Freamhaigh

by Donald D. Allan

  She looked over at Dog. He was pawing at other packs he had uncovered in the snow. She blocked the pain again and came over and pulled the packs free and shook the snow off them. The first one contained little of value except for a few gold coins. She tossed the pack aside and rummaged through the second one. In the front she found a large pouch, and she opened it. To her vision she saw sparks fly up from the opening. Her nose caught the scent of the contents and a craving drove through her with such intensity she would have poured the entire contents into her welcoming mouth had it not been for Dog. Dog used his power and their bond to stop her movements. He ran up and grabbed the pouch and ran off with it. Katherine screamed at him and fought to break the paralysis.

  She followed him with their bond. She traced him as he ran to the river that ran nearby. “No!” she screamed when she realised his intent. In a moment, Dog found a section of the river not covered with ice and dropped the pouch containing Life Salt into the water. Katherine sobbed and when Dog released her, she collapsed to her knees. What is going on with me? Why am I craving Life Salt so badly? Pain shot through her abdomen once again and sweat poured from her pores. She collapsed in the snow to her hands and knees and fought intense nausea once again. She retched and felt bile, hot and acidic hit the back of her throat. Katherine swallowed convulsively, but with nothing in her stomach she could only dry heave. She spat onto the snow.

  Dog ran up to her and licked her tears and sweat from her face. Stop leaking, Katherine. You can’t have that purple dust. It’s not good for you.

  “W-what’s happening to me?”

  I do not know. You seem sick, but I cannot see what is wrong with you.

  “I’m craving that salt. I need it so bad. Why?”

  Those men gave it to you. Always. Throughout the day and night. They said Erebus told them to. They were scared not to give it to you. It made you sleep.

  “Did they? I wonder why? Oh, by the Word, this hurts. It needs to stop.”

  I will try.

  Dog lay on his stomach in front of her and stilled. Katherine could sense him through their bond. Dog was doing something amazing. Something only the stocs could do. He was inside her. Worry gnawed at her. What does a dog know about humans and how we work? What if he does something wrong? Katherine could imagine all sorts of things he could mess up and shuddered. The pain in her stomach disappeared so suddenly that Katherine drew in a sharp breath of surprise.

  “Oh, that is better,” she exhaled. The nausea faded after a moment. Katherine felt Dog draw power and her head exploded, not in pain, but in sensory overload. She felt concern from Dog, but he drew even more power. Katherine’s vision blurred, and she lost her balance and fell over to her side, helpless. She lost all feeling in her limbs and couldn’t move them. Fear rose in her and she struggled to think and form words. She couldn’t remember how. Who am I?

  The world turned upside down and Katherine lost consciousness.

  Katherine woke again. She was warm and comfortable and covered in blankets. She opened her eyes and daylight blinded her eyes painfully and she squinted against it. She wiggled her toes and fingers and was relieved when they responded. Dog was pressed up against her and sleeping. She rose onto her elbows, careful not to disturb him, and looked around. She was under thick fir trees and lying on blankets on dry grass. Snow was all around her, except for where she lay.

  She smelt a fire and something cooking. It smelt like stew. Her mouth watered. How did Dog cover me and make stew? She heard a noise on the other side of the trees from where the cooking smell was coming from. She drew power and was relieved to feel it fill her.

  She pulled off the blankets and rose to her feet. She expected to feel weak, but she felt strong and well-rested. Dog awoke at her movements and lifted his head and yawned a wide yawn, teeth exposed and tongue flapping around.

  You are awake. Good. You slept a long time.

  How long this time?

  One night. Oh, and then one more. How many is that?

  There is someone cooking nearby.

  Yes. It is Gaea. She found us. She covered you up and made a stew. I tried to tell her not to, but she doesn’t hear me. I really wanted stew and was glad she did. I think if I want it hard enough she will give it to me. So far it works.

  Katherine felt stupid and used her power to confirm it was Gaea. It felt strange sensing her. Before she had been everything and now she was what she was. A distinct gathering of motes, and nothing more. What has she said?

  Nothing. She makes me feel like a bad dog.

  A bad dog? How?

