Beyond the field was a small, wooded area of young saplings and dense, evergreen foliage. The walkthrough was short and just on the other side of it, was a trail that followed up the hillside to the cave where Talen lived. Little did I know during that glorious walk that my mirth was meant to be short-lived. Stepping into the lighter part of the canopy, the hair on the back of my neck rose as I sensed danger. My eyes lit upon Talen’s raspberry bushes. A twig snapped and the wind carried the stench of unwashed body, peat smoke, and soured ale to my nose. Someone was behind me, someone dangerous, and whoever it was had harmed Talen.
“Turn around slowly, Witch. And don’t do anything foolish.” A rough, coarse, and angry voice growled in Talen’s native language. I gave a brief thanks that Talen had spent the last two years teaching it to me and that I now spoke it fluently. Doing exactly as I was commanded, I turned around slowly, thankful that the cloak I wore disguised the knife that was always at my waist. “Looking for your husband, are you?” He laughed madly, and I recoiled at the sight. The man before me was filthy. He wore grimy, ragged clothes and had leathery, chapped skin. I swallowed the urge to vomit seeing his large black hole of a mouth, absent of any teeth.
“I am looking for my friend,” I told him, raising my chin and meeting his eyes directly. There had been one more thing that Talen had taught me during our friendship. That was how to use a knife in defense of myself and how to use my walking stick as a staff.
“The one that just came through here. The one whose throat that I slit and watched the life fade from his eyes?” The dark entity boasted loudly.
“If you have killed him, where is his body?” I demanded defiantly. “If you slit his throat, why aren’t you covered in blood?” I surprised myself with an absence of fear. The offender who stood before me was much shorter than I was. I knew that if we came to blows, I had fair odds against him.
“Ah, you think you’re a smart one, don’t ya? That is no concern of yours right now, Witch. Besides, you’ll be joining him soon enough. But first, I think we’ll have a little fun.” The man rushed at me, his eyes wide and crazed. He held no weapon in either hand but that did not mean that he wasn’t armed. I braced myself for impact. I knew his intention was to rape and kill me. By all that I held dear, I would see him dead first. In an instant, my fist curled around my knife’s handle. As the man’s body hit mine, I arced my arm and thrust as hard as I could. The sensation of the metal blade sinking into the man’s kidney was sickeningly familiar, reminding me of how the knife skidded and shuddered when I plunged it into Cal’s back. I fell with him on top of me. As we went down, I directed a kick that connected with his groin which made him let out a shriek of agony. He rolled partially over onto his side, holding his crotch and howling obscenities. I managed to get my arm free and brought the knife down again, stabbing him deep in his kidney a second time. The knife reverberated as it slid against bone. The vibration of the strike radiated up through my hand and into my arm. My assailant issued a loud gurgling noise and then, in a few heartbeats, his body went slack. I eyed him until I was certain that he was dead. Shoving his hulking body to the side, I got to my feet but remained ready for attack. There was no way for me to know if he was alone or if there were others ready to pounce once their comrade had gone down.
I stood over the body, looking down the length of my nose at his lifeless form. A part of me wanted to kick him again, to land a blow that would be more for my sake than anything else. A kick to show him that no man would ever touch me without permission again. Pushing that aside, I decided against it, knowing that other matters were of greater importance. The first was that I needed to find Talen. I was certain that the stranger was lying when he gloated about slitting Talen’s throat. If he had, he would have been soaked with fresh blood. From my inspection, I saw that the clothes that the assailant were indeed filthy, but completely absent any bloody spray. Leaving the cretin where he lay, I ran the trail back to Talen’s dwelling and upon arrival, found it empty. Turning back, I scanned the landscape, looking for any indication or sign. The trail took me back into the woods, past the stranger. Instead of heading to the meadows, I turned and went into a deeper part of the woods. This was where Talen trapped rabbits and other small game. It wasn’t a part that I was overly familiar with. Talen had told me that the thick, dense greenery was perfect for hunting and hiding. Armed with that knowledge, I hoped that I would find him there.
