Blink gradually opened his eyes. His vision was blurred but he could vaguely make out the forms of Gallen and Maddock over him. The faint glow of magic emanating from them as they healed him. The intense burning could still be felt on his arm. He must have fallen unconscious from the pain. Sweat wet his brow and a clammy stickiness coated the clothing that clung to him. His heart and head pounded amidst muffled voices.
‘It i…n’t respon…ng to the h…ling,’ said Gallen. Blink heard it but through a constant din of ringing in his ears that cut in and out. Through the blur of his vision, he could see Horrog staring at him, those golden eyes piercing through the haze. They almost glowed like hot forge iron with their intensity.
‘K…p tryi…,’ came his voice through the ringing.
Lady Jadissa had moved to the box on the desk and was reaching inside. She lifted out what looked like a sword. Blink tried to focus and could only just make out the great length of the blade and what appeared to be fur on the guard. She turned toward Blink.
‘Is th… the boy y… took from th…m? The Kan…ite?’ She seemed to be asking Horrog, but he her no mind. His gaze stayed firmly on Blink as if he might spring forth and bite him at any moment.
‘Tak… to his r…m.’ Was the last thing he heard as Maddock and Gallan lifted him and with an arm on each shoulder slowly took him downstairs to his room. Blink was so dizzy with pain and confusion that he didn’t even notice Demera on the stairs rushing past him, or the gasps of the cooks and particularly the stern yelling that came from Cookie. He was laid on his cot and left there. Cookie placed a lit candle by his bed with a large bowl of broth and bread. He felt her touch his forehead. It was soft and loving.
‘Oh lad… I’m so sorry they’ve done this to you again. I’ll have that dwarf master by beard hanging above one of my cook fires I will,’ she said threateningly. Blink groaned softly trying o find the words to thank her for her kindness.
‘I know lad. You just rest and all will be better on the morrow,’ she said reassuringly. She sighed and brushed the hair from his face. She wet a cloth and folding it placed it on his forehead.
‘Always wanted a boy I did. Not for lack of trying me an old Harry mind you. But seems there was not but daughters written in my stars, lad. Least not ‘til you arrived with your big eyes staring about. Not a word you spoke; just blinked at us all like a baby bird. I’m sorry I couldn’t take you away an’ be all you needed lad,’ she said softly stroking his cheek. Blink couldn’t respond to her; he was already asleep. Gone beyond that small room, the mansion, the city of Bonny, across time and fields, to a place of otherness. To a place where the soft touch of another hand lightly cupped his cheek.
Blink was woken by a woman; she had her long hair tied back in a large bun on top of her head. It had strands of beautifully plaited hair and beads woven into it. She stroked his forehead.
‘It is time to rise small one. You will miss all the fun if you stay in bed.’ Her voice was filled with warmth and kindness. She lifted Blink from his bed and carried him through the caravan and went outside. The air was cool and fresh. They were in a large open field of caravans that circled around a great bon fire. The flames rose high, and embers could be seen leaping from the tips of the fire and gliding into the star lit sky. There were no clouds, only the great expanse of the night and a full moon staring down at them. The sound of drums and pan flutes could be heard playing on the wind. Blink could smell the pine trees in the area, it had a sharp sweetness to it. She placed him on the grass with bare feet and held his hand. She wore a lavender knitted shawl, and her dress was a creamy colour with wolves and intricate patterns woven into the hems and sleeves.
They walked toward the fire and saw many other people there, laughing, drinking, and dancing. They wore similar clothes to that of his mother. My mother… he thought to himself. As he did the images around him seemed to shatter and reform. They struggled to hold in place. But I don’t have a mother…
The music was back, and the dancing continued. A lean, muscular man walked toward them. At his side was a large, curved blade sheathed in treated wood and bound with leather and buckles. Down the sheath was engraved patterns of a great wolf swallowing the moon. A large tuft of fur burst from the top of the sheath with a red leather-bound handle attached. The man wrapped his arms around the woman and laughed and smiled. He knelt to Blink’s level and said something, but Blink couldn’t make out the words. They seemed lost somewhere in a place without sounds. The man smiled and ruffled Blink’s hair. Blink pushed his hand off and frowned at him, I hate it when father treats me so small… Father? The image before him began to shatter again. Sounds started to mingle together and vanish. He felt his arm and it hurt, like a fresh burn flared there for a moment.
