Chapter Seven: The Story
Bohdan Dune and the Perilum Tales
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Bohdan awoke to the sound of irritated goats. Rolling over, he got to his feet, surprised to see the light of late morning streaming in through the windows and the goats still in their portion of the house.
The animals bleated loudly, clearly annoyed by their lack of water and breakfast. Bohdan filled their troughs and strew dried sandreed along the floor. Big Bilda eyed him snootily before helping herself to some water.
Back in Ma’s room, Bohdan peered out the window into the street. In the distance, he could see the white plumes of salty dust rising into the air from the various buildings on the Dry Sea. A handful of sandhoppers and wasps buzzed and bounced along on the otherwise empty street.
A flash of cream colored tunic and long auburn hair ran by the window. Bohdan startled and jumped back. Ma’s voice called out as she banged on the front door.
“Ma!” Bohdan ran to the door and embraced her tightly.
Her body trembled as she stifled a sob. Bohdan had never seen her in such a state. Ma’s eyes fixed on some distant place only she could see, a deep line etched between her eyebrows. Her dusty face stained with dried tears.
“He’s not here,” she whispered. Her voice was as dry and weak as she looked.
Bohdan hurried into the kitchen and retrieved her a cup of water. The goats bleated and maaa’d but Ma didn’t seem to notice.
“Drink,” Bohdan said gently as he guided her to the kitchen table. He held the cup to her mouth. She took a small sip. “You need to rest, Ma. You’ll catch your death if you don’t.”
“No,” she said sharply.
Bohdan bit his lip, uncertain of what to do. Ma cradled her head in her hands and Bohdan watched helplessly as her shoulders shook. She groaned softly. “Why can’t he ever listen?”
“We’ll find him, Ma.” Bohdan whispered gently. “He probably went to the Sparks, or maybe to one of the Dredger’s in Shard?”
Ma seized the cup Bohdan had brought her and chucked it at the wall. The clay cup exploded into a dozen pieces, sending water and bits of pottery everywhere. Bohdan jumped back. Shocker Tom’s fit the day before flashed through his mind, making his stomach turn. Ma glared at the pieces and then up at Bohdan. Her face crumbled.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she covered her eyes with her hands. Tears streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry, Bohdan, forgive me. I’m just… this is all my fault.”
For the first time in his life, Bohdan watched as Ma wept. He’d seen her cry before, but not like this. He moved beside her and draped an arm across her shoulders. She trembled like sandreed in the wind. Bohdan took a deep breath and tried to imagine would his Da would have done or said if he were there. "
“It’s not your fault, Ma. We’ll find him. I know we will.”
After a few moments, Ma took a deep breath and stilled. She wiped her face before pulling Bohdan into a tight hug.
“I love you Bohdie-boy,” she whispered. “I’m sorry to frighten you like that. Please forgive me.”
“It’s okay, Ma.” Bohdan hugged her tightly. Then, gathering his courage, he added. “Do you think Cobran going missing has anything to do with the rat?”
Ma took both of Bohdan’s hands in her own and nodded, lips quivering. “I know where Cobran is. I just didn’t…I didn’t think it was possible. Not out here…”
Bohdan blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I mean Cobran isn’t missing, love. He’s been taken.”
Taken? The word coiled in Bohdan’s gut like poison. “Taken by what?”
Immediately, images of stampeding wasterbeasts and giant-mouthed sandworms swarmed into his mind. But he knew Cobran wouldn’t dare venture outside of the Dry Sea by himself. Besides, Solenna saw him trying to go into the caves.
“Not what,” Ma frowned. “Who.”
She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed heavily. Bohdan was even more confused. Who would take Cobran? Children were never kidnapped in the Wastelands. There were too many mouths to feed as it is. And it would be quite a feat to take Cobran anywhere he didn’t want to go.
But he was also confused by Ma. She was a woman of action, not resignation. If she knew where Cobran was and who had taken him, why was she slumped against the table, and not running to his brother’s rescue?
“Ma, what aren’t you telling me?”
Bohdan waited for her to speak. As she leaned back, she wore the same expression she always did before telling a story, but for the first time, Bohdan found himself afraid to listen.
“I’m not from the Wastelands, Bohdie.”
Bohdan frowned. He knew some people considered Teller’s Point too close to the Marshlands to be considered the Wastelands, but what did that matter?
“Okay…” Bohdan said cautiously.
