The Rabbit Great And Terrible

by Chereta, Nelson

  Waldo sent the man a flat look. He then went over to the balcony and took out his wand.

  “Levitaros.” He floated up over the railing and down to the arena floor. As soon as his feet touched the ground he ran over to Belle.

  Leiznam got up off his couch and finished his wine, tossing the goblet away when he was done.

  “It doesn’t matter. Varca won’t be so careless, he will chop her up into dogmeat.” He turned to leave.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Alice held out a hand.

  Leiznam frowned, but took out his purse and quickly counted out fifteen gold marks and handed them over. That done he hurriedly left.

  XXX

  The raucous cheers began to die away when they saw him land. By the time he reached Belle they were almost completely quiet. Belle’s hands were stained red, and the front of her tunic was dark. Despite the pain he knew she was in, Belle managed an apologetic grin.

  “Sorry, Master. I guess I didn’t put on a good show. I’ll try harder next time.”

  Waldo bent over and put both hands where her breasts seemed to be. What he touched, of course, was a muscular male chest slick with blood.

  “No,” Waldo said. “I’m sorry. I put you in this situation. I honestly never thought they would give someone a magical sword. You did great, I’m very proud of you.”

  Dark Mages weren’t supposed to apologize, especially not to their own familiars. But Waldo knew what Belle had just gone through for him and felt he owed her at least that. Through the bond he could sense the pleasure his words produced.

  “Maybe later I could get a reward?”

  Waldo nodded. “After all this is over how about we do, ‘Wolf In The Pit?’”

  Belle gave an excited shudder. “Joy.”

  Waldo was glad he could do something nice for her. Though he would have to find some chains and leashes. “Totum corpus tuum est sanabitur.”

  His hands glowed as he began to work the healing spell. Belle gasped and gritted her teeth. Healing wounds like this was painful. The body wasn’t meant to mend itself instantly, it wasn’t natural. Skin, muscle, and bone were forced to reattach and regrow. As Waldo worked he got a clear understanding of the wound. The sword had only just missed Belle’s heart, a few inches the other way and it would have been fatal. Waldo was great with healing magic, but he could not pull someone back from actual death. That required a very different sort of magic.

  As he worked on Belle the guards came out. They gave the severed Northman mercy and carried away the pieces. He noted the magical sword was picked up as well. Waldo wondered if it might make another appearance at the tournament tomorrow. It was obvious now that Belle could not fight in it. Physically, he could heal her completely, but after what had happened tonight he realized she had no hope of winning. He would not risk Belle again if the chances for success were zero. As badly as he wanted the location of a dragon, there was nothing to be done.

  The chest was completely healed, and he had moved on to the gash at the shoulder when he felt nervousness through the bond.

  “Good job, big man. You’re just lucky he wasn’t using a spear.”

  “Thanks,” Belle said.

  Waldo looked over his shoulder at Nen. He hadn’t heard her approach. “You were right about this match.”

  “I know,” Nen said. “If the big man fights tomorrow he’s dead. I doubt he’ll even make it to the finals, but if he does Varca will end him. Nothing surer.”

  Waldo nodded as he finished healing Belle. “She won’t fight tomorrow, please give your mistress my apologies.”

  Nen stepped to his side and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “My offer from before is still open. You can still earn the Exalted Lady’s help.”

  He remembered what she had suggested to him earlier. “Will Valeria really honor the agreement if we do things your way?”

  Nen gave a quick and very eager nod. “The Exalter Lady only cares about the result. The details don’t matter to her. So, what do you say?”

  He thought about it. It would give him a last chance to get the information. He couldn’t pass that up. “All right, why not?”

  “Great!” She gave Waldo a friendly nod and Belle a wink that made the ogre shudder. “See you tomorrow then. Come pay us a visit at the House of Black Glass early and we’ll set everything up!” Nen left with a bounce in her step.

  “Master,” Belle lisped. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” Waldo said. Probably. “Now, let’s go. Tomorrow will be very busy.”

  Completely healed, Belle bounced up to her feet and grabbed Rabbitslayer. As they left the field the crowd began a chant.

  Rab-bit! Rab-bit! Rab-bit!

  XXX

  Up in the stands Derren and other followers began to tell the people around them about the Great Rabbit and how they could save themselves from starving this winter.

  Chapter 31

  Mother Would Be Proud

  “How beautiful you are, majesty,” Phiaa whispered in her ear. “How lovely!”

  “You grow more stunning with each passing year,” Katryn sighed.

  “How blessed we are just to be near you!” Hinata declared.

  “You shine brighter than the sun!” Geneva declared.

  “Your beauty and grace puts us all to shame,” Marcella wept.

  “How blessed the people are they will get to see you today!” Lyla sang out. “The Gods of the Realm surely loves you above all others!” The other maids nodded their fervent agreement.