  She looks at me funny. Like I did something wrong. I must have for her to look at me that way.

  How does she look at you?

  Dog gave Katherine a memory. Katherine was astonished to know he could do that. She watched the memory as Gaea gave Dog the look he thought meant he was a bad dog. She laughed out loud, and she heard Gaea pause in stirring the stew.

  “Katherine?” called out Gaea.

  She doesn’t think you are a bad dog.

  Really? What does she think then?

  She’s afraid of you. Come, let’s go see her.

  Katherine stood up and walked around the trees. In the opening, she saw Gaea kneeling beside a small fire. A stew pot hung over the flames and the smell of a wonderful stew wafted over to tantalise Katherine. Dog walked past her and stood in front of the fire and stared at the pot. He licked his chops and drooled a little.

  “Hello, Gaea. I see you found us.”

  Gaea glanced at Katherine and Katherine confirmed it. Gaea was afraid of them. “Yes,” responded Gaea. “It took me awhile. You are very hard to find. Dog says you’ve been here a while.”

  “Yes. We had a bad time. What’s the date?”

  “The eighth of Eanair. Happy New Year.”

  “Eanair? January eighth? Really?” Katherine spun on Dog. “Dog, it’s been six weeks! I’ve been out for six weeks!”

  Dog ignored her and watched the stew. I want the stew.

  Katherine looked at her feet. "What did you do to stop us in Cala?" Katherine was ashamed at how meek her voice sounded. If she had a tail, she knew she would have it between her legs.

  Gaea stirred the stew one more time and then produced bowls and wooden spoons. “You should eat.”

  Dog woofed and looked back at Katherine. It works!

  Gaea carefully spooned stew into the bowls and handed one to Katherine. She placed one before Dog and he sniffed it before wolfing it down, wagging his tail.

  “Eat, please,” encouraged Gaea to Katherine.

  Katherine tried the stew and found it delicious. She dug through it and found no meat. She looked questioningly at Gaea. “Where’s the meat?”

  Gaea smiled. “Trade secret.”

  Katherine grunted and ate the stew. The feeling of food passing her throat and hitting her stomach felt so good to her. I understand why you still hunt, doogie-doog, she sent to Dog.

  Yes. I was right. This is good. You never made meat soup this good.

  They ate in silence and Gaea joined them. I didn’t know she could eat. Soon the stew was gone, and they stood looking at one another. Dog had his snout in the pot and was licking up the remains with exuberance.

  Gaea watched Dog with interest. "You seem better. Cala was very bad. You had both lost control. You asked me what I did to stop you? Nothing more than return a little of what I took from you. It grounded you for a little while."

  Katherine felt her eyes sting and wiped at them. "We did terrible things. Terrible. I-I had had no control. I was so lost. I feel so much better now. I feel I can control the power better. Much like when I was a draoi."

  Gaea nodded, but said nothing.

  “Where are we?” asked Katherine.

  “You don’t know?” asked Gaea in turn.

  “No. Last place I was, was in Cala. Erebus sent two sergeants after us. They captured me. But Dog escaped. They doused me with Life Salt. I was out of it until Dog killed them. Then I woke
and craved Life Salt. That’s gone now.” What did you do, Dog?

  I found where the salt made you want it so bad. I removed that want.

  What? How?

  I do not know how to explain it. I can show you? I almost broke you. Sorry.

  Later, let’s deal with Gaea first.

  “Cala is a long way off. You are now about ten miles west of Salt Lake City.” Gaea pointed in a direction. “South of here is the main road, about half a mile away. It will be hard to find with the snow.”

  “Huh. Erebus wanted me in Munsten.”

  Gaea nodded. Silence fell between them. She stirred and looked from Dog to Katherine. “You two can speak with one another?”

  Katherine nodded. “Yes, with our minds. It is like draoi talk. Except, easier. He’s very smart.”

  “And you can both draw power?”

  “Yes. We take power from both you and Erebus.”

  Gaea seemed surprised. “I see. Equally?”

  “Yes. I think so. Hard to tell, really. We just take it. It is all around.”