“I’m not from the Wastelands. I’m not from Teller’s Point,” she paused and smiled apologetically. “I’m from a kingdom very far from here. A kingdom beneath a great mountain. It’s where Cobran is, or very soon will be.”
Bohdan frowned. A kingdom beneath a mountain? There was no such place. He’d studied every inch of the world maps in geography. He knew the countries and kingdoms and their capitals by heart.
“But Ma, there isn’t a kingdom beneath a mountain.”
“There is, Bohdan,” she said. “Deep within the Peaklands is a great mountain, and within it dwells a sprawling kingdom and a grand city. It’s the home of creatures of the dark, and the King Beneath the Mountain.”
Bohdan swallowed. Creatures of the dark? A king living in the Peaklands? It couldn’t be. King Lors, even as lazy as he was, would never stand for it.
“But…no.” Bohdan scrambled to make sense of it. “You said your parents died when you were young. You were raised by Great-Aunt Irenie at Teller’s Point. You’re…you’re in shock, Ma.”
“You must listen to me, Bohdie.” Ma’s eyes were as clear and focused as ever. “I escaped when I was very young. Aunt Irenie found me in Chaosity and took me in. I lived with her at Teller’s Point until I moved to Ravo. I wanted to get as far away as I could.”
“Escaped?” Bohdan’s mind swirled with questions. It couldn’t be true, could it? The Peaklands might as well be on the moon they were so far from the Wastelands. Besides, the Peaklands were guarded by the Sisters. Not even King Lors lifted a finger against the Sisters. A kingdom couldn’t possibly be there without those wild women plundering it.
“My great-grandfather isn’t a good man,” Ma said. “My mother died when I was your age. My father followed soon after, and I was raised by my great-grandfather. He has an army of rats and goblins to ensure the pipers and children never escape.”
“But…” Bohdan tried to find the words. “How did they get Cobran? The Wastelands are hundreds of miles from the Peaklands. And why would they take him?”
Ma rubbed his hands with her thumbs. “They’ve been digging tunnels across Gallimaufria for decades. But I didn’t think they would be able to get this far. I thought the Marshlands would make it impossible…but I was wrong.”
Bohdan shuddered. “So the rat you killed…that was from your great-grandfather?”
His mother nodded. “I believe so, yes. And now, after hearing Solenna’s story and the rat, there is no denying it now.”
“That’s why we were never allowed near the caves?”
“Yes. I was worried they might eventually find a way to connect the caves to their labyrinth of tunnels. It would seem they have.”
“But this is good,” said Bohdan, trying to lift Ma’s spirits. “You know where Cobran is. We can go and get him.”
Ma shook her head. “It’s not that simple. Goblins have extremely powerful magic, as does the mountain. It’s impossible to find a way in if they don’t want you to.”
“But if they took Cobran, wouldn’t they want us too?”
“You don’t understand. Your great-great grandfather is a proud man, and I defied him. I managed the impossible. Kidnapping my children would be the ultimate revenge. Only children can hear the music. I wouldn’t be able to hear it or find an entrance no matter how hard I tried. An adult has never entered the mountain. Ever. And what’s more, not every child can hear the music. The King is crafty, as are his goblins. They’ve found more than one way to lure children in. And once you’re in, there’s no getting out.”
“You did.”
Ma shook her head. “Luck and divine providence got me out of the mountain, Bohdie. And it came at a price.”
“So Cobran is…”
“Lost to us,” Ma said so sadly, so bitterly, Bohdan felt as though he could feel her heart breaking. “When the King learns who Cobran is, if he doesn’t know already, he will never let your brother out of his sight.”
Bohdan’s head felt dizzy. Bits and pieces of the Perilum Tales whispered into his mind
…but the King Beneath the Mountain was a king of darkness, and the creatures of the darkness did his bidding. From the greed-driven goblins to the guileful pipers to the elusive rats…
“Ma, why haven’t you ever said anything before?”
Ma sighed heavily. “I’d thought it over many times. I could see no good from anyone knowing. I thought if Cobran knew the truth, he’d go searching for it. But in an ironic twist of fate, he’s been taken anyway.”
She let out a weepy breath before regaining her composure. “I’m sorry Bohdan. But I’m not in shock. I am telling you the truth.”
Tune in next week for the next chapter of Bohdan Dune and the Perilum Tales!
“We Wait on the Winds”
-Periwinkle