King Edward, Part VIIIAnonymoushistoryghosts) 8Q d"',=049f>ACG~LQKing Edward, Part VIII Chap 8: Wilderland The journey through Valenwood was pleasant. The weather heldfair for the most part, with sunny days and cool nights. Bright leaves ofscarlet, crimson, gold and green drifted down to form acarpet beneath their horses' feet. Valenwood was verydifferent from the somber, steep forests of High Rock. When theyreached the northern border, Edward, looking back, saw that thetrees were mostly bare, shorn of their glory. Before them laya wide green land of rolling hills with only a few stands oftrees. It seemed to spread on forever. "This is Wilderland, Edward," Moraelyn said. "Be on yourguard. It seems a pleasant land, but no king's writ runs here. Each man's hand is against everyother's -- and there are worse than men. All the races ofTamriel meet here, and clash, save thine, perhaps." They journeyed for some days more with small incident ...save one for a band of Khajiit raiders that crept up on theircamp by night. These were easily repelled. Silk slew one andthe rest ran off yowling. The gentle wood elf girl, Willow,lobbed fireballs after them. There were no roads, just smallpaths that criss-crossed one another and seemingly lednowhere. After two weeks of steady riding they came to a bowl shapedplace in the hills where the land was tilled. The fields looked fair andwere stacked with harvest, but the folk were dispirited,ragged, and unfriendly. Questions about inns got only shrugsand puzzled looks. Armed bands challenged them at times anddemanded to know their business. When Moraelyn said they werebound for Morrowind, they were told to pass through quicklyand mind they stole nothing. "Passage is all we wish," Moraelyn said quietly. "Someone should teach these folk manners," the usually placid Mats growled. "Thou mayst stay and open a school of etiquette, if it pleases thee," Moraelyn said, "I fear my life's tooshort to teach the lessons these villains require. Still, Ilike not the look of the sky; it looks e'en more evil than thefolk. I think we'll try our luck in the town." The town was surrounded by a palisade of wood and had a stoutgate. Guards looked them over and refused them entrance."None but humans enter here, elf. Take thy rabble andbegone." "I see. Ali, Mats, Edward, thou seemst to qualify for thehospitality here. The rest of us will shelter elsewhere." Aliera announced that she would see them all blown back toFirsthold by the storm before she'd step within these gates. So they circled the town,passing a moat with stone walls within and a keep of some sortwithin that. A track north took them past a small house with alarge barn nearby. Both looked in poor repair, but Moraelyn sent Aliera and Edward to knock at the doorand ask if they might sleep in the barn. The rest waited in theroad. An elderly woman answered their knock; she looked pleased to see them. "Stay? Aye, I'd be glad of thecompany. No need to sleep in the barn, though, lady. I've aroom to spare. My name's Ora Engelsdottir." Aliera gesturedtoward the waiting Companions. The woman squinted towardthem. "Thy man's there and some friends? Aye, we'll allsqueeze together then. T'will be warmer so. I've a pot ofsoup on the fire; made it to last me a week but you're welcometo it. I can make more." "My husband's an elf." "Is he so? He looks to take good care of thee and thy son. Thou'sfat as pigs. Bring them in. I wish my grand-daughter had such aone to care for her." Ora refused payment, saying she was not yet at such a passthat her guests must pay for her hospitality. She said talesand song and an evening's merriment would be payment enough. Pots and disheswere set out to catch the worst of the leaks; she knew them all well. They gathered around the hearth andmade very merry while the storm raged, banging the shutters anddoors and threatening to blow the roof away altogether. "Tell me, my lady," Ora whispered apart to Aliera, "He'struly good to thee? He's so big and so black." "Truly good," Aliera said keeping her mouth serious while hereyes laughed. "Aye, 'tis well, then. He put me a bit in mind of our baron,who's big and dark -- oh, not so dark as thy elf. He took mygrand-daughter, Caron -- and, he does not treat her well. He -- he hurts her, my lady.And she dare not run away. Where would she go?" Tears gatheredin Ora's eyes and followed worn familiar tracks down hercheeks. When their hostess had gone to sleep in her own room, Alierarepeated what she had been told. "Let's rescue the girl," Beech said, "we grow stale withinaction." "Aye!" said Silk and Willow at once. Mats growled an agreement. Mith and Ssa'ass lookedinterested. Moraelyn looked doubtful. "We cannot right every wrong inTamriel. This baron offers his folk shelter of a kind. Theycould leave if they liked it better outside." "Aye," Mith said, "he keeps the bandits off so he may rob the folk at leisure." "An we pull him down? There'll be another to take his place.Or else the outside will come in and there'll be nothing leftat all." "Nothing would be better than this filthy something," Matssaid. "There's that." The storm seemed to have moved away. Alierawent to the door and stared