The Greylands: Volume IV

by Susan Skylark

For Fear of Little Men

  Beatrice was missing, and none were fain to seek her, save her little brother, Tibbin, but could a mere child go where grown men feared to tread? Perhaps only a little child could. She had strayed up into the hills after her father’s missing sheep and none had seen her for a full three days. No one ventured into those hills, for they were known to be haunted by all manner of folk, strange and fey, and it was folly for mortals to tread thereupon. No, the girl was lost, spirited away or bewitched by some fell being, never more to be seen by mortal men under sun and star, at least not in any natural form; her family might as well accept the truth, embrace their loss, and move on with their lives, or so whispered the villagefolk. But Tibbin was not content to lose his sister thus, but loath were his parents to part with their remaining child, so did he make for those forbidden hills without their knowing or leave, save for a brief note of farewell, imparting his fate. Aghast, his parents asked of their friends and neighbors if any were willing to go after. They merely shook their heads and muttered darkly amongst themselves, who would risk their lives when the boy willingly chose his doom? It was not to be helped. The aggrieved couple went home to wait, perhaps vainly, for news of what had come of their children.

  Tibbin was a child but he was not a fool, he was young but also sensible. His elders all feared the fairyfolk, mostly because they did not understand them, albeit they had little interaction with that mysterious kindred and only a few old tales, likely flawed, to rely upon for information pertaining thereunto, but they were also small-minded and superstitious, little liking anything outside their ken, which was pretty much anything and everything outside the confines of their secluded village. Tibbin was still young enough to be untainted by their blindness and prejudice; for his were the wide, unguarded eyes of childhood that saw things as they were rather than as the viewer thought them to be. He was a little leery of the fey folk, as all creatures are of the unknown, but he was not paralyzed or handicapped by unmerited terror as his elders were. Thus did he hie himself into those mysterious hills, the only hope for his sister. He took with him enough bread, cheese, and water to last him a week of hard scrabbling over rocky ground, hoping it would be enough. He took no weapons, save a little knife, which was tool rather than implement of death. With his meager rations and a stout, faithful heart did he set out upon quest great and daring.

  He left at twilight when his parents thought him abed, creeping carefully out of the house and into the brushy waste behind, clambering over stones and thorny scrub by the light of a slivered moon and a few bright stars. He went as far as he could in the wan light, at least far enough that pursuit would not follow, and then laid himself down under a gorse bush to find what rest he could. An impertinent bird started trilling in said bush at an unearthly hour, wakening the stiff, cold hero into a misty world of gold and rose. He smiled despite his discomfort and drank in the beauty about him, like a connoisseur a rare and delicate wine. He stretched, breakfasted, and was soon off into the mysterious otherworldliness of dawn, feeling that his adventure was well and truly begun. His sister surely waited around the next bend in the path or just over the hill. He whistled as airily as the bird as he set forth.

  His sister was not over the next hill, but a short, stocky man with a prodigious beard sat upon a stone in the thinning mist, smoking his pipe. Asked the boy of the stoic figure, “have you perchance seen or heard of a young girl roaming these hills within the last sevennight, good sir?”

  The dwarfish gentleman smiled broadly at the lad’s boldness, withdrew his pipe, and exhaled thoughtfully, “aye lad, aye. Not a rabbit goes through these hills without my knowing it. How is it you have the courage to come when none of your elders would bestir themselves?”

  Said the boy with a shrug, “none would come, so there was only me. Please sir, have you seen my sister?”

  The man nodded sagely, “she’s taken up with a few of the pixies that haunt meadow and lea, dangerous consorts for a mortal lass.”

  The boy paled, “have they harmed her or is she in great peril?”

  The dwarf laughed, “aye and nay, lad, aye and nay! Those fairies are as feckless and giddy as any lass your sister’s age, but they never grow up or wiser, and neither do they age nor die. They will not hurt a mayfly or aught else, but rather delight in all that is pretty and ephemeral: flowers, butterflies, robin’s eggs, and the like. They have no use or comprehension of the greater, eternal things but are like a brook’s laugh or a dancing little wind in their seriousness and wisdom. The danger lies in the fact Time and Death mean nothing to them. Your sister, if she is not careful, may get so caught up in their whimsical nonsense that she forgets such things herself and by the time she remembers them, may find herself a very old lady with naught of life left to her. It is a tricky thing when mortals think to involve themselves in matters beyond their ken and natural sphere. Your kind is made for eternity, but must enter it through the proper door, not try to sneak in the window.”

