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Sheorl looked out his bedroom window. He did not like what he saw. The river running into the valley had become murky, bringing more mud than water. Hastire, by both bribery and threats had managed to get approval from the district council to harvest the un-owned forest. Aggressive deforestation started nine months ago, clogging the river and its tributaries with debris and mud. Sheorl sighed, what a sad day to celebrate Juna’s birthday. He made his way to the kitchen where the sweet scent of spices and young laughter revived his spirit. The rest of the manor was quiet, for it was market day and most of the servants had gone down to Monqui for the once a week event. Even Nana the cook would not be back until after noontime. The whispering in the kitchen stopped when Sheorl’s footstep was heard on the service staircase. “Good morning father,” piped Juna a little too cheerfully, as he came into view. Sheorl smelled trouble. They were up to something. He sat down at table as Juna served him breakfast. He ate quietly while the teenagers busied themselves with kitchen work. Sheorl grunted every now and then as he ate because he knew that it would make Sarah giggle. Sure enough her sun-kissed face turned red by his fourth grunt. Before long all four were laughing. “Are you all now ready to talk?” Sheorl asked. Merlana’s eyes widened, “How did you know we wanted to ask a favour from you?” “I know you well enough.” Merlana scowled. She made sure only to tell Juna about her plan that morning, so she wouldn’t accidentally blurt it out to her foster father. “Oh, alright.” Merlana sighed, “You remember yesterday, when we were at the sewing woman’s place? Do you remember the high and mighty lady in the orange dress?” She waited for Sheorl grunt then she continued, “She said there was going to be a dog fight in the Olin Fields today.” Sheorl’s face was impassive. Juna begged, “Oh please father. It will be fun to watch the people there.” Sheorl said between chews, “I disapprove of such sport.” “But Sheorl,” Merlana quipped, “Everyone says that it is fun. We’ve never seen one. Please, please, please let us go. We promise not to make any trouble. We will only watch, nothing else. We will not even bet.” The giant knew that they would go anyway, with or without his permission. “Very well, we will ride in the wagon, and you will all be dressed as young ladies of Dew Valley Manor.” The three jumped and clapped for joy. Bulgarth and his two men came into the kitchen from the backdoor, their worried faces strange in the midst of happy chattering. The three were up early that morning to inspect the orchard. What they saw depressed them. There was water, but it was no longer refreshing. Even the fruit trees no longer thrived, as though abhorring the taste of the residues of their dead cousins from the hills above. Everything in the orchard was covered with a layer of dust. Bulgarth spoke, “Happy Birthday Juna, what are your plans for the day.” “They plan to watch the dog fight.” Sheorl said. Bulgarth’s face showed his disapproval. “You are not pleased with our plans?” Juna asked hesitantly. As usual her need to please bothered him. Before he could give his answer, Merlana chipped in, “Of course he is not pleased. But we will still go anyway. Sheorl will be with us. If it makes you feel any better, I will put on my prettiest dress.” “Hastire will be there though,” Frad commented, as he took the seat next to Sheorl. “You all best make sure not to stand too close. He might recognize our little Juna there.” Bulgarth ate his breakfast, oblivious to the noise around him. He stared at his food, wondering what to do. The situation in Dew Valley was much better off than most places in Monqui, even then the next fruit harvest would be bad. The area was also starting to become dangerous with desperate able bodied men and women looking for work that was not there. A few of his tenants had their fences broken into. With a start he realized that all six pairs of eyes were now watching him. “When do you plan to go to the dog fight Merlana?” he asked, intent on taking the attention away from himself. “Right after breakfast,” his sister answered, “Will you not come with us?” “No, I cannot go today. Dresden will be here this afternoon. He wants to formalize my inheritance of the estate.” Frad gave a snort from his side of the table. “Other than your birth, what other documents does he need? It is obvious to all and sundry that you are Bremargh’s son.” Hymae spoke next, “Are you sure you don’t need us here with you Bulgarth? His purpose is somewhat suspect.” Bulgarth shook his head and said, “No, it is alright cousin. Let me try to read what he is up to first. I will promise him nothing and I will sign nothing. Anyway all papers concerning my parents’ estate need to be signed by both myself and Merlana. She will be at the dog fight.” Their morning plans settled, the teenagers rushed through the chores Nana had assigned them then ran up to their room to change. Sheorl went upstairs to collect his broad