[Mkguild] Healing Wounds in Arabarb (10 of ?)

[C. Matthias]

Healing Wounds in Arabarb
By Charles Matthias



April 8, 708 CR


They found Pharcellus's northern garments folded up on the kitchen 
table. The dragon returned an hour later with a fresh mountain goat's 
carcass in his jaws. This they cooked and ate together that evening. 
But of what upset him so about seeing the egg shells Pharcellus 
wouldn't say and neither Lindsey nor Quoddy asked.

They slept in Lindsey's old home now mostly cleaned that night. 
Lindsey expected to dream of his childhood or to wake thinking it was 
twenty years ago as some of the others whom the Curses had made 
children sometimes mentioned happened to them, but his dreams were 
mere vapors that vanished with the first flick of his eyelids and his 
fears were dispelled by the almost complete silence draped over the 
house. As a child, there was always the sounds of at least the 
animals if not his father and mother beginning their morning tasks 
even before their children showed their faces. Not so anymore.

After a quick meal of grains the trio began the long hike back to 
Gerhard's home. They spoke only when necessary, each leaving the 
others alone with their thoughts. Lindsey only cast a single glance 
back at his old home before it was lost amidst the trees, but his 
thoughts ran that way for most of the next few hours. He worried over 
his family a third of the time, the next third he spent reminiscing 
on the many happy days of his childhood. The rest was spent 
ruminating on Zhypar.

Lindsey had managed for the most part to put the kangaroo out of his 
thoughts ever since he'd become a man again. It was impossible to 
completely extricate him, but once they'd returned to Metamor and 
he'd settled down into the life amongst the timber crews, it had been 
possible to not be reminded of the kangaroo's absence by every little 
thing he'd seen. Flying north to Arabarb had provided welcome relief 
there too. But seeing that figurine of Habakkuk when a man had 
brought all the pain back.

And with a child's body, he'd been unable to hold it back.

As Lindsey made his way through the trees and underbrush, feeling 
small even compared to the now human Pharcellus, he wondered if that 
wasn't for the best. He'd shed tears and wept in a way he hadn't been 
able to since he'd become human and male again. There was no denying 
it now; he still loved and dearly missed Zhypar.

Once they crested the ridge that overlooked Lindsey's old home, their 
path took a generally downward slope that made for a much quick 
return hike. The sun was warming the trees and the air by the time 
the little clearing and Gerhard's cabin came into view again. The 
hound Tash began baying as soon as he saw the three of them. The 
grizzled northerner shouted his dog into silence as he secured a few 
barrels in an open-faced wagon. A single horse was yoked to the 
wagon, and the burly mare contented herself with the wildflowers near 
the hardscrabble road through the woods.

"Good, you made it back safe," Gerhard said when they approached. 
"We're going into Vaar tonight. There a few of the members of the 
resistance will meet with you and hear your plan. If they think it 
worthwhile, they'll help."

"Thank you," Lindsey replied with a deep breath. "Now comes the hard 
part; convincing them that this can work. How long will it take us to 
get to Vaar? Is the bridge still standing?"

Gerhard shook his head. "Not the old bridge. Calephas's troops burned 
that a few years back. But there is a newer, smaller one nearby that 
we can use. It's safe enough. It should only take a few hours to reach Vaar."

Quoddy stretched his wings as he eyed the wagon. "It's probably best 
that I fly. You'll take less notice that way."

"Stay close though," Lindsey suggested. The boy turned back to their 
contact and asked, "How long before we can leave?"

Gerhard stroked his longest beard braid and sucked on his lip before 
replying, "About an hour. I have to see to my animals. I expect to 
return tomorrow or the day after, but there is none to care for them 
but me and I won't risk wolves or bears seeing them as easy meals."

While they waited, Pharcellus and Quoddy debated the merits of this 
or that alternate name that the dragon in disguise could use on their 
journey into Arabarb's populated regions; some of the names they 
discussed were even more ludicrous than his given name, but they 
eventually settled on a few promising possibilities that the dragon 
vowed to contemplate on their ride to Vaar.

