by Lee M Eason
“How do you know?” Jenna asked hoping his assumption would be based on certainty.
“The Children you’ve described match the ones known as wanderers and those who joined Naicarn. Maga was sure of numbers despite not being able to access their memories and thoughts. From what you’ve told me all seem accounted for. Only The Fire of the Ground survives and she cannot reach us here.” Though he did speculate about her route north and a possible reason for this.
“I hope so,” Jenna said not fully convinced. There was a pause and Kellim waited patiently while she considered her next words. “The ship,” she said finally. Kellim nodded. “I’ve never…it was like…”
“Take your time,” he eased.
Jenna smiled apologetically and calmed herself. “It was like another part of me was released and the field answered it in a way it never has before,” Jenna struggled to express her thoughts. “Once I started I couldn’t stop. I felt so angry. Angry about Durnin. Angry about all those people at Naddier. And I…I did a terrible thing,” she said finally admitting her deep sense of guilt.
“Your natural instincts cut in, nothing more,” Kellim wanted to allay any worries she might have about her actions. “You’ve been pushed a great deal and finally you snapped and released all the tension and fear you’ve been suppressing. It has happened to Talents in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Strong feelings, emotions and stress seem to affect the field and our subconscious ability to push The Field’s Cap.”
“But all of those men…”
“Slavers,” Jac broke in. “They know the risks they take living that kind of life and will have been responsible for ending and ruining many others. So don’t beat yourself up over them.”
“But I shouldn’t have been able to do all that. Should I?” Jenna asked.
“Clearly you can,” Kellim replied mildly. “How you are able to do this to such an extent is the question and a very interesting one at that. It’s certainly nothing to worry about. A few of us are less restricted by The Field’s Cap. That list now includes you and quite possibly others we are unaware of. It’s just as well we are headed to Meg’s. She may be able to throw a little more light on the situation.”
Jenna seemed reassured by this. The discussion had come at the right time.
The path rose and dipped along and over the dramatic landscape. Their conversations continued weaving from subject to subject until finally they reached the top of a steep rise that presented yet another tree filled valley. Kellim stopped, a look of contentment on his face. Aaron wasn’t sure why he’d chosen to stop and admire this one. There’d been so many.
“More trees,” Lewen said catching his breath.
“How much further?” Aaron asked.
“We’re here,” Kellim gestured at the valley and was greeted by several puzzled looks. “You might recall a mention that if Meg didn’t want you to find her home, you would not.”
“So is her farm there?” Jenna asked squinting to make out any trace of a settlement. Seeing none she turned back to Kellim. “Doesn’t she want us here?”
“Well of course I do,” a voice behind them made everyone, except Kellim spin round. Its accent, like Kellim’s, hinting at an older era. “It’s so good to see you,” Meg laughed, a rich full sound.
Jenna watched Meg greet Kellim and Bryn handing out good-natured comments to each. She was a large woman who appeared to be in her late sixties, clearly Aylisian with her light freckled skin and auburn hair. She dressed in sensible farming clothes, swamped by a huge over coat and a long scarf that was wrapped around her neck and over her head. She turned to Jac opening out her arms. He grabbed her around the waist in a great hug, lifting her off the floor and spinning her round, which made her shriek even more with laughter.
“You still know how to make a heart flutter,” she said, comically fanning her face with a hand. Back on her feet she turned to look at Lewen, giving Jac’s hand a last squeeze, a simple gesture he understood.
“You’ve changed so much in the last two years. Come here and give me a hug. Oh come on,” she chuckled. Lewen went slightly red as he stepped over.
“And you must be Aaron and Jenna,” she said finally catching her breath. She smiled at the two newest members of the group. Holding out both of her hands she led them back to the edge of the rise.
“Now, you know you’re welcome,” she said.
They couldn’t help but be surprised by the view that now greeted them. Instead of the endless treetops that had filled the valley they could now see the substantial grey stoned farm and its many out building. Several other cottages nestled amongst 20 or so fields of varying sizes that filled the valley, some set with over winter crops and others with livestock. Smoke drifted up from several chimneys and the sounds of her flocks could now be heard drifting up from the fields.
“Welcome to High Holt,” she said proudly and then led them both down a clear path they had failed to notice earlier. They chatted as they walked down to the farm its peace and tranquillity enveloping them. The air was still and damp and filled with the smells of animals and hay. Several farm hands acknowledge Meg as she passed. She greeted them in turn handing out instructions in Aylish. As they walked she pointed out various features of the farm and its land, explaining their purpose and the plans she had for the year ahead. Kellim asked many questions, completely interested in all Meg had to say about the farm. Finally, she led them across an open area in front of the main house and in through its gate and small garden. Opening up the door they stepped into a large kitchen dominated by a range and an enormous table and dressers. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming and smelled of fresh baking. Meg spoke to a young woman, who on their arrival had lifted a large kettle off the range and was pouring piping hot water into a pot. She greeted her and they chatted briefly while Meg unwrapped her scarf. Then the woman took her leave with a smile to welcome the strangers.