  The boy was silent for a long while as he contemplated the little man’s words, and finally said, “can I draw her back?”

  The man nodded, “aye lad, if she will come, but she may be so entranced with the merriment and giddiness of her companions that she will yearn to stay. If she will not go of her own will, no power on earth or beyond it will move her. Take heed to yourself, that you not find yourself also caught up in things beyond your natural sphere. Someday perhaps, such or rather far greater shall be your lot, but do not be tempted into seizing it ere it is time for only trouble will come of it.” The boy heartily thanked the old man and hastened in the direction he was bidden. The dwarf watched after and wondered what would come of the lad and his sister, silently shaking his head at the recklessness and abandon of those silly pixies and the inadvertent havoc it could wreak upon a mortal creature.

  Tibbin had not gone far when he spied a rather curious creature crouching in the shade of a great oak. It appeared to be a lad his own age, but his full height would only reach his father’s knee; he was light of build, eye, and hair and his ears were slightly tapered. He winked at the staring boy, motioned eagerly for the lad to follow, and vanished into the hedge of roses at the base of the tree. Tibbin took two happy steps after the fairy creature but then froze, his quest was his sister, not to be caught up in a fate like unto hers. He sighed heavily but turned staunchly back upon his original path and intent. The little creature watched after, for a moment a little disappointed, but then some other amusement soon caught his attention and his lost companion was immediately forgotten.

  By the time the sun was on its downward journey, Tibbin had come to the little meadow wherein the dwarf said his sister and her merry companions might be found on occasion. He settled down in a thicket of young birches to await their coming. Neither was the wait to be tedious, dull, or lonely. The world, in itself, was young, spry, pleasant, and full of the wonders of spring, but those hills were haunted by all manner of folk and creature unknown to the children of men, and in this varied parade, Tibbin found endless marvel and interest. Most ignored him, some were openly scornful, and a few asked him to follow in their merry wake, but ever he sat and awaited the coming of Beatrice and her fairy companions. So did he wait for three full days, eating from his scant provisions and refreshing himself in the ever singing brook by which he sat, finally on a night of mist and moon and starlight, five bright figures came laughing and dancing into the water meadow, Beatrice as radiant and blithe as her companions.

  Tibbin rose from his place with a joyous shout and for a moment the pixies quivered like frightened birds, but soon they arrayed themselves about him in a merry dance of welcome and curiosity. Beatrice at first did not know him, but as his song joined in their lilting chorus, his well loved voice broke the thrall about her and she joyously left her place in the circle and flew into her brother’s arms with tears of unspeakable longing and delight. The piping and cavorting of the fairies increased tenfold a
t such mirth and delightedly did they share therein, but soon they tired of the newcomer and were rather perplexed and no little troubled by the strange sobbing that now wracked their once gay companion. For nothing did they know of sorrow or death. With a merry call, did they bid Beatrice to flit off with them anew, careless once more, but she smiled sadly, wiped a mysterious moisture from her eyes and cheek, and shook her head adamantly. The pixies shrugged indifferently and capered off into the creeping mist to join the dance of the fireflies, their companion utterly forgotten. Beatrice shook her head ruefully, took Tibbin’s hand, and returned to his place amongst the birches. They slept soundly until roused by the zealous chorus of a morning in spring. Hand in hand, they left that lovely meadow and turned their steps and hearts longingly towards home.

  They met the little man, still sitting on his accustomed stone and smoking his pipe, perhaps as he had done since the first morning of the world. He smiled joyously at them, waved enthusiastically, and then vanished. They shared a mystified smile and continued on their way. They might have slept another night in the bush but knew their parents were mourning their presumed fate and were eager to turn their weeping to joy. So it was that joy came with the morning. Their father stood aback the house, staring morbidly off into the hills and thought himself in a delirium when he glimpsed his lost children walking blithely back from the land of things forgotten and unknown. He trumpeted his wonder and joy so loudly that the entire village was roused. His wife came disbelieving from the house, took one look at what had so disquieted her husband, and added her own shriek of pure joy to the cacophony of laughing welcome and wonder.

