The Nature of a Curse (Volume 2 of the Year of the Red Door)

by William Timothy Murray

  "What about the people here?" Sheila asked. "They are bound to ask why we're leaving."

  "We tell 'em the same," said Billy. "We go to Duinnor. That's what I've told me kinfolk already."

  "Others may want to join us," Robby put forward. "There are many here in Janhaven who have seen too much bloodshed. Some have already lost everything, their homes destroyed and farms, too, from what they say. Some are talking of putting more distance between themselves and the Redvests. They may want to come away with us."

  "We cannot permit that," Ullin spoke up immediately. "We will have to move quickly, with few comforts. As it is, we cannot make the pass of Loringard for the snows, and must go the long way around the Carthanes, through the Thunder Mountains and territories held by warlords and bandits. We will have enough to manage looking after ourselves. Others, if they go, must find their own way west."

  "That is something that only haste on our part may take care of," Ashlord said. "Let us try to be ready by noon tomorrow. Each of you must see to warm clothes and gear this very night. Furaman knows that we plan to depart and will provide packs and mounts for us. He is willing to provide more if there is anything we think of that he has. Ullin and I will select horses and have them here by first light."

  "Bring only what you can wear or carry on your back," Ullin continued. "We'll have horses each, and two more for our supplies and food. But anything may happen and we may lose our horses."

  Ashlord looked around the room. Ibin sat at the end of the table, closest to the fireplace, with a blank look on his face. Billy and Sheila stood beside him and nodded.

  "Then we are agreed," Ullin said. "We gather our horses and supplies at daybreak. With luck, we can depart even before noon."

  They all nodded.

  "One last thing," Ashlord said, seriously. "Arm yourselves. Light, strong, quick weapons."

  • • •

  Later, in the upstairs room that Robby was permitted to use, Mirabella held out a vest.

  "I want you to wear this," she said.

  Robby had been stuffing the other pieces of his clothing into a pack, along with a few other small things, when his mother came back into the room. She had earlier dropped off a bundle of clothes for him to pick through and had just returned, closing the door behind her.

  "It is a good, sturdy vest made of heavy cloth. Let me show you."

  She turned the vest inside out and revealed a flannel lining and showed him several slyly-sewn patches around the bottom of the vest. "Feel," she said, handing it to Robby. He took it with a quizzical look and felt along the patches. Through the cloth he could feel the shape of large round discs.

  "Coins?"

  Mirabella nodded. "The coins. When you have a chance, show them to Ashlord. I meant to do so, but never did. Show them to Ashlord privately, with no one else around. Let no one else know that you have them, not even your other companions. Not unless there is special and urgent need."

  "I understand," Robby said. "I'm sure they are of great value."

  "Yes, Robby. I think they are. I think they..." Mirabella paused, then changed her mind about what she was about to say. "I fear to think how valuable they may be, and that you will be carrying them. But I know they are too valuable to stay here with us. Remember, show them to no one except Ashlord, and mind what he says about them."

  "Yes, Mother."

  Robby slipped the vest on for size, and buttoned it up.

  "Here is some silver and gold, about twenty-weight of silver and ten of gold, in various coin."

  She handed him a small leather purse, such as the kind he had often carried on his routes to collect or pay bills of the store.

  "For more ordinary needs," she added. "Do you have all of the other things that you'll need?"

  "I think so. It will be getting cold, so I'm leaving behind all the light stuff," he told her. "Just heavy shirts, sweaters, and a coat. And lots of socks. And Mr. Furaman gave me a travel cloak with a good hood for bad weather."

  "Did you get the sewing kit from Mrs. Bosk?"

  "Yes. Sheila dropped it by a while ago."

  "It's good that you each should have one. I hope you will only need it for clothes."

  "Me, too, but I'm carrying along some grayhort root salve and a little bit of brandy to clean any wounds that may need stitching."

  "Have you ever done that, Robby?"

  "No, but I watched Sheila do it once, to a little baby rabbit that we rescued from a cat. It was only a small wound, though I imagine the method would be pretty much the same."

