Treason in the north, p.4
Treason in the North, page 4
part #4 of Path of the Ranger Series
Martha came back with another bottle and put it on the table. Ulf made a grab for it. Suddenly there came a knock at the door.
“Are we expecting anybody?” Ulf asked.
Martha looked at Lasgol. “No, not that I know of.”
“Me neither.”
“It’s Chief Gondar,” came a voice from outside.
“I’ll go and let him in.” Martha said.
“Wait a moment,” Lasgol said suddenly. He looked to see where Camu was, but could not see him. He closed his eyes and concentrated. In order to call the little creature he needed to locate his mind’s aura; he searched throughout the room and the kitchen but could not find it.
“What’s he doing?” Ulf asked.
“Looking for the beast,” Viggo replied.
“He looks for him with his eyes shut?”
“He’s using his... skills...”
“Skills? What skills?”
Viggo smiled. “Hmm, you’d better ask him yourself. That’ll be another interesting conversation.”
Martha opened her eyes very wide. She had understood. Ulf grunted. He did not want to understand.
Lasgol finally managed to locate Camu’s magical aura, and was surprised. The little creature was back in the attic. It was quite a distance, and yet he had been able to locate him. His skill was improving, evolving and growing. This always made him feel happy.
Camu, stay there. Don’t come down.
The reply did not take long.
Play. Happy.
Good. Go on playing. I’ll be up soon.
They could communicate at greater distances; he wondered how far. And with other creatures? He would have to try with Trotter, who had no magical aura. Probably only if he was able to see him. He needed to experiment more and develop his skills, but it was difficult at the Camp, and outside it practically impossible, what with missions and dangerous situations.
He opened his eyes.
“That’s done. You can open the door now.”
“You’ll have to explain this business of ‘that’s done,” Ulf said with a grimace.
Martha opened the door and Chief Gondar came in, followed by his assistant Limus, they all exchanged greetings.
“The return of the hero of Skad is an honor,” Limus said with a broad smile.
“Just ‘Lasgol’, none of this ‘hero’ business, please.”
“It’s good for the village to have such a notable hero,” Limus replied, still smiling,
“Well, for the village’s reputation and finances it is,” Gondar said. He too was smiling.
“Very true.”
“Can I offer you anything?” Martha asked.
“Nothing, thank you,” Gondar said. “We’re here on official business.”
Martha’s face took on a worried look. “Official business? That sounds serious.”
“Count Malason was expecting the hero’s arrival,” Limus explained.
“It wouldn’t be to enlist him, would it?” Ulf asked. “He’s already enlisted all the men over fifteen who can bear arms.”
“And some women too,” Martha said.
“The enlistment of women is voluntary,” Limus explained. “If they wish to fight to defend their homes, they’re allowed to.”
“As long as there’s someone left to look after the family,” Martha put in.
“Well,” Limus said, “if the man and the woman both go to war, who’ll look after the children and the farms?”
“He’s got something there,” Ulf commented.
“Mmm...” Martha said, not sounding very convinced.
Lasgol wondered whether she would want to fight. She was still young and strong. Norghanian women were renowned in Tremia for going to war beside their men.”
“Martha... if you want to enlist in Count Malason’s militia... that’s fine by me.”
“And who’ll take care of the property?”
“I’m afraid it won’t be me,” Gondar said. “I’ll be joining the Count’s forces as soon as he mobilizes us, and that won’t be long.”
“My place is beside my master,” Martha said. “I’ll look after his home until he returns.”
Lasgol nodded. “Fine with me.”
“Count Malason wishes to inform the hero of Skad that his presence is required at Duke Olafstone’s castle,” Limus said.
“When did he tell you?”
“A few days ago,” Gondar said. “He sent a messenger. Somehow he knew you were on your way.”
“I see.”
“These are difficult times,” Limus pointed out. “There are spies behind every shadow. It’s best to be wary. That’s why we had to come in person.”
“You did the right thing,” Viggo said. “If the Count knew we were coming, I bet a big fat cow that Uthar knows as well.”
“That doesn’t sound too good...” Lasgol said thoughtfully.
“Not for our health, no...”
“Nothing will happen to you here,” Chief Gondar said. “My men and I will see to that. That’s why Count Malason warned us.”
“A smart man,” Viggo said.
“We’ll leave at dawn,” said Lasgol.
“So soon?” Martha exclaimed. “You’ve only just got here.”
“The situation’s very complicated, and if the Duke wants to see me, it’s because there’s something going on. I must go as soon as possible. Besides, if I stay I’ll be putting you all in danger.”
“Don’t you worry about me,” Gondar said. He reached for the axe which hung at his waist.
Ulf reached for the pommel of his sword. “Or for me either.”
“I know you can manage, especially here in your own village, but I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. We’ll leave at dawn.”
“Very well,” Gondar said, “but if you need anything, you only have to let me know. After all, I owe you my life, and that’s a debt I’ll never be able to repay.”
“Nobody owes anybody anything,” Lasgol said. “We’re all friends, that’s what counts, and we need to look after one another.”
Martha nodded. “Well said.”