  The grim eyed, fretful villagers gathered round the happy little foursome and muttered darkly about curses, possession, and worse. A few even clutched a kitchen knife, pitchfork, or wood axe in nervous dread. The now grave father stood forth and asked of his disturbed folk, “my children have returned unscathed, why do you not rejoice?”

  Said one distrustful old man, “who are you to say they are unscathed? Who knows what terrible curse might have been laid upon them? None venture into those hills and returns unchanged, if they return at all. They are a threat and a danger to us all as long as they remain among us. Send them back or send them away lest evil befall us all, else we will take matters into our own hands.”

  The man shook his head in grim disgust, but before he could reply to this nonsense, Tibbin took his hand, looked gently into his eyes, and said with a wisdom far beyond his years, “heed him not father, he knows not of what he speaks and no words of yours will change his mind.” Unchanged indeed! The man smiled down at this young sage, caught the eyes of all his dear ones, and then looked once more upon those mysterious hills. A brilliant flicker of gold and white upon a far hill, like a distant star, filled all his vision and called bewitchingly to his very soul. Said Tibbin with tremulous, but joyous finality, “come, come away!” He took his father’s hand, his mother and sister joined theirs also, and the entire family boldly made for that distant vision, the flummoxed villagers parting before them like water around the bow of a boat. They vanished into those wondrous hills and were seen in that village no more. Many and dark were the rumors of the witchery that had taken an entire clan and the grim fate that had undoubtedly befallen them, but I can assure you, they were all of them wrong.

  The Greylands: Volume V Sample Chapter:

  The Pallid Knight:

  The rain lashing at the windows did nothing to lighten Kyan's mood and only seemed to echo the doubts that plagued his mind when he was too tired or discouraged to chase them away with his usual unshakable enthusiasm. The small, dark cottage in which he and his sister now dwelt offered little in the way of comfort or cheer, especially on such a gloomy day. They had once lived in a grand castle, she had been a fine lady, and he had aspired to become a great knight. But now they were little more than paupers, totally dependent on what little remained of their elder brother's beneficence. Kyan had been a squire in the service of a renowned knight when word reached him of his father's sudden death, his brother's assumption of their father's rank and wealth, and his sister's impending nuptials to a knight of most unworthy character. All of which prompted the boy to beg his master's leave to return home until matters could be settled in a more satisfactory fashion. His master had scoffed at his weakness and bid him return home if he must, but bade him not to return if he were so foolish as to leave such a desirous post for so pathetic reason. So Kyan had fled home with all haste, much to his sister's joy and his brother's great displeasure.

  Kaya was to wed a rich and powerful knight, though one with a dreadful reputation, as soon as could be arranged. Marlin, their elder brother, did not want to be troubled with the girl and was quite desirous of the benefits to himself that came by forming such an alliance, though it would come at the cost of all his sister’s happiness. Kyan would not stand to see his sister wed to such a man and boldly declared this to his brother who was already aghast at the boy's sudden desertion of his post. He banished them both to the old cottage that had once served the gatekeeper but had long since been replaced by a better and more serviceable abode. Thither they fled and waited to see what might come of the matter once Marlin's wrath had cooled. But in the fortnight since their change of address, they had seen nothing of their brother nor heard anything from him. A retired footman had appeared at their door one bright morning three days after their banishment and had assumed the place of steward, butler, gardener, cook, and drudge. It seemed their brother had at least granted them an allowance of food and the aid of the old servant, though he would not deign to speak to them himself.

  Kyan must have sat deep in thought for some time, for the rain had ceased and the bright sunshine of a spring morning was pouring in the window. Kaya stood before him and declared, "I cannot abide it any longer! I must be allowed out of this squalid little hut ere I go mad. Do you think I could have the use of the stables?"

