The UnFolding Collection Three

by S. K. Randolph

  Rethdun waited for his aunt to assume her wolf form, tethered to Aquila, and shifted. Four small paws carried him after her into the dense shadow of the woods from which few Human’s emerged unscathed.

  The journey seemed unending. Forêst’s nonstop pace carried them across rushing streams and beneath tangled, ancient branches. Soft whispers pursued them, ruffled their mist-damp fur, and left their hackles raised and hearts pounding. When at last Forêst stopped beneath the low-hanging branches of a weeping pine, Rethdun sank to the ground and dropped his head between sore paws. Fatigue tugged his eyelids shut. A warm back next to his gave him permission to slip into sleep unencumbered by fear.

  Dreamless time passed. His interior world gradually awakened. SaHal whispered a complex story and vanished. Rethdun’s pointy ear twitched.

  Shafts of early morning light shot between trees. Floree sat on a stump, combing her fingers thru tangled blonde hair. She smiled. “I know you’re awake. Shape Human and join me. Forêst returns soon.”

  A huge yawn ended in the embodiment of his human form. Confusion kept him still. Awareness of his humanness came slowly. A tremor shook him and left him focused and present. “You are less fearful this morning, Aunt Floree.”

  She smoothed her hair away from her face and secured it. “I have you and Forêst to protect me. We leave the Wood today and will reach Tic Calag in one turning plus one. I am feeling hopeful.” Her brow furrowed. “Tell me what SaHal’s memories hold about the Callichea.”

  Rethdun sat cross-legged and picked up a small round stone. Rolling it between his palms, he waited for his grandsire’s knowledge to rise to the surface. “It is said they are the antagonistic female spirits, both Eleo Preda and Pheet Adole, who escaped the RomPeer’s household, and were pursued and murdered. It is unclear how they found their way to Seerdrum Wood. What is clear, however, is that any man foolish enough to enter their domain is most often found mindless and wandering. Had Sorcha not given permission, I would be in as much danger from the Callichea as I am from the RomPeer.”

  Floree’s brows raised. “Sorcha?”

  “Sorcha is the High Yennedo. She rules the Callichea and the Seerdrum Wood.”

  Forêst appeared and joined them. An image formed in Rethdun’s mind.

  He scrambled to his feet. “Sorcha sends a warning: Soldiers search for the child. The Callichea will do their best to distract them. It is time to leave.”

  His tether to Aquila transitioned him to wolf. Floree changed and padded after Forêst. Another turning of travel had begun. Rethdun kept his gaze front. Don’t look back. I wonder why? Nothing in Grandsire’s memories holds the answer.

  25

  Jaradee’s Legacy

  Part 2 - Escape

  M uted light changing to shadow, the only indication of time passing, escorted the pack through Seerdrum Wood. The ground trembled. Forêst’s ears flattened. Prickles skittered over Rethdun’s skin. Resisting the temptation to glance back, he sprinted between the alpha leader and Floree’s smaller form. Forêst lengthened his stride. Rethdun doubled his effort to remain abreast of the adults. Changing terrain beckoned. Sunlight called. Forêst picked up speed. They raced beyond the border, crossed a rock-strewn expanse, and slowed.

  High-pitched whines echoed through the woods. Forêst and Floree dodged behind a hedgerow of wild shrubs and stubby trees. Slinking low, his tail curled between his legs, Rethdun followed.

  Floree materialized. “I believe it’s safe to look back now.”

  A shiver stood Rethdun’s fur on end. Edging closer to Floree, he shifted, gripped her hand, and peered into the murky woods.

  Translucent forms, faces contorted with hate, streaked between the trees. A soldier, unseated by his terrified mount, landed in a jumbled heap amid howls and cackled laughter.

  The horse shrieked, reared, and dashed for the hedgerow. Frenzied, riderless, and lathered in sweat, it charged past their hiding place to the field beyond. Soil-muffled hoofbeats faded into the distance.

  A second horse raced through the trees, threw its rider, and trotted into the sunlight. Shaking and sweat-covered, it tossed its head and snorted. A shriek from the woods propelled it the length of the hedgerow. Powerful legs lifted it over a low section. Momentarily airborne, it landed, caught its stride, and bolted across the field.

