by Linda Jordan
She stood there glaring at them, hands on her hips.
Finally, one of them stood. Marcus. An average-sized man, who had a lot of muscle and was fairly fast. And he had a temper, that he mostly kept under control. Except when he couldn’t.
She could take him, on a good day. Today was a good day. She could take any one of those sitting there. Evangeline wouldn’t have challenged them if she hadn’t known that. This was to make an example out of one of them.
“I don’t disagree with you Evangeline. I just want to fight you, as long as there’s no magic involved. And no weapons.”
“No magic. But if you beat me, all of you have to help me teach this class. To help people who don’t know how to defend themselves. And if I beat you, then all of you standing near the fire will stop laughing at my students who are working hard at something they don’t understand how to do. They are fearless and courageous about making mistakes and learning. For those of us who fighting comes easy to don’t always understand how it feels to not be able to control out bodies. We learned early in life how to do that, when it was easy. It’s hard as hell to learn it as an adult. So help, or get the hell out of our space.”
Marcus turned around and looked at the crowd.
“Deal?” he asked them.
“Deal,” they all said.
He nodded his head and removed his weapons. Evangeline unstrapped the knife from her thigh and handed it to Jackie. Then they moved to the center of the open area. Her students scuttled to the edges. The guards from the fire helped form a circle. Damon came in the door and stood on the edge of the circle, looking around, trying to gauge what was happening. He looked haggard, dark circles under his eyes.
Evangeline narrowed her focus to Marcus. Watching as he grinned and shook out his muscles, circling her.
She felt her muscles tighten, imagined herself as a panther. Alert. Ready for his attack. He didn’t have as much control as she did. He’d attack first. Thirsty to prove himself.
He launched himself at her. Testing her. She spun, barely letting him touch her.
Marcus ran to the other side of the open space and had to stop himself and turn. Wasted energy. Evangeline could defend herself like this all night. Let him wear himself out. He probably knew that.
“You’re slippery,” he said, grinning. “But I’ll catch you.”
He made another run at her.
She twisted and kicked him hard in the solar plexus with her left leg.
He bent over double, but grabbed her left boot with his hands.
Evangeline instinctively pushed off the ground, twisted slightly to the left midair and kicked him in the head with her right leg.
Marcus stunned, released her right leg. She backed up and regained her balance.
He caught his breath. Ran towards her bellowing like a bull.
Evangeline danced past him, not letting him touch her.
He had to stop and turn again.
While he gathered momentum, Evangeline moved in. Punched him in the nose. There was a cracking noise. Her fist hurt, she ignored it.
Marcus bellowed with pain and wiped the blood from his nose.
“Okay, that’s enough,” said Damon.
“No!” yelled Marcus.
He ran towards her again.
Evangeline moved towards him. She swung at his jaw as he grabbed her. His arms dropped and he fell back onto the dirt floor of the building. Out cold.
The fight had probably lasted less than a minute’s time.
Damon walked up to her and said, “What was this about?”
She explained the situation to him.
“You could have killed him. Haven’t we lost enough people?”
“I wouldn’t have killed him. You know that.”
Damon gave a deep sigh and rubbed his face.
“You’re right. Okay, carry on with your class. And those of you not in her class, you made a deal with me. There are only two people I know of in this entire camp who have a chance of outfighting this woman, even without her using magic. She has trained every day of her entire life to fight and she still does train. Harder than any of you. None of you are those two people who can beat her. I am one of them and I won’t have this sort of competition going on. We need every person we’ve got to fight our enemies and we need to stick together. So, do what Evangeline says or I’ll let her beat each and every one of you to a pulp.”
Damon dismissed them and then pointed to Marcus, still lying on the ground said, “Take him to the MedCenter,”
Two of the guards rushed into the fighting area and picked up a moaning Marcus, taking him out the door.
