“But we hurt them.”
“Yes, he gave them form, just as I said, bodies of a kind, and bodies can be hurt. But there is a more effective way to deal with shadows: a bit of light.” He nodded to the three remaining bodies. “Those must be the human leaders of this group. Shades are fierce and single minded, but not very intelligent.”
Bobble flitted back into the room at that moment. He looked around the now almost empty rooms and gasped. “Shades?”
They all nodded.
“I should have known, but no one has... not in two hundred years at least...” Bobble shook his head. “Sir Amertious is ready for you to come.”
The hermit stood up and looked to Phichorian, who ran over and offered his shoulder. Charles hurried over and stood at the hermit’s other side. The hermit leaned on them both. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 11
Amertious was standing by the small door, waiting for them. The hermit seemed very interested in the door. “So how did you manage to get through that?”
“Bobble went over the wall and looked around,” Amertious grumbled.
“But you all got in that way?”
Bobble flitted over. “I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“Can we get out of here first?”
For once Charles agreed with Amertious. He stood near the little door and held out his arms. Amertious grabbed a handful of sleeve. Melissina grabbed his shoulder. Phichorian brought the hermit over. He supported the hermit with his left arm and grabbed Charles’s sleeve with his right. The hermit rested his hand on Charles’s shoulder. He rubbed the fabric of the sweater.
“I see...”
They made it through the door easily. Amertious ran ahead to get the horses while Charles and Phichorian helped the hermit to follow.
Bobble waited until Amertious had brought the wagon and Phichorian had gotten the hermit inside before he launched into an explanation of the sweater, what had worked, what hadn’t, his knitting needles flying as he spoke.
* * *
By the time they reached his hut, the hermit was recovered enough to get out of the wagon under his own power. Amertious and Melissina brought their horses to the small lean-to that served as a stable and got them settled. Phichorian unhitched the horse from the wagon and brought it to join the others. Charles got down slowly, feeling helpless again. As Phichorian walked past, he nodded towards the back of the wagon. Charles caught on at once and hurried to help the hermit around the wagon and into his hut, glad to be useful for once.
The hermit sat at the table as the others came in. “It seems I will need to prepare another dinner.”
Phichorian righted the rest of the chairs. Charles joined him. Melissina handed Amertious a bucket. “I saw a well by the back door.” Amertious couldn’t get out of that honorably, so he went out the back door. Bobble poked at the stack of logs in the fireplace and soon had a fire smoldering away. Melissina fed it a few logs then found the hermit’s supply of vegetables. “How about some soup?”
“You’ll find a pot in the cupboard by the window.”
Charles grinned at the old man’s high-handedness. Coming from him, it was much easier to take than from Amertious. He could see Phichorian was chuckling too.
By the time Charles and Phichorian had righted all of the salvageable furniture and stacked the remains of the rest against the wall by the back door, Melissina had the soup bubbling in the pot and Bobble’s fire had made the room cozy.
Melissina had also filled the kettle with the water Amertious had brought and made a pot of tea. Phichorian found the cups and Charles helped him bring them to the table to be filled.
As he settled in with his cup, the hermit looked them over. “Not that I doubt your great and selfless generosity in rescuing me, but why did you do it?”
That threw everyone but Phichorian, who answered cheerfully, “Dean Shellwood of Kirjavale sent us to you for help in defeating Necorious.”
“Ah, so rescuing me was an accident, but a happy one.” The hermit leaned back, contemplating the fire. “We know the weakness of his troops, how can we exploit that?”
Charles could see from Amertious’s expression that he still didn’t know the weakness.
“There is one possibility,” the hermit murmured, “but you won’t like it.”
Melissina refilled his cup. “Go on.”
“There is someone who may know how to use the Kingstone.”
“And the Kingstone will defeat them?” Melissina asked.
The hermit was still staring at the flames. “It should.”
“Then we should try it,” Melissina said. She turned to Amertious, who schooled his face into an expression of interest. At least he tried to; he only succeeded in not looking too disbelieving.
“You’ll have to talk to Flamebringer.”
Even the way the hermit said the name seemed scary to Charles. He considered edging over to Phichorian and asking him what it meant, but Amertious couldn’t contain himself any longer.
“A dragon? You want us to speak to a dragon? To take its advice?”
“And what else would you do when you encountered a five-hundred-twenty-seven-year-old creature? Kill it?” The hermit asked as if he knew the answer but wanted to see the reaction.
“Naturally I would kill it, as I am bound to do by my oath.”
“And you would kill the last holder of the secret of the Kingstone.”
“If you know what it does, why don’t you tell us?”
The hermit would not be baited. “There is a difference between knowing what it does and knowing how to make it do what it does.”
Melissina spoke up. “If it will save Father...”
“Princess, even if it were true, how would we get to the stone? And anyway, dragons are cunning. I doubt it knows the secret.”
“And if it does?” Melissina asked.
“Who would tell a dragon? Who could get close enough? It probably claims to have a valuable secret to protect its hide, or even to lure victims to its lair. It could say anything and no one would know if no one came back.”
