Frank-SQuest

by Serpent's Quest [lit]

  "Pandeena."

  "Yes. We were sweethearts ... since childhood. A few weeks ago, she rejected me. I don't know why."

  "Would you like me to speak with her?"

  Odhran brightened. Yes, holiness. It would ease my heart, if only to know what I did wrong."

  The interior was dusty with disuse. Pandeena's boot heels clicked and she glanced down to see that the lycans had given the shrine a tiled floor. Apparently some of the congregation had money and a willingness to give. The ranks of benches for the worshippers were eight deep on two sides. Ahead of them stood a railing, separating the altar from the congregations space. A basket for offerings from the congregation sat on the floor by the far right of the railing, so that they could make their offerings after receiving the priest's blessing.

  Pandeena noted the basket was empty and dust had collected in the bottom. How long has it been since you lost your priest?"

  "Months."

  Pandeena stepped around the railing and went to the altar, running her hands along it. The vibrations were warm and loving. The entire place had been properly consecrated. If someone here was harming the people, why hadn't he desecrated the altar? What happened to the priest?"

  "Heart attack. He was old ... but there are rumors."

  "Of what?"

  Odhran glanced away from her in a manner she interpreted as reluctance. Well, for one thing he was found in a part of the forest he had no reason to be in. None of the farms are out that way. Nothing to attract him. It was all very strange."

  "And?"

  "No footprints. No scent trail."

  "As if the body had been dumped there."

  Odhran pursed his lips. Yes. Exactly."

  "If I were you, I wouldn't mention this to anyone else."

  "Oh, I won't. Believe me, your holiness."

  "Pandeena. Just call me Pandeena."

  "Thank you. I will."

  Pandeena left the altar area and walked around to a hallway on the side, Odhran followed her, trying to look helpful and she smiled at him from time to time. The first door opened on the priest's apartments. She found three cozy rooms, a sitting room, kitchen, and bedroom.

  Plenty of nice furniture filled the apartments, including a huge bed that dwarfed the rest of the furniture. Why such a large bed?"

  Willodarians weren't sworn to celibacy like the Taladrim, however, she was looking for clues.

  "A donation. I remember Tempest saying that at his age, he didn't need something that large ... but a gift is a gift."

  Pandeena nodded and raked her teeth across her lower lip. I'll want clean linens. Can you arrange that?"

  "There are several women in the camp who used to help out with the housekeeping here. I will get them over to see you."

  "Good. So the priest had no liaisons in the village?"

  "I doubt it. I doubt he even touched the slut."

  Pandeena frowned. The slut? You have a slut here?"

  "Had. The bitch that ran the camp here, name was Beth. She was a slut. Rumor says she even had the lawgiver and possibly the chieftain between her legs."

  Pandeena's mouth opened in a surprised O that she chose not to voice, instead her tone went dark and dangerous. And did you ride the slut?"

  Odhran flushed.

  "Truth. I'll know if you're lying."

  "Yes. Many times."

  "That's probably the reason Clodagh rejected you. I want to talk to her."

  "She's dead."

  Pandeena nibbled her lower lip. How convenient ... for someone. How did she die?"

  "Imps, near as anyone could tell."

  "Where did they find her body? Pandeena strode out of the apartments and back into the hallway, which formed a U around the rear of the shrine.

  "East side of the valley, over near the piled boulders. Iudris Meadow, I think, it was."

  "What was she doing over there?"

  "Don't know. Last time she was seen here, she was in tears and wouldn't talk to no one. She ran off."

  "Why? Did she have family over there?"

  "Nope. No family. Rumor's that the fellow she had her cap set for rejected her."

  "Who was that?"

  "Now you're asking too many questions..."

  Pandeena's gaze went harsh. I'm your priest. And until I find you a lawgiver, I serve in that capacity also. So answer me."

  "Malthus."

  "That fellow I met back there?"

  "Yup. Malthus. He's seeing Merissa these days."

  "The princess?"

  "Yup."

  Continuing around, Pandeena guessed that the one at the back led out of doors. She confirmed that there was another door on the far side, which had to lead into the west wing and the schoolroom. The school could wait, she wanted to see the grounds.

