Chapter Nineteen

Lamorna had barely finished the bowl of oatmeal when a knock sounded at the door.

“Hurry.” The thin woman with the withered left arm shoved Lamorna towards her bed and pulled the curtain across, hiding her and the baby who was already lying on it.

“Mother Genna?” called a young voice from outside. “Are you there?”

Lamorna’s heart was beating so loudly she felt sure the visitor would be able to hear it. She began to say the White Lady’s prayer silently, praying also that her brother would remain sleeping and quiet.

“Yes, yes, be patient,” replied the woman called Genna as she opened the door. “What is it, child? What is so important that you call on me before dawn has had a chance to break?”

“Please, Mother, please make a potion–”

“No, Dorcas. How many times do I must say the same thing? I do not make such things.”

“But he’s here and he’ll be leaving tomorrow and I need to make him mine. I can pay you.”

“It is not a question of payment. What you are asking goes against the laws of nature. It goes against all I believe in. You, of all people, should know better than to ask. What would your parents say if they knew?”

Curiosity getting the better of her, Lamorna twitched the curtain aside slightly. The young woman pleading with Genna appeared older than Lamorna. From what she could see by the light of the lamp, the young woman seemed pretty enough; why would she need a potion to capture a man’s heart?

“You mustn’t tell them,” said the young woman, clasping her hands together. “Please. They don’t understand how I feel. I thought you would–oh! I’ll bring him here. When you see him then you’ll understand.” With that, she ran off.

“Dorcas, no, do not bring him. Oh, what’s the use?” Genna sighed heavily and shut the door. Leaning against it, she said, “It is safe to come out, child.”

“Will this make trouble for you?” said Lamorna as she pulled the curtain aside. “Would it be easier if we go?”

“No. You will stay and rest. There is nothing I can do for Dorcas and hopefully she will realise that. I do not wish to make trouble for her by involving her parents. Maybe this man will help her see sense.”

“Who is he?”

Genna shrugged. “I am not sure. He lives in another village, not that close. His father has family here. Dorcas is adamant she can make him hers, but she will not do so with my help. I suppose she hoped I would agree simply because her father is the village elder. But her parents believe as I do; we respect the natural order.”

Lamorna remained unconvinced that it was safe for them to stay, but Genna assured her that by meeting visitors outside, she dispensed with the need for anyone to step into her house.

*                      *                      *                      *

“There, your stay here was trouble-free, was it not?”

Lamorna smiled. “Yes, it was as you said, Mother Genna.” She packed away the food that the woman had readied for her. Darkness was approaching, and Lamorna preferred to make her way back into the forest to meet Mistress Wolf before total darkness enveloped them.

The old woman stepped out the door and checked around before beckoning Lamorna out. They were saying their final goodbyes when Dorcas appeared, dragging a young man with her.

“Oh. Who are you?” said Dorcas.

Startled, Lamorna stepped back, and Genna pushed her to go, standing between her and the newcomers. “Go, child.”

Giving in to her curiosity, Lamorna glanced at the man; her eyes grew wide with recognition as she stared into his hazel eyes.

As he tilted his head to the side, his brows slowly pulled together.

“Daroth.” Too late she realised that he probably had not recognised her with her short hair.

“Lamorna?”

“You know her?” Dorcas sounded far from pleased.

“What are you doing here?” He seemed to have forgotten his companion. “We were told you’d disappeared, run away.”

Lamorna could do little more than stare.

He reached out to her; she stepped back, her arms around her brother.

Daroth’s gaze lit on the bundle. “Is that... the baby?”

Lamorna turned her body as if to hide the child from Daroth’s view.

“Why did you run so far from your home?”

“What was I to do? I have to keep my brother safe.”

“Could you not have come to me? I-I would keep you safe. And your brother too.” His voice was so soft she could barely make out his words.

“Is this... she is the one who has shamed your family.” Dorcas’ eyes widened.

“She has done no such thing.”

“But your father–”

“My father speaks... he doesn’t know what he speaks.”

For a moment, Lamorna wondered if she should have gone to Daroth instead.

Then Genna spoke. “Lamorna, you must leave now. Dorcas, go home–”

“Mother Genna. You helped her?”

“This is none of your concern.”

“But it is.” The young woman turned to Daroth, her cheeks flushed; she shook his arm. “Say something.”

But he remained silent, still staring at Lamorna.

“He would be mine if not for you.” Dorcas took a step towards Lamorna, her fists clenched, but Daroth stopped her. She pulled away from him then turned and ran back the way she’d come.

“Run now,” said Genna.

“What about–?” Lamorna’s eyes were wide.

“I will be all right, but you must go.”

“I will try and stop her before she tells anyone,” said Daroth.

Not knowing what to think, Lamorna stepped away only to stop when he grabbed her hand.

“Stay safe. I will find you. I will keep you safe... from all this.”

“Go.” Genna physically pushed her.

Agitated by the jerky movements caused by Lamorna running, the baby’s cries echoed around her. Her heart pounding against her chest, she caught sight of something light moving in and out of the trees; fearing the worst, Lamorna gasped loudly when she realised it was the wolf. Stumbling to a halt, she fell to her knees, her breath coming out in ragged gasps.