Howling. There were howls coming from the forest of pines. The man and the woman stood to attention. They started to talk to one another, but Blink heard no speech from either of them. All he could make out were the howls of wolves and the faltering of the joyous music. His vision cracked again and shattered. His arm radiated heat crying for attention once again. He looked up and he was on the ground. The caravans were on fire and there were people and wolves lying dead all around him. He searched for the woman and the man. Mother? Where is mother? Why did she leave me here? He thought to himself fretting at her absence. He saw that he was underneath one of the caravans holding tight to the wooden spokes of a wheel. Looking out at the vision of death, fire, and blood he saw but one familiar face. There by the bon fire was the lean man. He was yelling, and angry with someone. The man raised the sword above his head guarding and ready to fight. The sword was white like a bone and viciously curved toward the end of the blade, the guard of the blade was a thick ring of fur he had notice before. The man’s face changed in from of him, his features contorted into that of a snarling muzzle. He bared long sharp fangs and his lip curled and twitched above them. His hands grew long thick black claws at the end. He was speaking but again no sound could be heard. It was only now that Blink realised that all sound was gone. There were men standing before him, one a dwarf and the other a towering figure with tattoos covering his face and body. The large man wielded a great axe and was bleeding. He stood ready to protect the dwarf should another attack come. Is that my master? Blink thought with surprise, and once again the image shattered like glass and reformed.
There was another, a woman with thick black hair. She was on the ground in front of the wolfish man with the sword. She held her face trying to stop the bleeding from great gaping gashes of claw marks across her face and scalp. She looked over at Blink. Demera? The image broke again. Demera? Demera!
‘Demera!’ He shouted as he sat up in bed. He was panting and sweat was streaming all over his body. The candle by his bed had burned about halfway down and the broth in the bowl was cold. His arm still throbbed with the pain of burns and when he looked at it, he could see the seared flesh. It had been coated in ointment and was sticky to the touch. The words no longer visible on the skin but each burn resembling an angry link in a chain. It wrapped and interlocked up his arm to his shoulder. He heard footsteps coming down that hall and he prepared himself for the worst and stood up. He winced from the pain but readied himself. The door swung open and standing in the dim light of the candle was Ra’Handa.
‘You’re okay!’ she breathed and moved toward him, and they embraced.
‘Agh!’ he said as he jumped back from the sting of her arms against his burns.
‘Sorry!’ she said drawing back and looking at his arms. ‘What happened? Cookie said you was burned.’
‘Ra, I have to get out of here.’ He said with a husky voice. ‘One of these days he’ll kill me’. Ra’Handa gave him a concerned look as though she wanted to press him for more information about what had happened. She decided against it and nodded.
‘When do you want to leave?’
‘Do you have that statuette, the stone figurine I lost earlier?’ Ra’Handa nodded and looked confused. ‘Then we leave now. That thing is worth a fortune to someone. Maybe we can sell it and use the money to hide from Master…’ he paused, ‘… Horrog; just Horrog,’ he said refusing to give him the title that denoted ownership. If he was going to leave then there was no point calling that man master any longer.
‘Worth a fortune?’ she questioned.
‘I’ll explain later. Just get me out of here.’
‘Alright.’ She thought for a moment. ‘There’s a small passenger ship in the docks that’s pulled in for the night and leaves at first light. By the time they realise we’re on it, it’ll be too late.’
‘That’s good enough for me,’ said Blink and motioned for them to leave.
‘You not gunna bring anything?’ said Ra’Handa surprised.
‘I’ve been a slave all my life Ra’Handa. What would I possibly bring with me?’ he said decisively. There really wasn’t anything he could bring with him. All he has ever owned were a few threadbare clothes that Cookie would mend and alter when he outgrew them. There was nothing here for him any longer. No hope for a life beyond the one that bound him here. He would be dead either way.
They made their way carefully through the halls and up the stairs to the kitchen. All the cooks had been sent home for the evening and it was too early in morning for any others to be around. Ra’Handa bid Blink wait whilst she gathered a few things from the kitchen. She found several clean cloths and used them to fashion a sling for Blink’s arm and another as a back for any food they could carry quickly away with them. When they were done, they exited through the delivery door Ra’Handa had used to get in and out through the alleyway. It was still dark outside and the crisp morning air chilled them.
‘I thought I heard mice in the kitchens,’ came a voice from the darkness of the alleyway. They both tensed and frantically searched the shadows. Blink could see through into the world of grey haze a figure that made his stomach twist. Demera stepped forward into the moonlight that peaked over the edges of the buildings. I can’t fight now. She’ll kill Ra if she catches her.
