“Lana and Kennit are old friends of mine. There hasn’t been a moment that I have not been aware of everything going on in the Realm. I have sat in Shape and watched the world change and waited. Waited for this opportunity.”
Eylene continued to walk around the table until she reached Brent and circled behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned in behind his left ear and whispered. “I’m taking everything, Brent. You would have been successful, you know. You were doing everything right. It was me, Brent. Me, who upset all your efforts. My church whispered in peoples’ ears across the Realm and spread lies, false hopes, and dissatisfaction. It was all so easy. The people ripe to hear any lie, or truth.” Eylene switched ears and winked at Lana’s grin.
“By order of the Council, the Church of Belkin will assume authority over the Realm. There’s even a delicious word for it: Theocracy. Do you know what a Theocracy is, Brent? It’s a government run by the church. Our goal is finally achieved. Thanks to you. I shall be known as Prelate Kissane. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”
Eylene stood and Brent vibrated in his seat with anger. She walked back to her seat and stood behind it with her hands on the back. “Prelate Kissane. So wonderful. In a matter of days I will return order to the Realm and the people will worship the ground I walk on. I will forever be the woman who brought peace to the Realm. Statues will be raised in my memory. This is how the Realm moves forward. The victor writes the history books and I will go down as the saviour. You, unfortunately, will be one of a long line of villains.
“You are, no doubt, thinking of your druid friends down at Rigby Farm. I’m afraid their time is soon over. With my handguns and a wonderful herb concoction we’ve put together which negates a druid’s influence over our minds, we will soon put them all down. My people should arrive at the farm any day now.
“As for you, you’ll be imprisoned in the same room in the tower Hietower died in. There is justice in that. You will be publicly executed after this trial of yours. Enjoy what time you have left. Thank you for your service.” Eylene then threw back her head and laughed, and Brent watched in horror as Lana and Kennit laughed with her. The bodies of Ghent and Hargrave cooled in the pools of blood and Brent felt his defeat crush him.
“Guards, take him away.”
Nineteen
Rigby Farm, September 902 A.C.
KATHERINE, DOG, HEATHER and James, along with Will Arbor and Edward arrived at Rigby Farm and were greeted and surrounded by the draoi, farm hands and Steve’s crew. There was a lot of laughter and tears. Nadine had come bursting out of the house and engulfed Will in a ferocious hug and kiss. She pounded his shoulders and screamed at him and kissed him again, all in the same breath. She ended up just holding him tight and squeezing him, her face buried into his shoulder.
The draoi pulled aside Katherine and Dog and embraced them one by one. They touched her hair and petted Dog and soon they were all laughing. For Katherine it was a moment she hadn’t known she craved until it happened. She had never felt part of the draoi, but now she felt their love and acceptance of who she and Dog were. She let them in, and their bonds flared.
Martin, Edward, Dempster, Anne holding wee Frankie, and Steve waited until Will was freed by Nadine and whispered to him. Will was apologetic and in time, Steve shook his hand and pulled him in for a quick hug. Dempster and Anne stood tightly against one another and laughed. Tension fled, and the farm celebrated.
Will stepped up onto the farmhouse porch and held up his hands. Everyone gathered round to hear him speak. “My friends, we are back. I am back,” started Will and everyone cheered. “I left here a broken man, broken by draoi we once called friends. My mind is clear now and I can see how I was slowly manipulated. I apologise. As Freamhaigh, I should have had better strength. Truthfully, I would never have suspected our own to do such a thing.”
Katherine kept her thoughts to herself but spoke to Dog. Better to not trust anyone, I think.
Dog sneezed. No, I don’t think that is right, either. We trust these people here, Katherine. They are our friends. Plus they smell good. I’ve never not liked anything that didn’t smell good.
Katherine snorted and focused on what Will was saying.
“We are under a new threat. This time from within. Archbishop Kissane in Munsten has sided with Kennit and Lana and the draoi who left us. I don’t know what that means and we do not know what they intend only that we likely pose a direct threat to them. I have spoken to the Cill Darae, my lovely wife Nadine, about what we should do. In the past, as you know, I would put this to a vote. Not this time, my friends. As Freamhaigh, I have made a decision. A decision that Nadine accepts. A decision I require you to follow.”
The crowd grew silent. Katherine pursed her lips. This is a better version of Will.
“We are exposed here. I have spoken to Steve, and he agrees with my assessment that the farm is indefensible. I’m afraid we must leave the farm and find a more secure place.”
A grumble rippled through the crowd. They didn’t like the news and many spoke and asked why they couldn’t remain.
“I know,” said Will, when the crowd quietened. “This is our home, we’ve made it ours. Katherine has been most generous in allowing us to stay at her family stead.”
A couple of people in the crowd whistled their pleasure.
“Ha-ha! Katherine will find you and beat you for that. You know she will. No, we must leave. I will speak more with Steve and Edward and determine our best options. Edward is our future King and his opinion will matter greatly. Be ready to leave soonest. Pack your valuables. I mean to leave the day after the Mabon Days, in four days’ time.”
