Part Thirty-two
It was late in the night when Gwindor woke, and close to morning. He was not certain at first what had woken him. As he propped himself up on his elbows, he could see Duma's cot was empty except for gear and weapons arranged there, but craning his neck Gwindor saw the half-Orc asleep in his blanket, before the stove.
The slight rustle and creak of a cot, stifled breaths and faint gliding of skin against skin drew Gwindor's attention to that which had roused him.
Dale.
His hair was hanging loose at his back and seemed intensely red by the light of flame through the stove-grill and seemed to flicker more, as Dale rode high atop Tsuki. His skin glowed more than that, appeared to suck in all the light of the room and bounce it back in more beautiful color. He was pierced by Tsuki, as it were, and now it seemed Dale was the one that worked wood with his hands.
Gwindor had learned recently that Men greatly enjoyed seeing their lover in expression of pleasure. Of course, Elves enjoyed this, but not often to the extent that they wished to watch their lover pleasure themselves. In his involvement with them, Gwindor had found that Dale knew of this weakness in Men and was quite willing to oblige Tsuki's Mannish appetites.
He did look beautiful. Gwindor remembered times in which Dale had been posed over his body in that fashion, only then it would have been Gwindor's hand upon him. Tsuki would have looked over from his cot and seen a sight such as Gwindor did now, and Dale would have near silently worked to send himself and Gwindor into ecstasy. Tsuki would have seen Dale's head fall back and his mouth open in soundless cry of pleasure.
Tsuki would see what he had seen, Gwindor thought, no, he thought again, Tsuki saw more. Tsuki must be able to see that Dale loved him, because from this vantage, Gwindor could see.
Dale saw Gwindor looking at him and smiled. He even removed his clothes, now, with Tsuki. He did not care so much if the scars showed. Tsuki had convinced him that the scars could not make him undesirable. Tsuki's eyes rolled toward Gwindor as Dale lay down at his side. Though he looked at Gwindor, the contented expression on his face was entirely for Dale. They could be attentive to Gwindor and were good friends to him, but they were simply more interested in each other, and it was getting more difficult to hide. Or, Gwindor considered, perhaps they no longer believed in trying to hide.
Gwindor turned away from them. If he had remained looking at them, they might have gestured for him to join them, and Gwindor felt that would not be right. It was not very uncommon for Elves traveling together and of a certain age to share their bodies, even three together, but when an Elf saw a companion showed signs of devotion to any other, they were wise to find new partners. It was not the purpose of sharing to take the place of or interfere with love.
He looked into the dim fire-lit room and could see Galadhiel asleep on her cot. Gwindor realized, as he looked toward her, that he desired her. He was no longer thinking of Dale and Tsuki or lack of companionship, he simple desired Galadhiel.
It was not the most comforting knowledge, to desire one who he could only have if he should feel devotion and she should feel the same for him, but who in public presented themselves as one who needed no more courting but an offer to share a bed. Still, even knowing the circumstances, Gwindor did not feel put off.
By morning, no message had come, and so the companions went about business such as they were able, waiting to hear from a Wizard who knew they did not carry a message for him. The three females rose early, collected the most obvious laundry from the party and closed off the rear room with a curtain made from a blanket and met with each other under pretense of doing the wash. Duma had already washed his clothes, and so to give him no excuse to enter, they removed his drying clothes to the beams of the front room to continue drying over the stove.
Tsuki and Dale took their turn bathing when they woke, as they had not the night before. They went into the bathroom together and it was obvious to the females, as Tsuki made a point of instructing them not to draw hot water for the laundry at the same time they were drawing hot water for bathing, or each might strain the boiler and end up with cool water.
The others began to wake then and having washed the night before they set about making some kind of breakfast, as they saw no signs that anyone had sent for them or invited them to share breakfast. The four males in the front room waited for water to boil and rice to cook as they sat at the table. They fell into conversation of history and lore and Fei questioned Beryl, Gwindor and Kato often as he made notes.
Dale, Tsuki and Laurel had seen a few of his notes, but for the most part Fei kept these secret, but he was honest when he said he was recording stories and histories of the west. He was also making notes on the cultural differences between the various races that populated their world.
