Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 (Continued from Ch 74, Trial By Enok)

   The Chronicles of Rapina Chapter 75, A Tail of Trolls -------

   After the trial by combat, the crowd dispersed as the men went back to
their duties.  The evening patrol returned to the walls as the sun was
already setting and the trolls attacked almost exclusively at night.  The
men who had been sleeping either went back to sleep or headed for the mess
hall to socialize until their usual late dinner was served.  After
Bronenkam fell, Celena crossed the stone stage to the knights seated there.

   "You have my condolences Sirs.  I know Sir Bronenkam served beside you
for a long time before this recent turn of events, and I regret he chose
the course of action that he did.  I imagine you men will spend some time
reflecting.  I hope that saving you some time will help a little.  That is
why I have finished checking the sums in your record book, Sir Stallart. 
Shall I stop by your office after I tend to Enok's wounds?"

   "Nay, we will be coming by the infirmary with your winnings shortly. 
You can give me the book then, Sir Stallart said in a hollow tone."

   "Very well Sir Knight, I will see you shortly then," Celena said before
turning to find the orc.

   Enok doffed his helmet, held the gash on his neck closed and accompanied
Celena back to the infirmary where she washed his neck wound, applied an
antiseptic tincture and stitched the wound closed.  When she finished, she
applied additional herbs and a bandage and then helped Enok out of the rest
of his armor.  As she did so, she noticed his helmet and smiled.  Sir
Gehrheart had given Enok a heavy pair of gauntlets, but Enok had put one of
his old chain mail gauntlets to good use.  He had rolled it up and put it
into the peak of his helmet.

   "Enok n'kung - toc kopf," Celena observed that Enok was not stupid as he
had protected his head.  Celena pretended to stagger around as Enok had
after the orc was supposedly unable to parry blows adequately after Sir
Bronenkam struck in the helmet.

   "Enok snook Sir Bronenkam," Celena said, observing that Enok had tricked
Sir Bronenkam.

   "Virtusar show Enok - goo-oo-oo snook-snik-bot'l!"

   "I saw the way you tricked and trapped Sir Bronenkam for the win.  By
playing the coward, you made Sir Bronenkam play the aggressor.  His
defensive sword fighting would have been full of tricks and feints, but his
offensive mode was mostly predictable blows aimed at decapitating you.  By
keeping him on the offensive, you avoided the worst of his skill while you
took advantage of his overconfidence to inflict wounds that diminished his
fighting ability," Celena said before translating her statement into
orcish.

   "You got me.  Enok want know - orc make nnnkehl Daelrath?"

   "You want to know if an orc could be a lieutenant or better in
Daelrath?" Celena cocked her head and considered the question.  "Kung orc -
no," Celena told Enok that a stupid orc could not be a lieutenant or
better.

   "Enok n'kung!"

   "Enok barr bissie n'kung - no.  Celena smiled as she said Enok could not
attain a rank of lieutenant or better being a little intelligent.

   "Enok nbar strategy?"

   Celena grinned and nodded noting Enok's use of the common word
"strategy," a word he had recently learned.  "Yes, if you use strategy you
could do it."

   "nnn-strategy?" Enok asked about the strategy.

   "Men think all orcs are the same orc.  Men would never serve the orc
they think of.  He is stupid-kung, lazy-dozn, dirty-glukn, angry-agritn
smelly-phewn, drunk-aled and he has no honor-snik ahlee.  Enok must make
men think of Enok as Enok, not as the one orc they think all orcs are. 
Celena translated her statement just in case Enok had not understood.

   Enok smiled cunningly and held his hands near his head.  "Enok n'dozn,"
he said and expanded the imaginary circle around his head that his hands
defined.  "Enok n'glukn." Enok again expanded the imaginary sphere and then
expanded it by degrees as he added more conditions.  "Enok n'phewn, Enok
n'aled, Enok n'agritn, Enok n'kung!" Enok flailed his hands out as if the
imaginary sphere had popped.

   Celena laughed.  "You got it!  It will be very difficult.  You will have
to learn to think very strategically, and you will have to hold yourself to
a much higher standard than a human warrior of Daelrath because men usually
distrust orcs.  You will also have to learn to speak and read Common, not
like a warrior, but like a knight.  Lastly, but very importantly, you will
need to become a battle hero by killing many trolls and saving many men's
lives," said Celena before translating once again.

   Enok nodded.  "Strategy nnn strategy."

   "Think like Virtusar.  Act like Virtusar.  Fight like Virtusar." Celena
said succinctly.

   "Enok tsa Virtusar!"

   While she was still finishing with Enok's wounds, Sir Gehrheart and Sir
Stallart arrived with a small, but heavy chest.

   "I confess I thought Sir Bronenkam would be back in the good graces of
the men with the added bonus of having killed the only orc that could
testify that Baron Daelrath was the victim of a hired assassination," Sir
Stallart admitted.  "Nay, but I was wrong.  Sir Gehrheart said you were the
best warrior in the keep that wasn't a knight, Enok, and I should have
believed him.  I hated to see Sir Bronenkam go, but it was obvious to me
that he was no longer working for Daelrath.  I am glad you somehow pulled
it off.  Congratulations on your win, Enok!" Sir Stallart exclaimed.

   Celena translated.

   "Thanks, me dream Virtusar, get strategy!" Enok pointed at his head. 
"Me no take Chontral Celena gold.  Celena gold and winning go Celena."

   "I think you are right to do that, Enok.  I suspect Champion Medea
blessed you with a vision from Virtusar.  My compliments to you on that,
Champion.  It was the mightiest magic anyone could have done and stayed
within the rules of the trial.  A great strategy can bring victory in spite
of tall odds."

   "Thank you, Sir Gehrheart.  I believe Virtusar knows this little barony
can really use his help what with the Vindicator trying to steal it from
its rightful owners by dishonorable means," Celena said.

   All the while, she realized that she had not been trying to give Enok
divine inspiration.  She had been trying to cast the priestess of
Virtusar's version of Bestow Vitality on him.  Obviously, Mortaebius had
had other plans.  She suspected that divine magic could be tricky that way.
Perhaps she could not work directly with Virtusar, but she suspected that
the god of war and the god of death were working together, and the
strategic vision Mortaebius had given Enok through her had served their
cause well.  Assuming her patron was working with the god of war and had
shown a dream image of Virtusar and his strategy to Enok, she could still
serve as a link between the god of war and his followers.  Obviously,
Virtusar was adept at using any tools available to him to attain victory,
and the followers of his allies would certainly count in that equation.  He
might have used Vicar Fryske, but she suspected that the vicar was too
innocent and honorable to attempt to skew the odds of a fight even if it
might have meant his later death or banishment at the hands of the
Avengenes as a result.

   "We are ready to make good on the bets each of you placed and those
placed on Enok's behalf, Champion.  Most of the other winners were
finger-crossing men of Bristol who said their prayers to Mortaebius and
hoped for the best.  There were far more losers than winners and Enok was
the biggest winner of all." Sir Gehrheart beamed.  Let me break your money
out here, Champion," Sir Gehrheart said counting out Celena's money. 
"Normally the barony takes five percent of winnings without touching the
money you originally put up for the bet, but we will waive that fee for
Enok.  It is only fair since he risked his life on behalf of the barony. 
He is returning your five gold and the winnings with it, but the barony
will not charge the fee on that money since Enok won it and gave it to you.
Here is twenty-five gold from Enok, and twenty-four from your bet,
Champion.

   "Thank you Sir Gehrheart," Celena said graciously.

   Sir Gehrheart nodded and turned to Enok.  Enok you have over a thousand
gold pieces here.  The men of Daelrath are generally honest, even the ones
here to take advantage of the Duke's clemency, but a thousand gold pieces
would be a huge temptation for any man.  Do you have any idea what you want
to do with this money?"

   Celena translated.

   "Me want plate armor like Sir Bronenkam nnn me want big, goo-ood horse."

   "Can he get plate armor and a good war horse for a thousand?" Celena
asked.

   "He can, Sir Gehrheart agreed; and I would be glad to help by serving as
a middle-man when dealing with merchants who aren't comfortable selling to
an orc and might only do so if the price were ridiculously high.  He would
have to come with us to Rosehaven to get the armor made.  Plate armor is
beyond Jedediya's skill.  He can repair and modify it, but he cannot create
it.  It usually takes two or three visits to Rosehaven, but all the knights
have done it.  As far as the horse goes, you can talk to Sir Stallart about
that, Enok.  He could probably use an expensive heavy warhorse in his
breeding program.  It may be that you and he can make some kind of
partnership arrangement.  If he throws in some of his own money for a
portion of your horse, you could buy a very expensive animal indeed, and
its offspring would benefit the other knights and the barony.

   "We can keep your money in the safe at the tower house if you want,
Enok. The baron runs a bank.  A soldier has to have ten gold pieces or more
to start an account, but it is safer than trusting the men will not get
into your things."

   Celena translated.

   "Me buy jool?" Enok asked.

   "We do have a jeweler, but she makes crafts jewelry, nothing that would
hold a thousand gold pieces worth of value," said Stallart.

   Celena translated and then let Enok consider his options while she
spoke: "I would like to open an account with you while Enok thinks about
it," Celena said.

   Sir Stallart brought a book out of the chest and opened it up.

   "Here are forty gold pieces.

   "Okay, sign or make your mark here, and I will sign as well.

   Celena signed the ledger using the Celena script she had developed in
Springville.

   "Are there any banking fees?"

   "Not at this time.  The baron's bank only has a few clients, and most of
them work either for him or with him as partners.  If another power takes
this keep, or if the barony is lost, you may not get your money back,
otherwise it is yours.  The only exception to that is if you stole the
money and we can prove that beyond a reasonable doubt.

   "Sir Gehrheart get me good deal on Sir Bronenkam sword?  Me need two big
sword for troll fight."

   "I am pretty sure Sir Bronenkam had a backup blade.  I will see if Emie
will part with two swords for a fair price.  Gods know she could use the
money.  Sir Bronenkam bet everything he had on himself."

   "Me make account.  Me keep twenty.  You keep sword nnn horse nnn armor
money," Enok decided.  "You tell me price on two sword before Enok buy.

   Celena kept an eye on the transaction and watched as Enok made his mark
and Sir Stallart signed.

   "I have your farm records book, Sir Stallart.  I checked through the
whole volume while I was watching Sir Gehrheart train Enok.  I found three
errors.  Sergeant Jordan made one of them.  I listed the page numbers of
the errors next to the corrective postings on the current page of the book.
Celena fetched the book from her room and gave it to Sir Stallart.

   "Nay, you checked the whole book?  You were not kidding about your knack
for sums," Sir Stallart noted.

   "It was a good exercise, and it gave me something to do when I was not
translating for Sir Gehrheart.  Before you go, I must ask you about the
Avengenes.  Did you ever have any luck getting a message out using the
homing pigeons?