One of the farm hands raised her hand and Will acknowledged her. “The harvest is not due to be gathered for a couple of weeks. It’s been so damn dry and despite our irrigation efforts it's delayed. Surely we aren’t abandoning our fields? They’re ripe and full by our sweat. And what about the animals? What are we to do with them?”
“All good questions. The animals come with us. The draoi will see they follow us. They won’t be a bother. As for the fields, we leave them. The risk is too great. I would rather lose our grain than your lives.”
The crowd erupted at Will’s words. Some were angry and others sad. Children started to cry with all the shouting and mothers tried to soothe them and quieten them. Will watched it all for a time and Katherine wondered what he was going to do. The old Will would have tried to get everyone to agree. Katherine looked at Dog and saw him laughing.
What, Doogie-Doog?
Smell Will, I have never smelt that on him before.
Huh? Katherine turned her nose to Will. She had long ago accepted that she carried the abilities of Dog. A heightened sense of smell was one of them. She sniffed and then opened her eyes in surprise. He’s angry. Oh, dear. Katherine looked at Nadine and could see the pride in her eyes as she gazed at her husband. Our Freamhaigh has changed, Dog.
He’s alpha, replied Dog with respect in his voice.
Will raised his arms and Katherine felt his power wash out over the crowd, instantly stilling everyone. Emotions calmed, and they turned as one toward Will. “I must repeat myself, it seems. I have made a decision. We are leaving the day after Mabon Days. Get yourself ready. That is all. Dismissed.”
Will turned and walked into the house. The crowd loitered a moment looking at one another, uncertain of what to do next. One by one, they left and wandered away. Katherine caught Nadine’s eye and saw her broad smile. Katherine nodded her head and then felt a stab of love across their bond.
Nadine turned and fled into the house after Will, her excitement pulsing across the draoi bond. Steve pried himself away from the porch post he had been leaning against and came over to Katherine. Heather was leaving with her husband and children and James watched her go. He has to learn to hide his emotions, thought Katherine, but then pushed them aside when Steve reached her.
“Welcome back, daughter,” he said and stood before her.
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br /> To Katherine, he looked uncertain and a little lost. She held his gaze for a moment and then smiled. Steve’s eyes widened a fraction. “Thanks, father.” She felt a sting in her eyes and then rushed forward and held him just as her eyes and emotions betrayed her.
She was home.
First Mabon started with the crow of the rooster. It was an overcast day, unseasonably cold, and the feel of rain was in the air. Katherine shuddered in bed despite the heavy duvet covering her. Dog lay at her feet like a lump and her legs complained from being locked in place for so long. She gently shoved his mass away and stretched out her legs under the duvet relishing the feeling of freedom. She reached out to the farm with her senses and felt the others stirring.
Charlie was already working the bellows in the smithy, bringing the furnace to life. He had many more nails for shoes to make before they all would soon leave the farm. Dempster was in the kitchen getting the stove lit and humming to himself. Anne was fast asleep and wee Frankie was starting to fuss, her hunger waking her. James was in the barracks and refusing to acknowledge it was time to get up.
Will and Nadine were stirring, and Katherine left them when their intent rose hot and hungry. Steve was asleep and not likely to rise soon. He and Katherine had spoken well into the night for the past few evenings. Catching up, he called it. For Katherine it was a chance to hear what her mother and adoptive father had accomplished in their lives as highwaymen working for Baron Andrew Windthrop. She loved her time with Steve and was starting to truly think of him as her father.
She felt at peace. The past couple of years had been hard. She had much to be ashamed of, but much to be proud of. The threat of Erebus was gone from the Realm and she had her own personal Gaea to confer with. The Simon motes were a constant presence to her, and she tried to speak to them, but they refused to respond.
Dog and her were one. She didn’t question that any longer. She now longed to feel his presence in her mind. It made her feel whole. When they had merged that time she knew that something wonderful had happened. They were both changed by the merging of their minds in ways they still had no full understanding. At times she longed to run across the land and chase rabbits. At other times she was simply Katherine, the farm girl with a love of horses.
The rooster crowed again, and Katherine frowned. Stupid rooster, she thought. It’s never a good sign when the rooster crows twice.
Katherine nudged Dog, and he stirred. She pushed him harder, and he lifted his head. Wake up, sleepy head.
Why?
It's a new day that’s why.
Dog sniffed the air. I don’t smell bacon. It’s too early to get up. The air smells funny.
Katherine sniffed the air automatically. The air smelled funny to her as well. It does but get up.
I will when you do.
Katherine laughed and threw off the goose-down duvet covering her and covered Dog with it. They wrestled for a moment, with Dog pretending to bite her and growling softly. Dog snuck his head out from under the duvet and licked Katherine’s face. She squealed and wiped at it and swung her feet to the floor and rose. Truce. You win. Come on. Let’s go help Dempster with breakfast.
Katherine went over to the side table and poured water from the ewer into the wash basin. She took a moment to study her face in the mirror, turning her face one way and then the other. Satisfied, she washed her face, dried it with a towel, and pulled a draoi gown over her head. It felt good to wear the draoi clothes again. She felt liberated. She tied a leather strap around her waist and then grabbed her staff by the door and headed downstairs. Through her bond, she watched Dog lie down in the warm spot she had left in the bed and close his eyes and go back to sleep. I envy dogs their ability to sleep so easily; she thought and headed downstairs.
