Part 7 of Dominion of the Hyacinth!
---------
If there was one thing she wished she spent more
time studying it would be the book that Yonson
had given and Habakkuk had translated for her.
She may hold the secrets to the Pillars of
Ahdyiojiak but they did her no good in the middle
of the day. A much simpler teleportation spell
would have sufficed to bring her from Keeptowne
to Lake Barnhardt with only a few minutes
preparation. Instead she was forced to fly there
herself, a journey of at least two hours if not
three if the winds were against her. As it was a
southerly wind was dragging heavy clouds up into
the valley and providing several thermals on
which she could rely to speed her on her way.
Still, she feared for her poor husband in that time.
No matter how she assured him, what could he
possibly think after seeing what he'd seen?
He will not understand.
No, Jessica agreed, Weyden wouldn't understand. At least not yet.
Nor will your friends.
She flapped her wings and pushed herself higher
in the current of air. Beneath her she could see
the eddies and cataracts of the Metamor river
spilling one over another as they cut a course
through the rugged and heavily forested terrain
between Metamor and the lake. The hawk normally
preferred to follow the road in case she saw a
friend, but haste was imperative.
Although she didn't think her friends would
understand now matter how quickly she returned them to adulthood.
They will in time. You will help them.
Jessica felt buoyed by that thought. But there
was still the matter of what she was going to
say. How could she ever explain it to them? How
could she ever explain it to Weyden?
Open his eyes. Make him see as you see.
How she wished it were that easy. He had
doubtless heard from Rickkter all about the evils
and dangers of a hyacinth now. She wasn't worried
about him actually touching the hyacinth, not
after seeing all of their friends reduced to
children. But if he had taken part in their
well-meaning but misguided attempt to destroy the
hyacinth, then it meant that he did not trust her
anymore. Could mere words ever repair such lost
trust? She did not think so and it ached her
heart to know that her beloved Weyden did not trust her.
Actions heal. Actions will bring back trust.
That was true. Words could only go so far to
repair the breach that her friends had made between her and her husband.
What kind of friend would make such a breach?
The thought unsettled her and she began a slow
descent as her feathers almost trembled. Could
she trust her friends again? They had betrayed
her by trying to destroy the hyacinth. And not
just Rickkter who was always headstrong and often
erratic, but Kayla, James, and Charles. They had
been her dearest companions when they sought to
destroy the threat from Marzac. And now they
sought to undermine her and to sabotage her hawk, her husband, her Weyden!
Leave them as children.
The idea certainly had appeal, even if only as a
bit of a punishment for their ill-behavior. A few
days of childhood would be good for them. Perhaps
a few weeks for Rickkter. Jessica nodded to
herself and pumped her wings to climb back into
the thermal proper. And when she raised them up
from childhood, they would understand and be her
most loyal supporters. But that would only keep
them from betraying her again. What could she do about Weyden?
Do as you intended all along.
She had to ponder what that meant for several
minutes as the air carried her northwest along
the river. The towers of Lord Barnhardt's castle
loomed in the distance, as well as the deep blue
of the lake. And somewhere her Weyden was waiting
for her. He was always so faithful and devoted to
her in the past. Why could he not be obedient as well?
A wife should be obedient to her husband.
Jessica felt her chest swell for a moment and she
knew what she had to do. The time had come to use
her shape-changing abilities on Weyden and
herself. She pondered what name she should take once she became the husband.
Master.
That was true. She would now be a Master in guild
parlance for her magical trade. But Master what?
Jessic perhaps? Yes, she cracked her beak in an
avian grin. Master Jessic would do nicely. Master
Jessic and his faithful and obedient wife Weyda.
Master.
The air felt good beneath her wings. Lake Barnhardt neared.
----------
The barracks were not suited for children but
with nine little ones full of energy and abandon
Naomi wasn't sure where better she could keep
them. The only room in the barracks big enough
for them to run around without injuring
themselves was the mess hall where the only
things they could climb over or under were the
tables and long benches. Naomi had all of the
spoons taken elsewhere before they could be
shoved down snouts or thrown around the room and
she also had her soldiers check for any knives
that had been left behind but gratefully there
were none. And once she had all nine of the
children secure, no small task as they were both
strong for their age and size, and in the case of
the rat and raccoon squirmed with more energy
than an entire raging band of Lutins, she sent
for a few older women she knew who would have
clothes they could reuse to make the children presentable.
