The Arrival

by Nicole MacDonald

  The moment the dog’s feet hit the floor she started to race around the courtyard as if possessed; shaking, yelling, zooming around their feet while Cat rushed after her, a drying sheet held wide like a net. Loi grinned at Kassie, both of them watching.

  The dog froze at the sight of the net and in the corner Sian hurriedly finished changing, knowing what came next. Audi charged at the sheet and Cat wrestled her to the ground while the dog scrambled to get away before charging at the out-spread sheet again; the drying clearly her favorite part. Cat ended up fairly damp while Loi, Kassie and Sian laughed hard watching the spectacle. Audi sat back on her haunches to yell at them too. That was their term for one of the dog’s many barks. Audrey had a rather decent vocabulary—it varied from whining, grumbling, talking and yelling when excited—like at the moment. The furious barks and snarls the dog made when they fled from the elgrids was the first time Loi had ever heard her really bark.

  WE MADE OUR way to the kitchen as instructed then Henja led the way up a narrow staircase and along a corridor to our rooms.

  'Did you see the dragon? Such a big one too, what a good example for your first time.' She beamed at us while we made appropriate remarks but all I could really think about was food. The smells that wafted from the kitchen almost made me dizzy with hunger.

  Henja opened one door with a key from a laden iron ring and ushered us in.

  'I have given you two rooms that have an adjoining door, so you don’t have to go out into the corridor. As you can see you will have to share two to a bed and please,' she pointed at Audi beside me then to Lucky in Kassie’s arms. 'No animals on the beds.'

  I nodded in agreement along with Kassie and Henja smiled, satisfied.

  'Well, I will go get your supper.'

  She disappeared back down the corridor. Sian and Laura took the other room and Kassie and I the first. I wandered around the small room. Nothing extravagant but it had a couple of windows and a little stove, nice and cozy. I pulled my boots off as the room was quite warm and then sat, taking a moment to rub a drying sheet over my damp hair. Audi sat straight in front of me, ears perked up as she eyed the sheet, her black tail swishing across the floor, the white tip catching the fading light from a window.

  'You’ve been dried,' I said to her, when she whined as I changed sides, combing through the wet strands with my fingers before using the sheet again. 'This time it’s my turn.'

  The dog grumbled, lying on her belly with an indignant huff. Lucky gave a happy sounding murrip and jumped down from the stool she’d been perched on observing us all, to curl up on Audi’s back. I watched them with a smile. A sharp rap on the door then Henja’s voice made me drop the sheet and with Kassie, hurry to the door.

  'Here is your supper girls’,' Henja offered a heavy tray laden with food; four steaming bowls, a pile of thickly buttered grainy bread and a large jug of water with a stack of thick blown glasses beside it. I took the large tray from Henja and she thanked me, then questioned, 'Now, what would be best for your animals?'

  While Kassie placed our orders, I carefully maneuvered my way to the small table in Sian and Loi’s room and placed the tray on it.

  Loi and Sian sat on the bed and Kass and I on short three legged stools. The bowls contained a delicious stew. The meat dissolved on the tongue and the vegetables in the thick rich gravy made the perfect topping for the bread, melting the butter a hint. After wiping the bowl clean with another piece of bread I sat back, resting against the bed and sipped a glass of water. It seemed easier to ignore the anxious thoughts now my stomach was sated. No one spoke, just rested, the heat from the stove making the room feel almost heavy. Pushing past the urge to doze off right there, I stood making Kass jolt.

  'Sorry, Kass,' I yawned. 'I’m off to bed now. Night all, sleep well.'

  Wandering back to the bed in the adjoining room, I ditched my clothes for a borrowed nightshirt Henja had provided, then crawled under the covers and fell promptly into a deep and dreamless sleep.

  *****

  THE SUNLIGHT WOKE me, my eyes fluttering open when the rays of light began to descend down the bed. I stared at the wall, then rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling.

  A different planet.

  Weird.

