by Andrew Symon
A bolt was pulled creakily back. The door opened slowly to reveal a tall, dishevelled man. Under a long and grimy black cloak, his trouser ends were visibly frayed, his shirt was similarly worn and his gloves fingerless.
“What is it? What do you want?” he asked in a loud voice.
“We’ve come for our lesson,” said Fenrig equally loudly.
“What?” He cupped his hand to his ear.
“Our lesson,” shouted Fenrig.
“Ah, the lesson.” He didn’t sound very enthusiastic. “You’d better come in.”
The hallway led into a small gloomy front room containing five chairs and two tables, arranged in front of a bare fireplace. A melancholy portrait stared from the one picture to grace the dank walls, but the room’s most overpowering sensation was its smell, like stale over-boiled cabbage. Jack curled his lip in distaste.
He hasn’t even bothered to get the lumis crystals working again. Cheapskate.
As the new apprentices tried to crowd inside, Murkle looked around with dismay.
“Oh no, no, this won’t do. Out again, the lot of you.”
With difficulty, the nine extricated themselves from the room, some stepping outside the house, others turning and going into the small rear kitchen. Murkle grabbed Suque, the last to leave, as she was in the doorway. Without explanation, he placed his right hand on her head and clicked the fingers of his left hand. He whispered inaudibly, and she instantly shrank to half her usual height, whereupon he nudged her back into the room. Suque squealed in surprise, but realising what had happened, she went and climbed up onto one of the now towering chairs. The others followed in turn and were soon squeezed up onto four chairs.
“Let’s get started,” announced Murkle. Remaining at his usual height, he loomed above the apprentices. “Now, the Congress has decided that you all need to be taught Shian tales and human lessons. I can’t speak for human beings, having no contact with them if I can help it,” at this point Fenrig smirked, “but why you can’t learn Shian tales at home with your parents I don’t know.”
“He’s going to be a bundle of laughs,” whispered Séan to Jack.
“I am not a bundle of anything,” snapped Murkle, whose hearing seemed to have improved dramatically. Several of the youngsters exchanged nervous glances.
“My unpleasant task is to impart to you impertinent young things some of my knowledge of Shian folklore,” he continued. “I warn you that I do not tolerate insolence or bad behaviour. We will start with the tale of the giant and the troll. Many years ago …” Murkle paused as he saw a hand shoot up.
“Please, Murkle,” said Purdy brightly, “I know this story. It happened hundreds of years ago, and this giant …” Her voice trailed off as she saw the look of dislike on the teacher’s face.
“I did not ask if any of you knew this story already,” he barked. “And, as far as I am aware, the Congress has not asked you to teach the new apprentices. Or perhaps I’m mistaken, perhaps you are indeed the new teacher. Well, young Purdy, I’m obviously wasting my time here. Why don’t you take over?” He sneered sarcastically as she squirmed in embarrassment.
“Does anyone else want to be the teacher?” asked Murkle, glaring round at the others.
Jack, like everyone else, had suddenly found the floor very interesting. I’m not asking him about the King’s Cup – or anything else.
After a pause, Murkle resumed.
“The giant lived in a cave, far away to the north. In those days there were giants living on most hillsides, but they always lived alone …”
His monotonous voice lacked even the barest inflection to make it interesting. For two hours he spoke without stopping. There was no obvious connection between the tales, and no discussion about what each had signified. He paused only once, to summon a small goblet of water, which he quickly drained.
By three o’clock, the apprentices were all in a state of torpor. Boyce had twice dozed off, his head sliding down onto Jack’s shoulder, whereupon Jack had nudged him sharply in the ribs. Murkle drew his final story to a close, and for the first time since he had started, he looked round at his audience.
“Next Monday we will continue with tales of the north countries. In time, I intend to discuss demons, including Amadan. I will expect you to be on time.” He stood up and walked to the door.
