THE DELVING--9
"The time has come,
The walrus said,
To get going."
-- a saying of the Dwarf-maidens
Chapter 9: Plans Made
Annalyn woke up before anyone else. She had work to do. Climbing to one of her storage hammocks, she withdrew a fat roll of dark green canvas laced with many cords. Uncoiling the first layer, she selected a clear space just above the level of the platform and strung up another hammock. It was smaller than the rest, and left room for more. Before she was done, the warrior-woman had placed six such hammocks in the branches, all facing the platform. As she was stepping back to the platform after tying the last knot, Jake appeared from the other side of the tree.
Annalyn greeted him briskly. "Up early today, aren't you?"
Jake nodded. "I do feel a lot better today. But I wanted to clarify something."
"What was that?"
"Dana was told certain things, back in our world."
"Such as?"
"We were supposed to be working together. That's why we came."
"We all work together on the Quest to rescue Ithuriel."
"At the last minute, Horton told me that something had gone wrong--that there was no longer unity in this Quest. He said that therefore there had been a change in plans."
"There has been no change in plans."
"That's not what I am seeing."
Annalyn cut him short. "Who is Horton, anyway?"
"A highly-placed agent in the Confederation Bureau of Investigation."
"You are not in charge here, Jake Daly, nor is Horton. Ralsoth said..."
It was Jake's turn to interrupt. "I got to know Harrison Beckman pretty well. He was here, and he went through a lot. The picture he gave me of Ralsoth is not the picture I'm getting now."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"When we crossed the Threshold from our world into yours, there was mass confusion. Horton made drastic changes in the plans in those last few seconds. There was a little animal the size of a football running around in the dark."
"What is a football?"
"I'm sorry--about the size of a baby pig--they call a football a 'pigskin' sometimes."
"It sounds like a bad way to treat a baby pig."
At that point, Dana came around the other side of the tree. "Good morning."
Annalyn's mood immediately lightened. "Would you like some breakfast?"
"Yes, I would. I'm starved!"
But at that moment a great hubbub arose. Peering down through the branches of her tree, Jake could see a short procession of diminutive women.
"I'm sorry--the Dwarf-maidens have arrived. You won't mind waiting for them a bit, will you? We can have breakfast together--you can get to know each other."
Dana nodded her acquiescence. Jake could see that he would get no further in the discussion with Annalyn, so he bowed politely, smiled at Dana, and sat on the edge of the platform. It was a long way down, but he was getting used to it.
Following Briska, their leader, the Dwarf-maidens clambered up the ladder. Briska's head popped up over the edge of the platform. Daly was amazed--her complexion was pure ivory--she looked more human than dwarfish. But when at last they were all standing together on the platform, she was only a little taller than the rest of them. She had long, silky brown hair. Perhaps she had human blood. But Daly's reflections were interrupted. Speaking in a loud, clear, but not unpleasant voice, Briska abruptly announced, "I'm starving!"
A small smile crossed Dana's lips. She and Briska were going to get along just fine!
When Briska spoke, the other five Dwarf-maidens murmured their assent. They were comely for dwarfs, sturdy but not oafish, all dressed the same as Briska in uniform clothing of simple peasant origin: white puff-sleeve blouses restrained by laced black weskits, with long, colorful, rosy-flowered skirts. Jake had to chuckle to himself--these were merry ladies, indeed.
Annalyn smiled warmly. "Let breakfast be served, then!" She indicated the small hammocks she had just tied in the tree branches. "I'll bring some eggs to you up there."
Jake stood up to return to his own hammock, on the other side of the tree. When he got there, he was surprised to see that above him there was a small, square platform that he had not noticed before. Set into the tree at that point was a cheery little stove, with a jaunty pipe angling away from the trunk, sending a column of smoke into the air. But more surprising was the sight of Montford standing there with a pan and a spatula, busily frying eggs. Jake's jaw dropped, but the old man smiled. "Don't let Annalyn fool you," he said. "She says outrag'us things about me sometime, but we're really best o' friends, and I help her out a'times." He winked at Jake and then added, "She's got a heart o' gold."
Jake pondered this information, but Montford didn't give him much time.
"Here! Would ye grab this plate o' eggs? Got to stay here an' keep fryin'! Got a mess o' folks to feed t'day!"
Jake reached up and took a large oval platter of fried eggs from the mountain man. Walking carefully around the main platform to the other side, he handed it to Annalyn. She smiled warmly at him. "Thank you!" Reaching into an alcove in the trunk, she took a small plate from a stack and forked two eggs onto it. Without being asked, Dana took the little plate and handed it to the nearest Dwarf-maiden, who was already seated in her hammock. Little pockets along the edge of the canvas held her flatware, and a larger pocket contained a drinking-skin. "I'm Glea," she said."
"My name is Dana." The World-woman wondered how she would ever be able to tell them apart--except for Briska, they all looked so much alike. But soon she had met Bomi, Maja, Dula, and Weska as well. She surprised herself at how well she was able to balance on the branches as she walked to the hammocks further out, and even Annalyn was amazed. Suddenly she realized that she had not served Briska, but the leader of the Dwarf-maidens was standing on the platform, plate in hand, animatedly chatting with the warrior-woman.
"Here," chirruped Briska, seizing a small plate from the stack. "Would you like three? They're small!" Her grin, splitting her face, was infectious, and Dana found herself laughing as the Dwarf-maiden plunked the eggs down in front of her. "Did you ever watch a hen lay an egg?"
"No," admitted Dana, wondering what would come next.
"They have to be careful, or they'll miss the nest!"
The rest of the Dwarf-maidens laughed loudly, and Dana found that she could not resist, either. It was a merry meal, and when all of the rye toast, marmalade, and tangerine juice had been finished off, everyone was full, including Jake and Montford. All joined to clean up, and when everything had been put away, it was past ten o'clock.
