by Dean Jones
“Who’s there?”
“Seth, son of Garrett,” the voice boomed in his mind and the temptation to put his hands over his ears was great even though he knew no sound had been uttered from the darkness.
“I have waited many years to finally meet you Seth, and here we are sat outside your very own house where your beautiful wife is cooking you a meal as we speak…. you have a wonderful life here, it seems your decision was a wise one after all.”
Seth's confusion took over as he wasn’t certain whether he’d just been threatened, the voice in his head had quieted so he could think, and he was sure he disliked what he was hearing.
“My wife is none of your concern, creature and I would warn you no good will come to you should you even consider visiting her or harming her in any way!” Seth felt the Mara behind him cringe at his words, but he knew he had the upper hand here as he was living energy and they were spiritual energy which, although more complex, needed a link to the living world of humans so it could influence those it touched.
There was a booming laughter which hung around him like a curtain of sound and Seth found himself disorientated from the experience.
“You still are the courageous one aren’t you, threatening something you know nothing about…I do like you.” Seth's eyes focused on a shape not far in front of him, it was a man he was certain and as it grew closer he could see the size of this man who had the voice like thunder.
“Who are you?” This time Seth's voice had a tone of pleading and he could see this creature was unlike anything he had met before or even heard of from the many tales Corey had told him about those creatures who lived in the Spae.
“You know me as Woden though some will come to know me by a different name, either way, I am the God of War and the sky!”
Seth fell to his knees and bowed before the God he had prayed to on many an occasion. The shock had removed his ability to speak and he cowered low to the ground hoping Woden would not have taken offence at his earlier threats.
“Lift yourself to your feet Seth; there is no need for this kind of reverence. We are equals you and me, we are both warriors and as such no homage is required.”
Seth lifted his head and found the face of Woden gazing back at him. The blue eyes staring into him were like pools of still water and held depths unimaginable to Seth's mind.
“That’s better, now to the business of my coming to you. There is a task you will need to perform and a sacrifice which must be given…” Woden paused and let his words settle into Seth's mind.
“Once this sacrifice has been given I will return to you, but I will not come until you have done what it is you feel needs to be done to settle your anger…” again he paused, and Seth's eyes grew narrow as he considered what kind of sacrifice he would have to make.
“The sacrifice is not yours to give but one which will be taken and as such cause you great hurt and anguish, but you need to remember I will come back once your wrath has taken its course.” Seth's mind worked quickly…what sacrifice would cause him such pain and anger…. his parents?
Seth's shock was plain to see across his face, but he held his tongue.
“I see you have come to a conclusion….so be it, but please remember this sacrifice is unavoidable and will be undertaken under the direction of someone close……. the task will be one of great magnitude and will require you to have even greater strength than you do now.”
Seth stared blankly at Woden still in shock at the knowledge his parents would be lost.
“You are having trouble digesting this news Seth, so I will speak again about this with you once you are ready.” Woden took a deep breath and stretched. His size was impressive, dwarfing even Seth.
“But……why?” Seth's mind had caught up with the conversation and suddenly formed a question.
Woden shrugged, “sometimes people fear what they do not understand and sometimes people will do anything to control what they fear….and you my boy are both those things!”
Seth was starting to lose focus and Woden was fading from his sight, the Mara placed their small arms around Seth's shoulders and he could feel the warmth of the energy they were channelling into him, giving calmness to the situation so he could regain the concentration he was losing.
“Thank you, Mara, you are most helpful souls….” Woden had sat himself down cross-legged and was patiently waiting for Seth to gain some control of his emotions.
“I can see this revelation has given you cause for doubt but be assured, you will find a way through this and although you will not understand fully why it had to happen you will accept it with the knowledge you will have the chance to regain what you will lose…in time.” The last two words hung in the air for what seemed an eternity to Seth and his thoughts were running all around his mind trying to make sense of it all.
“It is time I left you Seth, but please remember what we spoke about and know you are special and that I will come to see you again when we can discuss more.”
Woden started to fade away and the heaviness that was in the air around him lifted leaving Seth kneeling on the ground with the Mara hanging off his shoulders.
“Master Seth, we are sorry this news was not good, but we know you are strong, and you will find a way through it…and remember your child will be proud of how you deal with this trial when you tell her of it.”
Seth looked to the Mara “Her?” a sudden excitement filled his body and the thoughts of Woden’s warning had suddenly left him.
“You have never said anything of a daughter before Mara?” the Mara smiled and drifted away from where he knelt, “you have never asked before, Master and we thought this would be good news to cheer you after your talk with Lord Woden….” With that, they were gone, and Seth found he was alone in the fields.
Still feeling the giddiness, he had gained from the news the Mara had given him he rushed back in the house to tell Meredith and let her know she would bear him a daughter.
A Decision Made
Seth walked the path back from the king’s castle home with a heavy heart. He had decided after speaking with the Mara, that when Meredith gave birth to his daughter he would be alive to greet her arrival. Meredith had been ecstatic at the news and had begun to plan for the birth.
