CH5

They traveled for weeks. The trees slowly faded as they got closer to the red plains. The hills grew then faded to flat. The Altitude could be felt by the intense chill at night. Great mountains could be seen to the east shining with snow. There was little snow where they walked. Even with the level ground and an unobstructed horizon there was no sign of humans; even the road gradually faded away. With no defined path they just moved north over the grasslands. The few bare patches of rust colored dirt explained the place's name. With no defined road and the round grass tufts and soft ground. They had to walk for the horse to make any pace.

She felt bad for the horse which had slowly become more and more in her care. The grasslands gave it plenty of feed as well as her giving it the last of the porridge pot each night. Its thick fur and bulk made it the warmest of the group, but it didn't know why it was here. It was afraid and there was no consoling it. She wished it understood her so it would know she would protect it. She told it the best she could. It generally liked May. She was the only one who paid it any mind. In the end after she couldn't get a name for it from the others she named it Rihannon. The square boned, shaggy horse didn't resemble its namesake, but it responded when she called anyway.

The scenery was unchanging for a long time. With no place to hide there was lots of wildlife to be seen. Siren deer, wolves, the occasional bodmin cat where found with animals May have never heard of or seen. Sheep the size of deer had horns that curve back then followed along their jaws. More deer-like animals with unbranched horns made strange calls through bulbous noses. A frightening scavenger stared back at them with golden eyes. Protecting its bones it bared its ratlike teeth folding back large ears. It smelled like carrion. Its grinding teeth seeped into her nightmares.

These and more dangerous fey beasts necessitated a fire all night. They were forced to stop early each day to gather enough firewood from the sparse bushes. They also always had someone, usually two watching for danger. There were several close calls at night. Once Tam just barely saved the horse from wolves.

The fire wouldn't scare off everything. Spouting Geysers of far off wanderer's meant dark sleepless nights. It was not all terror. On a rise just at dusk, she saw a wanderer in all their glory. First it was no more than a hill. But the monster exhaled and gushes of mist came from its back. It rose on stilt like legs in slow motion. Even with the distance its many shining eyes were visible. It dipped a many tusked mouth to the earth shoveling anything of worth down its gullet. This was the beast that kept the people of the land constantly on the move. That destroyed any wall and kept the forest from reclaiming the land. The deliberate pace gave its hulking from grace. Its odd proportions of thin limbs and neck and bulky head and body was otherworldly. The very air it breathed was transformed to cloud in a low haunting note that shook her bones. The grass covered hide pivoted away and its paddle-like tail receded into the horizon flattening the ground it disturbed.

"You don't get to see that often," said Bran.

"I think we should be glad we don't," said Tam.

"It was beautiful," said May.

"It is an abomination," snorted Ruth.

"I'm not saying I want to get any closer, but it's amazing it exists," she said.

"I am not sure you will be glad such fey things exist when they threaten you even in your home. You do not know how lucky you were growing up where there are so few." said Ruth

"I'm sure she will understand when she gets to Richosia." said Tam

A few weeks later they had an encounter that explained Ruth's perspective, May was on watch with Bran. They were sitting close to the fire to ward off the chill. A gust of wind came and knocked the fire back. I bounced, warning her of the heavy footsteps drawing closer. She stood bringing Bran's attention to where I had looked. A Shadow prowled at the edge of the firelight. They were stock still hoping it would pass. It chuffed just beyond vision as if afraid of the light, but it charged without warning.

It was a massive Trenchend. Its three otterlike heads looked at them menacingly. May faltered at the materialization of the Fey Beast, but she quickly picked up a spell to scare it. She trembled as she cast from more than just fear of the beast. She wanted to try the fire ball again, she had practiced it and wanted to use it now. Bran shouted to wake the others as he waved a flaming branch. May let loose the fire. It wasn't quite right yet again. Her fingers didn't move smoothly. It came out in an uneven gush. She felt the fire like it was inches from her face. The flames burnt off a large section of fur blistering the skin below.

Its heads tucked back closer to its body and it swiped a badger like paw. The others were slow to wake as its middle head snapped the branch out of Bran's hands. Now Tam joined him and they took swings at it. But they had to contend with claws, a heavy tail and three heads. But May was unnerved. It wasn't a true misfire, but it sapped more energy than it should have. The overwhelming heat brought her to sweat even in the cold. There was no time to think. Reverting to what she knew she prayed they could hold out till the spell took effect. They did barely as both of them took bites and claw swipes. She could do nothing till the spell had to be completed. Finally the illusion roared to life a ring of fire constricting in on the creature. It shrunk from the fire not knowing it was fake.

