‘How do you do it?’ Jogly asked eagerly.
‘What do you mean, sir?’I began to get angry.
Our talk went wrong from the very start. And I was the person to blame. I should have cloaked proudly and arrogantly standing at the tomb, causing respect by my appearance... but I started making somersaults instead to the delight of the local spirits. They probably laughed a lot.
'How do you do it with it? Well, I mean how do you... well...’
‘I restore it, sir! Hmm ... well, I take the money from the poor and give it to the rich, protect the strongest against the weakest and all sorts of things...’
‘What else?’
'Uh-uh... I console the poor orphans, help them any way I can... give them money...’
'And?’
'Kill different monsters that bother peaceful people.’
'And?’
‘Sir!’
‘And as for money... do you really give money for free? ‘
'Well... yes, I give money...’
'And what reward do you demand for your help?’
'Well, actually... I don’t ask for any reward,’ I blurted gently.
'You're a fool!’ the ghost sighed and scratched his beard. ‘You’re a real fool. And you look a bit crazy… Hey, son, didn’t anyone drop you in your childhood?’
'Look, sir!’ I got angry. ‘Why did you come out from the grave? To discuss my life?!’
‘I came out because I thought that a serious man was waiting for me!’ the nasty old man didn’t get confused resting his ghostly fists in the shadowy sides with a challenge. ‘and that it would be a serious conversation!’
Definitely the old devil wanted to fight!
'Do you mean I’m not serious?!’ I got furious.
'Certainly you are not serious! If you don’t ask for reward, what’s the use of you? And you won’t even try to do your best! I dare say you work with the left hand!’
'Who said I will not ask for a reward? I will demand it!’
‘Weeeeell!’ the ghost seemed to be glad. ‘Now we are talking! But before you were mumbling some nonsense... so what reward are you going to demand?I have nothing! I am a disembodied ghost! Well... if only flowers from the graves...’
‘Why are you asking about the reward then?! My goodness!’
Deep breath, deep breath, meditative prana is leaving me…
‘Well... Okay,’ I exhaled tiredly. ‘Let’s start from the very beginning, dear Jogly! The noble shopkeeper Stathan asked me to find out the true cause of your sudden death. And that’s the only reason why I dared disturb your eternal rest.
‘You’re good at speaking. Rather amazing,’ the old man boomed with approval, leaning back against the gravestone. ‘Go on!’
'That's why I disturbed you,’ I repeated. ‘I want to know the name of the murderer, although I already know it. But how exactly it happened...’
‘Really?! The ghost jumped. ‘You’re so clever, aren’t you! And who decided to kill me?! Come on, tell me...’
After a pause, I puffed out my chest proudly and said, ‘It was your daughter-in-law Alishana!’
'After all, you are a fool... yes, you’re a fool,’ ghostly Jogly sighed.
'I don’t understand,’ I mumbled quickly.
‘What's not clear?! It is not Alishana!’ the ghost grinded his glowing teeth and suddenly disappeared from the tomb.
Before I could blink, his bearded head with bared teeth suddenly appeared in front of my face and yelled furiously, ‘If you dare to slander Alishana, so I'll fetch you even from the grave! I’ll bury you in the ground! And nobody will ever find you! Got it?!’
'I understand,’ I was dumbfounded and nodding recoiled back. ‘Actually I don’t understand... And stop spitting, sir!’
‘I knew that everybody would think that my daughter-in-law did it...’ Jogly calmed down drastically and sighed sadly, returning to his grave. ‘But she didn’t do it. What is your name? Rosgard? So, Rosgard, can I ask you for a great favor, I have nothing special to give you as a reward. But if you make it, you will be eternally grateful to you!’
‘No problem,’ I said cautiously. ‘I’m listening to you.’
‘Our villagers have always disliked my son’s darling, and now they will peck her to death. Don’t let them do it. Point out at the real killer. Let all the gods help me to persuade you!
'Stop, sir!’ I put my hands in front of me. ‘You don’t need to ask me. That’s the reason I came here – to restore justice. And, please, forgive me for blaming your daughter-in-law, it’s not my fault. People say, that you lived in one house but didn’t get on well like a cat and a dog. Every day they heard you quarreling.
