Merlin stared hard at the tracks.
"Well?" Percival asked.
"They make no sense," Merlin told him.
"It's not ghouls is it?"
Merlin slowly straightened up. "Oh, do stop going on!"
"I don't like ghouls."
"Percival, I'm not to keen on them either, but unless someone has taken to raising large cats, we don't have ghouls."
"It's not another griffin is it?"
"The tracks look too small."
"A baby griffin?" Percival asked.
"Maybe," Merlin said. "Let's keep tracking."
The group followed along behind him, the twenty men in the patrol. Including Percival, Cyranus and Lancelot, who was wearing chain mail but Merlin refused to let him carry weapons. Merlin still felt unsure as to what he really wanted to do with Lancelot. He didn't feel he could entirely trust him, after his involvement with the raiders. On the other hand, he had tried to help some of the villagers. For moment he was treated as nothing more than a servant. Most of the men were sending Lancelot wary glances, but Merlin's careful acceptance of him meant that Lancelot was left fairly alone.
It had become easier, Merlin though, since the defence of Ealdor, when had ordered the men himself, without Cenred lingering in the background, ready to take over if he disagreed with any of Merlin's decisions. Not, Merlin thought in hindsight, that his father often did. And the subsequent confrontation with Arthur Pendragon had done him no harm, since he had appeared to have come out on top.
Merlin led the men into the ravine that lay just by the western forest, when his horse tensed, hesitating, ears flattening to her skull and the mare gave a snort. Merlin gripped her harder around the girth as he felt her haunches drop, a sure sign she wanted to run. Behind him he heard some of the other horses shift nervously. Riding Blaze Percival had a slightly easier time, although the stallion reacted to the other horses around him. Percival shifted his grip on the reins and looked around.
"I think we need to clear the ravine before we start wondering what frightened the horses."
"Good idea," Merlin said. "I'm sure there is a small hamlet just beyond here, on the edge of the forest, if there is anything they might know."
Merlin's glance drifted past Percival to Cyranus, who often travelled out with them now. Merlin guessed it was on Cenred's orders, so the king had someone keeping an eye on Merlin. Merlin guessed he couldn't complain too much, he was still treated as the leader and Cyranus was nothing more than respectful towards him. Although Merlin remained fairly convinced that Cyranus still desired Hunith, he had to accept there was no way that Cenred would discard her now. If nothing else, Merlin would never allow it.
He kicked the mare, sending her running forward, holding her steady as she cleared the ravine, and he slowed her down. Her ears remained flat to her skull, and her nostrils flared as she snorted heavily.
"They can certainly sense something," Percival said.
"Presumably something predatory," Cyranus said. Merlin looked around and sighed. Lancelot paused as he followed the tracks, which Merlin had originally spotted.
"There's nothing more My Lord, the tracks end."
Taking a breath Merlin looked around again, his eyes focusing on the small cluster of huts that lay down the incline, a rough road leading to them.
"Let's see what we can find out, take it slowly, we don't want to go thundering in and terrifying the locals," Merlin said setting the mare forward at a walk. The men on foot looked glad of the slower pace, so Merlin kept it steady, he didn't want them worn out before they got to anything interesting.
The tactic also worked. As they neared the dwellings three of the women disappeared into the huts, but the men working outside stayed, one walking out to meet the approaching group. They all looked wary, even of some of the king's men. Merlin pulled up the mare and dismounted. Percival and Cyranus did the same, staying close to Merlin, but letting him go ahead. Lancelot eased in behind them. Merlin smiled at the man he presumed was the village leader.
A quick glance around made Merlin think that even village was an overgenerous term. There were five clustered hovels, a few plots set out for growing crops, and two goats grazing in a small pen. Merlin looked at them, in the almost bald space, when there was lush grass spreading across towards the stone of the ravine and the range beyond. The goats bleated, one dipping it's head through a gap in the pen to try and reach some blades of thickly growing grass.
The man smiled back, but nervously.
"Greetings," Merlin said. "We were following up rumours of a creature moving through this area."
"Merlin, we have a few old tracks here," Percival said.
"Same as before?"
"Looks it."
Merlin turned back to the villager, who looked at him entirely differently now. A different sort of nervousness had taken place, but the villager also relaxed, recognising Merlin's name. The man gave a slightly inelegant bow and the other men clustered closer. There were six of them in total.
