In Which Xanaria Takes a Huge Risk and Justina Makes herself Useful
Xanaria crawled out onto a familiar beach. She had spent a lot of time here when she'd been hiding in a nearby cave. She bowed once to the sea, murmured a quick prayer to the Sleeping Goddess, and set off up the path.
Xanaria stopped when she saw the trail split. She wasn't a bad tracker but the path was well used with hard packed dirt. She cursed the fading light and knelt down for a closer look but saw nothing that could help her follow Justina. She felt panic rising in her throat.
Justina was in no shape to walk far. Drown it, I half expected to find her collapsed somewhere along the way.
Xanaria was still staring at the dirt trying to figure out what to do, when a girl with big round golden eyes turned a corner in the path and caught her eye. They both froze.
"Do you want company to Blessed Lyrian's?" The girl asked after a moment. She was dressed for the weather in a heavy wool cloak over layers of regular homespun, but a bit of blue ribbon on her cuffs and hood told Xanaria that she was a novice for the Sleeping Goddess.
Xanaria scrambled to her feet eyeing the ribbon warily. Xanaria was a fugitive. If a Blessed Priestess thought her crime warranted it she could be taken straight to the Goddess and Xanaria was not ready to die. On the other hand if they thought her innocent or thought her crime wasn't bad in a theological or moral sense then she might be granted asylum. Xanaria had never been willing to risk it.
But she's just a novice, she doesn't have that kind of authority yet. I don't think.
"No, thank you. I have somewhere to go. I was just looking for a friend of mine who got lost. Did... Did anyone bring her here? She was hurt and had a very colorful skirt."
The girl was nodding before Xanaria finished talking. She sagged against a tree with relief.
"We almost had to carry her up the steps, but Mother is taking care of her and she's being warmed up by the fire. Are you sure you wouldn't like to come in and see her for yourself?"
"No, thank you." Xanaria said again relieved, "Can you give her a message for me? When she wakes up. Can you tell her that her best friend is here in person and ask her to meet me at this spot when she's feeling up to it?"
The girl looked uncertain. "I can definitely tell her that when I get back, but Mother used the last of the duck fat in a poultice for her wounds and will need more in the morning so I'm to go to the Clearwood farm and pick up some more. It will be late when I get there, so I'll likely have to stay the night. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I can tell her then."
"Your leaving now? It's going to be pouring soon."
"The path of a priestess is seldom easy or dry." The girl said piously, and then grinned and patted the bag at her side. "Besides, I'm in more danger of pulling my back from carrying all the extra layers and such Mother dug up for me."
"Fair enough I suppose. I'd better get back to my own shelter. But you'll tell her? When you get back?"
"I will. I'm Lisa, by the way."
"Thank you. I… would rather not tell you my name right now. I'm sorry."
"That is perfectly alright. Sleeping Goddess guard your steps, stranger."
"And you your dreams."
And they went their separate ways.
Justina woke warm and dry. Her head still felt sloshy but much better than it had the day before. Her back and stomach still ached, her chin and arm throbbed and her tongue felt swollen and hot in her mouth.
Could be worse. Hell, should be worse.
She made a conscious effort to be grateful and opened her eyes, still feeling fuzzy. She was lying on a soft mat in front of a fireplace with a rough blanket draped over her. Watery early morning light filtered in through the windows. She looked up to see the woman from the night before sitting in a rocking chair and watching her with a pinched expression.
Justina moved to sit up, and the woman hurriedly rose and knelt down beside her.
"Your ladyship," she said quietly, "I have washed the blood from your clothing and tried to reattach the sleeve. I've never handled fabric this fine before but I did the best I could."
"Oh, thank you." Justina took a bundle from the woman that turned out to be her clothes.
"Is there anything else I can do to help you on your way?"
"Not… not really. Um, where am I?"
"In the Forest of the Sleeping Goddess on Baron Grayson's land."
"Figures."
"Please, Lady. I understand that there is nothing you can do about it and I feel for your plight and what ever circumstances have led you to be stranded here alone, but I have a daughter. I do not want her spending too much time near a witch. She'll be a great priestess one day, but she is young now. I worry."
"Wait, what? What witch?"
The woman gave her a long look until Justina's mind caught up.
"You mean me? I'm not a witch."
"Lady, I was the one who cleaned and bandaged you last night. You could not have hidden your animal from me if you had one."
Justina rubbed her face wishing she had some coffee.
"If you ask for asylum I will give it, witches who have done no ill are under the aegis of the Sleeping Goddess, but I can see by the cloth of your clothes that you are not without other options and I fear for my girl if things get out of hand."
Justina was still trying to think of an answer when the door banged open.
Two young men stood there, one half carrying the other. The healthy one was tall and broad shouldered with short fair hair that curled around a pair of sharp curved horns and wide worried blue eyes. The other was shorter with brown hair, and an awful lot of blood on his clothes.
"Blessed Lyrian, please! Marcus got hurt, we need help."
