Free The Tower of Il Serrohe by RJ Mirabal

and he’s from another place according to Raquela of Piralltah. Remember Teresa the Tall One from the Other Valley? Well, this is Don, also of the Other Valley… at least that’s what Nightwing told Raquela.”
    “ I know. I know. You think I don’t listen to anything? Still… when you look at him… well, he doesn’t look too promising.”
    Nersite looked at Don carefully again. “In fact, he does kind of look like those from Piralltah, but he smells like sour bread. He’s tired and worn out though I think his health is OK.” Then Nersite smelled a complex of other odors. “Fascinating. Smell him carefully and see if you can tell me every odor.”
    Notherbroh took his time circulating around Don twice before speaking. “He eats beans, rice, chile, and some kind of meat. I’d rather not think about exactly what kind of meat. Also potatoes and a bitter juice, but I can’t tell what. Certainly not tea or grapes. He has been working and did clean up, but not the way we do. Something very flowery, but not natural. Repulsive! Also the dyes of the clothes he has worn don’t smell like vegetable or fruit dyes. Very foul odors! Of course, the clothes he has on now are some old Nohmin ones…”
    “ Anything else?” Hoping Notherbroh’s nose was sharp enough to pick up one last oddity.
    “ Well, yes, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s strong, kind of acrid… I think… yes, now I remember! One time when Nightwing returned from a nocturnal visit to the Other Valley. He had had an accident. Those people had tried to kill him by burning him. They had thrown this oily stuff on him before trying to light him up. He escaped but the oily stuff was still there. He knew we had fine cleansers and aromatic potions that could clean him and leave him with his natural scent again. It was that smell.”
    “ Very good. Your nose is getting finer. No one we know of here uses or has created any kind of liquid or solid made from those oily things. According to Nightwing, many things in the Other Valley are made from some foul, black oil they pump out of the ground. That smell pervades Don. It will take many soakings and sweatings to get it out of his system.”
    At that point, Don stirred and began to wake. “Where am I?”
    “ It’s OK. You are safe here, Don of the Other Valley. I am Nersite and this is my young apprentice, Notherbroh. We are Nohmin. Once the Soreyes are out of the area, we’ll show you around, maybe even take you to our traditional home—Nohome.”
    “ Oh yeah, I remember now. A couple of you knocked me down and drug me into a damned hole. What the hell is your problem?”
    “ Actually, there are several problems. We had to get you out of sight before you were captured by the Soreyes, our enemies.”
    Don looked around frantically. “Oh God, get me out of this hole!”
    “ It’s OK. We gave you scents to help you relax. Do you need more?”
    “ Anything, dammit! I want out of here.”
    Nersite placed the censer next to him. “Breathe deeply. I will tell you a story to distract your worries and give you some idea of why we need your help.”
    He sat up abruptly. “I never said anything about help—”
    “ Just relax and don’t worry about that. No one’s keeping you prisoner. It’s a matter of your safety right now.”
    He put his head back down on the pillow and tried to breathe deeply and slowly. “OK, go ahead. Tell your story.”
    Nersite smiled. Turning to Notherbroh, he said, “Put some mint tea on to brew; I’ll need it to keep my throat moist and in tune for this story.”
    This was a narrative he had practiced many times. “Please forgive me if it is too polished and flowery because of all the tellings it has suffered.”
     
     
    seventeen
    Nersite’s Account of Recent Battles with the Soreyes
     
     
    “ Angry dust flew into my eyes and nostrils attacking me more violently than the Soreyes’ swords. Even behind the main line of battle, thrown stones kept me