CH2
The Cart finally cleared the limits of Oswald. They all sat scrunched on the front bench until the back of the cart was less crowded or the roads allowed for walking. Oxen trains and mounted riders filled the road still within the proximity of a large city. Creaking wagons and birdsong mixed to a strange beating song. The day was as clear and bright as the last. Endless fields of grain stretched across the hills. All stood ripe and waiting for harvest.
"Why is no one working in the fields, the birds are eating it all," asked Ruth.
"Is there a holiday?" asked Bran.
"No, the crown's inspection has not reached here yet," she said.
"Why wait, the crop could spoil?" said Tam
"An entourage of men comes to help harvest. Plus it is considered rude to deprive Dagda his tithe," She pointed to the birds, "In Richosia, do they not wait?"
"The frosts come too soon to wait," said Ruth
"Oh," She reminded herself, of course things would be different. Even things she took for granted could be different. Then the thought struck her, "I don't need to learn a new language do I. They speak Fasailan still?"
"Yes mostly, Bran, you speak Cies right," said Tam.
"Yes and," Bran continued with foreign words, but the gist was easy enough to understand. You were an idiot not to learn.
"But that's more a regional thing. Day to day you won't have a problem." said Ruth
What if she bailed at the next town, Richosia was such a long ways away. But she hadn't looked over her shoulder for nearly an hour, and didn't feel the urge to now.
"Don't worry, the things that count rarely change. We still grow crops eh," said Bran.
"How long will the journey be?"
"If the weather isn't bad, two months," said Tam.
"I still think we should go through Arg," said Ruth.
"Nonsense, there are far too many checkpoints in Arg.
"Running from wanderers is better than running from raiders, at least they are slow." said Bran.
"We're going through the Kingless states?" she asked.
"Yes," said Tam.
"Unfortunately," said Ruth.
"It's not as exciting as it sounds, just a lot of grass. I doubt we will even see a wanderer," said Bran.
"If it was far enough away, I wouldn't mind seeing one. Have you seen one? what are they like?" she asked.
"No, all we got were swarms of levellan," said Bran.
She wrinkled her nose. The rodent creatures were not the most deadly, but they were abundant. Their hairless faces and orange teeth had been used as a threat as a child to keep her in bed. She couldn't imagine their numbers in the plane. There they live in massive tunnel complexes they dug themselves where in the cities sewers sufficed.
"Hopefully the cold will keep them under ground," he said.
"The cold should keep most moster's away," said Tam.
"Yes, but we have to survive that cold too," said Ruth.
"We can trade some of Gawain's food for warm clothing," said Tam, "There is a decent sized town before we turn north."
"Yeah, Avon. The last time we passed through an innkeeper was complaining that he could never get apples. He would buy the crate we have," said Bran.
"Sounds good," said Tam.
"I still think we should go through Arg," said Ruth.
"It's not worth it," said Tam.
Bran made a face as the two bickered on. Eventually things quieted and the draft horse pulled the cart out of farmland into the woods. Outside the city the trees already sported their flame colored leaves. The webbing of Branches lay lace like shadows across the road. Many creatures were out in a last flurry of action before winter. A Petryon even dashed before their path, already growing its brilliant white plumage. It was a treat to see a mystic creature, not a monster. The young buck stopped at the edge of the woods and turned its luminous purple eyes on them. It snorted and stamped at them before flashing its wings and jumping into the underbrush. It's attention was a sign of good luck. She hoped it was a sign that she had made the right decision.
For most of the day everyone was silent. Road travel was long and monotonous and encouraged introspection. May with long months alone was more used to silence than talk anyways. She was glad to be on the way. After last night she wished to go immediately. Not only was Gewain after her but she had been found. She took some comfort that they had been scared off by Bran and Tam. The kingless states were dangerous but the emptiness of it and even the danger would cover her trail. If they could get out of Sudeland without being caught there was a chance she would be too far away for them to get her. For now at least her companions were enough to scare them off.
The pleasant scenery and smell of decaying leaves and other forest detritus had her dreaming of quiet times hunting in the woods for herbs and rare fungus that only came out in Autumn. She couldn't remember the last time she foraged. Perhaps they would halt today with some daylight left. There was no point though, she couldn't use what she gathered. Not with enemies so close. She scanned the bare woods waiting for figures to jump out from the large oak they just passed. Beside her Bran turned to follow her sight line.
