by Linda Jordan
Evangeline noticed Morrigu had not demanded she go along. She had asked, or as close to asking as the goddess would come.
Evangeline no longer wanted revenge. It felt meaningless. But if Morrigu’s dramatic killing of Jack would stop that village from attacking Paradise Grove and killing anyone, then she’d go. It would be worth it. Jack had known what he signed up for when he’d agreed to be a spy, Evangeline felt no pity about his impending death. He was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people.
“I’ll go,” Evangeline said.
“Good. We’ll leave with the raiders and wait outside the village until they are done. If you have any flashy clothes, wear them.”
“I don’t,” said Evangeline. “They were all destroyed at the Zoo.”
“Well, then, we go as is,” said Morrigu. “Magic will be our power. Get enough rest and some food. We leave just before dusk. And be armed, just in case. I don’t want you hurt.”
“I’ll be ready.”
With that Morrigu bowed and left the MedCenter.
“Well, I didn’t expect that today,” said Maci.
“Me either, but I’m glad it’s done. I’ve been a bit on edge wondering how she’d take my change of heart.”
“I can’t imagine. You really are stronger than anyone I know.”
“Just older. And I’ve experienced a lot of different things in my life.”
“And I grew up in the Zoo. Born and raised there. Coddled almost. My mom was a cook and dad a guard. The doctors that Morrigu brought in trained me. I wish I knew more. It’s not good being the person who knows the most when you know how much more you need to learn to even be competent.”
“Well, it’s not like you have the equipment to do brain surgery. This is a MedCenter with only the basics. Not even any way to give blood transfusions. All you can do is patch people up who would already have survived. Teach them how to keep their wounds clean and heal better.”
“Yes, I know,” said Maci. “I want to do more though.”
“When I passed through Texas, they still had a hospital, built over fifty years ago. It survived everything. Astonishing place. A three story building as large as the Zoo. All the doctors, nurses and assistants wore white. They had machines that could perform healing miracles. Look into your body and see if bones were broken. Look inside you and see if a baby was growing okay or not. They could hook you up to machines which would tell them all sorts of things about your health. It was astonishing. And the nurse told me that there used to be hospitals all over the world. Most of them destroyed in quakes, or machines broken down and unable to be fixed when the world fell apart. All of them dependent on having electricity, which is nonexistent in some parts of the world now. The past must have been amazing.”
“Yeah, what did they do to destroy everything?”
“I don’t know. Some of it was greed. Some of it was just fate. Nobody causes earthquakes.”
“I’ll bet Morrigu could cause an earthquake,” said Maci.
“I think you’re right.”
“You better go get some lunch and take a nap. You’ll want to be awake tonight.”
“I guess I better. I haven’t tried any magic since Yemaya claimed me. Hope I can still do some.”
“You can do anything,” said Maci. “Now shoo. We can continue in a couple of days. After you’re rested up.”
Evangeline left. She went out into the pouring rain and ran to the Cap. The cooks were serving a thick soup of potatoes, rabbit and carrots. It was tasty. Evangeline could pick out oregano as the main herb.
The Cap was mostly empty. A few people were eating. Mostly, the builders and some of the people caring for animals. The rest of the village must be sleeping. Preparing to be up all night. Damon was at his table, his head down. Probably sleeping. He’d be up all night too.
She finished her soup and handed the bowl to Trevor, the cook’s assistant and dishwasher. He smiled and washed it. Singing some old song about We are the Champions as he rinsed it and put it on a wooden rack to drain.
“See you later,” said Evangeline to Jackie and Angie.
“Are we having class tonight?” asked Jackie.
“No, I’m going on the raid. Maybe tomorrow. I’ll let you know when I’m caught up on sleep.”
“Why are you going on the raid?” asked Jackie.
“Morrigu has some unfinished business and she wants me to come along.”
Jackie frowned and said, “Be careful.”
“I always am. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not invincible,” said Jackie.
“No, I’m not. I’ll be fine. I’ve got too much work to do here to get hurt.”
Evangeline left the Cap and went to her small house. She was lucky, not having to share space with anyone. It was a luxury and she felt grateful for it. Still, it was a very little house with only one room. Enough for her, but sharing would be uncomfortable. The other buildings had separate sleeping and living areas.
Her house was currently filled with herbs hanging from the ceiling. She’d strung a sturdy dried vine, morning glory or bindweed were the common names, criss-crossing across her ceiling to form a net. The vines had pretty white flowers, but all the books labeled them as invasive. When several of the vines had twined themselves together they made a rope sturdy enough to hang bundles of herbs from.
Evangeline didn’t bother to start a fire, she hadn’t taken any coals from the Cap anyway. There wasn’t enough time. She hung her damp clothes over the wooden chairs and changed into the cleanest clothes she could find, black pants, shirt and socks. Then climbed in beneath her pile of blankets. The top one, newly woven, was the heaviest. Several of the new recruits who’d arrived understood looms, spinning and weaving. They’d given the people from the Zoo a giant technological upgrade and were now churning out new fabric every day. Even though the village needed more sheep. Someone had begun to catch what they called Angora rabbits. The rabbits had long fur and would breed and provide some fur for spinning. Every little bit helped.
