Yspaddaden - Chapter 4

 Kadyriath

Kady roamed the valley, taking in all the new sights, sounds, smells and tastes. She and Yspaddaden had arrived in the peaceful village only two days ago, yet somehow it seemed like a new home. Peaceful. Charming. Inviting. It was a very good place.

She walked along the path, observing everything. The bells on her anklet rang with each step. A group of curious children had been following her for a while now, whispering and pointing. None of them had ever been outside of the valley. The entire village was completely contained. People traded commerce and labor with each other as if they were all family. And most of them were. Kady passed by all sorts of new sights. There were farmers, tending the fields. No one had individual shops, those that weren't farmers operated out of their homes. Soap makers, weavers, blacksmiths, clothiers. She hadn't seen much of life outside her own city, so country life was quite relaxing and new to her. She had learned that all the children in the village under the age of twenty attended one school, the mothers taking turns teaching. Those out of school helped out with their families, taking on the business of the parents. Everyone met each night at the town hall to discuss affairs and entertain each other with news, conversation, stories. Everyone seemed to get along and no one was the slightest bit discontent.

Kady looked back and winked at the children following her. The girls laughed and the young boys shifted uncomfortably. Not a one of them knew what she was. Kady had to admit, it was a nice vacation from her home. Being what she was demanded a lot of her time, and during the celebrations she had anticipated even more lonely, wealthy men. Now she wasn't sure if she would be going back or not. It was the only thing she knew and she missed it, but Yspaddaden's revelation concerning the prophecy had shed everything in a new light. Hearing about herself in that way made her feel quite important. She had assumed that she would eventually go back home, either Yspaddaden allowing her, or by way of some elaborate escape. Yet now, her options had opened up quite a bit. Curiosity kept her here in the peaceful village. And Yspaddaden had not told her everything about his journey, that she was sure of. Though she got the impression that he didn't know too much about it himself. Running off about the country looking for something of whose existence had never been confirmed seemed awfully rash to her. Ah well. Boys and their toys.

A grey cat ran across the path and a couple of the girls behind her broke off to chase after it. The village here seemed unnaturally populated by many cats, and everyone seemed to take extra special care of them. Strange. Kady headed off the path and aimed herself toward the gazebo that Yspaddaden was waiting in. He had agreed to tell her more of the story behind his…quest. She still felt silly every time he said that word. Her bare feet kicked up dust in the sparse grass. She had been unable to find anyone in the village who made a living making shoes, and she hadn't been willing to bother any of the women to make her a pair. She went without shoes for most of her day, and she lived in a large city. The calluses on the bottom of her feet were just as good as leather soles, and it was still summer. Depending on how long this…quest…might take, she would need a pair before winter set in.

As she approached the gazebo, several of the small boys ran in front of her and went to be with Yspaddaden. That confused Kady. These tiny boys were scared to death of her, yet they sat comfortably at the feet of a seven foot tall monster that sported inhuman amounts of muscle. A reverence thing, perhaps? Or simply the fact they knew him better. He had admitted to have spent quite a bit of time here in the past. She had an interesting, fleeting thought. Did Yspaddaden have any children? Was there a (or a few) companions that he visited in his travels, mothering his bastard kids? She shook her head and didn't care to think of it. It was probably true. All men were the same.

She climbed the steps up to the small gazebo and waited while Yspaddaden greeted and teased the boys. The young girls hung back, pointing and giggling. Yspaddaden looked up at Kady and winked. She couldn't help but smile at him. He was such a large man, yet he handled these children with such love and tenderness. She had to be honest, she had never witnessed this kind of behavior in a man before. It was completely new to her.

Yspaddaden shoed the boys off and they rejoined the girls, the entire group running off through the brown grass toward the woods to play. Kady watched them frolic and smiled again at their antics. They were all so cute. Could she ever…? No, she shoved the strange thought out of her head. She concentrated and wiped the smile from her face as she turned back to Yspaddaden. He sat down on one of the benches and faced her, his smile not even attempting to hide. He stared at her, waiting for her to speak. She simply stood there, arms crossed, feet apart. She was still mad at him. It would take a while for her to get over it. Kidnapping was not something that one forgot easily.

She turned and looked out over the valley so she wouldn't have to look at that infuriating smile of his. The gazebo stood on a small hill to one side of the village and it made a good observation point. The farmers out in the field were silent, working away at bringing in the harvest. The winter months would be upon them soon and they worked diligently. She observed the valley for a while before speaking.