In the rear room, the ladies were doing the wash and engaged in a conversation about the differences between males in females in how they shared themselves before marriage, which led to a discussion of the customs of Laurel's lowland people and how others often misunderstood and believed they kept two spouses. "It is because we consider the bond with one who we conceive and bear children with equal to a bond with one we practice a trade or work with daily. We are not the lover of the one we work with, but we believe that relationship should be close and as trusting and faithful as a marriage."
"So, if I were among your people, I might have one partner I attended court functions with and brought along on diplomatic missions, but another partner to share my bed and raise children alongside me?"
"I suppose you could put it that way," Laurel agreed.
"So, to you, Tsuki is this helpmate, your work partner. Does he understand how you feel closely bonded with him?"
"He does. Tsuki knows our relationship is one of working magic together. I do not think Dale is as familiar with my people's customs, but he does understand I will follow Tsuki where he goes. Whether he likes the situation, I am not decided."
"Dale will come to understand," Lenaduiniel said, "It is not as if you desire Tsuki as your lover."
"No. I have another for that, who does work I am not most qualified to help him with."
In the front room, Duma woke in his blanket on the floor. The others were all washing, bathing or awaiting breakfast. There were pots on the stove hissing slightly and Duma could see his wash had been moved to the beam above his cot.
Atop the cot, Duma found his new gear and clothing laid out with a written note. The knife he had stayed awake modifying, cleaning and sharpening was still there, only now in a sheath threaded onto a belt. He saw Lena had chosen a bow and that it had been restrung and placed on the bed. There was also a quiver full of arrows. The pants Dale had given him had been altered with laces along the sides, so that even if Duma gained bulk they would continue to fit. He saw Dale had finished altering one of his shirts and put new laces where the sleeves were detachable and at the neck. There were two bracers as well, and the top Duma had requested made of leather; it was just as he had imagined it should look. The green cloak, scarf and boots he had worn before were also there, though Duma was less pleased with these things.
Duma dressed quickly, removing the left sleeve from the shirt and putting it on with pants and top. He buckled the belt across his hips. If other Orcs saw him, Duma thought, they would never suppose him to be a pet. No usual warrior or Chieftain covered themselves in this particular fashion, but to gain such a full set of matched leather gear an Orc had to be a strong warrior or a Chieftain who had the Master of the Tannery to do his bidding. Duma was pleased, he certainly did not look like one who would be easily dominated.
Duma lifted the two sheets of paper from his cot. The one on top was written by hand in old style runes and Duma could read it. It was a note from Dale
Dale said that he hoped the clothing was to Duma's liking. If at some later time, Duma needed new boots, cloak or other gear, Dale would help him obtain these things, but only when they were away from a place controlled by the King's guards and could obtain a supply of leather. Until then, Dale hoped Duma would wear the boots cloak and scarf and remain disguised as an Elf. Dale promised to Alter Duma's other shirts next he had time available to him. Dale said that there was one more thing Duma could have, and that he had left it in Duma's bag, and that however it was used, it should be kept clean and oiled. Lastly, Dale included a list of names and said he would like Duma to indicate how he would like his name rendered.
Duma eyed his bag but looked back to the names before searching for the hidden gift. The names were similar, but spelled using different combinations of runes. Duma could identify the runes, but some seemed they must use Elven pronunciation as the order of the runes seemed strange to Duma. Dale had written out Duma's name using some common conventions of Mannish speech, Gobilin usage of Common Speech and Elven, thus:
Duma Orchelven Mapleson
Duma Elf-Orc Mapleseed
Duma Yrchelen Mapulion
Duma laughed at Mapleseed. He was not certain exactly how the last two names should be read, but believed they were the Elvish equivalents of the names written above.
The second paper was all in Elven script and after staring at it for a while, Duma recognized that it also had nine words arranged at the bottom, and thought it must be the same note written in Elven language and using their script. Duma might learn to recognize some Elvish words if he studied the notes together, but he would not know how to say the words.
