With Footfalls of Shadow

by Donogan Sawyer

  Liam finally reached the fountain, and leaned over to take a drink. Then he wet his neck. He did so with some grace, as he felt the eyes on his back. Perhaps it was the host in him, born of all those years at the tavern that made him ever conscious of behaving like a gentleman, even in the most bizarre circumstances. These people would surely lose interest before long, perhaps they had already. He was just a beaten up drifter, a curiosity, nothing more. He turned around slowly.

  The crowd was growing. There must have been a hundred people or more gathered around. Liam again attempted to stand up straight, to achieve some dignity. It took a real effort to keep his legs from shaking. What did these people want? He had to make his way back towards the forest, but which way?

  By the gods, he could not even remember the direction from which he had come. But it mattered little at the moment. These people blocked his path in every direction. Did they mean him harm?

  Then he heard the whispers. He was unsure at first, but after a while he was certain. The whispers seemed to drift in all directions, indecipherable, unintelligible, but for a few words unmistakably and persistently emerging from separate pockets through the crowd, like bubbles in a cauldron.

  “Liam.”

  “Liam Foster.”

  “He’s alive.”

  Liam listened; confused, astonished. He lifted his chin to hear more clearly. Then he raised his hand slowly, unconsciously, up to his chest.

  With no purpose or intent he spread his thumb, his forefinger and his middle finger wide, leaving his fourth and little finger curled under.

  Suddenly he heard whistles. There was commotion, shouting and running. The King’s soldiers were pushing through the crowd. Liam was swept up in the movement. He could feel a cloak being thrown over his shoulders, and then a hood was pulled over his head. He could see the men around him pulling on their hoods as well. Arms grabbed him, and guided him away through the sprawling crowd. He looked back towards the fountain to assess who was pursuing them, and saw a boy standing on the fountain wall. He was holding his hand up to his chest, with his thumb, his forefinger and middle finger spread wide, his other two fingers curled under.

  ~Æ~

  Brandi extended her fingers in the sign of the Foster Rebellion. It was an instinctive act, made moments after her father’s escape from the soldiers in Endrin. Viebke had brought her in front of a group of people in a small town, many leagues from her father. This was to be the first of many such visits, held in secret rooms away from the eyes of the King’s men. Brandi did not wish to speak to any of them. She was still terrified of the voices, feelings and images that coursed through her soul, even though Viebke and Sinead had done much to help her to cope with the strange new world she lived in now, somewhere between the living and the dead. She had begun to understand that the dead were not really dead at all, but transformed; their energies released into a bigger world where all things were connected.

  She had briefly been a part of this world where there was no separation between these living energies, and when she came back, she had retained that connection to some degree. She could feel Rhoie. He was alive and safe. The knowledge transported her back to Liam’s tavern, as if she were there serving drinks, and he were about to perform. She did not understand it, but she was learning to accept it, and learning to live in this world between worlds. She was able to find a connection to her father, and all the energy in Jeandania associated with him, which was growing daily. It was not her father who was guiding her now, but her father’s fate, and she knew what to do.

  XVII

  If a story is to move an audience,

  the storyteller must be moved in the telling.

  – Fedora, on his craft

  Rhoie stood before the group in the cave, about to tell his tale. The situation was eerily reminiscent of his experience at Liam’s tavern only a few weeks ago, yet so much had changed. Then he had stood in a warm, well-lit, and well-appointed tavern, trying to impress his true love. Now he stood in a cold rock cave, the cooking fire the only source of light, full of dread, trying to impress his brethren.

  He looked down and tried to gather his thoughts as Blade introduced him. Then he saw something in the corner of his eye. It looked like a woman carrying drinks on a tray. Brandi? When he looked in the direction of the vision, there was nothing there. Just a trick of the light, shadows on the wall.

  “I was walking with Liam,” he began. “We hadn’t spoken for a while, but I could hear him breathing and panting behind me. I believe the wound to his ribs was worse than he let on. I think it had become infected. He was having a terrible time.

