Hand of Fire (The Master of the Tane) (82 page)

“Thane, my boy, welcome, welcome,” his scratchy voice resounded. “It’s good to see you up and around.”

              Thane smiled and took the seat Resdin offered at Lord Bedler’s right. “Thank you. I have to say I’m feeling almost as good as I ever have.”

             
Bedler smiled back. “That’s just splendid.”

             
“Yes,” Thane continued, “in fact, I think that in another day or two I’ll be ready to leave and go in search of my friends.”

             
Resdin took the seat on the other side of Lord Bedler as the old man patted Thane’s hand gently. “Let’s not rush things now my boy. You’ll have plenty of time to find your friends. After all, you only just got here.”

             
Thane raised an eyebrow. “Is that true? I mean, how long have I been here and, if you don’t mind me asking, where am I and how did I get here?”

             
Bedler leaned back in his chair and chuckled. “Oh, the naiveté of youth. You’re always in such a hurry. You have to learn to slow down and enjoy the sweetness of each moment, my boy. Rushing into things, or out of things, brings nothing but missed opportunities and certain disappointment.”

             
Thane looked across the table at Resdin whose smile looked more like a smirk. A dark feeling started creeping over him and he suddenly wondered if he were not a prisoner instead of a guest.

             
Bedler laughed. “Easy my boy. There is no need to fear. You have the look of death itself upon your face.”

             
Thane swallowed hard and then forced a smile.

             
“I only meant,” Bedler continued, “that I am famished to the bone and if I wait another minute on casual conversation I am liable to drop dead from lack of food.” Lifting a silver bell that rested at his elbow he rang it twice. “After we eat, all of your questions will be answered and all of your concerns put to rest, I assure you.”

             
A large, sickening looking creature, the likes Thane had never seen, suddenly entered the room from an archway directly behind Resdin. It stood at least a head shorter than Thane and bulged all over with rolls of fat. The only clothing it wore was a large cloth gird about its loins and a towel that hung from one arm. Its body was covered with dark, black hair excepting for its head and face, which were completely bald and had a greenish brown hue. Thane notice pointed ears and large black eyes that lacked any hint of great intelligence. Leaning down in front of Bedler, the creature placed a covered tray and then gurgled something unintelligible. Bedler nodded and smiled. “Splendid!” Turning to Thane he made as if to say more but stopped abruptly. Glancing back at the creature, a look of understanding washed over Bedler’s face.

“My apologies, Thane.
You have not yet met our house staff.”

             
Thane continued to stare, fighting with the urge to get as far away from the hideous beast as possible.

             
“This is Whar, the house cook.” Leaning closer to Thane, he whispered. “He makes the finest
charanese
you have ever tasted and the things he can do with meats are incredible.”

             
“What is he?” was all Thane could manage to choke out.

             
Bedler placed his napkin in his lap and waved off the question as if it were unimportant. “Why he’s a goblin, of course. Now let’s eat this before it gets cold.”

             
Thane followed Whar’s path as he disappeared back through the archway from which he’d emerged.
A goblin
?

             
The shock of seeing Whar quickly wore off as the aroma of dinner wafted across his face like a slap. His belly rumbled with joy reminding him how hungry he really was. At this point there was no telling how long it had been since he’d eaten. It smelled so good he felt he could eat his own helping and everyone else’s along with it. It reminded him of a favorite dish his mother prepared back home. Hers was a mix of just about anything and everything that could be found to put in a pot. Thane’s father always balked when she made it, but Thane loved the mixture of flavors so his mother prepared it special for him.

             
He felt himself crash at the memory of his mother and home. His heart ached to see her face again and feel her arms wrapped about him. Though he was a man in his people’s eyes, he still was boy enough to crave the warmth of his mother’s love.

             
“Thane, what is wrong?”

             
He looked up in surprise. “What?”

“You look as if the whole world has just fallen to pieces around you,” the old man said, the look of concern evident on his ancient face. “What is the matter?”

              Thane looked down at his plate of food. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

             
Bedler glanced quickly at Resdin, the slightest smile playing along his thin lips. “Come now,” he returned to Thane. “We are your friends. Surely we can share what is bothering you so and possibly help make it better.” Bedler rested his hand on top of Thane’s. “Come now, out with it. Is it the food? If you don’t like it, we’ll have Whar fix something more suited to your liking.”

             
Thane shook his head and smiled weakly. “No, it’s not that. Well, not exactly.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s delicious really. It just reminded me of home. My mother used to make me something very similar to this and it just made me think of her. I...I haven’t seen her for quite some time.”

             
Bedler frowned, his eyes dropping sadly. “You know, it’s funny that you should mention that. My mother also made such a dish for me. It was my favorite. That is why I have taught Whar how to prepare it.” Bedler smiled. “And he’s just about gotten it right.”

             
Thane just nodded.

             
Tightening his grip around his hand, Bedler continued. “Now, now my boy, you mustn’t get all torn up because of it. My mother has long since gone to the pyre, and Seless knows I miss her. That is what is so wonderful about this meal. It’s a fond memory of her I can carry with me to warm my heart. Sure, I could let it make me sad, but why? She lived a good life and I am privileged to have known her.” Reaching over, Bedler clasped Thane’s chin in his hand. “Be thankful you had a good mother and that you can return to see her again someday.”

