Dennis McKiernan - Once upon a Spring morn

“Oui,” said Roel. “I would indeed like another try at that vile being.” Then Roel frowned and said, “I wonder why he was at the pirate stronghold.” Celeste shrugged and dipped her pen in ink and traced another line. But Chevell said, “Clearly, Caralos sent the corsairs to fetch the map for the Lord of the Changelings.”

Roel looked up. “Why would the Lord of the Changelings want this map?”

“Because, ever since King Avelar came into possession of it, we have had no maidens stolen from our domain, nor from any other part of Faery, as far as I know.

Avelar, you see, promised the Changeling Lord that should he ever take anyone, our armies of ruin would march into the Changeling realm and destroy all. In return for leaving our women be, Avelar promised him he would make no copies.”

“Ah,” said Celeste in revelation. “Then that is why this map is considered a treasure.”

“Oui,” replied Chevell. “And the map was kept in a magically warded vault to guard against the Changeling Lord and his magery. Yet that was no proof against pirates, for they entered the old-fashioned way: brute force. I imagine Caralos was well rewarded for doing so.”

“Then, the Changeling Lord was there to collect his prize,” said Roel. “ ’Tis good we came when we did; else we would not have the map to copy.”

“My lord,” said Florien, “does making a copy not go against the pledge of the king?”

Chevell held his hand out level and wobbled it as of a ship rolling starboard to larboard and back. “Methinks the Changeling Lord violated the king’s trust by trying to steal it; hence mayhap this be tit for tat.” Florien smiled and said, “Just so.”

“And speaking of rewards,” said Chevell, “Sieur Roel and the princess will need funds to continue their quest.”

“Oui,” said Roel, “yet we brought nothing with us but the clothes on our backs and a sword, shield, and a bow.”

“Pah! You brought your skill and knowledge, and aided in the return of the map. And it just so happens you helped us capture a corsair with treasure in its hold-now in ours-some of which is King Avelar’s, but much of which is not. As an officer of the realm, it is from that loot I will reward you. How much might you need?”

Roel glanced at Celeste, but she smiled without looking up and continued to draw.

Roel glanced at the map and said, “It seems a long journey, and we’ll need horses-two for riding and two packhorses-and tack, food, bedding, and other gear for living in the wild.” Roel frowned. “Hmm. . in a port city, it’s not likely they will have war-trained horses.” He paused in thought, but finally said, “I would think-”

“Florien,” said Chevell, “have we a hundred gold we can reward the chevalier and princess?” Roel’s mouth dropped open. “A hundred-?”

“Oui, my lord,” said Florien. “Easily.”

“But that is entirely too much, Captain,” said Roel. He glanced at Celeste, and again she smiled to herself but kept drawing.

“Non, my boy,” said Chevell. “One hundred is not nearly payment enough for the recovery of this map.

When you and the princess return from your quest, come to Port Mizon. I am certain King Avelar will want, not only to meet you two, but also to properly reward you as well.”

Roel took a deep breath and canted his head in acceptance. “As you will, My Lord Captain.” A silence fell among them, broken only by the creak of timber and rope from above and the shssh of the hull through water from below, and the scraping of Celeste’s pen on the vellum. But then Celeste frowned and asked,

“Hmm. . what do you think this might be?” Both Roel and Florien leaned closer in the lamplight to see. “ EF, it looks like to me,” said Roel.

“I agree,” said Florien. “But what that might mean, I have no idea.”

“And here it is marked WdBr, ” said Celeste, “and over here Spx and El Fd, and Ct Dd.” Lieutenant Florien touched several more spots.

“There are similar markings all across the map.” Again, none had any explanation, and Chevell shrugged and said, “Mayhap it’s like Lieutenant Burcet’s notations on his medicks: initials to tell only him what a vial or a packet contains. In this case, though, it’s the mapmaker leaving arcane markings.” Burcet stepped to the map table and looked, but he was as puzzled as all the rest. “You’ll just have to find out as you go nigh,” he said at last.

“ ’Tis not only nigh we’ll be going,” said Celeste, “but we’ll be at these points exactly, for that’s where the crossings through the twilight bounds exist.”

“Then mark them well,” said Roel, “for I do not wish to fall into an ocean or a fiery pit or ought else.” He paused a moment and, grinning, added, “Well, mayhap on the stern of a ship would be acceptable.” Chevell roared in laughter.

They sailed all that day and the next, and at dusk of the following day, they hove into the harbor in Port Cient and moored in the sheltered bay.

But for a few key crewmen, the rest drew lots to see who would have first shore leave and who would have second and who third, for Chevell would not leave the map unwarded aboard the Eagle for three days.

As the first third of the crew prepared to go ashore, Celeste and Roel among them, “My lord,” said Burcet,

“are we not going to ask for volunteers from among the crew-ourselves included-to aid the princess and chevalier on their quest?”

Chevell shook his head. “Non, Burcet. I offered, but Roel says that two alone can go where a full warband cannot. Too, he reminded me that our duty lies in another direction: not in a venture into the Changeling realm to recover his sister and brothers, but instead to return the map to King Avelar. Besides, he reminded me of my very own words: that few if any ever return from the Lord of the Changelings’ demesne.”

“Ah, I see,” said Burcet.

Chevell patted his breast pocket. “The princess has given me a letter to be delivered to Springwood Manor, and I shall arrange to do so as soon as we arrive in Port Mizon. The staff and family will no doubt be pleased to know she and Sieur Roel are in good health, but I suspect they will not be pleased to read that they plan on going into the Changeling realm alone.” Burcet nodded and said, “I shall miss them.”

“I believe we’ll see them over the next three eves,” said Chevell, “for they have much to do ere setting forth.”

“When we do,” said Burcet, “I shall drink to their health.” He leaned over the rail and waved to Celeste and Roel in the dinghy now pulling away from the Sea Eagle.

In their rooms at the Tasse d’Or, Celeste, wrapped in a towel but still damp, and briskly toweling off her wet hair, padded into the bedchamber. “Ah, Mithras, how splendid it is to once again have a hot bath.”

“And in freshwater,” said Roel, “not salt.” Celeste paused. “Do I smell witch hazel?”

“Oui,” said Roel, leaning close. “A dash the barber patted on.”

Celeste grinned and ran a hand across his clean-shaven cheek. “Ah, then, you are trying to bewitch me?” Roel took the towel from her hands, as well as the one from ’round her slim form. “The question, my lady, is who is bewitching whom?”

He wrapped his arms about her and kissed her deeply, and when they broke at last, Celeste whispered,

“I ween ’tis you wielding magic, my love, for my breath is completely taken away.”

“Then let us see what we can do to restore it,” said Roel, and he scooped her up in his arms and stepped to the waiting bed.

Over the next three days, Roel and Celeste purchased rations and utensils and cooking gear for the trail, and Celeste visited a fletcher and ordered two sheaves of arrows fitted to her draw and quivers to bear them in, while Roel purchased a light crossbow and a sheaf of quarrels and a quiver. They spent much time at various stables talking to the hostlers and examining steeds. It was as Roel had said: there were no horses trained for war. Regardless, they finally selected two feisty mares for riding and two placid geldings for bearing their goods, saddles and harnesses included, as well as a kit for dealing with thrown horseshoes and another for repairing tack. Roel engaged a smith to have a spear-lance made, as well as sought out a leatherworker for a slinglike saddle scabbard to bear the spear. Celeste, too, had a saddle scabbard made for her bow and quivers, but she also asked the worker to make an over-the-shoulder sling for the bow as well.