The Sleeping Mother, page 34
The apprentice gingerly climbed over the slumbering Khara and then paused for a moment. The swordswoman’s aloofness melted away when she was asleep, leaving the features of a strong young woman who had already lived through a lot. Ahren’s heart was overcome with tenderness and he instinctively reached out his hand towards her.
‘If you want to keep your arm, I’d leave that,’ whispered Uldini humorously, and the apprentice quickly followed the Arch Wizard’s advice. Khara and the young Forest Guardian were closer now than they had ever been, and surprising her in her sleep probably wouldn’t be the best way of winning her over even more. He squeezed his way past Falk, who was snoring, and settled down beside the childlike figure at the prow of the boat.
‘Are you contacting someone?’ he asked, gesturing to the ball in Uldini’s hand.
The Arch Wizard shook his head before staring again into the depths of the crystal ball. ‘No, I’m just examining it thoroughly. It is my first and greatest masterpiece, you know. With its creation I was assured of my position as first among the Ancients,’ explained Uldini in hushed tones.
Ahren looked at him in surprise. ‘Why do you have to study it? If you created it, then surely you know it inside out.’
Uldini shrugged his shoulders. ‘When you bake a cake, you know which ingredients you put in, but you don’t know how successful you have been until you take it out of the oven. It’s much the same when it comes to creating an artefact. And the more powerful it is, the longer it takes before you know all its secrets.’
‘But you’ve had this crystal ball for so long now,’ interjected Ahren.
Uldini shrugged his shoulders. ‘If truth be told, I’ve hardly used it. For centuries it lay on a shelf in my tower and I only brought it with me because I needed it for your Naming. I’ve always considered Charm Focuses to be something of a weakness, a crutch that determines our actions. We are mightier when we have them but also limited in our choice of charm.’ He pointed over to Jelninolan, who was sleeping peacefully, Mirilan pressed in close to her chest. ‘She forced me to rethink matters. Of course, her magic will always be accompanied by music from now on, but the performance she put on with the Murder Mosquitos was breath-taking. And – it hardly tired her out.’ Uldini lifted the crystal towards the sunlight and Ahren could see the magical reddish-blue glimmering at the core of the artefact.
‘I wouldn’t have been able to keep up the magic last night without this thing,’ mused the wizard. ‘I wonder what other things I can achieve with it.’
Ahren saw that the emotional rebound of the sun charm had put Uldini into a contemplative mood, which seemed more constructive than the usual emotional worlds sorcerers were thrown into following their spell-making, such as lethargy, aggression or melancholy.
‘Doesn’t it have a name?’ asked Ahren after some moments of silent contemplation.
Uldini blinked before shaking his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Why should it?’
Ahren fidgeted for a moment, unsure of how he should answer the puzzled Arch Wizard. ‘Names connect us to things we value,’ he began. ‘By giving something a name, we decide what we associate with the named object, how we see it and use it.’ He became silent, uncertain if the Arch Wizard understood what he was driving at, but Uldini was looking at the apprentice in surprise.
‘Don’t let Falk hear this, but I think his efforts at training you are beginning to bear fruit. What you’ve just said shows remarkable insight, Ahren,’ said Uldini appreciatively.
The young Paladin was bursting with pride. He could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times Uldini had called him by name, and a compliment without the usual barb was even rarer.
While he was basking in the Arch Wizard’s words, he sensed Culhen in his thoughts. Show-off, said the envious wolf, and Ahren burst out laughing.
‘Did I say something funny?’ asked Uldini tartly.
‘No, Culhen just cracked a joke,’ responded Ahren, quickly appeasing the Arch Wizard.
No, I didn’t, countered the offended wolf, causing the Forest Guardian to burst into laughter again. Culhen broke the connection off and went off hunting, leaving an amused apprentice behind him and a contemplative Arch Wizard, who was once again gazing into the crystal ball, lost in thought.
