!” In silence the three friends stared at each other, waiting. Nothing happened.
“Do you think it’s not working because there was too much?” Clarissa asked after several moments of silence.
“I am unsure. How are you feeling? Do you see anything in the fire?” Shaylee asked. Claire shifted her gaze to the flames and watched them dance for several minutes, but no form took shape. She shook her head.
“No, nothing.” She rose and retrieved her clothes. Silently she finished dressing and strapped her sword on her side. She gathered the rest of her friends’ clothes, and when she returned to drop the dresses in their laps she was not surprised to find them both watching her with caution and concern.
“I’m okay. Nothing is happening, truly. I feel nothing and I see nothing. Let’s go. I’m sure Clarissa’s parents have had enough of the girls and Keith should be returning soon with Jamerico from their hunt.” With that she took her dagger from Shaylee and sheathed it while her friends quickly donned their dresses. They walked back to the village where Claire and Shaylee said their good days and took the girls home.
The rest of the day was disappointingly uneventful and when Claire crawled in bed she wanted to cry. How she wished she could have reinvented the wolf in the flames and gotten some sort of sign or clarification. She hoped that it could tell her something, anything about Cal and Mark.
***
Several mornings later Claire turned on her bed and stretched, allowing her muscles to relax. She watched the sun rays shine off the small particles of dust floating around the room.
She smiled at the six year old beauty that came bouncing into the room. “Claire, can we go to the village today? Aunt Shaylee says that Aunt Clarissa’s puppies opened their eyes, and we want to go see them!” Mindy exclaimed. She was speaking so much better. Claire had worked with the children every night and now they each spoke better than most children her age.
“Can we pwease go, pwease, C? Aunt Shaylee says we tan have a treat at Aunt Larrissa’s store,” Lilith begged, following her older sister into the room.
“Well, let me think,” Claire pulled back her blanket, allowing Lilith to jump in and snuggle against her side. “We went yesterday didn’t we?”
“No, it’s been a whole week, and Jamerico says we need flour and Midlyn says we need tandy. Pwease?” Claire chuckled at the urgent, dramatic, tilt in Lilith’s voice. In truth they’d been to the village only a few days before, but Lilith has a tendency to enhance the truth.
“You may as well come in too,” Claire called to the door. Jamerico walked in with a guilty expression on his face. He was continually sending the girls to ask for things instead of asking himself.
Claire rolled her eyes and made an over exaggerated grunt. “Oh, Lilith I’m not sure we can go, I think my legs are broken!” Midlyn and Lilith took that as their cue. They attacked Claire and began tickling her feet and sides, Claire laughed.
Jamerico only watched. He still wanted to play like a child, but he also wanted to be grown up. He observed the girls unsuccessful struggle against Claire before he laughed and exclaimed, “I’ll hold her down!” He threw himself over Claire’s stomach, holding her in place while the girls increased their efforts to tickle her into submission.
“Ok, ok they’re not broke anymore,” Claire conceded.
“So we can go?” Midlyn looked up from Claire’s toes.
“We can go.” Three cheers and crushing hugs were their response. “Go get ready. I’ll see if Shaylee and Marcel want to go with us.”
An hour later Claire walked hand in hand with her little girls while Jamerico and Shaylee followed behind. “Can we go to the Xina’s for lunch?” Midlyn asked, swinging Claire’s hand.
“I think that would be alright. Let’s have pie too,” she suggested.
“The same pie Uncle Keith and Uncle Mark get for us?” Jamerico asked with excitement. Claire nodded.
“When’s Cal coming home? He’s been gone a very long time.” Claire sighed. The girls asked this question almost daily.
“And Uncle Mark?” Jamerico added excitedly.
“I don’t know, but I hope it will be without delay.” Claire wished she had more definitive answers to give them, but there had been no contact from either Cal or Mark for six months. She didn’t know what to tell them.
“Me too, Uncle Mark owes me a new dolly. He pwomised!” Lilith pouted.
“And Cal promised me a necklace like yours,” Midlyn added.
“What did they promise you Jamerico?” Claire asked over her shoulder.
“The head of one of Leishmann’s men!” He stated proudly.
