Reaching out, Erika put a hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Oh, Darlin, what happened?"
Becca looked up at her, her dark hazel eyes full of concern, "We…I..." She clasped Erika's hands, "Things happened, and well…. I met someone new." She laughed nervously, "Oh, Erika, I am so happy. Please don't be upset with me."
Erika felt as though someone had punched her. Her head was spinning. Looking at Becca she rushed, "Well, I can't say that I am not surprised. Hell, I am. But I would never be upset with you. You are a grown-up. And well, Becca, you and Z are the only ones who know what you feel. I respect that."
She was cut off by a man shouting across the crowd, "Erika Lily!" All three women turned to see a tall, handsome man with black hair and a pair of Oakley’s making his way through the crowd towards them. It was Z, and he cut quite a figure wearing a chainmail shirt over a linen tunic, jeans, and cowboy boots.
"Hey Handsome!" she grinned at the tall man as he pulled her into a fierce bear hug. Spinning her around like she was a sack of potatoes, he drawled, "Damn Darlin, you are a sight for sore eyes."
"Ack," she giggled, "you big redneck - put me down! You are squeezing the air out of me!"
Smiling at the reunion, Ransom took the horse reins from Tanna, "Just gonna take these two down to the stables and get them watered and rubbed down." Giving Erika a wink, he added, "They will be at the stable by the smithy. Come see when you are done talking."
Once introductions were made, Erika could not help but feel the overwhelming tension between Z and Becca. Taking off his sunshades, his dark brown eyes studied Tanna absently and then caught Erika's eye. "I heard you wanted to talk in private."
Tanna picked up on his clue and politely asked Becca if she would show her where she might clean up. Becca took Tanna's hand in hers in a very Becca way, and the two women walked deeper into camp.
With a soft smile, Z took her hand in his and guided her towards the wood line then deeper into the woods. As they made their way through the forest, Erika saw caves in the hillside that some people had turned into camps. Picking her way through the brush on the worn trail, she followed Z towards just such a camp with a tapestry featuring a medieval hunt of a lion hanging over the cave entrance for privacy. The camp was bare, but a cast-iron pot was hanging over the campfire where something that smelled delicious was cooking. Gesturing towards the handmade wooden chairs, he indicated that she should sit down as he went to stir the meal he was cooking. "This is about as private as we can get around here."
"Smells good," she commented on his cooking thinking it must be a venison stew and hearing her stomach rumble. She and Tanna ate reasonably well this morning, but she knew what a fantastic cook Z was and the magic that was probably waiting in the pot. Not the time, she reminded herself, trying to figure out what she needed to say. Clearing her throat, she started, "Well, Z, I've never been good at small talk, so let me just get straight to the point."
He looked up from the pot he was stirring, dark brown eyes curious as they watched her closely, "Tanna Lee isn't just my friend, she is an aerospace engineer and fucking brilliant. Back when the shit hit the fan, it was me, Hermit, Millie, and Tanna." She looked at Z, her eyes looking older than they had a moment before, "There is a lot more to it but not mission pertinent."
She saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes, "Understood Darlin - whatcha got."
"Sorry to rush through this, but in short, a few weeks ago, Tanna remembered something fairly crucial." Narrowing her eyes, she looked closely at Z, "The COO of her company was an ex test pilot from the cold war. Turns out, he had an expensive hobby. She rode out to his property and found an old plane in his warehouse. Guy's personal project… An old P 51 Mustang he was restoring for air shows."
She had Z's full attention now. He was sitting up in the chair, hands on his knees. Giving the man a sly smile when she read the excitement in his eyes. "And well, Z - we need a pilot to help us gather some intel. Someone who we can trust and someone who could handle themselves if there was trouble, someone who had the know-how to map out the earth changes, and someone who could fix the plane if it has a minor issue."
"Erika, do you know how valuable that machine is if it works? Please tell me you did not leave it", he asked her, concern evident in his eyes.
"Don't worry - we couldn't move it. It needs some work and well - neither of us can fly. Hence the whole needing a pilot thing." She laughed, adding, "Not to mention we were afraid we would draw attention by moving it."
He whistled, sitting back, and looking off into the fire. She could see his wheels turning as she tucked a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "Don't worry - it will still be there. Tanna might have taken some necessary items out of it to prevent someone else from taking it." Standing up, she stretched, "Anyway - that is why we are here - to get you on board. By the way - you were pretty easy to find considering." Giving him a strange look, she added, "You might want to do something about that."
Saying nothing, he abruptly stood up and went into the cave. She could hear things shuffling around, and shortly he came out carrying a saddle and saddlebag. "You ready?"
"Got nothing keeping me here, darlin. Let’s roll," he said as he poured water on the fire. "You mind carrying my dinner?"
"Only if you share."
