"And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee."
Numbers 12:13

*********

When Llwyd opened the door to Branwen's room the next day, he found an apparition bending over his friend's bed, a tall figure draped in a great black cloak, its face hidden from sight in the depths of black cloth. He felt a sudden chill across the back of his neck, and his feet wanted to run far from this place. But this was Branwen, and he could not flee while she lay there helpless at the hands of this…this… whatever it was. He took a deep breath, intending to shout, but it came out sounding more like a squeak.

"Stop! Who are you? I warn you, a fierce warrior will come through this door if you do not leave that poor woman alone!"

"And who are you to tell ME to leave, little man?" The voice seemed to hiss from within the cloak and then slither about the room.

Llwyd paled, but pressed on. "I am Brother Llwyd, and that woman is my friend, and I will fight you to the gates of the deepest hell to protect her."

"I KNOW you, Llwyd!" A long pale hand pointed at the monk. "I have been expecting you!" The hand gestured, the door slammed shut behind Llwyd, and then the apparition pulled the cloak away from its face. "I'm Ashevathallion, Ian's Uncle. He said you'd be by. Say, you look rather pale, do come sit down and we'll talk."

Llwyd barely made it to the chair.

*********

Ian and Skye had left earlier in the morning, heading for a trail Ian had found on the old Roman map. There was no need for speed on the journey: the Healers were finally at Penally and Branwen was in the capable hands of Ian's uncle. So while the pair set a steady pace, there was still time for Skye to gather some late blooming herbs along the way, and then fro a short stop at the ruins of an old abandoned farm to eat some bread, cheese, apples they'd taken from the garrison's kitchen just before they had departed. They washed it down with river water from a clay bottle, and then set out again. Conversation flew back and forth about matters at home, the children, troubles of friends and so on. Finally the talk turned back to the matter at hand.

"Ian, you still haven't told me what you think of my guess as to who is behind the poison."

Her husband didn't answer right away, his expression thoughtful. "I suppose I hate jumping for the obvious. Looking at the facts, I would have to agree. Still, I suppose part of me wants it to be someone else, for Branwen's sake." He pushed aside a tree branch that had fallen across the path.

"What was it you told me Ferret always asked in situations like this? Cui bono? We both know who will benefit, Ian. And we know he has the knowledge and means to do it, don't we?"

"Aye, it's most likely as you say, love. It's hard to believe.." He stopped, motioning her to silence, pointing up the trail. Just ahead it curved around out of sight behind a large boulder, and as Skye listened, she heard the sound of voices approaching.

*********

"He did?" Llwyd laughed so hard his eyes teared as Ashe told yet another tale on his nephew. The day had passed quickly once Ashe had abashedly apologized for his jest and they had started to talk. In fact, Llwyd had had to bite inside his cheek twice since as Ashe had repeated the forboding sorcerer act in front of servants. It was all a plan of Ian's, the elf explained, and then Llwyd learned for the first time what had befallen the woman mercenary. It shocked him how angry it made him.

Ashe, for his part, found the monk to be everything Ian had told him, and was impressed by the courage the smaller man had displayed. He felt ashamed that he had put the man through that joke and did his best to make amends by telling him of Ian's younger days.

He was just ending one such when there was a knock on the door, and a dark haired man entered. "Gethin!" said Llwyd.

"Good day, brother." He set a tray down on the table by the bed. "I've brought Branwen her soup."

12/2000


Fiat Lux II - Part XV

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death"
Proverbs 11:4

*********

"Quick! This way!" Ian pulled Skye off the path and down a gentle slope to hide among some bushes, where they silently watched as a group of three men came down the trail and then stopped near where they had been. Skye was about to ready an arrow when one man laughed at some joke, waved, and returned up the trail while the other two continued on down the way they had come. After a few minutes still hiding, Ian leaned his head closer to hers and whispered: "It will be dark in a few hours. Let's get around that bend and then see what is going on." He grinned, then quickly kissed her. "Never waste a good kissing opportunity" He winked, then the two of them moved slowly back up to the path.

*********

"Did I send for you?"

Gethin gave Ashe a cool look; the tall elf had slipped the black cloak and hood back on as soon as the doorknob had started turning, but the sepulchral voice of the "great healer" did not seem to intimidate the mercenary at all. "She has to eat."

"Only the food I have ordered, not this soup you bring!" Ashe stabbed his finger at Gethin for emphasis. "BEGONE!"

