Haven Magic

by B. V. Larson

  Myrrdin moved uncomfortably. “There is some truth in what you say. But recall that the Faerie were devastated and exhausted as well. They lost far fewer lives than the humans, but they can’t replace them so quickly. A hundred warriors lost among the Faerie may take as many years to recover.”

  “That, of course,” interjected Modi, “is one reason they used humans to produce rhinogs. They needed warriors that bred more quickly.”

  “Well,” said Brand, speaking for the first time. He noted that they all turned their eyes to him and there seemed a new respect in their attitudes. It gratified him and made him a bit uncomfortable all at the same time. “Well, let’s discuss our current situation. We have yet to see Tomkin, but he is of the Wee Folk and their stealth is legendary, so he could be anywhere. We haven’t seen the Wild Hunt yet, but they too, could be hiding themselves. I don’t think they can come across the outer walls without great effort, if at all, so we should have the warning we need.”

  Before continuing he glanced at Myrrdin, who nodded in agreement. “But we must assume that they will come and that they will work to break the ancient charms of this place,” he said. “I suggest we finish our talk quickly and prepare to meet our enemies.”

  Modi grunted in agreement, but seemed disapproving of Brand’s commanding tone.

  “Agreed, Brand,” said Corbin. “But I for one must know what happened to bring you all the way to the merling stronghold.”

  Brand quickly related the events of the last several days, discussing Old Hob, the Will-O-Wisp, Tomkin and Voynod. He made sure to mention their deal with Tomkin, as he had promised. He hurried his tale, leaving out any mention of the axe’s effects upon his thinking and emotions. Indeed, it seemed that the axe tugged at his mind even now, for he felt anxious about the redcap and the expected arrival of the Faerie.

  Brand stood up at the end of his tale, but Telyn waved him back down. “Wait, Brand. I simply must know what happened to the rest of you while we wandered the marshes for days.”

  As no one else spoke first, Gudrin took up the tale. “The night of the merling attack was a strange one. I can’t account for the others, but it seemed to me that the wisps that you speak of so highly led me astray, although I’m loathe to admit it.

  “Separated from the rest of you, I soon found myself alone in the blackness of the marsh, in a darkness as complete as any I’ve ever known in the deeps of the Earthlight below Snowdon’s frozen crown. I found to my despair that I’d left my knapsack and the axe behind. Only my Teret did I take with me, doubtless because I love it more,” she said, thumping her leather bound tome affectionately.

  “The merlings fell upon me, and they netted and bound me. I managed to lay a few of them upon the mud, but it was not enough,” said Gudrin, glowering into the fire at the memory. “I believe I would have wielded the axe that night had I been carrying it. I might well have gone feral then, and ruined everything. For this reason, I account us all lucky that Brand took it up that night and still bears it now.”

  “I too,” said Corbin, “was captured in a similar fashion.”

  “Yes,” said Gudrin, shooting a disapproving glance at Corbin for the interruption. “We were both taken, and brought together, being dragged in a most undignified fashion through the muck trussed up in nets like huge frogs. That’s when Myrrdin and Modi appeared and raided the surprised merlings.”

  “Indeed,” smiled Myrrdin. “You did look like great netted frogs.”

  Gudrin snorted. “Anyway, they bashed and thrashed the merlings that dragged us and we searched for you two until the sun rose, but found only a few mushy tracks leading off into the trackless regions of the marsh. We followed them until we found what must have been Old Hob’s pond, although we didn’t know it at the time and saw nothing of that evil being. After that, we lost your trail. We found the skiff and decided to continue our journey, since it seemed that your tracks led north as well.”

  “Also,” said Corbin, “we didn’t know that you had the axe and had reason to believe that some other party of merlings had taken it back to their stronghold. We thought that way might lead to the axe as well.”

  Brand nodded and rubbed his hands together. He gazed out into the darkness of the gatehouse. He thought to see movement, but then figured he had been mistaken. He wanted to rub his eyes, but his gloves and his hands beneath them were too encrusted with filth from the hard trek across the swamp. He ground his teeth together instead.