I walked through the heavy foliage and back several times with no luck. Feeling thoroughly frustrated at that point, certain that I was walking in circles, I made the decision to go back and address the fact that I left the strangers body lying in the middle of the trail. Slowly, I made my way back to where we had clashed and hid behind a large bush. I scanned the area to make sure that there was no further threat of danger. Several minutes passed and the pathways remained clear. Daring to venture out, I walked over to the body. I was repulsed by the thought of touching him, but I knew that I could not leave him lying there exposed. Leaving a dead body to simply rot in the open—although good for nature—would grab the attention of someone passing by. That could lead to a search and a discovery of my home. There was no way to know what would happen after that.
Squatting down, I grabbed one of his legs and struggled as I pulled him off the footpath and into a dense collection of small trees and shrubs thick enough to hide him from view. This monster did not deserve a burial. Our society cremated our people. Talen’s people buried them wrapped in linen shrouds along with their most prized possessions. This monster would receive no kindness or reverence. His intent was to rob me, rape me, and kill me. For that, he would be carrion for animals and birds to feast upon.
Leaving him behind without another thought, I stopped for a moment and tried to concentrate on my surroundings. An excruciating groan shattered the silence and my head whipped its direction. I took off, charging into the thick overgrowth, this time going right instead of left. I ran just a few yards before my foot hit something, and I stumbled and fell forward. After catching myself on a tree, I got to my feet and turned backward. A foot lay exposed through a thin spot in the vegetation. My breath caught and I rushed forward and dropped to my knees. Talen was propped up against a tree unmoving, eyes closed with his back resting against the trunk, his hands clutching a large wet red stain that stretched across his stomach.
“You found me,” Talen sighed, opening one eye that met mine with a forced smile. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” His first concern was for me and my throat tightened with a mix of emotions. “Yvaine, tell me quickly. Did he hurt you or did you kill him? There is blood on your dress.”
“I killed him,” I replied, glancing down at the blood soaked through the sleeve of my gown. “I stabbed him and watched him die. I left his body near the roadside.” I moved to examine him, but Talen deflected any attempt that I made. “How badly are you wounded?” Catching sight of what he was trying to hide from me, I knew that his wound was fatal. Just from the smell, it was obvious that his stomach had been perforated and that death was certain. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I sensed Talen’s spirit losing its vibrancy. His life force was waning.
“He stabbed me in my stomach,” Talen said roughly and coughed harshly. His face twisted in a grotesque grimace as the pressure intensified his pain. A bloody foam seeped out of his mouth and stained his lips. I averted my eyes to disguise the fact that I saw it. “There will be no fixing this, Yvaine.” I reached for his cloak, but his hand stayed mine. “My bowel is ruptured.” He told me plainly. “I know what it means.”
“No, I don’t think it’s as bad as that,” I said defiantly, refusing to believe what we both knew to be true. “We have to get you home so that I can take a closer look.” I suddenly refused to believe that all hope was gone. I examined his body but found no other wounds. “Do you think you will be able to walk?”
“I can get back if we go slowly but it will take the last of my strength,” His hand went weakly to my cheek as t
he tears I had been holding back started to fall. “I will die soon, Yvaine. I hate to leave you, but I can feel my family close by. They are calling for me, asking me to come to them. I can’t wait to see their faces again.” His own eyes were misty as he listened to what my ears could not hear. His mouth curved into the most beautiful, most delightful smile despite the fatality of his condition. “They’re waiting for me.” His words made my eyes stream harder.
Talen missed his family immensely. I knew from our many years of friendship that when his family died, a part of him did, too. He constantly believed that upon death, he would see them again. I often prayed to the Goddess that his wishes would come true. For all the horror and hardship that this man had suffered, the least he deserved was to be with his family in death.
Talen and I remained together in the forest for several more minutes. I tore off a good length from the hem of my gown and used it to bind the wound around his stomach. “That is not necessary.” He said several times as he tried to push both my hand and the bandage away.