  Kyan frowned doubtfully, "I little know what we dare in our current circumstances."

  Kaya grinned mischievously, "then I shall dare all of Marlin's wrath for a ride on such a morning!"

  She bounced out of the house before Kyan could call her back, but he did catch the eye of their faithful servant who gave a quick nod of his head and dashed after the lady. At least she would not go alone. The servants in the stable said nothing as the lady and her ancient footman selected their horses and rode out into the brilliant day, fresh after the rain. Kyan watched them go, an unbidden sense of trepidation suddenly rising in his heart; he wondered at this, for it had nothing to do with his brother.

  The day was fading into dusk when the breathless servant returned at the gallop, ashen grey and alone. His horse was frothed with sweat and dancing so much with nervousness that it was a miracle the man could maintain his seat. Kyan dashed out into the yard as the man reined the nearly frantic beast to a standstill. The old servant flung himself from the saddle and on his knees, wept out a tale of woe as he clutched his young master's coat and sobbed. Kyan stared at the man, dumbfounded. It could not be, but the old man was far from senile. The horse stood with head hanging and sides heaving, a merry ride in the country could not account for the pitiful creature's state, no matter how far and hard they had ridden. Something had frightened the beast nigh unto death and his rider was in little better state. Kyan freed himself from the terrified old man's clutching hands, said something he could never afterwards remember in way of consolation, and dashed for the castle to inform his brother of these dread tidings.

  The doors were firmly closed for the night and the watchman on duty shook his head grimly as the boy pounded vainly on the great oaken doors. Said the guard, "it is no use lad, your brother will not hear you. He has forsaken you and your sister as kith and kin and will no longer associate with either of you, so much have you embarrassed and discomfited him. He will allow you to live quietly under his care, as he might a penniless uncle, but he wil
l not deign to allow you into his presence or acknowledge you as kin. You had best go home and leave things be, ere they grow worse should you further provoke him."

  Kyan stopped his pounding upon the door and said in desperation, "but my sister! Our sister! She has this day gone missing! We will need all our strength and more to rescue her!"

  The old soldier shook his head sadly, "he will not hear you or acknowledge her as his responsibility. If there is a remedy, you must find it yourself."

  The boy nodded in resignation and turned from the great door. As he turned to go, he said to the ancient guard, "could I have the loan of your sword? I have no weapon to my name and this foe is grim indeed."

  Moved to pity by the plight of the boy and his sister, of whom he had been fond since they were small enough to bounce upon their father's knee, the old man said, "my armor is old and plain, but the sword is sharp as any of greater name or lineage. Take what you need, for here it will only rust in the damp of night and rain during hours of countless watching."

  The boy brightened at this small offer of help, took what the man could spare him, and then dashed towards the stable. He took the horse he had returned home upon and vanished into the night upon the trail of his lost sister. The old servant watched the boy ride off then collapsed into a sobbing heap before the crumbling cottage; he was raving with fever when they found him the next morning and the name he cried out sent a chill through the heart of even the boldest that heard it. Marlin cursed his brother's foolishness for undertaking such a quest alone. Many were the brave knights that had challenged this dreadful foe yet none had ever returned to tell the tale.

  Kyan pushed his horse as hard as he dared, knowing he had a long journey ahead of him yet his heart ached to think of his sister languishing in the clutches of this infamous villain. His own courage nearly failed even to think upon that name, let alone to speak it aloud. The Master of Bones was infamous for his cruelty and seeming invincibility, but there was no mistaking that those who had borne off his sister were Minions, the awful slaves of that terrible creature. So he rode on, knowing full well his own death was inevitable but hoping against hope that somehow he might succeed in ransoming his sister. The creature's lair stood atop a mountain at least a week's hard riding from Marlin's castle and Kyan regretted every minute wasted in rest, but neither he nor his horse would live to challenge the Master of Bones if he pressed on as hard as he wished. The days were a blur, he slept uneasily when he stopped to rest the horse. He lived on the dry bread and meat the servant had hastily packed ere his departure. But somehow, both man and beast survived the interminable journey and stood at the base of the mountain atop which a once grand castle perched, wherein dwelt their vile foe.

