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

by William Timothy Murray

  Robby moved his arm from over his eyes and blinked in the dim light filtering into the cave from a misty dawn. Sheila's face came to hover over him, and she kissed him on the lips before he could respond.

  "How did you get here?" he asked groggily, struggling to sit up. The others of his company were standing nearby, smiling at him.

  "You may well ask! How, indeed!" said Ashlord. "But by the magic of these people who only an hour ago saved us from the Damar."

  "The Damar? On the Toll Road?"

  "Aye!" said Billy, with the look of a pent-up story in his eye. "But they got the worst of it! Or so I was told. Eldwin, here, can more rightly say what happened, since he was at both ends, so to say."

  Robby had thrown himself to bed fully dressed only a few hours ago, and was quite wrinkled and disheveled as he sat up with his legs over the side of the cot, rubbing his eyes.

  "Yes, sir, there was a bit of a row along the road last night. Late last night, while still at our meetin', we got word of a party of mounted Damar ridin' toward the Toll Road. By the time we got there, they had already smashed the toll gate an' were nearly on top of yer friends, here. They may well have ridden on past, but we could not take a chance on it, so we took 'em on."

  "Ye should of heard the uproar!" Billy exclaimed with obvious delight and bursting to get his say in the tale. "We all heard 'em comin' an' got all up in arms. But then thar was an almighty noise of hollerin' an' poppin', an' horses neighin', an' all manner of carryin' on, just out of sight from whar we stood ready in our clearin' for far an' blood. Then come ol' Eldwin, an' four er five other of his mates an' says, 'We gotta get ye out of here!' er somethin' of the sort. An' so then a bunch of them pix—, er, them little folk started takin' us by the hands an' poppin' off with us with thar finger-snappin'. An' whoosh! Oh, man! What a way of gettin' about!"

  While Billy spoke, more Nowhereans came into the cave bearing the company's things, and another, larger group was busy just outside of the cave stacking up the things they had taken from the Damar.

  "Was anyone hurt?" Robby asked.

  "Oh, no!" said Eldwin. "Leastwise, none of our people, though I think some of the Damar got their pride bruised, somewhat. Before they knew it, they'd lost their horses an' saddles an' weapons an' gear." Eldwin glanced at the mouth of the cave where various articles of clothing were being piled up. "And more than a few lost practically everything they had."

  "Oh!"

  "Oh, yes!" said Makewine, coming up and handing Ullin his shoulder bag. "Our fines for cheaters can be quite stiff!"

  "Well," said Eldwin, "that is a different matter."

  "It appears that we were let off very lightly by comparison," Ashlord said, chuckling at the thought of hardened soldiers running in panic back the way they had come with not a stitch between skin and night air.

  "We don't much like them Damar, anyways," added Makewine, "for messing up our trade all those years ago and for being so uppity-like."

  "So the council agreed to let not just Ullin, but all my companions join me here!" said Robby, clearly delighted to see his friends.

  "Well, sir. Not exactly," Eldwin said.

  "Some of us Elders sort of took matters into our own hands," explained Makewine. "You see, when word came to us about the Damar, we were still arguing. The meeting immediately broke up as about forty of us popped up to the Toll Road to head them off. I must say, in spite of all his bluster and stupidity, Herbert was a marvel to see in action."

  "Yes," added Eldwin, "the Toll Road is his greatest pride. An' he don't take rule-breakin' very lightly. I've rarely seen him in such a fury!"

  "So once Herbert and the others had the Damar in hand, the rest of us started moving your friends away. I'm afraid that started a big argument, still going on just down the path a bit, but I think we've got Herbert and his clan back on our side."

  "He needs us, now," Eldwin took up, "to help justify bringin' yer friends here without council approval."

  "When they hear our tale of Herbert's heroism and valor," Makewine winked, "his position will be much enhanced with the people."

  "An' his head will swell to twice its normal size, I'll warrant!" chuckled Eldwin.

  "Well, I don't understand the workings of your council," Robby said. "But I'm grateful and happy to see my friends."

  At this point, Robby shook hands and hugged his companions, Ibin lifting him off the ground with his normal exuberance.