Now static Bran and Tam were bolder. May's head pounded with raging heat. It took all she had to hold the spell. It slipped before the last head was cleaved, but the tide had turned and the monster was dispatched shortly after. She could hear her heart pounding still as she looked at crushing jaws and a large mottled body. Its thick fur rustled in the wind. It would have been nice to pet if it wasn't so hungry. That was silly she didn't even know that's why it attacked. She checked the state of the others. Tam had some scratches, Bran was bruised and Ruth was still sound asleep.

They moved on as soon as they packed before dawn fearing what the blood would attract. They traveled hurriedly, not stopping till the nightfall. Nothing followed them, if anything the next few nights were quieter with the monster carcass drawing anything nearby. May was relieved. She had failed once again, not so spectacularly this time. The spell hadn't incapasitated her the next day, but she was tired. She was still learning the difference between powerful spells and the ones she was used to. Her body had to become accustomed to channeling the volume of magic they didn't see it that way all she saw was her failure.

Two full weeks of travel passed without seeing another person. The porridge pot was a blessing because it could feed the horse as well, though it took them some time to become accustomed to it. Walking miles every day wore on May. She wasn't a fit warrior like the rest of the group. Each morning it took at least a mile to walk off the stiffness from the night. It was draining; it was only fear that kept her awake on her watches or Bran's colorful stories and jokes. Counter to her worries the travel got easier. She had been on the road for nearly a month. She now had the energy of the others at the end of the day and didn't have aching feet and legs.

She started to be more present in the activities waiting for the sunset. Sometimes it was cards but that wasn't often. Ruth was too dominant in any but the most chance determined games. Mainly it was sparing. They all were very kind to May, pulling punches that they would have let land for anyone else. Each tried to teach her their own style. Ruth with her spear was all about keeping the opponent at a distance. Though this should have worked well with May being weaker and not able to hold a gapple; she didn't have the foresight or intuition for it. Tam had the most straightforward technique and was the best teacher. But his moves were meant for someone much taller and stronger than her. He still succeeded in at least getting her comfortable using her knife. Bran was all about speed and evasion. Quick heavy strikes aimed to throw the opponent off balance. She didn't have the skill for his offensive style but he gave many useful tips to get out of binds. She liked learning the intricacies of a fight and learned more how each adapted their styles to fight the other. As much fun as she had sparring she knew she wasn't even a passable fighter and probably never would be. This didn't bother her too much; she didn't anticipate or want situations that needed those skills. She had magic if things got dire. Though there had been misshape of late she still trusted that far more than her physical strength to protect herself.

They saw people only once near the end of the red plains. It was near an impossibly clear river. They were far off in the distance. They could only be seen because they were mounted corralling sheep or goats near a tent unlike any she had seen. They wanted to go to see them, but they were on the wrong side of the river. The glacial water was far too cold and wide to cross. Reluctantly they moved on. She could smell the smoke from their fire. It lacked the spice of the burning sagebrush they used. It was the far more earthy smell of animal droppings. Probably far more sensible seeing how long they spent each night to find enough wood.

Eventually they descended off the red plains. Forrest rose up thick and unfamiliar. She thought that off the high plateau things would relax. The others were just as alert if not more now passing through the deep forest. It was the last barrier before entering Richosia. She looked for the familiar herbs but couldn't find many she wanted. The absence of familiar flora and a multitude of strange ones made her feel the distance she had gone. She was so far from home, farther than most people would ever travel in their lives.

It was a comparatively short leg in the forest and soon there was a column of smoke drifting above the treeline. Invigorated by the thought of a bed in an inn everyone picked up their pace. Coming to a village they stopped outside timber walls of whole logs driven into the ground. They circled to the gates and entered. Immediately they were met by a heavily armed man. Tam put his hands up

"Easy friend, we are just travelers looking for rest."

"You came up from the south, where'd you come from?" he said in an accent similar to Bran's.

"Sudeland," Bran said.

"Some distance you've come," his eyebrows were raised and he inspected the rest of us "Alright c'mon in but no trouble."

Entering the town it was no bigger than Avon, but it couldn't be a more different town. All of the buildings were unadorned logs. The streets were empty and of deep mud. It was so foreign. She felt alone. Everyone else was days from home. She wasn't. She felt like she had made the wrong choice.

Then Tam put her up on Rhiannon and Bran pointed out all the hallmarks of a Richosian town. All the houses had massive porches on their back and odd numbers of panes in windows to let out bad dreams. Coming to the inside it was much the same as any in Sudeland. The accents were different but people still reclined on the bar at the end of the day sharing news. She felt better. She looked out the odd paned windows at the trees so tall and wondered what her life would be like here. Her Father was from the north and he spoke of it fondly. I couldn't be that bad.

