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| Chapter 65. Bittersweet | |
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endaran awakened to slobber. Sputtering, he pushed away a half-dozen insistent dog muzzles and wet noses and sat up. He was stiff and cold and had some how ended up on the frost-covered sigil at Ironfast. A long-limbed shaggy hound and her brood were frolicking around him and watching him with slowly wagging tails. Like his father’s dogs, the unruly pack could not resist a human sitting down among them and were creeping closer to give him more unwanted affection. Their long faces gave their eyes a sly aspect and he imagined if dogs could laugh, these were certainly doing so. “Back!” he grumbled waving them off and retrieving his mask from the ground beside him. The sky was flushed pink with the approach of dawn and he could hear voices as the villagers rose to rebuild hearth fires and feed the animals. “So sorry, Sir!” announced a gruff figure rushing toward him with breath trailing on the air, “Did yeh suffer a fall on th’ ice? Sorry about me hounds, Sir, they jus’ like folks.” Pendaran looked up into the weathered face of a dwarf. His shaggy gray beard was almost a match for the coats of his capering pack. The stout figure offered a gloved hand to help him up, which Pendaran accepted with a muttered thank you. “I’m fine. Kai Peng Ren. Pleased to meet you.” “Bruin Ironfast and th’ pleasure is mine. You’d be Master Bei’s adept? Yeh must thank him for the generosity of this sigil… which I see yeh have completed. Aye, fancy sharin’ a guild with humans? Must be a first, but can’t say as it’s a bad idea an’ they named it in me family’s honor. Come, lad, I’ll take yeh to th’ Gaenor house. They’ll be expectin’ yeh o’er for breakfast.” “Nice dogs,” he muttered, rubbing the kink from his neck as he followed the dwarf. Pendaran frowned as the memory of the night’s events returned to him. He hoped Maeve had arrived safely and succeeded in helping Mog. There was simply no telling how she fared now. “Shiverpeak windhounds,” Bruin said proudly, “O course, Arna had to run off with Carla’s dog an’ now I have a few too many mouths t’ feed.” “They are nice, they seem very affable.” “Aye, ne’er a more lovin’ nor loyal dog will yeh find.” Pendaran smiled as an idea came to him. “That pup with the ear askew -- would you be willing to part with him?” “Willing and delighted to offer Master Bei’s adept a gift of it. Old enough t’ leave his mam, as well. Now if yeh ask me, I think his long-limbed sister will be quite the huntress with a good turn o’ speed. Why not take ‘em both? They’re fast as the wind an’ not a hare or deer can shake ‘em when they’ve gone for the chase.” “Thank you, I believe my son will enjoy them. I’ll collect the pups before I leave.” “Aye! They be good with youngins although they tend t’ run about. Can’t help themselves once they sight something running.” Pendaran smiled, recalling his father’s dogs leading him on wild chases around the forest. He hoped Mabane would enjoy them. There was nothing as steady and reliable as the simple friendship of a dog and the boy could use that right now. Raising the pups was a project they could both enjoy, he thought wistfully. The times he had gone coursing with his father were among his fondest memories of the man. When they arrived at the door stoop, Bruin waved farewell and Pendaran climbed up the icy steps, letting himself in among raucous laughter from the neighboring room. He shucked off his boots and peeled off his fur-lined coat and gloves, imagining his hair no doubt reflected a nap on the ground. He smoothed it back and retied it at his nape and tried to enter the crowded kitchen with as little fanfare as possible. “Penny!” squeaked Lemony, leaping up from her bench where she was squeezed between Isabeau and Brigit, “I looked all over for you and Maeve this morning!” All over except sprawled on the ground outside like a beggar he thought bitterly, regretting his night outdoors as parts of him began to awaken that had something to say about the way he had collapsed. “Where is Maeve? Was she with you?” asked Neave, shifting aside on her bench so that Pendaran could squeeze in between she and Isabeau. He noticed Isabeau was studying him thoughtfully and realized how it must sound to her that he had vanished with another woman during the night. “She asked me to open a portal to Mog last night,” he said, perhaps a little too quickly. At that moment a dozen eating utensils in various states of being used paused in mid-air and all eyes were upon him. “You what?” Armand said into the tense silence. Anluan’s cup of yak butter tea plonked loudly to the scarred varnished surface of the old table. “She said… you all knew she planned to…” he stammered, his words trailing off. “Nice to know you’re screwing around with magic instead of women now,” Armand growled, “You idiot.” Pendaran lowered his face, feeling like a scolded child. He knew it was wrong, he should have stopped her, but he was tired and he just wanted… to do what was easy. “She said Mog was dying,” Pendaran replied, his ears beginning to burn with shame, “It was late and I should have fetched someone.” He felt Isabeau shift uncomfortably beside him. Why did Armand have to drag his past into this? But the man had reacted in anger, seeking to wound and doing so very effectively. “Where is she?” Anluan demanded gruffly, “Where did you send her?” “I don’t