The Arrival

by Nicole MacDonald

  The sudden thought of not understanding them, or being understood made me nauseated and I pushed it away.

  I’ll just be thankful, I thought, squeezing my legs back under the bench seat while blocking out those concerning thoughts. I’ll just be thankful.

  Studying the people and what they wore distracted me while Sian asked Henja for the directions to the castle. The variety of styles and lack of corsets surprised me. I couldn’t see any evidence of electricity or modern technology yet what they wore felt rather modern. A couple of women seated nearer us wore mid length skirts of a dense fabric, belted at the waist. Their long sleeved, slash neck tops laced down the front or sides; one woman had a bright blue ribbon laced down the front of her dark brown top. A quick glimpse down showed fleece lined knee-high boots with long laces wrapped fully around them. It surprised me; I guess our outfits aren’t that unusual then.

  Gran Nina had shifted from her seat and stood near Henja, listening to the conversation while openly studying us. She met my eyes with a bright smile, her face dissolving into a mass of lines. The look of delight almost made me giggle and I smiled back. The older woman wore baggy trousers held up by a wide belt just visible beneath the side splits in her tunic that fell to her hips. Her white hair had the occasional streak of brown and she wore it in a long plait, draped over a shoulder. The little boy who’d been patting Lucky dashed to Gran Nina’s side, pointing at the cat while tugging on her pants. Gran Nina smiled down at him, nodding and the two chatted away.

  'We’d like to stay the night at your Inn if you have room, wouldn’t we, Catherine?'

  I blinked in shock at a sudden shove from Sian.

  'Oh! Ahh, yes. Certainly, that’d be great,' I assured Henja.

  Right, focus on the conversation Cat, I thought, feeling a tad dazed as I tuned back in, listening. Sian had arranged dinner and breakfast as well as a bath. I felt like cheering when I heard that part; a bath! I wonder if I can get my clothes cleaned? Sitting in the crowded room made me rather aware of the unpleasant scent of sweat from our sprint here.

  Loi interrupted Sian. 'Henja, would you be able to arrange us some supplies, for the next few days?'

  Henja lit up, eagerness at the prospect of business apparent on her broad face. 'Of course, it will cost extra though?'

  'That’ll be no problem,' Sian assured her. 'As long as it’s enough to reach the next village.'

  'Yes, yes. Though I should warn you, it’ll take around a month of walking to reach the castle. You must make sure to stock up well at each village.'

  Loi gave me a look of concern at that. I pressed my lips flat and shrugged.

  One month of walking; damn that's really going to suck. I hope there are plenty of villages in between here and the castle.

  KASSIE LISTENED HARD while she pretended to focus on Lucky. One month to the castle, she thought, feeling her stomach sink; with elgrids about and likely other creatures too. She pursed her lips, trying to think of another solution but nothing presented itself. She lifted her head and stared at the man who had spoken to them before.

  'I just wondered what other creatures we should watch out for, ah…' Kassie gestured at him with a smile. The man jerked his head back as if surprised and stared with squinted eyes at her for a moment before replying.

  'Wrenwick.'

  'So, what other creatures can we expect on our journey, Wrenwick?'

  Wrenwick frowned while he thought it over. 'When you reach the woods you may have to watch out for gragnolls, though I haven’t seen many lately, what with all this craziness going on in the South. It appears to be attracting them in hordes. We haven’t had many issues with uglies lately. Those elgrids that followed you are the first we’ve seen in weeks.'

  Henja interrupted, 'You’ll need to watch out for the leeni too.' She nudged Wrenwick in admonishment. 'And of course dragons.'

  Sian’s head snapped up at that. 'Dragons?'

  'Ooooh yes,' Gran Nina looked amused at Sian's shocked expression. The little boy beside her listened with wide eyes. 'We do get a few around here, though they tend to go for the cattle not wee scrawny girls.'

  CURIOUS I ASKED, 'How big do the dragons get? Do they breathe fire?'

  Wrenwick spoke up, glaring at Henja and Gran Nina for butting in. 'The biggest dragons can be the size of a large barn with a wing span four to five times bigger than that, but they don’t breathe fire. At that size there isn’t really any need. It’s the little dragons, around your dog’s size, that breathe fire. They are usually rather civil and most castles employ one or two for keeping their fires going.'

