Riley knew the name Glasheim from books she’d been forced to read. Judging from the look of Lissie, she knew less than Riley, but Cora was already talking. “It sounds fascinating, it must be so far away!”
Riley snapped, “It’s in Midgat, very far north. I know that much.”
Alexander looked at them abashed, “Yes, Midgat. One of my least favorite stops of the year. Since you’ve not been there, I’ll have to tell you why. It’s a Duchy that is entirely dry!” He paused for a moment, until Riley waved him on. He raised an eyebrow back at her.
“That means there is no drinking. Not for the performers, which is punishment enough, but neither for the audience, which is even worse. There is also no gambling and no work for a minority of our more gracious Company. The mood has been set, and now for the setting.” He made an expansive gesture, telling the story as much with his hands and the accompaniment of his little dog as with his words.
“It is a cold and dark land that borders the mountains to the north.” He signaled, and Ruskin shivered, “The women are hale and hearty, and the men are violent and stupid, even without the assistance of booze. The company master forces us to go there every spring to entertain the troops. Traveling the Gats buys us certain favors with the king. Everyone knows politics is far more important than merriment.
“Four months ago I sat upon the foot of the Tinkerer’s Cart, packing up a few of my more delicate accouterments. The day’s performance had been miserable. The children took to tossing bits of mud on stage and the men were just as ill-tempered. They hissed and booed one of our finest works!”
“Who would boo at the Ellium Company?” Cora asked, her voice cracking.
Riley shushed her.
“In the southern duchies of Kaldenval and Gallia we are well-regarded and welcomed.” Ruskin took a few steps on his back paws. “I have taught classes, I have danced with emissaries of foreign lands and met royalty. In the north, our ministrations are not nearly as well-received. No ill-will to the men of the Gats, East, Mid, nor West, I know they are fighting giants and worse to keep us all safe.”
“That particular evening, I was feeling downtrodden. I had only Ruskin for company, my heart recently scorned by a talented acrobat. The story of the acrobat I will not waste a digression upon. But know my heart, and why I sought fluid comfort.” Alexander pantomimed drinking from a bottle and Ruskin growled.
“‘Ruskin, my boy,’ I said, ‘Why do you worry so?’ For after I had finished my bottle of joy, he had taken to worrying himself at the edge of the fire. He told the forest to stay in its place. He is a bit of a grumble pup, though he has behaved himself well in your company. These growls, though, seemed different.”
“I was getting stiff and feeling emboldened by the firewater. I felt like taking a walk. I grabbed up my light jar and let Ruskin lead me into the forest, to confront the terror in the dark. The forests of the north are not like these we sit in tonight. They are not safe. They are not filled with friendly frogs and jaunty tunes. The trees have no leaves, and no grass adorns the ground, only black prickles that crunch underfoot once they fall.”
“I started to hear a rustling, a noise and then a cry from the darkness beyond. The shivering of the black trees was mimicking the shivering of my heart. Had I been clear of head, I would have immediately set tail and ran to safety. But emboldened by foolishness, and awareness of my own indiscretion in drink, I continued onward. I could seek no aid in this condition. Ruskin never let up his persistent growl, which gave me courage enough to follow.”
“The noises grew ever louder, and I heard what sounded like a woman’s scream. I rounded a massive cone of a tree. There before my eyes was a member of our company, the beautiful Lavigne, sprawled upon her back, face to the moonlight, skirts asunder. Betwixt her legs, buried to his beard, was a bear of a man in leather and iron plate.”
Riley turned and saw Cora stifling a giggle. She whispered to her, “Gracious, indeed!”
“I turned, to creep away, as silently as I had approached, but Ruskin had other ideas. He ran in, sounding a sharp alarm for all to follow. He was mad with concern for the poor lady, and the bear who was devouring her! Lavigne was no stranger to being in flagrante delicto.”
Riley whispered to Cora, “What does that mean?”