Dempster greeted her in the kitchen and motioned toward the dough he had rising. She blew hair from her face and drove her fists into the dough and punched it down. “Morning Dempster. How’d you sleep?”
“Good, good. It’s so wonderful to have everyone back,” he said as he started to lay thick slices of bacon on a large baking sheet. Dempster preferred to broil his bacon rather than fry it. Just then the kettle on the stove started to give a rising whistle, and he moved it to the back burner and placed a large frying pan in its place. He went back to the bacon and laid out more slices. “Anne says wee Frankie will walk soon. Do you think she will?”
“I know nothing about children. I suppose she might. How old is she now?”
“She’ll be two next month.”
“Hmm. Seems young to be walking.”
“She said her first word last week. Anne says she said ‘mum’.”
“Did she now? How wonderful.”
Katherine felt the draoi bond strain slightly and froze. She reached out across the bond looking for the source but found nothing. She felt Will and Nadine pause upstairs. Katherine frowned and woke Dog. Get up, something just happened.
What?
The bond. It vibrated a little. I felt a pull.
What does that mean?
I have no idea. Go get Will and Nadine up.
Katherine felt Dog’s acceptance and watched as he jumped off the bed and padded to Will and Nadine’s bedroom door and scraped at the door frame with his paw.
Dempster was looking strangely at Katherine. “What’s the matter?”
“I don’t know, Dempster. Something is wrong.”
Katherine reached out for the draoi who stood guard at the roads leading to the farm. They were there, but they weren’t responding. They were unconscious and beyond her power to wake them. Something had them drugged.
“Dempster, go wake, Steve. We’re under attack.”
Dempster stared at Katherine with his mouth open, a piece of raw bacon hanging from his hand.
“Go!” she ordered and Dempster threw down the bacon and ran out of the kitchen as fast as his bulk would allow.
Katherine gathered her power and sent a warning to the draoi on the farm. Wake! We are under attack! Wake!
The draoi woke and gathered power. Katherine could feel them probing for answers. The next few minutes had the farm erupting with activity. The crew and farm hands were all awake, and they staggered out of the barracks and houses strapping on armour and hefting weapons. James took charge of the crew and lined them up outside. The farm hands and non-draoi gathered as a group and took the children into their circle once they came outside. The draoi stood together clasping hands and probing the area for a sign of what was happening.
Will and Nadine ordered Martin and Edward to join the farm hands and stood outside with the draoi. Katherine joined them with Dog and stood in the fine mist of rain that chose that moment to start. The sky was starting to lighten on the horizon, but the morning twilight seemed unnaturally still and dark.
Simon chose not to answer. Katherine gripped her staff tighter. Gaea? Do you know what is happening?
I have no idea. I am no longer part of this world.
Simon won’t answer me.
Simon? He speaks to you?
Yes.
As a person?
Yes. Katherine felt a surge of emotion from Gaea. It was a sense of longing that disappeared as soon as she felt it. What was that, Gaea? Does Simon mean something to you?
Yes.
Simon didn’t answer. Katherine peered out into the mist but couldn't see anything. “Will, Simon just told me they are arriving.”
Will glanced at Katherine. “Simon did? Who is arriving?”
Just then the sound of marching feet could be heard in the distance. Katherine reached out with her senses but felt nothing. Strange. She could hear the sound but could not sense what was making it. She then noticed the stillness of the land around the sound. Insects hid and burrowed. Mice and rabbits fled into holes. With her senses she could feel the absence of nature. That is where the
y are. She used her senses to see through the eyes of a rabbit and held it in place. She could see armed men, wearing golden armour, marching in three long lines. Beside them she recognised some of the draoi who had left with Kennit and Lana.
Katherine told Will what she was seeing and saw Will and Nadine’s eyes lose focus. In a moment Will stepped forward and addressed the people.
“Armed soldiers are approaching with draoi. They are a mile out, coming our way. Martin and Edward, take the children and the farm hands. Flee. Head south. We’ll find you when we can. Go!”
Martin nodded and had them moving. Two of the draoi went with them. Steve sent two of his crew to join them and soon they disappeared in the mist down the south road.
Steve joined Will. “How many?”
“Looks like twenty armed soldiers and ten draoi. Not many, but they block our powers. We’re following them with the nearby animals. What should we do?”
Steve looked at James when he came up to join them. “Any ideas?”
James shook his head. “Sounds like the Church Guard we saw in Munsten. If they’ve come all this way and are blocking the draoi then they are not coming to talk. I fear a fight.”
Steve nodded. “I agree. We talked about this. Execute our plan. Position our people.”
James nodded and ran over to the crew and barked orders. Katherine watched as they split up into three groups and ran off to hide in the barn and behind buildings. Archers climbed up ladders to roof tops and hid behind chimneys. It all happened quickly and with practiced precision. Will ordered the draoi to line up behind him and they complied and held hands. Katherine and Dog stood next to Will and Nadine and they waited.
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