by D.E. Dunlop
“Well it is kind of early to tell yet I guess.” Tinne said, brushing off Ren’s concern.
“Maybe.” Ren said.
The sound of Shayla singing in the distance interrupted their conversation.
“She must have found another pond.” Ren noted. “Shall we go see?”
“No.” Tinne objected.
“Why not? You were all for it yesterday.”
“That was different.” Tinne said as he poured another cup of coffee.
“Come on, I wanna see that ruby again.” Ren encouraged.
“No. Just leave her alone.”
“Whatever. I don’t really care. I just thought it would be nice to get another look at it is all. So today I thought we would try to make up some time and cut across the fields of Tecumseth. What do ya say?”
“Well, Shayla seems to prefer the forest. Let’s see what she thinks.” Tinne replied.
“Alright. I just thought it would be nice to get home.” Ren said. His tone was a little sour.
Shayla eventually returned, much later than Ren had hoped, and they headed out once again. As was the case on the previous day, Ren trailed behind. Tinne and Shayla travelled a good distance ahead of him, laughing and giggling. Occasionally, Shayla would sing a soft wordless melody.
Ren spent much of the day thinking about his father and the madness that consumed him in the end.
As the sun began to set before them they stopped to make camp. Ren and Tinne gathered some wood and Shayla wandered off for some alone time. After getting the fire started, Ren and Tinne sat down to rest and Ren rolled and lit a cigarette.
“So?” Ren queried after a long silence.
“So, what?” Tinne replied with a slightly furrowed brow.
“So, tell me a story.” Ren said.
“Oh! I hate it when you do that. You know I can’t come up with a story when you demand it out of the blue like that.”
“Oh, come on. It’s not that difficult. Just tell me a story about what’s going on.” Ren persisted.
“What’s going on? What are you talking about?”
“You know, with her.” Ren said, motioning in the direction that Shayla had wandered off in.
“Um… We’re escorting her home and then going on to Bayfield.” Tinne answered with mocking facial gestures.
“Are you sure?” Ren prodded.
“Yeah, why?”
“Never mind then. As long as you’re sure.” Ren turned to his pack to do an inventory of his rations. “That was pretty crazy, that thing at the Field of Lords, hey?” He said, changing the subject.
“Tell me what you’re talking about.” Tinne demanded.
“That Sittyan army showing up right after we did and chasing us around for weeks.”
“No, before that. What were you talking about before that?” Tinne was getting frustrated as he usually did when Ren was uncooperative.
“Oh, that. Don’t worry about it. It’s not important.”
“Why do you do that? You know it drives me nuts.” Tinne exclaimed.
“Do what?” Ren asked.
“That! Start up a topic for conversation and change the subject right away.
“I’m only doing what you’re doing to me. You do it every time I ask what’s going on with you and you pretend not to know what I ‘m talking about. You know full well what I’m talking about, but I have to force the information out of you. Why don’t you just come out and say it? You’re in love with her. Why does it always have to be a fight to get it out of you?”
“I’m not in love with her.” Tinne protested.
“Could have fooled me.” Ren said snidely.
“I’m just being friendly. You’re the one who’s always telling me I should be more social.”
“Social’s one thing, you two may as well be sharing the same horse.”
Just then the two looked into the forest. That hypnotic melody had come dancing softly through the trees once again. They started at the same time to follow the sweet score and Tinne gave Ren a look that would have said, “What do you think you’re doing?” “Where are you going?” He asked.
“Same place you are.”
“Why?”
“Probably the same reason as you. That doesn’t bother you, does it? I mean you’re not in love or anything.” Ren teased.
Tinne shook his head with frustration and sat down. Ren did the same with a smirk.
“Hmm.” Shayla muttered when she returned to camp some time later. The two friends had been sitting miserably the whole time and the tension in the forest that night could clog the nostrils of any animal that had breath in its lungs. “I think I have just what the two of you need.” She said and proceeded to make a pot of soothing tea “to ease the body and soul.”
Chapter 15
The forest of Sirens
“I’ve never seen him this bad before.” Ren’s mother said as the two, once again, watched Ron destroy the shed in the back yard.
“What is it that’s done this to him, mom?” Ren asked with fear in his voice.
“The voice in his head.” She replied as Ren turned around to look at her. Ren responded with a puzzled look.
“He used to be able to tune her out. But, lately she has been getting louder. Your father told me he’s having a hard time blocking her.”
“Who, mother?” He asked with great concern.
“It was years before he and I ever met…” She explained. “He was young. He fell under the spell of a strange woman. Without knowing who she really was, he fell victim to her enticement.”
The shed was barely a pile of rubble when Ron collapsed on the lawn beside it, exhausted.
“Who is she mother?”
“Na gig.” Rose replied.
“He didn’t think I would shoot him in the back.” Milton’s voice intruded.
The sun rose and fell, just a dull white spot in a dull grey sky, barely visible through the continuous snow.
There was no wind and no sound. The only movement was the snow, falling from the sky and climbing higher on top of the tent. The horses meandered about the forest munching on whatever foliage remained. Three days passed in this fashion before any one of the three arose from their slumber. So much snow had fallen the tent looked more like a snowdrift with a hole in it.
