Chapter Four

 

“Today, the canals finally open,” Norah said, as her gaze moved from Klair to Scov as the two of them mounted the miner’s wagon. Two Six-days passed since last visiting the mountain side. This evening his mother would be publicly betrothed to Scov for he responded well to Klair’s identity. Stating only, “That explains a lot.” The road was busy as neighbors shouted out greetings to one another as they all headed west of the village.

Klair never saw his mother so happy and Scov bore energy in his step he found contagious. Klair spent every other day apprenticing in the mines with his new mentor, and the other working on the canals. In a half a year he would be sixteen and corded as a miner.

The confrontation with the Constable seemed to have happened ages ago.

Everyone gathered at the terraces from the village and many from neighboring villages. All interested to see the workings of the new watering system. People hollered and clapped as the water poured out of the opened holes to splatter into the groves of soil beneath.

A turn of the wheel in the distance and more water flowed into a second barrel, directing another flow. The second series of pipes contained several wood slates inserted throughout at strategic points to stop the water’s descent so the canals could fill to their maximum and giving the workers time to check for leaks.

Runners paced themselves beneath each juncture and after testing each pipe, the wood slots were removed to let the water flow further down the canal. With a steady beat of workers’ stick against stick, the rhythm rose to a crescendo. The pace in­creased as the water reached further and further through the pipework. The noise was deafening!

Klair grinned, his heart pounding with a shared excitement. Here he stood amidst friends and family. He never felt so happy.

A sudden grip on his collar from behind yanked him off the wagon. His mother cried out as Klair landed on hard ground next to the front wheel. Constable Trenny loomed over him. “Think you got it good, boy?”

“What are you doing, Constable?” his mother hollered from behind. Her voice nearly drowned out amongst the din of the crowd.

Constable Trenny ignored her. He leaned down and gripped the front of Klair’s brown tunic.  The stench of wine fouling Trenny’s breath made Klair grimace. “You thought you were being smart, stealing Kella’s pigs eh? Well I caught you and I accuse you.”

Klair tried to pull away but the Constable’s grip was too tight. The back of Klair’s heels dug narrow trenches in the dirt in his efforts to move away. “What you talking about!”

Trenny shoved Klair harder against the ground, knocking the wind out of him. Klair glared back at the Constable while some of those standing near turned their attention to the commotion. “Stole some bacon for your Mother, I reckon,” Trenny accused.

“I stole no pigs.”

“We’ll see.”

“When were the pigs taken?” His mother asked. But the Constable still ignored her. Klair pressed his lips with sudden realization. He wants to hurt Ma and Scov isn’t here. Fury suddenly consumed him and his panic flared. With magic behind him, Klair clenched his fist and swung. Trenny’s body went flying and he was laid out flat. The Constable hit the ground so hard his body made an impression in the dirt, giving Klair a chance to stand. “If you accuse me, accuse me right and show proof.”

Klair paused to see if he was going to react to his use of magic, but no bodily reactions haunted him.

Trenny’s eyes blazed. “You need sense beat into you boy and I’m going to be the one to do it.”

“Hey Constable,” someone said. Trenny ignored all of them. The beat of wood was rising to a roar and hollers were directed to the drenching of ditches of the lower fields.

Trenny rose to his feet and Klair stepped back. A mother’s sudden cry pierced the noise and all eyes turned to see a young child sitting precariously close to an open ditch on the far side of the maze. All the runners were too far away to rescue the child. Unbeknownst to his mother, he climbed up several terraces lining the hillside and was walking through the next trench soon to fill with water.

“My baby!” she cried.

Klair and Trenny froze and every­one else stared in sudden terror. Being the closest to the child, both Trenny and Klair started bounding up the mountain. Others began following but they were further away and the soil was loose and easily sifted beneath their feet.

“I’ll get him!” Trenny hollered, pumping his legs through the dirt; Klair’s longer legs enabled him to rush ahead as he leapt into the ditch.

The water suddenly poured from above and the child squealed as he toppled into the ditch. The water flooded the small ravine in a torrent as the small child was shoved down the trench, his small fists futilely grasping at the sides. The child began gasping for air as dark water pooling above small shoulders and head.

