fiction - brigits_flame - scale

[hwango]

Long ago, in a distant land, a small but prosperous kingdom found itself plagued by an unknown menace. The outer holdings that bordered only wilderness had long suffered predations by both beasts and raiders, but their losses had of late escalated in both number and severity. Livestock disappeared in the night, hunters and trappers entered the wilds and did not return, and the people did not feel safe even behind the walls of their villages. Strange tracks appeared in the earth, and eerie sounds echoed in the darkness. Still the people might have ascribed their losses to some unknown animal if not for the scale that was found.

The scale gleamed like a jewel in colors too fantastic for any mortal beast, and was large enough to inspire terror at the idea of a creature large enough to shed it. It could belong to no ordinary lizard or serpent, but only to something big enough to drag off the missing cows or men, and so it must certainly be the beast responsible for the attacks. The people sent it to the capital as proof that they were beset by some supernatural monster, and begged the king for the aid that they so desperately needed.

The king’s devotion to his people was well known, and it surprised no one that he took swift action. He sent word throughout the land that he would hold audience for those who possessed both knowledge of such mystical creatures and the means to hunt and destroy them. Whosoever rid the kingdom of this monster would be handsomely rewarded.

Kaya heard all of this and found herself intrigued.

And so on the appointed day the king found himself attended by three men and one woman, all of whom had answered his call. The scale sat at his feet on a satin cushion, shining even in the dim light of the room. He thanked his guests for answering his summons, and then demanded they tell him what manner of monster savaged his kingdom, and how they might be rid of it.

The first of the hunters stepped forward and bowed. He was clad all in the furs of bears, wolves, and the great hunting cats. Teeth and bits of bone hung from his neck, his ears, and his wrists, and his every motion produced a disquieting clatter. He held his great horned helm in one hand and rested the other on the hilt of a mighty curved sword sheathed at his belt. His face seemed stitched together by its tangled web of scars, including one that fixed his left eye in a perpetual scowl. The hunter spoke in a voice choked with gravel.

“My lord, it pains me to report that the beast that plagues your land is none other than the Rainbow Serpent of Oon. Though called a serpent, the foul creature in truth possesses a full dozen limbs, each outfitted with savage claws. The poison from its fangs can fell a man before he can cry out, and one glance from its eyes can lull the fiercest warrior into a dreamless sleep from which has no hope of waking. It is a fearsome and deadly beast, and I regret to say that for the danger, time, and materials required to slay it I must ask the sum of 2000 pieces of gold.”

The king did not smile at this news. 2000 pieces of gold was a prodigious sum indeed.

Before the king could speak, the second hunter stepped forward. This hunter was encased in a shell of shining steel armor that creaked and clanked and dazzled the eye. He carried a shield bearing a noble crest, the scabbard of his sword was edged in gold and speckled with tiny gems, and his bearing and countenance all bespoke a life of both discipline and pride. He knelt before the king and lowered his head in respect, then waited for the echoes of his shrieking armor to fade before he spoke in a strong, clear voice.

“My king, this uncouth ruffian is sadly mistaken. The creature that torments you is unquestionably a Rainbow Wyvern. I have fought many such creatures, and I can tell you that they are savage opponents indeed. Jaws like a vise filled with row after row of wicked teeth, backed up by a tail sporting a poisonous stinger. Even a blow from one of their wings can shatter the bones in a man’s arm. I shall require my very best armor and weapons for a battle with such a mighty foe, and their maintenance is, I regret to say, not cheaply acquired. To commit to such a battle I would be forced to ask the sum of 3000 pieces of gold.

The king’s frown deepened.

Now the third hunter stepped forward. He was a narrow stick of a man, particularly when compared to the first two hunters. His clothing seemed equally unlikely for a hunter of monsters; certainly it was no kind of armor, consisting as it did of plain dark cloth which neither clattered nor squeaked as he executed a fluid bow.

