MAGE 12
By Heck



Comments to heck@heckster.co.uk

CHAPTER TWELVE

"WHAT ISS IT?!"

Noticing the worried frown marring Brenhya's normally serene expression,
Gurghan moved closer, eying the jar curiously. "It iss just an empty jar!"

Brenhya hitched the 'towel' tighter under her arms. "A message". She placed
the innocuous jar on the table. Her friends gathered round with a collection
of confused expressions. "Or it was. When I opened it, I heard Lon's voice".
She picked up an overturned chair and sat with legs crossed and arms folded in
a pensive attitude. Her voice was quiet and distant, reflecting the thoughts
passing through her agile brain. "He said Drosklyn Chaithe is not what he
seems, and is responsible for all that's happened around here".

"Supernatural! Gurghan knew it!"

"Who is Drosklyn ...whatever?", Oudreya wanted to know.

"He's a wizard, who took Lon on to finish his apprenticeship. Lon says it's
all a plot to get me to come to Chaithe's island. Apparently, I'm important
for some reason or another. He warns me not to go".

"Then, obviously, you shouldn't". The king failed in his attempt not to sound
over protective. "It sounds dangerous to me".

Oudreya moved to his side. "The alternative is that the attacks on your
kingdom may continue".

"Let them! That's as may be. But the price ...I don't know if I could bear
it".

"Don't talk like that". There was a touch of irritation in Brenhya's voice. "I
got into dangerous situations before, and I will do again. It seems to be in
my nature. The fact that you and I now have a ...relationship won't make any
difference to that".

"Relationship?!" Gurghan supposed he was speaking in an aside to Oudreya, and
that no-one else would hear. The result was a muted roar, audible from yards
away. "Gurghan doess not know that! I thought they were just screwing!"

Oudreya shrugged, and turned up her eyes as if to say, 'are you blind?'

"Quiet!" Brenhya almost barked at him. "There is a relationship, and that's
all you need to know. Sit down, Chthord".

Obediently, the king sat at the table, carefully avoiding the debris of last
night's dinner. Brenhya pulled up a chair and sat close, her knees almost
touching his. She took his hand and looked deep into his eyes. Sensing an
intimate moment, Oudreya tactfully turned away, nudging Gurghan to do the
same.

"This may not be the time for this conversation", Brenhya began. "But it looks
like you're getting protective of me, so it has to be said. No". She stopped
his mouth with an elegant finger. "Sit still and listen. We have something
special, you and I. It's growing, getting stronger, and may develop into
something more in the long term. It may not. I don't know. But whatever
happens, remember this. I owe a huge debt of allegiance to the Sisters of
Themyra. They made me what I am today, and if you feel anything for me, then
that's down to them. My skills, my strength, my principles, all the things you
seem to find attractive about me, all down to the Sisterhood. I am their
Equerry, and always will be. Any judgements I make, any quests I undertake,
will all be based on that. You have to realise, king or not, lover or not, I
will always be beholden to them first and foremost. And besides". She laid a
cool hand on his cheek and smiled her radiant smile. "You know you don't need
to be protective of me. Have I made myself clear?"

Chthord nodded resignedly. "As springwater".

"Good. Then this conversation is over. Gurghan? Oudreya? Come and sit down,
please". She smiled fondly round at each of them as they took their seats. "I
know you all. Some longer than others, but you are all my friends and very
dear to me. And if you know me at all, then you know I'm going to the island".

Gurghan nodded calmly; he had known it all along. Oudreya was not at all
surprised, and Chthord looked crushed but gave a sigh of resignation.

"There are a number of reasons", Brenhya went on. "The attacks on this kingdom
cannot be allowed to continue, for one. A very good friend of mine is in
trouble, and he thinks the future of the world is at risk from this sorcerer.
He may be a bit of a wet, at times, but I trust Lon's judgement in this as
much as I would my own". The corner of her mouth lifted in an ironic grin.
"And, of course, there's the fact that Chaithe wants me to go. I have to find
out why".

Grasping the hands of Chthord and Oudreya, she looked at Gurghan, including
him in the circle.

"Chthord, your place is here. You have to be with your people". The king
nodded reluctantly. "Gurghan, I want to leave the safety of the king, and the
kingdom, in your hands. Chthord will make you Captain of the Guard". She had
not discussed this with the king. It was an instruction, not something one
normally gave to a king, but Chthord acquiesced without question.

"Captain of what Guard?!", Gurghan butted in. "There iss no guard!"

"Then you will recruit some. Train them up. Make this land safe".

Gurghan's craggy face split in a huge grin. He was delighted at the prospect.

Brenhya turned to Oudreya. "Oudreya, you must feel free to turn me down. You
have no obligation to me or anyone here. But Chaithe has touched your life,
too, and I'm going to need someone to watch my back. Having seen your skills
on the hunt, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have at my side, in tigress
form or otherwise".

Oudreya's eyes glistened as the emotion of pride welled within her. "I'd be
honoured".

Brenhya rose from her chair with a big smile. "OK, then. That's settled. Let's
get some lunch, and talk plans".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lon sat in his favourite place by the library window, gazing absently at the
drizzly rain pattering on the glass. He was pensive and lost in thought as he
leaned his head on his hand. Quaff had come in an hour ago to call him for
lunch, but he had professed a lack of hunger. He could not face Drosklyn
Chaithe at table. He was depressed, and feeling guilty about sending the
message, which he suspected would bring the woman he worshipped into grave
danger.

