The Guided Journey (Book 6) (30 page)

“You send a big keg of gold coins to the palace; a shipment from Estone arrived under guard, and it was sent to ‘Kestrel, care of Princess Aurelia’,” she explained. 

“Oh!  I forgot about that,” Kestrel said, looking guiltily at Putienne.  The yeti’s mother had been the source of those riches.

“It’s a wedding present, I presume?” Aurelia asked.

“Or a bribe for her to run away with you?” Lucretia countered.

“It’s neither of those things, and it’s beside the point,” Kestrel felt like every conversation with the two women was bound to spiral out of control.

“Do you mean to say that you want to be seen with me to give folks the idea that, that,” he didn’t feel comfortable putting into words what he knew would be implied.

“Yes,” Aurelia answered.  “And Ripken won’t care.  Then once we are married and no one can do anything about it, we’ll admit the truth and laugh about the whole thing.”

Kestrel scratched his head.  “Couldn’t we just try to sneak you into the palace without anyone seeing either of us?” he asked.

“There’s no way we can do that,” Aurelia said dismissively.

“Everyone’s going to be looking for her,” Lucretia agreed.

“And this way we take all the suspicion away that I’ve been going out to see Ripken,” Aurelia added.

“Will we be able to feed Putty, and how will it look if I try to go back to Ripken’s after making everyone think, you know,” Kestrel asked.

“Well, that’s a good point.  You won’t be able to go back to Ripken’s,” the princess agreed.  “And I probably can’t let you stay at the palace.”

“He can just stay here with me!” Lucretia said brightly.

“That will look even worse!” Kestrel protested.  “I’ll look like I’ve flitted in here, sinned with the princess, then sinned with you!”

“After the way you left here last time mooning over Moorin, no one will think any worse of you,” Lucretia shot back.  “Speaking of which, whatever really happened to Moorin and you after you left last year?  We heard there was some cryptic message delivered to her father.”

“Oh Lucretia, that’s a story,” Kestrel shook his head.

“Why don’t you tell it to us while we return to the palace,” Aurelia suggested.  “I have a dozen things I’m supposed to do for the wedding today, and it’s all going to be thrown off schedule because of this adventure.”

“I’ll tell, but you have to figure out where I can stay,” Kestrel agreed.  He didn’t really want to have to recount all the twists and turns of the tale of his pursuit of Moorin, but he needed to get Putienne outside, he knew.  Kestrel rose from the bed and urged the yeti to follow him.

“We’ll go downstairs and meet you outside,” he called over his shoulder, then left the apartment and went to the lift tubes.

“You’re getting good at this, aren’t you?” he asked Putty affectionately, then the two of them descended to the lobby.

“What are you doing?” the lobby attendant, a young female elf screamed.

“We’ve been here all night.  We’re just going outside,” Kestrel tried to sound nonchalant as he ushered Putty out the door and into the surrounding gardens. A minute later a squad of patrolmen came running towards Kestrel, knives drawn and bows with arrows notched.

“Stop!  Stop!” Kestrel called out loudly, repositioning himself closer to the browsing yeti, who was patiently examining the plants in the garden.

“You are under arrest, and that creature is a threat!” the officer of the patrol shouted.

Kestrel saw the archers raising their bows as they came to a stop and prepared to shoot.

He closed his eyes.  Putty was still too far for him to throw up a protective shield over both her and himself, but he judged that the yeti was the intended target, and he threw the blue shield up in a half dome, protecting his companion from the assault that was about to come.

“If the monster is protected, attack the conjuror!” the officer ordered, and Kestrel saw the guards who had drawn knives start running directly at him.

“Stop!  I command this battle to cease!” Aurelia’s voice rang loudly.

“In the name of the palace, put down your weapons!” she spoke again.  She was standing at the doorway of the tower, no scarf hiding her face, with Lucretia standing behind her shoulder.

Kestrel turned to look at her, and as he did, one archer released an arrow aimed at Kestrel, not at Putty.  The shaft slid through the air, on a straight line over the short distance that separated the two, and it struck Kestrel in the shoulder, making a sickening sound as it struck the back of the shoulder and penetrated so deeply that the beaten metal head of the projectile poked out of the front of his flesh without striking bone.

Kestrel howled in pain.  His knees buckled, and his protective shield around Putienne dissolved, just as the yeti responded to his danger by snarling loudly and charging aggressively at the patrol members.

