by P. C. Cast
Mari and Danita quickly described what had happened, and Antreas shook his head in disgust. “So he asked for the vision, and then discounted it and insulted you. That’s narrow-minded, even for Father John.”
“Is there anything we can do? Any way we can warn the Saleesh people farther upstream?” Mari asked.
“There’s only one way, but it means that the Saleesh might never allow me or anyone I guide to travel this river again,” Antreas said.
“Are you planning on leaving when we get to the Wind Rider Plains?” Danita’s pretty face had suddenly gone pale.
“No,” Antreas said firmly. “I am no longer a solitary Lynx Companion. You and Mari and Nik and everyone else have accepted me. I’m Pack.”
“You sure are,” Nik said as he joined them. “Good to see you back where you belong, my friend.” Then he winced as he saw the Lynx man’s thumb. “Damn! That looks sore.”
“It is, but being home is the best medicine for it,” Antreas said. At the word “home” his gaze met Danita’s, and the girl’s smile blazed while Bast’s purr rumbled around them.
“So, what’s this talk about leaving?” Nik asked.
“Oh, no. I’m not going anywhere. All I meant was that if for any reason we need to return this way—go back to the Earth Walker burrows or the Tribe of the Trees—I more than likely wouldn’t be allowed passage.”
“Ah, Father John.” Nik shook his head. “I’m still having problems trusting Dove, and even I am shocked at how ignorantly he discounted her vision.”
“And if Dove’s vision is true, which I do believe, the Saleesh will be killed. I don’t mean to sound callous about it—I’m just repeating her vision. So whether we offend the Saleesh might not matter in the future, because there’s a good chance they will no longer control the river.” Mari said.
“Yeah, and no one should be traveling along this river for an entire cycle of seasons because something really bad is going to happen here,” Danita said.
“But if we are not accepted by the Wind Riders…” Antreas began.
“We will be,” Mari said. “I feel positive about it, but I’m not going to be a fool like Father John, blinded by my own beliefs. If the Wind Riders reject us we will find somewhere else to make our home, and that can’t be back in our forest.”
“Yeah, there’s no returning,” Nik said. “But there’s a big world out there, and if the Wind Riders don’t see our worth, we’ll find another land—another place.”
“Without going backwards,” Mari added.
“Okay then, here’s what we can do. From here it’ll take about two weeks to reach Lost Lake. At the entrance to the lake are the worst of the rapids, as the currents of the river shift. There used to be a mighty dam there. The Saleesh call the ruins Day Dam. Something happened there during the time when the sun destroyed the world of the ancients and the earth shook, tearing apart bridges and dams. It changed the route of the Umbria River, flooding a huge section of land and covering many cities of the ancients. At the entrance to the lake is also where the last of the Saleesh villages are located. If we say nothing about Dove’s vision all the way to Day Dam, Father John will believe he silenced us,” Antreas said.
“But we won’t be silenced,” Mari said. “We’ll speak out loudly and clearly, in front of as many people as we can—men and women.”
“They’ll be warned, and we won’t need their access to the river anymore,” Nik said. “Good plan.”
“Should we prepare for the Saleesh to attack us when we speak?” Mari asked.
“Yes, and we’ll have to choose when we speak carefully. We must be sure our boats are all past the rapids, and under our control,” Antreas said.
“But we will warn them, and that’s important. Even if we risk a fight,” Danita said.
“That’s how I feel, too, but I’ll have to talk with Sora,” Mari said.
“You have two weeks to figure it out,” Antreas said. That settled, he sniffed the air appreciatively. “Any chance there’s some of Sora’s stew left? Father John was not in the mood to feed me.”
“Yes, I saved you some,” Danita said. “But first I’m going to clean that thumb and redress it.”
“I find that I like it when you worry about me.” Slowly, the Lynx man offered his arm to Danita. “After you clean up my little wound, would you sit with me while I eat?”
“Always,” Danita said as she slid her arm through his and they walked away, heads tilted together, with the Lynx padding happily behind them.
“That cat really is a good matchmaker,” Nik said.