Klair grabbed for a hand, but the child went under and Klair slipped and fell into the trench and was immediately covered with water. The mother screamed, scrambling up the embankment. Trenny threw himself at the post supporting the canal near the child. His intent was obvious: Dislodge the canal, misdirect the water and he could save the child. Klair rose out of the water, sputtering, and his whole lower body was encased in mud as he rose from the trench and followed the path of water to find by touch the submerged child. He kept slipping. The second hit of the Constable’s shoulder against the post was so loud it echoed.

It didn’t budge.

Klair mustered his energy and swung his hand toward the obstinate post. He centered his attention at the base where Trenny’s spread-eagled his legs in an effort for traction. The post snapped under the force of Klair’s magic and with support suddenly gone, the log carrying the water dipped and the torrent of water gushed out over the side.

The people gasped as splinters of wood went flying. With the sudden lack of support, the section of canal broke entire­ly spewing water onto the ground.

Klair waded through the mud further along the hill, franti­cally searching for any sign of the child. With a scoop of his hand in air before him, he directed his mind to the lower wall of the trench. His thoughts became reality and mud was shoveled away. Klair’s scalp tingled and itched. He pressed on.

The frantic scream of the child raised from the mud some ten steps away as the water and gunk filtered away imaginary fingers. Klair finally saw the small form suspended in air sputtering and kicking up a storm. When he reached him, the child gripped Klair’s neck so tightly it was hard to breath. Klair held the hollering youngster close as others advanced.

The yelling and screaming had suddenly turned silent.

A perusal of the crowed below him, revealed their shocked expressions. They all witnessed what he did, his hand movement to shatter the post, his scooping to misdirect the mud and water. He was fully encased in mud with a child screaming in his ear and the people looking at him in open awe.

“Kapawn spawn,” one of them murmured.

The accusation echoed throughout the crowd. “Kapawn.”

“Kapawn.”

“Wizard.”

Klair leaned over and threw up, twice still holding the child. He leaned against one of the still upright posts, his body trembling from using his magic. At least by dispelling his sickness quickly he wouldn’t pass out. He lowered his head, sagging into the mud as he closed his eyes then blinked furiously to prevent the hint of tears from flowed hotly against his muddied lids.

*****

“It’s obvious he can’t stay,” Trenny told the assembly. The Constable was answered by somber silence. The elders stood in the inner circle, then first families, clear out to the borders of the assembly hall filled of villag­ers. Klair, Scov, Norah and Trenny stood center. The crowd of the people heated the room quickly making, to Klair, a sense of oppressive closeness.

“He saved my son’s life,” The mother of the errant child said as she hugged the sleeping form close. “That alone–”

“Means nothing!” Trenny countered.   The Constable glared at the assembly. “Everyone saw what he did. With such magic isn’t it obvious he is manipulating us, trying to gain our favor?”

“He’s succeeded,” someone said.

“He destroyed the canal.” Trenny yelled back.

“You both helped destroy it, Constable,” Scov interjected, “because you both tried to save the life of the child. Both of you should be commended not accused.”

“Agreed,” Elder Maken said.

“But consider all unaccounted thefts, or mischief. What of his little campaign through our water system.” Trenny walked around the inner circle, beseeching his listeners with a firm glare. “Some of the crimes have been so mysterious.”

“Certainly you don’t plan to blame Klair for any of it,” Klair’s mother said. She stood, not as tall as the Constable but possessed with just as much fervor. “My son does not steal.”

The Constable whirled at her, eyes burning. “You should have been open with the elders.” He shook his finger at her. “You intentionally misrepresented Klair.” His gaze included the room. “What else?” he challenged.

Norah stepped forward her voice directed to the people as well as the elders. “I needed a home for my son. What would have happened had I told you from the beginning? I would have been told to move on.” She shook her head. “I needed to prove to you first that–”

“As I said,” Trenny interrupted. “Mother and son both intended to manipulate us.”

Norah glared at him. “My son has no wish to be a wizard.”

“Then he should not have been using his magic.” Trenny said glaring at the silent Klair.

