The Land of the Silver Apples - Farmer Nancy (читать книги онлайн без txt) 📗

“I wonder what they intend for him, poor fellow,” said Father Severus, who was walking slowly and leaning on Pega’s shoulder.

“Noooo,” moaned Father Swein, attempting to flee. The elf guards at the hall door shoved him back. But Guthlac was unable to see his enemy, and so the abbot was able to edge past.

They found themselves in a vast courtyard under a starry sky crowned by a full moon. In the middle was an enormous bonfire, while at the sides were flower-filled gardens lit by lamps and torches as well as by the fire. Bright shadows competed with dark ones.

Elves were singing, dancing, feasting, playing games, and conjuring up monsters. A giant toad snagged fireflies with its tongue. Jack could see its belly glow as the creatures flew around inside. Then a monstrous black flower grew out of the ground and swallowed the toad. It croaked mournfully as the petals closed. The pet toddlers howled and tried to crawl away, but they were brought up short by their leashes. The elves laughed merrily at their antics.

It was a scene of swirling chaos, a feverish quest for more and more pleasure, and Jack realized suddenly that there was no joy in the celebration at all. It was a mad frenzy, such as came over sheep after they had eaten moldy grass.

“Something touched my face!” cried Pega. Jack whirled around, ready to do battle with whatever had frightened her. But there was nothing. He walked around her to be sure. The competing lights and shadows made it difficult to see. “There wassomething,” the girl insisted. “I felt it first in the hallway and now here.”

“Did it hurt you?”

“No.” Pega seemed unwilling to say more.

“It was probably a bat,” said Thorgil. Large, leathery shapes with bodies the size of puppies swooped above the bonfire.

Pega shuddered. “I’d know if one of those bumped into me. This was more like… a kiss.”

“Maybe it was tasting you to see if you’d be good.”

“Thorgil!” exclaimed Jack.

“There’s Lucy,” said Pega. And Jack saw Queen Partholis and his sister watching a lumpy seedling rising from the ground.

“No, no!” said Partholis. “Branches first, thenhoney cakes!” Lucy stamped her foot, and the seedling died. “I don’t know why I bother teaching you glamour,” complained the Elf Queen. “You have the brain of a flea.”

“Why doesn’t it do what I want?” Lucy whined.

“Because glamour needs concentration. Oh, very well. I’ll take over.” Partholis waved her hands, and the seedling revived, putting out branches, leaves, then flowers, and, last of all, honey cakes. Lucy began stuffing herself with the treat.

“There’s our guests of honor!” cried Gowrie, the huntsman who had danced with Thorgil at the party. Elf lords and ladies immediately swept Jack and his companions on to the queen.

“Oh, bother! What’s he doing here?” said Lucy, her mouth smeared with honey. Jack felt a pang of grief. After all he’d done to save her, she might at least be glad to see him. But he reminded himself that she might be under a spell. The silver necklace still gleamed around her neck.

“He’s here for the ceremony,” Partholis said. “He’s meant for the— youknow.”

Lucy turned away, bored.

“Let the celebration begin!” cried Gowrie, clapping his hands. Thralls set out chairs, tables, and snacks. Partholis and Partholon seated themselves with Ethne—who threw Father Severus an anguished look—and Lucy.

“Nimue!” shrieked the queen. “Nimue! Come sit with us. This is going to be such fun!” The Lady of the Lake made her way from among a cluster of ladies draped in what appeared to be fish scales.

“I wish I could stay,” she gushed, “but I simply must get Brutie-Wootie out of harm’s way.”

Brutie-Wootie?thought Jack with a sinking feeling. And sure enough, he saw Brutus being fawned over by the same cluster of fishy ladies.

“He can’tgo,” wailed the queen. “He promised to sing for me, and besides—”

“You have quite enough humans without him,” Nimue said tartly. “I promised to restore the water to Bebba’s Town, and I have to admit I miss the dear old swamps and marshes. Now that St. Filian’s power is broken, I can go and come as I please.”

“You are selfish as always,” sniffed Partholis. The Lady of the Lake yawned delicately.

Brutus extricated himself from the crowd of admiring ladies. “Has the sun risen? Have I wandered into the heart of a flower? Or are my eyes dazzled by your ravishing beauty?” he cried, bowing before the queen.

“Oh, you,”Partholis said, giggling.

“I assure you, nothing could tear me away from your glorious presence except duty to my Lady,” exclaimed Brutus. “Alas, I am in thrall.”

“The sooner we get out of here the better,” urged Nimue.

“Then I fear I must bid you all adieu,” Brutus said, bowing again.

“Wait a minute,” said Jack, pulling him aside. “How can you abandon the rest of us?”

“I’m not abandoning you. I’m fulfilling the quest.”

“You, Brutie-Wootie, are a vile oath-breaker,” said Jack, falling back on Thorgil’s deadliest insult.

“You wound me deeply,” protested the slave. “My mission was to restore water to Din Guardi. This I shall do. Yet what do I receive for my loyal service? Base ingratitude. But I forgive you, because those of Lancelot’s line don’t hold grudges.”

“Those of Lancelot’s line can barely hold a thought for five seconds!” yelled Jack. “You’re deserting us! You’re leaving us to be dragged down to Hell! How noble is that?”

“Ah! But you have allies you are not aware of,” said Brutus with a mysterious smile.

“What allies? What are you talking about?”

“I wish I could say. Unfortunately, the very air in Elfland has ears. I can, however, pass on a gift from them.” Brutus fished in a pocket and removed a small leather bag.

Jack looked inside. There was a chunk of flint, a nail of bright metal, and a dried polypore, the sort of mushroom used for kindling. “Fire-making tools!” Jack said, beside himself with rage. “What do I need these for? We’ve got the biggest bonfire in Middle Earth over there!”

Brutus laid his finger across his mouth to caution silence. “That would be true if, in fact, we werein Middle Earth. Nothing in Elfland is what it seems.”

“You can’t leave us,” cried Pega, flinging herself against him. “You can’t leave him.”She pointed at Father Severus.

Even Thorgil unbent enough to tug at his sleeve. “True comrades stay together.”

“I have no choice in the matter. The Lady despises humans (except for me, of course). She will not take you,” said Brutus, hugging each of them.

“But—but—” said Pega, beginning to cry.

“At least give me Anredden,” said Thorgil. “I doubt you even know how to use it.”

“Trust me, no mortal sword can defend you. Pega holds the weapon you must use—but I dare not say more.”

By now the fishy ladies were calling for Brutus to join them. He blew them kisses. “Now I must go. Water nymphs are so impatient, the darlings!” He stroked Pega’s wispy hair. “Remember the gift I passed on to Jack, lassie. It is real. It does not come from Elfland.”Then Nimue took him firmly by the arm and led him away. The last they saw of him was his dark head bobbing among a cluster of fish scales in the distance.

“What did he mean, I have the weapon? What can I do?” Pega said. “I’m no warrior. I suppose I could sing.”

“Last time your singing got us thrown into the dungeon,” Thorgil said.

“Brutus meant nothing. He never does,” said Jack, thoroughly disgusted.

Chapter Thirty-seven

THE TITHE OF HELL

By now the elves had ranged themselves in a wide arc around a grassy lawn, with Partholis and her consort at the center. The bonfire snapped nearby and sent a shower of sparks high into the air. They floated golden among the silver stars and did not dim. Will the demons drag us into the fire?Jack wondered. Can an illusion burn you?He guessed it probably could. The heat was certainly uncomfortable against his face. Gowrie clapped his hands for silence.