Part 8
Molly had been staying at the sanctuary for a couple of weeks before she left to learn from the next village. Fergus was happy to see his daughter so grown up. Fighting the Romans had been a constant struggle..it seemed that everything they did was overshadowed by this ongoing reign of fear created by Longinus. Tully had brushed up on his magic, he'd been working hard to be able to control his skills. Catlin was worried, as usual...she felt that something was not right..and Molly's escapades into the woods at night..didn't discourage Catlin's feeling that something was amiss. She'd seen her escape into the woods every night and not come back until the light of day. For weeks Catlin had been searching herself, to sum up some courage to go and tell the one person she wished she didn't have to confront. She had to tell Connor of this..after contemplating it...eventhough Connor may love Molly, Catlin had to make him aware of Molly's strange behaviour.
Catlin saw Connor sitting on his own...walked up to him with a worried expression on her face, he had been sitting by the fire..looking lost in thought..ÓConnor, I have to speak with you.Ó The expression on her face grim...
ÒWhat about?Ó He asked, still lost in thought. Concentrating on the fire.
Catlin sat next to him. "Molly... I think something is going on....ever since she has been staying with us in the sanctuary sheÕs been acting very strange. She goes out really late, into the woods...and doesn't come back until dawn, I'm worried about her.Ó
Connor smirked.ÓWhat? Are you spying on her, Cat?Ó He looked at her now.
ÒOf course not...I just think we should talk to her..or maybe you should talk to her, see if anything is bothering her. I have a bad feeling about this.Ó Her eyes were shining with the glare of the fire before them.
ÒSheÕs going to be leaving tomorrow Cat, to go learn from the people of other villages...donÕt worry so much..Ó He said putting his hand on her hand, and then lifting it towards her face to touch it gently...He smiled and stared so intently, Catlin thought he was staring right into her soul, then his trail of thought seemed to change, ÒI have to go, weÕll talk when I come back Catlin.Ó He said getting up..walking towards his horse.
ÒBut connor...Ó said Catlin standing and trying to catch up with him.
ÒLater!Ó He said scurring away amongst the other people.
She could see him mount his horse and ride away. Catlin was somewhat disappointed, she couldn't shake the bad feeling off of her...she slowly walked back towards the fire....and from the corner of her eye saw Molly. She thought that maybe she could go talk to her...Catlin and Molly were good friends, they got along, she was sure she could talk to her to see what if anything was wrong.
"Molly!" She yelled out..
Molly walked towards Catlin, "Yeah Cat?"
"Can we talk?"
"Of course." said Molly smiling.
They walked side by side, around the sactuary. "How are you?" asked Catlin.
"What a silly question, what's going on?"
"I'm worried about you?" said Catlin with concerned eyes.
Molly laughed, "There's nothing to worry about...I'm fine, really."
"You've been a bit distant. and you know that if there's anything wrong you can always come and talk with me right?" Catlin said.
"Yes..I know. But, really, I'm fine Cat..."
"Alright..well, I guess that's it..." said Catlin, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"I think I'm going to go to bed soon, I have to be up early tomorrow morning....goodnight Cat. and thanks." said Molly walking away.
The uneasy feeling filled Catlin's stomach. She decided to keep walking, maybe a good night walk would clear her mind up. She hugged herself as the night's breeze hit her. She hoped that wherever Connor was he was warm. She caught herself in surprise when she noticed Molly walking into the forested area again. What was going on? Maybe it wasn't Molly, either way she had to go and find out. She followed the figure into and amongst the trees....and stopped herself when she heard not only Molly's voice, but someone else's. All she could hear were whispers at first, but then, she could clearly make out the words.
ÒWhat about Connor and my Da?Ó asked Molly
ÒConnor wonÕt know and by the time Fergus comes back it will be too late.Ó said the Roman.
ÒBut Catlin and Tully will still be there.Ó said Molly..she seemed scared.
ÒAnd? I canÕt spare everyone, remember what Longinus said, Connor is to suffer by this.Ó
ÒWhat should I tell my Da?Ó
ÒTell him that Connor called him to go to the River peoples, in talk of joining the confederation.Ó
ÒHe'll know I lied when he doesn't find Connor there.Ó said Molly.