up into the sky where clouds racedpast the eastern moon. A single large brilliant blue starhung near the moon. "Zenithar hangs near Tamriel tonight. Moraelyn?" "I'd thought to mend her roofs tomorrow if it's fair," he saidas she returned to the fireside. "We'll do so much at least.As for the rest -- Aliera?" "She asked for my help, in a way ... and I -- I think I hearZenithar's voice in the wind and feel his hand in the rain on this night." "Thy quest, then, wife." Aliera nodded, unsmiling. She curled up with Moraelyn in thechimney corner and they whispered and laughed together forawhile. Edward fell asleep. In the morning he was sent up onthe roof to help Beech and Willow place new shingles.Moraelyn wrote a letter which he gave to Mats, telling him totake it to the baron, to arrive at the castle arounddinnertime and to go afoot. "You're going to challenge him for the girl!" Edwardgrinned. "But will he fight? And wouldn't he take her back again once we're gone?" "Mmm. Since he wouldn't let me in his town, thy mother thoughtto invite him to our house instead." Moraelyn stamped the letter with hissealing ring and handed it to Mats. "Oh. It's a long way to your house still, isn't it?" Edwardfelt a bit of disappointment that no rescue seemed imminent,but he supposed it really was not reasonable to expect eightpeople to take a keep, even if they were Moraelyn'sCompanions. Probably the songs exaggerated their deeds. Moraelyn grinned, ruffled Edward's hair and told him tocease his questions, get up on the roof, and mind his mother.Moraelyn and Mith set off together on foot. Aliera said theywere going hunting. They did not return even at suppertime.Aliera told Edward not to worry; they'd meet later. It was well after sundown when she bid their hostess farewell.They took all the horses with them and left them in a grove nearthe north wall of the keep. Aliera asked Edward if he wanted towait for them with the horses. Edward asked where they weregoing. "We have to enter the keep to get Ora's grandchild out. Noquestions, Edward. If you're coming, then stay with me and doexactly as I say. Levitate across the moat: I must swim. Onceacross we'll scale the wall. Once inside, just follow me andbe as silent as you can." Edward gaped at his mother and the other Companions. How couldthe six of them possibly storm a keep? Three women, two men anda boy? There would be guards up on the wall and a lot moreinside. Mats would be inside too, though, he guessed. Butwhere were Moraelyn and Mith? There were fearsome things in the moat. Edward began a protest, then thought better of it. Ssa'ass slidinto the moat first. There was some splashing and hissing, thenthe water went quiet. Aliera entered the water. The otherslevitated. "Here's the ropes," Beech said, feeling along the wall. Therewere three ropes. Edward, Beech and Ssa'ass went up first; Aliera,Willow and Silk followed. Moraelyn and Mith were waitingabove. Two guards were snoring softly in a heap. "How--" Edward began, and found his mother's hand clappedover his mouth. A guard from another wall section called outand Edward's heart stopped beating. Mith called something back to himand tramping footsteps moved away. The Companions went silently down the stairs and slipped across the yard like shadows. There was no guard on the door to the keep itself. Inside the passages were eerily quiet. Theystopped at an imposing door and flattened themselvesagainst the wall beside it. They could hear voices within. Athin chilling wail sounded and died away. Moraelyn whistleda snatch of song into the silence that followed. The doorswung open and they raced inside, falling on the startledguards like furies. Edward was last inside, Tooth in his hand; he stabbed thenearest guard in the side, and Beech finished him with a blow tothe head. Mats had been inside; it was he who had opened thedoor. His axe clove the head of one guard, then swung againstthe inner door. Aliera and Willow had barred the strongouter door. Moraelyn's opponent was a very young man. He'dtaken one look at the big dark elf, dropped his sword and fallen to his knees, praying for mercy. Moraelyn eyed him with disgust and said, "Greet Zenithar forme; tell him Moraelyn of Ebonheart commends you to his mercy.I have none for such as you." He slashed the young guard'sthroat. Blood sprayed over Moraelyn's leathers. His victim fell over, gurglinghorribly. A burning acid rose in Edward's throat; he swallowedhard and looked away. The guards inside the anteroom had been dispatched, butoutside the door shouts and footfalls thundered and there waspounding on the door. Edward followed his mother into theinner chamber, which was empty save for a naked girl tiedspreadeagle on the enormous bed, her eyes starting from herhead. The Companions cut her free while Aliera caught her shoulders."Thy grandmother sent us, child. Where's the baron?" The girl pointed at a bookcase, then clung to Aliera. She wasno bigger than Edward and seemed not much older. Her breastswere just beginning. She was covered with welts and bloodand purple-yellow bruises. Aliera flung her own cloak overthe girl. Beech picked her up. Mith's fingers were feeling overthe