"The beast passes through sometimes; we haven't ever seen it, but we hear it, it comes close. The village beyond the forest has encountered it as well."
"Has anyone had a clear look at what it is?" Merlin asked.
The man shook his head vigorously. "If they have, they've ended up dead. It's killed some of the animals too. Those are the only ones left." The man paused and gestured to the goats. "It killed one that got lost in the forest three days ago. We couldn't find it in time. It's best we're in by dark."
"Is that why they're penned up?" Merlin asked.
"We bring them in the hut of a night, there's nothing else we can do, we can't afford to lose them. We can only hope the youngest is in kid, it was the billy we lost."
"Do you have the carcass?" Merlin asked.
The man nodded, inclining his head. "We found it yesterday, when we were gathering wood. Animals are not all it's had, it's killed people too."
"Show me," Merlin said.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
It did not make for a very pretty sight. The carcass hung in a hut a little way into a cluster of trees. Merlin leant in, trying to ignore the smell. The small room was dingy, and stunk of smoke and rotting meat. He guessed it was where the villagers smoked their meat, and made charcoal to burn.
"It's been eviscerated," Cyranus commented.
"And not much else, it's not been eaten."
"Is it a griffin?" Percival asked, speculating. "I really want to know what we're fighting."
"No, there are claw marks, which would make it consistent with the tracks we found, but a griffin has a beak." Merlin paused, tentatively poking the flesh, getting a wave of stench as he did so. He turned his head, not that it did him much good, and he probed the edge of the wounds. "There isn't any other particular sign of damage, if it was a griffin you could expect some evidence of pecking."
"Would a griffin leave this much food?" Cyranus asked. "This looks like it's just been killed and left at that. Even if it was nothing more than a large cat, it would certainly make a meal out of it."
"This doesn't ring a bell," Merlin said. "I can't think of anything, although I can't have gone through the entire library. We need to get a look at this thing."
"According to the villagers," Cyranus said, them paused and added in a strained voice. "Shall we talk outside?"
"Yes," Percival said. Both of them went to the door, Merlin stared at the corpse of the goat for a moment longer before following them, taking a deep lungful of air as he got outside.
"They only hear it at night, in the forest and around the ravine. And I can't really see any sign of other animals, apart from those two goats. It's like everything else has been scared away."
"If it is still around, we need to lure it in," Merlin said. "That ravine would be a good place for a trap, I can seal it in and hold it, and then we can plan from there."
"Hold it how?" Percival asked.
"A cage."
"We don't have a cage," Percival said. "And I don't think wood will hold."
He glanced around at the trees around them. Merlin smirked.
"Magic will," Merlin announced smugly. "We'll need to borrow one of those goats."
"Like they said, I don't think they can afford to lose either of them."
Merlin gave Percival a grin. "They won't, we also need some dung."
"Dung?" Percival asked, wrinkling his nose.
"Yes, as much goat dung as they can provide. They have to be making mess somewhere, we'll need to make a clear scent," Merlin said. "Get Lancelot to gather some."
"Would you care to tell us what you have in mind, Sire," Cyranus asked. Merlin grinned.
"I think it's time for a little experiment."
Percival glared at him. "Oh, I hate that look."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Merlin chose the eastern end of the ravine, and he spent some time carefully drawing on the ground before incanting and then tethering the goat on the symbol. Lancelot found some dung and then frowned as he said.
"Would horse do?"
"Yeah, anything that gives off scent," Merlin said. Lancelot went off to do as he was told. As usual refusing to complain about the lowly tasks he was being given.
"Are we sure we need the goat Sire, we could use one of the horses, save the villagers losing another animal."
"We don't need the goat, as such," Merlin said to Cyranus. "At least not as the actual bait, as soon as it starts to get dark we'll give it back. Have we got that rope?"
"Are you sure a rope will hold," Cyranus asked taking it off the soldier who appeared with it.
"It will when I've finished with it," Merlin said. Percival leant in closer to him, so he could murmur.
"Have you done this before?"
"No," Merlin whispered back in amusement. Percival glared at him, nose to nose with Merlin.
"You know I hate you, right?"
Merlin smirked, which did nothing to help Percival's mood, being the one person who was impervious to Merlin's grinning.
"Now you know that's not true."
"It is when you are thinking up ridiculous plans."
"Are you calling me ridiculous? That's a bit rude."
Percival scowled. "Oh, shut up, Merlin."