   "Nay, we stopped trying.  We suspect the Avengenes are still lurking out
there in the forest and we do not want to lose any more birds.  It is not
surprising they did not actually leave since they had Sir Bronenkam and
maybe a few additional spies doing their bidding.  Frost and the others
that we strongly suspected were in on Bronenkam's plot will be escorting
lady Bronenkam and her daughter to Avengene soon.  We hate to lose men, but
we cannot keep men who could be working for Lord Avengene," Stallart
admitted.

   "If Enok can do without magical healing, we would really like you to put
your head together with Vicar Fryske and see what you can come up with for
the baron," Sir Gehrheart added.  "Every day he goes without drinking or
eating puts him closer to death.  It has been twenty-four hours since he
was shot, and he is still unconscious."

   Celena nodded.  "I will meet with Vicar Fryske."

   "Enok, if you feel up to it, Sir Coshus has a scouting mission we could
use your help with," Sir Gehrheart continued.  "We need to know where the
Avengene camp is, but we don't want them to know we know.  With your vision
and Sir Coshus' knowledge of the area, we are confident that a nighttime
scouting mission will be a success."

   Celena translated.

   "Enok help."

   "I wish I could help," Carla whispered.  "I have been enjoying scouting
for you.  It is so much more exciting than lurking around my remains was.
Yet, I think Guardian Argyle was right when he said that such things anchor
a ghost in this world.  If I think about my bones, I can feel a pull.  It
is almost as if I can reach out and tou-."

   Celena had been watching Carla as she spoke.  The ghost had just
suddenly disappeared.

   Celena frowned.  She hoped Carla had not returned to her remains, but
she feared that was exactly what had happened to her.  Since Celena had
ridden past Carla's remains after escaping from the convent, Celena felt
she might be able to locate Carla's remains again, but that would not help
Carla stay with her unless she could remove her remains to Daelrath.

   "Do you want me to go along to translate?" Celena asked returning her
attention to her conversation with Sir Gehrheart.

   "If you were less important to us we would send you along, Champion, but
the baron is down and we may be facing a siege or additional skullduggery
from the Avengenes.  We simply cannot afford to lose one of our healers,"
Sir Gehrheart insisted.  "We have one young man who can speak some orcish,
but there is a small chance that he was one of the ones serving Sir
Bronenkam and the Avengenes.  It would not do to send a man who might
reveal our scouts to the Avengenes should we find the Avengene camp.

   "I see your point," Celena agreed.  "I would be glad to translate a
pre-mission briefing for you.  I suppose I should really let you knights
worry about such things, but I find the proximity of the Avengenes and
their interest in taking over Daelrath disturbing."

   "We're with you on that," Sir Stallart affirmed.

   "Given the sensitivity of things, we are going to be a bit tight-lipped
about the Avengenes, but we will let you know what is going on if you need
to know about any events at the present time.  Later, once the strategic
importance of the information has passed, I would be glad to tell you all
about it and explain our strategies," Sir Gehrheart said.  "Right now I had
best get on to other business." He turned towards the door to leave just as
the vicar arrived.  "Vicar Fryske, it is good you are here.  We were just
leaving.  Are you here to discuss the baron with Celena?"

   "I am," the vicar confirmed.

   "Good, then we will get out of your hair," Sir Gehrheart promised before
leaving with Sir Stallart and Enok.

   "The baron has yet to regain consciousness.  Are you up for a team
healing?" Vicar Fryske asked.

   "Yes, I will need to freshen up for a minute before we go over to the
tower house.  I fear that even with the both of us healing, the baron may
try to return to consciousness, but fail as he did when you healed him
before.  I belive his brain is healed, but the new tissue is not
functioning as the old did."

   "You may be right, but I want to give the Baron every chance we can
while he is still alive," the vicar said earnestly.

   "I feel the same way.  Unfortunately, Carla is not around today.  If the
baron's spirit is not able to get back into his body he may talk to me, but
I will not be able to ask Carla to hang onto him.  If both of us heal that
may give him a longer time with us, but I have no means of stretching it
out further."

   Vicar Fryske nodded.  "All we can do is to try.  Lady Daelrath and Sir
Stallart have asked to be present at the healing.

   "Is there any way we can feed the baron if he stays unconscious?" Celena
asked.

   Vicar Fryske frowned.  "A few physicians have had luck with tubes, but
as many have killed their patients trying to get a tube to work.  Without
access to the shops of a city, finding a tube that might work would be a
long shot."

   Celena nodded gravely.  "Let me freshen up for a minute and I'll join
you.

   Celena made her way to her room and shut the door.  She very quietly
refreshed her Life Vision, First Sight, Ghostly Whispers, and Floating
Dagger Telekinesis spells before briefly looking at her flawless face in a
mirror.  She brushed her strawberry blonde hair for just a moment and then
rejoined the vicar.  The two of them walked over to the tower house where
Sir Stallart and Sir Gehrheart were waiting for them.  After passing
through a couple of guard checkpoints within the house and going up a few
flights of stairs, they arrived at the baron's bedroom with its dozen
guards.

   There both she and Vicar Friske did their invocations.  Celena did her
invocation to an even more exacting standard of correctness than usual, but
she found that she still could not cast Virtusar's clerical healing spells.
After what she had experienced while casting on Enok, she felt she might
never be able to cast the clerical magic of Virtusar, but would more likely
be able to cast spells from Mortaebius.  If she was going to be a concubine
of Virtusar, perhaps she would be more akin to the legendary concubines
gifted to the god of war by Amorra, goddess of love.  Her connection with
Amorra was as sure as the powers she had inherited from the lust spirit. 
She vowed to talk to the clergy of Amorra the next time she encountered
them.

   Celena saw the baron's spirit appear.  The healing energy pulled his
spirit rapidly into his body.  Again, he struggled to move his body, but to
no avail.

   "It's no good.  I can't get my body to move," Baron Daelrath said
crossly.  "How could I be such a fool as to leave my daughter in this
predicament?  I should have known the Avengenes would contrive to kill me
and steal my barony at their first opportunity!  If only I had changed
those documents!  Even staying unmarried will not help Bruhnhilda -
something the Avengenes are not likely to allow if they can get hold of
her. She could marry any vaguely suitable man quickly, but it will not
count unless they have their wedding in public in a city.  Otherwise the
Avengenes could erase the event by murdering the people involved and
substituting their own more public marriage instead.  Whatever happens,
tell Bruhnhilda that I love her and I am so very sorry I did not see this
coming!

   "Baron Daelrath still cannot move any part of his body.  He deeply
regrets putting you in this situation, Lady Daelrath.  He is angry with
himself for not having changed the papers of succession before his injury.
He thinks he should have seen this coming and he believes the Avengenes
will try to abduct you as long as you are still unmarried and that they
would erase any marriage you might enter into unless it was done publicly
in a city," Celena explained.

   "Virtusar's blade, I'll bet that is why the Avengenes are still lurking
in the forest!  They know Bruhnhilda's only hope is to escape to a city and
marry herself off to whatever nobleman will have her, Sir Gehrheart
conjectured.  "They believe that if she leaves the keep, they can still nab
her, but if they were to lay siege to the keep directly, it would not look
good if observers from another barony were to arrive to visit."

   "Does Virtusar grant any magic that might allow Baron Daelrath to regain
mobility even for a few minutes?" Celena asked Vicar Fryske."

   "I think there is a spell that one can cast on a soldier who has been
mortally wounded that he might achieve some small victory such as the
vanquishing of a foe before he dies, but if I remember correctly, the spell
does not work on those with mortal head injuries.  It is a good idea
though, Champion.  If the Baron could regain consciousness even for a few
minutes, he could strike a mighty blow against the Avengenes with his pen
by making Bruhnhilda the baroness and any man she might marry merely a
consort.  We can consult my books to be sure that I am correct and that
there is no similar spell that might do the job."

   Celena sighed.  "Perhaps the Baron is too close to death.  Our spells
work on the living, but he may be in a realm where only necromancy can
reach him."

   Sir Gehrheart and Sir Stallart looked at one another.

   "Virtusar's lungs, I wish there was some way we could holler loudly
enough to summon Kroz!" Sir Gehrheart exclaimed.  "Maybe one of his creepy
spells could bring the Baron back to us."

   "Nay, the baron might wind up a mindless zombie or an animated
skeleton," Sir Stallart argued.

   "If you think about it, a spell that animates the dead binds the ghost
of the deceased into its remains and supplies the power of animation.  When
Vicar Fryske and I heal the baron, we recall his spirit to his body.  The
only thing lacking is the power of animation.  If this Kroz person could
supply that then the Baron could move.  He could sign a new version of the
papers of succession, and with luck, perhaps he could eat, drink and void
bladder and bowels.  If the spell didn't kill him, it would allow us to
keep him alive perhaps long enough that he might mend," Celena theorized.

   "It is possible, but the Baron's injury is acting like a stroke.  A
portion of his brain has been undone.  Men do recover from some strokes, at
least partially, but some strokes defy all therapies," Vicar Fryske warned.

   The baron's spirit sat up from his body and spoke decisively: "Tell Sir
Stallart to prepare a modified version of the documents of succession, one
that makes Bruhnhilda the baroness and her husband a consort, and I want
you and Vicar Fryske to find some way of helping me move my hand to sign
the documents.  If you find something, then gather all of the important
people in the keep to witness the signing, and make several copies of the
documents.  Be Careful, the Avengenes may attempt to capture any courier
you send to the royal notary in Rosehaven."

   "The baron says that Vicar Fryske and I should find a way to mobilize
him, and that Sir Stallart should draw up a modified version of the
documents of succession that makes Bruhnhilda the baroness and her husband
merely a consort.  Sir Stallart should create several copies since the
Avengenes will probably try to stop you from delivering a copy to the royal
notary in Rosehaven.  He says we should gather all of the keep's most
important people to witness the signing once we have everything prepared."

   "We cannot really be sure that Celena is giving us the word of the
baron, but I motion we do what she says in this case simply because it
might come from Baron Daelrath, and just as importantly it is a good and
logical course of action that will only come into play if the Baron
recovers sufficiently to sign the documents," Sir Gehrheart recommended.

   "I will second that motion," Sir Stallart agreed.  "In any case even
without a formal vote there is no harm in having a few copies of an amended
version of the papers of succession in case the Baron regains
consciousness. I will get to work on it.

   "I was going to look into spells that might help the baron anyway, but
you should all understand that I can do few other spells beyond healing. 
Even if I find an appropriate spell, I may not be able to perfect its
casting in time to save the baron," Vicar Fryske admitted.

   Sir Gehrheart nodded.  "We can only do our best.  Let us know if you
find any appropriate magic." -------

   Two hours later, Vicar Fryske put a book down on the table a little
harder than was necessary.

   "Nothing?" Celena asked.

