Suzerain of the Beast (Vision Dream Series Book 3), page 16
“Do not pay heed to those stubborn fools,” said the old woman, as she began to stir something in a large iron pot that hung above the fire. “They be just scared of your magic. I told them you were on our side. But they be too ignorant to see you be no sorcerer.”
“Thank thee for not fearing me,” replied Ardwyrin, thankful that at least someone here thought of him in a positive light.
“Well now, if it is not our mighty wizard finally risen from his slumber,” said Captain Zemmerdar.
“I do not remember it snowing when we landed here…wherever here is,” said Ardwyrin.
“And I am not really sure where we are now either. Somewhere in the mountains. These resistance fighters are from a string of villages in the mountains known as the Nation of Apers. They consider themselves separate from Palzintine,” said Captain Zemmerdar. “And it was not snowing when we first landed. But you have been out with a wizard’s fever for several weeks now. Roburivon had to hold your head and pour broth down your throat just to keep you alive.”
“I have been out for several weeks?” asked Ardwyrin, incredulously.
It was hard for him to believe that he had been unconscious for that long a time. Then he remembered the oversized pouch and his bonding with the two-headed being of First Magic. He remembered trying to sink the ships in the harbor. And the horrible, all-consuming rage he unleashed against the enemy ships. He vaguely remembered the tendrils of liquid lead that flowed out of his chest and took down many of the ships that were moored in that harbor. And he remembered….
Wellondril!
“Did you ever find….”
“No,” replied Captain Zemmerdar, looking down. “He and three others were lost that night.”
“It was my fault,” said Ardwyrin, and he threw down his plate and mug. “I killed them.”
“Do not talk crazy,” scolded the captain. “You did what you were supposed to do. Everyone knew it was a dangerous task. What happened, just happened. Besides, you were the hero that night. You took down about six ships that I could count.”
“Some hero,” grumbled Ardwyrin. “I get my friend killed and now most of the people of this place shun me like I was an enemy sorcerer.”
“Try to put it out of your mind and get yourself healed up,” replied Captain Zemmerdar. “We have been doing a lot of raids against the Venordaladians as of late, and now that we have drawn their attention, we could really use your powers to help even things up.”
An image of that terrible power coursing through his body as he destroyed all those ships, killed all those men, flashed in his mind.
Wellondril!
“No. I am not going to use my magic. Ever again,” said Ardwyrin, and he turned to go back to his tent. “I am too dangerous. I cannot control it. All I can do with it is kill us all.”
Ardwyrin walked right past his tent.
Where he was going?
He had no idea. Just away from there. Away from all of them. He needed to be segregated from everyone. Ardwyrin felt energy emanate from the place where he had stored his oversized pouch. It was his First Magic, but there was twice the powder in the pouch than a wizard was supposed to have. His magic was now a horribly distorted magic, a magic that was more like a sorcerer than a wizard. Perhaps these mountain people were right to fear him. He feared himself.
“Running out on us, like a little child?” a voice challenged him from behind.
Ardwyrin stopped and turned around. There stood the girl called Trevelarna.
“What did you say?” yelled Ardwyrin.
Who did she think she was, this ragamuffin of a girl?
Then he calmed himself. “I do not think you realize what is going on here.”
“Oh, but I do,” said the young woman. “You are scared, and you are running away.”
“You know nothing about what is going on here, Mountain Girl,” snapped Ardwyrin, and he turned to get away from her too, but Trevelarna grabbed his arm with a surprisingly iron grip for such a slender-looking lass.
“We feed your sorry self. We take care of you, and this is the thanks we get,” said Trevelarna.
“Then you and your people should have let me die. It would have been safer for all of you,” said Ardwyrin.
“Nothing is safe for us anymore. If we stop moving, they will hunt us down and kill us,” said Trevelarna, still holding his arm tightly. “Ever seen anyone torn to pieces by their lizard beasts? I have!”
Ardwyrin wrenched his arm away from her grasp. He was getting angry with the antics of this tough, little lass. He stood just inches from her. Suddenly he was aware of her slender, but shapely body. His anger cooled. She was actually…beautiful.
“You are…”
“Do not flatter yourself, child,” said Trevelarna, backing away from him. “You are not man enough for us here. And you are definitely not man enough for me.”
He felt his cheeks redden as an anger quickly began to build within him.
What did he want with a grubby, wiry thing like her anyway? He could just crush her here and now!
Suddenly the raw power of his magic made his whole body shake. He closed his eyes. He felt the energy and the anger coursing through him. They were merging, they were becoming…him!
He could crush this little magpie of a gir…
His hands balled up into fists. They burned with power.
“What is wrong with you?” he heard her say.
Her!
Stop! Stop it, Ardwyrin, you fool! What are you doing? Stop now before the anger consumes you and…the girl!
He had to get away from her, or he would kill her! He opened his eyes and realized that he was holding out his fists towards her, ready to unleash his awful power directly into her small defiant frame. Though she stood her ground before him, he saw that her eyes were wide with fear, then relax showing her resignation. She looked as if she was ready for him to destroy her, waiting for it. As if she wanted him to do it. He started to shake his head no at her. He was not going to do that.