  Gaea looked thoughtful and then smiled at Katherine. “And how are you now?”

  Katherine knew what Gaea meant. She wanted to know if she was still a woman capable of killing so many people on a whim. “I am good now. You were right about one thing: Dog and I were able to survive with our bond. It is still there, bright and strong. We are one, really. Dog and human, sharing one mind. Sort of. I told you, he’s very smart now.”

  “I didn’t foresee that. This was always something I argued against—what you are now.”

  “What we are now? You made us. Begged us! Who did you argue with? Who was it?”

  “It doesn’t matter. That person is long, long, gone. I should have listened to him then. I didn’t and failed him in the end. We had thought we had won, but we didn’t. At least he passed thinking he had solved the problem. But we made it worse. Much worse.” Gaea looked sad, her thoughts distant.

  “I don’t understand.”

  Gaea smiled and turned away. She walked over to the lean-to and turned back. “No matter. You need to head to Munsten.”

  “Munsten.”

  Where is this Munsten place? asked Dog, tilting his head back and vigorously scratching his left ear with a hind leg. He had stew stuck on the fur of his ears. Katherine reached over and wiped it off. Dog sniffed her fingers and gave them a lick.

  “Yes. Head to Munsten and confront Erebus. Remove him.”

  Katherine’s eyes flashed. “Just like that.”

  Gaea looked confused for a moment. “Yes. It is why you allowed me to sever you. So you could defeat him.”

  “You’re just like him, aren’t you?”

  Katherine thought for a moment Gaea wouldn’t answer. Gaea calmed her face and looked back defiantly at Katherine. I can see a bit of a challenge there, thought Katherine.

  “Yes. We are the same. But opposite sides, you could say. I like to think I am the good one.”

  “The good one, really? Well, I suppose compared to him, you are, aren’t you? But whether you are actually good, I haven’t yet decided.”

  “You think I am evil?”

  “You let my mom and dad die, didn’t you?” Katherine shot back with a raised voice.

  Gaea flinched.

  She is afraid of us. I knew it.

  So I am not a bad dog then?

  No, Dog. You are a very good dog.

  Dog wagged his tail and stood up and licked Katherine’s hand.

  “I didn’t let them die. There was nothing I could do.”

  “You aren’t a god then.”

  “I never said I was,” said Gaea, looking tired. “Katherine, I am losing here in Belkin. Erebus has spread unrest in all the land. Chaos is the rule. Did you know this little island, the island of Belkin, is all that remains of me in this world? Everywhere else he has defeated me. If we lose here, the world is lost. It reverts to something that should no longer exist. He will usher in a world that lost their right to exist.”

  “We defeated him twice now. What more can we do?”

  “Defeated? No. He is everywhere. As am I. He lives in all life and more. To defeat him, you must attack all of him. Strike him fast and everywhere.”

  “Why Munsten? If he is everywhere why does it matter where we do it? And how do we do that, anyway? Seriously, we are one woman and one dog.” Dog growled. “Sorry, a special dog.”

  “You must infect him. He is everywhere, but all connected. As am I. He is concentrated in Munsten. Infecting him there will be to the greatest effect. It has the best chance for success.”

  Katherine thought that over. “I see. So, we could infect you as well.”

  Gaea hesitated a moment and then steeled her face. “If you wished to, yes.”

  “Perhaps we should try it on you first? Make sure we can do this right.” Katherine stepped toward Gaea, but Gaea stayed where she was and looked defiant.

  “If that is your wish. You are stronger than me in many ways. Stronger than Erebus, perhaps. Go to Munsten. Defeat him.”

  Gaea disappeared without a sound. Katherine watched her do it this time. She saw how she dissolved into the very air. Breaking down to tiny particles and blowing away with the wind. It looked almost easy.

  Curiouser and curiouser.

  Katherine blew out a breath.

  That night sitting by the fire, Katherine and Dog discussed what to do next. Dog had hunted down a rabbit and Katherine had skinned it, taking the time to do it right. It felt better doing normal things with her hands. It grounded her. The rabbit was soon spitted and sizzling over the fire. Dog wouldn’t take his eyes off it.