Gondar said goodbye to Lasgol with a hug.
“Be very careful, and if you need me I’ll be there.”
“You protect Skad, protect Martha.”
He stroked his axe. “That’s on my bill, don’t you worry
“An honor, sir,” Limus said, and took Lasgol’s hand in his own. “We’ll look after your estate and the village of Skad in the absence of our hero.” There was a gleam of admiration in his eyes.
“Thanks, Limus.”
And they left the house.
“If we have to get up early, then I’m off to bed,” Viggo said. “Martha, dinner was delicious. Every time Lasgol invites me I’ll come to enjoy all those delicacies again.”
She smiled with pleasure. “Give me notice next time and the food’ll be spectacular.”
“I’ll send messengers by land and by air.”
She laughed.
“Ulf, it’s been a real pleasure,” Viggo said, and offered him his hand.
Ulf stared at it. For a long moment. It did not look as if he were going to take it. Lasgol stared at him, not knowing what to say.
Then suddenly Ulf smiled from ear to ear.
“Keep an eye on Lasgol, he’s going to need friends to cover his back,”
“His back is my back. I’ll kill anybody who comes near it.”
Ulf shook his hand firmly. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“I’ll be true to my word,” Viggo promised.
Ulf nodded and let go of his hand, and he went upstairs.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll finish cleaning up.” Martha said. She winked at Lasgol and went into the kitchen. He and Ulf were left alone at the table.
Ulf grunted. Lasgol did not know how to tell him...
There was a tense silence.
“A Norghanian always says what’s in his mind,” Ulf said.
“I...”
“Come on, spill it...”
Lasgol sighed. “Well, you see...”
“I haven’t got all night.”
“I have the Gift... the Talent...”
Ulf’s eyebrows arched.
“I need a drink,” he said. He put the bottle to his lips and downed half the bottle in one swig.
“I wanted to tell you...”
“Since when have you had it?”
“Since I was a kid...”
“And all that time with me, you forgot to mention it?”
“No... it’s just that...”
“Just nothing! By all the Gods!”
Lasgol said nothing, fearing Ulf’s unbridled fury.
But it did not come. Ulf finished the bottle of wine in one final swig.
“I’m ready. Tell me.”
Lasgol breathed out heavily. He summoned all his courage and described, as best he could, his Gift and the skills he had developed with it.
When he had finished, Ulf was silent for a long time, his head bowed.
“I...” Lasgol tried to explain.
“Filthy magic, that’s what it is!”
Lasgol readied himself for the outburst.
But it did not come.
Ulf got to his one foot, with great difficulty.
“Don’t leave like this...” Lasgol begged him unhappily.
Ulf looked up. “Who told you I was leaving?”
Lasgol looked at him blankly, and Ulf spread his arms wide.
“Come here, give me a hug.”
Lasgol was left speechless.
“Don’t make me say it again...”
Lasgol stood up and ran to hug the old soldier. He almost threw the crutch from under Ulf’s arm.
Ulf gave him a true Norghanian bear-hug.
“I don’t care whether you’re a lad or a hero, whether you have the Gift or you’re the King. To me you’ll always be Lasgol and I’ll always love you.”
Lasgol, paralyzed by shock, and tears appeared in his eyes.
“There’s only one thing I ask.”
Lasgol stared at him, his eyes brimming with tears of emotion.
“Don’t turn me into a toad.”
Lasgol, with eyes moist, began to laugh. It was a moment he would never forget.
Chapter 5
The journey to the Vigons-Olafstone Duchy turned out to be pleasant, though somewhat tense. They enjoyed the journey there, the forests and rivers, the beauty of the snow-covered lands of the west of the realm. Despite this, the towns, small villages and isolated communities they passed through denied them the typical northern hospitality. They behaved with the coldness of the harsh winter that had just finished. Presumably this was a result of the tense political situation and the closeness of bloodshed.
Viggo did not mind being treated coldly. He was used to it, and to a certain extent he preferred it. He did not need to pretend and be nice. He could be himself: cold and cynical. So he enjoyed the journey a lot.
Lasgol, on the other hand, did not enjoy it so much. It saddened him to see his people, the Norghanians, behave like this, with such chilliness. The Norghanians were brave, brutal, surly, fond of fighting and alcohol, but there was one thing they were not: cold. They were direct as an arrow to the heart. The distance, the wariness, that everybody showed them wherever they went was not typical of the north. It worried Lasgol. His fellow-countrymen were behaving in a manner that hinted at coming changes, bad times for everyone. It was a foretaste of conflict... of war and death.
They went up a snow-covered hill, following a path that ran parallel to the main road but was more discreet and offered better shelter. From the top they saw the fortress-city of Estocos, the capital of the Duchy of Vigons-Olafstone.
Viggo was surprised by how substantial the big city turned out to be. “Hey, get a load of that!” he cried.
“Impressive, eh?”
“I was expecting the castle of a fairly well-off nobleman, but this is something else altogether.”