  Herbert entered with his usual swagger.

  "So! Here we are!" he pronounced. "As keeper of the Toll Road, an' sheriff of the land, I must tell ye that ye were narrowly saved from certain ill-treatment an' insult at the hands of the arrogant intruders. Yet, yer stay here—at some risk to me personally, I might add—is wholly at the whim of the Council of Elders. They will not be happy when word reaches them of yer arrival, an' I expect a mighty bout of finger-pointin' an' rule-namin' afore it's over. But let me just assure ye that little has changed an' that we still hold ye to yer word on makin' a proper reckonin' of the Hoard."

  "I understand," Robby said, bowing and trying not to laugh at Herbert.

  "An' now ye have more to reckon, too." Herbert motioned at the loot outside. "I have given orders to Millithorpe that it be added properly to all else within these caves as is in keepin' with our ways."

  "I will begin working with Millithorpe right away," Robby said. "And I may as well make use of my friends' labor, if they are willing and if it is allowed."

  "Well, why, um, I mean to say...hmm." Herbert glanced at Eldwin. "I think that would be in order, should ye need them."

  "And what of the meeting of the Elders? Will it continue and decide the other questions?"

  "It will resume at the noon hour," said Eldwin. "But I'm afraid I will be required before then. I should speak with some of the Elders who are with me on the question an' some others who are undecided, an' prepare for our meetin', especially since so much has happened."

  "By all means. I would like some time with my friends, too, before setting to work."

  They all walked out of the Foyer together.

  "I'm afraid I never had the chance to deliver yer letter," Eldwin said. "Shall I do so, now?"

  "No, I'll take it. Thank you. And good luck with the meeting!"

  Robby and friends watched them go as Millithorpe made his way through the clearing outside the cave, now crowded with the stacks and piles of things taken from the Damar. Near the path, many horses were tethered, towering over the little people who attended them and who were still arriving with more things.

  "Goodness!" Robby exclaimed just as Millithorpe came up. "How many Damar were there?"

  "Why, sir, ah, oh, let's see. We reckon about seventy."

  "Seventy!"

  "Yes, sir. We think about five or six got away clean, with most of their things, and one or two on horseback. But all the rest went running back as fast as they could go, without even their boots. I will give you something of a count of things before I go. It won't take very long, I don't think."

  "We will help. But, Ullin, I wonder if, while I help Millithorpe, you might be good enough to read this letter that I intended for you to receive this morning? Perhaps, a little later, we might discuss it privately, as it bears upon our family, somewhat."

  "Yes. Certainly, if you wish. Are you sure you would not want me to help out with all these things?"

  "Yes, but later. There will be plenty for you to do! Please first read, while I get these things sorted."

  "RobbyRobby, Robbyguess, Robbyguess, guesswhatoneofthelittle, oneofthe,guesswhatoneofthelittleonessaid? He, hesaidhe, hesaidhewouldlikemeandSheilatosing, tosingforthem!"

  "Oh? Sing for them?" Smiling, Robby glanced at Sheila who made a face and nodded.

  "Yeah, yeahandthey, yeahandtheywantmetoplaymymandolin,too."

  "Oh?"

  "Apparently they have kept watch over us all this time, day and night," Ashlord said as he walked to where the Damar saddlebags were being stacked. "Just as you su
spected."

  "Last night," Ullin explained, "Ibin and Sheila gave us a few songs. To lift our spirits, somewhat. And we swapped stories, too."

  "They must have overheard us," Sheila added.

  "They want to trade for their singing and song-making," Ullin went on, sitting down on a nearby crate to begin reading Robby's letter.

  "Yeahand, and, yeah, theymighttellusastory!" Ibin nodded, grinning as if he had just won a prize ham and was about to devour it.

  As Ullin read, the rest pitched in, under Robby and Millithorpe's direction, by sorting and noting quantities and then taking the new items to the proper storage chambers within the cave. Like Robby, his companions were amazed at the work the small folk had done carving out the passageways so neatly, and they were surprised at the quantity of goods stored inside. Ullin finished re-reading Robby's letter and joined in the work. He nodded to Robby and said, "We must speak about your notions."

