Gossamyr Part 8

"I see," the lady replied in throaty tones that slipped into Gossamyr's ear so smoothly, she settled, and stepped back from the threatening sword. But not too far. A half circle of weapons were to her back. Kohl-lined eyes peered carefully at her. "She is dressed oddly."

Now Gossamyr gripped her pourpoint, trying to clasp the broken agraffe. It was too dark to make out details, so long as she stood out of the lantern's glow.

"My family indulges her whims," Ulrich explained. "Fancies herself a forest warrior, at times. Others, we must chase her cross the meadow to place a st.i.tch of clothes to her naked back."

Blight that!

"How troubling," the lady said. Her eyes sought Gossamyr's secrets. So dark, and moving up and down, and along every portion of her being. "Yet you allow her a weapon? Might she not injure herself?"

"Oh, she does! The occasional hit to her head knocks her out for but a time. Blessed relief, I tell you, from tending her idiotic antics."

"I am standing right here!" Enough. Gossamyr would not allow them to make jest of her with such falsities. She knew what Ulrich attempted; but his suggestion she was a lackwit only drew more attention to her than masking it. She nodded toward what looked now to be a cage all covered over with a tapestry tied at each of the four corners. "What is in the attached carriage?"

"Allow her to approach me. Guards," the woman commanded lazily. "Step back. I see no harm so long as her brother stands beside her. I want to look upon madness."

b.l.o.o.d.y elves. So now she was mad?

Yet, the woman announced her desire with such pa.s.sion it shot a prinkle up Gossamyr's neck. And not a favorable prinkle.

Eyeing the covered cage, Gossamyr stepped cautiously past the men who smelt of horseflesh and sweat, and who clinked with every c.u.mbersome step. Stealth avoided them, but, it mattered little; they could take her down with fight. She was no match to four men on their feet and wielding weapons. But if need be, she would give them a challenge. Oh, indeed.

Ulrich slid close as Gossamyr approached the carriage. His cheek brushed hers as he whispered, "Caution, Gossamyr. We want to walk away. I do not favor a sword to my gullet."

He did not leave her side, remaining just behind her shoulder. A presence that somehow stilled Gossamyr's apprehensions, almost as if grounding that part of her that wished to fly. With a glance to the well-armored men who stood but a leap to either side of her, Gossamyr then stepped up to the carriage. She did not get so close this time. Her enthusiasm must be restrained. This woman was not the Red Lady.

A movement from inside the cage alerted Gossamyr. Her sudden jerk to look to the side was met with a shing of steel as two swords were released from their sheaths and placed to threaten.

"Relax," the woman said to her men. "She is but a troubled girl."

Wincing at the bright light that beamed across her face, Gossamyr ducked her head to better view the woman. A small ruby had been pressed to the corner of each eye, distracting with each glint of lamplight. Her lips were glossed with an unnatural substance that also shimmered in the light. When she opened her mouth in a wondering observation, it revealed a row of small, thin teeth, almost as a fox's foreteeth. Sharp and made for exact cutting.

"Your costume is most creative," the lady commented. The sound of her voice reminded Gossamyr of the ungraspable past. A piece of mortal, whole and deep, very similar to Veridienne's voice.

Forgetting her interest in the cage, Gossamyr merely stood there, betaken by the woman's unnatural allure.

"It grows cold for her." Ulrich made a move behind her. Gossamyr turned to ask of his concern only to see the swing of his dark cape billow toward and around her shoulders. He fastened the embroidered peac.o.c.k agraffe at her neck and pulled the hood up over her plaited hair. "I shouldn't wish my sister to take a chill."

He'd covered her blazon.

He had not-he was... touching her. Mortal touched. A fearsome condition whispered by those who would never dare to visit the Otherside. The touch of a mortal makes you shiver, and the shiver never leaves, eventually it eats away a faery's wings.

But Ulrich's hands were not cold, rather warm. Instead of a shiver, Gossamyr smiled as a relaxing loosen of her shoulders chased back her fears.

"Where do you journey?" the lady asked.

"The next village," Gossamyr replied.

"It is dangerous."

"I crave danger."

"Do you?" A chuckle again revealed those vicious little teeth. "But there are Armagnacs."

"You saw them?" Ulrich asked.

Sensing his sudden tension by a squeeze of his hand to her shoulder, Gossamyr peered cautiously out of the corner of her eye toward the direction they traveled.