  In Seerdrum Wood, more apparitions gathered. Arm in arm, they circled the thrown rider. Struggling to regain his footing, he pushed up to his knees. Women’s mouths gaped wide. Horrifying screams ended in maniacal laughter. The man whimpered and collapsed.

  His comrade lurched to his feet, took an awkward step, and froze. Misty shapes surrounded him. A pain-filled yowl vibrated the air. He, too, crumpled. Luminescent forms, mouths spewing wailed laments, hovered over the prone bodies.

  Sorcha’s haunted eyes, found Rethdun. One word filled his mind.

  “Go!”

  Forêst’s ivory galee shot domeward. Floree’s berigora lifted into flight. Rethdun embraced his galee form and flew after Aquila. The open fields flowing below them were soon replaced by a wide river and a sprinkling of small villages. The beautiful, ivory galee pressed onward until the distant sparkle of Dyad’s light on the ocean appeared in the distance. Swooping into a thicket of young trees, he landed and assumed his wolf shape. Floree alighted at his side, shaping Human as her feet touched the ground. Rethdun perched in a tree, scanning the landscape with a galee’s piercing sight.

  Forêst’s commanding bark brought him to the ground and into his natural shape. He ran a hand over his head, listened to night sounds, and looked at Floree. “I’m hungry.”

  Her soft laugh made him smile. Forêst left to hunt, while he helped her prepare their camp. Soon, a small fire blazed. Dried grass and leaves raked into a flattened pile provided a bed. Forêst reappeared, a pair of rabbits clamped in his jaws. Shaping wolves, they joined him in a meal. Dyad dropped below the horizon. Alkina, glowing rose within its warm topaz mist, reached its zenith and began its descent. Evening wrapped them in a cool cloak. Curled together, they slept, their wolf fur keeping the night chill at bay.

  SaHal’s strong presence woke Rethdun to predawn light and Forêst’s intense, pale eyes only inches from his. The alpha licked his wolf face, loped through the thicket, and faded into memory.

  Rethdun shifted and sat. A wave of loneliness washed over him.

  Floree stirred, rose to her haunches, sniffed the air, and changed shape. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”

  Rethdun clasped her hand. “He left moments ago.”

  She sighed and raised a questioning brow.

  He pointed east. “Tic Calag is a turning’s walk that way.”

  Flashing him a quizzical smile, she stood. “Anything else I should know?”

  He gazed beyond her and scrambled to his feet. “Only that we have company.”

  Pulling him behind her, she whipped around. Her tension evaporated into a relieved laugh.

  He stepped to her side. “Hi, Uncle My.”

  Mylos ruffled his hair. “Hi, yourself, Rethdun.” He pulled Floree into his arms.

  Her happy laugh made Rethdun smile. She stepped back. “Kuparak?”

  “He’s recovering. Let’s fly until time for a mid-morning snack. I know a patch bursting with wild berries. We can eat, and I’ll share Kup’s story.”

  The flight carried them over the farmlands between the Chaporticas Mountains and El SyrTundi’s western seashore. When they finally landed, Rethdun’s human legs carried him straight to the berry patch. Hunger growled. Not waiting for the adults to shape shift, he picked a plump yellow berry and relished the rich flavor.

  Mylos materialized and ambled down the row, grinning. “Growing boys think they should eat nonstop.”

  Rethdun swallowed a mouthful. “How do you know? You’ve stopped growing.”

  The man shot him a quirky smile. “Haven’t always been this big, ya know.”

  Heat flooded Rethdun’s face. “I know that , Uncle My.”

  Th
ey picked and ate in companionable silence until Floree appeared, looking much tidier than earlier in the turning. When she had collected a sizable handful of berries, they made themselves comfortable beneath a tree.

  Mylos finished his last berry. “I believe you have a question, Rethdun.”

  Anxiety knotted Rethdun’s full stomach. He swallowed a small lump in his throat. “D-did you see Rayn?”

  Fingering his curly beard, Mylos frowned. “I did not see her. She is sequestered in the Children’s Residence at the Rompeerial estates. Kuparak is fairly certain she’s safe. Rumors suggest she will remain in the Residence until her first bleed of womanhood.” He glanced at Floree and raised a brow.

  She nodded.

  Mylos continued. “She will then be educated and trained in the art of Amorparu.”

  Rethdun plucked a piece of grass and pressed it between his palms. SaHal’s knowledge surfaced and provided an explanation. His shoulders hunched and relaxed. “I understand, Uncle Mylos. Rayn will become a courtesan to Lusktar Rados.” He let the grass fall and rubbed his hands together. “Tell us of Kuparak.”

