Cill Darae

by Donald D. Allan

  “Gaea is gone by your own hand. You killed our deity when many said no. You decided the fate and future of the realm and would not listen to reason. This is the seed you sowed.”

  “You go too far, Kennit! You are dividing the draoi when we need to come together. The land is in need. Answer the call!”

  Kennit gazed at Nadine with a look of sorrow and Nadine wanted to slap him for it. She raised her hand and then lowered it. Kennit shook his head sadly.

  “Enough. We are done here. This man,” and he pointed at Martin. “This man tried to stop the archbishop from her rightful and ordained place in the church. I am not surprised he sides with you. You represent the old way. You cannot see the brighter future when the church and the draoi work together to right the wrongs in the land. With our powers we can determine lie from truth. Together with the church we will bring a prosperity to the Realm that has never been seen before.

  “Come, my brethren. We are done here. We leave at once.”

  Nadine could only stare in shock as Kennit led his draoi out of the barn. The remaining draoi looked uncertain and looked at one another. Steve went to the barn door and looked out for a time. Nadine felt her rage building.

  Steve came back and whispered to the crew and they left the barn. Steve came over and looked over the remaining people. “They are leaving quietly. They were already packed by the looks of it. My crew will stop them taking anything of value, like horses and the like. Although there is little we can do if they use their powers to stop us.”

  Nadine felt defeated and her anger blew away with the winds outside. “Leave them. Let them take what they will. I won’t stop them.” She turned to the draoi. “You remain, and I trust that means you still trust me. There are only twenty of us remaining. Not many but it will need to do. We will meet tonight in the dining hall for supper. And discuss our future. What Martin says is correct. We need to go out to the towns and villages. We must balance the power of the church. I have seen what they are capable of. I fear the worst. Think on it. If you don’t want to leave, let me know. I won’t judge you.”

  Nadine looked at Will but he just stood there. She felt tears threaten to burst from her and she quickly hurried out of the barn. The wind tore the door from her hands, and it slammed hard against the barn frame. She ignored it and disappeared out of sight.

  Much later that night Nadine came down the stairs in the farmhouse to the kitchen. She made herself a cup of tea and sat at the kitchen table. The meeting with the draoi had been long but in the end, all of her draoi agreed to leave that week for the villages and towns. They were too few, but with help from Martin they targeted the areas that needed their attention the most. Steve offered to send the crew with them, and Nadine gratefully agreed. She didn’t want her draoi using their powers to force the church to do anything. She feared it would lead to a new Purge. Steve assigned crew to the draoi and the evening ended with tearful goodbyes. They hugged and drifted off one by one to sort out their affairs. Some draoi had family, and they agreed to all leave together.

  Nadine felt hollow. Her husband worked in his workroom only a few feet away and it might as well have been miles. He had said nothing all evening and as soon as the meeting was finished he returned to his room. Nadine had gone to bed but couldn’t sleep.

  She felt if Will was standing strong beside her everything would be all right. Instead, she was lost and afraid. She felt so alone. It seemed so strange to her that the problems with Will occupied so little of her mind and effort. Weeks have gone by and she barely tried to discover what was ailing Will. Every time she tried to focus on it, her attention went elsewhere, and she left him alone and cried herself to sleep. It wasn’t right.

  She would suspect Kennit, but soon that would fade as well. Nothing was right. Everything was wrong and she couldn’t seem to want to make it right. She put down her teacup and stood up. She forced her mind to focus and made her way to the workshop. Several times on the way she almost turned and returned to bed. She gritted her teeth and forced her feet to continue.

  She entered the workroom and found Will still working the herbs. The room was filled with herbs from top to bottom. The scent was overpowering. She gazed about in some shock. She couldn’t remember the last time she had come in, but she had not expected what she saw. This is insane! The room is filled with herbs of all kinds!

  She again felt the urge to leave but pushed past it and came up behind Will. She tapped him on the shoulder, but he ignored her. She growled and gripped his shoulder and pulled him around. For a moment she saw a flicker in his eyes. A moment of awareness and she felt hope.

