Around a bend, flashes of red and orange were visible. As they crested a rise, a field of flowers awaited. Two hills formed a small valley, and it was covered with vibrant life, the flowers making it look as if it were still afire.
"Pyre-orchids," Benjin said in a whisper. "They're extremely rare and only grow after forest fires, and then only under certain conditions. We must harvest them."
"We don't have time," Catrin said.
"Difficult times are ahead, li'l miss. In those kinds of times, disease can wipe out entire cities. Pyre-orchids can be used to treat almost every known plague. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity."
"Then let's do what needs doing and move on."
Harvesting the orchids proved as easy as removing the flower from the stem, and they soon had the flowers bundled together and divided up between them. Beyond the burned-out forests of Astor were lands that Catrin dreaded. She doubted she could find the place they had exited the ancient mines, and even if she could, they would have to wait for the full moon to get past the daggerfish, which left them little choice but to travel through populated lands.
At the first town they reached, Benjin spotted signs of the Vestrana at a local inn. "I'm going to go in and talk to the innkeeper," he said. "I'd like to get rooms for the night but only if we can remain discreet. Stay here and try not to draw attention to yourselves." He slipped into the inn.
Waiting for him to return, Catrin held her breath. Despite signs of the Vestrana, she feared a trap. When Benjin appeared at the back corner of the inn, she drew a deep breath. With a wave, he told them to join him, and they led the horses to the back of the inn, where two stable boys waited. Benjin gave each stable boy a copper and asked that they stack the bales of orchids somewhere dry. They looked at him strangely, but he tossed them each another copper and they were eager to help.
The innkeeper was an older, bearded man with a broad, vein-streaked nose. His name was Orman, and his smile was infectious. "Welcome to the Brendton Inn, friends. The food's hot and the beds clean. If you'll follow me, there's a private room this way. I'll bring your dinner there."
"Does he know who we are?" Catrin asked when Orman left.
"I think he suspects, but he gave all the right signs. We should be safe in his care," Benjin said.
But Catrin still had doubts. Too many things were no longer certain or safe. When Orman returned with food, she wondered if it might be poisoned but decided she could not live the rest of her life in fear. With trembling hands, she grabbed a stuffed pepper. It was delicious.
Orman returned to clear the plates and brought a tray of mugs and a jug of dandelion wine. "Secret family recipe," he said. He poured wine for each of them and handed out the mugs. When he handed Catrin her mug, their eyes locked. His brief stare commanded her attention without being overt. Wrapping her hand around the mug, she realized there was a piece of parchment cleverly wrapped around half the mug so it was concealed in her grip. Toward the top, she felt a wax seal.
Uncertainty festered in Catrin's belly, but she just thanked Orman for the wine. He left as if nothing had occurred, closing the door behind himself. The secrecy employed in delivering the message demanded she read it in private, but her curiosity would not be quelled. With a quick glance, she saw the image of a hummingbird impressed into the wax. Excitement charged through her. "I need to collect my thoughts," she said. "I'm going to meditate for a while."
The others spoke softly as Catrin settled herself into a corner with her back to them. The seal broke away easily, and she opened the parchment with a mixture of hope and dread.
Birds roost where dandelions hide.
Frustrated, Catrin tried to understand what the message meant. The hummingbird seal would almost certainly belong to Brother Vaughn, and the mention of birds solidified that deduction. The taste of dandelion wine was still on her tongue, and Orman had said it was a secret recipe, but she struggled to find meaning in Birds roost.
The message was a warning, of that she was certain, and she guessed it wasn't safe to go to Ohmahold. Birds. Messages. The realization slammed into her consciousness. Orman would send a message by bird. Could it really be so simple? "I think Brother Vaughn wants us to wait here for him," she said when she returned to the table.
"Did you get that from your meditation or did you just decide you like this place?" Chase asked.
