Discovery

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

They were accosted three more times before nightfall. The ruffians, bounty hunters, highwaymen, or whatever they called themselves, searched for a blond girl of eleven or twelve with a turned up nose. Each time she watched their eyes as they looked into the bed of the wagon but didn’t see her. The eyes went from one corner of it to another, and she broke out in a fear-induced sweat, trembling now and then. But in every search, they declared the wagon empty and the driver without anything of value to steal until one found the copper coin and took it, much to the chagrin of the Knight.

Hannah carefully watched her new ‘uncle’ at the repeated stops. His face flushed, and his fingers curled into fists. The answers Sir James provided them grew shorter and sharper.

The following morning three more groups stopped the wagon as it drew nearer to the palace. The searches grew intense. In the morning, Hannah had stood under Sir James’ outstretched hand as he sprinkled the last of the ‘no-see-me’ powder over her. She climbed back into the wagon, tired, upset, and scared.

She counted on her fingers the number of times they stopped, and the attempts of highwaymen to stop them. If every road held as many seeking to earn the reward for her head, there must be hundreds of people trying to find her. The gold offered must be a treasure.

She said, “I’m getting angry.”

“Tired?”

“No, angry. Not so much at the people trying to find me, but the person behind all this. The Young Mage working for the Earl is not responsible, if not behind it, but he’s not paying others to do his work, someone else is.”

“I knew you were smart, little girl, but not that smart. Men seeking gold for your head is just trying to earn wages for them, high wages, but still just coins. The person paying for your head is the one you and I seek.” Sir James clucked his tongue to make the mule move faster, but it acted as if it didn’t notice the pace remained the same slow slog as the previous day.

She rode in silence, thinking about what he’d said. Then, without warning, she blurted, “We would never have made it without the confusion grapes, and the no-see-me powder from the sorceress.”

“We’d have made it, but not riding in a wagon,” he paused. “It may have taken longer and men would have died.”

“What are you thinking?” she asked, confused at his statement.

He glanced around making sure they were still alone. “I think I’d have realized the danger and taken you to a safe place to hide out for a month or so. If any of them sniffed around, I’d have fought. After about a month the excitement of locating you would die down and slipping into the Palace become a possibility.”

“I should have paid attention to the sorceress and how she made her spells.”

“It wouldn’t have helped. You’re a mage, not a sorceress.”

Hannah drew in a deep breath. “Meaning that no matter how hard I try I can’t make the spells she did?”

“Unless you are more than we know, and you are the first to be both a mage and sorceress, the answer is, no. They are like fire and water. You can’t mix the two magics. The sorceress deals with earthly compounds, extracts of plants combined to create her magic, along with predictions, sometimes both at the same time, as in a love potion.”

“And a mage is different, but I still don’t see how. Both are magic.”

“Think of a mage as a ‘changer.' A mage does not do trickery. He simply makes things change, if that can be called simple. He is a transformer of things. He draws power from one place and moves it to another.”

“Remember, I’m only eleven.”

He nodded. “I stand corrected. Let me try again. Suppose you want to be warmer and you have dry wood. You build a fire, right?”

“With my finger?”

“No, it does not matter how you do it for my example. You build a fire with the wood, and it creates warmth. Understand?”

“So far.”

“Good. Now think about what happens to the wood.”

“It burned, silly.”

“That’s the easy answer. The mage sees it transformed from wood to warmth. Ashes are the leftover, but to him the wood is transformed from one thing to another.”

The wagon rumbled on as Hannah thought about his example. Another band of thieves delayed them for a few questions, but behind rolled another wagon and the delay was short so the two thieves could rush to inspect the other, more prosperous appearing wagon.

Picking up the conversation again, Hannah said, “Anyone can burn a piece of wood.”

“Right you are. Now I’d like to make that mule move a little faster, but I have no whip. Do you see that little piece of straw stuck to his left rear leg?”

“I do.”

“A good mage would transform that straw by lighting it on fire. The mule would feel the burn and snap awake, hopefully walking faster.”

“But a sorceress would cast a spell telling the mule a good meal is waiting just over the crest of the next hill. Same effect, just different ways to do it. I think I’m beginning to see.”

“There are more people approaching the palace, and the road will soon begin filling with people. They’ll notice if I’m talking to you, or think me crazy and talking to myself. Either way, talking will attract unwanted attention. If you take a short nap, you’ll wake with the palace in sight.”

Hannah sat up and placed a hand on his shoulder. She spoke into his ear, “Will it be beautiful?”

He nodded.

“Will the King be glad to see me?”

He whispered, barely moving his lips, “Yes and no. He was a great friend of your father. He will be sad to hear of his death. He’ll be thrilled to meet you.”

“Will I like it there?”

“Some of it. The beginning of your life there will be hard, and there will be things you will not like, but you will find interesting people, and there is much to learn.”

“Some people won’t like me.”

“It won’t be you. It will be your assumption of power. In time they will like you.”

Hannah adjusted herself in the hay and watched the nearby farms roll past. A farmer waved, and she waved back before realizing he couldn’t see her. She said, “One of those who won’t like me may die.”