sword before going to the stable to get a horse and wagon ready. Juna had been with them for less than a year and already she was accepted as a daughter of the manor. The servants were fascinated with this pretty girl from Kalimy and it was Hannah who found out her birthday or rather a date as close as she could. She interpreted the second of July as the forty seventh day of the summer moon. The speculation after that was quite disconcerting for Sheorl, since Juna was obliged to tell Hannah her age, which was only a year younger than Merlana's. Sheorl harnessed two horses to a wagon outfitted with soft cushions in the back. Since Juna came, the manor had slowly lost its rough and tumble look. Vases started to fill with flowers and dainty placemats began to appear on side tables. Merlana barely noticed, but Bulgarth did and it made him more reflective than usual. Sheorl got on the driver’s seat and drove to the front door. Three teenagers dressed in cool blouses and long skirts with wide brim straw hats were waiting for him at the bottom of the steps. Bulgarth was there to see them off. Hymae made them wear the hats with the excuse that it would hide their faces, especially Juna's. Sarah and Merlana climbed up and jumped on to the seats. Bulgarth helped Juna up and made sure that she was propped up comfortably before thumping the wagon to signal Sheorl that they were all settled in. The girls joked and teased the bodyguard the whole way. They did not meet anyone because Sheorl was using an off-road from behind Dew Valley that went directly to the Olin fields. The trail was about two miles long after the orchard and all that land belonged to both Bulgarth and Merlana. There were no farm houses in those parts because it was a hunting ground. Viggo watched them from his hiding place. He did not call out to his friend because he had been in the woods for two days and did not consider himself presentable to the three young ladies. Noisy chattering preceded the wagon to the edge of the Olin field. Sheorl called out to them without turning his head, his voice grim, his muscle tense. “Watch your behaviours.” However it was Sheorl who attracted attention. He manoeuvred the wagon to a good spot, with a clear view of the fighting ring. It was advantageous to be known as a bad-tempered man for the people let him through without complaining. Hamina’s wagon was on the other side of the fighting ring and both Hastire and Hamlin were with her. The teenagers were fascinated with the crowd, for there were drunks who looked like they had not been home since the night before, farmers in their dusty caps and property owners in painted wagons or astride expensive steeds. The whole mass shouted curses and cheers in the same unbecoming manner. Even Lady Hamina was urging her favourite animal in the ring and punching the empty air in true boxer form. Then Merlana heard a gasp from Juna, who was leaning on the wagon rail next to her. A hale and hearty old man was making his way through the crowd and passing their wagon with a dead and horribly maimed brown dog on his shoulders. Someone called out, “It put up a pitiful fight. No one would want to eat that mutt even for free.” Bellows of laughter was heard around the fellow. The dog owner shook a fist in the air, “I’ll train one that’ll be a real champion. I’ve got a few more at my farm. You’ll see.” “We’ll see when we see it,” more laughter followed.
Merlana recognized him, he was Byway, a farmer with a place right outside the Dew Valley Estate. The girl turned her gaze towards the fighting ring and was appalled by the sight. Three dogs were throwing themselves at each other. A fourth dog lay dead in the ring, its throat torn to pieces. As two of the dogs suddenly turned to tear at each other's neck, a third bit off a chunk of meat from the hind leg of one. The poor mongrel howled in pain. Suddenly two dogs were upon it, tearing it to pieces. The shouts from the crowd was deafening. Merlana closed her eyes and ears, then turned her body away from the carnage. She sat down and leaned her back against the rail. She shivered when her memory went through the cruelty of that last few seconds. Sheorl judged that his girls had seen enough. He pulled the reins and the jittery horses responded. The space he left behind was immediately filled by spectators gone mad with blood- lust. The ride back to the manor was quiet, for there was no teasing, no precarious leaning out of the wagon and there was no happy laughter. Viggo stepped out from his hiding place on seeing the wagon. Sheorl nodded at him indicating that all was well. The hunter blended back into the trees. Bulgarth was surprised to see the wagon return so soon. Some of the worst thoughts ran through his mind, the girls were attacked, an accident had happened on the way there. Sheorl meant to drive the wagon to the kitchen because he thought that a cool drink should relieve them somewhat, but Bulgarth surprised him when he jumped in front of the vehicle. Sheorl whoa-ed the horses to a stop, not wanting to run down his employer. The