'Ha! Our Alishana is the best daughter-in-law I could ever have! Oh my foolish son is so lucky, he is so lucky! He managed to capture the heart of this beauty! She could not do anything about the house but only at the beginning. And now the house is always clean, you won’t find a speck of dust! She has always known how to cook tasty food, not simple local porridge and soup but overseas dishes! I remember… once I put a spoon in the mouth, and started screaming exactly like a jumping kid in the yard, there was something like fire in the mouth... oh... it was good time ... So, you know! I wish I had seen my grandson, but oh well… I don’t have to worry, do I? Maybe they will bring the baby to my grave, so that I could look at him...’
'Wait-wait a minute, sir!’ I interrupted the deeply moved old man. ‘So you have never had any quarrels with her?! You were on friendly terms?’
‘Just the other way round!’ the ghost chuckled. ‘We argued every day! Well, so what? Maybe we were always quarreling but our neighbors mustn’t care about it! I could say two words to her and she said ten in response. Word by word, and the dust rose all over the yard post! She used to pursue me with a towel in her hands, I used to hide behind a barrel lid, and my foolish son was running around and lamenting... Ah! What a nice life I had like in a fairy tale!
'Yes, you did,’ I said dumbfounded.
The old man didn’t seem to be a bowl of cherries while alive. There is no fool like an old fool. It’s definitely about such restless guys as Jogly.
'But we lived in harmony!’ the ghost growled defiantly sticking out his beard. ‘Everybody envied us! She made my foolish son to change his life. He did not dare utter a word without her permission! My son is very kind but stupid although he is very strong like a bull, but what's the use of it? He can’t make money, we had hardly got by with. Although he was a lucky hunter. But he always lost the most of his pray. When he came home, there was only a thorn hide and hooves in his hands while the neighbors got the meat... But when Alishana emerged in our house, we started living much better. My son gave up drinking and idling around, he became a real breadwinner!’
'Phew. What a mess!..’ I gasped tiredly and added imploringly, ‘Sir, so who killed you? Who?! Now I have got no idea who it was...’
‘There is nothing to think about! It was our neighbor, Phelagea, plague on her!’ the old man snapped. ‘Who else!’
‘Indeed,’ I nodded quickly. ‘You’re not kidding. It’s absolutely clear. So it was that neighbor of yours. What’s her name?.. Phelagea?’
'Yes, you’re right!’ Jogly stated firmly, soaring over the grave and increasing in size. ‘The doctor examined me and said that I would live for a hundred years. I was so glad, told the neighbors about it to let them envy. And Phelagea visited me in the evening was and treated me with pickled mushrooms, because she knew that I loved them very much. Especially with home beer! We were sitting with her, chatting about the times gone by before saying goodbye. And in the morning I felt sharp pain in my stomach, I was about to open my mouth to call my son, but passed away at that moment! Then when I turned into a ghost I remembered that Phelagea drank my beer, but didn’t touch the mushrooms. Old witch! Poisoner!
'It is clear,’ I mused. ‘It’s Phelagea your neighbor... and why did she decide to poison you?’
‘What do you mean why? Because
Alishana was expecting a baby! I told you – she’ll give birth soon! That’s why Phelagea decided to poison me!’
'A? Uh-uh... Why should it bother her?!’
'Phelagea dreams that my son will marry her ugly daughter! And via the marriage take all our property. Her yards is next to ours! She will break the fence and here's a big yard! Yes, she is dreaming of getting our fields of wheat! Do you understand it now? My son is like a hornless calf. He can’t say a word against. He doesn’t take after me! There is nobody to protect them now, since I died! Phelagea will control everything!’
'So! Wait, sir! Am I right saying that your neighbor Phelagea poisoned you in order to remove you from her way to take all your movable and immovable property?
‘You’re using such clever words! You're not one of those clever guys who only know how to read different book and nothing else, are you?’ the ghost asked suspiciously, glancing at me with one eye.
‘No. it’s not about me!’ I distanced from the accusations hastily. ‘Did I understand you correctly?’