Could Damon beat her? She’d never really seen him fight. Not full on. It didn’t matter, he needed to retain control of the village, as Morrigu’s Person in Charge. Evangeline didn’t automatically accord respect for rank, but Damon had earned her respect.
Gregor was the other person he must have been referring to. The man was strong, steady and experienced. Even though he was older than Evangeline, he was still young enough to whup her ass. She was never going to fight him, either.
Evangeline glanced at her hand. It was bloody and swelling. She wiped some of the blood on her dark shirt. She’d had worse injuries. It could wait.
The rest of the guards moved over towards her students.
One of them, Tonio, went over to Angie and talked to her, showing her how to go inward and focus on being present in her body. Tonio closed his eyes and made a balancing and grounding motion to show Angie. Then lifted his feet slowly one by one, as if connecting his feet to his consciousness. Then he spoke quietly to Angie again. Angie nodded as if she had a sudden understanding.
That was her students’ main problem. None of them were present enough in their bodies. That’s one of the reasons why Evangeline had started them out with stretching. The students had learned how to be in their bodies during that, but then lost the connection when they began to spar. Perhaps Tonio had taken a better route to solving the problem. She could build on his technique more easily.
Damon had gone over to his table, and began to look through his box of papers.
Evangeline took a deep breath, trying to center herself again and remember what came next in her lesson.
After the class, Evangeline walked over to the MedCenter. Marcus was sitting up in the bed, his shirt off and with a bloody cloth beneath his nose.
Maci, a short slender red-haired woman, the only surviving medical person from the Zoo, stood over him, pulling his eyes open and peering into them. Then she stood back, hands on her hips, frowning.
“You should know better than to get into a fight with one of our own. Haven’t we got enough of a challenge just trying to survive?” She shook her head. “You could have been killed.”
The two guards who’d carried him over leaned against the nearest wall, waiting.
They all looked at Evangeline as she walked into the room.
Maci spotted Evangeline’s hand. Wide-eyed, Maci turned back to Marcus and asked, “Did you fight her?”
Marcus grinned.
“Now I know you’re crazy. You deserve that broken nose and everything that came with it. You really are lucky she didn’t kill you.”
Maci pointed Evangeline to sit on the other bed and got a clean cloth and some brown liquid which she poured over the cloth.
“This will sting,” she said. “Serves you right.”
“I had a point to prove,” said Evangeline.
“I don’t think it was understood,” said Maci.
“I got the point,” said Marcus. “I’ll be there at the next class. Helping the students. And learning myself. I want to know how you did that damn double kick. And no more laughing at people who don’t know how to fight. I’ll even apologize to them. We were wrong.”
Maci just shook her head, hiding a slight smile from Marcus and continued cleaning Evangeline’s hand. It hurt now, the swelling coming on full force.
“Does it hurt to move it?” aske
d Maci.
“Some.”
“Have you had broken bones before?” asked Maci.
Evangeline just looked at her.
“Okay, stupid question. Does this feel like it’s broken or just badly bruised?”
“Bruised, I think.”
“Well, I’m going to have you keep it elevated and still. In two days, we’ll see what’s happening. I wish we had those fancy x-ray machines that were at the Zoo.”
Maci wrapped Evangeline’s hand in a clean cloth. Then went to her workstation and began pulling out bags of herbs and mixing them in a bowl. She set a metal pot containing water on the burning wood stove and waited for the water to heat. Then mixed some hot water with the herbs. She spread the thick mixture of herbs over the clean cloth on Evangeline’s hand and wrapped another cloth over the herbs, sealing them inside.
The warmth of the herbs felt comforting and slightly heavy on her sore hand.
“What herbs are those?” asked Evangeline.
“Comfrey, nettles, goldenrod, loosestrife.”
“I didn’t know you used herbs.”
“We’ve got no medicine left. I’ve got to use what’s available. I’ve been trying to remember all those things my mother used when I was little.”
“Your mother was a healer?”