"A cryptic message was delivered to me, and I'm not certain, but I think it's a warning," she said, still feeling compelled to keep the message secret. Sharing it would reveal Orman as the messenger, and she sensed that would be against his wishes. Perhaps he feared Samda. "I think Brother Vaughn wants to meet us here."
"Would you care to share the message?" Chase asked. "Maybe we could help interpret it."
"No. The message was intended for me alone, and I cannot share it. I'm sorry."
Chase raised an eyebrow but did not press her further. Benjin looked her in the eye and seemed satisfied by what he saw.
"I don't think it's safe to stay here long. There are more people looking for you than just Brother Vaughn. There may be other messages being exchanged this very moment," Samda said.
"I agree," Chase added, and when he met her eyes, Catrin saw his determination and knew he was going to fight her.
"Come with me," she said, and he walked to the corner with her. She could feel the stares on her back, but she could think of no other way to convince her companions without offending Samda and still respect Orman's privacy.
When she showed Chase the message, he looked uncertain at first, but then he seemed to see the hidden meanings. "I think Cat's right. I say we wait here, at least for a few days," he said when they returned to the table.
"We need to get a better understanding of the layout of the inn and its surroundings," Benjin said. "I don't want to be trapped here. We'll pair up and keep watch on the streets. If someone is trying to trap us, we'll need as much warning as possible."
* * *
Despite what were mostly pleasant days in a comfortable setting, Catrin paced the floor, unable to stem her anxiety. Every horse or wagon that passed was suspect, and even when in her room, she could not stifle her worry. Having stayed abed longer than the others, she tried to calm her mind. When the door to her room suddenly flew open, she nearly leaped from her skin. No one entered, but then two grinning faces peeked in. Only her happiness to see them could overcome the overwhelming desire to wring their necks.
"Strom! Osbourne! How did you get here?"
"We came with Brother Vaughn." At the mention of his name, he came to the door, grinning as wide as the rest.
"Greetings, Catrin. I was confident you would understand my message, but I must admit it's a relief to find you here. There are many things we need to discuss."
Chase charged up the stairs from the common room, having heard the commotion. "Who goes there?" he challenged. "By the gods, how'd you get in here? Forget it. I don't care." He ran to embrace Strom, Osbourne, and Brother Vaughn. "I'll go get Benjin and Samda."
"Who?" Brother Vaughn asked, his visage going stony.
"Samda was a Zjhon Master, but his beliefs have changed. He's been helping us," Catrin said.
"I know who he is. A detestable man if I ever met one. We can get you out of here without him ever knowing. Chase, can you try to get Benjin to come alone?"
"Wait," Catrin said. "I don't want to leave Samda. He saved my life, just as you did. I could no more leave him behind in such a way than I could you."
Brother Vaughn seemed torn, but then he tightened his jaw and nodded. "Let us talk where we can be comfortable and drink a bit of Orman's dandelion wine, then."
In his excitement, Chase darted ahead to apprise Benjin, taking the stairs two at a time. Catrin walked beside Brother Vaughn. "I respect your opinion, and I'm sorry for disagreeing with you."
"People can change, but they rarely do. I will trust your judgment, but it will take some time before I will trust his."
"I can ask no m
ore than that," she said as they entered the private dining hall. Food and wine were waiting when they arrived, which made Catrin slightly uncomfortable, not liking when others anticipated her moves.
Benjin still wore a shocked expression when he arrived. Chase followed. Then came Samda, who wore a mixture of guilt and pride like a cloak. Catrin watched the looks exchanged between Brother Vaughn and Samda. There was no kindness between them, but they both managed to remain civil.
"How did you get in here?" Benjin asked. "We've been watching every entrance."
"Orman's a crafty fellow," Brother Vaughn said. "Full of surprises, he is. I'll not spoil his fun by revealing his methods." Strom and Osbourne nodded in agreement.
"I suppose the important question is: What do you plan to do next?" Brother Vaughn asked.
"I'm going after Belegra," Catrin said. "I believe he goes in search of the Firstland."
