by Lloyd Baron
“Calm yourself,” the healer says staring directly into his eyes. It unnerves him so much that he glances away. There is something in his hard grey eyes that frightens him in his soul and he drops his eyes to the floor.
When he looks up again the healer has both his hands on Derry’n’s brow. His lips move silently and his eyes roll up into his head. Riochald gasps and a small smile drifts unconsciously across her mouth but Darwin’t doesn’t see this as he is fixed on the scene in front of him.
A small orb of light appears above Derry’n’s head and begins to sink into the man’s scalp. Danlynn goes to speak but Riochald holds up a hand for silence.
“He is a Mage healer,” she whispers. “Don’t interrupt him.” The light vanishes completely and the cell falls back into its gloom.
The healer stands a little shakily and drags in a breath. He looks like he has just run a lap around the great field back in Gressgs. Sweat covers his brow and he shakes with the effort to walk. He steps up to the third guard who as yet has not moved from his post by the small table, he takes the healer now by the arm and leads him towards the stairs.
“He will wake soon,” the old man says.
As if on cue, Derry’n sits up and yawns, stretching his arms back, elbows in the air and rubbing at his eyes with both hands. They would have all rushed towards him if it wasn’t for the chains around their legs. Even Tarfleam who now stands beside them breaks into a smile. Even if it is one of relief that he hadn’t caused the man’s death.
“Right, you lot!” the guard at the door shouts making them all jump. “You will follow me and not utter a word. You are to be seen by Her Majesty, who will pass her judgment over you.” He sneers at them and carries on. “I can tell you now that you will be sentenced to death. It is the only punishment for the likes of you. Now follow.”
They do as instructed and begin the single file shuffle up the curved stairway.
“I hope you have a plan!” Danlynn whispers over his shoulder. “Or this is going to be a very ugly end to our adventure.” He chuckles.
Two things hit him then as he walks slowly up the dark cold stairs. The first is that his friend never seems to amaze him; he would not have used the word adventure to describe the past weeks and he even manages to laugh. The second is that he has no idea what he could say to the Queen that would save their necks. Why would she believe his story?
He casts his mind out. Canace is still out there. Hopefully she is safe and will return home.
He wonders where she is right this second.
Kloek listens from his warm cozy place within the girl’s apron pocket, curling himself into a tight ball, he could have fallen asleep. That was until the girl began to relate her tale. His ears had pricked up and he’d settled to listen it out.
The Queen made a few sounds of amazement and sympathy when the girl told her about Riochald’s sad past and her renewed urge to help her friends where she herself had failed. But apart from that and a comment that Canace would have looked beautiful in her white gown with real flowers knitted into her hair for her bonding, the Queen remained silent.
The girl stumbles over her next few words and Kloek twitches his ears in anticipation. This could be the answer to the prayers of those still in the cells. If she handles this badly then she herself could be thrown into the cells and executed with the others.
“Um... your majesty. I um...” She pauses and fidgets on the seat. Kloek digs his claws into the material to steady himself. The girl continues. “We stayed in Doeia Harbor for a couple of days following the attack from the dragon. We helped a wealthy man in his house to care for some of those hurt in the fires.”
Kloek inwardly cheers. That is the information he hoped she would relay. In the last few days, after he had been healed by a kind old man he had called “Beardy,” he’d spent his time trying to help his chosen. He had learnt that the Queen was looking for a group of young people who had helped with healing at a low lord’s house.
“What was this man’s name?” The Queen asks in a soft, almost uninterested manner. However, Kloek picks up the slight hint of urgency in her delivery of the sentence. She too had picked up on the timing of this girl’s arrival and her being at the harbor at the same time as the dragon attack.
Again the girl pauses. Maybe she had heard the slight edge to the Queen’s tone and was thinking of a lie to cover the truth. Kloek jabs her with his claws in the fleshy part of her side. She yelps but in the same moment releases her words.
“Malti...Master Malti,” she says in a rush. Her hand reaches into the pocket and smoothes down the fur on his back. He rewards her with a lick.
The Queen stands and sweeps from the room without a word. She re-enters and makes an apology for her actions which Canace forgives on the spot.
A clever girl this one, yet a little naïve. She could do with hardening up. The girl is silent and from the rustle of paper he assumes she must be reading something.
Kloek thinks back to what he had been told all those suns ago when he had been taken into the embrace of her. She had told him that he would have to protect the Beast Tamer, one of a group of six who would change the world for the better. She informed him that she was going to write a prophecy and send it into the world for the people to learn. He had asked why she didn’t just tell the ones herself, but she had not given him an answer. He thought that maybe she could not speak to these people for whatever reason and he knew that she could not leave the light that she had taken him into.
He had been told that the magic which he had discovered had been forbidden and lost. His rediscovery of it would be a blessing and a burden. She informed him that his spirit would be removed from his body and put into that of one of three animals. He could choose which to enter first as he was the chosen protector. The other two had their roles to play, but his would be the most important one. He chose the cat form.
Unknown to him, when he made that choice his soul had been frozen in the light and kept there until the time it would be needed, some three thousand suns later. He had been bitter for the first few moons but had come to terms with what he had done. The magic was forbidden and his soul was payment. At least he had not become a dog.
