After The Rabbit (Waldo Rabbit Series) Page 21

  XXX

  Gronk pushed the iron door open. It gave with a loud squeal from its rusted hinges. The other side of the door was covered in moss and wild grass. When they stepped outside it was still night time.

  “I have never been so happy to see stars,” Waldo said.

  “We all smell like sewer,” Alice complained. “And these blood stains are never coming all the way out.”

  “I will buy you new clothes at the next city we visit. I can certainly afford it now.” Not only had they taken the coins, they had also gathered up all the weapons before setting out. It was a staggering number of short swords, daggers, and throwing knives.

  From where they were Waldo could easily make out the walls of Norwich perhaps a mile behind them.

  “You did a fine job thief. Now take us to Willmon’s Tower.”

  Cleptus gave a sour grunt and rubbed his chest. He was not bound and was even armed. “It isn’t that easy. I know the sewers like the back of my hand. I’ve never been in the marshes. I only have a vague idea where the ruins are.”

  “That’s still more than the rest of us have. Lead the way. I want to be as far from the city as possible when the horrible ball of fire rises.”

  “Of course, Master Rabbit,” still rubbing his chest Cleptus started walking.

  Gronk, who remained in his true form, followed. Alice, who appeared human once more, hung back with Waldo.

  “You know, darling, you look really happy right now.”

  “Do I?”

  Alice nodded. “You look like the cat that caught the rat.”

  Waldo stared out at Cleptus as he trudged northward. “Alice, would you like to know a secret?”

  “Sure.”

  He leaned over to her. “There’s no such thing as a morio seal.”

  Alice burst out laughing. Waldo laughed as well as they started walking.

  Chapter 24

  A Bad Day

  When Duke Griffinheart woke the next morning it was the beginning of a glorious day. It took less than an hour for that to change.

  “What do you mean they are gone?”

  The sergeant was struggling to meet his eye. “They departed last night and have not returned, my lord.”

  “I left orders that they not be allowed to leave. Were my instructions unclear?”

  “No, my lord,” the sergeant said in a small voice.

  “Did they overpower you somehow? Did the mage use some spell?”

  “No, my lord, nothing like that.”

  “Then why did you let them leave?”

  The sergeant’s eyes flickered all about the room. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly.

  “Well?”

  “The red haired woman, she… she talked to us, and asked us to make an exception. She promised they would return before the dawn.”

  “And you believed her?”

  “I know it sounds foolish my lord, but I couldn’t refuse her. It was as though she had bewitched me.”

  The duke’s immediate instinct was to yell at the man and let him know what an absolute ass he was. And were it any other woman he would have. But when Alice had visited him last night and asked for his sword he had handed it over to her. When the sergeant mentioned being “bewitched” Theos knew exactly what the man meant.

  “Were any of them carrying Lawgiver?”

  When the sergeant nodded Griffinheart felt sick. “The savage had it.”

  The duke was quiet for a long time. When he gave a half nod the sergeant took that as a sign of dismissal and quickly departed. Griffinheart hardly noticed. He sat there at the table without bothering to so much as touch his morning meal. The plight of the countryside being ravaged by an army of undead suddenly seemed insignificant next to his real problem.

  Lawgiver was much more to him than a magical sword. It was a tangible symbol of his family’s honor and status. The envy of other lords throughout Lothas. It represented the strength and greatness of his house. If he appeared in public without it all would notice the absence. What was he to say? That he had knowingly lent it to a woman and she had walked out his front gate? He would die of shame. Theos would sooner claim to have misplaced it.

  I will be a laughing stock to my own people.

  He wanted to smash everything in sight. Silently he cursed the deceitful strumpet and wished he’d never heard of her. He damned that cowardly wizard and all of his kind as well. Not only had Rabbit brought this plague down on him, he had fled rather than face the danger. Worse, he had stolen his precious Lawgiver, deliberately humiliating him and his entire house. Theos couldn’t begin to guess the reason. He had been more supportive of the whites than the majority of his fellow nobles. What could their purpose be in shaming him like this?

  Many claimed that the White Mages were deceptive and always scheming. That their order was consumed with secrets and conspiracies. He had never fully believed that. Now though, he could see all those stories were true. This theft could only be some twisted part of a much deeper game. He would notify King Leo. His grace needed to know what the whites were up to.

  He was still seated at the table, consumed with thoughts of conspiracies and secret plots, when Sir Berrs arrived. The knight was in his suit of plate armor, clanking with each step. Theos didn’t notice until he had called out to him a few times.

