The Rabbit Great And Terrible

by Chereta, Nelson

  Waldo sighed. “Alice, I grew up with free access to the Corpselover family library. Books are expensive and hard to find outside of large cities. My family library has more than five thousand volumes. They don’t just cover arcane subjects such as magical spells and the various monster races. There are books there about history, mathematics, poetry, the sciences, philosophy, religions, and all sorts of their subjects. It is one of the great repositories of knowledge in the entire world!”

  “Oh. Well, that’s wonderful, darling. But what does that have to do with us leaving?”

  “Among all those tomes are books about dragons too, several in fact. I read about their innate abilities and properties and the best way to combat them. I read the histories of several named wyrms and the horrors they caused. I read about Valen’s Sin and how it led to the Shattering. I’ve read about their habits and their diets and about all the uses of their various body parts. Dragons are the mightiest of the Great Monsters, so I learned everything about them that I could. I read every page that mentioned them. But, do you know one thing none of those books could tell me?”

  Alice shook her head.

  “Where to find them. In all those books there was never a single hint about the location of any current lairs. The only ones mentioned were historical. Dragon lairs are always well concealed and notoriously hard to find, not least because anyone who happens to stumble on one usually get eaten before they can share the information. The guild here also has a major library, and they are just as ignorant. But Valeria knows where one is, or at the very least the general location. This might be my one and only chance. If I don’t get the information now I might spend the rest of my life searching and never find so much as a hint.”

  Alice frowned, but gave a slow nod. “All right, darling. If it’s that important to you, I understand. I’ll go squeeze into the dress the queen wants me to wear.”

  “Wonderful,” Waldo looked at Belle. “We need to go pay the drow a visit.”

  Belle’s shoulders drooped. “Okay, master.”

  XXX

  Flowers and brightly colored ribbons decorated the streets. Illusionary doves flew overhead. Though it was still morning, people were already out drinking and enjoying themselves. The city guards were out in force, lining the main streets that led to the Arena. Commoners in plain grey and brown clothes were directed to go straight there and to hold onto their tickets. The guards made it clear they were not to wander. In the Great Plaza tables and wooden benches were being laid out. After the tournament was over there would be a feast and all the food and drink would be complimentary from the crown. A couple of oxen were already on spits and being slow roasted over open fires. Barrels filled with wine and stalls filled with all sorts of food were on display.

  Almost all the commoners passing the plaza on their way to the Arena stared at the mountain of free food and drink. The guards told them none of it was for them, it was for the queen’s guests and the residents of the inner city. They were told to keep moving.

  Waldo didn’t really notice. His thoughts were elsewhere. If everything worked the way Nen suggested, would he have trouble collecting his winnings? Much more importantly, would Valeria honor their agreement? He didn’t think she would deliberately break a deal with a White Mage, but you could never tell with drow. Once he had the gold and the map he, Alice, and Belle would leave the city as quickly and quietly as possible. The fact the gates always remained open would at least make that easy. The queen would probably be disappointed by Alice’s sudden departure, but it wasn’t likely to be a problem. He was much more worried about Melissa’s reaction. Luckily, she’d been absent from the palace the last couple days. The Dark Powers were smiling on him for once. He hoped to be a half a hundred miles away before she heard he was gone. With luck he would never see her again.

  “Master Rabbit!”

  The sound of someone shouting his name brought Waldo out of his reverie. He looked over and saw a familiar face in the middle of the crowded street.

  “Derren,” Waldo put the palms of his hands behind his head. “The love of the Rabbit unto you.”

  Derren and about thirty others returned the gesture and spoke in a chorus. “And unto you.”

  The guards who lined the street looked startled and glanced at one another.

  Waldo smiled. “I see you’ve grown the herd. I am sure the Great Rabbit is pleased.”

  Hit words put a look of sheer ecstasy on Derren’s face. He bowed. “Thank you, Master Rabbit. All I had to do was spread the word! People are eager to follow a god that cares about them and wants to help them. Unlike gods who only care about obeying laws and contracts that only help the rich.”

  The men and women who’d made the rabbit ears all nodded vigorously.

  “I was at the fighting pit last night,” Derren nodded to Belle. “Your victory was amazing, I’ve never seen anything like it. The Great Rabbit obviously blessed you.”

  “Yes, sweetie. That’s just what I was thinking when he put that sword through me.”

  Derren nodded in enthusiastic agreement, apparently missing the tone. “All of us have gone around telling people about Belle and about your sage advice, master.”

  Waldo blinked. “Ah, what advice was that? I give so much wise council to so many people it’s hard to keep track.”

  “That we should bet on Belle to win the tournament today. A lot of people can’t afford to buy bread any more, they’re hungry and don’t know what to do. I’ve told them to bet everything they have, to borrow if they can and bet that too. With the Great Rabbit’s blessing there’s no way Belle can lose. The Great Rabbit will provide for his herd.”