Several of the bowmen turned in hast and fired shots at Putty, all of which bounced off her as she ran towards them, howling and baring her teeth in a frightening display of fighting power.  Two of the archers began to stand up in preparation for fleeing from the charge, and stumbled over each other, falling upon their fellow archers, and leaving them all unprotected as Putty closed in upon them.

“Kestrel, no!” Aurelia shouted, though Kestrel didn’t know if she was screaming about the impending massacre of the patrol men or about the injury he had sustained.

He was on his knees, but knew that he had to do something to prevent his yeti from hurting the patrolmen – he had to protect the very men who had wounded him.  His instincts groped for a solution to the problem that would do no harm to anyone.

He lifted his left hand from where it grasped his wounded right shoulder, and he pointed it – red and sticky with his blood – at the squad of patrolmen.  His fingers spewed forth a brilliant stream of grayish light, and as the light reached the men, they all turned into hard stone
statues, impervious to any attack by Putty’s fangs and claws, and also disabled from doing further harm to Kestrel as well.

Putty pulled up abruptly, stunned by the transformation of her targets.  Kestrel took a deep breath, then broke off the shaft of the arrow, and pulled the slender piece of wood through his flesh.

“Kestrel!  What have you done?” Aurelia shouted, just as Kestrel passed out.

Chapter
28 – Lucretia at Oaktown

Kestrel awoke that afternoon.  He found a light tent had been erected in the garden, and he lay on a cot that had been assembled within the tent, not far from where he had been struck down.  Putty sat on the ground next to him, and Hampus was sitting next to the yeti.

“What’s happening?” Kestrel asked.

“Many things,” Hampus said wryly.  “How do you feel?  I put some of your healing spring water on your shoulder as soon as I got here.”

Kestrel twitched the joint.  “It hurts, but not badly.”  He looked down as he tested it, and saw that fresh bandages had been applied.

“How are you, Putty?” Kestrel asked the other occupant in the tent.

“She’s calm now,” Hampus said.  “She wouldn’t let anyone touch you until I got here, and then she let the rest of us take a look at you, set up the tent, and treat you.  We didn’t think she was going to allow anyone to carry you out of her sight.”

Kestrel was silent for several seconds.  “The patrol?”

“They haven’t moved,” Hampus said humorously.

“You do some amazing things,” he added.

“You do know how to restore them, don’t you?” he asked a second later.

“I think so,” Kestrel said without assurance.  He would have to think through the emotions and motives that he had felt at the time of the use of his power, and then try to reverse the effect.  “I’m sure I’ll be able to,” he affirmed more confidently.

“I don’t understand everything involved here, but this is a bit of a scandal, isn’t it?” Hampus asked.  “You going out for the night with the princess, who’s supposed to get married tomorrow night to our host.”

“It seems awkward,” Kestrel agreed.  “But it’s not what it looks like, and in a few days we’ll have it all straightened out.”  He was counting on the princess’s claims that everything could be explained openly once the wedding was accomplished.

“Is the princess at the palace?” Kestrel asked.

“Yes, she was whisked away by a large contingent of guards, while Lord Ripken stayed here to make sure this tent was erected and you were taken care of properly,” Hampus explained.  “He seems like a great leader, someone who people listen to.”

“He is,” Kestrel agreed.  “I met him on the run from North Harbor to Kirevee.  He ran along with the rest of us like a common elf.  Then I wore his colors in the tournament,” Kestrel added.

“You and the princess – there isn’t anything untoward, is there?” Hampus finally asked, after a silent pause.

“No.  No, my goddess, no,” Kestrel answered.  “I was here the first time looking for another woman, not the princess.  We’re just acquaintances.”

“That’s good,” Hampus said.  “I do have to begin this relationship between the two kingdoms, and it would make it difficult if you were doing something like that.”

“Your job may seem more difficult at first, but it’ll all be straightened out in a few days,” Kestrel reassured.  “Did Putty get fed?” he asked.

“She got about two whole sheep, it looked like to me,” Hampus answered.  “Lord Ripken had several platters of meat brought to her.”

“Where are the humans, Raines and Orren?” Kestrel asked, as he belatedly remembered his other companions.

“Lord Ripken had a translator appointed to them this morning, and they are out seeing the sights of the city.”

