The Diary of Raoul Grincheux

Part 45

In which our heroes meet a Gorgon in the woods…

Windsday, Fertilityweek, Darkseason, 613 – afternoon

Even wiv Lord Thomas behind me, I’z not ‘appy that I’z gotta go first ‘cos evrywun’s followin’ me nose but at least the trail’s clear enuff an I can smell the kids. I sees, ‘ears and smells wood kritters too but not az menny az most woods I’z bin in. The parf iz a bit ovagroan but not enuff to make walkin difcult.

We’z bin goin ‘alf an hour when we gets to a clearin’, tho it’z gettin’ a bit tangled ‘ere too, like. Rite by the parf is a big stone like wot the Mataris like to ‘av. (Sum ov the villajers in Puttock talk bout gettin’ in a big stone but that’d be a lot ov work an probly cost a packet).

The toffs hold us up to check out the rock, (wot iz fine by me, I’z ‘appy to wait all day). Lady Samal don’t detect no majik an I dunt detect no enemies, usin’ Robbie’s spell. (Akterly, it’z rite cumfortin’ to av Robbie on me sholder – I’z not the only rat in the woods, know wot I mean?)

Lord Thomas scrapes sum ov the vedj off the stone an we can all see sumwun’s chizild sum roons in the rock. Lady Samal sez they’z Def an Disorder wot she reckons woz maid by Trolls inna raid.

Past the stone we see uvver standin stones, a duzzin in all, round the edj ov the clearin’. Then Lord Thomas points out the ground’z all lumpy an bumpy, he reckons this iz where the old villaj woz a long time ago an I reckon he’z rite, they reminds me ov Wytchway an the rooins ov Yrum.

Me nose follers the kidz’ trail left to anuvver stone wot’s got Def an Disorder roons too. There I gets that smell ov Lizard-Girl only much stronger than it ever woz in the collij. It’z so strong that I can’t sniff the kids no more. Sumwun reckons the tracks ‘ere are from a snake – iz the kids were-snakes?

‘Cos I can’t sniff the kids, Lady Samal sez I shood foller Lizard-Girl insted. Her trail goes cross the clearin’ but in the middl anuvver trail maid by Lizard-Girl cums out from ded ahed but swerves to the rite, goin’ to the biggest mound in the rooind villaj. Now we’z in the open I can see the tracks meself, as well az smell ‘em, an theze snakes iz big, bigger than me!

Eliza blazes the trail so we can find it again an we goes ova to the big mound. The track stops near the top where Lord Thomas finds a trap-door wots bin camoflig… camoolfag… cuvvered wiv vedj to ‘ide it. Rite away I spots it’z bin trapped so a log fallz on enywun who lifts the ‘atch but it’z eezy to cut the bit ov creeper an lower the log safe, like. Lord Thomas opens the ‘atch an we sees a nottid rope goin’ down in the dark – I smells snake an it’z ded strong.

So the toffs start wranglin’ bout who goes down – sounds like I’z gonna be fourth, behind Eliza – but sudden-like I ‘ears howlin’ an barkin off in the trees but cummin closer ded kwik. Then George the Porc sez he sees the unnergrofe swishin’ so Lord Thomas shuts the trap so we can deel wiv wotevver this iz.

Sudden-like, we’z gotta pack ov ten wolves cummin attus, howlin’ like they’s dementid. We all climbs up on the big mound an faces ‘em wiv our weppons out. I’z on the far rite wiv George to me left an a bit ahed. I casts me Shimmer and they'z on us.

I see Lord Thomas hit wun wiv a flamin’ javlin – good on yer, monsieur! The wun cummin at me iz a bit behind the rest so I got time to cast me Ironhand and step forward next to George – if I gets more than wun ov ‘em on me I’z gonna cast Invizibilitee but for now I just got the wun.

Lady Samal stabs hers inna leg wiv her rapier – ded ladylike – then she sticks her dagger in it’z mowf az it tries to bite her an puts it down, like I did in that posh inn in Sophia. Lord Thomas parries anuvver wolf an then lops itz hed off, all nonshlant like, but then he woz like that even before he woz a Sunlord.

Eliza stabs her wolf in the leg but it gets past her spear an bites her foot – that’s gotta hurt! Next to me, George hits hiz inna hed wiv hiz mace, nockin it to the ground, where he finishes it off – nice work! I block my wun’s bite wiv me sword, just like Lady Samal an me wolf iz down but I miss me bite so it’z just KO, like, but I can’t stop to finish it ‘cos anuvver’s alreddy cummin at me.

