by Mari Collier
She opened her eyes and her body grew rigid, the scene in focus. Da was in an Ab village, nay in Martin's Ab Quarters. There were men dressed in leather or brown clothes. Other men were clubbing and striking anyone in their path. The village was in flames, and the room came in focus again. When she was able to breathe, her breath came in sobs. This attack, she kenned, would happen today.
Di rolled over and pushed herself up enough to crawl out from under the cover and dress. She crawled over to Da and shook him awake.
“Come, my laddie, I must gather herbs ere it grows any later. We must hurry. Ye will need to support me. We'll eat dried fish for our sustenance this morning.”
Hurrying seemed to do no good. Da dawdled while he dressed and while he ate. At least he did not dawdle while helping her to the latrine area.
Di's crutch was fashioned from a heavy-grained limb. Various bags were tied around her waist for the herbs. The villagers were accustomed to her searching for herbs to help with their healing. It was her way of paying for her keep. She had learned early that all must contribute to this village and the visions seemed to come less and less. Those that came tended to be personal or so blurred there was nay sense to them. Her time as a Kenning Woman was drawing to a close. She kenned a new one had been birthed at the Tri stockade. It was safer to keep that information locked away.
It was slow moving away from the village. Di was following the river but she could go no faster. It was still too early in the season for most of the new crops and villagers were nay in the gardens. Bi did nay send his smaller boats upstream for he had brought nay trade goods. By the time they were out of the villager's eyes, her leg was tiring and the pain constant, but she kept going. Wee Da supported her on one side, but she kenned he too would tire.
“Da, I need to check over there.” She had to rest her leg.
“We shall go into the clearing near the river. I will rest and see what grows along the banks. Be careful, for some of the shrubs are drambleberries and the stingers seek their flowers.”
Once they were behind the brambleberries she sat on a low rock, wiping away the beads of sweat. Why wouldn't the clouds produce rain and wash away the imprint of her crutch? Anyone could follow her. Di realized they needed to keep going. The river was too deep here for them to cross and from the talk at the village she kenned any caves were on the other, higher side several legs away. Soon she would have to make a pretense of searching for plants and then urging Da on again. Now he was enthralled with the river and was yelling something back at her about fish.
“Hush, we must be quiet.”
“Why, Mither.”
“Because y'all are out in the wild and there is something wrong.” It was a male's voice.
Wee Da whirled away from the river. “Fither! I kenned ye would come! I told Mither!” He landed with a thud up in Lorenz's arms.
Da had been elated when his mother's arms enfolded him. They had arrived last night and he was entranced by the strangeness of a village, but regretted the lack of fancy food. For the moment, he was content to be with his mither as he kenned his fither would come.
“Lug, y'all are going to knock me down one of these times.”
Wee Da felt the strong arms close around him and then he was lowered to the ground. “Now introduce me to your mother.”
Daniel grabbed his hand and led him back.
Di was staring at him, her mood swinging from great joy to deep despondency. The Laird was here. He would take Wee Da back and she would nay see either again. She struggled to her feet and the Laird was beside her, steadying the crutch and her other arm. His grip was warm and hard. His skinny body belied his strength.
Lorenz found himself looking into a pair of light-brown eyes filled with joy. Her eyes and face changed from elation to complete sorrow, and for a moment he could think of nothing but how this woman could fill his empty life.
“Mither, this tis Fither. Fither, this tis Mither.”
The man's grey eyes lit with amusement and he smiled. “Madam, I assure ye that such an introduction was nay necessary for my other children.”
He raised her hand to his mouth and gave a light kiss. “Tis a pleasure to meet the mither of my son.”
“Ye must take Wee Da and go. Tis danger here! Bi's village will be attacked.”
For a moment the grey eyes stared at her and he seemed to be listening to the wind. Then Lorenz pulled out his com and called Laten.
“Pick up now, Laten. It seems the land Abs do not love each other.”
