They walked slowly back to their rooms in the cool evening. Tayan knew Amber was self-conscious of her face. The woman's biting remark had hurt her deeply. He did his best to pick up her mood as they wandered their way back to the guesthouse. It seemed to be working--she was smiling and gave a giggle when he poked fun at those “brazen women.”
The atmosphere turned into more of a courting mood. He didn't realize it was happening until he went to leave her at the junction in the hall where they split to go to their own rooms. Without thinking about it, he bent to kiss her goodnight. His brain caught up with him halfway to her lips. Forcing himself to stop, he straightened back up and mumbled a "Night, Amber...I had a good time.”
He desperately hoped she hadn't noticed, but her face said she did.
Her cheeks colored as she gazed up at him. "As did I. Goodnight."
He wanted to bolt away from her. How stupid could he be! Walking stiffly to his room he paused to look down the hall. Amber stood before her door, watching him with a big grin on her face. She waved her fingers at him then slipped inside.
Tayan went inside and began pacing, angry at himself. She was getting the absolute wrong idea! He had only wanted to cheer her up. Starting to kiss her was reflex, nothing more. Amber was a good friend, but that was all she could ever be. He briefly entertained the notion of going to explain it to her, to see her one last time before he left.
"That will only make things worse," he muttered to himself. It was best to just leave while he had the chance.
He checked the hall three times before he no longer saw the sliver of light under her door. Stepping as quietly as he could, he left the guesthouse, taking pains to stay out of sight of her window in case she was looking out. The stable was empty. He donned the ruined chain mail and hefted the clumsy ax, wondering how anyone could fight with one of these things. Only the gate guards were about as he led his horse out into the city.
He tried to forget Amber and focus on the task at hand. When he walked into the Roadhouse he had to be mean. He had to glare and snarl as if he was about to kill everyone in the place just because they lived. It wasn't in his nature to treat people badly unless they proved they deserved it, but this one time he'd have to act like his father. He had to be convincing. Be the man who had followed him from Tolina, the one who had stuffed him into that damn sack! The more he thought about his father, the darker his mood became. He didn't need someone like Eric watching over him. How dare the man keep him safe when Lucinthia was about to be killed!
A thought stuck him. Father Ross claimed the thing watching him was as dark as the devil himself. He could think of no one who better fit that description than Eric. The bag had come from Eric, the coach he rode in belonged to Eric and quite possibly that thing watching him came from Eric, also. It figured. Eric sent that thing so he would not be harmed, so he could go on suffering without his beloved wife.
As these thoughts ran through his head, he gripped the ax harder and harder until his forearm ached. His strides became longer, and his jaw clenched so tightly he threatened to break his own teeth. His blood pulsed hot and strong through his veins. By the time he came to the dining room door of the Roadhouse and raised a foot to kick it in, there wasn't a person in the world who would ever guess he wasn't the Red Man.
Chapter 6
Zodiac walked carefully through the main hall, threading his way around the mass of people sitting on the floor. This room, like every other one, was packed with former residents of Newburg. Of the Company, he had seen Gloredaniel in JoJo’s lab and met Zit in the hall. He knew that Scorpio was somewhere around, but he needed to find the rest.
Stepping around a mother huddled with her three children, he made for the chapel. If Mother Frieda made it back, she was sure to be there.
“My Lord!” came from his right. Valeri had spotted him. The slim greenish woman in her plain gray dress dodged through the crowd to run to him, hugging him tightly. “They told me you didn’t come through!”
“I made it.” He patted her back. “How are we holding up with food and places for all these people to sleep?”
Releasing him, she wiped a tear from her eye and shook her head. “Not well, M’Lord. We have food, but not enough pots or ovens to cook fast enough. We’ve filled every bed and most of the floor space in every room. There are just too many. Scorpio has sent groups to the village to try and find shelter there. I have four messengers waiting outside the gates for you.”