  “Will, look at me! Listen to me. What are you doing in here? Look at all the herbs! What are you doing?”

  Will looked about in a daze and then stared back at her.

  Nadine grabbed his upper arms. “Will! Darling! Please, come back to me! Fight it! It’s Kennit! He’s blocking you somehow! Fight it! For me!” She shook him a little.

  Will blinked a few times and Nadine saw a glimmer of recognition. “Na-Nadine?”

  Nadine nearly sobbed with joy. “Yes! Yes, Will. It’s me, Nadine. Your wife. Talk to me, my love!”

  “Nadine? What? What is going on?”

  Nadine embraced Will and sobbed into his shoulder. “It’s Kennit! He’s taken half the draoi away!”

  “Away? To where? Why?”

  “He’s split the draoi. They left.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would he do that?”

  “He disagrees with the Gaea Decision. He says we let her die. He’s taken half the draoi with him. I don’t know where. I suspect Munsten. The others, I’m sending them to the villages and towns. The church is trying to run the Realm. Brent has lost control.”

  Will grabbed Nadine by the shoulders and held her at arms' length. “You did what?”

  Nadine balked at the open anger in Will’s face. “What?”

  “You're sending the draoi away? Why would you do that?”

  “Did you not hear me? The church, under Eylene Kissane, they’re in the villages and towns running things. Kicking out the Reeves and magistrates. Ruling by church law.”

  “And why would you send the draoi? What do you expect them to do?”

  Nadine felt anger rise within her. Will did nothing for weeks and now he disapproves when I finally did something? “It has to be done!”

  “I am the Freamhaigh! Sending the draoi to confront the church will only bring conflict! No! No! No! This is wrong, Nadine. Why would you go around me like that?”

  “Go around you? Will, you’ve done nothing for weeks! You sit in here—look around you at all the herbs! —you do nothing! I ask you to help all the time and you say nothing! Kennit has you under a spell!”

  “A spell? What nonsense is this? I do nothing because there was nothing to do. This land is not ruled by the draoi. The politics of the realm are nothing to the draoi, can you not see that?”

  “Will, I… that’s nonsense. The draoi are part of this world. We have to make a difference if we can!”

  Will now had a look of disgust on his face and Nadine’s heart broke on seeing it. Will's eyes lost focus for a moment and then his orders came loud and clear across the bond. He ordered the draoi to remain at the farm. Nadine felt the confusion from the draoi. Many reached out to her, but she knew she couldn't answer with Will watching now. Nadine felt her heart start to break. Will's eyes focused on Nadine and he snarled at her. “The draoi remain here, they are not to leave. But I am done. I’m leaving.”

  Nadine screeched in emotional pain. “Leaving? Will, you can’t mean that. You can’t leave! Where would you go?” She reached out for him, but he pulled away sharply, a look of hatred crossed his face. Nadine sobbed and felt a lurch across their bond. She looked with her sight and was shocked to see their bond fading. The bright white ribbon that connected them dimmed and then unravelled until nothing was left. Nadine’s heart broke and a hammer of despair drove her to her knees. She reached out to Will, but
he turned his back on her and strode out of the workroom, ignoring Nadine’s screams for him to return.

  Ten

  Fjodham, August 902 A.C.

  THE TOWN OF Fjodham was a quiet town nestled up river from the Crossroad in the county of Munsten. The town was a forestry town. They specialised in lumber from the vast forests that worked westward to the base of the Northern Mountains. The trees in the forest were mostly massive northern red oaks and fir trees and the cities of Belkin placed a large demand for the lumber the town produced. Two rivers called the North and South Fjodham Rivers met at Fjodham to form the Curachan River before continuing downriver to the sea where the city of Curachan was situated. Barges flowed downstream or were pulled upstream, to load up again and head back east.

