Circle Of Sisters

15. The Land Of Goblins

It was hard to judge time and distance on the long journey through the dark, but Virginia guessed that they had travelled quite a lot further than she would ordinarily be able to cover above ground. In the silvery light of the fungi she could see the dim outline of Clayface as he led her ever deeper and farther from the Wishing Well in Little Lamb Village. It was probably near dawn on the Kingdom above, if the tiredness of her body was anything to go by. Virginia stumbled slightly for the second time in half an hour. Her feet, encased in their heavy boots, felt leaden. She yawned loudly, hoping it would attract the Goblin's attention and make him realise how exhausted she was. She heard the soft patter of his bare feet cease suddenly as he looked back over his shoulder at her.

"Clayface, I need to stop for while. I'm exhausted and hungry" she said firmly as he came back down the passage. This tunnel of earth looked much the same as any of those they had so far traversed. It was becoming apparent to Virginia that the whole underground was a warren of interconnecting passages, tunnels and caverns, like a huge dark maze. Her guide had lead her confidently, never hesitating at any of the junctions, though what signs he used to find his way she had not yet discovered. He came up close to her, bobbing his head in that oddly diffident way he had. In fact, if it were not for his obvious respect that he showed her with his words and mannerisms, Virginia knew that she would be feeling very afraid to be alone down here in the dark with him. Still, she wanted Wolf by her side. Clayface saw her looking back the way they had come.

"Yes, yes, Miss Virginia. Of course, you must be tired. You've been walking a long way in the dark"

"I am, Clayface. Thank you for stopping. And I'm worried about Wolf. I thought he would have caught up with us by now" Virginia answered absently, scanning the silent world for some sign of her love. Doubts clawed at her mind suddenly. She should never have left him alone in that village. Maybe the townsfolk had captured him again, or worse. The panicky thoughts ran riot for a moment before she calmed them with an effort of will. He would be alright. He'd never be off guard enough for that to ever happen again. And he had Will and Elias with him. The villagers would be foolish indeed to want to try something on full moon night anyway. He was coming for her, without a doubt. Of course he is. You knew this before you even asked the question. There it was, that strange voice in her head again. Virginia wasn't sure if she was beginning to dislike it's often smug intrusions into her thoughts. She sat down on the damp earthern floor and stretched her legs out, rubbing at the cramps in her calves. Clayface settled himself next to her, rummaging around in his small sack. After a moment he brought out what looked like a flattish sea sponge and offered it to her. Virginia decided that she was hungry enough to risk a bite. It was very sweet, quite unlike what she had imagined it tasted like.

"Mmm, this is good! What is it, or shouldn't I ask?"

"It's Goblin travelling food. We call it bucha. It's a plant that grows deep in the sacred waters of our lands. Just a few bites is all one needs for a long day's work"

"Wolf would love this!" Virginia said, knowing it to be true. He had an insatiable sweet tooth sometimes. The Goblin laughed in response.

"Oh, I don't know how long the novelty would last amongst wolves. It doesn't run away or beg for it's life before you eat it" he said, and Virginia had to laugh in sudden agreement with him.

"You sound like you know wolves well, Clayface"

"Oh, not really. But I'm well travelled upground, for a Goblin. Most of my people stay well hidden, down here in the nice earth. Upground folks are usually scared of us when we do appear, so I suppose we might have that in common with the wolven races. We get blamed for a lot of things too. I didn't get to know your half-wolf that well when we were both inmates though"

"No?"

"He kept to himself mostly, and most of the other prisoners avoided him, especially at full moon time. A right terror he was then, howling all through the night and day, attacking anyone who came near him. I thought it a great shame to lock up a half-wolf. I remember thinking that a quick death would have been kinder. But, he stuck it out, and was never really defeated by the walls and guards. Just as well too, or I'd have to have started another carving!" Clayface replied, warming to his tale. For Virginia, any glimpse into Wolf's former life was fascinating, unjust or not. She wondered if Wolf's judge and jury at his original trial had been as biased as the one's in Little Lamb Village. Most likely, but she couldn't spend the time getting angry over interracial inequities right now.

"Clayface, where are you taking me?" she asked wearily. The Goblin looked sideways at her with surprise on his face.

"You truly don't know?"