"Did you see something?"
Startled from her thoughts, "No."
"Gewain wouldn't follow outside the city," said Ruth, "He is not organized enough to."
"In a few days no one would," said Tam, "Not even the man from the bar, who was he?"
"I don't know," that wasn't exactly true.
"He seemed to know you," he said.
"It's nothing." and she was relieved he asked no further. They didn't need to know that secret.
Everyone fell back into silence, but they were more on guard. It calmed her that other eyes looked out for danger beside her. It was for their own self preservation. It helped all the same. She leaned back trying to find a more comfortable position on the jaring bench. Resting her head on a sack behind stared at the sky. It was blue, serene, unbroken, nothing like her.
Caught between towns at dusk, they made camp at the side of the road. As they wordlessly finished evening chores, May was aware that she was a stranger amongst friends. She did what she could to help. The horse must have been a new addition as well. Its care had not been incorporated into the routine yet. She cautiously sidled up to it, and it looked placidly back. She fumbled with the harness doing her best to keep it from tangling. She vaguely remembered gooms rubbing sweaty horses with hay. So she gathered handfuls of dried grass and rubbed the lines where the yoke and girth lay dark on her gray skin. She seemed to like the attention or didn't mind it. When she had finished, she left the horse to graze, and sat staring into a growing fire with the others.
"Is no one else going to ask?" said Bran, "I mean what were you doing in that tower?"
"I am curious too, it's not every day someone goes to such lengths to trap someone," said Tam.
"It was just as much to keep people out as us in."
"Sounds like you are very special," said Ruth.
"I was just the maid."
"A maid with magic," she pressed.
Bran gasped dramatically, "Are you some ancient warlock we freed, imprisoned for thousands of years."
She laughed.
"Oh no you are. So long friends it's back to being a dog."
"I wouldn't be much of a warlock waiting this long to do something."
"On the contrary, it's just the devious plan to do. Wait till we aren't expecting it."
"Really? lucky for you I don't hex people."
"What about the little friend hiding in your pocket?" asked Tam.
There was no point in hiding me. They already knew she was magic and she realized by then she wasn't much good at hiding them. She opened her pocket and her bird fluttered to her shoulder. "Aeron isn't a person, it's my familiar."
"A familiar? I have never seen one before, they must be strong magic." said Ruth.
"No, anyone can get familiar if you're good enough friends with a witch."
"Where did you get yours?" Tam asked.
"My mother."
She was too young to remember her mother calling the familiar. It was not wrong that any witch could grant a familiar, but you had to be far more than a friend for them to do it. The desperate pleas to not let her child live alone, those echoing cries were what summoned the fey spirit.
"What are they for?" aske Bran
"Companionship, a second set of eyes, a friend that will never leave."
"I guess that was nice in the tower," said Bran
"How long were you there?" asked Tam.
"Just over seven years."
"Seven, how young were you going in?" he asked
"twelve."
"So young," said Ruth. May shrugged.
"What did you do all that time?" asked Bran.
"Be a maid, study."
"That must have been lots of time to study magic," said Ruth.
She had devoted the majority of those years to study but, "you can only study the materials you have and what I have is limited to say the least." She rested a hand on the small satchel with her books in it. "More than that many potions and spells require the outdoors."
"Now that you're out you can learn all kinds of things," said Bran.
"Perhaps," Once again following the cycles of the moon, tasting the perfumed scents of crushed herbs, reading deep lore to find spells lost called to her. Finding a quiet life of study was unlikely."There aren't so many chances to learn even when you want to." She saw the others and smiled, "What are you doing?"
"Making dinner," said Tam.
"Or do mages not eat," asked Bran.
"You saw me eat this morning. It's just, that is a porridge pot. You don't need to put food in," she reached down and touched the little cast iron pot. The others reacted, but it was quite cool. "I'll show you." She bent over the pot and sang its song.
"Porridge pot
Hot pot
Empty or not
Cook me a lot."
The pot shook before filling with thick porridge. The steam rose and I took it off the fire. Magically the metal never warmed hot enough to burn, but the food inside was always the perfect temperature.
"That's nifty," said Ruth, "but can it make anything else? I'm not a fan of breakfast."
"It's a porridge pot."
