The Righteous and the Wicked

[Goragula]

She knew.

The little wretch knew.

The blistering pain that seared through his claws, the drilling emptiness in his stomach, the thoughts of moles and conspiracies ? all were suddenly forgotten. Goragula felt nothing but a cold, surging rage, bristling beneath his skin and quivering in his throat as he stared at the young wildcat who had torn through his lies with a single flick of her tongue. ?What do you know of Goragula,? she had said. She?d butchered his name, spitting it out like the common urchin she was and stripping it of all the honour and ancestry carried in the deep tones of his mother tongue.

Every muscle in the toad?s body clenched with fury. How she had found out did not matter. It was done now, and he had to pick up the pieces. If she really did know everything, she hadn?t said explicitly that he was Goragula. He could work with that. That was as it had always been. Only his most loyal ? or unlucky ? clients ever met him face to face, so that the humble toad Greenfleck could walk in public while the faceless Goragula remained a mysterious whisper trembling from the tips of merchants? tongues. He knew he could recover from this. Of course he could. What his mind reeled at was why.

How could anybeast be so stupid? If she?d known the truth all along, then she must know what he was capable of, what he?d do to her. She?d know he would tear out her tongue with his own claws if he had to.

Goragula stood, his wrist still shaking in anger, as the others composed themselves and Gashrock merrily went through the provision sack. He could do nothing but stare at Nyika. Somewhere, the sound of Zevka and Noonahootin?s reprimands drifted to him, echoing like the drop of a pebble through water, and as his temple throbbed Nyika's movements slowed to a blur. Her ears sunk down, her pupils grew wide, and every hair on her tail stood on end, but her terror seemed disjointed, unreal.

At least she knew what she had done. Gradually, the toad managed to control his fury, blinking away the red haze.

?And to think we had somebeast as dangerous as Risk the Cutter among us!? Noonahootin was bellowing. He pointed a talon at Poko and Gashrock. ?And the Players were aware??

?Aye,? said Gashrock with a shrug. ?He just preferred to keep quiet about it.?

Noonahootin quivered with rage. ?Nyika, how did you know this??

Before the wildcat could answer, Gashrock continued. ?That?uns easy. Before the road collapsed, we were all sayin? that there was somebeast creepin? around at night, listenin? in on us all. Looks like we found the culprit.?

Nyika bowed her head as Noonahootin rounded on her. ?Do you have any idea of the danger your silence put us in? Something must be done about Risk. We cannot travel with the likes of him. We may as well have Ferahgo the ruddy Assassin in our ranks! As for YOU ?? the owl now turned to Goragula, who shrank away from the predatory bird. ?You have some explaining to do.?

?No explaining,? he said, straining to keep his voice calm and even. ?I don?t deny that I?ve done business with Goragula. Nearly all merchants in these parts have. If that offends our young kitten, then perhaps she needs to see more of the world.?

Nyika opened her mouth and closed it again as the toad fixed her with a stare that could only have one intent. Behind her, Zevka squeezed her claws into the wildcat?s shoulder and arched an eyebrow at him. He glowered back, then sharply turned on his heel, stalking away to go back to his reveries at the campfire. Let them think what they liked. He wasn?t going to be dragged into their squabbles by the slanderous words of a maid. There were more important things to be considered ?

Which clearly would have to wait. Again. The toad let out an exasperated sigh as he saw who sat hunched over the flames.

Istvan. The otter was still shivering like a lost child as the glacial water clung to his fur and gathered it into shining black spikes. As Goragula approached, he pulled his tattooed muzzle back into a menacing snarl.

?I heard what Nyika had to say about you.? The flames spurted skywards as Istvan's eyes flashed with unbridled hatred.

?Did you.?

?I know who this Goragula is; what he does. How long you were expecting to keep up your pretense of innocence??

?I?m sure you do,? the toad said, sitting opposite Istvan. With an air of nonchalance, he inspected his injured paw, pressing between the knuckles with his thumb and then flexing his claws back suddenly as a shot of pain darted through his tendons. He hissed out a curse. ?Goragula has many contacts, but few who know his face. Because I do, Nyika assumes that I have some kind of special involvement with him. Not the case. I only have to borrow from time to time.? He looked up at Istvan, smiling slightly. ?As we all do.?

The otter narrowed his eyes, clearly distrusting every word he heard. ?Did you ever consider that to fund a sinner is to sin yourself??

