Cill Darae

by Donald D. Allan

  Katherine followed Dog in his hunt. It was surprisingly easy to extend herself to join him mind-to-mind. Dog always loved these moments. She could sense his excitement.

  You should be hunting with me, he complained.

  Katherine laughed and ignored James looking at her strangely. Getting nothing from her he looked at Heather, but she just smiled and pointed at her head. James smiled at her and lowered his face. Katherine didn’t fail to notice just how close they were sitting. She turned her attention to Dog.

  So, Doogie-Doog, what scent do you have?

  A woolly thing.

  A sheep? Are you sure?

  Yes, very sure. Can you not smell it?

  Katherine indeed could smell the lanolin of the wool of a sheep. She found it peculiar to find a sheep so far from a farmstead or field. That’s a stray, escaped and somehow still alive. Katherine had always felt a strong affinity for livestock. At the Rigby Farm, her parents always favoured her for getting the cows, sheep and horses doing what they wanted. They always responded to her. Then she learned to understand them when her draoi powers emerged. She missed those days with her parents. For a moment she pictured Steve Comlin, her biological father, and for a moment she missed him. She pushed the thought aside and concentrated on what Dog was doing. She reached out with her senses for miles around and found only wildlife and then noticed a small pack of wolves closing the lone sheep and she warned Dog.

  Yes, I sense them. I want them to watch me take the sheep down.

  Why? laughed Katherine.

  So they can see just how wonderful I am! Wolves need to see dogs are powerful, too.

  Hmm, I sense some underlying feelings of inadequacy.

  I do not know that word.

  Nor should you. Look up, there’s the sheep. Hiding in that thorny bush.

  I see him! He’s mine!

  Katherine could sense the blood thirst in Dog and found herself drooling. She wiped at her mouth and followed Dog until he plunged into the bush causing the sheep to bleat and run in terror.

  Dog, don’t toy with him. He’s frightened to death!

  I need the wolves to see this. Ah, here they come. Watch this!

  Katherine could see the wolves running hard toward the sheep, hoping to intercept it before Dog. The lead wolf came running alongside Dog for a moment and then caught his scent. The wolf yelped in fear and tried to stop and tumbled. The other wolves followed their leader and came to a stop. They watched Dog descend on the sheep and tear its throat out with one massive bite. Even Katherine was impressed by how he did it. Dog stood over his kill and panted at the wolves.

  The leader of the wolves crawled on his belly toward Dog. Urine leaked from him and when he could go no further, the wolf rolled over onto his back and exposed his belly and throat to Dog.

  Is this what I think it is? asked Dog.

  Yes, Dog. You are their alpha.

  I can’t be alpha. Silly wolves. I’m going to explain this to them.

  Katherine squinted when her connection to Dog blurred. He was doing something with the wolves. She could sense that much. In a moment it was over, and the wolves bolted for the fields putting as much distance between themselves and Dog as they could.

  What was that?

  I told them I wasn’t their alpha.

  Why did they run like that?

  I growled at them. They called me Bran. But that is not my name.

  Katherine didn’t understand the name or reference. Is that all?

  Dog was silent.

  Dog, are you all right?

  Yes. Something else happened I did not expect.

  What?

  They feared me, but not as a dog or a wolf.

  What did they fear?

  They didn’t say. They placed me much higher than a dog or wolf.

  Then as what?

  They were too afraid to say, so I sent them away.

  Katherine thought for a little while. Very strange, Dog. Bring back the sheep. James’ belly is making noises louder than yours.

  Katherine felt Dog’s laughter, and she returned her attention to the camp fire and the others. James and Heather were laughing at something shared between them.

  “Dog is coming back with a sheep.”

  James looked over with interest. “A sheep? Surely not a farmer’s sheep?”

  Katherine chuckled. “Perhaps. But a lost stray. And almost wolf food, but Dog beat them to it.”

  Heather frowned. “Dog bested the wolves?”

  “You might say that. He’ll be here soon. Tell him how brave you find him, it’ll make his day.”

  James chuckled. “No problem. He’s bringing us a sheep, my favourite. I’m in his debt.” James paused a moment in thought. “How do you repay a debt to a dog?”

  Katherine poked the fire. “Just play with him. He loves to rough-house. He’ll be talking about this day for months.”

  * * *

  A couple of hours later the roasting sheep was ready. James took his fill with abandon and then wrestled with Dog for a good long while. James was laughing and Heather clapped along in delight. Katherine could sense just how much Dog was holding back and letting James win. But Dog loved it. At one point he sat on James’ chest and licked his face until James pleaded for him to stop. It was a fun night and Katherine cherished the moment.

  Later, Dog curled up beside James and fed him warmth in the rapidly cooling night air. Katherine could sense the love Dog had for James. They were litter mates as far as Dog was concerned. Heather closed her eyes and went to sleep as only the draoi can do. We draoi have no fear of anything sneaking up on us. The land lends us its power and warns us if anything moves. This was one of the first lessons Will had imparted to Katherine when she had left the Rigby Farm for Cala. She now knew the trip to Cala had been manipulated by Gaea so she could convince Katherine and Dog to do her bidding and sever them from her power and turn them into weapons against Erebus.

