Chapter Thirteen

“Lamorna! Lamorna, look at me.”

Gentle hands were holding her. It was...

“Vanora?”

“Hush, child, you are safe.” She took the baby from Lamorna’s trembling hands and held him against her shoulder. With her other hand, she gathered Lamorna close, cradling the girl’s face against her neck. “Hush, there is nothing to fear, you are still safe.”

Gradually, Vanora’s soothing voice and gentle touch succeeded in calming Lamorna and quietening the baby. “Sit back down now.”

The girl nodded mutely even though her gaze kept darting to the entrance. When Vanora held the infant to her, she grabbed him and clung to him as if he could, somehow, protect her.

Vanora moved swiftly and efficiently, sorting out fresh candles, preparing the milk and unpacking food for Lamorna. When she tried to take the child from the still-pale young girl, Lamorna seemed reluctant to give him up. “Trust me, you are safe here.” Talking softly to the protesting baby, she changed him first before feeding him. She told Lamorna to eat, but when the girl did not move, Vanora turned her attention back to the baby. Once he had drunk his fill and returned to sleep, Vanora sat by Lamorna and took hold of her hand.

“Now tell me, what happened?”

Haltingly, her voice catching, Lamorna recounted her nightmare. “It felt so real. And I remember every part of it, not like other dreams I’ve had.”

Vanora was silent for a while. “Sometimes dreams can be, sometimes they are more than mere dreams. But before I say anymore, I want to show you something. I should have shown you when I brought you here, but, in my haste, I forgot.” Getting to her feet, she instructed Lamorna to bring the candle as she moved to the entrance. “Hold the light up. Higher. There. Can you see?”

Lamorna peered at the underside of the ‘door’ and exclaimed softly. She had not noticed the elaborate, curling design, vaguely floral and circular, that had been etched there. “What is it?”

“It is a sign, for protection. It means our goddess protects this place from prying, unwanted attention. That is how I know you are safe here. Now, come and eat. Then we will talk some more.”

As the feeling of being protected grew, Lamorna settled down to finish the still-warm pie Vanora had brought; it made a welcome change from the cold fare she’d had to consume during the day.

Vanora smiled slightly as a soft belch issued from Lamorna. “Better?”

“A little. And I feel safer now.”

“Good.”

“How is Lulie?”

Vanora did not answer straightaway. “She is very upset, as we knew she would be.”

“Can’t we tell her, only her, that we’re safe?”

“No. I can tell no one, Lamorna. Not just for your safety and mine, but for theirs also.”

“I don’t understand. Lulie would not tell–”

“No, of course not. But if she knows nothing then her denial will be sincere, there will be no need to worry that she might slip, making them suspect her, giving them the chance to use her loved ones to make her talk.”

“Oh, I see. But it’s the thought of her worrying, of Maldon and Marden being upset.”

“It seems cruel, yes, but it is the only way to keep us all safe.”

She nodded slowly before her frown deepened. “Did the soldiers come?”

“Mid-morning. They came with a priest–”

“Hilmer?”

“No, a lesser priest. The men hadn’t gone to the fields for they were searching for you. The soldiers demanded the baby first. Aherin told them you’d gone, you’d run away. His grief was undeniable. As was Lulie’s.”

Tears welled up in Lamorna’s dark eyes; she pressed the heels of her palms against them as if she wanted to shut out all the heartache.

“Still they threatened to turn the whole village inside out, accused them of hiding you. Morien insisted they would not endanger themselves or their children so. And the soldiers could not ignore the twins’ distress. Or that of Janina and Ella.”

Lamorna could no longer hold back her tears.

“Finally, they left, but they have posted guards. They spent the day scouring the area. In vain, obviously.”

“No one suspected you?”

She shook her head. “Why would they? People think you hold me responsible for your mother.”

“But I don’t–”

“I know that, child, but at least it works to our advantage for who would believe that you would seek my help?”

They sat in silence, Lamorna cloaked in sorrow at the thought of Lulie and the boys, and her friends being so upset.

“None of this is your fault,” said Vanora as if the girl had voiced her thoughts. “Do not take on the guilt for something that is not your fault. You were left with little choice. If you had stayed, the only difference would be that Lulie and everyone else would know your fate. The grief would still be there. And the soldiers, most likely, would have overtaken Aherin before he got you to Daroth, and they would have claimed you. This way, there is grief yes, but there is hope also.”

Unable to deny Vanora’s words, still it was hard to ignore the hurt. “I wish, I wish I had spent time with Janina. Now, I will never see her again.”

“You do not know that.”

That was true, but to Lamorna it seemed as if the door to her old, familiar life was closing and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Then she remembered her dream and realised Vanora had not explained herself. “What did you mean when you said that some dreams are more than mere dreams?”

“Ah yes, your dream. Usually dreams are a reflection of your worries, your moods. But sometimes they are a way of receiving messages.”

“Messages?”

“It does not happen often and usually the dreamer fails to realise its importance.”

Lamorna’s eyes widened. “You think... are you saying that was a message from–”

“The spirits, the goddess; who can say for certain but I think the meaning of your dream is clear.”

“I shouldn’t go to Daroth,” she said. “But the other way, to go through the forest alone.” Her voice rose as she wrung her hands. “I can’t do it, Vanora, I can’t.”

Vanora grabbed her hands. “If I did not think you could, I would have sent you back to Lulie. Have more faith in yourself.”

“But I’ve never been in the forest alone.”

“Yes, I know. But you will not be alone, remember.”

“You’ll come with us?” Her voice was still high-pitched.

“I cannot. I have responsibilities here. But I will go with you for a little way. You are afraid, I understand that. But the forest is nothing to be afraid of. Our goddess is of the moon and wild places, believe in her and she will not fail you. The moon is waxing now so you will not be travelling in the dark for the moon will light your way.”

Blinking, Lamorna said, “The moon is my companion?”

Vanora chuckled. “You could say that. One of your companions, at least. I will introduce you to your other companion when we leave, as she is not here yet. Only remember, she follows her own path, you cannot dictate her comings and goings.”

Lamorna wondered who this companion could be, if she was as nice as Vanora; she felt nervous at the thought of meeting her.

“Now, come. I have prepared remedies for your journey.” Vanora unwrapped a small square of cloth, which contained two small bottles. “This one will help with any weariness and pains from travelling.”

Lamorna noticed the bottle had a symbol on it. “Why does it show a tree?”

Vanora seemed pleased at her query. “The oil is made from berries of the bay tree. And this one, with the sign of the sickle...” She looked expectantly at the girl.

“Sicklewort?”

“Yes. The ointment will help with wounds and sores. You will remember that?”

She nodded and watched as the woman redid the bundle. “I wish tomorrow would hurry.”

“So eager to be on your way?”

Lamorna made a face. “No. I hate waiting.”

“The time will come soon enough.”

She nodded then hurriedly looked away, her chest aching with the realisation that tomorrow she would be leaving her home, leaving all that was dear to her.

“Lamorna?”

She turned to Vanora, her voice tearful. “I didn’t say goodbye. To Papa...”

Silently, Vanora held out her arm and Lamorna slowly curled against her as she wept quiet tears.

“Let it out, my girl. Let it all out. You have a long road ahead, your whole life before you. Do not let this wicked grief hold you back.”