  Kyan drew rein and stopped for their final rest at the base of the path leading up the rocky slope. The tired horse whinnied in terror, catching the creature's scent; he reared, pulled his reins free, and fled back the way they had come. Kyan sighed heavily, not liking to lose his only companion on this suicidal quest, but perhaps it was for the best. At least one of them would survive this adventure. "That beast has more sense than you," came an amused voice, "it would be wise for you to flee likewise."

  Kyan jumped at the unexpected utterance but quickly glanced around to locate the source. An old man, hunched and bent, sat upon a stone beside the climbing path though no one had been there a moment before. Said the boy, "I would not attempt such a thing were it not needful sir, that creature has my sister and I must attempt her rescue or forever rue my cowardice."

  The old man nodded thoughtfully, "a needful thing perhaps, but certainly not wise unless you can somehow hope to accomplish your task."

  The boy nodded glumly, "I know none have lived who have ascended this hill but I must try sir."

  The peculiar little man said, "no, none survive but that does not mean you cannot succeed in your goal." The boy frowned in incomprehension as the man continued, "there is a way to rescue your sister but it will cost you your life."

  For the first time in days, hope shown in the boy's eyes, "I knew I rode to my death regardless sir, let it not be in vain. What must I do?"

  The old man said, "only a true Knight can defeat this dreadful creature and only one willing to lay his life down without struggle or fuss. He must offer himself in the victim's stead, only then can the creature be destroyed and the hostage freed, else all will perish."

  The boy sighed, "I am willing to make such a sacrifice yet no knight am I, only a disgraced squire."

  The strange little man laughed, "what know these mortal lords of true valor and courage? Come boy, kneel and you shall be a true Knight of the Great King." The boy's eyes widened in wonder but he quickly knelt before the old man who promptly knighted the boy, and then sent him on his way after telling him exactly what must be said and done. The boy stood, nearly glowing with eagerness and was about to spill forth his thanks to the stranger but he was again alone at the base of the path. He shook his head in wonder and quickly set forth on his last and greatest quest.

  He had not gone far when an ugly creature, roughly man shaped but with long arms and a leathery grey hide, accosted him, "would you challenge the Master of Bones fool?"

  Kyan took a deep breath and addressed the Minion as calmly as he could, though his heart quivered within him, "I do not come to challenge your master. He has taken my sister and I would take her place. I do hereby surrender myself to your master if he would then free my sister. She is but a disgraced lady of little name and no fortune. I am a true Knight, full and free."

  The creature at first seemed taken aback at this statement and then burst into uproarious laughter. Kyan calmly waited for the abomination to regain its senses. The mirthful convulsions finally subsided and the Minion replied as calmly as it could, "very well, my master would be most interested in your plea. Come." He followed the creature as it ascended towards the ancient castle that the Master of Bones had taken from whomever had built it centuries ago. As they climbed, Minions seemed to appear out of every crevice and crack in the stone and from behind every rock. There had never been such an entrance as this in all the long years since the Master of Bones had taken this place for his own. Mortal men came only ever to challenge or as captives, never as a willing victim.

  Kyan was surrounded by Minions as they finally came to the ridge on which the ancient ruin stood; the Master of Bones had come forth to meet them. The creature was vaguely troll-like in appearance, being thrice the height of a man with long arms, pasty flesh, scraggly hair, beady eyes, and many cruel and broken teeth. He stared down at his victim and gloated, "not brave enough to challenge me boy? Or perhaps you know I can be bested by no mortal man? In either case, I shall drink your blood and my Minions shall gladly gnaw your bones."

  "What of my sister?" demanded Kyan in a bold voice that surprised everyone, most of all himself.

  The Master of Bones snorted, "if her freedom is your price, then let the bargain be struck. As soon as you lie dead, she shall go free." "Only," said the monster in great glee, "she must watch."

  Kyan flinched, "must you be so cruel?"

  He snorted in derision, "what else could I be? Be silent, you are lucky I am willing to bargain at all, but this miserable sacrifice amuses me else I would not humor such folly. Now lie on that stone bier, as is proper for a Knight in death."

