Circle Of Sisters
18. The Second Kingdom
The path sloped gently downwards. Virginia had no trouble finding her way forward, thanks to the faint light, but after a time she became aware of light of a different kind. It was soft still, muted as if coming from far away, but it was pulsing with colours. Virginia guessed that several hours and miles had passed by since she had parted from Wolf, although she recalled that Wolf had told her that time passed very differently down here. She had stopped every now and then to rest and eat a little of the food Clayface had left in her pack. The sweet, bread like fungus satisfied her most basic needs, but she had found her mind wandering a little, distracted by the memories of fresher, more human food. Her mouth watered as she recalled the taste of roasted lamb, visualising it cut open, steaming red blood flowing...
Virginia stopped short in disgust at herself. Cripes, was she getting a taste for blood now? Would she be tussling with Wolf and Caelum over the rare meat on the table? Her skin crawled at the thought of it. She drew out her small flask, sipping from the tepid water to try and alleviate the taste from her mouth that her mind had created. Virginia decided to rest a little and settled herself on the floor, easing her aching feet. A soft popping sound drew her attention, one similar to others she had heard. She had yet to discern the source of the noise, but suspected that other goblin folk were spying on her from time to time. Clayface had explained that they had passed several openings to goblin dwellings, but Virginia had been unable to see them even when he stood and pointed one out. Maybe the pops were a goblin door held ajar for a second, the owner of the same peering out to see whoever passed by. But she hadn't been challenged, nor spoken to by anygoblin, for which Virginia was grateful. She just hoped that if the worst came to pass, that she wouldn't hurt or maim any of these shy, secretive people.
Rising once more, she continued downwards. The scents of roses continued to waft up to meet her. Soon it became apparent that the coloured light had completely eclipsed the silver fungus light, and yet Virginia still could not see the source of it. Her senses told her that she was coming into a much larger space than the confining tunnels of the goblin world. She could hear the distant echoes of her feet reverberating from a high roof ahead. Almost at once, with little warning, the passage stopped abruptly. Virginia very nearly fell off the end before she realised that she was seeing a reflection ahead of her. Like a giant mirror spread out across the floor of a vast cavern, she could see the stalagtites hanging from the ceiling imaged below her feet. The surface of the mirror was completely smooth. Virginia went on to her knees, leaning over to stare into the depths. She touched a finger, barely brushing the surface when she realised her error. It was not a mirror of glass and metal, but of water. She smiled ruefully at her own reflection.
"Welcome, Virginia". It was the Lady's voice once more, but it came not from within Virginia's mind, as it had before, but from all directions at once. "I am Coventina, and I am the Goddess Of The Waters" the voice continued. Virginia noticed that the water vibrated very gently with each word of the Goddess. A Goddess. She was suddenly very glad that she was on her knees still, even though she had never held to the idea that deities required endless worship and obseience from mortals. But her tongue was struck senseless in her attempt at a reply. What does one say when one meets a Goddess? A sigh rippled the water.
"I, ah, I mean, I'm pleased to meet you..." Virginia finally stammered, cringing inwardly at her crude attempts at conversation. She sensed a quiet humour from Coventina.
"And we are pleased to meet you, in the flesh, Virginia. We have been seeking you a long time, beautiful one". Virginia felt herself blushing. She wondered who the 'we' referred to, but dared not ask. The Goddess continued. "This is one of my Water-Mirrors. First of all magics these are. Your metal and sand are but poor copies, warped and influenced by those who make them. But we can discuss these things when you come before me. But for now, as I said, you must pass through. This, then another, and one more after that. Do you accept the challenge, Virginia?". Virginia had a thousand questions running through her mind, but she understood the ritualistic cadence of the Goddess' words. Yes, or No. Simple as that, Virginia, she thought to herself.
"I accept"
"I was hoping you would" Coventina replied, and once more Virginia heard the hidden laughter in the words, but at the same time, she knew it not to be malicious or unkind. Perhaps the 'we' that had been referred to had been placing bets as to whether she would take up the challenge or not. Well, she didn't want to disappoint those who might have money on her. The water didn't look particularly dangerous in itself at least.
