Lady Dragon Riders - Chapter Ten

THE LONE TRAVELER CHRONICLES
Book Two –Lady Dragon Riders

Chapter Ten

“Look at it his way,” Elise stated as she broke off a piece of cheese and started to nibble it. “We could be in the filthy dungeons instead of these plush chambers; they didn’t even take our chambermaids. Perhaps the King does have a little pull after all.”

“Perhaps the Arch-Bishop knows that my father’s military might is thrice that of Britanica,” Analia replied. “He seems to know so much about us, he’s probably biding his time to see which way the wind blows. That pending treaty with the Gauls might embolden him a bit and if Denize has any pull with them, he’s counting on it.”

Kenzy raised her head and nodded at that statement. “For sure now, he’s forgetting the Picti, he is. There are many Picti and Scoti Lords who have nae sold out to the Britanics and the Northmen have no love o’ them either.”

They heard a loud noise outside their chambers and rushed to the small balcony to see what was making it. In the courtyard below the men-at-arms were assembling three large scorpions, each one much larger than anything they had seen before and they appeared to be brand new. They would easily be capable of firing thick ten foot shafts, arrows large enough to kill a dragon.

“A little gift from Denize,” Analia angrily stated. “Obviously, the Britanics had little use for them before now, since they do not seem to have a flying dragon problem, and those designs are copied directly from the Camalund weapon’s charts. Plus, she has first-hand experience of how quickly the dragons can come to our aid when called.”

Once again, they heard a commotion back inside their chambers. As they reentered, they saw King Athelfyrd and Marquis Cornwall and several guards standing just inside the exit door. The King had an angry expression on his face and the Marquis was puffing up his cheeks like a blow fish. They immediately curtsied.

“You lied to us, Lady Audrey, and I do not take that lightly,” King Athelfyrd grated.

“And what would you have done, Your Highness, had I told you we arrived in your kingdom riding dragons?” Analia replied. “It is as I told the Arch-Bishop; we did not come here to interfere in your internal politics or as advance scouts for an invasion. We are two lady adventurers, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Arch-Bishop Julian has denounced you as evil sorcerers,” Marquis Cornwall blurted. “You did not deny some of the immoral things he accused you of.”

Analia shrugged. “We do not practice your faith, Lord Cornwall; we practice a faith of our own. We are not evil sorcerers and we did not come here to threaten you or your Church. If you want to execute us for not following the rules of your Church, rules of which we have no knowledge, you will find hundreds of thousands of warriors in the kingdoms to the west who will not take kindly to that.”

The Church claims there is nothing of significance to the west but barbarians and a few small colonies. Are you threatening this kingdom?” King Athelfyrd bluntly asked.

“Just stating a point of truth, Your Majesty,” Analia replied. “We do not consider ourselves barbarians and our technology and social order are, I believe, as advanced as yours. My father’s military and naval forces alone are likely three time the size your own, according to my information. None of the kingdoms we know of practice your particular brand of faith and they would not look with favor on a kingdom who executes innocent members of their own beliefs.”

King Athelfyrd continued in a more moderate tone of voice. “The Church has a considerable amount of power in this kingdom and exercises full jurisdiction over heretics, witches, and sorcerers. You have already threatened the power and standing of Arch-Bishop Julian and he is not one to forgive and forget, especially after personally denouncing you in front of hundreds of noble witnesses.”

“He made the charges, he can make them go away,” Analia tartly replied. “He and his clerics have obviously been lying or, at the least, withholding important information from you and the other Lords of this kingdom. He told me himself that the Church knew all about the lands and kingdoms to the west.”

“Certainly you cannot deny that you interfered in Church justice by helping a witch to escape from the dungeons in Lincolnshire, and that you took over the Kingdom of Camel Land through sorcery and forced its rightful ruler, Queen Denize, into exile?” Lord Cornwall blurted.

“Queen Denize was exiled by the full Council of Lords and by her own son, Prince Robert, for heinous crimes against the kingdom, including the cold blooded murder of her spouse, King George,” Analia replied. “As for helping Kenzy to escape the clutches of the evil clerics, she has not been proven to be a witch so far as I am aware. She, like us, does not seem to embrace your religious beliefs. And, it’s Camalund, not Camel Land.”

“I am caught in the middle of this situation,” King Athelfyrd shrugged. “I can order my guards to protect you but the Arch-Bishop can order them to take you into Church custody. I am not certain who they will obey, they also fear the power of the Church, more so than the power of the King. We Kings rule by divine right, the Church proclaims to have a direct conduit to God, and they allegedly speak directly on his behalf.”