“Runs in the family. She always used herbs. Didn’t believe in medicine. Said it was unnatural and that humans had been punished for using it. That’s why the world ended. No matter how much I tried to talk sense into her, she wouldn’t believe me.”
Maci made a sling out of another cloth.
“Don’t take this sling off except to sleep and change clothes. It’ll help keep the swelling and pain down. And don’t unwrap your hand and the poultice. I’ll see you back here tomorrow afternoon and I’ll replace the herbs with fresh ones. Don’t use this hand. This arm gets a week off from fighting and whatever else you use it for. Give it a chance to heal.”
Then she turned back to Marcus and said, “I wish we could put a poultice over your nose, but then you wouldn’t be able to breathe. Might be an improvement though.”
“Has it stopped bleeding?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“Well, I’ve straightened it and you can breathe. I’ll give you another clean wet towel. That might help keep the swelling down. Don’t lie down, even to sleep tonight. That will help. Prop yourself up with something.”
“My bed’s in a corner. I can use the walls.”
“Good.” Maci dunked a clean cloth in water and wrung it out. She folded it up and spread it over Marcus’ nose. She poked at the yellowing spot on his solar plexus and he pulled in his stomach quickly.
“Not much I can do for that, either,” she said. “Or your jaw. You’re just full of untreatable injuries tonight.” Maci straightened and frowned. “I guess you’re done. Keep dipping that cloth in cold water, wringing it out and holding it over your nose. For as long as you’re awake tonight. And do not, under any circumstance blow your nose. Or sneeze.”
“Yes Doc,” said Marcus, humbly.
He had a crush on Maci. Interesting. Evangeline had never noticed that.
“I’m not a doctor,” said Maci. “Just working at becoming a healer. Call me Maci.”
“Yes Maci.”
“Now get out of here and come back tomorrow to let me look at it. And don’t forget to return my cloth.”
“I’ll be back just after breakfast,” said Marcus.
He and the other guards left the building, but not before Marcus stood in front of Evangeline and bowed. “I’ll be at class tomorrow night. Helping.”
Evangeline nodded.
After they’d gone, Maci turned to Evangeline, as if to say why are you still here?
“He’s sweet on you,” said Evangeline.
“It’s just because I fix him up all the time. The big lug.”
“Maybe he keeps getting hurt so that he’ll have an excuse to come see you.”
“Oh crap,” said Maci. “You’re right, aren’t you? Sweet of him, but I don’t have time to romance. I’ve barely got time to sleep as it is. Sleep comes before romance. It’s a survival thing.”
“I’m trying to learn about healing herbs,” said Evangeline. “Jackie has been teaching me.”
“The cook? I didn’t know she knew herbs.”
“She does, a little. I’ve been reading old books. Maybe the three of us should meet and share what we know. Pool our knowledge.”
“Interesting idea. Why are you learning about herbs?” asked Maci.
“I’ve given up fighting. Well, except for proving my point tonight. I’ll still teach people, and train myself, but I’ve changed my focus. I want to learn how to heal people, not hurt them anymore.”
“So, you’re no longer a bodyguard?”
“Roosevelt was my last employer. I failed at that. Nothing I could have done to save his life. I don’t want to fight in this war. I’ve met a goddess, Yemaya. She told me it’s time to change my life.”
“Ah, so that’s why you cut off all those beautiful braids. A symbolic act.”
“Yes. I’ve released my past. Time to start over again. I’d like to help you here, although I know so little.”
“You know my work requires a strong stomach. Lots of blood and mangled bodies. That will only get worse if this war happens.”
“I’ve seen a lot of mangled bodies in my life. Too often, I mangled them.”
“Yes, I guess you probably have,” said Maci. “Let me think on it. I wasn’t a doctor. I only have a little knowledge and vast ignorance. I’d need to think about how to train you, but I really need some help. And if Morrigu’s war happens, I’ll need many, many more people helping. You have magic, have you ever used that for healing?”