‘There is nothing to understand?’ Jogly sighed sadly. ‘Everything is as clear as day. And simple. Phelagea has cast an eye on my long ago. And has been always proposing her daughter to my son. And then Alishana appeared and broke all her dreams. Yes, I never liked her fat daughter. She isn’t a match for my son! So Phelagea began waiting for a proper moment, hoping that my fool will stop loving Alishana and that I would die soon. And everything was happening exactly the opposite way. Alishana was expecting a baby. The son brought the doctor who promised that I would live for a hundred years to the envy of all...’
'So Phelagea instantly moved from passive waiting to dynamic actions,’ I concluded.
'What?’
'She brought you mushrooms, I mean!’
'Aha! She must have added toadstools! What delicious salted mushrooms! I ate up the whole bowl myself without wincing!’
‘There is nothing to be proud of,’ I muttered and the embarrassed ghost went silent. ‘Jogly, but do you realize that it is not the end...’
‘What?’
‘It’s not the end, I say!’ I snapped. ‘You went away from her way, but what about Alishana and a child in her womb!’
'Oh, you then!’ ghosty Jogly threw up his hands rapidly soaring into the air. ‘I’m an old fool, I have never thought of it! She will try to poison Alishana now! And as soon as she sends her to the grave, she will make my inconsolable son marry her ugly daughter! Oh dear! Why are you still here?! Run!’
'Where?’
‘To our yard! Warn my son and daughter-in-law! Hurry up, Rosgard!’
'Calm down, sir,’ I dismissed. ‘Your village Medici is not stupid to poison two people per week. Now she will be waiting for a proper moment again. I think at least a month, or even two. So we don’t have to worry about Alishana’s life. But then, when everything settles and everybody forgets...’
‘It doesn’t matter! Hurry up! Tell people the truth! Point out at the one who is guilty of my death!’
'How? How can I point out?
'By your finger! How else! Well, if you want, you can poke with your foot!’ the ghost got angry. ‘I’ll be happy if you do it!’
'Sir, are you stupid?!’ I growled sounding rather informal. ‘Well, suppose I point out at her so what? She will say that she is innocent, and the whole village will impale me! I’m not kidding!’
‘No, they won’t!’ the old man disagreed with me. ‘Ask her to court to the white-stone patroness-goddess. To the statue that is standing in front of the temple. This is the statue of Heliona, the goddess of justice. Accuse her of all the sins there! If she refuses – she will prove that she is guilty! And if she agrees to go, then the goddess is not blind! She will Instantly find out where the truth is!
‘I got it!’ I said slowly.
Old Jogly was right. The religious system of Valdira allows it. You can ask for justice in the front of the statue of a deity, and the deity must point at the guilty... but if the accuser’s words are wrong, he will be severely punished for slander.
And what if Jogly is wrong? If the mushrooms were not poisonous? If he died of natural causes or was killed by another person?
I have never dreamt about a divine curse. It would be in the form of a black cloud constantly hanging over your head which would be visible to everybody without an exception. Ok, I can put up its visibility but it leads to huge negative effect significantly affecting all the characteristics and abilities of the character. Most of the "local" shopkeepers and traders will simply refuse to deal with me. And any gamer who will join me in a party will be infected by the curse. And the curse will remain with him as long as he doesn’t leave the party.
I am sure that Ghosha will be very angry if I get a divine curse that can disappear if only I redeem my guilt. And it’s not easy. However, if I am right, I’ll get the blessing of the deity, staying with me for a long time... well... it's still a huge risk ...
'It is Phelagea!’ the ghost broke the silence while flying slowly closer and looking me in the eye. ‘It is Phelagea! I swear by my soul!’
'Jogly, are you sure? I'm risking my neck. If you're wrong...’
'She killed me! I am sure! Rosgard don’t leave us in the trouble! If you retreat, Alishana will die! And then my son will climb into the loop, or even worse - fall into the hands of Phelagea! Okay, I have lived a good life, and that’s enough for me, but they are… they are still children! Please, stand up for them!’
‘Stand up for them...' I muttered. ‘It’s easy to say.’