know. She claimed a bond with him and we used that as the focus.” “Then you best be opening it again,” Anluan said grimly. “I can’t,” Pendaran said, swallowing around a knot of grief and fear, “It doesn’t work that way.” “Then you can leave!” Anluan howled, rising from his bench, “Leave before I plaster that pretty face of yours on the back of your head.” Mashiro and Kazuma rose simultaneously from their seats. For a moment he thought they were going to pummel him along with Anluan for their faces were grim as they came to his side. “There is no need to speak like that to Master Kai,” Mashiro said in clipped Ascalonian. Pendaran had never heard the man utter a word of it before for the two were nearly always silent or chattering surreptitiously in their native Canthan. He was oddly heartened to see the scarred and steely eyed necromancer place himself between Anluan and Pendaran. “I’ll speak to the sniveling little dog as I see fit! Maeve is family!” Anluan roared. “And you forget Master Kai is Master Bei’s apprentice,” Mashiro said evenly, a meaty hand placed protectively on Pendaran’s shoulder, “If you strike him you have struck our guild leader.” Pendaran rose quietly from his seat, keeping his gaze averted as all eyes in the room fell upon him. He was thankful for the two men coming to his side but he felt ashamed of himself for ruining everything. Master Bei was going to be furious with him. “Please accept my apology. Master Bei is blameless in this. I did what I felt correct at the time but I realize it was stupid. Thank you for your hospitality. I will depart.” “Don’t be mad at him,” Lemony protested as Pendaran turned to leave, “It’s got to be a misunderstanding. Pen wouldn’t hurt anyone.” “Liang Meng, please let it go,” he replied quietly. “Definitely not his style,” Armand snorted bitterly, “I’m sure Maeve did not have to do much to convince him.” “Stop that!” Lemony howled, “He’s not like that any more. You’re just being mean and that’s not fair.” “I’m more than a little disgusted that a man who is not even a year bereaved was already chasing skirt at the dance last night. In my experience, when people change they only get slimier.” “You would know,” Pendaran snapped as the last barb ignited his rage. Mashiro’s grip on his shoulder tightened. “Not now, Master Kai, do not say anything more that you will later regret. Let us go,” the thickly built elementalist said near his ear. Pendaran smoldered as he noticed Isabeau was blushing and staring fixedly at her plate, sharing in his shame and no doubt wondering why she had ever got herself mixed up with him. Kazuma held open the door, urging Pendaran and Mashiro out ahead of him as a painful silence clasped the room. He heard Lemony get up and pad after him as he retrieved his boots, gloves and coat. Without a word she clutched him awkwardly around the waist and squeezed him like an insistent child. “Lem, it’s alright,” he murmured, suddenly choked up. He just wanted to go home now and put it all behind him. “It’s not fair,” she wept, “I know you didn’t do anything bad.” “I’ll be alright,” he said, squeezing her in a half-embrace before pausing to tug his gloves back on. He was faintly aware that the neighboring room was now filled with voices raised in anger, “I should leave now.” “I’ll get your things,” she insisted. “Thanks, Lem,” he said as he finished shrugging into his coat. He stepped out into the cold with Mashiro and Kazuma bundled up beside him. “I just have one thing I want to take care of before we go,” Pendaran said to them as they headed toward the sigil pad. Mashiro nodded and the two men followed him as he went toward a small group of dwarves and asked after Bruin Ironfast. They gestured toward a pretty stone cottage built into the hillside. The yard was bustling with the rambunctious play of long-legged puppies with not a care in the world. Bruin was busily mending a section of the fence that had enabled them to escape earlier that morning. Pendaran could not help but smile as the dwarf put down the stones and began chasing the energetic little dogs. The puppies decided his attempts to capture them was a great game and were now racing around recklessly, dodging and bouncing in every direction with long pink tongues lolling as they made doggy smiles of delight. “Does Peng Ren seek to appease Bei with these?” Mashiro muttered in Canthan to Kazuma, “Stupid Tyrians think we’d eat those?” “I think they’d be very tasty at the next feast,” Pendaran replied, hoping Bruin did not understand the language. Mashiro and Kazuma stared at him for a moment and then laughed, which was just as well since Bruin assumed they thought his naughty pack was amusing. Pendaran let himself into the yard through the low gate and soon the two of them were able to corner the requisite pups. They squirmed playfully in Pendaran’s arms, adding to the already abundant layer of slobber that had been applied to his face earlier. “This one looks delicious, I’ll hold it for you,” Mashiro chuckled when it was clear Pendaran was never going to be able to hold onto two of them at once. “It smells bad,” Kazuma grumbled when Mashiro held the squirming long-tongued beast toward him, “Get it away from me.” “Thank you, again,” Pendaran said to Bruin, noticing the look of extreme relief upon the dwarf’s rugged face to see two of the little pests being borne away. He clutched his own wriggling bundle of excited pup to his breast and stroked it absently as