The Sage Seed Chronicles: The Unraveling (28 page)

Communal fires had been lit and camp bread
and some tubers were cooking on the fires. When Raz and Kenneth
came back the guild members would use just a small portion of the
new supplies for the meal tonight. The guard detail had their own
food and stayed a little separate from the caravan. Boxes were set
near the fire for people to sit on. No one was really eager to sit
on the ground after seeing the phenomenal quantity of bugs and
vesi, covering the prairie, that afternoon. Most people were just
plain worn out after the disturbed sleep the night before and the
ferocious weather that day. As soon as the two men returned
everyone ate quickly and bedded down for the night, to the
background noise of bugs singing and Wras complaining.

Erin sincerely hoped that the quakes would
wait and allow people to sleep. She snuggled down with Tempo and
quickly drifted off. She was awakened not by a quake but a loud and
caustic anger. Bure had found out about his brother and his cousin.
He had discovered them missing and, presumably, gone looking for
them. Erin could only get a glimpse of him while the emotion almost
overwhelmed her. She clutched the bag that hung around her neck,
calling on the stones to aid her in building the walls to conserve
her strength. Apparently Bure had found someone who could tell him.
She could see him, briefly, standing over a limp, bloody body. His
emotion was, briefly, so loud that she could barely hear Tempo
giving a loud growl of concern to get Lor’s attention.

Erin had finally gotten to back sleep and Lor
and Alliz were having a quiet conversation about what had just
transpired. “She has gotten stronger about receiving without being
drained but I am not sure how well she can hold up against Bure. He
seems to have a very loud and corrosive emotional shout. I fear for
her should she ever meet him personally, particularly if he senses
she is receiving his blaring emotions.” Lor said quietly.

“We can’t teach her to be stronger, Lor, it
is her own gift. Already she has far out stripped her father’s
abilities. Bure will probably be ‘shouting’ more now. We can only
hope she will be able to get tougher. Otherwise all that we can do
is look out for each other.” Alliz shrugged. “Bure is just one of
our dangers. I’ll report this to Gyan when he next makes contact.
We need to get our own rest. Tomorrow we part company with Wras and
his detail. We have a lot of ground to cover. Good night.”

Lor watched his half sister walk away. Yeah,
he agreed that there were more dangers than Bure. One would be
stupid to ignore the fact that their world was in grave danger
because of the imbalance that Bure had caused. The tectonic
activity alone was a real hazard but there was the rest of it. Bure
was an extremely dangerous elemental force in his own right,
because of the havoc his crazy actions had caused. All of the sages
were in a battle to get their world back into balance. Somehow it
seemed that a lot of it centered on one young sage who was so new
to her skills. He feared for her. Shaking his head he climbed back
into the wagon, careful not to disturb Erin and her guardian,
Tempo. Alliz was right that the night would be short and he needed
to get what rest he could.

That night Erin dreamed. She was beside the
old river trail that ran on the Arbreton side of the Macater River
from the foot bridge at Terresville to the road by Axhead Lake. She
was standing in the shadows of the forest taking deep calming
breaths of the night air. Erin turned, but she wasn’t herself. She
was a man and moved like she was bigger, bulkier than Erin. She
turned and looked back down the trail at the horse that was
standing by a bundle of rags piled on the trail. She smiled. It
wasn’t a nice smile. The pile groaned and stirred, just a little.
Erin walked back up the trail to an old hollow tree, reached in an
pulled out a pack that she kept hidden there. It was a paraglider
pack and she slipped it on her broader shoulders and strode off.
She was soon at the foot bridge. No one would see her traveling at
night. Fools! They couldn’t catch her! Erin crossed the bridge and
jogged across the open ground toward Launch Hill. ‘Ah, she could
almost smell the clean salt air!’

Erin tossed a bit in her sleep then finally
quieted. Tempo watched the expressions that crossed his friend’s
face. When she finally quieted he curled beside her and found his
own rest.

