Gull took one step, and the goblin bolted into the darkness.
The woodcutter turned to chide his diminutive sister, then gave up. Her eyes shone adoration for her big brother. "That's foolish, you know. Letting a rabid skunk like that loose. But I suppose there's been enough killing…"
His sister glanced over his shoulder. Had the centaurs returned?
No.
Standing in the firelight, bright as sunrise, was a man in stripes and a headful of yellow hair.
Snatching his fallen axe, Gull acted on pure instinct. He charged. "I'll kill you!"
CHAPTER 6
Gull was head and shoulders above the wizard, probably weighed half again as much. The woodcutter swung an eight-pound double-bitted axe at the run, while the wizard stood firm with only a child's rattle.
Nonetheless, it was Gull who veered off. A foot spasmed, and he slipped on damp oak leaves. He skidded on his side, dragging his axe.
Idiot, he cursed himself. To stumble in the face of an enemy.
Swearing aloud, he scrambled up and charged again. He carried his axe at the head lest he stumble again and gash himself. If he got near this wizard, he wouldn't need a weapon. He'd rip the man's throat out with his fingernails His right arm flailed on its own, suddenly cramping. Off-balance, he slid on his face, tasted leaves again.
What was wrong with him?
Neither howling nor swearing, but cold and clearheaded, he dropped the axe and tried to roll over and over. That way he couldn't fall. If he could knock the man's feet from under His thigh spasmed, a pain like muscles shearing. A knee jerk stopped his rolling.
This, he thought, was not his fault. That rattle had knocked him silly. Could he crawl, grab the man's ankle…?
As Gull lay panting, twitching, a hand graced his forehead. "Be at ease. I come in peace, to talk."
Anger dropped from Gull like water running down a drain. Maybe killing this wizard wasn't a good idea. Maybe talking was better. Maybe he could help…
Unless, a dark part of his mind warned, he'd cast another spell…
Gull dismissed that idea. He knew his own mind. He was just tired from two days of fighting and running and living and dying.
"All right," he puffed. "Talk."
When his muscles would respond, Gull climbed to his feet. The wizard tucked the "rattle" into his belt. It was turned from polished silver with furrows and knurls. The woodcutter pointed. "What is that thing?"
The wizard touched the head. "Oh, nothing much. It just diverts attacks. I'd hate to bring anyone to harm."
Harm, thought Gull. Same as the goblin had denied.
The man's voice sounded young, and despite his bushy mustache, Gull guessed he was probably not twenty. Certainly his hands were soft as a baby's. His yellow hair, combed back and stiffened with limewash, was unkempt as a boy's.
His gown was some shiny material that winked as folds caught the firelight. By its rustling, it seemed sheer as ashes. The woven bands of color were no wider than a finger, from red shoulder wings to a yellow waist and dark blue hem that trailed no dust. Many things studded the belt, knobs and jewels and tiny faces, but most curious was a small brass-bound book hung by chains on his left.
Gull had only seen one book in his life, an old one from Wolftooth's travels. It showed drawings of fanciful animals and far-off cities. Gull wondered what a man might see in this book that he chained it close.
As if reading his mind, the wizard swung the book behind him. "Merely wisdom bequeathed by my teacher. You'd find it dull."
Gull found himself agreeing. This boyish wizard had an infectious smile…
Or was this more spelling?
Gull shook his weary head, concentrating. "Why did you come here? Haven't you done enough to ruin this valley? There's nothing left, not even crumbs for rats." Anger thickened his voice.
But the wizard dispelled it easily as dousing a fire. "Yes, I've seen. A terrible thing. A beautiful valley, now spoiled."
"Then why…?" His babble confused the woodcutter. "Why was a battle necessary?"
"It wasn't. May I share your fire?"
Unable to deny a common courtesy, the woodcutter waved. The wizard swept back his skirts (like a woman, Gull thought) and perched on a stump. Liko and Greensleeves watched him curiously.
Gull sat on a rock. Bruised as he was, scratched, dirty, crippled in hand and knee, he felt ancient and broken-down compared against this prissy wizard. He made his voice harsh. "How is this tragedy not your fault, if you were party to the fighting?"
The wizard locked his fingers around one knee and leaned back. Firelight tinted his hair white, an odd young-old look. "As with everything, there are good and evil wizards. That brown one was evil, pure and simple. He came here to enslave your village. You saw those plumed soldiers in the scale mail attack your village. He conjured that giant there, the rain of stones-"
"That killed my father."
"Exactly. He unleashes death. He summoned the plague rats-"
"That killed the woman I loved." The last word stuck in his throat. He'd never said it aloud. Certainly never to Cowslip. He hoped her soul walked easy.
"See? We're agreed. Now, I am a simple seeker of truth, good things to benefit men and women everywhere-"
"Why, then, your own army? You summoned a blue cloud that brought forth blue warriors."
The wizard rocked like a fidgety child. "True. But only to protect myself and my entourage."
Gull remembered the circle of wagons with people huddled inside. Where were they right now? He glanced over his shoulder, saw only darkness. Where had the train gone after the battle, that it could return now? Or was the wizard alone?
The visitor was babbling. "… see that all my spells are defensive. I never-"
"Flying goblins that hurl iron spikes? A wall of briars? A hydra to bite a giant's arm off?"
Both of Liko's heads frowned. Yet if this wizard feared the giant might rise and pound him to pulp, he didn't show it. "I try to lessen the destruction other wizards cause. Remember the fire horn? I brought the rain that quenched its blazes. Surely you don't think that storm was spontaneous?"
Gull frowned. "Two wizards appeared and my home was ruined. I can only think the two wrecked it."
Mildly, he said, "I can understand. Yet if a wolf chased a rabbit through this clearing, and both scattered ashes and started a blaze, would you blame both?"
"We speak of men, not rabbits and wolves," grunted Gull. Likable he might be, but this wizard's tone was insulting, as if he spoke to a slow child. And his answers came easy and quick, as if rehearsed, though not much to the point.
The wizard sighed. "You're a hard man. Any trouble I've caused I can fix. Would a demonstration of good faith convince?"
"It might. It would beat this torrent of words you pour on my head."
The wizard rose, crossed to lay a hand on the giant's thigh. "Good evening, good sir. May I see your sullied arm, please?"
Liko probably didn't understand the words, but he raised his arm. Hands nimble as a surgeon's, the wizard unwrapped the stump and examined. "You come from near the sea, giant?"
"His name is Liko," put in Gull.
"Liko, then. You do? I recognize your caste. I've visited your land in my travels. Lovely country. There's a sea gull there sports a yellow belly, yes?"
Awed, Liko nodded. Both heads watched the wizard say, "Would you like to return home? I can send you there."
"Home?" asked Liko, and Gull's heart ached for him. The giant was like a lost child. "Yes, home. I would like that."
"Of course you would. Everyone wants to return home. Here's what I'll do. A simple spell to heal your arm, make it grow back-"
"Grow back?" yelped Gull. "A man's arm can't grow back!"
For the first time, the wizard looked miffed. "Magic can cure or kill, create or destroy."