Duma shrugged, he was not certain he wanted to know how to speak Elven...though, if he did learn the language, then he would understand the things the Elves whispered. If he wanted to, he could tell Marduk what they said. Or, he could avoid contact with Marduk. From a certain point of view, Dale owned his loyalty. It seemed strange that Marduk was the one who wanted him to go against Orc custom, but...perhaps Duma was not meant to think of Dale as a legitimate Chieftain.
It was a confusing issue. Duma lifted his bag from the floor and searched inside. He found the gift immediately, as it was something he had not seen before. It was Dale's flail, but he had not used it in Duma's presence. To Duma it seemed an Orcish whip handle without the whip. He saw how the many short thongs might be used to strike, as with a whip, only from a close distance.
Duma thought it must be a symbol of power for one who was below a Chieftain or Leader but above other Orcs. Dale had given him a symbol of rank, and that was better than the other Orcs had done.
Maybe, Duma thought, he should try to be loyal to Dale. Or, was this a sort of bribe? An Elven trick to make him believe he had rank that he had not earned and thus persuade him to side against the Orcs.
"Do not forget to comb your hair," Beryl said as he came near Duma to check the rice. Duma hung the flail from his belt with the thong and toggle Dale he left attached to it, and then took his comb from his bag. Duma often felt manipulated by Beryl.
"Will you help me make braids, please, Beryl?" Duma asked. Dale had been the first to wash his hair, but Beryl had been the one to cut and comb it, and ruined the hair-clumps Duma had been cultivating. If the Elves would not stand for Duma's hair to clump, he thought braids might make it easier to tolerate, but he did not know how to make braids. Most Orcs were able to grow impressive tight clumps in their hair with little effort, though some others shaved off their hair or kept it slicked with some mud or grease.
"I would not mind very much, but there are other things I might do with my time and other companions who wish favors of me. What might you do to convince me that I should tend to your need now?"
Duma thought and clacked his tongue stud against his teeth. "Ask more nicely?"
"Kato and Fei have asked me nicely to do things with them."
"Do something that you want?"
"Perhaps," Beryl said. He lifted the lid off the rice using a cloth to protect his fingers from the heat.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Nothing that you are not already supposed to be doing, now."
Duma pouted. "Give you something I have?"
"Perhaps. DO you think you have something I might want?"
Duma snorted. Lenaduiniel might not want to take his jewels, but Beryl did. Beryl had big green gems on his sword hilt and another clasping the sides of his cloak together. "A Gem?"
Beryl smiled.
"They are not all cut and polished, and value would be difficult to determine without making them polished, and that is difficult work. Surely braiding hair is not so difficult as cutting and polishing gems. It would not be a very fair trade."
"If it is not so difficult, you should be able to do it yourself," Beryl said calmly. He lifted the pots and took them to the table, leaving Duma.
Duma pouted. He had been out bargained by an Elf. Having his hair braided was valuable to him, because he did not know how to braid or manage hair, even if Duma knew it was an easy task for Beryl. A gem was likely more valuable to Beryl, because he did not know how to obtain and polish one for himself.
Still, Dale and Lena had acted as if the gems were very valuable to Men and Elves. Duma thought he should only give them to people who would give him many goods or services or at least ones he valued the most.
Duma combed his hair as he moved toward the table. "May I have some of the food?" He asked.
"Of course," Kato answered for the group, "I thought you knew our party shared meals. Or were you just asking to be polite?"
Duma asked because this party had made certain he understood that asking for what he wanted was considered appropriate behavior and that taking was considered bad and might be punished. Yet, he did realize some of the others took from each other without asking. He was still trying to learn the details of their culture. Even if he should not want to remain with them forever, it might be useful knowledge for an Orc to have.
Duma continued toward the table.
"Return the comb to your bag and then come to breakfast," Beryl said quietly.
When Duma sat, Fei pushed a bowl of rice toward him, with eating sticks lain across the top. Duma snarled at the rice, even though he was hungry.
"Is it the custom of the Uruk to prepare meals for each other?" Fei asked in his accented western Common Speech.