“Don’t speak of killing. You’re far too young,” Sir James said from the corner of his mouth.

“I was talking about you, not me. You are going to kill the man who sent them after us and killed my father.”

“In that case, you are correct, at least one will die, and soon. If I find out who ordered your father’s death, he will die that very day. Or she. From my experience, women are more dangerous than men.”

“Someday I will be a dangerous woman.”

He said softly, “Someday you may be the most dangerous of women. But right now, I told you to be quiet. Look up ahead and soon you’ll catch a glimpse of the King’s Palace.”

Hannah watched the trees beside the road, some new varieties to her. The approaching wagons hauled farm produce, animals for sale, and other goods. The people dressed much as the Knight in his farmer clothing, but most were cleaner and looked more prosperous. A carriage pulled by a beautiful black horse drew near. A driver dressed in orange sat up in front, and two young women faced each other inside the carriage, chatting and giggling as the carriage passed the peasants.

Sir James half-turned his face away from them. The dark-haired girl glanced his way, then away and started to speak again. Then she stopped, turned and looked closer, but the carriage rolled beyond and soon she was whispering and giggling again.

“She knew you?”

“Yes,” he said.

“I don’t think she recognized you, though.”

Sir James had pulled the battered straw hat low over his forehead and slumped in the seat. “People will know me as we get closer to the palace. First one, then all as the word spreads.”

A group of walkers went by, two of them wishing them a good morning. Hannah had to keep from responding. For a chatterbox like her, being invisible became a task. She couldn’t speak when spoken to, couldn’t move when others were near, and she felt hungry again, but their food was gone.

She wondered about the old farmer who now owned their horses. It had been a good trade for him, especially with the silver coin thrown in, but when he returned to his normal self when the spell wore off, what were his thoughts? Did he think his mind grew weak? Did the idea of a spell cast over him ever cross his mind?

His experience stood out in her mind. A mage or sorceress must consider the effects on others after the spells wear off. Hannah decided to consider that as a major item in her education. And also to learn the difference between the sorceress' and mages. Each seemed to hold advantages, but the dividing line still seemed fuzzy.

A flicker of color captured her attention. Ahead, just over the next hill, rose a gray tower, a yellow flag waving from the pointed roof. The mule slowly pulled them to the top of the hill and with each step more of the King’s Palace came into view. There appeared to be six of the round towers, one at each place where the high walls made turns. Different color flags or banners flew from each rooftop.

Between the towers ran walls so tall the longest ladder couldn’t reach up to them. Men walked the tops of the walls, so there had to be walkways from tower to tower. The top of the wall had a design built into it. Sections were missing. As the soldiers walked the parapet, they almost flickered as they passed behind the stone cutouts. Then, in a flash of understanding, she knew they could hide behind the taller sections and leap to the others to shoot arrows, throw spears, or whatever.

The Earl’s Castle had always seemed fantastically large. Hundreds of people lived in that one ‘house’, Royals, servants, slaves, and freemen. The palace on the hill ahead could hold ten of the Earl’s Castles. More. But the Earl’s Castle had been constructed as a summer home in the forest, later converted to a castle, or a large home for Royalty. The Palace ahead had been constructed as a fortress, a massive stone defensive fortification ready to stand against any attackers.

Several paths and roads had intersected with the main road, the travelers all using the same road leading to the Palace until Hannah decided she had seen more people on the road than lived in the Earl’s Castle, and those were only the people who chose to travel on this day. The realization made her swallow and feel small and insignificant. She’d expected to see a castle similar to her old home, but perhaps larger. Instead, she found a Palace so large she couldn’t comprehend its size.

“What do you think?” the knight muttered.

“Huge. I’m scared.”

“I expected you to say how pretty it is. Maybe something else, but not scary.”

“In there are people who want me dead. At least one of them, and I have no idea who it is, so how could it be anything but scary? Any person on this road might be a killer looking to collect a reward for my head.”

“If there is one thing I could tell you to help you survive, that would be it. Do not be fooled by the colorful banners and fake smiles. Until you establish yourself and your claims, consider it a pit of vipers.”

“I don’t know what vipers are.”

“Snakes. A den filled with snakes. Poisonous ones.”

“Oh. I guess I sort of expected people to welcome me and give me hugs.”

“Some will offer hugs. Some will squeeze you so tightly that you choke,” he muttered, still speaking into his chest. “But, others will genuinely welcome you and offer their condolences about your father.”

“How will I know which is which?”

He snorted in laughter. “Again, you impress me by asking the most intelligent questions. If I had the answer to that one, I’d be the smartest man in the Palace.”

A pair of horses trotted closer from behind, the two young men talking and ignoring the other travelers as their horses cleared the way. Both wore clothing as well made as those the Earl wore, and probably more fashionable. Their hats flopped as the horses trotted, raising their polished hooves high with every step. A single colored feather stood several hands high above each hat.

The horses moved the travelers on foot aside by intimidating them. They trotted down the center of the road, side by side, and the peasants spread apart to allow them to pass. The riders ignored the people walking, many of them carrying burdens to sell at the market.

