The Secrets of the Wild Wood
Tonke Dragt
Bendu and Sir Fitil stood up at the same moment and went to the messenger. “Here,” said Sir Fitil. “Have something to drink.” But the messenger wanted first to tell his news.
“It happened the day after you left,” he said to Bendu. “An army of fierce warriors crossed the border from Deltaland, close to Castle Warudin. The Lord of Warudin attempted to counter the attack and sent messengers in every direction. My lord, Sir Arturin, was equipping his men when I left. I was immediately sent here. Another messenger will follow with more news.”
“An invasion from Deltaland,” said Fitil. “Deltaland! I thought they were all sleeping.”
“Eviellan is behind it, of course!” cried Bendu. “Deltaland and Eviellan are one and the same, as everyone knows. Do you see now that they are not to be trusted? I have always said so. And yet at the same time they have sent Sir Kraton to negotiate with King Dagonaut.”
“Deltaland…” muttered Evan. He and Tiuri looked at each other.
Tiuri knew Evan was thinking the same as him, and maybe Bendu was, too. Yes, he was indeed, because now he said, “But why should we be surprised? We have often heard mention of Deltaland in the past few days.” He turned to the messenger. “And you’ve heard nothing from Arturin’s brother, Sir Ristridin?”
“Nothing, my lord,” the messenger replied. “He has been away for a long time. That’s true…” He eagerly took the glass that Sir Fitil held out to him, as he had nothing more to report.
Silence descended upon the hall. The celebration was over. The news had put an end to their joy.
Then Bendu spoke. “We must return immediately,” he said grimly. “First to Castle Ristridin, and then onwards to face the enemy.”
“I must send men, too,” said Sir Fitil. “I shall call them together at once.”
Lady Isadoro came to stand beside him. “What exactly does this mean?” she asked.
Bendu shrugged. “A brief skirmish,” he said. “Or war.”
At these words, silence fell once again.
It was Bendu who broke the silence for a second time. “Well,” he said, “I’m so sorry about this turn of events. Sir Fitil, you will understand that we must leave.”
“Of course,” said the Lord of Islan. “I hope my men will be ready to leave with you.”
“They could follow on a little later,” said Bendu. “That might even be better. Then you’ll hear from the second messenger how many men are needed.”
He headed up the stairs and to his room.
Evan slowly removed the victor’s wreath from his head. “I’ll ride with you to Castle Ristridin,” he said, “and then I hope I’ll know enough to decide what I need to do.”
“What do you mean?” asked Tiuri.
“My country has to hear this news as well!” said Evan.
“And what should we do?” Piak asked Tiuri.
“You must come, too!” said Evan. “What is there for you to do here?”
“There’s a promise to keep,” replied Tiuri. “And also… But I’ll tell you about that later.”
3 PARTING WAYS
“Well, I think you’re a fool if you do not come with us!” Bendu said to Tiuri. “Our land, the Kingdom of Dagonaut, is under attack! Do you understand? Why did you become a knight – surely it was to fight against evil, whether that means Eviellan or Deltaland! And now you want to go off gallivanting with that friend of yours, that halfwit?!”
“Marius,” Tiuri corrected him abruptly.
“Marius, if that’s what you want to call that fool,” continued Bendu. “But if you do, you’re an even bigger fool yourself! The man can wait a little while, can’t he?”
“He is unhappy,” said Tiuri, “and he believes that people are pursuing him.”
There were four of them in the room. Bendu was ready to leave; he stood glaring at Tiuri. Evan was packing his last few belongings. Piak sat cross-legged on his bed, looking anxiously at his friend.
“Fine, he’s unhappy,” Bendu went on, “and of course you can help him. But we have more pressing duties now. Oh, I know what you’re thinking about, Tiuri! All that muddled nonsense about Ristridin. So, what do you want to do about it? Are you going to inspect every tree in the Wild Wood in an attempt to find the one Ristridin wrote something on? That’s if he ever did! As if he would sit crying in the forest – Ristridin, of all the men I know! When did that fool of yours see him? In the autumn, you say, by the Black River. Well, that could actually be true. Ristridin, Arwaut and their men encountered and defeated some robbers there, and that was in the autumn, between the Green River and the Black River. That’s what Ristridin said in his first message, the only letter he wrote. Fine, then maybe these robbers are the mysterious men who are chasing your fool. But that’s still not the end of the story! Our friends left the Wild Wood quite some time after that, in the winter – because there was nothing happening there. And those robbers have been defeated, as I already said.”