“Outside the gates?” he asked. “They could wait in the stables.”
Valeri shook her head. “No, M’Lord, it’s full of people.”
He sighed and hugged her again with one arm. “Well, at least they’re alive. I want to get the Company together. Find whoever you can and have them meet me in the chapel so we can talk.”
“I’ll look for them, but the chapel--”
“Is full of people,” he finished.
She nodded. “Every bench and flat place someone can lie down on.”
“All right then, in the courtyard by the gates.”
“Yes, M’Lord.” She looked up at him for a second then said, “I’m very glad you returned. We missed you.”
Smiling at her, he said, “I missed both of you, too,” then gave her a light slap on her behind. “Now go on, we have a lot to do.”
“Yes, M’Lord.” She smiled back then returned through the crowd with a bounce in her step.
He had reached the main doors when Kimmy found him. She ran up and wrapped her arms around his neck so hard he thought she was trying to choke him. He got her to ease her grip; but she held onto him as she started to talk in an endless stream, trying to tell him everything that had happened at once. He didn’t really hear what she said as he gazed into her gray eyes. The green tint of her skin somehow made her smooth features even prettier--both she and Valeri were the best thing that had happened to him in a long time.
He put a finger to her lips until she quit trying to talk then asked, “First, what was it you were saying about the tree?”
“It’s burning. Some druids are putting it out, but just before it burst into flames I heard men screaming from inside it. Scorpio said you hadn’t come through.” Touching his face, she gazed at him lovingly. “I thought you were dead.”
“Not yet, you still have to put up with me,” he assured her with a grin.
Looking at him seriously, she said, “When you die, I do, too. I will not serve another...lord.”
He had forbidden them to say “master,” but he knew what she meant. “This castle is your home, no matter what happens. You do not have to serve anyone you do not wish to.”
“Right.” She nodded. “I am yours.”
He didn’t have time to get drawn into another one of these discussions. “I forbid you to end your own life or have someone do it for you,” he told her sternly. “Now, where is my brother?”
“In the courtyard. He is getting men to help build shacks outside the walls for people to sleep in.”
“And have you seen Odif?”
She nodded. “Zit found her wandering--he said she was near a band of halshaken as they were being attacked. I put her in the room next to ours. She is suffering from something I’ve seen before. Her body is awake, but her mind isn’t. If I may, I will need to spend most of my time with her.”
“You can heal her?”
“I think I can bring her back,” she corrected. “During slave training, some girls withdrew into themselves. We were taught how to help bring them out of it. Some did come around and were saved, those who could not were beheaded.”
Zodiac swallowed. Every time she told bits of what they had gone through as slaves, his stomach turned. “Well, go do what you can for her...and we are not going to behead Odif.”
“Yes, M’Lord,” she said then gave him a kiss before she went on her way.
Despite his best efforts, Zodiac could not get everyone together. Zit was caring for Trelem, who had gotten caught in the blast that destroyed t
he tree. Frieda insisted on staying in the chapel until all the people there were cared for. Scorpio was busy managing the masses outside. Duncan, JoJo, Gloredaniel and Entaurus had closed themselves away to perform some mysterious magic. He decided to leave them to their tasks and ordered everyone else to gather in his rooms for dinner.
The messengers were, just as Kimmy said, waiting outside the gates. He sent two to Elrad and two to Capetown to spread the word. Heading back, he found Liefelm in the courtyard. The one-legged man was eager to do something to help, so he sent him in search of Odif’s mother. In case Kimmy couldn’t help Odif, someone would need to care for her; and they had to start towards the plains as soon as possible.
Valeri found him again as he was walking back into the castle. Smiling, she said proudly, “We have found places for everyone, and there is another kitchen set up in the forge.”
“The forge?”
She nodded. “The fire pits there can cook as well as heat steel. I heard that Scorpio has another fire pit set up outside the walls. The problem of feeding all these people is solved.”