"No, I don't know anything. Just like before, I'm just blundering through this land, following half hints and invisible voices, hoping I'm making the right decisions at the right time. Or, just hoping that I get to make any decisions. Sometimes I feel like I'm only a piece on a game board. But I can't see what I'm supposed to do at the end of this, Clayface. The Kingdoms aren't in any danger that I can see. It's just me that's the danger". Virginia knew she was rambling on, as she often did when overtired. Clayface sat in silence for a while, for which she was grateful. He sipped from a small silver flask and Virginia quaffed the brackish drink when he offered it. Warmth settled over her and her head almost nodded forward on her knees. Clayface nudged her gently.

"Sorry Miss, but this isn't a good place to sleep. Just a bit further is one of our outpost houses. We can rest there"

"And wait for Wolf too"

"Yes yes, of course. Come along then Miss" he replied, drawing her to her feet. Come to us. Virginia shook her head.

"Can you hear that voice Clayface? It's like a woman speaking inside my head"

"A voice? She speaks to you?" said the Goblin, awe on his green and lumpy face. Virginia nodded her reply. Clayface muttered something in what Virginia guessed to be his own language and she could see that he was very excited.

"Well then, you are doubly blessed this day!" he added, capering off down the tunnel ahead of her. Virginia made her protesting feet move forward and followed him through the earth.

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Elias felt the warm trickle of blood before his mind even registered the cause of it. He swatted vainly at the back of his neck, trying to dislodge whatever it was that clung there. It was small, the creature, less than the weight of a common house cat, but it's skin was slimy and cold like a frog's. It flopped back and forth as he spun round and round in the narrow confines of the tunnel. Almost immediately more of the things fastened themselves onto various parts of him, arms, legs, back.

"Argh! Get off me, get off!" he shouted aloud, getting a good hold at last on the one on his neck and ripping it free. Behind him in the gloomy darkness he could hear Will and Wolf similarly beset by the creatures. He could make out the form of Will as he grappled with one of the creatures (bunyips, he guessed) that strove for his throat. Both his and Wolf's eyes glowed bright red in aggression and they growled constantly. Some of the bunyips that had been hiding back in the dark came forward now, but they focussed almost singlely on Elias, evidently deciding on him being an easier prospect than angry half-wolfs. Under their combined weight he fought to remain upright, but his knees began to buckle against his will. Even his extra reserves of strength granted him from the werewolf's blood succumbed to the onslaught. Elias crumpled to the ground, putting his back up against the wall as he strove to protect his face and neck. The bunyips chattered to themselves in what seemed like excitement that their prey was down.

One attached itself to his ear, but it was dislodged suddenly. Elias sensed that Wolf stood there. One by one, the bunyips were efficiently unattached from his aching flesh as Wolf grabbed at them with both hands. Squelching sounds filled the tunnel as the soft boned bodies of the bunyips were flung in all directions. Sometime in the melee Will joined his brother in chasing away the last of them. Despite their being thrown with considerable force, most of the bunyips had simply bounced off the walls. But they were not up to a determined defence, it seemed, and there was a great raucous chattering as they disappeared back up the tunnel. Silence fell once more, broken only by the heavy breathing of Elias and the half-wolf's. Elias stayed on the ground, unwilling to risk trying to stand when he felt like he'd been half eaten. He watched as Wolf stalked back down the tunnel, checking that their assailants had really gone.

"Careful Lucian, don't go too far. There's more than enough of them to take you down alone" Will called out after him. Wolf turned back after a moment, but his expression was unreadable in the dark. He huffed quietly to himself and began a careful scope of his injuries, though it appeared to Elias that he had suffered very few. His clothing was torn in several places, but not many bite marks had made it through the wolf defenses. Will had already finished his inspection of himself, and he inched over to Elias.

"Here now, are you hurt? How many got a hold of you? Let me see" he whispered, running his hands gently over Elias and using his nose to find the fresh wounds. Although there were many bites, they appeared to be shallow for the most part, with little bleeding. His ear was another matter. It had been shredded by the teeth of the bunyip that Wolf had ripped off, in fact it had left some behind in the ragged flesh. Elias tried not to wince as Will deftly picked them out. He put them in the upturned palm Elias held out.

"There you go. A little souvenier for your troubles Elias!" Will said, gesturing to the teeth. They were very short for teeth, but extremely sharp. Elias scowled at them, but he but them in his top pocket anyway. One never knew, but maybe they would help keep other bunyips from having a go at him.