Merlin laughed as Percival stomped off.
"He may have a point Sire," Cyranus said.
Still laughing Merlin put a hand on Cyranus' shoulder. "Trust me, it'll be fine."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The sky burnt red as the sun set. The goat bleated again, a corresponding call coming from over by the hamlet. Merlin glanced up and around.
"Percival?"
"What?" Percival snapped, still entertaining his bad mood.
"You can take the goat back, get it out of the way before we start."
"What? Don't we need it?"
"Not any more," Merlin said. Percival frowned, trudging over to the goat to grab the twine. As he did so he recoiled, hesitating and blinking dramatically. Merlin smirked as he watched. Percival turned and glared at him before reaching out again, with caution, to take the rope, staring again at the goat, which seemed to have a shadow of itself flickering through it. Percival took the tether and released it, pulling the goat away. It pulled back for a moment, before he tensed his arm and hoisted hard, dragging it before it started to run. The soldiers in the ravine paused, looking at what were now two goats. Percival didn't look at Merlin, knowing full well that his friend would have such a smug look on his face. Instead Percival put his hand out and passed it through the neck of the second goat. The goat paid no attention, it looked around and bleated. On the end of the lead the real goat bleated back.
"That's amazing," Lancelot said from where he was winding the rope as Merlin was instructing.
"How did you do that?" Cyranus asked.
"The symbols hold the image of what was there, like a ripple. Give that goat to one of the men staying down in the village, and get them down there," Merlin ordered, as he did so a sound rent through the air, almost like a scream, turning into a yowl. Behind Merlin the horses snorted nervously, the soldiers around them trying to keep them calm. Percival gave the goat to the nearest soldier and sent the group on their way.
"What if this thing does go to the village first?" Cyranus asked.
"Then we run down there really fast," Merlin said.
"Great," Percival said sliding into position next to Merlin, jostling Lancelot out of the way.
"The horses got nervous here, more than anywhere else, which makes me presume that this is where it will head first. If needs be, we'll use better bait."
"Like what?" Percival asked.
"Me," Merlin said, and then with one curt hand gesture he stopped all conversation. "Now all we need to do is keep looking, and wait."
"For how long?" Percival asked.
The area continued to darken, as the last rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon. Merlin muttered a spell and several light balls appeared, casting shadows across the ravine. The sound echoed around again.
"As long as it takes."
It was several hours into the night when Merlin sensed the shift in the air, his instinct lighting as he looked around. Behind him he sensed both the horses and the soldiers shift nervously. Very slowly Merlin lifted himself up onto the jumble of rocks, which had slid down the ravine at some point and staying slow crawled forward. Behind him Merlin heard Percival and Lancelot start to move and he raised his hand to stop him from following. He heard Percival's huff of irritation but he stopped moving, tensed ready in case Merlin needed help.
Merlin's attention jerked upwards as he saw movement at the top of the ravine. The goat image bleated, which caused the creature to hunch, shifting carefully as it assessed the prey. Merlin saw a set of wings, and the cat-like shift of the creature's back, the low light caught the animal's eyes, making them glitter. Merlin spread his magic, feeling the ripple of his aura and his eyes glowed, a light which appeared to draw the beast's attention. It gave a low growl, it's wings flexing as it lowered it's shoulders ready to strike.
"Merlin," Percival murmured, keeping his tone low.
"Just be ready," Merlin murmured back stepping carefully across the boulders, slowly drawing his sword. He kept his steps as careful as possible but he slithered on some loose rocks, the sudden movement caused the prowling creature to react, with a loud snarl it swooped down. Merlin lowered his head and his eyes flashed as he whispered a word. The image of the goat bleated again, turning around in a movement that the animal had repeated all afternoon. It caught the swooping creature's eyes and it pounced, snarling as it landed on nothing. Merlin jumped, and the beast tensed before diving for him.
"Now!" Merlin yelled. Percival grabbed the rope and hauled on it, Lancelot dived to do the same at his designated point and Cyranus helped him, jerking the rope from up off the ground, and Merlin's eyes flashed again, the rope lashed around the creature, winding around it's limbs and haunches, tightening as it tried to fight. Merlin blinked as he felt a ripple wash back as his magic strengthened the ropes. Several of the soldiers ran forward, following in Percival's wake. He leapt up onto the rock, sword ready to jump down to attack the prone beast.
