The Bard, page 10
“Is he purring?” Ria whispered to Sam.
“I think so,” she whispered back.
Ukel had not taken his eyes off the dragon since it had appeared. He continued to stare at it apprehensively. He was shocked to see a human get close to a dragon, let alone stroke it. He had not fully believed his hosts when they had told him that Gladrel wished to make friends, but watching the interaction between human and dragon did much to ease his concerns. The fact that the creature not only had a name, but could also talk, was making him reconsider his misconceptions.
Gladrel suddenly opened one eye, making the skelk jump in surprise. “Did you know that you are honoured, skelk?” he asked.
“Ukel,” Dal chided gently.
“What?” the dragon asked in irritation.
“His name is Ukel.”
“Oh, Sorry. Ukel, did you know that dragon’s rarely reveal their name to other species? The only reason I told this group my name is because they are friends with my mate.”
Ukel stared at the dragon in surprise. This was not the mindless beast he had assumed all dragons to be. Maybe they could live on the same side of the mountain in peace after all.
Tor interrupted the silence that had enveloped them. “Ukel, when you feel strong enough, will you travel to where the rest of your tribe have set up camp and inform them that it is safe for them to return? We can give you precise directions to their location”
“Of course,” the skelk replied. “Though it may be a few weeks before I will have regained enough strength to undertake such a journey.” Tor nodded in understanding. Ukel was still recovering from his illness and the lack of food had taken a severe toll on his already depleted strength. It was going to be a long and arduous journey; one which could only be contemplated by someone who was fully fit.
“Pah,” Gladrel snorted. “I finally find someone I can have a decent conversation with and you think I am going to let him go off by himself getting into who knows what trouble? I have more honour than that.” The dragon sounded insulted.
“What are you suggesting?” Sam enquired.
“I will fly him to his people. They are more likely to believe that he is not suffering from delusions brought on by fever if we arrive together. I can even transport some of them back.”
Ukel was stunned. “That is a very generous offer,” he stammered. “Thank you.”
“Am I the only one who finds it interesting that two creatures that humans have always been terrified of have turned out to be friendly?” Sam mused aloud. “Isn’t it amazing what communication can do?”
Nobody commented.
It was decided that Tor’s group would head out immediately. The sky was clear and they wished to reach their next destination as soon as they could. Gladrel and Ukel also decided to depart. Ukel had been alone for too long and his need to see his people once more outweighed his need to recover further. It would not be a difficult flight for him; all he would need to do was hold on. Tor described in great detail the location of the watch tower and Gladrel announced that he knew where it was. With a little assistance, the skelk climbed on the dragon’s back. Everyone wished them farewell and good luck and watched as dragon and rider ascended into the sky before disappearing from view.
Chapter 9
“Please do not make us go there,” Seth begged. They had finally cleared the mountains and were now at the crest of a large hill, looking down at an immense stone building.
Tor sighed. “You know we have no choice. We need to find out who, or what, the Bard is and the sisters at St Cuthberts hold more knowledge within their walls than anywhere else. If they cannot help us, no-one can.”
“Why not just send in the women?” Patrick suggested, making Ria smile. Nobody knew for a fact what went on at St Cuthberts, but all of the men were terrified to go there. She could not pass up the opportunity to goad Patrick.
“Is the poor little boy frightened by a few poor defenceless women who live alone with no big strong men to look after them?” she said, her tone mimicking a mother talking to a new born baby.
Patrick looked at her in disgust. “You do not know what their rituals entail.”
“And nor do you,” Ellen snapped at him. They had been having this argument ever since they had left Gladrel’s cave and she was fed up with it. “What could possibly be so bad you need to avoid the place?”
“I do not know, but I have seen grown men weep while telling tales of how friends who have gone there have never recovered from the experience.” All eyes turned to Ban. Until now, he had kept his thoughts to himself and he of all people exhibiting unease about visiting the nuns was cause for great concern.
“That is enough,” Tor said, raising his voice. “Nobody has to go who does not wish to. There is a village a few leagues east. Seth, take the wagon there and those who are brave enough to go the nunnery will meet up with you in a few days.”
Seth did not need telling twice. As he headed towards the wagon he shot a questioning glance at Dal, who shook her head. “I will go to St Cuthberts,” she said. “I will be in no danger.” Seth nodded, but remained silent. It would be the first time they had been apart since they had married and he was not happy about it, but he understood her decision and did not argue against it.
All of the women, even River, said they were prepared to visit the nunnery. If the library was as big as was rumoured, they would need as many eyes as possible to scan through the numerous books. One by one, each dropping their heads in shame, the males followed Seth, giving their apologies to Tor as they passed him. The Prince was disappointed, but did not show it; they were all feeling guilty enough as it was.
“I will accompany you,” Brin said, the last male of the group left.
“No you won’t,” Sam countermanded. “We have no idea what those women do at night.”
“And that is why I cannot let you go alone.”
“I will be fine.”
“We do not know that.”
Sam took a deep breath. “Please,” she said as calmly as she could. “The rumours are only about men, not women. And besides,” she added, “they are only rumours.”
“Which is precisely why I am going with you.”