Seth sat with Aethelbald and told him he had decided he could no longer serve as part of his bodyguard as he now needed to think about his future family. He pointed out that his wife would never fall pregnant if he wasn’t there to make it happen. And given that, unfortunately, the duties required of him in the Kings service didn’t allow him much time at home.
Aethelbald was angry at first but he soon calmed and seemed to accept what Seth was telling him.
“You have been an excellent servant to me this last five years and I think it only fair you spend some time at home with that lovely wife of yours and set about making a family.” Aethelbald paused and gave Seth a cheeky smile.
“After all we were beginning to wonder if you had it in you, I was going to offer my services to ensure it happened but…if you are home then….” Seth gave a laugh, but he knew the King was still angry no matter the jovial exchanges.
“Once your child is born you can rejoin me and take your place at my side.” This wasn’t an offer, it was an instruction and Aethelbald wasn’t used to this type of instruction being ignored. Seth gave a smile and respectful nod knowing he wouldn’t be coming back, and he hoped the time away from his king would ensure he was forgotten.
Seth left the kings house and pulled his cloaks around him against the chill winter winds before mounting his horse and starting for home.
Aethelbald watched Seth leave from his window and cursed the man’s name as he did.
“How dare he!” He hissed, “after all I have done for the ungrateful bastard!”
He knew in his heart Seth’s presence gave him great power and influence over many of his rivals. They had all heard tales or seen him in action and that kind of leverage was needed to keep hold
of his current lands and conquer new. The loss of Seth from his side would surely give others cause to believe he was weakened.
The winter had been a hard one with several of the villager’s livestock succumbing to the cold as well as a couple of the people themselves. Seth had never known a winter like it but had used all his skills to ensure his farm survived the frost without any difficulties, something he was keen to do so the spring would bring healthy pigs for breeding.
Seth saw the hardships the people were suffering on his ride back to his village. It was a two-hour ride and he was minded to press on before the night fell and he was forced to ride in the darkness.
The sun had dropped beneath the horizon as Seth entered the village and as he was making his way through the centre he spotted three of the local church council, Erian and his wife Linette, who he’d helped through a rough time in the summer when their sheep had become diseased and Seth secretly used his Spae skills to bring them back to health, and Ripley the Priest, who Seth had only met on a couple of occasions, and he seemed to be the ringleader of the three.
Ripley raised his hand to halt his progress, he clearly had something on his mind. “So, Seth how do you account for the excellent health of your livestock when the rest of the village are struggling to keep their own alive and warm?” The tone of accusation wasn’t lost on Seth and he gave all three a stern look.
“Ripley, I wasn’t aware the health of my farm was of any great concern to you or your church council and I am not in the mood to be giving out lessons on farming at this time of day!”
Seth tried to remain calm, but he could see Ripley was spoiling for a fight. The priest was in the King’s favour and was overseeing the construction of a new church in the village, under the direction of the Bishop in Litchfield, to replace the old shack they used currently for their services.
He was a strange man and Seth hadn’t taken to him at all. The piety of the priest was greater than any of the other preachers he had come across.
“I do not require lessons from you, Seth. God will provide me with all the knowledge I seek, and I do not need a heathen like you to advise me!” Seth bit his lip but felt his fists clench as his impatience with this man grew.
“I have been speaking with these fine folks,” he gestured to Erian and Linette. “They tell me that all are having difficulties this winter. All, that is, except you and your wife?” Again, Seth had the distinct feeling of being questioned.
Erian and his wife looked to the ground but said nothing, undeterred Ripley continued. “You see I am certain I have not seen you at church to ask the Lord to give you good fortune with your crops and animals. So how is it so you are flourishing while others do not?” Ripley eyed Seth giving him a look of contempt.
“The only explanation I can arrive at is you must be in league with the demons!” Ripley spat the sentence out of his mouth as if it was something rotten and foul tasting.
Seth raised himself in his saddle, towering above the three he was a clearly intimidating figure and he knew it. Both Erian and Linette cowed down a little and he could see the unease they felt by the way they shuffled from foot to foot. Ripley was different, he didn’t flinch when Seth straightened his back and his pig-like brown eyes didn’t show any sign of intimidation. Ripley pushed back the greasy brown hair from his forehead and continued to look at Seth.
“I can assure you, Ripley, I am not now, nor have I ever been in league with any of the demons your scriptures tell of. Perhaps my farm is successful because my Gods are generous, and they reward me for my unending faith rather than jumping into bed with the first new religion to come along!” Seth felt his blood boil as he looked down at this weasel of a man. He dropped from his horse and began to pat its sweaty neck with his gloved hand whilst accidentally exposing his sword.
Ripley looked horrified and clearly, he was angered by Seth's response. Erian and his wife edged away silently, evidently, they had completed the task they were needed for and were not stupid enough to cross Seth, after all, he was one of the king's bodyguards. They crept away leaving only Seth and Ripley facing each other down.