they walked toward the sigil pad. Lemony was already there with his traveling chest. Her eyes widened at the sight of the puppies. “Where did you get those from?” she exclaimed. “They’re for Mabane.” “This one is delicious,” Mashiro said with a chuckle. “Hao Chi,” Lemony repeated softly, “What a pretty name.” Mashiro and Kazuma exploded with laugher as Lemony took the excited puppy from the elementalist’s arms and hugged it. “The other one is called banquet,” offered Kazuma craftily. Pendaran glared at them. “Aww Yan Hui! So adorable,” Lemony purred. “I’m sure Mabane will love his delicious banquet,” Mashiro said before laughter stole his voice. “We’d better be going,” Pendaran sighed. Lemony handed the pup back to Mashiro then hugged Pendaran again. “I’ll try to smooth things over here, don’t worry, Pen,” she said. Pendaran was not sure this was meant to comfort him or not. He sighed and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Goodbye, Lem, I’ll see you soon.” The runes of the sigil pad glowed softly and a swirling ring of energies expanded around them. The ground shifted beneath his feet and a moment later the warm flower-scented air of a balmy Krytan afternoon surrounded them. Both puppies yipped and squirmed in fear. Pendaran scowled when he felt a warm dampness seeping through his sleeve. “I would like to deliver the pups to Mabane,” he said, wondering if Mashiro and Kazuma would think him a coward for not wanting to face Master Bei’s wrath immediately, “Could you prepare Master Bei for me?” “Yes, of course, Master Kai,” said Mashiro, smiling kindly, “Your son will have missed you. It is proper that you should go to him first.” “That way Master Bei can take his time punishing you later,” Kazuma chuckled darkly. Pendaran was not looking forward to seeing Zhou and he winced at Kazuma’s wry humor, hoping it would not turn out to be true. Not that Zhou had ever done anything to harm him, but even the idea that his master was furious with him gave him pause. The necromancer smiled crookedly and winked his unscarred eye mischievously. Pendaran realized the man was trying to reassure him everything was going to be alright. “This animal has leaked on me,” Mashiro complained, “I will come with you to deliver it.” “Yeah, puppies tend to leak a lot,” Pendaran explained as the two of them walked up the grand steps of the great hall. He guessed it was after the noon meal and people were having a nap during the hottest time of the day. It was not particularly warm outside in early spring, but it was now something of a tradition in the sultry climate. He saw a few servants resting outside among a flock of children but did not glimpse Sabina among them. They passed through the door and headed upstairs, arriving at the door to the chamber he had once shared with the Fengs. With no further puppy-related mishaps, he knocked and was received by Hua Feng. The woman smiled up at him, then wrinkled her nose when she saw the two squirming and decidedly damp puppies. Her eyes narrowed and he knew without asking that she would not allow a pair of dirty animals into her tidy little home. “I am here to see my son, Mistress Feng,” he said, “Is he here?” “Yes, of course Master Kai,” she said, bowing, and then calling for Mabane. They waited for many long minutes before the boy appeared. He looked sleepy and grumpy clad in a loose blouse and trousers. “Greetings, Master Kai,” Mabane said formally, bowing once. “I’m your father today. Get your shoes and let’s go outside.” Mabane quirked a narrow brow, obviously intrigued and vanished, reappearing moments later slightly tidied up and shod. When he stepped outside the door his cornflower blue eyes fixed immediately upon the puppies. “Come,” Pendaran said, luring the boy toward the stairs as he headed back outside toward the garden. “Father? Why do you have a pair of dogs?” “For dinner,” Mashiro offered, “A Tyrian delicacy.” “Enough with the food jokes,” Pendaran grumbled but he could see Mabane was amused, “I had dogs when I was growing up and I thought perhaps you would enjoy raising them with me.” “Father… they smell like pee.” “The sigil scared them and we need to teach them when it is appropriate. It’s part of the fun.” Mabane gave him a look that suggested he was nuts for suggesting that two unruly animals with bladder control problems were fun. Perhaps he was right. “Raising them properly will be satisfying,” Pendaran offered, hoping he had not lost all credibility with the boy, “but if you would rather not, I’ll understand.” Mabane gave a decidedly adolescent shrug and followed him in a way that suggested he was just in this to humor his crazy father. Once outside, Pendaran set his puppy on the grass and ruffled its ears, speaking softly to it until it warmed to his voice and licked him. Once its sibling was on the ground beside it, the two little animals immediately began frolicking around. He hazarded a glance at Mabane and saw just the faintest hint of a smile playing on the corners of the boy’s deadpan lips. A moment later the boy knelt when one of the puppies gamboled toward him. He reached out his left hand and stroked its pale fur, giggling when the pup flopped over on its back to invite a tummy rub and wrestling. Pendaran savored this little moment of happiness, knowing it was the highlight of an otherwise rotten day. He would have to be satisfied that at least one person in his life was a little less angry and disappointed with him. |