The caravan broke camp at dawn. Everybody
wanted to get to the crossroads as soon as possible. By mid morning
they were at the stone bridge that would get them to the Duluse
Province. Erin and Tempo were on the driver’s bench beside Lor.
They had traveled in silence since they had started. As the train
lined up to cross the bridge, Erin’s mind was drifting. She had
first seen this bridge in a brief vision following one of those
mind shouts. Suddenly she sat up straight. Memories were clicking
into place like gears engaging. Lor looked over at her in question.
She held up her finger to ask him to wait.

‘Keir, can you and your friends get a message
back to Ree quickly? There is a man on the River trail, not very
far beyond the foot bridge. He has been badly beaten by Bure and
may not be alive, now, but was last night. Bure should not be in
the area any longer. He was heading for Launch Hill last night. I
am sorry for the delay but I didn’t remember the dream until now. I
hope we are not too late.’

She heard Keir’s hunting cry. ‘Since I am
behind you and I see a cousin, now, I can probably get a message to
her within an hour or so. Don’t worry, Erin. You can only do what
you can. As soon as I hear I’ll let you know.’

Lor had been watching her face while this
conversation was going on. Tempo had moved onto her lap to reassure
her. She turned to Lor. “I told you last night that Bure was very
angry. He had found out about the whereabouts of his relatives and
had beaten the person to try to get more details.” Lor nodded. “I
fell back to sleep and dreamed. In the dream I was Bure. His rage
had gone cold and he was making plans. I could tell that he was on
the river trail. Whoever it was he beat was unconscious but still
alive. There was the victim’s horse standing nearby. He was
contemptuously unconcerned. He walked to a nearby hollow tree where
he had stashed some stuff and pulled out a paraglider pack then
crossed the foot bridge and sprinted for Launch Hill. I think he
might be headed to Sawblen, but I am not sure. The connection to
him faded. Keir just left with a message to Ree. Hopefully the
person is still alive. I have wasted hours in sending help, but I
only just remembered!”

Lor digested all that she had told him. “I
have been concerned on how completely slammed you are when he is
really radiating emotion. If you met him in person when he was
gearing up his feelings you would be almost helpless. I’m not sure
if your ‘dream’ strengthens that concern or gives you an edge.
We’ll have to work that out. Now, about your guilt and worry. You
can only do what you can.”

Erin chuckled ruefully. “Those were Keir’s
exact words.”

Lor looked at her and a small smile came on
his face. “You’ve a smart merlin companion.” he replied.

It was their turn to cross and the rumble of
the wheels on the stone bridge stopped the conversation for a bit.
“Why do you think he might be going to Sawblen?” Lor asked after a
moment. “It was just an impression, right as the dream was fading,
that he could almost smell the sea air. Even at top speed we are,
what, about four days from Yerra. He may not still be around by the
time we get there. He also may know that his picture is being
circulated. That will give him a heads up to change his looks. With
his knowledge of herbs he could alter the color of his hair, grow
or shave face hair or go completely bald. He is going to be hard to
catch.”

“Speaking of disguises,” Erin continued, “I’m
not sure how well mine is working. It is possible that several
people in the caravan have seen through it. If I had to guess,
Kennet, Raz, Tassy and perhaps Flar have guessed I am a woman and
some have identified me as Erin, daughter of Robse and Shamra.
Mayor Cheroan guessed.”

Lor kept his eye on the road ahead as he
answered her. “You are right. There are people who have guessed.
Visually you very much look your part. You have the swagger and,
for the most part, the mannerisms down. It is only when they are
around you for a length of time that they start noticing subtle
things. Those that have had questions, have come to me. All I have
said that you have a very important reason. I think that your
reasons became clear in Sherroton. None of these people would
jeopardize you. You’ve done so much to earn their respect. Your
value is apparent. As for Mayor Cheroan, well, he is a very
intelligent and astute man. His acuity and honor are well
respected. If anyone could quickly see through your boyish facade
it would be him but he will also keep your secret.”

The caravan was almost to the cross roads.
They didn’t slow down as the guild wagons took the south fork and
the prisoner detail took the east one. The third messenger split
off from the detail to move ahead to Morraton. They were on their
way toward Wellyn but would camp beyond there. Tassy would pull
into the town to leave Robse’s cloth bolts for the customer to see,
at the guild shop there, then rejoin them at their campsite. The
messenger would travel with her to Wellyn. It seemed such a relief
to have the prisoner detail separated from the train and that much
closer to getting Wras to the Great One.