  Part of my mind wanted to deny it all, pretend I’d imagined it. The foreign room however, made it starkly real. Again I waited for myself to panic. My heart did beat faster at the realization, stomach roiling for a minute or two, but my practical side kicked in again. I could picture my mum and dad at home in their kitchen.

  'Can’t change it, Katy,' dad would say with an open handed gesture, mum nodding in agreement.

  'Focus on the immediate,' she’d advise.

  I’d moved out of home at twenty, Sian and I flatting together, later joined by Kass when she arrived on her working visa after attending university in America—celebrating a couple of years later when she got her residency. Right at the moment it felt, reasonably I guess, light years away. And I had such a longing for my old bedroom at home, actual home, with mum and dad. Tears welled at the thought of never seeing them again and ran down my cheeks while I stared unblinking at the ceiling.

  Really hope we can get home.

  Carefully so as not to disturb Kassie I sat up, then groaned under my breath when all my muscles objected and looked around, staring through to the other room where I could see Sian fast asleep. Climbing out of bed I wriggled into my pants and top then sat on a stool to pull on my socks and boots, wincing when I turned my thigh out to lace the back of the boot. It seemed every single muscle hurt; even my eyes watered when I let out a mouth-splitting yawn. Audi shook herself awake, staggering off my cloak where she’d slept and bumbled over to give me a big lick.

  Giggling, I grabbed the dog's head and ruffled the fur round her neck and ears. She grumbled and thrust a paw in my face, so I obliged and scratched the front of her chest. Lucky meowed softly at us and sauntered over.

  'Are you guys' hungry?' I whispered to them. 'Come on, let’s go see if we can get some breakfast.'

  Picking Lucky up, I draped her around my shoulders and eased the door open, ushering Audi out. We headed down the corridor and stairs to the kitchen.

  'Hello, Henja?' I called, standing outside of the room, listening for a response. A face appeared around the doorway in front of me; a woman around my own age, her sparse blonde eyebrows lifted high in surprise. She stared for a moment then blinked, a smile spreading.

  'Hello! You must be one of those four women everyone’s talking about. Come on in, I’ll get you some breakfast.' She whirled around, the ties on her white cap flicking out.

  I hesitated for an instant staring into the room. It didn’t seem large enough for all the activity going on. Four people bustled around, the room rich with fragrances that made my mouth water. I hurried in, my stomach growling in anticipation of food. The bobbing white-capped head led the way to a plain table with slab seats jammed amongst cupboards and stored food. Removing Lucky I placed her on the seat beside me and Audi sat under the table, waiting, watching. The kitchen maid reappeared, setting a steaming bowl of porridge in front of me and then a pot of honey and a pitcher of cream. I reached to lift the spoon from the honey when the maid interrupted me.

  'What would your animals like?'

  'If you have any of that meat stew left, that would be ideal. And I guess Lucky could have a dish of milk if you can spare it.'

  The maid left to look and I pulled the spoon out of the honey, dribbling a thin layer over the porridge and then poured the thick cream over the top. The cream and honey mixed together with the long-stewed, mealy, melt-in-the-mouth oats and I sighed in pleasure. The clatter and noise of the kitchen disappeared with each warm, soothing mouthful.

  KASSIE AND LAURA made their way down to the kitchen and stopped at the doorway, peering through. Kassie couldn’t spot anything at first, distracted by the workers who rushed around the crowded room while pots and pans steamed and sizzled on an excessively wide stove t
hat took up most of one wall.

  'Ah, there she is,' Loi pointed and Kassie could see Cat at a table, wedged in at the end of the room, enjoying her breakfast with her eyes closed in bliss. Kassie’s stomach growled and they made their way to the table, sitting opposite Cat.

  'Morning, kitty Cat,' Loi teased. 'Enjoying your breakfast?'

  Cat’s eyes snapped open and she stared for an instant and then reverently said, 'Real cream.'

  Kassie twisted, looking for the pot of porridge.

  'Hello girls, you’re awake now.' A kitchen maid with strands of pale blonde hair escaping her white cap smiled at them. 'Would you like some porridge?' She chuckled at their enthusiastic responses and turned. 'Oh look! Another one. Well have a seat and I’ll bring the porridge over in a moment.'