“No you are not. Do you really think I will be able to concentrate when I am filled with concern for your wellbeing? I might as well not go.”
“Fine by me.”
“Stop it you two,” Tor shouted, taking out his frustrations on the arguing pair. “I am still technically in charge of this team and you either do as I say or you go your own separate ways. Sam, St Cuthberts, Brin, the village.” Neither of them moved. “Now,” he yelled.
Sam smiled smugly as Brin turned about and walked away without saying goodbye. He was almost out of sight when she ran up to him and grabbed his arm. He turned around in surprise and she kissed him passionately. “I’ll miss you,” she whispered in his ear, squeezing his hand tight.
“Hurry back to me,” he whispered back and reluctantly released her from his grasp.
“What about you?” Sam asked Tor when she returned to where he was standing with the rest of the women. “Is it really a good idea for you to go?”
He shrugged. “I do not really have a choice. Someone has to explain our reason for being there and the nuns might not believe any of you if neither I nor any of my brothers are with you.”
Conceding the point, the much reduced group slowly made their way down the hill, in the opposite direction to that taken by the rest of men. It did not take them long to reach the large wooden gates which guarded the entrance to the stone building. It looked cold and uninviting and Sam found herself suppressing a shiver.
“How do we get in?” Ria asked in a subdued voice. The size and unfriendliness of the place was intimidating.
“Maybe we should try knocking?” Liselle suggested.
Tor unsheathed his sword and used the hilt to knock loudly on the gate. The wood was thick and sturdy, reducing the knock to a dull thud. There was no sign of movement from within, so a short time later he tried again.
“May I help you?” a soft voice sounded behind them, making them all jump and turn round. Before them stood a pleasant faced young lady, dressed entirely in white. Her head was the only part of her body that was not covered by fabric, allowing her long blonde hair to flow down her back. She was smiling in a welcoming way, putting them all at their ease. Tor took charge and explained who they were and why they wished to gain admission to the nunnery. The young nun suggested they speak with the mother superior and they followed her, walking away from the gates upon which they had been knocking, to a small wooden door hidden from sight around the corner.
“We never use the main entrance,” she explained as she ushered them into the building. “Those gates look impressive and have always been a good deterrent against attack, but it takes at least four of us to open them and they creak awfully.”
“But doesn’t letting all your visitors know about the back door kind of defeat the purpose?” Sam asked as they made their way along a dim corridor, lit only with widely spaced lamps.
“Oh no,” the young lady assured her. “We only open our door once we are sure our visitors mean us no harm. We have already heard of Prince Tor and his quest and have been expecting a visit from him, or one of his brothers. If we were unsure as to your identities or intentions then you would still be knocking at the gates.”
Ellen suddenly stopped, causing Ria to almost walk into her. “You have a sorceress here,” she gasped.
“You are correct.” The nun did not appear concerned that Ellen had somehow detected the magic wielder’s presence. “It is she who decides who is to be allowed in.”
“What’s a sorceress and how did you know one was here?” Sam whispered to Ellen when they resumed walking.
It took a while for them to reach the mother superior’s study and Ellen explained as they negotiated the numerous corridors and flights of stairs. Unlike a witch, a sorceress does not rely on potions or spells to perform magic. She is born with one natural talent and cannot learn any more. The sorceress in residence must have some sort of ability to read people’s minds, or maybe their emotions, while not needing to be close to them. Most sorceresses, but not all, can only work their craft while in a trance, making them vulnerable to attack, so they seek out allies who will ensure their safety in exchange for their services. Being a witch, Ellen could detect when magic was being used; it left a strange feeling in the air that she found impossible to describe. Sorceresses’ powers were vastly different to all other magic users and the presence of their magic was easily identifiable to other magic users.
Sam was fascinated by Ellen’s explanation and asked many questions. Her curiosity was not fully sated when their conversation was interrupted.
The young nun stopped before a plain wooden door. It had no inscription and looked identical to the numerous doors they had all walked past. “Wait here,” she instructed. “I will see if the mother superior is able to see you.”
She opened the door without knocking and slipped into the room, closing the door behind her before anyone had a chance to see inside. Tor appeared nervous as he looked around him. The corridor they were in looked no different to any other they had seen since entering the nunnery. “I wish they would turn those lamps up,” he muttered. The dim glow they emitted was sufficient to light the entire corridor without leaving any parts in darkness, but only just. Ellen smiled. Tor was the only one who was feeling uncomfortable. Even Sam appeared at ease.
“What happens if they ask us to stay the night?” she asked, knowing the real reason for his discomfort.
“I plan to be out of here before then,” he replied, trying to sound confident.
They turned as a slight creak alerted them that the door was being opened. “Enter,” a deep voice commanded as the young nun who had been their guide stepped aside to allow them into the room.
The study looked surprisingly comfortable. Where Sam had been expecting a desk and a few hard wooden chairs, there were dozens of large soft cushions strewn across the floor. Brightly coloured tapestries covered the walls, each depicting the same bird in different natural surroundings; seas, rivers, meadows and forests looked almost real and full of life. Sunlight streamed through the windows, directly onto one of the tapestries, making the bird appear to glow.