"How long since it's rained?"

"Seven months."

The tall brown grass flowed in the dry heat. She couldn't imagine the stress the farmers were in right now, trying to salvage any edible food from the sparse fields. The famine seemed to hit all, and it effected everyone. Dry weather in the city was simply that. Dry. With no rain. With storehouses stocked to brimming and new merchants arriving every day with fresh supplies, famine didn't effect those living there. Here was another matter. These people depended on the cruelties of a finicky sky. When it didn't rain, only a small portion of the crops survived. Less reaping meant less food for the winter and not enough seed for the following spring. It was a cycle that would only be broken by the luck of the weather. The valley was peaceful, and she could see why one might want to settle here. But Kady was sure that the stress of living day by day, not knowing if one year might be her last here, would tear at her from the inside. No. She loved it here, but she could never live with these people.

She turned around and faced Yspaddaden.

"You were going to tell me why we are here. Why you are on this, quest of yours. And what is it you seek? You must tell me. Your story of a prophecy that could be twisted to include me is valid. If it's true. But I need to be convinced. Prove to me that you tell the truth. And convince me to travel with you. Otherwise I leave for home tomorrow."

Yspaddaden looked at her with rapt attention, then rose. He pulled his sword from its sheath and held it to her. She hesitated a second before grasping the hilt and taking the blade in her hands. It was quite heavy. The point swung downward and it was all she could do to keep the tip from slamming into the wood floor. She managed to let it settle gently, hopefully where Yspaddaden didn't notice. He sat back down, the sword still in her hands.

"That sword was given to me by AethelKil. My father was employed by him as a mercenary and when he died, AethelKil took me in and trained me personally to fight. Before he died he had that blade forged for me. The centaurs of Najja spent an entire month forming the blade, building the hilt and colouring it yellow as you see it now. Do you see the inscription on the blade?" She looked and saw strange words running down the length of the blade. "The secret language of the centaurs. No one but them knows what it means. I've been meaning to travel to Najja to inquire about it, but that journey has not yet come. I pledged my sword and my life to the king. He alone holds my allegiance. He was a good friend to me. There was no one like him. No one else I would die for. So, when he charged me to bring him back the stone that completes that broken piece, I took it to heart. And even though he is dead now, I will see this quest through. There is nothing more important to me than preserving his memory by doing this deed. He adopted me when no one else would. He was younger than me, but he held my respect. That is my driving force behind the continuation of this quest. If I don't do this, I will have failed him. It's something that must be done."

Kady sat back on the bench and stared at Yspaddaden. This was a new side of him. She hadn't suspected him as being all that loyal and noble. She pointed at the broken yellow piece of gemstone. It was curved like a half sphere, broken down the middle, the jagged points pointing outward.

"What kind of rock is that?"

Yspaddaden reached for the sword and she handed it to him. He fingered the stone as he spoke.

"No one knows. At least not in Ynwfn. It was found by a scientist in the Enohp Mountains in the time of AethelYul. As the story goes, the man won a gambling bet with a dwarf who lived there, and the prize was that stone. He got all the way back to the capitol and gave the king the stone before the dwarf found his revenge. The scientist was discovered in his bed, slaughtered. But the dwarf did not get his prize back. AethelYul hid the stone and passed it down to his successor, AethelKil. After researching the stone further, AethelKil believed it to be the missing piece of the Aszkastone, famed relic of the minotaurs. Some people call it the Star of Aszka. I came to this valley to ask further about it. If there is anything in this region of the country worth knowing, Joyill knows it. She gave me this piece of paper. It's supposed to be a drawing of the Aszkastone."

He handed it to her and she took it, comparing it to the jewel on the hilt. After being satisfied, she gave it back.

"I presume that the stone is quite valuable if it is found and restored?"

Yspaddaden smiled.

"Not only valuable. But powerful. Magical."

Kady laughed at that.

"Magic does not exist."

Yspaddaden shook his head in disagreement.

"You are wrong. It does. I've seen magic before. Powerful magic. You may not know of such things, living your entire life in the same city. But I have traveled much. Seen much. And to be honest, humans are not the people to go to if you want something magic. They are very, plain when it comes to such things. The elves are better for it, or the minotaurs. I've only met one centaur, and only for a short time. But I could have sworn there was a tiny part of him that was magical."

"Only a tiny part? They are like the humans?"

