A Problem for KearyIndex | HomePage | GameLogs | MarshendGameLogs | A Problem for Keary It had been a hard year. The discovery of the two direwolf pups had effectively ended the search for whatever treasures were in the marsh, but Gabriel couldn't complain. Except, of course, for now, when one of those pups had closed her mouth tight around his forearm. "Mist," he said, shaking his arm, "let go." Her tail wagged, just a little. Trying to pry his arm out was nearly impossible. The female pup had fantastic strength in her jaws, and even at a year had gained significant weight. Gabriel had to sigh and stand and let her drag him to the door. "Okay. Go hunt," he said, opening the door; in just a moment, she was out and gone. He had made several forays into the marsh with Catriona after that first discovery, but no luck. The map was too old, the landmarks changed. The secret might hide under tall grass and water forever, and it was damnably frustrating. Another problem had been Mist herself. As beautiful as she was frightening, he had had no choice but to keep her at the Song and Sheep. She was Gabriel's, and after the month of "explanations" as to why she had shown up, and the fights with the locals over keeping her, he could ill afford to have her associate with Keary. They had to range far from Marshend before they could be seen together, and even then Keary Snow had had to explain several times that Gabriel's bitch wolf had taken a liking to him. Now as he sat in the Song and Sheep Inn, to all intents and purposes Gabriel, the respectable innkeeper, he was thinking of what he had seen five nights past - the mysterious lights in the marshes. Strange lights were nothing new in the Ghost Fens, of course. The old ex-Maester that Keary had once reluctantly served had, in his cups, talked about gases that flared suddenly and unexpectedly into light. Keary hadn't believed him at the time, but had seen the phenomenon for himself over the years. But this ... was different. This was steady torchlight, the torchlight of people secretly but methodically searching the Ghost Fens. And they were drawing close to the area where he and Catriona had found their direwolves a year before. At the time, it seemed that was all that was there to find. Now ... Keary was not so sure. Not to mention that all these warm bodies in -his- marsh were affecting business. Were they constabulary? Someone trying to nail down his smuggling operation? They were doing a fair job of it. Killing someone would attract even more attention, he thought, but it may come to a few of the searchers disappearing in the mists to warn the others away from a few of his vital paths... "Gabriel?" It was Yuanna. "Gabriel, there's a folly of mummers arrived. They're travelling to Holdfast, but one of them has been injured ... they want to speak with you." "Put them up," Gabriel said immediately. "Find them a room, and a meal. I'll talk with them while you get that ready." Yuanna nodded and bustled away. Soon a small dark-haired man, little higher than a dwarf, came into the room and swept Keary a low bow. "Your honour," he said. "We're grateful for your kindness to us. Poor Aniketta ... to fall so far and so hard ... it will be days - perhaps weeks! Before she can ride in our jolting wagon, let alone dance again upon the high wire. And what shall we do till then? How shall we eat? How shall we live/ This town ... it may laugh at our little show for a day, a week but then ... ah then, we should be on our way! But what will become of our little Aniketta then?" Behind him, two women were helping a slender figure dressed in a long dark cloak into the room. As they settled her onto the settle, she gave a moan of involuntary pain, and the hood slipped back a little, revealing a pale face, the eyes closed, and smooth fine hair in two dark wings either side of a beautiful face. Gabriel's eyes widened a little, seeing her; he seemed to stare at her with a great intensity. Then he turned to the dwarf. "We'll see," he said. "Now is not the time to worry about that. We shall have our septon examine her, and see to your comfort, good sir, and that of your folly- I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." The small man swept a flourishing bow. "We call ourselves the Giants of Pentos," he announced sonorously. Then he grinned. "Indeed, we are as much of Pentos as we are giants, but the smallfolk like a little mystery, a little drama." Almost distractedly, he looked back at the girl on the setee. "What did you say caused her fall? What performance did you say she did?" "Like us all, she does a little of everything," said the man. Then he looked sharply at Keary. "I mean ... she sings, she dances, she tumbles ... But we are respectable, Master. If we leave her with you ... " He hesitated, seemingly suddenly a little uncertain. Gabriel leaned forward, his expression intent. "And what," he said, "do you think would happen to her?" "He fears you might take me for your mistress," said a voice behind him, warm and rich. One could only guess how beguiling it might be in telling a tale - how powerful the enchantment ot could cast in a song. The little man shrugged apologetically. "She is young and fair," he said. "And you are a man with red blood in your veins." "And more than my share of prudence," Gabriel said. "You can leave your fears of a sullied reputation at the door, along with your fears of financial ruin. I'll help you out. You'll owe me a favor. Perhaps, someday, I'll ask a favor in return." Gabriel's head moved fractionally, and he glanced behind and to the side. "The lady is awake." "Yes," she said. "The lady does that. She wakes, she sleeps. She eats and drinks - and even performs other tasks that she needs to so that she can stay alive. Unfortunately, she does not walk at the moment, still less tumble ... " She held out a long slender hand towards Keary. "If you will receive her into your home, it will be the greatest of kindnesses, and will indeed place the Giants of Pentos is your debt." Then she smiled - or rather grinned - a wicked, mischevious grin. "Although whether you'll ever find them to collect is another matter." The little man was laughing. "Now ... Annie!" "I am Aniketta," she continued, "from the worse dregs of Flea Bottom in King's Landing. And now ... a Giant of Pentos, sadly shrunken." She looked up at him and her saw, for the first time, her eyes, a strange and striking colour, the colour of a bruise. Gabriel's eyebrows climbed. "Flea Bottom is a long way from here. And that is a good thing." He took her hand, though he did not follow the pretense of a kiss or a knightly bow- somehow, he thought they all knew better. "Charmed," he said instead. "And yes, you are welcome here. You'll both have to tell me of the Giants and their exploits... Marshend is rustic, and I crave news of more cosmopolitan settings." "Perhaps," said the man hopefully, "over some food, and some of your excellent ale." Aniketta laughed. "Then, my host, you'll discover the real reason with Davin is held a giant. For his appetite is sure that of no mere man." "My appetite for food and wine," agreed Davin, unabashed, "and my appetite for songs, laughter and good tales. And there are tales everyone, from the Far Side of the Wall to the sands of Dorne. There are even tales of your own Ghost Fens." "I've heard a few of those," Gabriel said. "Especially lately. Not any stories I've liked, either." He paused. "Give me a few moments, I'll have Humility bring something for us." "Certainly," said Aniketta. "And please ... do not feel you must serve us as guests. We will pay our way. At least, I will. When I am strong again, I'll work until the Giants return. And I am a good worker." "I thought you would," Gabriel said. "All right, then. There are always things to do." He sat down. "How about a story of the Ghost Fens to start?" Before Aniketta could begin, a young man - an ostler by his dress - came into the room and shuffled up nervously to Gabriel. "Sir - I'd be grateful if you came and looked at the grey mare. I'm not too sure about her looks." Gabriel recognised the coded reference to Catriona's presence in the inn. "Ah," Gabriel said. "More serious than I thought, then," continuing the ruse. He turned to his guests. "If you will both excuse me, there is something I need to see to... it should not take long. Perhaps I can join you afterwards and hear a few of these stories?" "Certainly," said Anketta, with a graceful inclination of her head. "I shall still be here when you return." She indicated her injured foot ruefully. (Continued in A Warning for Catriona - and Keary) |
