The Secrets of the Wild Wood

  So he was not mistaken; Fox was Lavinia. If the Lord of Mistrinaut were to find out! And Tiuri! Ah, Tiuri, where could he be?

  Towards evening, they stopped once again. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened all day; they had seen no one. But still Lord Rafox ordered his men not to make any fires. “A group such as ours can hardly ride through the forest unnoticed,” he said, “but the light of a fire can warn enemies far away, and seems like an unnecessary risk.”

  Piak went in search of Fox. Everyone was busy, preparing the meal and places to sleep. Everything was going very smoothly and calmly, as the Lord of Mistrinaut was walking around and keeping a close eye on his men.

  An elderly soldier came up and whispered to Piak, “My squire wishes to speak to you.”

  Piak followed him to Fox, who had found a good hiding place behind a couple of large trees. Fox – no, Lavinia – smiled at him and said, “What an adventure! Don’t look so worried. This man, Bronno, is taking good care of me. He knows who I am, as do you.”

  “Indeed I do, Lady Lavinia,” said Piak, sitting down opposite her.

  “Shhh!” said Fox, staring at him with wide eyes. “Whatever made you think I’m Lavinia?”

  “Well, I’m not blind… You’re sitting there right in front of me!” replied Piak.

  “Oh,” she sighed. “It would seem my disguise is not as good as I thought! These clothes belong to my brother, but I shall have to keep my face hidden or behave in a more manly fashion. I fear that the other men will soon notice I’m not one of them. Do you think they’ll count us?”

  “Most probably, my lady,” said Piak. “Which group are you in?”

  “Why are you suddenly calling me ‘my lady’? My name is Fox! I think I’m in the last group.”

  The Lord of Mistrinaut had divided his small army into four groups, each with a captain who was responsible for his men.

  “But even if they realize who I am,” continued Lavinia, “they won’t dare to betray me, not if I forbid it. After all, I am their lord’s daughter.”

  “But they owe allegiance to their master before all others!” Piak pointed out.

  “You’re not going to stand against me, are you?” she said, leaning closer to him. “Everything I’ve said to you is true. I cannot stand by and idly wait. I want to help! Why should that be forbidden just because I’m a woman?”

  “Yes but Lavin… I mean Fox, it’s dangerous,” began Piak.

  “I’m older than you, and I really am very capable of helping. I’d rather not use my sword, but I’m a better archer than my brother. But that’s not what really matters most. Would you let anyone stop you from going to help your friend?”

  “Of course not!” said Piak. “But it’s different for you.”

  “Because I’m a woman? It’s precisely because I’m a woman that I feel even more strongly compelled to come along. I…” Lavinia suddenly fell silent, as if she’d said too much.

  Piak was silent, too. Whatever did she mean? She must care a great deal about Tiuri – yes, that was it.

  Lavinia interrupted his thoughts. Taking him by the arm, she looked at him intently, almost sternly. “Piak,” she said, softly but urgently, “forget what I just said. Try to see me just as Fox, a squire like you. And when… when we find Tiuri, don’t tell him anything about it. Don’t let him find out who Fox is. He won’t see Fox either.”

  “Why not?” whispered Piak.

  “Because… I’m going because I want to be there. But I don’t want Tiuri ever to think I’m running around after him. Because I’m not!”

  Yes, you are, thought Piak, but he felt only admiration for Lavinia.

  “When we find him – which I’m hoping and praying for – I shall disappear,” she continued. “If he wishes to come and visit me later, when I’m Lavinia again, then he is welcome. I just want to be Lavinia for him. He must never hear about Fox.”

  Then suddenly her seriousness melted away and, with a laugh, she added, “All this talking makes things far too complicated, don’t you think? Come on, Piak, shake Fox by the hand and speak a wish with him for the success of our adventure!”

  Laughing, yet still uneasy, Piak did as he was asked and he promised solemnly that he would tell Tiuri nothing. He had realized it was not easy to resist Lady Lavinia.