'Well I can’t go far away from my grave anywhere! I’m tied up tightly! Who knows when she can come here at night, and I'm not allowed to go out of the ground at day... And I hate this damned averter runs back and forth, squealing indecently! A couple of days ago, it ran past my grave, so I started shaking like hell... if it is close, I’m not going to show my nose out of the grave even at night!
'Averter?’ I asked instinctively. ‘Do you mean the unieye?’
"Yeah, I do. It’s running everywhere! And ate up the flowers from my grave! Such a beast! It was slurping so yummily! Oh!’
'Well, it will never run here anymore,’ I muttered quietly under my breath.
'What are you mumbling?’
‘I’ll take this work, I say,’ I said with a sigh, ‘but not for free.’
‘And what will you ask me for? Now I'm in your arms,’ the ghost’s face fell. ‘I'm not rich... there is a small stash for a rainy day in my yard. A pair of silver coins and three dozens of copper coins. It’s buried under the porch of the house. Will such award satisfy you?
‘I’m going to ask for a reward but it’s not money,’ I shook my head. ‘I need information.’
'Eh?
"I need information, old Jogly!’ I paraphrased. ‘Tell me everything you know about the Silver Legend and Grim the Inconsolable. And will call it even.
'Hmm...' the ghost said and was silent for a few minutes, then lifted his eyes to the night sky and started moving his lips thoughtfully.
And all this time I was trembling with anticipation, barely restraining myself from hurrying up the old man.
‘The silver legend, you say...’
'Yes!’
'And Grim the Inconsolable?’
'Yes!’
'It’s the first time I hear about them,’ Jogly threw up his hands in bewilderment and stared at me. ‘Who are they?’
'What?!’
'Are you deaf a little?’ the ghost muttered irritably. ‘It’s the first time I hear about them! Listen, you’d better take my stash from the porch? Agree? You’re just inventing something…’
‘I can’ believe it!’ I burst out crying and sprang to the ghost and unsuccessfully tried to grab him by his lapels. ‘You’re old fisherman Jogly! Sybil Snessa sent me to you!’
‘She must be mistaken!’ Jogly barked in response. ‘I’m a fisherman, it’s my name, I know about my old age without you, but I have never heard not about this Grim! Oh
well... you…’
‘What do you mean?’
‘So now are you going to refuse, huh?’ the ghost inquired sadly. ‘Yare not interested in my miserable reward, but I don’t have the information you’re asking about... So, let my foolish son and Alishana with her unborn child die violent death. Are you going to leave with a nefarious smirk on your face?’
'Mind your words, sir!’ I waved my hands. ‘I’ll help them, I’ll point out at the poisoner. But damn it... why is it happening like this... a screw up…’
'Can you help?’ Jogly became happy and soar over the grave. ‘That's it! You’re a real man! Ros… And your grin is not cruel!’
‘You’re very talkative, sir,’ I answered feebly, ‘for a disembodied ghost... You look like a living being!’
'And what is that legend about? And who is Grim? And why is he inconsolable?’
‘He’s a legendary warrior. And his silver armor is called Silver Legend. Once he renounced his strength and threw all his armor from the top of the cliff Doom in the river Elyrna. Something like that... But it doesn’t matter now f you don’t know anything! Why should we chat in vain... Okay, I must go now,’ I sighed wearily. ‘Should I kindle your bowls with the last light again?’
‘Please, wait!’ the ghost muttered suddenly and motioned me by the misty finger. ‘Silver armor? The Elyrna, you say? And Doom?’
'Yes, I quietly reached out, sinking in the grass very slowly. ‘Exactly. Do you remember anything?..’
'In spite of my age I never complained on the memory,’ the malicious old man growled completely contradicting his recent words about forgetfulness. ‘Once I said that I knew nothing about Grim, it is really so! Well, sometimes my memory lets me down now, of course, but...’
'But?’
'But one day, many years ago, when I was a young handsome boy and all the girls were mine, and when other guys saw me at distance, they put on bags on their heads because they were ashamed of their imperfection...’
Holding my breath, I was silent, staring at Jogly who was immersing into his memoirs, rolling his eyes and smacking his lips lasciviously.
The Way of the Clan 2 (World of Valdira) Page 8