  There were times when anger surged hot and heavy within her. She hated Gaea and loved her in the same heartbeat. It tore at her all the time. With that thought she realised she had been avoiding something for a long time. Tonight, I face this.

  Katherine waited until they all slept and felt Dog’s connection to her fade. She used her power to entice them to remain asleep and then she picked up her staff and walked quickly away into the night.

  She kept walking until she was a mile from the camp fire. She sat on the ground and placed the staff across her legs. She gripped the black surface with both hands and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and dove into the substance of Gaea.

  HOW DARE YOU!

  Katherine withdrew quickly and stared at the staff in her hand with amazement. “Okay, I guess there will be a little anger,” she said out loud.

  She took another breath and dove back in.

  RELEASE ME!

  No, replied Katherine, she held her head in her hands. I will not.

  YOU PROMISED TO DESTROY ME! WHY DO I STILL LIVE?

  Would you stop yelling? asked Katherine and forced a little power into her voice.

  Stop yelling? You made a promise and yet here I am! Release me! Let me go!

  I cannot.

  The connection went silent.

  Gaea?

  I am here.

  Katherine felt a great upwelling of sadness from Gaea and guilt tore at her.

  Why can you not release me?

  There is too much to do. The Realm is in chaos.

  Erebus still lives?

  No, he is gone. It is the Church of the New Order. They are taking over. And the draoi are split. We are fighting amongst ourselves.

  I care not. With Erebus removed, my purpose has been served. I have no remaining functions.

  You don’t care? This is what your manipulations brought us to! Your death split the draoi! We need to heal that. Bring you back. If we do that the draoi will come together again.

  The Realm will survive without me. This is the necessary period that fo
llows the violence of Erebus. It is as I predicted. Time will heal the rift.

  You knew the draoi would split?

  No. That is unexpected. What I knew was that access to the Simon motes would give the draoi a new purpose. You would be free to do as you will without my guidance and imposed limitations.

  Katherine smacked the staff in her hands. Freedom? We are trapped by our differing views. We are torn apart! Even Will and Nadine have gone their separate ways. Their bond destroyed. The Device? The one in the Chamber? It gave secrets to those very draoi who would tear us apart. These were events you should have anticipated. And planned for.

  Why was the Device not destroyed?

  Destroyed? No one said anything about destroying it. Why would we?

  It carries knowledge no one should know at this time. In time, humans will rediscover this knowledge. Science will always return. The laws of the universe cannot be changed.

  Science? What is that?

  What you call the Word. It is science.

  Well, the knowledge is out, at least to some. But I have the Device now. No one will have it.

  That is good. I would suggest you destroy it.

  No. I will keep it safe.

  As you wish. It is your choice to make. I no longer have power over you. That was always Simon’s wish. That mankind would rule its own destiny for better or worse.

  You knew this Simon? The one who created the Simon motes?

  Yes. How is your connection with the motes?

  Fine. It is strange not having compulsions to remain kind and not harm others.

  It was part of me to limit the use of the power I gave others. Simon bade it so. Katherine, I beg you, destroy me. My purpose is over.

  Katherine glared at her staff. Tell me of the Faroe Island cave.

  There was a long moment of silence before Gaea spoke. Katherine could hear a sadness in her voice, and it tore at her. I cannot.

  Cannot or will not?

  Cannot.

  Why?

  There was silence again for a time. Then Gaea responded. I do not know.

  Katherine was surprised. Do you know?

  Yes, but I cannot access the information. It is forbidden.

  Katherine ground her teeth and closed her eyes. Okay, tell me about the Finnow Mines.

  They are a source of salt for the Realm.

  I know that. Benjamin said that the Finnow Mines was the source of your power.

  He was delusional. He has misunderstood.

  Explain.

  I cannot.

  Again, cannot or will not.

  Gaea did not respond.

  Is there anything you can tell me?

  No. I have no senses other than this staff, you and Dog.

  The only motes left are here on this staff and within us. Thank you, by the way, for freeing the collars from our necks.

  You are welcome, but I did not do it.

  What? Yes you did. You covered the collar, and it broke free.

  I communicated with the Simon motes and convinced them that you were Katherine. The Simon motes released the collar from you. My only role was to vouch for who you are.

  Huh. Well, thank you.

  Gaea remained silent. Katherine opened her eyes and was surprised to feel her cheeks were wet with tears. She wiped them away and dove back into the staff.

  The Simon motes, do they recognise you, Gaea?

  Yes. But not as expected. They seem strangely robotic.

  Robotic?

  An old word. It means mechanical.

  Katherine just nodded, not really understanding. I don’t know what to do, Gaea. I’m lost.

  That is to be expected. You are a draoi with the power of the Simon motes at your beck and call. Your destiny is yours. You are no longer governed by rules, only your own morality. You should rejoice. It has been millennia since mankind has truly been free.

  What can I do? I cannot repeat Cala. I could not bear that. It nearly destroyed Dog and me. I think on it all the time. I see their faces. The horror directed at me. And the fear. Dear Gaea, it hurts! I need it to go away.