“Laird, close the circuit. The Sisters will find ye. They've boxed the Maca into his tower. We are forbidden to fly.” The sound vanished and the circuit closed.
Lorenz stood frozen for a moment. He had to get back, but first he had to get these two out of here.
“If we went to the village, would Bi take us to Donnick in exchange for four zarks?”
“Laird, he will do nay for ye. He hates ye.”
“Is there anyone else that would chance it?”
“Nay, Laird, I am considered too vital for this village. My presence gives Bi status.” Her voice was bitter.
“Then we use the Zarks.” He looked down at Daniel. “Gather up some of those sticks in a bundle while I get the zarks.”
“Laird, leave now after I hug my laddie goodbye. Ye canna worry about sticks.”
“Y'all are going with us.” He disappeared through the brush.
Di was left leaning on her crutch staring after him. This tis madness ran through her mind. A cripple canna ride a zark.
Within minutes Lorenz was back riding one and leading the other three zarks. He rode over to the taller tree that to him looked like the cottonwood of his own world and dismounted. He lashed the reins of all the zarks to the tree and walked back to the now sitting Di.
“Have ye ever ridden?”
Di looked up, amazement etched across her face. “Nay, and I canna ride now. My legs will nay straddle the zark like ye just did. Take my laddie and go. Ye have my blessing.”
“Lady, either ye let me help ye into that saddle, or I'll lasso y'all and drag y'all behind in a travois. That way, we'd leave enough tracks for a tenderfoot to trail us.”
Complete incomprehension was on Di's face and in her eyes.
Lorenz sighed. “Either ye let me help ye up into the saddle or I'll drag ye roped down on a blanket. That will take precious time and anyone who kens the way of the land will be able to follow us.”
“That tis why ye must take Wee Da and flee.”
“He'd hate me forever if I did that. Right, Daniel?”
“Aye, Fither, Mither must go with us. Please, Mither, let him help ye.” Daniel was pulling at her right arm.
“Ma'am, I going tie those sticks behind my saddle and then I'll be back. One way or another, y'all will leave with us.”
Di watched him perform the mundane task, her mouth set in a stubborn line.
“Come, Mither.” Daniel was pulling at her kirtle this time, and the Laird was walking back.
“Daniel and I will help boost ye up into the saddle and then I'll tie ye in there so ye won't slip off while we're riding. It won't be comfortable and ye are going to be sore.” He smiled at her. “I know ye can handle it.”
Di took one look at the tears on Daniel's face and let the man try the nay possible. Somehow she was in the saddle, sitting with both legs on one side, and the rope lashed over her legs, around what he called a saddle horn, and a cantle. He patted her legs when he finished and smiled up at her.
“I'm sorry that I have to put ye through this. Ye are valuable to Bi, but ye may not be valuable to that other crew when they attack.” Then he turned to Daniel.
“If y'all find yourself slipping, hang on tight to the horn, and don't fall asleep. Do y'all need some help getting up there?”
Daniel flushed. “I can do it.” He started towards the zark.
“Mount from the other side, laddie. The zark will throw y'all from that side.”
Daniel whirled
to see if Lorenz was joking and decided he wasn't. Fither was suddenly beside him.
“I'll steady ye. By tonight y'all will be as stiff and sore as your mother.”
Chapter 39: Flight
They rode steadily for two hours with Lorenz leading the zarks with a rope linked from each bridle to his. He would trot the zarks and then fall back into a walk. Grey clouds were building to the northeast and he would pause to look at the sky. Every so often he would turn to verify that they were still back there. About three hours into the ride, he pointed back in the direction of the village.
“There's smoke. The attack has started. How long will it take them to discover ye two aren't there?”
“I dinna, Laird. I told them my laddie and I were hunting herbs. They dinna expect us to return til this eve.”
Lorenz gave a tight lipped smile and then guided them towards the river away from the path.