"Only partly in appearance. No, centaurs themselves are just as magical as any human. There is no sentient creature of this world that possesses magic. You can only find that sort of power in things, in objects. I've heard of an Order of Wizards that reside in Tabari, but I've also heard that they are frauds, merely men who might own a magical piece of dirt or something to make them appear more mage-like."

"So, people cannot be magical, but things can?" He nodded. She shook her head. "If what you say is true, it reforms my entire view of this planet and what it contains. All I've ever really seen is what I witnessed in my city. Nothing more beyond that."

"People rarely travel outside their comfort place. It gives them a warped view on life. How are they ever to know what is real or true if they don't witness it? Or how are they to ever become wise if they do not experience all this world has to offer? This place is bigger than most people realize, and more wonderful. I could never imagine willingly confining myself to one location. There is too much to see, too much to do and be. It's exhilarating."

"I didn't…"

"I know", Yspaddaden interrupted. "I didn't mean to imply that you were willingly confined. You didn't have a choice. It's not your fault." Kady didn't say anything for a minute. She just turned and looked out into the valley again. Yspaddaden waited.

"What does Joyill do?"

Yspaddaden looked up at her. "What?"

Kady turned to him and leaned against the railing.

"What does Joyill do for a living? How does she make her money? She's the only one in this place who doesn't have a field or garden. Just her small house. How does she survive here if she doesn't have any crops to trade?"

Yspaddaden started laughing. Kady looked at him indignantly. It took a second for him to calm down enough before he sat back up, his hand on his belly.

"You mean, you mean she never told you? You stayed with her a day and a night and she didn't say anything?"

Kady shook her head and Yspaddaden laughed out loud again.

"Oh, that old witch! She had you eat her food and everything!"

"What?! What is so funny?"

"Did nothing seem strange about her meals? Anything out of place?"

Kady thought for a second, then shook her head.

"No. They tasted wonderful. She didn't serve much, mainly bread with a bit of meat and some milk but she prepared it nicely. Why?"

Yspaddaden was still chuckling as he stood and crossed over to her. He placed  his hands on her shoulders and spun her around to face Joyill's tiny little hovel. He pointed toward it.

"Look. There, you see?"

All she saw was the house surrounded by land, people and animals.

"No, I don't."

Yspaddaden whispered in her ear this time.

"Count the cats."

Mysterious. Kady squinted and finally noticed the dozen or so cats that wandered around Joyill's house. She now recalled how there had seemed to be several in and about the house. She enjoyed cats so she hadn't said anything, but there was a point where it got to be too many. She wondered at what Yspaddaden meant by pointing this out, then her eyes went wide. She spun back around to him.

"She kills and eats cats?!"

To this Yspaddaden laughed the loudest. When he finally recovered enough to speak, he was shaking his head.

"No, of course not! Joyill is incapable of harming another breathing creature. No she doesn't kill them. But she does milk them."

Kady recalled her three meals at the old woman's home and recoiled. Now that she pondered it, she did remember milk at each one. She gagged slightly as she looked at Yspaddaden's joyful face in horror.

"Cat milk? I've been drinking cat milk for the past two days?! Why did you never tell me?!"

"I didn't think it important!"

"Not important?! You failed to tell me that I was drinking the milk that came out of those cats down there! That's disgusting!"

"And cows aren't?"

"They…" Kady tried to become mad at him and argue, but she realised that she had no retort for that one. Now that she was thinking abut it, cows were disgusting. She gagged again at the thought. "Oh, I'm never drinking a drop of milk again." She sat back onto the bench and put her face in her hands. Yspaddaden chuckled and patted her back.

"It'll be alright. Joyill's milk is famous in this valley, and there are many well-to-do people in the surrounding country that are very fond of it. Of course, they have no idea what kind of milk they are drinking, but they still like it. If they knew they probably would be regretting life, as you are now. Feel better. You are not alone."

Kady groaned into her hands. Yspaddaden seemed unable to stop chuckling at the situation. He sat down next to her and waited for her to recover. The thoughts kept roaming around in her mind. Cats milk! In all her days she never would have willingly drank something so vile and unorthodox. It was just too strange.

She finally was able to stand up and face him. She stood in the center of the gazebo, her legs spread, arms crossed. For some reason the strange thought passed through her mind that she had not been able to wash her clothes since being spirited away from the house in the city. She needed to do that before leaving this valley. But she was still uncertain as to what direction that would be.