“Do not attempt to escape,” Lord Cornwall interrupted. “It will only make it worse for you and the King should you do so.”

“To be blunt, if an opportunity to escape presents itself, we will certainly take it,” Analia boldly replied. “You cannot expect us to fester here completely dependent on the mercy of a religious fanatic and a host of angry nobility.”

King Athelfyrd smiled. “I owe you my life and I will do what I can to aid you, Lady Audrey. Should you find a means of escape, I will not interfere, nor will Lord Cornwall. Be aware through, should the Church get their hands on you, there may be little or nothing I can do.” He nodded his head and bowed and then he and Lord Cornwall quietly left the chamber.

“Strange laws,” Elise stated as the guards closed the door. “A King allows clerics the power to go against his royal authority?”

“It is not the clerics he fears,” Analia replied. “It is his God.

“But, he allows the clerics to speak on behalf of his God,” Elise continued. “Why can he not speak to his God himself? Does his God proclaim to speak only to the clerics?”

Analia shrugged. “Our church interprets the word supposedly passed down from God, but, our Kings have the final word. Their beliefs are the opposite. Unfortunately, theological disputes will not help us to escape from this chamber or the clutches of the Arch-Bishop. We must devise a means of our own. We cannot risk the danger to Whiff and Cali from those deadly scorpions, and I do not believe either Geoffrey or DarDar are in any position to help us.”

“Help is coming,” a voice sounded in her mind.

Analia suddenly became still, holding up her hand and focusing her thoughts. “What do you mean, Whiff?” she mind-spoke.

“Pieter, Sean, Talina, Ruolf, and some strange Picti character are in a kingdom north of you. They are working on a means of rescue.”

“Help is coming,” Analia whispered, her eyes lighting up as she glanced at Elise and Kenzy. “Whiff tells me that four of our friends and a Picti are devising a rescue of some kind.”

“Did you tell them about the scorpions?” Analia mind-spoke.

“I told them all I knew, Little Lady. Are you certain you do not want Cali and me to burn the scorpions and rescue you?”

“They are positioned in such a way that you cannot possibly destroy them before one gets a deadly shot at you,” Analia replied. “I will not take the risk. We will find a way out of here if our friends cannot devise a workable plan.”

“What of your friends, Geoffrey and the Ogre?” Whiff asked. “They have not been taken by the soldiers.”

“I will try to make contact with DarDar,” Analia stated. “In the meantime, perhaps you can try to mind-speak with him. Each time I have mind-spoke with him, we were near each other so I am not certain if my abilities can reach him at a distance. If you do contact him, tell him to inform Geoffrey, by sign language if necessary, and quietly head for the countryside, or hide in the slum section of town. As soon as the clerics make the connection between us and them, I fear they will be taken into custody.”

“As you say, Little Lady,” Whiff replied. “I will send Cali north to help your friends. They have only two dragons with them and may need the extra transportation. Also, your friend Pieter told me to tell you that, he loves you, whatever that means.”

Analia was suddenly confounded. Loves me, she thought. Pieter loves me, as in - loves me?”

“Something wrong?” Elise blurted, noticing the dazed look on Analia’s face.

Analia shook herself out of the amorous trance. Brigett entered carrying a large tray containing tea, bread, cheese and fruit. She placed the tray on a bench and brought out a small tea table and three chairs, then set the tray on the table. They had eaten sparingly at the festival, their appetites curtailed by anxiety, so the small repast was most welcome. They consumed the food with gusto and quickly drained the pleasing pot of hot tea. “Our best hope is to remain out of the clutches of the Church,” Analia mused. “I know King Athelfyrd will post his most loyal men at our door, but will that be enough to stop the clerics?

“The Arch-Bishop knows all about our kingdoms and especially the power that your father, Emperor John, has at his disposal,” Elise replied. “Do you think he will murder us with the certain consequences it may bring?”

Analia thought about the question, but her mind was becoming cloudy. “The man is a religious zealot,” she finally replied, bringing her hand up to stifle a yawn. “Fanatics often do things that ordinary people may not attempt. We don’t know enough about their Church to make an educated guess.” She casually glanced over at Kenzy, who was slumped back in her chair fast asleep. It was a wonder she had not dropped her tea cup which was still clutched tightly in one hand. Her own eyes were becoming hard to focus, but she did manage to see across the small table to where Elise also lay slumped with her head and forearm resting on the table corner. Drugged. We’ve been drugged, she thought, as the door opened and half a dozen men wearing monk’s robes walked in.