  They made short work of sorting out the loot from the Damar, and Millithorpe departed while Robby took his friends to the Treasure Room. They were awed by the tremendous display within, standing before the massive iron gates that kept the Great Treasure secure. They stood for a long time in reverent silence. Even Ibin sensed there was something otherworldly about the gleaming and sparkling array beyond the iron gate.

  "All this came from Haven Hill?" Billy asked in a whisper, as if any noise might blow away the sight as a vaporous apparition.

  "Tulith Attis was not just a fortress, Master Bosk, and home to Heneil and his household," Ashlord said, "but it was also home to other lords of Men and Elifaen. There were estates in the countryside all around the citadel, and along the ridge were mansions and fine houses. Attis was a vibrant place, full of light and all the things that go with living well. A crossing point of the Saerdulin, by means of the bridge, and the northernmost place that boats could land from the faraway sea. So it was an important place on the trade routes of east-west and north-south. At the time of the great battle, the valuables of the people would have been gathered into the vaults of the fortress for protection against the invaders. I imagine that this is only a very small portion of what was looted when the summit fell."

  Ashlord spoke softly, and the others felt they could almost see Tulith Attis as it once had been, and faint strains of music they heard, fading into the distant ringing of steel and the cry of battle as he ended his words. They remained for a little longer, wide-eyed in far away wonder, until Robby motioned them to go, and they lined out into the passageway with only Ullin lingering, his eyes still on the treasure.

  "You understand my plan, then?" Robby asked.

  "I do."

  "Did I get it right? In the note that I wrote to you?"

  "Yes. Yes, you did. I'm amazed by your memory."

  "Do you think it will work?"

  "I don't see why not," Ullin replied, his tone somewhat distant.

  "Thank you."

  When they emerged, Ashlord called them all together, saying, "While the Nowhereans meet and discuss things, so should we."

  He was holding a sheaf of papers. "When going through the bags of the Damar, I came upon these. I thought it best to retain them and not mention them to the little folk for the time being. This document, " he said, holding it up to a lamp to read, "is a warrant for the 'arrest of Robby Ribbon of Passdale, Ullin Saheed Tallin, House of Fairoak and Tallin, Collandoth, called Ashlord in the Common Speech, as well as Billy Bosk, Sheila Pradkin, and Ibin Brinnin, of Barley County in the old Eastlands Realm. These are to be considered spies and enemies of Damar.' It goes on to say that the Damar captain—named here and presumably from whom Herbert took this bag—this captain was authorized to pay in bounty 'one hundred Damar gold coins for any one of these named to any who may deliver the spies to him alive, or ten gold coins for any who may be delivered dead.' So there!"

  He let that sink in.

  "Toolant must have given over our names and told the warlord of our mission to Duinnor. But that is not all," Ashlord said, turning to the next document. "This is a list of orders to be given to various Damar posts, including the one at Redwater Gorge which is just ahead of us. The Damar are to be especially vigilant, to prevent any travelers who do not bear Damar letters from crossing out of these lands, and, among various other orders, to close the bridge at the gorge to all who are westward bound except Damar soldiers or those bearing Damar letters. So forth and so on. It also directs each post to give one-fifth of their ranks over to the command of the captain bearing these orders, named in the margin, and so forth and so on."

  "And these," Ashlord turned to the third parchment, "are the captain's own orders. He is commanded to destroy the toll gate, to open the toll road of the pixie-folk, to make it for Damar use only, and to then ride with all speed to Redwater Gorge to deliver orders and warrants. He is to arrest anyone he finds along the road that are without proper letters, to make whatever needed sojourns to locate and apprehend those mentioned in the warrants of arrest. He is to build his forces by gleaning mounted riders and foot soldiers from each post until he has sufficient numbers to send a force south under trustworthy command to take control of all possible crossings from the plains into Damar lands, occupying certain villages and billeting men as needed. The remaining force, under the command of this captain, is to probe and patrol all of the disputed lands within Damar along and to the north and west of the toll road, destroying all villages that do not yield to Damar control, and taking whatever prisoners that may be conveniently sent back to Damar City or otherwise employed by the captain's forces. All others are to be eliminated."

