Journey to the Sorcerer

[yewtree]

Frederica was bored. Life at court was one endless round of parties, soirees, balls, and mindless social chitchat. Every morning, as she and the other ladies-in-waiting filed into the Long Gallery for a morning of embroidery and gossip, she wistfully watched as the prince and his companions went out to the jousting field, or sauntered into town to visit the newly built university.
Her parents had assured her that a spell at court was the only possible preparation for a glorious marriage. Her protestations that she did not want to turn into a vacuous ninny like her cousins went unheeded, and they packed her off to the capital as families of their class had been doing for generations. Not knowing what else she could do, she reluctantly acquiesced in their schemes, hoping that some means of escape would occur to her.
One morning...

[effie]

.... as Frederica made her way across the courtyard towards the Great Hall
for breakfast, she saw a young groom struggling to control a large white
horse that was obviously agitated. The groom was little more than a child
and fell to the ground unable to control the animal as it reared up in
fear. Frederica could see that the groom was seconds away from being
trampled, so she rushed forward and caught the fine embossed leather reins
that hung around the horse's neck. She held the reins firmly and started to
talk to the horse, hoping against hope that it wouldn't rear up again and
take her with it, and that the groom would take his opportunity to move
away. Fortunately the frightened animal sensed a confidence and calm in
Frederica that it responded to in contrast to the obviously fear of the young
boy who had handled it previously. After some initial stamping and agitated
shaking of its head, the horse became placid. Frederica stroked the horse's
mane as she led it towards the nearby stable block, reassuring it as she
went with quiet calming words.
She had always felt comfortable around horses, and enjoyed the contact with
what was, now it was calm,a beautiful animal. With its pure white coat and
elegant shape, the horse was clearly destined for one of the royal family.
'One of the men no doubt' thought Frederica. The Queen had no inclination
towards riding so did not bother to keep a horse. As a woman in late middle
age, she disliked being outside and confined herself (and therefore her
ladies) to sedentary indoor pursuits. Just as Frederica reached the entrance
to the stables, she heard her name shouted loudly . So loud was the call ,
the horse stirred again and Frederica felt a moment of panic mixed with
irritation that her good work was about to be jeopardised. She turned round
and saw.....

[yewtree]

... the youngest princess, a spoilt brat at the best of times, and the
one member of the royal family that Frederica loathed unequivocally.
"What are you doing with my new horse?" demanded the brat
imperiously.
"It was about to trample one of the grooms, so I calmed it
down," replied Frederica.
"I will have you beaten for touching my horse, and the groom
flogged for his incompetence," said the brat.
Frederica was outraged by this response. She grabbed the small
groom around the waist and leapt onto the horse. It was now used to
her presence, and accepted its new riders calmly. She rode it out of
the courtyard and through the castle gate before anyone realised what
was happening.
"Now we're in trouble," said the boy.
"Did you want to get a flogging?" asked Frederica.
"No," said the boy sulkily.
"Do you want to go back to the castle?"
"Not really," he mumbled.
"What's your name anyway? I'm Frederica."
"Bogda."
"Really? Where's that from?"
"It means 'snot-boy'."
"Do you like it?"
"Course not."
"What would you like to be called?"
"Hawk," said the child, with more enthusiasm this time.
"OK then - Hawk it is," said Frederica.

They rode on, talking about life in the castle and the strange
behaviour of the royals. All the while, Frederica tried desperately to
think of a plan, and to conceal from the boy that she didn't have one.
She was in big trouble - she had stolen the princess's horse, and a
small groom, and run away from her position as lady-in-waiting.

[effie]

Then they met a man riding a white horse that looked similar to the one
she was riding . Frederica recognised the man although she was sure that
he would never have seen her, surrounded as she always was by many other
ladies of the court. His name was Aelric and many said that he was not
to be trusted as was a wizard who spoke to animals and spirits and never
joined in with the revelry of the court. She was surprised and a little
unnerved when he bowed his head and respectfully addressed her.

'Lady Frederica - good day to you. I see you that you have befriended this
poor frightened beast. I tried to tell the prince that this was not a
suitable horse for the young princess. '

Frederica was unsure how to reply. The man seemed to know that she had
taken the horse, but did not seem inclined to chastise her for taking
it. Aelric smiled and jumped down from his own mount and walked over to
them. The horse nuzzled against him affectionately as he stroked its
mane.

'I couldn’t bear to think of the horse being whipped by one of the stable
hands' Frederica said quietly. She still expected the man to take
control of the reins and take them all back to the court in disgrace.

' She saved me too, my lord, the horse is much stronger than i am and I
could’ve been killed' added the boy, who had, until now also been
silently overawed by the man he had heard so many rumours about. ' She
is brave and good and now we are going to try our luck somewhere better
than the royal court where she is bored and i am unhappy'.

Frederica groaned - if the man had any doubts before about whether to
leave them and carry on in the opposite direction, he certainly
wouldn’t now. She was in a trouble - up to her neck.

She was surprised by Aelric though. ' He has a kind, open face and
doesn’t look angry' she thought. He looked younger in proximity than he
did at a distance as well, and seemed wise and thoughtful, not the
sinister figure described by the other women.

Then he spoke, addressing both her and the boy, but looking intently at Frederica......