The weather was still overcast and windy.
Autumn had shifted very quickly into early winter. That always made
people wish for hearth and home to hole up out of the elements. The
fact was that this weather pattern was unseasonably early, for the
realm. The old calendar would date this time as early September. It
made everybody push to get to Sawblen as soon as they could. By mid
afternoon the caravan had slowed to a walk to rest the horses. Erin
and Tempo got out to walk also. Erin was checking with the teams
and continuing to reassure them. Tempo was happily pouncing on bugs
and vesi which were very plentiful. Since he was growing and
beginning to build his winter fat layer the fact that the ground
literally crawled, in spots, was great in his view point. By the
time that the caravan picked up speed again his belly was rounded
and he was ready for a nap.

They were just past Wellyn and beginning to
pull off of the road, when the sky got very dark and ominous
looking. Everybody quickly drove into a shallow hollow where they
would be partially protected from the buffeting wind. Horses were
cared for quickly and their special blankets put on in case it got
wet. Meals were hastily prepared. Tassy came into camp at almost a
gallop. Erin ran to care for her team as she secured her wagon.
From the corner of her eye, Erin saw Keir streaking ahead of the
storm, his flight somewhat erratic as he fought the tumultuous wind
currents. He disappeared from sight near their wagon so she knew he
had made his perch. She had just secured Tassy’s horses when a bolt
of lightning hit the hill behind them and the air sizzled followed
by a really loud thunderclap. The horses reacted and Erin ran from
team to team reassuring and calming. More lightning shattered the
darkness going between clouds as well as some touching down around
them. The thunder was deafening. Many of the guild members were
with their teams trying to settle them, stroking their necks and
talking soothingly.

It finally got quiet and Erin hoped the worst
was over when the sky opened up and rain deluged down. The horses
understood rain and were not startled by it. Everyone ran for
cover. Thankfully they didn’t have to go far as the horses were
tethered next to the wagons. Keir was indeed under the eaves and
Erin wondered if Nuit was okay when a hoot came from the direction
of Alliz’s wagon. Erin moved to the side of the wagon, under its
eaves, and looked up at Keir. Since joining the caravan she hadn’t
been able to have much direct contact with her raptor companions.
She lightly stroked Keir’s leg feathers with the back of her
fingers, silently looking into his downward gaze. His intelligent
dark eyes studied her face. ‘We’re with you. Get dry and find your
rest. You have earned it, Erin. I can talk to you when you’re dry.’
She smiled and with a final touch made her way to the back of the
wagon and climbed inside, taking up the towel Lor had out for her.
Her hat and coat had prevented her from a total soaking. She could
hear the loud drumming of the rain against the wagon roof.

‘Erin I have news from Ree. She had received
word from her wild friends in the area and was nearly to the man
when your message arrived. He is alive but will take many weeks to
recover. He lost a lot of blood and has several broken bones. He
was the messenger that was sent to Terresville and thought to take
a short cut home by using the river trail. He ran into Bure. The
messenger knew he was dangerous and tried to get away. Apparently
that avoidance motion alerted Bure that something was up and he
managed to pull the man off his horse. Ree got him stabilized then
alerted Terresville. The man was taken there. Bure is no where in
the area. Erin, my relatives did see a paraglider leave the hill,
going toward the sea, this morning.’

‘Thank you Keir, rest well my friend.’

There was a rocking motion as a small quake
rattled the camp. Erin listened to the horses in her mind. They
were more concerned with the pelting rain and didn’t startle. She
shook her head and looked at Lor. He had been watching her. “Keir
gave me a message from Ree.” she said then relayed what she had
learned. She ended by shaking her head again. “Quakes of varying
magnitude, really bad weather and a homicidal maniac. Can it get
any worse?”

Tempo cracked an eyelid. ‘I don’t mind the
easy meal but there ARE a lot of vesi and insects.’