  He put the documents on the table and sat on a crate.

  "Yes, I fear all this is the work of Toolant," Ashlord said. "Lord Tallin's plan to have him removed has either failed or else it had not yet taken place when these orders were issued."

  "The Damar seem better organized than I imagined," commented Ullin. "The tone of these orders, the ability to assemble such a force so swiftly from soldiers already in the field, the implication that the orders would be carried out without question."

  "I guess those papers of passage that my grandfather gave us are now worthless," Robby added.

  "They'd be our death warrant if we showed them!" exclaimed Billy.

  "Maybe not," offered Sheila. "These orders have not yet reached the post at the gorge, have they? There's a chance we can get across before new orders are sent."

  "Don't you think it was foolish for the Damar to send such orders only along the Toll Road?" Robby asked. "From what I've been told, the Nowhereans have always trounced them very soundly, and so the Damar have avoided the road for years. Why wouldn't they instead send important orders the safest way, along the longer road around these lands?"

  "They may have done so," said Ullin. "Or may yet when those of last night make it back."

  "It all means that we should conclude our business here as swiftly as possible and get away from Damar territories," Ashlord concluded, looking at Robby. Robby nodded, and they waited for him to reply, but it was Billy who cut in.

  "Well, it seems to me that we're all in this thing together-like, an' I'll warrant none of us rightly understands it all," he said. "An' I'm all about gettin' our things back an' movin' on from here as much as anybody. But it seems to me like we can't just cut an' run. Them Damar's sure to come back. An' I doubt they'll come along the road like before. If I got things guessed halfway right, I'd say they're gonna set about this place like them Redvests did in Barley. I ain't for lettin' that happen to nobody else if I can help it. We need to at least tell the little folk something 'bout what's goin' on. So they have a better warnin' than we did, an' can maybe get ready."

  "Billy's right," joined Sheila. "These people may have a tricky way, but they'll be no match if taken by surprise."

  "We cannot protect these people," countered Ullin. "This is shaping up to be a wide war. Our only hope is to get Robby to Griferis. We have far to go and little time to get there before it is too la
te."

  "Their only chance is for at least the first curse to be lifted," said Robby. "At least then they may move about, and leave if they must. They could still use their way of popping around to head off approaching threats."

  "Yeah!" Billy agreed. "Just think what confusion an' mayhem they could set off among the Damar, if the little folk could strike outside these lands!"

  "But do you know how to lift that curse?" Ashlord asked Robby.

  "I think so," Robby said, glancing at Billy.

  "And what about the other two?"

  "Maybe. I'm not sure," Robby glanced at Ullin. "I'm working on that part."

  Ashlord looked quizzically at Robby and Ullin, but he could not catch Ullin's eye, so he searched Robby's face carefully, then smiled. "I see. And if the Elders decide to permit you into the Treasure Room, how long do you think it will take to complete your work?"

  "Not long."

  "Well, then!" Ashlord put his hands on his knees and stood up. "Then let us hope the Elders come to a speedy decision. Meanwhile, I am willing to go and await them in the town, and leave you and Ullin to your work."

  "I'm sure you will cause something of a stir," Robby replied. "I certainly did last night when I interrupted their meeting to speak to Eldwin."

  "OhmetooIwanttoIwanttogo,too!" cried Ibin, standing up eagerly.

  "You may as well all go."

  "Bring your mandolin, Ibin," Sheila suggested. Then to Robby, "Maybe we can get this singing stuff over with!"

  Ullin and Robby were left alone, and they set to work on the arms. Ullin inspected them and pronounced that much of the weaponry and armor was serviceable, some no longer in style though in good condition. The two began to work out how much they were worth in ordinary trade.

  "But they would be of great comfort to the people around Janhaven," Ullin pointed out, "particularly the shields and the lances. There is also a large supply of arrows with good points, though many of the shafts are cracked and the fletching-work is crude."

  This took a good bit of going back and forth as they tried to arrive at some reasonable value.

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