"Indeed," the leader said from his mount. "We exited the city as a score of mounted Armagnacs, wearied and hungry, crept in."

"Mayhap we shall pa.s.s around the village," Ulrich said.

"It would be wise."

"Do you journey for a convent?" the lady asked.

"Oh, indeed," Ulrich spoke in Gossamyr's stead. "The best place for my sister, you understand. She is marveled too easily. 'Tis why she became so excited to see you, my lady. If I may be so bold, your beauty rivals quite any woman my sister has yet to lay eyes upon. Mine, as well."

Oh, but he was laying it on thick. It took all her strength not to swing about and knock him silent with a club of her staff.

"You like marvels, do you?" the woman asked Gossamyr. "Mayhap you wish to see what I've in my cage?"

Gossamyr followed the slender finger that pointed out from the carriage and behind. Lace threaded through with glinting strands of silver fell over her narrow wrist. Gorgeous, the mortal vestments.

"Yes, please," Gossamyr cooed. And then she found herself shaking her head. Snapping out from a strange fog. Almost as if a faery erie. Blight, what was this? 'Twas as if she was mesmerized by the woman. The mortal pa.s.sion?

No! Concentrate. She was merely tired and hungry.

"What is behind the tapestries?"

"Look at me," the lady beckoned.

Spots of brilliant gold dotted her deep brown eyes. Gossamyr found herself leaning forward, to better scent. An indefinable odor, not like any flower or even the must of mortal earth, surrounded her. Almost cold, like the depths of a dark cave oozing with dribbles of ice water.

"Your eyes are brown," the woman commented. As if it were uncommon. "Have you ever..." She leaned forward, clasping the rim of the carriage door with long fingers painted with rust-colored designs that swirled across her entire hand.

Gossamyr swayed closer.

"...looked into violet eyes?"

Struck by an unseen force, Gossamyr pressed a hand over the agraffe at her neck.

"Do you believe in faeries?"

"Wh-what?" A step back found her tumbling into Ulrich's arms.

"We should leave you to your travels," Ulrich said as he righted Gossamyr. "My sister tires. We need seek shelter."

Ignoring Ulrich entirely, the woman announced in spectacular breaths, "I've a faery in my cage. Do you wish to see it?"

"A f-faery?" Finding herself quite unable to stand upright, Gossamyr clung to her staff. They keep them caged to display in market squares. This woman had captured a fee?

Teetering her gaze between the covered cart and the woman's sharp smirking mouth, Gossamyr fought a sudden rise of fear. "I- I don't think I believe in faeries. No, of course not." She stiffened, locking her knees to remain upright. "This is the mortal realm. So many...mortals. Faeries are nonsense and so much blather. We are off, brother?"

"First you must look!" The woman's head withdrew from the window and moments later Gossamyr heard her call from the rear of the carriage, "Draw back the curtains!"

Utterly gasping for breath, Gossamyr fought to settle her racing pulse. Intuitive caution could not dispel the hard compulsion to seek the truth.

Using Ulrich to steady her on the left side, Gossamyr, much against her better judgment, but compelled by her curiosity, walked toward the cage. The armored men cautiously parted to allow her access. Mortal steel clinked; horses snorted. She ran a palm over the heavy tapestry; the weave was tight and heavy. The fabric pushed in through two thick poles-two of many dozens that caged whatever it was inside.

Fear dried her throat. Horror stilled her heart. Not a faery. It cannot be!

"Are you ready?" the lady whispered so loudly Gossamyr heard it as a scream.

"My sister-" Ulrich started.

"I am!" Gossamyr declared.

With little fanfare the tapestry curtain was drawn back and flipped over the corner of the cage. The contents were not initially visible, for a sheer curtain that glimmered like faery dust hung from top to the floor of the cage. The rear lanterns, while boldly kissing the woman's cruel grimace, barely lit the fore of the cage.

Steel glinted and one of the men poked his sword through the curtain and bars. A cry of pain pierced Gossamyr's breast. A female voice. Something within the cage shuffled into the torch glow. A frail, thin figure...indeed, a woman, clad in tattered brown cloth. And there!

Gossamyr let out a cry.

"Quite remarkable, yes?"

Gossamyr swung a look to the heartless woman peering out from the rear window. She kept a faery chained inside this foul cage!

