Episode 26 -- Return to Humanity

"Gundar! Gundar! Come forth!"

The rat quivered in his burrow of hay. What was that sound?

"Gundar!"

A human voice. Humans were deadly, but there was something irresistible about the sound of that voice. He inched forward, whiskers twitching.

"Gundar – thanaratha keryon -- thanaratha." The voice, gently chanting its plaintive melody, coaxed him out of hiding. The music enveloped him, drew him into the open. A human form was waiting for him, shrouded in a voluminous velvet cloak that matched his own brown fur. Every nerve in his body was on high alert, ready to run. But the charm drew him closer and closer, like a moth to a flame.

A hand darted out from under the cloak, flicked in his direction, and disappeared as quickly as it had come. A shower of golden dust enveloped Gundar. He sneezed and tried to run for cover, but his body refused to respond. It swelled and grew and changed, until he, too, was human, a man on hands and knees, nose flared and twitching.

"Rise," the lovely voice said, and Gundar discovered that he understood the meaning of the word. He pushed himself to his feet, his hand instinctively shielding his groin. He had mated without shame during his time as a rat, but human modesty overcame him now, striving to shield his erection from prying eyes.

The woman’s eyes never left his as she extracted a bundle of clothing from under her cloak and set them down in front of him. "Put these on," she said, and turned her back.

He fumbled with the leather, the fastenings. When the woman turned around, she burst out laughing, and quickly checked herself.

"I see I will have to be your tiring woman," she said, taking a fold of linen between her thumb and forefinger. "This goes on the inside." She let the cloak slip from her shoulders onto the ground and held out a flask. "Drink this. It will help clear your head."

The honeyed liquid trickled down his throat, bringing memories with it. "You are Lexa," he whispered as she began her work of undressing and untangling and re-dressing. She was wearing the same red leather she had on when he first laid eyes on her, and her touch was even more maddening than the sight of her. "I love you."

"No you don’t," she said, giving his wandering hand a smart slap. "You love Lili. Remember? Lili – who gave her name to your boat."

"My boat has foundered," he said dramatically, "and my love with it. I must have a new one, or die."

"Gundar!" Lexa shrieked, levering herself away from him. "Desist now, before I knock you unconscious!"

Would she really do that? he wondered. Does she have the muscle and the stomach for such a thing, or is she just teasing me, inviting me to proceed? Then, remembering that Lexa was a warrior of considerable prowess, he decided not to risk testing her.

"Are you mended of your wounds?" he asked. "I hear that you comported yourself most heroically. When I heard of it, I had to come to be near you. I could not help myself."

"You broke your word to your liege lord and got yourself into no end of trouble," Lexa said sharply, tugging on a fastener rather more vigorously than necessary.

"We rescued the princess!" Gundar protested. "That must count for something! Has she returned safely?" he asked. "The last time I saw her, she was bouncing into the sunrise on the back of Doremus’ accursed six-legged brute."

"She turned up unharmed," Lexa said, "and that Yamyn fellow got all the credit. He keeps saying that he has no recollection of doing anything heroic, but everyone takes that as a becoming expression of modesty. The princess has bought his bond twice over, and her father has elevated him to the peerage. He is a national hero, doted on by all."

"Old Doremus will be proud and content," Gundar said. "That’s what he wanted most of all – for Yamyn to end his outlaw days."

"Doremus? The old man who disappeared like a smoke wraith before his story could be examined?"

Gundar chuckled. "That is surely the one – a wily character who gains the confidence of others with such ease that it is hard to believe that he makes his living by killing and looting innocent wayfarers."

"It sounds as if you have conceived a liking for him," :Lexa said, making a final adjustment on Gundar’s shirt.

"It is hard not to," Gundar said. "If I had half his acumen, I could rule the Northlands with one hand and circumnavigate the world with the other." His head was much clearer now, and he could easily remember both his life as a man and as a rat. "How does Eric fare?" he asked. "Has he continued his journey?"

"No. He plies his trade here. Netheniel the merchant spied his magic purse and accused him of thievery. The king found Eric innocent of wrong-doing, but required the return of the purse. Netheniel supplies the palace with many essentials, and Tantalos cannot afford to cross him."

"So much for easy money!" Gundar said. "Did he keep his fine rig?"

"No – he sold it. I bought two of his horses."

"Whatever for?"

Lexa picked up her cloak. "For our escape."

"Our escape?" Gundar said, puzzled. Then he remembered the proceedings in the Hall of Judgement. "Have I not been vindicated?"

"No," Lexa said, with a sigh. "Stasi and I believe what Eric says, but Tantalos will not. He still holds you guilty of high treason. You are to be the guest of honour at Execution Day tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? And if I decline to appear?"

"The king has decreed that Stasi will die in your place, since he is your liege lord and responsible for all your debts."

"Then I cannot renege. It would not be honourable."

"Don’t worry about Stasi," Lexa said. "He has the means to extricate himself." She held out the cloak. "Take this and muffle yourself. Walk daintily, and you can pass for a woman. Eric has prepared a carriage for us. Once we are out of sight, we will unharness the horses and be on our way. The Kingdom of Theronia will welcome us. The people there idolize me, and will believe whatever I tell them."

Gundar draped the cloak around himself. The prospect of a journey with Lexa was appealing. "Show me how I must walk."

"Small steps, like this," Lexa said, demonstrating.

"You don’t walk like that!" Gundar said.

"Of course not. I am a warrior. And everyone can see that I am a woman."

"That’s true enough," Gundar said, letting the hood fall back off his head. "Even someone as thick-headed as I cannot help but notice your beautifully--"

Lexa grabbed the and pulled it up over his head. "Keep your face covered," she hissed, "stay close to me, say nothing, and remember to wriggle your hips."