"If a Chieftain or Leader orders it. No Orc would assume a right to eat food that he had no share in killing or preparing, but he might try to take the food from others if he was strong enough. A weaker Orc waits to be ordered to eat, or does what they can to feed themselves."
"You look as if you lived on scarps, no offense intended," Kato said brightly, "If the rice does not seem appetizing, perhaps you might imagine it is something meatier...maggots maybe."
Gwindor groaned.
Kato laughed. "I did not mean to turn anyone off their breakfast."
"There would be more for you," Fei said.
"True," Kato said laughing, then lifted rice to his mouth with a wooden spoon.
Tsuki and Dale came from the bathroom already fully dressed and joined the others at breakfast. Shortly after they had sat to eat, a knock was heard at the door. Gwindor answered it and found two Rangers outside. They said that the Wizard had ordered that the one bearing a message from The Brown should come to him now, and that also the others were free to move about the Vale, although, not in secure areas, of course.
Tsuki knew that he was the one who would go. He excused himself to get his cloak, but made sure to pack a few other things in his cloak as he put it on, and also to take his unmade staff. He was wearing a mixture of eastern and western clothing that day, black pants and jacket over a white shirt and brown boots, sash and cloak. He wore his jewelry, except for the circlet, which was in a pocket of the cloak, but even the jewelry he wore was hidden when he walked outside, fully dressed.
As they saw Tsuki begin his walk to the tower with the Rangers, the others decided to split up and take care of business while there was time. Fei and Gwindor went together to join a tour of the Vale, because Fei was interested and others felt one of their party should accompany him. Beryl and Kato had plans to see the requisition officer, and Dale and Duma went along, helping to carry goods, though they later hoped to find a place to hunt or practice archery.
Duma said the females smelled different that day; Dale agreed that they might and suggested they keep a distance. Duma could practice archery with him.
The Rangers left Tsuki before the doors to the tower where two guards stood. They began to speak to say they would open the door, but Tsuki called out loudly and spoke the password, and the doors opened to him. He walked inside without a glance to the guards, and though he must have seemed powerful to them, he had the vision of his former Master in his mind telling him never to return here.
Tsuki was certain the Wizard had used compulsion on him, though he would not believe he had used it other than that once.
On the stairs a figure clothed in white stood, but Tsuki could see his face clearly, surrounded by long straight white beard and hair, and he knew this was not his former Master, but the Wizard who presently wore the robe color his Master once had.
The White stood gazing calmly at Tsuki. Though from a distance the hair and beard and robes might seem those of the Wizard Tsuki once knew, standing within the hall, Tsuki now noticed further differences beyond that of their faces. This Wizard did not wear robes of rich fabrics with a vaguely eastern style; his robes were simple, so that to those who knew nothing of magic, he might have seemed a very clean beggar. The staff he carried was different, as all Wizard's staves were unique and handmade. This one was wooden and seemed a gnarled branch smoothed with age. Also, there was a ring on this Wizard's hand, one with a bright red gem set in it.
This current White seemed to Tsuki as powerful as he had ever known His Master to be and he knew that he must show respect, for he stood in the presence of one who was greater, but at the same time, this Wizard and his motives were not personally known to Tsuki, and so Tsuki reminded himself to be cautious.
"I have come, Master White," Tsuki said, then bowed.
The White tsked his tongue against his teeth, he rarely had patience for formality. "Come upstairs, Mister Eru," he said then.
Tsuki gave a nod and then went to the stairs. He noticed then, no longer gazing at the Wizard, that the hall held many crates marked for shipping to various kings and archivists in cities throughout the west. Also, though the tower and the layout of rooms within was unchanged from the time Tsuki had lived here, the décor was much changed. Rather, there was no décor to speak of, as furnishings and equipment had all been removed.
In an upper chamber, which Tsuki remembered to be a dining room, Tsuki found more crates and the old dining table was piled with various tomes and the large fireplace gave off a scent of burnt leather. Tsuki forgot The White and his manners and rushed to the hearth to confirm his suspicion. "You cannot do this! A Wizard! Burning writings? It cannot be!"
