A Butt of Heads by Simon Haynes

Author:Simon Haynes [Haynes,Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, comedy, humour, parody
Publisher: Bowman Press
Published: 2018-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

There was plenty of driftwood, and Clunk and Millie gathered armfuls until they could carry no more, at which point they set it down in a neat pile before collecting more. All the while they studied the base of the sheer cliffs, looking for a cave the party might shelter in. There were plenty of fallen rocks, some as big as houses, but clamber over them as they might, they didn't find anything that could be described as shelter.

"Maybe we could build a hut out of all this driftwood," suggested Millie. "My family lived in a wooden hut, and it was very cosy once my father lined the outside with squares of turf."

"You've told me little about yourself until now," said Clunk gently. "It must have been terrible to lose your entire family. It was a robbery on the road to Chatter's Reach, you said?"

Millie nodded. "They surrounded our cart, intending to kill us all for our belongings. Once they learned this, my parents leapt at them, giving their dying breaths so that I might flee to safety." She looked down at the sandy beach. "That was six months ago, and I still feel the loss as keenly as the night it happened."

They walked in silence for a while, before Millie spoke up again. "How long before we travel to Bark lands?"

"Father M seemed to think that was a very bad idea." Clunk gestured at his metal body. "I will not be welcome, and it seems to me you would have already known this."

"Yes, but you can wear a cape, and gloves, and …" Millie stopped. "Clunk, did I not tell you of the magician who lived in the woods near my village? He spoke of working metals, and when night drew close he would come to the square with marvellous tools of iron, and knives of steel, and pans of copper. These he would exchange for food and —"

"Millie," said Clunk gently. "I can get all of those and more in Mollister lands. There is no need for me to travel to the Bark kingdom."

"But you need a forge, and access to metalworking tools. I swear he can help you with these things! Why, my own mother knew him as a girl, for she used to take food and supplies to his workshop. If we can but speak to him, I'm sure he will remember her!"

"Have you never met this man yourself?"

"Alas, no. But my mother told me about him when I was growing up."

"Then how do you know this metalworker is still there?"

Millie was silent.

"Is there another reason you want me to travel to your village? Something you're not telling me?"

There was a long silence. "Clunk, when the bandits attacked my parents, I saw them fall. But what if one or both survived? They might have returned to our village, hoping I would make my way there."

"So why didn't you?"

"I could not travel the land alone. I wouldn't make the border without being captured, or killed … or worse.

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