Gripping the wood poles, Gossamyr scanned the poor creature. Bones were visible through her pale flesh. Arms clasped about her legs, the creature shivered. Not a creature, but your own kind! She would not meet Gossamyr's eyes. Just as well. Sure Ulrich's cloak concealed her blazon, Gossamyr could not know if another fee would recognize her. The cage floor was littered with crushed hay and the glimmer of faery dust.

One wing swept a lazy trail across the poles Gossamyr held. The wing was limp, colorless, and a tear rent through the upper section. Unable to divine a scent, beyond the rotting straw, Gossamyr swallowed. Lifeless, or almost so.

"I usually charge admission to look upon my pretty faery," the lady announced. "But I won't ask one so troubled to sacrifice."

"Troubled?" Gossamyr swung around. Ulrich's arm barred her from approaching the rear of the carriage. "The only troubled one I can see is you, my lady! How dare you? She is not yours to own or display or to destroy!"

"Gossamyr," Ulrich cautioned.

"Your name is Gossamyr?" The lady's fox teeth parted and her tongue ran along them. "Unusual. Not a French name. Will you turn about for me?"

"I will not move another footstep until you release this poor creature!"

The clomps of heavy hooves rounded behind Gossamyr and Ulrich. The caravan leader marched his horse warningly close. Sword drawn and eyes keen to her, with a flick of his weapon he bid her turn.

"We thank you for revealing your prize, my lady." Ulrich tugged Gossamyr's shoulder. "Best we leave you to your path."

"You cannot own this faery," Gossamyr hissed, "nor treat it as a beast!"

"I cannot see," the woman directed the man on the horse. "Her cape must be lifted."

Caught up in Ulrich's arms, Gossamyr struggled against his firm grip. She swung out her staff, clipping the shoulder armor of one of the men. Forced backward by a line of drawn swords, she held her staff to the ready.

"Let us pa.s.s, my lady," Ulrich called. "It is the moonlight; she is so troubled."

"Indeed."

Gossamyr clenched her teeth. Ulrich tugged her backward, away from the carriage. She followed, but held a hard eye to any who would challenge her. Indeed, she knew it foolish to have reacted so, but in that moment her heart had led her.

The armored men, forming a shield before the carriage and cart stood with weapons aimed for Gossamyr's retreat. Ulrich turned and, dragging her along by the clutched ends of the cloak, began to jog across the gra.s.ses.

"Release me!" She kicked at him and managed to free herself.

He landed her body, a foot to her shoulder and bent over her face. "Cease!" he hissed. "You wish to lose your head?"

Twenty paces away the caravan began to move.

"She has no right," Gossamyr growled. Unmoving, she found she had no desire to leap up and run attack upon the carriage. For much as she wanted to believe she could win any challenge, the threat of so many mortal weapons becalmed her bravado. "The fee are not animals. Did you see her? She was close to death. Her wings... oh..."

"Stand up." With Ulrich's offer, Gossamyr clasped his hand and stood. "I know naught what you are about, my lady. But I can wager a guess."

She lifted a defiant chin. In the darkness it was difficult to determine whether he jested or spoke a challenge.

"We shall be off, without further mention-"

She jerked from his touch.

Beneath the wool cloak, she felt the hem of her pourpoint fall away from her waist. "Oh!" She clutched the fabric, hearing the dried leaves crumble.

"You are falling apart at the seams,"he said. "Tough bit of luck."

Blight! Her father had not been jesting when he'd said the Disenchantment takes quickly.

Apprehensions brewing, Gossamyr eyed the caravan that wobbled off down the road. Oh, but she had looked upon Disenchantment. Pale and shivering and in chains. Let it not be so cruel to her!

A testing bend of knee determined her leathers still held. The tough material should hold. But who knew what the Disenchantment could do? Had Shinn known she would literally lose the clothing from her body?

Gossamyr jerked as Ulrich moved aside the cloak to look her over. The sweeping movement of the wool ripped the back of her pourpoint. Quickly, she pressed a hand to her chest.

A low whistle punctuated his astonishment. Ulrich tugged the cloak tightly over her groping arms and secured the perimeter with a scanning eve, though the night could not allow him distance. "You need proper attire, fair lady. Most urgently."

"There may be a seamstress in the next village."

"You heard the knight; Armagnacs have entered Aparjon. We will do well to pa.s.s around the city."

"But-"

"You are too quick to fight, my lady. I will not risk my neck standing aside you as we enter an embattled city."

He removed the saddlebag from his shoulder and carefully placed it across the mule's flanks. "We must make haste. I would let you ride behind me."