by Lynn Mann
I held some starflower petals out to Salom. ‘Here you are, grind these with a small amount of water and rub the paste on to her sole. If you have something to bind it in place, she should be comfortable enough to carry on to The Gathering.’
‘Bless you,’ she said, ‘now come and sit down and eat with us, you look like you could use a good meal. You don’t appear to have any belongings with you?’
I sank down gratefully onto the blanket and told them of our encounter with the Woeful as I made myself a sandwich. They listened avidly and were such an encouraging audience, Salom in particular, that I ended up outlining everything that had happened since I had been tugged.
‘We know Adam,’ Salom said when I had finished. ‘So, he and your other friend are waiting for you, are they?’
‘They should be there by now,’ I replied. ‘If you don’t need any help, Infinity and I had better be on our way. We’ll see you there?’
Pete waved his piece of cake at me. ‘Ta ma luv, wizl see ya bith tha’.’
Salom stood up and hugged me. ‘You’ll be fine, there’s always a nice crowd at The Gathering.’
I hugged her back. ‘I’m glad we met you. How long will you be staying?’
‘A few days. I’ll search you out before we leave, don’t worry. If you have any messages for your family, write them down and I’ll take them.’
I held my hand up in farewell to them both and continued on to The Gathering with Infinity.
Ten
Arrival
We reached The Gathering all too soon. I think I’d expected nothing more than some tents arranged at random around a campfire with horses grazing nearby, so when we had our first glimpse of our destination, my jaw dropped. We had just passed between some steep-sided hills and then the track dropped sharply away down from us, leaving The Gathering in plain view below.
There were huge, grey stone buildings, larger by far than anything I had ever seen before, arranged around a vast cobbled square with an enormous statue in the middle, of a person standing with a horse. Stretching away from the buildings, as far as I could see, were fenced paddocks containing horses, sheep, goats, cattle and crops. Some of the paddocks were larger and people rode horses within them. I could see people tending to the livestock and some Earth-Singers were at work, lifting the surface soil away in a couple of the enclosures, so that whatever they were harvesting could be lifted without the need for digging. People milled about in the square, some stopping to chat, others hurrying about their business. It was an amazing sight. I felt extremely daunted, and embarrassed by my ragged appearance and lack of belongings. My feet slowed to a halt and I couldn’t seem to make them move again. Infinity stood next to me, waiting patiently.
My attention was drawn suddenly to the nearest building. It was four storeys high, and someone had opened a window on the top floor and was hanging out of it, waving both arms. I squinted, trying to see who it was and a pale face surrounded by long black hair came into focus. Rowena. The sight of her lifted me and gave me the courage to walk down to The Gathering, my hand resting on Infinity’s neck as she walked by my side. Rowena disappeared from the window and, as we reached the building, she exited it at a run. Her face changed quickly from one of smiling welcome to one of concern as she took stock of Infinity and me.
‘What happened to you?’ she said. ‘Can’t Oak and I leave you alone for five minutes without you getting yourself into a scrape? Oh, never mind that now, you must introduce me to your mare. I’ve been dying to meet her.’
‘Rowena, this is Infinity.’
Rowena held the back of her hand out for Infinity to sniff and said, ‘Blimey! Infinity eh… interesting!’
‘Er, what’s interesting?’ I asked.
‘You, her, the whole caboodle, but anyway, I can see you need a bath, food and some fresh clothes, much like the last time we met,’ she winked at me, ‘and I imagine Infinity could do with some grazing time and a rest?’
That would be welcome.
‘Yes please to everything,’ I replied. ‘Where will Infinity be staying?’ I hoped it wouldn’t be too far from where I would be.
‘Newly bonded horses usually go in the paddocks closest to the buildings,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry, we’ve all felt as you are feeling now, it’s weird to suddenly be back with humans when you’ve grown used to being alone with your horse. She’ll be close enough for you to get to in an instant if you feel strange without her at any time. You’ll get used to being around other people and horses soon enough, and then you’ll cope with being further away from her. Will Infinity be comfortable in a paddock by herself, or shall I ask Oak to join her?’
I would welcome a grooming partner.
I felt my cheeks redden as I passed Infinity’s reply on to Rowena. With all the drama surrounding my arm, I had failed to take care of my horse properly. She had shown me the importance to her of mutual grooming and I had neglected her.
You suffer your strange emotion again. No need, Infinity informed me.
Rowena sensed my discomfort. ‘Everything okay?’
I sighed. ‘I don’t even know where to begin.’
She laughed. ‘You too eh? It took me and Oak nearly three weeks to travel here after we first bonded and by the time I got here, I was struggling to remember my own name. The first few months of being bonded to a horse are a bit like being blindfolded and spun around until you don’t know which way is up and which is down, but as time goes on you’ll get used to the fact that nothing is as you thought it was, believe me. Let’s show Infinity to her paddock and I’ll ask Oak to join her. Then I’ll let Adam know you’re here while you have a bath.’
‘That would be great, thanks,’ I replied, feeling strange to be offering gratitude.
