Part 3 (2/2)
Closing the last of the drawers, he saw with annoyance that his search had yielded only a few coins, a topaz brooch and a gold chain upon which hung a locket containing a tiny portrait of King Endon, Liefas father, as a young man.
Jinks snorted in disgust. Why, the kingas mother still dressed like a blacksmithas wife! Where were the jewels, gold rings and ropes of pearls he had expected to find?
Shaking his head, he hurried out of the room and moved to the next door.
Do not fret, Jinks, my boy, he told himself, inserting his handy hairpin into the lock. The girl Marilenas room must be here somewhere.
The gossip was that Lief had chosen the finest of the royal jewels for his bride. But Marilen had not been wearing anything of value when Jinks saw her. So the jewels must be hidden away in her room. What a prize they would be!
The lock clicked under the pressure of his fingers, and he entered the second room.
It looked almost as bare as the first. But on a low table by the fire was a tray holding a bowl of stew, a salad, some bread, and, best of all, a small golden-brown cake in a silver paper case.
Jinks hurried to the table, reached for the cake, then drew back. A folded paper was lying beside the tray. Clearly it had not yet been read, for its wax seal was only partly broken. Eyes sharp with curiosity, Jinks opened it.
Jinks grinned in delight. So he had stumbled on Marilenas room already! He should have realised it at once, because of the tray. The spoilt wench had stormed off to find Sharn, leaving her meal untouched.
He grabbed the cake and gobbled it down with relish.
Now, to find the jewels! He looked around, enjoying the moment. Then, with shock and disbelief, he felt a stab of pain, agonising pain, in his stomach. Gasping, he doubled up, clutching his belly as the pain stabbed again, and again. He tried to call out, but could manage only a croaking whisper.
Agony gripped him. He fell writhing to the floor, his fingers clawing on the thin rug, his heels kicking at the table.
The table tilted. The tray slid over the edge.
By the time it hit the ground, Jinks was dead.
8 - The House of Penn.
Thoughts of Del had again begun nagging at Lief as he followed Penn through the maze of narrow walkways that ran between the crowded dwellings of the rafts. But they were driven from his mind the moment he, Jasmine and Barda entered the history-keeperas hut.
The hut was small but pleasant, despite the strong smell of fish oil that drifted both from the stove burning in one corner and the sh.e.l.l lamp fixed to a wall.
A sleeping hammock covered with a patchwork rug of grey skins hung from hooks fastened to the low ceiling. There was no other furniture at all, but the floor was covered with a beautiful mat woven in soft sea colours.
Three of the smooth, pale walls were covered with hanging baskets in which rolled parchments, clothes and other belongings were neatly arranged. The door wall was bare except for a hook upon which Penn invited Lief to hang his cloak, a curtained window and a small wall hanging woven in a strange, bold pattern.
Below the wall hanging was a large blue bowl filled with water. Inside the bowl, two small, upright sea creatures swayed amid fronds of silver weed. They were very like sea horses in shape, but glittered with every colour of the rainbow.
aMy companions, Tresk and Mesk,a said Penn, leaning over the bowl. Plainly, by the way she cooed and smiled at the little creatures as they bobbed up to nuzzle her hand, bubbling eagerly, they were very dear to her.
She looked anxious as Filli crept out from under Jasmineas collar and ran down to the edge of the bowl to investigate.
aFilli would not harm them,a Jasmine a.s.sured her. But Penn did not relax until Filli was safely back on Jasmineas shoulder again, nibbling at a dried berry from Jasmineas pocket.
After that, Penn busied herself in making her guests welcome. She could not have been more helpful, or more agreeable.
She took down the hammock and stored it away, to make more room. Then she supplied Jasmine with everything necessary to care for Kreeas injured wing. All the while she asked questions about Deltora and the companionsa present journey, listening alertly to their answers.
Finally, once Kree was resting comfortably, she brought large snail sh.e.l.ls of strong, oily soup to her guests.
aIt is not to your taste, perhaps?a she asked anxiously, as she watched them drink.
aOh, no, it is very good,a Lief a.s.sured her, trying not to wrinkle his nose. He felt something hard on his tongue and removed it. It was a shrivelled claw. He stared at it with repulsion, wondering what horrible creature it had come from.
Penn looked grave. aYou would be wise always to speak the truth on the rafts,a she said gently. aAs a keeper of history, who has read much of what Doran taught our ancestors, I am familiar with your peopleas ways. But in this I am different from most. Even politeness, which in the world above, I believe, is thought good, is no excuse for lies here.a She gestured to the wall-hanging which had fascinated Lief ever since he entered the hut.