  “Mmmm hmmmm,” Madis nodded absent mindedly as she stuffed some biscuits dripping with honey into her mouth. She was fifty-four today. For an ordinary woman that would have meant her youth would have been long past. But she was the queen of youth and beauty, beloved by the gods, and as beautiful this day as she’d been at sixteen. No, more beautiful, for the years had also blessed her with great wisdom which could only add an inner beauty as stunning to behold as the outer. She only hoped her people truly understood how blessed they were to have such a wise and benevolent ruler watching over them. She licked her fingers clean and nodded to Phiaa. “Bring him in.”

  The girl nodded and hurried to the chamber door. In strode Garibaldi, wand in hand. Her court mage gave her a deep and elegant bow.

  “I wish you a glorious and wondrous birthday, your majesty. With many more still to come.” He rose up out of his bow. “With your permission?”

  “Yes,” Madis said and drowned another biscuit in honey.

  Garibaldi cast his illusion, transforming the appearance of Queen Madis from a three hundred pound plus fifty-four-year-old, to the beautiful goddess her subjects and guests were familiar with. The moment that was done Marcella fetched the mirror and the queen peered into it.

  “Perhaps a bit more red in my hair? I think that would look good.”

  “So that you might look more like Alice?” Garibaldi asked, the slightest hint of disdain in his voice.

  Not noticing the queen nodded. “She is attending the tournament with me, isn’t she? I kept inviting her, but she kept trying to make excuses.”

  “That is very rude of her. Most would gladly kill their own parents for such a chance.”

  “Oh, I forgive her,” Madis said with a giggle. “I’m sure it’s not her choice. She is married to a White Mage after all. You know how they are. If she weren’t, I would have made her one of my maids. Even if she is of common birth, she is extraordinary!”

  “So your majesty keeps saying.”

  “Is she coming? She told me she would ask her husband. I invited him too. It would have been rude not to, buy you know how much they hate the games.”

  “Actually, both Master Rabbit and his wife will be attending.”

  The queen’s jaw dropped. “They will?”

  Garibaldi nodded. “It’s not really that great a surprise, given that his servant is a contestant.”

  “Still, a White Mage attending the games? It is surprising.�
��

  “It is. Though not as surprising as meetings with the drow. Or making his servant volunteer.”

  “What about Mistress Cornwall? Will she be attending as well?”

  “It would not seem so. She has been absent from the palace for the past two days. Though she was kind enough to pass on a message about how much she deplores such violence.”

  The queen nodded. “Well one miracle will have to do then.”

  “I would consider her stance somewhat hypocritical, given her people have started a war that is certain to cause the greatest bloodletting since the Shattering.” Garibaldi bowed his head. “Your majesty was most wise to not involve us in it.”

  “Yes, I know.” She crammed some more biscuit into her mouth. As if she wanted to join a war! Wars were very exciting to read about, but also very, very expensive and a lot of trouble. Especially if it meant going to war with Alteroth. Garibaldi had been nice enough to explain that the Dark Mages were a lot closer than the Whites.

  “Majesty, as today is your birthday, now might be an appropriate time to discuss the succession. You have no heir and it would set peoples’ minds at ease if-”

  “I don’t want to talk about that,” she said with a frown. “All those cousins and distant relatives who just want to steal my crown. It’s unpleasant! Why must you bring up things that are so unpleasant?”

  Garibaldi smiled at her in that roguish way he had. “I am sorry, majesty. Being a ruler is difficult, and sometimes requires making hard choices. Torikai is truly blessed beyond measure to have you as its sovereign. Yet one always needs to be prepared for the future. Your cousin Mywin seems like a sensible man with a good head on his shoulders.”

  She turned all her attention back to the mirror Marcella was holding. “What you really mean is that he’ll do whatever you and the guild tell him to.”

  “Of course not, majesty!”

  The queen paused. She really didn’t like talking about unpleasant things. “Do you want to replace me? Valeria says you do. She says the guild is dangerous.”

  “You would believe a drow? Everyone knows the drow are monsters! The guild has served the crown for over two hundred years. We are your most loyal and devoted servants.”

  Madis moved her head slightly so she could see him in the mirror’s reflection. He was so handsome and clever, if she were ever going to give cock a try it would be with him. She did trust him and the guild. They had always given her good advice and worked very hard to take care of her subjects and all the visitors who came here. She knew Garibaldi and Leiznam and the others were all loyal. She knew it.

  It was just that sometimes when she would talk with Valeria the woman would bring up how wealthy the guild was. She would mention all their special privileges and about all the decisions they made without consulting her. Valeria would ask who had decided this royal appointment or signed that contract. Madis would always tell her that she made the important decisions, but couldn’t make all of them. Garibaldi and the guild helped her by dealing things that were beneath her. But the major choices were always hers.