"Say I believe you. Say I support your insane quest to travel across the continent to acquire a gem that you can't even tell me the origins, much less the purpose. What then? Am I to leave my life behind and follow you, a man I know nothing about? As you have so arrogantly pointed out, I know nothing of the life outside my city. I am not accustomed to travel. I'm not even quite sure it's what I want. Maybe I want to go back home."

Yspaddaden stood as well and towered over her. His seven feet made her five and a half feel like a dwarf. She was unaccustomed to such massiveness. He looked down at her, not unkindly.

"I would not ask you to join me if I did not think you should. Your life before? Why go back to it? You were nothing but a slave there. With me you can be free. You would no longer have to bow to the society that made you. The only reason you are worth anything to them is for the monetary and entertainment value. You can go back to them where you are needed, or you can come with me where you are valued. I leave the choice to you. I'll leave in the morning at first light."

With that he turned and walked away. He blended in with the farmers all crowding together as they made their way to their homes to wash. Today was the last day of the month, Teratoth, and all the villagers regularly gathered in the main hall to exchange news, gossip and stories. Kady would probably join with them. For no matter what her choice, she would be leaving in the morning. Either with Yspaddaden or by herself back home. If she was honest, she had to admit that the notion of traveling with him was quite appealing. It was filled with mystery and adventure, and her life from before, though plentiful, was admittedly boring. She would have to decide by day break.

She sighed and descended the steps. Maybe she could go get her dress washed before the town gathering in a few hours. And she still needed to find some shoes!

Even if Kadyriath had not known where the town hall was, all she needed to do was follow the voices and lights across the valley. The music alone drew anyone in the valley toward it, even the slightly hermit-like Joyill. Kady walked with her arms entwined with the old woman's, leading her onward. They said nothing, because nothing needed to be said. The lights lit up the side of the forrest in a peaceful glow. Even the faeries couldn't stay away. They flitted back and forth, lighting up the sky with their inner glow, creating stars that actually seemed reachable. The entire hollow of a valley seemed to exude joyfulness as the people celebrated yet another peaceful month in their quiet community. Kady was beginning to change her mind about the place. Perhaps it could be a nice place to settle down in. One day.

They reached the entrance to the hall and Joyill let go of her arm to scuttle into a corner after grabbing a tall glass of some sort of fruity liquid. She stood there, robes covering her, observing the place. She seemed content so Kady left her to her practices and went in search of more conversationable people. She spotted a few wives that she had talked to the day before and headed their way. They noticed her and waved her into their circle. After they finished introducing her to the rest of them, she stood there, observing as Joyill did. There was a group of old men to the side, strumming on odd looking instruments and banging on loud drums. The other older people sat on chairs that lined the room, drinking, conversing, or, as some did, watching the room with accusing eyes. The middle aged stood and talked amongst themselves. As Kady listened halfheartedly to the conversation she was closest to, she didn't find anything worth talking about. How the crops fared, how the children fared, how the lives and secrets of others fared. Interesting. The young people mingled with each other and the bravest of them were in the middle of the building, dancing. Kady noticed a particular couple, tall gangly young man and a skinny but beautiful young woman. He approached her and asked her to dance. She seemed to laugh and hesitate, but the goading of her fellow friends made her mind up. She took his hand and he led her onto the dance floor. The band seemed to know them and changed their song accordingly. Half the conversations stopped as the young couple stood in the middle of the room, close together, her hand on his shoulder, his hand on her waist. The music started slowly.

As the couple began to dance slowly around each other, the music picked up and became very interesting. She didn't think that they could have made such variety with such a limited assortment of instruments, but they succeeded quite well. No one else was dancing at this point. Kady got the feeling that this was not the first time this particular couple had preened and shown off a little at these gatherings. Actually, from the sly comments of some of the women, she presumed that this was quite a regular performance. She watched carefully.

They spun slowly, every move in accordance with the sultry music. The footsteps were perfect, the arm movements rehearsed yet improvised. They stared into each others eyes, never wavering for a second. No words were said, yet Kady could guess easily at the story they began to tell with their bodies. First, the shy teasing. Next, the friendship. Kady's eyes could not be torn from the two as they spun around the room, feet stamping, hands moving, eyes never wavering. The entire room was silent now, except for the music which had grown increasingly and beautifully haunting. They were so perfect together, their movements flawless, their emotions riveting. It was perfect.