"What will I find within the Water-Mirrors?" she asked, feeling slightly bolder.
"This one, what would have been. There is a thing you must come to know, in order for you to release that which holds you back. In the next, what is, where you will come to know your weakness. And finally, when you come before us, you may look into the final mirror and see there the reality of the future"
"Do you know Dickens, by chance?"
"Dickens?"
"It doesn't matter. I'll do it, Coventina. But, how do I enter?" Virginia asked aloud. Her voice sounded small in the vastness of the underground cavern. But there was no response from the Goddess, and Virginia sensed that she had withdrawn, leaving her to figure things out for herself. Of course. It would be too much to expect of this place that there be a set of instructions, she thought, hoping she wasn't about to be struck by a bolt of lightning for her temerity. Virginia looked from one side to the other, seeking something that might look like an entrance, or even a magic button that might reveal an opening into the mirror. There was nothing, of course, not even a set of steps leading down to the water. Standing once more, Virginia surveyed the only obvious option left. She stripped off her heavy boots, folding them up within the pile of her clothing, putting her cloak over the bundle. Her naked skin raised in goosebumps despite the warm air. Virginia took a moment to survey her long wound scar. It was completely healed over now, with barely a line to show where it had been. Virginia didn't like the look of it specifically for that reason. She felt that there should be more of a reminder on her flesh of the torment done to her soul. She could only hope that the werewolf's touch could be so easily removed from her blood.
She walked to the very edge of the water. There was no bottom to be seen, no indication of depth. From below, her own reflection stared back up at her. Virginia frowned at it for a moment. Had she always been so pale, so worn looking? No wonder Wolf's protective instincts had kicked into overdrive recently. She looked like she could barely fight off a determined kitten. But her appearance belied what she knew to be the truth. She was far stronger now, more in tune with the world. More decisive and focussed. Was it the werewolf influence that had wrought these changes, or were they simply her reaction to it's presence? Virginia hoped she would find out soon. Taking a deep breath, she stepped off the ledge and sank immediately to the bottom of the water-mirror.
Gasping, she woke up in bed.
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Wolf had never been so glad to see the blue sky over his head. It wasn't technically his favourite vista to gaze upon (that being a moonlit sky) but for the moment he could only lie puffing on the soft ground and admire it. The last part of his journey back to the surface had been an immensely tight squeeze, and he doubted if he'd been able to make it without the help of Will and Elias. These same two stood nearby, waiting patiently until he got his breath again. Wolf tore off a hank of grass beside him and used it to clean off his face the mud. That done, he rolled himself to a sitting position, taking a good look at their new surroundings for the first time.
Open woodland, not unlike Wendell's royal forest that abutted his castle in the 4th Kingdom. But his internal compass, his wolfie instincts, told him that he was quite a way from Castle White. Wolf glanced over at his brother, seeing the older half-wolf standing, seemingly at ease but on closer inspection revealing himself to be very on edge indeed. Wolf's own blood thrummed with a sense he had come to recognize, though it had been almost a lifetime since he had been here. The 2nd Kingdom. The ancestral home of his people. Riding Hood Forest, where he now surmised they were, had once, in the depths of time, been known as Wolf Woods, and the lands surrounding it were almost purely their domain, the Wolf Hills. Ancient history that was, Wolf knew. Legends told to cubs around winter fires when the snow piled deep. No human children ever learned the tales though. Their own history started from that fateful day in the forest when a young girl had gone a-visiting her grandmother.
"So just how did Little Red become a queen?". It was Elias speaking, directing his question at Will. It made Wolf realise just how much a stranger to this land Elias was. He listened to Will as he explained basic history to the man.