   "Nothing!" Vicar Fryske agreed.  "The only spell that priests of
Virtusar have for this sort of thing is the one that allows a mortally
wounded soldier to fight a little bit longer until he kills a foe or
strikes a telling blow for his cause, and the commentary clearly states
that it does not work in cases of decapitation and most grievous head
injuries.  It also says that the spell will sap the lion's share of the
life out of a healthy person and should not be used except as a last
resort."

   Celena pursed her lips and paused for a few moments.  She did not want
to show any more magical ability than was necessary, but she was not about
to let Baron Daelrath die if she could help it, particularly when his death
would put Bruhnhilda in such a precarious position.  She had the first two
Animate Dead spells in her spellbook, but she was unsure if she would be
able to separate the part of the spell that allowed the spirit to animate
its bones.  She might need Baladus' help in order to prepare a spell that
might help the baron, but she could see no way she could get down to the
town of Vargrend and back in less than two days.

   There was also the problem of Carla.  Celena did not know how long Carla
might last hanging around her remains.  The ghost had been so helpful that
Celena did not want to lose her.  For a moment, her problems seemed
insurmountable, but then a spark of inspiration struck her and Celena
formulated a plan that might solve both problems if what she remembered
about ghosts from her studies with Thane was correct.  She had an idea of
how she might fetch Carla, but knew she could not use it without the help
of another person to watch over her body while she spent a very long time
joined with Cindus' mind.

   "I could try to find Carla and bring her back here.  Maybe she could
consult with my Grandmother or other ghosts.  I am not a necromancer, but
there is a chance I could find some sort of rudimentary necromantic spell.
I could as easily kill the baron as help him however, and I am not going to
attempt it unless we can do it without anyone knowing about the necromancy
save you and I."

   Vicar Fryske nodded gravely.  "I can try to learn to channel the spell
from Virtusar and pray it works in spite of the Baron's head injury, but if
it doesn't, we will have very little time before the Baron is dead.  We may
need a last ditch method.  Perhaps you could work on that just in case. 
What would it take to get Carla back?"

   Celena frowned.  "I guess you're right.  I will need your word that
anything regarding the sorcery of wise women will remain strictly between
us.  I have no desire to be moved to the top of the Avengene hit list."

   "You have my word as a priest that whatever bit of sorcery you need to
do that might save the baron these next few days will stay between us.  How
can I help?"

   "Ordinarily I would just do the work on the baron's behalf and not tell
anyone, but I am going to need someone to cover for me if I am to find
Carla.  I would need to see if I could find Cindus, my raven friend, and go
on a dream journey with him to visit Carla's grave.  My body would have to
lie somewhere for a very long time while we make the journey - so long that
I might soil myself.  I would also need a small leather sack with
drawstrings for him to carry and a scrap of parchment in case I need to
make some notes.

   "I am sure I have a small sack around here somewhere, and I have plenty
of scraps of parchment.  I also have cloth that I use to diaper men too
sick to control their bowels, and we could lay some straw down in one of
the tubs and cowl you up in bed sheets for good measure if that would suit
you."

   Celena smiled wanly.  "Yes, that should work.  Unfortunately, I mustn't
be disturbed during the journey or I may fail.  I did tell the Baron that I
would not divulge my grandmother's legacy unless we trusted each other like
family.  Nevertheless, I also told him that in an emergency, I would come
to his aid with any shred of wisdom that I possessed, and I meant it.  In
this case I am even trying to come to his aid with wisdom that I do not
possess."

   "I appreciate the effort.  Virtusar knows we face trying times.  I will
fetch you a sack and parchment," Vicar Fryske assured her."

   "Thank you, Vicar.  I will open the west door that leads directly
outside from the infirmary and see if I can find Cindus.  He will probably
want food before he sets out."

   "We missed dinner during our research, but I am sure they probably held
some food for us in the kitchen.  I will go fetch what I can.  Perhaps we
can all eat before you set out."

   By the time Celena had imitated enough raven calls to get Cindus to come
and alight on her forearm, Vicar Fryske was already waiting in the
infirmary with food.  He had prepared a bowl full of biscuits and meat
scraps for Cindus.  He had even provided a second bowl full of water. 
Cindus' meal was sitting on top of a tray on a cart usually used for
medical instruments.

   Celena grinned at the young priest and sat down at the small table Vicar
Fryske had set up near one of the tubs in the infirmary.  The tub was
already prepared with a bed of straw and sheets.  There were towels and
additional sheets neatly folded over the side.  She took Cindus to his tray
and fed him a morsel to get him interested in settling down by the food
Fryske had prepared for him.

   "Croaak," Cindus said as he fluttered down onto the tray and began
eating.

   "This looks wonderful, Vicar.  Why don't you sit with your back to the
tub, then when I am ready to disrobe I can do that while you are still
here. I will need you to let Cindus outside once I am situated, but I will
not be able to tell you that I am situated.  Cindus will let you know by
heading for the door."

   "I sure hope this works," Vicar Fryske confided earnestly.

   "Time will tell," Celena assured him.

   Before eating, she fetched her pen and ink and wrote a message on a
scrap of parchment in small, meticulous Bellany script.  Once she was
finished writing she dug into her food.  By the time she was through
eating, the parchment was dry and she put it into the bottom of the leather
sack.  She got out of her clothing and into a diaper of sorts before
casting Life Vision and Telempathic projection on Cindus in the barest
whisper.  She ran the two spells together to make them seem like one to the
Vicar.  When she was through, she took her place in the tub and pulled a
sheet over herself.  A few minutes later, her mind had joined that of
Cindus.  She waited until he was finished with his feast.  When he seemed
ready to go, she urged him to do so.

   "Gwark, gwark!" Cindus called loudly as he jumped onto the leather sack
and clutched it in his talons.

   Vicar Fryske raised an eyebrow.  "Oh, are you ready?

   Cindus bobbed his inky head up and down.

   Vicar Fryske's answering nod looked like an imitation of the raven's
bob. The priest got up, looked over at Celena, then walked to the door and
let Cindus out into the night.

   As they set out on their journey Celena was not worried about hawks
since they are diurnal birds and it was already past midnight, nevertheless
she cautioned her bird to stay low against the treetops.  She and Cindus
headed southeast and gradually gained altitude once they had left the keep
far behind.  Hours slipped by as they flew.  The small leather sack Cindus
was carrying was something of a burden even empty, but it was quite
manageable.  Occasionally Cindus stopped for a drink or a rest, but for the
most part, they flew steadily in a southeasterly direction until they found
a river and followed it south to a familiar waterfall a few hours after
dawn.  Then they followed the nearby road into Norwit.  Once she could see
the Academy of Righteous Wrath in the distance, they flew over the road
back towards the border with Bristol and looked for landmarks.  For a
while, she was utterly lost, but then she heard a familiar sound - the
barking of the dog that had chased Starstruck through a farmer's field.

   After the presence of the dog had showed her where to begin, the terrain
began to make sense and Celena was able to follow the path she had taken
west with reasonable fidelity.  It took another half hour for them to find
the remains of Celena Medea.  Cindus was extremely helpful, as he knew the
scent of bones.  Unfortunately, Cindus' life vision spell had lapsed by
then and they could not see Carla.  It was nearly noon and Celena doubted
Carla would be particularly active anyway.  Nevertheless, Celena had a
visceral sense of Carla's presence as if the bird's senses were somehow
superior to hers where ghosts were concerned.

   She had not actually come for conversation, however.  She was here to
gather a few bones.  Celena hoped that Carla was there and would catch on.
She directed Cindus to root around in the undergrowth to find whatever
small bones he could, particularly the bones of finger and toe tips.  When
they could find no more finger and toe bones, Celena directed Cindus to
stuff the better, smaller ones into the leather sack and draw the string.
Before they left, Celena showed Cindus how to loop the drawstring around
his ankles so that holding onto the sack would not be necessary.

   They took off once again and headed southwest.  They arrived in the town
of Vargrend during the late afternoon.  Cindus landed on the windowsill of
Headmaster Bristol's office, but the headmaster was not there.  Cindus flew
up to the headmaster's residence tower and looked in one window after
another until they spotted the headmaster in the kitchen, whereupon Cindus
started pecking at the window until the headmaster opened it.  Cindus
hopped in and flew to the kitchen table.

   "Nimbus?" Headmaster Bristol asked?

   Gwark!  Gwark!  Cindus bobbed his head up and down.

   "Have you got a message for me from the mistress?"

   Cindus bobbed his head once again and pushed the sack towards the
headmaster.

   "Bones?" he asked.

   Nimbus bobbed his head and made a digging motion with one foot.

   The headmaster carefully dumped the bones out on the table and peered
into the small leather sack.  There he found the message written on the
scrap of parchment.

   "Find the essence of a pointer in my sack," he read.

   Headmaster Bristol sorted through the bones until he found what he
judged was a bone that once supported the tip of an index finger.  He then
started attempting to find more bones belonging to the index finger, but
Cindus slid a second bone the headmaster tried back towards the bone pile
with one foot and made a pecking motion at the tip bone of the finger.

   "Just the tip?" Headmaster Bristol asked.

   Cindus bobbed his head.

   "Fair enough," the headmaster said.

   He put the other bones back in the sack, drew the string and then
resumed reading the note.

   "Take what you found and this note into the underworld as deeply as you
can go."

   "The underworld?" Headmaster Bristol asked.

   Nimbus pecked downward over the edge of the table.

   "Oh you mean the basement, the crypts?"

   Cindus bobbed his inky, black head.

   "I had better light a candelabrum if we are going down into the crypts,"
the headmaster said before scrambling to fetch one and light the candles.
Once he was ready, he checked the note again.

   "Find the box where BV is filed."

   "BV?" Bristol asked.  "If it is a file we need then we will be going to
the offices not the crypts, correct?" Bristol asked.

   Cindus shook his head from side to side.

   "Should I be heading for the crypts then?"

   Cindus bobbed his head.

   "A box in the crypts where BV is filed.  Do you mean a sarcophagus?"
Bristol asked.

   "Gwark-gwark!  Nimbus bobbed his head.

   "A sarcophagus where BV was laid to rest?"

   Cindus bobbed his head.

   "Is the last name Vargrend?" the headmaster asked.

   Cindus nodded once again.

   "The sarcophagus of B.  Vargrend," headmaster Bristol said as he grabbed
the candelabrum and some keys before heading towards the door to the
stairs. Nimbus flew to his right shoulder and attempted a landing, but it
proved impossible until the headmaster raised his arm.  Once he did, Cindus
stepped sideways until he was perched on the headmaster's left hand.  The
raven and the school administrator headed down into the crypts.  Shortly
after entering them, the headmaster spoke.

   "Is it the sarcophagus of Baladus Vargrend?" He asked.

   "Gwark-gwark!" Cindus answered while bobbing his head.

   "So far so good then - here it is."