Ren and Tinne were shocked to see how much snow had fallen in the night. They were not aware of the amount of lapsed time since they had retired.
“So much for getting home before winter.” Ren complained while he stood in the near waist deep snow.
“Holy crap.” Tinne said without interest or really acknowledging the severity of the situation. “Have you seen Shayla? She’s not in the tent.”
“She’s gotta be in the tent ‘cause she’s not out here.”
“She’s not in there. I looked.” Tinne argued.
“If she were out here she’d be stuck in the waist deep snow. Do you see her stuck in the snow? ‘Cause I don’t see her stuck in the snow.” Ren said bitterly.
“Well fricken’ shoot me.” Tinne retorted.
“I’d like to.” Ren conceded.
“Who pissed in your cornflakes?” Tinne demanded.
Ren turned to look angrily at Tinne. If looks could kill Tinne would have been pushing up clover.
“If you hadn’t fallen in love with little miss lashes, mister, a man’s not really a man if he’s with a woman, we could have been home already. I could be in my own comfy home with my beautiful Ezbieta. As it stands I may not see her for several months now.” Ren was nearly screaming with his arms jerking here and there in his aggravation.
“So you’re jealous.” Tinne said.
Ren’s body went rigid with frustration and anger. “Look around you.” Ren insisted. “We’re waist deep in snow. We’re actually three weeks from home in good weather and do you know what tops it off? Do you?” He stared at Tinne expec
tantly for only a second.
Tinne returned the stare.
“We are three days into the forest of sirens.” He paused and looked around abruptly. “Remember what I told you about this place? Young men don’t come out. I said, “Tinne, we can’t go there. Stop, Tinne, she’s taking us into the forest of Sirens, Tinne, but no, don’t listen to me. “She needs us. We can’t leave her here. Boo-fricken-hoo!” He mocked. “What’s going on with you, Tinne? You used to be so observant. You’ve always paid attention to everything. Look around you. What do you see?”
Tinne stared at his friend with some concern growing on his face and then he looked around.
“The world. It’s ours for the taking.” He said, at last with more than a hint of sarcasm.
“No!” Ren insisted. “You schmuck. This place is sweltering in evil. Even the trees assume the allure of feminine charm. Look at that beech trunk, a woman’s torso. And that poplar, long slender arms for branches! This forest thrives on the desires of young men. Don’t you see it? Behind every tree, the final resting place of a guy like you or me.” Ren was beginning to rant and rave. Tinne looked at the beech and the poplar and all the other various types of snow covered trees, but his eyes refused to see the seductive poses they held. A heavy breeze blew through the trees, heavy laden with the sounds of singing, laughing and crying women. Ren made a motion as if to say, “Can’t you hear that?” but Tinne’s ears refused to hear the sounds Ren had been hearing since they entered the Forest of Sirens.
“You’re jealous.” He said plainly. “Now, if you don’t’ mind I’m going to get some more firewood.”
“Good. I’m gonna go kill something.”
The two exchanged glances.
“I’m fricken starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in three days.” Ren complained and trudged off with his bow and quiver.
“He doesn’t like me, does he?” Shayla asked, struggling slightly to get out of the tent.
“Oh, you must have really been buried under those furs. Him? No, he’s just been away from home for a while. He’ll be fine.”
“I think I should talk to him.” Shayla said making a motion to go after Ren.
“I think maybe you should let him cool off a little before you do that.” Tinne cautioned.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll wait a bit.” She agreed.
They gathered some more firewood and then they sat drinking coffee and eating breakfast by the fire for a while.
Ren waded through the deep snow. He marvelled at how much had fallen, even in the depths of the forest. He knew most animals would take advantage of the deep snow and not move. He pressed on anyway, growing calmer, despite the trip falls buried in the snow. The forest has that effect on people. It can ease you soul or it can make you insane. Despite his earlier ranting outburst, Ren was not going insane. He had always loved being in the forest.
Shayla followed Ren’s path in the snow. She saw him in the distance through the trees trudging through the snow and climbing over buried logs. She watched him for a minute or two, raised her rifle and took aim. Her finger caressed the curve of the trigger. She exhaled slowly and squeezed it. Ren fell behind a large log immediately.
When Tinne heard the shot he jumped. He had been gazing at the flames of the fire waiting for the other two to return so they could continue on their way.
“Sitts.” He said and ran off down the path Ren and Shayla had blazed.
A couple more shots were fired before Tinne reached Shayla. When he did Ren was screaming.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Before she could answer, Ren saw Tinne.
“She tried to kill me!” He accused. He was struggling to get out of a thicket of snow-covered branches.
Tinne turned to Shayla with horror in his eyes.
“Coy-dogs.” She said. “They saw he was stuck and were going to attack him.” She insisted. Tinne looked about the ground, but the snow that had fallen from many branches made it impossible to see any evidence to support her story. He looked deeply into her eyes and she turned her eyes bashfully.