Bendu fell silent. He did not often speak for so long at once.
But Tiuri said, “Marius says they’re still there. Last night there were even people in the old hunting lodge. There is something else in that forest!”
“Yes, Men in Green,” muttered Bendu, “who fly from tree to tree. At least that’s what your friend says. Ristridin reported that there was nothing of any interest in the Wild Wood. Which one would you rather believe?”
“We did not speak to Ristridin ourselves…” Tiuri began, but then he stopped. Bendu completed his sentence for him: “We only received his message via Sir Fitil, Lord of Islan. But it would appear that you favour the ramblings of a fool over the word of a knight of King Dagonaut.”
Tiuri blushed. “That’s not what I meant!” he cried.
“Then I should like to know what it is that you meant,” growled Bendu. “Well, I’ve said my piece, and it’s up to you to make your own decision.” He turned away, picked up his bag, and made ready to leave.
Then Evan said, “I have something to add, Sir Bendu.” He looked at Tiuri and continued, “They invaded from Deltaland… Twice we have heard that Sir Ristridin went to that place.”
“That’s right,” said Bendu. “Ristridin was aware of that danger sooner than we.”
“What I was wondering,” Evan continued, “is exactly how he found out about it. First he was in the Wild Wood, where he drove out the robbers, and where otherwise there was nothing or no one. From there he went with great haste to Deltaland. So who was it who told him to go there?”
“How should we know?” Bendu said impatiently.
But Piak said quietly, “Might he have found out about it in the Wild Wood?”
“So there must be something or someone in there after all,” said Evan.
“Those Men in Green again!” said Bendu with a sigh. “Evan, don’t tell me you’re going with Tiuri, too!”
“No, I’m not,” replied Evan. “I feel that I should go to the south, and then head towards the enemy or to my own land as a messenger. But I think Tiuri should go ahead with his plan. First of all, he should help Marius. Many men will go to the border, as the news of the invasion will soon be known throughout the land. As we fight the enemy, we should not forget that others may be in even greater need of our help.”
It seemed to Tiuri as if Prince Iridian were speaking with Evan’s voice; the prince could have said those very words.
“And,” concluded Evan, “If Marius can tell Tiuri more about Ristridin, it could only be of benefit.”
“I can tell,” said Bendu, “that you have not spoken to this Fool yourself.”
“Tiuri knows him better than you do,” was all Evan said in reply.
Bendu turned to Tiuri. “I do not agree with your decision,” he said, “but still I give you my best wishes.” He shook Tiuri firmly by the hand. “Are you ready, Evan?” he asked.
“Yes, we can leave,” Evan replied. “So must I bid you farewell, Tiuri?”
“Yes, Evan,” came Tiuri’s reply.
�
��Yes, Sir Evan,” Piak said, too.
“Then leave with haste, and do not say too much about what Marius has told you,” Evan advised him. “Others might take it the wrong way.”
What did Evan mean? Tiuri wondered, after Evan and Bendu had departed on their journey to Sir Arturin’s castle. Because others might react as Bendu had done? Or for a reason that was so vague and nebulous he didn’t want to go into it…? If the Fool had told the truth, what was he to make of Ristridin’s message? No, he must not speak about it. Marius had also said the same.
But still he told Piak exactly what had happened on the way to the Unholy Hills. Piak was such a trusted friend. Even so, he said hardly anything to him about what had happened in Lady Isadoro’s garden. He could barely even bring himself to say the name Isadoro. Somehow she made him feel guilty. Soon he would leave and he was not looking forward to the farewell.