"It's pretty good," said Bran sticking his finger in, "it's better than whatever Tam would make at least."
"Hey."
At this point She would have eaten anything as her stomach grumbled and quickly served herself and the others. Tam came over with a bowl more the size of a serving dish than one to eat from. He picked up the pot and began tipping it into his dish.
"I wouldn't do that." but before she could stop him a small river of steaming porridge came out. She quickly righted it and stopped the flow. She sighed, shaking the gruel off herself. Ruth handed her a rag apologetically. Tam sat even more covered than her. He shuffled back to the cart and wiped most of it off on a tarp. She started to clean herself off and looked around.
The sun had set. The fire illuminated only the fringes of trees. She couldn't see the road. Only because of its pale flanks was the horse visible beyond the cart. She ate unperturbed by the darkness. Only a few bugs braving the cold and the snapping fire broke the silence. The moon was a thin slice in the sky and growing.
"Are you not going to tell us why you were in that tower, especially now that it contained such powerful artifacts," said Ruth.
She sighed. She didn't have anything to hide but she had disciplined herself to share as little as possible so she didn't say something she should hide. "Like I told you I was just the maid," Ruth's frustration grew in the set of her jaw, "but the enchantments and everything inside was set up to protect Alestra more than anything else," and her to a lesser extent.
"From who?"
"A mad king?" asked Bran.
"No, but sadly you are not far off. Alestra refused betrothal to Lord Bevan's eldest son."
"So"
"You don't refuse a Bevan. So the Llewelyn's made a powerful enemy. Alestra was locked up as a means of reparations, but obviously it wasn't enough."
"But the king called them a traitor."
"Exactly, Lord Bevin probably asked him." Once her father died lord Llewelyn lost his clout with the king and any chance of resisting Bevin.
"Since when are Kings so Compliant with lords."
"They are when said Lord controls the whole army."
After the meal was finished Bran told a story. It was the story of Pwych hunter of monsters, not an uncommon hero. But the story was about his adventure north to uncharted lands. Places where monsters and fey beasts hid around every corner. Everything was twisted to be deadly from butterflies to trees to horrifying monsters roving the night. But worst of all was the call of the forest. The pervasive, all encompassing, maddening tinkle and hum that arose sourcelessly from the wood. It is supposed to be the sound of the veils of this world and the otherworld of fey and the Tuatha de donnen crossing. The mixing makes things strange there, even the people. The Fion live so far in the north their blood is changed by it and their kingdom is left alone, mainly because of the monster ridden forest that separates them but also their own might. They rumoredly have the gifts of danu.
This is the setting where Pwych daringly travels. Fighting the forest at every turn he slayed beast after monster till he reached the edge of this elusive kingdom. There when the forest broke at last he saw a Fion maid. She had curved pointed ears and eyes unlike any he had seen before. But when he showed himself she screamed. The shout pierced the air, shaking the very earth. The land did her will, binding him and turning him to stone. Now he wanders guarding the edge of the forest, a monster like the ones he used to hunt. He warns any who wish to enter of his suffering wanting to stop them from his same fate. She shuddered at the tale's end. The night was suddenly cold and she pulled her hood lower over her head.
The next day they all agreed to rotate spots on the cart while the others walked. Now that the road traffic stemmed it was possible to walk alongside safely. The forest matured into an old growth wood where trees were so dense roots overlapped and knotted together. The land she grew up on looked much the same. Even the trees felt similar. Their ancient presence hummed around her. The noble giants grew and breathed silent under their mossy coats. Between their roots and branches she saw many plants sheltered. Lambsfoot, cowslip, camphory and others grew protected from frost in the tightly packed woods.
She couldn't resist picking some wormwort. Her feet developed blisters before the sun crested the treetops. Her second hand boots fit ill. She was only able to afford a size too big. In long days of standing work it was perfect when her feet swelled, but not so much for walking. She ended up walking without shoes for most of the day. She had spent enough time in the forest to know how to pick where to put her feet. As long as it wasn't freezing, barefoot was the better option. She enjoyed hopping from tree root to root.
The others did not take to the forest as well. From what she knew of Richosia their woods were different. Evergreen trees grew in open shrubbless groups. They didn't trust the dense thicket you couldn't see past an arm span. It was true the field of vision was greatly reduced here, but anything coming from the forest larger than a squirrel could be heard from far away. She had used this trait to hide as she traveled to Oswald months ago.