  “When we reached the merling stronghold we came as guests,” continued Gudrin. “The merlings encircled us with armed fighters, but kept their distance. We met with their king and managed to find a means of communication. He related to us that he was essentially neutral, but was glad for the recognition of his people as worthy of notice. He spoke much of the unfairness and misunderstood status of his people amongst the other races.”

  “Never have I heard such a complainer!” said Modi unexpectedly. “Not even the Wee Folk can whine so interminably!”

  Gudrin gave him a withering glance. “On the second day of our discussions with the king, we learned that Dando was already there, making deals with the merling king on behalf of the Wee Folk.”

  Brand smiled despite his unease. The thought of the Wee Folk and the merlings bitterly lamenting to one another of their misunderstood statuses as thieves, spies and prowlers amused him.

  “Then the Wild Hunt came in search of Dando and Lavatis. Dando sought to wield Lavatis and turned feral, as you witnessed yourselves. Now, we find ourselves here, alone, and perhaps the target of the Wild Hunt as well.”

  A silence fell over all of them, but it was broken when a branch sailed down out of the darkness and landed neatly in the fire. The fire flared up a bit, eating the dry stick hungrily. Modi and Brand were the first up, and both reached for their weapons reflexively.

  All of them looked up to the highest pile of stone that still stood in the ruined gatehouse. There, still wearing his fawnskin cap, sat Tomkin. Calmly, he hopped down to the ground and bounded forward to join them at the fire.

  Brand sat back down, breathing deeply. The axe on his back shifted and he patted the knapsack absently to quiet it. “To what do we owe this pleasure?” he asked.

  The manling warmed his fingers over the fire. “Tomkin is here to claim the promised boon.”

  Brand nodded. “Ah, the pouch!”

  “Hast thou the craft to remove thy own curse, cheating witch?” asked Tomkin of Myrrdin in a conversational tone.

  Myrrdin laughed off the insult. “For you, I would do so even without the bargain you made with Brand. For you have stolen that which Herla so greatly covets!”

  Tomkin looked startled then suspicious at the idea of Myrrdin freely removing the pouch. He recovered quickly, however. “Wouldst thou then grant another boon?”

  “Possibly,” said Myrrdin in a tone that indicated he already regretted his rash words. “As long as it involves not one drop of my precious blood.”

  Tomkin shook his head. “No. Tomkin asks for something far more difficult to provide.”

  “What?” asked Brand, interested now.

  “Sanctuary,” said the manling. He nodded, indicating something beyond the twisted grille of the portcullis.

  Brand turned and gazed out into the darkness.

  “Music,” said Telyn. Her voice was not elated this time however, but fearful.

  Then the sounds came to Brand, the sounds of wind in trees and water running over stones. The music of earth, sky and water.

  “The dark bard has come,” said Telyn.

  “Dost thou grant my boon?” demanded Tomkin.

  Myrrdin appeared serious. “Yes. We will defend you to the best of our ability.”

  Tomkin nodded, satisfied. Then he produced the pouch from beneath his tunic. There was no sign of Lavatis, but Brand suspected it was in his bag or stashed beneath his cap.

  “Removing the enchantment will take some time,” said Myrrdin, tapping his bearded chin thoughtfully. �
��I’m not even sure I can find the required ingredients here on this damp ground. It will take an extensive search, at the very least.”

  Tomkin scowled and opened his mouth to speak, but Brand cut him off. “There is no more time for that, or any more chatter,” said Brand, coming to his feet. “The dark bard can’t pass the walls by himself, of this we are sure. About the others, and Herla’s powers using Osang, I don’t know. What do you know, Myrrdin?”

  “He will be stopped, but only for a time. I don’t know how long. There is no telling how the centuries might have eroded the charm that protects these walls. It was once quite strong, but now…” Myrrdin shrugged.

  “Then we must assume we are about to be attacked,” said Brand. “Let’s man these old walls and get this grille back into place. This gatehouse and the main keep seem to be the most intact spots to defend. Telyn, would you be so good as to climb up that wall and keep watch for the enemy?”