I want to run from her and I want to stay with her, he thought. Circumstances had conspired to allow him to leave Islan, but still he was not content.
The path he had chosen did not truly appeal to him. How much easier it would have been to simply go with Bendu and Evan, even if that meant heading into battle. “I shall win no renown and honour on the way to the Fool’s cabin,” he mocked himself. “At best people will think me foolish, as Sir Bendu did.” But the thought of Marius, the Fool, made such concerns vanish. If I do not help him, I am worth nothing, he thought to himself. And he tried to banish all thoughts of Sir Ristridin from his mind.
Besides, Piak thought he was doing the right thing, and so did Evan. So what was he worried about?
“I have heard you intend to go travelling with that peculiar friend of yours,” said Sir Fitil the next morning. “Is your presence not required at the border?” His tone was so obviously scornful that Tiuri blushed, partly because Isadoro was also there.
“A knight must prove his courage in battle,” the lord of the castle added.
But a knight must also help people! However, Tiuri did not respond to Sir Fitil’s words. All he said was, “My friend is lost and I have promised to take him back to his home.”
Sir Fitil’s eyebrows shot up. “And where exactly,” he asked, “is this home? Do you know the way?”
“In the Royal Forest,” replied Tiuri.
“Oh, so that’s where it is,” said Sir Fitil. “Then you must head north and take the Second Great Road at Stoneford. You can only travel along it in an easterly direction from there, first along the Black River and then along the Green River. The Royal Forest begins on the other side of the Green River.” His tone was friendlier now.
“Thank you, Sir Fitil,” said Tiuri.
“And where is this friend from the forest?” asked Sir Fitil.
“He said he’d wait somewhere outside for me,” replied Tiuri.
“A most peculiar arrangement,” mumbled Sir Fitil. “Well, I have no right to interfere with your plans.”
Tiuri looked him in the eyes and was shocked at what he saw there. Sir Fitil is furious, he realized. Is that because he thinks I’m a coward as I want to go to the north while the battle is in the south? It would not have surprised Tiuri if Sir Fitil had forbidden him to leave, but a moment later he was wondering if he had only imagined it. The lord laughed, slapped him on the back, and cheerfully wished him a good journey.
“I shall have the gate opened for you,” he said and left.
Then Lady Isadoro turned to Piak, who was standing silently beside Tiuri.
“Does Sir Tiuri really wish to go?” she said. “Then tell him he must take the wide, open roads, and pay no heed to any of the strange tales that people sometimes tell.”
“My lady, he is standing right before you,” said Piak. “You can tell him yourself!”
“No,” said Isadoro. “Sir Tiuri does not believe my words. His heart is filled with distrust of me.”
Tiuri had no idea how to respond, and neither did Piak. She looked at each of them in turn. “There is nothing I can say to ease your suspicion,” she continued, “but, and you must believe me, do as I have said! Go to the north, but better to the south. Travel to the east, but avoid the west.” She spoke forcefully, her voice trembling a little.
“Isadoro, why?” whispered Tiuri.
But she shook her head and did not respond.
“The gate is open. My men are about to leave for Deltaland!” said Sir Fitil, as he came back into the room. “Would you like to join them, Sir Tiuri? Yes or no?”
“No, thank you,” said Tiuri firmly.
He followed Isadoro’s gaze and saw fear in her eyes. She was afraid of her father! Was that the reason for her puzzling behaviour?
“Other messengers have arrived,” said Sir Fitil. “Knights and men-at-arms are coming from all directions to face the enemy from Deltaland – from Arturin’s castle, from Mirtelan, from Warudin and Griudin.”
“Are they?” said Tiuri vaguely. His mind was on Isadoro.
“Melas of Darokítam will send help from the south,” continued Sir Fitil.
“Melas of Darokítam? From Eviellan?” cried Piak. “Help for Deltaland, I’m sure.”
“No, help for us,” said Sir Fitil. “Eviellan is on our side.”
Both Piak and Tiuri were most surprised to hear this news.