  "Oh, I see. Probably so."

  Mirabella watched Robby finish packing and said nothing else for a long while. Robby, too, was silent. There was so much to say, so much more to ask about, but Robby could not think of anything in particular that was most important. Finally, after cinching up the straps on the pack and checking the bedroll tied to it, he turned back to his mother, who had by now taken a seat on the plain wooden chair near the dark window. The candle burned steady and the unwavering light silhouetted the soft contours of her face. Though she smiled, Robby saw immense sadness in her face, and she uncharacteristically clutched her hands pensively in her lap. Robby sat down on the edge of the bed, his knees touching hers, and he took her hands in his.

  "I love you, Mother."

  "Oh, Robby!" she cried. "How I pray for strength! To be parted from the two I hold most dear in all the world!"

  Robby's eyes burned with all his effort to hold back the water forming there.

  "I'll come back and rejoin you and Daddy," he said. "I think you will see him sooner than you believe. He is proud of you, and will be prouder, still, when he returns. As for myself, I carry with me the good fortune to have two such parents. I will always strive to honor you both and to carry in my heart the gentle goodness that you have taught me. I will miss you and long for your counsel, just as I miss and long for Daddy. Although I know it will be otherwise, I ask that we try not to worry too much about each other and keep a mind to the business we have at hand, for that may be worry enough."

  Mirabella tossed her hair and smiled, nodding.

  "You are starting to sound like Collandoth," she said. "And you are right. Oh, I love you so much! In spite of what you say, I shall worry for you each day and every night!"

  • • •

  The night was an active one for all the company, each busily putting together their travel gear and attire. That did not take very long, so the rest of the night was spent sharpening blades, sorting through arrows and spare bowstrings, resewing straps, buckles, and buttons, remembering the odd little thing or two, and wondering what they would forget to bring. Although they were making their preparations in different places around and about Janhaven, they all felt a sense of urgency, and each was determined to be ready by dawn.

  Billy and Ibin spent the night in the hut taken by the Bosk kinsmen. Ibin peppered Billy with questions about Duinnor: the distance, whether they would meet other Kingsmen like Ullin, how they might trudge through winter snow, and what kind of food they would eat along the way. Billy answered in short but not unkind statements. Ibin saw that Billy was busy and preoccupied, but he could not help himself and kept thinking up more questions that seemed important. Would they see any lions? Was Billy sure there were no more trolls? Would they have bacon or sausage for breakfast? And why, again, were they going?

  Ashlord and Ullin had the most to do. Besides getting their own things together, Ashlord put himself in charge of food, and Ullin moved about Janhaven selecting the best mounts and saddles he could find at that late time of night. Anerath, he decided, would stay and serve Mirabella. There would be little reason, he felt, to outpace the others, and Mirabella may have more need of his speed and intelligence. He delivered Anerath to her as she returned to the infirmary, whispering in Anerath's ear. He stroked his mane and scratched under Anerath's chin as the two nodded at each other.

  "He'll obey you," he told Mirabella. "Trust him. He has a knack for picking a way through
rough terrain, and a good sense for danger."

  Mirabella took the reins and hugged Ullin.

  • • •

  By the fifth hour after dark, all of their tasks were accomplished. Sheila, Billy, and Ibin turned in for a few hours of sleep, each to their own borrowed cots or bedrolls. Ashlord, bringing packs into Furaman's great room, found Robby poring over all of the maps his mother had taken from their home and the Common House before fleeing Passdale. She had done so to keep them from the Redvests, and Robby was grateful that she could not bring herself to burn them.

  Robby nodded at Ashlord when he came in and continued studying while Ashlord checked over the pile of saddlebags and packs he had assembled on the floor near the door. When he was satisfied that he had brought in everything, he lit his pipe and turned to Robby.

  "What do your maps tell you?" he asked.

  "Well, not much, really." Robby sighed and shrugged as he straightened up from hunching over the table. He waved his hand over the dozens of charts and maps strewn before him. "Most of these maps are old, and few have much detail about what is between here and Vanara, and nothing as to what lies beyond. Any way we look at it, we have a long way to go!"