“It is a phoenix,” the same voice informed them, noticing that most of her visitors were staring at the bird. “The most revered of all creatures.”
Nobody had noticed the small, fragile looking lady who sat to one side of the room. It had obviously been she who had spoken, but the voice did not match her appearance. She should have been large, big boned and muscular, dominating the room instead of merely being a small part of it.
“Tea,” she instructed and the young nun left the room. As soon as the door was closed, the mother superior turned her attention to Tor. “Welcome Prince. We have been expecting you. Please, take a seat.” She indicated the cushions with her hand, using a sweeping motion so that everyone in the room was included in the offer. The ladies each selected the cushion nearest to them and sat themselves down, all of them unconsciously adopting the same crossed-legged position, forming an oval on the floor with the mother superior at the head. Tor remained standing and began to pace the room as he spoke about his quest and the reason for their visit. The mother superior was shocked to hear about the tontine and the fact that Tor’s brothers were dying as the quest progressed and was impressed with his solution.
“So why are you here without your brothers?” she asked, interrupting Tor’s flow of words. It was the question he had been dreading. Ria saw the look on his face and took pity on him.
“There are a number of rumours about your nightly rituals with anyone male who is present after nightfall. Tor is the only one brave enough to cross your threshold. The other two are chicken shit.”
“Ria,” Liselle exclaimed in horror. “You cannot use that sort of language in front of a holy woman.”
Peals of laughter filled the room and Sam was pleased to see they were coming from the mother superior. She reminded her of her grandmother who had led a very active life until she had suddenly suffered a heart attack at the age of 92, and the laughter made her feel a little more relaxed.
“It is a long time since someone spoke to me so honestly,” the elderly lady said, her smile increasing the numerous wrinkles on her face. Her grey hair was short and neatly trimmed, exposing her pointed ears as she tucked it behind one. Sam stared at her, unable to take her eyes off their shape; they reminded her of Brin’s so much she almost blurted out the question before realising how rude it would be.
The mother superior caught her eye and read her thoughts. “My great grandfather was an elf,” she confirmed, much to Sam’s delight. “It is widely reported that species cannot interbreed, but I am living proof that there is at least one example where this is not the case.” Sam could not stop herself sighing in satisfaction.
“Excuse me for asking,” Ellen said, “but what do we call you? Should we use your title or do you prefer people to use your name?”
Momentarily, a look of confusion crossed her face before she replied. “It has been so long since I have been called anything other than ‘mother superior’, or ‘sister Harmony’ before I got promoted, that I almost forgot I had a name before coming here. We are all given a new name, usually a nice and peaceful one, as soon as we take our vows.” She smiled at the memory. “You can call me Emily, though I would appreciate it if you refrain from doing so in front of the other nuns. Using a nun’s real name seems to offend some of them for some reason.”
“Of course,” River replied for all of them. “We will adhere to all of your wishes.”
“Really?” she said, raising her eyebrows and looking at Tor, who shifted his weight from one leg to the other, looking severely uncomfortable. She did not pursue this any further, returning instead to the reason for their visit. “Feel free to make full use of our library. I will also make sure our most knowledgeable sisters are available to assist you. Ah, perfect timing.”
The door opened as she was speaking and the nun who had guided them to the study entered, carrying a heavily laden tray. She was followed by a similarly dressed young woman carrying a large urn. They placed their burdens on a large table that sat, unnoticed, against one wall and departed without speaking. The mother superior made to rise, but was ushered down by Ellen, who played host. The tea was strong and had a strange flavour, but it was refreshing and went well with the sweet biscuits that had been provided. While they drank, Emily talked to them about the layout of the nunnery and where they would need to go to obtain all of the provisions they would need for their stay, making Tor choke on his tea.
“Stay?” he spluttered.
Emily looked surprised. “Of course. Our library is vast. I would be very surprised if you were able to find the answers you seek before nightfall. It may take you a few days, weeks even. I insist that you stay here for as long as you need.”
Tor visibly paled. “I was planning on spending the night in the nearest village and returning in the morning, if necessary.”
“Where is the logic in that?” she asked sweetly. She appeared to be making innocent observations, but there was a slight sparkle in her eye that indicated she had a hidden agenda. “Why waste all of that travelling time? Our food here is basic, but there is plenty of it and our beds are comfortable.”
She was being a gracious host and Tor was unsure how to get out of this without being rude. He merely nodded his head, his posture rigid; he had plenty of time to find an excuse for leaving before the sun set.
Soon all cups were empty and the ladies were taken to the library, where they began their research in earnest. The library turned out to be in a separate building. The nunnery was not, as it first appeared, one large building but instead consisted of a number of smaller ones, all connected by the outer wall. The main building, which they had first entered, was the residential wing. All of the dormitories and bedrooms were located there, along with a number of reception rooms, the dining hall and the kitchen. Among the other buildings were a schoolhouse and a bathhouse. Though they were physically connected, it was not possible to walk directly from one building to another without going into the open air. The reason for this layout was unfathomable, but it did mean the ladies got to see the well-tended garden that occupied a lot of the space between the buildings.