“Sir Arturin’s messengers are in the courtyard,” said Sir Fitil. “You can ask them yourselves if you do not believe it. They have just arrived and wish to return to Castle Ristridin soon.” He waited for a moment and then added with a sneer, “So your help will not be needed, which I am sure will come as a relief. You may stay here if you wish. Guests are always welcome.”
“No!” said Isadoro loudly. Now there was not a trace of fear in her voice. She looked angry.
Tiuri was baffled.
“Come with me,” said the Lord of Islan. “And I shall bid you farewell.”
Tiuri turned to Lady Isadoro and held out his hand, almost pleadingly. She placed her hand in his. Tiuri tried in vain to read some kind of message in her eyes. Then he bowed and kissed her hand.
In the courtyard, in the sunshine, stood Sir Fitil’s men, all in chain-mail with tunics of brown and yellow – the colours of Islan. They were heavily armed, with swords and lances, bows and arrows. Tiuri and Piak spoke briefly to the messengers from Castle Ristridin and heard once again that Eviellan was to send help. The messengers asked if they wanted to travel with them, back to the castle by the Grey River.
“Perhaps Sir Ristridin has returned home by now,” one of them said hopefully. “We could certainly use him in battle.”
However, Tiuri and Piak kept to their plan to head to the north.
And so they said farewell to Islan. They had chosen their path.
4 STONEFORD
The friends did not head north immediately. First they had to find the Fool, who was waiting for them nearby. The question was, though, exactly where he might be.
“He’ll be somewhere close to the forest,” said Tiuri.
“Then I wonder if we’ll find him,” replied Piak with a doubtful look on his face.
“I’m sure he’ll find us,” said Tiuri. “But Piak, you really do want to come with me, don’t you?”
“You know I do! I’m your squire!” Piak said.
They urged on their horses and cantered until they reached the trees.
“We’re here!” shouted Piak with his hands cupped around his mouth. “Sir Tiuri with the White Shield, and his squire!”
“Hey, be quiet!” said Tiuri. “There’s no need to go shouting our names.”
“Do you think others might be listening?” asked Piak.
“I don’t think anything,” said Tiuri. “I’ve noticed that thinking doesn’t seem to get me anywhere.” He sighed. “I’d rather wait and see,” he added.
Then they rode slowly along the edge of the wood, listening and looking as they went. But no one appeared.
“Let’s get off the horses and have something to eat,” said Piak after some time.
“Come sit with us, Marius,” said Tiuri, “and eat. This is Piak.”
“Yes, I know him. He’s your squire,” said the Fool. “Do you carry his shield, his white shield?”
“Sometimes,” replied Piak with a friendly smile. “But not all the time. It’s rather heavy, you know.”
“I can carry it, too,” said the Fool. “I am strong, very strong.” He eagerly took the bread that Tiuri offered him and gobbled it down as if he had eaten nothing for days. But then he became uneasy. He kept looking around and asking when they would be on their way.
“Right now,” said Tiuri, jumping to his feet. “We have only two horses for the three of us, but Ardanwen will just have to carry two for some of the time. And we can take it in turns to walk.”
They rode along the edge of the forest at first and then took a narrow track that led to the wider road from Islan to Stoneford. The journey was an easy one. The Fool no longer seemed as frightened, and he and Piak soon became good friends. He did not say a word about his experiences in the wood, and Tiuri thought it better not to ask any questions for the time being.
From Islan to Stoneford was about a day’s ride, but as the sun set they could still see no sign of the place. It grew dark and still they pressed on. The Fool was sitting on Ardanwen’s back. He kept looking around and saying quietly, “Aren’t they going to come after us? Aren’t they looking for us? It’s night time now.”
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to sleep by the roadside,” said Tiuri, who was leading his horse by the reins. “I can hardly see my hand in front of my face.”
“I can see something!” said the Fool a little later, peering straight ahead. “Look, a house!”
It was a moment before Tiuri and Piak saw it, too. Yes, there was a building. Narrow strips of light shone through shutters that weren’t quite closed. When they reached it, they saw it was probably an inn. A sign hung above the door, but they could not read the name. There were no other buildings nearby, as far as they could see.