There was also the simple discomfort of being unfamiliar with the land. Bran fell in a thicket of burrs as he chased a rabbit for dinner. Not knowing better he pulled some out, a very painful process, before May could show him to use damp moss to draw out the stickers. Tam had the unfortunate chance of leaning against a bog tree to rest, and the whole back of his cloak turned slick with the oily bile. Even Ruth who stuck to the center of the path kicked a seed ball that sent her sneezing. A normally fun object children used to pelt each other was not as appreciated as Ruth picked fluff from her clothing. They would get used to the place just as she would have to learn in Richosia.
When it was her turn to rest, Ruth was also riding. She passed May a water skin, and watched her make the salve for her blisters. It was a simple process not much more than grinding the leaves and root of the woundwort till the root fell to the sidle like husks and the rest had formed a paste. She rubbed it on delicately then slumped as the pain numbed. Ruth looked curious and she offered some to her. She declined.
"Where did you learn it, magic I mean?"
"Probably where most people do, with my parents."
"They both were casters?"
"My mother was a witch, a healer, and my father a wizard."
"They taught you a lot?"
"What they could."
"Your mother was a healer, what did your father do?"
"He was more of the scholarly type, a court wizard, but if there was ever a war or some other calamity he would go to fix it."
"Then how did you become a maid?"
"That was after they died." Nothing she said was a lie, but it also wasn't entirely true.
"I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago."
"Still you are lucky to inherit their powers, A court wizard must be quite good."
She shrugged, "I was too young to know really."
"So you don't consider yourself strong?"
"No," especially not of late when she hadn't touched her magic in nearly a year, "I think you would be hard pressed to find one weaker than me." That was not true but she believed it. It had been so long since she had met another caster not that she wanted to meet one anytime soon. She had enough of this one sided interrogation, "What brought you here? It is clearly a long trip."
She pointed to the back of the cart, "some special goods not available up north."
May flipped up the tarp and inspected the crate's contents for the first time. Inside clinked cases of Mamorian wine. "Oh, you are smugglers right."
"You could call us that. You say you are weak, but what is the strongest spell you can do? Breaking Bran's spell could not have been easy."
"It is always easier to break than place a spell."
"But not insignificant, Tam went to many places and no one could lift it."
"The advantage of learning both spells and potions. If you have the time things can be done with far less effort. You don't know who put it on him?"
"No."
"Because as you said the hex was not insignificant and it is not a good thing if a wizard used such strong magic on helpless people."
"You had better ask Tam if he knows more about this." She called Tam over with a wave of her hand.
"You were curious about the wizard that hurt Bran," asked Tam.
"Do you know who it was?"
"No, should we be concerned about him coming back to hex Bran again?" asked Tam.
"I don't think so, I was wondering because it was not a … respectable thing for a wizard to do."
"Well I don't know much about wizards, but all of them in Richosia at least belong to the Green Tower," said Ruth.
"Then you can find who did it. Bran said he had green robes."
"My ears are burning, are you two talking about me?" Bran said as he caught up to the front of the wagon.
"Yes," she said, "You should go to the green tower when we get back and petition to find the wizard who hexed you."
They all laughed.
"He might as well march to the other world and petition them," said Tam.
"So what do people do if a wizard hurts them?"
"Nothing," said Bran, "It's fine, they don't usually mess with people. All I cared about was being human again."
She frowned. They didn't seriously know a hex Bran was given. "Bran, if I hadn't broken the hex you would have only lived as long as a dog."
"Well I don't know if I would want to live that long as a dog anyways."
He smiled but fell back. There was nothing else he could do but joke. She felt pity but she had done all she could. "Where are the others that were at the Tower?" she had been wanting to ask for a while but she did not look forward to meeting the angry man again.
"You will not see them again." he said with such finality. How could three people kill so many more. Why would they? "We found you in the middle of a mutiny. You remember Uric. He was not happy with the way things were going. He took over leadership shortly after we left the tower. Unfortunately, city guards caught him with some stolen goods and they all are in prison. We were able to go free because we were obviously his prisoners, but it took several weeks for that to happen."
"Oh," she sensed tension in the tower. The extent to which it ran surprised her.
