My Sparkling Misfortune (The Lakeland Knight) (15 page)

"No!"

∗ ∗ ∗

We left shortly afterwards. I carried Jarvi to the carriage and placed him on one of the seats, having cushioned it with a couple of blankets and pillows. I took a pillow as well and fell asleep as soon as the carriage started to roll--I had no idea how tired I was, and it seemed to catch up with me all at once.

I slept for many hours, almost all day. The sun was already making its way down to the horizon when I awoke. I checked on Jarvi. He looked unchanged, lying still, as if asleep, in the same position I had put him in. Poor fellow... I couldn't imagine what it was like for him.

"Hello, Jarvi," I said.

I knew he wouldn't respond, but I also knew that he heard me, so I decided to keep talking to him anyway.

"Well, I have gotten some good rest. We must be approaching Baggel. I think I will have a snack now. I'll miss your free meals, I can tell you that."

I pulled out the sack with provisions and made a quick sandwich. I was finishing it when Ellar showed up, having scared the daylights out of me with the unexpected crack.

"Goodness, Ellar! How about a warning? You almost made me choke."

He seemed to find it amusing.

"I can heal, remember? So if you choked or had a heart attack, I would have helped."

"How nice of you. Well, have you been to the palace?"

"Yes. I did everything you had asked of me. Not an easy task, let me tell you. The king was shocked and incredulous, he did not want to take the daggers back and demanded explanations. I think he intends to go to your castle and speak to you personally."

"You did not tell him that I left?"

"No. He'd have me arrested and shackled, or something like that, until I tell exactly where you're heading to."

"And what about Philip?"

Ellar sighed.

"I relayed everything you asked to him as well. He figured those were your farewell words and begged me to take him to you. I think he guessed who I was."

"Not without your help, I suppose?"

"No, I did nothing to reveal myself. But he is a smart boy. When I told him I couldn't do that, he asked whether I would deliver a letter. That I agreed to do."

He handed me a folded paper. The letter must have been written minutes ago, the ink was still fresh.

Dear Lakeland Knight,

I do not care what Prince Kellemar had said, and I do not intend to repeat his words to anyone. If you are leaving because of those words, I beg you to return. Ulkaria needs you. To me, and to all of us, you will always be our friend and protector and hero.

I can also say that your friendship means more to me than you will ever know. You have taught me so much. Please come back.

Always Yours,

Prince Philip of Ulkaria

I read it several times. I knew Ellar was watching me, so I did my best not to show any emotion.

"He wants me to come back."

"Of course he does. They all will, when they find out that you are gone."

"He says Ulkaria needs me."

"It is probably true."

"Nonsense. They lived without me before, and quite happily, too."

"So you are not going back?"

"No."

"Well, you have time to think about it. You can return whenever you want, they will always welcome you."

I didn't respond.

"I have checked on Prince Kellemar as well," Ellar said with a sly smile.

"Have you? And how is His Highness?"

"Rather upset, hiding in the nearest white tower."

"Something tells me he won't be destroying these anymore."

"Ha! Probably not."

"By the way, I wanted to ask you why the beast does not like the towers? And what exactly is he? I had no idea he could speak!"

Ellar gave me a surprised look.

"You still do not know who he is? A gormack."

That made me jump.

"What?!"

"He is a gormack, yes. Of one of the lowest ranks. That means brutal force without much intelligence. Magner had captured him in the same way you attempted."

"Are you telling me that all this time I had been haunted by a
gormack
?!"

"Now I see why Tulip has not told you. You are not taking it well."

"Who would?!"

"Well, yes, but what's the point to panic and faint now? It's over. Leave that to Kellemar."

His logic was hard to argue with, but I still couldn't help getting a little nervous.

"So Jarvi knew?"

"Not right away, but he eventually found out."

Ellar left shortly after cheering me up with that news, having promised to come and visit us once in a while. We entered Baggel, where I dismissed Captain Zordan. He wished to stay with us, but I did not want him to know exactly where I was going, although I knew he would keep it secret if I asked him to.

The rest of my journey to Arkusville was long and uneventful. I drove the carriage, stopping to buy food or rent a room at some inn for the night. Each time I would carry Jarvi inside, and people thought he was my brother, wounded or ill--quite funny, keeping in mind that we looked nothing alike. Innkeepers offered me cheaper rates, out of sympathy and I suppose curiosity as well, hoping to hear the story behind the unconscious red haired young man. I never shared it, of course. It was none of their business.

I kept talking to Jarvi as much as I could. That was the only entertainment available to him. I even bought a couple of books on the way and read to him when we'd stop, making comments that I knew would have him laughing. Once in a while I thought I saw a hint of a smile on his lips.

I found the
Blackriver
Castle
pretty much the same as before, huge, dark, and sinister looking. My men thought me a ghost at first, but then, after some reassurance, rejoiced and cheered. Having taken a closer look, I decided they weren't that good of an army as I thought them, so I had some work cut out for me--extensive training and perhaps some replacements. When they saw Jarvi, they were curious as well, thinking him a foreign prince I must have captured. I told them he was an ailing friend, and they'd better treat him with utter respect if they wanted to keep their heads on the shoulders.

I went to King Ramian, Kellemar's father, and offered him money to buy out the prisoners he had captured, including Shork. Ramian agreed. He was not happy about my return and warned me that if I planned to cause trouble, he had almost secured an alliance with a powerful warrior who'd keep me in check. His name was the Lakeland Knight of Ulkaria. Poor Ramian couldn't grasp why I found it so amusing.