Diana, first to her feet, strode to the doorway. Murkle bent down and placed his hand unceremoniously on her head, and whispered under his breath. In a second, she had regained her normal height, and she left without a word. The others quickly jumped off their chairs and formed a line.
Within a minute they were all outside. After the gloominess of Murkle’s front room, the square seemed very bright. Fenrig immediately ran to the foot of the square, but the others remained where they were.
Jack inhaled deeply and savoured the fresh air that came from the warren pipes in the rock wall.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” announced Boyce. “If I’d wanted a good sleep I could’ve just gone back to bed.”
“You mean we have to go through that every week?” moaned Kaol. “What’s the Congress think they’re doing, making him a teacher?”
Jack and Purdy strolled along the square, and she turned into the path leading up to her door.
“See you later.”
Jack smiled back, and walked onto the next house. Aunt Katie called him through from the kitchen.
“How did you get on today, Jack dear?” she asked brightly.
Jack mumbled something about getting on all right, but Katie wasn’t giving up that easily.
“Come on, I know you’re getting on well at Gilmore’s, but tell me what this afternoon was like.”
Jack really wasn’t in the mood to discuss his day, but his aunt persisted.
“It’s boring, all right?” he snapped. “He just droned on and on. He even made the good stories boring.”
Though taken aback at Jack’s anger, Aunt Katie rallied. “Well, we had heard that he’s not very exciting,” she admitted. “But the stories must be good, and he knows ever so many. That’s why he was chosen to be your teacher. Never mind, you’ve got Daid on Thursday. I’m sure he’ll convince you that we can all learn a lot from the humans.”
Jack knew his aunt meant well, but he just wasn’t in the mood. How could someone who knew so many good tales be so uninspiring? If human lessons were anything like the Shian tales, two afternoons a week might as well be written off, and there was still no word of him being allowed out beyond the Shian square. If he didn’t get out and about soon, he’d go mad.
19
… and Human Lessons
On Thursday afternoon, the new apprentices met outside Daid’s house. Next door to Murkle’s, it was on the face of it very similar. As Purdy was about to knock, the door opened, and they were greeted by a jovial man who ushered them in. A broad smile almost reached both ears, and his eyes shone with good humour.
The apprentices trooped into the front room, as they had done in Murkle’s house, and it was immediately obvious that the two were strikingly different. Whereas Murkle’s front room had been drab and cramped, Daid’s was bright and roomy, even if the hundreds of books ranged haphazardly on shelves did make it look untidy. Lumis crystals in the outer wall caught the light from the square outside and diffused it around the room. There were enough chairs for everyone, and in the corner stood an upright piano.
“I’ve fixed the room so that it will accommodate us all,” chortled Daid. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
He began to tell stories about human life and history: some sad, some funny. Jack and most of the class sat enthralled – Daid was clearly an accomplished storyteller.
“Humans are stupid,” said Fenrig after a while, interrupting Daid mid-sentence. “They think they’re clever, but they’re not.”
“Now, what makes you think that, young man? I grant you, there are stupid ones, but are they any worse than us?”
“My dad says we should get th
em whenever we can,” continued Fenrig, not in the least abashed at Daid’s response.
“Well now, that would be unfortunate,” said Daid with a smile. “We have to live near humans, if not with them. Does it profit us to be hostile?”
“We’re getting them back for all they’ve done to Shian down the years,” said Boyce.
“It’s true that in the past humans did some terrible things to Shian,” conceded Daid. “To illustrate, I’ll show you a simulacrum.”
Jack watched as Daid used his sceptre to project the simulacrum onto the wall.
Just like Grandpa did.
Great crowds and burning houses; people tied to wooden stakes and set on fire. Others throttled and left to hang from trees, or tied to rocks and thrown into rivers. Silent screams of terror and pain shouted out from the wall, an eerie soundless echo of past torments. Purdy shuddered.