Merlin hadn't moved, which caused Percival to hesitate. The winged cat writhed on the floor, unable to free itself from the enchanted ropes. Even Percival had to admit Merlin's plan had been flawless, except now, since Merlin was wearing an expression of confusion.
"My Lord?" Cyranus asked, also seeing the hesitation. The soldiers were carefully advancing, swords at the ready, waiting for the order to strike. Merlin didn't move, and the creature thrashed on the ground, sensing the approaching danger. Merlin lifted his hand.
"Wait!"
The command made the men stop, they looked from the creature to Merlin. Merlin didn't move, he sent out his sensors again, pushing his magic out, and feeling something shiver in the air in response. He moved his hand to direct his power and he muttered. Percival frowned, watching as Merlin's eyes glowed, his gaze drifting around, a small wrinkle of a frown crossing his features.
"What's he doing?" Lancelot whispered to Percival.
"It's a searching spell, so he can sense any enchantments."
Cyranus frowned in disapproval, glancing at Percival who shrugged and clambered over the rocks to reach Merlin. Merlin's eyes were still moving, sensing around the area.
"There's magic, the beast is enchanted."
"Isn't it just a magical creature?" Percival asked. The creature continued to struggle against the ropes but Merlin's trap was holding. As much as Percival hated to admit it Merlin very rarely failed, he was far too well trained to allow anything to go wrong.
"No, there's an enchantment here."
"What kind?" Cyranus asked. Merlin shrugged.
"No idea, let's watch in shifts, and get some rest, I'll see what I can do in the morning."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Cyranus took the last shift. Dawn started to break over the horizon, the first shafts of light fighting the gloom of the ravine. The beast had long ago ceased to struggle, and Merlin's trap had held firm.
"Sir?" the soldier on watch duty said nervously as the creature suddenly started to shift, it's limbs jerking, and the wings flapped, slapping against the ground. Cyranus watched the subtle fluid movement as the body rippled with change. He didn't take his eyes off it as he inclined his head, feeling the muscles in his neck as they ached from the position he had slept in all night. He was getting too old for this kind of life.
"Get the prince, now!"
The paws shifted, claws withdrawing and the pads lengthened into fingers as the fur retracted on the body. The wings slowly folded in and melded into the body as it shrank, the back arching. Merlin ran over the rocks and paused, tilting his head as the cat changed into a girl.
"Oh," Percival said with mild surprise. "Is that the enchantment?"
They all watched as the girl looked around frantically, struggling to move. The change in body gave her some leeway under the ropes, and she got up into a kneeling position, looking around as the armed men surrounded her. Wriggling again she pulled one arm free of the bindings, attempting to pull them off her. She paused as the men moved closer, some of them drawing their swords.
"No!" Merlin ordered, eyes flashing to tighten the ropes, just to keep her in place for a moment. The men stopped, and Merlin stepped forward. The girl's wide dark eyes turned to look at him; she stared at Merlin, blinking rapidly, the tension in her body clear to everyone. Percival shuffled closer, staying behind Merlin, the girl's eyes flickered to him until Merlin gave Percival a wave to indicate he should stay put. He did as he was told but kept his hand on his sword hilt, just in case.
"It's all right," Merlin said, his tone changing as he addressed the girl. She gave a hitching breath and shuffled back as he advanced, going as far as the ropes would allow, but she hesitated, glancing at the men lingering in a semi-circle behind her. Merlin took a few steps closer and crouched down, looking the girl up and down. His eyes fell to the exposed skin of her forearms below the ragged hem of her dress sleeves.
"You're a Druid?"
At the question she moved again, her head shifting from side to side. Merlin wasn't entirely clear if that was a no, or if she was just looking around again. She looked back at Merlin. He could feel the tension rising in the air, the men were not happy with his close proximity to her.
"Careful Merlin," Cyranus warned. None of them wanted Merlin getting hurt. What Cenred would do if that happened didn't bear thinking about. Percival took a couple of steps closer, to bring himself further into range. Merlin's eyes assessed the men, she now looked harmless but it was a dramatic contrast from last night. Merlin stared at her again, meeting her eyes.
"What's your name?"
Again he got nothing really as a response. He waited a moment.
"Merlin," Percival growled in warning, as Merlin went even closer. She stared at him. Merlin gave a heavy sigh, which drew her attention back.
"If you want me to help you, you really have to talk to me," he said. "Right now."