But the children were not happy with being
carried and stuffed into the mess hall, and she
had a few claw marks and bites on her arms to
prove it. At least neither of the skunk children had decided to spray them!
Not ten minutes after Naomi had sequestered all
of the children in the mess hall and only a few
minutes after all of their clothes and gear were
stored and locked in the pantry at the back, a
quartet of women headed by the buxom tavern's
wife, a brown bear named Christina, arrived to
take charge of the children. Christina glanced
across the room from beneath her white scarf and
crossed her arms, emphasizing the ample
providence supplied to her own six children
enclosed within a light green bodice and gown.
Where did these children come from! Her voice
growled with delight as her warm brown eyes melted with motherly affection.
They aren't really children. It was a magical
spell gone wrong, Naomi explained as one of the
two giraffes bumped into her thigh and nearly
stepped on her foot. Larssen! Watch where you're going!
Christina and the other women who had bundles of
trousers and tunics for children in their arms,
stared wide-eyed in wonder. The bear scratched at
the fur beneath her wrist with carefully trimmed
claws. That was Larssen? The soldier from Metamor?
Aye. The ram is Captain Dallar. Weyden the hawk
is the only one who wasn't struck. He's waiting
for his wife to arrive in a few hours. It was her
spell that did this; she'll be able to fix it.
And you need us to clothe them and keep them
well behaved? Naomi nodded. A disapproving glint
came into Christina's eyes and a thoughtful twist
to her snout. And they think they are children?
The archer nodded again. Oh good! That makes this easy.
The bear slapped her paws together and bellowed,
Children! Children! Come to your auntie
Christina! The clap and her booming ursine voice
were enough to make all nine heads turn in
surprise. Larssen, Dallar, and Van had been
playing a game of tag that involved jumping from
table to table when they weren't running around
the edge of the room. Maud and the girl skunk had
settled themselves on their knees and were
pretending to serve each other tea. The rat and
raccoon were wrestling and rolling about beneath
the tables hissing at each other while the donkey
and the other skunk kept trying to join in only
to be pushed aside. All of that stopped
immediately, though the rat and raccoon resumed
their struggle after a second's pause.
The two girls came forward, eyes bright and awed
in the bear's presence. Dallar, Larssen and Van
all tagged each other one more time before
rushing over obedient to their auntie. The donkey
tugged on the rat's shoulder and pleaded, We gotta go! C'mon!
Christina leaned forward slightly and let her
voice deepen with a faint growl. You two! Stop
that this instant! Don't make me come over there and paddle your tails!
The threat caught the rat and raccoon's
attention, and the pair scampered toward the door
with the rest of them. The rat actually ran on
all fours before standing up, his haunches
shorter than the others. A terrible black scar
covered the right side of his face. He and the
raccoon glared at each other, even though the
other skunk and the donkey child were standing between them.
That's much better! Christina said with prim
satisfaction. Now, which of you good little boys
and girls would like to hear your Auntie Christina tell you a story?
Every paw went up amid bleats, pips, and squeaks of, Me! Me! Me!
Christina looked them over quickly, but lingered
on each long enough that the children knew she
was watching them. Very good. Now before I can
tell you a story, we need to get you dressed.
Little children shouldn't be without their
clothes! Your aunties all have something for you.
Are you going to be good? Tell your auntie
Christina that you're going to be good.
I'll be good! The girl skunk promised.
Me too! the rat squeaked, tilting his head back
to gape at the bear. I'll be good!
The raccoon stomped one foot. I'll be better!
No you won't! I will! The rat squeaked back with a glare at the coon.
The two promptly threw themselves at each other,
claws and teeth ready. Neither reached the other
as both were snatched out of the air by the
practiced paws of Christina. The bear grabbed
both by the scruff of their neck and pulled them
apart, giving each a firm shake. Now that is no
way to behave! What's your name?