bookcase; there was a click and a section slid aside. He went through cautiously. The others followed and the secret door closedafter them. "I think it's just a bolt hole," Mith said, "but there'll betraps, no doubt." "Go warily, then, friend," Aliera said. "There's no hurry. Ithink the baron plans to show his departing guests the door, asa good host should." A narrow passage opened to the left. Mith sent a bolt oflight down it. The floor was littered with bones. Human bones. Small skulls staredeyelessly. "I'm going to enjoy killing him," Moraelyn said. "No!" Aliera protested. "My quest, my kill!" Moraelyn swung to face her. "Aliera--" "I want it sung that he died by Aliera's hand! I claim my rightto face him, king." "Leave him to me and we'll sing it your way! He's twice yoursize. D'you want to fight ME for the right?" The elf leaned over her, a full head taller. "If I must." Aliera brushed past him, slinging her shield onher arm, and drawing her short sword as she ran. Moraelyngrabbed at her, missed, and ran after her. His size hampered himin the low, narrow passage. Sparks flew from his spell shieldas he caroomed recklessly off the walls. "Come on, you two," Mith yelled from ahead. "I'm not promising to save him for you." "Moraelyn," Edward gasped, running after him. "You're notgoing to let her!" "Let her! How d'ye propose I stop her? I'm open tosuggestions, short of actually fighting her myself." He seemedhalf-angry, half-amused. "M-maybe he's gone by now." "Nay, he's locked in here with us; we found the exit earlierfrom the other side and Mith set a lock the baron will notundo." "Well, paralyze her. You can carry her." "She's activated her shield; it reflects spells, among otherthings. I'd only paralyze myself and I'd be inconvenient to carry. She'll be all right. It's anexcellent shield. It casts a very powerful protective spell. I'ric himself devised it." "Having a spot of trouble with your locks tonight, baron?"Mith's voice came clearly from ahead. They emerged into alarger space where the baron had been clawing vainly atswitches beside a massive door. "Shoddy work. You should getanother smith." "He won't be needing one," Aliera snarled. The Companionsspread around her in a semi-circle. The baron set his back tothe door and set himself in a fighting stance. He was a bigman, as big as Mats, and he was holding an axe as big as the one Mats wielded, and wearing a breastplateand helm. He addressed Moraelyn. "Nine against one. I'd expect odds like that from you blackdevils," Moraelyn was at the back of the group, yet the baronhad singled him out as the leader. People did, somehow. "You prefer the advantage of weight, do you not? But my wifewants you to herself. She cannot resist your charms it seems.Nor can I; I could not wait for you to respond to myinvitation, so I came to you instead." "I beat her and the rest of you kill me? Hah! It might be worthit at that," he added, staring at Aliera with cold dark eyes. Aliera smiled a terrible smile. Her dark hair swung free abouther shoulders and she seemed to glow. "You will not beat thiswoman, baron, but if you do, then you go free. You are mine alone tonight. Swear it all, by Zenithar! If he haps to kill me, my ghost will hound him to hisgrave and beyond." She sounded rather pleased at theprospect. Edward began to shiver. "By Zenithar!" The baron laughed, "I don't believe you, but one last femalefor my collection then. Are you so wearied of her, elf?" "Are you so afraid of her that you'd rather face me instead?" Somewhere deep in his mind Edward realized that the elf wasright. Despite the baron's bravado, he was afraid of Aliera.Edward hadn't sworn with the others. He clutched his stafftightly but his feet seemed rooted to the floor. The baron laughed again and swung a mighty blow at Aliera inanswer, but it deflected harmlessly off her shield. His eyeswidened as he realized she was spell shielded. Aliera dancedaside and cut his arm. She was nimble, but he managed to landmany blows. If her shield went ... Edward did not finish the thought. But he was leaving himself somewhat open in the hope of wearing her shield down and she was scoring hitsagainst his limbs. She kept her blows low, trying to cost himthe use of his legs and drain him of blood. All the while shetaunted him about his manhood, saying she would geld him ere hedied. A great blow knocked her back; her shield flashed and wasgone. The baron raised his axe high to cleave her skull with a singleblow. Her arm drew back and she threw her slender short swordstraight into her enemy's eye. He dropped the axe and fellscreaming to his knees, hands clawing at his face. Alierastepped forward and thrust the sword home, piercing deepwithin the brain. The body fell over, twitching and jerking. "Well fought, wife!" "I had a master trainer, and a better armorer!" Alieralaughed, then she threw back her head and shouted wordlessly intriumph, raising her arms, fists clenched. "That you did!" Moraelyn grabbed Silk in a rough hug andkissed her noisily. "It's a neat trick you taught her, Silk." "I'll thank you to cease flirting with my trainer, husband!"Aliera said, wiping her slender adamantium blade carefully. "Me flirt? Not