  Directly behind the shrine, she found an area marked off as a graveyard by a dotting of white stones. A wooden arch framed the entrance with the likeness of the Willodarian bear atop it. She walked through and discovered only a single headstone.

  She spied a fuzzy little dog lying on the grave, his head on his paws and a woeful expression, tail and ears drooping. Whose grave is that?"

  "Tempest's. He was our priest."

  "And the dog sleeping on it?"

  "That's Moss. He was Tempest's dog. Our lawgiver, Nikko, took the poor little lad in after Tempest died. But imps got Nikko and his mother died of grief. Moss won't let anyone else keep him. He spends nearly all his time here. A few people have tried to lure him inside, but he always gets out and comes here. The whole village feeds him, waters him."

  Pandeena squatted down. Come here, little fellow. Come here, Moss. She made a soothing noise in her throat.

  Moss perked up and stared at her.

  She repeated her words and noises, patting the ground in front of her.

  Moss came and sniffed her hand. His tail swung back and forth. Pandeena extended her wilderkin gifts and comforted Moss. He climbed into her arms. Pandeena stood, cuddling Moss.

  "Well, I'll be, Odhran said. He hasn't done that since Granta died."

  "Granta?"

  "The lawgiver's mother."

  "Moss and I are going to be good friends."

  Imps got the lawgiver ... or did they? Pandeena looked down at Moss and wondered. What was that word or piece of a word, the lawgiver had said. Mul, marl, mal? She needed to ask her mother.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  SPY HUNTERS

  Nikko woke in a bright sunny room that he did not recognize. A pleasant breeze blew through the windows, carrying the scents of the forest, flowering bushes, and farther away goats and sheep. A soothing lethargy held him in a gentle imprisonment on his bed, with no desire to move. His awareness felt cottony and displaced. Nikko yawned. He wondered if one of his people had found him. Then he wondered who were his people, and why they should have found him. Why should they even have been looking for him? The emptiness in his mind shoved needles of panic into his chest. His pulse raced and his heart hammered, which brought on a feeling of increasing pressure in his chest as if a tremendous hand were squeezing his heart.

  "Awake finally, lawgiver? said a nice female voice.

  Nikko started to turn on his side, and gasped sharply in pain. A pair of long-fingered hands pressing on his naked chest stopped him from moving further.

  "I'm having a damned hard time keeping those wounds closed. Navaryn put her cool fingertips to his temples. Relax. Breathe deeply. Your heart is damaged. Tense up like this and you'll set off an attack."

  Nikko dropped flat and obeyed her, feeling her warm power flow through him. The chest pain eased.

  "Lawgiver? He angled his head to glance at the bandages on his chest, ribs, and stomach. Beneath the light coverlet, he felt another near the base of his spine and one on his thigh. Nikko could not remember being hurt. He reached for the memories, and his mind flinched away from it, leaving him staring into a darkened abyss again.

  "Yes. You wear a lawgiver's runes, said Navaryn. What is your
name? Which village are you from?"

  Nikko blinked, his thoughts racing as he became aware of the chain around his neck and pulled the runes forth from where they had settled along the edge of his neck amid the pillows. My ... my name? I don't remember. It's all gone."

  "I'm not surprised, really. You had nearly as much poison as blood in you. Death lotusit took me days to dig all the broken off ends of the darts from your skin. Snake venom and Devil's Silver. It shocked your system. It's the gods own miracle that you're alive. If you wish to stay that way, don't get out of bed without my permission. You're still in bad shape."

  "How bad?"

  "To start, you only have one lung left. I managed to save one kidney and your liver. I may yet be able to fix your damaged heart. Time will tell. If that arrow that struck near your spine had been a fraction closer, you'd be paralyzed. So count yourself lucky. Now do you understand why I want you to stay in bed?"

  "Oh, gods. Yes."

  She rose from her chair and poured a greenish liquid from a bottle into a small glass. Devil's Silver does that when they get enough of it into you."

  Nikko turned a pleading face to Navaryn, as he accepted the glass and drank the contents. Despite some sweetening, it tasted dreadful. He wiped his mouth with his arm, grimacing. Do you know who did this to me?"