One horse struck a man who hadn’t heard them approach or hadn’t stepped out of the way quickly enough. The left shoulder of the horse struck him. He stumbled off to the side of the road and dropped a sack of squash as he caught his balance. Several squashes split open as they struck the ground.

As bad as that was, the smirking rider, annoyed that the peasant hadn’t moved from his way, lashed out with his left foot, striking the man on his shoulder, just as he caught his balance after the near fall. A woman made a desperate grab for him but missed. The peasant fell to his knees amid the laughter of the two riders and the scowls and angry faces of the peasants. Many made obscene gestures when they were sure the two riders would not see them.

The riders whooped and spurred their horses ahead until they pulled alongside the old wagon and the slow mule pulling it. Hannah wanted to reach out and slap the nearest rider. He was close enough to reach, and he wouldn’t see her hand. Her temper almost reached the flash point as they looked behind at the man on his knees retrieving his load of squash, and they burst into new gales of laughter.

Sir James hissed from the side of his mouth at her, “Be quiet, Hannah.” He scooted to the left of the seat and leaned out as the riders pulled alongside, drawing their attention to his action. He lifted his old straw hat as if wishing them a good morning, but his voice held no warmth as he growled so only they could hear. “You will both report to me at first light tomorrow in the stables. Until then you will say nothing of seeing me on this road.”

Their eyes went wide, all traces of humor replaced with fear. One muttered, “Sir James?”

“Another word from either of you and I’ll double your punishment. Get on with you.” He waved an impatient arm in their direction and turned away, dismissing them.

The horses trotted and then with a last look behind from one of the young men, they galloped in the direction of the palace, careful to avoid any peasants on the road. Sir James muttered, “Now everyone will know I’m returning. I should have held my peace and handled that tomorrow.”

“Who are they?” Hannah asked.

“Squires. They’re the sons of wealthy men who have sent them for training as the King’s Knights. I am the head Knight. Therefore, they report to me.”

“What will happen to them?”

“Their fathers have gold and position so I won’t send them home in shame, which is what they deserve. But tomorrow they will learn to clean horse dung from the stables like your friend at the Earl’s castle, but worse. I’ll have them fill my flagon.”

“I didn’t know that you knew about Cleanup. He was a good friend. But, you use a lot of words I don’t know. What’s a flagon?”

“Years ago I had a container built for punishing pretentious squires like those two. They will be ordered to fill it with fresh horse dung until it’s full. Then they will find me and be released from the task.” He chuckled.

“There’s more that I don’t see?”

He nodded, still keeping his chin resting on his chest, so it was a small nod. “There are holes cut in the base of the flagon. The more dung they pile on top, the more weight presses down on that at the bottom, and it squeezes out the juice.”

Picturing it in her mind, Hannah asked, “Your flagon will hold more than they think?”

He chuckled again. “If they do not work hard and fast, as I suspect will be the case, the next morning it will hold less than the day before.”

“How can that be?”

“When fresh, horse dung is mostly water. Well, maybe not mostly, but almost. The water is squeezed out by the weight of that piled on top, so the flagon never fills.”

“You’ve had others punished this way?”

Sir James paused and allowed a small group to pass the wagon as he held it as far to one side as possible for their convenience. When no others were near, he said, “More than a few. Including me.”

“You? You’re the head Knight!”

“I am, but that was not always so. Once I was young and arrogant, they tell me. Another palace, another head Knight and another flagon. I learned my lesson trying to fill it.”

Hannah glanced up to find they were nearing the gate, a wide hole in the otherwise unbroken wall, an iron clad oak set of doors each as thick as the walls of the morning kitchen. Massive chains connected the doors to stone structures with large wooden wheels to draw them quickly closed.

Besides the doors, to either side were slits built into the stone walls. She’d seen similar at the Earl’s Castle. “For shooting arrows at enemies?”

“No,” he said. “The slits for archers are located up higher. Those beside the gate are for pikes, which are spears to stab any who get close.”

Hannah looked at the gates to a row of gutters above; each was a handbreadth from the next, and the water would spill right onto people passing through the gate below. She wondered why they should be there, and her face must have shown it.

Sir James saw where she looked. “Not for water. Burning oil.”

“That must hurt!”

“We use a special oil the mage concocts. Once it splashes on a man’s skin, he can’t get it off. The oil burns like, well like nothing you’ve ever seen. They dump the oil in a trough up there and then throw a few torches to light as it drips on those below. Fortunately, we have not been attacked for more than two hundred years, so those nasty things have not been put to use.”

Guards stood to either side of the gate, as well as two others, giving permission to enter after they discovered the reason for each visit, usually just a quick question and answer. However, as the old wagon pulled into line to wait their turn, the guards shouted, waved their arms, and moved the crowd aside, motioning for Sir James to enter first. They snapped to attention and saluted as the wagon rolled inside to the amazement of the peasants in line.

Sir James muttered something about having a second flagon constructed by morning.

Hannah heard little of it because her eyes went to the courtyard inside the Palace, the banners, flags of different shapes and colors, the bright dress of the people, and the noise and confusion of the busy marketplace. She drank it in.