Lady Samal parries anuvver bite and stabs a wolf inna hed but it’z still goin’. But Lord Thomas parries an lops anuvver hed off like he cood do it inniz sleep. Eliza stabs hers an puts it down. George gets bit in the chest but hiz armour saves him an he crunches it back inna wivvers.

I’z just parryin’ ‘cos I woz gonna Disrupt the next wolf but before I can do enyfing I sees two arrers cum outa the woods from the rite and take it down – nice shootin’. I still got Robbie’s spell up so I Disrupts Lady Samal’s wolf. She an Lord Thomas finish it off.

While I’z finishin’ off mine, I checks out the woods – I can’t see no wun wiv a bow but they must be out there sumwhere – they’z must be ded good at hidin’, like.

Theze wolves iz a rum bunch – I knows me beasts an, spite all the tales bout wolves killin’ peepl, they’z aint stoopid an they dunt go after a bunch ov ‘ard peepl wiv swords an spears. They only go after loners, girls wiv red clokes on their tod in the woods, know wot I mean? Theze ‘az foamin mowfs so I azza sniff, finkin they’z got rabies (wot makes yer froff an go mad an bite evrywun) – me nose sez they’z clean but I reckon they’z still got sumfink up wiv ‘em. Lady Samal sez they’z a bit magic an she reckons sumfink’s got at ‘em – Lizard Girl, mebbe?

The toffs is surprised when I sez we ‘ad sum ‘elp an points out the arrers. After finkin’ for a mo George the porc shouts for ‘em to cum out – an two Elvs pop out from behind trees! They’z in levvers wiv spears an bows, ov corss – they’z like littl peepl only they’z green. I fink they’z ded cool – they’z got pointy ears like me.

Lady Samal sez ‘ello’ in Helionic an wun ups an sez he’z Rowan anna priest ov Faerie – hiz mate iz Campion. Lord Thomas introduces hizself an sez he’z assosheehate to Faerie. He sez we woz lookin’ for the missin’ kids an he menshuns the lizardy smell. Rowan sez that’s the snake-woman!

Turns out the trap door we found aint her lair, that’s deeper in the woods, bout ‘alf a mile away. George asks wot Rowan finks ov her an he sez she’z, “a horrid Chaos abnominayshun” an she’s hurtin’ the woods. When he ‘ears this, Lord Thomas asks if Rowan wonts to be allies. Rowan sez he’z bin sent to observ an assess the snake-woman but he reckons there’z sumfink in the woods wot’s bin there a long time, long before snake-woman, but she’z maid it a lot worse.

Then Lady Samal tells Rowan bout the evil demon-book Lizard-Girl stole from the collij an Lady Samal an Rowan reckon that’s gonna make the evil in the woods even worse. Merde!

Rowan sez snake-woman izza snake from the waist down an the rest iz a woman but she’z got snakes for hair. Rowan sez hiz assosheehates in Pan (an them’z assosheehates to us in King Rat so they’z cool in my book) sez snake-woman iz wot’s calld a Gorgon, wot iz a hidyus Chaos monster wot can turn peepl to stone just by lookin’ at ‘em! But he sez it gets better – sum ov the time, enyroad – if you’z lucky.

Putain! I ‘eard wun ov ‘em Gorgons got in the sewers in Heliopolis when I woz a nipper but I aint never seen wun meself.

Sumwun asks wevver the Elvs haz Countermajik but Rowan sez that dun’t work ‘cos it aint majik but Dispell Majik duz – I dunt see why it can be dispelld but not counterd, but that’s Chaos for you. Rowan’s got Dispell wot iz why he’z bin sent.

George the Porc asks if Rowan can giv eny more ‘elp an Rowan sez, ‘cos he’z a priest, he’z gotta bit ov roonmajik – he’z got Sunbrite, wot Faerie gets from Helios, so he’z ‘appy to cast it on Lord Thomas ‘cos he’s a Heliot. He sez Sunbrite will ‘elp beat the darkness furver on in the woods. Lord Thomas sez he’z got a Small Salmander – it’z only wun use, like, but it can do over dark stuff an can burn fings – tho I gets the feelin’ Rowan aint keen on burnin’ the trees, know wot I mean?

So we follers Rowan down an ovagroan parf – I can’t smell nuffink but Eliza reckons she can see tracks ov a big snake. The woods feels like they’z closin’ in – the trees iz closer togevver an all the unnergrofe iz ficker. Up ahed we can see mist an it’z gettin’ reel dark. It reminds me ov the woods ova the bridj on the way to the Flambé state ov Hrum. Sumfink unnatral, like.