  "We were hoping you could tell us."

  "I can't remember anything."

  "You're the only person alive who has ever seen his face. It was the Butchering Serpent who shot you."

  "Oh, gods. And he's loose among my people."

  Navaryn smiled and Nikko thought she was the loveliest female he had ever seen. She touched his forehead and he felt the wash of a Reader's power through him. He caught her hand when she removed it and sniffed her fingers. At least he could move his arms without pain so long as the rest of him did not move. You're lycan."

  "I am, Navaryn said. At least all of your knowledge is intact. It's the personal you can't access. There's hope for that."

  Nikko felt his mind and body go cottony. What did you give me?"

  "Holadil and a pollonae extract. Among other things."

  "Not pollendine?"

  "You're not dying. Unless you try to do more than your body's ready for. Hathura gave you the last of the Sapphire Elixir when they found you, or you would never have reached here alive."

  "Who is Hathura? he asked. Who are you?"

  Navaryn's lips curled into the smile of one who had a secret and expected the revelation to take some getting used to. Hathura Waveskimmer. I'm Navaryn Moonbow."

  Names out of legend . Nikko's brows knit. You're descended of the First Mother?"

  Navaryn's bemusement deepened. I am the First Mother."

  The lawgiver looked so stunned that he could have been knocked over with a daisy. II think I want to sleep."

  "Good. If you need anything, just pull the bell cord. I've tucked the end under your pillow. Navaryn stood, preparing to leave him.

  "One more thing. How long have I been here?"

  "Nearly four weeks. Now, rest. I'll be back to check on you."

  Four weeks . Urgency clutched at his middle, and a feeling of displaced danger that he could not hold onto. Nikko closed his eyes as Navaryn left him. Soon he slept. Finally he dreamed of a faceless mon chasing him through the woods, shooting him with burning arrows. And he wept in his sleep.

  * * * *

  Pandeena sat at the small desk in the living room, books stacked around her and a quill in hand as she scribbled notes, preparing the next day's lesson for the children. She had been there a week, knew everyone in the camp by name, yet Pandeena could not get past the air of distrust that the camp's adults displayed. She found that odd and disturbing, considering that the rest of the villagers accepted her with open arms, as befitted a new priest. Just after nightfall, a knock came at her door, and she answered it, finding Shalto and Oswyl standing there.

  "What do you want? It's late."

  Shalto pushed past her with a leer and Oswyl followed.

  "I didn't ask you in. Irritation rose in Pandeena's voice. She slammed the door closed and treaded toward Shalto, who appeared to be the one in charge of the pair.

  "You didn't need to, Shalto said. You've been begging for this visit since you laid eyes on us."

  "What? Pandeena's eyes narrowed, surreptitiously scanning her living room and deciding how to avoid breaking any furniture. I want you to leave."

  Oswyl nudged Shalto.

  "We know you must be lonely, Shalto said. A fine looking bitch like yourself shouldn't be alone nights."

  "Get out, or I'll throw you out, Pandeena growled, placing herself near the door into the hallway that circled the shrine, well away from the sofas, end tables, chairs, and desk.

  Shalto circled her casually. You don't mean that."

  "We wanted to talk about the wild cousins, Oswyl said, an eager note in his voice.

  "I'm your priest, not your slut, Pandeena growled still lower.

  Shalto sidled up to her. Everyone's talking about the way you look at me."

  "Way I what?"

  Shalto slid his arm around her, and cupped her breast with his other hand.

  Pandeena stared down at his hand. Move it, or lose your fingers."

  "Awww, you don't mean it."

  Oswyl came up on the other side of her. Maybe she likes it rough?"

  Pandeena elbowed Shalto hard in the face. He released her with a sharp howl, staggering backwards, hunched over, and clutching his bleeding nose. She spun faster than the eye could follow and kicked Shalto in the stomach, slamming him into the wall by the door. He slipped to the floor and lay stunned. Pandeena followed and stamped his hand, grinding his fingers under her boot heel.

  Shalto screamed.

  "Maybe you like it rough, Pandeena snarled.

  Oswyl heard the bones break in Shalto's hands, his eyes bulged, and he ran for the other door, but Pandeena was faster.

