Earthdaughter

By L D Gerry

Copyright 1992

All Rights Reserved

Chapter Two

IF WISHES WERE BICORNS, THEN WIZARDS COULD RIDE

After the journey through the Tanglethorn, the skies opened up to reveal a truly beautiful day. Only a few diaphanous clouds hung in the sky, misting rather than concealing. The uplifting scent of a nearby bed of flowers tantalized their noses and washed away the dread the Tanglethorn had created. They both breathed deeply as if to carry the scent of the flowers with them forever.

Rather than run today, Merann and Calypsus walked at a sedate pace down the pathway. Both wanted to experience the beauty and calming effect of the rest of the day. The journey through the Tanglethorn had taken some six hours with stops to defend themselves and then to gather interesting items. Close to six more hours remained in the day for traveling, and they wanted to use those hours well. Merann fished her brush from her pack and began to brush out her nearly dry hair. Calypsus kept an easy pace so Merann could keep her balance.

Calypsus was clearly troubled at not having been able to defend Merann more effectively. It was not often that anyone or anything got the upper hand on the bicorn, and he felt his lapse keenly.

"Don't worry about it." Merann tried to console the bicorn, stroking his silken withers.

Don't worry about it? Are you insane? That creature fully intended to devour you, Merann! Merann was a bit shocked at the bicorn's vehemence.

"But he didn't. Amara was watching over us, even in the darkness of the Tanglethorn. She wouldn't have let us come to any danger," Merann replied confidently.

Merann was surprised to hear the otherwise confident bicorn admit to being uncomfortable about anything. Normally the bicorn's confidence approached and often surpassed mere cockiness. He must have been truly disturbed by the whole journey.

Don't try to get into my head, Merann. You know perfectly well that I am aware of every thought you have. The bicorn sounded just a bit testy.

"Then tell me, O great Master, how you could sneak up on me last night. I should be able to hear you as well," Merann tried to bring the bicorn out of his pensive mood by expanding on a peripherally related subject. The bicorn gave a snort of mirth.

You know perfectly well that we bicorns learned long ago how to shield our thoughts from our brothers and sisters. I simply chose to utilize that ability. Who knows? It may come in handy one day. Some of the bicorn's cockiness was beginning to return and that made Merann happy and willing to banter with the wisecracking bicorn.

"If that's the best answer I'm going to get, I suppose I'll just have to live with it. But you've been warned. Don't sneak up on me again!"

Since when have I listened to you, Merann? You'll just have to take your chances with me. The bicorn's cockiness was back in full swing, and Merann laughed in delight. Things were back to normal once again.

They stopped at a flower-sprayed open space to have their lunch. Merann pulled dried meat, water and some more of the precious fruit from her pack and one of the groundroots as a treat for Calypsus. Merann leaned against a convenient boulder while she thoughtfully chewed the tough but flavorful peppered and salted meat and then took up the roundfruit for dessert. Calypsus was nearby grazing on sweet new Spring grasses and drinking from the clear waters of the Sweetstream. Soon he would not be able to drink from the waters that ran alongside the pathway, for the part of the river that lay along Briarwood was called the Blood River, and that for good reason.

Briarwood was a foul city where most of the western continent's manufacture went on. Due to the heavy population density that manufacture usually demanded, there was also commensurately more crime. The people of Briarwood had a lamentable tendency to throw the weighted bodies of their criminals, dead or not, into the swiftly flowing waters. This was in addition to the uncounted number of people who were "helped" into the water by courteous protection men and other criminals. Boats passing downriver sometimes became snagged on long-forgotten skeletons attached to the river's bottom by weights and chains or rope, and would have to rip themselves free of their gruesome anchor.

Merann shook herself free of the recollections of lessons long past. Best not to dwell on the grotesque anomaly that was Briarwood. One could lose one's appetite.

Soon they were back on the road and had taken on a somewhat faster pace than before. There were no potential campsites in the area, and neither had any real desire to sleep under the stars, out in the open. They weren't that foolish. Especially so soon out of the Tanglethorn.

They stopped for a moment, casting about a treed and bouldered area for a campsite and Calypsus suddenly stiffened. Unable to perceive what disturbed the bicorn so, Merann craned her neck to try to spy it out.

Come out of the trees, brother. We have no desire to harm you. My sister, Merann Earthdaughter, accompanies me. Be at ease, brother. The bicorn said to something beyond Merann's sight. Merann was surprised at his stiffly formal speech.