young man rushed to the back. One look at Juna and Sarah’s tearful face and Merlana’s shocked expression he blurted, “What in the blazes happened? Is any one hurt?” Merlana looked at him with anguished eyes, “Why do people play such sport? Don’t they know that animals hurt too?” Bulgarth looked at his sister and again wished that his parents were still alive. His father would have a wise answer to give her but he had nothing to say. It was Sheorl who spoke, “Some don’t know, and some don’t want to know.” The way before him now clear, he clicked his tongue and the horses continued the journey to the back. Bulgarth stood paralyzed because Sheorl’s words struck fear in his heart. He knew that Hastire was not pleased to learn that Hymae was the person who found the bogus sales documents of his slaves. Hastire could have gotten into worst trouble if Dresden had not interceded on his behalf. The law implementer had put the blame on the clerk who registered the slaves and Hastire was painted as a wronged buyer who had relied on the advices of a corrupt broker. Bulgarth decided to send the girls to his Uncle Farling in Kalimy. The idea moved him to action and he made to go to the study, intend on writing a letter to his uncle, explaining matters when he saw Talkent making his way down the steps. The old money handler was carrying a few documents under his right arm and carefully negotiating the steps which made his already stooped shoulders more hunched than usual. Bulgarth called out, “Talkent, a moment if you please.” The old man turned with deference to the younger man who was less than one third his age, “Ah yes, Master Bulgarth. How may I be of service to you?” “I wish to transfer some funds to both Kalimy and Sillander under my sister’s name.” “Sillander, the capital city? She is going for a trip?” “It would be good for her education if she were to spend a season or two in these cities.” “A most wise decision.” Talkent pulled the papers from under his arms as he said, “I brought some extra papers for the transfer of funds with me today. Hymae usually have need of much. If you have made up your mind, I can collect your instruction even now.” Bulgarth was agreeable to Talkent’s suggestion. He took the paper from the old man’s outstretched hands and sat down right then and there on the steps to start filling in his sister’s name, his instructions and finally add his signature at the bottom of the document. The money handler smiled to see his antics, for it seemed like only yesterday when a certain little boy had dug for sweets in his pockets. Yet in so many ways, he was still a child. “Is there nothing else you may need?” Bulgarth asked. “Do not worry about that Master Bulgarth. I have some extra signature samples of both yourself and Merlana. I will send her samples to my partners in Sillander and Kalimy. She only needs to show them her birth documents to prove that she is who she is.” The smile on the kindly old face was reassuring, yet it was not the smile that reassured Bulgarth, but Talkent’s reputation for being true to his words. The mood in the kitchen was gloomy. Confounded market-day, Sheorl thought to himself as he watched from across the kitchen table. Nana had not returned yet to give the teenagers the comfort they needed but at least Hannah was there to fuss over the girls, giving them cool drinks and a sweet biscuit each to cheer them up. After she had done all she could think of to cheer them up, Hannah walked out of the kitchen to see to her other duties. Merlana asked, “Sheorl, don’t they think that it is a waste to just let dogs die like that?” “They make a lot of money out of the winning ones, child.” The giant gazed at Juna’s drained face and added, “You are all tired. Go upstairs and rest. I will get you when lunch is ready. Chaeno will be bringing in fresh berries from the field.” He was relieved to see Merlana nod. He was half expecting that his bribery with sweets would not work. The big man picked up his broad sword from behind the kitchen door and stepped outside. It would still be some time before noon, time enough for him to check those weapons he had hidden in the woods. His purposeful strides took him to the garden shed and to the forest behind it where he became one with the trees. His skill was neither in-born nor taught. When he was young he had to steal to eat. One day, he unwittingly stole three year old Bulgarth’s favorite hound. Chilna, Viggo’s mother, tracked him down. He was on the verge of slitting poor Bimi’s throat with a sharpened stone when Chilna shoved a knife right under his eyes. “Let the dog go, you vagabond.” He let the mongrel go, “Now stand up and lift your arms.” His tall skeletal frame was a shocking sight to Bremargh, who had followed Chilna. Sheorl’s face was so ravaged by the elements that neither the huntress nor the owner of the hound could make out how old he was. Bremargh took him in after he had gotten over his shock and sympathy started to set in. Bulgarth, with his dog back safe and sound, took one look at Sheorl and decided to follow him everywhere. Nana