“Good work, very good,” he told her. He raised an arm and she quickly slid beside him, wrapping an arm around him as he draped his over her shoulder. Despite the huge number of people, everyone was at least going to be able to eat and sleep. As long as he got the residents of Newburg on to other places in a day or two they would not be too much of a problem.
“Are you ready to rest yet, M’Lord?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Valeri’s idea of rest after he came back from somewhere had nothing to do with sleep. Once she got him in bed, she would do her best to wear him out.
“Not yet, we still have much to do.”
She cast him a pouting look. “You are not going to wear yourself out, are you, M’Lord?”
He chuckled and gave her a squeeze. “Let me guess, that’s your job?”
She pressed close to him. “Kimmy is caring for Odif, so this is my chance to have you all to myself. I’m sure Kimmy will have her turn tomorrow.”
He was sure she would, too. His thoughts were not on snuggling, though; he was wondering how Kimmy was doing with Odif.
***
Odif lay crumpled on the floor, her auburn hair a tangled mass over her face. She wept as she tried once again to reach out for Kimmy.
Kimmy slapped her hand away. “No!” Leaning over her, she barked, “Get up on your own!”
Odif curled up and hugged her arm as if Kimmy had hurt it terribly. In her mind, a bright ball of fire raced at her. Her ears heard Kimmy’s commands, and her eyes saw the floor in front of her; but none of this registered in her mind. When Kimmy grabbed her hair and hauled her head up to look her in the eyes, Odif flinched as she lived through being tossed through the air once again. She felt the pain and shock of a hundred trees being ripped apart at the same time as strong warriors died with their minds screaming in horror.
“Up!” Kimmy growled, pulling the prostrate druid by the hair. She had just enough strength to get her to her knees. It amazed her that someone who looked as trim as Odif could be so damn heavy. The only thing that swelled her arms and legs was muscle, and there was nothing to her stomach but flat ripples.
Odif did stagger up, but when Kimmy let go, she whined and reached for her. Kimmy stepped back and bade her to follow. Odif collapsed in place and kept crying.
Kimmy dropped to her knees. Gripping the sides of Odif’s head, she made the woman look at her.
“You must get up. If you can’t walk then Master will take your head, understand? You must walk or die!”
Odif gripped her arms, whimpering. By the vacant look in her eyes, Kimmy knew she hadn’t understood. If she were a slave, her fate would be the chopping block. The Master was counting on her to bring Odif out of this, so she had to keep trying. Threats were not going to work, so she wracked her brains to think of something to bring her out if her state of shock. There had to be something she would respond to!
She had to think like a druid. What would be strong enough to get through to her?
Druids worshiped the Goddess of Nature. Using her limited magic, she forced her words into Odif’s mind.
“Your goddess is watching you, and she is very disappointed! She wants you to get up, now!”
Whether it was Kimmy herself starting to rise or her words, Odif got to her feet. Kimmy let go of her and she stayed up. Pointing towards the door, she said, “I am going out, and your goddess wants you to follow me.”
She watched closely. Odif moaned but walked in halting steps just behind her. It looked like she might collapse at any second, but she was moving on her own.
Zodiac’s sitting room was full. The small table was surrounded with Duncan, Gloredaniel, Jo-Jo and Entaurus. On the sofa, Glier sat beside Pynlee with Scorpio on the other side of him. Mother Frieda sat by the fireplace, bracketed by the two humans Theo and Hutch. Zit and Shilo sat propped against the windowsill. Valeri had brought in a cart with the food.
Kimmy ignored the others, who had gathered for dinner. With terse commands, she led Odif past them and had her sit on the floor in the far corner. She took the plates of food Valeri offered, setting one in front of her charge. Odif’s nose twitched as if she smelled the food, but she didn’t move to eat until Kimmy grabbed her hand and put it on her plate with a command that her goddess wanted her to eat.
“How is she doing?” JoJo asked.
