Daughter of Hauk (The Raven Chronicles Book 1) (24 page)

              A sense of despair slowly crept over Arwenna. There wouldn’t be anything left alive on the island. All that resided there now was death and memories.

              She jumped as Barek’s hand touched her arm, bringing her back from the island and onto the beach. “You okay?”

              She nodded. “Sorry. There’s a sense of despair coming from the island. It got to me for a minute.”  Barek nodded back, understanding what she felt.

              “I think we should head over to the village and find some place to sleep for a night or two. If we have to go over there, I’d rather do it in daylight.”  Nodding her agreement, Arwenna directed her horse to follow the others as they headed down the beach towards the village.

              Like many small fishing villages, the town was dominated by a small pier and the boats tied to it. More boats could be seen out on the water, slowly making their way back to shore to unload any catch before nightfall. Rows of small, wooden houses with thatched roofs showed evidence of storms that had tried in vain to crush them, the walls partially encrusted with salt. A few merchants had carts near a well in the center of town. The occupants of the town stared up at them, caution for the outsiders plainly seen on the faces. Strangers weren’t normal here.

              Barek slowly approached one of the locals on the path that served as a street and inquired about some place they could spend the night. A few coins clinked together as they were dropped into the man’s hand. Pointing towards one of the larger buildings, the man bowed and backed off. Barek looked back towards Arwenna and the others, letting them know to follow with a quick motion of his head.

              The building was a single story, but still larger by a considerable size compared to the other ones in the village. A small woman came out of the door and watched them as they dismounted. The dress she wore was very snug and elaborately embroidered. The narrowness of the skirt made her take small, shuffling steps. Arwenna smoothed the front of her skirts after she dismounted, feeling oddly underdressed by comparison.

              The woman bowed as they approached, both hands clasped together as she did so. “The House of Wintai welcomes you, noble guests. How may I be of service?”  She looked at Barek expectantly.

              The formality of the greeting surprised him for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “My companions and I are looking for some rooms to rent for a few days. We have business on the island there,” he pointed towards Hector’s Island, “and will need a place to rest before and after our trip out there.”

              Arwenna noted the woman’s eyes widened slightly at Barek’s mention of where they were going, but she recovered quickly. “We have extra rooms we keep for those who travel through our village. Will you require anything else?”

              “If you have a small boat we could rent to get us over to the island and back, that would be great. We need some stable room for our horses, as well.”

              The woman nodded and clapped her hands sharply twice. Two smallish boys came around the corner and began to take the reins from each of them. The woman turned around and motioned them to follow her back into the house.

              A short hallway led to a manicured central garden. A variety of exotic plants and shrubs gave the area a calming effect. In the center, a pool of water surrounded by stone benches beckoned Arwenna. She could easily imagine spending hours just sitting on the bench and listening to the water gurgle and splash. The sight of the others walking down a covered path to her left drew her away from the garden and she hurried to catch up with them.

              Their hostess opened two doors that stood side by side not far from the garden. Inside were a few pallets on the floor, some cushions, and a low table. “We would be honored if you would dine with us this evening,” the woman’s soft voice carried across the room. “I shall send someone to you when the meal is prepared. Should you need something before then, pull on this rope.”  She pointed to a thick velvet rope hanging from the ceiling near the sliding door. “Someone will be here to attend to you shortly.”  She bowed and exited the room, leaving Arwenna and the rest of the women in the group to get settled.

              At dinner, the head of the House of Wintai joined them and introduced himself and his wife. “I am Shoadin. My wife is Jutan. Many apologies that I was unable to greet you myself upon your arrival. There was an issue between two of the villagers that I needed to address.”  The man’s voice was almost as quiet as his wife’s had been, but the underlying strength was undeniable.

              “That’s more than understandable, sir.”  Barek answered for the rest of them. “I hope the situation resolved itself peacefully?”

              Shoadin nodded that it had, and then changed topics. “I understand that you are looking for a boat to take you out to the island tomorrow. I have one that you may use, but I must warn you against the trip. The island is not a pleasant place, even during the day. I would fear that the ladies in your company would be most grief-stricken at the sights they may behold. Perhaps they could remain here in safety and comfort while you deal with what it is you seek there?”  He looked at Barek as if expecting him to agree.

              Arwenna shook her head ever so slightly, signaling Barek that there was no way she intended on being left behind. Y’Dürkie choked a bit at the idea of being left behind.

              Without missing a beat, Barek replied, “While I appreciate your concern, I can assure you that the ladies I travel with are much stronger than they appear. They have a variety of talents and arts that are not visible but will be necessary for us to do what must be done there.”

              The man considered Barek’s words carefully, but was obviously not fully convinced. “The two elven ladies, surely, are too young and delicate to be subjected to such horrors as the island is host to. The youngest can hardly be of age to be about in the world. And the other, “he gave a wave of his hand towards Arwenna, “is far too beautiful to be scarred by what she would see. Surely you would not wish her to be possessed by such creatures and lost to the world.”  The underlying strength in his voice grew. He was not used to being told he was wrong in his assessment of people.

              Arwenna quickly stepped on Lexi’s foot under the table, keeping the cry of protest from escaping her mouth. Her mind tried to find reasons that their host would accept, Arwenna drew a breath to speak. Bah’Laush spoke first, however. “I think you underestimate our friend a great deal, sir. She is one of the most powerful clerics that walk the world at this time. It is her strength in destroying the restless spirits there that will make it so we prevail in our task. The task is also one that was put upon her to complete. Would you stand in the way of the will of a Goddess?” He took a bite of food while maintaining eye contact with their host.

              Bah’Laush’s words seemed to penetrate deep into Shoadin’s soul. “Ah, I see. It is a task only she may complete? Then she must go, of course.” A slow sense of relief came over Arwenna. She was not sure how, but she felt like she’d just escaped a trap.