   "Recite the motto that keeps your order," the headmaster read.  "My
order, The Order of Death's Peace?" he asked.

   Cindus bobbed his head.

   "Alright.  'We are the brave Mortaebian warriors of death's peace.
Looters and despoilers shall not prevail against the might of our staves
while we, the champions of the dead, protect their graves.  We rest not, so
that the dead may rest in peace.'"

   "Stand at the top end of the file," Headmaster Bristol read.

   "I assume that means the head end," he said taking up a position just
past the carved face of Baladus Vargrend.

   Cindus bobbed.

   "Simultaneously turn two roses inward," the headmaster read as he looked
at the sarcophagus.  "Do you mean these rosettes on the corners?"

   "Gwark-gwark!" Cindus crowed as he bobbed his head once again.

   Headmaster Bristol turned the rosettes on the lid of the sarcophagus.

   "Now what do I do?  It says to place the pointer in the box.  The
headmaster noted.

   Cindus made pushing motions with his head.

   "Oh push the lid this way?"

   "Gwark-gwork!" Cindus crowed, bobbing once again.

   Headmaster Bristol pushed the lid until he could see the skeleton
within.

   "Wow this lid is on tracks.  Where shall I put the pointer?"

   Cindus hopped up on the edge of the Sarcophagus and pointed with his
beak.

   Headmaster Bristol placed the finger bone where the raven bid him.

   "Is that what you wanted?  Shall I shut it now?" Headmaster Bristol
asked.

   "Gwark-gwark!" Cindus crowed as he bobbed his head.

   The headmaster offered his hand for the raven to hop up on and then
closed the sarcophagus and looked at the note once again.  "Return the sack
sans one essence of pointer to me, set me free and burn this note.  Thank
you, I will be in touch, -B." He read.  "That seems simple enough.  I wish
I could ask you why you wanted a bone placed in Baladus' coffin, but I am
hoping there is a reason for it.

   "Pruk-pruk-pruk," Cindus clucked as he bobbed his head.

   A few minutes later, the headmaster let Cindus out through his kitchen
window and the raven flew off with the small sack of bones.



   As they headed towards Springville, an overpowering urge to urinate
nearly pulled Celena out of her trance.  She realized that it must be from
her human body and it had been gnawing at the back of her mind for quite
some time, but it would soon be impossible to ignore.  She knew either she
would have to wet her bedding while trying to keep her mind mostly with
Cindus or she would have to contrive a way to leave.  If she did nothing,
she was sure her spell would soon break.  Celena conferred with her raven
and found that he was certain he could get the bones up to Rath Keep
without her since he had flown to the keep from Springville just recently.
She bid him watch out for hawks and reminded him that the enemy might take
interest in him if they could see the sack, but that it was important to
get the sack to the keep.  He emphasized the feeling of his intent to avoid
humans until he returned to Rath Keep.  Satisfied Celena sent a great deal
of affection his way and bid him adieu before concentrating on her human
body.  It took her a few moments to return, but once she began to feel her
human body the urgency of her bodily needs greatly accelerated the process.
She rushed to the privy shedding diapers as she went and very narrowly
managed to relieve herself before making a mess. -------

   "You're back!  I hope you were successful," the vicar said earnestly.

   "I am still working on it.  I found Carla and I got the formula for a
rather creepy necromantic spell from another ghost.  I need to spend time
working on the magic yet this evening.  I would like to extract just a
piece of the spell, but I must be able to cast the spell as it was
originally intended before I would even consider trying to find the right
bit to remove and modify.

   "That makes sense.  Did your raven make use of the sack and parchment?"

   Cindus is going to make the last leg of the journey back by himself.  If
he returns tomorrow with the sack, then I should be able to summon Carla
back here anytime she thinks about another location and inadvertently
travels there.  If I can get Carla to return to me, I will count our
journey as a complete success."

   "Virtusar knows that's good news, perhaps you did not anticipate leaving
Cindus to complete the last leg of the journey alone, but as things are you
will have more time to work on the spell while still having a fighting
chance at victory with the bones."

   "How have things been going for you while I was away?" Celena asked.

   "I worked on the spell from Virtusar for most of the day and I feel
ready to attempt it."

   "That is excellent news, Vicar!  I am hoping we will not need the
necromancy, but I realize we might.  Do we still have those Avengene
corpses from the horse archers that chased us to the keep?  Since their
lord is probably the one that got the baron into this predicament, it is
only fitting that they help me perfect this spell formula."

   Vicar Fryske nodded grimly.  "We were going to exchange them for the
Daelrath dead that we lost in the battle with the orcs, but Sir Bronenkam's
plot dashed any hope for negotiations.  We boxed the three dead soldiers of
Avengene up and put them in the ice cellar hoping there would be time for a
negotiation.  You should have all the privacy you need there except around
mealtime when the cooks send their assistants to get foodstuffs.  Sir
Stallart asked after you at dinner.  I told him you were still poring over
my books on medicine and clerical magic looking for a backup in case the
spell that I was preparing failed.  I brought a plate of food from the
tower house.  It is in the temple kitchen.  Why don't you eat?  When you
are finished I will show you where the icehouse is.  In the meantime, I
will practice this sermon."

   "I will eat, but I am going to need to work with the spell until I feel
I am ready to attempt to cast it."

   "I had a good deal of trouble learning the spell from Virtusar.  What
does your spell do and how difficult is it?" the Vicar asked.

   "The spell binds a spirit to its remains, binds its remains together,
and gives the spirit the power to move its old bones for ten to twenty
minutes.  It is an advanced spell.  I have no idea if I will be able to
master it, but if I am to make something new from just part of it, it is
important to be able to cast the spell as is."

   "I see your point.  Do you really think you will be able to manage this
before the baron runs out of time?" the vicar asked.

   "If I make it, it is going to be very tight, but as a healer I am sure
you are quite used to putting forth a great deal of effort in an emergency.
I will not let the baron die and Lady Daelrath become fatherless simply
because it requires that I try to learn a difficult and creepy spell."

   "That's the spirit!  Victory does not come to those who cower from
battle!" -------

   Once Celena was finished eating and studying, Vicar Fryske loaned her
some warm clothing and took her to the eastern side of the old town area.
There was a natural crack in the stone outcrop that supported Rath Keep and
the ice cellar was mined into the rock just shy of where the crack
terminated.  Celena guessed that the builders of the ice cellar had bored a
hole to the crack in order to use it as a drain for any water that ran off
the melting ice.  The Avengene dead were in pine boxes stacked in the area
where there was no ice.  Sawdust covered the ice itself and there were
crates of foodstuffs stacked near the wall opposite the boxes of corpses.

   "Here is my key to the ice house.  I'll expect it back when you are
finished," the Vicar stipulated.

   "You have your own key?" Celena asked.

   "Yes, ice has therapeutic properties and this is not the first time we
have put bodies in cold storage.  Here is a candelabrum.  I am only going
to light one candle because flame warms this place and a warm ice cellar is
not good.  If you need more light, then light as many candles as you need
and blow them out as soon as you no longer need that many."

   Celena nodded.  "Thank you Vicar Fryske.  For the Baron's sake, I hope
our magic works."

   "I hope we will not need necromancy, but I fear we might.  A normal man
only lasts about three days without water.  Baron Daelrath has been healed
several times and that may extend the time he can survive by as much as a
day, but I would not give him any longer than that.  If we cannot revive
him long enough for him to drink, then he is a dead man unless I can find a
way to keep him hydrated.  I am still going through my medical books
looking for techniques we might use without benefit of the resources of a
city.  I will let you know if I find anything tomorrow."

   Celena nodded.

   "You should have plenty of privacy in here as it is past the time for
the evening meal," Vicar Fryske assured her.

   "Good, this isn't something I want to be caught doing, even if it may
save the barony," Celena assured the vicar.

   "Good luck Celena.  Please let me know how you fared in the morning."

   "Thank you Vicar.  I will."

   Celena waited until the vicar was gone and then locked the door from the
inside.  She was about to try her first animation.  She knew she ought to
have many questions, but the spell had seemed straightforward even when she
had penned it while at Vargrend's, and it had not become any less so for
studying it.  As she opened the pine casket on the top of the stack, she
knew the spell probably should not seem simple and she half hoped that it
would prove far more difficult than she thought, because it was difficult
for her to admit that her contact with Mortaebius had given her an affinity
for necromancy.  The corpse inside wore nothing more than a shroud. 
Apparently, the knights had confiscated the Avengene soldiers' gear,
perhaps to dress their own scouts in while looking for the Avengene camp.
She intoned the words, motioned appropriately, and was almost relieved when
she failed to get the half-desired result.

   She pulled up a crate of food as a chair, sat down and lit a second
candle before opening her spell book and critiquing her first performance
of the most elementary Animate Dead spell.  The ambience of the cold room
and the surrounding corpses set her mind wandering back to the clifftops of
Gravestone Isle and the way the winter snows blew across her garden plot.
She remembered the view out over the lake with snow drifting over the
frozen waters.  Somehow, the memory brought her an odd sense of
tranquility. What would Guardian Thane think of her spell casting now?

   Celena stood and began to cast.  Her movements were concise and the
verbal components of the new spell rolled off her tongue easily.  Initially
she took up the same attitude towards animating the dead that Guardian
Thane had - a sort of analytical detachment.  Yet when it came to the part
of the spell that summoned the spirit of the corpse, Celena let her
intuition guide her as her power dipped into the realm of the dead, a realm
she had more familiarity with than a living person ought to.  This time the
casting went smoothly and she felt that, if nothing else she had nailed the
verbal and somatic components.  The corpse failed to move when ordered,
however.  She cast the spell again and again until she felt she had
everything correct, yet there was still some little twist missing.  She
could almost feel it tickling the back of her mind.

   She worked hard, but this spell was no cantrip.  It was the first
animation she had tried and she had no similar spell from which to build.
When she was too mystically fatigued to continue, she closed the pine
casket, pushed the crate she had been using as a chair back to its former
location and left the icehouse.  She headed north towards the soldiers'
mess as she guessed it was not more than a couple hours before dawn and the
men of the Hawk Platoon would be eating their mid shift meal shortly.

   When she arrived at the mess hall, she noted that there was a single
torch outside.  Inside, a soldier with a candle went down the long tables
lighting a single oil lamp or tallow candle for every ten feet of table
length in preparation for serving the mid shift meal.

   "Good morning," Celena said cheerfully as she strode into the hall.

   The soldier held up his candle and squinted in the dim light.  "Who are
you?" the soldier asked.

   Celena smiled.  This was the reaction she had been expecting from
soldiers of Daelrath, but had not received until now.

   "I am Champion Medea, Vicar Fryske's new assistant.  I'd like to eat
with the men if I could.  I worked very late this evening."

   "What're you the champion of?" the soldier asked.

   "I am a Champion of Virtusar.  It is a title given to lay priests and
priestesses."