  “Kuparak tangled with a guard at the Rompeerial compound in Chunarrie. When I arrived, he had been imprisoned while awaiting an interview with Lusktar Rados. Daar and a group of Vasrosi helped me to rescue him. He is now recovering at the Cimondeli safe haven. Katareen is there, too. She sends her love and wishes you well on your journey.”

  Floree touched his knee. “And who watches over Rayn?”

  “I have appointed Daar head Vasrosi in Chunarrie. He watches and waits. If an opening presents itself, he will snatch her away.”

  Loss choked Rethdun. He steadied his resolve. “I must leave El Stroma. The sooner we reach Tic Calag the better. The SorTech in the Seerdrum Wood sensed me. He knows my energy signature.” He frowned and wrinkled his brow. “Or at least he thinks he does.” An unexpected smile replaced his frown. He stood up and threw his arms wide. “Rayn and I are four sun cycles this turning.”

  Floree gathered him into an embrace that left him giggling.

  Mylos slapped him on the back and pulled a small, wrapped bundle from his pocket. “Katareen sent you a gift.”

  Rethdun cradled it in his hands, felt the weight of it, breathed in the fragrance of it. His heart beat quickened. Sitting next to Floree, he untied the yarn securing it and placed the bundle on the ground. Inside, he discovered three things: a smooth blue stone and two curls, one silky and dark, the other curly and coarse. Tears blurred his vision.

  Mylos knelt beside him. “Katareen felt certain you would know the curls belong to you and Rayn.”

  Rethdun fought to control his emotions. “These must be hidden. No one must know they exist.”

  Floree drew the locket from beneath her shirt, removed the chain from around her neck, and pressed a tiny, gold knob. The locket sprang open. Mylos inserted the point of his knife beneath the melt ring securing the picture and pried it loose. Rethdun kissed Rayn’s curl and placed it behind her tiny portrait. When his curl rested next to it, Floree reassembled the locket and hid it beneath her shirt.

  Mylos slipped his knife into its sheath. “Why did you want them hidden?”

  Rethdun climbed to his feet. “The curls prove the existence of Eleo Predan birth-mates and their genetic heritage.” He turned to Floree. “Promise you will keep the locket safe.”

  Her unwavering gaze met his. “I promise, Rethdun Torin Vilandree, to guard it with my life.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Aunt Floree.”

  “What of the stone, young Rethdun?” Mylos placed it on his palm.

  Rethdun studied it, felt the stir of memory, and nodded. “It is called a Remembering Stone. When I give it to the correct person, it will absorb my childhood memories. If all goes well, I will receive the stone again as an adult. When I do, I will remember what happened on El Stroma.”

  Mylos bit his upper lip. “Why do you have to give up your memories?”

  “SaHal explained in a dream. I am young to carry the weight of his knowledge and gifts on such a perilous journey. Removing my memories will insure that his knowledge survives and my personal remembrances do not give it and you away.”

  Floree looked worried. “Will SaHal’s wisdom be lost forever?”

  “No.” Rethdun kissed her cheek. “My grandsire’s memories will resurface when I am somewhere safe.” He anticipated her next question. “I’ll know who should be the bearer of the stone when I meet her.”

  “Her?” Mylos’ quizzical expression got a laugh from Floree.

  “You don’t think a woman can handle such a responsibility?”

  “I…well…” He grinned, pulled her to her feet, and gathered her into an embrace. “I know you could.”

  Rethdun observed the exchange with a heavy heart, shook himself, and tugged at Floree’s shirt.

  Laughter-filled eyes looked his way. “Yes, Rethdun?”

  He held out the Remembering Stone. “Please keep this for me until I need it.”

  Disengaging from Mylos’ arms, she took the stone. “I promise to keep it safe.” She glanced up. “I believe we should go.”

  Mylos, pulled her to him again and kissed her. Without a word, he shifted and shot after ReRe.

  “Aunt Floree?” Rethdun stared after them. “He loves you, right?”

  She smiled. “Yes, I believe he does. Let’s go.” She shifted, followed Puna domeward, and flew to Mylos’ side.

