Episode 21: Doremus' Petition

"I don't understand," Gundar muttered to Scaramouche. "What mischief is hatching in the old man's brain?"

Gundar was sitting on a stump outside Doremus' cabin, wondering what he should do next. He was determined not to let himself be drugged again, and had vowed to eat and drink nothing until he was safely on the road with the rescued princess. However, the enticing aroma of roasting venison had set his mouth watering and his stomach growling to such an extent that he had taken refuge in the open air.

Scaramouche dug through the bag of provisions. "Here -- have some bread and cheese. It will help you think."

"What if he has drugged our provisions as well?" Gundar fretted.

"I had a snack as soon as I arrived back here," Scaramouche assured him, "and I feel fit as a fiddle."

"Is there a well or a spring nearby?" Gundar asked.

Scaramouche held up a half-full wine bottle. "I filled this with water along the way. Help yourself."

While he ate and drank, Gundar continued to puzzle over Doremus' unexpected behaviour. As soon as they arrived at the cottage, Doremus had plied Yamyn with mead even before he started the evening meal cooking. The young man managed only four moves on his chess board before he sagged forward, knocking over the pieces with his forehead.

"Does Doremus favour our cause after all?" Gundar muttered as he chewed.

"He wants us off our guard," Scaramouche said confidently, "so he can turn on us later. I'll warrant one of those herbs he rubbed on the meat is deadly poison."

"I doubt that," said Gundar. "He knows full well that we will not touch any food or drink unless he has sampled it first."

"Oh, he will find a way," Scaramouche said. "He's a sly one, or he would not have lived to see such a ripe old age."

Gundar sighed and re-settled himself on the rough wood. This whole adventure was becoming stale. Some brisk fighting would be a welcome diversion and might bring him closer to his goal. All this prevarication did not sit well with him. He would much prefer to be indoors, in good company, getting victoriously drunk.

Should he return to the cave to check on Eric's progress? If he did, should he take Doremus with him, or truss him up and leave him under Scaramouche's guard? Perhaps he should abandon the quest, take one of Eric's horses, and be on his way. After all, it was Lexa he sought, not some self-absorbed princess in pursuit of her disappearing youth.

"Come inside with me," he told Scaramouche, "and we will have word with the old man."

Doremus was sitting at the chess board, pondering his move with a full cup beside him. "Would you like some mead before we eat?" he asked with easy hospitality, as if this were a mere social visit. Gundar felt a grudging admiration for his composure.

"Surely you do not expect me to fall for the same trick twice!" Gundar said, smiling sardonically.

"If you doubt me, take mine," Doremus said, holding out his cup.
Gundar hesitated. Was this another devious plan?

"Shall I try it first, to be sure?" Scaramouche asked.

"No," Gundar said sharply. "I want you stone cold sober until we arrive at the palace."

Doremus took a long sip. "See -- it is harmless."

"Thank you, but no," Gundar said. "What I really want from you is some answers."

"What would you like to know?" Doremus asked.

"Why did you betray Yamyn?"

Doremus shook his head and smiled faintly. "I did not betray him. I did what I did to save him from a life of infamy."

Gundar frowned. "How so?"

Doremus stood up and took Gundar's hand. "Take him with you. Please."

"You want me to deliver him to the king's justice?" Gundar said incredulously. Surely he had not been mistaken about the old man's affection for the youth.

"No, no!" Doremus said. "If you tell the king that he had some part, however small, in his daughter's rescue, he will surely pardon him and purchase his bond."

"His bond?" Gundar asked. "This is a run-away bondservant? Surely someone with so little honour is beneath even your contempt!"

"He was just a child," Doremus said, "sold by his father while his mother was off caring for a sick relative. The master was unspeakably depraved. After a year of unrelenting suffering, the boy ran away and joined Gallagher's band. He had nowhere else to go. This is no ruffian. He is gentle, kind, and well-spoken. He deserves a better life than this!" The old man's eyes grew bright, and he dabbed at a tear with his sleeve. "Please help him!"

Gundar stared at the old man, dumbfounded. There was no mistaking the sincerity of those tears. Reprobate that he was, murderer of a hundred or more, he had not forgotten how to love.

"And what will you do?" Gundar said.

Doremus shrugged. "I will remain here if you let me, and dine peacefully on my venison. By the time I meet with Gallagher's men again, I will have invented a tale so plausible that even I will not scorn to believe it."

"Do not listen to him," Scaramouche said, drawing his dagger. "Let me slit his gullet and be done with it!"

Gundar sighed. "I cannot. I gave my word to spare his life."

"Your word is not binding on me," Scaramouche pointed out.

"No. We will let him go," Gundar said defensively, hardly understanding why he was so strongly inclined to clemency. After all, this Doremus was a murderer many times over. Killing him would be public service.

"You will rue this day," Scaramouche said bleakly, putting away his dagger. "This one is past redemption."

"We will tie him up and see how Eric fares," Gundar said.

"How will I tend my roast while I am tied up?" Doremus asked, reverting to his subservient whine.

"What does it matter if your roast is a little singed?" Gundar asked. "This is a matter of life and death!"

"If the fat falls in the fire, it may flare up and set the whole cabin ablaze!" Doremus protested.

"You should have though of that before you decided to make victims of us," Scaramouche said, picking up the rope.

A heavy kick on the door brought them all to attention. Gundar palmed his weapon and held it behind him as he eased the door open.

Eric staggered forward, almost knocking Gundar over. An unconscious woman was draped over his shoulder.