So we gets to a reel misty bit. It’z ded dark, almost like dusk, but that’s still a coupla hours away. Lady Samal lites a lantern but it dunt go far out – reminds me ov the way Hrum Abbey soked up the lite. Merde!

We’z all goin’ az secrit as possible – I’z reely kwiyit an usin’ the shadders to ‘ide in. Corss the shadders an the mists iz helpin’ a lot. But then I finks that they’z helpin’ the enemy too… Quelle Merde!

The toffs reckon it’z time for a formayshun – George the Porc an Lord Thomas leadin’ backed by Eliza an Lady Samal, then me behind Eliza, Rowan on me rite and Campion bringin’ up the back. We’z fitin’ the unnergrofe but after bout fifty yards we gets to a clearin’. The unnergrofe aint so bad inside but we can hardly see at all, it’z so dark an misty.

Then this voice cums out the dark, “Begon from this plaice – it’z not for you or you’z kind. Doom awaits eny who enter ‘ere – leev now or you will forfeet not only you’z lives but you’z very soles!”

It givs me the shivers – I’z near shittin’ meself, to be ‘onest.

Lord Thomas sez we shood make a circle. I dunt see ‘ow that wood be better but then I aint ediecayted but we stays in our collum az we goes in.

But then Rowan casts Sunbrite on Lord Thomas an it’z pretty awsum! Sudden-like, Lord Thomas iz glowin’ brite an all the shadders iz gon. We can see much better but there’z still all the mist an we can’t see nuffink in the clearin’.

So Lord Thomas leads us in, wiv George the Porc next to him. All we sees iz mist til we gets bout ‘alf-way cross. Then we just makes out wot look like trees frew the mist to rite an left – the wun onna left is bigger. Then I smells they’z aint just trees, they’z horribl demony chaos-trees wiv tentickls for branches wot stinks ded rank! George the Porc sez they’z the Dark Yung ov Shub-Nigraff an’ they’s ded daynjrus. Putain!

Then I sees frew the mist snake-woman – wot Rowan sed iz a Gorgon – onna left, next the big tree! Lord Thomas an George the Porc goes left, hedin’ for her an the big Dark Yung. Eliza an the Elvs goes rite, for the small Dark Yung. I goes wiv Lord Thomas an George the Porc, ‘cos I knows they’z bofe ded ‘eroic. (I’z remembrin Lord Thomas takin’ on that Great Troll an the reel big Scorpeenman; an George the Porc killd that golem in the inn in Sophia wiv his gratesword. He’z got hiz gratesword out now. I feels safer wiv ‘em, rite?)

Az I follers Lord Thomas an George the Porc, we’z castin’ roonmajik – I sees George the Porc’s gratesword lite up an I casts Commune wiv the Sophia Rat-King – I’z ded spectful, splainin’ the sitooayshun an wot’s bout to ‘appen, an I’z finkin clearer as the Rat-King fills me mind. I moovs rite ov the uvver two ‘cos I reckon George the Porc’s glowin’ gratesword can take on the Dark Yung, wot’s huge, while I ‘elps Lord Thomas deel wiv the Gorgon.

Corss, wot I dunt know iz that the Dark Yung can reach rite out wiv it’z tentickls so we all gets a bit ov the acshun…

…an, ‘cos ov it bein’ so misty, that no wun else ‘az seen the Gorgon! Quelle merde!

So the first fing I know bout all this iz that I’z blockin’ a tenticl wiv me sword, wot I wunt expectin’, an the Dark Yung iz flailin’ at Lord Thomas an George the Porc too – lotsa tentickls. Then the Gorgon givs me an ‘ard stare but I kinda ducks out the way. Out the corner ov me eye I sees a spark on the Dark Yung. I wunder for a mo bout why Lord Thomas dint Ignite the Gorgon but I spose he finks the Dark Yung mite burn like a tree, mebbe?

Close up, I sees the Gorgon haz a mail horberk but nuffink on her snaky bitz, but she’z got tuff scales from the waist down, like, an she’z got loadsa snakes where uvver wimmin just haz ‘air. An she’z massiv – big az me sister, Marie.

About now the penny drops ‘cos Lord Thomas is wackin’ at the Dark Yung an I’z takin’ on the Gorgon by meself. Quelle Putain! She jabs wiv her spear but I parry it wiv me dagger. The Dark Yung flails at us all again. George the Porc an Lord Thomas bofe parry but it just misses me. I nick it wiv me parry az I casts me Shimmer. Then I gets a good stab in wiv me dagger but it just chips a bit out ov her sheeld.

