As much as I needed and prayed for Celeste to be there by my side, to tell me everything was going to be ok, I knew she did the right thing. I just wish she would have waited for me to wake up first so I could go with her. Ahh... there it was, the reason she didn't wait. She wanted to spare me the pain of finding the bodies of our family out there.
The part of me that felt betrayed was much smaller than the part that was relieved that she had. Does that make me a bad person? Or just a coward? This was some sort of waking nightmare.
He saw me sorting through my feelings and went on when I exhaled. “She told us to sit tight and make contact with the locals to see what help we could get from them. Lady Emily is convinced that if she could get word to the Sect, they would send help.”
Then to alleviate my concern he added, “Celeste will be back within the week.”
I nodded and placed a hand on his arm as I stood from the bed. “Thank you Lowrey, what's next?”
He smirked and said, “Well that's up to you, Majesty, now that we are off mission, you are the ranking noble.”
I huffed and said, “We're in this together, so none of that tedious Majesty or Great Mother shit, man. Call me Laney.” Then before he could argue I added, “Decreed.”
He shut his mouth and deflated, giving me the evil eye.
So I asked, “Supplies and provisions?”
He straightened. “We've provisions for four days, Templar Celeste's party took the bulk of them. But we're on a farm... Laney.”
“Right.” I smirked at the man. So we wouldn't starve. “How far to the closest settlement?”
He fanned himself and I realized he was sweating profusely. I forgot about the oppressive heat. “Countess Emily says there is only one settlement and we are about twenty five miles from it. The rest is forest and, farmland to feed their people.”
I contemplated. “Right. Then we do as Celeste said. We wait for the farmers to return and beseech their assistance in contacting the Sect of Knowledge Seekers. They are from what I understand from Emily, the ruling body here in New Cali.”
Then I strode to the door. “The people out here are looking for our guidance, to assure them that everything is going to be ok, let's not disappoint them, shall we?”
He gave me an odd smile then straightened to his full height, adjusting his tunic again and nodded firmly once, then we stepped into the crowded main room.
My mistake. I was inundated by questions from all directions. Most were nobles who had never been in a situation where their lives had been in danger before. And two were indignant that the person's home we were currently invading was a “Disgusting hovel, are we expected to sleep here? Sleeping in the airship was bad enough.”
I had stopped at that and turned to look at the ones asking. A baron and a viscountess. Everyone silenced at the cold look I shot their way as I held a hand up to the others. I strode up to the viscountess as she was the ranking one of the two. She had six inches on me but I glared up at her, mist roiling from my scars, and her officious look and bearing dropped as I narrowed my eyes. She curtsied.
With frost in my tone, I rasped out, “ Freida is it? From Highland?” She bristled a bit at me not using her title, but I was above her station by a long shot. She refused to meet my eyes and inclined her head. “If we are still here this evening, and the owners of this farmhouse return and are magnanimous enough to allow us to stay, then yes, we will sleep here. And we will be grateful and gracious for their understanding and will beg their forgiveness for us being in their home to begin with.”
Then I added, “And if they wish us out for our trespass into their lives, we will again thank them, and graciously bow out and sleep in the woods if we must. This is someone's home. To you it may not seem like much, but to them... it is everything. And we will leave the place as we found it, none the worse for wear as it is us who have upset their lives, not the other way around. Being nobles does not give us free reign over one of lesser station.”
Then I punctuated it and said, “Especially in a different land where we hold no station at all, and they stand above us all as they are citizens of this land of New Cali, we being only interlopers.”
There was silence and I asked, “Am I understood?” I included everyone in my sweeping gaze, Emily looking at me as if it were the first time she had truly seen me, and she looked pleased.
Murmuring assent greeted me, and I nodded.
Then Viscountess Freida inclined her head, looking deep in thought, she replied, “My apologies, Majesty, I just find myself out of my depth here, never being in a situation like this before, not even during the war. I rarely get out of the library in the Keep. I study languages and ancient Highland history going back to Reconstruction. I find myself at a disadvantage and I fear I do not represent my station well.”
I sighed and nodded, assuring her, “None of us has been in this situation before. We just need to keep our wits about us and everything will work out the way it should.”
Then I looked around, knowing that Donovan and Captain Lowery had already started organizing everyone, but I needed to show them strength and confidence even though I was as lost as everyone else. “Ok, we'll need to make a record of the supplies we have on hand. And if there is a well nearby we need to be sure it is viable as we will need to stay well hydrated in heat like this. By no means shall anyone damage the dwelling or the property.”
I looked to the Captain and he straightened. “Lord Lowrey, you and your crew get our people organized into shifts. And those with combat training, we need to set up a watch rotation in three shifts. Two people on the perimeter as Rogue Duchess Aelwen is out there somewhere, but keep in mind the owners of this farm will be returning at some time so do not be overzealous.”
The men started into motion and I looked to my grinning mother in law. “Emily? How far is it to the closest guard station we can send someone out to for help from your people?”