"Well, back in those days, nearly two hundred years ago, of course, there were many little kingdoms, spread throughout this land. Princes vied for the hands of fair maidens on a daily basis. When Little Red, whose real name was Ruby, had her first and only encounter with wolf kind, she was not quite as young as the humans would have us believe. Anyway, as word of her 'fame' spread, many royal son's left their lands to try and win her heart, in spite of the fact that she was no longer even a maiden, which is a thing that humans prize mightily, as you know..."
"So she had had, umm, relations with the wolf?" stammered Elias.
"Well, of course. How else would she have brought about his defeat?" said Will in response. "But, that's another story. And not one to be told in this part of the Kingdom at any rate! Anyway, sweet little Ruby could have her pick of the Princes, and she chose one very similar in mien to herself. But she would never ride away with him to his own Kingdom. Instead she used her considerable charms to convince her new husband to remain in the land of her birth. They established their castle right on the very spot where her grandmother's cottage had been. Over the nearly hundred year reign of Queen Riding Hood, she gathered a great many wolf-fearing humans together and they built the great city of Hooded, and many other smaller towns besides. When Ruby heard of the deeds of Gretel the Great, she was at first greatly incensed and jealous and sought to make war upon the newer Kingdom. But Gretel herself came in person to Hood Castle. Somehow, and we never knew exactly how, she managed to broker peace between the two of them. They divided the new Kingdom between themselves and over the years came to be great friends and allies. Only on the wolf issue did they disagree. Ruby was all for wiping us out, but Gretel, who with her brother Hansel, was far more tolerant. No wolf had ever attacked the frightened children who had been abandoned in the woods that day, she said often to her followers. Even though it would have been easy to do so. So Gretel came to be greatly respected by the wolfen people, thus in a sense making her own words be true, for her own people at least"
"But not so for the people of Riding Hood?"
"No. Ruby had several children, and into them she instilled her loathing of wolf-kind, and they in turn raised their own children thus. Now, Scarlett, who is Ruby's eldest surviving grandaughter, sits the throne, as hateful and disapproving of our people as she who bred her"
"How came Ruby to have so much enmity for the wolf's? Surely the child was not molested by this wolf...?" Elias asked, his face turning pale even as he spoke. Wolf snorted in disgust. How typical. Elias glanced at him sideways but did not comment on it. Wolf let Will answer.
"As I said. She was no child. A maiden certainly, but plenty old enough to make her own decisions. But, as I said also, this is not the place or time to discuss this. We are deep in Riding Hood territory. We'll consider ourselves lucky to pass through without detection" Will stated. Elias looked like he wanted to take up the debate further. Wolf could see him biting back words, but whatever he wanted to say he kept to himself as Will turned to address the goblin. "Where do we go, goblin friend? Will you not enlighten us further?". Wolf found himself admiring his older brother's stance. It was stated as a polite question, but the goblin would have heard the silent command in his voice. Wolf watched the strange green creature, wondering if he would have also heard the gentle threat in Will's words. Evidently he had, for he straightened immediately from whatever he'd been grubbing in the mud for.
"Very good, master wolf. If it pleases you, we shall be following the Ruby River westwards for a time"
"How long?" Wolf asked.
"Difficult to say. In underland time, perhaps only a few hours. Upland, maybe some days at least" Terrific, thought Wolf uneasily. The Ruby River was the main waterway of the land, connecting all the human settlements in the northern half of the Kingdom. It would be well populated with traders and travellers at this time of year, making the final few voyages before winter descended. They would have to use every little bit of wolfie cunning to get through this hostile territory unnoticed. He met his brother's eyes, seeing the same doubts there as was in his own, but coupled with a tinge of humour. Yes, it would be very, naughty, to try and creep through the Red's lands. Will's mouth curled in a half smile, and Wolf's matched it. Then he sighed quietly, looking to the man Elias, who was busily brushing the dried mud from his raggedly clothes. Wolf knew the werewolf had some woodcraft, but he suspected the man would be a liability anyway. He wished wholeheartedly that he could just drop the annoying creature in some bog hole. Whatever sentiment that had possessed Virginia to insist on Elias' tagging along on this little quest, Wolf knew he didn't share nor understand. He couldn't even be bothered to pretend otherwise anymore.
