D Cornish - Factotum

"Indeed, sir; or perhaps Dew of Imnot might do me better, if you know how it goes-kinder upon my stomach," Crispus concurred solemnly. "I'll have out with my recounting, then take a draught after."

Rossamund could stand it no longer. "But what of Numps?"

"Yes, yes, my boy." The physician adjusted his spectacles. "I was just coming to that. He is well, that I will say." He took a breath. "Where was I? Ah! Such a wild hooting and bellowing was pressing at every hand, and the very air assaulted us with dark and dreadful thoughts. As mighty as the Lady Dolours undoubtedly is, she and Threnody and their surviving sister columbines appeared to falter. A dark and awful form stood at the gate, head ducked under the arch, a horned and thorny beast of wicked antiquity. Gathephar, one of the calendars called it in her dread."

Those other monsters that Grammaticus fellow in Pour Clair wrote of must have called it away to join the assault! Doubly glad they had not found this dread monster themselves, Rossamund glanced to Europe, who remained attentive to the doctor's telling.

"Slavering, it reached for us, swatting Dolours aside. Smaller wretchers dashed among us. I was thrown to the ground-which is where I suspect this"-the doctor wagged his bandaged arm, his voice rising in the passion of his recounting-"occurred. We were in danger of being eliminated where we stood! Quite suddenly, all oppressions and griefs were lifted as if by some mighty though kindly hand. Something small burst through us from behind, clad in fine coat, processing greatly distended sparrow's head upon his shoulders. I thought us finally undone."

"Cinnamon!" Rossamund breathed excitedly. How fast and far must the nuglung prince have traveled to be present for the assault? How did he ever know it was going to happen?

"Indeed it was, my friend!" Crispus exclaimed in his very own amazement. "As I later learned. Such a diminutive creature, yet it sprang readily at this Gathephar, leaping so very high to strike at the monstrous thing with a long spittende, driving the Gathephar back after many fierce blows, to send it howling through the gate and away. For a moment the tide of baskets fell away. Delivered, we hurried out from that perishing fortress, this Cinnamon aiding Dolours, who still lived despite her buffeting.To our enduring delight we were joined by an assembly of survivors, women and children and various staff fleeing from the Low Gutter-and who do you think should be at their lead?" He paused as if seeking an answer.

His listeners just blinked at him expectantly.

"Mister Numps! Unhurt, coming willingly through the butchery. Hand in hand with a wee wizened thing by the name of Freckle, our glimner friend was wearing the most rapt expression I have ever known him to show; he could have been on a summerscale picnic for all he cared of the desperate melee about. Defended by many wizened bogles-glamgorns is their designation, I believe-this second party had won through to us, and together we fled down the Approach and on to the Harrowmath. Even with these kindly creatures' aid, it was only a sorry remnant of calendars, clerks and lighters that got free."

"Master Sparrow and his tiny friend are busy fellows," Europe observed.

Doctor Crispus went on. "By the stars I could see that we were being taken southeast across the Harrowmath, reaching the marshes of Old Man's Itch at dawn. Past this Cinnamon took us, even to the wooded foothills of the northern extents of the Sparrowdowns, where only commerce men and fools will go." Crispus wagged his head, clearly still astonished at the journey. "Our way was necessarily slow, four days carrying hurt souls by boggy paths. Threnody, through all her sharp looks and squalls of temper, proved herself an august's daughter, seeking all our welfare, making sure stragglers did not fall too far behind.We fed on bulbs pulled from the ground and washed with trickling marsh water, and the bogles tended all hurts with skill-I say to my shame- beyond my learning. As for Numps, I have never seen him appear in such ecstasy, such transports of delight; while we sagged in our weariness, he capered with glee, hugging and holding hands with Cinnamon and the one called Freckle."

Rossamund grinned broadly, easily conceiving the happy babble that the simple glimner would have chortled: My old old friends! Come to get me at last!

"Some folk were not so easy with such unterly company." Crispus let out a puff of air. "The calendars were perfectly at ease with monsters about them, yet several refugees lagged deliberately or slipped away at night to find their own way, ungrateful souls. Cinnamon did not prevent them, and I suppose I do not blame them-it is an altogether peculiar experience to be at a bogle's mercy. I certainly do not know what became of any of them." He paused a little ominously. "Finally, amid a great joyful flocking of sparrows and other small woodland birds swarming about us, we were met by the Duke of Sparrows-or so Dolours named him with surprising reverence-a lord of monsters, no less, direct from some spurious tome of legendry, as if monsters fighting monsters for the cause of men was not bamboozling enough!"

"You saw the sparrow-king!" Rossamund was astounded.

Fransitart and Craumpalin murmured in wonder.

Europe arched her diamond-spoored brow.

"Only from afar, my boy, only from afar," the physician answered. "He is, it seems, loath to be plainly viewed, but I could feel him, Rossamund, a profound and all-encompassing peace such as I have never known." A faint smile hovering on his lips, he closed his eyes. "Dolours was admitted to go farther but soon returned in much better weal than when she went in. Only Numps was let right up to the strange creature, and it soon became patent that he was to remain within its realm." Crispus looked to Rossamund. "Ahh, Rossamund, I do believe we can finally count him at peace. Our dear Mister Numps wished for me to tell you in coram-face-to-face-that he is as well as he could ever wish to be, safe now with his old, old friends, as he seemed inclined to name the Duke of Sparrows and Cinnamon. Safe now and forevermore, he made sure to have me tell you as his new old friend that he is home at last!"

Rossamund blinked rapidly. "Aye, Doctor… He is surely in the best hands now."

"It was a sore trial to leave that embracing calm, but more a human realm was best for us. With the glamgorn Freckle to help, the Lady Dolours and Threnody and their sisters saw the remaining hurt-now healing well-and myself safe to High Vesting. After this they departed again for their own clave-hall. Having set up the wounded at the local sanguinarium, I proceeded to charter the promptest packet out from that harbor and proceeded to you as quickly as I could."

"A remarkable tale, Doctor," said Europe. "It seems the season for adventure. Since you are now without a home, you may stay here for as long as is convenient."

Stretched thin and jaded, the physician looked for a moment as if he were about to burst into tears of gratitude. "Well, gracious madam, I must get to Mister Sebastipole now-bring him report of Numps as well."

"Nonsense, man," the fulgar retorted. "You are in no humor for further travel. Write him a letter as you need, but for now, remain. Think of it as recompense for the diligent care you took of Rossamund while he served with the lighters," she ended a little more kindly.

Protesting his wish not to be a burden, the physician finally accepted. "Well-well, I thank you… Oh," he went on, "and Threnody sends you word, Rossamund. If she had had pen and paper, she would have writ something, but she asked me to convey… Now, what was it…" He pressed a knuckle to his lips. "Ah! That she hopes her words have not caused you too much harm and that she is glad you have got away clean with the Branden Rose."