“They promised you WHAT?” Shaylee asked just as Claire stumbled over her own feet. Jamerico was beaming at the thought of such a prize. They gaped at him with identical, mortified, expressions.
“I don’t think so,” Claire stated.
“It’s what I wanted, I asked for it.” Jamerico said innocently. Claire and Shaylee exchanged a glance before Claire looked back at Jamerico sternly.
“No,” she said.
“Oh come on, C, I want to see one,” he begged.
“If they bring you back a head I will beat them with a stick, and you will still not see it.” Claire felt disgusted and silently cursed Cal and Mark for making such an irresponsible and irrational promise.
“Oh, come on, please? Cal thought it was funny,” he pleaded again. Cal wouldn’t think it was quite so funny when she got hold of him.
“No, and that’s final.” Claire looked at him sternly, hands on hips.
“Fine…how about the guy’s sword?” He pumped his brows at her, the way Cal did at times. The two looked so much alike with their light eyes and dark hair; she felt a momentary pang of loneliness.
“I’ll think about it,” she considered, attempting not to smile. Though a sword was not an age appropriate gift it was much better than a person’s head.
“Well, I told them if they couldn’t bring back the head to bring me the sword. It won’t be fair if the girls get what was promised them and I don’t!” He said crossing his arms stubbornly.
“Given the choice, you can have the sword,” she smiled, then rolled her eyes at Shaylee.
“I’d rather have the head,” he muttered when Claire continued along the path. Claire heard Shaylee chuckle.
When they reached the village the girls ran ahead to the general shop. Jamerico held back though he picked up speed, forcing Shaylee and Claire to walk faster. When they entered, Clarissa smiled from behind the counter motioning at the back room with a jerk of the head. Jamerico eagerly followed the trail of girlish giggles and delicate whimpers. Claire and Shaylee walked around the store looking at some of the new items while Clarissa finished up with her customer.
“Look at this one.” Shaylee said pulling a ready-made dress from the shelf and holding it up to her body. “What do you think?” Her hazel eyes danced with merriment as she swooshed the light green material back and forth. Her chestnut hair brushed her hips in the movement and her eyes danced with excitement. There was no doubt the green material enhanced her coloring and the cut of the dress would flatter her tall lean form.
“I think it’s a dress!” Claire said in disgust. The girls in the village always got excited when the dressmaker made fresh deliveries. Claire had to admit they were pretty, but she had been raised in a different world and in Tyrell she had enjoyed wearing her pants and shirts; something that had not changed by coming home to Danyon. Claire hated dresses and preferred her buck skinned breaches and simple jerkins.
“I think that would be beautiful on you. And if you haven’t learned not to ask her opinion of clothing, you deserve the answer you got.” Clarissa said from behind Claire. “Besides, I think she’ll change her mind about dresses when Cal returns and decides he wants a maiden on his arm, which I might add, will be a feminine beauty with a closet full of skirts.” Claire chose to ignore the comment and reached out to gently touch the small wooden pendant hanging from a fine ribbon around Clarissa’s neck.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? Mark gave it to me before he left. I don’t normally wear it because I don’t want Ma and pa to suspect anything...but this morning I wanted to feel close to him.”
“They already do,” Shaylee laughed. Claire smiled. Cal had left a couple gifts on the table when he left as well. There had been two bracelets much too small for her wrists; Cal’s note had said they were ‘mommy bracelets.’ Lilith and Midlyn were both wearing them. Jamerico instantly laid claim to the slingshot which left Claire with the small leather bag that was currently hanging from her belt. Claire had almost laughed when she opened it up to find it full of small rocks.
Mark and Keith had warned Cal that she was lethal when it came to throwing rocks. Their advice to Cal had been to keep her away from all things throwable should he ever find himself in an argument with her. The bag of rocks told her that Cal trusted she wouldn’t kill him...or maybe it was his way of keeping other men at a distance.
“We are about to go get some lunch. Would you like to join us?” Claire asked.
“Love to. I’ll tell Papa to take over for me.” She disappeared up the stairs and came back a few minutes later followed by her extremely plump father.
“Jamerico, girls, it’s time to go!” She called towards the curtained doorway. The kids erupted into protests.
