Wildhafer: Maiden's Trail Ch. 12

Zursturn (ZOOER-STOOERN) n. (Deiru) Blizzard, snowstorm

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The carriage stopped abruptly and Viscountess Farnei (old wrinkled woman with a fancy blue gown) burst out towards her two identical beautiful teenage daughters, Allora and Adalla. They wore tight fitting green tops with flowing skirts. White linen sleeves flared out from the elbows that were cut out and trimmed with thin but colorful metal bands with speirelblum (Deiru cultural spiral) designs.

"What are you doing here?!" she shouted.

"Mother I'm so sorry," Allora cried. "I didn't want to get married, I loved someone else... but I..."

"Love?!" she scoffed.

"I... I-"

"Get in the carriage."

"Yes," she replied apprehensively.

The twins entered and Salbrec, their corpulent cousin, wearing a tight fitting red cotehardie, walked after them, leading the twins' horse Mitrnach.

"Stop right there nephew," the Viscountess said firmly. He froze in mid-step. "What are you doing here?"

"The twins left Meikell and I... I went with them to... to be their protector."

"Where were you going?"

"Uh... just away."

"You will suffer greatly for this. I will speak to your father and see that you are punished. Your status will be stripped."

"Uh- I... Y-yes Viscountess. As you wish."

"Why are you at the blacksmith?"

"The horse has a limp. We are here to find out what's wrong."

"Sit next to Gerben up front," she ordered him.

"Yes." He acquiesced, sitting on the seat next to the driver, a bald man at the front of the carriage with a plain skullcap and calloused hands holding the reins.

"Gerben, take the horse to the smith and see what's the matter," she said loudly.

"Yes Viscountess," the driver replied. Farnei joined the twins inside the main compartment of the carriage.

Gerben got off the seat slowly and went to the horse while she entered with the twins. His eyes traveled across the horse's body as he pat its shoulder gently. "Maybe too much weight," he muttered. After unbuckling the straps, he removed the saddlebag and slung it over his shoulder with difficulty. He nearly fell down with the load. Then he hefted it up on the seat next to Salbrec. The carriage shifted with the weight. Grabbing the reins, he led the horse towards the blacksmith while watching its gait.

Inside, the carriage was furnished with plush seats and curtains over open windows in the doors on either side. The wood scrolling along the interior were of intricate speirelblum and rose patterns.

"Thank Fareik I found you," Farnei sighed. "You were promised in marriage to lords of Deiruleind. If you would have been killed or raped by bandits you would have made your father and I appear as fools," she said apoplectically. "When we get back to Meikell manor, I will see you chained to your bed." She chortled softly. "And I will recommend your future husbands do the same." She pulled the curtains closed and took a slender rod from beneath the seat cushion. "Allora, bend over the seat."

"M-mother," Adalla pleaded.

"You too," Farnei sneered.

Adalla's eyes shot up with fright. They complied, facing away from the vituperative woman.

"Pull up your skirt," she ordered. Adalla complied. "Higher. Higher."

When Adalla's skirts were so high that she was touching the ceiling, the old woman made a sound like a growl and then slapped the switch across the side of her daughter's bum. Adalla immediately cried out, her face falling into the cushion, the down-filled fabric muffling her whimpering.

"You daft girls," Farnei said, and smacked the switch again. "Raising you has been more pain than it's worth." She continued a hit against her daughter, but instead of the sound of the switch against flesh, there was a metallic thump and Farnei's hand and body shook fiercely.

Allora smirked.

"D-damn it," Farnei swore. "I h-hit your k-kusheitgertel (chastity belt)."

It took a few moments for her shaking to subside. She adjusted her hitting arm before lashing out again.

"Ouch!" Adalla exclaimed.

"When you were born your father promised me you would bring us fortune. He said that we would be owed favors by the other states after marrying you off. Yes, you grew in beauty. We had more suitors than we could manage. Your lashes are long, your hips wide for bearing children and your busts full for suckling. But you also grew in stupidity, recalcitrance, and-"

"Re-coastal trance?" Allora whispered under her breath.

The Viscountess looked at Allora briefly, then back to Adalla.

"And ignorant of how enticing you are to men. I was forced to hide you both away. Bind you. I wasn't protecting your feelings, I was protecting my investment. That's all you are to me. Nearly nine months and I will be paid that sum when Master Vuldo gets his prize." The last slap caused Adalla to cry out fiercely. She felt warm blood drip down her leg.

