Chapter Sixteen
“Are we safe here?” said Lamorna, her voice shrill. “What if they find us?”
The minute their attackers had fled, Vanora had commanded Lamorna to gather their things and run in the opposite direction.
“We are safe here. And Mistress Wolf and our owl-friend will warn us of any others. We will rest here awhile.”
Still Lamorna remained standing, bouncing from foot to foot, wringing her hands while her wide-eyed gaze darted about.
“Lamorna. Come and sit. And stop twisting your hands around so, they are in danger of falling off.”
Her movements jerking to a halt, she glared at the older woman before finally moving to sit as Wolf settled down to feed the baby. “Shouldn’t we keep moving? We’re wasting travelling time simply sitting here.”
“We need to rest to calm ourselves, you especially. Once he has had his feed, we can move on again.”
They sat in silence but Lamorna found it difficult to sit still. “Vanora...”
“Yes, child?”
“Was that... magic?”
“Was what magic?”
“When you made the knife appear.”
Chuckling softly, she shook her head. “No magic, a mere sleight of the hand, that is all. The blade I keep hidden up my sleeve and a quick flick of the wrist is all I need to make it appear.”
“Oh. I think those men thought it was magic.”
“Appearances can be deceiving. And I find it most advantageous that such feeble-minded people are easily deceived.”
The silence lengthened between them, finally broken by Vanora. “What else is on your mind?”
She shrugged.
“I can feel your uncertainty.”
“I-I’m afraid, Vanora. What if more men come? After you go. I can’t fight them off, I can’t keep my brother safe–”
“But you will not be alone. It is true, after tonight I will not be with you, but Mistress Wolf will still be your companion. And you are stronger than you realise. Have faith in yourself.”
“But I was no use tonight. Oh! I wish I was a boy.”
“Listen to me. Courage is not automatically bestowed on a boy. It comes from deep within you, be you boy or girl, child or adult. I have seen little ones, younger than you, stand their ground and fight for what they hold dear. And I have seen grown men flee at the first sign of trouble. As you yourself witnessed tonight, help comes from unexpected quarters. Believe in the White Lady; help yourself and she will come to your aid.”
Lamorna chewed on her lower lip. “But what if I–?”
Vanora placed a finger against her mouth, cutting short her question. “You will not get lost. Mistress Wolf knows the way. Stay hidden in the trees. Look for white rose bushes planted close to houses with cloth of green and white hung nearby. Those within you can trust, and they will help you with food and shelter. If in doubt, trust Mistress Wolf’s judgement. That is not so difficult to remember, is it?” She tenderly brushed her fingers against Lamorna’s cheek, and the girl’s hand covered that of the older woman.
“I will try to be brave,” she whispered.
“Of that I have no doubt.” She kissed Lamorna on the forehead.
When it came time for them to part, Lamorna could not hold back her tears. Clinging to Vanora, she wept as if her heart would break. Finally, Vanora managed to calm her, and they stood with foreheads touching, hands joined and repeated the White Lady’s prayer that Vanora had taught her:
“Star Goddess, Sky Goddess
Keeper of the Silver Wheel
Listen to thy hidden children
who humbly kneel
in the circle of your silvery glow
make our sorrows from our hearts
swiftly, swiftly flow.
We stand upon the Earth
The moon above us, high,
forever joined in thee as are we,
the magic of the Earth and Sky.”
As daylight rapidly faded, and the silvery wheel of stars began to appear, Lamorna, her face awash with tears, watched Vanora walk away, wondering how the woman could say with such confidence that they would meet again.
She remained where she was, even after Vanora had vanished from sight, until she felt something cold and wet against her hand. The wolf was nuzzling her, waiting for her to continue their journey. She laid her hand on the wolf’s back, fur tickling her fingertips. “May I, may we walk like this, Mistress? It’s comforting.”
The wolf did not flinch away.
“Thank you.”
The wolf began to walk and Lamorna kept pace with her, hand snug and warm against the fur.
Now that she was without Vanora, Lamorna paid careful attention to their journey. As the leaves overhead grew denser, so it became harder for the moonlight to penetrate the canopy. It was unnerving, walking in near-total darkness, but Lamorna forced herself to place her trust in the wolf even though it was hard to ignore her own pounding heart.
