r2-Cerulean_Blue-p2

Clutching his wounded arm, Alex looked up at the now solid and very much naked form of Walter Skinner gazing at the prince with an anguished expression.

"Fox, Fox, my love," Captain Skinner cried out in a broken voice as he rushed over to kneel down at Mulder's side. The prince moaned softly as he began trembling, starting his change into the gryfalcon.

"Don't blame him, Walter," he whispered, even as his own form started to blur. "He tried to protect me."

The next moment the prince's body transformed into that of the gryfalcon as the rays of sunlight shone down on them. His flailing arms transformed into lithe, fluttering wings, his stately, aquiline nose became a beak before Skinner's very eyes as he shrunk down to hawk size. Once he had made the transformation, Mulder flew up towards Skinner to flutter in the air beside him. Skinner wanted to weep with despair but instead turned angrily towards Alex, using him as a convenient target for his pent-up feelings of helplessness and rage.

"I thought I told you, no changing into a rat at the first sign of trouble!" he thundered, glaring menacingly down at the slave with the hawk prince perched on his shoulder, frightening even in his naked state.

Alex moaned in pain, clutching his wounded arm, causing Skinner to relent for a moment. He went over to Alex and quickly knelt down by his side.

"Are ye badly hurt, boy?" he asked gruffly, his ornery manner masking his real concern.

"That oaf of peasant nearly sliced through my arm," Alex whispered, in terrible pain.

"I want to tear that vile bastard limb from limb," Skinner growled, "but we need to get you to a healer. Malvin should be awake by now, damned if the man even sleeps! I'll take you to him."

Alex shuddered. "Malvin, the one who consorts with evil spirits and can turn water into gold?"

Skinner eyed him with a curious expression, his mouth pursing strangely, and then he laughed loudly. "The stories you slaves entertain yourselves with! It must be a damn dull life below stairs, I reckon. I will have to impart these tales to Malvin, he'll be highly amused."

Alex didn't seem convinced. When Skinner saw how the slave still seemed hesitant, he rolled his eyes. "Believe me, Alex, when you see how this gentleman lives, you'll no longer believe those foolish tales. Turn water into gold indeed. Next you'll be telling me Malvin has a harem of demonesses who contort themselves into any number of impossible positions and an army of winged gargoyles at his disposal!"

Wisely, Alex held his tongue. He was still trembling, the stolid form of Walter had temporarily assuaged his shock, but he was losing blood and the pain made him feel lightheaded. He watched Walter dress with dull eyes, noting how the gryfalcon shifted around upon his shoulders and other parts of his body as the captain pulled on his clothes.

Walter lifted the prince up on his forearm, gazing tenderly down upon him. "This one has a valiant heart, my love, but I do believe he needs as much looking after as you do. Damn that Spender, he knows that without me to protect either of you, you're both ripe for the picking! There is a special place in hell reserved for that monster, and I intend to send him there forthwith."

The grylfalcon shrieked in response and ruffled his feathers. He was either fervently agreeing to Skinner's observations on his and Alex's need of protection or angrily protesting, Alex couldn't tell which. Skinner chuckled, but his expression abruptly changed to one of deep concern as Alex moaned again with pain.

"Come now, boy, I'll help you mount Goliath. Malvin will know what to do you with you, have no fear. He's not far from these parts, I'll walk alongside the horse and keep you from falling," Skinner told him. Putting his arm around the green-eyed beauty's waist, he practically lifted Alex up into the saddle.

Grabbing the reins to guide the horse to Malvin's abode, Skinner's mood was one of somber reflection. He was sure that the eccentric healer would be able to help Alex. However, he couldn't help but feel that the boy's wound was the harbinger of more trying times ahead.

***

True to Skinner's word, Malvin lived in an old hut by the edge of the forest. It had a thatched roof and walls of caked mud, not unlike the homes of many of the peasant folk who occupied the forest. Alex had heard tall tales indeed, for this was not the abode of a successful alchemist but a rather odd little man who peered at him through thick spectacles as he prodded his wounded arm.

"OUCH! That hurts!" Alex protested.

"Of course it hurts, friend! If it didn't, I'd assume you were no longer among the living," snapped the strange little man.

"Malvin, can you help him?" Skinner asked him worriedly.

"There's no infection yet. I have a balm that I've recently prepared, I used an herb that is famous for its rapid healing properties. I wanted to have it nearby while I chopped my firewood tomorrow…just in case, you understand," replied Malvin.

"You are wise to take such precautions, my friend," Skinner gravely responded, hiding his amusement at his friend's timorousness.

Malvin cleaned the wound, applied the balm and then bound Alex's arm tightly. Unlike his initial examination of Alex's wound, he handled his patient gently, and it wasn't long after he'd bound the arm that Alex began to feel better.

"That balm seems to be helping, the pain hardly seems bad at all," Alex exclaimed, surprised to be healing so quickly.

"Of course!" harrumphed the little man. "What did you expect?"

Suddenly Prince Mulder emitted a loud shriek, as if in warning. Skinner had barely enough time to grab his sword before two men entered the hut. One had flowing blond hair and the other sported a short, dapper beard.

When they saw Skinner standing over them with his sword raised, the two men started trembling in fear.

"Captain Skinner, don't hurt them!" Malvin protested, scurrying over to stand in front of the intruders. "These are my friends!"

