Engaging Evil (Warriors of Vhast Book 2)

by Cary J Lenehan

  Astrid

  We have had to wait all day and now we see it is just a small trade caravan, so I don’t even get to have the excitement of combat. One man is on foot leading three laden packhorses, and with one guard out at the front and another at the rear looking around as they go. The rear packhorse has a spear stuck through the pack frame, while the front animal has two. All three men are wearing swords and they have round shields on their backs. The two guards walk with bows strung and are looking all around them cautiously. No wonder they are travelling slowly. The guards are clad in mail. The horse handler is wearing more normal clothes. The magic detector glows. From the way the man in the front is moving and checking his surroundings he has not been along this path before. He keeps moving ahead to look over crests and then waving the others forward just as I did, but he is not really a hunter. He seems to be at least as good as many I have seen at keeping within cover, but he walks on the pathway too often and leaves tracks. He must be from what my husband calls the Army.

  Astrid reported their presence with the Talker and, despite the ring she wore, kept low. As the visitors drew closer she took a better look using the telescope. The one with the animals actually has mail under his clothes and his garb looks to be of more than reasonable quality. The two guards…well they are ugly…they are part-kharl, just not as cute as Basil. This must be a Darkreach trader and he is either heading for the village, or he is in search of a market.

  Quietly she used the Talker, instructing all the users to be as quiet as they could be until one of the watchers on the lookout said otherwise. She received acknowledgement from the other four and then handed it to Stefan and went back to her task of watching.

  She observed the group move down the track. They stopped when they saw the bridge and then, after a short discussion, continued. Astrid had an idea. This would make up for the boredom of the day. She pulled back from the edge and appeared to the others as she removed the ring. “They seem to be innocent,” she whispered. “I am going to see if I can hear anything from them. If one of you takes over watching here, I will be back as soon as I can be.”

  ~~~

  Stefan

  Damn, what is she up to? She had disappeared again and he felt her brush past. He waved Bryony forward. She is the more experienced hunter, after all. She wriggled forward with the telescope that had appeared when Astrid had put it down and left. She didn’t need to use it to see the traders cross the bridge and then continue down the old road past the valley, but she whispered back all she saw. The visitors had barely glanced at the ravine and its two disguised paths. After crossing the bridge they continued down the path and past where the initial assault had gone up the hillside. Once they were well away, Stefan reported back to the village.

  “She did what?” said Rani. “Is there any sign of her?”

  “She is invisible,” interjected Bryony from the side.

  “Then finish the watch and come in. Hopefully she is back by then. Come in when you see their campfires.”

  ~~~

  Uncomfortably Stefan held position. Now, how long do we wait?… They have set up for the night. At least I think that is how that small column of smoke should be read… It is growing stronger…we will keep waiting…at least we can take comfort from the fact that no-one has gotten on to the Talker to ask what is happening. He and Bryony discussed how long to wait and they looked at the path time and time again. There is still no sign of Astrid. He waited until the last of daylight was fading before motioning Bryony down the path. With a last look down the path she went down and he followed the track to the path up the ravine. He felt a wave of relief when, just as they reached it, Astrid appeared, taking off the ring. She was panting.

  “I stayed with them as long as I dared and then ran back. They are Darkreach traders, one Human and two are insakharl, hoping to sell herbs and spices in the Swamp. If they get a good price they will come back north in a few weeks with what they can buy and come back again next year with a larger supply or whatever they think will sell. They want this to be a regular trip and for them to get rich. They found this road by accident and are congratulating themselves with saving a week on their journey and avoiding any tariffs on the way. This ring makes being a scout almost too easy.”

  Together they returned to the village.

  ~~~

  Rani

  “Those were not your orders,” said Rani uncomfortably.

  “I know,” said Astrid, with a grin. Damn her. Couldn’t she take these things seriously? She continued, “But I suddenly realised that this was possible. If I had asked then, they might have heard your reply and that would have spoiled everything. As it was we know all about them and can talk to them next season. I even know that the trader is called Carausius and his guards are Festus and Karas. I am the scout. It is my job to use my initiative and find things out. That is what I did,” she concluded stubbornly.

  “She is right, dear,” said Theodora. Her hand is on my leg. “She found out exactly what we need to know. If she can do the same when they come back we might find out even more. She also safely gave us a good idea how well the magic works.”

  I am used to being in an army where people obey orders and there are plans to be followed, not this madhouse where people do what they think best…however. She sighed. Chagrined, she admitted that Astrid had been right. “But try and obey orders. If you had gone missing I would have had to explain it to Basil.”

  “He would have found me somehow,” declared Astrid loyally. “Can you make us another of these?” she asked Theodora. “It could be very useful for scouting and I have more jewellery like my cloakpin that you can use, if you want.”

  “We will see,” was the reply.

  ~~~

  Thord

  I am used to bringing the animals down from meadows to town, but not quite like this. Here I am the only Dwarf and the adventure has only just begun. We have been taking milk and hay back; now it is time to bring the rest—one Dwarf, Giles, Naeve and our Khitan.

