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20. The Return
Mighty. That's what his sister Matilda had always called him. A mighty what? She'd never specified. His fellow warriors in Pharlain were always quick to suggest pains in various parts of their anatomy, but a consensus remained elusive. Anyway, they weren't here right now. Lucky them.
He was in the gatehouse of Dalriada, the stronghold of Queen Rouge of Galderia. He'd travelled here as a favor to his sister, helping her and her young charge navigate the rolling Galderian uplands. Thankfully, Matilda didn't need his help playing chaperone, so he'd been spared an encounter with that winged tyrant.
Foregoing an audience with the queen meant foregoing the comforts of her royal longhouse, but at least his conscience was clear. Besides, this gatehouse wasn't so bad. There was just one problem.
As if on cue, three rumbling blasts of an oxhorn trumpet reverberated through the wooden walls. Mighty hauled himself up off his futon and stalked out onto the gatehouse's battlements. There, he found Khan preparing for a fourth blast.
"Seriously?" grumbled the armadillo, "Are you trying to make the whole fortress hate you?"
The monkey grinned. "Most of them never liked me in the first place."
Putting the oxhorn trumpet's mouthpiece to his lips, he puffed out his chest and unleashed the loudest blast yet.
Down on the sloping road leading up to Dalriada, the horses pulling Shadow's chariot whinnied in alarm. The hedgehog had to take the reins from Blaze to calm the bay mares.
"What was that?" asked Xhade. She was riding on the back of Knuxahuatl's palomino stallion, just ahead of the chariot.
"Khan," replied Knuxahuatl.
"Who is that with him, my lord?" asked Blaze, looking up towards the gatehouse.
Behind the parapet, a red-carapaced armadillo was tussling with the monkey.
"Mighty?" breathed Shadow, squinting in surprise.
"Mighty, my lord?" said Blaze, "A mighty what?"
The hedgehog had once endured a night in the armadillo's tent on the eve of a battle against King Falke of Kalidia. He'd gone to sleep that the night wondering if anyone could loathe Rouge as much as Mighty seemed to. Indeed, their argument about how he and Amaranth could bring themselves to serve 'that winged tyrant' was more tiring than the subsequent battle.
"A mighty headache," muttered Shadow.
Xhade gasped as Dalriada's tall gates practically swung open.
"How do those work?" she asked, accustomed to the sluggish gates of Laputa.
"Wolves," replied Knuxahuatl.
Her awe evaporated as they trotted through the open gates, passing two gangs of brawny wolves. They all stared at her. She acknowledged one slave with a nod. He bashfully averted his gaze.
"Should I have taken the princess's spare tunic?" she murmured as the palomino stallion halted in the middle of a paved plaza.
"Don't worry," said Knuxahuatl, "You're only the second echidna most of them have seen."
"Why would I be worried?" said Xhade, glancing over her shoulder.
The chariot was just making its way through the gate. Suddenly, Khan jumped off the gatehouse's battlements. The chariot's axle flexed precariously as he landed gracefully on the footplate.
"It's about time you three got back," said the monkey, "What's with the half-naked echidn—ugh!"
Shadow's boot struck him in the stomach. He toppled backwards off the chariot. The hedgehog handed Blaze the reins and jumped off after him.
"Scaring my horses once not enough for you?"
"I guess I should thank you for not aiming lower," wheezed Khan, rubbing his breastplated belly as he sat up.
Shadow glanced up at the gatehouse, catching the eye of Mighty. "Did he throw you off?"
"Actually, I thought you might like to know not to expect a welcoming committee," said the monkey, standing up, "The queen has guests."
Shadow looked down at Khan, then back up at Mighty. "From Pharlain?"
"Where else?"
"Why?"
Before the monkey could answer, the hedgehog threw up a gauntleted hand.
"On second thoughts, tell the others," said Shadow, "And tell Knuxahuatl he can take care of my horses."
"Huh?" grunted Khan, "Why? Where are you going?"
"To hug my son."