Waiting for rooms Ruth squeezed her hand "Don't worry frontier towns are tougher than normal they get the worst of monsters."

The inn was booked up and they had to share the attic room. It was dingy, but it was a proper bed. She savored a massive meal prepared in more than one pot with fresh items. Despite initial homesickness she fell asleep without issue. She woke in the middle of the night to a tug at her scalp. Her vigilant familiar had tried to chase off the brownies but they were too intelligent to be scared by them. Her hair was knotted tightly to the bed frame. It pecked and she blindly tried to undo them to no avail.

"Um Ruth, Ruth wake up." She whispered. She didn't stirr. "Ruth!" she called louder. But she still slept. She was going to throw something over to wake her but Bran came from the other side of the room rubbing his eyes.

"Don't bother, she could sleep through the building burning down," he chuckled. "looks like a Brownie got you"

"Yes, now get me free."

"I think it looks good on you."

"Seriously."

"Ok," he pulled out his dagger.

She pulled back yanking her hair, "what are you doing."

"Getting you out."

"Do Not cut my hair."

"It would only be a trim."

"I am not letting you cut my hair."

"Alright, alright," he sat next to her and worked on the knots. She tried her best on the one she could see.

"You're pulling too hard."

"Stop moving" he pulled on a bunch of hair and she heard hair ripping.

"This isn't working, get my spell book, the one you gave me."

He left and came back with the slim book. She flipped through to find a spell she had studied briefly. She was hesitant that she hadn't done it before and it might make things worse but she didn't want her hair cut. She muttered the spell. The dim light made her squint, but her hair fell loose. She sighed and rubbed her scalp. Bran let out his breath in a rush.

She looked at him, "what?"

He pushed back her hair revealing her pointed ears. She snapped her hand up to cover it. "You're one of them. I didn't even think they were real."

"One of what?" she denied

"A fionn, the ears and eyes it makes sense now."

"My dad was Fionn."

"Really what's it like in an enchanted wood, is that why you can do magic, how did you get to Sudeland?"

"Slow down I have never been to Fauthe, I was born in Sudeland. My mom is from Sudeland. and anyone can do magic and both my parents could."

"So you're half Fion, why did your dad leave?"

"I don't know. Promise you won't tell anyone"

"He didn't tell you anything,."

"No I was young when he died"

"Why did he."

"They were trying to protect me. Please don't tell anyone"

"I won't. Did Alestra know."

"No she didn't, Promise you won't tell anyone."

"Is that why you were in the tower?"

"Partly," He looked at her waiting to continue, "After my parents were killed I was under the Lewellyn's protection, there was concern not unfounded that who ever killed them, possibly the same family that Alestra refused, was looking for me, So they killed two birds with one stone and put us both in the tower for protection. Please don't tell anyone I don't think they would come all the way here, but I can't know. Promise you won't tell."

"I swear I will take the secret to the grave."

"Thankyou"

"I can't believe your fionn, I bet one day you are going to wake up with some crazy power."

"But now that you know, did you know your sword is Fionn?"

"No, how can you tell? Is it magic?"

"No, the inscription is in Fionn."

"I didn't think that was words, what does it say?" he handed it to her

"Raise me with a pure heart and I will strike true."

"I guess I'm pure of heart then."

"It's just writing."

"That's what you think," he winked and got up.

She braided her hair back safely. She kicked herself for being so careless, she hadn't told that secret to anyone. Even in the seven long years in the tower she never told Alestra. She had thought about it several times but always decided against it. She had enough troubles already. She couldn't deny though it was also because she didn't want to give up that secret. More than just being for her safety it was a barrier she always had. No one could truly get close to her with that hiding. In Sudeland that had been a good thing, dangers could be anywhere, but now part of her hoped that would change. She needed friends, and allies no matter how reluctant she was. She worried too much. She wasn't upset that Bran knew what she was; she felt relief. It was always a burden she had to bear alone, but she was happy someone else knew. She trusted Bran enough. He wouldn't tell.

The following days Bran didn't treat her any different. The pace slowed now in the country proper. They walked north and west. Moving closer to large mountains and into foot hills. They got caught in snowfall several times. It was the first snow May had seen on the trip, the Red plains were so arid there wasn't even a cloud on the journey. She had forgotten how wonderful it was. Heavy flakes arched back and forth on their way down. The countryside was pristine and brilliant. When the sun came back out she squinted at the dazzling light bouncing off it.