"I've gotten reports that give your suspicion credence, but I must ask how you plan to find the Firstland."
"I don't know, but I must find a way."
Brother Vaughn paced the floor in deep thought but stopped suddenly in front of Samda. Their noses almost touching, he growled. "You know why I loathe you. You know what you did. Catrin has accepted you, and I have chosen to honor her decision, but if you reveal any of what I say to anyone or if you betray her, I'll find you, and you will die slowly."
Catrin held her breath, shocked by the venom that poured from Brother Vaughn.
"What the Zjhon did was wrong--I know--but nothing can bring those shepherds back, no matter how much I will it to be so. I'll not betray you or Catrin."
"Be true to your word, and you have nothing to fear," Brother Vaughn said, and he turned back to the group, his visage once again peaceful. "There has been great change in the Cathuran order since the Zjhon killed Mother Gwendolin." He paused to glare at Samda, who seemed truly surprised and confused. "Long-standing beliefs are being challenged, and the order is divided. I could not remain while they squabble amongst themselves. I made my choice, and I started searching for you. When the bird came, Strom, Osbourne, and I made good our escape before the balance of power shifted."
"You left the order?" Catrin asked, shocked.
"In a sense, yes. There have been times in the past when the order dispersed to find truth, and I am on such a quest. The library you found contains thousands of volumes, and it'll take generations to glean all that we can from them, but I did make some discoveries before I departed Ohmahold. You were correct when you translated Om'Sa to mean men leave. The book you found chronicles the departure of the first men from the Firstland.
"They fled the Gholgi, who we now know were large, reptilian creatures that somehow betrayed the first men. The picture is still very cloudy, as I have only tapped the smallest part of the knowledge that was hidden. If only we had more time," he said with a sigh. "I found no maps to indicate where the Firstland is, but I did find something rather intriguing: a reference to a powerful staff known as the Staff of Life, and your staff matches the description, except yours has no stones in the eyes of the serpent, if I recall correctly."
"Your memory is correct," Catrin said. "But Benjin had the noonstones mounted in the eyes. The serpent, I believe, is a dragon. If I draw heavily on the staff, the eyes shine and the wings become visible." After retrieving the staff from her room, Catrin showed him.
"Amazing. The wings were not described, but perhaps they were unknown at the time. Otherwise, thanks to Benjin's uncanny intuition, the staff looks exactly as it was described." He drew a sharp intake of breath when he saw the handprints embedded in the staff's flesh. "By the gods! How did that happen?"
Catrin told the tale, and those who hadn't heard it stood in shock. Samda seemed confused. "Those are not noonstones," he said, pointing to the eyes of the serpent.
"What?" Catrin asked.
"I've seen noonstone; it's as black as night. Those, I believe, are something even more rare--dragon ore. I thought you knew."
"Where did you see this black stone?" Brother Vaughn asked.
"It was one of Belegra's treasures. He showed it to me once as a way to convince me he was right, to show he had the favor of the gods," Samda replied, looking haunted. "He said that once he uncovered its secrets, he would be able to save the world. I believed him then."
No one spoke for a moment, and even Brother Vaughn seemed to recognize Samda's pain. An idea began to form in Catrin's mind, but she kept it to herself. For the moment, it really didn't matter; she understood how to use the stones she had, whatever they were called.
Samda suddenly cocked his head to one side, "Do you hear that?"
Chase hurried to the window and pulled the shutter slowly open. "We've got to go. Now! Zjhon riders, coming fast."
A moment later Orman charged through the door, his face bright red. "Get your things and get upstairs."
Chapter 7
Beyond the civilized lands exist wild places, inhabited by creatures both curious and deadly.
--Rianna Goresh, trapper
* * *
It didn't take long for the group to gather their belongings since none of them had allowed themselves to get comfortable. At the end of the upstairs hall, Orman waited. He took them through a door that led to another stairwell. "Watch your heads," he said as he climbed.
