D. Heinrich - The Tainted Sword

The squire nodded her head and said, “Yes, I think we should do it. We have nothing much to lose, and quite a lot to gain.”

Flinn nodded and turned to the wizardess. “An abelaat stone, then, Karleah?” At her nod, he pulled one from his pouch and handed it to her. “You do the honors, Karleah. We’ll concentrate on Verdilith’s lair to focus the stone.”

Karleah’s skinny arms emerged from her shapeless robe, one hand holding a tiny brass brazier. She took an ember from the fire and put it in the brazier, then added the abelaat crystal. Finally, she sprinkled on crushed quartz and muttered something under her breath. She gestured for everyone to gather round the brazier, her bony fingers seeming to be twice as long as everyone else’s.

“Concentrate on the location, not the lair itself,” Karleah said. “You’ve already seen the inside of the lair, so think about the outside instead. Remember: silence. We don’t want the dragon to know where we are.”

Jo and the others leaned closer. She tried to concentrate on what Karleah asked for, though her weary mind wandered. Then, as before, an image slowly appeared, enlarged by Karleah’s magicks. Jo held her breath and leaned closer to the tiny brazier.

A rounded slope came into view, and behind it the interminable and rocky Wulfholdes. A single stunted pine stood to the left. The scene was virtually identical to every hill Jo had seen during the last five days.

“Is that it?” she whispered, before she could stop herself. The crystal shattered. She looked from Flinn to Karleah and shook her head. “I’m sorry-I didn’t mean-”

“Don’t worry about it, Jo,” Flinn said and touched her arm. “We all saw enough.”

“Enough to know that finding that particular hill is nigh impossible!” Braddoc snapped. He turned irately on the wizardess. “Wonderful idea! Are you sure you had the right place?”

Dayin threw his arms around Karleah. “Turn him into a butterfly and let him freeze here in the cold!” he yelled. The boy flashed an angry look at Braddoc; the dwarf shrugged and turned away.

“Enough,” said Flinn, nearly shouting. The knight’s smile was testy. “I’m convinced the vision was a true one. Now, has anyone seen that hill? It has a rounded curve to it, fairly unusual for the Wulfholdes, and there’s a stunted pine to the side. Anyone seen it?”

“Are you kidding, Flinn?” Braddoc bellowed. The dwarf jumped to his feet. “We’ve been up and down so many rounded hills with stunted pines the last five days I’d be surprised if we hadn’t seen it!” He crossed his arms and sunk his chin into his beard.

“I’m afraid Braddoc’s right, Flinn,” Jo added more calmly.

“We’ve seen so many hills that I certainly don’t recall seeing that one in particular. But at least we know what it looks like when we go out tomorrow.” She pointed to Dayin and Flinn. “What of you? Have either of you seen the hill?”

Dayin simply shook his head, but Flinn lowered his head and picked at a loose tuft of leather on his boot’s heel before replying. Is he gritting his teeth? Jo wondered as the knight’s cheek muscle rippled. “I may have seen the hill,” he said, still not looking at Johauna, “but like you I don’t remember it.” Flinn stood suddenly and looked at the people around the campfire. “I think it’s time to sleep. We’ve a long day again tomorrow. I’ll take watch first. Jo, I’ll wake you about midnight.” Before Jo could question him, he had turned and left the camp.

“Well, that’s a fine how-do-you-do!” Braddoc sputtered in the silence that followed. He shook his head and turned to Dayin. “Come along, son. Let’s leave the womenfolk to their duties.” He stood and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“Karleah?” Whether Dayin was asking permission to leave or to stay and help, Jo didn’t know.

Karleah patted Dayin’s head with her bony hand and said, “You run along, boy. I’ll take care of things here. I want to talk to Johauna, anyway.” Dayin nodded and then went off to the tent he shared with Braddoc and Flinn. Jo and Karleah had the smaller tent to themselves.

Jo began gathering the dishes together. “You want to talk about something?” she asked casually.

The wizardess put out her old hand and touched Johauna’s young one. Her tiny dark eyes regarded Jo even more intently than usual, and the squire felt a little chill run down her spine. Her initial impression of crazy old Karleah Kunzay returned-the impression that she might be dangerous. Still, Jo trusted the old woman, despite her odd ways. “I want to tell you that the moon is full, and that I’m going to spend the night meeting with an old friend,” Karleah said.

“Old friend?” Jo asked, confused.

As if on cue, the loan, mournful sound of a wolf howl rose up in the distant forest. Karleah nodded and said dreamily, “That’s him. It’s been a long time. Don’t be afraid, dear. I won’t hurt you.” Jo watched in shocked fascination as dark, bristly fur began sprouting from the wizardess’ face and hands. “One more thing,” Karleah said huskily, her voice deepening. “Tonight might be the night for… truth.” She jerked her head toward the direction Flinn had taken. “He needs you, girl.” The last words were contorted almost beyond human speech as Karleah’s head lengthened into a wolfs muzzle. Her reshaping hands fastened on the gray robes she wore and pulled them off.

Jo nodded slowly at the old woman, her eyes held fast by Karleah’s transformation. Jo felt no fear, only an unexpected sense of wonder as a huge, hairy gray wolf slowly emerged before her. The creature sniffed Jo’s outstretched hand, gazing steadily at the young woman. Then the animal bounded silently into the snow-covered hills. Jo sighed, wishing she could transform herself into a wolf and roam the countryside on such a cold, beautiful night.

Without a word, the squire stood and began walking toward the animals. Jo and Braddoc had staked the horse, mule, and ponies to one side of the camp, with Ariac a little farther away. Flinn always started his watches by checking on the animals, and Jo was sure she would find him there. Beyond the light of the campfire, moonlight guided Jo’s steps. She spotted Flinn standing next to the horse Carsig.

“Hello,” Jo said simply, stepping up beside the knight. Flinn released the horse’s hoof he’d been holding and straightened. “Anything wrong with Carsig?” Jo asked.

Flinn shook his head. “No, just checking.” In the moonlight his wry grimace was eerie. “You know me, check and double-check.”

“It’s the only way to be prepared,” Jo responded. “You taught me that.” She smiled up at the tall knight. Then, slowly, Jo reached out and took his hand in hers. She covered his larger hand with her two smaller ones. Again she smiled up at him.

Flinn brought her hands to his lips and kissed each, once. “Maybe it is time to talk, Jo. Maybe tonight is the night, and saving this for another time isn’t right.”

“Braddoc and Dayin are in their tent,” Jo said, “and Karleah’s gone off for the evening. The fire’s still going. Shall we talk there?”

Flinn nodded, then put his arm about her shoulders as they walked back to the fire in silence. Once there, the knight retrieved a fur from Jo’s tent and wrapped it around them as they sat on the log. Overhead, the white moon and a thousand stars shone. This is a moment I am going to remember forever, Jo thought suddenly. The squire added another branch to the fire, then looked at Flinn.

“I’m guessing you have a lot of things to say, Flinn,” Johauna said softly, her voice trembling.

Flinn took her hand and stroked it for several long moments, staring at its paleness. Then he began haltingly, “All my life I have struggled to uphold the ideals of truth and goodness, of honor and integrity.” He paused to look at Jo, his expression intent. “All my life I have believed in the sanctity of rightness.” The words stumbled from his lips, as if they were long unfamiliar to him. Jo guessed he had seldom put voice to the ideals he held dear. Flinn did so now, and as he spoke, conviction grew in his voice.