‘This way.’ She turned to walk past the building from which she had exited and into the square. ‘At this moment, you’ll be feeling weird that you’re back in the world of human conversation and social customs, but don’t forget this isn’t a normal community. You are among people who understand how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing, we’ve all been there. Although possibly not in quite such a dramatic way as you’ve managed so far — care to summarise your latest mishap for me?’
‘We were hunted by a Woeful. I had to leave all my stuff behind and ride Infinity, she fell, I broke my arm and I had to heal it. I’m so sorry, she loved the blanket you made for her, and we had to leave it behind with everything else.’
‘Never mind the blanket, you were chased by a Woeful? Bloody hell!’ said Rowena.
Infinity and I were attracting attention as we crossed the cobbled square. Many people were watching us and some were making their way over to intercept our path. Rowena came to our rescue, calling out, ‘not now folks, sorry, Amarilla and Infinity need to rest and recover, they’ve had a bit of a time of it. There’ll be plenty of chance for you to meet them tomorrow.’
At Infinity’s name, everyone within hearing distance reacted. Some gasped, others raised their eyebrows and a few frowned, thoughtfully. A man to our left started to speak, but was cut off by Rowena: ‘Seriously Shann, not now.’
‘Thanks Rowena, I’m glad you’re here,’ I whispered.
She put an arm around my shoulders and hugged me. ‘We’re glad you’re here too, me and Oak.’
It was a relief when we left the buildings behind us and approached the paddocks. I could see that those closest to us were empty. There were full water barrels by each gate and the grass was still plentiful.
Rowena addressed Infinity. ‘Oak prefers that one,’ she pointed to the one on our right, ‘as he likes to rest under that big beech tree, but you choose whichever you prefer.’
Infinity walked towards the paddock Rowena had indicated and I opened the gate to let her in. Once inside she immediately began to graze.
Rowena called out, ‘Infinity, we’re shutting the gate to keep the livestock out, not to keep you in, if you want to move somewhere else, let Amarilla know and one of us wi
ll come and open it.’ She turned to me and explained, ‘we need to keep the gates closed, otherwise you find you’re moving sheep or goats from one paddock to another and they keep disappearing into all the paddocks they pass on the way. All the horses know they are free to change paddocks whenever they want, they either let us know and we open the gates to let them in or out, or they jump the gates and help themselves.’
I nodded. Infinity, is there anything you need before I leave you for a while?
I am content.
Rowena and I turned back towards the buildings. ‘Who looks after the livestock?’ I asked her, feeling a pang at leaving my horse but allowing her contentment to comfort me.
‘We all do. Everyone is on a rota while they’re here. We all take a turn at cooking, cleaning, fetching dung and firewood, tending the crops and animals, all the usual chores and we all give freely of our specialist knowledge in the Skills or Trades to anyone who needs it. I’m a Tailor,’ she told me.
We walked back across the square to yet more staring, and into the building from whose window Rowena had been hanging when Infinity and I had arrived. She told me that she and Oak had arrived a few days earlier. She had found two empty rooms next to each other and bagged them for us both.
My room was bare stone walled with a bed, bedside table, wardrobe, high backed comfy chair and a small fireplace with a prancing horse expertly carved into the mantelpiece. A huge sack of my clothes and other personal belongings sat on the bed, brought by Rowena from my house in Rockwood. She told me that there were two bathrooms on each floor and a main dining room in a separate building, where everyone ate together. She showed me to one of the bathrooms on our floor, pointed me to a cupboard containing fresh towels and told me that she would be back later with some tea and with Adam. I started to ask her about her trip to see my family but she held her hand up to me and told me it would keep until I smelt better. It was impossible to take offence at her words because of the grin that accompanied her teasing and also, I realised, because I found her bluntness very easy to be around since my time spent with Infinity.
An hour later, I sat cross-legged on my bed, wet-haired and clean, and wearing my own clothes from the sack that Rowena had brought for me. I unpacked the remainder of my belongings and my heart wrenched with each item. There were all my clothes, carefully folded and packed, including the cloak that I had left behind in the woods when I was tugged. My family must have searched for me until they found it, I realised. What must they have thought when they found it but not me? There were my herb journal and dictionary, with a note attached from Nerys wishing me well, itself attached to a sealed letter addressed to “Amarilla’s new Master of Herbalism”. A new hairbrush was wrapped in a thin, delicate scarf that I recognised as Katonia’s. A note attached to it from my sister sent all her love and hopes that I would visit home soon. A small box contained my one piece of jewellery — a silver necklace that I had received from my parents when I began my apprenticeship. There was a bundle of what appeared to be tail hair from one of our donkeys with a note attached to it from Robbie and Con, saying they thought I might like to know that if things didn’t work out with my horse, there were always the donkeys back home to play with. I smiled. Some things would never change. There was a delicate little bag containing dozens of the tiny metal, glass and grass horseshoes normally gifted to someone at their Quest Ceremony, with a note from my aunt and uncle saying they were sorry not to have been able to give them to me in person and to keep them for luck. Last but not least, there was a letter from my parents, attached to a bulky canvas bag. I bit my lip and opened the letter, taking a deep breath as I recognised my father’s writing and began to read.