  “Last night we had light snow…” said Thord, when they had returned, “’n’ we decided t’at it was about time to come down. I explored further while we were t’ere, ’n’ t’ere was no sign of anyone up t’ere, but I found what may be an old path leading further into t’ mountains. T’ere are some faint signs, in t’ way of displaced rocks t’at it may have been used, perhaps year ago, but I’m not good enough tracker to tell for sure. It could’ve been animals, it could’ve been people. It is too hard for me to tell.”

  “Go, wash and rest,” said Theodora. “Tomorrow I will go back up with Hulagu and set two warning traps, just in case. Naeve, go and see Giles and Dulcie. You have a wedding to prepare for.”

  ~~~

  Rani

  The third wedding has been better prepared than the second. The groom and his groomsman both stand there in new trews, tunics and vests. Goditha has her hair held back in a braid and, if you ignore the swell of her breasts beneath the tunic, looks more like a very attractive youth rather than a woman…unfortunately. The bride is wearing a new dress of fine pale yellow wool to go with her hair and her maid of honour has a new dress of green.

  Rani said, in an aside to Theodora, “I am betting that the most successful merchants coming in here will bring either men or cloth…or both.”

  Her partner giggled behind her hand.

  Our priest is more polished in his delivery this time and, at the request of the bride and groom, includes the prayer for pregnancy. The girls here regularly used herbs for some time to try to avoid pregnancy, not always successfully. Pregnancy could be a death sentence with the bandits if things went badly and Naeve has said that she is not sure if her body was working right yet. At least there is little sign in her demeanour of the terrified woman who had huddled in the mage’s house screaming on the night of the attack.

  That necklace of citrine from the store well matches the bride’s colour. The food is again more to the Freehold style, but there is greater variet
y and the night is being the success that everyone hoped it would be. From up front you can see and hear all that is happening. Verily still lacks the confidence to dance the Khitan dance but vows she will be ready for the next wedding. Ruth has also joined in learning the dance, but then I notice she seems to want to learn everything.

  ~~~

  Father Christopher

  Very late in the afternoon of the next day the carpet took off bearing Christopher and Theodora. They had the cloak of warmth to share on the trip and they took the Talker from the top meadow with them. They would now have a chance to find out its range. In front of him on the carpet Theodora was dressed as if she were a mercenary in mail, not her own rich armour, but she did wear and carry her own helm, bow, sword and shield. She was also wearing her amulet to disguise her eye and hair colour. Father Christopher sat behind uncomfortably. He was in his new, matching apparel. Did Hulagu and Stefan have to find a set of magical mail and a helm that fit for me as well as the enhanced, mace and shield? The mace hung at his side and the round shield was slung on his back. I know that I try not to think too much on the previous owners of these things and what they have seen. At least I am far more likely to survive a fight now than when I set off on a trail wearing a cassock and sandals and with a staff in hang. I was armoured in my ignorance and faith then and can only thank the Lord that he helped me find Astrid. Now I might, with all the practice that Hulagu is making me take, be getting less incompetent at using these weapons. Not that I am competent, mind you. That is still a very long way off, but at least I am unlikely now to be a danger to the person standing beside me.

  They still had not worked out why the bandit Ahmed had entered along the valley and through the gate, but decided that it was prudent to do the same. Getting to the gate, Christopher hopped off the carpet and had it opened, closing it behind them. They flew down the valley and up to the lookout. No-one appeared to be there. They waited for a while.

  Theodora lifted the Talker and was about to call Rani when Astrid appeared, grinning.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t resist that,” she said. “You should have seen the look on your faces. Ayesha and I are trying to work out which of us is best to use this one. When I have it, she bears the new amulet that you have made for me with my old cloakpin. It seems safe for you to go on. I have seen nothing besides the usual eagles that hunt to the north and some hawks out over the forest.”

  I feel relief at that. Even if I now bear arms, I am not relishing having to fight at all… Now, as we fly the sky is lovely and peaceful and the view is disturbingly vast, but I am running out of things to say.

  He had been talking constantly to Astrid, and she to him, and they had gone half a day’s fast ride when the Talker stopped working. It went from being as loud as ever to a whisper in a few heartbeats. We now know its range.

  In silence they sailed quietly through the rapidly chilling night sky. There are some patches of light to our left…that must be Erave Town and its surrounds…and then the light of the moons reflect off a flat area…Lake Erave. We have the patches of lights of different sizes that should be Evilhalt and its hamlets. Is it silly to be pleased that I remember the positions of some of these places to the north? They continued until the sky behind the mountains, which were moving further and further to the east, started to gradually grow lighter. In the growing paleness they looked below. At least we can see more to navigate by now. To the north and west are some tall hills and below them is a river.

  “Ruth found an old map in the library,” said Father Christopher, as he tapped the Princess. “If we are right, those should be the hills of the Dwarves, and it is where the river ends that joins onto the water way which enters Lake Erave. Greensin should be north of them, half way to the sea on the Ogunbil River. I know there is a path to the Dwarves and another that leads to Evilhalt and another, if you take the wrong turn as I did, to Wolfneck. I think that we should land near the river for the day and go on tonight until we see clearings and villages around Greensin. We should walk in rather than fly. I will do the talking.”