  “What was that?”

  “I asked if I should have the servants bring you your armor, my lord. The men have assembled, and the crowds are gathering to see you lead them out.”

  “Damn it, I’d actually forgot.”

  Sir Berrs’s mouth gaped open. “You’d forgotten you were leading your forces out into battle?”

  “I can’t now. Rabbit and his companions have disappeared. He used his magic to steal Lawgiver. I can’t lead my men into battle without my family’s blade in my hand.”

  The lie was not much, but it was a small salve to his pride. Having a wizard use his magic was more acceptable than admitting he’d given the sword to a woman with his own hand.

  “He wouldn’t dare,” Sir Berrs said, clearly in disbelief. “He must know we would never forgive him or any of his order!”

  “It’s the absolute truth,” Duke Griffinheart put two fingers over his right eye. “May Wotal strike me blind.”

  “What is to be done, my lord?”

  “I want the city searched for any sign of Master Rabbit and his women. If they are found they are to be returned here, unharmed is possible. Getting my sword back is what matters most. I’ll not have my family name mocked.”

  “What about the troops? They are assembled and ready to march.”

  Theos shook his head. “Impossible. How can I lead them without Lawgiver? Every man will see that as a bad omen. They will say I am cursed.”

  “But, my lord, we have to march. Every hour we do not the enemy grows larger. If we do not meet them on the field they will eventually come here.”

  “Let them, they can smash themselves against our walls. No goblin force has ever taken this city. These abominations will fare no better.”

  “What of the villages that will be overrun in the meantime?”

  “We can do nothing for them.”

  With armor clinking Sir Berrs fell to one knee. “Then my lord, allow me the honor. I will take the men out and rid the land of this pestilence.”

  Theos eyed Berrs suspiciously. His father was the Earl of Warwick and he would assume the title in time. Berrs was an excellent knight with a good head on his shoulders. No doubt he could lead the soldiers well and defeat this dark enemy.

  And claim all he glory for himself.

  What would the songs say? Noble Sir Berrs fought the horde of unnatural things while Duke Theos Griffinheart cowered in his keep.

  “Get up,” Theos snapped. “No one will lead the men but me. I will not give you such fame.”

  Berrs stood. “I am thinking of the people, not about the honor.”

  “How very noble of you. Go and organize the search. If you can recover
my blade we will march. In the meantime tell the men to break ranks. They can help search or train.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  XXX

  Melissa had returned to the small village of Peabody and finally picked up the scent again.

  “A White Mage travelling with a woman named Alice and an ogre. You’re certain?”

  “It would be hard to forget,” Lorimer said. “They came by just before the solstice and rescued our missing children.” The man gave her a rough bow. “We are truly grateful.”

  “I am glad he was there to help.”

  Melissa was in an awkward position. She could not, under any circumstances, admit publicly that Waldo was an imposter. If the story got out that someone was pretending to be a member of her order then people would start to question if the White Mages they met truly were White Mages. It might also give other magic users dangerous notions. Minister Barrows had given her specific instructions not to reveal the fact Waldo was an imposter to anyone outside of the Order. In his judgment any harm Waldo caused could simply be denied and explained away as rumor. There were so many false tales about them already a few more wouldn’t matter. Compared to the problems a rash of imposters might cause it was better just to pretend he was one of their own. After all, how much trouble could one man possibly make?

  Sooner or later she would track him down and that would be the end of his mischief.

  Melissa was relieved to hear he had done some good. Saving those poor children and returning them safely was exactly what a true White Mage would do. But to go about with an ogre in his service? She could not begin to understand how he could he tolerate having that thing near.

  “He didn’t accept any sort of reward?”

  “Well, he made a couple jokes about taking one, but didn’t and set out right away.”

  “Towards Norwich?”

  “That’s right, Mistress Cornwall.”

  Curiouser and curiouser, he had robbed her and Master Roger, but refused to take anything from these villagers. Did he only steal from fellow mages? You are a strange one Waldo Rabbit.

  “I beg pardon.”

  Melissa saw a little girl of eight or so cautiously approach her. “Yes, child?”

  “This is Jenna,” Lorimer said. “She is one of the children that Waldo rescued.”

  Melissa smiled down at the innocent child. “Well how lovely, what can I do for you, Jenna?”

  “Is it true the White Mages are plotting to take over the world?”

  Lorimer gawked at her, then at Melissa, and then back again. “Jenna, you can’t ask Mistress Cornwall something like that.”