             
Thane smiled back at the old man suddenly feeling much better. “You’re right,” he said a bit more cheerfully. “I should be glad of the memories and that I will see her again.”

             
Bedler laughed. “That’s the spirit boy. You know, you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age. I’m thinking that you are going to prove to be someone special.”

             
Thane glanced quickly at Resdin who seemed to cover a grimace with a quick smile. Turning his attention back to Bedler, he said softly with a shy smile, “That’s what my mother always said.”

             
Bedler beamed. “Is that so? Well, she must be a very astute woman indeed.”

             
The rest of the meal passed without much conversation. Whar returned twice, filling goblets with wine and serving up crumb cakes for dessert. Thane felt his stomach would burst from all he ate. He also felt himself relaxing more with Lord Bedler. He was a kindly old man, always quick to smile and always ready to laugh. Resdin seemed to warm ever so slightly as well, and Thane couldn’t help but feel strangely at home with the both of them.

             
After the meal, he was escorted out by his hosts into a room half the size of the dining hall that was filled from ceiling to floor with books. A round table sat in the middle surrounded by four large, cushiony chairs that were covered in some type of woolly fur. A small fireplace burned brightly next to the entrance giving off heat and, with the help of a few well-placed candles, enough light to read by.

             
Thane took one of the chairs offered him, refusing another goblet of wine, and settled back trying unsuccessfully to get comfortable. He was never going to be able to figure out why HuMans tortured themselves so in such softness.

             
Lord Bedler’s voice tore his attention from the chair as he and Resdin sat down. “Now that we have filled ourselves and I no longer feel on the edge of fainting, why don’t we answer all of your questions so you can sleep easy tonight, shall we?”

             
Thane smiled thankfully and nodded. “I’m sorry if I did not sound grateful at first.”

             
Lord Bedler waved him off. “Of course not, my boy. You had every right to want to know your situation after waking up in a strange bed, surrounded by strange people. And after what you have been through.”

             
Thane curled up his brow. “That is one of the things I would like to ask you, Lord Bedler. What is it exactly that I went through? The last thing I recall is riding with my friends and then suddenly being ripped from my saddle by something enormous and black that had extremely sharp claws.” He reached up and rubbed his shoulder.

             
Lord Bedler lit up a pipe, nodding his head. “Yes, yes. A dragon.”

             
Thane’s face showed his confusion. “A dragon?”

             
“Yes, nasty things they are I’m here to tell you. Not many around, but those that are wreak havoc among the honest folk. In fact, it’s lucky Resdin here happened along when he did.”

             
Thane turned a surprised look on the other man.

             
“Saved your life he did.”

             
“Really?”

             
Lord Bedler blew out a ring of smoke. “Oh yes. He found you and the dragon just as it landed and was about to eat you. Sadly though, he lost his horse to the beast as it took wing. Charred it with his breath he did.”

             
Thane was dumbfounded. What type of creature that size could fly and breathe fire? It was more like a mother’s story told to disobedient children

             
“But alas,” Bedler continued, “you’re safe now.”

             
“So, how long
have
I been here?”             

             
“It will make three days tomorrow.”

             
Thane stared back in disbelief. “How is that possible? My wounds are all but healed.”

             
Bedler chuckled. “Well, let’s just say that I am gifted somewhat in the arts of healing.”

             
Thane shook his head. “Well, I am indeed in your debt for all of your hospitality and,” turning to Resdin, “I am very sorry about your horse.”

             
Resdin smiled but without warmth and bowed his head slightly. “A necessary sacrifice.”

             
“And, I am sure,” Bedler quipped in, “he would gladly do the same again.”

             
Resdin glanced at the old man before replying sweetly. “Why, of course.”

             
Thane felt a slight air of tension between the two but it quickly passed. It didn’t matter much to him anyway. His thoughts were on Jack and Dor and helping them rescue Tam. “How far are we from Haykon?”

             
Lord Bedler looked surprised. “Haykon? Why would you want to go to that Seless forsaken place? It’s horrible there.”

             
“Well,” he began, suddenly feeling somewhat unsure of himself, “that is where we were heading and where my friends are sure to be now.”

             
Lord Bedler grumbled. “Well, if you must know, it’s about a week’s ride from here.”

             
“And where is that?” he asked excitedly.

             
“Where is what?”

             
Thane tried to settle himself. “I’m sorry. I mean where are we?”

             
Bedler blew another smoke ring and then laughed. “What a clod I am. This is Raven’s Eye Castle.”

             
Thane shook his head and shrugged as if the name meant nothing to him.

             
“What? You mean you’ve never heard of Raven’s Eye Castle? What do they teach you kids these days?” Shaking his head, Lord Bedler leaned forward and grabbed a book lying on the table and stood it on its end. “These are the Mogolth Mountains. On the east side is Haykon and on the west at almost a straight course is Raven’s Eye Peak.” Then with a satisfied smile he said, “We’re on top.”

             
Thane’s face suddenly lost all color. “The trolls!”

             
“What?”

             
“Trolls! There are a swarm of trolls headed in this direction. You must prepare your army. They’ll attack and overrun you here for certain.”