  Sian looked fascinated as I glanced to see her reaction; at home her favorite mythical creature was the dragon. The thought of a real-life dragon just seemed ridiculous and yet at the same time, I couldn’t shake the image of those things, those elgrids that had chased us here.

  What kind of place is this? Memories of mythical creatures I’d read about as a child sprung to mind; what else might be real here?

  A loud knock on the door distracted me. The men who’d chased the elgrids off entered and gave the all clear for everyone to leave. Henja called out to us, shouting brief instructions of where to find her Inn, then dashed off along with everyone else.

  We walked out, blinking at the bright sunlight then wandered in the direction Henja had instructed while studying the village.

  Judging by the number of houses that stretched out before us and back another couple of rows I guessed that around one to two hundred people lived here. Locals watched us curiously from their doorways and the sides of the narrow roads. Some called greetings, others gaped and a few children followed for a way, shrieking with high pitched giggles if we glanced back. The gravel crunched underfoot as we walked along, making anyone near us turn and stare. It felt like the road got longer the further we walked, with eyes watching from everywhere. Beside me Kassie made soothing noises to Lucky who half crouched, curled around Kassie’s shoulders. The cat wasn’t happy and kept uttering long, low warbles that made Audi anxious. She walked between Kassie and me, her eyes constantly on her feline friend.

  Behind us Loi muttered, 'Center of attention much.'

  'Look. We’re nearly at the Inn,' Kassie sounded relieved.

  We all picked up the pace and reached the two-story building quickly. Pausing on the skinny front deck, Loi knocked lightly then turned the handle, pushing the door open. I followed, holding the door for Kassie and Sian.

  'Girls,' Henja called out in delight from the back of the large front room. 'Come on in. Quick, quick, dinner will be ready soon and your baths are waiting out the back.'

  LOI’S EYEBROWS SHOT up when Henja said "out the back" what did that mean? Henja ushered them out the back of the Inn, past the tables and more staring people. Audi snuck along behind and scooted through the door before it caught her tail.

  There, in a concealed courtyard stood four iron baths lined with sheets and filled to the brim with hot, sweet smelling water. Tiny coal fires burned underneath to keep them warm. A hot and flustered looking woman stood to the side of the courtyard, hooking a long metal pipe back to the side of the building. She wore heavy looking gloves and steam wafted from the end of the pipe.

  That’s where the hot water came from, Loi thought in fascination, wondering how it all worked.

  The others appeared to realize this at the same time and all four of them thanked the maid, making the woman glow even redder. Henja waved the maid away as the girls grinned at each other, gesturing the baths again in delight. Loi felt the tension in her shoulders start to evaporate.

  WE THANKED HENJA profusely and a red blush stained her jaw line while she laughed off our thanks.

  'No! No, not at all, Sian paid generously for your stay so I want you to enjoy it,' she paused then, eyes widening before she regarded us speculatively. 'And if you could mention it at the castle when you get there…'

  'Of course we’ll give rave reviews about you, Henja, how could we not?' I gestured at the gorgeous litt
le courtyard.

  She gave us another wide smile. 'You can lock yourselves in, see? There is a key in this side, so no one will bother you. When you are done let me know and I will bring your supper to your rooms.' After pointing out the pile of drying sheets, she stepped out of the room and shut the door.

  I locked it behind her then turned to the others. 'Peace at last!'

  'And a bath,' chimed in Loi.

  'And food!' cried Sian.

  We laughed and started to strip our clothes off. I struggled with the high boots, attempting to loosen the laces while pulling the tops down and ended up hopping around the room, with Audi bouncing along beside me. Kassie and Sian could barely stand for laughing at me while I wheeled my arms madly to keep from falling.

  Loi rushed over. 'Here. Let me help before you hop through a wall.' She quickly worked the knot out of the laces and yanked the boot down to my ankle.

  'Thanks, Loi, you’re such a good friend,' I said while pointedly staring at Sian and Kassie, who just laughed more. Reaching down, I pulled the boot slowly off, careful not to lose balance again. We slipped into our baths with sighs of relief and pleasure.

