by Jill Cooper
The wet leaves covered the trail of the wolf and I was unsure which way to go. The best thing to do was head to camp, be honest with my friends, and we’d find it together. A good idea, but I wanted to press on a little bit longer. A wolf would have a den, and maybe in that, I’d find its master.
I doubted it had come for the bag itself.
I walked along the giant trunk of a tree and saw smoke off in the distance. I followed it around a dried up creek bed, leading me to a cave. Terrified, I slowed my steps and leaned against the stone surroundings. Covered in dew, it moistened my fingertips as I peered around it into the dark. Moss and thick vines obscured my view, but I could hear the grunts and growls of the wolf.
So far, in the wilds of the Free Lands, I had faced giant spiders and other monsters, but this blue wolf scared me most of all. It was large and too intelligent to be just an animal. But, it had my books and the completed crystal remnant, which meant I needed to get it back. My mission couldn’t be completed without the contents of my messenger bag.
I stepped around the rock, ducking beneath the flowing vines. I made out distant shapes in the blackness and heard the tinkling of water, as if there was a pool somewhere inside the cave. Taking a gingerly step forward, I heard a woman’s voice and it paused my steps.
“And so she steps into the cave, back to claim what was once hers.”
The skin crawled on the back of my neck, slithering with fear. The cave brightened and I saw a woman with blond hair spun in an elegant up do. She wore a sparkling blue dress and I had never seen anything quite so radiant. I squinted to shield myself from the shine and stepped forward.
Her hands cradled the remnant and she caressed it as if it were a loved one. “Interesting how it glows for me, but I don’t feel the power I know that you wield, Curator. It beckons me back inside, but I think I’m not ready to go. I think I want to stay out here with all of you. Let me and I’ll tell your story. I’ll tell you how it ends.”
She smiled, coy and mischievous.
I wished I could trust her. There wasn’t much I wanted more than knowing how my quest would end. “Do what you like, but I need my bag and the remnant back.”
“So you can finish your tale?” She asked, with a little laugh. “It’s leading you places you don’t expect and so it shall continue. You question who I am. You’ve already faced Nemesis, so why don’t you tell me who am I? Do you know?” Her tone was playful, like it was nothing more than a game.
I drew my staff and the blue wolf bared its teeth at me in a warning. “You are the spirit of the narrator. An ancient spirit that resided in books until they were burned and the art of reading and storytelling was banished from the world.”
She bowed her head. “I like to go by the name Chronicler myself, but narrator works, too. You’ve yet to meet the most powerful of us, but you will soon. Don’t let Muse defeat you. She means not what she does, but is lost and confused without her heart. You can’t defeat Creighton without her inspiration.”
The narrator turned the remnant over in her hand, studying its glow.
“May I have my things back now?” I extended one hand, keeping the other one firm on my staff. I didn’t want to destroy her because I was pretty sure she wasn’t evil. She didn’t mean me any harm. Mostly, she was curious and like a child.
“I meant to, but now in its beauty, I think I mean to keep it.” She gazed into it like a mother looked into her child’s eyes.
Disappointed, I pursed my lips together. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She laughed. “What makes you think you can?”
My lips parted so I could respond, but the wolf attacked. He jumped at me on as the Narrator escaped through the tunnels of the cave. I raised my staff defensively as an arrow was shot from behind me and it hit the beast in its soft underbelly. The wolf tumbled to the ground and I gasped with surprise.
Behind me, Sebastian, Beatrice, Ana, and Ella rushed in with Robbie trailing behind. Sebastian pulled another bow free. “Go! Get the remnant!” He ordered as he fired another arrow into the wolf. It yipped and called out in pain as I leapt over him. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, feeling the proper weight of the books—at least that caused me some relief.
I ran through the cave, able to follow the glow of the remnant through the twisted grottos, covered with moss. Carefully, I leapt on broken stones across a shallow brook and followed the Narrator into a dead-end cave.