took it upon herself to make sure that he ate three meals a day with double the portion, for she had the strange idea that a full stomach would keep him mild mannered. There may be some truth in her ideas because she was barely half his size yet she could cow anytime him with a glare from her no-nonsense eyes. Bimi remained watchful of Sheorl to the day he died. Sheorl, however, only felt like a part of the family after Merlana was born when Bremargh had placed her in his hands and the shock of holding a newborn babe had paralyzed him. He had loved Merlana from that moment. The giant stopped in front of an old oak tree and listened then he went towards a small scraggly bush. A deer trotted lightly by, keeping a watchful eye on him while a pheasant cooed away in the thicket. He squatted and gripped the main branch of the small bush. It was light and easy to lift up. Underneath the bush was a bundle covered in moss. He opened it, being careful not to tear the moss away. The knives were still well-oiled and had not been disturbed since he last checked. There were also three coiled bow strings in it, still in good condition. Sheorl covered back the bundle and return the bush to its original position. Next he went to a tree stump, stuck his finger into a hole on the surface and lifted the camouflaged lid. Inside were three bows and three slim quivers with arrows. Sheorl placed the cover back and continued to the next spot. The hiding places were all of the same distance from the manor. The first, concealed in the woods, was reached from a path behind the garden shack, the second lay in the most tumbled down area of the fruit orchard and the third was in the woods after the corn field. Sheorl rightly assumed that when somebody runs from danger they should make for the nearest escape route, hence he hid weapons in all three routes, so his girls would not remain weaponless for long. He was not a man who took chances with them. At the third hiding place, he heard non-forest sounds coming his way. In a flash he hid himself. Then a quick shhhh and a giggle, children, he decided. He crouched in the bush and waited. It was not long before he was startled by the three familiar forms in front of him. They were supposed to be in their room and resting, he fumed. Still, Sheorl did not jump out to confront them, for he thought to find out what they were up to. He watched Merlana as she went to the third hiding place. She lifted up the bush, and carefully opened a bundle. She took all three knives out and set the prop back to its original state. Merlana motioned for the other two to come to her. She passed them each a knife when they reached her side. Sarah spoke, “What if we are caught?” “Don’t be silly, what’s the worst that can happen?” Merlana answered. “We could get killed.” Juna tentatively gave her opinion. “That is ridiculous,” Merlana retorted, “I am Bulgarth’s sister, nobody would dare to hurt us.” Merlana tossed her proud head to the side, indicating that she would not tolerate anymore argument then she walked off. Juna looked down at the knife in her hand, “Are we going to hurt somebody?” Sarah shrugged and went the way Merlana had gone. Juna looked around for a moment before running after her. Sheorl stood up from his hiding place and followed from a distance. The thicket in the area was dense and there was no clear path, yet Merlana’s steps did not falter one bit. After two miles, he saw an apple grove beyond the ridge to his left. Immediately he realized what they were up to and he cursed under his breath. This place was just outside Byway’s farm. At the edge of his field was his fighting dog kennel, and he knew that Merlana was planning to let his dogs loose. But Sheorl knew better, those dogs were ferocious because they were being starved half mad. The animals would tear his girls to pieces. He could now see part of the makeshift kennel ahead which was in bad need of repairs. Ahead, Merlana was inching her way towards the damaged fence. Providence have mercy, he cried out, has she no sense left. He lunged forward and the other two jumped in their hiding place on seeing him. Sheorl did not take a second look since he knew they were safe. Merlana had almost reached the kennel, the dogs were eyeing her, not barking, not making a sound. She was encouraged by it and moved closer. She turned in shock when she heard heavy footsteps behind her. Sheorl scooped her up onto his shoulders and ran back as fast as he could into the woods. Instantly, the dogs howled and crashed themselves against the fence. When they reached the forest, Sheorl put her down and squatted next to her. He shhh-ed her protests and pointed a finger back at the kennel. One of the dogs had managed to break the fence and was trying to squeeze himself through the hard wires. A dog-keeper, ran out from his shed on hearing the commotion. He beat the dog back into the enclosure with a heavy stick. He called out and a lad brought out wooden planks. Sheorl’s face was impassive as he watched. He turned his head to look at the golden haired girl, who was