  Resting my head back, I let my mind drift, shooing away any persistent thoughts and allowed the heat from the water to penetrate my aching muscles. I groaned quietly in relief, I’d never run that hard before. Elgrids were a pretty good form of encouragement, not that I saw them becoming popular in gyms anytime soon. My thigh muscle twitched and I winced. I will be sore tomorrow.

  That word, tomorrow, started the swirls of nausea in my stomach. A panic attack threatened while my brain tried to process everything that’d happened today.

  Take it easy, soothed the rational voice in the back of my mind. No need to rush, you’re safe.

  I settled, breathing slowly till my heart stopped racing and tried to enjoy the silence. I managed perhaps five minutes before I had to call out to the others.

  'So, plans for tomorrow? Any thoughts?'

  IN THE BATH beside her Sian heard Loi snort in amusement and grinned.

  Trust Cat to break a much needed silence, she thought, but still contemplated the question.

  'Breakfast, pack and go?’ she suggested.

  'We should have a chat to Wrenwick as to which way to go,' Kassie said, in the bath on the other side of Loi.

  'Then what,’ frowned Loi. ‘Camp in the forest? What if we find more of those things?'

  'They said it’d take a month to reach the castle,' Cat said, leaning her chin on the side of the bath, looking over at them. They fell silent then. A whole month, thought Sian, how are we going to do this?

  KASSIE SUCKED A breath in, blowing it out through pursed lips.

  'Perhaps when we’re clear of the town we should spend some time practicing with our weapons. I realize it means we won’t get far tomorrow, but if we can reach the forest by nightfall it means at least we’ll be a little prepared if we meet anything…nasty,' she suggested.

  'I agree,' said Cat. 'I haven’t had as much experience with swords as you guys so it’d make me feel a little more secure.'

  'I haven’t really used a bow like that before,' Sian said. 'Antiquities are more Cat’s thing. It’d be good to get a feel for it.'

  Cat wrinkled her nose at Sian and the others chuckled. It lifted the mood back to the relaxed state. Kassie lay back and felt her muscles relax in the heat of the water. She peeked over to see where Lucky sat.

  On my clothing, of course, she thought with an internal groan. Lucky looked quite happy curled up on Kassie’s top. It felt strange to be able to relax fully. At the back of her mind a voice worried about what would happen to them but Kassie kept it as quiet as possible. Still, a few tears snuck out and she had to take slow, careful breaths to resist sobbing.

  One day at a time, she thought pushing the anxiety away, keeping her thoughts pragmatic. One day at a time.

  Minutes ticked by and the heat helped to dissolve the anxiety enough that she had to fight the urge to fall asleep. A splash broke the silence, making Kassie jerk in surprise.

  Cat sat up in her bath, coughing and hacking.

  Loi laughed at her. 'Did you doze off?'

  'Yes, and took a decent mouthful of water,' she grimaced then coughed some more. 'Ewww.'

  SIAN IGNORED THE others while she listened to her heartbeat, thrumming soft and steady in her ears. She’d have to ask Henja what herbs were in the water, she could feel the medicinal properties working their magic.

  The thudding of her heart seemed strangely loud now. Sian opened her eyes, confused; why doesn’t that sound right? She noticed Loi staring at her.

  'Can you hear that?'

  Sian gulped in surprise. 'Wha—?' she started.

  Henja pounded on their door. 'Girls! Look up, a dragon is flying over!'

  Chapter Five

  FOR A MOMENT we stared at each other in disbelief. Then our heads snapped up. In the small square of visible sky, a huge reptilian body came into view with an enormous wingspan.

  Oh. My. GOD!

  I gaped at the sight. Gleaming emerald in the afternoon sun, the dragon vanished from view, its huge wings carrying it away swiftly. You could still hear the sound of its wings beating. Like a helicopter, but with a different rhythm. We sat there in a stunned silence.

  Holy shit.

  For a moment everything felt stark, bright and overexposed; the scent of the water, the sound of Audi’s panting beside my bath and the clear almost ringing silence of our astonishment.

  I let out a sigh and shook my head then turned to look at Sian, wondering what she made of this. Still staring upward, her mouth open a hint.