  He planned to keep a close eye on her, though, so that he could protect her if needed. He only wished that the thought of Isadoro didn’t keep nagging at him. Ah, he thought, Tiuri will forget Isadoro as soon as he sees Lavinia. But when would Tiuri see Lavinia?

  7 THE DRUMS SPEAK AGAIN

  The next day, Lavinia was the first to wish Piak good morning. She looked rather pale.

  “Oh, I’m so stiff!” she sighed. “Like a plank.”

  Piak felt just the same, but he said casually, “That’s because you’re not used to it. Would you really not rather turn around and go back?”

  “How dare you ask that?” she said indignantly. “I’m allowed to complain to someone, aren’t I? The worst of it is having to wear this helmet again. I only dared to take it off when it got dark. But it’s my own fault. If I weren’t too vain to cut off my plaits, I’d be able to feel the wind in my hair right now.”

  “It would be a shame to lose your lovely long hair,” agreed Piak.

  “And so I’m walking around in helmet, boots and spurs,” said the lady. “Quiet, there’s Father. Make sure he doesn’t come this way.”

  Piak walked towards the Lord of Mistrinaut.

  “Good morning,” he said to Piak. “This is where our journey really begins. Adelbart just told me that the path comes to an end around fifteen minutes’ ride away. After that we’ll have to find our own way through.”

  “How far is it to the Black River?” asked Piak, still standing firmly in front of him.

  “According to the map, a day or two,” replied Lord Rafox. “I have a copy of it here, which one of the monks made for me. But, as you know, there’s no guarantee that the distances are correct.” He told Piak that he’d carve markers on the trees for the men of Westenaut, who would follow them in a few days. “I left instructions with the abbot,” he said. “Let’s hope they don’t get lost.”

  Then they spoke about Sir Ristridin. Around them, the men made ready to set off.

  A sudden noise made everyone fall silent.

  A thud! A rattle… Boom! Tok-tok-tok-tok. It sounded something like that. Soon it was repeated. Boom! Tok-tok-tok-tok…

  Someone was beating a drum.

  Piak had heard the sound before, but this time it was much closer. And although it was daytime now, it sounded just as ominous. It was coming from the west, from the other side of the river.

  The men began to talk excitedly, all at once.

  “Silence!” ordered the Lord of Mistrinaut.

  “Boom!” came the sound again.

  Then another drum began to sound, softly in the distance. Boom! Tok-tok-tok-tok… Boom! Tok-tok-tok-tok.

  They all listened, holding their breath.

  Another Boom!, and then the drum in the distance was silent.

  Boom! said the drum closer to them.

  They waited tensely to see if the drums would sound again.

  “They’ve stopped,” said one of the men.

  “No, listen!” whispered Piak, who had sharp ears.

  Very far away and dull, he thought he could hear a third drum, like an echo. Boom, tok-tok-tok-tok… Boom…

  The second drum answered clearly: Boom!

  Then it was silent.

  “The drums are in the trees and they speak to one another,” whispered Piak. “That’s what the Fool said.”

  “That’s very much what it sounds like,” said the Lord of Mistrinaut. “I wonder if they are passing on a message.”

  “What kind of message, my lord?” asked Piak, although he had a suspicion.

  “That we are approaching, for instance,” said the Lord of Mistrinaut.

  The men began talking once again.

&nb
sp; “Stay calm!” their leader commanded. He called the four captains together and withdrew with them.

  There was a tugging at Piak’s sleeve; it was Lavinia. “What does it mean?” she asked. “Is it the enemy? The Men in Green?”

  “I think so,” replied Piak. “We suspect they’re passing on a message.”

  “About us?”

  Piak nodded.

  “And what should we do now?” asked Lavinia. “Are we going to head there, in that direction?”

  Some men came over to stand with them. Adelbart was among them, and Bronno, Lavinia’s protector. Everyone was trying to guess what the sound of the drums might mean. Only Adelbart said nothing. He looked around the group and suddenly drew attention to Lavinia by peering at her quizzically, then looking her up and down, from head to toe, and stroking his beard in surprise. One of the men followed his gaze, whistled through his teeth, and then said rudely, “Hey, who are you?”