  Those memories are a part of you now and you must learn to live with them. Suffering is part of life. You and Dog had to understand all aspects of it. The death of your parents. The compassion of Will. Witnessing the horror imposed by those who would rule with fear and autocratic authority. And now the world split by those who would wield the draoi power with impunity and force others to do their will.

  But what can I do?

  Katherine felt Gaea smile and she drew a shuddering breath. You are the Cill Darae of the New Druids. There is nothing you can’t do.

  Cill Darae? Me? No, it’s Nadine, not me. I’m not!

  There was only silence from Gaea. Katherine yelled at her to reply, but Gaea refused to answer. Katherine drove the end of the staff into the ground beside her in anger. Two feet of staff was buried deep into the hard-packed earth. The staff vibrated and hummed.

  Katherine sobbed and lost control of her ability to stop herself. She held onto the staff and cried with her back shaking. She cried until she could cry no more. At some point, Dog had appeared by her side and pressed himself up against her. He said nothing and Katherine let go of the staff and hugged him tight.

  “Oh Dog, I’m so lost.”

  That’s okay. You’re lost with me. Katherine. So long as we are together we will never truly be lost, will we?

  Katherine barked a laugh. “No, you are right. Together we are never truly lost.”

  Who were you talking to that upset you so badly?

  “Gaea, she’s here in my staff. And in us. You and me. We carry the only Gaea motes in the Realm.”

  Huh. What did she say? Did you tell her I miss her? Wait, I thought she was gone?

  “I kept her here in my staff. I protected her. I couldn’t let her be destroyed, Dog.”

  I bet she was not happy.

  Katherine snorted. No, she wasn’t. She yelled quite a bit.

 

  Katherine started. “Dog, the Simon motes are calling to me. Can you hear them?”

  Yes, I heard.

  Katherine focused on the motes and opened her sight. Thousands and thousands of Simon motes were swirling in the air around her and Dog. She felt like she was trapped inside a small dust devil that sometimes blew across the open fields.

 

 

  She looked at Dog and he licked his chops.

 

 

 

  With her vision she could see the motes suddenly scatter with the wind.

 

  The motes drifted further away, and Katherine looked at Dog and scowled. “Jergen? Seriously?”

  Seventeen

  Jergen and Munsten, September 902 A.C.

  KATHERINE, DOG, JAMES and Heather arrived in Jergen on the first day of September. Fall was still a long way off and people were enjoying the hot summer weather. The sky was clear of clouds and the sun had just reached its zenith. From their approach along the coast they could see ships and boats of all sizes making their way in and out of the harbour. Jergen was bustling with trade. Caravans carrying grains poured through the gates to the waiting ships that would carry the bounty across the Realm. This was the busiest time of year for merchants and people from all around flocked to the city. The gate guards barely looked at anyone. The number of people was just simply too large to allow for any detailed security.

  They slipped through the North Gate and stopped at a vendor and bought food with the coin they had found in the Chamber. The smells had Dog excited to be in Jergen. Katherine shared his desire to smell everything out and only just managed to stay on two feet and hold herself back. Dog
talked non-stop about wanting to visit Nadine’s house by the cliff and meet Vanessa and her three children that James spoke about. This to him was more exciting that finding Edward. He sulked when he was told they wouldn’t have the time. Katherine had to have a long talk with him at one point and he sulked even harder afterward.

  They made their way first to the military section when James insisted. He was adamant they needed to understand what was happening in the Realm. He hoped to find Knight General Kingsmill and speak to him about Brent Bairstow. They hoped they would also have seen Edward.

  They approached the main entrance to the military compound and James was recognised at once by a guard. He was saluted and soon other soldiers came around with smiles and shook hands with him. He introduced Katherine, Dog and Heather and asked about the Knight General.

  The first guard shook his head. “I’m afraid you just missed him, sir. He was called back to the capital three days ago. He wasn’t pleased, but you know how orders are.”

  James looked crestfallen. “Dammit. I needed to speak to him. Is Colonel Sibbald here?”

  “Yes, sir. He’s up in his office. Comes in before anyone else. Hard-working officer, that one, if you don’t mind me saying so. I’ve already sent for his batman. He should be along presently.” The guard turned to Heather after first looking at Katherine. “Mum, it’s good to see you again. You may not remember me, mum, but you healed my leg here. After the Crossroads. I never had a chance to thank you, mum. My wife thanks you, too. She didn’t believe me when I told her what you’d done. There’s no scar, or nothing! Miracle it was. Thank you, mum.”

  Heather brightened and hugged the man, to his surprise and discomfort. “O' coorse, ah mind ye, Sergeant Kevin Black, isnae it? Ye a'maist lost that shank. Tis sae guid tae see ye!”

  Kevin Black looked over Heather’s shoulder wide-eyed at James. James laughed and pulled Heather off of him. “Relax, sergeant. We never understand a word she says, either.”

  Heather growled and smacked James. “Hush yer weesh, ye eejit! He kin ken me juist braw, cannae ye sergeant?”

  Heather looked to the sergeant for an answer, but the man just gawked. Katherine laughed and walked in through the gate. Dog trotted after her and then peed on a signpost. Dog looked back at James and woofed.