Lasgol looked down at the walled city with the magnificent square castle in the middle, with its three high, square towers, the whole ensemble regal, sober and stoical. Thousands of houses surrounded it in all directions as far as the wall, which was more than sixty feet high, imposing and protective. The lands surrounding it were divided into pastures and cultivated fields, with no snow cover, and gave the Duchy the air of a small nation. And that was what it really was. Thousands of people lived there and in the surroundings.
“That wall and the castle on the hill in the center of the city look as though they’ll be there for a thousand years,” Viggo said.
“From what I remember from my previous visit, the walls are more than six feet thick and seemed indestructible to me. Although I don’t know very much about walls and fortresses.”
“This city’ll stand up to years of siege, that’s my opinion.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
“Remind me to tease Egil for being a stinking noble, rotten with riches,” Viggo said with deep sarcasm.
Lasgol smiled. “I don’t think you’ll need me to remind you. You’re going to rub it all over his face the first chance you get.”
Viggo’s mouth twisted into a smile. “You’re right. I’m going to enjoy it, really enjoy it.”
Camu became visible in the snow and gave a little questioning shriek, as if asking whether they were making for the castle.
“Do you remember the castle?” Lasgol asked him. He was not very sure whether he would.
Camu started to flex his legs.
“I believe he does remember.”
“Yeah, looks like it. And that’s funny.”
“Why’s that?”
“He’s only been here once, and that was two years ago. He was very young.”
“If I were taken to a castle full of all kinds of luxury, I can assure you I’d remember too. You can bet on that.”
Lasgol smiled. “I think you’re right. He had a whale of a time with Egil. Besides, this was where he found the Sorcerer Muladin. It’s sure to have left a mark on him.”
Camu gave a huge leap and dived into the snow.
Viggo shook his head. “Isn’t he ever cold?”
“Apparently not. From what we know... we think he comes from the Frozen Continent.”
“That explains it.”
Camu gave another enormous leap, shrieked in the air and buried himself in the snow again.
Viggo shook his head. “Crazy as a monkey.”
“He is a bit daft,” Lasgol admitted.
They went on. They found various lines of people who were also making for the city. They were mostly farm-workers, but there were also many armed men, mostly militia.
“Times of war,” said Viggo.
“Who are they?”
“I would guess they’re refugees from the towns on the border with the East. They’re coming to the city for protection. Western soldiers and militia are going with them. To guarantee their safety.”
“From what I’ve heard, Estocos is the western capital now.”
“That’s right, it was in the old times and it looks as if it’s regained that position.”
Lasgol used his Gift to communicate with Camu and get him to stay hidden and quiet.
“Let’s join one of those lines of people,” Viggo suggested.
“Good idea, we’ll look less suspicious.”
Lasgol gently spurred Trotter, and they went down to join the end of the second line. A couple of armed men came up to them and stared at them without a word, then allowed them to go on with them to the city.
They went through the great walled gate that gave access to the city inside. It was open, entrance was permitted. But there were armed soldiers at the gates watching them distrustfully. The wall too was strongly guarded. Lasgol calculated that there must have been hundreds of soldiers watching the entrance to the city alone. Viggo stared at the great wall which surrounded the city.
“Plenty of soldiers, more than a thousand of them on the wall,” he whispered.
Lasgol nodded.
When they reached the main square of the city the two lines stopped. They had reached their destination. Lasgol and Viggo went on up the street, toward the imposing castle.
They stopped their mounts at the end of the road that gave access to the fortress of the Duchy. The drawbridge was raised, and on the buttresses and towers many soldiers on duty could be glimpsed. Many more than Lasgol remembered from his previous visit.
“Who goes there?” a voice called from one of the towers.
“My name’s Lasgol Eklund, of the County of Malason.”
“And my name’s Viggo Kron, of the County of Ericsson,” Viggo lied, as he was really from the East.
“You’re from the West,” the voice said. “But are you loyal to the League?”
This time Lasgol was able to see who was speaking. It was an officer, wearing the badge of the House of Olafstone. He was probably the one in charge of the drawbridge and access to the fortress.
Lasgol considered what to say. It was complicated. They could say they were, but if they were found out to be Rangers they would be taken for spies and hanged without a second thought. The Rangers were with King Uthar, not with the Western League. To explain their strange situation would be even more difficult. No, better not to say anything.
He avoided the question. “We’ve come to see Egil Olafstone.”
“It’s wartime. The castle is closed. Nobody’s to enter or leave without authorization.”
“Your lord Egil will see us,” Viggo said, which put the officer in an uncomfortable situation, since Egil was one of the lords of the castle, together with his two brothers.
“Duke Austin has given the order. Nobody comes or goes without authorization.”
Viggo’s attempt was not working. Now the Duke was Austin, Egil’s older brother, after the death of Duke Vikar in the great battle on the Frozen Continent. And so he outranked Egil.
“They’re not going to allow us in,” Viggo whispered unobtrusively.
Lasgol looked at the soldiers and had to agree with him. Better not to insist. One of those archers might accidentally release, and they would be in a tight spot. Better not to argue with armed men.
“Fine, we’ll go,” Lasgol said. He turned Trotter away, and Viggo followed his example.
They began to leave, slowly, without any sudden moves.