She held the remnant overhead, chanting words I couldn’t understand. The remnant flashed with bright light and the narrator screamed and dropped it. Instead of breaking, it rolled over toward me and I picked it up.
Even though it was hot, it didn’t burn me.
“It wants you and not the ancients. Forgive me, Abbigail Taylor for becoming greedy and jealous. I only wished to live.” Tears shined in the Narrator’s eyes before they froze like rain drops. I wished to do her no harm, but I had to rid the world of her. She had to go back to where she belonged.
She raised a hand to slow me down. “Though the mother of the curator suffered greatly at the hands of the Dark Lord Creighton, Momma never gave up hope or the love in her heart. For she knew that one day, her precious Abby would complete her mission and return balance and light to the world. She only wished to tell her daughter how much she loved her.”
My lip quivered at the admission and I nodded my head in thanks. I knew my mother loved me because of the way she treated me and the gestures she made, I had never heard it from her mouth directly—except now it felt like I had. It’s such a great gift that the Narrator has given me.
“Be warned, not all in the curator’s party are on her side. Beware of the Traitor, the Muse, and the Villain.”
“I’ll heed your warnings.” I raised the remnant and its great light cast out, encompassing the Narrator in a giant sphere. Her arms extended and she screamed, turning to a golden mist. It traveled behind me and I turned, seeing Ella standing at the mouth of the entrance.
The mist circled Ella and flew up her nose and down to her feet. Ella’s eyes widened with fear. “Oh, not again,” she cried as the haze faded from view. “The fight of your life is coming, Abby Taylor, are you ready?”
It was the voice of the narrator, not Ella at all. I extended my hand toward her. “Ella?”
“Tarnish,” Ella’s voice came through afraid and she took my hand. “Please, let me stay.”
A moment later, Ella collapsed and I caught her just in time, resting her down on the cavern floor, I cradled her like a child, her head on my lap, and stroked her hair back.
Ella’s part in my quest was bigger than I had ever imagined and meeting her was no accident. I was sure of that now, but if she was friend or foe, the jury was still out on that.
Traitor or friend? I prayed I’d find out before it was too late.
Chapter: Tarnish Rose
Back at camp, there were a few hours left before we had to wake and start the journey for the day. Ella slept hard, and while Ana and Beatrice got ready to take over watch, Sebastian and I had a chat on the outskirts of camp so no one could hear us.
Sebastian wrapped his robe tighter around himself as I explained. “A traitor? In our camp? I fear we both know who it is.”
I shook my head. “That would be too easy. Besides, even if she is the traitor, it’s clear I need her. Both times I removed an ancient spirit, they went to her. She did something to them, even if she doesn’t understand why—or at least won’t talk about it.”
Sebastian stroked his chin, pensive. “On some level, she knows based on what she said to you before she collapsed. It’s possible when this happens it puts her in a more focused state, like coming out of a dream. Maybe she doesn’t know except for then.”
“Whichever it is, we need to be careful. And, you’re the only person here I can fully trust.”
Sebastian smiled sadly. “We’re in this together and you’ll always have my council.”
I was thankful for his partnership
and his friendship. We braced hands and I felt stronger, not so alone, like we could take on the world—which was exactly what we were doing.
“Soon, we’ll reach the tower and we’ll have the kids back, I’m sure of it. But only if you get some sleep,” Sebastian said pointedly.
“I am exhausted. You’re right. Wake me before breakfast, I don’t want Ella to kick dirt in my face again.”
I laughed and Sebastian did, too, but it was hollow.
On my way back to camp, I passed Robbie and Beatrice. They smiled at me and I returned it with growing anxiety in my stomach. “Good night,” I said softly as I returned to camp. Laying next to the fire, I studied sleeping Ella’s form.
Praying and hoping I was making the right decision.
Chapter: Mitchell Richardson
“Sir?” Mitchell couldn’t believe he had heard him correctly.
“Oh, you heard me. If you are more devoted to Creighton than your wife, you will execute her promptly upon returning home. It’s the dark lord’s final word on the matter.”
