Liquid Diamond (8 page)

“
It won’t hurt either of you, but let that Blemmye or Elf get close enough to it and there’s its next meal,” continued Domnyar, ushering them back to the shoreline.

“
That’s a Riverfray, harmless enough to most, but let something that stinks as much as that Blemmye and the Elf and to them it’s like a piece of pie, mmm, good,” replied Domnyar with a squished up face and his tongue sticking out.

“
But I suppose every living thing has to eat something. Now hurry up, children, before you being to smell so awful you smell good,” continued Domnyar, making Natalia and Catalyst smile at his endless babble.

“
What are two little children like yourselves doing out here all alone?” asked Domnyar.

“
We’re looking for Miss Turr. She’s a blacksmith and a Basajaunak and she’s supposed to have come this village for her work and we really need her to tell us who made a key,” replied Natalia so fast that if it had been a competition to see who could babble more and faster, Domyar would have lost.

“
I know Miss Turr, a lovelier creature I’ve never seen…and you missed her by one day,” replied Domnyar with a big smile on his face.

“
Now what’ll we do?” asked Natalia looking at Catalyst.

“
Well since you’re looking for Miss Turr and you’re one day behind her, why not stay at our village for the night? You can go after her in the morning, unless you feel safe out there with that nasty old Elf and his Blemmye running around,” offered Domnyar.

Without so much as a single look at Catalyst, Natalia was only too happy to accept Domnyar’s offer.

CHAPTER THREE

THE DEAD WOOD

Arriving at Domnyar’s village, Catalyst went to seek supplies, having soaked all their food in the water while escaping the Elf and his pet. Natalia went with Domnyar to his hut to make dinner for them all.

“
Tell me, Natalia, I get the feeling there’s more to your being here than just trying to find Miss Turr about a key. What is it? You never know, I may be able to help,” said Domnyar as he began to set the table and make their meal.

They explained about the crystals and how she and Catalyst now believed the portal was opened to start a war with Humanity again. Domnyar just sat listening in disbelief.

“
Well, Natalia, I really hope you two are wrong. I can remember the wars and it was awful – the killings, the hate, the fear – and it was just over things that for the smallest price we would happily have sold to your people,” said Domnyar.

“
Well it’s not just us that think so and so does your King. At least that’s my impression. Now I know more about what’s going on, and a few Basajaunak think so too, so much so they kidnapped me,” replied Natalia to Domnyar’s fear.

“
Speaking of us, where’s Catalyst? I’m getting hungry,” said Natalia.

“
I wouldn’t worry about him right now, Natalia. Trading with some of those that live here can be very trying at times. Greed is one thing we learned from the Humans that used to come here. Some of us learned it too well. They’re probably taking him for as much as they can get, but no reason to wait. He can eat when he gets here, so eat,” said Domnyar, pushing a plate in front of her.

#

Catalyst was very surprised by the generosity of the old trader.

“
Now here’s something – a tool so versatile you can hunt with it, fish with it, you can use it as a rope and it’s also a great defensive weapon. This is a rope dart and for a price I’ll even show you how to use it,” said the old trader, spinning round and then kicking the dart into a block of wood, trying to entice Catalyst into the purchase.

Catalyst saw the value of having something like that and he grew excited as he looked at the rope dart. The old trader could see it in his face.

“
What do you want for it?” asked Catalyst, reaching into his pocket for the four pieces of emergency gold he always carried.

“
First things first, my boy. Let’s see if you can handle such a manly piece of art and craftsmanship,” said the old trader as he took Catalyst outside to try the rope dart. With only the minimal amount of damage, Catalyst almost mastered the tool.

“
So I take it you’re happy, then?” asked the old trader, watching the look in Catalyst’s eyes.

“
Oh yes, very happy,” replied Catalyst, reaching for his pocket.

“
Okay then, now let’s talk price,” said the old trader, still watching Catalyst.

“
You look like an honourable young man to me, so tell you what I’ll do. I’m an old man, too old for lifting and carrying. Since my eyes aren’t so good any more, fishing is not easy for me. So how’s this? I’ll give you the rope dart. After all, I have more of them. I’ll give you the training plus five days’ worth of dried meat, all for ten days’ worth of freshly caught fish. I want them back here by tomorrow. These fish can only be caught at night. That’s the only time they come close enough to the surface to be darted and, much like your hair, they’re silver. So how’s that, is it a deal?” said the old trader, holding out his hand for Catalyst’s bond.

“
I accept your terms, sir,” said Catalyst, as happy as he could be as he tried to sound all grown up.

“
Okay, here’s your meat and have some bread too,” said the old trader handing Catalyst a full bag.

#

With the meat, bread and rope dart in hand, Catalyst arrived back at Domnyar’s.

“
Did you find what you were looking for?” asked Domnyar as he winked at Natalia and waited for the complaining to start.

“
I found everything I was looking for,” replied Catalyst happily.

“
At a good price I hope,” said Natalia, trying to egg him on.

“
Better than I expected,” said Catalyst simply.

“
Dinner’s on the table. Help yourself,” said Domnyar, fighting back laughter, believing Catalyst had lost everything but his shirt. After talking for a bit about nothing and the sun long since set, Domnyar put up two cots for Natalia and Catalyst and said goodnight.

When Natalia and Domnyar were fast asleep, Catalyst got up and crept outside, heading back to the river to fulfil his agreement with the old trader.

Not fifty feet away from Domnyar’s hut, Catalyst heard feet behind him. He turned round and sure enough there stood Natalia with a cross look upon her face.

“
Sneaking off, are we?” demanded Natalia.

He explained his deal with the old trader. Natalia just stood there shaking her head.