  SIAN NODDED BLEARILY and slid onto the bench beside me. Letting loose an enormous yawn she plunked her head onto her arms on the table.

  'Do you think they have coffee?' she whispered hopefully.

  I smothered a laugh. 'I’m thinking not, otherwise you would have smelled it out by now.'

  She groaned. 'How long does it take for the cravings to go away?'

  Kassie reached over and patted her head. 'Three weeks, sweetie,' she chirped.

  Sian lifted her head to glare at Kassie.

  The maid maneuvered her way back to the table with three enormous bowls of porridge and set them in front of the others, then turned to me. 'Would you like a hot drink?'

  'Do you have anything to wake you up?'

  'Just the thing,' she said, and turned away to fetch it.

  'I’ll have one too!' bellowed Sian, making everyone wince at the noise level and startling the kitchen staff. They turned to stare at Sian who blushed. 'I’m so sorry, I’m really not conscious.'

  We chuckled and the maid placed a mug of something hot in front of us. It didn’t give the zing that caffeine did but tasted great, thick and soothing. I savored mine while the others finished eating. After breakfast we made our way into the main area of the Inn looking for Henja and found her occupied with customers at the front door. After she saw them off she turned with a smile. 'Girls, did you sleep well?'

  We nodded.

  'Excellent. Now let’s get those food parcels sorted. I have asked Mentan and Lenol to come and give you instructions as to where to go,' she said reassuringly. 'With all that I’m sure you’ll be fine.' Henja spun on her heel and walked to the kitchen.

  We looked at each other and I shrugged sitting down at one of the tables. I hope the men don’t take too long, I thought, I’d really like to get going so we can practice with the weapons. Loi drummed her fingers on the table while we waited.

  A short while later Henja came out with two big bundles wrapped in rough sacking and the maid following had another two. It didn’t look like we’d be going hungry any time soon. When they placed the parcels on the table the door to the Inn opened and two men stepped through, their eyes uncertain until they spotted Henja.

  She waved them over and gestured at us. 'Mentan, Lenol, these are the four women the town is buzzing about. Sian, Catherine, Laura and Kassandra. They would like to know how to reach the castle.'

  Mentan sat on the spare seat at the table and Lenol dragged another over.

  'Right,' began Mentan. 'It’s an easy trail from the village to the forest and I recommend you don’t deviate from it.' His face looked serious, heavy furred brows drawn close. Lenol cleared his throat.

  'The forest can be a little misleading as there are often animal tracks which look similar to trails, do you know what I mean?'

  'Yes, I’ve seen that before,' I said.

  LOI RELAXED WHEN Cat spoke up. Cat frequently stayed at her family’s cabin back home, always ducking off for the last weekend of the month. Loi and the girls occasionally went with her. The cabin sat tucked away in the mountains, the perfect place to relax.

  Then it hit.

  Oh… will we ever see it again?

  Loi’s heart pounded at the thought and the realization, that awful realization. For a moment the Inn felt tiny; sounds, heat and smells pressing down on her while her head spun.

  Never? Will we never see it again?

  A strange feeling of guilt rose. Mike and Grant will be so disappointed, I promised them I’d take them next time.

  Loi had bragged so much about the last couple of trips she’d made with Cat, Sian and Kassie that her older brothers had begged to come along next time. A horrible sensation of tears swelled in her chest and Loi pressed her lips together tightly, frowning, trying to resist the desire. Just the thought of everyone seeing her cry made her want to cry more and she clenched her hands under the table.

  A hand squeezed over hers and Loi twisted, meeting Sian’s sympathetic gaze.

  'All good, Loiloi, ' Sian whispered under her breath, squeezing her hands again. 'We can do this. '

  Loi wrinkled her nose at Sian, attempting a smile. Her friends were what she imagined sisters would be like to have; so close and alike in thoughts, always able to bolster one another through tough spots.