still sitting with her legs stretched out and her arms supporting her from behind. Her face was pale but there was no anger there, only disbelief. This time it was Sheorl’s turn to signal them to start walking. Merlana led the way. Sheorl did not want to stop and rest so after a distance, he carried Juna piggy back because she was stumbling and tripping through the thicket. When they reached the edge of the woods by the corn field, Sheorl let Juna down. Trudging across the field was hot work but the girls were in their usual high spirits. The shadows of the corn stalks grew longer and gave some relief as evening crept in. Sarah was the first one to note the black smoke rising from the direction of the manor. “Look, what do you think that is?” Merlana said, “Maybe Nana burnt another bird in the oven.” “That is too big for an oven fire,” Sheorl growled from behind them. The girls started running. When they were clear of the corn field, they found themselves looking down a slope at the burning manor. Through the drawing room windows, Merlana could see men with torches lighting the curtains and wall tapestries. She saw other men pushing wheel barrows with bodies into the manor. Then she saw something that gladdened and broke her heart at the same time. Bulgarth was being dragged out of the manor, with his hands tied in front of him. He tried to resist and a man hit him on the back of his head with the hilt of a sword. They threw his unconscious form into a wagon, then tied him down and spread a blanket on him. He was the only person in the vehicle. Merlana screamed, “No!!”. They heard her, and turned their heads towards the slope. One of the men pointed at them and others started running towards them. Sheorl calculated his foes and knew that there was no way they could win that fight. He needed to get the girls away from there. He hoped that Hymae and Frad had gone to see Dunwood, as they had planned that morning. Sheorl pulled Merlana’s hand, “Merlana, we cannot fight them now, we will be of no help to Bulgarth. We have to leave and send word to our friends.” “He is my brother!” she screamed. “We cannot save him now. Even if we try, we will fail and no one will know of this matter.” Merlana hesitated, so without further explanation Sheorl dragged her along with him. All four ran back into the corn field. After a distance, Sheorl let go of Merlana’s hand and signaled for her to run ahead. He let Juna and Sarah passed him then he followed them. The pursuit behind them was hard. Even in the fading light, Sheorl could see that the girls were exhausted but the Dew Valley forest loomed ahead. At that moment he decided that he had to let them go without him. Else they would all perish, or rather, he would perish, and they would have to face a worse fate. He stopped. Merlana turned. “Sheorl, what are you doing, they are behind us.” The others stumbled to a halt and Juna fell on her knees panting hard and coughing. “Go, I will hold them back.” “No, I can fight too, I will not leave you.” Merlana shouted. Sheorl looked down at the proud girl standing before him, the knife she took from under the bush now drawn in her hand. He had watched her learn to walk and before long the active toddler was already running. Her life as he knew it flashed before his eyes. Sheorl had never failed as her bodyguard in the past, he would not fail now. The sound of their pursuers crashing clumsily through the field reached them. The baying of tracking hounds sounded many and shrill in the night, moving ever closer to where they were standing. Sheorl knew that there was only one way to make Merlana run so he took Juna’s hand, smiled at the girl and patted the small hand, “Merlana, this is my daughter. I love her.” He placed Juna’s hand in Merlana’s. “Take my child’s hand and run, because I want her to live. You know the land better than her, without you she will not survive.” Merlana stared up at her bodyguard in shock. Their pursuers exploded into view. Men and beasts howled in victory on seeing their prey. “Run Merlana! Run child! May providence light your way, and hide it from your enemies.” Sheorl drew his sword and turned to face their attackers. He did not turn to watch them leave, for he knew that Merlana was now obligated to do what he asked of her. Maybe one day she would understand that he did it because he loved her above all the others. Sheorl stood tall and ready, prepared for the fight running towards him. His spirit rose within and he saw Bremargh’s face in his mind. Yes, he was ready, soon he would join the employer he loved. He raised his sword to the sky and roared. The lead dog sprang up for his throat. His sword arched and sliced the animal in half. Drawn swords broke like twigs before his blows. His blade arced upwards, then downwards like a sickle of death. His great strength made his strikes deadly. He drove his enemies back. However, he failed to see a small man who crept behind the wall of corn towards him. A small thin blade struck into his side and the upward thrust pierced through his heart. With one swing of his