   "Oh, I gotcha, that's like Sergeant Jordan.  He is a Champion of
Virtusar too.  Are you going to help the Vicar with services?"

   "I am primarily a healer in training, but I may help the vicar with
other things from time to time.  What is your name?"

   "I'm Private Dale Rumens.  I am the mid-shift cook fer th' 'awks."

   "What is on the menu for the Hawks tonight, Private Rumens?"

   "Mid shift fare is real simple most nights.  Tonight we are 'avin'
barley 'n bean soup with biscuits.  When the 'awk platoon is on day shift I
do better.  That 'n oftentimes the night after a battle one o' th' knights
lends me 'is mage light and th' huntsmen gives me some meat 'n we 'ave
quite a meal, but not tonight.  It's been quiet.  Take a bowl and I'll fill
it for ye."

   Celena took a bowl from the stack Rumens indicated and held it ready. 
He filled it with soup.

   'ave a couple o' biscuits and take a seat, Champion Medea.  'alf o' th'
'awk Platoon'll be 'ere very shortly.

   By the time she found a seat near a candle she could hear the voices of
a group of men heading in from the east.  They filed into the mess hall
talking to one another in low voices.

   "Come on over here, Styles.  I want to show you something you've
probably never seen before."

   Two young soldiers rushed around the table one pulling the other.  The
one being towed was very young and had light brown hair, hazel eyes and a
very thin build, but with a soldier's muscles nevertheless.  The soldier
doing the pulling was a bit larger with darker hair and blue eyes.  They
pulled the chairs opposite her and sat down.

   "Evening ma'am, my name is Jack Strapp, and this'n here is Frith Styles.
He's here on account o' stealin' a cabbage.  Can you believe that?  Anyhow,
are you that new priestess?"

   Celena smiled.  "Yes, I am Champion Celena Medea, Jack.  Where's your
Strap?

   Jack grinned and stood.  He pulled out the end of his belt and let it
snap back.  "It's right here 'oldin' me pants up at the moment.  I keep it
close by so it's ready ta punish them that're naughty."

   Before Jack had finished his sentence, a large red-haired soldier took
the seat on her left and an agile-looking black-haired soldier took the
seat on her right.

   "Sometimes I can't help being a little naughty.  I see I am not alone,"
Celena said turning her head towards Frith Styles.  "You must have lived in
a very strict town to have to invoke the Duke's clemency for stealing a
cabbage."

   "Er-hur, yes ma'am I lived over by Avengene down in Southeast Daelrath.
When the Baron kicked out the priest of the Vindicator, 'is right-hand
woman the wife o' one of the biggest farmers in our area studied to be a
deaconess of Nurtriste the goddess of farming and took over the old church.
When she took charge, she became even stricter than before.  I knocked a
stack 'o cabbages over outa clumsiness, but then I was fixin' ta filch one.
I shouldn't have.  I got caught and now I am soldiering 'cause of it."

   The way Frith bobbed his head after telling his story was somehow
reminiscent of Cindus' bobbing style.  Celena thought it was cute and took
an immediate liking for the boy.

   "It's not so bad.  My dad said soldiering would make a man out of me,
and it'll do the same for you, Styles," Strapp contended.

   "You bet it will, if it doesn't kill ye first," the red-haired man to
Celena's left maintained.

   "That's Eric Svenson who just spoke up, and let me introduce ye ta
Private Rod Merril, he's the soldier on your right," Jack Strapp informed
her.

   "Welcome to 'awk 'lunch' ma'am.  What keeps ye up at this gods' forsaken
hour?" Svenson asked.

   "I was just working on my medical studies.  I was up at odd hours
yesterday because of Sir Bronenkam's plot to let Lord Avengene's men in and
it messed up my schedule."

   "What is it about that, anyhow?  Why is it such a big crime to let Lord
Avengene's men in?" Strapp asked.

   "As the vicar said at the end of the trial, the Avengenes set up a plot
to kill Baron Daelrath and steal Lady Daelrath, the better to marry her off
to an Avengene man and steal the barony.  We managed to escape their
clutches, and Sir Bronenkam was going to let them into the keep.  Once
inside they could easily have taken over in order to make sure that the
baron died of his wounds and Lady Daelrath married an Avengene man."

   "I never realized Lord Avengene was that ruthless," Strap marveled. 
"But that did not surprise me as much as seeing the battle master was taken
down by an orc!"

   "It would have been a poor trial by combat if Sir Bronenkam had no
chance of losing.  I think Vicar Fryske and Sir Gehrheart chose Sir
Bronenkam's opponent wisely from only a handful of warriors that had some
small chance at beating a knight," Celena observed.

   "But how could an orc beat a knight?!" Strapp asked.

   "You all saw the bout.  How did Enok beat Sir Bronenkam?"

   "The orc fought like a coward!" Private Merril spat.

   "If fighting like a coward guarantees victory, there are some
tournaments I need to enter right away," Celena said with a smile.

   "Cowards usually die when faced by a real warrior.  Everyone knows
that," Strapp argued.

   "The orc kept scoring sissy wounds on Sir Bronenkam," Merril scoffed.

   "You men are used to fighting trolls.  Would you ever inflict a sissy
wound on a troll?" Celena asked.

   "Fat lot of good that would do you," said Strapp.

   Bruce nodded.  "You're right and wrong, Strapp.  Knights and 'eroes who
are good enough will always go for 'ead shots when tryin' ta kill a troll,
but fer those of us that work for a livin' a troll is too damned strong and
fast ta kill with a single mighty blow.  A sissy wound like a chopped off
leg will slow a troll way down so us regular soldiers can all get a good
hack on 'im and take 'im down as a group.  If ya try ta use wolf-pack
tactics on a troll that's not wounded, 'e jumps right through the ring o'
men surrounding 'im and starts rippin' on their backs."

   "Oh, I'll bet the orc figured a knight was too much to bite off in one
go, so whenever 'e could manage to get a shot in, 'e went for the legs and
such ta slow Sir Bronenkam down.  That orc is a coward, but 'e's no fool,"
Strapp realized.

   "That's the truth of it," Eric agreed.

   "Virtusar gave Enok a simple strategy," Celena confirmed.  "Rather than
fighting with reckless forcefulness, the way Sir Bronenkam expected an orc
to fight, Enok recognized Sir Bronenkam's superior skill and fought a very
conservative, defensive battle.  By taking the role of the coward, Enok put
Sir Bronenkam into the role of the manly aggressor.  The knight attacked
using bold moves that were easier to see coming than if he had fought more
defensively.  Sir Bronenkam just could not get his head around a big, burly
orc fighting with his brain rather than his brawn because that is just not
how orcs are supposed to fight.

   "As you saw, the knight's mental inflexibility cost him his life. 
Instead of trying to overpower Sir Bronenkam or kill him quickly, Enok
waited for openings and aimed for minor, but strategically important,
wounds on Sir Bronenkam to blunt the knight's skill advantage.  Sir
Bronenkam, on the other hand went for killing blows in an effort to slay
Enok rapidly so as to win a decisive victory and a powerful proof for his
contention that he was not acting against the interests of the barony by
trying to sneak the Avengenes into the keep."

   "What the lady is sayin is that th' orc was more worried about losin'
'is 'ead than 'e was about usin' 'is 'ead and lookin' like a coward," Eric
observed.

   Celena nodded.  "That's right.  Against a less skilled opponent I am
sure Enok would fight an offensive battle and take his opponent apart in
short order."

   Eric chuckled.  "What she's tellin' ye now, Strapp and you too Merril,
is if ye value yer 'ead ye better not call th' orc a coward to 'is face. 
Facin' a knight in th' first place took some mighty balls.  I think I'm
goin' ta look at it that way so as I don't 'ave ta bad-mouth th' orc.  I
like me 'ead right 'ere where it is on me neck."

   "Don't worry about me, Eric, I seen 'ow Sir Bronenkam's 'ead flew plate
mail an' all after a single blow from that orc.  I may be dumb, but I'm not
stupid!" Strapp affirmed.

   "The important thing about Enok is, if we can get him to stay on, he can
use his orcish night vision on our behalf.  He will be able to spot trolls
when they leave the forest for the fields and that will give us advanced
warning of an attack.  I suppose they could still blind-side us if they
attacked from the opposite side of the keep from the one that Enok happened
to be on at the start of the attack, but at least some of the time you'll
have maybe four minutes warning before the first troll starts to scale the
walls."

   "Whoa, four minutes?  You green recruits may think that's nothin', but
it'll beat hell outa th' less 'an 'alf minute warnin' we usually get!" Eric
exclaimed.

   "A man could sharpen 'is sword or finish doin' 'is business at the privy
in that amount 'o time," Bruce added.

   "Them that's sleepin' will be able ta get up and throw on some armor in
four minutes.  That could save our hides!" Strapp joined in.

   "You're right about that, Strapp.  It almost makes me wish th' orc would
stay, almost," Eric admitted.

   "It will mean fewer men disemboweled, and that will make my job easier."
Celena smiled as the men grimaced, many of them knowing exactly what she
meant.

   "What's this I 'ear about you bein' a concubine o' Virtusar?  'ow is
that goin' ta work around 'ere?" Eric asked.

   "We have not worked out the particulars yet.  It is going to be a bit
different than what concubines do in other places because the Baron is
adamant that there is to be no cash or gifts involved because that would be
too much like prostitution.  Nevertheless, Virtusar recognizes heroic deeds
as do I."

   The men had only a second to think about Celena's last remark before the
call of a horn sounded from the northwest.

   "We've got scouts comin' in hot!  Get to the gate, men!" Sergeant Melden
barked as he stood up.

   Suddenly all of the men around her pushed back their chairs and rushed
for the door.  She followed just behind them to see what was happening.  By
the time she made it to within fifty feet of the gate she could hear the
clattering of hooves starting over the drawbridge.  Two riders practically
flew through the barbican with two trolls in hot pursuit.  The inner
portcullis came down so rapidly behind the riders that Celena was afraid it
would catch their horses' tails.  One of the trolls chasing them leapt
madly and rolled under the inner portcullis before springing to his feet
within the courtyard.  The portcullises trapped the other troll between
them.  Once the riders were through, the men Celena was following advanced
to surround the troll.  Celena recognized the riders as Sir Coshus and Enok
once they came through the crowd of soldiers.

   "Four trolls be after us, give 'em hell, men!" Sir Coshus shouted as he
rode his horse to the door to the barbican, jumped off, slapped his horse
on the rear to get it to move away from the combat, and knocked at the
door.

   Enok's horse followed the other animal as a soldier opened the door to
let the knight and the orc in.  The two riders probably planned to run
upstairs to deal with the two remaining trolls that would soon be scaling
the walls.