  “That is best,” said Theodora. She is probably glad she had been working on her fitness since we will have to walk some way.

  ~~~

  They did as Christopher suggested and early in the morning on the second day walked through the fields of the hamlets around Greensin. It will be a goodly day’s walk before we draw near to the monastery or the village. The carpet weighed him down. He had it rolled and folded over his shoulder so that it came down to his knees at front and back as if it were a very bulky blanket. This is heavy. His shield strap hung off the other shoulder. I am glad that this autumn air is more than a little chill.

  I asked for this meeting and yet now I dread it. I can only hope we find the Metropolitan straight away and we are not delayed. That is a relief. We have a file of the Basilica Anthropoi moving down the road towards us on a patrol with their horses. It was only a brief moment of relief. Oh dear. We need names. I am not very practiced at this lying business.

  ~~~

  Theodora

  Theodora watched the file approach. This is interesting. I thought most westerners wore the same motley collection of weapons and armour as Freehold do and have the same lack of discipline. These could be some of Darkreach’s best…they even bear the Chi-Rho on their shields and the leader has an icon painted on his shield. I wonder how many there are in Darkreach who know that the Church here may be militant.

  ~~~

  Father Christopher

  As the troops drew near Christopher halted and waited for them to approach. I know this patrol leader. I have met him many times. I hope that my disguise holds and that the monk will not be seen in the mercenary. The leader held up his hand and the file stopped. Their bows hold arrows nocked but pointed down. He is coming to us.

  “Greetings in the name of the Metropolitan and the Holy Church,” said the leader. “Who are you and what is your business here?”

  I have to bite my tongue to stop myself blessing the man. “I am Georgiou and this is Helena. We bear a privy message for the Metropolitan. Can you tell me where he is please?”

  “You can give it to me and I will be sure that he gets it,” said the leader.

  “Praetor, if I could do that, it would not be a privy message now, would it?” said Christopher chidingly. “I was given a mission, I took an oath. I will fulfil it. We have lost one companion and our horses, and we are eager to complete this task. Can you tell me where he is please?”

  The leader, Michael, yes, that is his name, grinned. “One always has to try. I believe that he spends the night at the monastery tonight. Seek him there. Do you need a guide?”

  “No thank you. I have been here once before,” replied Christopher.

  The Praetor nodded and gathered his file behind him and rode off behind them.

  “For a priest, you lie with facility,” said Theodora, when they were out of earshot.

  “I am glad you think so. I will add it to my confession when we are seen,” said Christopher. “I may be busy most of the night. You may have to stay in a guesthouse outside the walls, but I will try and lure the Metropolitan out to us. In other words, I will probably spend a bit more time on my knees for my sins. Follow me and do what I do if he comes out.”

  ~~~

  Eventually they approached the monastery, threading their way through a large village and the people in it, passing the guesthouse and the outbuildings and the homes of the monastery servants. People are looking at us with only mild curiosity. I may have been overly worried. I suppose Greensin is enough of a town for strangers to be fairly commonplace. On reaching the gate Christopher knocked and in a short while the door opened…Another shock—that is Brother Petrus. He has filled out in the time since I last saw him and the few stray wisps of hair on his face are now starting to look a bit more like a beard. I hope that he does not recognise me.

  “I am Georgiou and this is Helena. Could you please tell His Eminence that we bear an urgen
t message for him from Father Christopher, whom he sent away to the east? We will both wait here until we can see him.”

  It seems that the eye rims and the nasal of the helmet are sufficient as a disguise. He is not seeing past the armour. He does not even appear to have noticed Theodora’s disguised black eyes.

  “You may enter and I will take you to him, but the lady must stay here.”

  “I am sorry, but we must both see him. We will wait here until he is free.”

  “I will see if he can come then,” said Brother Petrus. “From Br… Father Christopher, you said?” At least he is interested in my name. Christopher replied with a simple nod. Petrus quickly closed the door and left them standing here. Theodora made a move to speak, but Christopher held his hand up. Her accent is wrong.

  “We will wait in silence,” he said.

  After some time the door opened again and the Metropolitan appeared, framed by the gate, with an expression of curiosity on his face.

  Christopher immediately made a bow by reaching down and touching the ground with his right hand, rising, then placing his right hand over his left with the palms upward. “Bless, Your Eminence,” he said. Out of the corner of his eye he noted that Theodora followed his lead. The way she does it so easily must mean that she is used to it.

  “May the Lord bless you,” said the Metropolitan, and blessed the two with the Sign of the Cross, before placing his right hand in their hands in turn. First Christopher and then Theodora bowed and kissed his hand. “Now then, what news do you have from Father Christopher for me?”

  Christopher looked behind the Metropolitan. Brother Petrus has tactfully withdrawn out of earshot while staying in sight. “That I am here in front of you in disguise, Your Eminence, and we need to speak privately with you,” he said cheekily. He was rewarded with a brief look of surprise as the Metropolitan took a longer look at the man within the armour and then studied longer his companion. He has quite obviously noted her eyes.