  “We could hear the river and my spirits were lifting. I remember distinctly thinking of the clear running water and my thirst being quenched. I was trying to calculate exactly how far it would be, and then I was gone. In the measure of a heartbeat, I was gliding through the forest in the jaws of a windcat.”

  He put a finger on the bloody bandage around his ribs as he spoke. “This is what I was first aware of, it’s the deepest wound. I could feel the cat’s tooth inside me. My leather vest saved my life, but the beast’s fang still found its way into my flesh. It cut deep, and I felt its teeth pressing in all around me.” He slid his hand down his side, over the bruises on his front, and then on his back.

  “Those creatures move in perfect silence. They glide over the earth, more like a bird than the enormous beasts they are,” he snarled. “I saw them tear Rhitchi and Dravin apart.”

  Many of the Talons bowed their heads in respect, and loss.

  “I think the only reason I’m alive is because the windcat must have had cubs. Rhitchi and Dravin were devoured as soon as the windcats were clear of the rest of us. But mother windcats bring the prey back to their cubs, so they can practise killing. This gave me a bit more time. As smoothly as she moved across the earth, I could still feel every step as if it were a new bite in my side.

  “I saw Liam charging after us, but what hope could he have of keeping up?”

  A general murmur of agreement passed through the group.

  Rhoie found himself feeling quite emotional at the thought of Liam trying to rescue him, and whispered, “I pray to Ishra that you are safe.”

  “My first instinct was to flail at the animal with my fist,” he continued. “Take my advice. The next time a giant carnivore is trying to eat you, avoid punching it in the face!”

  The Talons laughed. Even Blade seemed amused. Rhoie smiled and then winced at the memory of what happened next.

  “She thrashed me about. I think she had forgotten about her cubs in her annoyance, and just wanted to snap my neck. She shook me senseless, and some of her teeth dug deeper into my vest,” he paused to grab his blood-soaked vest and show it to the group. Several teeth marks arced across the front and back of it. A few of the indentations pushed all the way through. Rhoie hurled the vest to the side.

  “After a moment or two, I was able to pull myself away from the brink of unconsciousness. My right arm was pinned to my side in the jaws of the cat, and I keep my knife on my right hip. My left arm was free, but weak. I knew another swat at the creature would only mean another thrashing, and would probably be the end of me. I knew I couldn’t reach the cat’s eye. Those things are so big. I realised I only had one chance. As hard as I could, I jammed my fist into the bitch’s nose, right up to my elbow.”

  Rhoie paused a moment, enjoying the confused expressions on the faces of the Talons.

  “The damn thing sneezed me out,” Rhoie continued, a little more excited now. “Then suddenly I was rolling on the ground through the trees. My wounds were stinging, but it was a relief to have the teeth out me. I looked back to see the cat, not twenty feet away, stroking its paws over its nose and blowing hard in quick bursts through its snout. It looked back at me. I was sure she was going to come to finish the job, but after a moment’s consideration, she turned around and ran off. I guess she was either confused, or just annoyed enough to avoid that discomfort again.”r />
  “Unbelievable!”

  “The fates were with you!”

  “Not bad for a Polly. Remember that the next time we catch up with the Bok. Forget your sword, Rhoie. You’re useless with it anyway. Just jam your finger up their noses.”

  The group burst into laughter. Rhoie laughed with them. ‘Polly’ was a teasing, but tacitly inclusive term for a new recruit. They all knew that he had done a brave thing, as strange as it sounded. In particular, they knew what it was to fight through pain, to come up with a solution, any solution, to survive. Rhoie soaked in the approval of the Talons of Freedom. He had earned it.

  “I don’t know how long I was in its jaws, but it must have been quite some time. It took me three days to catch up with you,” he said. “I was completely exhausted. I wanted to lie there for a while to regain some of my energy, but I needed to clean my wounds. I had no idea where I was, so I made a path due east and hoped for the best. After about two hours, I heard water. I carried on towards the sound, half-conscious and thirsty, and that’s when I encountered the Bok.”

