The Knight

Duns glanced at Pouk, saw he had finished unloading the sumpter, and motioned for us to follow him. “Get inna house first, sar, ‘n we kin dry off.” With Uns lagging behind, we followed Duns through the pelting rain to the front of the house, splattering ankle-deep mud at every step and ushered in by a roll of thunder loud enough to shake the walls. “Cap’n’s whistlin’,” Pouk said when we were inside and he could make himself heard.

I smiled and reminded him that most people would say that the Valfather was angry.

“Not at us he ain’t,” Duns declared. “We need this.”

Uns caught my sleeve. “If ya was ta sleep inna kitchen, mebbe.” He was answering the question I had asked out in the barn, but it took me a second to realize that.

Duns ran his fingers through his hair and shook water from them. “He’s a knight, ya coof! Knights don’t sleep inna kitchen. I’ll fetcha towel, sar. That way ya kin dry ya face, anyways.”

Pouk edged close enough to whisper, “Be a big fire in th’ kitchen, sir.” Shivering, and wet to the skin, I told Uns we wanted to say hello to our hostess, and promised we would not keep her from her cooking. He led us into the big, cheerful, tiled room, where we greeted her and warmed ourselves at the fire that was roasting our dinner.

―――

As we ate it, Duns said,” Ya wanted ta know how ya could see it, sar, if ya was ta stay.”

I nodded, and added that I would gladly sleep in the kitchen if it would get me a glimpse of the ghost.

Nukara shook her head.

“All I kin tell ya’s what I done. I guess ma tolt what happent ta me.” I nodded again. “It seemed like it a very solid ghost.”

Duns nodded ruefully, and his mother eagerly. Uns only stared down at his plate.

“What I done was sit up da ’un night, sit up quiet ’til I heard somethin’.

Then I creept up quiet as I could. I kin show where I first seen it.”

“Maybe later.”

“’Twas hot ‘n da winders open, ‘n it jumpt out ’un, ‘n I caught up inna sout’ pasture. I’se a strong man.”

I said, “I know you are. I remember your grip.”

“I’se stronger den. On’y it’s stronger dan me. Lot stronger.” He was clearly shamed.

Nukara looked at me anxiously. “You’re not goin’ to wrestle it are you, Sir

Able? The way Duns done? I thought you’d—I don’t know what.”

“I don’t—” I fell silent as the eerie howl of the wind filled the room, a ghost not nearly as substantial as the one I hoped to hunt down.

“Storm’s gettin’ worse,” Duns muttered.

“Yes.” I stood up.

Nukara looked surprised. “That was just the wind in the chimney, Sir Able.” I agreed, but I had recalled what Disiri had told me when we parted, and knew I had to go. Pouk rose too, but I made him sit back down and finish his food.

After that, I turned and went out, afraid that I would say or do something that would give my secret away. There was a covered porch at the back of the house, and I suppose I stood there for half a minute looking at the rain. That may have been why I missed her.

―――

I do not know how long it took me to cross the fields and meadows and reach the woods on the other side. It was slow going and hard going, but I kept at it, head down, with the hood of my cloak pulled up as far as I could get it to give my face some protection. I started calling for her when I got close, and I was dumb enough to be happy that the wind had dropped and it seemed like she might hear me. The rain had slacked off by that time too, not stopped but not pouring the way it had been.

“If you simply want a woman,” said a soft voice at my ear, “I know one who would be honored.”

I jumped. It was a red Aelfmaiden taller than I am but as slender as a glowing poker.

“I am back, Lord,” she said, “and I am Baki. Possibly you have forgotten me.”

“To tell the truth, I’ve been wondering where you were,” I said. “You got

Sword Breaker for me, and my bow, and put them under my bed.”

“After which you told me to go away and let you alone.”

I really did not want to talk to her, although I felt I had to. I said, “You wanted to get under the covers with me again. You and the other one.” She tittered.

“Has anybody told you you sound like a bat?”

“Only bats, Lord.”

“That was you, wasn’t it, in the armorer’s shop? I could hear you but I couldn’t see you.”

“Not I, Lord.” She smiled. She had big white teeth, and they looked sharp. “It must have been Uri. Or your precious Queen Disiri, perhaps.”

I sighed. “I ought to punish you for lying.”

“I? Whose blood glutted you? You have not the heart, Lord.”

“You’re right, I don’t.” I started calling for Disiri again, though I felt pretty sure I was not going to find her.

“I need not look like this, you know.” Smoke came out of her eyes. She shrank and faded, getting wider, white and gold. In about a minute, maybe less, there was a naked, shy-looking girl with golden hair and a big stick-out chest where Baki had been standing. Her eyes sucked up the smoke. “Do you like me better now, Lord?” Her head came as high as my chin.

I had thought only Disiri could do that, but I said, “I’m not exactly crazy about you either way.”