"I've taken care of that...don't worry..Connor is heading there now."
Molly stared at him..."I know we've been planning this for a while, but...I don't think it's the right time yet.
"Are you with us or not? I should kill you now, I can see treachery in your eyes."
"Ethaen please...that's not what's going to happen. I want the fighting to end. I want what's best, and I know that this people need a leader like Longinus. Don't worry, I'm on your side, I can do this. I just wish that my friends lives didn't have to end this way."
"Sometimes when you win, you lose." said Ethaen.
Catlin couldnÕt stand the talk any longer....she didnÕt know if this was a set up like last time or if it was the truth, the only thing she thought about was getting to Connor, she had to tell him what she had heard before he left, she could still catch up to him. She ran back to the sanctuary She saw Fergus standing there, talking to some of the people, getting ready to leave...~I canÕt tell him..thatÕs his daughter, he would never believe me..he would think me a fool if this was all a lie...IÕll go after connor tonight~ She went into her hut and grabbed a dagger, sticking it in her boot, then she grabbed her bow and quiver..she went to find a horse and as she is about to mount it, Molly came up behind her.
ÒCatlin.Ó she shouts.
Catlin jumps from surprise, she did not know Molly had been behind her, ÒWhat is it Molly?Ò
"Where are you going?" She asked concerned, but Catlin saw through that.
"I wanted to take a ride out tonight."
"With your weapons?" asked Molly.
"There are Romans out there, I need to be prepared to defend myself....don't worry about me Molly, I'll be fine." Catlin gave a false smile, remembering those were the same words Molly had said to her.
"Oh, I wasn't worried about you, I know you can take care of yourself. It's just that Tully is calling for you.." said Molly.
ÒTell him I canÕt, I have to go...Ó She turned her back to Molly.
ÒItÕs about Connor...My da just left to go meet him at the River peoples...Tully needs to speak to you.Ó Molly knew Catlin would stop everything if it involved connor.
Catlin sighed ÒWhy? Is something wrong?Ó
"I don't know Catlin, he just sent me to find you."
Catlin nodded.."Alright, thank you Molly.." If at the very least she couldn't tell Connor, she could tell Tully..
Molly had been staying at the sanctuary for a couple of weeks before she left to learn from the next village. Fergus was happy to see his daughter so grown up. Fighting the Romans had been a constant struggle..it seemed that everything they did was overshadowed by this ongoing reign of fear created by Longinus. Tully had brushed up on his magic, he'd been working hard to be able to control his skills. Catlin was worried, as usual...she felt that something was not right..and Molly's escapades into the woods at night..didn't discourage Catlin's feeling that something was amiss. She'd seen her escape into the woods every night and not come back until the light of day. For weeks Catlin had been searching herself, to sum up some courage to go and tell the one person she wished she didn't have to confront. She had to tell Connor of this..after contemplating it...eventhough Connor may love Molly, Catlin had to make him aware of Molly's strange behaviour.
Catlin saw Connor sitting on his own...walked up to him with a worried expression on her face, he had been sitting by the fire..looking lost in thought..ÓConnor, I have to speak with you.Ó The expression on her face grim...
ÒWhat about?Ó He asked, still lost in thought. Concentrating on the fire.
Catlin sat next to him. "Molly... I think something is going on....ever since she has been staying with us in the sanctuary sheÕs been acting very strange. She goes out really late, into the woods...and doesn't come back until dawn, I'm worried about her.Ó
Connor smirked.ÓWhat? Are you spying on her, Cat?Ó He looked at her now.
ÒOf course not...I just think we should talk to her..or maybe you should talk to her, see if anything is bothering her. I have a bad feeling about this.Ó Her eyes were shining with the glare of the fire before them.
ÒSheÕs going to be leaving tomorrow Cat, to go learn from the people of other villages...donÕt worry so much..Ó He said putting his hand on her hand, and then lifting it towards her face to touch it gently...He smiled and stared so intently, Catlin thought he was staring right into her soul, then his trail of thought seemed to change, ÒI have to go, weÕll talk when I come back Catlin.Ó He said getting up..walking towards his horse.
ÒBut connor...Ó said Catlin standing and trying to catch up with him.
ÒLater!Ó He said scurring away amongst the other people.