Sister? That creature is no relation of yours, brother. Are you mad? Came from the concealing foliage. Merann wondered why Calypsus passed the conversation on to her.

She is sister to us all in ways you could not comprehend. She nursed me to health when my Dam passed on to the Void. Calypsus grated out to the unseen speaker. Merann detected disbelief still from what had to be another bicorn.

There was a rustling at the forest's edge and a paint-marked bicorn stepped from the tree line. It was a combination of white and a reddish-bay. The bicorn stood stiffly, clearly ready to fight or flee if it had to.

Greetings, travelers. I am Polysus. I am a traveler myself and am cautious when encountering humans. How is it that you, brother, are not bound with the straps and cloth of the humans? The new bicorn made the word human sound like an epithet. Merann felt distinctly uncomfortable at this turn of events.

The Earthdaughter is no master of mine, Polysus. She and I are as family and need no chains to keep us together. She raised me as an orphaned colt and then never demanded payment. We are honor bound. Calypsus replied. Merann was both startled and warmed to hear what her friend told Polysus. Calypsus sent her a private comment that their relationship should have been obvious.

The other bicorn threw up its head, surprised to hear the words of Calypsus. Merann wondered where the bicorn could have come from, where bicorns apparently still lived in bondage. The decision of the Council of Sweetstream had been delivered throughout a thousand league area.

"I greet you, Polysus," Merann told the bicorn. "I am honored to make your acquaintance. I am Merann Earthdaughter of the village of Sweetstream. I am a healer. Is there any service I might render you?" she inquired politely. Courtesy demanded very formal speech with strangers. Familiarity might cause an unfortunate misunderstanding.

"Certainly, friend. The journey will be made lighter by added company. Please call me Merann. This is my dear friend and companion, Calypsus. Might I remark that you are very beautiful?"

Please call me Polysus and dispense with the formality. I have never been one for formality, and I sincerely hope you don't mind a bad sense of humor. My fellows accuse me of one. Merann heard a reluctant mental chuckle and laughed.

"Then you and Calypsus should get along very well. He has been known to indulge himself to excess."

Wherever did you get an idea like that? Calypsus demanded indignantly and threw his head in a negative motion.

"Uh-huh. Right, Ser Whiskerface."

That set the tone for the rest of the day. The bicorns spent most of the time talking between themselves, but Merann didn't mind. She knew Calypsus missed the company of other bicorns, but was too polite to mention it to her. She was very glad they had met Polysus that day.

At a point when the bicorns were arguing whether or not the pun could be considered real humor, Merann saw what seemed to be a perfect campsite. It was a sheltered area with the remains of a previous encampment, and there was the evidence of an old fire pit that might still be serviceable. She called the company to a halt and dismounted, approaching the campsite carefully.

She stiffened and drew her long sword warily as she heard a soft crackling in the weeds to her left. She wondered if a monster from the Tanglethorn had followed them. There was a muffled scream as Calypsus shot forward and rousted a protesting, pleading form from the concealing grasses. The bicorn was screaming a challenge and striking at the stranger with his deadly forelegs.

"Calypsus, no! Leave him be!" Merann cried suddenly as she saw the crooked wizard's staff the man held. Calypsus backed off, but lowered his head in a threatening posture. He was determined to not be taken by surprise once again, and Merann could really blame him.

"Help! Get this creature away from me!" a cracking voice pleaded as the man cowered, hiding his face behind his upraised elbow. The man wore tattered robes with the remains of mud and feathers caked to them. Clearly the wizard had quite an interesting story to tell, if he survived his encounter with Merann's friend and protector.

"Calypsus won't harm you, ser, as long as you behave yourself. He's a little annoyed from earlier today and might choose to take his frustration out on you. May I ask your name?" She was careful to keep as straight a face as possible.

Fizzle! The splendidly marked bicorn laughed suddenly. The wizard stiffened, suddenly looking indignant. Merann stifled a laugh. Most people were unaware of the bicorns' gift of telepathy. The wizard looked around wildly before centering his attention on Polysus. Merann was actually quite surprised that the wizard had figured out who had indeed spoken.

"Dr. Jonathan James Fitzhugh, if you don't mind!" the wizard grated in a huff, trying to look dignified in a particularly ridiculous situation. The mud and feathers didn't help.

Okay, Dr. Fizzle. Fitzhugh glared at Polysus impotently.

"Pleased to meet you, Dr. Fitzhugh. I apologize for my companion." Polysus and Calypsus snorted with mirth. "I am Merann Earthdaughter. The black is Calypsus, the paint is Polysus."