Giving him a brief smile, Kimmy replied, “Better. She can walk and eat by herself. It will take time.”
Mother Frieda raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you can instill some decency into her,” she said dryly.
“I think Kimmy has done wonders already,” Pylnee stated from her seat on the couch. Looking at Glier, she added, “I think she will recover--Odif is tough.”
“Tough as oak,” he agreed.
Scorpio moved to sit by Odif, but Kimmy waved him away. “No, don’t come to her. Make her say your name and come to you.”
Odif looked up at him. Widening her eyes as if to bring him into focus, she held an arm out to him and mewled.
Kimmy pushed her arm down. “Who is he?”
Odif shook her head. She knew the man standing there, but to think of his name was too hard. She mouthed what she thought might be a syllable, but she wasn’t sure.
“Scorpio,” he said gently as he laid a hand in his chest.
“Your goddess is watching, say it,” Kimmy coaxed from beside her.
Odif tried. What came out was “Orrrroo.” Tears formed in her eyes as the greenish woman made him sit down. He was someone she wanted near her!
Suddenly, the greenish woman was holding her face again as she looked at her.
“You must concentrate! Use your ears and listen! If you understand then nod your head like this,” she said, moving her head for her. “Do you understand?”
Something in the back of Odif’s mind told her this was important. Try as she might, she didn’t comprehend most of it. One thing did sink in--she had to use her ears. Dropping her head to look at her plate, she slowly picked up a wedge of peppered potato and chewed it.
Sounds came to her as she ate. She strained to hear garbled words that made no sense as those around her talked. She dimly noted a man had come in, one she knew. He was saying something about they were all that was left. This was bad. As she strained to hear what he was saying, she caught other words.
“We’ll leave Odif in Kimmy’s care for now. Shilo, you go tell King Alderlan what’s happening in his kingdom. If we aren’t here when you get back, go to the Circle of Spring in the east; we’ll meet you there.”
She knew Shilo--he had wings. The Circle of Spring was a holy place for her. She connected the king’s name with a silver-haired elf who wore purple and red. She nodded her head slightly.
“Duncan, how did your viewing go?” Zodiac asked.
Duncan, he was one of the wizards.
Entaurus spoke up. “We saw a city on the plains from a distance. Over t
he city were three giant hammers. A black hand held the head of one, as if keeping it from striking. The second hammer tried to fall but was stopped by another hand. As the third came down, the hand holding the first let go and grabbed it. At this point, the first hammer rose up and came down. Both hands tried to grab it, but it smashed through them and destroyed the city below. We take this to mean that three main forces will attack, and one will get through to kill whatever rules there.”
Odif nodded again with a brief move of her head. She saw the picture in her mind, but something seemed to be missing. Black was the color of pure evil and eternal death--those hands were not of nature.
“It could also mean the knights who went to the plains all those years ago are still alive, being held captive,” Duncan added. “The first hammer was red, the color of anger and revenge.”
“Yes, but wouldn’t it be white if it were the knights?” Frieda asked.
A red hammer. Forcing her attention through the sounds of explosions in her head, Odif strained to hear what was going on. No one was paying attention to her as she continued to nod. She was listening now, intently listening.
“If it is them, they've been held over twenty years,” JoJo said. “That would make me a bit angry.”
“What about the other hammers?” Zit asked.
“The second was two colors, a green head with a brown handle,” Duncan said. “I think that would pretty well describe us--druids for brown, holy for green.”
“White is holy,” Gloredaniel corrected. “Is it possible the second hammer is the druids, and we are the third. That one was many colors woven together, marble-like.”
“So, Tayan is not going to make it?” Glier asked.
Duncan said, “We only see symbols, not actual events.”
Her mind was starting to work. Odif knew Tayan--he was her brother. She let out a whimper as she thought about him. He held so much sadness for such a kind soul. Many regrets, pains and joys--he was as laced with colors as was the third hammer.
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