Much to the amazement of Brother Llwyd, Gethin remained unperturbed. He stepped further into the room and frowned at Ashe. "I don't know where Blackthorn got you but I am going to tell him what I think about this course of action. Where is he, by the way?"

"He and Lady Skye went for a walk on the mountain, Gethin. I'm sure they will be back soon. What flavor is the soup?"

"Chicken, Brother. But this is for Branwen only. I made it myself!"

"Can I have a taste?" The monk started forwards, then suddenly stumbled, arms flailing wildly as he rammed into Gethin's side. There was a muffled curse as the bowl of soup was knocked flying into a wall to be smashed. "Oh, no! Forgive me, Gethin!" cried Llwyd. "Forgive me for hitting you!"

The younger man nodded once, but as he turned away to leave the room there was a just a fraction of a second where a flash of such pure, unbridled anger was on Gethin's face that Llwyd was taken aback. "I'll send a man to clean that up, " he said as he left. Then he was gone, and Llwyd shut the door once more as Ashe took off his cloak. The two regarded each other in silence for a few seconds, then Ashe grinned.

"Brother Llwyd! I quite distinctly heard you just now ask Gethin's forgiveness, not for stumbling into him, but for hitting him!"

Llwyd nodded in discomfit, his face red. "Aye."

"You did that deliberately! "

"Aye, I did." The monk's face twisted a bit in shame. "But Blackthorn said she was being poisoned, and I couldn't take the chance! I hope Gethin will forgive me."

"Let us hope that it is necessary for him to forgive you, for that would mean he is not our man." Ashe sat down. " Do you play chess, Brother?" He motioned the cleric to a seat on the other side of the board.

It was some hours before it dawned on either of them that Ian and Skye had not yet returned.

*********

"You were right, Ian, someone is mining up here." Skye shifted slightly to glance over at her husband ; the two had hidden behind a large boulder and sat for several minutes in silence watching the entrance of a mine in the hollow below. Their patience was rewarded when the man they had seen earlier emerged and then set about building a large fire under a black kettle. From the looks of the preparations he was making dinner for a large group, probably whoever was working the mine.

Ian nodded, then whispered. "Let's work our way closer. There's a second tunnel over there; I'm hoping I can hear what is said by our friends as they eat." He pointed at the destination, and the two moved silently down and gained the shelter of the tunnel's mouth without attracting attention. Once again, minutes passed in companionable silence before they heard voices echoing form the other mine. Then the workers emerged, and Skye reached out to grip Ian's arm in disbelief.

"Ian, they're children!"

12/2000


Fiat Lux II - Part XVI

"And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve"
Isaiah 14:3

*********

"They're just children!" Skye hissed in fury. "Who would do such a thing?!" She turned and looked at Ian.

"Easy, Shurrukai. I will see they are freed." He looked down at the campfire thoughtfully, disturbed by a notion he suddenly had, but not willing to voice it now. "The tunnels in these old mines are narrow; no doubt whoever's behind this needed boys to do the work because they were the only ones who could fit through. If they were doing it of their own free will, that would be one thing. But these boys…" He fell silent and just pointed to where the guards were fastening a long line of chained collars around the necks of the children before handing each a bowl and spoon. One of the men then began ladling food into each bowl, and only when they were all full were the captives allowed to sit and eat. "Six guards."

"What are we waiting for, Ian? We have to put a stop to this!"

"We only have one bow, love." He shook his head. " And it's getting dark. When you pick off the first man, all hell will break loose. I'd rather wait until dawn when you'll have clearer shots and those children will be able to see well enough to get out of the line of fire."

Skye cursed. "Dammit, Ian! I hate this! Can't we use the Road to get more men and come back?"

"They'd hear me summon it, love. By the time we got back they'd …at best, they would take the boys with them. At worst, they'd make sure the boys could not tell us who was keeping them prisoner." He put his arm around her. "I promise you, love, these men will not escape, and these children will be safe and free."

*********

"She's awake!"

"What?" Llwyd was suddenly wide awake, his eyes drawn towards the bed where Ashe was leaning over Branwen. The older woman's eyes seemed alert, although it was obviously an effort to keep them open. "Branwen, can you understand me?"

Her voice was cracked. "I've never been able to before, why should I be able to now, my friend?" She smiled weakly. "My throat is so dry. Water?" She chuckled as both the monk and Ashe reached for the water cup. "One at a time."