Paint. I like that. Polysus sent to Merann, amused.

You're welcome. She replied silently.

"Are you certain your beasts intend me no harm?" Fitzhugh demanded. Polysus snorted dangerously. Merann quickly acted to dispel Fitzhugh's misapprehension and perhaps prevent his premature demise. At easily more than sixteen and a half hands, the bicorns towered over both Merann and Dr. Fitzhugh, and Merann didn't want to have to try to separate them.

"You are mistaken, ser! Polysus is merely a traveling companion of ours. He is under no geas to protect me. He is a friend," she explained, and laid a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder. She could feel Polysus' muscles tense in anger.

"I apologize if I have offended, Ser Polysus. It was a natural mistake. In my land, we are unfamiliar with your species." He stared openly at the bicorns, fascination foremost in his expression. Then he remembered his manners and bowed deeply to the offended bicorn.

Apology accepted, Dr. Fizzle. Polysus relaxed, though Merann knew he could take offense at any time. But she also knew, via Calypsus, that the paint was touched by the wizard's act of respect.

"Ma'am, if I may ask, how does the creature know the nickname that has plagued me since first I entered Folsey-Wembly's School of Wizardry?" Fitzhugh asked Merann, though he still openly admired both Calypsus and Polysus.

"Well, as you may have guessed, the bicorns are telepathic. They can pick out anything from an unshielded mind. Calypsus does me the favor of keeping mine shielded on a regular basis. That way I am relatively safe from those who would do me harm mentally," she explained to Fitzhugh, who looked a little shocked at the information.

"Oh. I gather then that my mind is rather wide open to anyone or anything that might happen to wander by?"

"In a word, yes. But that would be unlikely. Now onto you, Ser. From which village do you come?"

"Valenz. They, er, asked me to leave rather abruptly. There was a sudden disaster involving an escaped water elemental. They did ask me to perform a rain summoning spell, and I warned them that my grasp of elemental magic isn't all that great. But no. They wouldn't listen. Now the village has a marina where there wasn't one before. Too bad there isn't a boat or skiff for several miles around Valenz. It was, um, is, an inland village. I barely escaped with my life. I hid out in a chicken coop before it began to float away. Damned chickens chased me out, too," he said the last with such chagrin that Merann began to chuckle, an act she tried desperately to stop before she offended the man further. The wizard's shoulders sagged in defeat.

Finally, Merann could hold it in no longer, and she began to roar with laughter. At first, Fitzhugh stared at her in hurt consternation, then he too began to laugh. They both laughed so hard that tears began to come from their eyes and they had to sit down and clutch their aching sides. The bicorns joined in with mirthful nickering sounds. After quite some time, Merann and Fizzle managed to stop. Merann chuckled weakly, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Gods! I needed that. It is pretty bloody ridiculous, isn't it?" Fitzhugh remarked, grinning at her. She returned the grin.

Well, if it's magic you need to know, I suppose I could lend you some help. I have always had a talent for magic. Polysus stated.

"Do you mean that? I'd be forever grateful," Fitzhugh asked Polysus, his eyes glowing with hope. Never in his wildest dreams had Fitzhugh imagined his talents might get the further education and polishing they needed. His own Master at Folsey-Wembly had kicked him out when Fitzhugh had accidentally burned the man's beard off with a fire elemental during a practical exam.

"Oh yes, I have a talent for riding. I usually find myself riding out of villages rather quickly, and don't always have time for a saddle or bridle."

"Call me Fizzle! Might as well. I answered to it for some fifteen years of my apprenticeship at F.W.S.W."

He walked up to Polysus, and, taking a cue from Merann, began to scratch the area between Polysus' horns. The bicorn sighed in pleasure and lowered his head for more attention. The wizard ran a hand along one of the curving ebony horns and admired their beauty.

Fizzle dutifully scratched in the indicated area while Calypsus exhaled wistfully. Taking the hint, Merann began to vigorously scratch the space between the bicorn's ears.

In time, they made camp at the sheltered site, with Fizzle going to gather wood while Merann prepared the campsite and then prayed to Amara, as she did before every evening meal.  Merann gave the Goddess a silent thank-you for Her thoughtfulness and began preparing a stew from the vegetables. She assumed that the wizard had not had a decent meal in some time and would need a good healthy stew to speed his body into health.