Wolf stood to go over to the small pool of water that the goblin had been paddling in. Spending a few minutes washing the dirt from his hands gave him a space with which to still the rapid pounding of his heart that had started at the thought of Virginia. He could hear Will quizzing Clayface some more regarding their final destination, but he let him try and sort that out. Wolf thought he could guess anyway. He brought the lapel of his coat up to his nose, breathing deeply of her scent, her totally unique feminine scent that could drive him wild. His stomach did flip flops and he knew that other parts of him would probably have been doing the same had she not granted him access to her when they had parted just now. Wolf smiled at his reflection. She loved him still. She knew him in many ways, better than he knew himself. He scratched at his half grown beard, thinking that he would do well to clean himself up a bit before he saw her again, regardless. The water looked inviting, but one look at the sky told him it was much too late in the day to get soaked. There was a distinct chill in the air. It smelled like winter was coming early this year, although Wolf reminded himself that he had not lived this far north in many years. He lifted his head to look in that direction. Yes, travel north from this spot, a little east, then north again, for a span of seven days or so, he would come to...his home. His birthplace. The lands of his people, his own kindred. Wolf felt drawn there suddenly, though he both did and did not want to go there ever again.
No matter. The river and their destination lay in another direction entirely and Wolf would follow Virginia to the end, as he had promised. He wondered what she was doing right at this moment. He hoped that whatever task or testing the water-Goddess had planned would not be too hard on her. She had been through so much already, in fact she was barely recovered from Elias' attack on her. Wolf was mildly surprised that he had actually let her go on without him. It had warred with every instinct within him to leave her there in the darkness. Even now he found himself considering going back down the hole and tracking her. He didn't quite believe the goblin's warning that male's were 'forbidden' access to the Goddess. He suspected that Clayface had told them that simply to give Virginia an excuse to go on alone, but the goblin had not reckoned on Wolf's strong sense of honour. He would always do as Virginia bid him. He just hoped that his delectable mate knew what she was doing.
A small cough-growl brought his attention back to the present. Will stood nearby, looking down on Wolf with an air of expectation. Elias had already moved off, following the goblin. Wolf could hear the faint rushing sound of the river and guessed it to be a mile away or more. There were some obvious signs that this area was well populated with humans. Woodsmoke from a cottage or hamlet. Hoof prints of horses on the forest floor. Odour of farm dogs.
"We should do most of our travelling at night" he said, thinking aloud, although Willem would have already planned that aspect. His brother continued to gaze at him levelly. "What?" asked Wolf.
"You didn't tell her". Wolf felt the blood rush to his face at Will's statement.
"No, I didn't" he replied, with a flat stare that was not quite a challenge on his face. Will smiled broadly.
"Huff puff, you're going to be in so much trouble when you see her again" he said, still grinning. Wolf smiled back ruefully, knowing the truth of it. Will came forward to haul him to his feet, tousling his hair despite their height difference. They moved forward quickly, catching up to the others as night settled over the Riding Hood forest.
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The emissary that had come to the court of Queen Riding Hood the Third earlier that day was like none that any had seen before. Scarlett, the eldest granddaughter of Ruby, sat on the wooden throne with some difficulty at concealing her boredom. Or her sore posterior for that matter. Still, for all the attendant discomforts, her hands still rested lovingly on the well worn arms of the great seat. She caressed the smooth woodwork, knowing every little knot and whorl as well as she knew the back of her hand. Scarlett recalled playing upon it as a child, taking turns with her younger siblings to 'dare' each other into sitting for a span of time, even though they knew it was a forbidden thing. Scarlett had always had something of a sixth sense when it came to the approaching of parents, guards, servants and the like, and so had always been able to avoid the sound spanking that came with being caught out on the throne. Now, as a grown woman, she had quickly learned that none dared chastise her, not even her aged mother. Auburn had stepped down from the high seat less than ten years ago. Now, as the various petitioners came forward, pleading their cases for the Queen's judgement, favour, or boon, Scarlett found herself dreaming about whether any child of hers would ever play in the grand throne room. Would any daughter of hers ever hide behind the tapestries, stifling laughter at her siblings efforts to explain themselves?