“It’s Gallian for ‘caught in blazing offense.’” Cora whispered back, “While the crime is blazing.”
Alexander cleared his throat. “Blazing, they were! I swear, I’ve never seen anyone move faster. Before I could shake my head, she was dressed and disappeared into the night.”
“There I stood. Ruskin was inconsolable, as was the armored man, who had drawn a sword. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but I must not have charmed him. Though, being that he was the Duke of Midgat and properly married, I do not know what words could have saved me.”
“I was marched at sword-point into Glasheim and thrown into a cell with Ruskin. Dear dog didn’t stop barking even for a moment. The next morning the leader of the company came to speak on my behalf, but he was sent away and told that there would be no exceptions for drinking. Not even for the Ellium. But I knew that I was being held on counts other than drunkenness, if not on paper.” Alexander paused for breath.
Ruskin rolled on his back, tongue lolling.
“It’s illegal, you can’t imprison an Ellium,” Cora recited, “I thought it was understood they handled everything internally and were under protection of the King.”
Riley raised her eyebrows and said, “All of the dukes have their own rules.”
“The punishment was only a month’s hard labor. For both me and Ruskin. Unfortunately for the gaoler, the only job they could find for us was ratting. To be honest, Ruskin did most of it. He had a wonderful time, I’m sure he’ll be happy to return.”
“Did you learn anything from your imprisonment?” Lissie asked.
“Try as I might,” Alexander laughed, “There are some lessons I never seem to learn.”
“The whole thing is just terrible,” Cora reached out to pet Ruskin’s ears, “I can’t believe they’d treat you that way.”
Alexander said, “They fed me and housed me and saved my effects. I’ve been treated worse by women. And by those claimed to love me. But by myself most of all.“
Riley yawned and said, “We should set watches. Not everyone in the forest is going to be performing for frogs.”
“You can set watches if you like, but Ruskin will keep guard. Believe me, no one can sleep through his alert. Where are we headed tomorrow?” Alexander looked at Riley.
Riley met his gaze. “What do you mean ‘we’?”
“I told you your story was worth five of mine. Aren’t you curious about my journey through Fairfield and Terndowns?” Alexander responded.
Cora gasped, “You’ve just been through Terndowns? I’m from Terndowns! My mother is the Duchess of Terndowns.”
Alexander’s face changed, and Riley realized there had been a lecherous gleam in it. It was gone. He stood up and performed an elaborate bow. “Your mother is the good Lady Maribelle Hart? I have quite the tale I can tell about her. And her hospitality. But it grows later and later, and you have not answered my question. You say you are headed west, but where is the destination for tomorrow’s travels? The closest town is two days’ ride.”
Riley’s stomach clenched, she had not planned out the trip after their midnight escape. “We will have to make another camp tomorrow,” she looked at him, “I suppose you can serve as our guide.”
“It’s too late and too dark to bother setting it up tonight, but tomorrow you can stay in my tent. It normally only sleeps two people, but you three seem small enough to fit.”
“Where will you be sleeping?” Cora asked.
Alexander smiled widely, “Ruskin and I are used to making a blanket of the stars.” He went to his packs, and brought out a container, about the size of a loaf of bread. He pulled a thread and it unraveled into a fluffy rucksack.
—
Breakfast was scarce the next morning, and Riley realized how little food they had. She didn’t blame Lissie. She blamed herself, the way she knew a leader should.
She watched Sugarsnap scooping up big mouthfuls of grass and her stomach twisted.
She asked Alexander, “I don’t suppose there is any food in all those packs you have?”
“I could make a trap. I could forage the last of the berries,” He laughed over the bowl of their porridge. Cora had let him finish hers.
“We should have enough until the next town, as long as we ration it.” Lissie did not sound concerned.
Riley watched Alexander pass his bowl to the little dog, who licked it clean.
She mounted up on Sugarsnap.
Two more mouths to feed. The dog is pretty small.