“Or it could be true,” the hermit murmured.
Amertious was warming to his theory. “Clearly a cunning and dangerous creature that must be destroyed for the protection of the realm.”
“Why are you so eager to kill it?” The hermit seemed genuinely interested.
“I told you, my oath dictates it.”
“No relatives eaten by dragons? No childhood homes destroyed by their fire?”
“No.”
“So, you do whatever your oath tells you, even if following it will destroy your best and possible only chance to defeat Necorious?”
“It is a question of honor. To one who has not sworn to devote his life to upholding an ideal, it must be hard to understand, but I will not falter in my devotion. An oath, once taken, is binding, and one must...”
The hermit stared at Amertious. “Yes, yes, Sir High and Mighty.”
“I will not act against my oath and my oath says no dragon shall go unslain.”
“Your oath is a corruption of the words spoken by the founder of your order.”
“And I suppose you were there to hear them?”
The hermit smiled.
“I am not leaving a dragon to attack and destroy...”
“What? An uninhabited mountain? This could save your leader.”
Amertious stood very straight.
“It’s not as if you’ve never done it before. Don’t look so high and mighty. Ask your precious dean about it.”
Amertious grabbed his helm from the table. “I will be waiting by the wagon,” and with great dignity he swept out of the hut.
The hermit watched the door slam, then seemed to pull himself out of his temper. “Now that we’re rid of him, I’ll tell you how to find Flamebringer. Why so worried, Sweater-Wearer.”
Charles thought of a few smart responses to that — Sweater-Wearer seemed almost as bad as Charliekins — but what came
out was, “Is it really that dangerous?”
“She’s a dragon. Of course she is.” He grinned. “Not what you wanted to hear, but true. I never let dislike cloud the truth,” the last bit seemed to be directed at Melissina. “It helps no one to hide a problem, only makes it worse when it comes out.” He looked back at Charles. “But you all look so glum. There is hope. She may let you near enough to listen to you before she roasts you, and she might listen long enough for you to convince her to help, if you’re persuasive. Of course, she may roast you on sight. Always a risk with dragons. But there’s no helping that.”
Charles turned to look at Melissina. Maybe he was taking the old hermit too seriously. Maybe it wasn’t as terrible as it sounded.
Melissina was white and wide-eyed. Charles was certain he was not overreacting. If anything, he was being conservative.
Only one person seemed to have something else on their mind. Bobble flitted forward three times before he built up the courage to address the hermit, “Excuse me, Exalted One.”
“Sprites always do know how to show proper respect.”
“Thank you, sir. If it isn’t too much to ask, can you tell me what went wrong with my sweater?”
The hermit squinted at Charles then shrugged. “Nothing.”
Bobble blinked. “Nothing?”
“Do you doubt me, sprite?” He seemed more amused than annoyed, but Bobble was too nervous to notice.
“On no, no. But if there’s nothing wrong with the sweater, what went wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
Bobble looked ready to press the question again, but the hermit continued to stare at him until he changed his mind and flitted back behind Charles.
“Well then, if there are no other questions...”
Phichorian stepped forward. “There is one small thing. You haven’t told us how to find Flamebringer.”
The hermit nodded. “Yes, yes, you’re right. Are you familiar with Blackthorn Pass?”
Phichorian and Melissina nodded.
“There’s a big tree shaped like a crane. You turn left there.”
Neither Phichorian nor Melissina got that.
The hermit shrugged. “I guess I will have to give you this.” He dug around the mess under the table and finally held out a roll of parchment.
Melissina took it and unrolled it. It was a map. “Thank you.”
“Now if there’s nothing else...” He paused for an answer. “Then I seem to have a lovely pot of soup waiting for me and you have a companion in the yard waiting for you. I think I got the better end of that stick. Good day.” And he turned back to the fire.
Melissina shrugged, stuffed the rolled parchment into her belt, and went to the door. Only Bobble hesitated before following her out.
* * *
Amertious was leaning against the wagon, his back to the cottage, cleaning an already-spotless sword. Phichorian climbed into the wagon, then reached down to help Charles up. Amertious didn’t turn until he felt the wagon sway, and then he didn’t speak, just handed Charles the newly cleaned short-sword, mounted his horse, and waited for them to start.
“Thanks,” Charles said as he stowed the sword back under the wagon seat. He wasn’t sure if Amertious heard him or not, but it seemed polite.
Melissina kept an eye on Amertious, but she didn’t speak to him alone. “We’re returning to the University before we go to see Flamebringer. Dean Shellwood might have some ideas.”
“Or she might manage to make you see sense.” It was the only thing Amertious said as they started towards Kirjavale. He rode silently ahead of the wagon until it started to get dark and he found them a place beside the stream. “We camp here.”
Charles saw Melissina bridle at being ordered around, but she decided it wasn't worth a fight and held her tongue as she led her horse beside the wagon and dismounted.
Phichorian pulled the wagon around and got down. Charles followed him to the back of the wagon and took the tents as Phichorian handed them down.
Amertious broke the silence around the camp. “Come on, boy. Let’s see if you can still block a blade.”