  'Least we’re here together,' Sian whispered and Loi grinned at her then, nodding. The current anxiety and fear lifted, making it feel like an adventure for the moment. Loi turned back to listening to the men as they talked with Cat.

  LENOL AND MENTAN were hard to judge in age. Both had weathered faces that could have been anything from a hard aged thirty-five, to a fair looking fifty. Lenol gestured while explaining, almost acting out his words as he described some animals to watch out for. Mentan provided a sense of calm to Lenol’s rather graphic warnings, not contradicting them but pointing out basic, straight forward solutions. It did feel really weird to know that the forest had things which could be a threat to us; such a vast difference to New Zealand with no real predators. Kassie and I listened hard, exchanging glances while Loi and Sian murmured together.

  After the descriptions they explained the track and Mentan said, 'You will pass a total of seven villages before you reach the castle. They should all be welcoming, though I don’t recommend bringing the elgrids this time.'

  Lenol sniggered.

  'We’ll be more careful,' Sian promised.

  The men described several landmarks we should watch for and they recommended a few camping spots. After that half hour of intense conversation with them we were done. The men finished their drinks, calling out to Henja who walked to our table.

  I couldn’t help the almost panicked look I gave both men when I realized then that this was it, we were on our own.

  Lenol smiled warmly at me and said in a reassuring voice, 'You girls should be fine. Your kind always is.'

  After that perplexing statement, they stood, wishing us luck on our journey, and walked out of the Inn. No one said anything for a moment and I could feel my head bobbing while I ran through all the information again, lips mouthing the words.

  Kassie spoke from beside me. 'Our kind? What does he mean by that?'

  'He means people from the North,' Henja said and I turned to her. She lifted an eyebrow, turning her head to see if anyone else listened in before leaning closer and continued in a loud whisper. 'After hearing so many legends about your kind, most people here are excited to be able to say they have seen and met some of you in the flesh.'

  We stared at her for a moment, our expressions a mix of confusion and amusement, unsure of how to respond before Loi, with a straight face, said, 'Well, being from the North we wouldn't have heard them.'

  Henja laughed. 'No, I guess not.'

  We each took a parcel, loading them into our packs then, after thanking Henja, headed out of the Inn.

  Walking through the village gates, we paused to look back at the sound of them clanging shut and the bolt sliding across. I shivered at the ominous sound.

  Kassie met my eyes and smiled. 'Don’t worry, Cat, you know we’ll be fine. They did say practically nothing was in the forest at the moment, so even if we do meet something, we’ll be able to deal with it. No swea
t.'

  I sighed. 'Ten years’ jujitsu counts for something, right?'

  'Exactly! Let's get going. The sooner we get there the sooner we can practice.'

  Loi winked at me. 'Besides apparently our kind will be fine no matter what.'

  I rolled my eyes. 'I’m glad to hear it. Now I won’t panic.'

  Chapter Six

  KASSIE PICKED UP the pace, relieved to leave all the staring—albeit very polite—villagers behind and pulled Lucky out of the bag, draping the compliant cat around her shoulders. After the first hour of cautious looks and careful steps their initial wariness wore off. They passed through the grazing lands of the village and the normal stock in the fields—sheep and pigs—made it feel just like wandering past a farm in New Zealand. Then the fields gave way to young trees, as if this land had once been farmland too. Lucky clacked in Kassie’s ear when she spotted birds in the trees and Kassie reached a hand back to rub behind the cat’s ears making Lucky purr and knead the shoulder strap of her pack. The cloudy sky gave way to brilliant sunshine and the young trees grew sparsely enough for them to see the track continuing a way ahead.

  I ENJOYED THE beautiful scenery, it all looking so familiar in some ways yet totally different in others. Spindly, dark-limbed trees stretched for the sky with branches that seemed almost over full of broad green leaves. Fantastic blue flowers grew in sporadic bunches along the way and seemed to quiver when we passed them.

  Ooo-oo they’re pretty, I thought and stopped to have a closer look, the others stopping too.

  The trumpet shaped flowers had beautiful gold and pink markings on the inside of their mouths. I leaned closer, sniffing but found they had no proper scent.