"Next," Viscountess Farnei snarled. Allora, cried as she pulled up her dress to her waist. "I haven't even started," she laughed. "You..." there was a vicious whip of the switch. Allora sobbed into the cushion. "I will be rid of you in three days." She struck again with each utterance. "I have been counting the hours. On your wedding night Master Ergast will immediately know how to keep you in line by these marks I'll make on you. But if he ever has any trouble, I wouldn't mind giving him a demonstration. These past sixteen years, my only joy with you girls has been behind you with a stick in my hand. I thought with age you would gain some sense, but I was too hopeful. At least your sister is less prone to disaster. Allora you are hopeless." The young woman couldn't help crying loudly. "Quiet or I'll hit harder." Allora couldn't stop her tears. "I said quiet," the hit was the loudest yet as blood was drawn. Adalla turned, although she knew that she shouldn't and grabbed her mother's hand.

"You dare?!" Viscountess Farnei sneered. She spoke in harsh loud whispers, never raising her voice too loud. Adalla winced and there was a hit on top of her head and then beneath her dress. She faced the cushion and bore a new assault of words and lashes. "I gave you more credit than your sister, but the audacity."

"Audio city?" Allora asked, looking towards her mother with ignorance.

"Shutup you," the Viscountess said, quickly whipping her ear.

"Ow."

"We weren't meant to have children. I was cursed to be barren. I told your father it was a bad idea. But that stubborn man wouldn't take no for an answer. So he took another bitch into his bed. I blame her for that streak of idiocy you both have. It feels like it's Taxiau's punishment for allowing another woman to bear children for him."

On the carriage in the driver's seat, Salbrec sat solemnly. Tears guttered down his plump cheeks. The servant Gerben was still talking with the blacksmith inside, oblivious to the conversation and actions at the carriage.

"What?" Adalla sobbed with confusion.

"That's right, you are bastards. The sire of some bosomy peasant maid your father fancied. But dare not tell anyone, for you will be truly worthless. We'd disown you both and you'd have to find peasants to marry."

"No," Adalla denied with terror. "That's not true. That's impossible!!" she cried in absolute disbelief.

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true," she said with a laugh.

"Noooo! No," she cried in despair.

"It's true. Now back to my joy."

She lashed against Allora's backside with renewed fervor, but the switch broke. As Viscountess Farnei reached for another stick beneath her cushioned seat, Adalla reared up, full of anger and pushed her mother against the inside of the carriage. So strong was her ire that the back of Farnei's head hit the wood with a heavy thump, then she slumped forward, unconscious.

"Let's go," Adalla said nervously, grabbing her sister's hand and exiting the opposite door.

"Look what you did!" Allora said as she released Adalla's hand in shock and pointed to their mother.

"I know... but... but we have to go!" Adalla replied and pulled her sister out of the carriage.

Salbrec grabbed the saddlebag full of supplies and went after them, though it was so heavy he had to drag it.

"Wait for me," he said sharply. They stopped around the corner near an alley. "What's in here?" he asked, unbuckling the strap and opening one side of the bag. He pulled out an impossibly large, comically sized, silver candelabra. His eyes went to Allora.

"Our favorite," she said, hugging it close. "I got it as an engagement present," she said.

"It weighs a hundred stones at least."

"Please?"

"Is there anything else you can get rid of?" he asked, setting down the candelabra.

"Well..."

He rooted through the bag and pulled out a heavy ceramic vase.

"Mother gave us that," Allora said firmly.

"Did she?" Adalla asked dubiously.

"She didn't?"

"I don't think so."

"Oh... well, you can get rid of that then," she said with a faint smile.

"What about this?" Salbrec asked, pulling out a large statue of a red creature sat cross-legged with a large bowl in it's lap and big rubies set in the place where the eyes would be. The twins looked at it in wide-eyed shock. A wiry man with a sharp looking knife popped around the corner eagerly, gazing at the expensive-looking stature.

"That's a beaut!" he blurted.

"Ack!" Salbrec shouted with sudden fear. The statue slipped from the frightened man's fingers and broke into a thousand pieces when it dropped against the silver candelabra.

"Salbrec!" the twins exclaimed in unison.

"Oh well," the wiry stranger shrugged, and continued down the alley, picking his teeth with his blade.

"We better go," Salbrec said, grabbing the candelabra and shaking loose the red ceramic chunks before placing it back into the bag. He threw the satchel over his shoulder, then they ran through the alleys and towards the gate. As a guard looked towards them they slowed, and Salbrec began whistling casually. When the guard looked away they sprinted, but when he turned back they slowed again, Salbrec whistling again, this time with frustration. When the guard turned away a final time Salbrec pulled them up short into a dark alley. The women stopped and nearly doubled over, breathing hard.