Then the Gorgon glares at Lord Thomas an sudden-like he’z a glowin’ statyoo! Putain! Iz he ded? He’z our best solder, an if he’z gon I’z fitin her alone, know wot I mean? On me tod! (An ‘tod’ iz ‘ded’ in Stormspeech!) But then I sees the kids we’z after, behind her, tied up next a tree. I wonts to back out but I can’t let ‘em down, can I? Not wiv me Rat-King wotchin’ an all.

So I’z ded releevd when Lord Thomas gets unstoned a few seconds later. (Later Rowan sez that hiz ally spirit – wot iz a tree – was keepin’ Dispell in mind and sneakin’ looks our way out Rowan’s eyez all frew the fite – good job Lord Thomas iz all lit up by the Sunbrite.)

Corss, by now Lord Thomas iz fitin’ the Gorgon so I’z not alone but it’z still ded ‘airy. I needs more oomph so I casts Ironhand. (An castin’ a spell iz a scuse to parry twice, rite?). I parry her spear again an I’z duckin’ an divin’ so she can’t look at me. George the Porc an Lord Thomas bofe parry tentickls, I even manage to damaj wun, but it’s just a nick.

But then I gets a pain in me leg an find wun ov the Gorgon’s snakes ‘az bit rite frew me armour – merde! That’z gonna be bad inna minute but then Lord Thomas wrecks her sheeld an hacks her arm off! I’z an ‘appy rat! On the uvver side George the Porc is beltin’ the Dark Yung wiv hiz glowin’ gratesword. It’z still goin’ but I fink we’z winnin’.

I dunt see it ‘cos ov all the mist but bout now Eliza an the Elvs duz for the uvver Dark Yung so they cums ova to ‘elp us.

I’z ded ‘appy to see the Gorgon go down, but then she gets rite back up again an her arm’s growin’ back! Aargh! Bluddy Chaos! Then she givs Lord Thomas the glare an he’z a glowin’ statyoo again. Sumhow I miss me parry an the Gorgon’s spear stabs me in the uvver leg – it goes rite frew me armour an me leg goes numb. I can’t take much more ov this – I’z just not in her class, know wot I mean?

Then a tentickl misses George the Porc. Anuvver hits Lord Thomas but since he’z a statyoo it dunt hurt him. (Let’z ‘ope it dunt ‘it him ‘ard enuff to brake the stone, ‘cos I reckon he’d be a gonna then.) Then I ducks a tentickl an tries to bite the Gorgon but she gets her spear in the way an I’z chewin wood.

On the far side I sees Eliza’s helpin’ George the Porc an he duz a big slash an cuts the Dark Yung in ‘alf wiv hiz glowin’ gratesword but I can see the Gorgon’s arm iz workin’ again an then anuvver ov her snakes bites frew me kwilts an gets me belly – ow, that dun ‘alf sting!

Thinkin’ I can’t take much more ov this, I tries to work my way behind her, just so I can use me parry on a snake insted ov that spear, but her snakes foller me round. Out the side ov me eye I sees Lady Samal crouchin’ ova the kids.

The Gorgon glares at George the Porc but can’t seem to catch him. Thanks to Lord Thomas glowin’ I sees arrers fly in – them bluddy Elvs is shootin’ inna fite! But they hits the Gorgon in the belly an tail an at least wun hit lookd ded mean!

I’z just bout to bite her from behind but, sudden-like, she kinda turns to liquid an pours down. For a second I fink the Elvs’ arrers ‘av dun for her, but then I sees ‘undreds ov snakes cummin out the bottom ov her hauberk az it clapses to the ground an her spear toppls sideways. The snakes slivver off in the mist! Av we wun? I sits onna ground ‘cos me belly an bofe legs iz reel sore.

I casts Rathealin on me ded leg to get it goin again an then take a look at the bites. I dunt know much bout poison but since Lord Thomas got a gut full at the dezrez I lernt the basics, like. I gets a torniket on me leg an I squeezes out sum ov the venom but bofe bites iz startin’ to burn – ow, ow, ow! I fort the Humaktis were good at this sort ov fing but where’s Blen we yer need ‘im? Evrywun cums to do they’z bit but I’z startin’ to shake an I’z gettin’ a bit woozy, I fink.

But then Rowan’s there, shuvvin’ sum vedj in me mowf wot tastes ded nasty, kinda bitter, but he’z sayin’ sumfink bout I gotta chew the leefs. So I lies there, just chewin’ theze nasty leefs and in a bit the pain starts goin’ down.

Meanwhile, Lady Samal ‘az freed the kids an iz lookin’ after ‘em, ‘cos they’z had a reel frite wot wiv bein’ nabbed by the Gorgon. She sez she found the book wiv ‘em and she’z keepin’ tite ‘old on that.

