by Linda Jordan
Cady yelled and then ran down to the edge of the lake.
“Get away from the lake!” she yelled again.
Cady got behind the two children and pushed them out of the water with her staff sideways and held in both hands. The kids turned back to look at the lake, then ran up towards the group of adults who’d appeared by the Commons.
Cady tripped and as she was falling, felt the wave of water begin to cover her. She sucked in a deep breath and dug the staff into the lake bottom as hard as possible with her right hand. Tried to find something to grab onto with her left hand. There was nothing but loose mud. She grasped her walking stick with both hands and held on.
She kicked her legs to stay in the same place as the wave tried to pull her out. Cady had never learned how to swim.
She tried to get her head above the surface. The strong wave tossed her like a meaningless piece of debris, but she gripped the staff tightly.
Keep calm. Don’t panic.
She breathed out as slowly as possible.
Save that last bit of breath, trying to make it last an eternity. Time seemed endless and Cady felt herself slipping into the darkness of the murky water. Losing her life. Just let go. Out of breath, she opened her mouth and water came in.
Then she felt herself jerked upwards by two strong hands. Lifted out of the water. And flying.
Cady hung onto her walking stiff as if it would stabilize her. She spat out water and gasped for breath. Tried to clear her head. Still, she held onto the walking stick.
She was laid down far up on the shore, near other people and Cady scrambled to her feet, using the staff.
Vaguely, Cady heard Onyx’s great wings as he turned and flew back over the lake. Closely followed by the other three dragons.
The wind from their wings chilled her. Cady shivered. Tank held her upright.
“You all right, Cady?” he asked.
“I think so,” she said. “Did all the kids make it?”
“Yes. Thanks to you.”
Someone draped a wool shawl around her shoulders. It felt warm. Her clothes were soaked and she was chilled to her bones.
She couldn’t think. It was as if her mind wouldn’t work. She was still gasping for breath. Her lungs felt raw. It was a good thing Tank was still holding her up.
She could feel one of the others, perhaps Sharine, working energetically on her, trying to gently warm her.
But Cady’s attention was on the dragons approaching the two deities.
There was another bolt of lightening thrown and it caught another patch of forest on fire. This was followed by a swirl of water knocking the lightening god out of the air. He recovered and unleashed another flash of lightening which hit the water god this time.
At first the deities ignored the dragons. The two looked like they could have gone on fighting forever with no winner of the conflict.
Then Onyx blasted a torrent of fire between them. The three younger dragons flew backwards quickly, as if surprised.
The two gods stopped fighting and turned towards Onyx. Cady could hear the dragon’s resonant voice, but not what it said.
The gods yelled at Onyx. The dragon calmly spoke to them again. Soon, other deities flooded towards the two gods and dragons. There was so much light, it hurt Cady’s eyes to look at them. She could no longer see any of the dragons for all the deities and spirits. Every now and then the sound of Onyx’s voice could be heard.
The villagers on the shore stood silently. Mesmerized by what was happening.
Cady felt cold, but didn’t want to leave. She had no idea what Onyx was saying. Gods had never taken kindly to humans meddling in their affairs. How would they react to dragons insisting that human life be respected?
Had such a thing ever happened?
16
Damon
Damon sat at his long table inside the Cap. Going over future plans for badly needed buildings. He read the lists on the paper held with fingerless gloves. Soon, soon, the builders would enclose the Cap completely and it would be warmer inside. But they needed more living spaces first.
The smells of roasting meat filled the air around him, making his stomach rumble. He was eating too much these days. And not working out enough.
He needed to run this evening. Rain or not. The rain made each and every one of his previous injuries ache. He felt older every day.
Damon lifted the heavy mug from the table and drank some of the still hot, tea of the day. Made from toasted dandelion root Jackie had told him. It tasted strong, a smokey rich flavor. He hadn’t had coffee in so long, this was the closest brew the cooks had come up with. It was quite palatable.
He was half listening to Callie interview three new recruits sitting on the other end of the long table. They’d heard about Morrigu’s Army and traveled two days to get to the camp. Wanting to join up. Two of them were strapping young men, about eighteen. The third was small, but wiry. Driven.
Damon put his bet on the third one being the best recruit. The first two had gotten by on their size and strength alone.
“What other skills do you have?” Callie asked.
“What do you mean?” asked the first one, the blond.
“We don’t have enough support people for the army. That means in order for everyone to eat, have a place to live and have clothes to wear, we all work. Everyone trains to fight, with their hands and with weapons. Then they do something else in the camp, something that will help us survive the winter. Whatever they’re skilled at. Whether it’s building barracks or herding animals or weaving.”
“I used to harvest timber,” said the blond one. “And help cut it down to size.”
“I can’t do anything,” said the second one, with the scarred face. “Not good at anything, except fighting.”
“Well, we need people to help with cleaning clothes and guarding the scavenging parties when they go out.”
“Washing clothes, that’s women’s work,” said the scarred face man, snorting.