  'Sianus,' I called. She turned to stare at me her eyes glistened; totally enthralled. 'That was one heck of a spell, Siany.'

  SIAN NODDED AT Cat’s words, unable to get the image of that creature out of her head; so huge, so majestic, so real. And…

  She couldn’t think of a word adequate to describe that—the most beautiful thing she’d ever laid eyes on—the tacky line from one of her mum’s romance novels sprung to mind. The reality of them now living on a foreign planet hit her and she slumped back in the bath.

  A different planet. Oh Goddess, what happened? What was so different? The format had been the same, she’d used all the tools before in rituals and nothing like this had happened.

  Feeling a horrible wave of despair, Sian pulled her knees up, not wanting the others to see her cry.

  WE’D ALL TURNED when Sian pulled her knees up and somehow the three of us got out of our baths, drying sheets wrapped tight around our figures and crouched by Sian’s bath before you could blink.

  'Siany,' I could feel my own tears lump at the back of my throat when I wrapped an arm around her wet back.

  'Don’t cry, honey,' Kassie squeezed Sian’s knee gently while she reassured her. 'I didn’t mean it, what I said before. I know it’s not your fault. Really, hun, please don’t cry.'

  Loi crouched on the other side of the bath, her head bent just touching Sian’s and Audrey stood beside Loi, peering anxiously at Sian.

  'I’m sorry,' Sian half sobbed. 'I don’t know why it happened. And I don’t know how to get us back.' She gulped then lifted her head, those red rimmed eyes stared at us. 'What if we’re stuck here?'

  The courtyard fell silent while we avoided each others gaze. It had certainly occurred to me already. Lifting my head, I looked at Kassie.

  She stared back with a determined "we’ll make the best of it" look.

  I nodded and looked at Loi with an arched eyebrow, she nodded too and then gave Sian’s head a gentle nudge with her own. Sian lifted her head to stare morosely at us.

  KASSIE SQUEEZED SIAN’S knee again and forced a bright smile, turning to Loi who tugged a lock of Sian’s wet hair to get her attention.

  'We’ll live with it,' Loi said firmly before glancing at Kassie and Cat who nodded in agreement.

  'We will, Sian.'

  Cat tossed her head, the motion flicking water off her
hair and lifted her chin. 'We’ve survived so far! Let’s get to the castle and then figure out what’s next. One day at a time.'

  'Exactly,' chimed in Kassie. 'And just think, this is to meet our soul mates, this could get really exciting.'

  The other three girls froze, jaws low as they gaped at Kassie.

  Oh, Kassie gulped; am I the only one to remember that?

  Cat’s eyes were so wide you could see all the whites while Loi’s lips moved but no sound came out. Sian, dwarfed by her mass of wet blonde hair, had her lips half pursed in a silent 'Oh'.

  'Whoa! Hey, let’s not think about that. Food, let’s think about food, ' Kassie gabbled the words, worried all three might have a meltdown at once.

  I’m only just keeping it together myself, she thought while smiling through clenched teeth at the others; you guys are NOT allowed to do this to me!

  'Food, ' she uttered again, nodding as soothingly as she could manage, coaxing the others to say it. They finally snapped out of it, mumbling in agreement while they stood—Sian’s tears long forgotten—to go get changed.

  GOOD IDEA, THOUGHT Loi and she banished the hysterical voice in her mind that kept shrieking at Kassie’s reminder of why they were here; food. She headed to her pile of clothes and pulled them on, working the pant legs over her still damp limbs. The boots she left loose, bunched around her knees, then sat to dry her hair, watching the others while they fussed around getting ready and Cat gave Audi a good clean.

  Audrey had a lovely coat, her fur almost fully black with light tan markings on her lower legs and muzzle and two rather comical slashes above either eye, like eyebrows. Those two slashes helped emphasize the sooky, miserable expression she made sitting there in the tub as Cat soaped her up, rubbing firmly until the dog looked gray with suds. Sian helped with the dunking when Audrey made an aborted attempt to lunge from the tub and Loi couldn’t help laughing at the sight. Eventually they rinsed all the soap from Audi’s fur then Cat commanded her out.