The Wealding Word (23 page)
Authors: A C Gogolski
Trapped in her bedroom with the creature’s hideous visage fresh in her mind, she huddled beneath the covers of her bed. The wind pulled rain from the sea, pelting her windows for most of the night. But except for a group of persistent felines caterwauling outside her door, the evening passed free of calamity.
In the morning, her gaze fell upon a bauble sitting on the stand beside the bed. “Swsty!” she cried. “You came back!” Just as when Lady Zel borrowed it to study, the candlestone simply would not endure staying apart from Nell. Without waiting to order breakfast, she raced out of her room and down the hall to Evelyn’s chamber, leaping over mewing cats along the way.
This time however, the princess of the island wasn’t so pleased to see her. Evelyn had just finished her morning meal. She sat beneath the splendid stained glass windows, threading a needle with an embroidery frame on her lap. Plates clinked nearby as Gadnik cleared them onto a gold tray. “Why are
you
here,” Evelyn demanded. Before Nell could answer, the other girl squealed in pain. A drop of blood ran down her thumb where she pricked her skin, staining her work. “Mummy says you’re lurgy. Everything goes wrong when
you’re
around. You’re not even supposed to be here now.” She sucked her hurt thumb, glaring at Nell as though Nell herself had poked her with the needle.
Gadnik approached gingerly, reaching out to look at Evelyn’s injured hand, but she snatched it away and kicked his tray in the process. Dishes and silverware clattered to the floor, and cats dashed in for the fallen scraps of food. The servant’s face was serene as he
bent to clear the mess. Any trace of concern that might have crossed his features quickly vanished.
Nell remembered how Evelyn had banished the cats, and had no wish to anger her further. But on the other hand, she couldn’t let Rhiannon’s lies go unchecked. After all, Evelyn was her only companion here, and she was at risk from the Malady’s curse the same as Nell. “I just want to be your friend.” She studied Evelyn’s sulky face, choosing her words. “And I couldn’t go away knowing that I’d leave you here all alone.”
“I’m not alone. Gadnik is here, and I have my kiddies.” Evelyn pouted. She sucked her bleeding thumb. “Did you really come back to be my friend?”
“I never left. Anyway, who else would read to me?”
“You want me to read something?” Evelyn asked. A sudden generosity grew out of her conceit. In a moment she had a book on her lap, flipping busily through the pages. “This one I love: it’s about sisters who run away from their wicked stepmother and find the secret stairway to Ramahindra.”
As Evelyn began to read, Nell settled on the floor beside the bed, letting a cat curl on her lap. Gadnik set down the serving tray and leaned against the wall. Nell watched him as they listened to the tale. He stood transfixed by the sound of Evelyn’s voice, moving only occasionally to scratch the black welt below his neck. Nell decided the man had a kind look to him after all: a soft, chinless face, drooping shoulders and mouse colored hair. His vacant eyes and wound were still unsettling though.
After three long stories, it seemed to Nell that Evelyn had been sufficiently placated. Besides, she was bored and feeling stiff from sitting on the floor. “Why don’t we do something different now? Let’s go outside.”
“I can’t go outside. Mummy Ann says the birds will eat me.”
“You’ve never been outside?” Nell couldn’t contain her shock. “Remember when I came?” she asked. “The birds didn’t eat me. Come on, let’s go into the courtyard, it looks like the rain is gone.”
Hesitantly, Evelyn allowed Nell to take her by the hand, talking all the while about the things that her Mummy said were dangerous. Running around, taking off her chain, opening windows, and going outside were highest on the list. They came to an arch of daylight opening out to the center courtyard of the keep. The stained glass windows and magical torches of the palace constantly bathed the interior in a queer, stifling light, and Nell was relieved to see real sunlight again. Cool sea air wafted in through the opening, stirring her hair and enticing her out into the bright day. The crumbling exterior of the doorway was in sharp contrast to the finely worked serpent carvings just inside of the arch. Which was the illusion? Nell wondered.
The door was very near the base of the fallen tower that Nell climbed several days ago. Outside, a hundred yeffel gulls hopped and scooted about on the stones, snapping their serrated bills at each other. Evelyn squeezed Nell’s hand at the sight of them. “We shouldn’t go out there. The birds,” she said.
