Author's Note: Brego and Bree belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and C. Two of my favorite writers, and great inspirations to me growing up. Crb Goch is a mountain in Wales that means "Knife Edge" due to the serrated appearance of its peak. Suitable for the dwelling of a Red Dragon which is also the symbol of Wales. Malug is my own creation. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did writing it.
Chapter 3: The Lost One
Kate was surprised at how quiet the castle was at night, considering how many people lived within it. She was able to sleep soundly with only the occasional call of an owl to remind her that she was still surrounded by a large forest. She slept upon a mat made from wool and filled with what she could guess was wool and goose down. She used her jacket as a pillow, sleeping in her clothes, and using a wool blanket for extra warmth. She joined the others huddled by the great hearth in the main hall, which had been cleared away, floors scrubbed, and fresh straw laid down for the night. The fire caused shadows to dance upon the walls, but eventually she was able to sleep. Kate woke up before sunrise refreshed from a good nights sleep. She packed up her things pulling her coat on, and shouldering her backpack. Then, she went to the royal stables where two horses waited their riders. She recognized Johan's steed, but the other she guessed was for her to use.
"Is this horse for me?" Kate asked the stablehand.
"Aye miss, he doesn't have a name yet, but for now it's all we can spare considerin' our Knights have the best." He replied patting the horse on its neck.
Kate gave it a quick once over. "Looks like a fine creature to me." She said, gently stroking the animal's mane.
The stablehand smiled. "Well, if you can manage him, he can be yours for your stay." He replied.
Kate looked at the saddle, then at the set up. The style was not really english style, but something similar to western, however the saddle seemed to form to the rider as a sort of seat. There was a blanket which it sat upon, and the seat of the saddle was pillowed with soft leather. She found some spurs and fastened them onto her boots, then she strapped her backpack onto the back of the saddle. The horse seemed quite at ease, she talked to him as she worked.
"Easy boy." She whispered. The horse responded with a low whinny.
"I think I'll call you Brego." She said after she had finished. "Brego Bree."
"Odd name for a horse." The stablehand chuckled.
"I know, but where I'm from, Brego and Bree have a special meaning to me." She replied quietly. "They are the names of noble horses, who served their masters well in peacetime and in battle."
"Well then, I hope you do not encounter anything that would be classed as a battle ma'am, but for peacetime, you have found yourself a steady steed." He replied as he handed her the bridle and checked the saddle's straps.
It was nearly sun up by the time Johan and Peewit joined Kate in the stable.
"Have you been up long?" Johan asked with a yawn.
Peewit said nothing. The lad just quietly went over and took Biquette out from her stable, gave her an apple, and walked her out to the courtyard.
"What's wrong with him?" Kate asked.
Johan snickered, "he had too much wine, and now he's paying for it."
"Ah, right." Kate replied with a nod.
"Do you need a boost?" Johan asked looking at her. "Most ladies.."
Kate grabbed the pommel, put her foot in the stirrup, and hoisted herself up onto the saddle she put her other foot in the stirrup checking the length, and clicked her tongue giving Brego a gentle kick. The horse trotted forward.
"What are you waiting for?" She called back over her shoulder, as she trotted up to catch up with Peewit.
She did not see the smile on Johan's face, which replaced the look of surprise.
"I do not ride strange horses she says." He muttered. "But she's find riding on her own."
They rode on through the castle, keeping an easy trot next to Peewit. Johan quickly caught up and rode slightly behind them on Bayard. The dappled grey percheron could only neigh his protest at having to be behind the others. There was a nip in the air, and Kate was thankful for the heavy cloak she had been given prior to the ride. The horses breath could be seen in the early frosty morning. The land spread out before them once they passed through the final gatehouse. They made their way out into the countryside, pass the village and through freshly tilled fields. The air was so clean here, Kate felt more invigorated than she had ever felt in so very long.
"Peewit, lets really ride!" She exclaimed. With a quick kick, to Brego's flanks, the horse leapt forward into a full on gallop. Peewit hung back as Johan caught up.
"Why is it, girls always think it's a grand thing to go riding off into the unknown this early, and before breakfast!" He complained with a whine.
"I have no idea, Peewit." Johan replied giving Bayard a swift kick to the side, the percheron whinnying with delight at the idea of a gallop. "But for our sakes, let's hope that it's not something catching."
Kate and Brego Bree rode on until they reached the edge of the forest. Only then, did she slow the horse down enough to look around for the others. She panicked slightly at the thought of being left, but quietly scolded herself for just running off. To her relief, she saw Johan and Peewit appear from over the hill, and she turned her horse around to greet them.
Johan's expression was clear, he gave Kate a withering look as he rode past her. "Try not to do that madame." He said cooly. "Even though it might be fun to ride off hither and yon, there are real dangers about. I would appreciate it if you let us lead the way to Homnibus."
