“I never disappoint my Master,” she said proudly.
“No, you don’t,” he agreed. “I will miss you. As a parting gift, go to the Redman Coach depot and tell the dispatcher to bill me for your trip. He will tell you how to get to Tolina.”
“Thank you very much.” She smiled. “I wish you well, ex-Master.”
A few moments later, Ellie walked out the main gate.
Chapter 9
Odif emerged into a lovely garden. Besides the tree she came out of, a maple and a willow stood guard over a colorful array of flowers and neatly trimmed bushes. A red-slate path curved past her to lead towards a large mansion decorated with columns. To her right were a high stone wall and a small stone building. She heard the laughing of children. Straight ahead, she saw a boy disappear as he ran off towards the mansion.
She followed him to a courtyard where other children played a game of tag. The boy she had followed was stockier than the others. He ran fast but seemed a bit clumsy as he tried to tag another boy. To one side, an elf woman sat stiffly on a wrought iron bench next to a baby carriage, watching them play.
Odif stopped and watched, a smile spreading on her face. She remembered when life was this simple, when her worst fear was whether or not her mother would find out she had ruined her appetite by eating cinnamon bark half the day. The boy finally cornered a shorter elf by the woman’s bench, yelling, “No touchbacks!” after tagging him.
The elf woman glared at him. “Art! Do not play near the baby!”
He stopped and frowned at her. “But Selsteran--”
“Selsteran is not a clumsy oaf! Now move away!” she said with a whisk of her fingers.
Art walked away, his shoulders drooping. He didn’t see the elf girl run up and slap him merrily on the shoulder.
“Tag!” she giggled and ran away from him.
Odif wondered why the woman had treated the child so harshly. Studying Art, she saw his ears were not quite pointed, and the tips of his eyebrows turned down slightly. Art was mixed blood, human and elf. He was trying to play, but now it didn’t look like he had his heart in it.
She shifted her attention to the woman, who adjusted the baby’s blankets as she muttered to herself “If only his mother had stuck to her own kind, he wouldn’t have happened!”
The remark by itself was bad enough, but Odif saw Art glance at her after she said it. The grin on her face faded as the hair on the back of her neck rose up. She stepped into the courtyard and walked towards the woman. The children saw her, slowing to stop and watch as she passed Art, who was gaping at her. The woman didn’t look up until she was standing in front of her.
The women gave a start then glared at her. “How did you get in here?”
Odif glared back at her. “We need to have a talk.”
“Get out now or I’ll call for the guards!”
Turning her right hand palm up, Odif concentrated on the air directly above her hand. “Flammar.”
Fire burst from her palm to crackle in dancing flames a few inches above her half-curled fingers.
“Do you think they’ll be fast enough?” she asked.
The woman’s eyes went wide. “Dear Odin!” Sitting with her back pressed against the bench as if to escape the flame, she asked, “What do you want?”
“From you, not to berate children. You think you’re better than one of us ‘mongrels?’ Try me.”
The woman’s face flushed. Glancing about fearfully, she said, “Please, leave us alone.”
Odif closed her hand, extinguishing the fire. “You leave Art alone, and I’ll leave you alone. Where may I find Jeni Redman?”
The woman shook her head, still pressing against the back of the bench. “She’s not here.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Hey, lady, who are you?” Art called from behind her.
Odif turned to him. “Odif Longforest. Do you know where she is?”
Art’s face opened up with joy. “Awwwww, wow! You’re the real Odif?”
The other children began to congregate in a semicircle around her. She nodded to him. “Yes, and you are?”
“I’m Arenthanas Lemallan Cooper--Jeni’s my sister,” he said proudly. Pointing to the baby, he added, “That’s Erica, Eric and Jeni’s baby. Erikenthansia Redman is her whole name.”
Odif raised an eyebrow. “And Eric, he’s this Red Man I’ve been hearing about?”
Art bobbed his head. “Sure is. He killed a whole army of hoarcs and killed a vlak all by himself! Him and Jeni got married then he went to look after Tayan but they got attacked by real mean stuff.”