Lowering his helmet's visor, Shadow turned heel and set off across the paved plaza.
Beyond the grounds of Rouge's longhouse, it was largest open space in Dalriada. It served as a marketplace when merchants came calling. There were no peddlers showing their wares at present, but it still seemed unnaturally quiet to the hedgehog.
There was no chatter or guffawing coming from the tavern, nor any barked reprimands coming from the armory's practice yards. Just the persistent tink-tink-tink of the farrier's hammer coming from the stables. As luck would have it, Shadow was about to walk right past there.
As he did so, he cast a cursory glance through the gate of the walled-in stable yard. He stopped in his tracks.
Across the yard, he saw the skunk Rufus — Dalriada's resident blacksmith — fitting a chestnut colt's hoof with a new horseshoe. Crouched beside the skunk, diligently observing his every move, was a sooty-faced albino hedgehog.
"Silver?" breathed Shadow, lifting his visor as he watched the ten-year-old pluck a nail from a leather pouch and hold it in place for hammering.
The black hedgehog felt a swell of pride in his chest. The question of what his unwarlike son would do in his looming adolescence had dogged him and Amaranth. The boy couldn't go on assisting Lobo and Susi with their chores forever, and most of Dalriada's artisans had bred their own heirs.
Had Amaranth finally found the answer? Was there a blacksmith's apprentice in the family?
"Silver!" he called out.
The albino hedgehog's head shot up. "Pa!"
Dropping the nail, Silver came bounding across the yard. He climbed the gate to hug Shadow.
"You came home!" he gushed, pressing his sooty cheek against his father's iron breastplate.
"I did," cooed the black hedgehog, embracing his boy as tightly as his armor permitted.
"What took you so long?"
"Never mind that now," said Shadow, stroking Silver's quills. They were greasy with soot.
"That'll do, Silver," Rufus called over, "We're not done yet."
The ten-year-old suddenly stiffened and looked over his shoulder.
"Coming, master!"
"Master?" breathed Shadow as Silver went to wriggle out of his embrace. He held him tighter.
"Pa, put him down," whined Silver, "I've got to help—"
"Who are you calling 'master'?"
"R-Rufus."
"Why?" snapped Shadow.
"I…I help him and Canus now. In the forge."
"Please, Shadow," said Rufus patiently, "I'm glad to see you got back safely but the boy has work to do. I can send him—"
"Send him?" growled Shadow, fixing the skunk with a flare, "You won't send him anywhere!"
Silver leapt off the gate as it flew open. Shadow marched into the stable yard, gripping the hilt of the broadsword at his hip. Rufus's eyes widened.
"Shadow, th-there's really no need—"
"Pa, wait!" Silver cried out, rushing to stand in his father's way, "Y-you don't understand!"
The bewildered black hedgehog looked down at his sooty-faced son. "What don't I understand?"
"I promised Ma I'd be a good boy…that I'd do what I was told, so…that's what I'm going to do."
For a long moment, Shadow held Silver's imploring gaze. Eventually, he relinquished his grip on his broadsword's hilt and looked up at the nervous blacksmith.
"Rufus," he said levelly, "Where is my wife?"
жЖж
"You can count on my sister's warriors to do whatever you ask them, my queen," said Cassiopeia brightly.
Queen Rouge of Galderia looked blankly at the fresh-faced green pronghorn smiling at her across the table. They were in the main hall of her longhouse, just in front of her throne. A map of her kingdom's mountainous northern border was laid out on the table.
"What Lady Cassiopeia means to say is Lady Clovis has sufficient warriors to increase our regular patrols without reinforcements, my queen," said Matilda, "It's only the high passes that might pose problems."
Cassiopeia pouted, glaring at the green-carapaced armadillo standing beside her. She was ignored.
Rouge nodded pensively, sipping from her goblet of mead as she studied the map. Her bodyguard Honey had helpfully marked the location of Pharlain, the stronghold of her vassal Clovis, with a dagger.
