Feynard (45 page)

“It was a new term to me,” said the Unicorn, showing his teeth in a smile. “Is it an Earth term?”

“It is.” Kevin tried to keep his gratitude from being plastered across his face. “It refers to a form of warfare employed by small, mobile groups of, uh, creatures against a more powerful and often better equipped enemy. You might call it sabotage.”

“So you mean it’s
a dishonourable practice?”

“
Not at all,” Kevin replied, catching Alliathiune’s frown as she twigged that this presentation had been rehearsed. “We still want to bring our enemies to a final battle where the courage of our heroes will be tested.”

“So what’s your point?”

“Well, good Unicorn, at the simplest level, larger battles tend to be more damaging to both sides. Once the Men reach Driadorn they will be free to wreak havoc as they wish and our great Mother Forest will be unprotected until we choose to bring them to account. What I propose is to make them bleed all the way to Driadorn, by which time they’ll have lost their stomach for the fight.”

Zephyr nodded. “I can understand that. But why are you majoring on the Men when we are potentially facing a battle on three fronts, not just one?”

“The Men are just an example. My ideas could be applied to the Fauns and Goblins, too. In fact, as I understand it the strategy isn’t to fight all three battles at once, but to take on one at a time. I would consider that not only wise, but essential given the size and disposition of our forces. This way, by applying more of our resources to one area or another, we might be able to influence how quickly a situation develops and fight battles at a time and place of our choosing.”

“I
thought of the Men first. They’re cutting a road through a wilderness. So it crossed my mind, what if the wilderness became even wilder?” His chuckle was low and mirthless. “What could we do to slow the progress of their road? Of course Driadorn’s situation is unique, but in my opinion that gives us more options rather than less. Say, for example, we were able to station Mancat archers in the brush alongside the road? They could pick off the engineers, and when the soldiers arrive, simply melt away, and reappear elsewhere. I imagine that might slow the building work.”

“But when they station soldiers on the road?”

“Then we might cut off and poison their water supplies, or spread pestilence in the Human encampment.”

“But this wilderness is
moons of travel away. How do you propose to carry out these tasks?”

Kevin
grinned, starting to enjoy himself. “I originally considered airdropping Dryads into the jungle ahead of the road to encourage it to grow thicker and wilder. I thought an Eagle the size of Glimmering of Dawn might carry a little Dryad in his talons and land her in the right place, or pick her up again afterwards.”

Zephyr frowned sternly.
Alliathiune, out of sight of the still mirror, stuffed her fist into her mouth to stop up her giggles, which threatened to destroy Kevin’s concentration. “That’s highly unconventional. The Eagles are a proud race, no creature’s beasts of burden.”

“Well, good Zephyr, if
you
as a fiercely proud Unicorn, one of a race who regards themselves as no creature’s inferior, were not too proud to bear a barbarian outlander on your back, then I would hope that even the Eagles could eschew their pride to perform such a task for the good of the Forest.”

The Jasper Cat sniffed at this. “Pride is hardly at issue here.”

Kevin nodded. “And then I thought, what about the digging creatures? A road is useless if it has a large hole in the middle of it.”

Two Hoots chuckled at this. “
The Human supply carts might struggle in such circumstances.”

“And the longer the road, the more they would have to protect. Thinly spread out, they would be more vulnerable to a sudden attack. Once you start on this train of thought you are limited only by your imagination. Imagine the havoc a tribe of monkeys could cause, stealing supplies, tearing up the road,
and pinching tools and weapons? Or imagine swarms of grimflies released in the Faun encampment in Fourfire Valley? A team of Druids stirring up bad weather to drown their digging to the Trolls in waterfalls from the skies? Earthquakes on demand? Barriers of thorns and briars and earthworks to cut off the approach routes to the Well? A small stone dropped from a great height could seriously damage someone on the ground.”

Zephyr chuckled at the expression of mingled horror and admiration on Two Hoot’s face. “Good
Kevin, have I ever told you what a perfectly wicked imagination you have?”

“Thank you, noble Zephyr. I believe the Jasper Cat did rightly point out an outlander’s ignorance of the Seventy-Seven Hills and the ancient ways of the Forest,
a rebuke doubtless well deserved.”

Kevin
kept his eyes fixed on the still mirror, aware in the back of his mind that his companions, particularly Zephyr, still mistrusted his motives. But he did not care. This outlander was tired of meekly accepting the inevitable. This time he would fight, and it showed in the brilliant chrysoprase eyes reflected in the mirror’s surface.

Wizard
ly eyes. A Dragon said so.

Kevin
said softly, “I am grateful we have leaders as great and wise as those represented here by Driadorn’s Council of War, who love the Forest with a fierce and protective love, who would die to defend her. The Jasper Cat is right–you know the Forest best. You will think of avenues I haven’t even begun to consider, a hundred stratagems to hold these evil despoilers at bay. You hold the Forest’s fate in your hands.”

There was a deep and thoughtful silence at the end of his speech.

And then he spoiled it all by adding, “Uh … hands, and paws, and claws, and whatever else …”

Laughter rippled around the Council.

“Well, I’m sure you have given the Council much to debate,” said the Unicorn. “No doubt their combined wisdom will ensure that we have enough time to complete our quest, saying which, this lighttime grows no younger and the road before us is long.”

Two Hoots said, “May the Mother our Forest speed you on your journey, noble companions, and the fatal coils of Shäyol ensnare her enemies.”

Kevin could have sworn the venerable Owl winked at him.