Lord Thomas (who’s back to hooman again) must reckon Rowan iz noblity among Elvs ‘cos he fanks him for the roonmajik an the Dispells. I’z still a bit woozy an me bites iz flamed but I fanks him for the leefs an givs him a wheel, ‘cos I’z ded grateful, like.

But then Rowan sez the fite’s not over yet ‘cos the Gorgon turnin’ to snakes woz just her way of gettin’ away. So we gotta track her down. I’z still a bit woozy but Lady Samal asks me if I can track the snakes. I aint at all shaw but I givs it a go an we follers ‘em to the old rooind villaj an that trap door. The trap iz open so eyver she’z got ‘elp or else all them snakes ‘az cum togevver again. I can ‘ear sumfink big slivverin inside.

Lady Samal casts Lite onna stone an chucks it in but next second Lady Samal iz a statyoo. We all backs off an reaches for our bows an crossbows. I bring mine up just az the Gorgon cums up out the ‘ole. She looks round an fixes me wiv her eyes. Ov corss, I aint got Shimmer no more an me Commune’s gon down too, an I’z feelin’ ded woozy, so she looks rite at me an sudden-like I can’t moov! I tries to site me crossbow but I’z like, rigid…

…an then I reelises I’z stone – I’z a statyoo! Putain!

But then I gets a good look az two arrers hit from the Elvs, at least wun ov ‘em goes deep. Then Eliza lets fly wiv Multimissl on her arrer, wot dunt do much. But then George the Porc shoots hiz big crossbow wots got Multimissl too an the Gorgon goes down in a hail ov bolts. She’z ded!

So Rowan casts his Dispell on me an Lady Samal an we’z moovin again. Lord Thomas jumps down the bolthole an starts lootin’ – he finds a small chest wiv a load of stuff in it – cloves, rope, torches – an a purse wiv 150 shillins. Lady Samal sez sum of the coins iz ded old.

Lord Thomas also sees carvins on the walls so Lady Samal haz a looksee an sez they’z pikchurs ov fings wiv tentickls an strange roons.

Rowan reckons the Gorgon dint make the evil inna wood but she did use it an make it worse, like. He sez Gorgons ‘av roonmagic that can make ‘em look hooman. Lady Samal brings out her pikchur ov Isabella an it’z the same bint.

Lady Samal asks Rowan about the dark evilness in the wood, ‘cos it needs dealin’ wiv an she reckons Baron Louie will wont to talk to Rowan bout clearin’ the evil out.

Lord Thomas hacks off the hed – he haz a reel job hackin’, it’z much tuffer than it looks. Iz all Gorgons like this?

So we heds back to Witchiz-End, Rowan an Campion cum back wiv us. On the way Lady Samal sez she finks the Yool-festival mite ‘elp wiv the evil dark. By the time we gets to the villaj it’z dark but I’z feelin’ much better an Rowan reckons a lot of that venom woz from a roonspell, wot must ‘av worn off.

The mums an dads is reel ‘appy to get they’z kids back. The mood iz lifted cross the villaj an they say we can stay az long as we wonts, so we stops for Yool – all twelv days ov it!

We learns that the Gorgon’s hed iz tuff ‘cos her skull iz maid of diamond! Cor! The toffs reckon it cood be wurf two or three fouzand shillins to a jooler, but the toffs iz finkin’ it mite fetch more in the Sophia Orcshun – corss, that’s not till next Urfseason, but they fink it’z wurf hangin’ on till then, speshully az George the Porc duz a good pikchur ov her to go wiv it, like, for sumfink calld provnense.

An sumwun detects the Gorgon’s corps iz still livin’ – no, she aint regrowin her hed, turns out she’z got an egg inside her, wot Lady Samal haz us cut out an take back to the Collij ‘cos she reckons they’z gotta studee it – rarver them than me.

By the end of Yool, we can see the dark in the woods iz almost gone. Baron Louie iz ded maid up an pays all ov us 100 shillins each – Cor! He’z a reel toff, just like Sieur Alphonse.

But for Lord Thomas he dunt give eny cash but insted sez he can ‘av a bit ov land close to Lord Thomas’ new feef wot’s no use to Baron Louie. Lord Thomas iz ded made up wiv that – it’s two ‘ides of land, wot means he’z now got five serfs insted of three.

Now I wonts to get back to Sophia ‘cos I’z missing Sally an I needs to get more trainin’ from the Mischief if I’z ever gonna make Ratlord. An I needs to get anuvver Commune spell off the Sophia Rat-King.