"I think they're gone for good. They won't bother us again" said Will as if reading Elias' thoughts. "Still, it was unexpected. I didn't think for a second that they'd try for us. They must be desperate to want tough old stuff like us, heh?" he continued with a grim smile.

"Well, they weren't that interested in you two! It was me they had their eye on, for sure!" Elias said with heat, feeling his strength returning. Will helped him to stand.

"But of course. You're the human, or at least you look like one. I think they just attacked my brother and I as a diversion so they could carry you off" Will chuckled softly as Elias shuddered at the thought of what would have been in store. But more pertinantly, he wondered whether these little creatures had been able to sense his hidden self. Maybe they had risked an attack now rather than fall prey when the werewolf raged through their subterranean homes. It was an unsettling thought, especially since another werewolf had recently passed this way.

"I hope they didn't bother Virginia" said Elias cautiously. He didn't want to make Wolf angry all over again, but the words slipped out nonetheless. He braced himself for another round of accusations and threats, but Wolf remained silent, brooding in the darkness. Elias didn't know which manifestation of Wolf he preferred. He had some insight of what had occurred between Wolf and Will just minutes earlier. Wolf had been the nominal alpha of their little 'pack', but that had changed now. Will had forced a submission out of him, inadvertently in defence of Elias himself. Technically, in wolf etiquette terms, Will was now the leader, the dominant male. For now anyway. Only time would tell how that change in dynamics would play out. Looking askance at both wolf's, Elias guessed that it was new situation for both of them. Will's expression was light, but guarded, and his stance radiated unease. Across the tunnel, Wolf stood as if in seeming obediance, like a second ranked wolf awaiting an order, but his body language similarly gave away his true thoughts on the matter. Quiet menace rippled off every muscle and tendon and Elias sensed that most of it was probably directed at him. And yet he had come to the aid of Elias during the bunyip onslaught, when he could have easily left him to his grisly fate. Elias wondered whether he should chance his luck and thank Wolf for his help.

"Wolf, I...ahh, I mean, thankyou, for helping me with those creatures..." Elias began, but he was silenced by the look Wolf dealt him across the passage. It was a mixture of anger and something else, possibly regret, but regret for what Elias did not know, nor care to ask further. Will stirred and hoisted up his small sack over his shoulders, breaking the tension.

"Come on, lets be off then. Every minute she gets farther away and the scent grows cold" he said as he stepped out briskly in the direction they had been heading. Elias hesitated before he followed, his battered body protesting every step, and his mind protesting the all too obvious threat that walked behind him now.

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Wolf was only partially mollified by the discovery that the three of them made further up the tunnel. It was obvious that the goblin that had accosted Virginia had in fact released her. Her trail, which had been faint when the goblin had been carrying her, now came to his nose strongly as she had been set down. The scent of her brought tears to his eyes momentarily. She was well, alive and whole (at least a few hours earlier) and she had apparently gone willingly forward with the goblin. Wolf forced himself to consider that maybe the goblin, which he recognized now as one of his former prisonmates, had in fact rescued Virginia from the bunyip ambush. It was difficult to let go of his aggressive feelings though. Even down here, far from the direct touch of the moon, still She jabbed his body to action. For a cornered wolf, attack was the only possible response, and Wolf knew he had his back against the den wall right now. The sum result of all the events of the past weeks had accumulated, and finally, been released. Now, he felt only drained. He glanced over at Elias, who was drinking from the flask that Will carried. The werewolf twitched slightly, knowing himself watched, but he didn't turn around, which Wolf suspected was a wise decision at this point in time. Perhaps when the moon had passed Wolf would feel able to trust himself around Elias. But not tonight.

Wolf's stomach growled loudly in the silence. He felt literally starving. Full moon time was a time of gorging, not just meat, but in all things. Wolf smiled to himself bitterly. Had he gotten so used to the life of a mated wolf? Why was it that he could barely recall all those years when he ran alone through the night, sometimes going hungry, always going back to an empty den? Before Virginia, such a life as he had had, not realising what he'd been missing. Now, it had all gone wrong. In just a few days, his mate would turn into a huge unknowing monster and he would stand before her, and she would...what? Kill him. That's what Virginia believed. That's why she had charged him to run and hide, save himself and their cub. That's why she now blundered through this dank and dismal place, seeking a cure, any cure, but why she had chosen to come here of all places, Wolf didn't know. He stared at the floor, watching the little rills of water as they ran over the ground. He put his boot into one of them, seeing the water change it's course to run up and over his foot, quite against the natural laws of gravity. Every now and then a small sparkle of energy swam though the trickle. He removed his boot, thinking hard about all he knew about Wishing Wells, which, he had to admit, was very little.