  Kyan climbed atop the great flat topped stone and lay with his sword on his breast, clutching the hilt with both hands. He heard his sister shriek as the Minions brought her forth to watch this ghastly demonstration; he heard her shrieks of terror turn to sobs of horror as she recognized her brother on the slab. The Master of Bones smiled at her horror and then bent over the prone Knight, gloating, "I hope the price was worth it boy!" He opened his grim mouth to reveal countless sharp and broken teeth with which he bit down on the boy's exposed neck and severed the great vessels found therein. The sudden shunting of blood from Kyan
's brain to the monster's gullet caused the boy to lapse suddenly into darkness, his sister's sobs and the mocking laughter of the Minions were the last things he heard.

  The boy's skin grew deathly pale, his heart struggled vainly, and his breathing ceased; Kaya wept inconsolably. The monster stood upright, a dreadful smile on his face, as he sneered down at the limp and unmoving Knight. The girl's sobbing made him smile all the more. He reached down and took up the boy's sword, disappointed to discover the fool was so ill-equipped. His castle was stuffed with treasure once owned by those foolish enough to oppose him. This pathetic creature bore nothing more than a common foot soldier might possess. A single drop of blood escaped his flabby lips and landed on the sword as he studied the weapon. He cast it aside in disgust, but it did not clatter upon the stony ground as it should have.

  He turned to stare in astonishment at the ominous silence and gasped to see his victim sitting up and holding the sword, ready to spring. The monster began to laugh but it turned to a gurgle as Kyan leapt upon him and drove the weapon deep into the creature's chest. They collapsed together upon the stony ground and the Master of Bones fell to dust. A great cry went up from the hapless Minions who suddenly clutched at their chests and vanished, as had their master. A terrible wind came up and blew away the mortal remains of the Minions and their late master. Kaya remained alone in that desolate place and raced to the side of her unmoving brother, who lay pale and lifeless upon the flagstones. She knelt over the prone form and wept in terror, horror, and relief.

  "Move aside girl," came an urgent but not unfriendly voice. In wonder and astonishment, the girl did as she was bidden before realizing who it was that had spoken. The bent old man knelt beside the boy, blew on his face, and said simply, "awake." He moved aside as Kyan groaned, sat up, and stared in wonder at the old man, who smiled knowingly and winked at the flummoxed boy. The swirling storm of thoughts and experiences that raced through the stunned boy’s mind suddenly calmed and resolved itself into some semblance of order. He had many questions, had seen things that no mortal mind can comprehend for they are things beyond this world, but he knew he must wait, for now was not the time to inadvertently reveal things that have been hidden from the knowledge of man since the beginning of Time.

  The old man moved aside and allowed the overjoyed Kaya to assault her brother. She flung herself upon him and wept in joy and relief. He held her close, letting her vent her emotions and once she had recovered her composure, they both turned curious eyes upon their ancient benefactor. He smiled gently at them and said, “you have many questions I know, but now is not the time for answers. Instead, you must put this place in order and put its treasures and secrets to good use.”

  Kyan stood and his sister did the same. He bowed deeply to the wizened being before him and said, “thank you for every thing; we shall do as you ask.”

  Kaya gasped, “but…?” She did not finish her protest, for the man had vanished suddenly with a bemused smile and a wink. She turned to her brother and proclaimed, “can you tell me what is going on?”

  He shook his head and smiled, “I will tell you what little I know but first I think we had best be about the task that was set us.”

  They finally had the chance to take a good look at the things around them and Kaya gasped in wonder, “it is truly beautiful! Perhaps if it rained and green things grew here once more it might rival fabled Paradise.”

  Kyan said almost to himself, “that it would, though no earthly place could ever truly compare to that bright country.”

  As if in answer to her thoughts, the thunder rumbled and a sudden downpour drove them into the castle proper. They had expected to find the place dark, dirty, and crumbling to dust, but it seemed the wind that had carried away the remnants of their enemies had also done a thorough job of dusting as well. There were obviously places where the castle was in need of repair due to the neglect and occasional violence of its most recent occupants, but that it was in such good repair after so much inattention and abuse said much of the skill and proficiency of its builders. Neither was it dark and dreary, as they had expected. They found the windows open, allowing in the grey light of a stormy afternoon while torches, lamps, and candles burned brightly throughout the castle while fires blazed in every hearth, driving the damp and chill from the wet spring weather.