  "Indeed, we do."

  "What can you say of the way to Griferis? Have you ever been there?"

  "No-o," Ashlord smiled. "I have not. But I can tell you this concerning the travels before us. Keeping off the main paths, we must first pass through the Thunder Mountains, a place of warlords, mercenaries, and other threats. Beyond the mountains, we will move swiftly across the broad grassy plains, bearing ever westward. Then we will likely come before a vast and deep forest, which we will strive to go around, if we can, for we may not be welcome there. On the other side, we will be in the Vanaran frontier. Then our way will be more arduous, for we must go up, up into the high western mountains. We shall certainly take every care to avoid the shadowed lands of Shatuum, and continue on and up through snowy passes and across icy peaks until, at last, we shall come to the very edge of the world. Thus will end the easy part of your journey."

  "The easy part?" Robby blurted out. "Then what's the hard part?"

  The door opened, and Ullin strode in.

  "There you are!" Ashlord said.

  "And there you are!" Ullin replied. "Our horses are stabled across the yard. I think they will be good mounts. Ah! I see you have the packs ready. What are you looking at?"

  "Maps."

  "Maps?" Ullin bent over the table, looking over the charts as he took off his cloak.

  "All paths look easy when drawn in ink," he commented. "This chart isn't so bad," he touched one, "if only we were going north!"

  "We were just discussing our route," Ashlord said. "I think we should make our first stop at Hill Town, where Makeig's people are. We may be able to gain some knowledge from them as to the safest way to avoid trouble with the warlords. I'll count us lucky if we can make it through the Thunder Mountains without being waylaid. Once on the other side of the mountains, we should be able to make fair distance each day, especially across the plains."

  "What of a place called Tulith Morgair?" Robby suddenly asked.

  "It is an old watchtower, long in ruin," said Ullin.

  "Where is it?"

  "I have only seen it once," Ullin said. "It is along here, overlooking the River Missenflo."

  "It is at the highest point of a line of hills bordering the foothills," Ashlord said, who had eased up behind Ullin and Robby. He reached between them and put the stem of his pipe on a map indicating a place west of the Thunder Mountains. "It overlooks a ford of the River Missenflo and the plains beyond. Built during the early years of this age. It is the largest of a line of such places that once crossed the Thunder Mountains. From its heights it could give fair warning by beacon fires of armies approaching from the west or southwest across the plain toward the gap."

  "Will we be going that way?" Robby asked the two.

  "It is somewhat off of what I expect to be our course," Ashlord said, tentatively. "The Damar have made the area dangerous, though they do not control the place, it being north of their strength and there is little of value to them there."

  Robby nodded and turned back to the map while Ashlord and Ullin exchanged questioning looks.

  "Is there something special about that place?" Ullin asked.

  "I'm not sure," Robby told them. He did not want to talk about his dream, not before he had something more tangible. He tried not to show his nervousness as he went on. "I think I need to go there, but," he hesitated, "I cannot tell you why. Not yet."

  "Is it important?" Ashlord asked. "It may be difficult."

  "I wish I could be certain," Robby answered. "It could be very important, or it may turn out not to be important at all. Finding out is one reason I need to go there. Perhaps as we get closer I will know more."

  "Very well." Ashlord shrugged. He was clearly troubled by this addition to their plans. "We shall see."

  "Thank you."

  "I suggest we try to get some rest," Ullin said, stretching out on the floor next to the hearth. "We will need more than we will get as it is, I'm afraid."

  Robby bade them good night as he climbed the stairs to his room. Entering, he was surprised to see Sheila's pack and travel gear leaning against the wall. Sweeping his candle around, he saw her form under the covers of the cot.

  "It's about time," she muttered as he undressed and slipped in beside her. "Oo! You are cold! Here, let me warm you."

  Robby gladly spooned her and put his arms around her.

  "This probably won't work out very well on the road," Robby whispered.