The storm raged with such intensity and vehemence that Timur and Xamatik tried desperately to steer the boat towards the riverbank before it flooded. The threatening thunderstorm had broken with the onset of evening, and now a veritable inferno of lightning flashes streaked across the sky between the black clouds while a heavy curtain of rain was driven by the powerful winds almost horizontally across the river. Ahren could see mighty trees bending dangerously, and he had already heard the cracking of several giant plants that had surrendered to the pressure of the storm and crashed down to the ground.
‘That must be the First Storm,’ shouted Uldini over the roaring wind. ‘Every year it announces a pause in the rainy season.’
Ahren suddenly had nothing against the usual daily downpours if it meant escaping a ferocious thunderstorm like this.
Everyone looked nervously out into the storm. Even Jelninolan, who as an elf of nature was fond of every weather type, seemed less than happy.
Except for Trogadon. The dwarf kept staring up at the heavens instead of bailing out the water, staring in fascination at the forks of lightning in the raging firmament.
‘What’s wrong with him?’ asked Ahren loudly, and Falk gave a placatory wave of his hand.
‘Dwarves love thunderstorms. Lightning for them is the raw essence of HIM, WHO IS. You should have seen him during one of the storms over the Brazen City. He always used to voluntarily take over the watch from the soldiers on the city wall whenever there was one,’ explained his master. Ahren wiped the driving rain out of his eyes and returned to trying to save the boat from sinking under the water with the world seemingly coming to an end around them.
This really isn’t any fun. He heard Culhen in his head as the wolf scrambled through the undergrowth, trying to keep pace with the boat. Ahren looked through the wolf’s eyes and could make out Selsena’s blurred outlines as she ploughed her way through the heavy foliage, her chest trembling.
It’s not all fun and games here either, countered Ahren sharply. Run behind Selsena, that will make things easier for you.
If the apprentice had suggested to his friend that he should shave off his fur, the wolf probably wouldn’t have been half as offended.
Are you telling me to run in her tracks? That would be unbelievably cheeky, said the wolf, horrified. Ahren sighed in irritation, sometimes he really couldn’t follow the animal’s train of thought. What do you think it’s like for me, trying to make sense of your two-legged abstruse rules and regulations? thought Culhen huffily, and Ahren begrudgingly saw his point.
And so, he returned to bailing out the water until the two ferrymen finally managed to steer to the riverbank, where they tied the boat to a gnarled tree that rose up from the water’s edge. The companions clambered onto the bank and crouched together under the dubious protection of the foliage, from where they peered out into the night and prayed for the storm to end.
Only Trogadon continued to stare up towards the heavens in fascination, his lips formed into a silent prayer and his hands fastened around the grip of his mighty forging hammer.
It was long past midnight when the storm finally abated, and they all packed in beside each other as closely as possible and tried to get to sleep. The only positive aspect of their imposed sojourn on the riverbank was that Ahren could at last cuddle Culhen again, who had barged in beside them with Selsena, having caught up with the boat. And so, the young man spent the rest of the night with the wolf snuggled in beside him – even if his friend stank terribly of wet fur.
It was the sound of loud cursing that awoke Ahren, who blinked, stretched his tired muscles and stared over at Falk and Uldini, who were looking at the boat despondently as it lay, half-sunk in the water. The Arch Wizard shook his head, reached into his robe and pulled out a thumb-sized sapphire, which he handed over to Xamatik without saying a word. The ferryman’s eyes opened wide in surprise as he looked down at the precious stone.
‘Tell him it’s for the damage to the boat,’ grunted the childlike figure to Falk. ‘They should build themselves a canoe out of the remains and paddle back upriver. We’ll continue on foot.’
Falk translated in his broken Jungle tongue and the two ferrymen nodded enthusiastically.
‘Gather together your armour and supplies and only take what you absolutely need,’ commanded Uldini to his fellow travellers. ‘We’re going to make very slow progress anyway, and unnecessary baggage will only delay us.’ He looked longingly at the tilted boat and said in a quieter voice: ‘It was enjoyable while we were travelling on the river.’
Ahren looked over at the ferrymen. He had a guilty conscience over them losing their boat, but they both seemed in surprisingly good form. They kept looking at the sapphire in disbelief and didn’t seem at all worried that they would have to build a new vessel.