Lindsey indulged the boyish whim that had struck him two night's past 
when he'd first met the three eager dogs and played with them, both 
games of fetch and some good-natured wrestling. They barked and ran 
around him in circles, moving with exuberance and the sort of joie de 
vivre only found in young dogs. It made him laugh and for a little 
while forget about his troubles. Neither his friends nor Gerhard said 
aught to discourage them.

By the time their contact and his wagon were ready, Lindsey and the 
dogs had worn themselves out. This pleased Gerhard immensely because 
it meant his dogs would keep still during the trip. He brought all 
five of them with him, making sure to tie them securely to the wagon 
so they wouldn't decide to jump and chase a squirrel or chipmunk. 
Lindsey collapsed between two casks while Pharcellus sat up across 
from him and just behind Gerhard. Quoddy promised to keep them in 
sight before shrinking into his animal shape and flying into the sky.

Gerhard gave a gentle flick to the reins and the strapping mare 
pushed hard on the ground with her hooves. A sudden lurch and the 
wagon followed her, crunching and bumping over the old track through 
the woods. They were lost beneath the canopy of pine, fir, and alder, 
listening to the groaning wheels, the mare's hooves, and the chirping 
of birds delighting in the return of Spring. Lindsey was grateful 
that the weather was pleasant; it could often be filled with bitter 
storms during April.

The dogs yawned and laid down during the journey, all nuzzling up 
together, even the guard dog Tash seemed content to lie and wait. He 
perked his head up and turned his floppy ears from time to time at 
some strange sound that only he could hear. He would listen and stare 
at the arbors all about, a dense thicket of trees, pine needles, 
moss, and some scrub where the pines hadn't killed them.

Lindsey rested his head against the wagon sideboard, curled his knees 
up to his chest and stared up at the sky. Branches spread over their 
heads in layer after layer of pine and the occasional leaf bud. 
Through them he could see a deep blue sky and sometimes even snatches 
of a lone gull winging through the air. He half wished he could fly 
as he watched his new friend sailing with the body the Curses had given him.

The road continued down through the hills, past rocky outcroppings, 
and eventually began to parallel a small stream swollen with 
snow-melt. Lindsey sat up when they first heard it and stared all 
about wondering where the water was until Pharcellus pointed ahead 
and to the right. A few minutes later Lindsey recognized the brighter 
line of trees for a break in the canopy. The stream poured through an 
assortment of granite boulders, wending past tree roots desperately 
clutching their soil, and driving a cleft in the land that the wagon 
could not cross. The road stayed a good ten paces or more from the 
edge of the river, but Lindsey could tell from the way the sun 
glistened off the rocks, that they had no choice but to wait for a bridge.

"There's the old bridge," Gerhard said, pointing to where the road 
turned to gallop across the cleft. On either bank the remnants of 
stone markers could be seen, as well as the first steps of the 
bridge. Nothing remained between. What stone they could see was 
scarred black at the edges.

Lindsey frowned and asked, "What happened here?"

"One of Calephas's pet mages was offended when one of the girls of 
Vaar didn't return his advances quickly enough. The bridge is just 
one of many things he destroyed in and around Vaar."

"And the girl?" Pharcellus asked with a darkness brewing in his eyes.

"Dragged off to Fjellvidden. Her father chased after them, but we 
never learned what happened to either of them." Gerhard spat at the 
ground as they rode past the ruined bridge.

On the other side of the bridge on a stone promontory perched Quoddy. 
The gull looked at them across the impassable expanse, cawed, and 
vaulted into the sky again. Lindsey smiled once at the bird but 
frowned a moment later. "What happened to the mage?"

Gerhard shook his head. "Cabalan. That's the mage's name. And I'm not 
really sure what's become of him. No one is. He came back with 
Calephas from the attack on Metamor, but after Gmork arrived no one's 
heard from him. I've heard a few say that Cabalan returned to Nasoj 
in hopes to gain more power. Others say Gmork killed him. And others 
say he's still in Fjellvidden making something for Calephas." The 
burly man shrugged his shoulders again. "But nobody knows for sure. 
Ah, here's the new bridge."