Llwyd gave a small prayer of thanks. "She's going to be alright!"

Ashe held the cup to Branwen's lips as Llwyd raised her head slightly. "You still are weak, but it appears the good brother is right. With rest and care you should be well soon."

Branwen waved the cup away after drinking her fill "As well as an old woman my age can be, you mean." She gave Ashe a long look. "Elf, and kin to Ian I take it? And where is he?"

Ashe looked at Llwyd, and slowly, the monk began telling her what had happened, and what they had come to suspect.

*********

The guards allowed the boys another helping of food and then raised voices warned Ian and Skye that the group was about to move. Torches were lit from the campfire, and the guards forced the captives to their feet. One boy was handed a torch, three others were loaded down with firewood, and then all of them began moving up the hillside.

"They're coming this way. This way, love!" Ian took Skye's hand and led her further back into the mine tunnel, his half-elven sight making it easier for him to lead. He turned into a side tunnel and then they chanced looking around the corner. The boys were settling down just inside the mine and were building a fire to keep them warm for the night. Skye's jaw tightened in anger at the poor state of their clothes and at signs the guards had hit them as well. "Ian, can't we just take them away now, on the Road?"

Her husband shook his head grimly. "Then the guards would flee. I want these men, Skye. One more night, and I promise it will be over." He drew her down to the tunnel floor, set a ward to guard them, and they kept warm in other's arms.

12/2000


Fiat Lux II - Part XVII

"Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"
Psalm 94:16

*********

Ian shook Skye gently. "Wake up, love, it's time. The children are still sleeping." He helped her to her feet and whispered close to her ear. " We have to wake them and hope there is not too much noise. We'll take the guards when they come for them"

"Oh we'll take them alright." Skye's voice was hard and did not bode well for the men who would treat children like this. "Let's do this, Ian"

He nodded, then led her silently back to the front of the cave. There were only a dozen boys to wake, and Ian and his wife did it as quickly and quietly as possible. Nevertheless, it appeared the guards were already awake; a quick look by Ian out and down at the camp showed movement, and one man seemed to be speaking with someone who was not visible from this angle. Ian ducked back inside and looked at the boys. "I'm going to ask you all to be brave just a little longer. I want you all to move further back from the front. Yes, that's it! Skye and I will be on either side of the opening. Don't look at us! It's important they have no warning. Can you boys do that for us?" Twelve heads nodded. "Good lads!"

"Ian, two of them are coming!"

He went over and took up his position with Skye.

*********

In the early morning light at Penally, Ashevathallion swung up onto the back of the tallest horse Llwyd had ever seen. Looking up at the elf on horseback was not easy on the neck. "You're going after them?"

"Aye, Brother. I have every confidence in Ian and his wife but I can't stand waiting any longer."

"You will take some men with you, won't you? There's no telling what is up there."

The elf laughed. "I'm not without my own resources, you know, but yes, I've six men riding with me at Branwen's insistence. We'll be back, Brother"

"See that you are. I'm down two matches in chess to you." He grinned, and then waved as Ashe and the men rode out of Penally for the mountains.

*********

The first guard through was knocked out by Ian and fell silently to the ground. Unfortunately, the scream from the second man when Skye kneed him alerted the camp. "Dammit!" She rapped the man behind the ear with the pommel of her dagger and he went limp. Quickly she grabbed her bow and loosed an arrow at the man furthest away and smiled as it took him in the leg. Meanwhile, Ian had launched himself at a run and then threw himself at two more men. One was knocked to the ground, giving the half elf time to cross swords with the one left standing and after a short exchange of blows, wound the man and make him drop his sword. A blow to the head with the flat of the sword at the man on the ground eliminated another. One left, the one who had been talking with someone Ian could not see. Before Blackthorn could move towards him, the final man had run to the other side of the camp and was in the process of climbing onto a horse when another arrow from Skye brought him down. There was suddenly silence, and then the sound of children cheering.

"Find the keys, quick!" One of the children pointed to the man with the arrow in his leg and Ian found them on the man's belt. Within minutes, the boys were freed and the Blackthorns had bound the former captives. Ian recognized one of them. "I saw that one with Gethin the day we rode into Penally."

"Then I guess we right about Gethin"

"Yes, I'm afraid you were." The voice came from behind them. "Now what am I to do?"

12/2000