She delved into the precious few spices and herbs her pack held to season the stew, and gathered some greens from the surrounding area. Then she took from the pack a few pieces of venison jerky to help flavor the stew further. As she finished putting the last of the ingredients into the pot, Fizzle arrived with his last armful of wood. He laid it atop the immense pile he had already gathered and then plopped down and leaned against a boulder, panting with exhaustion.

"Ah, a stew. Perhaps is there enough for me, also?" the wizard asked her plaintively. There was a certain wistfulness to his question, as if he expected her to say no.

"Certainly! Did you think I was going to eat all this myself? You must be joking. I don't have the capacity. I hope you have no prohibitions against meat."

"No, no! I'm as happy as anyone with a nice, thick bullock or venison steak smothered in herbs and a pile of fat tubers on the side, believe me. It's just that I haven't had a meal in the past three days, except for some greens I found at the side of the road. All they did was make me regular," he replied with some disgruntlement.

"Well, don't worry, the stew will be done in an hour or so.  We'll have some time to talk and get to know each other. Would you object to a cup of tea? I happen to have an excellent cinnamon-mint I mix myself."

"Cinnamon-mint? That's my favorite! You know, I've never found anyone else with a taste for the stuff. Imagine that," he scratched thoughtfully at several days' growth of beard and then made a face.

"Do you know where I might find a razor to deal with this? The river's not all that far away from here," he asked Merann.

"Sure. I think I have a straight razor here in the pack. Do you want it now?"

"No. I suppose it can wait until tomorrow, though it itches fiercely."

Merann brewed some excellent tea for them both and then sat back against a handy boulder as they sipped for a while in silence, watching the meadow's many different creatures go about their lives. In what seemed like no time at all the stew was done, and Merann was spooning it into a pair of deep wooden bowls.

"How is it that you have a pair of bowls? I thought you were traveling alone."

"I find sometimes that people seem to find me, and it would be rude not to offer my hospitality, don't you agree? Now watch that stew, it's quite hot."

"Oh!" he sputtered through burned gums, "you're right!  But it's a wonderful stew, nevertheless. My thanks to you, my lady."

Amazing how much pleasure a human can derive from burning their flesh, isn't it, brother? Polysus commented to Calypsus.

Merann looked up and saw the two bicorns emerging from the tree line and munching the last of some greens.

"Oh, hello there. You've taken your evening meals, I trust? Good. Then you can go find somewhere out of the way to play your silly pranks. It's time for the grown-ups to talk."

"You know, Mistress Merann, I believe I have just been insulted, though I couldn't say for sure," Fizzle laughed.

You have, Dr. Fizzle. You have. Polysus said nipping at Calypsus and running away, with Calypsus giving chase, "shouting" expletives. Merann blushed a little at her friend's choice of language, but Fizzle just laughed delightedly.

"They really are just like people, aren't they?"

"Be careful. Calypsus just might kick you if he heard you call him a human. I think he believes bicorns to be a superior race and that he's just humoring me by hanging around," Merann gave Fizzle a wry smile.

"I have a half-sister like that. My parents finally managed to marry her off to some villager who was really desperate. I haven't talked to her in years. She and I never got along very well. Vilna is her name."

"Vilna Tranwael? Of Woodsedge?"

"Yes! You've met her, then?" Fizzle asked, amazed.

"Oh, yes. She's made life miserable for her husband. I went once to treat him for a stomach malady. She hung over my shoulder so much; I eventually demanded that she leave the cottage for six weeks to give the man rest. When I returned to check on him six weeks later, I found him in such an improved condition that I told Mistress Tranwael that Master Tranwael was allergic to her. I told her he could only recover if she were to move into her own cottage, away from him. You know, I still get an occasional gift from Master Tranwael. I hear he's a much happier man, now, and doesn't begrudge supporting your sister, as long as she remains living away from him!"

Fizzle laughed uproariously, and Merann joined in his humor. The shadow of that rather unorthodox treatment had hung over her for the past several months, and she wondered how everything was going with Master Tranwael, now.

"Vilna has always been a rather difficult woman. She used to pull pranks on people in our village, as a child, then blame them on me. She owes me for several beatings, courtesy of my father. My sympathies go out to Master Tranwael, though he has the better of it, now."

They finished most of the stew, but left some for the morning with which to break their fasts, and then went to bed, Merann on her bedroll next to the fire, and Fizzle wrapped in his ragged cloak, his back to the fire. Calypsus and Polysus stood nearby, facing outward and dozing, ever alert to danger.