The second man, Marcus, just groaned.
"Well then." Blessed Lyrian said briskly standing. "Lets see what I can do."
She helped Justina up, somehow wrapping the blanket around her as she stood, and ushered her into the kitchen. The door closed behind her with a solid thunk.
Justina changed quickly. She folded the large shapeless night shirt and set it on the table. I can't even remember borrowing that, she thought with a sigh.
Justina smoothed her skirt down with both hands. What remained of the bloodstains were too faint to make out in the pattern of her skirt or the black leggings but there was no mistaking them on the jacket. They could be much worse and at least it hides the ones on my t-shirt, she thought shrugging it on. The sleeve that had been torn up was shorter now but it covered the bandages on her arm and Justina was grateful.
Especially when she found the little piece of pale rock she had put in her pocket just before she left. She wasn't sure why she had taken it. She'd felt it hard under her palm and it had reminded her of the one she kept by her bed. Pocketing it had been an impulse. It didn't seem to be glowing now, but when she tucked it in her hands to block out the light and held it to her eye. She could still see a faint glow.
I wonder if it will keep glowing if Skipper dies. She flinched at the thought. And shoved the stone deep into her pocket.
She came back to the main room where Blessed Lyrian had laid the wounded man down on the same brown wool pad Justina had recently vacated.
She returned the blanket to a spot within easy reach of Lyrian and said quietly, "Tell me what needs to be done."
The woman shot her a surprised look, but gave her a bowl of water to hold. The blond man had to go outside once they pealed cloth away from the deep slice in his friend's flesh. Justina didn't blame him. It looked bad. However, Lyrian seemed almost to breath with relief when she saw it.
She cleaned it carefully using things that made Justina's 21st century heart cringe, sewed him up, and covered the wound. When she was done she said a prayer and for a moment Justina could have sworn her hands glowed but she blinked and everything was normal. Marcus breathed out a relieved sigh. When he slipped into sleep and the pain lines left his face, Justina realized he couldn't have been older than late teens for all his height.
"Poor boy." She murmured almost to herself.
"Hmm." Lyrian responded washing her hands again in a basin of water. "They are so young, aren't they? Thinking they can take on the world and nothing can hurt them."
"I can't say I was much better at that age."
Lyrian snorted. "I'd be willing to bet you never joined a group of outlaws whose sole purpose seems to be making things harder for the nobility."
Justina shrugged thinking about the protests she'd gone to in college. They'de been pretty tame, all told, but she'd once gotten a bruise the size of her palm from where she'd been hit by the ricochet on a rubber bullet. She couldn't remember exactly what most of them had been about, but in a way they had all been about trying to convince herself she could change the world.
Watching her face, Lyrian's expression grew thoughtful. "It's possible I misjudged you, I'm sorry. Can you let Bale know that the messy part is over and Marcus will likely be alright?"
Justina nodded and went out the front door. She didn't see the blond boy at first, but she followed the sound of an axe on wood behind the house.
She cleared her throat, not wanting to startle him while he held the axe. He turned with out finishing his swing. He looked at her with fear in his eyes but waited for her to speak.
"She says he'll be okay." Justina kept her voice soft.
Bale dropped the axe and rushed past her into the house. Justina stayed outside, not wanting to be in the way.
She tipped her head back listening to the birds and watching the trees sway against a slowly lightening sky.
After a while, Justina wasn't sure how long, Lyrian came out to find her.
"Do you have anywhere to go?" Lyrian asked quietly.
Justina noticed she had stopped saying 'Lady' at some point.
"Not really." She said with a shrug. "I was going to meet someone around here but it doesn't look like she will be able to make it after all. And Skipper... the skipper… of the boat I was on got very sick and crashed, so I can't go back."
It wasn't entirely a lie, but Justina still didn't feel good about it.
Lyrian looked at her out of the corner of her eye, and only nodded slowly.
"I had a thought." Lyrian said. "Those boys… their group wants to change the world. They are big on dreams and hope and noble purpose but they are… rather short on experience. They could use you."
"Are you calling me old?" Justina asked, amused.
"Not at all," Lyrian smiled, running her fingers through graying hair. "No, simply an adult. Their leader has a lot of charisma and a lot of smarts, but sometimes you just want to take them all and shake them until they pick up their dirty laundry and put them to bed. They could use someone who knows how to be grown all the way up. Someone to think about the little things for tomorrow instead of just the grand future. And, if you'll pardon me, you would be safer there than in town."
"How so?"
"They think of themselves as outcasts. Their group identity is all about being a place where people are accepted. Where they wont be pushed aside for things they have no control over. In town… once they noticed your lack of animal, you would be feared. Fear can be dangerous when it's many against one. I don't know if the Resistance ever thought about including witches, but if it was pointed out to them that you fit the story they tell about themselves, I think you would be safe there. And they could use someone with a little less impulsiveness." She sighed and shook her head, "Sleeping Goddess save me from those old enough to do a man's job and young enough to think they are immortal."