"Of course," he chortled, putting his Oakley’s on. He tossed the saddlebag over his shoulder and she noted he was wearing a gun belt. Quickly they made their way back to the path and up towards the campground where they had left Tanna and Becca.
"You ok?" she asked hesitantly, "Bec told me you guys weren't together anymore?"
"I'm good," He told her quietly, taking the Oakley’s off his dark eyes, his eyes met hers. "You know how it is, darlin, folks change."
Narrowing her eyes at him, she shrugged, "Will it be a problem?"
"Not anymore," there was a sadness to the man as he spoke the words. A crack in his typical hard-ass veneer that he quickly hid. Erika watched as he walked past her. "Gotta get my horse. You will find Bec and your friend down there." He pointed to a medieval pavilion tent with two banners, one of a double-headed Eagle and the other of a siren blowing above it.
"It just seems wrong that you two aren't together anymore," she told Becca as the two walked together to the blacksmith. Tanna had already gone to give the two friends some time alone.
"Erika," Becca said, smiling sadly at her friend, "you know that it isn't always about how much you love someone as to whether or not you will be with them. Look at what has happened with you and Ransom. And I will always love Z. It breaks my heart that we are not together anymore, but we stopped being good for one another. When I met Leo, I learned what a true partnership should look like. We share everything. Just wait until you meet him - you will see. I love the woman I am when we are together. With Z, well, I loved him more than I loved myself. I was always trying to improve myself – not accepting myself. I do not feel that I disappoint Leo and I cannot say I felt that with Z.”
She tried to hide the scowl she felt. "I am glad to see your fylgurs made it back to you two at least.”
“Yes, I had gotten really sick with covid but when Sky Hunter returned my fever broke and I have felt like a new person since. You have to tell me more about everything to do with the ritual when you come back.”
“Are you still journeying?”
"Not really. I mean, I just don't have the time," her blonde friend admitted. "To be honest, since that night we had that circle, it was like I was making things worse, so I just put it on a back burner."
Erika felt a shiver up her spine as Becca gave her a tight hug, "How am I ever going to find you when I need you?"
The chills of knowing, she thought, it was the first time it had happened in an awfully long time. There was a vibration humming in her ears like a radio frequency when it is not entirely on the station. "When the time is right, little sister, I will find you."
"There you are, Little Bird," Ransom called out, leading
Erika's horse and a big buckskin stallion around from the stable. He wore tan tactical pants, boots, thigh holster, and an army green under armor shirt with a matching green tactical vest. She could not help but notice the Celtic tattoos that covered his arms.
Becca noticed her looking and whispered with a hint of mischief in her voice, "Oh honey - you should see the Valkyrie he has on his back."
Giving him a soft smile, she took Indigo's reins and asked, "Who is this beautiful boy," as she reached out to pet the buckskin.
He flashed her his perfect smile, "This here is Hephaestus, also known as Heph."
Erika cut her eyes up at him, a smile playing upon her lips. "No coincidence, Z named his horse after Hugh Hefner, is it?"
"Not Z, Heph is all mine," Ransom told her, stroking the stallion's sooty colored muzzle. "I am coming on your mission with Z."
Seeing her about to protest, he reached out for her arm, "Look, Erika, Z asked me to. He said he needs the manpower. Baby, I do not know what has happened with you or why you didn’t want to be found. We obviously need to talk, but mission first. Z is my brother, and you know I know my way around a bad situation, and that is all this world has become." His gold hazel eyes held hers for a long moment as though he had something he wanted to ask her but knew now wasn't the time. It could be nothing more than he was waiting for her to argue with him, but all she could do was sigh.
"I am not going to argue - Z is right. We need manpower. But" her voice trailed off as she cast a look over to where Tanna was saddling up the appaloosa, "I got to talk to Tanna - she isn't going to like it."
She went over to Tanna, and the two talked in hushed voices, both women casting long looks at Ransom when Z rode up. He was riding a black Friesian mare and a pack mule loaded down with provisions with a black and white border collie bitch trailing close beside. Erika was surprised to see a black and white border collie pup in the saddlebag on the mule. She and Tanna stopped their discussion to ooh and ahh over the puppy and his momma. She nodded her head at Ransom and he quickly mounted the buckskin stallion.
"We good?" Z called down. His horse was pacing nervously, causing the buckskin to snort. Erika just nodded, kissed the puppy on the nose, and mounted up.
"We good," she said, swinging into the saddle. She was quick to notice Z had a katana slung over his back in addition to the gun belts he was wearing, and the rifle scabbard fastened to his saddle.
Erika smiled down at Becca, who was blinking back tears, "Keep 'em safe. We are still family."
Erika felt something stirring deep down in her - something raw and real and familiar. She smiled down at Becca, "Don't worry about us - I have got to come back and give your new man the what for."
✽✽✽
Once they were on interstate 20, Z rode up beside Erika and Tanna. With a curt nod to Tanna, he asked, "I didn't want to say anything in camp, but where exactly is it we are going?"