∗ ∗ ∗

Well, I think I will end my story here. I hope you found it of interest, and I hope you did not believe everything the sparklings said about me. I am not saying they lied, they don't do that, but they are prone to teasing and throwing puns, so keep that in mind. When Jarvi gets enough strength back to speak, I'm sure he will insist that I am no longer a villain, just to pester me, and I might have to do something to prove him wrong. I have not yet decided what. It's all right though, I've got plenty of time for that.

∗ ∗ ∗

I hate it when my breakfast is interrupted. Shork knows this well, I guess that's why he did not come in to report what was happening at the castle gate. I still heard the shouts though.

Already?
I wondered, putting down my coffee cup.
This early in the morning? If so, they've got some nerve...

I rang the bell, summoning Shork.

"What is that noise about? Don't tell me someone wants to fight me again."

"I'm afraid so, my lord," bowed the lackey. "He is rather insistent, and loud. I told him to wait, I said you'd see him in a half hour, but he won't listen."

I shook my head. This was getting to be positively annoying.

"Hero or villain?"

"A hero, it appears. Some kind of knight. White horse, bright red cloak."

"What's up with those red cloaks, were they on sale or something? That's the third one this week." I rose from the table. "All right, let's get it over with. Don't clean up, I'll finish my breakfast when I'm done."

"Yes, my lord."

I went to the watch tower. That's where I'd always start speaking with these guys when I was not in the mood for physical exercise, hoping to talk some sense into them and save me the trouble. It rarely worked though.

I checked him out before showing myself at the window. The sight made me chuckle: young and skinny, the fellow tried to beef up by wearing oversized armor.

Goodness. Whoever knighted him has a weird sense of humor.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I inquired.

He turned to the window and placed his hands on his hips.

"Arkus, you wicked villain, release the prisoner you are holding or come out to fight me and meet your doom!"

Meet your doom, yeah. I wish I got a penny each time I hear that.

"I thought it was polite to introduce yourself first," I said, "especially since I've asked who you are."

The fellow jerked his chin up so high I thought his helmet would fall off.

"Too much honor for the likes of you! But I suppose you have the right to know who ends your evil deed--or your life. My name is Zakkeran, Knight of Pure Spring. I give you five minutes to make up your mind!"

"How generous of you. Now, listen to me, Zakkeran, Knight of Pure Spring. I don't know who sent you and what you've been told, but I hold no prisoners. You are welcome to come in and inspect my dungeon, if you so desire."

He didn't believe me, of course.

"You're lying! Everyone knows that you have captured a wounded young lord! Perhaps you don't keep him in the dungeon, but I know he's in your castle, and I demand that you release him!"

So this time Jarvi was a "wounded young lord." He'd been referred to as an injured traveler, bewitched prince, wealthy merchant, wounded knight. Each of his potential rescuers had their own version of it.

"Like I said, I hold no one captive. Come see for yourself, then go home and tell all the others to leave me alone. I do not wish to fight you, Zakkeran, I've had too much of that lately."

He laughed. "I knew you were a villain and a liar, but I had no idea that you're also a coward!"

Now, that did it. Calling me a coward after interrupting my breakfast? He'd have to answer for that.

It took me all of two minutes to disarm him and knock down those oversized shoulder plates, with slightly more than the force of my personality. Just like I suspected, his real shoulders turned out to be twice smaller.

"Next time pick yourself armor that fits--although I do concede, for someone who likes the sound of their own voice, the acoustics must be sensational. And another bit of advice: learn to respect your enemy. It helps in case things turn out bad for you, like today. Now, get out."

I used to thank them for the entertainment, but it was no longer amusing.

I returned to the castle. My appetite was gone, so instead of the dining room I went to Jarvi's bedchamber. I checked on him every morning, as well as several times during the day.

Jarvi's bedroom was right next to my own. I reached into my pocket for the key, but the door was unlocked.

Shork must be cleaning up
, I thought as I entered. He was the only other person who had a key to the room.

The lackey was there, all right. Only instead of sweeping or dusting he was leaning over the bed, scissors in hand, ready to cut off a lock of Jarvi's flaming orange hair.

"Shork! What are you doing?"

He jumped, dropping the scissors.

"I, uh... nothing, Your Lordship... I just wanted--just wanted to give Mr. Jarvi a haircut, that's all."

I stepped closer, fists clenched.

"Don't give me that. You know very well that Mr. Jarvi needs no haircuts, shavings, baths, food or drink. So you'd better tell me the truth while I still haven't decided between locking you in the dungeon, throwing you into the snake hole, or roasting you slowly over a fire."

Shork, pale and shaking, fell to his knees.

"Please, my lord! I only wanted to help!"

"Help? How?"

"It's Mr. Fernig, he said he can cure Mr. Jarvi if I bring a lock of his hair!"

"Fernig the wizard?"

"Yes! Just one small lock, he said, and he'd use it to break the spell."

I still wasn't buying it, but this was probably closer to the truth.

"And how many times did I tell you that Mr. Jarvi is neither sick nor under a spell? He's..."

I looked away. Jarvi's condition was my fault, but no one in the castle knew the details, and I certainly wasn't going to share them now with this traitor of a servant.