Suzerain of the Beast (Vision Dream Series Book 3), page 26
“You boys, take what you want from her,” said Heen, without looking up. “Just leave me some.”
The others grinned and began to push Angelterra towards the bed.
“Where’s Bar?” asked one of the men.
“Who cares? His loss,” said Yoas with a lecherous grin.
Angelterra struggled and kicked and twisted, but there were too many of them. And they were winning the battle and pushing her to the bed. Then something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. It was a rising cloud of swirling dust.
Her powder!
Just behind Heen, the cloud of twirling powder rose upward. It began to spin faster and faster. Angelterra hoped that if she held out a little longer, her powder would help her regain some of her magic. She needed to somehow distract them before they noticed the spinning column of dust.
“Come on, now boys,” she made her voice as sweet and seductive as she could, though it sickened her. “Which one of you first? How about you…Yoas, is it?”
“Aye, My Lady, first be a good place for me,” said Yoas, his eyes suddenly wide with anticipation.
“Why should ye be first?” growled one of the others.
“Better me,” said another.
“Get back you dogs,” threatened Yoas. “You heard her, she wants me first.”
The spinning powder grew and grew until it nearly touched the ceiling. Out of it emerged first a pair of massive paws armed with sharp claws attached to fur-covered arms, and then fur-clad muscular legs appeared, and finally a monstrous face with a great snout and snapping teeth.
A rex verka!
The men holding her must have seen the sudden panic show upon her face when she saw the verka rising up, for they turned in the direction she was looking and saw it too. All except Heen. They released her immediately as they stared upward at the giant creature, frozen by fear and disbelief. Angelterra scooted up on the bed away from the men…and the rex verka.
“Heen,” said Yoas.
“What?” said Heen impatiently still rummaging through the satchel. “I am busy.”
“Heen,” Yoas repeated.
“What?” growled Heen, still not looking up. “You are not getting any of this gold till I get my share!”
“Heen!” Yoas said again. “Ah….
The verka turned to Heen and roared in his ear.
Heen looked up at the verka, dropped the satchel and screamed. This caused the others to do the same, and they all ran towards the door. Yoas was the first through the door but there was a loud metal thud and Yoas came flying back into the room and crashed to the floor with a long bleeding gash upon his forehead. And there, blocking the door, was Bethidarra, holding a big iron skillet in her hand.
“Who wants to sample my cooking next?” yelled the innkeeper’s wife.
The men stopped for a moment then looked back at the verka. It grabbed the other two of Heen’s men, picked them up, and slammed them to the ground, breaking them like dried kindling. It roared again and turned its attention to Heen. He tried to dart past Bethidarra who was now staring at the verka frozen with fear. But a meaty fist met Heen as he ran through the doorway, knocking him unconscious immediately.
“I hope you know how to call off that thing,” said Elidril.
Angelterra was not sure she could. But somehow it was her pouch, her magic. She stood and walked towards the verka. It looked at her for a moment and then began to dissolve. Then the image of Concera stood before her. Concera smiled.
“Just like Terrielanna,” marveled Bethidarra.
“My mother?” wondered Angelterra, as she stooped to pick up her pouch.
“Wait, let me see that pouch of yours,” requested Bethidarra holding out her hand.
Angelterra was hesitant to hand over her pouch, even when Concera nodded that it was all right.
“Do not worry, Princess,” coaxed Bethidarra.
Angelterra placed her pouch willingly in the outstretched hand of the innkeeper’s wife.
The woman inspected the fabric of the pouch carefully, turning it round and round in her hand, until finally she stopped at one spot.
“What is it?” asked Angelterra.
“It is the cross patch that I sewed for your mother when this pouch was damaged by an arrow years ago,” said Bethidarra, and she handed the pouch back to Angelterra.
The princess examined that section of her soft black pouch. There, almost imperceptible, was a small bit of black velvet that so closely matched the rest of the pouch that was invisible.