Kate felt horrible. She let the two ride ahead while she hung back. They rode on in silence for some time, taking a winding path through an ancient forest. Now Kate had seen her fair share of forests, but she had never really experienced a place like this before. There was something creepy about it, even as the sun had risen, there were areas where the trees were so dense that the branches blocked out much of the light. Strange sounds and calls echoed through the forest. Kate wondered what sort of animals were about, and her imagination started to run away with her.
Was that a face in the tree? Did she see movement of something from the corner of her eye? What was that tall thing over there just beyond the shadows? Was that a deer, or a bear? Were there wolves in this part of the forest, or worse, highwaymen? She quickly tapped Brego's side the horse trotting forward to catch up with Johan.
"Look, I'm sorry about back there." She said. "I didn't mean to leave you like that."
"It's fine, just remember for next time." Johan replied.
"Hey Johan, what can you tell me about these woods?" Kate ventured trying to change the subject.
"This forest is part of the King's domain, but only to the Great Circle." He replied.
"Great Circle?" Kate asked.
"Indeed, it is an ancient monument of stones arranged in a circle." Johan replied.
"Yep, and frankly, I'd rather avoid it altogether." Peewit added.
"Why?" Kate asked.
"Because, that's where dark magic happens, if you want trouble, go ahead and check it out." Peewit said.
"Well, I'm not sure about that." Johan answered, "but I have heard stories from Count Tremaine about bandits using that area as a meeting place."
"Either way, druids or bandits, it's a bad place to be no matter the time of day." Peewit concluded.
"Interesting, so where do we go to get to Homnibus' home?" Kate asked.
"We'll take the forest road until we reach the crossing at Unicorn Falls." Johan replied. "Where the fountain of St. Agnes flows, there turn toward the setting sun, keep going until the hills we reach. Then we are in the Shire, it is there in a cottage where Homnibus dwells."
"Sounds like the beginning of a grand adventure." Kate replied.
Johan glanced over his shoulder at her. "I guess so."
"Less talking, more riding, I want to get there before lunch." Peewit announced as he kicked biquette into a fast canter.
"Agreed." Johan said with a small smile.
Kate felt relieved and followed them on Brego until just as Johan said, the forest cleared and they were in rolling countryside. A few oak trees and small wooded areas were dotted about, but for the most part the area was meadow. Kate looked at the shadows, and guessed by this time it was noon. They had travelled north then west. It was another hour until they reached a lovely cottage tucked into valley between two hills.
The cottage had a large garden around it filled with an assortment of herbs, vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees. Chickens clucked and scattered about pecking at whatever they could find. Nearby in a pasture a cow lazily chewed hay, while sheep and goats grazed together. The cottage had a thatched roof, and was painted white, with darker exposed beams showing the support of the upper floors. A small wisp of smoke curled upward from its stone and mortar chimney.
Johan was the first to dismount, and walked up the stoney path knocking on the cottage door. At first, there was no response, but after a second knock a young lad opened the door. He seemed no more than twelve or thirteen years old. He wore humble clothes and had the reddest hair Kate had ever seen. He recognized Johan immediately and gave a shout to the resident within. He could not open the door fast enough before Peewit was off of Biquet and in the house. Kate got off of Brego Bree leading the horse to pasture with the sheep. She found a watering trough and let Brego Bree graze before joining the others in the cottage.
The interior of the cottage was interesting. It was quite cheery, but had an odd feeling about it. The evidence of Hominbus' trade was all around. Various vials, pots, glass beakers and devices for extracting essences from flowers, herbs, and mixing them was evident everywhere she looked. There were pipettes large and small, twisting tubes of glass and candles that were lit under other glass bottles set on metal tables. There were shelves filled with dried herbs and minerals from all over the known world. There were books too. Some empty, some filled with knowledge ranging from natural history to botanical observations. To Kate, Homnibus was more of a scientist than a magician, but she said nothing, in this world, science and those who practice it, were considered magicians.
Yet, there were other books. There were things that were magical in nature, books on alchemy, mythology, numerology, and the reading of the stars. Kate saw the evidence of that as well, a bottle that contained a mandrake root, vials of nightshade and dragonsbane. Silver and wooden stakes, along with wolves bane. Garlic. Holy Water. Sacred artifacts brought back from the Holy Land. A relic or two from a long dead saint. All of these things were the stuff of magic even in Kate's world.
Homnibus reminded Kate of Gandalf, he wore a blue robe, and had a very long nose. His beard nearly reached the floor, and he had a sort of whimsy about him that reminded Kate of someone who had seen many wonderful things, and had lived long enough to record them. He quickly stood up and walked over to her. She felt small in his presence which seemed to fill the room.