“Put your stuff over there and sit yourselves down. I thought you’d be glad of something hot to drink and a bit of something to eat,” Meg took off her coat and put on an apron.
As they settled themselves she disappeared into her larder and began to bring out various plates and bowls of food, it was hardly ‘a bit of something’. Setting them on the table she asked Jac to get plates from the dresser and Kellim to pour everyone a hot drink. Finally, she placed a freshly baked loaf in the centre. Taking a step back she checked everything and satisfied, wiped her hands on her apron.
“Come on then, tuck in. You must be hungry.”
They didn’t need asking a second time and began helping themselves to the food set before them. They chatted as they ate and Meg listened, commenting on various pieces of news Kellim had been unable to pass on from Lont.
The very next morning Meg had them working on the farm and at Kellim’s request she had taken Jenna back up into the woods under the guise of foraging for lunch. Meg subtly probed her mind, asked her questions and generally helped Jenna to understand why her affinity with the field had developed. Jenna seemed happier having this unknown answered but Meg had to be honest when it came to answering questions about The Children’s interest in her. As they walked the conversation turned and some of Jenna’s insatiable curiosity returned.
“What was it like?” Jenna asked as they made their way through the woodland. “I mean before The Field’s Cap?”
Meg paused in her search and lowered herself onto a fallen tree trunk. “Different and the same.” she added wryly. “Different in that we led and others followed. Deferring to us, seeking our advice even fearing us.” She shook her head. “Too many enjoyed that. There were only a few Panids compared to the numbers of Talents now but our powers and our abilities were far greater. We were treated as royalty and afforded the same privileges. It was a golden age in many ways - a prosperous, grand time, full of marvels. But looking back now it couldn’t have lasted forever. The cracks were already beginning to show. The war only pulled them open quicker. It took a terrible tol
l on our numbers and the creation of The Field’s Cap even more so. The continent was not the same afterwards and the rich and the exuberant attitude became sober and restraint. The order of things changed and in some ways perhaps for the better.”
“You said the same?” Jenna asked.
“Well, people are still people. Some groups got on and some did not,” she shrugged as she got up. “We made mistakes. Only sometimes they were bigger, much bigger.”
“Is that why you left and came here?”
Meg snorted a laugh. “You could say that. It all amounted to the same thing - I’d had enough. So I came back to the country of my birth and then headed as far north as I could, far enough to forget and be forgotten.”
“Sometimes I’d like to be forgotten and run away.” Jenna’s hand went reflexively to her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she quickly added realising the implication, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Meg laughed. “You’re right I was running away.”
“So was the farm already here. Is this why you came to this area?”
“There was nothing here when I first came. I built myself a small house up on the ridge over there. One of the lads from the nearest village was out hunting this way one summer and offered to help. Winter came and went but he stayed and built himself a home a little way into the valley. If you look through that gap in the trees, you can just to say see it.” Meg pointed and Jenna followed her direction.
“It’s big for a house meant for one,” Jenna said expecting a small cottage.
“It was added to over the years, first by him when he married and started a family and then by his sons and their sons. They each built their own homes and helped build me a new house in the valley. Over the years we’ve become our own community. Colm was a good man. He would be proud of the generations that followed him.”
They continued to collect fungi of various shapes and colours, Meg carefully advising which were edible and which should be left untouched. They walked some way from the valley and out into the ancient woodland.
“Oh no, not those,” Meg chortled as Jenna asked about a brightly coloured cluster huddled together on a rotting log. “Not if we want to remember lunch and the rest of the day. Now these over here…” Meg turned back to the ones she had been about to pick and then stopped aware that Jenna hadn’t moved. She looked round to find the girl staring to the north. Meg listened for any sounds in the woods, looking through the trees her own senses touching anything larger than a fox.
“What do you sense Jenna?” Meg asked eventually stepping over to her.
“I, I thought we were being watched and I heard something,” Jenna answered distractedly, still staring at the same spot.
“What was it like?” Meg asked quietly, not wanting to break the link.
“Whispering,” she said finally looking at Meg. “Almost like before, when I destroyed the slavers ship, but this time outside, not in my mind. I can’t quite explain it.”
“Meg pushed her mind out further and for a fleeting moment caught the edge of something before it retreated. It unnerved her slightly. There was a familiarity to it that she couldn’t place. Aware that Jenna was now staring at her she altered her expression.
“There are a lot of voices out there,” Meg said gesturing about them. “Distant things, whispers of the past. This far North close to The Field’s Cap the ambient field sometimes traps the shadows of formfields and replays them over and over again when the conditions are right. If you know how to, you can learn much from the very air around you. Here, watch,” she said sensing Jenna was still apprehensive about what had just happened. Closing her eyes again Meg focused her will.