Most folk in the Kingdoms didn't really believe that their wishes would be granted simply by tossing a coin down a well, although that didn't stop them from trying it at least once. But the Peeps of Little Lamb Village had known differently, and the waters of this particular well had worked unfailingly for them for many many years. Right under the noses of their village neighbours too. Now, all shared in the water, but the magic was muted now, as if the waters lost some of their potency when spread out. Or perhaps the Peeps had simply exhausted all the magic. Magic was finite, and did tend to move around after all, Wolf remembered. None of this boded well for his Virginia. Wolf tensed suddenly as his brother moved towards him, holding out a joint of meat that he had taken from the Inn's table as they had left. The meat was cold and crusted with congealed fat, but Wolf bit down into it anyway. Flesh was flesh, and his body needed it tonight. He avoided Will's gaze just as surely as his brother avoided his own. Wolf hadn't expected to Will to intervene in his attack on Elias an hour ago, but he had, and now the balance of power had shifted. Power struggles of the more subtle sort went on all the time in wolfen communities. It was a trade off for their species' intelligence. Dumber animals, like sheep, had no such drama's in their lives. But for wolfs and humans, always it was a battle to get to the top and stay there. Wolf had become used to the life of a lone male. He was his own alpha. Virginia, his mate, had accepted him as one, as did Caelum, his cub.

Now, Will had stepped up and taken over that role, whether he had intended it or not. He had bested Wolf, who was much larger and more aggressive, and forced a submission. Wolf stood gnawing on his meat and wondered why he had given in so easily. True, he had been surprised, and out of his home territory, but had grief and worry affected him that much? Perhaps his brother was just as surprised by his quick victory, but Wolf knew he would never ask him about it. Such things were never discussed amongst wolfs. Everyone knew, and everyone would play by the rules of pack, but the two combatants wouldn't ever sit down and talk about it. The very success of wolfs as a species depended on their ingrained ability to follow the strongest leader. That was why different groups of wolfs and half-wolfs never fought amongst themselves the way humans often did. There had never been a wolf war.

Wolf had finished his meat and his stomach seemed half satisfied at least. The others had also taken the opportunity to eat, but Wolf noted that Will's little satchel was now empty. He wondered how long they would be down here in the dark underworld and where they would surface again. Wolf suspected that a great many of the wishing well's were interconnected by these subtereanean tunnels. He tried to recall where the nearest well was located. Not in the 4th Kingdom, but further north, over the border into the 2nd Kingdom he guessed, picturing the Kingdoms map in his mind. He felt a strange thrill that they might pass through the place of his birth once more. But that was a several day journey above ground. Surely they wouldn't be stuck down here for that long. But, there was no way of finding out, except for catching up with Virginia and asking (no, demanding this time, he thought firmly) what exactly she planned on doing down here. Will cleared his throat softly.

"Come on then, she's just a few hours ahead now. She goes willingly with this goblin, that much is certain, so at least we can assume she is in no immediate danger. But I'll be glad to catch sight of her again, just to be sure" he said quietly, moving off. Wolf let Elias fall in behind Will before he took up the rear, knowing that it made the werewolf nervous but uncaring about such things right now. Foremost in his mind was the strange sort of relief it was to have someone else make the decisions. His wolf self accepted it without question, but his human mind still fretted at it's imagined loss of status. Wolf decided he would not get used to being relieved. The trio moved forward quickly and the earth closed in around them.

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Above ground, but quite a way from where Wolf and his fellow travellers now stood, Kind Wendell drew into Little Lamb Village. It was early morning, and Wendell had ridden the better part of the night to reach the town. Few people were about at this early hour, despite it being a rural community. In fact, most of the doors and windows that he could see were shuttered tight. His manservant Rupert sniffed, but Wendell held up a hand to silence his snooty remarks.

"It's alright Rupert. They weren't expecting me" he said, watching as the door to the Inn opened a crack. Almost at once he heard a stifled female shriek.

"It's King Wendell himself! Goodness gracious me...your majesty, forgive us...we had no idea you'd be coming to grace us with your exalted..."