  Two massive lumber mills sat over the Fjodham Rivers and turned large water wheels that powered the mills. Inside the firs and oaks were sawed and trimmed into the right lengths and widths. The air in Fjodham always smelled of fresh-cut wood and it was pleasant. There were few houses in Belkin that did not contain wood from Fjodham. It was their pride and joy. Everyone worked, and no one needed for anything.

  Eric Mason, the mayor of Fjodham, was not pleased at the moment. Sitting with him in his office was the town reeve, a man named Thomas Holmes. They looked at one another and together they turned to their guest. The man was dressed in military armour with a tabard covering it bearing the symbol of the Church of the New Order. He sat rigid in his seat and looked straight ahead. They had been trying to talk sense to him for thirty minutes. The man was too stubborn for his own good. Eric was trying very hard to keep his composure.

  "Jack. Mr. Morgan?" began Eric. He didn't know what to call the Church Guard leader in Fjodham. He had arrived with over twenty men a month ago. At first they merely watched and helped where they could. The people grew used to them. The unrest in the town was not as bad as other towns, if the reports could be believed, but they welcomed the added help. Fjodham was never a religious town, unless worshipping the trees had become a new thing, and the church guard never seemed to preach. "Jack. You had no authority to order the garrison out of town. None. We have reports from witnesses that you forced them out. We watched you escort them out. Reeve Holmes says you even threatened him when he tried to stop you. We can't have this. This is a peaceful town and you are our guests only."

  Jack flicked his eyes to Eric and then away but said nothing.

  "Did you not hear me?" Eric leaned forward and stared at Jack, but he remained immobile. Eric flopped back in his seat and beckoned for Thomas to speak.

  Thomas cleared his throat. He looked nervous to Eric. The man was pushing fifty years of age and was looking forward to a peaceful retirement this year. He had warned Eric when the church guard had stridden in. Warned him to kick them out. Unfortunately, Eric believed in allowing everyone the benefit of the doubt and hadn't listened. The wordsmiths had even approached him and recommended much the same as Thomas, but then the citizens of the Church of the New Order came to see him. They said the guard had to stay. Then they brought forward gold. Enough gold to allow Eric to retire early and put Fjodham behind him and move to the city of Cala. As a bonus, with his new wealth, his wife had suddenly become interested in him again and his life couldn't have been better if he tried.

  But now he could see what the gold had really bought. He had let them in and now they wouldn't leave. He no longer had a voice. He was genuinely worried for the town now. Thomas say unmoving and Eric beckoned to him again.

  Thomas opened his mouth to speak when the church guard moved. He moved with such speed and with a minimal of effort. In the blink of an eye, he had pulled the strange weapon attached to the belt, and then extended it down an unwavering, straight arm to point it right at the head of Thomas. Thomas gaped his mouth like a fish and Eric could see his eyes cross when he focused on the end of the weapon. They didn't know what the weapons did, but they frightened them.

  Jack turned his head to look at Thomas. Eric realised he had drawn and pointed the weapon without even looking at Thomas. He felt his fear rise suddenly, hot and feverish. Jack stared at Thomas for a moment and then spoke with that gravelly voice of his. "Say nothing, reeve. This is not your affair."

  Jack turned his head to look at Eric and kept his weapon pointed at Thomas. His eyes were grey and emotionless, and Eric felt his insides swirl. "And you, Mayor Mason, that is enough. The price has been paid. We will not discuss this any longer. I am humouring you coming here today. This will be my last time. The garrison is disbanded. I am here with my guard under orders from the Regent of Belkin and Archbishop Kissane. The Church Guard will police this town without interference from you or anyone else. Our patience is gone. Resistance will not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly and permanently. Am I clear?"

  Eric nodded.

  "Good," declared Jack. "Inform the town." He lowered his weapon and put it back in the leather holder at his waist. He stood suddenly, turned toward the door, and left the office.

  Eric and Thomas sat quietly for a long time before Thomas spoke.

  "That's it. I'm taking my wife and son and heading to Salt Lake City. My sister is there. She'll take us in. I'm leaving, Eric. I suggest you do the same."