The bat had summoned the Lady of Pharlain to come discuss the danger of jackal-inspired uprisings breaking out on her northern farmsteads. The risk to Pharlain was exacerbated by its northly neighbor, the wolfen kingdom of Kalidia. King Falke never failed to break a peace agreement when the opportunity presented itself.
Alas, rather than come herself, Clovis had dispatched her thirteen-year-old sister Cassiopeia, chaperoned by two armadillos. It seemed she took the threat of these rebellious wolves about as seriously as veterans like Gordian did.
"My queen!"
A gruff yell echoed around the high-ceilinged hall. The quartet around the table looked up to see the ironclad Shadow marching towards them, broadsword in hand.
"So that's what Khan was blowing about," said Rouge, putting her goblet down.
Matilda hastily ushered Cassiopeia away. Honey stepped in front of the table.
"That's close enough, Shadow," she warned, flourishing her spear.
The hedgehog stopped halfway across the hall and lifted his helmet's visor.
"Where is my wife?"
"Where she belongs," said Rouge flatly.
Shadow's eyes narrowed. "Why is my son calling that 'blacksmith' master?"
The bat arched her eyebrows. "Ah, so you met Rufus's new slave?"
Nostrils flaring, Shadow moved forward a step. Honey did the same, spear at the ready.
"What did you hope to achieve storming in here like, well, your wife?" asked Rouge coolly, beckoning the guards by the longhouse's door to move closer, "I expect better from you, Shadow."
The blade of Shadow's broadsword began to tremble.
"Where. Is. She?"
The bat sighed and turned her head.
"More mead. Now!"
The black hedgehog's gaze drifted from the glowering Honey to a side-door in a shadowy corner of the hall. His broadsword clattered on the flagstone floor as a cerise hedgehog shuffled into view, dressed in a sackcloth tunic, carrying a silver tray of goblets.
"Amie!"
The startled Amaranth almost dropped her tray. Shadow surged forward. Honey brandished her spear lengthways, barring his way. He was too disoriented to fight the cat.
"Amie?" he said weakly, staring wide-eyed at his wife.
She meekly met his gaze.
"Did Khan not tell you about the wolf trouble we've been having?" said Rouge, "A cub — one we're quite sure was acting under a jackal's influence — cut poor Valens's throat. The little murderer got what he deserved, though your wife apparently felt he deserved a proper burial. I handed down what I took to be a lenient punishment, and do you know how she thanked me?"
Amaranth lowered her gaze. Shadow stayed quiet.
"She set Lupe free," the queen went on, "Simply turned her loose. Her and that family of hers. Right near our border with Songhai."
Shadow's face became a bed of twitching muscles, as if each facial feature was trying to convey a different reaction.
"Frankly, I was surprised she didn't go with them. She clearly holds that jackal bitch in higher esteem than—"
Clank!
Rouge couldn't help but flinch as Shadow threw down his helmet. Wrestling with stubborn buckles and straps, he didn't stop until his whole suit of armor lay discarded on the flagstones.
"Please, my queen," he said, slumping to his knees, "What must I do?"
Rouge cocked a brow. "What makes you think there's anything to be done?"
Trading tearful glances with Amaranth, Shadow leaned forward, pressing his forehead to the floor.
"Please, my queen," he said, "I beg of you."
Rouge sighed.
"I would have thought it was obvious," she said, "Bring me the Moon Wolf."
Shadow lifted his head fractionally.
"You know the southlands better than most," Rouge went on, "I hear Gordian still thinks quite highly of you. Perhaps you could impress upon him the danger your wife's bleeding heart has put him in."
Out the corner of his eye, the black hedgehog could see Amaranth gnawing her lip. He bowed his head.
"As you wish, my queen."
Amaranth let out a garbled wail.
"You will be silent!" snapped Rouge, "Or else Honey can…give…you—"
The bat trailed off. Confused, Shadow got to his feet. There was a distant look in her eyes. Honey's, too. He looked round. Knuxahuatl and Blaze had entered the hall. Khan was with them.
So was Xhade.