“Not in this camp,” said Callie, remaining calmer than Damon would have. “Everyone does everything in this camp. Male, female or trans, makes no difference. If you can’t live with that, then you better leave. Morrigu’s Army, Morrigu’s Rules.”
Damon watched Callie stare the man down.
Finally, he said, “All right. But I get to guard scavenging parties, too?”
“Yes, when they go out. We don’t have those scheduled ahead of time. We’ll just pull you from laundry duty when it’s time.”
He nodded.
“What about you?” she asked the third man.
“I like to fight.”
“What else?” she asked.
“I can fix things.”
“What sort of things?”
“Electrics. Stuff like that.”
“Great. I’ll assign you to work with Carlos and Martina and their team. Now, if you follow me, I’ll show you to your barracks.”
The four of them got up from the table and left Damon to his thoughts.
Carlos would be happy. He’d said he was getting close to creating a new wireless network for them. One that couldn’t be easily hacked into.
As Carlos had explained it, they were using old, old tech. From the early 2300’s. No one knew what year it was now. Every town or village seemed to have a different year count. But Collin’s network was undoubtably the newest and best that money and power could attain.
The only good thing about Carlos’ network would be that it was using old tech that no one used anymore and it would be hard to break into. No one would be expecting it and not many would have the skills to recognize it for what it was and be able to break into it. Also Carlos had his own quirky style and it would take someone a long time to figure out his network.
Once the network was up and running, they could safely access whatever knowledge was still online. Which would help a lot. Day by day they grew closer to being ready for the war. With every small step.
There was a flurry o
f chatter outside the Cap. Damon stood and walked outside. The sky had cleared. A strong breeze had taken the dark rain clouds away and brought much needed sunlight. It was still cold, he could see his breath.
Everyone was crowded into the open space, and then Damon saw Morrigu climb up onto the tall stump in the center. She stood there, dressed in a long black shirt with a red scarf. The shirt had ruffles at the end of her sleeves, nearly hiding her pale hands. Black pants and black boots completed the spotless outfit. Somehow the Goddess managed to find stunning clothes. Did she create them with her magic? Or somehow change the shabby ones everyone else wore into these? Her ivory face was framed by long black hair, blowing in the breeze as if it had a life of its own.
“Greetings, my people!”
More bodies streamed into the center of the camp. Damon stood back, near the Cap. He could see and hear everything from where he stood. Morrigu must have just returned. She’d been gone about three weeks.
“I’m so happy to see all of you. I have travelled far. Gathering allies for us all. Strong allies. I see many new faces. Welcome to all of you.”
She clapped her hands and thunder boomed throughout the area. It sounded as if a hundred drums beat out.
“Those of you who are new may not understand why we fight. An evil warlord, Collins attacked our home. With bombs they killed hundreds upon hundreds of our people. Because our wealth threatened him. He had a spy planted among us. That man died a horrible death at my own hands. but not before the hated Collins massacred us. Among those dead was my partner, Roosevelt. A great man who died in such pain and misery.
“I vowed to avenge those deaths. Together we will take Collins and his fiefdom down. His riches and land will become ours. Those who have been with me for many years know that I share my wealth. I am a Goddess of war and I will take everything from this man. I am also a Mother Goddess and I give to those who are mine.”
The crowd cheered. Damon smiled. Morrigu really was a charismatic leader.
“Our plan is to march on the first day of spring. When the day and night are equal. An auspicious time. Until then, train hard. Grow strong. We have many allies, but we must be strong enough to win this war. And claim our prizes.”
She raised a fist in the air and everyone did the same, cheering as she let out a blood-curdling battle yell.
After several minutes of this, she leapt down and made her way through the crowd, which stepped aside to let her through. She walked towards Damon, smiled, and walked into the Cap.
He followed her.
She got a cup of tea from the cooks and sat down at the table, sipping the tea.
“I miss coffee,” she said. “But it won’t be long now. We have much to do.”
“What would you like done?” he asked.
“Catch me up with where we are.”
“We’ve got 290 soldiers. At this rate by March we’ll have 400. The newest ones not as well trained. Carlos is close to getting our network up and running. We’ve made a couple more arms raids and have arms enough for 350 soldiers. We have two more raids planned, but they’re getting more difficult as word spreads about the previous raids. That’s where we are.”
“Good. I contacted Morietti and Barnes. They control the areas north of Collins. They agreed to let us travel through their land to attack. They also said they might join our fight. They needed some time to think about it.”
“Do you trust them?” asked Damon. He sure didn’t. There were so many ways that could go sideways.
“No. But if they grant us passage, it will make things easier than having to fight our way through. I have no doubt they’d let us through, wait till we’re done fighting and if we win, try to wipe us out. So we must be prepared to take Collins down and then turn on them.”
“And if they betray us to Collins before we attack? While we’re in their land?”
“Then we’re not much worse off than we were. We fight our way out. Trust me.”
“What happened to the negotiation trick?”