   The troll within the courtyard immediately attacked the men.  It ducked
under a swing and opened its opponent's chain mail with a rake of its claws
before jumping forward.  It sustained a few minor wounds but managed to
push its way through half of the men, sending many of them sprawling. 
Celena reflexively drew her blades and advanced toward the door to the
barbican where the troll seemed to be heading.  Obviously, it was still
intent on digging its claws into Enok and Sir Coshus.  The troll was too
close to the men and the men to each other for them to easily score a good
swing and hit.

   "Spread out men!" Sergeant Melden ordered.

   The troll kicked a soldier in the stomach as it advanced and sent him
catapulting through the group of his fellow warriors creating an opening.
The monster charged through it and barely missed raking Enok's back as the
orc closed and bolted the door into the barbican behind him.

   With his primary target out of reach, the troll spun and brandished his
claws at the men of Hawk Platoon.  Celena's advance took her to the Troll's
left flank.  When his clawed hand came back for a powerful swipe at Frith
Styles, Celena whipped her blade through the night air so quickly one could
hear it.  Her rapid strike removed the four clawed fingers from the
monster's left hand.  It happened so quickly that the troll still made his
attack and savagely raked Styles' hauberk with the bloody stumps, tossing
the young soldier into the men behind him.

   Eric took up the defensive in front of the troll to its right.  He put
his shoulder into his shield parry and managed to stop the stroke of the
troll's right-hand claws while he swung hard and ruined the troll's left
knee with his sword.  The troll roared with pain and turned on Eric.  It
pinned him against the wall of the barbican by pressing against his shield
with its right hand, and then it balled up its de-clawed left fist and
swung.

   Celena heard some fighting above on the wall and realized the troll
whose back she now faced was not alone.  As the monster pinned Eric to the
wall, Celena deftly sheathed her rapier, took her main gauche in both
hands, raised it over her head and plunged the dagger into the base of the
troll's neck with every ounce of strength she possessed.  The troll's hand
was in mid swing when the blade hit and sunk deep between two vertebrae. 
The troll's fist dented Eric's helmet and knocked him cold in spite of an
utter lack of follow-through on the troll's part.  The monster then
crumpled to the ground with Celena pressing her dagger into its back to
make sure the fall did not dislodge it.  Up on the wall she could hear a
chorus of chopping swords.

   "Sergeant Melden, report!" Sir Coshus hollered down from the wall a
moment later.

   "We 'ave some men wounded, and one out cold, sir, but the troll's down!
Champion Medea sheathed her dagger in the back of its neck!" Melden
replied.

   Sir Coshus jumped up on a crenellation directly above Celena, looked
down and shook his head.  "I had to see it with my own eyes.  That dagger'd
be keeping the troll's spine from regenerating.  Congratulations, Champion.
That'd be the first time a new recruit took down a troll before finishing a
third day at Rath Keep!  Be sure no idiot pulls that blade out or there'll
be hell to pay when the troll's spine mends!  We're searing the stumps on
our troll now.  It will not be making a come-back."

   "I wish I could take full credit for bringing down the troll, Sir
Coshus, but Eric Svenson wrecked the troll's knee and got its attention
after I de-clawed its left hand.  Were it not for his valor, I might have
been the one in front of the troll rather than the one who stabbed it in
the back of the neck.  Do you have any heavy chains?  We could use some
troll's blood to add to the potency of our poultices for these men's
wounds, but a measure of safety would be nice," Celena called up to the
knight.

   "That we do, Champion!" Sir Coshus affirmed.  "The vicar has harnessed
the healing power of troll's blood before.  It's too bad the beasts eat so
damn much meat or we might keep one locked up.  We have the troll up here
dismembered.  Enok chopped the lower half of its leg off when it hopped
onto the wall.  After that, we all chipped in and took it apart.  We had a
second troll climbing to get us, but he took a barbed arrow through the
throat and thought better of it.  I guess not being able to have a snack
while he was fighting ruined it for him.  He's escaping now.  Just leave
him be, men.  He can take the news of our valor back to his kinsmen."

   After the assault launched by the four trolls, the men of the keep
mobilized for battle, but they needn't have.  No attack materialized,
perhaps because it was simply too close to morning for the escaped troll's
kin to attempt a major assault.  When Celena saw that the sky on the
Eastern horizon was beginning to lighten, she decided it was time for bed.
She wondered what sort of nighttime scouting mission Sir Coshus and Enok
had been on, but she doubted that either of them would tell her about it.
She did note that Sir Coshus had deliberately let one of the trolls go.  It
seemed odd to her that he would not kill every one of them unless he wanted
one to return to his tribe with information.  If Sir Coshus and Enok had
found both the Avengene camp and some trolls, they might have deliberately
lured the trolls along a path where they could not help but smell the
Avengene camp.  That was just one more reason she hoped Cindus made it back
to her with Carla's bones.  She missed having access to eyes in the sky and
a pair of eyes that could peer through walls.

   Celena was sleeping deeply and dreaming that Guardian Thane was
lecturing her about a shape-shifting spell that had gone awry.  Celena
looked at her arms and saw that they had sprouted black feathers.  Thane
continued to point out the obvious flaws in her execution of the spell when
she realized that Thane's tone was chiding, but his words made no sense. 
They sounded like the croaking and complaining of a frustrated raven. 
Celena's eyes fluttered open.  She turned over onto her side and craned her
neck up to peer at an arrow slit high on the south wall of her room in the
infirmary.

   "Cindus?" She asked.

   The bird croaked and grumbled as if Celena were late for an appointment.

   "You made it!  That's wonderful!  Do you have the sack of bones?"

   Gwark-gwark!  Cindus bobbed his head.

   "Very good, Cindus!  I am hoping that will be all we need to bring Carla
back to us."

   Celena got up and immediately cast her life vision spell on herself, but
she did not see Carla.  It was late morning and the sun was already
blazing. Perhaps such a long trip in bright sunlight was not comfortable
for Carla, nevertheless she cast Ghostly Whispers just in case her
ephemeral friend should materialize.

   "Thank you so much for completing that long mission, Cindus.  Let me
slip into my dress and I'll go get the door.  I imagine you're famished
after such a long flight."

   "Croaaak, Croaak, mringerungerungel," Nimbus said in a long-suffering
tone.

   A few minutes later Celena walked into the sanctuary with Cindus on her
shoulder and the bag of bones in her hand.

   "Oh, Ch-champion, you're up!" Vicar Fryske exclaimed blushing as Celena
approached.  It was obvious he was still not used to having a breathtaking
assistant.  "I see Cindus has returned.  Was your mission a success?" the
vicar asked.

   "It was, thanks to Cindus.  He finished the last leg of the journey this
morning and he made it here without the Avengene hawks accosting him.  I
guess that is mostly because he does not look anything like a pigeon."

   "Praise Virtusar you were victorious!  What of your studies last night?"

   "I worked hard for most of the night, but eventually succumbed to
mystical fatigue.  The spell is difficult," Celena whispered.

   Vicar Fryske grimaced.  "It is unfortunate that victory eluded you. 
Somehow I must think of a way to buy the baron some time."

   "It may be just as well.  I have no idea if I can use the entire spell
or even part of it on a living person, and if I do, what potentially deadly
side effects it might have," Celena mused as the image of Thane's skeletal
hand popped into her head.  "Carla might be able to find out for me.  My
guess is that the spell will drain energy from the baron for as long as it
runs, but it could work."

   "Is Carla once again present?"

   "I have not yet tried to summon her, but I now have the means to make an
attempt.  Cindus woke me up and he will not stop complaining until I get
him some breakfast.  He is famished from the long flight and I am rather
hungry myself."

   "Brunch is one of the better meals of the day for the troops.  I would
suggest getting some food for Cindus from the mess hall.  The buffet should
be ready shortly."

   "Goodness I slept from dawn until nearly noon?  I guess I was tired from
the research, but I am surprised I slept that long."

   "You still have an hour and a half until noon, but the Bobcat Platoon
will start eating at eleven and go on duty at noon when the Hawk Platoon
finishes their night's work and arrives for their meal.  I am sure the
cooks probably have some biscuits and other things ready now considering
the number of men they will be feeding.  Don't eat too much.  The knights
expect us to join them at noon for lunch to discuss the Baron's condition.

   "Thank you Vicar, I will see what I can find for Cindus and just have a
light snack to tide me over." -------

   After getting some food for Cindus and a snack for herself, Celena
decided not to wait for the men to arrive for brunch.  Instead, she
returned to her room in the infirmary to see if she could summon Carla. 
Once there, she sat down on her bed and opened the bag of bones.  She
poured them into her hands, and concentrated.

   "Carla, can you hear me?  Please come to me if you can."

   Celena blinked as Carla materialized right next to Celena's hands.

   "Carla, it's so good to see you!  I am sorry to spread your remains like
this.  I would have got all of them if I could have left the keep in
person."

   "Don't be sorry, Celena!  I am happy to be back with you.  I felt so
stupid when I found myself back with my bones.  I had no idea I could do
that just by thinking about them.  Being stuck near my remains all over
again was not my idea of a good time!  It was daytime and I was resting for
lack of anything better to do when a raven disturbed my bones.  Naturally,
I hoped it was your raven, Cindus, and it did look like him, but I could
not be sure.  Nevertheless, I took notice that he was collecting bones and
watched him for a few minutes before I returned to my rest.  That evening
after awakening, I looked at my remains to get some idea of what the raven
had taken.  I saw that he seemed to favor the tips of fingers and toes as I
saw the larger finger bones still there in a pile.  I tried meditating and
concentrating on those missing parts, but what worked best was
concentrating on using a given finger or toe as I would have in life.

   "When I did that I found that I could sometimes pop to the roof of a
temple of Mortaebius in Springville near your sleeping raven and back.  It
was more fun popping back and forth than it was being stuck in one spot,
and I was so happy you valued my help enough to find a way to rescue me a
second time.  I spent most of last night learning to pop from my body bones
to my finger bones.

   I tried moving to the bones of various fingers and toes, and when I
moved to the tip of my left index finger I wound up inside a crypt!  "The
ghost of a woman there demanded to know who I was and what I was doing in
the Vargrend crypt.  I felt so frightened and I had no idea what to tell
her!  After a few tense moments, blathered apologies and explanations on my
part and some strained introductions, things started to cool down and
click.

   I told her that a living friend of mine had mentioned an Elaine as a
ghost friend when trying to explain to me what I was capable of.  I also
told her that I believed Virtusar and Mortaebius sent me to you to lend you
a hand.  At that point, Baladus Vargrend came out of the shadows and asked
me a few questions about your presence.  After he learned you could be felt
in the land of the dead, he said that he knew the person of whom I spoke,
and suddenly Baladus and Elaine welcomed me as a friend."

   "I am sorry I put you through that.  I wish I had had a way of letting
Baladus know my plan in advance."