  “I am sure he will,” Waldo declared. “Just believe in the Great Rabbit and everything will always work out for the best!”

  Derren and the others continued on their way to the Arena while Waldo and Belle headed in the other direction towards the drow embassy. There was a spring in Waldo’s step.

  “Mother would be so proud,” Waldo said.

  “I bet she would, master,” Belle agreed.

  Chapter 32

  The Queen’s Tournament

  Waldo and Belle went to the House of Black Glass. As Waldo went he found himself scratching his arms even more than usual. Along with all the permanent illusions of the inner city, there were temporary ones that had obviously been cast just for today. White doves, blossom faeries, and sprites flitted overhead. Rainbows, pink clouds, and showers of stars would zip past just out of reach. Now and again a unicorn with a long flowing mane and a golden horn would pop out of some random alley, run about in a circle, then vanish back into the alleyway. Waldo saw the same unicorn do the same trick on three different streets just on his way to the drow embassy. The crowds who were out loved all of it, the children and young women especially. Waldo found the entire display rather garish and a huge waste of mana. Was this what mages studied and trained for? To create simple parlor tricks to amuse children? Maybe it was just as well the guild had refused to sell him any spells. Even if he did have a Talent in Illusion, he would die of embarrassment if he ever used magic to make a rainbow or pink cloud.

  A unicorn might be useful though, he thought. I wouldn’t make mine just run in circles. Since coming to this city his opinion of illusion magic had improved, but only slightly. It did have uses when it came to fooling mundanes. But most of what he’d seen had been wasted for the sake of simple vanity. He already knew invisibility, and that was probably the most useful of all illusion magic anyway. But maybe just a few more spells would have been nice.

  Along with all the shiny distraction he sensed magic coming from a couple empty spaces he passed. No doubt guards with invisibility spells cast on them. Along with all the extra manpower that could be seen, they were also using more hidden guards than usual. It was nice to know the guild could be sensible with its magic now and again.

  The unicorn with the gold horn popped out and ran in a circle in front of him.

  XXX

&nbs
p; When they arrived Nen was the only guard on duty.

  “So you came,” she said eagerly. “I was beginning to worry.”

  “Well, after what happened last night your idea seems the only real option.”

  “I’m glad you think so.” Nen turned her eyes to Belle and licked her lips. “Nice to see you again, big man. Though I’d like you better without your disguise.”

  Belle scooted behind Waldo and tried to duck down behind him. The difference in their sizes made the effort rather pointless. “You’re not going to get a stick and start beating me again are you?”

  The smile already on her face widened. “Do you want me to?”

  Belle shuddered, and Waldo could feel dread through the bond.

  “I don’t think we have time to waste,” Waldo said. “May Belle and I come in, so we can take care of things?”

  Nen nodded and ushered them inside.

  Fifteen minutes later the entrance opened again, Waldo and Belle exited. They went their separate ways; Waldo heading back to the palace and Belle going to the Arena. They didn’t say anything to each other but parted with a wave of hands. Around her belt Belle wore a pair of enchanted sabers.

  XXX

  The tournament was scheduled to begin at noon. So, the procession set out some time before then, as the horrible ball of fire was still climbing to its zenith. Four companies of guards kept the route open and the cheering masses at bay. Leading the way were all twelve members of the guild in their crimson and gold robes. They (of course!) had cast some minor enchantments that made the air about them shimmer and give all of them a slightly unearthly and mystical appearance.

  He was next, with Alice draped on his arm. She was wearing a scarlet and white dress with a corset cinched so tight she was struggling to both walk and breathe. The result was the top of her breasts were on full display and in danger of popping out completely. There were crowds of onlookers on either side all the way to the Arena. The crowds were all dressed in bright, well-tailored clothing. Every now and again someone in the crowd would place their hands behind their heads as if making ears, always a person in slightly plainer clothes.

  After him came the nine kings who were staying with Queen Madis. Each king was accompanied by a small retinue of knights and lords. Only two of them had possessed gold crowns. Madis was generous enough to provide all of them with crowns for this procession. It would help make it clear to the crowd that these men were all rulers in their own rights, and their presence would elevate her status even more. (The false crowns were baked clay with an illusion cast on them, but to the eye they were all golden.)

  Following the last king were the lords and nobles of the kingdom. Dukes, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, Lords, and Knights were all grouped together in a single mass. When they arrived at the Arena they would go to the seats they had purchased. These people were important enough to join the procession and to attend royal audiences and to send their daughters to her majesty as royal maids. They weren’t quite exalted enough to be actual guests residing in the palace or to join her majesty in her private box.

