Read The Tale of Belmardina :: Sons and Lightning 02

The next afternoon, the patrol reached Snowcap Village, a middle-sized town situated at the base of its namesake, Snowcap Mountain. Once they set up camp outside town, most of the soldiers took what little money they had to buy coats for their trek through the rainy north. Luckily, Belmardina already had a warm coat given to her by Odd, so she was resolved to use her small amount of drachma to buy books that might interest her son. Blutgang allowed her to take Oak (whom she bundled up soundly in a wool coat the female kraat had knitted for him), as well as old Cadfael the scribe, as he knew where to find the library.

Though Cadfael was a very old kraat, Belmardina was glad to have a man with her in a strange country, especially with dark clouds and thunder booming in the distance. He was about two feet taller than her, and he loped along at a gait she could barely keep up with. He had a satchel in which he carried two books filled with this year’s patrol history. At his side he had a sheathed broadsword. His feathers were white with graying tips that matched his beak.

As they made their way through town, Belmardina watched the old kraat curiously. Even though he was decades older than the other kraat, he could still hold his own—she had seen him in various skirmishes since she had joined the march. She wondered if he would ever retire, or if he would simply march and fight until the day he dropped.

“This way, milady,” he said with a rural accent as he helped her over a small hill of snow.

Belmardina opened her mouth several times to start a conversation, but nothing came forth. She truly wished to get to know Cadfael as he was a soft-spoken gentleman who must know many exciting tales about her husband and the patrol, but she suddenly found herself shy. And why should I be? I’m his queen! Honestly, even though I’m a fifty-foot dragon and a mother, I’m still such a child!

Finally, they came to the Dwarfen Library. It was an impressive building about the size of a small castle and just as orderly; the dwarfs were very serious about curating the literatures and histories of Dru. The building was made of foreboding stone and welcoming woodwork. The inside smelt of settled dust and vanilla, a pleasant smell that made Belmardina smile. Well-organized shelves of books lined the walls up to the third floor, highlighted by light shining through intricate glass windows.

She followed Cadfael to the dwarfen curators, who recognized him immediately—it was not often a kraat entered a library, after all. “Welcome, Cadfael!” Said a female dwarf with stylish sideburns. “You usually donate your books to the library in Yab, yes? Did you have a lot to write about this year?”

“Yes.” He gestured to Belmardina and Oak. “May I introduce Her Majesty, Belmardina, Queen of the Kraat and her son, Prince Oak.”

The dwarf jumped from her seat and bowed. “My! I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there. I’m pleased to meet you, Your Majesty.”

Belmardina blushed at the dwarf’s and Cadfael’s formalness. Though she had become a queen, she was a very poor queen who spent all her hours outdoors on the road. She did not feel like a queen. “Thank you. You may call me ‘milady’ if you wish.” She said quietly.

Cadfael reached into his satchel and produced the two books of new kraat patrol history, for which the dwarfs traded two gold drachma. It was the most money Belmardina had seen while on the road; she herself had only a single silver and three coppers. “You must be the most wealthy kraat in the patrol!” she said as they walked away from the counter.

“Reading and writing is a talent of the upper class, so it pays well,” Cadfael replied, “at the same time, it takes hard work, discipline, and a lot of time to write a book—I only make a few gold for an entire year’s work. Luckily, it’s more than I need.”

He then escorted Belmardina through the library, pointing out several books that Oak might like. Belmardina held each one up to the little prince in turn, but he seemed uninterested, until, finally, Cadfael showed her an ancient volume entitled An Encyclopedia of the Denizens and Weirdlings of Dru. It was written by several authors over the course of hundreds of years, and heavily illustrated. Oak’s eyes grew wide at the colorful creatures within, and what was more, it only cost one silver and one copper drachma. It was perfect.

Cadfael then took Belmardina to the history section to show her his books. “Usually people rent them for a copper rather than buy them for gold.”

“Why are yours worth so much?” Belmardina asked, and then hastily added, “I mean, I know they must be good of course, but-”

Cadfael laughed, “No need to explain yourself. The kraat volumes are one of a kind, and I’m happy to say, fairly popular. The library doesn’t like to part with them, so they ask a high price for permanent purchase…” he suddenly became quiet as his eyes roved over the books.

Without warning, he leapt forward and pulled a heavy volume from its place. His hands were shaking, his eyes wide.

“What’s the matter?” Belmardina asked, genuine concern stitched into her voice. Oak wiggled in her arms as he felt her discomfort.

“I’ve been looking for this book for years.” His voice shook as much as his body did, and Belmardina asked why it was special.

He became silent again, his hands still trembling. He took a deep breath. “I wrote this twenty years ago—the year my son died.”

Belmardina’s heart thudded in her chest. Even though she did not know Cadfael well, she knew he was a good, educated kraat and a fine soldier. She immediately felt for him, and she stood in silence, waiting for him to speak again.

“At first when I wrote it, I wanted nothing more than to be rid of it so I could move on. But since then, I’ve regretted giving away such a personal book. It’s not exactly that I want to relive what happened, but reliving what I felt… I’d like to remember how much I loved him. Twenty years is a long time.”

Belmardina looked down at Oak, who was waving his standard again, babbling to himself. She could not imagine losing a son. “How much is it?”

Cadfael opened the cover to look at the price. He frowned. “More than I can afford.”

As it turned out, Cadfael had never seen his own book when visiting the library because it was always rented out. Therefore, because it had earned the library so much money, the dwarfs refused to part with it for anything less than ten gold drachma.

Cadfael attempted to barter for it, saying he would make a copy for them while on the road, but they were unwilling to trade for the mere promise of a replacement. “That, and with its absence we would lose a lot of money over the course of the year.” The female dwarf said with finality. So Belmardina bought her encyclopedia, and Cadfael was forced to leave his beloved book behind.

The walk back to camp was a somber one. Cadfael’s thoughts were ever with his lost son, and Belmardina could think of nothing but helping the old kraat. However, being drachmaless, and having no major skills of her own with which to earn money, she was at a loss as to how she could help him. And I’m his queen! I should be able to help my subjects! She thought, feeling useless again.

Oak reached up to grab her hair, and she pushed his hand away, heat rising in her lungs as she was about to scold him. She was in no mood for his shenanigans… until she saw a little smile spread across his ivory beak. “Oh, honestly! I suppose there’s no reason to use my fire voice on you. But you watch it.” She pinched his beak with a thumb and index finger, making him giggle.

Cadfael glanced over at them. “May I?” He said, holding out his old claws.

Belmardina passed Oak to Cadfael. Oak had gotten used to being held by the multitude of kraat soldiers, and so did not cry when given to a stranger. Indeed, the kraatling thought of it as a fun game, and laughed as Cadfael held him aloft. The old kraat cradled him with a practiced hand, and Oak kicked at him with his talons playfully.

“Take good care of him.” he said.