About a hundred yards down stream from the ruined stone bridge was a 
new one fashioned from wood. Anchored into either side of the cleft 
in the rocks framing the snow-swelled river, the bridge appeared 
sturdy, with railings on either side sealed with pitch, and with 
thick structural beams buried into pits carved into the rocks. The 
sides of the wagon almost scraped against the railing as they 
crossed, and the wood beneath them groaned. The three young dogs 
stuck their heads over the side to look. Lindsey pet the nearest and 
scratched his ear.

"A simple fire could ruin that bridge," Pharcellus pointed out after 
they were across and moving through the woods again.

"Then don't breathe fire on it," Gerhard snapped angrily. "There's 
not much one can do under Calephas's boot."

"I would never do such a thing," the dragon assured him. He lowered 
his eyes and after a quick glance at Lindsey, asked, "How much 
further until we reach Vaar?"

"Not quite an hour," Gerhard replied. "As long as the road is empty."

The road continued to slope down through the hills, straying from the 
river when bluffs forced it aside, but always returning to follow it 
as closely as possible. Not long after they passed the first of these 
bluffs they began to encounter small bridges laid over marshy bogs 
that were teeming with insects, and for the rest of their ride they 
were slapping their arms, legs, necks, and ears to drive the nuisances off.

Eventually the forest gave way to a broad field with farms. A central 
town with spiked walls huddled on the point of a promontory 
overlooking the river. Watchtowers lined bluff, providing very few 
points from which the town could come under siege. Defensive access 
points to the river were also established in little chimneys 
descending from within the walls.

All this Lindsey remembered from the few times he'd visited the 
village as a child. There were two others closer to home and he knew 
them much better. But Vaar, from his memories, was little different 
from any other village in Arabarb. The townsfolk would have frequent 
visits from the many trappers and traders who lived nearby; Gerhard 
being one, they should not be met with much scrutiny.

The wagon plodded up a gentle incline between fields ready to be 
turned for planting. Grains and potatoes were about all that could 
grow easily this far north, and would make the common staple of their 
diet. Coupled with fish, fowl, and the plentiful bounty of the woods, 
there was little risk of going hungry if a little care was taken. But 
it wouldn't take much to drive out the herds and slaughter the beasts 
to leave everyone to starve either.

Gerhard pointed to the gatehouse and the soldiers standing on the 
battlements above. "Vaar soldiers. Not Calephas's men. We shouldn't 
have any trouble. Still, say nothing but your names." He glanced back 
at Pharcellus and narrowed his eyes. "Just what are you going to call 
yourself?"

The dragon smiled , blue eyes brightening considerably. "Chellag. 
Quoddy suggested it, and it sounds like my real name a little."

"Chellag. That's a good name," Gerhard nodded and turned back to the 
road. They were only twenty feet from the gatehouse and a pair of 
soldiers came out with wicked spears, horned helmets, and broad 
circular shields.

"Call me Andrig," Lindsey piped up. "No sense using a girl's name for me."

"Right," Gerhard grunted as the soldiers approached. He pulled the 
mare to a stop and doffed his bear-skin hat. "Good afternoon, men. I 
plan to stay the night and no more."

"Weren't you here last night, Gerhard?" one of the two asks a little 
suspiciously. Lindsey noted him, strong of shoulder and unremitting 
in countenance, with a youthful vigor in his frame; mid-twenties he 
guessed. The other soldier was even younger and while broad, he was 
also shorter, giving him more the suggestion of a fabled dwarf than a 
grown man.

"Aye, but I had some unexpected visitors this morning," He jerked a 
thumb over his shoulder at the two of them. "They were in need of 
travel north and so I'm bringing them this far. They can make their 
own way from here."

The second soldier glared at Pharcellus while tightening his grip on 
his shield. "Who are you?"

"I am Chellag and this is my younger brother Andrig," the dragon 
replied. "Our mother succumbed last month and we are on our way to her family."

Both soldiers frowned, not sympathetically, but from an understanding 
of their duty to family. Lindsey was impressed that his friend could 
devise so compelling a story that could be conveyed in so few words.

"Carry on then," the soldiers waved them past and Gerhard gave the 
mare a little encouragement. She pulled the wagon through the gates, 
plodding along as contentedly as she could. The roads were a mix of 
dirt and natural stone, while the houses hunched close with communal 
chimneys belching smoke. They could hear the sounds of a smithy and 
the boisterous haggling of midwives over fish a few streets over. 
Lindsey smiled even as his nose objected to the stink of human offal. 
That was one thing he didn't miss about Arabarb; Metamor's sewage 
system had become a welcome relief and luxury, even with the variety 
of pungent odors the beastly Keepers carried with them.