Wolf sniffed around her face then turned her attention to the crying infant, pushing her muzzle into the sling, making soft, whiny noises; he began to quieten.

“Did he... did he stop her? Before she got to the soldiers? Did he...? Oh, Mother Genna.” She buried her face in Wolf’s fur and wept.

Lamorna fought to calm herself, knowing they had to move as far as possible from Genna’s village. With Wolf trotting beside her, she walked quickly, her shoulders tight, flinching at the slightest sound.

Wolf began to slow down, her body alert, ears pricked forward. When she came to a complete stop, Lamorna did likewise, looking all around.

A loud screech sounded close by; Lamorna jumped, her hand over her mouth. Wolf grabbed her skirt between her teeth and began to pull. The distant sound of horses intruded. Whimpering, Wolf pulled harder. Lamorna began to move, gradually quickening her pace until they were running.

Wolf had to keep slowing down for Lamorna to catch up. She kept stumbling over unseen things on the forest floor, kept running into branches, scared of moving too fast in case she hurt the baby.

More crashing noises sounded to the left, making them veer right. They burst into an opening, a small clearing. Opposite them, horses appeared, rearing slightly as their riders hauled back on the reins. Some of the soldiers bore lanterns on poles; swinging crazily, the light threw frantic shadows that seemed to move of their own accord.

Wolf placed herself between the soldiers and Lamorna, growling and snapping her teeth. The horses backed away, ears flat against their heads. An owl came screeching down. Almost as one, the horses reared, whinnying in alarm, throwing their riders. Snarling, Wolf rushed forward, adding to their panic. Most of the soldiers lay sprawled on the ground as their horses fled.

Seizing her moment, Lamorna was about to take flight but was brought up short by a yelp of pain. Wolf staggered back, the fur on her side glistening, reflecting light from the lamps. “No, no...” Lamorna ran back to her side as the beast collapsed. Leaning over the wolf, Lamorna wept as the baby wailed against her.

Having recovered, the soldiers slowly advanced.

“We’ll make you pay for that,” said one, his voice hard.

“It’s the baby we’re to bring back unharmed,” said another. “Didn’t say anything about leaving you untouched.”

Their laughter held little humour.

“Stay away,” cried Lamorna. “Leave us alone.” It did not occur to her to run; she could not leave Wolf.

The ones closest to her were already starting to unhitch their trousers.

“Nothing satisfies like fresh meat,” said the nearest with a growl.

“Mam,” sobbed Lamorna. “Mam, Mother, Lady, help, please help. Make them go away.” Her voice was getting louder. “Mam. Mam!”

From a distance came the call of baying dogs. Still, Lamorna cried for her mother, for the goddess to save them. The eerie howling, full of wild lamentation, drew closer. The deep, hollow cry of an enormous hound, sounded from among the unseen pack. The baby’s crying softened to a whimper; Lamorna grew quiet as a shiver escaped her.

The soldiers muttered fearfully, holding their lamps aloft as they looked around. The leaves of the surrounding trees set up an incessant whispering as an emergent breeze teased them, a breeze that swiftly rose to a howling gale.

Looking around with wide eyes, Lamorna moved closer to Wolf as the echoing call of the hounds seemed to come from all around. Someone cried out, pointing towards the sky. Lamorna’s eyes bulged but she remained frozen, her own scream trapped in her throat.

Shrieking figures flew straight at them, ragged edges fluttering in the windstorm. The soldiers screamed; some fled, some fell to their knees, others slashed madly with their swords. To no effect. The figures swirled around the men, carrying them away. The distant, terror-filled screams of those who’d fled into the forest joined with the exultant howling of hounds before being cut short.

Lamorna could not look away but, strangely, she no longer felt afraid. Her breath caught in her throat as one of the figures hovered before her, reaching out but unable to touch the girl. “Mam?” She reached out to touch Reena’s face, but her hand passed right through.

Her mother’s wraith-like face smiled sadly then her gaze wandered to the sling. Lamorna tearfully freed her brother from the sling so he could see she who had been their mother. He studied the figure that hovered by him, which was making a soft, keening sound.

“I’m looking after him, Mam, like I promised...” Lamorna’s voice caught, ending in a sob.

The figure glanced over her shoulder, shaking her head. Again, she tried to caress Lamorna’s cheek, again she failed. She made as if to kiss her daughter, her son before drifting away.

Lamorna was already on her knees, reaching out. “No. Mam, don’t go. Please, Mam, please.”

But Reena continued to move away, joining her wraith-sisters as they floated up and out of sight.

“Mam!” shouted Lamorna before tears took over, and she bent over the baby, sobbing loudly. Then she became aware of Wolf’s laboured breathing. Still sobbing, Lamorna laid her brother on the ground, and leaned over Wolf.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know...” She clutched at Wolf’s fur. “Stay. You must stay. Don’t go. He needs you, I need you.”

But no amount of tears and pleadings could stave off the inevitable. Wolf’s life ebbed away, her breathing became slower and slower... Until finally she lay still and silent.

Lamorna’s own breathing had become one sob after another. She lay on the ground, curled against Wolf with the infant between them. She felt like she was falling into a never-ending pit, abandoned... alone, left first by her mother then her father, Vanora and now Wolf. She never imagined such pain possible. She would lie by Wolf. If she lay still, maybe the pain would go.