“Yes,” Canace says a little shakily. “This sounds like Riochald and me.”
The Queen squeals her delight. “Do you know the trouble I have had trying to find you? Oh do not look frightened I wanted to reward you all. Tell me, where are your friends!”
Canace stutters again. “Riochald is in the city somewhere. These boys, I don’t know them. We met in the Nine Swans and stayed together for a while but I no longer know where they are.”
The Queen crosses her arms and huffs. “When was the last time you saw them?”
The girl does not answer. Kloek wishes he could talk into her mind like he can to with Derry’n. He feels suddenly sad by his lack of communication with the big man. Since his blow to the head he has not been able to link with him.
Almost at the time his thoughts about the man begin a cold slash cuts across his mind. Love, joy and happiness flood through the gap and the scent of the Beast Tamer fills his senses.
“Kloek. Can you hear me?”
“Yes. Yes, my boy. Oh I am so glad you have linked to me. I was becoming awfully worried. Where have you been?”
“In the cells. What happened to you? I was following you and then this pain in my head knocked me down.”
“Ah yes,” Kloek chuckles but it’s dry and mirthless. “Your good friend Darwin’t thought I was a rat and kicked me in the head. If it was not for Beardy I would most likely have been killed.”
Worry floats into the link and warms Kloek’s heart. In only the short time since they have found each other they have become bonded. She had told him this would happen but he did not realize how wonderful it would feel.
Derry’n feels it too, and he thanks Kloek for his concern.
“Not at all, my boy. Now what were you doing in the cells?”
“They think we tried to
kidnap the Princess.”
“They were talking about you! I overheard they had the kidnappers but did not think for one second that it would be you! My, my... this is a turn up for the book! I thought the others had been imprisoned for something minor.” Fear seeps out of him and into the link.
“Kloek what’s wrong?” Derry’n’s thoughts pound into the link as an answer to the fear.
“I am sorry to inform you that your friend Canace is sitting with the Queen and is about to tell her that you and the others were out in the fields when a girl came by. This could go very badly.”
“Kloek.” Derry’n shouts now. “Stop her.”
“How? I can’t talk to her.”
“Then scratch her or something. Just stop her implicating herself.”
“Too late, I am afraid. I’ll let you know what happens. Keep the link open.”
“Keep her safe Kloek. Promise me.”
“I will.”
Now how can he keep that promise?
“She said her name was Narinda, Canace says boldly. Her confidence grown somewhat over the past few minutes within the company of the Queen. It is amazing how normal the Queen is, she has a presence about her that only a queen can have. She has met ladies in the last four moons since leaving Gressgs that act like a queen but never achieved the calm power that this woman has. She does not act like a queen: she is one!
“Narinda?” The Queen repeats. “This was the other day by the pond?”
“Ye...yes,” she stutters. Her heart beats faster and forces its way into her throat. “How do you know that?”
The Queen stands and she suddenly looks murderous. “You tried to kidnap my daughter!” she spits. “What? You thought I would not know who you were?”
“I don’t understand!” she exclaims, but the Queen has stopped listening. She strides to a cord hanging from the ceiling and pulls on it over and over. A loud bell rings out and the sound of running feet echoes down the corridor outside.
It will be a matter of moments before the guards are here and she too is hauled off to the dungeons. She has to do something, but the Queen is rushing towards the door and will be gone in seconds.
The kitten leaps from her pocket and races across the floor. It jumps up at the Queen and claws at her legs. She staggers and stops to pull the animal from her. This is her chance to tell the Queen what they are doing here.
“Wait, Your Majesty!”
“Silence, girl!” The Queen shouts as she pulls the kitten from her leg. “I’ll have you locked up for what you have done.” She turns and pulls the door open.
Guards flood into the small room. The Queen is ushered out and she is taken under the arms. Her feet leave the ground as she is dragged out of the room and down the hall. As she is being pulled into the stairwell her last glimpse of the Queen gives her one last opportunity.
“We are the Prophecy ones,” she screams with all her heart.
“Stop!” the Queen commands, and the guards obey. “Explain yourself!”
Canace is put back onto her feet. “I left out the most important part of my story.”
“Which is?” the Queen demands angrily.
“The names of my friends.” This is a big gamble but is her only chance. “Darwin’t. Danlynn and Derry’n.”
“The three D’s,” a guard mutters from behind her.
The Queen stares at her for what seems like hours. She glances at her captors, and they release her. “Bring the prisoners to my study. Send Fia Sharphorn and Gareth Zian as well.” She turns away. The guards move in different directions and are soon gone from the halls.
“You have a lot to explain, young lady,” the Queen says without looking back. “But not until your friends arrive.”
Canace smiles to herself. Now they can deliver the message and go home.
She notices the cat slink out of the Queen’s room and into the hall. She scoops it up and puts in back into her pocket.
“Thank you,” she mutters.
The cat begins to purr.
25
GIFTS
Canace steps back into the Queen’s private room and stands by the chair. The Queen paces up and down, her face a mask of worry and concern. Twice she stops but both times she decides not to speak and continues to pace.