* * * *
The sky blushed with the arrival of the sun, but Lamorna remained crouched where she was. Her hand resting lightly on Wolf’s neck, both watched the small cottage that sat on the outskirts of a small village, close to the forest’s edge. A small bush, laden with white roses, nestled against the cottage; the cloth covering the window was a pleasant mixture of green and white. It reminded Lamorna of Vanora’s home.
“But is it safe?” she whispered.
As if in reply, Wolf got to her feet and padded out into the open. She paused halfway to the cottage, turned to look at Lamorna before continuing on her way.
Biting her lip, Lamorna followed her. Standing before the door, she started to wring her hands then, with a quick shake of her head, stopped. Taking a deep breath, she knocked, albeit hesitantly. The door opened almost at once.
A small built woman, no taller than Lamorna, stood in the doorway. Her advanced years had not bent her frame; her blue eyes were as bright and sharp as any youngster’s. She wore her grey hair swept up in a bun. She scrutinised Lamorna silently, and when she spoke, her voice was soft and soothing. “I have been waiting for you, child. Come, come in. And thank you, Mistress Wolf, for seeing them safe to me.”
With what appeared to be a nod of her head, the beast returned to the forest, much to Lamorna’s consternation.
“Worry not, she will return when it is time. She is a creature of the wild, we cannot expect her to remain indoors.” The woman ushered Lamorna in.
This place was even smaller than Vanora’s but was laid out in a similar fashion. It consisted solely of the room they stepped into; the curtain by the sleeping area was tied back to reveal a small bed.
“I am Grania,” said the woman as she indicated the chair at the table for Lamorna to sit. “Have something to eat then rest. Leave the baba with me, and you can rest fully.”
“Pardon, Mistress, but how did you know I was coming?”
Raising her brows slightly, she smiled. “Not many things are hidden when you know how to read the signs.”
“Oh.” Lamorna’s awe was mirrored in her voice, even though she did not understand.
“Besides, Vanora sent me word,” she finished with a chuckle, deepening the lines on her heavily lined face.
Lamorna’s shocked look quickly dissolved into a giggle.
“You will be safe here. I seldom have visitors. The people tend to leave ‘the mad one by the forest’ alone.”
“The... mad one?”
“An old woman living happily on her own with a habit of seemingly talking to herself could not possibly be anything other than mad. But the term is used in a light-hearted way. So I am told.”
Lamorna’s anxiety started to deepen. “Isn’t that dangerous? I mean, what about the... priests?” She whispered the word as if the mere mention would cause one to materialise.
Again, Grania chuckled. “The priests? The few that serve the chapel here are the ones who visit me the most.”
Lamorna’s eyes bulged.
“We have the most interesting discussions. Not all are narrow-minded monsters, you know. Many of the priests, especially those, how shall I say, those lower down the order, as it were, are more tolerant of the old ways. They see how truly alike our faiths are. We believe in the divine feminine, the mother and they, the father.”
“Oh…” Lamorna’s confusion was evident.
Grania patted her arm. “I can see you find it hard to understand. I know my younger sisters, like Vanora, struggle sometimes to see the good in the new religion when all they are faced with is the human face of hate and intolerance.”
“I thought all priests horrid.”
“You will find good and bad everywhere you go, my dear. You cannot say that all priests are bad, or all soldiers are bad just as you cannot say that all common folk are good.” She held her hands out. “Now, let me see the little baba.”
Expert with the sling now, Lamorna undid it and passed her brother to Grania.
With a deep sigh, the old woman cuddled him close as she sank down onto a chair. “It has been too long since I have held new life like this.” She seemed to have forgotten Lamorna, so wrapped up was she with the baby. He was now awake and he studied the old woman as closely as she did him.
With a slight shrug of her shoulders, Lamorna settled at the table and started to help herself to the simple fare laid out before her. She kept thinking on Grania’s words and found it confusing to think that the new religion was, in truth, a loving one; that there were good and kindly priests. Later, when she slept, she did so deeply and dreamlessly.