Rouge's eyes remained fixed on the vermilion echidna in the geometrically-patterned sarong as she followed behind the warriors. They stopped alongside Shadow.
"Your emissaries, my queen," said Khan.
He bowed and stepped back. The bat nodded passively, eyes still on Xhade.
"Could this be…Tikal?" she asked.
"Uh, no, my queen," replied Knuxahuatl, "This is Xhade, my queen."
Xhade bowed accordingly.
"I…see. So, King Iximche has sent me an emissary in return?"
The scarlet echidna hesitated.
"No, my queen," Blaze interjected, "There were no negotiations with King Iximche. He was…dismissive of us."
"How unfortunate," said Rouge, "Though hardly a surprise."
She picked up her goblet.
"However, you have returned safely, and that alone warrants a toast. Amaranth, if you please."
"Yes, mistress."
Knuxahuatl and Blaze breathed hushed gasps as the cerise hedgehog came forward to serve them mead. Both warriors hesitated to take goblets off the silver tray.
"Thank you," whispered Xhade as she took hers, bemused at the others' apprehension.
Then, Amaranth turned to Shadow.
The tray and remaining goblets crashed to the floor as they ran into each other's arms.
"Don't go south!" she hissed in his ears, "Promise me!"
"But Amie—"
"Promise me, please!" she whispered, pressing her forehead against his,
"But you…Silver—"
"They don't deserve to be hunt—ah!"
Amaranth's head was wrenched back as Honey grabbed her by the quills.
"Enough," the cat sneered.
The cerise hedgehog clung to her husband. Honey pulled harder. Watching his wife's face contort in pain, Shadow pushed her away. As he did so, Amaranth snatched one of his hands and pressed it against the front of her tunic.
Time suddenly stood still. Through the coarse sackcloth, he felt the subtle curvature of a tender bump. A decade-old memory welled up, of the moment when Silver first made his presence known. When Shadow realized the gravity of their predicament as exiles. That they would need more than a camp in the backwoods of Agnia to call home.
He seized a fistful of Amaranth's tunic. It ripped as Honey dragged her away. Gripping the shred of sackcloth in a trembling fist, Shadow took up his broadsword and lunged.
A piercing yowl echoed around the high-ceilinged hall. The yowler wasn't Honey. She would never yowl again.
"Princess! No!"
As the red mist cleared from Shadow's vision, he saw Xhade struggling with Blaze for possession of the cat's battleaxe. Knuxahuatl looked on, immobile.
"Drop it, Erinian!" growled Khan, appearing in front of Shadow, mace in hand.
The black hedgehog didn't move. Amaranth barged past the monkey, wrenched the bloodied broadsword out of Shadow's hand and threw it away.
"Thank you, Khan," said Rouge, "At least one of my warriors remembered their duty."
She looked pointedly at Knuxahuatl as she stepped out from behind the table. Xhade gave up her struggle and backed away from Blaze.
"Please, my queen," said the cat, clutching her battleaxe to her breastplate, "Agnian law dictates Honey be avenged as soon as—"
"No," snapped Rouge, covering Honey's body with her own cloak, "We all know what vengeance looks like when you're involved."
Ignoring Blaze's wounded look, the bat turned to the echidnas.
"Knuxahuatl, I shall have to about your journey later. For now, escort your…guest elsewhere. You will be sent for when the time comes."
With a meek nod, Knuxahuatl forced Xhade to turn around and walked her to the door. All the way, the vermilion echidna peered over his shoulder at Blaze.
"It's almost like she doesn't recognize you," remarked Rouge, watching them go, "What didn't you tell her?"
The princess pouted like a sullen kitten.
"As for you," said the queen, rounding on the hugging hedgehogs, "Khan, Conifer. Take these two to the stockade. Guard them until I arrive. Don't expect me before nightfall."
She glanced down at Honey's covered body, then at Xhade lingering in the doorway, defying Knuxahuatl's halfhearted efforts to drag her away.
"There are matters far worthier of my time to attend to."