  "You came for some together, she sneered. So you'll get some too, Oswyl."

  "Hey, I didn't mean no harm ... We weren't gonna hurt you none. It's just a friendly weapon, after all. Oswyl backed away from her.

  Pandeena hit Oswyl in the nose and heard the bone crunch. Oswyl cried out, and his hand went to his nose. She saw Shalto getting groggily to his feet, grabbed Oswyl by the arm, and hurled him on top of Shalto. The two young males went down in a heap together. Before either could recover, she came at them like a fury out of hell, kicking and stomping on them.

  They shrieked, screamed, howled, and finally begged. Yet, Pandeena did not relent until she had damaged them enough to satisfy her. When they lay in a bloodied curl, too frightened to move, she stood over them with her arms crossed.

  "I'm your priest, damnit! If I find out you're treating the women of the camp like you tried to treat me, I'll give you a worse thrashing next time."

  Shalto shook his head frantically, his eyes like dishes on an alabaster cloth. Won't happen again, holiness."

  "Nope, won't happen again, Oswyl agreed.

  Pandeena threw her front door open and stared. It looked like the entire camp was standing in her yard. She spotted Malthus, Clodagh, and Kandaishee near their head.

  "This is what happens to anyone who mistreats a woman in this camp, Pandeena shouted. She snatched Shalto up and sent him tumbling into the yard.

  "My leg! Shalto screamed. She broke my leg ... and my fingers."

  Pandeena tossed Oswyl out next.

  He landed sobbing. My arms! My arms, she's broken them both!"

  Pandeena wiped her hands off on her pants leg. Someone find them a healer. I refuse to help them. They got what they deserved."

  She closed the door and went to wash the blood from her hands before settling down again to work on the lesson plan.

  * * * *

  Malthus sat cross-legged on the floor of his study, dipping his arrowheads in the newest batch of poison. He had increased the amount of Devil's Silver. Images of Pandeena circled throu
gh his mind, blending with the way Shalto and Oswyl had looked lying in her yard when she finished with them. He wanted to fuck her, or rite her, but he felt certain that he would have to shoot her instead. Such a waste.

  A small knock preceded Lyrri's entrance.

  "I told you not to come in here."

  "Uncle Malthus, I can't find Ros."

  "What do you mean you can't find Ros?"

  Lyrri blinked and dropped her head. We were playing hide and seek. When she didn't find me and it got dark, I started calling her. But she doesn't answer."

  Malthus set his arrows aside. Go into my bedroom and stay there. Drop the bar on the shutters and the door. Don't come out for anyone except me."

  He waited until he saw Lyrri go in and heard the bars drop into place. His bedroom had the strongest magical defenses in the house. Malthus had relied on tell-tales for the girls.

  Once in the yard, he started calling. Ros? Ros, come here. Come now. No more games."

  Fear was a rock in his stomach and a fist in his chest. He circled the house, still calling and getting no response. Malthus extended his necromantic senses and caught a flicker of something. It drew him to a thicket of aspen trees, beyond that to a tangle of briars, and then to the clustering stands of sweet pepperbushes bordering a small freshet. Cattails thrust their green brushes thickly along the edge, shoving against the long tips of the sweet pepperbush stalks with their profusion of tiny white bells. Ahead of him, a large willow tree overhung the edge of the stream. He saw a bit of blue cloth among the humped chaos of roots and cattails. Ros had worn her favorite blue dress that morning.

  "Ros!"

  Malthus got no answer.

  He scrambled over the roots.

  Ros lay half in and half out of the little stream, water flowing across her dangling legs halfway up her naked thighs, her skirts ripped away, and her small clothes gone. Blood and drying cum coated her loins. A courier pouch lay tucked behind her head. Malthus dropped to his knees, dragged her into his arms, and turned her head to the side. On her neck he found the distinctive scrape and pierce marks of a Lemyari. He extended his awareness through her body. Lifehe almost missed the flicker of it. A moment more and he would have found her dead. Malthus slit his wrist and pressed it into her mouth. Blood flowing over her tongue caused her fangs to come down, she bit reflexively without regaining consciousness, and sucked him.