Well, shall we leave this tent, and go to our accommodations?” Kestrel decided to ask.

“I was told that you and Putienne would stay in this tower with, a young lady, a good friend of the princess,” Hampus said discreetly.  “And it was suggested that you not have much of a public profile for the next few days,” he added.

“Lord Ripken has already arranged for me to have an audience with the king,” Hampus said, changing the subject.  “So tomorrow morning, even though it’s the day of the wedding, I’m going to see King Winche to start the process of establishing relations between our two kingdoms.  In the meantime, Ripken suggested several influential people I should go visit.”

“I’ll rest for a while, then go up to Lucretia’s,” Kestrel assured Hampus, even though an alternative plan of activity was forming in his head.

“Of course you will,” Lucretia said calmly, as she startled him by strolling into the tent.

“In that case, since the lady is here to accompany you,” Hampus made a polite bow to Lucretia, “I’ll go visit some leading staff people in the palace.”  He gave Kestrel’s hand a comforting squeeze, then left the tent.

“So, we’re going up to my place?” Lucretia asked with a wicked smirk.

“Actually, no,” Kestrel replied.  He stood up.  “Come here Putty,” he commanded.

“No?  What do you mean?” Lucretia asked, puzzled, and suddenly worried.  “I thought we could have fun together.  You still haven’t told me your Moorin story.”

“Stillwater, Stillwater, Stillwater,” Kestrel called.

“What are you doing?” Lucretia asked. 

The imp appeared.  “Hello, Kestrel-friend.  Are you well?” the sprite looked at the bandage on his shoulder.

“I’m getting better,” Kestrel said.  “I’d like to travel, and I’d like to take my friend with me,” he placed his hand on Putty.

“Why are you leaving?” Lucretia asked, with genuine concern in her voice.  “Will you be gone long?  I really wanted to spend time with you; there’s no one else like you, Kestrel.”

“There’s no reason for me to stay here; I’m supposed to stay out of sight.  If that’s the case,” he said, “I might as well stay far out of sight.  I have something I want to do, and someplace I want to go,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Stillwater, will you call your partners?” he asked.

“We will serve you immediately.  We are here to help you in all ways possible,” the imp said stoutly.  Acanthus and Mulberry appeared.

“Even by transporting Putty?” Kestrel asked.

Stillwater sighed, and a half dozen more imps appeared.

“I want to go to my home in Oaktown,” Kestrel told the imps.

“Kestrel, wait,” Lucretia called, as the imps gathered around him.

“Take me with you,” she said, and she threw herself at him, clinging to him and the imps, just a split second before the transference through the other dimension of the imps began.

There was a sensation of strain, and then the grayness began.

Kestrel sensed strain, beyond the nothingness and isolation of the empty space that the imps’ travels passed through.  There was a feeling of fear, and shock, and breathless worry, then suddenly they were in the parlor back at his manor.

Lucretia stood in front of him, pale-faced, as the three imps who had carried him – Stillwater, Acanthus, and Mulberry – slumped to the floor.

“Are you okay?” Kestrel asked as he knelt down next to the stunned beings.

“The unexpected load of the other elf – we were not prepared,” Stillwater gasped.

Kestrel looked up at Lucretia.  “You could have hurt them!” he said accusingly.

“I didn’t mean to!” she said tearfully, also kneeling.  “I’m so sorry, good imps,” she apologized.

“The lord Kestrel apparently has that kind of effect on females,” Mulberry replied.  “I do not understand it, for my part,” she sniffed.

The imps sat up, and Kestrel felt a presence over his shoulder.  He turned and saw that Putty was bending over him, and as he looked, he saw the yeti gently reach down and poke a finger into the shoulder of Acanthus.

The imp opened his eyes.  “I’m alright, furry one,” he said.  “I was just resting, and waiting to hear what outrageous things Mulberry would say.  She actually thinks Kestrel-friend is rather attractive, I have heard her say,” he revealed.

“Umph!” he said a moment later when Mulberry jabbed him with a wicked punch to the shoulder.

“There are things a warrior and a woman should not expect to be repeated, especially by one’s own comrades,” she said shrilly as she rose to her feet.

“And you,” she turned to face Kestrel, “should put no credence in the alleged slips of tongue that may, or may not, have taken place at moments of poor judgment.”