She chirped out when she got to my side as everyone started pouring outside into the burning heat of Father Sol, “You sound like Celeste.” I snerked and she said, “There are no guards, no knights, no military in New Cali. We all work for the common goal of keeping our people alive. The closest thing we have to any governance is the Sect and the elders. Elder is not a title, it is literally just the oldest people in New Cali, and they give the Prime advice and guidance as they have seen more than any of us.”
I blinked. That was almost... Utopian. That was the sort of society I wished Sparo would one day embrace.
Donovan joined us and said, “Surely they must have crime, or worse at times. How is that handled?”
Emily said, “Of course we do, there is no such thing as a perfect society. But in most cases, we go by the old rules and guidelines using historic precedents on any punishments for crimes. Usually the elders will go before the Prime for guidance and recommendations as committing our own history to memory is the first function of a Prime. And they in turn teach the next Prime in line.”
I pointed out, “You seem to know a lot about the subject.”
She sighed and laced her fingers in Donovan's and pulled his hand up to kiss. “I was to be groomed as the next Prime, being First Seeker, once I returned from my mission to document Sparo and to attempt to look at the books in the Library of the Trechromancy Scrolls. So I'm sure if Prime Seeker Lianda has stepped down while I was gone, then Second Seeker Carmen is Prime now.”
Misty and Shanicia joined us and Shanny tugged on my sleeve. I looked down and she pointed to the wood slatted window and I noticed the daylight was dimming rapidly to a light twilight. I moved quickly outside with the rest of our group in tow to see a sight that reminded me just how small and insignificant we are in a world full of wonders.
That mountain range we saw from afar was towering over the farmland and forest beyond like some sort of terrifyingly mammoth sentinel. And the burning eye peeking through the crevice in that imposing mountain finished hiding behind
it casting the entire valley in shadow. Even with my cloak keeping me cool, the air seemed to cool a few degrees.
Emily said, “The Eye draws away to watch the rest of the world and shepherd it, giving us respite for the rest of the afternoon. The farmers will be returning soon, it is not wise to travel when the eye beats down upon us, and shelter should be sought when it is.”
I nodded. Then asked, “How long would it take to get to your people?”
She said, “You can get to anywhere in New Cali in but three days. We are smaller even than the realm of New Home.”
“Ok, then we rest the night, tend our wounded, set up a pyre for our dead man. And perhaps the farmers, if they are willing, can bring us into Doctrina.”
Emily nodded, her mind already somewhere else as she undid her braid, and looped a large loop of her hair in her sash and threw the rest over her shoulder in front of her, a curtain of golden strands touching her knees even then. She pulled out her feather necklace and let it hang down the front of her robe.
I cocked my head in question as Misty ran her fingers through Emily's hair in wonder. Em said, “It would be less of a shock if the farmers arrive and find a Seeker among the 'interlopers' you spoke of.” She winked at me.
Alrighty then. I've never seen her with her hair down and it was almost mesmerizing.
Chapter 10 – Heretics
We didn't have long to wait for the farmers to return, as I joined in with the others to make a pyre in a clearing in the woods just beyond the farm, to prepare to lay our Lord Harry to rest when Father Sol set.
I heard a chirping signal and looked up from where I had been stacking kindling and dried grasses under the pyre with the girls. Misty's and my hands were on the pommels of our swords in recognition of a Gypsy lookout's signal for riders approaching. I forced my nerves back and relaxed a bit as I looked up at the treeline dividing the forest from the farm to see Sara crouched up on a branch tracking something with the short-bow she had brought with her for her turn at watch.
Of course she'd pick a vantage point where she could keep watch while still keeping the girls in sight. Just as Alexandru had with me and Celeste, Sarafine took her job as Garda Personala deadly serious.
She stopped tracking and lowered the bow and quivered the arrow before hopping off her branch twenty feet up and catching one ten feet down with her hands and spun around it once, bleeding off her momentum before releasing it then landing lightly on the forest floor. She strode toward us as she said in the tongue of the people, “Three, a man and woman in a mule drawn hay cart with a young girl. All unarmed.”
I nodded and the two others with us looked to understand what she had said, more and more Altii were learning the tongue of the people since we started blending our societies, and that was good. I knew there were still those who resented and resisted our new form of governance, so any positive momentum I saw made me hopeful.
Offering my hands out, the girls took them and we headed back toward the farmhouse. By the time we entered the grain field the cart came into view of the farmhouse and hesitated. I saw the man hauling back on the reins and standing to see us all better.
I looked back and called out in English, “Riders approaching.” Then noted my guards were already aware and had their blades drawn and others had makeshift weapons in their hands.
Making a lowering motion with my silk gloved hand, I blurted, “Mother Luna people! Look at them, they are the farmers returned, they are no threat. And here we are, at their home, weapons drawn... what sort of picture does that paint?”
I didn't have to say Marauders as their faces paled and they lowered their weapons. I paused a moment to wonder if they had Marauders in New Cali.
With a glance to Donovan and Emily, we started down the path toward the farmers. I stopped after two steps and looked at my daughters. “No, you stay here.” They looked about to argue so I whispered to them, “Someone needs to keep everyone calm until we're sure there is no threat. As Soras, you are the next ranking nobles here.” Sooo I stretched things a bit. I just wanted them safe until I was sure there was no threat, but this gave them a sense of purpose in staying out of harm's way.