  Eric stared at Thomas until the words sank in. He nodded slowly and then opened his side drawer to his desk. He reached in and pulled out a leather purse. He opened it, looked inside, closed it and tossed it to Thomas. "Take this. You earned it."

  Thomas opened the small bag and looked inside. It contained close to twenty gold crowns. He looked up in shock to Eric. "Where'd...?"

  "Don't ask. Just take it and go."

  Thomas nodded and tucked the purse under his belt and rose. He stuck out his hand and Eric shook it once. "Thank you. Be seeing you."

  Eric watched Thomas leave and sighed.

  * * *

  Three days later the town met in the Common Hall. The large building had seating for almost everyone. Those without a seat, stood along the walls and listened to the conversation. The meeting had been called by the local wordsmiths after the mayor and reeve and their families had left town. The meeting had been going for about twenty minutes and the crowd was starting to get restless. Many worried the guard would arrive and kept looking toward the exit at the back.

  The head of the wordsmiths was Steven Clark; a slight, balding man, who wore wire-rimmed glasses. He worked for the mills and kept the machinery running smoothly. His family and his family's family had lived in Fjodham for generations, and always they became wordsmiths. He had gathered the eleven town wordsmiths to him and together they coordinated their work and teachings. They were all much respected by the town. Even the believers in the church requested and required their aide. Steven sat on a small stage, with elders from the town and the vicar from the church in Fjodham.

  Steven was telling the people that the new guard had to leave and worried for the future of the town. The more ardent church goers were arguing with him. The banter was getting more heated and many worried what would happen next.

  There were cries of fear when the hall door banged open with force and Jack Mason strode in with four guard members behind him. Taking up the rear was one of the new draoi who had appeared in town. She was a slight woman that many would dismiss, but her demonstration of power had impressed the town folk. Many thought it strange seeing her coming in with the church guard and everyone looked at one another as the guard made their way to the front.

  Steven Clark rose from the small stage looking angry. "You are not welcome here! This is a town meeting!"

  Jack walked up to Steven and slapped him to the ground causing his glasses to fly free and shatter against the back wall. The town cried out and those closest to the stage started to move forward. Jack drew the strange weapon from his side, pointed it down at Steven and suddenly a large crack sound was heard. Smoke billowed from the strange weapon and those in front cried out and tried to reverse themselves and move away from Jack.

 
People then saw that Steven was prone on the ground with blood pouring from a large gaping wound on the side of his head. His eyes were open and sightless. He had been killed by the strange weapon. One of the other church guards stepped forward and raised his weapon. Those nearest him screamed in fear and cowered. The guard raised the weapon toward the ceiling and a large bang was heard followed by more smoke.

  Jack thundered into the screaming. "Silence! Sit down! All of you! Sit!"

  The town's people were frightened now, and they pushed toward the back of the hall. Jack sighed and looked at the draoi woman. She nodded and closed her eyes. In a heartbeat, everyone froze in place. A calm descended and slowly everyone moved back to their seats and sat. The draoi woman opened her eyes and smiled at Jack.

  Jack put his weapon back in the holder at his waist. "People of Fjodham. This is an unlawful assembly. It has been determined that the purpose of this assembly for the intent of deliberately disturbing the peace of Fjodham. Dissent will not be tolerated. The perpetrator, Steven Clark, has been dealt with and punished. You are advised to resist any such future gatherings and report any instigators to the nearest guard. Any assembly of more than three people will be regarded as an effort by those involved to sow the seeds of discord. You are all to return to your homes."

  The town sat in stunned silence. They glanced at the blood that continued to pour out of Steven's head and then back to the guard and the draoi. One of the wordsmiths seemed to shake himself free of the shock and stood on the stage behind Jack.

  "You can't do this! You have no authority here!"

  Jack smiled and turned to the speaker. "I have every authority granted to me and my guard by Regent Bairstow and Archbishop Kissane. This is not up for debate."

  "I won't have it!" declared the wordsmith, and the town gasped. "You have no right! None! You just killed a man in cold blood. That's murder! Murder!"