"We can't... run for long with these corsets...," Adalla said breathlessly.

"Where... are we going? What... are we doing?" Allora asked with concern.

"We're catching our breath," Salbrec said. "And I'm thinking about that peasant Ainsta that was obviously interested in me at your birthday party. I probably could have gotten a piece if I wasn't such a pussycat and now I'll probably die a virgin, hanged for-"

"What?" Allora asked with raised eyebrows.

"What?" Salbrec replied with feigned innocence.

"What are we going to do?" Adalla asked plainly.

"You knocked out mother!" Allora said.

"Amazing! Well, there's no point staying," Salbrec said. "Farnei will make your lives miserable. Sure it will be in a nice bed with fancy clothes. But you'll be married to a stranger, never to see your sister again." The twins hugged each other close at such a terrible thought. "Let's catch up with my sister."

"Did you hear everything our mother said?" Adalla asked.

"Not much above the switch and how she'd chain you to your beds."

"So you didn't hear that we're ba- ow!" Allora cried out as Adalla stepped on her foot. "Why are you so clumsy? I was just going to tell him how our mother isn't really- ow!"

"Allora there will be time for that later."

"Fine, that really hurt," she said, nursing her foot.

They walked to the guards, and just as they were about through, the guard shouted.

"Halt!"

They stopped immediately. Salbrec looked nervous.

"Come here." They approached hesitantly. "Are these two your sisters?" the guard asked, looking at Adalla and Allora.

"No, my cousins."

"Ah, amazing eyes. And identical no less. I suppose you're both betrothed?"

"Actual-" Salbrec began.

"I was asking the girls," the guard interrupted.

"Yes," they affirmed awkwardly.

"Hmm." He leaned in and sniffed inches from Adalla's hair. He did the same with Allora. He grinned. "Off you go."

The twins and their cousin walked briskly past the gate. Adalla stopped after about fifteen minutes and sighed. Allora turned to her expectantly, although Salbrec didn't notice.

"What mother said..." Adalla whispered with disbelief. "Mother... mother isn't our..."

"What do you mean?" Allora said.

"She said she wasn't our real mother," she said softly.

"I don't believe it," Allora replied.

They turned down the path towards the mountains where Suetaera and Ogunof had been traveling.

"There's a chance mother will go the wrong way," Adalla said hopefully.

"But, what if she catches us again?"

"You have a protector," Salbrec said with his chin held high.

"Ooo, where?" Allora said excitedly, clueless to his intent.

"Me..." he replied sadly.

"Oh right. Uh... but you didn't do anything last time."

"Well... I mean... she didn't threaten to chain you to a bed until after," he tried to explain. "I didn't know what she was going to do." The twins nodded.

They continued along, rushing towards where they had left Suetaera and Ogunof. They were constantly looking behind themselves, to see if the Viscountess was following. They passed by other travelers, and had continued by the camp from the morning, into the foothills, but as the sun was approaching the horizon they had not seen their companions.

"I'm tired," Allora complained. "Can we stop?"

"Yes, we should rest," Salbrec admitted.

They searched for a clearing, but with the late hour the only place they could find was a rough patch of scant foliage with numerous pebbles and sticks. They enjoyed a bit of food and drink from their dwindling supplies, then huddled together on blankets. The girls adjusted their bodices, loosening the many straps and laces that cinched their torso so they would be more comfortable. Salbrec lay next to them on a bed roll. They had a fitful sleep through the night and woke in the early morning light.

"We should get going," Salbrec said.

"I miss our bed," Allora said with a large yawn.

"We can't tarry."

They rose from the hard ground and folded their blankets up. Salbrec packed their satchel as the twins cinched their bodices. Then they continued on the path. Adalla and Allora wrapped their heavy cloaks around themselves and rubbed their arms in the early morning chill as they walked southeast up the craggy path through the evergreen forests nearing Taucsen. They paused for a quick snack of dried meat and cheese. Allora finished the last of her water while the others had only a few drops in their waterskins. They kept traveling on the rough path. Salbrec tried to keep up the pace, but it was tough with the twins' clothing. If they went faster than a brisk walk the twins became quite tired.

"Why don't you remove your corsets so you can breathe more easily?" he asked.

"Salbrec," Allora said, turning towards her cousin.

"What?"

"We can't," she said matter-of-factly.

"Why?"