“They said Collins would never meet with them. He doesn’t meet with anyone. Always sends his subordinates.”
“What about the area to Collin’s east and south?”
“East is wasteland right now. South is another fiefdom. They will, of course, try to take us down. We’ll have our hands full. But I have a plan.”
“Oh?” asked Damon.
“Dragons.”
“Dragons?”
“Yes, I’ve befriended four dragons. Even if only one of them will help, that will be enough. They’re terrifying creatures.”
“Dragons. How could they help against the kind of weapons Collins has? And his neighbors probably are equally well-armed.”
“Dragons are fire-breathing highly intelligent creatures. There is nothing to match them in a battle. They could take out an airplane with one swipe of a paw. Send it spinning into a crash. They can flame an entire army with one swoop. No one will succeed in attacking us with a dragon on our side.”
Damon could hardly believe dragons actually existed. Then again, he worked for a Goddess and he’d seen her do extraordinarily amazing things.
“So, how long will it take to get a dragon, or two, or three or four, on our side?”
“I don’t know. I’ve got a little over three months. I’ll stay here for a day or two, talk to the new recruits. Check everything out. Then I’ll go see them. It will take some time, and probably many visits talking to them.”
“Why would they want to fight for you?”
“To get what they want. Dragons are individuals. It depends on what they want. Some of them love riches, some of them want extravagant food. Others seek knowledge. Still others hearts’ beat to fine music and art. I can promise them that my life will hold all those things. It has in the past and it will again.”
Damon had no doubt that she could talk the dragons into anything. Whether they could take on Collin’s weaponry was another question. Still, he’d never actually seen a dragon and had no idea how big they were or how fast.
He could only hope they were fast enough. And plan to have every contingency prepared for.
He still wished for someone more competent that he was to become General. Although he knew that wasn’t going to happen.
He was all there was.
Damon had to be good enough.
17
Evangeline
Evangeline sat on an old wet log away from the village, but still within the zone posted with guards. Her eyes closed, she breathed in the deep rich scent of damp earth. She could feel the wetness of the log seeping in through her baggy pants. The sounds of cheering in the village center seemed far away.
Morrigu was alway surrounded by people, mostly the new recruits, who seemed rabid. As if she were a returning war hero, instead of leading them all to their deaths.
A group of them, closely following the Goddess, had walked past her in the woods, and Evangeline had stayed silent and still. Hidden by the clump of evergreen bushes she was camouflaged in.
She could have killed them all. Well, except for Morrigu. Who, as far as Evangeline knew, couldn’t be killed.
Evangeline should probably talk to Damon about that. Security needed to be tighter. Especially with all the arms raids he was scheduling.
Let it all go. Clear the chatter in your mind.
She breathed out her thoughts and focused on her body. Out of shape. Growing stronger, but too slow.
At least Maci let her walk alone around the far end of the village now. No longer afraid Evangeline would fall over and pass out. But it had been weeks since her injury and she still felt weak.
She’d been slowly secreting supplies into the large pack in her house. But she needed physical strength and endurance.
So Evangeline spent every day walking as far and long as she could. Carrying a little more weight every day in a small pack, walking a little farther, faster and longer. Then she’d rest and do it all again.
During the resting, Evang
eline practiced all the meditations she’d learned as a young woman. While training to be a fighter. She would need that focus again. Traveling alone through the woods.
She’d need that sharpness. To hide from Morrigu. And anyone else who chased her.
And to keep herself safe in unknown territory.
That’s what frightened her the most. Some of the villages were terrible places. Where people kept to ancient ways, that included hating women and people whose skin was colored differently than their own.
Evangeline had seen the way some of the new recruits looked at her. They’d never seen anyone as blue-black as her. In the past people had stared because they knew she could kill them with her hands or her magic.
That was no longer the case.
Evangeline felt conflicted about that. She missed her magic. The safety of it. The surety that she could protect herself, even in the depths of danger.
Her confidence was gone. She had no magic and her body was so weak, she couldn’t even run yet. Regaining her physical strength was going to take a long time. She would have to do some of it while on the move.
The next time Morrigu left, Evangeline had to leave. While she still could. The closer they got to the move-out date, the more dangerous it would be to leave. Morrigu would be around more often. Surrounded by those who wouldn’t hesitate to hunt Evangeline down and kill her.
As soon as the days began to get longer. Then she’d leave. She had to be strong enough by then. And she needed to spend some time chatting with the new recruits about their former villages. Get a feel for the country around the camp. To know what places she should avoid completely. And where she might find shelter, if there was such a village.
Time to walk again.
Evangeline shrugged the little pack back on. It had three rocks large enough that they took two hands to lift. Tomorrow, she’d add another one.
Her back and legs ached, but it was a good ache. A pain caused by activity, instead of the pain of lying still.
She looked forward to leaving the village. No camp. It was a camp now, a true war camp. The village was gone. She just hadn’t noticed it disappearing. Maybe she’d return after they all left.