‘Ra. Run and get outta here,’ he croaked. She ignored him and gently laid him down on the ground. Blink gritted his teeth as he felt the throbbing of his arm against the cool stone walls. Ra’Handa pulled out two daggers from her sides and held them up in front of her and shifted her feet to brace for attack.
‘Your clothing… so you’re a Magpie now Ra’Handa?’ Demera said looking her up and down, the scar along her face slurring the words slightly. The spiked plate armour running the length of her arms were raised into two clench spiked fists. ‘I’ve waited a long time to get a hold of you little thief.’
‘Humph,’ Ra’Handa scoffed. ‘You’re going to be waitin’ a lot longer yet mate.’ At that Ra’Handa threw both of her daggers directly at Demera’s face. She lifted her gauntlet and swiped at the air to deflect them. It caught the dagger with a cling of metal on metal but the second was thrown slightly behind it and found its place buried in Demera’s shoulder. She let out a gritted yell from the pain. Ra’Handa seized her moment to run forward dipping low to the ground and using her muscled arms to push herself upward driving her feet with all her force straight up into Demera’s lower jaw. Demera staggered backwards from the blow, blood and saliva running down her mouth and chin. She grinned exposing teeth stained with crimson and lifted a metal fist to wipe away the blood.
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‘I’m going to enjoy tearing those wings off lil’ magpie,’ she said raising herself up. Blink watched on with his heart pounding in his chest. He hated not being able to help, hated his own weakness at that moment. Ra’Handa stood at the ready, leaning forward slightly. Blink tried to call out to her, but his throat was burned, and the words struggled to come out, ‘don’t get too close.’ Ra’Handa made no sign that she had heard him. Demera slammed her fists on top of one another creating a clenched ebony tower of metal and began muttering under her breath. As she did so the bleeding began to stop and the dagger in her shoulder was slowly pushed out by the flesh around it knitting together and healing. The dagger clanked on the ground in front of her. She continued to mutter words under her breath and a stream of black and green energy emanated from the gauntlets. These flowing streams moved and twisted around them chaotically without any sense of purpose or direction. Ra’Handa knew magic when she saw it and moved quickly. Trying to interrupt whatever spell Demera was casting she scooped up the deflected dagger from the ground and vaulted herself from the wall into the air. She glided through the air moving in behind Demera, her mohawked braid of hair trailing behind her. Gripping the dagger with both hands she plunged it down at Demera with all the weight and strength within her. The dagger came down all the way to the hilt, finding its place in her back. Ra’Handa looked up from the wound to see that Demera had not moved or stopped muttering.
‘Ra!’ Blink cried as loud as he could. Demera’s grin never wavered, and she spun around slamming an armoured fist into her chest and driving her into the back wall pinning her there. The skin beneath her leather sizzled and rotted. Ra’Handa screamed. She slammed both fists together into Ra’Handa’s chest and held them there. Ra’Handa’s screams echoing throughout the alley and into the streets. Demera had been waiting for her to attack, waiting for her to get close enough to strike. No! No! I told you not to get too close! I told you! Blink knew the pain that devoured Ra’Handa’s skin, he knew the diseased necrosis that would leave sickly sores beneath that armour. I can’t leave her like this. I won’t! I will be strong! Blink forced himself to his feet and with all the strength left in his body threw it against Demera. Her whole form bucked and went forward and with a loud crack, her head connected with the masonry of the wall where Ra’Handa was held. Demera’s body slumped to the ground and the sickly black and green energy dissipated. Ra’Handa grabbed her chest fighting for breath. Blink went to help her to her feet as best he could, but she brushed him away. She reached over and ripped the dagger from Demera’s body and used the wall to pull herself up. They could hear movement from inside the mansion. They were rousing to the sounds of the fighting. If they did not move quickly all their efforts would be for nothing once Horrog’s guard found them.Blink looked down at the limp form of Demera. She lay there still and bleeding from the wound of the dagger and thick blood left her face in a gruesome visage. I’ve killed her. She’s dead and it’s my fault, thought Blink. Fear and loathing plucked at him. Despite all the horrors of pain she had put him through killing had not been something he thought himself capable of.
‘We need to get outta here,’ Ra’Handa said through heavy breaths as she collected her daggers and sheathed them. Blink stood motionless staring at Demera.
‘I think I killed her Ra,’ he said rasping at the pain in his throat.