"So you are the stranger." He said, his voice cheerful yet serious.
"I am." She replied.
"You are the one who jumped through time?" He asked.
Kate looked at Johan, then at Peewit, who was fascinated by a sculpture of a dragon.
"I guess you could call it that." She replied.
"It is either that, or it isn't, my dear. There is no such thing as impossible, only that which has not been discovered yet." He replied.
Kate once again felt ashamed. She looked down at the floor, "I just did not mean for this to happen." She replied softly. "I want to go back home, and I don't know how."
"My dear sit down." Homnibus said.
Kate went over and sat down on small bench, still looking at the floor, and still feeling miserable. It was as if Homnibus saw her, for who she really was, and she felt ashamed of her inadequacy. She knew in her heart that Johan and Peewit were real heroes. She was just a girl from a small hick town, who could ride a horse, liked to hike, could pluck a few chords, and worked at a tack and feed shop on the weekends. She was not hero material.
"You were sent here for a reason." Homnibus said as Oliver brought out food for Johan and Peewit.
"Yeah, but for what, I have no idea." Kate replied.
Homnibus took down a small crystal ball, and set it on a stand that resembled the great clawed hand of a dragon. He leaned forward and gazed deeply into the facets of the crystal.
"You entered through the Dragon's Gate." He said presently.
"Oh, but that was just a thing at a historical park." Kate replied. "I didn't do anything different than anyone else would have done in my circumstance."
"Ah but you see, you did do something different." He replied.
"What?" Kate asked looking up surprised.
Johan stopped eating and looked over at the enchanter.
"You entered the gate looking for something, with a question in your heart." He replied. "It is never a wise thing to meddle with magic when one has unresolved questions. You never know what will happen."
"Truer words were never spoken." Peewit quipped between bites.
"So what must I do?" Kate asked.
"You need to face your fear Kate." Homnibus replied. "Face that which you dread, and meet it head on. I can not tell you anymore beyond what you know in your heart. What happens now, is anyone's guess, but I would imagine that the gate will open when your quest is done."
"Where is the Dragon's Gate?" Johan asked.
Homnibus stood up and returned the crystal ball back to its place. Then, he walked over and pulled down from a high shelf a black tome. Its cover seemed to be made from the hide of a large reptile. Kate visibly swallowed at the sight of it, her stomach sinking at the thought. Homnibus opened the book and leafed through the yellow vellum pages covered in illuminated transcriptions and diagrams of a menagerie of fantastic beasts. He stopped and pointed at a picture of something that sort of resembled the door Kate walked through.
"Ah ha! Here it is!" Homnibus exclaimed, "The Dragon's Gate is in a land far north of here, you must cross the Celtic Sea, and face the barbarians in that cursed country. It is there that you might find the great sleeping wyrm who guards the legendary Dragon's Gate. The dragon is a cunning one, known as Malagg, he lives deep within the catacombs of Crib Goch, the Knife Edge."
"Well, hope you like it here." Peewit said with a gulp. "Cause I don't know about Johan, but I do NOT want to go hunting for dragons in catacombs, in a land far away."
"It is a great quest." Homnibus replied softly, "Not one to be taken lightly. Take heart, it is not during the bright of day when the call for courage is answered, but during the darkest night."
Kate said nothing, only ate quietly. They had come all this way, and for what? To be told that the answer was not an easy spell or magical device, but a dangerous, possibly deadly, venture into yet another foreign land to battle a dragon?" The idea was daunting, and only made her feel worse.
The party thanked Homnibus and Oliver for their hospitality, then they set off back to the castle. For the most part, the ride was quiet. Kate said nothing, even when Peewit bellowed through a ballad. Nothing could lighten her heart.
"You know," Johan said presently, "the King did say that I had one more quest to complete."
Kate looked up.
"We can't set off for such a thing until after Yule, I am thinking perhaps the Spring would be our best bet."
"Must we wait that long?" Kate asked, desperation evident in her voice.
"Well, if you fancy traveling through ice blocked waters, and into the frozen north, go ahead, but trust me, barbarians are the least of our concern. It's the things the Barbarians are fighting that bother me more." Johan answered.
Kate said nothing, only tapping Brego Bree forward to trot beside Johan.
"I know nothing about using a sword, or even fighting well." She said.
"I know." Johan replied.
"How can even expect to face a dragon." She said.
"Because I will teach you." Johan replied.
"What?" Kate asked stunned that Johan would make such an offer.
"We are only as good as our weakest warrior." Johan said.
"Where did you learn that?" Kate asked.
"Something Count Tremaine told me, a long time ago, when I felt very much like you do now." He replied.
"This Count sounds like a great guy." Kate said.
"He is." Johan said giving Bayard a quick kick forward. "He certainly is."