His mother stood defiant. “Not even to save a child’s life?” she countered.

The Constable jerked a hand toward Klair. “Have you nothing to say for yourself?”

Klair pointed to the sleeping child. “What needs to be said?” He folded his arms defiantly. “Anything I have done has been for the good of the village. Have I not always done my part to—”

“Oh yes, grateful villagers under the protection of your power until we earn your wrath, what then, especially if you’re the spawn of one of those crazed Kapawn.” Trenny pointed an accusatory finger at Klair. “We are familiar with the fierce Kapawn magic. Perhaps that is the very source of what ails our land.” The elders of the room shifted uncomfortably. A reference to the Maken’s map and the cries for help throughout their nation? Klair wondered. So he was aware of it. So much for keeping the secret but what made him think the collections of problems was magic based? The Kapawn are Fist’s allies. I didn’t think the Fist has magic users. “Anvil has made peace with us,” Klair countered.  

Trenny jabbed a finger. “A treaty of fear–that’s not a stable treaty.” The Constable’s smirk encompassed everyone. “Can we truly risk the protection of our homes waiting upon Klair’s displeasure?”

“I’m not even trained.” Klair defended.

“All the more reason to ban you.”

“Trenny, you accuse this boy out of jealousy for his mother,” Maken said, standing.

“And you do it for her favor.” Constable Trenny countered making several of the townspeople snicker and the Constable frowned. An error on his part as the councilman of the city showed no inter­est in Norah. He was a happily married man, added to the fact Klair’s mother no longer followed the Kindred profession. The Constable folded his arms and glowered.

Elder Maken ignored the jibe. “Merrsain’s midwife told me of your accusation of the pigs being stolen from Kella and you state that Klair was the thief.” The elder turned to an old woman sitting on the sidelines. “Tell us what you know.”

“My pigs were missing,” Kella agreed her aged voice scratchy as she addressed the assembly. “But my son has them trained to squeal when he blows his whistle. He went on search whistling, and found them caged in a makeshift shelter in a dense section of the woods on the far side of the canals. He brought them back.”

“Whose home were they near?” The older woman hesitated. “Testify fully, Kella,” Maken warned.

“Cou-Constable Trenny’s.” she murmured, looking nervously at the officer.

The assembly murmured, and the Elder faced Trenny directly. “Your title as Constable is removed, Trenny. I state third warning for the theft of Kella’s pigs and fourth warning for the blaming of an innocent.” The uproar from the townspeople at each announcement rose in volume until Maken lifted his hand for silence. No one knew of so many testimonies charged against one person in such quick succession.

“A decision does need to be made,” another elder said.

“Ban Trenny,” a voice said.

“Ban Klair.” Another countered.

“Ban both,” said a third. The voice was familiar. Klair looked over at the Jessi twins. It was Loginna. He stared at her as she glared at him with arms folded. Does she think I bewitched her? Klair’s glanced amongst the assembly, not seeing the looks of acceptance amongst the majority. He looked back at his mother being held within the protective embrace of the miner.

“Two thirds majority vote, wins,” Maken, said. “We’ll vote first Trenny’s judgment than Klair’s.

Klair stepped away from the circle. “You won’t have to vote, but my mother stays. I’m leaving.”

“No,” Scov, Norah and Maken spoke in unison. Maken calmly walked over to Klair. “You are not yet a man, Klair.”

He turned away, blinking back the moisture in his eyes. He would have to leave soon before he broke all self-control. “Apparently my magic makes me a man.” Klair said walking through the standing villagers.

His mother moved to follow but Scov held her back. “It is his decision,” the miner said but he looked beseechingly at Elder Maken.   Maken looked back at them only briefly before staring after Klair. “Return home in a year, Klair.” Maken said.

“A year,” the elders decreed.

“A year,” the assembly echoed.

Klair left the room not waiting to learn of the fate of the constable. He ignored the two travel parcels placed at the door, left there dependent upon a negative or judgment. Each contained two six-days of supplies and given to any individual banned from a city.

His mother’s was weeping as Klair stalked out of the hall.