Kady did not even notice the second boy who crept in from the side. She was so intent on the couple who danced in the middle. It wasn't until the girl turned from the boy for the first time and he moved his back to her that the second boy came in and grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around thrillingly and romantically. Kady was confused, until the first boy turned and playacted his hurt at the betrayal. The second boy grinned at him and the girl hung from his arms as if she was dead. The first boy made a lunge at him, but the adulterer threw the girl out and she seemed as if she was going to fall against the hardwood floor, but a third boy swooped in and caught her at the last second, smoothly. She realised everything was a part of the act. These other boys were supposed to be dancing with her. Kady gasped with shock as she realised what the girl was supposed to be. She had no bells on her foot, but the girl played perfectly the roving prostitute. Kadyriath felt a stab of guilt and shame as she watched her life played out on the dance floor. Yet she could not look away.

Soon the floor was full of young men, each throwing the girl form one to the other, dancing with her but a few seconds, then tossing her off to the next in a spectacularly choreographed dance. The first boy danced all about, a look of anger and fear on his face as he kept trying to catch up with her. The others kept her just out of reach and the girl seemed completely limp as she was passed back and forth. Tossing, leaping, writhing, convulsing. It was brilliant, beautiful, and all too accurate. Kady watched as each boy danced with the girl, gave her to the next, and turned his back on her. She could not keep her eyes off the first boy as he hunted with fierce determination. She felt bile rise up in her throat and she spun on her heels, aiming herself toward the door to the outside. She had to push past several people to do so, and they seemed not to notice at all. She reached the door and shoved it open, stumbling into the moonlight.

The music continued behind her as she dry-heaved into the air. Why had this one act of art concerned her? She had seen play upon play regarding this sort of event, known of things that would make men blush, and heard stories that turned the stomachs of the strongest. Yet nothing had ever effected her as this had. Why? She had no answer for it. She placed a hand on the side of the building and spat up some spittle, trying to clean out her mouth.

The hand on her back shocked her so much that she cried out and leaped a few feet away from the touch. Yspaddaden stepped back and held his hands up in defense.

"I'm sorry. I did not mean to startle you. I noticed you leaving and wondered at your health. Do you need something to drink?"

"No! Please go away."

"Kady, if I can help I am more than willing to…"

"The best thing you can do for me right now is leave me alone. Please."

Yspaddaden paused, then nodded his head.

"As you wish. I appologise."

He turned and began heading back to the hall. Kady spun and sat heavily on the grass, a single tear rolling down her cheek. The music had stopped behind her. She literally had no idea why that display had affected her so. She had lived through worse. Why that? Why now? She groaned in frustration at the hand that laid upon her shoulder again. She batted the hand away, standing up to face Yspaddaden with all the wrath she could muster.

"Did you not hear me vozhong? I said…"

Kady stopped as she realised that it was not the kind face of Yspaddaden at her back, but the horror filled one of Joyill. The old crone gripped Kady's shoulders as she tried to force out words and tears ran freely.

"Come…come away now! You are in danger! Come, they are here!"

"Joyill, slow down, what's the problem?"

Kady noticed several more people emerging from the building in a panic, but Joyill roughly regained her concentration.

"Soldiers! Of the king! You must flee now and find Yspa! You must complete your quest! Please Kady, find him and…!"

Kady screamed aloud as blood spurted onto Joyills arm and her left breast seemed to open up to a small volcano. The arrow head piercing her heart protruded a fe inches from her body and her face showed utter shock. She tried to grab at Kady as she fell to the ground, but Kady seemed not to be able to move as she fell. Her eyes involuntarily focused on the horror scene behind where Joyill had been standing. People ran everywhere, no pattern, fleeing to wherever shelter might be found. The blue and gold of the soldiers uniforms appeared as a knife to an expensive painting. The town hall was partially on fire, and the flames licked at the grass that was dead with a lack of moisture. The light from the fire lit the entire valley, showing her everything. She witnessed several murders from the soldiers as they skewered townsfolk. Groups of people ran off into the woods to find freedom. Her eyes seemed to instantly seek out Yspaddaden as his bulk rose against the woods. He carried a small child in each arm. He paused at the woods edge and glanced back, locked eyes with Kady, and seemed to give an apologetic frown before plunging into the darkness that the trees provided. The last thing she saw was a flash of blue and gold and the butt of an axe handle as it clashed with the side of her head.

Darkness.