sword, he cut off the small man’s head, snatched it up by the hair and threw it at his attackers. They retreated, being terrified of this giant who was already a legend in their land. Sheorl could feel the life blood flowing out from his wound though the twilight hid that fact from the enemy. His pursuers waited for him to turn and follow after the girls but with his last ounce of strength Sheorl struck his sword into the ground and sat down upon it cross- legged. Then his right hand gripped the handle of the upright sword and the moon shone down on him. Sheorl’s sitting form stood between the trackers and the object of their hot pursuit. The frightened men noted amongst themselves that even his shadow was thicker and blacker than theirs under the moonlight so they decided to wait for him to show signs of weariness before advancing. Even if they were to crept around him, he might sense them and kill them. Sheorl felt coldness spread over him. Then his spirit rose up one more time and he prayed to providence. He prayed that his body would stiffen when he died, he prayed that his body would not fall backward, for even in death he prayed that he could protect the children he loved. A wolf howled in the distance, then another and another. Soon the valley was awash with the sound of lamenting. Yet in all this, the sky was glad. Any person who looked up would wonder if the great spirit hall was being lit for a celebration. The King of Netherweld, Posadom, marveled as he looked up at the night sky. He went into his children’s room and woke them, so he could show them the stars. His two sons climbed onto the window seat to stare; they had never seen anything like it. His youngest child a girl of seven, the apple of his eye jumped on the floor and sat on his lap, “What are those stars father?” “They are watch-fires my child, jewels that do not give out light like the moon or the sun, but flames that continue to watch over the world.” “What are they made of?” the curious child asked again. Her twin brother watched their father’s face, while a ten year old boy, his eldest child gazed into the sky. “They are made out of men and women who did great deeds out of the greatness that was in their hearts. Providence turned them into stars when they died, so that they may continue to watch over us, and to protect all those under their care.” “Will you become a star too when you die father?” his younger son asked. Posadom laughed yet the question was a reminder that there was much he still needed to do. “I do not know my son. I have not done anything that would give me such privilege.” “But you are the king.” the boy stated. “Providence does not care for a person’s wealth or his stature. I am only called great because I sit in a position of greatness, it is not because of any deed I had done.” His eldest spoke, “But you have done many good things father. Surely those can be accounted as great.” “No my son, a man with less power may account those deeds as great, but a man with power will be required to do more.” A woman enveloped in a flowing nightgown stepped into the room. “I thought I heard talking, why are you children not in bed?” their mother inquired. Queen Tilmon was tall and svelte in her younger days, but childbearing had changed that figure and made it more generous. Then she saw her husband sitting on the floor with their daughter in his lap. “It is late; you should all be in bed.” The twins jumped into their individual beds while the eldest child continued to look into the sky. “Do you think that Bubba is also there father?” Posadom felt a pang in his heart at the mention of that name. “I do not know, my son. If he is, then we are all comforted, because he will be watching us tonight. Now go to bed.” Tilmon knew that there were no words of comfort she could give her husband. He had used all his authority as a king to try to find the old man, yet it was to no avail. Baron Kwanbie, whom the eldest boy had called Bubba, was one of the king’s closest friend and advisor. His disappearance had made Posadom realized that not even the authority of a king could stop the onslaught of evil men. The queen’s personal bodyguard, a large framed woman from her homeland in Kalimy, stood in the corridor. She bowed to the royal couple, who smiled in return. Tilmon was amused at her brother’s insistence that he sends her one of his own royal bodyguards. Tilmon said, “Are you not resting yet, Leah? You have been up all day.” “I heard a noise my Queen, and came to look.” “Go take your rest.” The queen ordered. Leah bowed and walked back to her room. Posadom, however, knew more about Leah than his wife. His brother-in-law, King Kelt, told him that she was one of his finest guards and that she had a very rare sickness, in that she could not sleep. After Kwanbie went missing, Kelt thought of sending ten guards for the sister he loved, but Posadom thought it unwise. First and foremost, his wife would disagree. So the brother had sent one guard, a person whom he thought was as good as ten.
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