*  *  *  *

The companions pressed on with all haste, eating the miles at a pace that had Kevin’s legs fairly trotting along in order to keep up. As usual, he was the one lagging behind. Alliathiune was her usual indefatigable self, Akê-Akê had enough energy to spare on hunting parallel to their path, and the Witch’s long legs made one stride of his two. Glimmering of Dawn, of course, was a rotten cheat who flapped his wings once in a blue moon as he drifted overhead, keeping an eagle eye–pun
intended
, Kevin muttered crossly to himself–on their progress.

By gum, he was grateful to settle by the campfire that evening, after collecting sticks w
ith Akê-Akê in the semidarkness. He tried not to imagine what snakes, bugs, and assorted crawling horrors might lie in wait. He was battered and bruised after a humiliating episode involving a wasp, a roadside ditch, and an inconveniently placed log. Alliathiune and Zephyr had cried with laughter when the Faun, the heartless, conniving blighter, had unexpectedly imitated Kevin’s flapping panic later that afternoon–even managing to extract a hearty guffaw from the Witch, whose habitual expression was that thin-lipped disapproval his nurses had invariably managed to convey.

That said, he was starting to enjoy campfires. Now there was a turnout for the books! He caught Zephyr’s eye.

“Is Shadowmoon Keep really so dangerous?”

The Unicorn wrinkled his nose. “What is that disgusting concoction you’re smearing on your feet, good outlander?”

“This
delightful
balm–” he jerked his head to indicate Alliathiune, deep in conversation with the Druid “–is for my blisters, of which I have many more than my fair share. In fact, my left foot is more blister than sole.”

“There’s something to be said for hooves, not so?”

“You have the occasional stone or thorn too, Zephyr. I’ve dug out a few in the short time I’ve known you.”

“
Hrr-ibrrali!
” he snorted. “Your attentions would usually be performed by a Honeybear. In response to your question, I might describe Shadowmoon Keep as a snare. Large, full of foul and evil creatures, the kind of place one wouldn’t willingly stick one’s nose without a compelling rationale. It once belonged to Ozark the Dark.”

“Hence the imaginative name?”

“It has many names,” the Unicorn said darkly. “It’s a place best avoided.”

Kevin
examined his other foot with tender care. “My dear old sprout, these new boots are tearing my feet to shreds! What did you make of our conversation with the Council this morning, Zephyr? Do you think they’ll act on my suggestions?”

“Good outlander, they will ho-hum and debate mostly because you presented them in such a disast
rous fashion–but I believe they’ll come round to our point of view. The Jasper Cat looked mad enough to spit.”

“He did indeed.”

Zephyr cropped a tuft of grass and chewed it meditatively. “I hope the Dark Apprentice has no further tricks to play.”

“We hurt him at the Well. Snatcher said so. I drove him off, didn’t I? He won’t be back in a hurry!”

The Unicorn’s ears twitched noncommittally at this boast. “Good Kevin, I have a question for you.”

“Fire away, old boy.”

“Why do I feel that you are hiding something from me–from us all? Why do I feel that you have been less than honest with us?”

Kevin
was surprised and offended that Zephyr still insisted on asking this particular question. And why, if he had anticipated it, did he still feel hurt? He looked away, trying to hide the tears that had sprung unexpectedly to his eyes.

“Allow me to elucidate,” said the Unicorn. “When the Dark Apprentice attacked the Council at Elliadora’s Well, you were
drunk, lying beneath one of the feasting-tables. At the vital instant you stood upright and disarmed him with the power of your magic. You remember that moment, don’t you?”

“It’s the one thing I do remember.”

“Good, then, because you’ll know what I mean when I say this next thing.” Zephyr drew a deep breath. “Good Kevin, the reason I know you are hiding something, is because that was the instant when the Dark Apprentice
recognised
you.”

Kevin
pretended to gasp. “He … what?”

“He knew you. You were the last person he expected to see there, at the Well–so tell me, who is this Dark Apprentice and what is your connection with him? What do you know that you aren’t telling us?”

From the corner of his eye, Kevin saw Alliathiune and Amadorn glance up at the Unicorn’s confrontational tone. Akê-Akê was easily within earshot, as was the Lurk with his exceptional hearing. For him, those listening ears raised the stakes a hundredfold.

He said, “How the heck would he recognise me?”

“That’s for you to explain, not so?”

“Well, you must
be mistaken. He was wearing that big black mask, as I recall.”

“Good
Kevin, from where I stood his reaction was as clear as lighttime. I have studied the different races and travelled extensively, even into the realms of Men, and Unicorns have an eye for detail and a knack for smelling a lie. We read conscious as well as subconscious use of language. It could not have been a more classic example, and would be nearly impossible to fake.”

Kevin
smiled, finding surer ground now. “So you will know then when I tell you that the Dark Apprentice is no friend of mine, that I am telling you the truth.”

“It is an elementary matter for a master wizard to disguise his fabrications,” the Unicorn shot back. “And before you attempt to argue your innocence, let me assure you that in any of Driadorn’s known legal systems, the weight of evidence would be firmly against you. The nature, scope
, and power of the wizardry that you have demonstrated renders that argument worthless. You could well be a master wizard disguised as a bumbling inept.”

His description would have been laughable had the situation had not been poised on the brink of disaster
–the destruction of his companions’ trust in him. Kevin’s mind raced as he considered this pickle. He knew the truth, but the Unicorn was right too. How could he prove his innocence?

In a low voice, he said, “Do you really think that,
noble Zephyr?”

“I think you’re hiding something.”

“I’m willing to submit to any test you care to devise.”

“Were you a master wizard, you could conceivably dupe such a test.”

“I am willing to resign my part in this quest straightaway.”

“I might preserve my life better by keeping you right where I can see you, were–”

“I a master wizard, yes, yes. I … I’ll give you the Key Ring, my most valuable possession?”

Zephyr snorted dismissively.

“All of my so-called wizardry has been accidental.”