Di was hurting into her bones, but she held her tongue. The zarks drank from the river and then Lorenz rode into the shallow water near the bank. They followed the river until it narrowed and Lorenz turned.
“Hang on tight. We're going to cross here. We'll make it to the Tri's fort by tomorrow.”
The water swirled around them and Daniel's horse slipped. Daniel slid into the river.
“Wee Da! Laird, stop!”
Daniel's hands were firmly wrapped around the horn as Lorenz had told him, and he was vigorously thrashing his legs in the water.
“Daniel, act like you're swimming or floating, not running. Hang on until y'all can pull yourself back up into the saddle. We can't stop now. Don't let loose.”
Lorenz gritted his teeth. Zarks were touchier than horses at times and right now he didn't want to lose anyone, rider or Zark. The current wasn't swift, but it was swift enough to tumble an inexperience rider. He felt his zark going upward when he heard Daniel's shout.
“I did it, fither.” Daniel was mounted and grinning from ear to ear when Lorenz looked back.
Lorenz led them up onto the pebbled sand. “Everybody hold tight. These zarks are going to shake that water out of their manes and blow a bit. We'll ride for another hour or so and then we'll find a place to camp.”
The sun would remain up in the sky longer in early summer just as on Earth, but they needed a secure place for themselves and the zarks. It was quite probable that someone was trailing them.
Once the zarks settled down, he ordered. “Daniel, can y'all get those reins? Lean forward and grab one side and pull it up and then the next side.”
He watched as Daniel did as instructed.
“See, fither, I will be a great Warrior.”
“Y'all are working on it. Ye are taking this like a man.”
Daniel's chest expanded with pride. He had won his fither's approval.
Lorenz led them upward and started southwest before turning northwest again towards the mountains. The ford had been at the bend of the West Fork of the Valiant River and he preferred using the trail already there before striking off in another direction. If the clouds thickened enough there would be rain to hide their tracks. He kept checking the others and the clouds as they rode.
“Laird, how do ye ken where we go?” Di was thoroughly lost. She'd not been this far from the village in seven years. She knew it was well past midday, and she had to say something to keep from moaning in pain.
“When we flew over, I saw the fort. That and the route to Bi's encampment are in my head.” He smiled at their confusion. “I grew up in a land that looked like this. No roads, no flying machines, and the paths might or might not go where y'all were going. Your mind automatically creates a map.”
“Nay, tis Justine,” said Di, her words stiff.
“There's nothing Justine about it. Y'all either think like an Indian or y'all don't.”
As usual, thought Daniel, fither's words nay made sense, but there was no chance to ask as Lorenz pulled up and dismounted.
“There really isn't any place to tie the zarks here, but I need to go up on that hillock and check things out. If I take ye off, are ye going to be able to go back on?”
Di looked at him, her pain almost overwhelming, and shook her head. “Ye should leave me, Laird.”
“Not a chance. Do y'all know anything about the Tris up ahead?”
“Nay, Laird, they keep to themselves. They dinna like Abs.”
“What about the Kenning Woman and her laddie? Will they welcome her?”
“I dinna, Laird. Bi trades with them, but only if they see his flag raised at the upper river joining the East Fork. They dinna allow him to come to their village. Tis said they have look outs to drive all away.”
“That means Bi is the only one who knows whether they welcome visitors or drive them away.”
Di was too exhausted to answer. Lorenz grabbed the hobbles for the four zarks. It was wasted time, but he couldn't chance the zarks running off.
At the top of the hillock, Lorenz could see the smoke to the northwest. He might have made it by riding most of the night, but Di needed to come off that zark. Finding a place to camp was paramount and the prairie offered little cover. About a mile ahead the land swelled to a higher hill with trees. Perhaps there was an underground spring feeding the tree roots. There could be fresh water. He gave up trying to cover his tracks. He'd worn his working boots from the Texas ranch. There was no way to obliterate his walking marks or the zarks' hoof prints. A good tracker would find the sign.
