Any suggestions? Comments? Reviews are greatly appreciated, however short, or critical. Keep in mind that although I can see how many hits I've had, it doesn't do much to encourage me!
Thank you Frogster for the helpful review, and informing me that Hilari Bell is signed on for two more books in this series. I can't wait!
Sorry this chapter is short. School has been overwhelming, so I only get time to write in the mornings. .;
As usual, I do not own, and have not developed these characters. Hilari Bell has.
Chapter 3:
The Hedgewitch:
Mekanna shuffled through drawers of leaf pressed papers messily, eyes scanning each sheet's title carefully in search. "Gotcha!" she exclaimed washed with relief. Absorbed in glancing over the inventory of her food and weapon stores, she missed the shuffling of human footsteps nearing the archive doorway. "Knock Knock," Tobin smiled when Makenna jumped in surprise. Turning while shutting the paper away back in it's place, she let out a long sigh. "Sorry, I have a lot to do before I can even consider putting together supplies for the army," Tobin shrugged vicariously, tracing a hand along a carved oaken table, crude shapes of goblins dancing along it's sides.
"Miggy told me you're too worked up about this," he ventured. Seeing her gaze remained even, he relaxed. "I know," she stated simply. "But I have to make sure there's been proper tallying of the harvest items, as well as enough pre-chopped wood to last the winter. That's not even including the fact that we've got to prepare for sorcerers-" "He also said that he'd take care of the city affairs," Tobin interrupted quickly, sensing she could continue on for hours. Gazing at him, an eyebrow up in disbelief, she laughed. "Miggy already has too much else to be concerned with," Tobin smiled genuinely, knowing she thought it was too good to be true. "He's going to hand those tasks down to Binmal, who is more then capable," he finished sending a sharp glare at her gestured protest. She brought her hand down and folded her arms. Her lips were almost frowning exempting the suppressed grin on one corner. "It's time you learn to trust them, Makenna. You've no idea how much I've depended on Mourry, bless his crooked heart," he offered, watching as her glare softened. "Aye, but it's hard," dropping her gaze from his, she thought of her past. It would be very hard for her to learn to depend on her friends fully, especially after being deceived by those she trusted in her childhood.
For a moment her statement rested, both deep in silent contemplation. Soon, struck by a something from his thoughts, Tobin smiled mischievously. "So, what more have you learned from Master Lazur's books while I've been gone?" Makenna's face surged with color. Turning away and reopening the drawers, she spoke quietly. "I haven't read any more of them," "What?" Tobin thought he misheard. She faced him squarely once more, frowning. "Since we set the warding stones, and stone of sanctuary, I haven't continued studying. There's been too many city matters to deal with. More importantly, Otherworld hasn't improved the potency of my skills," she gripped her hands together tightly under his dissatisfied gaze. "I've already read most of them anyway, in fact memorized most of them. I just haven't practiced." "Did you ever think that the occasion might rise where the goblins may need your magic to save them? The portal opening should be a reminder to you of what perils your magic may over-"
Makenna was awe struck by his accusation. Color seeping into her face in frustration, she inched towards him with her finger pointed. "Don't you ever say that I would jeopardize their safety. It's real easy to talk about practicing magic when you've no idea what practicing it means, lordling. Just because I haven't used the priests runes don't mean I haven't used my own proven spells to protect my goblins." With that, she snatched the inventory papers from the drawer, and waltzed out of the archives. Left in her wake was an ashamed Tobin, whose head hung low. He hadn't anticipated her to interpret is statement so."Makenna, wait," he called, turning around only to greet an empty burrow hallway.
The morning was calm,with winds blowing occasional breezes of cool air through the sapling forest. As the goblin band trudged through the recently muddied ground, they let out mumbling groans; their pace seeming to slow with each step. Makenna walked along with her goblins, taking care to keep the well informed Mourry and Tobin at her sides as guides. Their knowledge of the surrounding land would allow them to follow the fastest routes towards their enemy, though that day their enemy seemed eons away.
The day prior to their leave she wrapped up the city affairs with the help of Miggy, who was more then delighted to rid his General of her stresses. Once rations for the army were packed on the mountain rams they used as item transportation, the army had set out. Just after the first kiss of sun hit the mountainside, Makenna found herself yawning as she passed the hoards of goblins bidding the group goodbye.
Now, her current thoughts were transfixed on her magic. Although she knew Tobin meant no harm in his curiosity, she had recently come to the depressing conclusion that her skills would never improve. She figured the fact that she had opened a portal at The Wall was merely luck mixed with the leftover remnants of priests' magic. Regardless of that, she shamefully admitted her desire to be skilled like her mother, who had worked runes so effortlessly is seemed normal.
"Gen'ral," broke a voice, tearing her from her thoughts. Makenna looked around to see Mourry at her side. "Yes?" she asked. He pointed ahead of them. Following his direction, she saw a muck filled swamp ahead. Even in the colder weather the murky waters were heavy with dirt and clay; they had to find a way around it. "We encountered this on our way back. The best path is to head north around it. Doing that itself should take the rest of the day," he finished, frowning. She nodded, ushering the goblins behind her to start turning before they hit the seeping mud banks of the bog.
"Mourry, just where do you think the bandits have traveled to? If they were on the move months ago, they could be ages away," she began thinking aloud. The goblin nodded thoughtfully. "Aye, that's true, but you can bet they'll have left a trail that'll be hard to ignore." She frowned. "A trail of rotten and destroyed land..." she started, suddenly stopping and turning to face the tracker. "I know you'll catch their trail before we can visually see it, but would the Finders have a wider range at sensing it than yours? That is, if they looked for plants that were dying?" she questioned. The Tracker looked at her with a gaping expression of realization. "Why, I can't believe I'd never though of that," he spoke proudly gazing up at her. "I'll inform the Finders we have with us immediately," finishing, he held up his hand, which she placed a button in accordingly.
After the band of goblins and to humans found their way around the perilous swamp, they set camp. Tents of thick canvas made by crafty weavers protected the travelers as the clouds that had threatened rain all day finally started to sprinkle. Though the autumn was still early, the night brought cold chills, so much that while Makenna meandered through the camp paths, goblins encircled fire after fire outside each small tent trying to keep warm. From a distance she saw her own tent placed between Mourry's and Tobin's. Although she had protested that the three of them make a triangle with their tents around the camp, they had stubbornly refused to allow any goblin or human but themselves to protect her.
Exiting her tent was a confused looking Master Erebus. The old goblin caught Makenna's eye immediately, waving his wrinkled hand at her in greeting. "I believe we have an exchange to make?" he spouted, attempting to mask the eagerness in his voice. "Aye. I take it you were in my tent looking for me?" she quizzed him curiously. "Yes, Mistress. Now," he began, pulling back the tent flap once more before disappearing. Following him, Makenna smiled.