‘Don’t worry about them,’ said Uldini. ‘This is definitely not the first boat they’ve had to abandon, and that gem will compensate them handsomely.’ As was always the case when he had to hand out money, Uldini was particularly prickly, and so he waved his hands impatiently, shooing Ahren up onto his feet. ‘Get up, you lazy bones! We’re in for a really hard time now,’ he announced, brooking no objections. ‘We need to find this tribe that protects the Sleeping Mother before something finds us and decides to eat us for their dinner.’
‘You know what’s coming now, don’t you, lad?’ Falk asked his apprentice in a commanding tone.
A queasy feeling came over Ahren as he looked at Falk in horror. The old man nodded. ‘You’ve guessed it, lad. We’re the Forest Guardians – we go ahead.’
They had headed off at midday, their heavy equipment strapped onto their backs although they were still carrying considerably less than they had expected, Trogadon having bundled together a veritable mountain of objects and foodstuffs, which he lashed together and carried seemingly effortlessly on his broad back. The enormous bundle stretched a good half a pace over the squat figure, but that didn’t seem to bother the warrior one little bit. He grinned at his friends and shrugged his shoulders, causing the armour on his back to rattle noisily.
‘Good training for the legs,’ he said, and gestured to Falk and Ahren that they should walk in front. They all waved goodbye to Timur and Xamatik, who reciprocated the gesture before returning to the canoe they had already started weaving together from the salvageable sections of the boat.
Ahren glanced back at the sparkling river one last time. It had been a relatively safe temporary home for them when he considered the many dangers they were now bound to encounter, and so he sighed heavily before striding into the green thicket alongside his master.
The apprentice found the multitude of details and overpowering colours of the jungle quite dizzying, and even Falk had problems trying to orientate himself in their environment. Rustling could be heard all around them, there were insects crawling around the ground that Ahren had no name for and swarms of tiny flies danced in the air. The Blessing of the goddess protected Falk and him from stings and bites, but they had to find a solution for the others, who weren’t under the protection of the elf goddess. When they eventually set up camp, Falk turned anxiously towards Jelninolan.
‘We’re making terribly slow progress. Is there no way you can bless Khara and Trogadon so that we are all under the protection of the goddess? Then we won’t have to beat a wide detour around every animal that might be dangerous.’
The priestess stared at the Forest Guardian as if he had asked her to get a Blood Wolf to dance for them. She gasped, and it took a few heartbeats before she gathered herself sufficiently together and then shook her head furiously. ‘Impossible!’ she exclaimed. ‘You seem to have forgotten that I am not a high priestess anymore, and even if I were, I couldn’t simply divvy up HER blessing to suit my book!’ She pointed over at Trogadon, who at that moment was trying to pick an obstinate seed from one of the fruits he had devoured at supper out from between his teeth. ‘HER protection has never been granted a dwarf before, and you think it’s going to happen here, of all places?’ she said angrily. ‘If I do that, I’ll be banished from Eathinian!’
There was a stunned silence and even the irrepressible Trogadon seemed offended by the elf’s hard words. ‘If I’m the problem,’ he said seriously, ‘then I’ll just stay here. I’ll find a nice little spot on the river, and you can collect me on the way back.’
Ahren angrily slammed the flat of his hand on his thigh. ‘We certainly won’t do that,’ he said decisively, and everyone turned to look at him. ‘We’re absolutely not going to leave you behind just because a few high and mighty elves on the other side of the world bear a grudge if somebody doesn’t stick religiously to their rules.’
Jelninolan gasped, and Falk looked at him darkly. ‘A bit of respect, lad,’ he growled, but Ahren nodded his head energetically.
‘That’s exactly what I mean,’ he said fiercely. ‘Trogadon has always been a loyal, unshakeable travelling companion to us, and now we’re considering leaving him behind just to satisfy some elves or other?’
‘They’re not just some elves or other,’ said Uldini sharply. ‘They’re all elves. Those who are mobilising half of Evergreen to fight on our side, and whose culture you had better have respect for.’