They nodded with serious looks on their faces, then we started out again just for me to stop and spin around after a couple more steps, and I let my frustration get the better of me as I snapped at my guards, “Oh for fuck's sake. Stay here. Sara has a short-bow she found somewhere to cover us.”
Jezelle huffed then just held a hand out and Sarafine handed her the bow and quiver. I almost snorted, so it was that easy to get some distance and a bit of privacy? Give her a ranged weapon? I'd have to look into getting her the finest of Mountain Gypsy recurved bows when we got back home.
Then my cheeks warmed and I looked at the girls. “Don't let me catch you using that curse. I shouldn't have said it.”
They giggled.
That wasn't very promising now was it?
Then I started striding forward with purpose, keeping in front of my in laws, and asking back without looking, “Any other stragglers?”
Donovan chuckled and said, “None, Great Mother. It appears you've impressed your will upon them sufficiently.”
I didn't even have to look back at the man to know he said Great Mother tongue in cheek. He often used the title when teasing me because he knew it always made me grin.
Emily chirped out, “Yes yes, very commanding.”
I muttered to them, “Smiting list, the two of you.”
The man looked ready to swing the cart around and bolt as we approached. We didn't look that... oh... I reached up, my arm ghosting and leaving after images as I pulled the hood of my hunting cloak back. The oppressive heat hit my face as my misty magic cascaded slowly to the ground.
I guess I did look somewhat like an apparition, especially with my hood up, causing it to be more difficult to make me out. And here I was heading toward them, with a giant of a man standing six foot a billion, in his robes. At least Emily looked to be no threat.
I rasped loudly out in English as I held my empty hands up as we approached. “Hello! We mean you no harm. We are in need of assistance.”
He cocked his head, and the mule side stepped once, then Emily said in another language I assumed was this Spanish she spoke of, “Somos viajeros y venimos en paz. Hay personas heridas y necesitamos ayuda. ¿Podemos hablar en Inglés para que entiendan mis amigos?”
The man said something to the woman next to him, too low for us to make out, and she said something back as he sat back down in the seat. They looked at us warily then he put a halting hand out when we were about twenty feet away. The woman asked in archaic English like they had used in New Home, “Is this magic? Are you Cristea?” She motioned her hand up and down in front of me as the little girl, a couple years younger than Shan, just stared at me with wide blue eyes under her mass of honey brown hair.
Then the woman gasped and pulled back when she looked at Donovan and Emily, her eyes locked on the feather around Emily's neck. She almost flattened herself on the seat. “First Seeker! Forgive us! We did not know the Sect was here.” The man's eyes about bugged out of his head and he flattened too. The little girl seeing her parents like that, flattened herself against the hay.
Emily looked taken aback by their behavior. “It's fine. Really. We've made a mess of your place with all our people. We can compensate you for your trouble.”
They looked at her for a moment before almost timidly sitting back up. The woman rushed out, “No no... what is ours is yours. Just please let the Prime know we are helpful.”
Before I could say anything, Emily asked, brow furrowed, “I apologize for my ignorance, I've been away for some time, is Lianda or Carmen Prime Seeker now?”
The woman whispered to her man, “A test.”
The man said quickly, “All know Lianda and Carmen were false prophets. The true Prime Goddess Eris smote them down as heretics. We are faithful to her, please let her know we have
passed this test and have not strayed from the path.”
Em whispered, “Dead?”
Prophets, heretics, faithful? A Goddess? Was this some religion? From what Emily has shared the New Calians are seekers of knowledge. But she looked confused and at a loss for words, so I offered helpfully. “This is First Seeker Emilathia Brightseeker. She has been away from New Cali for forty years and has just now returned. Forgive us for not knowing what has transpired here in her absence. Please can we go to your farmhouse and speak more of this?”
The adults eyes widened in shock the little girl hopped down from the cart and walked up to me, staring at the mists coming off of me in wonder. I smiled warmly at her, then her eyes bulged when she saw the two swords at my sides.
The woman looked around and whispered as if the forest had ears, “This cannot be true. I was but a child, Selena's age when the Sect announced First Seeker Emilathia lost, her glow was extinguished from the world twenty years ago. She was to be the new Prime Seeker and they had held out hope for her return for so long.”
The man said carefully, as if he spoke heresy, “That is when Eris began her rise to godhood and declared New Cali as the last bastion of mankind. And all were forbidden to step foot in Lifeless Expanse after the War of the Cristea. When they argued against the new order of things, saying them cruel and a detriment to the people of New Cali, they tried to overthrow Prime Seeker Eris.”
I blurted, “What happened to the Cristea?” Emily had said there were over four hundred of them in New Cali now. I felt a stone in the pit of my stomach. There had been a war.
The woman whispered, “They were banished into the Lifeless Expanse, ten years ago when Eris finally rose to the divine. Her power was then a match for the strange magiks the Cristea wield. We are faithful.”
They were not faithful, the fear in their wavering voices told the story, they were oppressed by some sort of religious coup, and there was a touch of regret when they mentioned the Cristea had been banished.
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