“Things got very bad after the Stone was taken away, as you can see. Weak without the Stone’s power, we withdrew, away from the towns. Long ago the humans had all sorts of names for the Shian: some good, like the ‘good neighbours’; some bad, like the ‘demons’. Well, it got so bad that eventually they only thought of us as demons. And there are demons, such as Amadan, whose touch alone can kill. Both sides committed vile crimes.”
“Whole Shian families died out, didn’t they?” asked Suque.
“That’s right. Then someone had the bright idea of teaching humans that the Shian were nothing more than garden sprites, creatures no more powerful than lacewing flies. That ruse saved us.”
“But that sounds like a grig,” stated Diana.
“Exactly. And humans barely notice them. So, who can tell me about their dealings with humans?”
“I like using paving hexes so they trip up,” proclaimed Boyce.
“That’s kids’ stuff,” snorted Fenrig. “I bet you’ve never kidnapped a human, or put them to work in the forges.”
“And why do you like picking on humans?” asked Daid tolerantly.
“Because they’re there and I feel like it.”
“A rather unimaginative impulse, I should say. Now, don’t get the impression that I believe humans to be off limits. The haughty, the mean-spirited, they all deserve to be taken down a peg or two. Kidnapping – well, the Seelie do not approve of that. You know some good humans have Shian guardian angels, though they seldom realise it.”
Suque raised her hand. “Who should we play tricks on, then?”
“A good question, young lady. To answer, we need to find out more about what makes humans tick. Now, who has read any human books?”
Purdy put up her hand. “My mother showed me a book about baking. Humans use funny flour; their food tastes awful.”
Maybe that’s why Aunt Katie’s such a lousy cook, thought Jack. She’s half-human.
“I’m sure we all know that human food can be disgusting, but I meant human books about humans. They tell stories, just like us. Histories, novels and plays that let us see what makes humans what they are.”
“You mean stupid and greedy?” asked Fenrig, at which there was a muffled giggle around the room.
“No more so than some of the best known Shian characters from our own history,” said Daid without rising to the bait. “Now, I want you all to choose one book from my shelves over there, it doesn’t matter which one. Over the next few weeks, one at a time, I want you to come back and tell us all about the book you’ve chosen, and what it tells us about humans. Is that clear?”
Fenrig was first up. Without looking, he grabbed the book at the end of the shelf and strutted out. The others followed more slowly, taking time to look at two or three books before selecting one. As they all stood on the pavement outside, Jack glanced at the book Purdy had taken.
“A Victorian Lady’s Highland Journal?” he asked. “What’s that about?”
“I don’t know. I liked the look of it. What’s yours?”
“A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Volume Three. All the short ones were gone by the time I got to choose. Are you going home?”
“Yes. Mum said she wanted to ask me about everything as soon as we finished today.”
The next week the youngsters gathered in Daid’s front room. Purdy was not there due to illness – a case, her mother said, of having eaten some human sweets found by Rana. The others found a seat each and brought out their books, with the exception of Fenrig.
“Lost it,” he said carelessly when questioned by Daid.
“Lost it?! These books are valuable, I entrusted them to you. Which one did you take?”
“Dunno. Candid, something like that.”
“That is a classic tale, which will help us all to learn about the human condition. I hope you will be able to locate it later today?”
“Or what?” sneered Fenrig. “You mean you’ll stop me from learning about Dameves?”
“These lessons are not optional, young man,” said Daid through gritted teeth, the previous week’s easy-going manner having deserted him. “You will find that book and bring it back to me by tomorrow evening. Otherwise I dare say the Congress will review your place here.”
“My dad knows Amadan. You wouldn’t want him to get involved, would you?” said Fenrig sullenly.
Daid stiffened for a moment, then decided to let pass what was undoubtedly an empty threat.
“I trust the rest of you have taken better care of your books?” he asked evenly. “You, Boyce. Which book did you take?”
“It was a play set in Italy,” answered Boyce. “It’s called Romeo and Juliet, but it was confusing. I didn’t recognise a lot of the words.”