"We would have taken both of you to the nearest town if Uric wasn't about to take over. The best thing he would have done is sell you for ransom, but now I see that would have been the worst possibility for you with those men chasing you." She was not about to tell him who they were, but he didn't ask. "I don't need to know who they are."
"I wasn't going to tell you." She folded her arms.
"I just wanted you to know why. We are not heartless."
"I didn't think that."
"Part of you did. How could you not. But I want you to know how grateful I am for how you helped Bran, nothing I can do will repay that debt."
"You two are very close."
"He is a brother to me."
"It must be nice to have someone watching your back." She looked at Areon to say she knew I had hers, but I also knew a purple eyed finch was not the same as a person.
"We have yours, all of us, and in time I hope you will have ours," said Ruth.
"I don't know if you want that, my magic is not what you think." plus she wouldn't even do magic, certainly not still in Sudeland.
"I think you will find the threat of magic is pretty effective to most people," said Tam.
She thought about what he said. Magic had been around her since birth and she had been taught not to fear it. For most people, it was a cryptic mystery. Just speaking in Sybil might scare people off. But the whole point of her not using magic was for no one to know her abilities. She both craved calling magic to her again and was terrified of what would happen when the warmth came to her again.
She hopped off the cart and let Tam take her seat letting Ruth take a double shift. As fit as she was, she still felt her age. May understood why she hesitated to go through the kingless states. It would be long weeks of walking. She ached just thinking about it. She still looked forward to seeing the place. As a child she read about the wonderful things that grew there. Even the devouring wanderers were said to be striking.
She spent the next few hours showing Bran useful plants, and they collected a stock that might be needed on the journey. She ignored the potions she could make with them. Brewing would be like lighting a signal fire. She still enjoyed it. It had been a long time since picking herbs was her only thought. It was even longer since she had company while doing it, and it was good company. Bran was not the best student, but he was ready to make a fool of himself if it got a laugh. Tam and Ruth were ready to shout light hearted insults from the wagon.
She forgot about her blisters and sore legs as she wove through the trees. Her familiar matched above happily flying through the branches above. She hadn't smiled this much for years, and for a moment she forgot about her pursuers. All she had was the road before her and the next gem to find in the dirt. I wished she had not shut herself up for so long. She left the tower months ago but in many ways she was still trapped.
They made better time the next day and reached Avon before dark. It was an interesting city. The forest went right up to its borders. There were no farms. The river, now a pink ribbon cutting through the village in the dying light, was its main revenue. The fish that ran a few months back sat smoking in sheds at the river's edge. They were a delicacy. She had tasted them once at Alestra's betrothal banquet. It was delicious and fatty though she had little desire to eat it again.
They rolled down the last hill onto its main street. It was a small place, but its claim to fame meant it had all the amenities of a larger town. They stopped at a sturdy two story inn. It was no doubt the inn in want of apples, but trading would wait till tomorrow. The road sapped everyone's energy and there was only time for a meal before weariness claimed them.
Ruth was the worst off, not just her feet but up to her calves were swollen. May remembered caring for people. She made willow bark tea and soaked her feet in salt water.
"Child I have been in far worse ways, you don't need to mother me."
"I'm sure you have, but that doesn't mean you have to hurt now."
"It is a long trip ahead," said Bran.
"Fine if you want to coddle me, I won't object. But what about you, you have been walking barefoot all day."
"I am used to that and tomorrow I will get better shoes."
"Good, you aren't a servant to us."
"Unless you want to be." She shot a look at Bran. He grinned, "just saying" and he went back down to the common room.
"You need to elevate your feet for a few hours."
"I am fine, but if you insist, bring me up some bread and cheese for dinner. I don't care for inn food anyways and the Tables are always sticky."
"No, problem." She stood to get the order and her own dinner. She had no such objections to inn food.
At the door Ruth said, "You are a good girl, I'm glad you're coming along."
"Thanks, I'm glad too."
Heading down her stomach jumped at the thought of proper food. When descending back to the main room Bran waved her over. She sat with them waiting to make an order. Bran sat across from her and leaned forward.
"What," she said unnerved
"Nothing, it's just your, are your eyes purple," he looked at Tam, "Aren't they?"
Tam starred now too
"They are brown." I said
"They do look purple. I don't think I've ever seen eye's that color."