  “I did not expect that creature to keep this place so well lit!” exclaimed Kaya cheerfully.

  Kyan shook his head, “this is not of his doing. Come, we had best look deeper into the recesses of this place. Legend holds it to be stuffed to overflowing with treasure, not that anyone has ever glimpsed it and lived to tell the tale.” They descended into the lower reaches of the castle and found the dungeons, wine cellars, and other subterranean chambers full of gold, gems, tapestries, paintings, and any number of precious, beautiful, and rare items. Kyan looked grimly on the vast collection of finely wrought armor and bright swords, knowing what had come of their former owners. He turned to his sister and said, “now let us look into the upper chambers.”

  She nodded and eagerly left the glittering stores below, such splendor had given her quite a headache. They found the upper tiers of the castle structurally sound, stripped of all decoration and comfort, yet strangely clean with the furniture in good condition, as if awaiting a fresh change of linen after a thorough spring cleaning. Kaya’s eyes danced with merriment as they descended once more to the main hall, “what did that man mean by ‘do good’ with all this treasure?”

  Kyan smiled, “we are to put this ill-gotten gain to good use. It shall go to the aid of those who need it, especially those who have suffered so long under the brutality of that creature.”

  She laughed and clapped her hands together like an excited child, “what fun that shall be!” She then glanced about and sighed, “that is if we have any time left after caring for this great castle. How are we to find servants willing to work in a place that was only this morning a horror and a nightmare?”

  Kyan said knowingly, “that too shall be provided.”

  His smile broadened as a nervous and tentative figure crept into the brightly lit hall. Kaya gasped in fear and took a step behind her brother, but Kyan walked forward and embraced the flabbergasted old servant. He stared at his late master and mistress in some combination of joy and terror, not quite knowing what to say. “Lenard!” said Kaya in sheer joy, “what brings you to this dreadful place?”

  The man crumpled his hat in his hands and looked at the floor, but then sheepishly glanced at first one and then the other, not yet sure what to think or even to say, but he began, “I saw them take you my lady; I tried to follow, but alas my poor horse would not keep apace of those dreadful creatures. Instead I rode like a madman back to your brother and told him the tale. He begged your elder brother’s aid but he was not even granted a hearing so was forced to ride forth alone. After I saw him off, I was left all alone and so exhausted and grief-stricken that I could do naught but collapse in a heap, and was soon overcome with fever. Your elder brother’s servants found me and did what they could, but there was little hope or so they said. But in the midst of my delirium, an old man came to me and said that I might be of some aid to my master if I would but go to him.” “How could I refuse,” continued he, “so I sat up, took up my hat and cloak, got out of bed, and the moment I stepped outside the door, my fever was gone, I felt quite rested and found myself at the foot of this very mountain. And here I am. How is it that I got here? I cannot say, but so I am. How is it that you survived and even triumphed in this place, my lord and my dearest lady?”

  Kyan laughed for joy, “it seems your mysterious old man has been quite a help to all of us of late. It was he that advised me on how to deal with the creature that once lurked herein, and he that called me back into the mortal realm.”

  Kaya then broke in with a sob, “so you were truly dead?”

  Kyan smiled gently and d
rew her close in a hug, “for your sake I was willing to endure anything and the cost of your freedom was death. And it was only willing blood that could vanquish that creature we shall not name. With his demise, so too perished his Minions.”

  Kaya shivered, “what were those dreadful things?”

  Kyan said thoughtfully, “they were once men. There were but two choices when one came to this place willingly or as a captive. One was death, the other was slavery to that creature. He would spare your life but thereafter you belonged to him and upon his defeat, all of his Minions likewise perished.”

  Kaya shuddered, “what a dreadful choice!”

  Kyan said quietly, “it should have been no choice at all, for such could not be considered life.” He turned to Lenard, “come my friend, you are soaked to the bone and just out of a sickbed. We must get you warm and fed.”