About a day out from the City there was a storm. It started with a normal dusting of white as they set out. The sky darkened as the morning wore on. Breezes picked up throwing fat wet flakes from the ground at them. It didn't take long for them to sink in and soak them to the skin. May could not stop shaking. The sky only worsened from then on. Snow fell faster but the howling wind wouldn't let it settle. The small group was surrounded by white. The road and the fields beyond and even the sky were indistinguishable. Up on the nearest path marker was a circle divided vertically. Tam led off the road onto the marked path. Moving on They were parallel to the gusting wind. May braced against Rhiannon to keep her footing. The group picked up pace at the sight of a farmhouse in the distance. They rushed into the yard and waited as Tam knocked. The same circle was above the door frame.

A moment later a middle aged woman opened the door. "Oh dear, come in, come in," she looked at the rest of us, "you can put your horse in the cow shed." she pointed to a small structure. Bran took Ruhannon there. She ushered the rest of us in "poor things - Bill we have company, get some blankets" They entered a small receiving room already full of boots and cloaks and jackets. The woman helped us with our shoes and outer layers. A broad man of roughly the same age arrived carrying a pile of worn quilts. The two of them passed them out as Bran entered with the more important bags. The woman smiled as she bundled May in worn blankets then took the group to a large kitchen. It had rough planed cabinets painted blue with little rabbit cutouts on the doors for handles. A large fireplace had a cast iron arm hinged over it holding a kettle. Checked curtains matched the cushioned backs of the built in benches that surrounded a large square table. She felt guilt for dripping on the cider tiles. The place was tidy and they were bringing disorder. The woman sat at the table and served everyone large mugs of tea.

"My goodness"

"Pelor's cracking his whip. showing his strength, eh?" said the man looking at Tam and Bran's exposed lighting tattoos.

"He sure is." said Tam

"Anyways where are you folks coming from? I assume you're headed to the capital. I'm Bill by the way, this is my wife Hester."

Tam nodded "I'm Tam, Ruth, Bran and May. we are coming back from Oswald, Sudeland."

"That's a long way."

"Then thank Nehalennia you made it all the way, but where are my manners?" Hester said and she pulled out a pot and hung it over the fire. "You must be hungry. I'll get a meal going"

"I'll show you to your rooms and get you all some dry clothes," said Bill.

He went up past the second floor to the attic space divided into 3 rooms. One was storage and the other two were bed rooms. The room Ruth and May were given was packed with beds. Like the rest of the house it was meticulously clean. It was color matched in greens. May sat on a creaking bed and listened to the storm outside. A young boy brought up a pair of dresses to change into. Her dress was simple rough wool but perfectly serviceable. Peeling off wet clothes and putting on dry ones warmed her chilled skin.

She and Ruth went down to a great room opposite of the kitchen. She joined Bran and Tam around the fire. Seven boys all gathered in the room ranging from the oldest who was close to his twenties to the youngest of maybe six or seven that brought the dresses up.

"I'm guessing you want to hear our stories?" said Tam

"Yes!" said a younger one

"Bran, take it away."

He smiled and launched into a moderately accurate account of the journey. May listened close as she learned what else they did in Sudeland. On the way down they encountered a Bodmin cat and they went all the way to the southern tip of Sudeland to Ansea where they fought pirates for their cargo of wine. It was only by chance that they took a side job and came to her tower. But here Bran altered the truth. Instead of being sent to retrieve a seal they went to rescue two fair maidens and the roc now guarded the tower not the witch's hut. It was a tense race against time to break through the tower walls before the Roc found them. Dramatically just in time they freed May and she bested the Roc in one move calling the forest to her will.

The oldest stopped him "there is no way you killed a Roc."

"We did" he handed him one of the feathers on his hat "you'll see the quill isn't hollow."

He looked impressed, "so that means you're actually magic?"

"Yep, a genuine mage," Bran said.

"Ooh, do something," another said.

At first she was upset he told them her powers so readily, but she wasn't being hunted here. She didn't need to hide. She cast a simple one so it was quick. A small light no stronger than a candle's flame came into existence above her hand. The fire and magic flowing inside her drove out the last of the storm's chill. A small chorus of surprise and excitement went off at its sight.

"You're amazing."

"I'm not that good." she blushed.

"No she is pretty good, so good a brownie wanted to keep her and tied her up by her hair. I almost had to cut it off."

"No, you just wanted to cut it."

"Maybe, but they should hear about the giant monster we fought on the way back. It had three heads."

At this Hester walked in to say the meal was ready. They all piled back into the kitchen and squeezed on the benches flanking the table. Tam sat next to Bill and gave a more detailed account of our travels. Bran was next to some of the younger boys telling about the Trenchant. Ruth was two away from May who was between the oldest and youngest son. Everyone was silent as they ate.