An attendant, whose name she had never bothered to remember, coughed politely into his hand. Scarlett wondered whether to let her irritation show on her face. A woman stood before her, a peasant from one of the outlying villages north of the river. Wolves had stolen some of her hard-won fattened piglets, the woman was saying. The woman was asking for a garrison of soldiers to be set up in that locale, to provide a deterrent to the wolves. And to catch and string up the most recent culprits, thought Scarlett, though neither she nor the peasant woman would ever say so aloud, in court. No, not in these days at least. Wolves had been garnering a certain following in some parts of the Kingdom, mostly due to the efforts of one of their kind in recent times. Although Scarlett enjoyed an absolute power as ruler of the Northern Second Kingdom, she knew, as did her most trusted advisors, that it was far better to be a peaceful Queen of all the people, rather than a harrassed ruler of a select few. In public at least.
Scarlett nodded, barely, at the woman. "It shall be done, good woman. Return now to your holding, knowing that the Queen will always step forth in times of need" she said. Several of the courtiers present hummed and ahhed in apparent agreement with her pronoucement, though Scarlett doubted that they were even truly listening. Just mouthing polite nothings at a great deal of dull nothingness. The queen stifled a ripple of anger, but she couldn't really blame them. These days, when once a month she sat and heard supplications from the common folk were tiresome in the extreme. Why some folk felt the need to travel all the way to court to ask her to settle a simple boundary dispute, she never knew. Perhaps they just wanted to see her. It was a tradition anyway, in all of the Kingdoms, and Scarlett didn't want to be the one to be accused of not following tradition. It was one thing her family prided itself on.
A small silver bell chimed, an indication to the court that the matter had been dealt with. At least on the surface, thought Scarlett, watching the back of the departing goodwife. Where she would find the means to persuade the retinue of soldiers to travel north and spend the winter in the sometimes hostile frontiers was another matter entirely. She shifted in her seat to hear the page announce the next, and hopefully last, supplicant. The boy stammered slightly, obviously confused at his missive.
"Umm, ahh, a man, a visitor to the Kingdom, seeks an audience with Your Highness. He carries tidings of great importance, he says". Scarlett sighed. No doubt another pilgrim with an air of self-importance, claiming great secrets or strategies, trying to win a place in court. Or more. Perhaps another potential suitor? Scarlett felt that her advisors would be pleased that she was even considering seeking a husband, considering how bruised her heart had been in recent times. Yet none of those closest to her knew of her hidden pain, and longing. The man appeared at the entrance to the hall and strode down the aisle with an almost unseemly haste. Courtiers twittered like birds. Scarlett took one long, apraising look at the man, dismissing him immediately as anyone worthy of her hand. He was slight, dressed in mismatched leggings and tunic, rough hat of brown wool smashed down over his forehead. A totally nondescipt man, except for one thing. He wore a strange mask, made entirely of what looked like reeds and twigs. It covered his whole face, with only small openings apparent for eyes, nose and mouth. Scarlett was intrigued in spite of herself. The man stopped obediantly at the guard's dropped lance that prevented any from getting closer to the throne.
"Speak, man" said one of her attendants.
"A missive, for the Queen" said the man briefly in response. He had a strange manner of speaking, an accent Scarlett had not heard before. He bent forward now, proferring a small tightly bound scroll. At a nod from Scarlett, one of her guards went forward to retrieve the scroll, bowing deep over her hand as he presented it to her. Scarlett examined the bindings and seals on the missive. They looked untouched. A blob of red wax with a tiny shard of mirror embedded in it fell away as she opened the scroll and read what was written there.
The Queen of the North Second Kingdom was silent for a long time upon the throne. Eventually she rose, descending from the dias to sweep past into the rear of the great hall. Her long ruby cloak trailed after her like a river of blood.