Mitchell backed up. “I… I can’t do that, Minister. To murder another person?”
“It will be something required of you on a daily basis. Everyone in Rottenwood is slowly dying. You joining us puts a bit of blood on your hands. If you can’t do this, you can’t join us. Simple as that, Mitchell, and if you don’t join us, Dani and Timothy both will be exterminated. Immediately.”
Mitchell searched for the right answer, the thing he could say that would change everything around in their favor. “My wife is a hard task master, Minister. She can whip a place into order in no time flat. She has no problem beating house slaves, or her own son, for that matter. She accepts only perfection.”
“Sounds like a lovely woman,” the minister joked. “I can see why you’d want to spare her life.”
“Minister, your office could use her. You saw what she did to Sandra Taylor. You saw how effective her anger is. As far as a staunch ally, you’d find nothing greater.”
The minister sipped his tea and slowly swallowed. Then his jaw grated side to side. “The minister’s office has never in all its years had a woman in power. A woman wearing the suit of the minister’s office.”
“She will be unfailing in her devotion. She will get others to follow. She’ll make sure unbelievers are found and punished, no matter what.”
“I like your plan, Mitchell. I’ve seen your wife in action and while it might take a conversation, I will get Creighton on board. You’ll need to ensure that when Dani gives birth, your wife is ready to toe the line.”
“Toe the line, sir?” Mitchell asked, feeling a faint quake in his fingers.
The minister nodded. “A gifted child such as she carries, cannot be raised by a common house servant. The child will be taken from Dani and placed as a ward of the ministers. You and your wife will raise the child, under the guidance of Creighton himself. We’ll need to ensure this child is not led astray.”
Mitchell swallowed hard. “And Dani, sir?”
The minister scowled, quite unkindly. “You know perfectly well what we intend to do to her. Do I need to say it out loud?”
He meant they were going to kill her. “No… no, Minister. Of course not.”
“Good. Such a discussion would be unseemly. Welcome to the house of the ministers, Mr. Richardson.” The minister offered Mitchell his hand.
Mitchell shook it with heavy hesitation and regret, but he shook it.
Chapter: Dani
After a week passed, Dani had tea with Alessa at her home and met a few other married wives close to her age. Mary was pregnant like Dani, only more so and in a gray dress. She had apple cheeks and freckles. Georgia was thin as a wisp and older, closer to thirty-five—near middle age. Her son was grown and out of the house already.
Both woman had an underlying sadness to them that Dani could remember feeling, only things were different now that she and Timothy had discovered marriage had many perks. She just hoped the happiness would last after the baby was born.
Alessa poured everyone more tea and Dani thanked her. “How long have you been married?” Dani asked Mary.
Mary sat back in her chair, cradling her belly. “Nearly four years. I didn’t think I’d ever fall pregnant, but low and behold, here I am.”
There was disdain in her voice and Dani couldn’t understand it. “Children are a blessing, at least that’s what we’ve been taught.”
Mary laughed. “Unless your husband is a bore who has no common sense at all.”
“Mary,” Alessa warned. “We’re welcoming Dani to Beantown. She doesn’t need such negativity.”
“Oh, it’s all right—.” Dani started to stay but Georgia tapped her hand.
“How about you, honey? I saw you and your husband in the fields three days ago. You seemed like newlyweds.”
Dani shifted uncomfortably. “We are. Our marriage… it was a necessity.”
Georgia’s eyes widened and Mary leaned forward on the table. “You mean you were… pregnant before the marriage?”
Dani swallowed hard and nodded silently.
“I never thought the ministers would allow that,” Mary whispered in shock. “Heavens, they must want fresh blood in Beantown more than I thought they did.” She picked up her tea, her hands shaking so much that the tea cup rattled.
“Well, I know I’m glad to meet you. A friend of Alessa’s is always a friend of mine,” Georgia smiled broadly. “Your dress barely fits you anymore and I have maternity dresses I’ve had stocked away for years in my closet. I’ll bring them to you. Some of them your husband is really going to like.”