Jenna waited, a strange sense of unease settling on her as the woodland fell still. It seemed to close in around them, silent and subdued. The air prickled and became chill. Then a magnificent horned animal stepped out of the undergrowth, walking through a massive green comb as if it wasn’t there. She could see every detail of its rich coat and every tree of the forest through it. Its body was ethereal, glowing faintly, stirred by some unfelt breeze. It moved forward on feet deep in the soil but this didn’t seem to affect it, as if it were treading on some older, lower level. It paused briefly to sniff the air and seemed to stare at something in the trees. Long seconds passed before eventually, with a jerk of its head, it moved on, stepping back into the woods. She held her breath, watching as it slipped through trees that hadn’t been there when it was alive. The air settled and the woods opened up again, almost as if coming back to life.
“What was that?” Jenna asked in awe, her voice a whisper.
“The past,” Meg said watching her closely. “He used to pass through here some forty years ago. We met many times. He would stare at me and I’d watch back. Then one season he didn’t come. I assume old age finally got him.”
They returned via Kellim who was out checking Meg’s livestock and tending to minor injuries and ailments.
“You should do well for young this year,” he called by way of a greeting, as they came down the path.
“Yes, it was a good summer and the winter’s been mild,” Meg replied.
“And how are you feeling?” Kellim turned to Jenna.
“Good thanks. Having things explained helps put them in their place, makes them less worrying somehow. I just wish we could do the same with The Children.”
“We might have some answers for you,” Kellim said cautiously. “Now don’t build your hopes up,” he warned.
“You’ll have heard Kellim mention Ollce?” Meg asked. Jenna nodded in reply. “Well he spends some time here in the spring, to help with birthing. Kellim has managed to reach him and he is going to come early. He, along with Halleck created some of The Children.”
Jenna brightened at this. “So if anyone will have answers it should be him.”
“Possibly,” Kellim said again with care, not wanting to build her hopes. “The remaining Children have developed and changed over the past hundred years. They’ve become more than the original design. They have evolved,” he explained.
“But there is a chance?” Jenna said wanting to hold on to the possibility of further understanding. “Even if they aren’t a threat anymore I still want to know.”
“A chance,” Meg said. “Now, be a love and take this basket up to the house for me. I’ll follow you up in a moment.”
Jenna took the basket, perfectly aware that Meg and Kellim would want to talk about her. She didn’t mind, she knew they had her best interests at heart.
“She’s more like us,” Meg said watching Jenna head up the path. “You didn’t pick up on anything before now?”
Kellim seemed a little offended by this. “We’ve been a little busy of late, you know,” he said tetchily. “And it would appear her affinity is a recent development, surfacing because of pressure and stress. Under normal circumstances it may not have revealed itself for some time, if at all.”
“Nature is a marvellous thing,” Meg mused. “She could be the first of many. It could be that Talents will naturally evolve a way of bypassing The Field’s Cap, given enough generations.”
Kellim stroked his beard, pondering on Meg’s words. “Perhaps so. It may also be a sign of something else. Either way I hope Ollce arrives before I have to leave. It would be good to see him again.”
“He’s due anytime now and the three of us need to talk. Something happened in the woods up there,” she gestured. “How long have you got before you have to leave?”
“Three more days will still allow me to intercept Naicarn before he reaches The Field’s Complex. I’ll attempt to stop him and discover his intentions.”
“Attempt? Do you really think he’s that strong?”
“Yes.”
“So it had crossed your mind that he might actually try to break The Field’s Cap.”
“We must consider all things. No matter how absurd. It would be foolish not to. Though I still can’t bring myself to believe such a thing. There has to be somethin
g else.”
“Then we need to know what that something else is before it turns our world upside down,” With that she bustled off to the farmhouse. “Lunch in half an hour,” she shouted not looking back.
They had just sat down when the farmhouse door swung open and a large dark skinned man burst into the kitchen throwing his pack aside dramatically. Jenna couldn’t pinpoint his accent until Jac leaned over to her. “Nebessan.”
“Where is she?” his deep voice boomed as he looked around the room. “Where is that temptress of the North?”
He caught sight of Meg and headed for her, arms out stretched. She shrieked with laughter and dropped her spoon, running for the door that led to the rest of the house. Ollce charged after her making all kinds of over the top lusty noises. Jac and Bryn laughed, the others didn’t quite know how to react as they listened to the thumps and giddy laughter that echoed around the house from various rooms. After a short while Meg reappeared in the kitchen pausing only to catch her breath.
“I must be running too fast,” she gulped, red faced and dishevelled, “he hasn’t caught me yet.” With a look over her shoulder she catapulted for the door a mass of skirts and apron, just as Ollce entered and roared with comic delight. Meg shrieked again as she ran outside, Ollce in hot pursuit.
“I believe they do that every year,” Kellim observed.
Ollce settled his tall frame back into the chair, which creaked in protest and patted his large stomach with satisfaction.
“That was a fine meal Meg, a fine meal,” His rich voice rolled out the words in Koan with a thick accent.
Kellim and Meg waited patiently as he considered all that they had told him, the others having long since gone to bed. Jenna only doing so after Ollce had promised to talk to her first thing the next morning, once he had heard everything Kellim and Meg had to tell him.
Finally, he rubbed a hand over his bald pate and leaned forward onto the table. Resting one large square hand on its surface he held the other up.