  "I know," she said. "But I want you to know that I love you. Even if things have not worked out for us, and even if they never do. When we are on the road, I will do what I can to look out for you. I will do my part to protect you and to get you to your destiny. I will strive to be your lover, if you want one, and your guardian, should you need one. I will try not to make the others feel awkward or embarrass you by clinging to you. When it is time for you to let me go, I'll not protest, and I'll try not to cry."

  "I'll never let go of you!"

  "I hope not," she pulled his arm around her tighter. "But, if ever you must, I'll not question it."

  • • •

  When Robby awoke, Sheila and her things were gone. He hurriedly got up, dressed, and rinsed his face in the wash basin. When he came downstairs, he found a gathering about the table, breakfasting. Mirabella was there as was Frizella and two of her nephews, and there was Sheila and Ibin and Ashlord. Mr. Furaman was there and also Captain Makeig. They greeted Robby and as he sat down to a plate put before him, Billy and Ullin entered from outside. Together they were all served a large breakfast of eggs, honeycakes, ham, fried potato slices, and coffee. As they ate, they talked of plans for harassing the invaders, of the journey west, of the camp conditions of the Barley and Passdale folk, and of the coming winter and all the work that needed doing. Ashlord and Makeig discussed the first leg of the journey, to Hill Town, in rather guarded tones, for Ashlord did not want Furaman or Billy's cousins to know too much of their direction of travel. Meanwhile, Robby and Mr. Furaman talked of business and the Ribbons' shop and what may have become of the stock there.

  "I am more concerned with the building itself," said Robby. "That was our home, too, you know. I just hope they don't do too much damage."

  Frizella shook her head and laughed with Mirabella about some of the more inexperienced Passdale women who were trying to cope and to be helpful in their present situation, but they were doing poorly at both in spite of their good efforts.

  Ullin listened quietly while he ate, saying very little. Billy talked with one of his cousins while the other cousin chatted with Sheila, the one conversation about the use of bows and the other about the making of arrows. Ibin hardly said anything unless it had "pleasepassmethe" in it, and he paid little attention to the conversations around him, preferring instead to concentrate his efforts on cleaning p
late after plate after plate. As the meal progressed, and by the time most (but not Ibin) had pushed their plates away, the mood was less jovial, though still of good spirit, and at last the two cousins pushed their chairs back and stood. They bade the company safe journey, and Billy shook their hands and hugged them before they departed to go to their guard duties.

  "Billy, let's bring around the horses," Ullin said. The two thanked Mr. Furaman for the breakfast and departed for the stables.

  "Did you and Billy bring the things you'll be taking along?" Robby asked Ibin.

  "Yes," Ibin swallowed a half-chewed sausage, "yeswe, yeswe, yeswebroughtourstuffits, yeswebroughtourstuffits, ourstuffitsoutside."

  "And you?" Robby asked Sheila.

  "My packs are by the door, there."

  "Well! I guess I'd better start packing!" he said, turning to go up the stairs.

  "Ye ain't packed yet?" Frizella said incredulously.

  "Ha ha! Gotcha!" Robby laughed. "I just need to fetch my things from upstairs."

  "I knew Billy'd be a bad influence on Robby!" Frizella said to Mirabella, shaking her head.

  Sheila admonished Ibin to stop eating and to help her clear away the table while Captain Makeig and Mr. Furaman and the two ladies conferred about the situation among the new arrivals in Janhaven. It was not long before the horses were saddled and brought around and the two packhorses were loaded. Ullin assigned each to a horse and each traveler got their saddles and stirrups adjusted, tied on their packs and saddlebags and, lastly, buckled, belted, and slipped on their weapons, their swords over their shoulders, quivers hanging nearby, and knives sheathed in their belts and boots. Captain Makeig, who would guide them to Hill Town, assured Mirabella and Frizella that he would be back in two or three days, and was the first to mount up. He then waited while the others made their farewells.

  They did so quietly, with tight hugs and tender kisses and strained smiles, and each got astride their mounts until only Robby stood before his mother, his reins in his hand.