Rolling her eyes, Nell extracted her hand and strode out into the warm morning sun. “Come on Evelyn! They’re just birds. We can go and sit by the water. Have you ever touched seaweed before?” She hadn’t taken five steps when the gulls began squawking. Several dozen pumped into the air, and in an instant the courtyard exploded in a blur of wings and beaks. “Whoops,” Nell said with a nervous laugh. She hurried back through the doorway. It seemed Rhiannon wasn’t kidding about the gulls. “I guess they don’t like me so much today.”
“I told you! They’ll carry you off and toss you in the water, and then they’ll come after me!” Evelyn swayed on her feet, pale and breathing fast. The events of the morning were more than enough
excitement for her. They spent the rest of the day safe with Evelyn’s herd of cats, drinking honeyed milk and eating scones.
Perhaps to regain some measure of self-confidence, the plump girl took to boasting about all the extraordinary places that Mummy Ann had visited. She insisted on digging up trinkets and gifts brought back from the sorceress’ adventures. There was the tip of a unicorn’s horn from the plains of the distant east, wobbly jade dolls that opened to reveal smaller and smaller copies of themselves, and a water-globe containing a miniature kingdom within. It played an eerie melody when Evelyn wound it. Nell could have listened to it for hours, watching its snowy sparkles swirl about. “But this one is my favorite,” Evelyn interrupted. “It’s worth the price of a hundred horses, Mummy Ann says so.” She handed Nell a finely detailed weaving done in silk. It showed a gold serpent flying through a portal in the sky, surrounded by a current of pastel clouds.
To Nell’s eye, it didn’t look all that special. Besides, Evelyn’s endless boasts had nettled something in her, and her annoyance finally frothed. “I met a dragon once, and that’s not what they look like.”
“You did not. A dragon would eat you.” Evelyn spoke as though the matter were final.
Further irked by Evelyn’s tone, Nell said, “You’re
so
sheltered. You don’t even know that dragons ask questions before they eat you. He asked me about my magic.”
“Magic?
You
don’t have any magic,” Evelyn sneered. “Only I have magic. Me and Mummy Ann. She’s going to make me a sorceress like her someday.”
Nell casually tossed the fine silk tapestry on the bed. “Yes I do, it’s Wealding magic. I can reach out to plants, sort of talk to them, and help them to…”
“That’s stupid,” Evelyn cut her off. “Who cares about plants?” To prove her point, she ripped a handful of leaves from the vine hanging overhead. “
I
can send things away, make them disappear,” she tossed
the Wisteria leaves in the air. “Mummy taught me how to, just in case
trouble
ever showed up.” Her sunken eyes glinted at Nell.
Nell knew what she was thinking. Before she could say something to divert Evelyn’s train of thought, however, a high-pitched whistling rose from outside. “What’s that noise?” Nell asked.
“That’s Mummy Ann, she flies here from her castle. Look,” Evelyn pointed out the window at the keep perched on the cliffs across the sea. A black smoking arrow raced over the water, bisecting the bands of white cloud that striped the sky.
“Rhiannon!” The sorceress made frequent visits for her pearl! Nell had to shake off the surprise at having forgotten this. “Evelyn, you can’t tell her that you saw me today! Promise me that you won’t tell.” The whistle grew piercing as a ruddy light bathed the windows. Nell dashed around the room, looking for a place to hide. “Evelyn, please promise – we’ll both get in trouble!”
“Why should I?” she whined.
“Please! Just believe me!” With that Nell dove under the tangled covers of Evelyn’s enormous bed.
In another moment, the air tingled and Nell heard Rhiannon’s hoarse cough. “Have you been feeding Gadnik again, child? He’s not to eat with you,” the witch said.
Nell’s heart raced as she remembered the cups and plates left over from their afternoon snack – of course Rhiannon would notice them. “No,” Evelyn said after a long pause.
“Hmmmph. Well,” remarked Rhiannon, looking Evelyn over. “You’re a bit flushed dear. Did you walk about today?” Her kindly, counterfeit voice made Nell’s stomach turn. Evelyn trusted the crone – was completely under her spell. It wouldn’t take much to be found out. She peered out from under the heavy covers, holding her breath.
“I went to look at the birds.”