              After dinner, Arwenna and the rest retired to their rooms to rest and prepare for the next day’s journey to the island. Still unsettled by her dreams from the night before, Arwenna took a while before finally dropping off to sleep. Something about the behavior of their host at dinner bothered her still.              

              “We’re safe enough as long as we’re under his roof.”  Gabby’s hushed voice drifted towards her. “I’ve been in the area long enough to know that. He won’t violate any rules of hospitality as long as we are his guests.”

              Arwenna rolled over and looked at Gabby. “What do you mean?”

              “He’s got something in mind for at least you and Lexi, possibly me and Y’Dürkie as well. Women are seen more as possessions in this land. The measure of a man’s wealth can be connected to many things, including the beauty of the women he has. He won’t try anything as long as we are under his roof, as that would bring much dishonor. But don’t be surprised if he tries something once we’re on our way back tomorrow. I think he’ll wait until we come back tired from a day fighting ghosts and whatnot over on the island. When we get on the boat tomorrow, we need to make sure to let Barek and Y’Dürkie know to be ready for something.”  Gabby whispered back, a dreadful certainty in her voice.

              “Why would he want us to stay here tomorrow if he can’t harm us while we’re under his roof?”  That part confused Arwenna.

              “All it would take is whispers to his retainers and we’d be ambushed on the way back from the pier. Barek’s presence will keep him at bay tomorrow.” Gabby rolled over, punching her pillow. “Stay close to him, Arwenna. I have no doubts about Lexi evading him, but he may get lucky with you. You never were good at evasion tactics.”

              “How do you know all this, Gabby?”  Arwenna propped her head up with her arm.

              “Shortly after I arrived here, I befriended one of the maids in an inn where I stayed while I was trying to locate Bah’Laush. She was young and very pretty. One day, as I was in the common room eating lunch, a man approached the innkeeper and asked him outright how much he would sell his daughter for. The man represented a noble who had spotted her in the market one day. The innkeeper refused to entertain the idea and threw the man out. In less than a week, his inn was burned to the ground. The girl was taken off the street as she ran from the burning building. I saw her a few weeks ago, all dressed up and following the noble around like some tame pet.”  She sighed, “I suppose there are worse lives, but being dressed up like a doll and paraded around as a trophy isn’t the best in my book.”

              Laying her head back down on her pillow, Arwenna tried to swallow the bile rising in her throat. Memories of Bohrs’ treatment of her flooded her brain, threatening to overtake her sense of calm. She forced the memory of Barek finally laying him low to the front of her mind to help her regain her calm. Sleep tonight would be hard.

              Dawn finally broke, the hours Arwenna had spent staring at the walls and jumping at every sound had taken a heavy toll on her. She stretched, trying to get her weary muscles to wake up. “You did not sleep at all, did you?”  Y’Dürkie’s voice was almost accusatory.

              “No, not really. Anxious about today I suppose,” was Arwenna’s tired response. Her magic was there; ready to be used even if her body wanted to collapse into a heap.

              A rap at the door made them both jump. Arwenna watched warily as Y’Dürkie opened it, relaxing when she saw Barek and Bah’Laush enter the room. In whispered tones, she told everyone what Gabby had told her the night before.

              “Don’t worry about it, Arwenna,” Lexi called out from her bedroll. “I’ll make sure he’s far away from here when we get back. I’m not letting some ambitious man out in the middle of nowhere get involved in what we’re doing. You’ve got more important things to do than decorate his house.”               

              The determination in her voice reassured Arwenna. Getting up quickly, she continued, “I can’t go out there with you today. I’ll make it look like I did, but my presence is going to make the spirits there go wild. Head to the other beach out past town when you’re done on the island. I’ll meet you there with the horses. I don’t think we want to return here.”

              It didn’t take long to get gear packed and start walking towards where Shoadin had told Barek the boat would be moored. The morning light danced on the water as if in play. The small boat rocked gently on the beach, the back half resting comfortably in the water. A pair of massive oars rested inside. Barek signaled everyone to climb in and pushed the boat off the beach before jumping in himself. Taking an oar from Y’Dürkie, the pair began to slowly paddle the boat out towards Hector’s Island.

              It took them almost an hour to reach the island. The thing that came to Arwenna’s mind first as they approached was the utter quiet. The sound of the oars in the water and the water gently lapping up the sides of their boat was the only thing to be heard. There was movement among the trees and bushes on the island, but no sound to go with it. The sense of despair that she had felt the day before started assailing her again as her mind struggled to find some sense of calm against the onslaught. She glanced over at Bah’Laush, the look on his face telling her he felt the same way. He nodded at her in agreement as they both fought to find the center of the magic within them. A small glow began to radiate out from each of them, growing until it encompassed everyone in the boat. The light faded as it settled around their individual forms. Barek looked at her briefly. The shield she just had dropped on him was familiar enough that he didn’t have to ask.

              A small sandy spit came into view around the far side of the island. Y’Dürkie and Barek aimed the boat towards the beach. Once ashore, they pulled the boat all the way up after everyone was out. Arwenna spied a small path ahead of them, leading up to the ruins. It was heavily overgrown from the sides, and weeds sprung up between the cobblestones. Barek headed up to take point, motioning for Y’Dürkie to keep an eye on their rear as they began to cautiously weave their way through the foliage.

              The attack came swiftly about halfway towards the ruins. Something that Arwenna’s eyes wouldn’t focus on crashed through the trees to her right. Barek screamed, “
Duck
!” and she dropped to her knees as his massive sword whistled over her head. It struck something unseen with a loud crash. Rolling out of the way, Arwenna got back to her feet as Barek took up a position right where she’d been standing.