Ahren pressed his lips together. He really felt he was right in this matter and that what was being said was so wrong, he couldn’t back down. The young Paladin turned directly to Jelninolan. ‘The goddess grants the blessing, not you or anybody else. You speak the words, but SHE must answer, isn’t that right?’
Jelninolan nodded hesitantly, and Ahren continued quickly: ‘Then why don’t you just try it? I bet you anything that after your discovery of the sacred pool in the desert, you will successfully get through to HER.’
‘Well, look who’s become our little expert on the gods,’ snorted Uldini sarcastically, but Ahren noticed that the Arch Wizard hadn’t contradicted him.
The apprentice fixed his eyes on Jelninolan with determination, and it took all his willpower not to look away. The True Form of the elf was impressive and trying to withstand her eyes as they sparkled scornfully at him was like staring into the sun. But then something changed in the elf’s appearance. She still seemed to be full of anger, but it was no longer directed at the apprentice.
‘Ahren is correct. I am a Stormweaver, and even that alone permits me to defy the laws of my folk. What I am about to do will be done with total conviction, and to hesitate for fear of the consequences would be nothing short of cowardice and a betrayal of the gift granted me by the Giltanaar.’ She looked warmly at Trogadon and Khara, who had been following the argument in silence. ‘To say that either of you is not worthy to receive the Gift of the goddess would be a lie.’ Then she stepped towards Ahren and stroked his cheek lovingly. ‘I have received my True Form. It is high time I did it justice and didn’t fall back into familiar ways. Thank you for having opened my eyes.’
Then she turned to Khara and Trogadon again, bade them to kneel down and stood before them. ‘The blessing of HER, WHO FEELS be always with ye both.’ Saying these words, she placed her hands on their heads. ‘May all the creatures under HER control recognise your hearts and act accordingly.’
Ahren was brought back in his mind to his own blessing that time in Evergreen, when he had encountered the elf for the first time. The feeling of security that had flowed through him came streaming powerfully back, and suddenly the jungle and its inhabitants didn’t feel half so dangerous as before.
Khara and Trogadon got back onto their feet, their faces a picture of awe.
‘Seems to have worked,’ said Uldini drily.
‘I wouldn’t just depend on a hunch when it comes to something so important,’ said Falk suspiciously.
‘We’ll find out soon enough,’ said Trogadon cheerfully and quickly picked up a long, red millipede with two powerful-looking pincers off the jungle floor and placed it on his hairy forearm. There he let the insect scrabble here and there without it’s biting him. Finally, he placed his enormous paw against the next tree and the millipede slithered across his wrist and found the safety of the bark.
‘I think the Blessing has been granted,’ said the warrior with a broad grin, and while the companions congratulated him and Khara, Ahren thought that nothing would ever change the dwarf’s sunny nature, not even the Blessing of a goddess.
They were all in high spirits when they set off the next morning. Now that the natural flora and fauna looked kindly on them, they only needed to worry about Dark Ones, which simplified everything and made progress somewhat speedier.
Falk and Ahren sought out the most accessible route, and whenever necessary, Selsena used her body weight to push aside any recalcitrant vines or shrubs. The Titejunanwa had lost considerable weight since their departure from the Sunplains, and Ahren, who had noted with concern the Elfish charger’s thinning flanks, finally called his master aside during one of their breaks. ‘Don’t you think Selsena is very thin?’ he asked tentatively.
Falk laughed and tousled the young man’s hair. ‘You should know better than to question a lady’s weight, especially when she can skewer you with her horns.’
A threatening sensation rolled over from Selsena, and her eyes glared in indignation at the apprentice.
He quickly raised his hands in defence and Falk laughed again.
‘I appreciate your concern, but the old girl has sufficient reserves. One or two weeks of rest in a valley replete with good quality, high grass and she’ll be right as rain,’ he said, reassuring the young Forest Guardian.
Ahren nodded, unwilling to risk his own safety by pursuing the topic, and finally the Titejunanwa looked away from him before chewing at a little plant with deliberate slowness.