“It will constrict the blood flow as you walk,” I scolded him in a harsh voice. I felt such guilt at losing my temper, but I had treated stomach wounds before and knew that tight binding would help to reduce the speed of blood loss. He winced with each wrap around his midsection and when I finished, blood had already soaked through the tightly bound cloth. I kept talking to him while he tried to muster his strength. Once he said he could move a short distance, I helped him up and supported his weight by placing his arm across my shoulders, bearing his weight upon my back. With his free arm, he utilized the length of my walking stick for added support. Talen’s legs were shaky and several times they threatened to give out. Having him close to me, I felt the agony in his abdomen. He was suffering excruciatingly, but I knew he would not let me do anything to help him. We covered a good distance before he asked me to stop and I helped him down in the grass.
“Talen, at least allow me to give you something for the pain,” I pleaded with him as I wiped a heavy layer of sweat from his brow.
“Don’t waste your stores on a dying man,” Talen winced and kept his hand laid across his stomach, guarding the wound from my attention.
“That is why I have stores.” I admonished him. “To help those in need. And right now, you’re in need.” I shot him an exacerbated look. “When we get back to your cave, I am going to give you something to help ease your pain, whether you take it willingly or if I have to force down your throat.” I shouted, upset that he continued to suffer, choosing to wear a brave face rather than accept the help offered to him. Talen merely smiled and then let out a short, silent laugh.
“The healer in you is tough,” His mouth curled up on one side as he rested his eyes. “I will make a deal with you.” His voice evened out and I listened carefully. “When we get to my space, I will take your medicine, but I will take it only once.” Talen’s face was tranquil. “My wound will take days to kill me and it will be agonizing. I know it. That is how my Mother died and I was with her through every strangled breath until her struggle was over.” My beloved friend was right. Abdominal wounds, unless they were shallow and didn’t pierce the intestines within, were fatal. His death would not be an easy one and each moment would be unbearable. “I want you to give me something that will put me to sleep. Something that will cause me to never wake up again.” He opened his eyes abruptly and stared straight into mine.
My skin prickled with what he was asking me. Talen wanted me to give him poison. He wanted something to help speed up his death. He was asking for something that would send him off painlessly. The healer in me argued against it, saying that the purpose of the art was to maintain life not to take it away. The friend in me said otherwise. I knew that it was more humane to not prolong agony if death was certain. Eweln herself didn’t shy away from aiding the terminally ill when it came to their choice to die rather than face the cruelty that their afflictions promised. She confessed that was how she had planned to treat Aenya, only Aenya’s body gave out before Eweln had the chance. Talen deserved respect in his final moments. For that, I would help him, but I would not let him suffer any longer than was necessary.
“When we get there, I will make you something,” I said softly but we both knew that it would be more than that.
“And when I am gone, I want you to bury me in the meadow, wrapped in a linen shroud. Bury me with my mother’s knife, my brother’s carved wolf, my sister's sash, and this,” He unsteadily pulled out his father’s medallion from his shirt. “I have a linen shroud. You won’t have to make one. You will find it under my bed.” His last request was to rest his bones in his favorite spot, buried in the tradition of his people which, according to him, would guarantee that his reunion with his loved ones. I promised with a tear-stained face that I would fulfill his wishes.
Eventually, we made it to Talen’s cave. Stepping inside the chilly space, I helped my dear friend over to his bed. The design had been one that I had never seen before where it consisted of a wooden frame with ropes laced from side to side, stretched out tightly. On top of the ropes, lay the thick mattress that he slept upon. Easing his body down, he sucked in a sharp, pained intake of breath and very slowly, stretched out full length.