Skinner lowered his sword. "I apologize, gentlemen. You can't be too careful in these parts."

"We just wanted to bring Malvin some of our latest concoction, sir," explained the blond man. "We've brewed some fine liquor and wanted him to try it."

"Liquor?"

"Rollo and John are inventors. They often bring me wine that they brew or other herbal concoctions for—uh, medicinal purposes," Malvin told him.

"I see," Skinner said thoughtfully. "Are you men wizards?"

Rollo and John looked at each other. "We dabble in the arts, sir, but I can't say that we are yet highly skilled," Rollo offered.

"Perhaps you will know who can help us," Skinner said. He then related the story of the curse that Bishop Spender had cast upon him and Fox. "So you see, we must discover a way to lift the curse. The Prince is the rightful ruler of Aquila, not the evil Bishop, and if you can help the prince transform back into himself permanently, you shall have his undying gratitude."

John shook his head. "I would help you if I could, sir, but we are mere tyros in sorcery. We are nowhere near as skilled as Bishop Spender. He has made sure that nobody in the realm can rival him in sorcery, assassinating all the known wizards and warlocks."

Malvin sighed miserably. "He killed one of my old teachers. Voss was a true expert. I was on the verge of perfecting my technique of binding bones so they heal properly, and the Bishop's men came for Voss one night, and that was the end of it."

Rollo turned to Skinner. "He was convinced the man was a wizard. It is a rare thing when a man walks away in good health after an Aquila healer has tended him."

Malvin chortled. "You mean, when he walks away at all!"

The three gentlemen guffawed, especially when they saw Alex's look of consternation. "Have no fear, my good man, Malvin is the best healer in these parts," John assured him, patting Alex on the shoulder.

Malvin sighed. "One of the only ones left. And you can see how they beat a path to my door. You'd best not spread the word, however, as the last thing I want is Bishop Spender aware of my existence!"

The gryfalcon let out another staccato shriek. Skinner stroked its neck soothingly. "Gentlemen, much as I'd like to stay here and exchange pleasantries, I think we'd be best on our way. Alex, since you're feeling much better, we had better move on. I don't want to endanger Malvin, especially since he has helped us so much. I warrant that Bishop Spender will be regretting his decision to release Fox right about now, and he will most certainly be looking for you."

"He is. That old slattern who gave us so much trouble told her husband as much," Alex frowned. "I don't want to be a burden for you, Captain Skinner. Perhaps I should just go my own way."

"Nonsense! You'll travel with us. You already faced death to defend my Fox, and it is necessary to have someone around who is loyal to us when we. . . we aren't ourselves," Skinner remonstrated, looking away from the sympathetic gazes of the healer and his friends.

Alex wondered to himself how loyal he actually was. He'd spied on Fox for the Bishop, and he'd turned into a rat the minute that they'd faced trouble. The prince could have been killed…as it was, he was almost raped. Alex felt that he was as sorry an excuse for a savior if ever there was one. Any mettle he had would be sorely tested when facing down a creature as conniving and evil as the Bishop.

That reminded him of Fox's query the night before. "Captain Skinner, will you be taking us to your family's lands?"

Skinner was surprised by the question. "Yes, I was thinking of that. Did Fox want to know?"

"As a matter of fact, he did ask me, but I couldn't answer him."

Skinner sighed forlornly. "I know of no other place where we'd be welcome. However, I do not wish to place the Prince in jeopardy. I do not yet know if I can keep him safe there, the castle is in close proximity to Aquival."

"Perhaps you shall be able to enlist some soldiers for hire to protect him," offered Malvin.

"Yes, perhaps," Skinner answered pensively. He didn't want to discuss it any longer. "Alex, get your dressings from Malvin and join me outside. I fear we can't stay any longer, Malvin, but thank you so much for your help and hospitality."

After Alex had taken the dressings from Malvin and was getting ready to leave, Rollo approached him. "My friend, here is an elixir that John and I just concocted. We are experimenting with another herb that we've heard rejuvenates the spirit. Your wound has sapped your strength, so I suggest you take a good swig of this now and then, and perhaps share it with the good captain."

"Thank you," Alex murmured appreciatively, taking the flask. Turning to Malvin, he said, "Thank you, sir, for helping me. Your healing skills will be legendary once we rid Aquival of the Bishop."

Malvin smiled indulgently. "Forgive me, friend, when I say that I will not be holding my breath!"

As the three friends watched their visitors ride off, Malvin turned to Rollo. "What was in that elixir you gave to him?"

"An herb that we discovered in the fields beyond your dwelling."

Malvin was puzzled. "Do you have it with you?"

As soon as Malvin saw the spindly leaves of the herb that John removed from his sack, he started in shock. "Are you insane, man? That's aphreesia! How much did you put in the elixir?"

Rollo and John looked at each other, startled. "A lot! Why, Malvin, what's wrong? I thought that it is known to have revitalizing properties?" John asked him.

Malvin started laughing so hard he nearly choked. "Revitalizing isn't the half of it! It's an aphrodisiac!"

Gazing off into the distance, Malvin found himself growing quite warm at the thought of the consequences. "Old friend," he muttered gleefully, "You're in for the time of your life!!!"

Aqualegia, you're next!!