“I…I will not hurt you.”
He turned from her and ran as fast as he could. Ardwyrin glanced back over his shoulder and saw to his relief that Trevelarna did not follow him this time.
❖ CHAPTER 14 ❖
THEY HAD TRUDGED on and on for what seemed like an eternity. The light snowfall had changed to a steady downpour of tiny flakes. The kind of snowfall that could last for hours, maybe even days.
I need to find us some shelter…and soon!
Suddenly Angelterra realized with a panic that she could not hear the footfall of the little girl’s boots. The princess whipped around to find the girl several yards behind her, just standing there. With the hand that was not clinging to her doll, the child pointed off to her left towards a field on that side of the road. Though it was evening, Angelterra could just make out the dark outline of a small building. There was no light or smoke coming from the building, so the princess hoped it was abandoned.
“Come, Sweetie, let us see what shelter that place gives,” said Angelterra.
The little girl did not answer, did not acknowledge Angelterra’s words. She just stared at her. There was not much the princess could do but head towards the building and hope the little girl followed. Angelterra smiled to herself when she again heard the child’s feet working their way through the snow-covered grass of the field.
It wasn’t long before they reached the building. It appeared to be some kind of small barn for livestock. Both doors were closed.
“Wait here, Sweetie. I will find out if it is safe,” Angelterra told the child.
The girl just looked at the princess with her wide unseeing eyes. Angelterra took a deep breath and tried the door. At first the latch seemed to be rusted shut, but after some not-too-gentle prodding, the latch released, and the tall door swung open with a loud creak. Peering inside Angelterra saw nothing but blackness. She needed to call forth some light as she had done in the encampment. Then she remembered that the child would see her do magic.
“I am going to light our way in an…unusual fashion. Do not be afraid,” said Angelterra without looking back.
She knew the girl would say nothing.
Poor, lovely child.
Angelterra closed her eyes and thought of the flickering light of a candle. The tiny flame danced in her mind. When she opened her eyes there in the palm of her hand was a tongue of flame. Cool to the touch, but bright enough to chase away the blackness in the barn. Angelterra saw that it was indeed a former barn. It had only a few stalls and hay covered the floors there. Perhaps this area was only a summer field and this field and barn were abandoned during winter. There was a pile of hay in the corner. And, as luck would have it, there was a central stone-lined fire pit already stacked with dry wood. They would be warm tonight.
“Come, Sweetie, we will spend the night here,” said Angelterra.
The little girl walked into the barn to stand near the princess who was still holding a tongue of cold fire in her hand. The girl just stared, unafraid of the dark barn or the magic in Angelterra’s palm.
❖ ❖ ❖
The small fire burned brightly and made the tall shadows on the barn’s four walls sway back in forth, as if in some kind of strange ritual dance. Angelterra extracted some dried meat and hard tack from her pack. She divided it up for herself and the child who was now her charge.
“Here, Sweetie, come eat something,” she told the girl.
The child was sitting cross-legged on the floor. The girl had just watched her as Angelterra had prepared and lit the fire. The use of magic to first illuminate the barn and then to start the twigs and wood in the fire pit did not seem to upset the strange girl. The child rose quietly and came to stand before Angelterra. She did not hold out her hand nor ask for food. She just stood there holding her doll.
“That is a pretty doll, Sweetie. What is her name?” asked Angelterra.
Of course there was no answer.
“Well, both of you need your strength, so please eat up,” said the princess, and she handed the girl a piece of hard tack with dried meat on it.
This time the girl took the offered meal. The child raised the bread to her lips and took a bite. As she chewed, she just continued to stare at the princess.
“What is thy name, Little One?” asked Angelterra.
The girl continued to chew her food and then take another bite.
“That is a lovely cloak you have on, Sweetie,” said Angelterra, and then the princess realized that that was the nickname her father, the king, used to call her when she was very young.
Angelterra noticed that the cloak was not secured properly and she knelt beside the girl and began to rearrange it. The girl said nothing, nor protested. She just kept eating.
At least she will not starve, thought Angelterra.
After the princess was satisfied that the cloak was secure, and the girl would be as warm as possible in this place, she noticed a small tag of cloth near the neckline of the cloak. Angelterra pulled the tag of cloth out for a closer look. On it was stitched one word: Selkeeda.
“Is that your name? Selkeeda?” asked Angelterra.
The girl did not reply, but she stopped eating.
“It is your name, isn’t it?” Angelterra said to the girl, happy to know at least one thing about the poor distraught thing. “Well, Selkeeda, My name is Angelterra.”
The girl just stared at her.
“I have a friend who is maybe only a few years older than you. She has curly red hair and her name is Chassy, which is short for Chasladwinia. I think the two of you would have fun playing together someday. Would you like that?”
Selkeeda said nothing, but took another bite of her hard bread and dried meat. Angelterra gave the girl a sip of wine from her skin, which she had to hold for the child. Selkeeda went back to sit down on the floor a ways away from Angelterra. The princess worried about the girl getting too cold if she was that far from the small fire. Then she remembered the magic she had infused in the blanket to keep herself warm. She could do the same for Selkeeda.