They traveled only thirty feet down the main road before turning down 
a side street. The houses were pressed close together so that there 
was only enough room for a single man to walk beside them in the 
street. The dogs growled at anyone nearby but stayed huddled together 
in the bed of the wagon. Pharcellus and Lindsey both sat up looking 
around as casually as they could.

A swarthy man whose beard was black leaned against one of the larger 
buildings, puffing a pipe and blowing smoke rings. He saw them, 
nodded to Gerhard, and then walked into a little stable off the main 
building. Gerhard turned the wagon inside and the black bearded man 
closed the gates behind them. His voice was deep and gravelly, "Usual 
room. The pallet's big enough for all three of you. After dinner."

Gerhard thanked him briefly, then climbed down and handed him the 
reins. He went around the back of the wagon and untied his dogs one 
by one. He said nothing more.

Lindsey glanced around and saw that they were in a small stables. 
There was only enough room for a dozen horses at best, and there was 
almost no room for anything else. Tack and feed were stacked in every 
conceivable corner and some in the middle of the floor; and that with 
only a few of the stalls occupied. Pharcellus put a hand on Lindsey's 
shoulder to steady him while they waited and the boy smiled in appreciation.

Gerhard finished untying his dogs from the wagon and gripped their 
leashes in one hand. "All right. This way." The dos all attempted to 
run ahead of them, but his hold was firm and their leashes short. 
Passing through a door at the back end of the stables, they briefly 
saw one of the backrooms at what must be an Inn before turning to 
their right and climbing an old set of stairs that stank of ale and a 
little bit of mildew. The dogs pulled at their leashes ahead of them, 
their claws ripping into the wood with unsettling ease.

But the stairs held them and at the top they found a modest room with 
a single wide window and sill, a pallet large enough for two men to 
share, a chamberpot in the far corner, and another door that opened 
out onto the main second floor hall. When Gerhard closed the door to 
the stairs they could see that it looked just like any other part of 
the wall. Cheap furs hung from the walls, including one over the hidden door.

Gerhard let the dogs run loose and they scampered around, sniffing 
the floor, the sleeping pallet, the chamber pot, and the door 
outside. He stretched, sighed heavily, and then in a whisper, said, 
"Brigsne is my contact. I've stayed here before. He'll bring us down 
to the meeting room in little while and nobody in Inn will be the wiser."

"Even if the dogs make a racket?" Lindsey asked.

"I always bring my dogs," Gerhard reminded him in a firm, almost 
fatherly voice. "And you are a boy, Andrig. Act like it when others 
can see us. There are rewards for anyone who turns in a Metamorian."

Lindsey swallowed air and nodded. Indulging his new-found childish 
side would not be difficult. It yearned to play and make mischief. 
But knowing when it was appropriate or not seemed the most difficult 
challenge. And judging by the secret nature of their entrance, he 
suspect now was not the time.

He sat down on the pallet and curled his knees to his chest again. 
Pharcellus opened the window and left it that way. He joined Lindsey 
on the couch and sat next to him, smiling and making a little 
counting game with his fingers. It was simple enough and occupied 
them while Gerhard went to collect their gear from the wagon. The 
dogs began jostling and growling as they played together ignoring the 
two humans.

While Gerhard was on his second trip down to the stables, Quoddy 
alighted on their sill and then hopped down to the ground where he 
was immediately set upon by the dogs. He grew in size just enough to 
discourage their excitement, but waited until Pharcellus had shut the 
window to grow to his full size and shape. "That was easy enough," he 
said in as quiet a voice as he could manage. "So what are we waiting for now?"

"I think he's the Innkeeper," Pharcellus replied. "Brigsne. He'll let 
us know when to come and meet the others. Until then, we'll we wait."

Quoddy bobbed his head up and down as he settled against the wall, 
with Lindsey and Pharcellus between him and the exuberant canines. 
"I'm very good at waiting."

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May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,

Charles Matthias


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