“
Have you learned nothing while we’ve been out here?” snapped Natalia, knowing only about the food and not the rope dart. “Catalyst, why would anyone send you out in the middle of the night to get fish? Furthermore, you know that Elves are around here somewhere,” said Natalia.

“
I only know he’s an old Basajaunak and it seems as though he needs the help. Besides, how could I say no to such a good deal?” asked Catalyst as he shoved the rope dart down the back of his pants.

“
Well you’ll take me with you then. Someone has to watch your back while you catch these stupid fish!” Natalia smacked her forehead for Catalyst’s stupidity.

Catalyst had no choice and simply agreed.

“
See, Natalia, you worry for nothing. The river here is far enough away from the woods so that the Elf and his Blemmye couldn’t get close enough to catch me. Everything is dead over there so I would see any light, any light at all,” said Catalyst.

“
Oh yeah, boy!” yelled the Elf, grabbing Catalyst from behind and kicking Natalia into the arms of his pet as it jumped in front of them.

“
You stupid little boy – do you think you’re the only one with friends in that village!
Now you little brat, where’s my rope dart! I know that dirty old sheep herder gave it to you, just like I told him to,” said the Elf as he searched Catalyst.

“
That’s ours!” screamed Natalia, not even knowing what the Elf was talking about.

“
I traded fair and square for that thing,” argued Catalyst.

“
You really think that someone would give a child such a dangerous weapon? Well, do you, boy?” asked the Elf, grinning.

With the rope dart safely tucked down the back of his pants covered by the cloak he was wearing, Catalyst continued to struggle with the Elf as he was being tied up.

“
You can bet, boy, I’ll be getting my property back one way or the other, even if I have to behead that Basajaunak friend of yours,” said the Elf, assuming Catalyst had left it behind.

“
But for tonight, the two of you will make a fine stew and for now, that’s all that matters,” continued the Elf. And with Natalia firmly in the grip of the mindless Blemmye, they were dragged back to the Elf’s lair.

Back at the lair, Natalia and Catalyst were thrown against the wall while the Elf took his pot, filled it with water and set it over the fire to boil.

“
Don’t you eat them! You understand, you dumb beast? Watch them, make sure they don’t even try to get away!” sneered the Elf as he smacked his pet hard on the back.

Leaving the mindless Blemmye to watch over Natalia and Catalyst, the Elf disappeared into one of his tunnels.

The stench of the Blemmye’s breath filled the air and Natalia found it hard not to throw up.

“
Look, Catalyst, see inside its mouth?” asked Natalia as she gagged.

Looking at the Blemmye, Catalyst could see the pockets full of stinking rotting flesh overflow with every breath the Blemmye took, pushing the stench not only into their faces but filling the room with pure stink. Natalia threw up, just missing her pants. Catalyst puked everything in his stomach just a few feet in front of him.

As Natalia sat there she couldn’t help but weep just a bit, as the Blemmye made its way closer to them and started eating their vomit.

Watching the few tears run down Natalia’s face, Catalyst’s fear turned to rage. Even though his hands were tied behind his back, Catalyst was able to stretch out the rope and free himself. The Blemmye didn’t notice because he was stuffing its face with puke-soaked soil.

Calatyst knew he couldn’t free Natalia and fight the Blemmye at the same time. Should the Elf suddenly come back there would be no way out for sure. Catalyst realized he needed a better moment to try and escape.

“
Natalia, don’t worry. I’ve got a plan,” said Catalyst.

Finding little comfort in his words, Natalia’s tears trickled down her face just the same.

“
Natalia, I’ve slipped out of my ropes and when the Elf comes back we’re getting out of here, trust me,” whispered Catalyst as quietly as he could.

Taking a deep breath and wiping the tears from her face with her shoulder she felt just a bit better. For some reason she trusted Catalyst, which surprised her. Being Russian, trust is something not given easily.

As they sat there, Natalia and Catalyst heard the water as it began to boil. The Blemmye looked at it and then at Natalia and Catalyst and swallowed the rotted flesh in its mouth, making room for more.

The Elf came out of the tunnel, threw the Blemmye a dead mouse and slapped its back hard as its reward for not eating Natalia or Catalyst.

“
See that? Fifteen minutes exactly,” said the Elf, motioning to the boiling pot of water with his head.

“
It won’t be long now, my pet
–
a quick two-hour boil with a few potatoes and some radishes and dinner is served! We haven’t eaten this well in quite some time,” said the Elf, wiping away most of the drool from his chin and lips in anticipation of a fresh meal.

The Blemmye grabbed Catalyst and stood ready to cook him. As soon as they got close enough, Catalyst kicked the boiling pot off its hook and sent it crashing into the Blemmye’s chest, scalding it from shoulder to toe. It ran into the tunnels with a cry so gruesome that even the Elf cringed at the sound.

Wriggling free of the Elf’s grip, Catalyst grabbed the handle of the pot and smacked the Elf in the head with it, burning off a patch of skin as it fell face first. With one more smack to his head, Catalyst knocked the old Elf out.

“
Come on, Natalia, let’s get out of here,” said Catalyst as he untied her hands.

Running out of the Elf’s lair then out of the dead woods, Natalia and Catalyst didn’t stop until they reached the village.

Standing in the village compound, Catalyst headed straight to the old trader’s hut. He pushed open a cloth that hung in place of a door and could see they were too late. The old trader had packed up all he owned, and left.

“
Let’s go and get Domnyar up. Maybe he can help us find the old trader,” said Catalyst.

“
Find him? Why? Let’s just be happy he’s gone,” said Natalia.

“
Well, I would like to know why he set us up like that. What if it had something to do with the key and not just making a meal out of me and dessert out of you?” replied Catalyst.

“
Can’t it wait until morning?” asked Natalia, sounding fed up.

“
I guess it can, but we still need to know why,” replied Catalyst, shaking his head at the empty hut.