Canace keeps her eyes lowered but her own nerves force her to look up to see what the Queen is doing. The woman stops and turns to face her then and Canace drops her gaze again. The Queen goes to speak but the door to the side of them opens and a girl strides in, her temper bubbling.
“Mother,” she barks. “What is this I hear that you replaced Mai with a young girl?” She stops when she sees her mother is not alone and a look of embarrassment flickers across her face. She asks if Canace can wait outside for a moment and Canace goes to obey but the Queen steps in.
“Dear, we…” she indicates Canace, “we have important things to talk over. Mai was not replaced, she was moved to a different role within the palace, and we needed someone to do her old job. Now please if you would excuse us.”
The teenage girl flicks her long brown hair over her shoulder and goes to walk from the room when her eyes finally look into Canace’s face. Those eyes flash with horror and then hate. “Mother, she is the girl!” she screams as she dashes forwards. Canace goes to step back and from the corner of her eye she sees the Queen lunge forwards, but both of them are too slow and the back of the Princess’s hand smacks across her cheek.
Pain flares and blood spills from a gash one of the Princess’s rings has made. Canace drops to the floor, away from any more abuse. The Queen is there now and hauls her daughter away. They could have been anyone then. She has seen Fingal and Florence Bloom fighting back home about petty things for suns. They are mother and daughter like the Queen and the Princess but from a different world. They are farmers and here they are royals but at that moment—with the Queen holding back her daughter—they could have been the same women.
“What are you doing?” The Princess screams. “Let go of me!”
“I will not,” the Queen replies through gritted teeth.
The Princess shoves backwards, and the Queen tumbles into the plush chair. Her grip on her daughter is released and the girl rushes forwards, swinging her boot forwards. Canace braces for the impact and at the last moment remembers the cat. The boot is aiming for her stomach and the hidden animal. She lashes out her arm and grabs the boot, pulling it out from under the girl who falls backwards with a loud thump.
What has she done? Knock over a princess, that is what. She looks from the groaning figure of the Princess to the shocked looking Queen. “I am so sorry,” she says rushing to help the girl to her feet. Her offered hand is brushed aside and the Princess gets to her own feet. She ignores the girl and turns back to face her mother.
“She tries to kidnap me and you protect her!” She screams this. “I could be dead at her hands and you dare stop me from having my justice!”
“Shut up!” the Queen yells. Both girls are shocked by the common language spilling from the Queen’s regal mouth. “Sit down, both of you, and stop this childish behavior!”
While Canace gets to her feet and settles into the chair she notices the Princess doing the same; hate still burns in her eyes and Canace feels frightened. What has she done to make this girl hate her so?
“You’re the girl from outside,” she says as she recalls where she has seen the girl before. “I have to apologize for my friends. They thought I was in danger and chased you off. I made them pay for it and we tried to find you in the city.”
“Oh so that’s it! You have fabricated this story and mother has fallen for it. How do you explain the maid’s outfit then? If that’s not proof of you’re trying to get to me. Where are your friends, huh? Have they all got jobs in the palace now?”
“Her friends have been in the cells for the past three days,” the Queen says with an air of regret. “One of them was beaten badly.”
Canace begins to sob. She knows who the Qu
een is referring too.
“I sent a healer to him so he will be fine if not a little sore.” She turns to her daughter and smiles. “She tells the truth. They are the ones that I have been searching for: the ones from the letter.” She has her back to Canace and blocks her sight of the Princess but she can just make out her words. “Let me talk with them alone. I will call you back and let you know what I find.”
The girl pushes out of the chair and strides to the door, pulling it open. She lingers there for a second before closing it again and sliding behind a folding screen. The Queen misses the quick act and Canace keeps silent.
Whatever the Queen has to discuss with them, the Princess needs to hear.
***
Darwin’t tries to relax into the plush armchair he has been ordered to sit in, but his nerves serve to make it the most uncomfortable thing he has ever encountered. He fidgets and not for the first time attracts a glare from the big man who stands at the back of the room.
They had been expecting to be thrown to the floor in front of the Queen and have her declare that they would all be sentenced to death, but on their winding walk up from the cells Derry’n had blurted out that Canace was talking to the Queen. He did not enlighten them as to how he knew this, but he seemed both concerned and delighted by the fact. On arriving at ground level, they had been greeted by a guard who demanded that the prisoners be released from their shackles and allowed to walk free into the Queen’s Chambers.
Now, over an hour later, they sit waiting for the Queen to return. She had looked upon them briefly but had not spoken a word before fleeing from the room. Darwin’t could not fathom why she had run from the room yet he was sure she had begun to weep.
An older man steps into the room and glances at the shabby group, before strolling over to the big man. They have a whispered conversation which seems to make the big man fiercer. His cold brown eyes bears hate into Darwin’t’s every time they meet. The older man steps forwards and introduces himself to the room as Gareth Zian, Bodyguard of the Queen and Keeper of the Key, whatever that means. The other man mutters something too softly for the room to hear, yet it makes Gareth Zian turn and bellow for him to show respect.