  Nodding and smiling, Telyn climbed nimbly up to the spot he indicated.

  “Kills two merlings and fancies himself a captain,” muttered Modi, stumping off into the darkness.

  “Modi?” Brand called. He frowned to himself. He needed the big warrior’s cooperation.

  Brand and Corbin set to work on putting the grille back into place. They soon found they could barely move it.

  “Look at the blast marks on this thing,” said Corbin as they grunted and heaved. The rusted metal creaked and grated against stone. “It appears as if the grille was blasted inward! I wonder what terrific force could have done such a thing.”

  “The Rainbow could have done it,” said Brand.

  Corbin looked at him. “You’re right. Think of it, Brand, centuries ago our ancestors fought for their very lives on this very ground.”

  “Let’s hope that we fare better than they did,” replied Brand.

  Chapter Five

  Tomkin’s Freedom

  They toiled at the grille, but at first it would not budge. Then abruptly, they made progress. The grille gave a grinding screech and moved with a lurch. Stumbling, they looked up to find that Modi was at their side. He had a huge branch in his hands and was using it for a lever. All straining and working together, they managed to get the grille back into the archway. Using levers, they tumbled stones up against it to hold it in place.

  “There!” said Brand, “that’s something, anyway.”

  “Not if they jump the walls,” said Modi, stumping away into the darkness again.

  Brand and Corbin looked at one another, deflated. They had forgotten the way the huntsmen had so easily passed over the walls of the merling town.

  “Perhaps we should consider a retreat to the river,” said Corbin. “We could use Myrrdin’s craft again to escape them.”

  “But where would we go?” asked Brand.

  “Back to the Haven?” suggested Corbin.

  “It would be like the flight of the Rainbow all over again,” said Brand, shaking his head, “they would eventually run us down and slay us all. At least here there is a charm and walls that might help us.”

  “Besides,” said Corbin, eyeing him carefully, “you rather like making a stand here, in the ruins of our ancestral homeland.”

  Brand looked back at him and smiled. “You always know me best, Corbin. What better place is there for two river-boys of Clan Rabing to die?”

  Still the music of the dark bard played in the distance. It made them want to sit and listen to it, to be lost in the beautiful sounds of the world around them, but they resisted the temptation.

  “Hard physical work seems to help keep your mind clear,” Brand told Corbin. “Let’s shore up the walls where we can.”

  Tomkin perched atop the broken walls and watched them work. “We need more than stone and steel to hold out the huntsmen,” he said.

  “What do you suggest?” asked Corbin, leaning on a branch he’d been using as a lever.

  “I could go for help.”

  Brand and Corbin looked at one another. “But if we lose the Jewel you bear, our whole purpose is lost.”

  Tomkin shrugged. “If we sit here and wait, all is lost anyway.”

  Brand discussed the matter with Myrrdin, who had just come up with more wood for the fire.

  “My, but that infernal music is persistent, isn’t it?” he asked the others. “Usually, it is quite compelling and all who hear it are soon dancing until their hearts burst. The charm on this place must be working still. Any sign of the other huntsmen, Telyn?”

  “None, I can’t even make out the dark bard. I wonder how long it will take him to realize we aren’t being affected by his spell.”

  “Hopefully, a great while,” said Myrrdin.

  “What do you think of Tomkin’s idea? He wishes to go for help.”

  “I will alert both the River Folk of North End and Riverton about our situation,” said Tomkin.

  “You would be willing to endanger yourself to save us?” asked Corbin in a somewhat incredulous voice.

  “Certainly!” said Tomkin. “Thou hast no cause to call me a coward.

  Brand and Corbin exchanged glances and pursed their lips, but said nothing.

  “Well,” sighed Myrrdin, “There’s little else we can do, unless we try to flee. We can’t last long in a siege, there is little food or water here. I agree, it is best that you go get help, Tomkin. None of the rest of us could slip past the Wild Hunt…but I would require that you leave the Jewel here with us.”

  “Mistrustful witch!” declared Tomkin.