[yewtree]

"Instinct tells me you are destined for something other than
the life of a lady-in-waiting," he said. "I am going on a quest on
behalf of the prince. I think you should come with me."
"What is this quest?" asked Frederica.
"I am going in search of an ancient sacred place, where it is
foretold that the destiny of the kingdom will be renewed. I am waiting
here for the prince, who will give me his blessing before I depart."
As he spoke three riders appeared in the clearing. It was the
prince himself, coming from the direction of the castle, and
accompanied by two of his gentlemen. He must have heard about the
morning's events. Frederica blushed, and Hawk hid behind her.
The prince smiled.
"Ah, Lady Frederica, I see you have borrowed my daughter's white
stallion. It is about time she was taught to treat her possessions
with more care." He smiled, and looked at her more closely.
"You're looking a bit pale," he added. "Spending too much time indoors
with my dear wife. And that stallion is getting a bit overweight - he
could do with some exercise."
Frederica remembered that his was an arranged marriage, and that
she had noticed that he didn't spend much time with the princess. She
bowed.
The prince turned to Aelric, and they rode off to the other
side of the clearing for a brief conference. Frederica saw that the
prince gave Aelric a package, which the wizard stowed away in his
saddlebags. They talked in low voices for a couple more minutes, while
Frederica, Hawk, and the two gentlemen watched.
When they returned, the prince said, "I wish I was accompanying
you on the quest." Then he looked at Hawk.
"Are you going on the quest, boy?" he asked.
"Yes, your highness."
"What's your name?"
"B - er, Hawk."
"Well, Burr Hawke, you'll need a horse. Sir Gavin, give him
your horse."
The gentleman grudgingly complied, clearly disgruntled at
giving his horse to a stable-boy.
"You'd better give him your cloak as well," said the prince,
clearly enjoying himself.

The three travellers set off on their quest, riding north
towards the mountains. As they rode, Aelric spoke of trees and birds
and stars, the ways of animals and the weavings of destiny. On the
first night, they slept at an inn. Hawk was still excited because he
had a cloak and a horse given to him by the king. Frederica was still
reeling from not being in disgrace and actually being out on a quest
instead of gossiping over needlework.
The next day, they had the first encounter of the quest. They
met...

[effie]

a tall, wealthy looking man who was on foot. Frederica could see from his
shoes that he had not walked over rough terrain - it was almost as if he
was waiting until they arrived. Aelric greeted the stranger courteously but
without warmth - in marked contrast to the manner in which he had
previously addressed the Prince. The man was unconcerned by this and spoke
slowly in a deep, heavily accented voice.

'I know where you are going Aelric. The spirits still whisper to me as I
sleep. Why are you taking a girl and a child with you - could you find no
other companions for your futile quest?'

Aelric clearly had no intention of being angered by the man. He bowed
slightly ' I am indeed on my way to the Stone Clearing, Lord Marcus. The
spirits that speak to you are not those I am called by and I think you know
that. This lady is of noble birth and has a part to play in the fate of my
Lord Prince's kingdom. What that role is will be clear later and I would
ask you to remember her face and treat her with respect'.

The man called Lord Marcus was not abashed by the wizard's words. He nodded
in acknowledgement of Frederica and gestured her to pass. Aelric follwed
close behind her as did Hawk. When she turned her head a few paces later
the man was gone. Frederica shivered without being sure why. Marcus was
obviously an adversary for reasons she did not understand. One glance at
Aelric told her that it was futile to ask him for explanation - he looked
pensive and deep in thought. He felt her eyes looking at him and smiled
reassuringly. 'A distant relative of our Lord Prince. A strange man but
nothing to be concerned by, Frederica. Please don't be concerned'.

Frederica returned the smile. She was not reassured though. She could see
that Aelric was trying to put her at ease when he was clearly troubled
himself. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Hawk trying to catch
her eye but she felt unwilling to look at him. She sat herself upright in
her saddle and shook the reins of her horse to increase the pace to a trot,
wondering what she had let herself in for. What did Aelric know about her
future destiny that he was not sharing with her? Why was Lord Marcus such a
source of consternation to Aelric? He was strange and obviously haunted but
did not seem overtly malevolent.......

[yewtree]

These thoughts went round and round in her mind, and she was silent and
pensive for the rest of that day's journey, lagging behind the others.
Hawk rode with Aelric, displaying his knowledge of birds and
beasts. The wizard indulged him, drawing him out like a small shy
animal from its lair. Eventually Aelric asked Frederica what was wrong.
"That Lord Marcus... you said I had a destiny and a part to play.
How come I don't have any idea what it is?"
Aelric replied, "If you or I knew what our destiny was we would not
be able to fulfil it naturally and with ease, because the consequences
of our choices would haunt us."
"So you don't know what my destiny is?" asked Frederica.
"All I know is that you are destined to play a part - I have no idea
what it might be. If I had, I might tell you."
That evening they came to the Stone Clearing. It was a weird place,
a huge circle of cleared ground in the forest, with massive
lichen-covered standing stones set close together around the edge. In
the centre was a portal dolmen, hunched low on the ground like a beast
about to spring. Aelric announced that they would camp here. Frederica
was frightened of the place, but did not say so.
That night she dreamt of huge birds wheeling over the clearing,
calling out to her with human voices, but she could not understand what
they were saying. She woke up, jolted out of her dream by the voices
of the birds. It took her a long time to get back to sleep. When she
woke up in the morning, she was cold and stiff.