Erica was her half-sister. She was glad to know about her, but that didn’t bring her any closer to finding her father. “Do you know where Eric is?”
Giving her a shrug, he said, “Nobody knows. I think he’s still killing bad things somewhere. He better come back soon, ’cause Jeni, Mom and Dad are starting to have fights over Jeni wanting to go look for him.”
Pulling back the hood on the carriage, Odif looked down on the tiny girl wrapped in pink blankets. Her fine, silky hair was strawberry blonde. Erica gazed back up at her with almond-shaped blue eyes.
“Hey, Erica.” She smiled as she reached down to tickle the tiny chin. She leaned her staff on the bench then lifted her sister and held her, not aware of the woman’s slipping off the bench and running away.
“That’s Aunt Shanni,” Art told her, pointing at the fleeing woman.
Odif heard her crying out that someone was stealing the baby. She sat down, cradling Erica in her arms. “I need to talk to Jeni. Do you know where she is?”
Art bobbed his head again. “Yup, she’s off doing business things. Jeni owns a bunch of coaches and two stone quarries. Mom and Dad are both real busy, too, that’s why Aunt Shanni came to watch me.”
“Here comes your aunt,” one elf boy announced nervously.
She was flanked by two large, rough-looking humans with clubs in their hands and mean scowls on their faces. Shanni’s expression was set in confidence as she pointed to Odif. “John, Hal, make her put down my great-niece and throw her out!”
Calmly, Odif laid Erica back in her carriage. Tickling the baby’s chin again, she said in a musical voice, “I’ll be right back. Big sister’s got to kick some ass, yes, she does.”
Standing to face the men, she gently pushed Art away and spoke in a more serious tone. “You and your friends move over there for a few minutes.”
Art backed up, shifting his eyes from the guards to her. “You’re gonna fight?”
“I’m going to teach them a lesson.”
Odif moved away from Erica and waited. Shanni stopped. The men continued on to halt a few paces in front of Odif, sweeping her with their eyes. Neither had seen womenfolk who walked around in just a thin shirt and shorts, let alone a pretty one like her.
John motioned toward the gates, almost apologetically. “Ma’am, we don’t want to hurt you. Please, just go.”
Folding her arms in front of her, Odif said, “You’re both handsome men; I really don’t want to hurt you, either. Can we be friends, and you just let me wait for Jeni?”
“Get her out now!” the woman yelled.
Hal glanced back at her briefly, “Look, Lady Shalenthansia wants you out. We have to do as she says.”
“That’s right, ma’am, you can come back later,” John offered.
Odif let out an irritated sigh. Raising her hands, she tried to explain. “I came to find my father, and Jeni Redman is my best lead right now. I am not leaving until I talk to her.”
“I’m sorry, you have to leave now.” John reached to take her arm.
In an unhurried motion, Odif grabbed his wrist and pulled his arm past her then tapped the back of his knee with her foot as she twisted his arm so it was locked straight up behind his back. Before he knew it, he was kneeling and looking at the ground, unable to move.
Holding him immobile, Odif asked, “May I please wait?”
<
br /> “Let him go, ma’am,” Hal said firmly. “We’re not fooling.”
“Neither am I.” She stepped in back of her captive then let go of his arm and gave him a shove with her foot. As John dove face-first onto the ground, she stepped up to Hal. He tried to grab her only to also find himself diving for the ground.
Odif stepped back, waiting as the men regained their feet. “I really don’t want to hurt you. Why don’t you just stay down?”
Both men got up, flustered and angry.
“We’re through playing with you!” John hissed. “Either you leave, or we’ll make you leave!”
Odif snorted at him and shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Both men came at her, striding side by side. She waited until they reached to grab her arms then she made her move. Spinning low into them, she kicked John’s knee and elbowed Hal in the ribs. Passing between them as they stumbled, she dropped down and swung a leg to kick Hal’s feet out from under him. As he fell, she jumped up and kicked John square in the back, sending him flying onto his face once more. She backed off, waiting again for them to get up.