The rat tried to step on his own paws in an attempt to look smaller. Charles.
And yours?
The raccoon tried to give her a defiant stare but
he wilted under her imperious, wide snout gaze. Rickkter.
Now, Charles, Rickkter, there will be plenty
enough time for tumbling later. This is story
time. I want you to apologize to each other.
Charles half-lifted his snout so that it sort of
pointed in the raccoon's direction. I'm sorry.
Some of the other children sniggered. The boy
giraffe tried to reach down and grab the rat's
tail, but a glare from one of the other mother's
straightened him out. The raccoon wrinkled his
nose in distaste and lowered his ears, but he
finally managed a small, I'm sorry.
Christina rumbled a little chortle of delight.
Good. Now shake paws and then we'll get back to
getting you properly dressed. Come on you two... shake paws and make up.
Charles and Rickkter took uncertain steps toward
each other. The rat had to look up at the
raccoon, but he stood as tall as he could on his
haunches, lifting his snout high so that the tip
of his nose was even with the raccoon's snout.
They both extended paws and after hesitating a
few seconds, managed a quick shake before
springing back apart like two lodestones improperly aligned.
Very good! Naomi, can you help us get these little ones dressed?
Naomi nodded and accepted a small bundle of
clothing from one of the mothers while Christina,
through bulk, personality, and the experience of
six children of her own, directed each of the
children with a word and a claw and these finest warriors of Metamor obeyed.
----------
Weyden waited with a pensive heart as he paced
back and forth across the barracks roof. The sun
fell behind the first of the clouds he'd known
were coming from the south, and now those same
clouds pressed northward over Lake Barnhardt and
toward the Glen. The rains were coming more
quickly than he'd thought that morning; they'd be drenched before the sun set.
He noted the clouds and the coming shower only
because it meant for a few seconds he wasn't
contemplating what to say to his wife when she
arrived. On the other side of the barracks roof
bloomed the hyacinth, its green stem and purple
blossoms turning not to follow the sun but to
watch him as he paced, talons digging at the
stone roof and gouging the granite blocks. The
depression which Jessica had filled with loam and
planted the hyacinth smelled both healthy and
vile to him, like a store filled with freshly
baked bread in which a leper was draining puss
from all his sores. No matter how many times he
looked at the clouds his eyes always fell back to
that flower and his thoughts to Jessica.
Jessica, Jessica, what voices spoke to her mind
that convinced her she could do these horrible
things? And what could he hope to say that would
convince her that she had been corrupted by
Marzac? Both Lindsey and Kayla had all of their
friends at their sides to help them see what was
happening to them. That Åelf... well he had gone
off on his own, but what could really tempt an
Åelf anyway? And the Binoq and Nauh-kaee had each
other and he hoped that was enough. James had a
few of his friends at his side and that had been
sufficient. All that Jessica would have was him.
Was he enough?
And what if he couldn't do it? What then?
These questions filled him with an agony worse
than all the months locked in the dark prison
without any hint of sky to cheer his soul. They
seared his heart and made him tremble like a new
hatched chick. Weyden gasped for each breath with
muscles sore as if he'd been flying for weeks.
The air grew heavy and crushed him down toward
the roof. He folded in on himself, beak lowering
between his knees and wings spreading out on either side.
He loved his wife and had given up so much
already for her. She had opened his eyes to so
much of the world that he'd never imagined. What
did he have left that could open her eyes?
His eyes wept.
----------
The children behaved well enough for the quartet
of mothers to find clothes for each of them.
Apart from the tail holes in the trousers, the
only alterations that were needed were a few bits
of thread hemming trouser cuffs for the rat, and
a few more to tighten the tunic and trousers for
both giraffes who were gangly and nearly four
hands taller than the rest. They were then
settled down to a boisterous story from Christina
about a brother and sister who found a strange
house made of bread in the woods but was guarded
by a pair of two-headed dragon dogs that chased
them around and around a large oak tree until
they managed to trick the dragon dogs into
chasing each other so they could return safely home.