‘Better than she deserved. Now come on. We don’t have time for this right now,’ she said urging him to move. He knew the sense of her words and reluctantly made his body move. Any hope they had of slipping away without incident gone. Horrog would not let this rest.
Slowly making their way through the streets, keeping to the shadows meant their passage was slow. The city seemed to pulse with life as Horrog’s guard searched for them. In time they found the passenger ship at the far end of the dock. It was a small hauler that could carry no more than a hundred passengers and crew combined. Ra’Handa left Blink in a darked alley to rest whilst she went to collect her things. She moved lightly through the streets despite her large half-orc frame. Blink tried to make her stay but she would not listen. Despite the wound on her chest she would not relent. Blink knew it must have caused her far more discomfort that she was willing to show but he himself had neither the energy now the strength to stop her. Blink felt himself fade in and out of consciousness as he worked breaths into his lungs. His ear peaked as he heard the fall of boots on the paved streets. There were too many to be Ra’Handa.
‘Any sight of em in the upper districts?’ came a gruff voice with a thick Northerner accent. Blink knew the voice well. Once of the more hardened and longstanding members of the Seven Stars. Waldren was his name.
‘None, sir. We’ve sectioned it off as best we could,’ came a younger voice, one Blink was not familiar with. There were often newer recruits with the Seven Stars.
‘And the other search groups?’ said Waldren impatience in his voice.
‘Nothing as yet. They’ve gone through the Merchant’s Circle, and a few have been stopped by the rabble of Low End; I believe they’re still search the far docks,’ said the younger boy. He was doing well Blink thought to himself. Most of the newer recruits would have a tremor in their voice reporting into Waldren. He was surly at the best of times. Worse when kept from his night of rest and the bottle whiskey.
‘Just leaves the ships here to be searched. Best hurry afore them mages of the Master Horrog’s get involved. You’ve done well Randal lad,’ said Waldren.
‘Thank you, sir,’ said Randal pleased with himself. The compliment clearly bolstered him and gave him some confidence to continue. ‘If I may say sir, it’s an awful lot of trouble for a few thieves. If you take my meaning’.
‘Thieves yes. But they’ve taken something of import and done more harm than that you can be sure,’ said Waldren.
‘More sir?’ asked Randal.
‘Ey? Oh yes. Felled Demera on their way out. Be lucky to survive the breaking of the day at this rate,’ he said. So she is alive... Maybe she’ll pull through or the mages can do something for her,’ Blink thought hopefully. He also knew it to be a lie to himself. He had heard them speaking, it seemed more likely she would die from her wounds and not only would be an escaped slave and thief, but also labelled a murderer.
‘Them that did it can’t be far,’ Waldren added distractedly. It was unusual for the man to be so forth coming, especially under the circumstance. Blink heard him stepping closer to the darkened alley. Quicky and quietly he tightened himself into more of a ball amidst the darkness. His breath caught in his lungs, and he held it dearly in apprehension of his discovery. His chest ached and the effort dizzied him, yet he held it still.
‘Demera sir! Some of the others were talking. Saying the Maggies and one of the servants made a play for Master Horrog throat. Says it had to do with the Daybreaker of Dayargain and all,’ said the recruit. He’s certainly peeked in his tone. I wish he’d shut it and go someplace else away from me, thought Blink disparagingly. The footsteps that encroached closer toward Blink’s hiding place ceased and rounded swiftly.
‘That’s an awful low of talking, saying and supposing recruit! I’ll not have such rot and nonsense being passed about. They were servants that took something Master Horrog be wanting back, and soon to be murder on top of it. You just better remember it’s nothing more than that and you be sure to remember it!’ he barked at the younger man.
‘I… well I didn’t mean nothing by it, sir. Was just…,’ Randal went on.
‘Was just nothing and you be sure to tell the others so. Last thing this place needs is bad blood between them Magpies, Master Horrog, and worst this them Dawn bastards. You hear me?’ said Waldren warningly.
‘Yes… yes, sir. Very well , sir,’ said Randal understanding he had over stepped. There was a tenuous relationship amongst the various guilds of the city, Horrog’s dealings, and worse still with that of Dayargain. Since Bonny’s independence there had been more than a few skirmishes and diplomatic incidents that has set teeth on edge amongst the powers that be. Waldren was right in saying it would not do for word to get out of such things.
‘Now away with you. Search that passenger ship and on with it,’ said Waldren.
‘But sir… we’re not allowed to do that sir,’ said Randal. It was true that they could not do that. Having been cleared by the harbour master there was no legal right for Horrog’s men to set foot on any barge not belonging to him. However, knowing what troubles could befall a passenger ship beyond the cape it was always better to have the pirates on your side than against it. Blink hope Ra’Handa would return quickly and without being seen.