Shalenthansia was glaring at the men, flustered at their failure. “Get up and throw her out!” she barked.
Odif pointed an angry finger at her. “If I have to hurt them, I’m going to hurt you next!”
Art called out, “Hey, Aunt Shanni, please let Odif stay!”
Hal had gotten to his feet. Hearing Art, his scowl softened. Looking at her cautiously, he asked, “You’re Odif...the druid?”
“Yes, can I stay now?”
Holding his scraped nose, John asked, “How do we know you’re her?”
Holding her arms out, she spoke firmly. “Piorga Flammar!”
Fire shot out in a stream just above the men’s heads. They ducked, looking at her fearfully then bolted for the gates. Shalenthansia followed, uttering a mix of crying and screaming sounds.
Alone with the children, Odif went back to the carriage. She wouldn’t mind sitting with her sister--it would be a welcome change of pace.
Some of the children went home, but others, including Art, sat near her as she held Erica and played with her. She was asked all kinds of questions, from whether druids really lived inside trees to if she really ate people. She was amazed at some of the things their parents had told them. Patiently, she told them what druids were really like and how they lived. Leading them to the gardens, she explained to their eager ears how living things grew and how each form of life depended on others. By the time Erica was becoming hungry and cranky, she was gaining a small group of converts.
Erica sat on Odif’s lap, whining and sucking her fingers. Odif looked around for something to give her, but none of the plants near her were edible to a child.
“Art, do you know where Erica’s food is?”
Jumping up, he said, “Yeah, I’ll go get her goat’s milk” and ran off towards the mansion.
“Goat’s milk?” She was expecting something soft, but goat’s milk?
A girl in a yellow jumpsuit grinned at her. “That’s what babies eat! I get to hold the bottle for my baby brother.”
“What’s wrong with your mother’s milk?”
The girl bit her lip, holding back a grin. A boy asked, “What’s mother’s milk?” The girl giggled and pointed to her chest, which got them all giggling.
Odif didn’t understand what was so funny. Looking quizzically at the girl, she asked, “Weren’t you fed your own mother’s milk?”
The giggles turned into laughter. The tallest girl, who wore a frilly white blouse and light blue skirt, blushed and lowered her head. The girl in the yellow jumpsuit cried, “That’s what goat’s milk is for!”
Odif’s brow furrowed. She spoke a little more harshly than she meant to. “Are you goats?”
The laughter died out as they saw her stern look.
“Well, are you?” she asked firmly.
“No,” one boy said meekly as the others shifted in place.
“Then you should not be raised on goat’s milk!” Slipping her hand up under her shirt to clasp her right breast, she concentrated on producing milk. The unused glands started to fill, becoming sore as they were suddenly stretched like lungs taking in air. Her breast became heavy as it swelled. She ignored the prickling pains and lifted her shirt, coaxing Erica to drink.
“Goat’s milk!” she huffed. Smiling down at Erica she said in a musical tone, “You don’t need to drink goat’s milk this day, no, you don’t.”
Erica began suckling in earnest as milk flowed from her nipple. Odif found the sensation pleasant, even satisfying. She was feeding a child with her own breast. It made her wish she were able to have a baby of her own.
But that was one joy she would never know; so instead of dwelling on what was never to be, she resumed talking to the children. They were gaping at her, clearly very uneasy.
“We should go now.” one boy said, and drifted away. Others filed after him, and soon only the tall girl remained. She hovered for a moment, not sure whether to go or stay. Once the others were out of sight, she settled down by Odif, watching Erica intently.
“Does that hurt?” she asked quietly.
“No, it actually feels nice. What’s your name?”
The girl looked up. “My friends call me Ali.”
“Well, Ali, this is why woman have breasts; there is nothing to be ashamed of.” she said gently.
Ali nodded slightly. After another moment, she asked, “Can I try?”
Odif suppressed a chuckle. “Sorry, but no. You’re a bit too young. When you grow up, I’m sure you will have your own babies to feed.”