"You believe in what they are doing?"
"I think that sometimes those in power need to be reminded whose hands create that power. Besides, outcasts and underdogs are exactly what drew me to the Goddesses service in the first place."
"Well then. Seems like as good a plan as any." Justina stood and helped the priestess to her feet. "Thank you, for your hospitality and your good advice."
"And thank you for your patience and your steady hands."
As they walked back to the house Justina thought of something. "Hey, there was a girl, wasn't there? I didn't imagine her, did I?"
"Yes. I'm afraid I sent her away. A witch walks up the path from the sea in bloodstained clothes with a storm rising… I had a feeling trouble would be following you. I'm glad I was wrong."
Justina frowned at the bulge of bandage under her sleeve. "I can't blame you. I've had my fair share of danger follow me back to my friends."
"Who hasn't?" Lyrian smiled wryly making a small sweeping gesture with a hand "I should not have sent her away, but she's my daughter. If she had been a little older, or if the situation hadn't seemed quite so… No. If she plans to follow in my foot steps it will do her more harm to try and protect her. I need to stop making excuses for myself."
Justina didn't know how to respond so she just reached out to squeeze Lyrian's shoulder for a moment and left it at that.
When they entered the house, Bale was holding one of Marcus's hands in both of his and Marcus, laughing gently, reached up with his free hand to tuck a curl of hair behind Bales ear.
"Marcus," Lyrian said, "I'm afraid you'll need to stay here for a couple days, just until you won't tear out your stitches by walking."
"Yes, Blessed. Thank you."
"Bale, would you mind taking this woman back with you? I think she would fit in quite well with your crew."
Bale looked a little dubious, but nodded agreeably enough.
"Soon, please." Blessed Lyrian prompted. "I gave Marcus something to help him sleep and heal, but it only works if he isn't trying to stay awake talking to you."
"Oh." Bale squeezed Marcus's hand one more time then rose looking at Justina. "Okay. Do you want to gather your things?"
Justina shrugged and made an open handed gesture. "I've already got it all."
Bale nodded and Justina followed him out the door.
Xanaria opened her eyes to a familiar rocky ceiling not a foot from her head. Sorrow rolled over her as she saw the faint lines of Lupe's name were she'd scratched it over and over all the nights she couldn't sleep. Didn't I… Didn't I leave?
Disoriented she squeezed her eyes closed and rolled over into the less cramped center of the cave. It didn't help. Out. I need out.
Xanaria scrambled for the entrance and sat outside in a gently steaming sunbeam until Skipper and Justina felt real and not like a dream. She left without looking back.
Justina shouldn't be in danger as long as I warn her to tell people she has a bunnies tail or kangaroo pouch. Something she would have good reason to keep hidden.
She had plenty of time to worry on the long walk to the Blessed Priestesses house. Near the fork in the path she climbed a tree and settled on a large branch were she could see people coming from either direction. She waited, letting her eyes close and enjoying the scent of sun warmed evergreens after a rain. Sleeping goddess, I never realized how much you can miss a smell you never noticed before.
When she heard footsteps she twitched out of a light doze, opening her eyes and leaned down to see the girl, Lisa, headed homeward, a basket in her arms. Lisa paused before she got to the smaller path and looked around. Xanaria whistled a trill and waved. The girl looked up and smiled, trying to wave back without letting go of the basket.
Xanaria went back to waiting. When she heard footsteps again she slid out of the tree expecting to see Justina, but instead Lisa was coming back down the path, empty handed and apologetic.
"I'm sorry," She said when she saw Xanaria, "My mother says she already left. She's going to join the Resistance."
Xanaria felt a twinge of unease. "The Resistance? Where's that?"
Lisa shrugged "Mother says it's safer if we don't know because then no one can make us tell."
"Do you know which way they went?"
Lisa shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I can ask Marcus for you when he wakes up but he had to get stitches and Mother gave him some sleep tonic so he probably won't be awake for a while yet."
"Alright." Xanaria nodded slowly. "I guess I'll just have to think of a plan b."
"Plan b?"
"I… it's a turn of phrase Justina would use."
"She's from somewhere very far away, isn't she?"
Xanaria nodded.
Lisa sighed. "I wish I had gotten to talk to her, I bet she could have told amazing stories."
Xanaria just smiled. "Thank you for your help."
"Oh, yes. Sorry, I couldn't do more." Lisa said and turned back to her home.
Xanaria thought for a moment, then followed the girl until she saw a neat house through the trees with a blue and white door. All over and around the house were wind catchers, water wheels, fluttering prayer papers, and other traditional symbols and objects of the Sleeping Goddess. It was holy ground. Xanaria didn't break the forest line but circled around the edge of the clearing until she found what looked like a muddy game trail. She knelt and saw a bit of an imprint in the edge of a mud puddle with the strange angular tread of Justina's shoes.
I knew a secretive group wouldn't take the main path. With a tight smile Xanaria took off down the trail at a trot.