‘You just tell em who you work for, and they’ll let you search well enough. After that they both left and continued their search of the docks. Before long they were scouring the open areas of the passenger ship, to vocal dislike of the captain and the crew, and more than a few of the passengers.
It was growing dangerously closer to the breaking of the day by the time Ra’Handa arrived. She gave Blink a gentle shake to wake him. It seemed he had fallen asleep, thankful for the cool morning air on his burns.
‘You’re alright,’ he said huskily.
‘Sorry it took so long. There’s Horrog’s goon all over Bonny lookin’ for us,’ she said lifting him to his feet. She handed him a back with a bedroll wound on top. She had another for herself.
‘They were here,’ he forced out.
‘I know. They’ve bin everywhere. They moved on a while back and the ship is clear for the moment. No more speakin’ til you’ve had some proper rest though ey,’ she said making him move. He did as she said and followed her. The crew, having been disturbed once already had retired to their quarters. They would soon be rousing and the usual work of preparing to sail would begin. With all the quiet at their disposal they made their way aboard.
All their years around the docks meant they knew the workings of a ship, and they soon found the cargo hold with little effort of challenge. The only resistance they found was a member fo the crew that had turned to whiskey and his cups following the disturbance of Horrog’s guards. He was busy relieving his bladder over the side of the ship and paid little heed to their movements. Blink had thought of how he would suffer the captain of the ship in the morning. Fisk would never have stood for such behaviour or a nightwatchman. Once within the makeshift comforts of the cargo hold Ra’Handa unrolled one of the mats and helped Blink down to rest. She did so, fighting through her own injuries, wincing and grunting faintly. Blink ignored it and let her be, he would have to look over her wounds and clean them after some rest.
‘I’ll keep watch until we’re out at sea. You get some rest,’ she said but Blink was already closing his eyes before she had finished. The stinging thud of his arm fading into nothing as he passed into fitful sleep.
Blink had the same dream as before. He was a small child awoken by that same woman. She took him to the bon fire, and he heard the music and revelry of the dancers in their lavender coloured and embroidered clothing. The man with the bone and furred sword greeted them. He smiled and the woman and Blink with yellow eyes that took them in deeply. They seemed to wrap Blink as if in fine cloth and tenderness. It was odd to be regarded as such. This time he heard the words they spoke.
‘The Ancient One is looking forward to the night of your naming little pup,’ he said in a voice like a low horn song. The man tousled his hair. He thought again to himself of his annoyance at his father’s behaviour.
‘Leave him be husband. He will be bigger than you some day and make you regret your teasing,’ said the woman with a teasing chiding tone. They laughed and held one another. The dream moved as before but before he knew what to think the howls and fire enveloped his world. He saw again the bleeding face of Demera scowling at him. His guilt at killing her clawing at him. It dug at the edges of his heart, he knew something of relief in that she could no longer harm him, but regret at the taking of a life. The images of the dream came in faster and in shorter bursts. It was hard to hold onto anything.
At times the images would stop, and all sound would disappear. He would have his eyes fixed on the bone sword and fur. It dripped with blood. He saw the man wielding it holding it out to him, still stained with blood and flames swirling around them. The man’s face started at him, blood streaming down and eyes never blinking or hesitating. Gone was the enveloping love and wrath, now replaced to terror and rage. The man’s face would contort, and Blink would see the visage of a wolf in the man’s face, sharp fangs, protruding snout, and long clawed hands. At no point was Blink willing to reach out and take the sword. He wanted to run but his feet seemed fixed to one place. The man kept trying to say something to him, but Blink couldn’t make it out. He said it over and over, but the words never came to him within the dream. He wished so that he could understand them.
‘What? What do you want?’ he yelled. The man’s mouth just kept speaking without sound. ‘I can’t hear you. I don’t understand what you want from me,’ he said again and again. The man finally reached out in frustration at him, holding forth the sword of bone and fur. ‘I don’t want it! I don’t want the sword. You take it!’ Blink said desperately willing the sword away from him. The man continued to hold it out toward Blink, his face constantly changing between to loving face of a father and hungry anger of the wolf.
‘No!’ Blink yelled. ‘Get away from me!’
The man stopped speaking for a moment. It was then that the man was replaced by a giant scarred wolf that lunged at his head. Jaws opened wide swallowing him whole.