“This pouch is…”
“Your mother’s,” finished Bethidarra. “I remember the first time Terrielanna used magic. Nearly scared us half to death.”
“Aye,” agreed Elidril.
Mother’s pouch! Used magic? How could this be? It was impossible! The Lord Wizard…
Angelterra looked up from the pouch at Concera. The being of First Magic who looked exactly like her, her twin, her doppelgänger began to dissolve again into a swirling cloud of spinning dust. The cloud solidified and there stood…her mother!
“Momma?”
“No, it is still I, your Concera,” said her being of First Magic. “I was hers before I became yours.”
Then the image and the powder disappeared. Her pouch felt full again. Concera had returned to the place of First Magic. Angelterra found she was now sitting on the edge of the bed. It was a good thing she was sitting down, for the shock of learning that her pouch and her Concera had once belonged to her mother could have easily caused her to lose consciousness.
“She never told you,” said Bethidarra, who now had a hand upon her shoulder.
“No,” was all Angelterra could say.
She watched Elidril start to tie up the men. He looked at her.
“Are you sure you are all right?” he asked.
Suddenly she shot up.
“No! One of them still has Selkeeda!”
❖ CHAPTER 23 ❖
AFTER SEARCHING HALF the night, Angelterra pulled open the heavy front door of the inn. Just inside the door, she was greeted by Bethidarra. She could tell by the look on the woman’s face that Selkeeda had not yet been found.
“I have looked everywhere,” said Angelterra, as she plopped down upon a large wooden chair at an empty table.
The princess felt cold, tired, and broken. She had traveled up and down narrow alleyways and along endless gloomy streets, but there was no sign of that wild blonde hair.
Oh, where are you, my Sweetie?
Bethidarra handed the princess both of Selkeeda’s dolls. She noticed fresh stitching on one of the arms of the one known as Angel.
“Its little arm was coming off,” said Bethidarra. “With everyone else searching, I had to do something.”
Angelterra smiled at the innkeeper’s wife in thanks. The princess had cried off and on all night, and she thought she had no more tears left. But when she saw the tiny doll, a lump rose in her throat and her eyes burned once more with tears. As she was fighting to keep her composure, Angelterra saw something out the front window of the tavern. It was someone small staggering barefoot in the muddy street. A little wild-haired girl with blood stains all over her long nightshirt.
“By the Heavenly Father, Selkeeda!” screamed the princess.
The princess burst out the door of the inn and rushed to the little girl. Kneeling down she scooped Selkeeda up and held her tight.
“Oh Sweetie, my Sweetie, you are safe!”
Then she realized the girl was covered in blood. Angelterra franticly checked the child over for cuts or wounds. She found none.
“What happened, Sweetie?”
“Doggies come,” said Selkeeda, and the girl smiled.
“Good, I am glad you both are all right,” said the constable, walking up behind her.
“She is covered in blood, but it is not hers,” said Angelterra.
“Wolves,” replied the constable. “The pack tore her kidnapper to…it was bad. I have never seen an animal attack with such ferocity.”
“Oh no, she must have seen the whole thing,” said the princess, again hugging the little girl tightly.
“Safe, Momma. Safe now,” said Selkeeda.
Pushing Selkeeda’s hair out of the little girl’s face, Angelterra agreed, “Yes, my precious Sweetie, we are both safe now.”
Angelterra, with Selkeeda clinging tightly to her, headed back into the warmth and security of the inn. She took the child upstairs and together the princess and Bethidarra washed her and dressed her in a clean sleeping shirt. Angelterra was thankful that the innkeeper’s wife kept children’s sleeping clothes for her guests to use. Surprisingly, Selkeeda went right to sleep soon after she was laid upon the bed. For Angelterra it took much longer for sleep to take her. Her mind went over the attack and over that image of Selkeeda walking barefoot and bloody in the road.
What kind of guardian am I to let such things happen to this troubled little girl? Angelterra scolded herself.