  “It’s all right, I am not going to take offense,” Melissa gently patted the top of the girl’s head. “Tell me dear, who told you that?”

  “Master Rabbit! He told us not to trust any White Mages except for him.”

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  “Do you know him?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact we first met just a matter of days ago.”

  “So the two of you are friends?”

  “Friends? No, no I am much more than that to him,” Melissa caressed her wand as she spoke. “I am his fate.”

  XXX

  Celton Poisondagger was returning to his quarters following another dinner where he was seated among children. Every meal was a public reminder of his low standing within the family, relatives cast smug looks in his direction and refused to acknowledge his existence. From talking to father he knew nothing was going to change. The knowledge did not make it any easier.

  Outside the door to his rooms his younger brother waited.

  “Murat.”

  “Brother.”

  “Do you want something?”

  “Just a few minutes of your time.”

  “All right.”

  They went inside. As soon as the door was shut Murat got right to his point.

  “Brother, when the time comes, I want you and your sons to support me.”

  “The time for what?” Celton asked cautiously.

  “Our father is hale and hearty, and you know I wish he could live forever.”

  “Don’t we all?”

  Murat spoke slowly, measuring each word. “Yet, we all know father will pass on at some point. When that sad day comes who knows what will happen? Wouldn’t it be better, wouldn’t it be safer if we were all united?”

  Celton relaxed a bit. This wasn’t a conspiracy. Murat was trying to find allies and it only made sense that he would turn to him and his sons. The other family members were dangerous. It was logical to try and protect yourself.

  “We share the same mother, and I agree we should be united. But don’t you think you should be supporting me? I am the older brother after all.”

  “That doesn’t matter. Only strength counts.”

  “I am also more skilled.”

  “I am sure that comes as a great comfort as you listen to the little ones talk with full mouths.”

  “Is that what this is about Murat? You think I’ve fallen and that means I will follow you now?”

  “Brother, you have fallen,” Murat held a hand up. “I am not saying it is just, but father doesn’t need to be just. You’ve been tainted with failure. You are no longer a candidate. I am not the only one who believes that, the entire family thinks the same.”

  “All of our positions change. We never sit at the same seat two meals in a row.”

  “But none of the other contenders have ever been exiled to the end of the table. You are literally as far down as you can be. No one will follow you now.”

  “Things can change.”

  “Not enough.”

  “You might be surprised.”

  “Is that your answer then? You won’t side with me?”

  “I agree we should make common cause, but you should support me.”

  “The rest of the family won’t accept you as head, not now.”

  “I think they will, and soon.”

  “Being stubborn doesn’t change the reality of the situation, brother.”

  “Murat, you and the family don’t know as much as you may think. My rise will be just as quick and spectacular as my fall.”

  His brother shook his head. “Father never forgives that easily. For now at least, let us agree to be allies. We can sort out just who is following whom later.”

  “I can agree to that.”

  As his younger brother departed Celton had no doubt when the time for action came he would be the one in control.

  XXX

  Walter was lying naked on a table. On the chest, where the heart had been, the sewn up wound and seal were plain to see. Walter’s body consisted only of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. Charred remnants of bone and flesh were all that remained of the limbs.

  Next to the table was a cart with a pair of arms and legs that had been neatly severed and washed. Also on the cart was a saw, a pair of very sharp knives, an assortment of smaller hooks and scrapers, a large needle, and spools of thread.

  Lilith was hovering over her son, carefully examining the damage. She would need to reattach the arms and legs as cleanly as possible or Walter would have difficulty using them.

  “It doesn’t look too bad. Once I have the new ones stitched on I will reanimate them and you should be fine. I expect you won’t even notice the difference after a few days.”

  Walter’s dead eyes stared up at the ceiling. It refused to acknowledge her.

  “You know it’s fortunate zombies can’t feel pain. If you were alive I expect your screams would have been heard from one end of the castle to the other. Assuming you survived.”

  Walter said nothing.

  “As it is, in a couple hours I should be done and you will be able to walk out of here in perfect condition.”

  She paused, but her son remained silent.

  “You know Walter, you could at least be a little appreciative of what I am doing for you.”

  That finally got a reaction as Walter’s head jolted in he
r direction. “Is that a joke? What should I be grateful for? You let Hera do this to me!”

  “No,” she said patiently. “You let her do this to you. I taught you better, from the moment you were allowed to put on the black robes you were expected to protect yourself. That hasn’t changed simply because you died.”