When Evangeline woke it looked darkish outside. Which with all this rain and clouds meant it could be anytime of day. Someone was pounding on her door. Disoriented, she grabbed the knife under her pillow and yelled, “What?”
Evangeline was on her feet, crouched beside the door by the time anyone answered.
“Time to grab some food and get going,” said the voice. “We move out in thirty.” It sounded like Kahlil.
“I’m up,” she said.
In half an hour she’d dressed and gone to the Cap to get tea and a hunk of meat and cheese. She felt alert and ready to go, her energy revved up.
The rain had stopped, but the dark clouds felt oppressive. The heavens could open up and dump water on them at any time. As they moved out through the wet tall grasses and weeds, Evangeline’s pants grew damp, then became soaked. Her boots had been rubbed with oils to give some waterproofing, back when she was at the Zoo. They stayed dry longer.
Dusk came and the line of people continued on. Evangeline could only see Jax in front of her. Morrigu went last and Evangeline could feel the Goddess behind her. Morrigu had dimmed her glow somehow, so it wasn’t visible. But her power felt tangible.
Evangeline reached out with her senses, trying to feel what was around her. She could sense the huge trees surrounding them, they had entered a forest now. There were small animals: squirrels, mice, birds and rabbits. A herd of eight deer was leaving the area quickly, having heard the humans. Three coyotes were in a thicket several trees over. Waiting for the humans to pass, hoping some prey might scatter. A bobcat was stalking a rabbit farther off.
There was no sound, except the footsteps of clumsy humans and the chattering of an annoyed squirrel very high up in a tree. They were far too loud.
Evangeline jabbed Jax in the back and whispered, “Walk quieter. Pass it on.”
There was a slight pause as everyone did the same to the person in front. But it worked. There was less noise. She didn’t kn
ow how far they were from the village, but stealth was worth the effort.
They left the forest and ahead of her, Evangeline saw the glow of lights in windows. Candles perhaps. Maybe they had electricity. No, candles. The lights wavered like candle flames. The group stopped behind a row of tall plants. Evangeline recognized it as some sort of corn or maybe even maize.
Five people moved quickly towards the village. As soon as they made it to the buildings, she lost sight of them. Three were going to the barns, to find horses. The other two were searching for the watch Damon had been told about. Two guards, men, watching through every night for intruders.
The rest of them waited for what felt like ten minutes. Evangeline could feel their energy, the anticipation, the nerves.
Then everyone except Evangeline and Morrigu went towards the village. Moving quickly and keeping to the shadows.
“They don’t have magic,” said Morrigu, quietly.
“Morris told Damon that the village is anti-magic. Some of them are like that.”
“Yes,” said Morrigu. “Denying something exists doesn’t stop it from existing. When we go in, I want you to cast a wide net over the entire village. Allow no one to move. I will find Jack and draw him to me in the center of the village. You will draw everyone else there, but allow no movement other than their feet. I want no weapons drawn. Stay hidden behind me if you can. Afterwards, we will leave quickly, into the woods on the other side of the village.”
“Aren’t we returning to Paradise Grove?”
“Yes, but we will take another route back . One of those who are stealing horses will have them ready for us on the other side of the village. You can ride, can’t you?”
“I’ve never ridden before,” said Evangeline.
“Well, it’s time to learn. Horses are wonderful beings.”
Evangeline shook her head and sighed. It would be an interesting night.
It seemed to take forever for the raiders to load up. Evangeline couldn’t hear them at all. She just stayed focused on her breathing and being present. If she couldn’t hear them, then hopefully neither could the villagers. All was good.
Morrigu stood unmoving. She wasn’t glowing. Just silent and still. Her power was building though. Evangeline could feel it and it unnerved her.
A dog barked somewhere. Nothing to do about that. It stopped barking. Hopefully, it would go back to sleep. She’d need to take into account dogs when casting her net.
Finally, Evangeline heard the creaking of wood and moments later, a cart rolled out of the village. A makeshift thing of wood set upon old car tires. Pulling it was a heavy horse. One of the new recruits who presumably knew something about horses, sat on the cart, controlling the horse.
After that came another wagon. And then a third. Then all the raiders.
They passed by where Morrigu and Evangeline stood.
Gregor was grinning, his white teeth visible in the dim light of the moon behind the clouds.
“Everything okay?” asked Morrigu.
“Went like a charm. In and out, just like planned. We’re off. Give us about ten minutes and the village is all yours.” He bowed.
Then the man trotted after the others and the wagons. Soon, they disappeared into the trees. It was a while longer before the sound of them was gone.
Evangeline began drawing her energy up from the earth and down from the sky. She created a net of silence and sleep, casting it over the entire village. Drawing in every soul.
“Okay,” said Morrigu. “Pull them to the center of the village.”
Evangeline pulled up more energy and told the villagers, Get up quietly. Don’t speak. Nothing is wrong, but you need to go to the village center. Right now. Don’t dress, don’t speak. There is something wondrous to see.
Evangeline walked into the village, inside the aura of Morrigu’s glow.