  At the very end was Madis herself, the Queen of Youth and Beauty. She rode on a litter, carried on the shoulders of four burly and muscular servants. She lay there, smiling and waving to the adoring masses. On her head was her crown with more jewels than there were stars in the night sky. The people stared, awestruck not just by the display of wealth, but by her beauty. Those who did not get to visit the palace regularly only heard about the exquisite and ever young woman who ruled this land. Of the queen whose perfect splendor made even the goddesses in the heavens weep for shame. Seeing her the men and women in the crowd cried out in joyous exultation! There could be no doubt this was the most beautiful and amazing woman in all the world! They were blessed just for this one opportunity to see her!

  Queen Madis graciously accepted all their adoration and love.

  When they reached the Arena, the servants carefully set her litter down and her majesty ponderously got up to her feet. The lords and ladies and retainers who had individual seats had already gone inside. Only those who would join the queen in her box remained. These were the twelve members of the guild, Waldo, Alice, the nine kings, and two others who had been waiting her arrival.

  “It is good to see you as always, Queens Madis,” Valeria held both hands out in front of her with palms up, in the drow salute. “I wish you a most happy day of birth and many more yet to come.”

  Beside Valeria was her blademaster. On Nen’s belt was a sheathed broadsword.

  “Thank you, Valeria. You are too kind,” the queen gave her a courteous nod. For political reasons the drow could not be allowed to walk in the queen’s procession, but she would still be a guest for the tournament itself. “It has been wonderful so far and I am sure it will only get better. I expect the matches will be very entertaining.”

  Valeria spared Leiznam a sideways glance. “Yes, I think they will.”

  XXX

  The queen’s party entered the Arena and went through corridors that led them to her private box. It was a large section of the lowest level, directly overlooking the arena floor. It was walled off from the surrounding seats, with access to or from it coming from a single stairway. It reminded Waldo of Ayden’s set up, only much larger and without a blackboard. There were twenty couches available and a dozen tables covered end to end with food and drink. Each table had a pair of pretty serving girls standing beside it.

  The stands were already filled by the time the queen arrived, sixty thousand people packed into a single building. Waldo had to admit, it was impressive. In Alter the only time you would ever see so many people in one spot would be when an army formed. Then again, why would anyone in Alter want so many mundanes in one place unless you were sending them off to war? The thought momentarily made him wonder how the war with Avalon and the Alliance would go. Alteroth would win, he could not imagine any other outcome, but that didn’t mean it would be easy. Well at least there would be conquests and new lands for all the Great Houses. That would make mother happy.

  Looking up at the stands it wasn’t hard to tell who had paid for their tickets and who had been given them. The lower sixth of the audience was a wash of assorted colors, with all the rest being shades of grey and brown. Seeing them tramp through the streets earlier, Waldo knew many of them had been waiting here for well over an hour. He wondered if they’d enjoyed sitting under the horrible ball of fire all that time, as their queen was carried here. There was a steady murmur coming from them, so he guessed they were eager.

  Leiznam approached Queen Madis and bowed to her. “Are you ready to commence the festivities, majesty?”

  Madis was bouncing up and down and clapping her hands together. “Yes! Let’s begin the fun!”

  Nodding, Leiznam took his wand out of a pocket. “Illuso grande majesto.”

  A twenty-foot-tall image of the queen suddenly appeared to be floating above the arena sands. A giant goddess with reddish blonde hair spread her hands and spoke. Her voice booming and easily carrying to every corner of the building.

  “Welcome, honored visitors and my beloved subjects! Welcome to this wonderful tournament. We celebrate my birthday with the games my country is famous for. This is my gift to all of you! Because I love you!” She spread her hands and seemed to beam down at the spectators.

  Many of them jumped to their feet and began to clap and cheer. They set off a low roar of excitement. It was loud, but not that much louder than the crowd at the fighting pit had been at its most fervent. Waldo was surprised that with such massive numbers this crowd wasn’t more deafening. When he looked closer Waldo noted something; all the people who seemed to be cheering were the ones from the lower sections. All the rest remained seated and silent.

  The queen must have noticed, her broad smile slipped a bit, and when she continued she sounded less enthusiastic. “Let us pay tribute to all those who fight today. To the champion a great prize, to all the others an honorable place among the gods. Gl
adiators, I salute you. Let the tournament begin.”

  Another cheer erupted from the lower seats, from the others came some scattered applause. The queen’s image gave a curt nod and vanished. As soon as that was done Madis rounded on Leiznam.

  “Why didn’t my people cheer me?” She demanded.

  “They did, majesty. They cheered loudly.”

  “No, they didn’t! They should have yelled and shouted until their lungs burst! Instead they barely made any noise at all! It’s my birthday! They should be happy for me! Don’t they appreciate how hard I work for them? Don’t they love me?” She sounded as though she might burst into tears.

  “Of course they do, majesty.” Garibaldi slid up beside Leiznam, a hand pressed to his heart. “They adore you, worship you, love you like no other. You are their perfect, golden queen. How could you ever doubt that?”