?I did not, but I?m sure you?ll take great delight in telling me all about it.?

?It?s easy for beasts to sit and mock when they have no duty but to themselves.?

Goragula couldn?t help but feel a strange sort of respect for the otter?s unyielding self-confidence ? the toad had never once seen him flinch at a jibe, or hesitate to reply in an exacting, formal tone that no doubt carried the seal of approval of his beloved ?All-Mother?. It was admirable, really. He leaned forwards, his mind swarming with questions. ?You know, Istvan, I?ve been wondering about you. I?d like to know where you got your values from.?

?So that you can mock them with everybeast else??

?No need to get prickly. I only ask because I?ve never met a hotblood with such beliefs before.?

Istvan cocked an ear, not missing the toad?s coy tone. ?What does that mean??

?You never thought that, when the fierce cold of winter endures even through the months of spring, that a lizard, or snake, or a toad might lose hope? That he might start to pray for warm rains? And when they come, that he might believe those prayers have been answered??

It took a moment for the otter to follow him.

?You ? you believe in the All-Mother?? His voice was incredulous, barely above a whisper.

?No,? Goragula said with a stiff laugh. ?Not me. But my family did, long ago ? or at least, they had their own version of it.?

?There is no other version,? Istvan said sharply. ?Anything other than what is taught by the High Priestess is heresy.?

Something in his haughty reply angered Goragula, and despite himself, despite all the years away from ? that place ? all the years of learning and civilisation and structure ? he felt a twinge of ancestral loyalty deep within him. ?You do realise my kind had their beliefs long before you had yours.?

Istvan only looked perplexed. ?How could your kind know the truth of the Mother without the High Priestess? Do you mean to suggest that the first Priestess was taught by toads??

?Perish the thought, eh? More like she heard the Old Beliefs and adapted them to suit herself.?

?That is a heinous accusation,? Istvan said with a sudden growl. ?Do you have any proof to back up your blasphemy??

?No more proof than you,? Goragula said. He closed his mouth, noticing that Istvan?s paw was twitching closer and closer to his knife. The toad backed away, glancing at the blade as it reflected in the firelight. ?You ought to watch yourself, Istvan,? he said. ?I think there?s a good reason there are few who follow your beliefs. You don?t exactly endear yourself to others.?

?And you do?? the otter scoffed. ?I?m not here to gain their favour.?

?Then you?re going to get yourself killed.?

Istvan did not even blink. He folded his arms, tilting his head back to glare down his snout at the toad. ?If you think I?m afraid to die for what I believe in, then you really have no concept of the meaning of faith.?

?Oh, but I do. If the All-Mother?s last priest is killed over some petty quarrel, who would be left to preach her word? Mark my words, Istvan: carry on as you have been, and your beliefs will be butchered alongside you.? He paused, eyes glinting as he tried to gauge the otter?s inscrutable reaction. ?Then who will be around to do the Mother's bidding? With that in mind, perhaps it would be wise to be less hasty in your accusations of others.?

Satisfied that the seeds of doubt had been sewn, Goragula left the otter to chew at his knuckles and ponder in silence. He moved away, pulling his cloak tighter about him as the warmth of the fire slid away from his body. The rest of the group were struggling to build a crude shelter from the damp wood strewn around the ground, but Risk had not yet returned, and Zevka had disappeared. Goragula's eyes darted between the rest of them, looking for Nyika, desperate to know where she was; what she was thinking.

But the elusive wildcat was nowhere to be seen.

?What was all that about??

Goragula whirled with a jolt of shock, his claws flashing towards his knife at the sound of Zevka's sharp voice behind him. The marten's paws were firm on her hips, her feet square on the ground and her collar thrust out in her same old ever-proud stance. He growled in annoyance.

?Is it the done thing nowadays to listen in on everybeast?s conversations??

?Why in Hellgates would you encourage him like that?? Zevka?s low voice betrayed the tension hidden between her usual composure.

?I suppose I feel embarrassed for him.?

?Hm,? Zevka snorted. ?I thought you were made of sterner stuff than that.?

?Miss Blackbriar, if you?d actually paid attention to what I was doing, you?d see that I was trying to undo all the damage you?ve caused with your constant antagonising.?

?Damage?? She tossed her head with a cluck of disbelief. ?He needs some sense knocked into him ??