Annalyn frowned as she scanned the floor of the forest. "I wish Tam Lin were here," she said. "It is not like him to miss a solemn gathering, even though I know why. I hope he is still alive." As she spoke, she became aware of a presence beside her on the platform. Arkh had glided in so silently that no-one had noticed.
The bird-man folded his dark blue wings and motioned for silence. His face was grave. "I would speak with Annalyn alone," he said.
Annalyn nodded, and leaped lightly down the branches to the ground. Arkh spread his wings again and followed, dodging branches along the way.
Arkh walked to the opposite side of the tree, away from the iron ring where the horse was tied.
"Does Tam Lin still live?"
"Yes, but he is wishing that perhaps he did not."
"Then Ithuriel is still in captivity."
"If she is still alive."
"And Ithamar?"
"If the Nequam have not slain him. He and Tam Lin entered the Delving, and were able to get Ithuriel out of her cell, but then they were attacked by many Nequam, shooting arrows."
"They shoot arrows?"
"Scratch has taught them."
"He is there?"
"He and Flimb personally escorted her. I spoke with her briefly, on a rock, before they took her inside. Ithuriel is brave. She tried to jump off the bluff, taking Scratch with her, but he and Flimb dragged her back up."
"Does Tam Lin know you are here?"
"Yes. He waits in my cave, to hear from you."
"Good. We will meet at noon, then."
"I shall return at that time."
"Don't you want something to eat? It has doubtless been a long flight."
"I would prefer other than human fare."
"Then eat well. The Creator preserve you."
Arkh launched himself into the air, and Annalyn untied her horse. She had some musing to do before noon.
When the hour arrived, Annalyn stood on the platform facing the others in their hammocks. Arkh had returned. She realized that he and the Dwarf-maidens had not been aware of her absence the other day, but the rest deserved an explanation.
"I rescued the World-man, Jake Daly, here, from Twilintarn, day before yesterday. He had fallen and hit his head on the steps inside. I brought him back here, only to discover that, during the fall, he had lost some of his memory--amnesia, he called it. I knew that there was supposed to be a World-woman with him, as well, but he had no recollection of her. I fed him and made him as comfortable as possible." The assembly murmured as the facts were made known.
Annalyn continued. "The next morning, I went a short distance into the forest for some errands. Some of the Nequam who slew my beloved one ambushed me, casting a net from the trees. They were seeking revenge for their comrades who perished while killing my beloved. Never mind that it was he, not I, who slew them. Tying my hands and feet, they removed me from the net. One of them picked me up and began to fly toward Twilintarn. The others accompanied him--there were six altogether. They flew directly over the Well. "We will drop you into the Waters of Truth," they said, "and you may drink your fill." They swooped low to be sure that I did not miss the roiling pool and somehow snag the stair that circles the inside of the Well. The one who was holding me released his grip. For brief seconds I struggled to untie my bonds, but before long I was even more terrified as a mighty wind rushed up out of Twilintarn, throwing all of us high into the air. I looked around me, and saw the Nequam tumbling head over heel. Then there was a terrific flash of light, and I blacked out. When I came to, I was lying on the grass next to the Well. My bonds were gone. Around me I could see ashen bits of the lizard-men who had abducted me. I am familiar with the story of Tam Lin and the Quest to Save the Stag, and I knew what had happened to them. I started to walk home, and was ambushed by more Nequam, but I began to slay them at once, freeing two captives, who were Dana and Montford. Dana began to assist me at once, attacking the captors with her death-stick. Daly brought my horse to me. The Dwarf-maidens joined us this morning. Arkh has just brought word that Tam Lin and Ithamar, aided by Arkh, discovered the place where Ithuriel was imprisoned, in the Delving at Firefly Landing, and attempted to free her. They were attacked by many Nequam with arrows; Tam Lin escaped alive, but we do not know the fate of the twins. Are there any questions?"
Briska spoke up. "Are we all going to Firefly Landing to rescue Ithuriel?"
"No. We don't know for sure where she is, if she is still alive. We need to go back inside at the Landing, and find out, if we can, what happened. Meanwhile, we need to watch other places in the Delving--it is vast, and Scratch has made deep inroads, has many troops--he could take Ithuriel anywhere in a short time. That is what Dana and the Dwarf-maidens will do. The Dwarf-maidens are well-loved in the Delving, and they will circulate freely, entering at a different location. Dana will accompany them to protect them. They will need an animal to assist in certain activities, so Lorry will go along. Montford will remain here to guard my house. If there is trouble, he knows what to do. One of Serun's griffins is nearby, ready to alert the Magister. The rest of us will travel to Firefly Landing as quickly as possible. Arkh will go ahead and assist Tam Lin in the preparation of our entrance to the Delving there."
"Since we will be working mostly underground, and want to remain undetected as much as possible, we will dress in black for this Quest. New clothing has been made according to the information that was given to us. I apologize if any of it does not fit properly. Please bear with us. The Dwarf-maidens are highly skilled at such work and will be glad to make any alterations necessary--they do have with them a supply of black cloth and black thread. Since they are expected to dress in a certain manner, and their ordinary appearance is critical to their success, the Dwarf-maidens will not wear black. Are there any other questions?"
There was silence.
"Then may the Creator be with us."
THERE ARE 62 chapters in all. They will be posted according to reader demand. Please contact the author at the e-mail address given (page bottom--carolinaivy), or in person. Use an 'at' symbol and a 'dot' at the appropriate places, entering the address by hand. Copy-and-paste will not work.
MILEPOSTERS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
MILEPOSTERS
c 4-11-25
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