   "It was frightening, but don't worry; courage is a quality Virtusar
cultivates in his soldiers.  I am already over it.  Besides, knowing older,
wiser ghosts has already been beneficial for me.  Once Baladus knew who it
was that sent me, he let me know that it was best that I share no details
about your current whereabouts or identity.  That way no one would be able
to wrest that information out of him or Elaine no matter how much magic the
person used.

   "He said that if you had gone to the trouble of having one of my bones
placed in his sarcophagus, then you probably needed me to serve as a
messenger.  He questioned me about my technique for popping between the
locations of my remains and was pleased that I had been able to learn as
much as I had on my own.  He gave me a few pointers and suggested that
there was nothing better than practice to make such travel second nature.
He talked about how ghosts obtain energy, and he questioned me about my
death and the emotions surrounding it.  He believes that I take my energy
from the interplay of fear and courage, such as when a warrior pushes
through fear to fight for victory.  We also talked about some of the other
things ghosts can do.  Elaine promised to teach me the art of causing
chills to the living."

   Celena laughed.  "Elaine is far too good at giving chills.  I am glad
she has volunteered to teach you the art of chilling the living.  If my
Life Vision and Ghostly Whispers spells lapse, the only way I have of
realizing that you are around is if you pass by my open left palm, although
using me as a conduit to and from the land of dead would probably work too.
Anyhow, chilling me would be a great way to prompt me to recast my spells.
You could also use a chill to alert someone with no other way to sense your
presence that you were ready to hear a message to carry back to me."

   "Oh that is brilliant!  I could be quite the messenger."

   Yes, and you and Baladus were right that I needed you as a messenger
among other things.  I also appreciate your company, your knowledge and
your enthusiasm for the work we have been doing together.  When you
disappeared I needed to find a way to rescue you again, and I needed to ask
Baladus some questions about a spell that might help Baron Daelrath.  Since
you disappeared while talking about your remains, I realized that you had
probably popped back to them.  For a ghost who thought she had no powers,
instantaneous travel is certainly an impressive ability.  I realize it is a
common ability for ghosts, but that does not make it any less valuable.  Is
it very uncomfortable having your remains spread around?  If you can
tolerate it, you could be the best spy, scout and messenger ever," Celena
suggested.

   "That would be wonderful!  I thought when I died that I would never be
able to battle Lord Avengene.  Now I shall strike blows against him from
beyond the grave.  Having my remains spread is strange, but not so bad.  I
have done fine at your side without a thought about where my remains were.
I think I can learn to like having them spread.  I am not happy that most
of my remains are still out in the woods where people who knew me could
find them, but I understand why your bird could only take some of the
finger and toe bones.  If he tried to take all of my bones he would never
have got off the ground."

   "You are right about that.  Cindus cannot carry a great deal of weight,
especially not on long flights.  If it would help, perhaps I can contrive
to get the rest of your remains the next time the Daelraths head down that
way."

   "I think that is a good idea.  My main resting place should be here with
you, and your identity is safer if no one ever finds my bones.  I missed
Rath Keep.  It is so exciting here with all the soldiers!"

   "I imagine the soldiers' routine can be monotonous, but we did have a
minor troll attack last night."

   "Drat!  I missed it because of that bone-headed move," Carla exclaimed.

   "Don't worry Carla; I am sure there will be plenty more attacks,
especially with the Avengenes in the woods.  I cannot be sure, but I
suspect that Sir Choshus and Enok may have been trying to run a group of
trolls by the Avengene camp just to put the Avengenes on the troll tribes'
menu.  If that is what they did, it was a dangerous maneuver, but the
Avengenes will have to worry about troll attacks if they are going to stay
around.  If the trolls react, they may not confine their attack to the
Avengenes.  We will need every advantage we can get in the event of a large
troll attack.  Perhaps I can rig up a piece of your remains on top of one
of the towers.  That way you can help spot trolls if you wish.  The earlier
you can spot them the more time the men will have to wake their sleeping
compatriots and prepare for battle.  If you spot an attack early, you will
save lives.

   "I would enjoy that.  I could watch the battle from there as well,
although I would prefer to be with you if you are in the thick of it."

   "I may be in the thick of battle at times, but I suspect I will spend
most of my time within the infirmary during battles.  If you could let me
know about the battle and where wounded men might be, that might help save
lives as well, and if you would like to see the battle up close, perhaps I
can get a soldier or two to carry one of your bones."

   "That would be exciting!  What would we need to do?"

   "First I need you to help me with what bones go to what appendages. 
After that, we should pick a few finger and toe bones that you find it easy
to travel to, and then we can get the leather worker to make me some tiny
neck pouches.  Maybe later I can have one or more of your smaller bones
incorporated into an actual pendant, but I would like to put that off until
I can find out from Baladus and Kroz whether mundane resins and waxes would
affect your ability to move to your bones.  I wish I could get some of the
resin of Mortaebius to preserve your bones, I suspect that would not impede
you in the least.  Perhaps Baladus can tell me where I might get some."

   "'The resin of Mortaebius', what is that?" asked Carla.

   "Oh it is strictly forbidden knowledge held by a few individuals within
the church's protective orders.  They use the resin to strengthen and
preserve animated skeletons.

   "Oh goodness where did you hear about that?"

   "Our ghostly friend knows about it, but in this case the less a person
knows about ancient history the safer she is.  Right now we need to
concentrate on trying to save the baron and his barony."

   At that moment, Vicar Fryske knocked on her chamber door.

   "Champion Medea, is there someone in there with you?"

   "Just Carla, come on in, Vicar."

   Vicar Fryske smiled nervously.  "I could not help overhearing you say
that you needed to concentrate on saving the baron and his barony.  A few
hours ago, I had an epiphany!  I double-checked it in one of my medical
books to make sure it had merit and then quickly gathered the necessary
supplies and set it up.  We should be able to keep the Baron from dying of
thirst by keeping his rectum filled with water."

   "Oh, you are doing a water enema?  That is brilliant, Vicar!" Celena
exclaimed.  She set the pile of bones on her night table, bounded over to
the Vicar and gave him an enormous hug.  "If it works well, it could buy us
a few weeks before the Baron starves."

   Vicar Fryske's entire body blushed red as he nodded.

   "How did you come up with the idea?" Celena asked, still holding the
vicar close and reveling in the way his lust tickled up her spine.

   "I-I was reading the side effects of the spell I was going to use on
him, and there were dangers that bothered me.  It takes most of a man's
remaining vitality and uses it up.  Normally a priest would use the spell
on a mortally wounded soldier when vitality is of no concern, but I would
prefer to save Baron Daelrath not wake him up for one appearance.  With the
baron's body already compromised by this coma, I needed a better way to
keep him alive, and thank Virtusar one popped into my head."

   Celena nodded.  "Loss of vitality is a major concern when dealing with
magic that is basically necromantic in character.  That is the main reason
why I would prefer not to use the spell I tried to learn last night on the
Baron.  Your idea will buy us precious time during which the baron could
recover.  Barring that, it will give us time to find another solution, or
at least to explore refinements on the ones we have been looking into."

   "Uh yes, I am so happy the idea came to me!  Are those human distal
phalanges on your night table?"

   "Yes, these are the bones Cindus brought back.  They should make it
possible for me to summon Carla when we need her.  We need to keep
knowledge of these bones as secret as possible.  I do not want any Avengene
spies getting wind of my ghostly sister.  She could be an excellent spy for
us, but only if the priests of the Vindicator do not take measures against
ghosts.  Is it time for us to go to lunch with the knights?"

   "Uh yes, that was why I came to see you.  We need to head over to the
tower house."

   Celena put the last of the bones back into the sack and put it in her
belt pouch before following Vicar Fryske out of the infirmary to head for
the tower house.  During the walk, the vicar discussed the baron's
condition and the particulars of the water enema with Celena since they
would be discussing the baron's prognosis before the knights.

   Once they arrived at the tower house, a guard took them into the great
hall and they seated themselves at a long table.  The head of the table was
conspicuously vacant, and those present sat near Lady Daelrath at the foot
of the table.  Sir Stallart and Lieutenant York sat on the East side of the
table - the side that would have been on the baron's right, while Sir
Gehrheart, Sir Coshus and Sir Mongrail sat on the west side.  The vicar
motioned Celena to take a seat on the West side of the table as he
proceeded towards the east side.  He left the seat next to him vacant and
took the seat across from Celena.

   Sir Stallart cleared his throat.  "Welcome to the baron's table, Celena.
During this noon's meal, we will discuss the baron's condition, but before
the food arrives, we would like to take a moment to let you know how
impressed we are with your service to the barony thus far.  During your
first day, you healed the baron during an orc ambush and saved him from a
mortal wound.  Following that, you came up with a plan and forged a
successful alliance with the orc lieutenant to get the Daelraths home in
spite of what was likely an attempt by the Avengenes to take the barony.

   "Early the next morning you prevented what was probably an attempt by
Sir Bronenkam and the Avengenes to finish what they had started the
previous evening.  Last evening the orc warrior you forged the alliance
with also used his head and a vision of Virtusar that you provided to
defeat our errant knight, Sir Bronenkam, in a trial by combat.  Finally,
early this morning you killed your first troll.  More than any test given
by the church, your deeds have distinguished you as a true Champion of
Virtusar."

   Sir Stallart sat down and Sir Gehrheart rose and turned to Celena.

   "A barony that does not recognize its heroes and their noble deeds
cannot profess to worship Virtusar, the god of war.  As the arms master of
Rath, I make it my business to find out when a soldier performs heroic
deeds.  I know you were quick to give credit to Private Svenson for
distracting the monster, but the tale he told was a bit different from
yours.

   "He said you saved Private Styles from a goring by removing the claws
from the troll's left hand with your rapier an instant before they hit. 
Svenson scored a wound on the troll's knee, but failed to sever the leg,
and the next thing he knew that troll dealt him a head blow that knocked
him out.  The last thought that went through his head was that he was a
dead man.  Had the troll followed up with even one more blow, he probably
would have been right, but you took that troll down with a dagger as surely
as a knight might have dispatched it with a two-handed sword.  You saved
Svenson's life.  That story is already making its rounds and bolstering the
men's respect for you.  Vicar Fryske and the knights and lieutenant
assembled here are glad you distinguished yourself.  We believe you will be
more effective as a chaplain if the men respect you as a true champion of
Virtusar.

   "Please stand, Champion Medea.  Here at Rath Keep we have a tradition
when a recruit single-handedly slays a troll.  The slayer wears the two
largest fangs of the troll as a sign of his or her valor.  Sometimes
slayers wear them on a leather thong that passes through badly drilled
holes in the troll's fangs, and other times their friends take up a
collection and get the jeweler to string the fangs on a brass chain, but
such tokens would be crude in comparison to your sterling deeds and refined
beauty.  In view of the prestige you have earned, we would like to present
you with this token of valor.  Sir Gehrheart held up a silver necklace with
a large, round moonstone at its center flanked on either side by troll
fangs held up by triangular loops of silver wire that passed through
precise holes drilled through either side of the upper end of each tooth.
He put it around Celena's neck and secured the clasp."

