.

  “ It gives me some pain and is swollen, but I can manage, thank you,” replied Thaindire.

  “ You need to get Kathryn to take another look at it, if that is the case,” advised Dromgoole, “ I will send her over when she gets a moment. “

  “ No, really, it does not matter,” protested Thaindire.

  “ Of course it does, can’t have it worsening and having you walking about like Ilberd.”

  Dromgoole turned away to serve another customer, leaving Thaindire to his goblet of wine and his own reflections.

  “ Master Thaindire,” came a voice light and fair to Thaindire’s right. He broke his reverie and turned to see two young ladies stood beside him. Both were smiling nervously and twisted on their feet, unable to stand still.

  “ Yes, young mistresses, how can I help you?” he replied.

  “ Would you come and share a drink with us?” asked the first lady, whose long black hair had streaks of purple within it. Her dark brown eyes flashed with promised excitement as she looked at Thaindire.

  “ Please, we would be most happy to make your acquaintance,” spoke the second. She was taller than her friend, her hair also dark, not quite black though and without the dashes of colour. Both wore delicate dresses, which exposed their slender limbs and inviting cleavages, their skin unmarked and soft.

  “ You look rather lonely sat at the bar,” continued the first, placing her fingers together as if she was about to engage in prayer.

  “ We are sat just over there,” added the second motioning to a table by the window. Thaindire looked over at the empty table and then back to the duo that bobbed in anticipation.

  “ Very well,” he answered rising from his stool. The first clapped her hands in delight and they skipped back to the table, giggling and touching one another. Thaindire glanced down at his sword and noticed the faint glow from the sapphire on his pommel. As he suspected, he would need to be wary of these two women, whose supposed fresh-faced innocence masked dark hearts. He swept his cloak concealing his sword once more and joined the two women at the table. They manoeuvred him into the seat at the window so he faced both of them sat on the other side of the table and indeed the rest of the room. Across the room he caught Kathryn staring before she realised that he was watching her and she broke her gaze to busy herself with the needs of some farmers at a table.

  “ So,” remarked Thaindire leaning backwards and regretting doing so as the pang from his lower back made him jerk forward, “ who do I have the pleasure of sitting with this frozen evening?”

  “ I am Kendra,” said the purple-streaked lady, offering her hand to Thaindire, “ and this is Elvina,” she indicated to the taller girl, who also proffered her hand daintily to him. He gently shook their soft, small hands as he wondered what ministrations their delicate fingers attended to on other occasions.

  “ My pleasure ladies,” responded Thaindire, “ you, of course, already seem to know who I am.”

  “ Yes, your arrival at the village caused quite a stir,” answered Kendra.

  “ Hmm, indeed, were you badly hurt?” asked Elvina.

  “ I was roughed up somewhat yet, but much improved now. Thanks to the hospitality of Benjamin and his daughter.”

  “ Yes, Kathryn let us all know that she was caring for you,” answered Elvina almost dismissively and cast a sour look in the direction of Kathryn as she worked the tables.

  “ She has shown a magnificent care for me,” explained Thaindire.

  “ I can imagine well that she has. We did offer to nurse you, but she would not allow it,” commented Kendra.

  “ I didn’t know about that, well, thank you for the kind offer. Could I offer you ladies something to drink?”

  “ Yes please, some wine would be delightful, “ answered Kendra smiling. Elvina nodded her assent to wine also. Thaindire waved across at Kathryn who made her way, sashaying between the furniture over to the trio.

  “ Yes Samael, what can I get for you and your new friends?” asked Kathryn smiling although the smile was rigid.

  “ Wine for us all please?” replied Thaindire.

  “ Anything else?” asked Kathryn.

  “ No thank you, we can attend to that,” laughed Kendra causing Elvina to giggle also. Kathryn shot them both an icy glare before allowing her forced smile to break over her face once again. She walked away as Elvina leant forward and whispered to Thaindire,

  “ She wants you to herself, you know.”

  “ Oh I think not, she is only being friendly,” answered Thaindire seeking to diffuse the rivalry between the women.

  Thaindire and the two ladies sat and talked, enjoying the wine, which Kathryn brought over and slammed onto the table along with three goblets, which caused much amusement to the two girls. The pair asked him about his profession as a cartographer and although he suspected they knew full well his real calling, he maintained the pretence and explained his role in mapping areas for the Duke. He purposefully made the occupation sound as dull as possib
le yet this did not seem to dim the enthusiasm of the two women who listened with rapt attention as he detailed to them some of the places that he had visited. They confessed that they had never left the village, having been born in Aftlain and raised here. Interestingly, both no longer had parents alive, although they did not make mention of how they had met their demise, instead referencing their orphan status only in passing. Kendra, whose surname, Thaindire learned, was Leventhorp worked as an assistant to Thorne at the apothecary. Thaindire reasoned that she too embraced the dark crafts, which Thorne engaged to create her unusual concoctions. Kendra explained how she helped Thorne gather the ingredients and then was on hand to weigh and measure the correct amounts when Thorne went about her work. Although she helped the apothecary she did not reside there, instead the two friends had a house in the lanes on the southern side of the village. Elvina, who went by the name of Gaynesford, worked for the fletcher explaining that she feathered his arrows and spent her time searching for the correct and best feathers to use on the arrows before applying them. She spent some time detailing the various birds that provided the most effective flights fort the arrows, being more forthright in talking about her work than Kendra. A second bottle of wine was ordered, this time delivered by Thomas Dromgoole who in his usual reserved manner, both supplied the bottle and took payment in silence. Thaindire poured the berry red wine into the ladies’ flagons, taking care only to half-fill his own before setting the bottle down on the table.

  “ Were you at the bridge this evening?” asked Thaindire.

  “ Yes, yes we were,” answered Kendra quickly, “ Wasn’t it exciting?”

  “ You know, I always had my suspicions about Isabel,” admitted Elvina giving a knowing nod.

  “ Really?” asked Thaindire, “ how so?”

  “ I can’t explain it completely, you just know sometimes don’t you, that someone is not right. Imagine her trying to pass the demon spawn off as that of Father Campion,” she said raising her hands to her chest with incredulity.

  “ Whore,” seethed Kendra taking a deep swig from her flagon. “ Father Campion is a wonderful man. I see him each week for instruction in the One True God’s teachings and it is always a delight, never a chore,” she enthused.