Mari bumped his shoulder. “You’re going to be really sorry if Bast hears you call her a cat.”
Nik grinned and put his arm around her. “That’s why I waited until she was gone to say it. Hey, I thought that maybe we’d take second watch tonight. Is that okay with you, or are you too tired?”
“No, I’m great! Getting a full night’s sleep last night did wonders for me.”
“Good—then I have something to show you.” He held out his hand, and Mari took it, giving him a curious look.
“Where are we going?”
“Not far. You’ll see.” With Laru and Rigel beside them, Nik led Mari up a narrow trail that opened to a ledge overlooking the beach. It was just big enough for a pallet and a small fire, which was burning cheerily to one side. Rigel and Laru plopped down at the entrance to the ledge. Curled close together, father and son looked almost identical as they yawned and finally began to relax for the night.
“Ooooh! Nice view from up here. How’d you find it?” Mari took a seat on their travel cloaks, which Nik had already placed over a mattress of pine needles and fern fronds.
“I didn’t—Laru and Rigel did.” Before Nik stretched out beside her, he uncovered a wooden mug that he’d carefully stowed under a flap of a travel cloak. “Would you like a little spring mead?”
“Yes!” Mari reached eagerly for the mug and took a big drink, sighing happily before she handed it back to Nik. “How’d you talk Spencer into giving you some?”
“I told her the truth—that I was going to use it to ply favors from my Moon Woman.”
“Nik! You did not say that. Did you?”
Nik laughed. “No. But I did tell her it was for you.” He took a sip and handed the mug back to Mari, moving closer to her and pulling her into his arms. “And I am going to try to ply favors from you.”
Mari sipped the mead—her eyes smiling at him over the mug. “What kind of favors?”
Nik shifted so that he was behind her, and he began to massage her shoulders. “Only the kind of favors you’d like to give.”
“Oh, Nik, that feels so good. I don’t think my shoulders have ever worked this hard, or been this sore.”
“How sore are you? Too sore for this?” Nik kissed the side of her neck, letting his lips linger on her skin.
Mari sighed in contentment. “No, definitely not too sore for that.”
“How about this?” Nik kissed the other side of her neck. This time when his lips lingered, they made a trail of heat down her neck and along her shoulder, causing her to shiver with pleasure.
“Not too sore for that either.” Mari gulped the last of the mead and put the mug down, turning to face Nik. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m not too sore for anything you have in mind, Nikolas.”
Mari pulled him down to her and their lips met—searching and finding the same completion that their bodies soon found together as they made love slowly, languorously, learning each other’s needs and desires, speaking softly to one another and sharing the language of love while they discovered anew how perfectly they fit.
* * *
Davis stood before the sturdy little pine, gazing in wonder at it. Cammy sat beside him, uncharacteristically quiet. The pine was at the far edge of the beach, just at the point where brave little trees began to dot the steep ridge that lifted up to the plateau the Saleesh claimed. Slowly, Davis approached the pine. He unloaded the pile of
rocks he’d gathered, carrying them in his tunic like they were wapato roots. Then he sat and began placing the rocks, one atop another, beginning with the largest, until he had a stack of them resting at the foot of the tree. Then, after he was sure that the rock pile was sturdy enough to last—at least until the stormy season came—he placed the final rock atop the stack. It was small and almost as flat as the rest of them, but this rock was perfectly heart shaped.
Then he and Cammy scooted back a few steps and Davis gazed up into what he believed was one of the faces of his Goddess, and prayed.
“Thank you, Great Earth Mother, for being here with us. I know you are here. You drew me to this tree. I feel you, and it fills me with wonder. I make you this offering of this cairn, topped with my heart, so that everyone who passes through here might know that your people love you—cherish you—believe in you. And, please: I know that they do not worship you, but I would like to ask that you watch over the Tribe of the Trees, and if there are still people there who are good—who have not been poisoned by Thaddeus and the God of Death—please help them. Strengthen them. Allow them to survive and, someday, to thrive again as a better people—a kinder people.” He touched his fingers to his lips and then pressed them to the foot of the trunk. “Thank you, Great Earth Mother.”