   "Oh it is beautiful!  Thank you Sirs!"

   "You earned it, Champion Medea!" Sir Stallart beamed.

   "Here, here!  Sir Coshus exclaimed.

   "Sir Coshus found that moonstone in a mountain creek and it has been
kicking around his room for years.  You can thank him for chipping it in,"
said Sir Stallart.

   "Thank you Sir Coshus, it is a beautiful stone!"

   "That'd be my pleasure, Champion.  It looks far better hanging around a
beautiful woman's neck than it did collecting dust in my drawers.  I be
findin' lesser stones of that type often enough in mountain streams in case
you kill more trolls and need spacing stones.  Usually I sell them to the
jeweler, but that was a big one I held onto for a special occasion."

   As Sir Coshus finished speaking, Sir Gehrheart handed a small sack to
Celena.

   "The sack holds the troll's other teeth.  Some men find the smaller
teeth helpful for use as spacers between sets of fangs.  Since we are
expecting you to add more fangs to that necklace in the future, we saved
the other teeth just in case you might have use for them.  Actually I think
Sir Coshus' idea of using smaller moonstones is a better one, but you now
have the extra teeth just in case you need them."

   "Thank you Sir Gehrheart," Celena said peering into the upper ends of
the fangs on her necklace after she took the sack.  "You have all done me a
great honor today.  I have no idea how I am going to top these first few
days of work here at Rath Keep, but I will do my best."

   "That'd be a tall order for sure," Sir Coshus affirmed as people took
their seats and the food began to arrive.

   "I am assuming the Avengenes are still in the woods, and that we are
isolated.  I might be able to fly a message out with the help of a bird if
you could describe where to take it once I got to Bristol."

   "Would you pass me the cattail shoots there, Sir Coshus," Sir Mongrail
asked before turning to Celena.  "I know Sir Stallart trusts your magic,
Celena, but I do not trust the supernatural.  I know you healed the baron
and Sir Stallart, and I have no doubt that the knife-throw you used to
bring down the orc chieftain was no ordinary toss.  However, when you start
talking about spooks and guiding birds from afar, you lose me.  I hope we
do not need you to try to deliver a message through mummery.  Once the
trolls inform the Avengenes how poor an idea it is to camp in the woods in
northern Daelrath, they should pull out and we can send a pigeon to
Bristol."

   "If they learn that important lesson I'll wager they will head back to
Avengene straight away," Lieutenant York concurred.

   "I sincerely hope that works out," Celena agreed.  "I noticed you had a
tail of trolls when you arrived back at the keep last night, Sir Coshus. 
Were you able to run them by the Avengene camp?"

   "That'd be hard to say.  We were looking for the camp when the trolls
caught wind of us.  If we are lucky they smelled the Avengene campfires,
but we never got close enough to see any soldiers."

   Sir Gehrheart pointed his fork at Celena.

   "It is hard to say what the trolls know, and we are still not sure just
exactly how many men Lord Avengene has up here.  It may be that they could
survive a few attacks."

   Celena frowned.  "As long as Lord Avengene has enough men up here to
survive one attack, he could send reinforcements anytime he loses men in
battle."

   Sir Coshus nodded.  "Aye, Lord Avengene'd be capable of keeping forces
in our woods indefinitely if he can stomach the losses, and send enough
reinforcements fast enough, but a major troll attack before he can erect
even earth and timber fortifications could wipe his men out."

   "Since the Baron's life may depend on our access to the outside world, I
sincerely hope that the trolls find out about the Avengenes quickly and act
decisively," Celena said.  "Perhaps we could find ways to help them along."

   "That'd be a strategy I'd be backing," Sir Coshus affirmed.

   "If you are not averse to working with a wise woman, Sir Coshus, then I
would be happy to help."

   "I'd be glad to work with a beautiful woman for almost any reason at
all." Sir Coshus grinned.

   "Ho now, Sir Coshus, this is far too important a mission to be left to
mummery," Sir Mongrail contended.

   "Don't be frettin', Sir Mongrail," said Sir Coshus.  "Testin' the truth
of any information Celena might get about the locations of Avengenes or
trolls will be easy, and I'll be doing plenty of scoutin' with this
Avengene situation whether she helps or not."

   "Do you think you can help Sir Coshus get the locations he needs,
Celena?" Sir Gehrheart asked.

   "I can be of some help, but I have some serious limitations at this
point.  I will need to cast some spells and see how things come out. 
Perhaps Carla can also help in some way, but I will have to work out the
particulars," Celena warned.

   "Since you are her immediate superior, Vicar, is it alright for her to
lend a hand?" Sir Gehrheart asked.

   "Absolutely!  Virtusar knows a good soldier uses every weapon at his
disposal to obtain victory.

   "I will attest that the intel Celena got from her ghostly sister, Carla,
was rock solid during the time Sir Bronenkam had us locked up in the
barracks," Lieutenant York assured the knights.

   "Then, subject to Sir Coshus' testing and judgment, I motion that we
give Celena's magic a shot.  I have faith in Sir Coshus' scouting
expertise, but If Celena can save Cosh some time, it could mean the
difference between eradicating our Avengene problem quickly and having it
fester indefinitely.  If Lord Avengene establishes a large fortified camp
near Rath Keep, a siege could be next," Sir Gehrheart warned.

   "That'd be why I second the motion," Sir Coshus interjected.

   "I concur.  The motion carries," Sir Stallart added.

   "Ho, I sure lost that one!  You will put her to a fair test, won't you,
Sir Coshus?" Sir Mongrail asked.

   "Aye, that'd be something you can count on, Sir Mongrail.  With the
barony on the line, I'll not be entertaining random babble.  On the other
hand, it'd be a big forest packed with more dangers than usual and workin'
at night more than doubles those dangers.  You can bet I'll be usin' all
the help I can get!" said Sir Coshus.

   "What of the Baron's condition, Vicar Fryske?" Sir Mongrail asked.

   "The baron is still unconscious in spite of our efforts, but Champion
Medea and I have spent many hours researching medicinal and magical
remedies trying to discover a means to awaken him.  We have a couple of
candidate spells, but both are similarly debilitating, and using them means
there is a distinct possibility that, if the Baron awakens, it may be for
the last few moments of his life.  I did find a means to buy the baron more
time.  Ordinarily a man dies in three or four days without water, but I
have set the baron up on a water enema.  That coupled with the use of a
catheter should allow me to help him void urine while keeping him from
dying of thirst.  At best, that buys us a week or two before starvation
will claim him.  At worst, he has suffered a major head injury and it is
not out of the question for him simply to stop breathing at some point.  I
hope the enema idea will give us time to deal with the Avengenes, and look
into other means of waking him up."

   "Have you got anything to add, Champion Medea?" Sir Stallart asked.

   "As you know, we believe that tissue within the baron's brain was
destroyed by the arrow that transfixed it, and the tissue that grew back to
replace it when I healed him did not contain the same connections as the
original.  This is similar to what we would expect from a stroke, but
instead of dead tissue created by a blood clot, we have new, unschooled
tissue instead.  I do not know if there is any way we can restore some of
those connections now that Vicar Fryske has bought us some time.  It is a
long shot, but we could try massage in an attempt to stimulate his brain.
If we had a longer time, we might bring in magical healers from other gods,
such as Libraziera.  Unfortunately, judging by the fate of your homing
pigeons, the Avengenes are making that impossible.  The trolls may be our
only hope to remove the Avengene problem..."

   The knights nodded gravely.

   "Wait a second," Celena continued.  "Something has just occurred to me
concerning the baron that I would like to bounce off you."

   "What's the strategy?" Sir Gehrheart asked.

   "I'll wager it's something important given that look on your face," York
noted.

   "Has anyone seen a troll recover from a brain injury?" Celena asked.

   "I have," Sir Mongrail said.  "I missed a dodging troll's neck by a few
inches one time while fighting from horseback and cut into the back of its
skull.  I would have finished it off, but there was a second troll and he
was a more pressing danger.  The troll I cut lay there for a few minutes
while I fought his comrade and then he started twitching like a crazed fish
out of water.  A couple of minutes later he stood up and started fighting."

   "Trolls recover from the sort of wounds the baron is suffering from all
of the time," Celena contended.  "If their nerves are sliced, they grow new
tissue and somehow the nerves reconnect.  What would happen if we replaced
the water in the baron's enema with troll's blood?  Perhaps then a breath
of divine vigor from Virtusar would do more than bring the baron's spirit
back to his body."

   The knights looked at one another and then at the vicar.

   "That could work!" Vicar Fryske exclaimed.  "I cannot say it will, or if
it does how much functionality the baron might regain, but Virtusar knows
it is certainly worth a try.  The twitching Sir Mongrail saw may be part of
a mechanism trolls have to reestablish neural connections," Vicar Fryske
conjectured.

   "We could try vigorous massage on the heels of a healing from Virtusar
in an attempt to stimulate the connections between the nerves of the
baron's body and his brain," Celena suggested.

   Vicar Fryske nodded.  "Healing energy can also make a man quake and
shiver, and we can do both.  I will set up the troll's blood enema right
away.  Afterwards I will do some meditation in preparation for a healing
this evening.  If you could prepare as well, Champion Medea, I would like
to try another team healing.  That technique seemed to have kept the
Baron's spirit with us the longest, and more energy running through the
baron's nerves may help overcome blockages.  I want to give him every
chance to mend.  In this case even a small victory could give him a new
lease on life."

   They spent the rest of the meal discussing less weighty topics such as
the amount of greens coming from the keep's farms, and the progress various
recruits were making under the arms master.  Near the end of the meal,
Celena asked one of the servants to set aside some food for her raven, and
when the meal was over and the knights were standing up to return to their
duties, Celena approached Sir Coshus.

   "Sir Coshus, do you have time to take me up on the roof to familiarize
me with any landmarks that can be seen from the keep?  If I find something,
the next step is going to be to let you know where it is."

   "That'd be the truth of it.  You'll be needing to know the lay o' the
land if you want to tell me where you've found things.  The Avengene
presence these days means I have to do most of my scoutin' at night, and
that'd be tricky even if there be moonlight because the forests in Daelrath
are tall and thick.  If it weren't for that orc you got us, we'd be out of
luck.  He takes the lead and I try to keep track of where we are.  I need
to teach him the lay o' the land too, but that'd be a tough job seeing as
how he doesn't speak the best common and I speak no Orcish.  He is in Hawk
Platoon and will be heading for bed shortly.  Since he will probably not be
up until after dark, let's see if we can go snag him now, and I'll take you
both up to the roof for a look around and into the war room where we can go
over some maps." -------



   This ends, Trolling, chapter 75 of The Chronicles of Rapina. The story
continues in chapter 76, Temple Rock.