  Most of the Talons had no idea about this part of the story, and a few audible gasps were heard from the group.

  “I’d be dead right now if the Bok had been looking in my direction. Luckily I smelt the thing from twenty feet away.”

  Noses crinkled at the memory of the Bok encampment.

  “The smell jarred me out of my daze. I looked up to see the back of him. He turned around slowly, and I ducked behind a tree. If ever the fates were with me, they were with me that day. I looked around more closely. I counted four more Bok scattered around. I had just about walked into their camp. The water was close. I could hear it clearly. I was so thirsty; I considered making a mad dash to the water for one final drink.

  “It may have taken me ten minutes to wander into their territory, but it took another hour to pick my way out. I was in no condition to take on even one of them. Besides, you all know I can’t fight.”

  The Talons laughed good-naturedly.

  “I wouldn’t have had a chance if I’d called attention to myself. I worked my way due west, away from the river, but the Bok sentries were moving in continuously widening circles. I knew they were not aware of me, or they surely would have found me, but it felt as if they were working together to flush me out. At one point, three converged on me at the same time. I was trapped. I ducked down behind some thick brush and grabbed my knife. One moved so close I could hear its wet, growling breath. He lingered for what seemed like a very long time, and then slowly moved away.”

  Everyone breathed again, and listened to Rhoie continue. “In time, I was able to work my way out of their reach. I went north about another league, and then made my way back towards the river.

  “Finally I was able to drink and clean my wounds. I rested for a bit, then found a shallow spot to cross the river. I could walk most of it, but there were a few patches where I had to swim. It was tough because it hurt to move my arms above my shoulders, and the current was pretty fast, but in the end I made it. I moved along the opposite side of the river behind the trees. A few leagues downriver I saw the Bok camp I had just visited across the river. Their abandoned fire still smoking. I was fairly certain they were not moving north, or I would have seen them. So I decided to go south, just to make sure of where they were headed. After an hour or so, I spotted one of them. He stepped out of the woods and came to the water to drink. He looked around, and then walked south along the bank for a time before moving back into the woods. I continued downriver a little longer, but I didn’t see any others. I think they are now travelling south along the river.”

  More nods.

  “What could that mean?” asked Blade, chin in hand, staring down at the floor. Then he looked up again at Rhoie. “You have done well, Rhoie. You have faced down a great beast and survived, and you put the needs of your brothers and the needs of Jeandania above your own in turning around to track the movement of the Bok. You have earned your next mark and more. When there is time, you will be fully initiated into the Talons of Freedom.”

  Everyone cheered. Some jumped up to congratulate Rhoie.

  Blade eventually quieted the group again. “This is a much needed cause for celebration in these difficult times, but first we must plan our course of action. Our leader is dead. The Bok are after us. We can’t hide here forever. It is time to consult Maurious. Tomorrow we set out for the swamp. Now let us all get some rest.”

  The Talons all started shuffling off to find a place to sleep, but not before coming up to Rhoie to offer their congratulations or a pat on the back. Rhoie accepted their gestures gracefully, and then found a place to sleep. He did not think sleep would come easily. He thought about what Blade had just told them. He was going to travel with the Talons of Freedom to meet The Old Man in the Swamp. Rhoie was now a Talon. He was one of them. He had survived a difficult trial, and come through in a way which helped his Talon brothers. He had done well. Brandi would be proud. As he closed his eyes he thought he saw the silhouette of a woman hovering over him. He opened them again and saw nothing. Then a warmth enveloped him, easing him back into a restful state. He felt quite good. Yes. Brandi would be proud of him.

  XVIII

  A whisper or a tap on the shoulder can be far more powerful than any incantation or sacrifice. This is the key to magic.