  Myrrdin held up his hand. “We need to be sure that the enemy doesn’t get his hands on that which he has sought for so very long. You must leave the Jewel with us while you go to get help.”

  Tomkin pursed his lips. “That could be managed,” he said with the air of one making a great concession. “I can promise that the Jewel won’t leave these walls. If…”

  Brand rolled his eyes. “Another boon?”

  “Not a new one, but the fulfillment of an old one,” said Tomkin. He produce the pouch again and waggled it at them.

  “Right, go ahead and remove it, Myrrdin,” said Brand.

  Nodding in agreement, Myrrdin sat down and reached out with the tip of his staff. He lifted the burden from Tomkin’s neck. With a deft flip of his wrist, he tossed the pouch into the fire. It snapped and crackled. A brief gout of green flame shot up in response.

  “Done!” said Myrrdin, getting back to his feet.

  “That’s it?” sputtered Tomkin.

  “You said it would take a great while,” said Brand.

  “Yes, I wanted to maintain our leash over this little gentleman for as long as possible…” said Myrrdin with a reluctant shrug.

  Tomkin nodded slowly and narrowed his eyes. This bit of trickery was something that he understood. “Finally, thy behavior appears rational.”

  “And now,” said Brand, holding out his hand. “Let us relieve you of Lavatis that you may complete your quest.”

  Tomkin hopped up and grinned at each of them in turn. Brand frowned and the axe twitched suggestively upon his back.

  With a tremendous bound, the most amazing Brand had yet to see performed by one of the Wee Folk, Tomkin leapt up to the top of the damaged walls of the gatehouse. Taking great, springing leaps he commenced running along the walltops.

  “Free! Free! At long last Tomkin knows freedom once again!”

  The others watched him bemusedly. When he came to Telyn, sitting at her watchpost, he gave another great bound and cleared her head. She ducked reflexively, smiling. Brand noted that she was working at something up there, fashioning it with her hands. He was too distracted to be feel anything but a flash of curiosity about it.

  “What treachery do you plot? Don’t try to leave with the Jewel, Tomkin!” called Brand.

  “There is no fear of that, river-boy!” Tomkin shouted back, laughing.

  “Enough celebrating, Tomkin!” called Gudrin. “Time now to go get the help you promised.”

  Tomkin s
topped his bounding and came back to the fireside with two startling hops. He sat near the blaze, once again warming his fingers.

  “Well?” demanded Brand, increasingly impatient.

  “It is done,” said the manling.

  “What do you mean?” demanded Gudrin.

  Modi snorted, shook his head, and went back to work on shoring up the grille.

  “It is done, the task is already complete,” said Tomkin. He gave Brand a leering grin.

  “Tell us how then!” demanded Brand.

  “For another boon, perhaps,” said Tomkin.

  Brand stepped forward. The axe moved with excitement upon his back. “For the boon of not being sliced in twain, you—”

  Corbin stopped Brand with a gentle hand laid on his shoulder. “Indeed, Tomkin, you surprised us all with your speedy execution. Forgive us if we are at a loss concerning how your task was completed. But before more boons will be forthcoming, including that of your protection, we must feel that you have been honest in your dealings with us.”

  “Right,” said Brand, “tell us what you’re talking about or Herla can have you right now.”

  Gudrin smiled at Brand’s vehemence. “There is some of your brother Jak in you after all, Brand,” she said.

  Tomkin took it all quite well. Hopping up, he set his cap to a more rakish angle on his head and eyed them all. Clearly, he relished their lack of understanding. “Quite simply, I located the wisps that fled Old Hob’s lantern several nights earlier. Distant cousins of mine are the wisps, as thee might not be aware.”

  Brand felt it unlikely that Tomkin was related to anything as delicate and beautiful as the flittering wisps, but said nothing.

  “I told them of the situation here, and asked that they return your favor by flittering off to Riverton and North End to summon help,” finished Tomkin.

  “But they can’t use our speech!” objected Brand, pacing now. “How will they communicate the message? Why would the Riverton council believe a creature such as a wisp in any regard?”