  Lenard gasped in horror, “nay my lord, it cannot be so! I feel quite hale and hearty, as I have not felt in thirty years. Whereas you have endured far worse than I and look as if you should be abed and unable to rise.”

  Kyan frowned in confusion but finally took a look at himself in a great mirror upon one wall. He gasped in surprise and then smiled, “I suppose one cannot complain about his looks when he has just recovered from something as serious as death. Why did you not say something my dear sister?”

  She smiled ruefully and said, “the day has been so overwhelming and I was so grateful to have you back that I little noticed anything else.”

  Kyan glanced again at his reflection and had to agree with Lenard. He should be abed, if not in his grave. He was pale as death and a great wound gaped in his neck where vile teeth had struck. He felt fine, in fact he felt better than he ever could remember. “Fear not for me Lenard,” said Kyan as calmly as he could, “I feel as good as you, no matter what I look like.”

  “As you say sir,” said he doubtfully, “what would be your first order of business? I assume I will be allowed to resume my usual duties?” Kyan smiled and the man dashed off gleefully to begin setting the castle in order.

  It rained for three days and on the fourth, the sun shone brightly on a green and fresh countryside that had swiftly forgotten years of abuse and neglect. The castle gleamed white and grey in the sunshine while the mountain sparkled like an emerald after centuries of naught but dust and bare stone. This sudden change caused quite a stir among the folk who sometimes caught a glimpse of the once dreaded keep, but few were those who dared live or even travel within sight of that horrible place but word quickly spread from those that did and more soon came to gawk out of curiosity.

  However, their first visitor arrived upon that first wet morning amidst the fury of the storm. He was a stranger and knew nothing of the place, though little enough could be seen in the midst of the storm. He was a knight in full armor, aback a fearsome steed, and he had come a’questing. He stood at the castle gates and blew his horn, then shouted his challenge to the master of the castle. The bold knight was quite taken aback when no fierce monster came forth but only an ancient servant who said almost apologetically, “if you would sir Knight, my master asks you to join him for the morning repast. You can discuss your challenge over eggs and toast I suppose.”

  So astonished was he, that he dismounted without a word and followed the man laboriously into the castle, for it is not easy to walk in full armor. After the tedious business of stripping off his armor, the young knight curiously followed the servant into the small dining room, which they had taken to using for their meals. Lenard was quite astonished to find a fully stocked pantry, but not ungrateful to their mysterious benefactor. The young man bowed to the strangely pale man who sat at the head of the table and to the fair lady that sat beside him. The man and lady returned his formalities and motioned for him to take the chair opposite the lady.

  The young man stammered as Lenard served the eggs, “where is the Master of Bones? Have I come to the wrong place?”

  Kyan shuddered slightly and said, “please do not speak that evil name in this place. You are in the right place but have come too late, for the monster is slain and his curse broken.”

  The young knight sighed, “then my quest has failed. My father has too many sons and not enough of an inheritance to settle upon them all. I was given the choice of taking this quest and thereby gaining my fortune or of displacing an aged goatherd from his crumbling cottage which is all my father could bequeath me.”

  Kyan smiled, “then you had best let the poor goatherd alone and rather stay here, marry my sister, and put this dreadful treasure to good use.” They stared at him as if he were mad, but he smiled quite sanely at them.

  “You hardly know me!” squawked the boy.

  “I do not know you but my Master does,” said Kyan, as if this made perfect sense. He continued, “of course you both must agree to the arrangement, but it is a needful thing, as I have other errands I must be about and I cannot leave my lady sister here unattended.”

  The knight glanced thoughtfully at the lady who shyly dropped her gaze when his met hers. He laughed warmly, “I suppose this is a far fairer quest than that upon which I rode forth. If the lady is willing, so am I.” Kaya readily though quite abashedly agreed. The old man appeared quite providentially that evening and performed the ceremony, vanishing suddenly thereafter. Kyan bid farewell to them all and marched out into the tempest that raged without, all wondering why he did not heed the storm or the darkness. They shared a perplexed look but they had seen far stranger things of late.