Lief, Barda and Jasmine stared at the bold symbols, and at last saw the word concealed within them.
aTruth,a Lief murmured.
Penn nodded. aBeauty is important to us, as befits followers of the Piper Auron,a she said. aBut we believe that nothing can be truly beautiful unless truth dwells within it. Lies and pretence have been the ruin of our people in the past. Now our children are taught from their earliest days that truth is all-important, and lying is the greatest sin.a She smiled slightly. aSo, tell me. Are you really enjoying the meal you have been given?a aWell, if you want the truth, while I am grateful for your kindness, I find it repulsive!a growled Barda, putting down his sh.e.l.l.
aAnd I,a said Jasmine, doing likewise.
Lief sighed. aTruly the most unpleasant brew I have ever tasted,a he agreed.
Pennas smile broadened. aIt is written that Doran felt the same at first,a she chuckled. Quickly she drained her own sh.e.l.l, crunching the dregs with relish.
aAnd now,a she said, with obvious reluctance, putting the sh.e.l.l aside, ait is my task to tell you why we cannot help you.a Lief leaned forward. aCould we not speak to your Piper? Our cause is just, and we would have your part of the Pirran Pipe for onlya”a Penn raised her arm, which was covered in complicated tattoos almost to the elbow.
aDo not waste your breath in argument,a she said bluntly. aThe Piper knows why you are here. The guards who were not needed for towing your boat landed long before you, and informed him.a She sighed at the expression on Liefas face.
aThe Piper wishes you to know that we would give you anything you asked, if we could. Your kinsman Doran spent much time on the rafts in ages past. He gave our ancestors many gifts, including the gift of fire, without which our lives today would be miserable beyond words.a Barda frowned. aThena”a Penn shrugged. aDo you think that we would live like this if our part of the Pirran Pipe was with us?a she sighed. aDo you think we choose to drift the seas, spending half our lives searching for materials to mend the rafts? Do you think we choose to live in darkness, when our souls long for light?a Lief struggled with warring feelings of disbelief and bitter disappointment. He knew the second part of the Pipe was near. He could feel it! Yet he knew also that Penn, whose people valued truth above all things, could not be lying.
aThe stem of the Pipe is lost, then?a he asked, in a level voice.
aLost to us,a said Penn. aIt is on the island of Auron. And that is lost to us, also.a aLost?a Jasmine shook her head impatiently. aHow lost? Has it sunk into the sea? Has it been overrun by the monsters you bred toa”a aMonsters we bred?a cried Penn. Pale eyes flas.h.i.+ng, all stiffness forgotten, she jumped to her feet. aWho has told you this lie?a she thundered, looking down at Jasmine angrily.
Then her face changed. Her eyes narrowed, and her wide mouth hardened. aAh, of course,a she hissed. aThose accursed Plumes, who could not speak the truth if their lives depended upon it. Who would stop at nothing to smear our name to descendants of Doran!a aIf the Plumes were lying, they did not know it,a snapped Jasmine, refusing to be cowed. aThey told us only what they truly believed.a Penn glared at her for a moment. Then, slowly, her rage seemed to die, and her face relaxed. aI am sorry for my anger,a she said, walking to the window, pulling aside the curtain and staring out at the dimness. aI was wrong to blame you. The Plumes are clever deceivers.a Jasmine looked as if she was going to argue further, but Lief spoke quickly, before she had the chance. Hope was again flaring in his heart. For if the second part of the Pirran Pipe was on Auron, it could surely be won, whatever the danger that guarded it.
aTell us, Penn, I beg you, why you say Auron is lost,a he urged.
Strange, high, echoing calls began to drift through the window, filling the room, growing louder every moment.
Penn turned around. Her face was shadowed with weariness and something more. Despair, perhaps.
aDawn is being sung by the Piper,a she said. aThe time of sleep is over. Not that any of us have had our proper sleep, this night.a aI am sorrya”a Lief began, but Penn waved away his apology and walked to the hanging baskets on the back wall. She selected two small, ragged pieces of parchment, then moved to the door.
aCome,a she said. aYour boat may now leave the rafts with safety.a aWe cannot leave!a exclaimed Jasmine, glancing protectively at Kree. aKree must rest further. He is still weak.a aThe bird may remain where he is,a said Penn, her serious face relaxing a little as she regarded Jasmineas earnest face. aIn his condition he will not trouble Tresk and Mesk, and you will be back before the Piper calls down the night. To swim would be faster, but not for you, I suspect. I am taking you to Auron.a Liefas heart jolted with excitement. He glanced at Barda, whose face was bright with triumph.
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