But now, as his belly rumbled, he wished he had asked the kobold to bring him
something to eat.

His brain was turning to mush, as he desperately tried to think his way out of
his dilemma. In the very act of trying to deter Brenhya from coming to the
island, he had probably challenged her to do just that. He knew her well
enough to know that she would come.

His reverie was disrupted as the door opened briskly, and Chaithe strode in.
Lon looked at him with ill-disguised contempt, and pointedly turned his back,
pretending to be fascinated by something in the garden. Unperturbed, the
wizard sat opposite him at the table, regarding his apprentice over steepled
fingers.

"Quaff tells me you aren't hungry, hm?" He smiled gently. "Or is it that
you've become too proud to sup with, what shall I say, the enemy, is it?
Someone you see as being a threat to things you hold sacred, what?

"Tut, tut. When will you see, I'm not your enemy, lad? What I will be able to
accomplish, with the help of the Lord Shaitan, will be of benefit to everyone.
Everyone in the world, doncher know? No hunger. No poverty. No disease".

"And no freedom", Lon muttered under his breath. Chaithe had better ears than
he suspected.

"But that is such a small price to pay, isn't it? True, the world will be
mine, to do as I see fit. And there will have to be certain, um, rituals, from
time to time, just to appease the Dark Lord, doncher know? But such a small,
small price for a world of order, no?

"Think on it, Lon! You could have shared in all of this. Still could, if you
would simply renounce this silly idea of 'justice' you cling to".

"There is no way ..."

"Shush! Don't trouble yourself, boy. Even if you professed to have changed
your mind, how could I ever trust you? No, no, you won't have to compromise
your 'principles'. Your friend Brenhya seems to have imparted a strong sense
of misguided morality, no, that's not quite the right word, um, let me see,
rightness, yes, that's it, rightness to you, hm? You are trying to live up to
her standards, what? You never can, of course, but at least you try.
Admirable, what? Admirable. But, unfortunately for you, of no earthly use to
me". He stood, and looked down at Lon curiously. He sighed.

"You do realise, don't you, that when this is all over, you have to die?
Regrettable, but necessary, doncher know?"

Lon just stared at him in disgust as he stalked toward the door. As he was
closing it, Lon just could not stop himself from blurting out.

"I'm not scared of you!"

Drosklyn Chaithe's head reappeared round the door jamb. "My dear boy! It's not
a question of whether or not you are scared". He fixed the youth with a gimlet
eye.

"It's whether you're scared enough".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The soft, velvety muzzle of the big bay mare nuzzled anxiously against
Brenhya's chest. Makaar was aware that something was wrong, and that she was
to be excluded, and that was not right.

Brenhya leaned her forehead against the mare's cheek as she stroked the
glossy, arched neck with a strong hand. "You have to stay here. You won't fit
in the boat. Chthord will look after you. Behave yourself, and don't bite too
many people".

"Brenyar!" Gurghan bellowed from the quayside. "Your boat iss ready!"

With a sigh and a final pat, she planted a kiss on the horse's muzzle and
handed the reins to one of the king's ostlers. "Take care of her. She's very
special".

The ostler tugged his forelock. "Don't you worry none, ma'am. I'll take care
of her as if she was one o' me own. She'll be right".

Brenhya walked over to the edge of the quay, where her friends were waiting.
She and Chthord had said their goodbyes earlier, mutually deciding that it
would be just too hard to part on the docks. Wistfully, she remembered the
last time she had been here, seeing Lon off to his new and, they had both
hoped, better life.

"Everything on board?", she asked, looking down the steep stone steps to the
small boat below.

"Yar!"

"We did just as you asked", Oudreya said. "Just enough supplies for us to get
there and back, and a travelling cloak each in case the weather turns bad. Are
you sure you don't want to take any special weapons?"

"Why? When you change, you are a weapon, in your own right. I don't need any
more than I've got".

"Will you not even take the Wheelbow?!"

"That's a long range weapon. It's only necessary for use over several hundred
yards. I mean to get a lot closer than that".

She looked over the edge of the quay again. The boat, that looked so small
from up here, was actually a large, robust dinghy bobbing about fifteen feet
below. Gurghan came to stand behind her.

"That iss the beauty off a small boat! You do not have to wait for a high
tide, and there iss less chance off being spotted before you get there!" His
feet seemed to become very interesting for a moment, as he sheepishly and
untypically averted his gaze. His usual roar became more of a growl as his
voice thickened with emotion. "Gurghan iss sad you are going! I, er, like
you!" He sucked a huge, bubbling sigh through his large nose, and clapped a
heavy hand briefly on her shoulder. "Take care!"

Without another word, he turned sharply on his heel and strode off to where
the ostler waited, never looking back. Brenhya watched him go.

"Ready?" Oudreya was at the head of the steps, waiting patiently.

"Yes. But what about you? I thought cats were afraid of water, and I wondered
if that applied to you?"

The were-tigress smiled, showing even, pointed teeth. "Don't worry. Most cats
are afraid of water, but tigers are quite happy in and near water. I like to
swim, no matter what shape I'm in".

"Right, then. Let's go".

The two women trotted down the steps and climbed into the boat. Brenhya took
the centre seat and picked up the heavy oars, while Oudreya, in the front,
cast off. The rolling muscles of the warriors back and arms coiled and flexed
as she bent to the oars. The prow of the boat sliced through the water as she
sent it out into the bay.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *