Father wants me to study them, learn their secrets. She brushed her long blond hair as it fell about her shoulders. Why is he doing this? What does he want me to figure out? My father trusts them not to hurt me; I must do the same no matter how strange they are.
She could hear movement in the kitchen and muttered curses. Frowning she walked downstairs and saw her father rushing around. “Good, you ready to go. Here,” he held out his satchel for her. “I have already packed it with whatever you will need to treat your patient.”
She looked at the satchel, the frown still on her face. “Father, this is unseemly haste. Am I not to be allowed to break my fast first?”
“No,” He shook his head and held out a letter for her. She saw it was sealed with wax and taking it she tucked it into the satchel. “I want you out of this village before anyone notices. Give the letter to Pyter. He will understand my words.”
“Father, wait.” She put the satchel down on the table. “What has happened? It feels like you cannot wait to get rid of me.”
“Alice,” her father took her by the shoulders. “I had a dream last night, a dream that filled me with ill. Dark clouds gather here and I want you away from them.” Then he smiled to take the worry out of his voice. “Consider it a foolish old man’s fancy that he wants his daughter safe.”
“You would trust the Walkers who you have not seen in years over the village that you have lived in your entire life?” Alice shook her head, “This is more than a dream father. What passed between you and Terrel yesterday?”
“Nothing for you to concern yourself over, now will you obey your father for once?” she sighed and nodded and he smiled once more. “Good. The Walkers always stir up trouble. Gossip and slander will arrive soon enough and the sooner you are away from here the better for you so you do not get caught up in it.” Bending slightly he kissed her on the forehead, “Go on, they will feed you I am sure of it. Go to them, learn from them and do not worry about me. I will be fine.”
“But father I do worry about you. What will you do if Terrel and his son come back? Promise me that if they lay a hand on you once more you will leave and come to us in the camp. We do not need this village. I have a few coins put by and we could earn more traveling surely?” She took his hands, “You want me to see the world so if it becomes dangerous, come and show me it.”
He smiled and shook his head. “Alice, I am old. I feel the sharp pain of winter in my bones, the dull ache of summer in my muscles. I will not leave this village again. This is where your mother is buried and I will be buried beside her. You are young though, and know everything I do. You could go anywhere and be accepted. Do not chain yourself to this place, go and explore and become what you were meant to be.” He nodded to the door, “Now go, out the front gate and tell the guards you are going to gather fresh herbs. It is something you do often so it will not be unusual enough to gather notice.”
“Yes Father,” Impulsively she hugged him and walked with him to the front door. Pulling it open he waited for her and she left waving him goodbye.
Even though it was early the village was awake, if not busy. The woodcutters would have left already she knew and everyone else was just getting ready for the day. The early morning sun was low in the sky and she walked quickly but unhurriedly towards the village gate. Approaching it she nodded to the guards who looked at her with boredom and then she was through and walking across the grassy no man’s land between forest and village.
Now, will my guide find me or do I have to find him again? The trees rose high into the air and she could see gloom within. For a moment she was once again within her nightmare and she thought she saw a shadow pass between trees. Shaking her head she shook the fear off and walked more forcefully towards the trees. As she approached them she heard a shouted, “Wait for me girl, where do you think you are going?” and groaned silently.
Turning she saw the headsman’s son Aiden running from the gate and she shouted, “I am going to gather herbs for my father. Since you laid hands on him I will have to do his work for him now! That is all you need to know.” Spitting on the ground she turned back and started to walk once more towards the trees.
“Wait I said!” The voice was rough, twisted with anger and she felt a hand on her shoulder twisting her about painfully. Then his face was in hers and he hissed, “I am to be the headman of this village soon girl. You will obey me or else you will learn what your father did. I am not to be disobeyed. Now, where are you really going? You are going to see those Walkers, aren’t you? I told your father not to and here you are going against my wishes!”
She pushed him away. “How dare you lay hands upon me! You are not headman of this village yet Aiden and we do not need to take your orders.” Anger filled her and she felt her face go red. “I will never obey a thug who thinks more of violence than he does of anything else. You are a toad to me Aiden. An unwelcome thing and I will leave this village before I allow you to touch me once more. This village will soon die with you in charge. You are not worthy of the title headman.”
She was pushed back roughly, her back hitting one of the forest’s trees with painful force. She saw his face, as red as hers and felt a bolt of fear strike her as she realized what harm he could do if he wished. “You think too much of yourself girl. You strut and act like a man, ignoring what rules you do not like! You are nothing but a woman and it is past time you were wed. I will approach my father to arrange the marriage and then I will beat some sense into you! You will obey me woman or else.”
She shook her head but fear made her voice small even as she felt a pulse of anger at his touch. “It takes both families to agree and my father would never agree to such a match. On my life, I swear you will never control me Aiden, never! I would rather leave this village and live wild than have your ungentle touch against my skin.”
“You forget church law girl. He does not need your family’s permission if you have no family left. Until you met twenty-one summers you are still under the rules of the village and accidents happen in the forest girl. They always have. Your father will not save you if he is not here.“ The threat hung clear in the air and Alice fought to be free. Pushing Aiden away she raised her hand and slapped him.
The slap rang clear in the day, loud enough to send birds flying and a look of rage-filled Aiden’s eyes. Face red he raised his fist to strike her and she stood defiantly waiting for it, knowing the pain it would bring but unwilling to give him the satisfaction of it. “You are weak Aiden,” she hissed “A bully who can only rule by fear.”
She watched the fist descend only for it to be stopped inches from her face. A hand-held Aiden’s wrist and she saw the young man twist his head, his face contorting in rage. “Hold boy,” she heard a familiar voice say, “You are out of your village and in the forest, she is under our care.” She watched as the hand on Aiden’s wrist tightened and Aiden’s face went white. “Do you understand?”
Looking up she saw the smiling face of Markus waiting for her. His eyes were anything but smiling though as he gazed down at the young man in his grip.
“She is ours,” she heard Aiden whisper and then he turned to face her once more. “They won’t be with you every time girl and while you are gone, your father will be here. Remember that when you choose the Walkers over your own kind.” He shook his head and looked disgusted, “You are lost girl, lost to the Undergods. When you return you had better pray for forgiveness,”
Alice stared at him and shook. “I would take them over you in a second. When I return I will tell my father of the threat to his life you made and I will beg him to leave this place. Even if he does not, I will.” Her eyes were hard as she faced him. “You are a small man in a small village, soon to be a village without a healer. Everything you touch will wither and die Aiden and I will never be yours. I will die first.”
Facing the walker she whispered quietly. “Will you please get me out of here now,” She saw him nod and then with an insolent smile to the village headman’s so
n he let go of Aiden’s wrist and held out her arm for her like she was a fine lady. She watched the headman’s son rub at his wrist, an angry look on his face before taking the outstretched arm gladly.
As her legs shook he led her into the forest and voice loud so that Aiden would hear his words Markus uttered, “Come let us show you the hospitality and kindness your village sorely lacks.”
Chapter 10
“He is not a man that takes no for an answer easily I think.” Her guide spoke and she looked up startled. They had been walking for twenty minutes and she was still troubled. “Will he truly cause your father harm?”
“He has already. But he has been warned the village will lose its healer if things continue down that path. It would be stupid of him to push it for a village without a healer would be dead within a year or two. Being a woodcutter is a dangerous profession and accidents happen here a lot. Not to mention the nearness of the forest brings illness. They need us more than we need them and he knows it.”
“Still, I will talk with Pyter. It would be worth having someone on watch just in case I think. We have met his type before in the forests. Pack leaders are not that much different from humans. Sometimes they use fear, violence, and bullying to get their way.” He shrugged, “When that happens we sometimes put them down to save the whole pack.”
“You would not do that to a person though surely?” She stopped in her tracks and Markus stopped with her. “You are not murderers are you?”
“No, we are not. We do not go out of our way to kill.” He shook his head and she watched his dark hair falling about him. “But we know there is a part in all of us, a beast that sometimes breaks forth and does great evil. When your family is threatened this way, what would you do? Would you hesitate to put down the beast because it wears a human face?”
“There are things you can do though surely. Report it to the authorities and look to imprisonment? There are alternatives and I would like to think I would find another way,” she said and the corner of his mouth quirked upwards.
“That is what makes you a good healer, but when that evil happens it changes you. I pray you do not ever find this out.” Then he clapped her on her shoulder. “Come, Sasha awaits you and she is an impatient one.”
“Do you do her bidding then? Is she like that lout back there, due to take over your tribe when Pyter stands down? Commanding you like a slave?”
He looked at her and then laughed. It was loud and boisterous and he shook his head. “No. I am to follow Pyter when he stands down. We allow who is best for a job, not whose father held it last to choose for us. Sasha is merely,” he paused for a moment as if searching for the right words. “Sasha is the youngest of us and we spoil her. She likes having someone her own age around. We have children so very rarely and she only ever speaks to people her own age when we visit the family gathering.”
So each Walker family is an extended unit and they gather together every now and again. They must do that to arrange marriages and the like. So why did he stress they have children rarely? Trying to sound nonchalant she said “Sasha’s hair is very distinctive. I’ve never met anyone with a streak like that before.”
“No other Walker shares her coloring. As you say, it is distinctive.” With those words and nothing more he moved on ahead and gestured for her to hurry. “Come, as I said, Sasha awaits and as I have said, we spoil her.”
An hour later they emerged into the Walker camp and she looked confused. “Did that take less time to get here today?” she asked and her guide laughed but said nothing. Walking into the clearing she saw that it was much the same as it was yesterday. The tents were spread out and small groups gathered around small fires or were going about their daily practices. She watched as two of the woman sewed fine shirts made from some sort of shimmering material and others hung leather out to cure over smoke.
The Walker patriarch saw them and Markus hailed him. “There was trouble Pyter,” he said without preamble as Pyter reached them. “A young man was quite insistent that our healer not come today. It would be good if someone watched the village. I sense trouble there. Like storm clouds gathering.”
Alice started at those words but the Walker men were staring at each other. Then Pyter nodded. “Very well, send Stefan with instructions not to interfere unless he has no choice and if Georg comes into the forest he is to be brought here.” Then he turned to Alice, his eyes heavy and weary. “How are you today healer? I hope the day sees you pleasant.”
“I am well thank you. My father sends you a letter Sir.” She passed it over to Pyter who took it wordlessly. His hands broke the wax seal and he began to read, eyes scanning the rough paper intently.
“You have not read this letter I think?” He looked at her and she shook her head. “He asks that I allow you to stay whilst you heal my daughter, keeping you from the village you call home. This will cause much trouble for us, increasing the distrust between your people and mine. Why should I assent to this?”
“I know not Sir. My father is worried about something I know. Words were said between him and the village headman but I do not know what they were.” She shook her head and shrugged, “If you do not wish me to stay I will still come back to check on your daughter each day until she is healed. That is my duty. Though, if you allow me to stay I will be more than willing to lend my expertise to your family, trading my skill for a hot meal and a bed.”
“And the trouble that Markus described, this young man would not find you missing something to remark upon?” Pyter stood easily as if his advancing years were mere decoration upon him and Alice shook her head.
“I do not know Sir. I know he is a bully and a lout. He seeks to intimidate me into obeying him for he takes great delight in thinking he is powerful. He may bluster but they would not dare risk leaving the village without a healer and he knows if he did anything against me, my father would leave in an instant.” Even if I am not so sure of it, she thought silently.
Looking over his shoulder she saw his eyes flick to the young woman who lay on the ground. A roof had been erected over her head, a large square of leather held upright on four wooden poles and he sighed. “I am sure your father told you, we heal quickly, but my daughter does not heal. I fear it is something within the wound itself. So I offer you the hospitality of our camp. She caught a flash of yellow within his dark green eyes and he looked up to the sky, “Yes, stay here whilst the storm clouds gather.”
He nodded to his daughter. ”Please, do your work healer. We will talk later.” With that, he stood and walked over to one of the other campfires. She watched as he bent down and said something to the old woman who sat stirring a pot. She turned, looked over at Alice and then nodded.
“Ok then,” she said quietly and turning she walked over to her patient. As she did she saw Sasha, her eyes staring at her as if she were something new. Why is she staring at me like that? She knows me, I’m not something special.
“So how are you today Sasha?” She ducked under the leather covering and knelt by the young woman’s side placing her satchel beside her. “How does the arm feel?”
“It hurts a lot.” Sweat stood out on her brow and there was a wild look in her eyes. “I should have healed by now. What is wrong with me?” Her voice was worried, afraid even and Alice placed her hand on the young woman’s shoulder.
“Shush now. No one heals that fast. Pain believe it or not is good. It means your arm is still functional.” She smiled softly, trying to take the fear away from her patient. “Now I am going to take the dressing off whilst I create a new one. Which means the air will get to it. You might find it a little cold.”
Sasha shifted in her bedroll and offered Alice her arm. “Cold is good. I am too hot here but Pyter will not let me move.”
Her guide Markus placed a pot of hot water down by her side and she nodded thanks to him. As she did she saw Sasha grimace, her teeth bared and Markus sent her an insolent smile before walking away. They are strange people she thought as she looked at t
he young woman in front of her. I wonder if I will ever understand them.
Gently Alice un-wrapped the bandage she had placed around Sasha’s arm just yesterday. As she unwrapped her nose caught the faint sweet sickly smell of illness. Oh no, something has got into the wound. How did her father know? Pulling the bandage away she could see nothing but the herbal paste she had applied and pulling a cloth from her satchel she dipped it in the hot water and began to clean the herbs away.
As the water soaked cloth touched Sasha’s skin the young woman winced and sucked in her breath. “I am sorry,” Alice whispered trying to work as fast as she could. “I will be a gentle as I can I promise.”
Sasha nodded her face red with restrained pain and Alice cleaned the rest of the wound. The flesh on the young woman’s arm was swollen but that was to be expected, for the arm around the wound was bruised. What she did not expect to see where the radiating lines of darkness that spread from the wound. The thread still sat within the skin, pulling the two edges of the wound closed but she could see they were stretched taught. She must be in incredible pain Alice thought as she cleaned them, but she holds it well.
Looking closer she saw the dark black lines were just under the surface of the skin, like worms that traveled Sasha’s veins. The smell was coming from the wound itself, sweet and sickly it was putrescence she knew. She had smelt it before. “It isn’t good is it?” She looked up into Sasha’s face and saw the resignation there in her eyes. “I can tell from your expression. It is ok, you tried. I knew you would.”
“I have seen much worse heal and I’ve seen much less kill. The patient is as much to do with the healing as the herbs I use so I’ll make you a bargain. I won’t give up on you if you don’t give up on me ok?” She saw the young woman nod and smiled, “Good. By the end of this, you are going to be sick of me. Your father has given me leave to stay here with you whilst you heal.”
“He has?” Sasha blinked and then groaned as a bolt of pain hit her. “It must be worse than I thought then.”
Wolf Heart: Moon Born book 1 Page 6