"I think it quite obvious that it can be, Mr. Eru, as it is. I am destroying only the corruption and tainted works. I have more sense than to destroy wisdom when it is recorded. This will bean age of Men, and I dare say Men could use some wisdom."
"And you should be judge of all that is tainted or pure?" Tsuki asked angrily.
The White sighed. "There is no one left who is more qualified, and so the task falls to me. I do not take the matter lightly. Now sit, and act more sensibly. Nine seems a large company to escort one Halfling merchant to Eldsbridge."
Tsuki pressed his lips together so as to not reveal the name of their destination was news to him. Truthfully, he did not know that the White was correct, he might have said the name of that place to view Tsuki's reaction.
Tsuki sat at the table and tried to look calm. He propped his staff against the table beside him. "Does it…seem a large company?"
The White did not answer the question but shifted his eyes to Tsuki's staff. "It is a prop, much like the cloak."
"It is presently," Tsuki admitted, his tone light. He truly did not fear giving away this knowledge, as it should be obvious to a Wizard anyway.
"I know that you once lived here." The White shifted one of the tomes and pointed out the text on the page. Tsuki read and saw it was an account recorded by his former Master and that it was about him.
The boy was the son of the guardian of a shrine in the east, it read, and when the Wizard had reached the village the boy and the swords had been all that remained. It followed that The Wizard had learned that the Wanderer the boy had been left with had been slain and that the boy had hidden a tribe of nomads and that the Wizard had now brought him to the tower. "The boy's name is Tsuki, and I find this is appropriate as it is the word for 'Moon' in his Mother's language, as we use it for the light in the heavens and for the period of its cycle of phases."
That meant, his mother had been guardian of a shrine. There was no mention of his father. Why Tsuki seemed an appropriate name was not mentioned.
"You want to know when his desire for more knowledge turned to lust for power and madness," The White said. "You want to know if he had already turned away from goodness while you lived with him."
This was true, but Tsuki made no answer.
"That entry, when he first brought you here is dated. How old were you then?"
"I believe I had ten years. I have thirty-four now. My birthday is in winter."
The white nodded. "When you were fourteen, your master did a foolish thing and fell under the influence of the Dark Lord. For nine more years he kept you here, until in fit of conscience he sent you away and used compulsion to insure you could not return to him."
Before Tsuki could ask how this was known, The White turned the pages of the large tome and showed Tsuki the passage written in the handoff his former Master. It was a confession that he had sent Tsuki away, but more, it mentioned what plans he had for Tsuki if he should have stayed. He would have made Tsuki his Captain and sent him out to lead his army when war came.
"If not for this one moment of regret and attack of conscience, you might have continued your training, and then his army of newly-bred Orcs and deluded Highlanders would have had a leader who had trained with swords from youth and knew a dangerous amount of sorcery. The Vale may still have fallen, but then its army would already have ridden out and though I personally do not think you could have bested the one who is now High King, but you may have led the army wisely enough to deprive him of any companions and the future of another line of kings. The Dark Lord's power would still have been vanquished, but there may have been a much larger army looking for a leader and your Master would have known one he could ride to and find an ally. Then perhaps now you would be a great warlord and the High King and I should be plotting a way to defeat you and the one controlling you."
"And why should I have led an army of Orcs against one of Men?"
"Because nine more years with your former master would have left you willing to believe anything he said."
"I am no warlord and I hear that my former Master was defeated and then slain by some misused underling; all of that is no more than a frightening vision."
"There are some things here you may have," The White said, changing the subject. "The King has asked me to come here and make an inventory and to dispose of all dangerous things. Some things will be sent to the Brown for safekeeping; I mean to withdraw from the affairs of Men. Some things here are not dangerous in themselves but likely of little interest to common folk. And I have no wish to see any more things from the Vale fall into the hands of those Wizard mongers!"
"The spectacle of it does seem somewhat distasteful. I would cooperate with you, though I find the burning of tomes distasteful, unless you mean to count me among the dangerous things in this tower."
"Some things are not easily destroyed…"
"And so will find their way to the Brown for safekeeping…?" Tsuki finished.
"We shall see, Mr. Eru."