“I guess she saved your life, Ren. Maybe she deserves an apology.” Tinne said.
She looked from one to the other from beneath her long lashes.
“Sorry.” Ren muttered after great protests with his eyes and hands.
“Alright then, we’re all good. Let’s get going.” Tinne said, hastily, not being one for conflict. “Where’d you get the gun, anyway?” He asked.
“A girl on her own needs protection.” She replied and quickly stole a backward glance at Ren.
Due to the weather and the lack of motivation in Tinne and Shayla, the going was slow. They travelled another day before coming to an area Shayla called home. Much to Ren’s dislike, they were in the heart of the forest of sirens. In the last day and a half Tinne had become sickeningly attracted to Shayla. He laughed at even the stupidest jokes and seemed to hang on her every word or whim. It aggravated Ren even to look at them. His thoughts as they had want, wandered once again to the fabulous ruby that hung on this strange lady’s waist. He rode up beside the chatterers with the intent to distract and with the hopes the distraction may turn things in his favour.
“Hey, Shayla, not to be a pain or anything, but I know this guy whose good with knowing the value of things. If you could lend that ruby of yours to me for a couple of days I could find out its price and get it back to you straight away.” He squeezed into their discussion.
Shayla looked at him with a cold, calculating look.
“Why are you so interested in my ruby?”
“I…I’m just interested that’s all.” Ren stammered.
“I have already told you it is my most prize possession in the world. I will not lend it to someone I’ve only just met.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to offend.” He apologized and pulled his horse back behind the others again.
The journey Shayla had said would take two days actually took three weeks, however to Ren and Tinne the time seemed to have been much less. They were completely unaware that a few of the restful sleeps they had were actually three or four days long instead of one night.
It was early evening when they arrived at Shayla’s home and the snow was falling lightly.
“There it is.” She said happily.
“Where?” Asked Tinne trying to peer through the forest.
“Right there.” She said, stepping up close to him and pointing through an opening and across a meadow to a two-story farmhouse. Tinne walked a little closer to the opening to see the house.
“Watch your step, honey.” Shayla warned.
Tinne looked down and was shocked to be seeing the tops of trees at his feet.
“What is this place?” Tinne asked. “It’s beautiful.”
“Mono Bluffs.” Shayla answered.
Ren came up and looked over the edge.
“I suppose we have to climb down.” He said rather cynically.
“Well, you can, but we’re going this way.” She answered and led Tinne down a narrow lane that sloped downward through the forest with Ren trailing behind. They made their way around a small pond and eventually found themselves at Shayla’s front step.
**********
Since they picked up Shayla, Ren had been losing sleep over this recurring dream.
When he was in his mid-teens his father had lost his mind. He went on rampages and, being a large man, destroyed various objects that lay in his path; one being the work shed in their back yard. On one of his rampages he stormed off into the forest never to be seen alive again.
All these years he had suppressed the memories of his father’s madness. Each night the dream was longer, revealing more and more of the past.
“Sheila Na’ Gig.” He whispered to himself, sitting upright in a sweat. “I have to get him out of here. She’ll destroy him. He’ll go mad.” He looked around the room in the pale gl
ow of early morning and realized Tinne was not in the other bed. He surveyed the upper floor and the other bedrooms. When he came to Shayla’s room he could smell perfume in the hall even though the door was closed. He shuddered at the memory of her trying to lure Tinne in there the night before. “Had he weakened in the night?” Ren wondered to himself. Very cautiously he peeked in the door. The room was dark but he could just make out the red and purple scarves adorning the bed and windows and just about everything. The bed was laid out with a thick duvet, large pillows and dried flower pedals. The perfume was tempting in his nostrils. He had to stop himself from entering. After staring into the dim lit room for a couple of minutes he was satisfied the room was empty.
“And I thought you didn’t like me.” Shayla said from within the darkness before Ren could pull his head out. “Change of heart?” She asked coyly. A small glint of red light reflected from the ruby when a ray of sunlight finally found its way through a space in the scarves.
“No.” Ren said flatly and pulled his head back into the hall with the rest of his body. “Where’s Tinne?” He called in.
“How should I know?” She answered. “I hope you don’t think I’d be up to mischief.” She added, but Ren ignored her and went down stairs.
He found the downstairs to be empty as well. He looked out the front door and found fresh prints going out into the field behind the house.
“Fricken weirdo.” He muttered to himself and set about starting a fire in the hearth. His mind returned to the fine ray of morning sunlight that had glinted off Shayla’s ruby. “A gem that size has got to be worth a fortune.” He thought to himself. “I wonder how many generations have passed it down.”
Ren was waiting by the fire drinking coffee when Tinne came in. He hung his over coats on the newel post, shook off the cold and proceeded to the hearth where he squatted with his hands near the flames. The sun was still barely lighting the front room where they sat.
“Where’ve you been?” Ren asked.
“Winter Solstice.” Tinne said.
“Winter Solstice? That shouldn’t be for another month and a half, should it?”
“It should, but it isn’t. It was last night. Somehow we’ve been out here a lot longer than we thought.”