She could see him mount his horse and ride away. Catlin was somewhat disappointed, she couldn't shake the bad feeling off of her...she slowly walked back towards the fire....and from the corner of her eye saw Molly. She thought that maybe she could go talk to her...Catlin and Molly were good friends, they got along, she was sure she could talk to her to see what if anything was wrong.
"Molly!" She yelled out..
Molly walked towards Catlin, "Yeah Cat?"
"Can we talk?"
"Of course." said Molly smiling.
They walked side by side, around the sactuary. "How are you?" asked Catlin.
"What a silly question, what's going on?"
"I'm worried about you?" said Catlin with concerned eyes.
Molly laughed, "There's nothing to worry about...I'm fine, really."
"You've been a bit distant. and you know that if there's anything wrong you can always come and talk with me right?" Catlin said.
"Yes..I know. But, really, I'm fine Cat..."
"Alright..well, I guess that's it..." said Catlin, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"I think I'm going to go to bed soon, I have to be up early tomorrow morning....goodnight Cat. and thanks." said Molly walking away.
The uneasy feeling filled Catlin's stomach. She decided to keep walking, maybe a good night walk would clear her mind up. She hugged herself as the night's breeze hit her. She hoped that wherever Connor was he was warm. She caught herself in surprise when she noticed Molly walking into the forested area again. What was going on? Maybe it wasn't Molly, either way she had to go and find out. She followed the figure into and amongst the trees....and stopped herself when she heard not only Molly's voice, but someone else's. All she could hear were whispers at first, but then, she could clearly make out the words.
ÒWhat about Connor and my Da?Ó asked Molly
ÒConnor wonÕt know and by the time Fergus comes back it will be too late.Ó said the Roman.
ÒBut Catlin and Tully will still be there.Ó said Molly..she seemed scared.
ÒAnd? I canÕt spare everyone, remember what Longinus said, Connor is to suffer by this.Ó
ÒWhat should I tell my Da?Ó
ÒTell him that Connor called him to go to the River peoples, in talk of joining the confederation.Ó
ÒHe'll know I lied when he doesn't find Connor there.Ó said Molly.
"I've taken care of that...don't worry..Connor is heading there now."
Molly stared at him..."I know we've been planning this for a while, but...I don't think it's the right time yet.
"Are you with us or not? I should kill you now, I can see treachery in your eyes."
"Ethaen please...that's not what's going to happen. I want the fighting to end. I want what's best, and I know that this people need a leader like Longinus. Don't worry, I'm on your side, I can do this. I just wish that my friends lives didn't have to end this way."
"Sometimes when you win, you lose." said Ethaen.
Catlin couldnÕt stand the talk any longer....she didnÕt know if this was a set up like last time or if it was the truth, the only thing she thought about was getting to Connor, she had to tell him what she had heard before he left, she could still catch up to him. She ran back to the sanctuary She saw Fergus standing there, talking to some of the people, getting ready to leave...~I canÕt tell him..thatÕs his daughter, he would never believe me..he would think me a fool if this was all a lie...IÕll go after connor tonight~ She went into her hut and grabbed a dagger, sticking it in her boot, then she grabbed her bow and quiver..she went to find a horse and as she is about to mount it, Molly came up behind her.
ÒCatlin.Ó she shouts.
Catlin jumps from surprise, she did not know Molly had been behind her, ÒWhat is it Molly?Ò
"Where are you going?" She asked concerned, but Catlin saw through that.
"I wanted to take a ride out tonight."
"With your weapons?" asked Molly.
"There are Romans out there, I need to be prepared to defend myself....don't worry about me Molly, I'll be fine." Catlin gave a false smile, remembering those were the same words Molly had said to her.
"Oh, I wasn't worried about you, I know you can take care of yourself. It's just that Tully is calling for you.." said Molly.
ÒTell him I canÕt, I have to go...Ó She turned her back to Molly.
ÒItÕs about Connor...My da just left to go meet him at the River peoples...Tully needs to speak to you.Ó Molly knew Catlin would stop everything if it involved connor.
Catlin sighed ÒWhy? Is something wrong?Ó
"I don't know Catlin, he just sent me to find you."
Catlin nodded.."Alright, thank you Molly.." If at the very least she couldn't tell Connor, she could tell Tully..