"Northeast." Tanna said, looking at the ruggedly handsome man, as though reading his thoughts, "We came west on 20 from Chimneyville. We were watched from the bluffs riding into the city, but we didn't have any issues."
Z exchanged a nod with Ransom before Erika added, "Once we get outside of Old River City, we will ride cross country til outside of Chimneyville. My dad had some land out at Queen's Hill next to a lake. We will camp there tonight." She paused - no need to mention that is where they had buried most of their weapons. The boys will find out soon enough. "In the morning, we will get on the old Devil’s Backbone, and from there we will ride northeast. We will have to skirt the city, but some old riding trails go towards Frenchman's Camp. Trails only known to cowboys and hikers. Trust me - it is the safest way."
Ransom nodded proudly, "The shire patrol has cleaned out most of the city's rift raft. Raiders and gangs seem to be mostly across the river now or made their way to Fort Rosalie. We get some weird tales from travelers from time to time about people going missing but nothing this far north."
"Weird Tales?" Tanna asked, giving Erika a quick look.
"Yeah, crazy stuff about people being there one moment and gone the next. And in most cases - it happens with a group of people around, and no one sees anything out of the ordinary. Right before the individual vanishes, they usually will complain about being lightheaded or dizzy, then," He said, bringing his hands together and then apart, "poof."
"I have heard of things like that happening, too," Tanna told him. "Erika, why don't you tell them about what is going on at Fort Rosalie."
Erika gave Tanna a cold, withering look, "First off, it sounds crazy." She was uncomfortable talking this openly without the support of Felix, Hermit, or Millie to back up her story. Of course, Tanna had not seen the Vampire Court or even what she had done to Brother Timothy and the Brotherhood the night they had ambushed Millie, Hermit, and her on the Backbone. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I ran into our old friend, Velvet and her husband Buck and his crew. Anyway, they are all very deeply involved in the new regime running Fort Rosalie." She gave Tanna a warning look that said she would tell them the vampire part when she was ready.
Erika visibly stiffened when Z asked, "Any news on Preach?"
"Oh, Preach has started a church - He goes by Brother Timothy now, "Her voice took on a mocking tone, as she did her best evangelical preacher impersonation, "the Church of Apocalyptic Blessing. They were the ones who put the bounty out on the government and law enforcement officials before the world went dark."
Ransom nodded – the look in his eyes said he knew more than he was saying but Z outright laughed.
"Don't laugh," Erika snapped, "he is down south of Chimneyville preaching Armageddon. Portraying the born-again Christian now that Momma Jewel is dead. He had a few hundred before everything happened but these days, we think it is more like a few thousand. They call themselves the Brotherhood and they are bad dudes. We had some trouble with them before the hurricanes.”
A dark look crossed Tanna’s face as she added, "Crucifying anyone who stands against him." Taking her shades off, her turquoise blue eyes looked haunted. There was a faint tremor in her voice, "We don't ride south anymore." With that, she kicked her mount and road ahead.
"Not crucify…" Erika spoke softly, her voice low so as Tanna wouldn't hear, "Not to us at least." She had Z and Ransom's full attention now. "Blood Eagles," she whispered. Both men had a look of total surprise on their faces as she continued, her voice unsteady. "He is freaking sacrificing to Odin."
"Why?" Ransom asked aloud.
"Because we are hunting him." Erika told them, her grey-green eyes dark. Z and Ransom looked at her in surprise. Her words turned the mood somber as the four travelers rode forth in silence.
Breaking the silence Ransom remembered a passage from the Story of Norna Gest,
"Now the blood eagle
With a broad sword
The killer of Sigmund
Carved on the back.
Fewer were more valiant
As the troops dispersed
A chief of people
Who made the raven glad."
To Be Continued…
* * *
[HB1]
About The Author
Hadley Thorne
Born and raised in the great state of Mississippi, Hadley self-identifies as a steel magnolia. She loves to read but considers Zombie fiction her go to in times of high anxiety since it helps her to remember things could always get worse. Some of her favorite movies include Big Trouble in Little China, Flash Gordan, and the Evil Dead. She believes laughter is the best medicine, music is food for the soul, and that everything you need to know about someone can only be summed up based on how they react when Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody comes on the radio when you are riding with them in the car.
When not writing or researching, Hadley works with paranormal writer Gracie Ellison on the Wyrd Realities podcast and YouTube Channel. Additionally, she acts as the marketing/ social media strategy consultant for Producer Lauren Smith of Nite Callers Produ
ctions. If you would like to learn more about Hadley or have any questions about the series be sure to check out her website www.hadleythorne.com and subscribe to her newsletter, or connect with her on twitter @HadleyThorne.
Tapestry of Worlds : Part One - The White Raven Awakens Page 29