“Xina has blueberry tarts today,” Clarissa said in her best matter of fact way. Shouts of excitement followed and a few seconds later all three came scurrying through one door and straight out the other. The women laughed as they followed the children towards the Inn. They had almost reached it when a man raced into the village on the back of a sweat soaked mule. He stopped right in front of Claire.
“Leishmann has been spotted, He’s only about ten miles outside the village, and moving fast, he’ll be upon us in less than an hour’s time.” Panic welled up inside her as his words registered. Instantly she looked at the Inn where the three children had disappeared.
“Clarissa, take the children back to the cabin. Have Marcel do whatever she can to protect them. Shaylee go to the warrior’s camp and tell Keith to get here as soon as he can. The villagers and I will do our best to stand against Leishmann for as long as we can.” She was satisfied to see both women dash away to follow her instructions. She turned to the man who was still regaining his breath, “Braeson, I want you to sound the alarm and have every member of the village that’s able to fight meet me here.” He nodded and drew his mount around, kicking it back into a run.
“Leishmann’s men are coming! Fighting men to the square!” The cry echoed through the village. There was a moment of shock and then the villagers moved into an ordered state of urgency. The women and men in fighting condition scattered for their weapons, the older women gathered the children to hide in the woods. People ran in every direction preparing to defend their homes.
Clarissa came out of the Inn with Lilith in her arms and the others on her heels. Midlyn threw her arms around Claire’s legs, whimpering with fear. Jamerico, on the other hand, stood with shoulders squared, eyes flashing with determination.
“I’m staying with you!” he declared.
“No, I need you to help Auntie with your sisters. You are the man of the house right now and I need you to stay with them and protect them, can you do that for me?” He looked down at Midlyn’s tear streaked face then back at Claire. Though she could tell he struggled, he eventually nodded.
“I will, be safe, please….you are the only mother we have!” His words pierced her heart and left her speechless, momentarily paralyzed. What would her death do to these precious children? After a moment of staring at him she finally was able to move. She pulled him to her and hugged him tightly.
“I love you, Son. You take care of my girls.” She hugged and kissed the children, saw them to the edge of the village, and watched them hurry up the path. Claire said a silent prayer begging Sorchanna to protect her family and bring Keith and the men quickly before Leishmann killed everyone in the village.
Over the months their army had grown from a few hundred to well over six thousand. Though many were too far to summon there were still around a four hundred men in the warrior’s camp. If they were able to reach the village soon maybe there would not be as much innocent blood shed.
Taking a deep breath she turned to the gathering group of villagers who awaited her instructions. They held pitchforks, kitchen knives, several had training swords, and many held hunting bows. Each one had a look of determination burning in their eyes. She barked out instructions, the people quickly dispersing to await Leishmann’s attack.
A chilling silence enveloped the entire area surrounding the small village hidden deep in the Cardison woods of Danyon. Villagers sat in wait, each tortured by their own imaginings of what fate the day would hand them. Each waited for the moment their enemy would enter the dusty streets and rain his tyranny on their heads.
Every abled fighter had moved into the forest, away from the village and hunkered down amongst the trees, rocks, and grasses. Half their archers hid in the treetops waiting to shower their talents down on Leishmanns army. The other half had stayed in the village to protect it with their bows should the battle be lost.
A soft whispered plea touched Claire’s ears. She looked to her right at the young man sitting beside her. His head was ducked in prayer, begging Sorchanna for strength. When he finally looked up his eyes were wide and frightened.
“It’s ok. We are ready and Keith will be here soon,” Claire whispered, putting her hand on his trembling shoulder. She said her own silent prayer and tightened the grip on her sword. How she wished the people of the village had adequate weapons and training to prepare them for the upcoming fight. Though they had each spent some time learning the art of defense, it was not nearly enough to prepare them against Leishmann.
Five minutes later the first sounds of thunder echoed down the path and touched the villagers’ ears. Claire’s heart began to pump in time with the pounding hoof beats. Fear wrapped itself around her like a smothering blanket and she wondered for a moment if they had made a mistake by choosing to fight instead of fleeing with the others.
She held her breath as the army grew closer and the horses slowed. She pressed herself into the shadowy trunk of a large pine tree, counting the seconds until the riders were in full view. The first man to come into view made her breath catch.
Aksara