A twig snapped behind them and Cammy whirled around, showing his teeth and growling deep in his chest. Davis was slower to react, turning just as a Shepherd trotted up to greet the little Terrier, who instantly changed from growling to huffing a welcome.
“I am so sorry!” Claudia said, hurrying to catch up with Mariah, who was nose to nose with Cammy as their tails wagged happily. “I did not mean to interrupt you. Mariah kept telling me there was something I had to see, and wouldn’t settle down for the night until I followed her.” Claudia stopped abruptly as she caught sight of the little pine. “Oh! That’s beautiful! It looks just like a woman.”
“Or a goddess,” Davis said softly. “She is beautiful, isn’t she? And you didn’t interrupt. I’ve already made my offering and prayed.” He smiled shyly at the beautiful young woman. “Cammy obviously likes the company, and so do I. I think something like this needs to be shared to be truly appreciated.”
“I’ve seen shapes in the trees before—who hasn’t?” Claudia said as she moved closer to the pine, studying it. “But I’ve never seen anything like this. And you’re right. She’s more goddess than woman.” Gently, Claudia stroked the bark of the tree with her finger, tracing the perfectly formed face that seemed to look so serenely at them. It seemed the figure’s arms were raised, morphing into branches. The trunk curved to show breasts, a slender waist, and generous hips. Even her legs could be seen, and it seemed she was mid-dance, whirling with her arms joyously raised as she gazed out at the world. As Claudia took in the entire vision, she found the small stone cairn. “That’s lovely. Did you make it?”
“I did.”
“And that heart?”
“It’s my offering,” Davis said. “I hope the Goddess likes it.”
Claudia turned to look into Davis’s face. “She does. She must. I would, were I a goddess.”
Davis’s breath caught. He wished it were easier for him to speak his mind to Claudia, but even back in the Tribe her beauty and her confidence had seemed to freeze his mind—at least whenever they spoke about anything except their canines. His eyes found her young Shepherd and he blurted, “Mariah is looking really good.”
Claudia’s lovely face seemed to radiate pleasure as she smiled down at her Shepherd, ruffling Mariah’s fur affectionately. “Little did I know before, but Mariah is an excellent traveler. She actually enjoys the river.”
“You don’t?” Davis motioned at a water-bleached log that had washed up close enough to the tree that they could sit on it and still look at the Goddess image. Claudia sat beside him while Cammy and Mariah played tug with a stick.
“No. I’m a homebody.” She sighed. “I miss my nest.”
“Yeah, I understand that, but I’m really glad you’re here with us,” Davis said.
“I am, too. I shudder to think about what’s happening back at the Tribe—so I don’t think about it at all. It’s the only way I can stand it.”
“I petition the Goddess in prayer for the good people we had to leave behind. I believe she hears me, and even though I have not known her long, I trust that she is too kind to allow those who are not like Thaddeus to suffer without hope.”
Claudia turned to him. “I’ve been meaning to tell you how much I respect that you’ve embraced this Mother Earth Goddess. It took a lot of courage to open yourself to a new way of worshipping. You really do hear her, don’t you?”
Davis’s gaze found the tree again. “I do. Her voice is everywhere—in the wind and the river, the grasses and the sky. She is powerful, but kind. I feel as if I’ve known her my whole life.”
“Maybe you have. I’ll bet she’s known you. I mean, she’s a Goddess, right?”
Davis smiled. “Right.”
“Which watch do you have tonight?” Claudia asked.
“Second. You?”
“Second. Would you and Cammy like to watch with us?”
Davis blinked in surprise. He felt his cheeks heat, and was glad that the wan light of the moon kept them in silver shadow. “I would.” Cammy barked and jumped against his leg, causing Claudia to laugh. “I mean, yes, Cammy and I would like that. Very much.”
Claudia reached down and scratched Cammy’s big blond ears as he wagged and huffed in pleasure. “I’ve always liked your Terrier, Davis. He has a big personality for a little canine. Did you hear him growl when he thought Mariah and I were sneaking up on you?”