“No, I haven’t. I’ll need to think about that. See if I can.”
“I know Morrigu does. What about this other goddess, Yemaya? Does she heal with her powers?”
“I don’t know if she heals humans physically. She healed me emotionally and spiritually.”
“Well, that’s a large part of physical healing. Okay, let’s try to find a time for you, Jackie and I to meet. It’ll have to be here. I’m always on call these days. And with more people arriving every day, someone always has a problem. We can meet in my house,” she said, pointing to the interior door.
“What time of the day is good for you?” asked Evangeline.
“I’m always here, when I’m not eating in the Cap. Some mornings, before breakfast, I go out and gather herbs. Besides that, whenever I don’t have a patient.”
“I’ll find out when Jackie’s free. And thank you for taking care of me,” said Evangeline, standing.
“You’re welcome,” said Maci, rubbing her eyes. She looked tired.
Evangeline left the MedCenter. She didn’t feel sleepy.
She walked through the village. It was quiet now. Most people had gone to bed. The rain had stopped, replaced by fog. The nearby tree trunks shimmered in the mist, everything beyond that was obscured.
She needed to talk to Morrigu. Evangeline hadn’t seen the goddess since Yemaya had claimed her. So Evangeline hadn’t yet told Morrigu that she was finished fighting and being a bodyguard. Uneasiness lingered around the edges of her consciousness ever since Evangeline made the decision.
Where was Morrigu and what was she doing?
6
Cady
Cady woke the next morning to pouring rain. Her house felt cold and damp. She got up and lit a fire in the wood stove, her body aching from the moisture in the air. She heated water for bee balm, sage and rosehip tea.
Monster looked up from the bed, yawned and went back to sleep.
The day looked dark and gray outside. A perfect time for going inside. For journeying and speaking with her guides. She needed answers to what was happening with her.
Why had the bees come to her last night? Was it just coincidence? Being in the right place at the right time?
Cady didn’t
believe in “just a coincidence”. The Universe always had a reason, she just didn’t always tell humans what it was.
After tea, goat’s milk yogurt and applesauce, Cady lit one of Sarah’s candles on the table. She pulled all her curtains, darkening the house further. She walked in circles around her house, calling in her guides.
Then she sat on one of the wooden chairs, the one big enough to fold her legs criss-crossed beneath her. Closing her eyes, she began breathing deeply. She felt her energy coalesce and focused on sending it deep into the earth, growing roots and grounding herself. She met and accepted the earth’s energy. Cady gathered it to her, sending it upwards into the sky as if growing branches. She met and accepted the sky’s energy and sent it back downwards. Then she centered herself in the middle of her body as if she was a strong tree trunk.
Her guides and helping spirits appeared, all in a rush of smoke. Some of them were just vague shapes, others more clear. Some were animals, some just a hint of a presence of some spirit who always came to support her. They fussed over her, telling her how much they’d missed being with her, hungry for a taste of the world Cady lived in, or perhaps for her energy. She hadn’t taken the time to journey since searching for Sam. The world had turned upside down since then.
“My apologies, my friends. I’ve been busy in the outer world these past months, but now I need your help understanding what’s happening to me.”
They pulled her up and flew through the air, leaving the cabin behind and flying high above the lake. There Cady could see the deities and spirits looking like whitish-blue lights radiating out from the center of the lake in all directions. More spirits and deities were converging on the area from farther away.
Deities showed up as brilliant whitish-blue lights. The spirits were less brilliant, but the same color.
At the center of the lake was a brilliant white light which they spiraled around.
“What is that?” Cady asked her guides.
“It is a point of power. The earth’s shell has been breached and raw energy pours out. The deities and spirits are drawn to it. Some of them can transmute it, making it safe for others to touch, feel and absorb. Making it safe for birds, humans and the other creatures who live in and around the lake. The earth is feeding the deities and spirits, making them stronger,” said one of her guides, the Ancient Woman.