  Piak made a move, but Lavinia answered coolly, “Me? I’m just a squire from Castle Mistrinaut.”

  Bronno gave the soldier a shove. “Do you not see who is standing before you?” he chastised him.

  The soldier turned red and took a step back.

  Lavinia raised her head proudly, smiled and said, “My name is Fox. And my family is well known to you. Let that be enough.”

  The soldiers, except for Bronno and Adelbart, slunk off.

  “I am sorry I gave you away,” Adelbart said politely. “I should never have made it so obvious. But it took me by surprise when I saw you were a woman.”

  Lavinia put her finger to her lips. “It does not matter,” she said warmly. “As long as you’ve recovered now.”

  “From now on, my face will reveal absolutely nothing,” Adelbart promised. He looked as if he were about to make a bow, but then thought better of it, and walked away.

  “The first danger has been averted!” whispered Lavinia. Her eyes were gleaming with excitement. “I am curious to hear what Father’s war plan is,” she added.

  Piak left her in Bronno’s care and headed to where Lord Rafox had just been talking with his captains. The lord was walking away now, in the company of Brother Martin.

  “What has been decided?” Piak asked one of the captains.

  “Lord Rafox is sticking with the original plan,” came the reply. “But he may send a few men to scout the other side of the river. We are about to set off.”

  Piak walked on; he wanted a quick word with the Lord of Mistrinaut. He had disappeared from sight, but it did not take Piak long to find him. He was standing with Brother Martin on the riverbank, some way from the rest of the company. As Piak approached, he heard him say, “I do not like this.”

  He did not catch the monk’s reply.

  “Oh, no,” said the Lord of Mistrinaut. “If it’s a fight out in the open, I can certainly take them on. But they have an advantage over us.”

  Piak stopped, hesitating, afraid that this conversation was not meant for his ears. No, he thought. What could there be that I am not allowed to hear?

  Brother Martin spoke now, but still he could not make out what he said.

  Lord Rafox’s voice, though, was deep and clear: “Exactly! Then they have hostages! That’s been my concern since the start. If it comes to a clash, I fear greatly for the fate of Tiuri and his friend.”

  Piak stood perfectly still.

  There was more mumbling from the monk and then, quietly this time, Lord Rafox spoke again, “I do not know what they want. May heaven grant that I meet this challenge with success, but young Tiuri and this Marius are in their power. Best not mention any of this to Piak, eh?” he added.

  But Piak had already heard. He turned and hurried away. He heard Lord Rafox call his name, but he paid no attention.

  “Oh, what a fool, what an idiot I am!” he raged to himself. “I’ve been so blind! How could I not think of that?!”

  He walked through the bustle of men and horses, and then turned his back on them to gaze across the river.

  He had been worried all that time, but even so he had been full of hope as he set off in the company of the mighty Lord of Mistrinaut and his valiant men. Now the terrible truth dawned on him: Tiuri and the Fool had fallen into the hands of the enemy! And if those enemies were as wicked as the Fool had said, they would have no qualms about using them to their advantage – by holding them as hostages and killing them if they feared an attack. And yet these enemies had to be fought.

  Tiuri had probably realized right away. He had been so serious when he said that he hoped at least one of them would escape the forest alive. Ristridin’s men had been killed. Would Tiuri share their fate? Would the Fool never return home to his cabin?

  “No, no,” prayed Piak, “don’t let that happen. Don’t let any fate worse than capture befall Tiuri!”

  PART FIVE

  THE BLACK KNIGHT WITH THE RED SHIELD

  1 RED RIDERS AND MEN IN GREEN

  Tiuri and the Fool had been captured, and Red Riders from Eviellan were awaiting them at the Owl House. They were forced to enter the ruins, where they found even more Red Riders. Their captain came and stood before Tiuri and said, “What is your name?”

  Tiuri looked at him. All he could see of his enemy’s face were his eyes. In his mind, though, was a different image: the tree and Ristridin’s words. Treacherously slain by enemies… Yet he answered proudly, “I am Sir Tiuri with the White Shield.”

  “What about him?” asked the Red Rider, pointing at the Fool, who was trying to hide behind Tiuri.