“You know they are dangerous, child,” said Rhiannon. “Stay away from the doors. Mummy doesn’t want your beautiful eyes getting poked out.” Gently the sorceress unclasped the pearl around Evelyn’s neck. “Here. Another pretty pearl for my pretty girl.” She handed Evelyn an exact replica of the stone and chain.
“Mummy, I want Wealding magic,” Evelyn suddenly demanded. Nell gritted her teeth at the words. There was no hope for her now.
“Hmm? Gach—” A long coughing fit seized Rhiannon before she could say anything more. Nell began to sweat beneath the blankets, struggling to keep still. When the fit passed, Rhiannon asked, “Whatever put that in your mind?” Her words were neutral, yet her tone betrayed more than simple curiosity.
“Nell told me. She can talk to plants and I want to talk to plants too!”
The Widow of the Sea was silent for a moment. “Nell again. That child was a bad influence upon you. She’s sick with lies – like the rest of the world. Lucky I sent her away for good, so you’ll never see her again.”
Evelyn’s face darkened. Never before had she suspected Mummy Ann of duplicity, but the obvious untruth hanging in the air stabbed like a pin in her chest. The witch continued lightly, “The Wealding Word would be of no use to you here. But I can teach you a different Word, perhaps for your birthday. Would you like to know how to conjure snacks for yourself?”
Evelyn scowled. “That’s servant magic. I want to talk to plants.”
Rhiannon’s eyes blazed. “Someday Gadnik will be gone, my pet. What if you get a little sister or brother, hmm? ‘Servant magic,’ as you call it, will be very useful for you to know.” Another wracking cough took her breath for a moment. “Now I must go below and tend to my chamber. No more talk of Wealding. Whatever that foolish scamp told you, put it from your mind.” Her voice was as cold and unbending as iron. “Your place is here, safe from the world. In time
I will teach you all the Words you need to know.” She scuffed to the door, clutching the chain to her chest. In another moment, she was the gentle grandmother again. Just before leaving she sang, “I have a hundred new books for you – lovely ones with pictures. Be a good girl and I’ll send them in a few days. Goodnight child.”
Nell popped her head from the covers as soon as the doors closed. Her dark hair was plastered to her forehead. “Why did you tell her about the Wealding Word?”
Evelyn sniffed. “I’m princess of the island. I should be able to do anything you can. Even dumb Gadnik knows more magic than me. I want your magic word!”
“But I can’t give it to you. I don’t know how, I’m not a sorceress.” Nell slid from the bed. The crone was close, and she could only hope Rhiannon didn’t plan to check in on her today. “I have to go. Remember, you can’t tell Mummy Ann about me – it’s our secret.”
Evelyn crossed her arms. “Only if you promise to teach me magic. Any word I want.”
Nell groaned at the ridiculous demand. “Alright! I promise. But you can never tell Mummy that I can get free. Promise?” She fretted knowing the sorceress could return at any time.
Evelyn casually picked up one of the cats mewing nearby. She fawned over it with a sly smile, but said nothing.
Exasperated, Nell took off down the hall.
There in the ruins, amid a sea of deadly strangleweed, the girls passed their days in relative comfort. Rhiannon returned several more times, but somehow Evelyn managed to keep quiet about her secret companion. When the witch whisked herself to the fortress, Nell either hid, or was already safe in her own room. She always thought to ask Gadnik for something when Rhiannon visited, so he would lock her door again, just in case. The old crone showed no interest in Nell, however, coming only to exchange pearls with Evelyn.
“Why does Rhiannon bring you pearls?” Nell asked Evelyn one day. They were poking about in the large library, looking for books with the scariest pictures.
“Because she likes them – I don’t know,” Evelyn said. “Oh, how about this one?” She put another book on top of the pile that Nell held. It was about a war that happened long ago, and had the grim aftermath of a battle sketched within.
While Evelyn scanned titles, Nell inspected the many portraits and paintings hung between the shelves. One in particular drew her attention: it was the profile of an ugly creature, half horse and half deer, with huge black antlers and empty eyes. Beside it stood a man with a smudged-out face. Nell set down the stack of books to get a closer look. She hadn’t thought of the gray beast for many months,
but she recognized the look of it with chilling certainty. “What’s this picture of?”