“You will be too cold over there, Selkeeda. Please come a little closer to the warm fire. I will give you my blanket too,” coaxed Angelterra.
The girl looked at her for a moment then stood up, walked over to where Angelterra sat near the fire, and climbed up into the princess’s lap. Selkeeda put her head on Angelterra’s heart and hugged her tight. Angelterra stroked the girl’s wild blonde hair. It was only a few moments before Angelterra heard the girl’s breathing become shallow and even. She was fast asleep. The princess continued to stroke the girl’s hair. And her heart was heavy with sadness for this poor child.
What horror had done this to her? Do not worry, my Selkeeda, I will find you your home, Angelterra silently promised the sleeping child in her arms as the cold northern winds howled outside the tiny barn.
❖ ❖ ❖
Shafts of gray light streamed in through gaps in the now dark barn’s front door. The fire still smoldered and still gave off a little heat. Angelterra realized she had been holding her strange young charge the entire night. She rose and set the sleeping child down in a pile of hay. Her legs were stiff from having them folded underneath her in order to keep the sleeping Selkeeda steady and undisturbed. Only once did the child cry out, saying several mumbled words before lapsing back into sleep. The princess raised her arms to stretch and found that they were sore and bruised, most likely from her tumble to the ground when the soul of the bone dragon, Waan, finally escaped the bondage of the terrible spell placed upon him. The princess gazed down at the child’s serene face, as the girl lay sleeping in the straw, still clutching her tiny rag doll.
What am I to do with this girl? Her parents could be anywhere…or even dead.
Angelterra was aware that helping this little girl was going to delay her from getting to Swevladiliona, from fulfilling the vision dream. To stop Shutharja, she needed to succeed in finding the tears. But still she had to do something for this poor child.
Look at that lovely face… Her parents were probably from a nearby village.
That is what she should do. At the next village, she could hand the girl over to the constable or lord of the area and have them continue the search.
Angelterra walked over to the barn door, cracked it opened, and surveyed the weather. The morning was overcast and chilly, but the snow had stopped. Only a couple of inches had fallen overnight which was not too bad for walking.
It is a shame there are no horses or animals of any kind in this barn to use as transportation.
Then she heard a rustling behind her, but before she could turn around she felt a tiny hand hold hers. The princess glanced down to see Selkeeda staring up at her wordlessly.
Well, this is progress, she thought.
“Are you hungry?”
The girl just stared.
“Then, let us eat a little something and get warmed up before we go, Sweet Selkeeda,” said Angelterra.
The girl said nothing, but kept holding the princess’s hand.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Are you tired? Do you wish to stop, Sweetie?” asked Angelterra.
Whether the child did or did not wish to rest, Angelterra was indeed ready to do so. They had been walking on the road since early this morning. Though they were traveling north towards Swevladiliona as far as Angelterra could tell, they were not getting very far as they trudged through the snow without a horse or donkey. Her feet were cold, and she was very tired from carrying Selkeeda long distances from time to time, even though the little girl never complained…never said anything.
“Let us sit over there on that log,” suggested the princess. “It looks dry.”
But as Angelterra started towards the fallen log, lying perpendicular to the road, the child did not move. The girl just stood there.
“What is it, Sweetie?”
The girl pointed ahead. Angelterra glanced in the direction the girl indicated and saw a large wooden post, mounted on which were two wooden signs with words crudely painted upon them. She also noticed for the first time a second road which branched off roughly to the east.
“All right, let us see what they say,” said the princess and she walked over to stand before the signpost. The first sign had a large blue N identifying it as a road going north. On it were painted the names:
Lakindale
Portderia
Kingdom of Swevladiliona
The charms of her bracelet had pointed more or less north during most of her flight here. And, of course, this was the road she needed to take if she wished to go to the homeland of her aunt, Queen Nancyadril. There she was sure to learn more about her glowing bracelet and the white tear which she was seeking. Satisfied this was the right way, Angelterra turned back to Selkeeda.
“This road will take us north, Sweetie,” said the princess. “It is the way I need to travel.”
But the child pointed to the branching road that led eastward. Angelterra glanced again at the sign and read the words on the second sign which had a green E at its head and the names:
Munkenira
Dragons Claw Point
Hwevlandar
“But that road takes me in the wrong direction. It will take me away from the thing which I am pursuing,” explained the princess to the mute girl. She did not want to detour from her objective.
But the child kept pointing at the smaller east road. Her blank eyes gazed at Angelterra. Then a thought came to her: Perhaps this east road will take us to sweet Selkeeda’s home. It cannot be too far from here.
“Munkenira? Is that where you are from?” She asked the little girl, but the child just kept pointing. “All right, all right. Then we shall go to Munkenira and find your family, my Sweetie.”
Angelterra felt the delay was worth it. And it would not take too long to reach the city if she remembered her endless map studies with her former tutor, the archbishop. The maps of the kingdoms above the Palzintine northern territories were not to be entirely trusted her father had once told her, but her memory of them was the best thing she had at the moment.