She would have felt safer if her old bulletproof vest hadn’t been destroyed at the Zoo. Morrigu’s power would have to be enough to keep her safe tonight.
When they got to the center of the village, a grassy area filled with grazing cows and sheep, the villagers were there. Evangeline cast around, looking for any strays, but sensed none. She held her net firmly. None of the villagers were armed, that she could see.
Jack stood among them, looking as blissful as everyone else.
Morrigu pulled him forward with her energy. He resisted, but moved forward all the same.
“This man is a traitor and spy,” said Morrigu, her voice piercing the quiet of the village.
Jack’s face contorted as he was torn from Evangeline’s spell by Morrigu’s power.
“I never.”
“You lie. You betrayed your four traveling companions,” said Morrigu. She was growing larger, her glow brightened so it lit the entire area as if a full moon shone down.
A look of guilt flashed across his face.
“And you betrayed everyone who died at the Zoo.”
“I had no choice,” he said.
“Neither do I,” said Morrigu. She kept growing larger, and was maybe six meters tall.
Her raw energy slashed across his torso, opening a gaping wound. Then another across his thighs. A third across his back.
Jack was reeling and blood flowed everywhere around him.
Evangeline vaguely felt Morrigu squeeze him, like a giant fist around his body, and Jack gasped for breath.
Evangeline allowed the villagers to see all this, but not physically react. She kept the net over them strong. This man is being punished for his crimes. It is right and just.
Jack was on his knees now, fighting to stand.
“This is what happens when you betray a Goddess,” said Morrigu.
Evangeline felt a wave of fear pass through her and the entire crowd. It came from Morrigu.
“Never go up against me and mine. I protect my people and exact revenge against those who would cause any of us harm.”
Evangeline struggled to hold the villagers. They were panicking. Morrigu sensed Evangeline’s problem and added some power to her net.
The Goddess continued slashing as Jack. He never spoke again. Didn’t beg for his life. He just bled out. Slowly.
It wasn’t until he lost consciousness that Morrigu finally slashed one of his arteries. It seemed to take forever.
Then Morrigu said, “None of you will seek revenge for this traitor’s death. He would have betrayed you in the end. None of you will ever attack our village or our people again. As partial payment for the four of mine you have already killed, we have taken your weapons. I will be content with that. For now. Act against us again and I will return and destroy your entire village. Innocent and guilty alike.”
Then she sent to Evangeline, “It is time to go. Follow me, keep facing them and keep the spell going as long as you can.”
Evangeline followed Morrigu out the village the other way. She walked backwards, facing the villagers, and keeping her net strong, drawing up more power from the earth and down from the sky. Still, she could feel herself wavering. Why she didn’t know, and this wasn’t the time to explore it.
They walked across another field of low growing plants. Pumpkins or squashes lay on the ground and Evangeline had to walk carefully to avoid getting tangled up in the vines. They entered the forest on the other side of the village and the light dimmed beneath the tall trees, forming dark sentinels at the edge of the tree line.
“Let them go,” said Morrigu. “Get on the horse.”
Evangeline released the energy and crouched down on the ground, palms on the earth. She felt the rest of the power move through her tingling fingers and return to the ground.
Then she stood and saw one of the new recruits, Mila, standing there. Holding two horses by the leather straps around their noses. Morrigu was already up on a black horse.
Evangeline looked at Mila and shrugged, questioningly.
“Put your left foot here, in the stirrup, and swing your right foot over and your seat down in the saddle,” sai
d Mila. “I’ll hold her. It’s okay. She’s an older girl and level-headed. Seasoned. She’ll keep you safe.”
Evangeline did as she was told and was on top of the brown and white speckled horse. She felt awkward and vulnerable.
They were moving through the forest, ducking branches. Horses were tall.
“Just move with the horse,” said Mila. “Don’t fight her body movements, work with them. Stay in control. Keep your reins a little taut. Those and your legs are how you talk to her. See, look the way her ears are back, she’s listening to you. Paying attention.”
Evangeline tried her best to follow Mila’s continuing instructions. Her body wasn’t responding well. She felt cold and wet. And she was shaking. She’d never had that sort of reaction after doing magic. Ever.
Once or twice in the past she’d overextended herself and felt a little weakness, but not like this.
The path got narrower. They must be following a deer trail. Evangeline was so tired. She tried to keep her eyes open.
Then there was a flash of light and pain in her head.
9
Cady
Cady woke the next morning with a headache. Too much of Joe’s good mead. She made a cup of bee balm and rosehip tea and stood looking out the window at the lake.
The day was crisp, bright and sunny for a fall day. The sun travelled lower in the sky, so the angle of the light was different this part of the year. The light pierced the air in a way it never did in summer. Shining into all the shadows and throwing everything into a kind of clarity.
There was still a lot of activity out on the lake this morning. Deities and spirits. What was that stone in the center of the island? Was it real, could she go out there and touch it?
Probably not. When villagers had gone out fishing in boats, they’d said they could never reach the island. No matter how hard they paddled. It remained unreachable. Sometimes a fog would come up obscuring that entire section of the lake when someone was headed out that way. They’d get lost in the fog and come out days later. Never having found the island.