  “This is my squire,” said Tiuri. He really hoped Marius wouldn’t give the game away. But the Fool seemed too scared to say anything at all.

  “Squire…” said another horseman. “That may be so, but he has been here before!”

  Tiuri knew he had to draw their attention away from the Fool, so he said, quickly and angrily, “Yes, Sir Tiuri and his squire. But who are you? And by what right have you taken us prisoner?”

  The Red Riders gave no response. They whispered among themselves for a moment. All he caught was one word, his own name: Tiuri.

  Then the captain turned back to him and sneered, “By what right, sir knight? The right of might!”

  Then he left the ruins and the others followed him. One of them turned back and shouted to the prisoners that they must stay inside, at least if they valued their lives.

  Yes, we are still alive, thought Tiuri. Shouldn’t I be happy about that? Yet he was filled with worry and uncertainty. Soldiers from Eviellan – the situation did not look good. Sir Ristridin had been one of their greatest enemies… Had Ristridin really gone to Deltaland? And the invasion – what was he to make of that?

  “Now they’ve caught you anyway,” the Fool said tearfully, “and me too. Again!”

  “I’m so sorry, Marius,” Tiuri said softly. And he really meant it. Hadn’t he promised to take him back safely home to his cabin?

  “Oh, it’s not your fault, Friend,” whispered the Fool. “We had to come and see. That was what you wanted…”

  Yes, that was what Tiuri had wanted. And he had found out a great deal, but that knowledge would be of no benefit unless he could escape.

  But there was still Piak. Piak had not been captured, as far as he knew. He couldn’t bring himself to face the thought that something worse might have happened to him.

  “Marius,” he said, “listen to me! We have been captured, but you are not alone this time. I am with you, and…”

  The Fool nodded. “That is true,” he said. “I’m not so very afraid when I’m with you. Will you stay with me?”

  “Yes, of course,” replied Tiuri.

  “And are we going to run away?” the Fool asked in a whisper.

  “Sssh, don’t say too much, Marius,” said Tiuri. “Don’t let our enemies hear you. They mustn’t find out that there were three of us… and that Piak escaped.”

  “Piak…” whispered the Fool. “Yes, he isn’t here.”

  “I hope he got away
,” Tiuri whispered into his ear. “He will go to fetch help for us. Do you understand, Marius? But the Red Riders mustn’t find out, or they’ll start looking for him.”

  “They won’t find out,” whispered the Fool. “He’s run away, but we won’t tell them.”

  “And that’s why we’re pretending you’re my squire,” Tiuri continued. “Remember that, Marius! You are my squire. Don’t say too much. Keep our secret!”

  “I am your squire,” said the Fool, nodding. “Not really, though. Piak’s your squire. But he got away.”

  Tiuri sighed. If only he could be sure that Piak had escaped! Piak, his faithful friend, so brave and resourceful.

  He thought about Islan, too. He wondered if he could have been mistaken when he saw the colours of Islan among his attackers. He could hardly doubt it, though: Sir Fitil had something to do with what was going on in the wood. And Isadoro, too. She had probably used her charms just to stop him from investigating. But then later she had warned him! No, he still didn’t understand Isadoro. On the one hand she had acted as if she knew nothing about the wood, but then she’d also drawn attention to it by singing that song. How did it go again…? I heard tell of a fortress grim…

  She had sung another song, and Sir Fitil had become angry. Perhaps the solution to the mystery lay in the relationship between the lady and her father.

  “But whatever the truth is,” he said to himself, “she never felt anything for me.” That was a painful thought and he dismissed it. Now was not the time to think too deeply about that subject. It was more use to consider how they might possibly escape.

  Followed by the Fool, he walked around the Owl House, but at every exit, through every window, he saw the same: soldiers on guard. The enemy had surrounded the house.

  As night fell, the Red Riders returned. They pointed at a corner of one of the rooms and barked at their prisoners to stay there. Then they lit a fire in the same room and cooked some food, but gave none to Tiuri and the Fool. Tiuri hoped Piak had managed to find their own bag of supplies.