"Let me explain," Adalla said.

"Fine," Allora replied.

"It's... it's because... because we can't," Adalla said, echoing her sister.

"Oh. Of course. I'm sorry for suggesting it," he apologized.

"That's ok, you're a man, you don't know of such things," Adalla smiled.

"Yes I suppose so," he said, puffing out his chest while taking their criticism as masculine pride.

The sun approached the horizon and they had still not found their kin. As they crested the next hill, they came upon a stream in a valley. They crept past an area of damp weeds and a clump of large mushrooms to get down to the water. After reaching the edge they knelt down and desperately gulped down water. When they felt like they could drink no more, the twins walked up to a dry area of grass and laid a bedroll on the ground to sit, shielding their eyes and facing away from the sun. Salbrec set down their pack and pulled out their water skins. After filling the first waterskin, he placed it next to the pack and started with the second. But when the second was full and he turned to place it next to the first, he found the first was empty.

"I just filled this.... didn't I? Oh well."

He filled it again, but now found the second was empty.

"Taxiau's tits. What's going on?"

He went to fill the waterskin again. Allora stood to see what Salbrec was complaining about. While he filled the second waterskin for a second time, the fungi near their pack moved. They had white stalks and bright red caps with white spots. Small feet-like protuberences popped up from the stalks and began shifting towards the backpack. A milky white eye opened beneath the mushroom caps. Then two arm-like appendages popped out of the stalk and grabbed the waterskin with another mushroom helping to lift. The strange creatures pushed the container over dousing a third mushroom completely in water. A small mouth opened in the stalk below the eye, gulping water down. As Salbrec started to turn back, the mushrooms shoved the skin towards the pack and all their distinguishing features folded back into the stalks.

"They moved!" Allora said, her eyes opening wide.

"What?" Adalla asked, standing up next to her.

"The mushrooms. They pushed over the water." She pointed towards the stream's edge.

The mushrooms appeared normal. Salbrec looked at his cousin dubiously, and then grinned broadly.

"Allora, it's no time for jesting. We need to hurry and catch my sister.

"It's not a jest. Just pick them up and see."

He reached out towards the fungi, but then frowned and pulled away.

"Those are amanita poisonarium. I'm not touching those."

"A man's posterior? Huh?"

"No it's... it means they are deadly if you eat them. Even touching them might make me sick."

"Will you poop yourself?"

"No. Just poisonous."

"I swear they moved," Allora said sincerely.

Salbrec shook his head. He put the full waterskins in his pack before filling the last one.

"Let's go," he said, handing her two full water bladders.

As they walked away the mushrooms opened their mouths, pulled open their eyes and laughed. When she turned back they immediately collapsed, looking like normal fungi. She turned away and the mushroom creatures continued to make fun. The trio continued on, the sun getting lower and the air colder.

"Where are they?" Adalla asked with sadness in her voice.

"There's no other path. They must be ahead," Salbrec replied. "Try and go faster, we need to catch up."

When they crested another hill they saw a pair of travellers in the near distance. The twins and their cousin had a renewed vigor at the sight of the couple far off, despite being very tired. As they approached, Allora was certain of who it was. She was the first to call out. Suetaera turned, her face immediately shocked by her cousins' appearance. Suetaera was a young woman with black hair hidden under a wool hooded cloak. She wore a simple, but long forest green dress. The cousins reunited with joyful embraces. Even Salbrec seemed happy to see Ogunof (a trim young man with a short scruffy beard wearing a faded gray tunic and a bow and quiver wrapped over his back), shaking his hand warmly while the huntsman's son gave him a clap on the shoulder.

"Why did you come back?" Suetaera asked.

"Mother found us," Allora explained.

"Gallanon's gonads," Ogunof swore.

"Indeed," Salbrec replied.

"How did you get away?" Suetaera asked.

"We ran," Adalla said.

"The Viscountess must have turned the wrong way," Salbrec mused. "Otherwise she would have caught us by now."

"We should find a place for the night and continue in the early morning," Ogunof suggested.

They slept, wrapped awkwardly together in blankets through the cold night and woke just as the sun rose. They continued on across a rocky path into the steep mountains. Their food and water was dwindling low as they approached the peak. Ogunof shot a few rabbits with his bow on the morning of the second day after they were reunited. The meat was a welcome change from the cheese and stale bread. It was enough that it almost felt like a feast. Their spirits were lifted, but even so, with Ogunof's urging they were eating half as much as they were accustomed. On the morning of the third day Ogunof looked to the sky with a deep sigh.