All nine of the children listened with wide eyes
and open mouths. Naomi and Thyla the wife of the
headmaster of the baker's guild, a spotted lynx
who always kept a red sash about her waist,
gathered a parcel of little bread cakes, fruit,
and some jerky for them to eat and hopefully nap.
After the story all of them ate eagerly of the
snacks and soon their eye lids grew heavy and
they arranged blankets for them to sleep.
Christina eased each of them down in turn,
smiling with real delight at the way their eyes
closed one by one. The little donkey kicked one
of his hooves in his sleep, while the two skunks
draped themselves with their tails. After easing
the ram down on a soft quilt, making sure his
stubby horns didn't catch in anything, the bear
stood and wiped her paws on her apron. I think
that should keep them for an hour. Belinda,
Elaine, take the rest of these clothes back home.
I think the three of us can manage them now.
Are you sure? We've never had animal children
here before. Belinda, a well-fed red fox, said
with a suspicious glance at the nine.
I'm sure they'll have some surprises for us,
Christina smiled and grappled her friend in a
warm hug. But I have six of my own. We'll
manage. And do tell my husband I should be there
when the tavern readies dinner. He always worries so.
Belinda wagged her tail. We'll let Lester know.
She glanced at the napping children with their
tails, snouts, hooves and paws and her muzzle
creased in a soft smile. I wish my children had
been born this way. They're so adorable!
They're really adults, Naomi pointed out,
though her own heart melted a little looking at
them. We'll take good care of them until they're
adults again. Thank you both for your help.
The two mothers gathered up the unused clothes
and departed while Christina and Thyla organized
the last of the bread, fruit and jerky for a
second snack should any of the children wake. The
bear then rested her bulk on one of the benches
and smiled, a deep rumble of satisfaction rising
from her chest. Now do you have anything worth drinking here, Naomi?
I can fetch us some tea if that is what you are asking.
Thyla laughed and flicked her ears from side to
side. And spare her more of her husband's grog?
How could you suggest such a thing!
Tea sounds lovely, Christina replied with a
wide-snout smile. She let one warm brown eye
slide toward the lynx. And where do you think
your husband will be tonight, hmm?
Thyla rolled her green eyes and shook her head.
Naomi chortled under her breath and turned toward
one of the pantries to fetch some tea when she
noticed that two of the blankets were empty. She
scanned the others and tightened her fingers into
her palms. Where are Charles and Rickkter? The rat and raccoon are gone!
Both Thyla and Christina were on their paws, eyes
scanning and ears listening, but neither saw nor
heard the two. Could they have slipped out the door? Thyla asked.
No, I saw them all a moment ago. They have to be
in here somewhere. Christina bent over, one paw
braced on the table, and peered beneath it. Oh
Charles! Oh Rickkter! Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Naomi kept watch over the other seven to keep
them from popping up to see what was going on.
Thyla and Christina moved between the tables
bobbing their heads up and down, sniffing and
calling to the rat and raccoon. The male skunk
stirred from his nap to peer with his only eye
beneath the tables, but a glare from Naomi made
him duck his snout beneath his tail again.
A clatter from the rear of the room made both
bear and lynx spring up and stomp the length of
the hall. The closet in which their gear was
stored opened and everything fell to the ground
while a little voice squeaked in delight. Thyla
was on them in a moment but a pair of paws scampered off beneath the tables.
Christina saw the two of them holding empty
scabbards as if they were swords. They popped up
between one of the tables and smacked at each
other a few times before Thyla managed to turn
herself around and tried to grab at the them
both. The rat and raccoon scrambled beneath the
next table, little paws and tails flicking just out of reach.
The bear tried to get around to corner them,
stomping her paws the whole way. Charles!
Rickkter! Now you come out of there and behave yourselves this instant!
The little rapscallions managed to trade a few
more blows before they finally had nowhere else
to turn and were forcibly stood on top of one of
the tables between both bear and lynx. Scowling
snouts reproved them and they looked down,
shifting their feet back and forth. Christina
glowered at the raccoon and crossed her arms.
Now just what were you planning to do with those?
This! He said, and smacked the rat on top of
the head with the end of the scabbard. The rat
squeaked and promptly retaliated in kind.
----------
May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,
Charles Matthias
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