Chapter 40: The Scout
The trees were fed by a clear spring. The signs said others had camped here over the years, but not recently. Struggling vegetation was growing over and around the stones surrounding the fire pit. The grass was stunted, deprived of sunshine by the leafy canopy and the ground stonier, the deep prairie sod held behind a damn of limestone and granite. Someone had drug in a couple of boulders for a windbreak.
Helping Di down was first. Her weight was considerable and her legs had gone to sleep. Lorenz untied the rope and coiled it before jamming it into the saddlebag. They'd need it come morning.
“Daniel, grab her reins to steady that zark.
“Kenning Woman, put your arms around my neck and then slide down.”
Doubt rose in her eyes for a moment before doing as he said. Had he not been holding her, she would have collapsed. Fire needles were shooting through her feet and legs and they were unmoving wood. Pain made her grit her teeth. Lorenz pulled the crutch down and handed it to her.
“Just hold unto it. I'm going to help y'all over to that tree and help y'all to sit down before anything else.
“Daniel, take those canteens, uh blads, and fill them. Watch out for the zarks. They'll be drinking too. After that we'll see about where we'll locate the latrine area.”
He led Di to the tree and eased her down. “Has the blood stopped circulating? There'd be sharp, needle like pains if it has.”
She nodded, unable to speak. How could a Laird ken?
His hands were massaging her legs and her feet, easing the pain and driving it back. Di put out her hands to stay him.
“Laird, I canna bed ye. The pain tis too great this eve.” The years of no bedding had been a torture, but who would bed a cripple? “My laddie can do the rubbing.”
Lorenz looked up and smiled his crooked smile. “I'm not doing this to put y'all in a complacent mood. I'm doing it to make it easier for y'all to make it to the latrine when it's ready.”
They heard the zarks blowing and looked up. Lorenz went running. The zarks had finished drinking and were eating at the grass, moving away from the camp. Daniel was jogging towards them, confident that he'd done as instructed. He stared after the running man. He realized he had somehow done something wrong, and Daniel instinctively knew this was not the time to do wrong things.
Daniel watched Lorenz gather up the reins and lead the Zarks into the trees, tie each one to a separate tree, and then extract the things he called hobbles.
“Daniel, y'all are going to learn how to put these on.
Then we'll take the saddles, bridles, and packs off and stow them where we'll be camped. The zarks can feed and we won't need to worry about them spooking and running off.”
Daniel wasn't quite sure what his fither was saying, but those strange things meant the zarks would stay. He hurried over and the lesson began.
Once the zarks were hobbled, they carried the saddlebags and packs over to where Di sat and Lorenz put out a blanket for her before setting up camp.
Daniel had never left the Ab quarters during the work season. He had been guarded by the Handmaiden. He had heard Kahli's tales of the land Abs, but deep down hadn't believed half of them. He looked at Lorenz in disbelief when Lorenz began rolling a large boulder nearer the two already in place.
“Daniel, see how many large stones y'all can find.”
“That large?”
“No, I want stones as big as y'all can carry. I've already located the other large stone I want.”
“Why nay use the zarks?”
“They're tired and we'll be in the saddle most of tomorrow.” Lorenz looked at Di lying on the blanket he'd put out for her. Her face was strained and her eyes closed.
He took the blad and gave her some water.
She swallowed a few times, said, “I must rest,” and fell back.
The blanket eased the hardness of the ground, but now he had to devise a cave like place for them to sleep. The clouds had continued to build making the afternoon warm and humid. The wind had increased, and he hoped the storm would blow over as it swung in from the ocean. Dusk was falling when he tied the tarp over the improvised shelter.
Daniel was kneeling by his mother and saying, “I will help ye.”
Lorenz looked and saw Di using Daniel as a prop for rising with her crutch.
“Where tis the latrine?”
“Just follow the path through the grass where Daniel and I walked. Uh, ma'am,” he used the polite address of his land, “it depends on what y'all are doing. Y'all might need some leaves.”