“I’ll build a fire.” I told him. The dampness of the cave had added an extra chill to the air. Talen nodded and lay quietly. He closed his eyes but did not sleep. Thanks to his habit of keeping pre-collected firewood on hand, I quickly built a small but steady blaze in the round hearth and warmed my hands with its heat before turning back to him. “I will need to go collect some water to make the tea,” I said as I reached out to push his hair back from out of his eyes. Talen’s body felt differently as I touched the skin of his forehead. His body was cooler than it had been just a while ago. “Talen?” I touched his shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. I waited but he did not respond. I shook him once more, repeating his name but again, there was no response. Reaching out, I grabbed hold of his wrist to check for a pulse but stopped when something caught my eye. A small, brown-colored crockery bottle fell from his hand and landed on the bed beside him. Suspecting what its contents were, I picked the bottle up with the hem of my dress. A shock ran through me as I recognized a vial of poisonous mushroom compound that I had purchased from a passing foreign trader.
“It’s poisonous.” Talen had said. “The man warned that you should wear gloves when you make poisons.” Making such a fatal concoction had not been my intention but being a woman in a world that was as dangerous as it was beautiful, I had made it. Furious at myself, I flung the bottle against the wall where it shattered into pieces. A whooping sob tore from my throat as I cried over the sudden death of my friend. All the while, I wondered how he had gotten the bottle. Once I started to calm, I looked down at the body of my dearest friend, tears slipping down my face as I sang the holy prayers of my people for him. Once my songs were through, I adjusted his body upon the bed, stretching his long legs out and positioning his hands to lay peacefully across his chest. As I picked up his other hand, something fell from it as well. Glancing down, my eyes flooded anew at the sight of a single blue cornflower lying against his leg. At some point, Talen had picked my favorite flower. It was his parting gift. His final goodbye and a reminder to continue to use my gifts for those who needed it. Sniffing loudly, I wiped my eyes and placed the flower in the sash tied around my waist. Heartbroken, I focused on celebrating his friendship, not just mourning his death.
I spent the night sleeping on the floor at his side. I woke when the sun rose, and the call of life beckoned from outside. Birds chirping filled the air. Off in the distance, a fox yipped for its mate. Nature’s song didn’t hold its normal joy because sorrow and grief dwelt in my heart. I tried to find comfort in the wonderful times we shared but today, my heartache was too strong. It was hard to picture the coming days without seeing his face. Life would continue on even though Talen’s was over. Knowing I couldn’t keep him here much longer, I prepared him for his burial
. I washed his body with clean water from the river. I would not have Talen meeting his family again adorned in the blood-soaked clothes he had worn at the time of his death. After he was dressed, I tucked dried honeysuckle, lesser celandine, and red poppies into his clothes. The same flowers we decorated the dead with back on the Island to give them sweetness in the afterlife. Once all my ministrations were complete, I set out to bury him.
With tremendous patience and great care, I fashioned a crudely built gurney and used it to transport him to the meadow. I spent several hours in a mixture of laughter and tears as I dug his grave, remembering the best parts of who he was, my favorite times spent with him, and his never-ending friendship. Once his grave was dug, I buried him, wrapped in his shroud and draped him with the items he requested, along with a funerary bouquet of the same herbs tucked under the shroud. Their presence showed reverence, remembrance, and most of all, represented the beauty of love and promised a safe journey to the afterlife. Following another tradition of his people, I covered his grave with stones, singing the funeral songs of mine as I placed each one. I stood at his grave, thanking the Goddess for bringing him into my life. Talen was the friend I needed and the support to face the ghosts of my past. Talen encouraged me to let go of all culpability I clung to. He supported me as I realized that the choices, I made were justified. That I survived horrors that no person should ever experience. Talen helped me see that my family’s callous treatment was not my fault. It was theirs and theirs alone. My friend was a wise man that encouraged me to face my attack and to begin to process it. My gratitude was endless. Thankful and with a heartbroken soul, I allowed my tears to fall once again until my eyes were dry. Once the sun was high, warming the top of my head and sweat ran down my face and back, I wiped the dirt from my hands. Bearing a heavy heart, I made my way back home, towing the gurney behind me, not wanting to relish in the fields or the beauty at that moment.
The Island of Mists Page 18