Analia was lucid enough to see a look of sympathy on Brigett’s face and two guards slumped to the marble floor with their backs against the outer wall as they were briskly carried from the room. A turned over pot of tea lay on the marble floor next to the guards, indicating they had also been drugged. The last thing she saw before she lost completely consciousness was the grinning face of Father Ignatio.

What is that disgustingly vile smell? Elise thought sitting up against a cold and damp stone wall. As her eyes adjusted she noticed they had been placed in a clammy cell with just enough light coming from a distant hall sconce to make out some details. Both Analia and Kenzy were still unconscious and laying in a pile of straw that smelled like urine. The small cell next to theirs held the body of a man, actually, the putrid remains of a man, who had obviously been dead for some time as a host of maggots were swarming out of a gaping hole in his stomach and the empty sockets where his eyes once were. He was missing a finger on his left hand and two on his right, and a rat was greedily gnawing on another. His stomach suddenly lurched and the head of another rat popped up through the slimy flesh with a chunk of liver or some other internal organ in his mouth. Both rats eyed her with wary suspicion and caution.

“Question number one answered,” she annoyingly muttered, eying the decaying corpse with revulsion. The stench was so overwhelming she felt as if she might gag at any moment. Elise noticed movement down the dark hallway and realized a figure was sitting on a stool not far from the single light source. It was clearly a guard, but the way he held himself indicated that he was either dozing or perhaps intoxicated.

She heard a low moan to her left and turned to see Analia stirring. A sudden exhalation from her indicated that she had just caught a whiff of the rancid odor. “We’re in a cell,” Elise whispered. “The occupant in the one next to ours has been dead for some time, that’s the ripe aroma you smell.” She also noticed that Kenzy was slowly pulling herself up from the grimy straw.

“How long have we been in this dungeon?” Analia asked. She noticed a bitter taste in her mouth, either from the residue of the tea or the cloying smell.

“Difficult to judge,” Elise replied. “I just woke up myself a few moments ago.

“A while,” Kenzie added. “I need to make water and I went just before we had our tea. I think at least five or more hours.”

“Hellooo!” Elise suddenly yelled. “You! Guard! We need water.” They noticed the guard jerk away from the wall and slowly rise. He was a short man and very portly. He grabbed the sconce from the wall near him and ambled down the hall in their direction. He then lit a sconce in a hanger closer to their cell and peered into the dimly lit interior.

“Friar Huckabe,” Analia sounded surprised. “You of all people, our jailer?”

“Not by choice, Lady Audrey,” he dolefully replied. “Not by choice. I fear the Arch-Bishop learned of my recent association with you and it is my penance to serve as your jailer. I would that it be otherwise.”

“Could be worse,” Elise grinned. “Associating with known sorcerers and witches could have placed you in with our neighbor.” She pointed at the ragged remains in the adjacent cell, taking note that the light had scared the rats away. Friar Huck brought up his hand to stifle a retch.

“We need water and we need a toiletry bucket,” Analia stated. “Do you expect us to use the floor like that poor fellow next door?”

“I am not to speak with any of you, Lady Audrey,” Friar Huck returned. “The Arch-Bishop gave me orders to stay away from you. Other guards will bring you what you need but only when they are ordered to do so.”

“I advise you to go and tell them what we need, now!” Analia shouted. “And, it would help if you had them remove the remains in the cell next to ours; the putrid smell is so harsh we can barely breathe.”

Friar Huck appeared to be hopelessly indecisive. “I am not to move from my stool, that is my orders.” He turned and slowly ambled back down the small hallway leaving the lit sconce by their cell flickering.

“This is preposterous!” Analia shouted her anger immediately erupting. She pointed at the pile of human corruption in the adjacent cell and suddenly the entire mass burst from the cell and flew down the narrow hallway spattering the walls and Friar Huck’s back with slime and gore. One of the rats caught in the maelstrom barely missed the Friar’s head and the large part of the skull was wedged between two bars. Friar Huck screamed and ran into the darkness beyond his stool as fast as his plump torso would carry him. Analia was shaking and both Elise and Kenzy were staring at her in fear.

“Sorry,” she stated attempting to calm herself. “I’ve been practicing this strange power I have and I guess I went a little too far. At least our smelly neighbor is gone.” She noticed Elise nod in understanding but Kenzy still remained frightened. “A few days ago I somehow prevented a tree limb from striking me when it suddenly broke loose,” she explained. “I don’t know where the power comes from, but, I can somehow move or lift objects by concentrating. This is the first time I have intentionally moved such a large mass. I think it comes from my previous life in Tír na nÓg. I am also certain that you possess some unknown power such as mine.”