  “And when was the last time you made a decision that went against what the guild wanted?” Valeria had asked as she nibbled on a peach.

  The question had caught her off guard. She normally just agreed with what Garibaldi said. After a moment the answer came to her.

  “When I refused to expel you from my kingdom.”

  Valeria had nodded. “And did the guild accept your decision the way good servants should? Or have they kept after you to change your mind? As though you should obey them?”

  Madis hadn’t liked that question, it was unpleasant. The guild did constantly pester her to get rid of the drow. No matter how many times she told them no they kept bringing it up.

  “Today is my birthday and I want to celebrate. I don’t want to hear unpleasant things today. Tell me something that will make me happy. Will the Arena be filled? Will my people come and celebrate with me and show me their love?”

  “Oh yes, majesty. Every seat will be occupied, and I am sure that their joy at seeing their queen of youth and beauty will be beyond all measure.”

  “Good! I want to have a wonderful day today.” She forced the worries and unhappy thoughts from her mind. “Now a bit more red, and do you think my eyes would look better if they were amethyst instead of blue?”

  XXX

  The guild members were getting ready. They would go over to the palace and then proceed to the Arena itself as part of the royal procession. Despite the fact everything was completely fine a few of the members were nervous.

  “What do we do if Varca loses?” Verde asked for the fifth time.

  “He’s not going to lose,” Leiznam said, barely holding on to his patience. “I’ve already told you, there is no chance the ogre can win, none. If Asger hadn’t gotten careless she’d already be dead. I’ve talked to Varca and he won’t make the same mistake.”

  “But what if he does?” Verde whined.

  “He won’t!” Leiznam snapped. “Stop worrying about it! Everything is fine!”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” Cavin said. “Something is going on. Every gaming house outside the wall has been taking bets since sunrise.”

  “So?” Leiznam asked. “That’s normal. There’s always a surge the day of a tournament.”

  “Not like this. They’re all under siege, crowds were waiting outside each of them. Thousands of rats betting heavy, well, heavy for them. They’re probably betting everything they have, and damn near every single bet is being put on just one fighter.”

  “Let me guess,” Leiznam rolled his eyes. “Belle of Tarsus.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised after last night’s performance. Rats are stupid after all.”

  “But what if they know something?”

  “When do the commoners ever know anything? Pack of worthless vermin! I swear we should get rid of them all, or at least all the ones who don’t have work. They’re all just mouths to feed.”

  “A lot of them are going to starve this winter,” Galen pointed out.

  “Good! That’ll make the rest of them easier to deal with,” Leiznam said. “They’ve been getting to be more and more trouble lately.”

  Over the past few days there had been clashes between the locals and the authorities. People were starting to openly threaten the city guards, something that would have been unthinkable just a month ago.

  “The White Mages are the real problem,” Galen said. “They stir the rats up and give them dangerous ideas.”

  Everyone nodded in complete agreement.

  “The problem is we can’t just expel them,” Terval said.

  “I heard that there’s a city in some country called Lothas that did that,” Verde said. “A duke got his sword stolen by a white and so he banned them from his city. The whites retaliated by raising a horde of undead to attack him.”

  “I heard the same rumor,” Cavin said. “Except it was goblins, not undead.”

  “Don’t believe everything you hear,” Leiznam said with annoyance. “We can’t even risk offending Avalon that way, you really think some duke can? Especially not now when they are at war. White Mages have to be handled delicately.” He scowled. “The drow are something else. It’s time we got rid of them once and for all.”

  “Garibaldi says the queen won’t agree to that,” Rodo said.

  “Then the next ruler will,” Leiznam said with finality. He thought of Nendara and how she had humiliated him. “The drow are starting to get too arrogant. Madis has given them too much leeway. I want them gone! Gone from this city, gone from this kingdom! They never should have come here in the first place!”

  No one argued with him.

  “We’ll need to wait until next spring at the earliest,” Galen said. “Things are too unsettled right now for a succession crisis. And if we can get her to name Mywin her heir, that will make things much simpler.”

  Leiznam nodded. “We
can wait a few months.”

  XXX

  “Everything needs to be packed and ready to go,” Waldo said. “As soon as I collect our winnings and the map from Valeria, we’re leaving.”

  “Darling, couldn’t we just leave now?” Alice clasped her hands together.

  “Yeah, master! That sounds like a great idea!” Belle said with enthusiasm.

  “And where would we go to?” Waldo asked.

  “Anywhere we want,” Alice patted the purse at her hip. “Darling, we have fifteen gold coins! A small fortune! We could hire a ship or a wagon to go any place at all. You know I’m happy to go anywhere so long as I’m with you. So why don’t we just go now?”