"Me either"
"It must be a trick of the light."
She produced a tight laugh and got up. Leaning on the bar she searched for the innkeeper. She waved across the bar just barely catching the women's attention. "Could I get some bread, cheese and dried meat if you have it?" I passed a few coppers across the bar top. She scooped them up and buzzed off before I knew if she even heard me.
The woman returned shortly after with the food she requested. When she returned to Ruth, her legs were much better. She sat up and ate the dry food and asked why it took so long. Ruth asked so many questions, but so did the others. She didn't want her to be curious about them. She almost stayed up with Ruth. She didn't want to come down to more questions about her eyes. But she was hungry, and the food served downstairs smelled good. Tam and Bran seemed happy to chase people off. She would risk it, a decision she would not have made a few days ago. When she returned, they seemed to be off the topic and she had a quiet meal with no interruptions.
The next morning she woke well and rested. Before leaving Ruth negotiated the sale of perishable goods to the innkeeper. They left with a list of supplies to get and headed for shops. First the common items were at a corner general store. Restocking food stuffs, rope, linen bandages, tinder boxes and cassis oil for Ruth's joints were the big items they got there. Next they stopped at an apothecary. Walking in it smelled wonderful. The smell reminded her of home and all the herbs her mother used to brew. She added willow bark and camphry. She used some of her precious funds to get new clothes. A set of cloaks. A lighter thin woven wool with arm slits and 3 fastenings the other was of heavy felted fabric with the outside oiled to weather proof it. More importantly she splurged on sheepskin boots that fit close to her feet. She noted the possible places for a pocket for her bird then put them in her small bag. She put on the shoes and let her toes thaw.
The group split to find more specialty items. She went with Bran to buy some fish with the money off Gewain's goods. Bran insisted on taking the long way to look at the fine houses on the river. Their plain clothes dirty from travel clashed with the neat gardens and pristine houses. It didn't surprise her when a voice called out.
"Excuse me" they turned to see a finely dressed man in uniform dismount a Epony horse. It was larger than even the draught horse that pulled the cart and showed its sharp canines as it chewed its bit. It had a far more athletic body as well. She had never seen one so close before. It wasn't predatory but it lacked the fear of a prey animal. Its striking piebald coat of white and brown had a sheen in the sun. Intelligent eyes sized us up as much as its master. "Are you lost?"
"Yes," Bran said, "I am looking for the smoke houses."
"First time in Avon?" we nodded "The fish is on the other side of town. Just follow the river."
"Thanks, much appreciated."
And Bran headed to the pointed direction.
"Wait," she said.
"Not now," he whispered.
She turned back to the man timidly, "Can I pet your horse?"
He nodded amused. "You can try."
She approached putting her hand out. It looked at her camly. It focused more on her familiar flicking an ear at it before lowering its muzzle to sniff her. She ran her hand along its neck. Its coarse fur was more like quills than hair. She found a spot behind its jaw that it leaned into. The scratching easily dislodged a few hairs and she kept them out of habit. She gave it one last pat and stepped back. Epona were rare, the unlikely crossing of a horse and a kelpie.
"Thank you, I had never seen one before."
He nodded and mounted up as they walked away and once a few blocks were between them Bran said "You are so lucky, cute people never realize how much they can get away with."
"I just asked to pet the horse. What was I going to do?"
"That was a high ranking soldier, steal it, scare it away from him to ambush him. He definitely wouldn't let me get an arm's length from him."
"Probably because you have a ton of weapons on you."
"I don't have that many."
"That many, I don't know if you have noticed but most people don't carry any weapons."
"I have noticed, what do you do about monsters?"
"Nothing." he shook his head in amazement "are they that bad in Richosia?"
"Not bad, but they are there, we will be fine in the city but you should always have something just in case."
"Oh."
"It's not all bad, the city guard is busy with them so you have less chance of getting caught."
She wasn't sure she was liking the sound of Richosia. A lawless, cold, monster filled place wasn't her ideal location. Still it also sounded exciting. They finished the errands and returned to the inn. Bran went up to wake up Tam. She sat in the common room adding pockets to the lighter cloak. She cut them carefully to match her books. She threaded the epony hair into the fabric of her cloak for safekeeping. They met back near the inn after collecting a barrel of fish.