“Oh, that is too kind of you, but please don’t go to any trouble.”
“Trouble?” Georgia laughed. “With a husband always in the field, the son gone off and married, it’s no trouble at all. It gives me something to do besides clean and find things that need fixing.”
“Then I thank you kindly.” Dani sipped her hot tea. “Has anyone else experienced…. a death in healthy crop? Our apple trees are only giving us rotten fruit. Soon as it ripens, it’s just dead and gone.”
Everyone fell silent and even Alessa stared down at her tea rather than at Dani directly. It made the former house slave feel like she shouldn’t have said anything at all.
“It’s worrisome all right.” Mary spoke up first, crossing her arms above her belly. “A dangerous plague has come and it’s attacked those living in the square first. It hasn’t come yet for us farmers but it’s come for our crops. Won’t be long now until it comes for us.”
Dani bit her lip and Alessa laughed. “This was supposed to be a nice friendly tea. Lighthearted. Did everyone here forget that?” She patted Dani’s hand. “I’m sorry. Don’t you listen to Mary none. Keep to yourselves and keep drinking that tonic I made for you.”
So, there was truth to Mary’s words? Dani didn’t want to fret and worry the other ladies she had just met. “In another two weeks we’ll meet again?” Dani asked.
Mary grimaced. “If I haven’t given birth by then. I’m hoping not.”
“If you do, we’ll visit you.” Georgia’s eyes twinkled. “How about that?”
****
Later that night after the supper dishes had been done, Alessa pushed the blinds up on the windows and peered outside. There wasn’t much going on, but she saw the tail end of a death dealer flying across the sky, keeping his eye on everything like each of them did. A damn menace and a curse, Alessa turned away from the window.
She leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, listening to the baby stir and to Scotty singing him to sleep. Thank goodness they had a baby in time, before they were cast out from Beantown, but now it seemed no matter who Alessa was talking to or what she did, she was constantly keeping their secret.
Telling lies.
It wasn’t something that left her feeling very good.
With the baby settled down to sleep for the night, Alessa changed into her night gown. Water splashed in the othe
r room from the basin Scott filled so he could clean up for the night. “There’s leftovers if you’re still hungry. You didn’t eat very much at dinner.”
“I’m doing fine, sweetheart. No reason for you to worry about me.”
But she did. Always.
From the threshold of the bedroom, Alessa did her hair up in a messy braid swung over one shoulder. Scott entered the room, his shirt untucked, his face shining clean. With his black hair combed back, Alessa could tell for a brief moment Scotty wasn’t a man at all.
She messed up Scotty’s hair. “That’s better. Those long eyelashes and doe eyes are going to get us into trouble someday.”
He peeled his fake mustache off, revealing the elegant lines of his face. “No one’s here, Ally. It’s just you and me. No one is going to find out.”
“That you’re a woman? That you and I…” Alessa sighed. “I don’t mean to fret. But if our secret gets out, it’s not just the end of our marriage. It’ll be our very lives.”
Scotty ran his fingers up Alessa’s arms in a way that sent shivers up her spine. By the workmen, he had ways of turning her on that no man could. “In four years, no one has suspected. Even when… even when you fell ‘pregnant’.”
A secret Alessa was prepared to do anything to keep. “I won’t lose you,” Alessa whispered and gripped Scotty’s face in her hands. “We’ve fought too long and hard to be together. We have a family now.” She smiled through her tears as they shared a kiss.
“The world isn’t friends to relationships like ours. Unorthodox. Two women? They would stone us,” Scotty admitted.
“That won’t happen. I won’t let it. I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep us together. You know that, don’t you?”
Scotty nodded. “As will I. Tell me what your take is on the new couple? Dani? Are they trust worthy?”
Alessa nodded. “She’s simple but nice. Not sure how smart she is, but she’s used to hard work and living a life in servitude. She won’t be a problem. If we keep helping them, I’m sure she’ll never suspect anything.”