“That’s excusable. It was written a long time ago, when human speech was rather different. Can you tell us what the story was about?”
“Well, these two young people are in love,” began Boyce, at which point Jack and several of the others began making mooning kissing faces at him. He snarled, annoyed by the teasing, but continued to narrate the basic plot.
“Very good,” said Daid, when Boyce had finished. “Now, who can tell me why this story is important?”
“Because it shows humans are capable of loving,” answered Diana.
“It shows they can’t deal with love, you mean,” retorted Séan. “Fighting each other, all because two people want to be together.”
“Just like the Shian, in other words,” said Daid, at which there was a moment of silence, broken only by Fenrig’s derisive snort. “Perhaps you could tell me, young Fenrig, what it is about humans that so antagonises you?”
Fenrig stared back at the tutor, and there was a pause before he said simply, “Shian and humans shouldn’t mix.”
“Do you mean never mix, or only when a Shian needs something that only a human has?”
“They’ve got nothing we need,” answered Fenrig. “They think they have all the answers, but if they’re so clever, how come they only live seventy or eighty years?”
“Ah, now that is an interesting point, and it will take some time to discuss. Who can tell me …” Daid’s voice trailed off as a large figure appeared at the window, causing the room to darken appreciably. Jack turned, but could only make out an indistinct face.
“That’s all for today,” said Daid hurriedly. “Next week you’re all to bring me a story about human nature. Ask your parents, or anyone. True story or false, it doesn’t matter. Now, come on, out with you.”
Flustered, Daid ushered the youngsters out of the house. As Jack and the others began to walk away, they saw someone emerge from the side of the house and slip quietly in at the front door.
Without preamble, Boyce walked up to Jack and punched him on the side of the head, knocking him to the ground.
“That’s for kissy kissy,” he snarled.
Surprised by the attack, Jack sat for a moment. I’ll get you for that, he thought. Not now, when there’s no one else around.
“Who was that at the window?” asked Diana. “Daid looked frightened.”
“Probably one o
f his human friends,” snorted Fenrig.
“Humans are too big to come under the castle,” said Purdy.
“Wouldn’t they shrink down, same as us?” queried Suque.
“That gate doesn’t work on humans – Dad told me,” said Purdy.
“I saw a face, but not very clearly,” said Jack, getting to his feet. “It was an old man. I think he had a scar on his cheek.”
“Who are you going to ask for your story, Jack?” asked Purdy.
“My Aunt Katie,” replied Jack. “Her dad was a human, so she’s got loads of stories.” Jack paused, then, out of devilment, he asked, “What about you, Fenrig?”
“I’m not wasting my time on that,” snapped Fenrig, and he raced off.
Jack saw him go round to the back of Mawkit’s house, and thought of following to see exactly where he went, but then realised that this was futile. Fenrig had perfected the art of making himself scarce. Jack knew that he wouldn’t see him again until the next morning.
20
The Aximon
As predicted, Fenrig appeared at the workshop the next day, and every other working day over the next few weeks. Their routine had settled down, and while there was no warmth in their relationship, each tolerated the other. Jack tried hard to get to grips with his work, and occasionally showed some promise. Fenrig, meanwhile, continued to gripe about not being allowed to make charmed clothes.
If tailoring was becoming routine, so were Murkle’s lessons. These remained as uninteresting as on the first afternoon. Daid’s lessons, on the other hand, were a mixture of delight and frustration. Sometimes he brimmed over with eagerness, keen to tell stories or impart little nuggets of information. At other times, he seemed anxious or preoccupied, unable to concentrate on the thread of a conversation.
Jack found that Aunt Katie was more than ready to talk about humans and their strange ways, although there were moments when she became sad when talking about her father and his human family. Jack found this inexplicable, and after a lesson at Daid’s he quizzed her about this.
“Aunt Katie, why’s it so hard to talk about your dad?”