Charles thought Amertious seemed a little too eager to hit at something. He turned to Phichorian.
Phichorian clapped him on the shoulder. “Go on.” He gave Charles a little push.
Charles followed Amertious away from the camp. They stopped in a clear area a few yards away from the wagon. Amertious kicked some branches out of the way then drew his sword. Charles pulled out the sword he’d been given. As he circled Amertious, getting the feel of the ground, he could see movement on the edge of the trees. During one revolution, he managed a quick look.
Phichorian was at the edge of the camp, nearest Charles and Amertious, fiddling with something. Charles only had a few moments to watch him, but Phichorian looked up. He smiled and gave an encouraging bit of a nod. Charles immediately felt better. Phichorian was keeping an eye on him.
Chapter 12
Amertious did not thaw noticeably during the journey back to Kirjavale. Even though Amertious only spoke when required, it cast a pall on the rest of them. Charles spoke to Phichorian in a hushed voice and Bobble spent much of his time flitting around and wringing his hands or knitting furiously. It was almost as gloomy a group as it had been on their last trip to Kirjavale.
When they returned to the university, they were brought straight to Dean Shellwood in her office. Clearly she had been waiting for them. She didn’t even let them get all the way through the door before she asked, “Was he any help?”
Amertious snorted. “An old fraud.”
Melissina pulled out the map. “He suggested we go see the dragon Flamebringer about the Kingstone.”
Dean Shellwood nodded. “I thought he’d suggest that. Was he able to tell you how to find her?”
Melissina unrolled the map and spread it out over the desk.
“Excellent. Did he have any suggestions on the sweater?”
Bobble shook his head. “He said there was nothing wrong with the spell.”
“Then what was the problem?”
“He said nothing.”
“What one would expect,” Amertious muttered.
“What’s gotten into him?” Dean Shellwood asked.
“Oh, the hermit said something about his honor and his oath being incompatible.” Melissina bent over the map.
“Ah,” Dean Shellwood nodded and joined Melissina at the map.
“That’s all you have to say? Your precious hermit questioned my loyalty to my oath and the king and all you can say is ‘Ah’? He told me to ask you what he meant.” Amertious’s tone changed. “Do you know what he meant?”
“Amertious, this isn’t helping Father or the castle. Dean, what’s that forest on the edge of the map?”
Charles could see that the forest and everything else on the map was clearly labeled, but if Amertious hadn’t noticed, he wasn’t going to mention it. Dean Shellwood began telling Melissina about the path that had been marked.
Phichorian got up and motioned for Charles to follow him out. “We’ll leave them to their planning. I’ll show you around some more.”
“Do you think the hermit knew something about Amertious?”
Phichorian shrugged. “Dean Shellwood thinks he’s wise.”
Charles stopped and looked at Phichorian. “You know something about him.”
Phichorian stopped and turned to Charles. Charles just stared at him, waiting for an answer. Phichorian put a hand on Charles’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “I don’t know anything, certainly not about Sir Amertious. I may suspect a few things, but they’re not about him and they’re not the sort of things to be spoken about, not even to you.”
“All right,” Charles said, then, to be certain that Phichorian wouldn’t think he was angry, he added, “Were you going to show me more of the library?”
Phichorian grinned. “Yes, that’s a good idea.”
* * *
Phichorian showed Charles th
e rest of the library and a few classrooms, but neither of them was really interested. Phichorian seemed distracted and, as cool as the crystal room had been, the rest of Kirjavale was all starting to look like just another school to Charles. So they ended up back at the room they had shared before. Phichorian seemed very confident that Dean Shellwood would not only not mind, but would want them there. Especially since he had never given back the key.
So they settled in with some more food, nicked by Phichorian on their tour, and the firepot. Charles found a deck of cards that looked like a cross between playing cards and tarot cards in a drawer and brought them out. Charles taught Phichorian to play gin and regretted it at once as Phichorian won five games straight. They switched to memory match while they toasted sandwiches.
As the second batch was turning a nice color, the door handle rattled. Phichorian went to see who it was.
Bobble looked around the corner, just above the knob. “Can I come in?”
Phichorian bowed to him. Bobble flitted in.
“How’s the planning going?” Phichorian asked.
“That was what I wanted to ask you about.” Bobble pulled off his hat and started wringing it between his hands.
“Go on,” Phichorian said.
“Dean Shellwood seems to think that the dragon knows about sprite magic and sweaters.” He looked at Charles.
It took Charles a second to realize Bobble meant something other than fashion. “Do you want to take it? No problem.”
“Well, you see, she won’t be able to tell what’s wrong with the locator spell if she can’t see the result.”
Charles stared. “You mean you want me to go with you?”
Bobble nodded, one small move of his head.
“But I’m no good on a journey. I can’t ride. We’d have to take the wagon.” Not to mention the last journey was supposed to be safe and he’d faced down hoards of Necorious’s shades.
Bobble nodded again. “I understand. That’s exactly what Sir Amertious said. He didn’t want you to come at all.”
Fantasy Kingdom XXI Page 9