  – Textbook of the Æhlman Sisterhood

  It was an unassuming house in an unassuming part of Endrin. Travis had followed the directions carefully, yet he was sure that he was in the wrong place. The feeling grew stronger the closer he came. This couldn’t be it. Cognitively, he knew this was actually a very good place for a safe house, and he was sure he had followed the directions correctly, but for some reason he was filled with anxious doubt as he stood on the street, looking at the front door. Almost unconsciously, he turned away and continued past the house for the fourth time. After a half block, he looked again at the directions Aunty Jules had scribbled on a scrap of paper, and stood in the street scratching his head. “That was it. It had to be the place.”

  “All right, Travis,” came a voice from over his shoulder, startling him. “You have the right place.”

  Travis turned to see the voice had come from a beautiful woman in a very bad mood. “Right place, wrong time. Just quit lurking and follow me.”

  “Sorry, I ... I didn’t mean to lurk,” he stammered.

  She led him quietly back to the house. The strange feeling of wrongness still lingered. He did not want to follow her through the door, but the authority in her voice made him feel as if he had no choice. As they entered the house, the feeling dissipated, and he found himself in a small kitchen, furnished with a round table and some chairs in the centre. Travis’s hostess shut the door and turned to face him.

  “Now, how did you end up here, Travis?” she demanded.

  Travis felt as if he had just woken up from a dream only to find that he was sleepwalking naked in the public square. “You know, I think this may have been a mistake. I’ll just go now. I’m sorry to have bothered you. I am travelling to Kraal and I was told I would be welcome to stay here a night or two. I was told to ask for Sammy. I’m sorry. I can find another place to stay.”

  “Sammy?” she asked, and stared at him a moment longer. “Jules sent you, right? Sammy. Ugh, Jules and her nicknames. Look, Travis, I’m sorry. I really think I should have received a message about this. Normally it would be fine. I just ... It’s just ...”

  “She has her hands full right now,” came a voice from behind them.

  Travis turned around to find a fit, muscular, middle-aged man filling the archway between the kitchen and the living room. He had white hair, with a thin streak of red over his left eye. Everyone in Jeandania knew of ‘the man with the mark of the flame’.

  “Wow, I guess she does,” Travis replied. “Are you ...?”

  “Liam Foster,” he replied, and offered a hand to Travis.

  “So you are flesh and blood after all,” Tra
vis said with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Travis Milarae.”

  Liam released Travis’s hand after a firm shake. “Flesh and blood, indeed, and desperately in need of an ale. Will you join me?”

  Travis nodded acceptance. The beautiful woman nodded politely, smiled, and walked to the door that led to the basement. Travis and Liam sat down at the table.

  “Don’t worry. You just caught her in a grouchy mood. She is really quite sweet. She’s also not used to playing hostess,” Liam explained as her footsteps sounded down the creaky wooden steps to the basement.

  “She looks familiar somehow.”

  “There is a good chance you’ve heard her sing.”

  Travis suddenly remembered. “I never would have thought. With no makeup on and her hair up like that, I didn’t recognise her. Lyra, yes. I heard her sing just the other night.” Travis thought of the way she seemed to lull his pursuer to sleep with her song. “I couldn’t stay to watch the whole act, though.”

  “She actually sang at my place a number of times,” replied Liam.

  Travis’s mind was racing. None of this made sense, and surely staying with the most wanted man in Jeandania was not going to help him with his mission. He also felt certain that Liam would be reluctant to let him leave, because Travis now knew his location. He considered running for the door.

  Liam said in a conversational tone, “You know she has some other talents as well. I could barely get out of bed the first few days I was here, but as soon as I could, I came downstairs and tested all the doors. She put locks on them that can’t be seen.”

  Travis tried to take a joking tone, “So what? We’re prisoners?”

  Lyra emerged from the basement door with three ales. She answered, “You can leave if you want to, Travis.” There was a tone in her voice that made it sound as though it would not be quite so simple.