As they looked back to where they were just standing the size difference between the two men was clear and they hoped Ripley would feel a twinge of self-preservation before taking his quarrel any further.
“Well, I have to say I am shocked the king would allow a man such as you to be anywhere near his court, let alone stand beside him in protection. Its people like you we are fighting so we can bring the word of God to the whole of the land!” Ripley was shouting now, and he raised his finger to poke into Seth's chest.
“If, as you say, you are not praying to the demons then it must be that wife of yours, she is entirely too pretty to be of normal blood, so she must be a witch of some kind?” It was a question but as his feet lifted off the ground and Seth brought him close to look him in the eye, it was something he wished he hadn’t asked.
“My wife is not a subject for discussion, and if I hear you or anyone else speak ill of her I will personally send you to whichever God it is you pray to. When I am done, he can deal with the mess in which you’ll arrive at his table!” Seth didn’t blink, and he didn’t raise his voice, but the intent was clear, and Ripley heard exactly what he needed to.
“Seth, my friend please don’t misunderstand me…it’s been a tough winter for us all and clearly you have some skills, as you say. Who am I to question the facts of the matter?” Seth held him a foot off the ground for a moment longer to emphasize his position, then slowly lowered Ripley back to his feet.
“I am glad we have reached an understanding.” Ripley nodded then turned on his heels and ran after Erian and Linette.
The whole episode had left a nasty taste in Seth's mouth and the words of Woden came back to him.
“There are those who fear what they don’t understand…….” He muttered.
Obviously, Ripley feared something. But since he didn’t know what it was, that he didn’t understand, he made assumptions based on his religious teachings.
Seth made his way swiftly home hoping his threat had had the effect he wanted it too. These were new days and he was feeling lost with this new way of thinking where Spae was considered evil. He now understood why Mae had begun to let herself get older and frailer; there was no place for people like her or Seth in this new world were the old Gods were being forgotten and replaced by this one God.
Meredith greeted Seth as he walked in the door with a warm and loving hug which lifted the gloom from his mind. Seth decided to try to hide the meeting on the road from the king’s court; she didn’t need to hear the gossip of the likes of Ripley plus the smell of the stew cooking on the fire filled him with memories of home and of his parents.
Ever since the day he had spoken with Woden he had wanted to go back and check on them both, to make sure they were still well but Aethelbald had been requesting his presence at more courtly meetings to discuss battle plans, so his time was limited and had not been able to make the trek back to his parent’s farm.
“What troubles you, Seth, you do not seem yourself?” Meredith had seen straight through his mask and he knew he couldn’t hide his feelings from his wife, so he told her of the argument he had had with Ripley, as well as of Erian and Linette’s involvement.
“How dare they side with him, after everything you did for them last summer!” Meredith was outraged and was heading for the corner where her furs were kept.
“I have settled his mind, Meredith, they will think long and hard before they speak such nonsense again.”
Meredith reached for her furs and then paused.
“But what if they don’t, what if the gossip and rumour spreads like a disease through the whole village, what then Seth? How will you convince them all we are just normal folk who just so happen to be excellent and lucky farmers?”
Seth knew she was right, but he didn’t want to think about it just now. It had been a long day and given his meeting with Aethelbald had not gone
as he has expected, he felt tired and hungry.
Meredith saw the weariness in Seth's face and made her way to the pot where she drew out some stew and placed it into a bowl then handed it to her husband.
After they had eaten, Meredith made Seth comfortable on his chair at the fireside and brought him a warm drink to sit with whilst they spoke.
“Do you think we will stay here now you have left the King’s service?” Meredith had a knack of getting straight to the point and it always made Seth smile when she did so.
“No, I don’t think we will. I was thinking of heading back to my parent’s farm and settling there with our daughter.” Meredith looked puzzled.
“Won't it be a little crowded with five of us?” she was right, once again getting straight to the heart of the matter. However, Seth knew if his parents were gone then someone would need to tend the farm and he had yet to let Meredith know of his conversation with Woden.
“We can cross the bridge when we get there, there’s always our old home or we could build a new house close by if needs be,” this seemed to pacify Meredith’s concerns and she returned to her drink taking a long sip of warm liquid and feeling happy she would soon have Seth all to herself.
Waiting for News
The alarm rang out on her mobile phone and Hope reached from her bed to turn it off. In truth, she had been awake for a couple of hours as her mother was restless all night and had been ever since she had spoken with the Mara.
She lifted her head from the pillow and saw her mum stood looking out of the curtains onto the street below, waiting for the miracle to happen when her dad would walk along the road and into the hotel.
“You get much sleep Mum?” she asked as her legs swung from the bed and onto the floor.
“What love? Oh, sleep…I got a few hours yes. How about you, any visits through the night?” She was, of course, referring to the Mara and although Hope wished she had heard from them the truth was she had not dreamed of anything she could recall.