  Aquila gave a soft whistle and alighted on the ground next to Rethdun. Grateful for his presence, Rethdun stroked his feathered wing. Sadness for Floree and Mylos weighted his heart. “Separation must be hard for people in love. I wish Aunt Floree didn’t have to take care of me.”

  Aquila rubbed against his side and launched into flight.

  Feeling as much love for his compeer as he had seen in his aunt’s face, Rethdun embraced his galee form and joined the caravan of birds in their flight to the future

  When Rethdun awoke the next morning, Floree sat across from him, her expression strained and distant. Mylos was nowhere to be seen. Scrambling to his feet, he hurried to her side. “Are you alright, Aunt Floree. Has something happened to Mylos?”

  She pulled him onto her lap. “We are close to Tic Calag. Mylos has gone to complete arrangements for our journey and to borrow a motor carriage.” She brushed a tendril of hair from his forehead. “You and I have a difficult task to do while he’s gone.”

  “What task, Aunt Floree?”

  “Puna and Aquila cannot come with us when we leave El Stroma. We must release them to tether to another Vasrosi.”

  A pang of anguish so deep his entire body ached left Rethdun gulping air. A glance at Floree told him she hurt, too. Touching her cheek, he managed a shaky smile. “I think we should fly together one last time.” He climbed from her lap.

  She blinked back tears. “I think so, too.”

  The strength of Aquila’s tether took Rethdun by surprise. The woodland galee alighted beside him, his crystal side reflecting the landscape, his good eye unblinking. Rethdun shifted. Side by side, they lifted into flight and soared beneath the morning dome. Aquila caught an updraft and glided higher. Rethdun streaked after him. The world below ceased to exist. The dome and his tukoolo deluged his senses. Aquila spiraled downward. Rethdun hovered. When his tukoolo showed no sign of returning, he dropped to the ground and materialized in human form. Images filled his mind. He knelt and bowed his head. His beautiful galee rubbed his feathered head against his cheek and gave a soft whistle. Wing wind tousled Rethdun’s hair. When he looked up, Aquila flew in the direction of Chunarrie.

  Weighted by sorrow, he climbed to his feet. Floree offered her hand.

  He took it. “I feel empty.”

  She sighed. “Me, too. Puna didn’t want to leave.”

  “Neither did Aquila. Where will Puna go?”

  She will stay close to ReRe and Mylos, at least for now. Aquila?”

  Rethdun gazed toward Chunarrie. “He goes
to guard Rayn. He will not take another compeer until she is free.”

  Floree hugged him. “Oh, Rethdun, I’m so glad. With Aquila, Daar, and Kuparak to look after her, we don’t have to worry quite so much.”

  Mylos arriving in a motor carriage ended their conversation. They climbed aboard, the engine rumbled, and the carriage rolled onto the road to Tic Calag.

  Rethdun took a final look the direction Aquila had flown. I will not fly again, Rayn, until we are together.

  26

  Jaradee’s Legacy

  Part 2 - Escape

  T hey had been in Tic Calag for several turnings when Rethdun woke to his heart beating a new rhythm. “Today will be the turning.” He stared at the ceiling, examining his mixed feelings. What memories will the stone take? What will it leave? Will I feel anything?

  Half expecting SaHal’s knowledge to come to his rescue, he searched without success for anything to ease his disquiet. I need Aunt Floree. Tiptoeing to her room, he peeked inside.

  Floree met his expectant gaze with a sleepy smile and propped her head on her elbow. “Good turning. You look serious. Is something wrong?”

  He crossed to the bed. “We will meet her today.”

  She sat up and searched his face. “How do you know?”

  “I had a dream about her.” A shrug drooped his shoulders. He squared them and forced a tentative smile.

  Scooting over, she patted the bed next to her. “I can only imagine how frightening it must be to know the memories of everything you’ve ever known are about to leak from your brain. How are you feeling?”

  He clasped her hand. “I’m afraid I won’t know you. I understand I must forget Rayn and Momee and Kup and Mylos but…” His bottom lip quivered. “I must also forget the teachings of SaHal Elan Torinhota.” He brightened. “At least, my grandsire’s knowledge will only go into hiding. When we are safe, it will reemerge.” He released her hand. “I think I should carry the stone today…in case.”

  Floree reached under her pillow and held out the blue stone. “I thought you might want it. Keep it safe. I’ll stay close. If you need help, call me.” She hugged him. “Why don’t you dress and meet me in the main room.”