I was supposed to help her recover from some unspoken trauma, not add new ones.
❖ ❖ ❖
It was nearly noon when Angelterra opened her eyes. Beside her, Selkeeda was sitting quietly staring at her new stitched up doll, Angel, and Hollybee’s Master Marn, while waiting patiently for Angelterra to awaken.
“Hungry,” stated Selkeeda.
“Yes, Sweetie, I feel a bit hungry myself,” agreed the princess.
Angelterra was glad that the traumatic incident from the night before did not drive the little girl back deep into her shell. If the princess wasn’t mistaken, the little girl almost looked happy. After both of them dressed and Angelterra had packed her few belongings, they went down to the main floor in search of something to eat.
“Come to the kitchen, and I will make thee some stew and bread,” said Bethidarra.
Bethidarra brought their meal to a small table and sat with them while they ate the hot and hearty stew. They conversed about the weather and other mundane things as both Angelterra and the innkeeper’s wife tried to steer clear of talk about last night’s incident.
“How fares Gwelsenla and the children these days?” inquired Bethidarra.
“They all seemed well and in good spirits,” said Angelterra.
“Hollybee,” added Selkeeda.
“Hollybee?” asked Bethidarra.
“It be the nickname for the youngest girl, Hollyberry,” replied Angelterra.
“Last I saw that wee lass was when I helped the midwife deliver her,” said Bethidarra. “Headstrong that one. Didn’t wish to wait. She was born right here in the kitchen, before we could get Gwelsenla upstairs in a proper room.”
“She is still headstrong,” said Angelterra.
Elidril came into the kitchen from time to time complaining about how few travelers there were on this side of the river these days. Selkeeda continued eating quietly and paid no further attention to the adult’s conversation. No one spoke of the events from the night before. No one until the constable arrived.
“Angelterra, may I speak to you for a moment,” asked the constable, gesturing for her to leave the kitchen to speak more privately.
“Go ahead,” said Bethidarra. “I have a honey cake for Mistress Selkeeda to taste for me.”
Selkeeda looked up from her dolls at the mention of honey cakes.
Now that was a good sign, thought Angelterra.
When they were alone in a small room, the constable spoke in hushed tones.
“Last night some of the villagers saw what happened when the wolves came,” said the constable. He stopped for a moment as if searching for the right words before continuing. “Some of the more superstitious of the villagers claimed to have witnessed the wolves actually protecting your Selkeeda, while the other wolves ripped the girl’s attacker, a man called Bar, to shreds.”
“Wolves protecting her? That is impossible! She is just a little girl!” exclaimed Angelterra in a loud whisper.
“I know. I know. I do not believe such nonsense myself,” said the constable. “But the villagers who saw it, swear it happened. And I cannot stop them from sounding the alarm to the rest of the village. There are normally sensible people, but such strange and gory happenings as this needs some kind of explanation. And they have invented their own.”
It was so unfair for these people to falsely accuse such a young child. But rumors are like fires, once they really get going, it is impossible to quell them.
“We will leave at once,” said Angelterra.
“I think that is wise. I will escort you across the river and for a day’s ride beyond the bridge,” promised the constable. “Tis the best I can do.”
“Thank thee, it will be more than enough to see us safely out of here,” replied Angelterra.
She peeked through the slightly opened door and down the service hall to where Selkeeda was sitting at the kitchen table feeding a tiny piece of honey cake to her two dolls. The girl had come such a long way since the child had come wondering out of the woods. Angelterra would do anything to protect her from danger in the wild or in this village.
“I know how you feel about her,” said the constable. “She has a strange way of slipping into your heart. I even contemplated keeping her myself. My girls, I believe, would adore her. But after last night, I do not think this is a safe place for her.”
Angelterra suddenly felt a little jealous that this man would take her Selkeeda away from her. She chastised herself for such a silly thought. The man was being nothing but kind to them.