“And you,” she whirled to look at Lucretia, who fell backwards on her haunches in surprise, “seem much too wise and attractive to be fooled by such an unpredictable hero as this!” she pointed at Kestrel dramatically, without looking at him, her finger nearly stabbing him in the chest.  “You’d have a better mate in the yeti,” she claimed theatrically.

Putty gave an inquisitive warble.

“Sir!” Whyte, the steward of the manor exclaimed from the doorway.  “You have a monster over you!

“Help!  Call the guards!” he shouted.

“No!  Whyte, everything is okay,” Kestrel said urgently, as he stood erect.

“These are friends, all friends, including the yeti,” he said.

There were footsteps sounding in the hallway beyond Whyte, and Kestrel ran to the doorway.

“Everything is fine!  Everything is under control.  We just had a surprise from my sudden arrival with friends,” Kestrel told the approaching pair of guards.  “I’ve got a friendly yeti with me, if you can imagine,” he laughed, and the laugh sounded weak to his own ears
.

The guards appeared relaxed at Kestrel’s appearance, though puzzled by his strange manner.  They reached the doorway, then yelped in alarm as they saw Putty over his shoulder.

“This is my friend,” Kestrel told the two elves quickly.  “These are all my friends,” he expanded.  “The yeti is named Putienne, the imps have been here before – you’ve seen them before, haven’t you?” he asked as an aside, watching the guards nod, “and the Lady Lucretia is our guest from the Northern Kingdom of elves.

“Please ask the housekeeper to prepare a room for the lady, and I’d like a side of beef placed in the garden for the yeti, or at least a ham, if we’ve got something like that,” he finished.

The guards gaped at him momentarily.

“You heard Lord Kestrel!” Whyte said sharply.  “Be on your way,” he set the men in motion.

“Oh,” Kestrel made them pause, “would you check with the cook to see if we have any dried mushrooms?  Do that first, then come back and let me know.  Thank you,” he dismissed them, sending them striding away rapidly down the hall, to announce to the rest of the staff that the lord of the manor was back, once again bringing excitement and unexpected activity to the home.

“Well, Whyte, you heard the introductions,” Kestrel turned to the steward.  “Lucretia, this is the steward of the manor, Whyte.  He’ll take better care of you for the next day or so than I could ever hope to.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady,” Whyte said with aplomb.  “The Warden doesn’t often bring guests to the manor!

“May I show you to your room?” he asked.

“He has the same accent you do, Kestrel!” Lucretia said with delight.  “Will everyone here speak like you?  This is going to be so charming,” she smiled as she stood up.

“What are our plans today?” she asked, looking at Kestrel.

“I need to see if we have any mushrooms for the imps,” he began, eliciting a brief flurry of cheers from the group that rested on the floor, “then I want to feed Putty,” the yeti looked at him upon hearing her name, “then I’d like to put on clean clothes and spend some time with Whyte.  Then, after all that, I’m at your disposal,” he said graciously, his good spirits restored by the feeling of happiness he felt at being back in Oaktown.

“In that case, I accept your offer, friend Whyte,” Lucretia said in a cheery voice.  “I’ll see you later, Lord Kestrel,” she told him, then left the room in the company of the steward.

“Well,” he looked at Putty and the imps, “let’s all go to the kitchen to see what we can find.”

His trio of imps was up, and those that had brought Putty were hovering.  “Do you really think there could be dried mushrooms?” one of the imps he did not know asked.

“It happens in other kitchens,” Kestrel said, giving the imps hope.  “I make no promises, but we’ll go find out!  And we’ll see if we can get some food for you,” he affectionately pounded Putty’s back.

The unlikely group began their journey through the halls of the manor, stopping to explain themselves and sooth frayed nerves along the way, as Putienne’s appearance startled the staff members.  But by the time they reached the kitchen, whose staff had been forewarned by the guards, a large slab of beef was available, and there were dehydrated mushrooms in a pan of water, being prepared for the imps.

“How would your guests like to have their mushrooms prepared?” the cook asked.  “In an omelet?”

The imps readily agreed, so Kestrel left them in the kitchen to anxiously hover near the cook, while he hauled the beef ribs out to the garden.

“You eat these here, then wait for me,” he instructed Putty, whose eyes never turned towards his face as she focused on the portion of meat that awaited her.

Satisfied that he had the yeti situated, he returned to the kitchen, where the imps were all greedily eating the mushroom omelet that the cook had prepared for them.