“Then you are a sorceress,” Kenzy babbled, “Just as the Arch-Bishop stated.

“No, not as the Arch-Bishop stated,” Analia replied. “The powers I have come from the old religion, the old ways and they are not evil powers. I use my mind-speak to talk with Whiff and DarDar, I threaten no one who does not first threaten me, and I do not seek to dominate others. I cannot classify that as evil. Does the fact that you also mind-speak with Whiff make you evil?

Kenzy stuttered. “I did not even know I had the ability until Whiff spoke with me. I would nae use it to intentionally harm anyone.”

“Since my power is not limited to a single ability, it is likely you also have other hidden powers. Have you noticed anything unusual about yourself, other than the dreams of a strange land?”

Kenzy was thoughtful for a moment and acted as if she did not want to impart any secrets about herself. She felt the penetrating stare of Analia and finally opened up. “I remember running through the forest in the body of a wolf,” She whispered. “Many times I have enjoyed the freedom and power of being a wolf or an eagle, and one time, a hunter. When I awaken and find meself back in me body, I feel that it was not a dream but that it was real.”

“She could be a shapeshifter,” Elise cut in. “We have heard of people in the wild mountains where I grew up who could change themselves into an animal or different person at will.”

“A Selkie,” Kenzy muttered. “I must have the powers of a Selkie.”

They both looked at her quizzically.

“A Selkie is someone who can take the shape of any person or animal they choose for a short time,” Kenzy continued. “They are not evil. However, there be others called Kelpies who kill their host and assume their bodies, they are very evil but seldom seen.”

“The same as a shapeshifter,” Analia mused. “Have you tried to do it while awake, change into someone else, I mean?”

Kenzy shook her head. “I nae thought about it that way. I always thought it was something I did while sleeping.”

Analia looked serious. “Try it now; think about changing into someone else.”

Kenzy looked fretful at first then closed her eyes and concentrated. Within seconds a transformation started taking place, then stopped, and then began again. She started to give up but was determined to use her power. Suddenly, there were two Elise’s standing side by side across from Analia. The original Elise backed away in alarm.

“You did it, Kenzy” Analia smiled. “You look exactly like Elise.”

“I feel nae different,” Kenzy replied, “I am the same person”

“How long do you think you can remain in your new image?” Analia asked.

Once again, Kenzy looked fretful and uncertain. “I have to think of meself as meself,” she answered, “then I will change back to me, but nae before.” She suddenly returned to her own features.

“That was creepy,” Elise remarked, “looking at myself standing next to myself.”

“There’s got to be a way we can use this new found power,” Analia muttered, looking studiously at Kenzy. “What do you think?”

“I’m thinking if I don’t get that waste bucket soon, our cell will be very wet,” Kenzie stated holding her hands in front of her groin.”

A few minutes later they heard the footsteps of a number of guards echoing down the dark hallway. Six guards wearing cassocks over chainmail clamored to a halt in front of their small cell and one produced a key and unlocked the rusty door to both cells. They set a wooden bucket of water on the brick floor with a mop sticking out of it.

“You are to clean you cell,” their gruff leader ordered. “If you wish to get rid of the smell, you may clean the other cell as well. No water or food will be brought until you do as you are told.”
He backed from the cell and stood with the other guards in the tight hallway, folding his arms as a sign that they were not leaving until his orders had been complied with.

Analia nodded at Elise and winked at Kenzy and picked up the mop. “What of Friar Huckabe?” she asked. “He did not return with you.”

“The fat Friar has abandoned his post,” the lead guard stated with a smirk. “He was not on his stool when we arrived, he will be severely punished for his disobedience.”

Half an hour later they completed the cleaning as well as possible then sat the odorous water bucket outside their cell. “Will you also bring fresh bedding?” Analia asked. “This straw smells almost as bad as the remains of the decaying corpse?”

“That was not part of our orders,” the lead guard absently replied while locking their cell door. “I will ask Father Ignacio if I see him. Don’t count on it though.”

Analia and Elise watched as seven guards slowly made their way down the tight hallway, then turned to smile at each other. Six guards arrived, seven left.

STATIC

Lady Dragon Riders - Chapter Eleven  (13+) The adventures of Analia and Elise continue in a far off land. #2080322 by Oldwarrior