The princess returned to the kitchen and stood behind Selkeeda. The little girl leaned back and rested her head against Angelterra. Looking down at the child, the princess thought Selkeeda’s usually blank stare appeared a little less blank today.
“Can you tell me where I might purchase a horse in this village?” asked Angelterra.
“There is a man just outside of the village who does sell horses,” replied the innkeeper’s wife. “But Elidril and I have talked about getting you a mount, and we would be honored if you would take our Bucky to see you through your journey. He is young and strong.”
“That is very kind of you,” said Angelterra, and she began to dig into her purse for some gold, glad that Heen had not been able to take any of it.
❖ ❖ ❖
As promised, the constable of the three villages rode with them across the Prolixus River and out of Munkenira. Angelterra pulled the scarf that Bethidarra had given her tight around Selkeeda’s head, practically covering her up. She did not want any villager recognizing the girl before they slipped out of Munkenira. Angelterra too kept the hood of her cloak pulled over her head. No use taking chances on a mob, thought Angelterra. The day was cold, but sunny. And considering events of late, the princess felt in good spirits.
Unlike Marthleea, Bucky was very energetic for a young gelding. And she struggled with him to keep his pace slow and steady. After a time, he started to get the hang of traveling slow and easy, and she could finally relax her grip on the reins.
Late on that first night, they stopped in a small village and spent the night at a roadside tavern. The owner had a separate room for Angelterra and Selkeeda, while the constable was forced to bunk with three other men in a cramped room. The next morning and after a small meal, they set out again. At about the noon, the constable drew them all to a halt.
“This is where I must turn around. If you keep a good pace you should make Dragon’s Claw Village just after sundown. There is an inn there known as The Crescent House. Here, give them this token,” said the constable, and he tossed her a leather disk similar to the one Harridon had given her. On it was a crudely tooled shield with a curvy line through it. “The innkeeper owes me a favor, so he will keep you and Selkeeda for the night without charge.”
“Thank thee so much,” said Angelterra. “We are forever grateful.”
“I hope in Hwevlandar you find out more about this little one,” said the constable. “Otherwise, you might have to keep—”
“I will find her family, I am sure of it,” replied the princess quickly. She did not want to consider the alternative right now.
The princess gave the constable a final wave and then nudged Bucky onward. Selkeeda strained to twist her head to catch one last glimpse of the quickly disappearing constable.
The ride to the seaside village of Dragon’s Claw was uneventful. Angelterra kept a wary eye at the woods in case the wolf pack would return. But it did not. And there were no travelers in either direction. And just as the constable had told them, they reached the outskirts of the Dragon’s Claw by evening. Unlike Munkenira, Dragon’s Claw was a fairly well-kept place. It would seem that since it had the only ferry service to Hwevlandar, it was a popular lakeside village. The main road into town was crowded with people on horses carrying large packs, people scurrying about on foot probably on their way to dinner, and lots of wagons loading and unloading supplies, even at this late hour.
She took the third side street on the left and went down to its end. She heard the waves of the Great Crescent Lake lapping gently against the shore somewhere in the shadows behind the homes and businesses on this street. There at the end of the street was a large building with a banner on the front. It waved briskly in the evening lake breeze, upon it was written: The Crescent House. A young lad came out of the back to greet them and take her horse.
“Enjoy your stay at The Crescent House, Mistress,” said the lad. She gave the boy three copper coins. He smiled. “Thank thee, Mistress.”
“And where do we inquire about lodging?” asked Angelterra.
“The room on the left,” said the lad. “Tis Jenners there this eve.”
When she and Selkeeda entered the inn, they were greeted by a long hall. On the right side was a door that led into the tavern section, for she heard the sound of eating and laughter coming from there. Unlike the Fat River Inn, the Crescent House was packed with locals and overnight guests. Further down and on the left was a separate room. She poked her head inside and saw a thin, older man standing behind a low counter.