"It's an unplanned visit" Rupert cut her off with a wave of his hand. It said a lot about Rupert's own ideas on the matter, thought Wendell. His manservant had been ruffled to have to get up an expedition at such short notice. Ordinarily, trumpeters, advisors and minstrels would have gone ahead days ago, to prepare the townsfolk and garner the best local produce and lodging. But Wendell, fearful now of the manner of creatures that now roamed his Kingdom, had insisted on riding out with only an escort of soldiers. Strong, capable men all, but Rupert had been mortified at the lack of royal pomp. The manageress was still trying to babble, Wendell could see. Wendell cleared his throat, getting her attention.

"Good woman, I am seeking the Lady Virginia and her companions. Lord Wolf and two others. I believe they passed this way?". The woman gulped several times. Wendell wondered if she was likely to faint. It had happened before. A shadow seemed to cross her face.

"Ah, the Lady Virginia, do you say? No, we haven't seen her, King Wendell" she stammered finally. It was so obviously a lie that Wendell felt his insides go chill. At that moment, his horse neighed loudly. From back behind the Inn, it was answered, the type of sound that horses use when they greet friends. Wendell's Captain mused aloud.

"That sounds like one of our own horses, sir"

"It does, doesn't it? Send a man to find out" Wendell replied, voice cold now as the woman went paler and paler under his gaze. Within moments, the guard was back, leading a smallish brown mare. Tony, who had been silent so far, blurted out the beasts name.

"That's Apple. Virginia's horse! Where is she, Mrs Peep?"

"Yes, where is my sister, Mrs Peep?" echoed Wendell. But it was all too much for the woman. She slumped to the ground in a faint. Wendell left her lying as he dismounted. One by one, his soldiers fanned out through the buildings. Tony was standing aghast in front of a hideous gold statue in the main square. Wendell went on impulse to sit on the edge of the Well. The waters shifted and jostled below him. Wendell had been in the magic waters once before, but he had been a gold encased dog at the time. He vaguely remembered some women scolding him about something, but his doggy mind had forgotten them almost as soon as he'd been free of the confining metal. Wendell leaned to look into the Well.

"Hello again, Wendell". He jumped and nearly overbalanced. The voice had been loud in his ears, but no one else seemed to have heard it. "We have touched before, and so I can speak to you this way" the voice continued.

"I see" Wendell whispered. One of his guards looked at him oddly.

"Wonderful. Now, take yourselves to the Coven Lake. You will be needed there. Don't fear for your friends. I will take care of them well enough. But you must go soon. It's a long way, Wendell"

"Hello, hello? What..what did you mean?" Wendell whispered down the Well again. But the voice was silent. Wendell realised that he was on his knees, shouting down a Well in full view of many harassed looking villagers. He managed to stand up with as much dignity as he could muster. Tony was giving him that 'slice the fruitcake' look. Wendell signalled to his Captain.

"They're not here, Captain. They've gone" Wendell told him. Where? Down the Well? Surely not. Anyway, he'd best follow the advice of the Lady of said Well. "Do you, by chance, know of a Coven Lake?" he asked the guard. The man scratched at his head a moment, before rifling through his saddlebags for a map. Together they looked it over.

"There, sir. Look, there's a Lake in the 2nd Kingdom called Coven. Might that be the one?" Wendell hestitated. It was a long way away. Several days journey by horseback, and in foreign territory at that. To pass through the 2nd Kingdom would require at the very least a visit of courtesy to the Royal Family of Red, he though uneasily, seeing that the route to the Lake passed right by their Castle. Wendell wavered with uncertainty at that thought. Hurry. The voice whispered at him, coaxing. Wendell breathed deep, calling to Rupert as he went to his horse.

"Rupert, call back the men. They're not here. We ride now for the 2nd Kingdom" he said as smoothly as he could. Only Rupert, of all the people who knew him, might have heard the secret tremor in his voice. The rest of his men, and even Tony, leapt to mount up, gathering up the reins and leading the way out of the corrupt village. Wendell made sure that they saw the look of contempt he threw their way as he departed. Apple and the other unmounted horses followed obediently behind. Wendell gave his horse it's head as they galloped along the road. Wendell looked back once. The sun glinted off the statue of Sally Peep scowling at them as they rounded a hill and the village disappeared from view.