?He has no fear of death. He actually relishes the thought of being a martyr. Do you have any idea how dangerous that makes him??

?Of course, I do,? snapped Zevka, ?but ??

?The way everybeast has been provoking him only makes him feel vindictive. He?d have no reservations at all about throwing his life away, if it meant he could take a few of us down with him. The only way to stop that happening is to convince him that, for his dear Mother?s sake, he needs to stay alive.?

Zevka looked thoughtful for a moment, then folded her arms, regarding the toad with a cool smile. ?You really are a schemer, aren?t you, Mr Greenfleck??

?It?s not scheming to actually try to stop beasts from killing me.?

?As I?ve seen, you?re quite good at it.? She glanced behind him, and Goragula turned, to see Istvan still glowering at the pair of them from his haunt by the campfire. Moving towards the forest?s fringes, Zevka gestured for the toad to follow her. ?We ought to get away from Inksnout.? In silence, the pair walked until they were wreathed by the shadows of the black canopy, completely out of the sight or earshot of any of their company. As Zevka took a deep breath, Goragula smirked. He knew an imminent proposal when he saw one.

?I?ve been meaning to talk to you for a while,? she said.

?Go on.?

?Well, I?d already figured out that you might be more than some ordinary merchant. Especially after the incident with the moles. Not everybeast would have the courage to do that. Or the initiative.?

?Cut the scat, Blackbriar,? Goragula said. ?What do you want??

?Risk was right about you ? you have civilised yourself, somehow. Don?t think I haven?t heard your accent change when you let your guard down.?

?How astute of you.?

?I want to know who you are. Who you really are.? Her mouth twitched into a smile, revealing her wicked canines. ?Nyika was right about Risk, so I?d wager she?s right about you too. What?s your connection with Goragula? Do you work for him??

The toad narrowed his eyes, undercutting her with a caustic sneer. ?How do you know who Goragula is? Perhaps you?ve read about him, too??

?Actually,? said Zevka, ignoring the jibe, ?my boss has mentioned him to me. He?s told me he?s a rat, a money-lender. Quite a powerful one at that.?

?Your boss??

?Beechton Valash. Perhaps you know him.?

Goragula did not reply for a few seconds.

?You?ve got to be kidding me.?

?Is there something funny about that??

Of course he knew Valash. Pretentious little upstart. ?Only that it?s a small world. But yes, Miss Blackbriar. You could say I work for Goragula.?

?And am I right in thinking you?ve been sent to Carrigul by him??

He nodded.

?I need to get to Carrigul too. There?s somebeast there I need to find.? She sighed, glancing away to double-check that nobeast was listening, then mustered her most serious tone. ?Listen, I want you on my side, Greenfleck. Let?s just say that I like the way you get things done. If anything, it?ll be good to have another pair of eyes to keep check on Istvan. There may come a time when something has to be done about him.?

?I think we?re in agreement on that one,? Goragula said.

?He seems like he?s under just enough control for now, but that could change. What if the owl dies, or gets sick, or goes off on his own for a few hours too long? Noonahootin?s the only beast who can really control him ? I don?t know if Nessa can. Risk could take him in a fight, but he keeps disappearing. We can?t rely on him all the time. And after what happened to me with Risk ?? the marten winced at the memory ? ?Well, I?m not underestimating muscles like that. If Istvan gets too brazen, we?ll need to be proactive. Though I doubt either of us could beat him at a fair fight.?

"Who said anything about a fair fight?? Goragula said, with the most innocent of smiles.

She laughed. ?Well, exactly.? The pine marten leaned away, the secretive note in her words now gone. ?In the meantime, perhaps I can do some things to help you. I can help to keep you warm and fed, and so on. In return ? well, I?m not asking for anything right now, but if we got out of this alive, maybe you can return the favour.? She paused, pondering exactly how to express her terms. Eventually, she settled on, ?I may need a little help when we get back to Yew.?

He understood her perfectly.

They were interrupted by sudden shouts from the distance; it was Vanessa and Gashrock, calling for Zevka to help set up camp.

?We?ll talk more about this later,? she said, before she turned away. Goragula waited, knowing how suspicious the others would find it if both of them appeared at once. As Zevka?s tail swished away, the toad was lost in thought, unsure whether to find her exuberant determination to get her own way admirable or irritating. But perhaps he had underestimated her cunning.

At the very least, she was a beast he could do business with.