The roof sloped down on both sides, and the attic ceiling was not high enough for even Catrin to stand straight. Orman opened a massive wooden chest that sat in a corner and took out the old blankets that filled it. After fighting with it for a tense moment, he removed the bottom of the chest, revealing a hidden shaft with a ladder descending in to the darkness.
"Down ya go," he said.
Strom went down first since he knew the way, and he lit a torch that waited below.
"I need you to send a message," Brother Vaughn said to Orman before he left. "I need a ship where foxes roost. You know who to contact."
Orman nodded.
Catrin waited until only she, Benjin, and Orman remained in the attic. "Thank you for all you've done. Good-bye, Orman," she said as Benjin urged her into the shaft.
The tunnel below was dark and cold and smelled like nothing else. Walls of rough stone and dirt cut a meandering course, but the tunnel was relatively short. At the end, another ladder led to a hatch that was already open. Looking down were the faces of the two stable boys, and their visible anxiety demanded haste.
"Thanks, Wilmer, Jidan; you've done well," Brother Vaughn said as he climbed from the tunnel.
Catrin followed and emerged in the feed room behind the stables. In the pasturelands beyond, their horses waited, saddled and loaded.
"By the gods, are those pyre-orchids?" Brother Vaughn asked.
"Yes," Catrin said. "We found them on our way, and Benjin insisted we harvest them."
"Bless him, but we won't have the time to dry them properly. They'll surely mold, and I cannot let such a treasure go to waste. Is Mirta still the healer in these parts?" he asked Wilmer, who nodded, mute. "Take these to her. It's very important. She'll know what to do. Understand?"
The boys nodded and quickly unloaded the pyre-orchids. Brother Vaughn went to one of the bundles and removed a single orchid. After marveling at its beauty for a brief moment, he carefully tore the delicate petals off, one by one, and pressed them into a book he retrieved from his pack.
After reaching into her purse, Catrin tossed each boy a gold coin then waved good-bye. The boys talked excitedly about how they would spend their new fortune.
Whether by design or luck, the evergreen trees lining the pasture gave them perfect cover during their escape; Catrin suspected it was by design. Riding double, they had to move more slowly, but they still managed to cover a lot of ground before nightfall. No pursuers revealed themselves, but that didn't mean they weren't there, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Constantly alert, Catrin scanned the trees around her as they moved through lightly forested foothills.
"We'll be heading no
rth and west through the forest for most of the way," Brother Vaughn said.
"Where are we going?" Chase asked.
"To my ancestral home. It was abandoned generations ago, but I know the way."
The northern forests were untouched by fire, and Catrin reveled in the glory of the undisturbed land. Concentrating as hard as she could, she tried to hear the dryads. The song she heard was so soft, she wondered if she were imagining it, but its incredible beauty and complexity argued otherwise.
When they camped for the night, she went to her bedroll early and spent hours listening to the song of nature. The next day brought warm, gentle breezes that stirred the turning leaves. Many succumbed to the call of the wind and drifted to the forest floor below, and the group rode through a rain of color.
With all the movement, it was difficult to remain watchful, but Catrin spotted a dark shape moving through the trees ahead, and she held up her fist to call a halt. In a moment, she knew it was already too late for stealth. The dark shape stopped, and a low whistle split the air.
"They've seen us," Benjin said, and the pounding of hooves gave additional proof. "There's no time to run. Arm yourselves."
Catrin pulled her staff from the stirrup. Mounted men, in gear similar to that of the elite troops they had encountered in the past, charged through the trees. Benjin and the others formed a protective ring around Catrin. Chase, Strom, and Osbourne dismounted, so passengers would not hinder those who rode.
Chase made first contact with the enemy when he stepped from behind a tree and used a fallen branch to unhorse one of the Zjhon. Torn from the sight by a rider bearing down on those who surrounded her, Catrin wished she had a bow. Instead, she drew her belt knife and threw. It struck the soldier's helmet but did little besides distract him. The distraction was enough for Benjin, though, and he landed a killing strike.
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