Ali looked at her like she was about to ask another question then shifted her gaze to where the others had gone. “Maybe I better go, too.”
Before she got up, Odif asked, “Has anyone ever explained things like this to you?”
Snapping her head back to look at Odif, she said, “We don’t talk about private parts.”
Odif raised an eyebrow. “'Private parts'?”
Ali blushed again, giving a half-hearted gesture to her chest and groin. “You know, parts that are always covered up.”
“Oh.” She got the picture. Ali’s mother thought it was rude to talk about basic life functions. The poor girl would probably be terrified the first time she had her cycle, and be even more so with her first boy, not having any idea what to expect. She wanted to go slap the woman silly for keeping her daughter in the dark. Ignorance never helped, and she had seen plenty of times when it hurt or ruined lives.
Laying her hand over Ali’s, she softly said, “Anything you want to ask, I’ll talk about with you, okay?”
Ali gave a shrug. “I’m not allowed.”
“We can keep it our secret,” she coaxed.
A glint of gratitude shone in Ali’s eyes, a slight smile came to her lips. “OK, but don’t ever tell Mother or Father.”
“That’s a promise,” Odif said with a wink. “I don’t know how long I'll be here; but while I am, you can come see me at any time.”
Ali cracked a grin. She checked to see that none of the others were sneaking back then asked, “Can we even talk about boys?”
Odif nodded. “Whatever you like.”
Erica tugged at the bottom of her shirt, partially covering her face as she played with the cloth. In a few jerky movements, she pulled it out and down, concealing herself.
An excited cry of “My baby!” came from the courtyard, followed by someone barking orders.
“Ali, you better go tell them where we are.” Odif said as she pulled her shirt up. Erica grabbed one of her fingers and gazed curiously at it with one eye as she nursed.
Ali had no more than left when a troop of armed elves came into view led by a frantic-looking elf woman in a brightly flowered dress. Her head jerked from side to side as she searched the garden. Her eyes settled on Odif and she stopped in her tracks, extending her arms to the sides to halt the others.
The lead elf, wearing the
dark blue clothes of a noble, stepped up beside her as he commanded, “Wait here.”
The elf woman slowly approached. Stopping just a few paces away, she said, “Please, don’t hurt my baby.”
Gently getting Erica to release her finger, Odif said, “You must be Jeni.”
“Yes, please give me my baby,” the woman said in a frightened tone as she held her arms out.
Odif studied her. Her bright blonde hair was offset by dark blue eyes that almost looked purple. With her slim form and well-tailored dress, she was quite pretty. She could use more muscle in her thin arms and be a bit more aggressive about getting her child back, but no one was perfect.
“I am not going to do any harm to Erica. I came to talk to you.”
The noble elf laid his hand on his sword. “Return Lady Jenasalinthia's child--or else.”
Quickly scanning the group, Odif didn’t see one that looked seriously threatening. They had swords and most had shields, but not one was armored.
“Or else what?” she snorted.
Jeni turned to the elf. “Belenaris, please let me handle this.”
Shifting his gaze between Odif and Jeni, he nodded briskly. “Try, M’Lady, but we’ll be here if she refuses to give up Erikenthansia.”
Jeni turned back to Odif then noticed Erica was nursing. A blush came to her face. She reached out tentatively, stopping as Odif held up a hand.
“Can you wait until she’s done feeding?”
Jeni’s face screwed up in frustration. “What do you want?”
Calmly, Odif said, “I am looking for Eric Redman. I was told you were the last one to know where he was.”
On her lap, Erica began to play with her shirt again. This time, she shoved it up to expose what she was doing to the men a few yards away. A couple stared, a few others grumbled and looked at the ground.
Jeni’s face softened. “What do you want with my husband?”
“I need his help--it’s very important I find him.”
Shifting in place like she wanted to snatch Erica away but was afraid to, Jeni gave her a shrug. “I want to find him, also, but he’s nowhere to be found.” Her voice sounded a bit strained as she asked, “Why do you want to find him?”
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