  So much better than mices.

  Mice.

  No, I had many mices.

  Mice means many mice. Not mices. Mouse means one. Why were you eating mice?

  Easy. I found them and ate them whole. I made them come to me. The wolves ate mouses all the time.

  Mice, not mouses. Why would you do that?

  I was watching you. I never took my eyes off you.

  Katherine felt an upwelling of love for Dog and reached over and pulled him closer. He didn’t resist her, but he kept his eyes locked on the cooking rabbit. “You can stop staring at the rabbit. It isn’t going anywhere.”

  How can we be sure? Safer this way.

  Katherine laughed. “It won’t be ready for a bit. Relax.” Katherine let go of Dog and reached down with her left hand and hefted the long straight pole she had placed beside her. She had used her powers to pull a perfectly straight pole out of a black ironwood tree and healed the tree as she did so. It was from the heart of the tree and and such a dark brown that it sometimes looked red when the light hit it right. It was the perfect diameter for her hands and a foot and a half shorter than her height.

  Dog glanced quickly at the pole and back to the rabbit.

  Why do you want the stick? It is too big to throw.

  “It’s not for playing. I am making a weapon.”

  Weapon? You are a weapon. Better a stick for throwing. Dog’s tail thumped on the dirt.

  “Yes, perhaps,” replied Katherine. “Something Gaea said stuck with me. She said ‘strike him’. I mean to.”

  Katherine twisted on her spot on the log and grabbed her backpack from behind her. She rummaged inside and pulled out the sickle. She held it up for Dog to see.

  “What do you see when you look at this?”

  Dog didn’t turn his head. I must watch the rabbit.

  “No, silly. Look with your power.”

  Dog stilled for a moment, then his tongue lolled out of his mouth. It is like Gaea.

  “Yes, pure Gaea essence. It’s not really glass at all. I have an idea. Watch this.”

  No. Rabbit is done. I am very hungry. I will probably die if I don’t eat rabbit soon.

  Katherine snorted. “Okay, it should be done now. First, we eat.” Dog stood up and wagged his tail. Katherine grabbed the spit and removed the rabbit from the fire. Dog watched her every action,
making sure no pieces escaped. She grabbed it and tore it in half, healing the hot grease burns as they formed. She tossed half to Dog, who snatched it out of the air. Dog wolfed down his rabbit in quick, crunching bites and then watched Katherine tear meat from the bone with her teeth. It was delicious and eating felt so good.

  “It’s so much easier to eat hot food when you have powers!” she laughed around a mouthful.

  No waiting for cooling. Are you going to eat all that? Dog licked his chops repeatedly.

  “No, but give me a moment, would you? You’re such a greedy-guts.”

  I am hungry. There is food. I can eat more.

  Katherine laughed, ate a bit more, and tossed her portion to Dog, who snatched it out of the air. She watched him devour the extra portion. “Thank you, Dog, for watching over me and saving me.”

  You are very welcome. Thank you for your rabbit. That is better, I think.

  Katherine picked up her pole while Dog licked his muzzle and nose. He sniffed around the campfire to make sure no cooked rabbit had escaped his notice and then settled down to watch her. She gazed at him affectionately for a time. He’s the brother I never had. Where would I be without him?

  She turned her attention back to the pole and held it near the top with one hand and took the sickle in the other. She placed the end of the sickle against the top of the pole. The sickle wasn’t very large. The handle was only the length of her thumb and about as wide. The pole was much wider.

  She closed her eyes and drew power. The sickle burned bright white. She could sense it was made of the essence of what Gaea was. Katherine looked about her with her sight and saw the essence of Gaea infused all life. She pulled that essence to the sickle. It came at her bidding and flowed around the shape of the sickle. Katherine guided it and reformed the sickle. She straightened the shape and pulled it out. She spread the handle of the sickle and fused it into the ironwood until the wood blended completely with the sickle. She took Gaea’s essence and spread it long the shaft of the pole and gave it a thin coating. She pressed the coating into the wood and hardened the wood even further. Finally, she returned to the blade and honed one edge until it was only the thickness of the smallest of Gaea’s essence.