When they slowed down Ruth asked "So all boys?"

"Yes," Hester giggled, "but whether that's a blessing or a curse, I don't know."

"Yep, seven boys just like me and my older brothers. Do you have children?" Bill asked.

"I have a few, but they are all grown up."

"Mom, did you know May is magic?"

"Oh can she pull coins from your ears?"

"No, real magic," said the oldest, named Will.

"I'm not very good."

"That's still impressive," said Bill.

The table dissolved into smaller conversations "So, what were you doing locked in a tower."

"I was just a maid, nothing special."

"Where is the other girl then?"

"She is still in Oswald."

"Why did you leave, was she cruel?"

"No, no she wasn't but seven years in a tower was more than enough time together. We just went our separate ways… and I wanted to come to Richosia. I have heard a lot about it."

"Where are you from?" asked the younger boy.

"Sudeland, that's where the tower was"

"How long did it take to get here?" asked will.

"Over a month." They made good time traveling across the red plain. What was predicted to take two only took a month and two and a half weeks. It was a good thing seeing the winter storm they were now caught in.

"Wow, I hope when I'm older I get to go on a trip like that."

"I'm sure you will do something great, you are a seventh son's seventh son after all."

"What do you mean? He is a seventh son?" asked Will.

"They're supposed to be lucky, they're fated to be great healers or great warriors."

"Really."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Everyone knows that, I guess it's just something in Sudeland."

"I've never heard of it."

At the end of the meal May retired to her room. Ruth was asleep in no time, but the blizzard howling outside was too close for May. She couldn't sleep in a strange bed in clothes not her own. Surprising herself, she wasn't sad to be out of Sudeland. Her good memories of that place were so long ago when she thought of home it was already a wistful memory. She was glad she was gone so those memories couldn't be further tainted than they already were. She couldn't sleep, because she had no idea where anything was going. She couldn't be scared because she couldn't imagine how life in this new land was. Giving up on sleep she got up. In the hall she saw the door open to the storage room and she walked in. Bran was sitting in the large gable window. She joined him looking out at nothing.

"Can't sleep?" he asked.

"No."

"I hope it's not because you're regretting coming. You haven't seen the best of Richosia."

"No, I'm just getting used to everything."

"Good"

"Why are you up?"

"Just ready to get home."

"Why did you lie?"

"When?"

"Today when telling the story?"

"Ah, well we kinda needed to cut out the less legal stuff, I mean they are letting us stay in their house. I didn't want them to worry we would rob them in the night. Like technically we were the pirates stealing the goods but I kept the basics the same."

May had largely figured this was why Roc was at the tower, not a witch's guard dog. "Sure but that doesn't explain all the changes."

"I wanted to make things more dramatic and heroic."

"But why give me all the credit with the roc? Surely riding on the roc and driving your sword through its skull is just as compelling of a story."

He looked away "maybe, but who would believe it. You did pretty much take it out on your own anyway."

"No, I didn't. I could only have held it a few seconds longer than I did, and I couldn't have killed it."

"I don't know."

"Why?"

"Eh, it's a better story anyways. You emerge from the mess of the tower and destroy the monster in one move. You saw how they treated you after that."

"They could have seen you that way."

"No, they wouldn't."

"Why?"

"You will see soon enough."

"Tell me."

"Why should I."

"You know my secret, it is the least you can do."

"I don't have to tell people I'm a thief for them to know that. They wouldn't believe I saved a girl in a tower or killed a roc."

"I'm not sure. They believed your story."

"It's not the same saying I was the hero."

"Even if it's true?" He turned away from her and looked ready to leave so she changed the subject. "Do you think I'll like it, that I'll fit in."

"The city is better, people don't have to worry about surviving as much. I hope you like it, it's different from Sudeland but I don't need to tell you that. And you'll fit in."

"How can you be sure?"

"You work fine with us."

"I hope I fit in, I want a home again."

"I think we can beat a tower."

"The tower was never my home."

"Then you have been waiting a long time to find one."

"I guess I have."

"We'll be there tomorrow and you can find out."

"You seem nervous."

"Well, I didn't get to go home when I was a dog. I don't quite know how they will react; they probably think I am dead."

"Then they will be happy to see you."

"Yeah," he looked back out the window.

"Tell me about the city."

They stayed up most of the night talking. They distracted each other from their anxieties of the following day. Bran described a colorful city with a dangerous edge. It was a place where all sorts of things happen. That may have been more a result of Bran's own life in the city. In turn May told the broad history of magic. The unsettled times when the fey realm was separated from their own to the few more recent stories of the Fion she knew.