Chapter Ten
In which the children face unforeseen perils…
Ulla sat in the study, brooding. He felt upset about being left out of all the excitement. He knew that he could leave the study if he wished, but he was not sure if he wanted to, yet. Geri and Freki had already visited him and he had had enough animal company for one day. The little Maslyn would be down at the spring and Ulla’s mental telepathy would not reach him there. He was bored. He wanted excitement, intrigue…he wanted to be human again.
Hopping down from his perch, Ulla went to the hole in the stone wall underneath the table with the miniature Adden. Sucking in his ample waist, the pig squeezed through the small hole and out into the empty space in the bottom of the tower. There was a particular nasty scent that dirtied the air—Ulla guessed it was from the refuse of rats or even his feline lackeys.
Piles of the mess were everywhere and Ulla used his nose as a guide to carefully pick his way between them. By the time he reached the precarious stair that led to the grate between the tower and the castle passage, he was revolted with the stench and thought he would retch. Using his snout, he lifted the loose grate and slipped into the duct that ran underneath the castle passage between the tower and the main edifice. Thankfully, the majority of the tunnel was clean and the darkness masked any unsettling arachnids. Ulla climbed down the stair at the end of the tunnel into the ducts below the castle’s main floor. Such small spaces had allowed him great mobility when his human body had been stolen from him. He knew if he had walked around among the humans, they might have put him in the barn with the other pigs or he might have become someone’s pet, or worse…someone’s dinner. He shivered at the undignified thought. He knew that, if he ever did get his body back, he would never eat pork again.
He skirted his way through the ducts, hearing footsteps above him. His memory had faded in some areas of the castle layout and he had to retrace his steps several times until he successfully climbed out through the grate in the dungeon with the hot spring. Ulla was startled by a great commotion in the pool. It was Soryn, splashing madly in the water. At first, the pig chuckled because he thought the boy was trying to swim. Then he heard gurgling sounds and grew alarmed. He raced to the edge of the pool and looked in. Soryn floundered around in the water because he could not swim and was unable to keep himself above the surface.
Soryn! Calm down! Still your body’s movements or you’ll just drown yourself! Ulla tried to force his mental voice enough that the boy’s thoughts of panic would be interrupted.
“Ack! Ulla—!” The boy’s words were overtaken when he fell again under the water.
Try your best to move your arms and legs to tread the water! It will keep you afloat!
Soryn panicked. He had no idea what he had been thinking when he moved off of the ledge to try his hand at swimming. The water had a strong whirlpool current and he had been dragged under several times. Being unable to swim, he panicked. The boy tried to do as Ulla said and moved his arms and legs in downward motions, trying to keep his head above water. When his head started to clear, he used his limbs to push through the strong current over to the side of the pool.
That’s it. Try and move to the ledge. Move your legs and arms together in the same motion. That’s it. Good.
Soryn climbed out of the current and onto the ledge, totally exhausted and frightened. He had been so afraid when the water pulled him under. It would have been horrible to die just after gaining freedom. Breaths came in and out as if his very life would extinguish if he did not take in as much air as he could.
Rest now. You’re out of danger. What in the world were you thinking, going down into the pool? Did Jori not warn you about the current in the bottom?
“No…he…didn’t…say anything…about it,” Soryn panted.
The fool. People have drowned down here before. You can’t move off the ledge…even if you are an advanced swimmer. You’re very lucky, Lord Maslyn. It looks like I showed up just in time.
“I’ll…say …How did…you…get here…anyway?” Soryn asked, still trying to catch his breath.
There are ducts that run underneath the castle, even as far as the tower. I know them very well. I just choose to spend most of my time in the study.
“How do you know so much about swimming? I didn’t think pigs swam,” Soryn inquired, having regained his voice.
That answer is simple. I haven’t always been a pig.
Soryn felt as though someone had smashed him over the head with a club. “You haven’t?!”
No. I was human once. You remember I told you I was a prisoner of sorts, as well?
“Well, yes…”
My body was transformed into this hideous shape many years ago. I’ve spent so much time in the study to see if I could find something out about how to get my body back. After all this time, I’ve had no success. I was hoping that you and I could work out a fair exchange. I did help you get out of the tower. I was wondering if you would help me find out how to get my body back.
Ulla had not expected to be so truthful with Soryn, but since he had almost lost the child only moments earlier, he determined that it was best not to delay any further. A strange look came over the boy’s face. The pig was not so sure he liked what he was seeing.
“That’s why you wanted me to learn magic. That’s why you wanted me to find Fanndis, isn’t it?” Soryn was perturbed by this idea.
I confess it played a part— however, before you decide to hate me, I did know that you and that girl were interested in the Seidh. I just thought I’d make everybody happy with one go.
Soryn imagined that, if a pig could smile, Ulla would be doing so to gain his favor once more. The boy had to admit that Ulla’s suggestions had led to his freedom, as well as his friendship with Arna.
“I suppose your little game worked out well for everyone,” he allowed.
See? I’m not entirely selfish.
“Entirely?” Soryn raised an eyebrow.
I am a little selfish. Aren’t we all?
“I suppose…” Soryn felt he was being swindled by the animal in some way, but he was far too fond of the creature to abandon him now. “I’ll help you find a way to get your body back—if I can. It may be impossible, you know.”
Yes, I know I may remain in this disgusting form forever, but it’s worth a try.
The two of them sat listening to the spring’s bubbling. Soryn worked up the courage to stick his toes into the water for a few moments, then his calves. Pretty soon, he was sitting on the shelf in the water again—careful about holding onto the side of the pool with his arms so he was not drawn into the currents.
I’ll be going now. That manservant is on his way to get you. I’ll see you some other time.
Before Soryn could reply, the pig had dashed back under the grate in the wall and was gone. The boy was thankful the pig had shown up in just the nick of time to save him from drowning. The water had just seemed so warm and inviting. However, his hand had slipped off the ledge of the seat and he was sucked into the fierce current. He had panicked, swallowing water and thrashing about. Ulla had come right at the moment he was about to give up. Again, he thanked whoever was watching over him.
Jori opened the large heavy door and summoned the boy. Soryn got out of the pool and dried off, dressing quickly. He followed Jori back up the stairs to the main castle level and into the great hall where he shared a late meal with Father Kimbli. The two of them discussed the events of the day and how Soryn had nearly drowned in the hot spring (Lord Maslyn conveniently left out the part about Ulla saving him). Father Kimbli gave Soryn some tips for swimming and keeping one’s head above the surface.
By the time dinner was over, Lord Maslyn’s eyelids were drifting closed and Jori promptly led him back to the tower room. Soryn saw that a roaring fire awaited him. Sadness settled over him when he saw it. Arna wasn’t the one who made it. He missed her. The bed had been turned down with fresh sheets and blankets. Jori left him with promises t
hat he would return in the morning to fetch him for breakfast.
Soryn’s aching body was less sore than before, though he knew he would be still be stiff in the morning. He dressed for bed and crawled under the heavy blankets. The red lanterns cast a pale, comforting glow about the room, mingling with the light from the fire. He watched the hearth for a while, listening to the crackling twigs and whistling logs. Outside his window, he heard the wind howling and the Night Bells ringing in the darkness. He thought he heard the cry of a wolf somewhere in the direction of the woods, but he brushed it off as his imagination. Without noticing it, the young Maslyn of New Kristiansand fell asleep and dreamed of a childhood spent in the shadows of his older, twin brothers.