while thy blood's up ... and thy shield'sstill charged. I'm just thanking her. I'll kiss I'ric too whennext I see him." "Is he truly dead?" Caron had clung to Beech throughout thefight with her eyes closed. Now she regarded Aliera with -- Awe, Edward thought was the right word. Edward felt something of the same, although it was akin to horror. "Dead enough," Aliera said, regarding the still faintlytwitching form, with satisfaction. The girl drew closer, thenknelt beside him. She picked up a stone and smashed it into theface again and again, sobbing. When she had done, Ssa'ass castsome healing spells on her. Mith unlocked the door. They'dcome out quite near to where they had left the horses. They took the girl back to her mother's house and left her there,instructing her to tell anyone that ventured to molest her,that Zenithar's servants would return if she were harmed. Thebewildered old woman clasped her granddaughter to her. As shebade them farewell, she whispered to Aliera to look afterthat man of hers. "Oh, I do," Aliera said. "I do." * * * * * * * * When they stopped for rest Aliera came over to Edward to talkto him, but he protested that he was very tired and just wantedto sleep. Moraelyn tugged her away, saying that if her son didnot need her then she could see to her man, who did. They movedout of the circle of firelight. Edward lay wakeful, listeningto their small, stifled sounds. That was not unusual. It hadtroubled him at first. "I can't sleep; you're too noisy,"he'd protested one night. "What are you doing, anyway?" Thathad drawn giggles from the Companions. "Can't you at leastpretend you're sleeping?" Moraelyn had asked plaintively."Now I know why dark elves seldom have more than one child.What I do not understand is how humans manage to get somany." Moraelyn and Aliera had come back to lie by him thatnight, but after that he had pretended to sleep, like theothers. And the noises were too familiar now to keep images of thenight's adventures from flashing through his mind, as vivid asif they were happening again in truth. He could feel hisdaedra feeding and could not stop it. It just wasn't fair,he thought, but now he was beginning to see what Moraelynmeant by feeding his daedra and yet walking with the gods. WithZenithar. Moraelyn came back, carrying Aliera. He set her gently down,then stretched himself out between Edward and her. "It must be difficult, being a woman," he said softly. "Itwas hard, watching her. Just watching." Edward nodded. "I've asked it often enough, of her," Moraelyn continued. "She told me how hard it is, but I never knew until tonight. Iknew she'd win. Zenithar was with her, and all the baron had washis daedra. And still it was very hard to watch. She makes thatcast nine tries out of ten, and there were more uses on theshield if she missed ... he'd have dropped of exhaustion beforehe wore it out entirely." "I keep thinking about it, too ... and the guard you ... heasked for mercy?" "I know. And yet, he listened to that ... night after night.And still he remained the baron's man." "Most men are not as strong as you are. Maybe he couldn'thelp himself?" Why was he pleading for a man already dead? Hismind kept replaying the night's events as if they might yetcome out differently, for better or for worse. "Even to witness evil such as that corrupts the soul. Towatch and do nothing ... Mats would have stayed my hand hadthere been anything there worth keeping. And it's worse for theyoung; I am sorry you had to pass through this night." "Is my soul corrupted now?" "You feel the acid's bite, as do we all, but you'll heal." "Can you Heal me now?" "Aye." Moraelyn gathered the boy in his arms, then rolledover so that Edward lay between his parents. Aliera put herarms around him without really waking. Her strong woman smellmingled with Moraelyn's musky dark spice odor in Edward'snostrils. "She was so angry," Edward whispered. He'd wondered if hewould ever really feel the same toward her again ... and yether arms were still as comforting as before. Maybe Moraelyntoo had needed that reassurance and had been wise enough to askfor it. "She's a woman. That sort of injury to another touches hernear," he said. How near? The boy looked the question he dared not put. "Thy father's not a monster. But she was wed to a man who didnot care for her, and she could not leave him. It's commonenough among thy race, which makes it none the easier to bear, Ithink." "She has a daedra, too, then?" Edward asked sadly. "You must speak with her about that." "It wasn't really a fair fight, her shielded and not him." "Fair fighting's for the arena, boy. Would you fight a wolfor hell hound without weapons, spells and armor, though theyhave none? I would not." "What will become of Caron and Ora? And the other folk, nowthat the baron's dead?" "Do I look like the prophet Marukh? How should I know? We canstop here in the spring and see what's been planted in thefield we burned tonight. I've no mind to stay and plow it.I've my own fields to tend -- listen to me, I sound like a Nordfarmer. Mines to dig is more like it." He yawned. "The others didn't think about afterwards. You did." "I'm a king; it's what we do."