“Yeah, he’s a tough little guy,” Davis said. Mariah finally got tired of her stick and joined them, unexpectedly resting her head on Davis’s thigh. He stroked the Shepherd’s thick fur. “Hey, pretty girl.”
“She likes you,” Claudia said. “And she really likes to be scratched right here.”
Davis happily complied, scratching the Shepherd while Claudia tickled Cammy’s ears.
“I like being around you,” Claudia said abruptly. “I thought at first it was because you remind me of home, but if that were true I’d feel like this around Wilkes or Sheena or Rose, or any of the other Tribers with us.” She met his gaze. “I’ve decided you make me feel good because you’re kind. Truly kind. I think that’s why your Goddess speaks to you, too.”
Davis’s heart felt all fluttery. “She could be your Goddess, too,” he said softly.
“Do you think so?”
“I know so,” he said.
She smiled. “Oh, that’s right. She talks to you.”
“She does, but that’s not why I know she would accept you,” Davis said.
“Then how do you know?”
“Because you are truly kind, too. And it makes me feel good to be near you as well.” Davis held his breath.
Claudia stared at him and then slowly, she leaned forward to softly, but intimately press her lips to his. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Then she stood. “Come on, Mariah. Let’s go get some sleep so we can be wide awake to keep watch with Davis and Cammy. See you two cuties soon!” Claudia bent to ruffle Cammy’s ears once more before she blew a kiss at Davis, and she and her Shepherd disappeared into the darkness that led to camp.
It was only then that Davis allowed himself to breathe. He looked at Cammy. Cammy looked at him.
“Did that really just happen?” he asked his Terrier.
Ruff! Cammy barked, and wagged his tail so enthusiastically that his whole body wiggled.
Davis’s gaze returned to the Goddess tree. “If that was you—thank you. Thank you so much.”
As he and Cammy made their way back to camp, Davis was sure he heard the Goddess’s happy laughter echoing in the wind around him.
* * *
First watch ended at midnight, and Danita yawned widely as she stumbled sleepily to the pallet she’d made u
p with Antreas. Last night she’d slept with him and Bast—with Bast stretched out between them like a warm, soft barricade. Danita liked being close to Antreas, especially during the darkest hours of the night, but the thought of sleeping pressed against his big, strong, decidedly male body made her stomach feel funny. Sometimes that was good, and sometimes it was scary. But worrying about Antreas that day had shifted something within her. Not that she was ready to have sex with him—she was absolutely not ready for that—but maybe, just maybe she was ready to try more intimacy.
Danita hadn’t stood watch with Antreas that night. She’d been helping Sora and Isabel sort herbs. Then Isabel had found a whole clump of aloe plants close to the temporary campsite, so they’d been busy making up a new batch of healing salve, as well as carefully harvesting a few intact aloe plants, which joined the other medicinal cuttings and seedlings they carried with them.
Antreas and Bast had gone to check the boat line and serve first watch from the waterside. Wilkes and his big Shepherd, Odin, had joined them, and Danita was amazed at how fast time passed when Antreas was suddenly there, smiling at her and going from awake group to awake group, letting everyone know it was time for a change of watch.
Danita hoped it was time for more to change than just the watch.
She was sitting on her pallet with her legs pulled up to her chest, resting her head on her knees, when Bast appeared, chirping and rubbing against her.
“Hey there! I missed you, too. Oh, ugh! You have fish breath.” She giggled and pushed the big feline’s face away playfully.
“She and Odin decided to go fishing and they shared their catch.” Antreas dropped heavily to the pallet beside her. “Wow!” he said around a yawn. “I’m beat.”
“How’s your thumb?”
Antreas let her take his wounded hand in hers. “You tell me. You’re the Healer.”
“Not really. I’m just a Healer-in-training. But I did make you some aloe salve and some goldenseal wash. I’d like to clean it again and put on a fresh bandage, if you don’t mind.”
“If you do it I don’t mind,” Antreas said.
She grinned at him. “Good, because I was going to tell Mari on you if you minded.”