“My liege, I am sorry to say that these men are fools both.” The man said in practically a whisper. “There can be no doubt that you are beset by a Polychromatic Basilisk. An unspeakably deadly foe, I regret to say that we must take care even with the corpse of the creature, as it will be poisonous long after death. Ordinary weapons will be unable to penetrate its mystical flesh, and we must exterminate the creature through the careful application of certain rare poisons, which I fortuitously have in my possession. However, the cost to replace said substances, combined with the perils of executing this undertaking, would bring the fee for my services to the regrettably considerable sum of 4000 gold pieces.

The king immediately turned his gaze to Kaya.

“And you?” said the King. “I suppose you believe the creature to be something else entirely, the slaying of which shall cost me 5000 pieces of gold?”

Kaya did not have the look of a hunter either. She wore a simple gray dress accented only by a multicolored shawl.

Kaya smiled as she bowed. “No, your majesty. I have a theory, but I don’t believe I yet have sufficient evidence to present it. Should it be as I suspect, then I think you will find my price for dealing with the problem no great burden to pay.”

The king considered these words.

“This situation is absurd. Shall I hope that we face a Rainbow Serpent simply because it is the possibility that shall cost me the least to have defeated, only to pay the next hunter as well should the first turn out to have been wrong? Truly, I see now that I care not what the beast is, so long as it can no longer harm my people. So you may all hunt whatever it is you believe the creature to be, and I shall pay only for results. The hunter who brings me the creature’s head shall have their fee, and not a single coin shall leave my purse before then. You are all dismissed.”

All four bowed and left the audience chamber together. Kaya thought she saw glances exchanged between the three hunters, and certain that she was the target of disapproving glares from all three. The four immediately went their separate ways, but it was not hard for Kaya to pick up their trails. The first and third hunters could be tracked by their scents; the first smelled strongly of his many cured hides and the third of poison. The second hunter’s armor was so loud that one need not have a nose at all to find him.

As Kaya suspected, all of their trails rejoined outside of the capital. She kept to the shadows and moved without sound as she approached, and eventually found them standing together discussing their plan. The third man seemed particularly pleased with how things were progressing, since it would be he who would claim success and gain all of the glory.

“It only makes sense,” he was saying, “since I asked for the largest reward. If you come back with the beast’s head,” he said, pointing to the man decked out in furs, “then we shall have only 2000 coins to share.” The other two begrudgingly agreed.

“I had thought the scale a stroke of luck at first, as it spurred the king into action,” said the second hunter. “I had grown weary of stealing cows and planting tracks. But now I see that it only gives us more work to do. We shall have to add colors and dyes to our trophy to make it convincing.”

Kaya could see from her hiding place that they already had the head of some large lizard, its ferocity greatly exaggerated through the addition of extra spikes and teeth. It was good work, and sure to fool the eye of a man inexperienced in such things, such as the king.

“Indeed,” said the first hunter. And here he paused, and seemed hesitant to speak of something. “Speaking of the scale,” he began uncertainly, “know either of you what manner of beast to which it truly belongs? I confess I have never before seen its like.”

“I admit, I know it not,” confessed the third hunter. “I know of no such creature.”

“Nor I,” said the second hunter. “I know not what beast could possess such a hide. Though I should very much like to encounter one someday. Think of the trophy to be made of such a thing!”

At this, Kaya found she could no longer restrain herself. She stepped out of the trees and approached their gathering. The skinny man saw her first, and produced from his sleeve a narrow blowgun which he brought quickly to his lips. Seeing this, the other two drew their swords and turned to face her as well. All seemed puzzled as they realized who it was.

“I know the answer to your mystery,” she said to the hunters, and then discarded her disguise in favor of her true form.

The first hunter turned out to be the bravest. He alone charged at her while the second and third stood paralyzed by fear. To honor his valor she killed him the quickest.

Kaya returned to the palace with two large sacks. The first contained the false feet the men had used to make the tracks, the instruments they had used to create the eerie sounds, and the trophy they had planned to bring back to the king. The second contained their own heads.

The king was both furious at their deception and grateful to have it at an end. And no small amount wary of the woman who brought him the news and evidence of their treachery. But he had made a bargain, and he would honor it.

“And what reward is it you wish for your service to the crown?” the king asked her.

“I would like my scale back.”