Return to Canifis

“I’m sorry I’m late,” he said. Kara noted how his eyes turned upwards, to look to the ladies gallery where the wives and daughters of the nobility sat to watch the proceedings. She saw Lady Anne sitting at the front of the balcony, and as she looked, the young woman’s eyes rested coldly upon her before moving to Theodore. Very pointedly, Kara paid Anne no heed, and instead found herself staring at Lady Caroline, who sat a short distance from her friend.

Enjoy the show, Anne. Let’s hope King Roald doesn’t rush things too much. I wouldn’t want your uncertainty to be so quickly ended.

Suddenly Lady Caroline waved, and Kara heard Theodore chuckle.

“I think that wave was meant for you, William.”

“I can but hope, Theodore,” the noble replied. “The dance last night was an outstanding success, I think.”

At least someone feels that way, Kara thought bleakly. Castimir muttered something uncharitable. He had been in a foul mood all morning, ever since he had been forced to leave Ebenezer’s bedside to attend the parliament. Arisha had remained by the alchemist’s side, in the company of Father Lawrence and a shocked Sally.

Ignoring the wizard’s mumblings, Theodore spoke.

“Where were you last night, William?” he asked. “You missed a great deal.”

“So I have heard tell. Gossip around the palace says that you interrupted the Wyrd from kidnapping a child, and nearly captured her. Word has it that Gar’rth was injured.” He lowered his eyes and the smile faded. “I have, of course, heard about Ebenezer, as well. I am very sorry to hear of his injuries.” Then he glanced around. “Where is Gar’rth, anyhow, and Arisha?”

Don’t you know Lord William? Don’t you know that he awaits the King’s decision as to whether he lives or dies?

“Arisha is with them,” Kara said quickly. “She wished to remain behind to tend their wounds.”

A horn blew as a door near the stage was opened. The parliament stood as King Roald entered. He was followed by the wizard Aubury and escorted by Captain Rovin, whose sword hand was wrapped in a white bandage. She saw him frown in their direction.

“Next time I should heat his helm,” Castimir muttered angrily, eliciting a surprised glance from William. “Then he would have a real reason to scowl so.”

“His ears have stopped bleeding at least,” Doric observed.

The King sat, and Aeonisig Raispher and Papelford shared a glance, then exchanged a nod before the religious advisor finally pointed to his apprentice.

Next to the ancient archivist, a nervous Reldo stood.

“Lords, Ladies, citizens of Varrock,” he began, his voice timid, “I have been asked by representatives of the monarchy to relay the following information to you in order to reveal what is being done about the terror that holds our city in its grip. This is what His Majesty promised you yesterday, and it is his intention to deliver on that promise.” The young man’s eyes fell to the paper in his hand as he began to read.

“For at least the last six months, near a hundred people have been reported as missing or have been found slain. The great majority of these attacks have been out to the east, among the rural communities not far from the River Salve. Many have been found mutilated and partially devoured.” That brought a gasp from the galleries. “Others have not been found at all. In many cases writing has been left at the scene, although in some instances, wherein the body was found by illiterate village folk, the existence of these messages cannot be confirmed.”

Reldo coughed before continuing. Kara took the opportunity to study the faces of the citizens standing in the balconies above her.

They are still willing to listen, to give their King a chance, she observed. Let us hope there is no more deception. If there is even the hint of such then the crowd will riot, and this time there are no walls to protect us.

“More recently, the attacks have commenced in Varrock itself. It was at this point it was decided that something needed to be done to prevent a panic. Therefore, Lord Despaard acted with the best interests of the realm at heart. The dead were removed and interred, and the witnesses detained to ensure their silence.” There was an angry grumbling at that. “The mark of the plague was placed upon the door to each house to explain why the family had been removed from the city.

“We confess to you now, upon instructions from His Majesty, that there has been no plague in Varrock this year. The people have no cause to fear it at this time.”

Kara watched as many heads nodded in understanding. The grumbling subsided, and a faint ripple of agreement sounded from above.

They have accepted it then. But where do we go from here?

Reldo continued.

“We do not know why this Wyrd is terrorizing the people. There seems to be no pattern to her actions that we can discern, although attempts are still being made to do so. As of this day, six children are missing, along with several adults. There may very well be others whose disappearance has not been reported to us. However, despite all this, there is hope.” He paused to add emphasis to the words. “Last night, for the very first time, the authorities came close to capturing this creature as she sought to take another child.”

A gasp of interest echoed around the chamber, and someone shouted a blessing on the King.

Reldo waited for the commotion to quiet before he carried on.

“Last night there were deaths, and injuries, but the child was saved. And the Wyrd itself was injured. Perhaps significantly.”

Smiles and expressions of relief appeared on the listeners’ faces. Some clapped and whooped.

They need a victory, these people. They have lived in fear and ignorance under the shadow of an inhuman terror, not knowing its true nature, and to hear she’s been hurt can’t fail to lift their spirits.

“However, the creature is still at large, and she is still dangerous. We must not forget that. Only this morning another body was found, of a young girl known to the city guard as Catspurse, her heart…” He stopped and composed himself. “Her heart and organs missing, her body savaged as if by a wild beast.”

Silence fell as Reldo returned once more to the paper he had been given to read.

“We have no doubt as to the Wyrd’s origins-she is indeed from Morytania.” Reldo paused and looked quizzically at Papelford. The old man frowned and waved with his hand. The apprentice hesitated briefly before continuing.

“It is the belief of… it is the belief of the monarchy that the presence of the Wyrd has something to do with the High Priest’s prophecy.”

I don’t think you believe that Reldo.

Reldo sighed as Papelford muttered angrily to him, the words lost in the murmurs of surprise that ran around the galleries. Aeonisig Raispher stood suddenly and shouted in order to silence the mutterings of the onlookers.

“We can have no doubt that it is so!” he proclaimed. Reldo frowned and buried his face in the paper, deliberately avoiding the advisor’s gaze. “The words of the High Priest of Entrana, uttered on his death bed a century ago, cannot be refuted. They are fact.

“Absolute fact.” He peered angrily around the room, as if daring anyone to contradict him. Kara saw Reldo shake his head as the crowd muttered uncertainly now.

“It seems as if we have a sceptic,” Doric said.

“Reldo is always sceptical,” William said from behind them. “He and I have debated the prophecy before. He doesn’t believe it was foretold by the High Priest of Entrana. He says the only records of it appeared in Varrock’s own library a century ago.” William lowered his voice. “He actually thinks it was written at the behest of the King of that time, to rally his people and to provide a united front against a shared enemy. In hindsight, it was a very foolish thing to do, as we now know due to the panic it’s causing.”

Theodore shook his head.

“Then how do you explain the Wyrd, William, appearing now to leave these messages all over Varrock?”

Before he could reply Albertus Black staggered to his feet and raised his right hand. As he did so, the crowd fell silent again.