Dear Amarilla,
Your mother and I are so relieved to hear that you are safe and well. Rowena has explained what happened to you when you were tugged and although I can’t say I completely understand what happened, it sounds as though you have had a difficult time. By the time you read this, you will be with your horse and I know what that will mean to you. You were right, my Amarilla, all this time you were right, about your horse, about everything. I am so proud of you. Your mother and I managed to purchase the enclosed for you before Rowena left to meet you and we hope they will be useful in caring for your horse. I understand that you have much to learn from the other Horse-Bonded, but please come home to us as soon as you possibly can, we are all so keen to meet your horse and to see you again, we miss you terribly. Take care of yourself my darling, with love from us all,
Dad
A large teardrop fell from my cheek and smudged his name. With trembling hands, I opened the canvas bag and shook the contents onto my bed. There was a metal hoof pick with A.N. engraved on the handle and an assortment of brushes similar to those we had for our donkeys only larger, each with my initials carved onto their wooden backs. A sheepskin hand mitt completed the grooming kit and as I inserted my hand I could imagine how much Infinity would appreciate the soft feel of it on her face.
?????????
My parents have sent me some equipment so I can groom you properly. There is a soft sheepskin I can rub your face with.
I felt her brief approval before she turned her full attention back to grooming with Oak. I was aware that her neck ached. She was having to stretch up high to reach his withers as he towered over her but she didn’t mind, she was finding him a very agreeable grooming partner. I smiled and felt slightly sorry for him.
‘What gives?’ Rowena entered the room carrying a tray.
I hastily wiped my face with the cuff of my pullover. ‘I was just pitying Oak. Infinity’s finding him a good grooming partner and that can only mean that she’s being bossy.’
‘Have no fear where my boy is concerned, he won’t do anything he doesn’t want to.’ She put the tray on my bedside table and noticed the grooming kit strewn across the bed. ‘Your mother sent your father all over the place to get that kit together and engraved before I left, poor man, I’m not sure she even let him eat until it was sorted, she’s some woman, isn’t she?’
‘My mother?’
‘Oh, she was in a dreadful state when I arrived, she’d taken to her bed and was refusing to leave it again until she had some news of you. Your sister has had a hard time looking after her. When I told her you were alright, she fainted and then when she came round she hugged me so hard I thought my eyes would pop out. Your father had to prise her off of me in the end. He’s nice, I liked him.’
‘But it was my mother who wanted me to have a grooming kit?’
‘Oh yeah, once she finally calmed down, she set your sister to washing all of your clothes so you would have all your own stuff clean and fresh and she told, no, more, ordered your father to go and not only find everything you would need to groom your horse properly, but to have everything engraved as well. Apparently, no horse who is bonded to a daughter of hers will be allowed to appear unkempt,’ she grinned.
‘She wasn’t angry with me?’
‘Angry, no. Emotional, definitely.’
‘But she didn’t write to me, my father wrote me a letter and just said they were both relieved I’m okay. I can’t believe she’s not angry.’
‘Well obviously I don’t know her as well as you do, but no she was definitely very relieved, anxious that you would have everything you need, and proud, I would say. I have a feeling your sister and brothers may get very sick of hearing about you being Horse-Bonded before long. Your brothers don’t say much, do they?’
‘Robbie and Con? You must be joking, they never shut up!’
‘Well the Robbie and Con I saw hardly said a word the first day I was there and I have to say for Earth-Singers they were very pale-faced.’ She looked at me as I sat with my mouth open. ‘I think your disappearance might have affected your family in more ways than you thought.’
‘Didn’t my brothers even attempt to play a joke on you while you were there?’
‘Well I was only there for two days but no, not that I noticed. Hang on tho
ugh, I did notice Con undo your mother’s apron string while she was stirring the soup for lunch just before I left, is that the sort of thing you mean?’
I grinned with relief. ‘Exactly the sort of thing. And they sent me some donkey tail hair. Hopefully things will be returning to normal now.’
‘They were all happy enough when I left. Your brothers and father were going to go back to work the following day and your sister was going to spend another couple of days with your mother and then do the same. She’s a nice person, I liked her a lot.’
‘Katonia?’
‘Yeah, very different from you from what little I know of either of you, very friendly and welcoming.’
‘Are you saying you don’t think I’m friendly and welcoming?’
She laughed. ‘You know what I mean.’
‘Katonia is always clean, tidy and in control of herself?’
‘Exactly.’
There was a knock on the open door, followed by Adam’s voice. ‘Okay to come in?’
‘Adam!’ I rushed to where he stood in the doorway and gave him a hug. ‘It’s so good to see you again!’
His smile lit up his face. ‘And it’s good to see you too Amarilla, and your beautiful mare — I saw her in her paddock. I stayed well back so as not to disturb her but I had to see the horse everyone’s talking about!’
‘Everyone? Why is everyone talking about her?’
‘Now let me see,’ he said, ‘number one, any new horse and person always creates a stir. Number two, her name is Infinity and number three, there is a Herald by the name of Salom in the square right now in the process of telling your entire story to all who are interested and that’s pretty much everyone staying here.’
